For Love or Money : The Underlying Motives of a Workaholic

In response to the technological innovations of the present era there has been a blurring of the frontier between work and personal life. For this reason there has been a rise in workaholism amongst employees in managerial and professional occupations. Workaholism literature is engrossed with its common associated negative outcomes, arguing for a preoccupation with materialistic rewards being one cause for this. The present study aims to explore the possibility that outcomes of workaholism pertain to the underlying motive of workaholism and these are not necessarily negative. Results indicated that autonomous motivation fully mediated the relationship between workaholism and job satisfaction, and partially mediated that between workaholism and burnout; suggesting that regardless of their nature of working, if motivated by an internal desire, workaholics are able to experience greater job satisfaction and lower levels of burnout

Six-minute walk distance after coronary artery bypass grafting compared with medical therapy in ischaemic cardiomyopathy

Background: In patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction, coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) may decrease mortality, but it is not known whether CABG improves functional capacity. Objective: To determine whether CABG compared with medical therapy alone (MED) increases 6 min walk distance in patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction and coronary artery disease amenable to revascularisation. Methods: The Surgical Treatment in Ischemic Heart disease trial randomised 1212 patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction to CABG or MED. A 6 min walk distance test was performed both at baseline and at least one follow-up assessment at 4, 12, 24 and/or 36 months in 409 patients randomised to CABG and 466 to MED. Change in 6 min walk distance between baseline and follow-up were compared by treatment allocation. Results: 6 min walk distance at baseline for CABG was mean 340±117 m and for MED 339±118 m. Change in walk distance from baseline was similar for CABG and MED groups at 4 months (mean +38 vs +28 m), 12 months (+47 vs +36 m), 24 months (+31 vs +34 m) and 36 months (−7 vs +7 m), P>0.10 for all. Change in walk distance between CABG and MED groups over all assessments was also similar after adjusting for covariates and imputation for missing values (+8 m, 95% CI −7 to 23 m, P=0.29). Results were consistent for subgroups defined by angina, New York Heart Association class ≥3, left ventricular ejection fraction, baseline walk distance and geographic region. Conclusion: In patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction CABG compared with MED alone is known to reduce mortality but is unlikely to result in a clinically significant improvement in functional capacity

TiO2 From Colloidal Dispersion as Support in Pt/TiO2 Nanocomposite for Electrochemical Applications

TiO2 powder was synthesized by a forced hydrolysis process and used for the synthesis of Pt/TiO2 composite that is to be foreseen as an advanced electrode material. Pt was incorporated into the synthesized TiO2 from a Pt colloidal dispersion as a precursor prepared by a microwave- assisted polyol process. Physicochemical properties of TiO2 and TiO2- supported Pt were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and X- ray spectroscopy and diffraction techniques. The properties of Pt/TiO2 composite are correlated to the basic voltammetric response of its thin-layer form. It was found that subsequent thermal treatment of synthesized TiO2, which caused crystallization into mainly rutile phase, is required for appropriate Pt incorporation. Although being appropriately loaded by Pt, and the voltammetric response is typical for Pt-based material, the voltammetry of Pt/TiO2 corresponded to much lower loadings.The possibility for Pt particles to be trapped inside TiO2 agglomerates is indicated. The catalyst usage from the synthesized Pt/TiO2 was found quite moderate due to this trapping

Severity of Remodeling, Myocardial Viability, and Survival in Ischemic LV Dysfunction After Surgical Revascularization

AbstractObjectivesThis study sought to test the hypothesis that end-systolic volume (ESV), as a marker of severity of left ventricular (LV) remodeling, influences the relationship between myocardial viability and survival in patients with coronary artery disease and LV systolic dysfunction.BackgroundRetrospective studies of ischemic LV dysfunction suggest that the severity of LV remodeling determines whether myocardial viability predicts improved survival with surgical compared with medical therapy, with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) only benefitting patients with viable myocardium who have smaller ESV. However, this has not been tested prospectively.MethodsInteractions of end-systolic volume index (ESVI), myocardial viability, and treatment with respect to survival were assessed in patients in the prospective randomized STICH (Comparison of Surgical and Medical Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease) trial of CABG versus medical therapy who underwent viability assessment (n = 601; age 61 ± 9 years; ejection fraction ≤35%), with a median follow-up of 5.1 years. Median ESVI was 84 ml/m2. Viability was assessed by single-photon emission computed tomography or dobutamine echocardiography using pre-specified criteria.ResultsMortality was highest among patients with larger ESVI and nonviability (p < 0.001), but no interaction was observed between ESVI, viability status, and treatment assignment (p = 0.491). Specifically, the effect of CABG versus medical therapy in patients with viable myocardium and ESVI ≤84 ml/m2 (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56 to 1.29) was no different than in patients with viability and ESVI >84 ml/m2 (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.57 to 1.31). Other ESVI thresholds yielded similar results, including ESVI ≤60 ml/m2 (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.44 to 1.74). ESVI and viability assessed as continuous rather than dichotomous variables yielded similar results (p = 0.562).ConclusionsAmong patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, those with greater LV ESVI and no substantial viability had worse prognosis. However, the effect of CABG relative to medical therapy was not differentially influenced by the combination of these 2 factors. Lower ESVI did not identify patients in whom myocardial viability predicted better outcome with CABG relative to medical therapy. (Comparison of Surgical and Medical Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease [STICH]; NCT00023595

