A cross-national study on the antecedents of work–life balance from the fit and balance perspective

Drawing on the perceived work–family fit and balance perspective, this study investigates demands and resources as antecedents of work–life balance (WLB) across four countries (New Zealand, France, Italy and Spain), so as to provide empirical cross-national evidence. Using structural equation modelling analysis on a sample of 870 full time employees, we found that work demands, hours worked and family demands were negatively related to WLB, while job autonomy and supervisor support were positively related to WLB. We also found evidence that resources (job autonomy and supervisor support) moderated the relationships between demands and work–life balance, with high resources consistently buffering any detrimental influence of demands on WLB. Furthermore, our study identified additional predictors of WLB that were unique to some national contexts. For example, in France and Italy, overtime hours worked were negatively associated with WLB, while parental status was positively associated with WLB. Overall, the implications for theory and practice are discussed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Local Difference Measures between Complex Networks for Dynamical System Model Evaluation

Acknowledgments We thank Reik V. Donner for inspiring suggestions that initialized the work presented herein. Jan H. Feldhoff is credited for providing us with the STARS simulation data and for his contributions to fruitful discussions. Comments by the anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged as they led to substantial improvements of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Immune reconstitution disease associated with parasitic infections following antiretroviral treatment

HIV-associated immune reconstitution disease (IRD) is the clinical presentation or deterioration of opportunistic infections that results from enhancement of pathogen-specific immune responses among patients responding to antiretroviral treatment (ART). The vast majority of reported cases of IRD have been associated with mycobacterial, chronic viral and invasive fungal infections; such cases result from dysregulated augmentation of cell-mediated type 1 cytokine-secreting host immune responses. However, the spectrum of infections now recognized as associated with IRD is expanding and includes a number of parasitic infections, which may be mediated by different immunopathological mechanisms. These include leishmaniasis (visceral, cutaneous, mucosal and post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis), schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis. Since the major burden of HIV lies in resource-limited countries where access to ART is now rapidly expanding, increased awareness and knowledge of these phenomena is important. Here we review the clinical spectrum and pathogenesis of IRD associated with parasitic infections

Conhecimento sobre hipertensão arterial e fatores associados à não adesão à farmacoterapia

OBJECTIVES: to identify the degree of knowledge of people with hypertension concerning the disease and to verify the factors associated with the non-adherence to anti-hypertensive drug therapy. METHOD: Cross sectional study, involving 422 people. Data collection took place at their homes, between December 2011 and March 2012, through interviews using the following instruments: Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ-Q), Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) and a guide with questions related to sociodemographic profile, satisfaction with healthcare service and knowledge about the disease. RESULTS: 42.6% did not adhere to the drug therapy and 17.7% had poor knowledge about the disease. Factors associated with the non-adherence were: complex drug therapy, poor knowledge about the disease and dissatisfaction with the healthcare service. CONCLUSION: The findings reinforce that the complex drug therapy prescriptions, little knowledge about the disease and dissatisfaction with the healthcare service have influence on the process of non-adherence to anti-hypertensive drug therapy.OBJETIVOS: identificar el nivel de conocimiento de personas con hipertensión arterial acerca de la enfermedad y verificar los factores asociados a la no adhesión a la farmacoterapia antihipertensiva. MÉTODO: estudio transversal realizado en 422 individuos. Los datos fueron recolectados en los domicilios, entre diciembre de 2011 y marzo de 2012, por medio de entrevistas utilizando los instrumentos: Cuestionario de Adhesión a Medicamentos (CAM-Q), Índice de Complejidad de la Farmacoterapia y un guión con preguntas relativas al perfil sociodemográfico, satisfacción con el servicio de salud y conocimiento sobre la enfermedad. RESULTADOS: 42,6% no adherían a la farmacoterapia y 17,7% poseían conocimiento insatisfactorio sobre la enfermedad. Los factores asociados a la no adhesión fueron: farmacoterapia compleja, conocimiento insatisfactorio sobre la enfermedad e insatisfacción con el servicio de salud. CONCLUSIÓN: Los hallazgos refuerzan que prescripciones farmacológicas complejas, poco conocimiento sobre la enfermedad e insatisfacción con el servicio de salud influyen en el proceso de la no adhesión al tratamiento medicamentoso antihipertensivo.OBJETIVOS: identificar o nível de conhecimento de pessoas com hipertensão arterial acerca da doença e verificar os fatores associados à não adesão à farmacoterapia anti-hipertensiva. MÉTODO: estudo transversal, realizado com 422 indivíduos. Os dados foram coletados nos domicílios, entre dezembro de 2011 e março de 2012, por meio de entrevistas, utilizando os instrumentos: Questionário de Adesão a Medicamentos, Índice de Complexidade da Farmacoterapia e um roteiro com questões relativas ao perfil sociodemográfico, satisfação com o serviço de saúde e conhecimento sobre a doença. RESULTADOS: 42,6% não aderiram à farmacoterapia e 17,7% possuíam conhecimento insatisfatório sobre a doença. Os fatores associados à não adesão foram: farmacoterapia complexa, conhecimento insatisfatório sobre a doença e insatisfação com o serviço de saúde. CONCLUSÃO: os achados reforçam que prescrições farmacológicas complexas, pouco conhecimento sobre a doença e insatisfação com o serviço de saúde influenciam no processo de não adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso anti-hipertensivo

