Ordered Array of Single Au Adatoms with Remarkable Thermal Stability: Au/Fe3O4(001)

We present a Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) investigation of gold deposited at the magnetite Fe3O4(001) surface at room temperature. This surface forms a reconstruction with (\surd2\times\surd2)R45{\deg} symmetry, where pairs of Fe and neighboring O ions are slightly displaced laterally, forming undulating rows with 'narrow' and 'wide' adsorption sites. At fractional monolayer coverages, single Au adatoms adsorb exclusively at the narrow sites, with no significant sintering up to annealing temperatures of 400 {\deg}C. The strong preference for this site is possibly related to charge and orbital ordering within the first subsurface layer of the reconstructed Fe3O4(001) surface. Because of their high thermal stability, the ordered Au atoms at Fe3O4(001)- (\surd2\times\surd2)R45{\deg} could provide useful for probing the chemical reactivity of single atomic species.Comment: Duplicate entry, newer version at 1205.0915. http://arxiv.org/abs/1205.091

Return to work after coronary revascularization procedures and a patient's job satisfaction: A prospective study

Introduction Research into work reintegration following invasive cardiac procedures is limited. The aim of this prospective study was to explore predictors of job satisfaction among cardiac patients who have returned to work after cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Material and methods The study population consisted of 90 cardiac patients who have recently been treated with coronary angioplasty or heart surgery. They were evaluated during their CR and 12 months after the discharge using validated self-report questionnaires measuring job satisfaction, work stress-related factors, emotional distress and illness perception. Information on socio-demographic, medical and occupational factors has also been collected. Results After adjusting for demographic, occupational and medical variables, baseline job satisfaction (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.01) and ambition (p < 0.05) turned out to be independent, significant predictors of job satisfaction following return to work (RTW). Patients who had a partial RTW were more satisfied with their job than those who had a full RTW, controlling for baseline job satisfaction. Conclusions These findings recommend an early assessment of patients' psychosocial work environment and emotional distress, with particular emphasis on job satisfaction and depressive symptoms, in order to promote satisfying and healthy RTW after cardiac interventions

Prison Personnel: Burnout, Stress Reactions, and Intent to Quit

The ultimate aim of the present research was to examine well-being of prison Correctional Officers (COs), in particular we have analyzed predictors of burnout and psychosomatic symptoms, and variables affecting job dissatisfaction and intent to quit. 108 self-report questionnaires examining occupational stressors, burnout, psychosomatic symptoms, job dissatisfaction, and intent to quit were collected in an Italian public prison. First of all, the findings revealed that participants showed neither significant burnout nor psychosomatic complaints; this result may be partially explained by the specific-police “macho” culture, the fear of appearing weak which causes the need to show emotions different from the real ones. Furthermore, burnout is mainly affected by the quality of interactions, in terms of stressful contacts, with inmates whereas psychosomatic symptoms by stressful relationships with colleagues and superiors. Finally, the intent to quit the current job, which was found to be rather low, was affected by burnout, in particular by emotional exhaustion. Overall considered, our results suggest some applicative implications, and especially the importance to provide useful strategies, at both organizational and individual level, which may support COs in coping with occupational stressors. In particular, counseling may be effective in preventing emotional distress and in reducing sickness absence caused by the contact with problematic inmates. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s1p61

A journey through roses and thorns: becoming a physician by learning from patients with life-threatening illnesses. A qualitative study with international medical students

The medical students' well-being may be threatened by various stressors associated with providing care to different kinds of patients. This study aims to explore students' clinical experiences with patients who suffer from life-threatening illnesses, focusing on potential risk and protective factors. Audio-recorded and face-to-face interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. The "Interpretive Description" approach was used to analyse data. Overall, ten medical students with a mean age of 28 years old were interviewed. Well-being promoting factors were the following: therapeutic relationships, work-life balance, social support and communication, perception of improvement in knowledge and availability of advanced directives. Whilst factors that may reduce well-being included death exposure, managing emotions, communication difficulties, internal conflicts and disagreements, lack of knowledge and subjective concerns. These findings shed light on facets that are inherent parts of clinical experience with patients suffering from a life-threatening illness and that may turn in risk or protective factors for the medical students. Understanding the students' subjective experiences may aid in the improvement of the current educational programs, as well as in the development of tailored supportive and preventative interventions to promote well-being and professional competencies among this kind of students