Basic randomness of nature and ether-drift experiments

We re-consider the idea that quantum fluctuations might reflect the existence of an 'objective randomness', i.e. a basic property of the vacuum state which is independent of any experimental accuracy of the observations or limited knowledge of initial conditions. Besides being responsible for the observed quantum behaviour, this might introduce a weak, residual form of `noise' which is intrinsic to natural phenomena and could be important for the emergence of complexity at higher physical levels. By adopting Stochastic Electro Dynamics as a heuristic model, we are driven to a picture of the vacuum as a form of highly turbulent ether, which is deep-rooted into the basic foundational aspects of both quantum physics and relativity, and to search for experimental tests of this scenario. An analysis of the most precise ether-drift experiments, operating both at room temperature and in the cryogenic regime, shows that, at present, there is some ambiguity in the interpretation of the data. In fact the average amplitude of the signal has precisely the magnitude expected, in a 'Lorentzian' form of relativity, from an underlying stochastic ether and, as such, might not be a spurious instrumental effect. This puzzle, however, should be solved in a next future with the use of new cryogenically cooled optical resonators whose stability should improve by about two orders of magnitude. In these new experimental conditions, the persistence of the present amplitude would represent a clean evidence for the type of random vacuum we are envisaging.Comment: 22 pages, 2 figures; revised version accepted for publication on Chaos, Solitons and Fractal

The use of the CNIC-Polypill in real-life clinical practice: opportunities and challenges in patients at very high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease – expert panel meeting report

Although the cardiovascular (CV) polypill concept is not new and several guidelines state that a CV polypill should be considered an integral part of a comprehensive CV disease (CVD) prevention strategy, there are still some barriers to its implementation in the real-world setting, mainly in secondary CV prevention. As the CNIC-polypill is the only one approved for secondary CV prevention in patients with atherosclerotic CVD in 27 countries worldwide, a panel of four discussants and 30 participants from 18 countries conveyed in a virtual meeting on April 21, 2022, to discuss key clinical questions regarding the practical use of the CNIC-Polypill and barriers to its implementation. Data presented showed that, although the use of the CV polypill is not explicitly mentioned in the current 2021 European Society of Cardiology guidelines on CVD prevention, it may be used in any patient for secondary CVD prevention tolerating all their components to improve outcomes through different aspects. The favourable results of the Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly (SECURE) trial now reinforce this recommendation. The panellists presented algorithms on how to switch from any baseline regimen when starting treatment with the CNIC-polypill in different situations, including patients with hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and a previous CV event; at discharge after a cardiovascular event; in chronic ischemic conditions; and in cases of polypharmacy. The panellists and expert discussants did agree that available studies conducted so far with the CNIC-polypill demonstrate that it is as efficacious as the monocomponents, equipotent drugs, or other therapies; reduces the risk of experiencing recurrent major CV events; improves medication adherence; reduces health care costs and resources compared to patients treated with loose drugs; and the patients prefer it over the multipill strategy. In conclusion, the data presented by the participants provided the evidence behind the use of the CNIC-polypill to help fulfil the goal of encouraging its adoption by physicians.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

En djupdykning i Skandinaviens simundervisning : En komparativ innehållsanalys av läroplaner och styrdokument i Norge, Sverige och Danmark

Syfte och frågeställning Syfte med denna studie är att undersöka simundervisningen i skolan för att få en fördjupad förståelse för simning i ämnet idrott och hälsa. Studiens avser att besvara (1) hur simundervisning framställts i läroplaner historiskt i Sverige, Norge och Danmark, (2) hur simundervisning framställs i nuvarande styrdokument för grundskolan i Sverige, Norge och Danmark (3) och om det finns eventuella likheter respektive skillnader i detta material. Metod I denna studie används innehållsanalys med en läroplansteoretisk utgångspunkt där simundervisning i styrdokument från Sverige, Norge och Danmark analyseras. I en kvalitativ textanalys av materialet med kodning och kategorisering framställs en överblick över simundervisning för respektive land. Därtill identifiera dess eventuella likheter och skillnader och även teman. Resultatet I tidigare läroplaner visar det sig att simundervisningen varierat över tid i Sverige, Norge och Danmark. Variationer förekommer till exempel i anvisningar lektionsupplägg och bedömning. Norges nutida material skiljer sig från Sverige och Danmarks på så sätt att simundervisningen i större utsträckning lyfts fram som möjliggörande för aktiviteter inte endast något som förhindrar olyckor. Av denna anledning har vi identifierat ett möjliggörande tema i de norska styrdokumenten. I det danska materialet finns en stark betoning på säkerhet vilket inneburit att vi identifierat ett olycksförebyggande tema. Det svenska materialet delar aspekter från både det danska olycksförebyggande- och det norska möjliggörande temat och kan därför ses som ett mellanting. Det svenska materialet utmärker sig dock genom att ha betoning på prestation i bedömning. Slutsats I denna studie har vi konstaterat simundervisningen i skandinaviens styrdokument har ett liknande innehåll på så sätt att de alla innehåller simkunnighets- och säkerhetsaspekter. Trots denna likhet finns skillnader som möjliggjort för oss att identifiera olika teman. Detta visar på att vad som kan uppfattas som subtila skillnader kan i praktiken medföra signifikanta skillnader. Denna studie, och studier av detta slag, skulle möjligen kunna vara till hjälp då framtida läroplaner formuleras då lärdomar kan utvinnas från både historiska exempel men även andra länder