Effectiveness of the bucco-lingual technique within a school-based supervised toothbrushing program on preventing caries: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Supervised toothbrushing programs using fluoride dentifrice have reduced caries increment. However there is no information about the effectiveness of the professional cross-brushing technique within a community intervention. The aim was to assess if the bucco-lingual technique can increase the effectiveness of a school-based supervised toothbrushing program on preventing caries. Methods A randomized double-blinded controlled community intervention trial to be analyzed at an individual level was conducted in a Brazilian low-income fluoridated area. Six preschools were randomly assigned to the test and control groups and 284 five-year-old children presenting at least one permanent molar with emerged/sound occlusal surface participated. In control group, oral health education and dental plaque dying followed by toothbrushing with fluoride dentifrice supervised directly by a dental assistant, was developed four times per year. At the remaining school days the children brushed their teeth under indirect supervising of the teachers. In test group, children also underwent a professional cross-brushing on surfaces of first permanent molar rendered by a specially trained dental assistant five times per year. Enamel and dentin caries were recorded on buccal, occlusal and lingual surfaces of permanent molars during 18-month follow-up. Exposure time of surfaces was calculated and incidence density ratio was estimated using Poisson regression model. Results Difference of 21.6 lesions per 1,000 children between control and test groups was observed. Among boys whose caries risk was higher compared to girls, incidence density was 50% lower in test group (p = 0.016). Conclusion Modified program was effective among the boys. It is licit to project a relevant effect in a larger period suggesting in a broader population substantial reduction of dental care needs. Trial registration ISRCTN18548869

Measurement of the t(t)over-bar production cross section in the dilepton channel in pp collisions at √s=8 TeV

The top-antitop quark (t (t) over bar) production cross section is measured in proton-proton collisions at root s = 8 TeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.3 fb(-1). The measurement is performed by analysing events with a pair of electrons or muons, or one electron and one muon, and at least two jets, one of which is identified as originating from hadronisation of a bottom quark. The measured cross section is 239 +/- 2 (stat.) +/- 11 (syst.) +/- 6 (lum.) pb, for an assumed top-quark mass of 172.5 GeV, in agreement with the prediction of the standard model

Os mártires e a cristianização do território na América portuguesa, séculos XVI e XVII

O artigo investiga um grupo de atores sociais bastante relevante para viabilizar a cristianização na América portuguesa: os mártires cristãos, indivíduos muito especiais, dispostos a regar a terra com seu próprio sangue, de forma a tornar definitiva e irreversível a ocupação cristã do território. Os mártires - e principalmente a narrativa em torno deles - parecem ter sido bastante acionados para integrar a América portuguesa e seus habitantes nativos à temporalidade e territorialidade cristã. Os mártires dos séculos XVI e XVII, principalmente missionários, reeditavam os martírios do início da cristandade, que espalharam o cristianismo rumo a diversas partes do mundo na antiguidade. Dessa forma, viabilizaram a cristianização das novas fronteiras, consagrando o solo com seu sangue divino e viabilizando posteriores processos de urbanização. Além da função estratégica dos mártires para os cristãos, o texto mostra que eles também tiveram significado peculiar na interlocução com as culturas ameríndias, que tinha como um de seus principais personagens o grande guerreiro, disposto a perder seu sangue em prol de seu grupo.This paper looks into a group of social agents who played a significant role in the Christianization of Portuguese America, namely, the Christian martyrs - very special individuals who were ready to wet the land with their own blood in order to make possible a definitive and irreversible occupation of the territory by Christian settlers. The martyrs, and above all the stories told about them, seem to have been called upon to integrate Portuguese America and its native inhabitants into the temporalities and territory of Christendom. Mostly made up of missionaries, this group of 16th and 17th-century martyrs reedited the martyrdom of early Christians, who spread their creed across numerous parts of the Ancient World. They enabled the Christianization of new frontiers by consecrating the soil with their divine blood and paving the way for subsequent processes of urban development. In addition to their strategic significance for Christianity, the text also shows that their martyrdom played a specific role in the Christian settlers' interaction with Amerindian culture, whose main cults included the figure of the great warrior, ever ready to shed his own blood for his group