This article describes the derivation and initial psychometric validation of a multi-dimensional Family Appraisal of Caregiving Questionnaire for Palliative Care (FACQ-PC). The 25-item measure consists of four theoretically derived subscales: (i) caregiver strain, (ii) positive caregiving appraisals, (iii) caregiver distress, and (iv) family well-being. Based on a sample of 160 family caregiver...

A tensile mechanical test suitable to measure the adhesion between brittle coatings and ductile substrates was applied to measure the adhesion of painted layers on polypropylene blends. The test involves the tensile deformation of the painted assembly, resulting in the periodic cracking of the brittle coating on the ductile substrate. The interfacial shear strength was determined by measuring t...

In this paper, we present an improved FBG sensor system using a wavelength swept fiber laser(WSFL) for internal strain monitoring of composite laminates. The WSFL provides unique and functional output characteristics useful for sensor interrogation. In addition a realtime signal processing program was made to measure strains. Five FBG sensors in an optical fiber were used to measure internal st...

Analytical method for the second-order homogenization of two-phase composites within Mindlin–Toupin strain gradient elasticity theory is proposed. Direct approach and self-consistent approximation are used to reduce problem determination averaged Cauchy stresses, double stresses static moments inside inclusions under prescribed quadratic boundary conditions. The ellipsoidal shape orthotropic pr...