Beyond the job demand control (-support) model : explaining stress reactions in nurses

Nurses have been identified as having a risk of experiencing stress and burnout. The nature and organization of the job make nursing inherently difficult. Research highlights that occupational stress is largely dependent on psychosocial job characteristics, such as job demands and job resources. The studies included in this thesis focus on the relationships between occupational stressors and job resources, operationalized on the basis of the JDC(-S) model, and different outcomes (such as burnout, psychological and somatic complaints, and diminished job satisfaction) among nurses. The JDC(S) model focuses on three dimensions of psychosocial working conditions: job demands and the two job resources: job control and social support. Psychosocial job demands relate to the work load, and include, for example, time pressure, role conflict and quantitative workload. Job control, or decision latitude, refers to the employe e’s ability to control his or her work activities and skill usage. Social support refers to instrumental and emotional support from colleagues and superiors. The model predicts that health and wellness are most threatened in a situation of high work demands, low control and low social support. Furthermore it is assumed that high control and high social support moderate (buffering effect) the detrimental impact of high work demands on health and wellbeing.In this dissertation, we distinguished five main questions that can extend earlier research on JDC(-S) model. More specifically: (1) beyond the JDC (-S) dimensions, which is the contribute of organizational variables on psychological well being and distress outcomes ? (2) Could the lack of support for the buffer hypotheses of the model(s) be attributable to the use of general scales to assess the JDC (-S) dimensions ? (3) The third question concerns the validity of the JDC(S) model in various countries. Is the JDC (-S) model cross-national generalizable across different countries ? (4) What is the role of individual variables in the relationships between psychosocial job characteristics on the one hand, and psychological well being and distress, on the other hand ? (5) The fifth question regards the longitudinal effects of psychosocial job characteristics on a specific construct of psychological strain. What are the across-time effects of changes in JDC(S) dimensions on burno ut indicators ?LEI Universiteit LeidenFSW - Self-regulation models for health behavior and psychopathology - ou

Simulation of Cosmic Ray neutrinos Interactions in Water

The program CORSIKA, usually used to simulate extensive cosmic ray air showers, has been adapted to a water medium in order to study the acoustic detection of ultra high energy neutrinos. Showers in water from incident protons and from neutrinos have been generated and their properties are described. The results obtained from CORSIKA are compared to those from other available simulation programs such as Geant4.Comment: Talk presented on behalf of the ACoRNE Collaboration at the ARENA Workshop 200

The Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (NSFS): An in-depth psychometric validation among Italian workers

Studies have suggested that basic psychological needs are associated with a variety of workplace dimensions across different cultures such as psychological well-being, burnout, motivation, and job design. Consequently, validated psychometric scales could facilitate researchers and counsellors to better understand the processes of employees' basic psychological needs. The present paper evaluated the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (NSFS). The evaluation included confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), internal consistency, convergent validity and discriminant validity. The sample comprised 309 Italian workers (61.6% females), with a mean age of 41.94 years (SD= ±10.71). The survey including the Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (NSFS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Cognitive Weariness subscale of the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBQ). The results of CFA supported a first-order six-factor solution. The NSFS subscales showed good internal consistencies (Cronbach alphas ranging from 0.88 to 0.95; McDonald omegas ranging from 0.88 to 0.95). Overall, need satisfaction was positively associated with life satisfaction, and need frustration was positively associated with cognitive weariness. The findings indicate that the NSFS is a psychometrically reliable and valid measure for assessing the basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration among Italian workers. The study expands the literature on basic psychological needs and shows important associated dimensions in the Italian context

PArthENoPE reloaded

We describe the main features of a new and updated version of the program PArthENoPE, which computes the abundances of light elements produced during Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. As the previous first release in 2008, the new one, PArthENoPE 2.0, will be soon publicly available and distributed from the code site, this http URL Apart from minor changes, which will be also detailed, the main improvements are as follows. The powerful, but not freely accessible, NAG routines have been substituted by ODEPACK libraries, without any significant loss in precision. Moreover, we have developed a Graphical User Interface (GUI) which allows a friendly use of the code and a simpler implementation of running for grids of input parameters. Finally, we report the results of PArthENoPE 2.0 for a minimal BBN scenario with free radiation energy density

The challenging Silent sinus syndrome

The Silent sinus syndrome (SSS), first described in 1964 by Montgomery, is considered a relatively rare pathological entity, but it is presumably underdiagnosed and underreported. Terms such as imploding antrum and chronic maxillary atelectasis (CMA) have interchangeably been used to describe this syndrome, even though CMA has been postulated to represent either a different entity or a stage of evolution of the same disease. Bilateral involvement has been documented in a limited number of cases. Silent ethmoid sinus and silent frontal sinus syndromes have been described. The prevalent initial presentation is facial asymmetry with progressive “silent” painless unilateral enophthalmos and hypoglobus, and rarely diplopia. Isolated maxillary sinus hypoplasia must be differentiated. The etiopathogenesis is poorly understood and still under debate. According to the diagnostic criteria, SSS should spontaneously develops in absence of previous trauma or surgery. Secondary SSS to trauma or surgery, or to other causes like inflammation or tumor, has been documented in literature. The diagnosis relies on the CT, which typically shows unilateral hypoplastic and opacified maxillary sinus with inward bowing and remodeling of the sinus walls and inferior displacement of the orbital floor, an enlarged retroantral fat pad, a lateralized uncinate process, and a blocked ostiomeatal complex. The treatment of SSS aims at restoring the eye position and orbital floor height, to prevent progression of enophthalmos, to restore ventilation and drainage of the sinus. These objectives are achieved in single or two-stage surgery. The timing for management of the orbital floor is still under debate.The universally accepted treatment is surgical and usually accomplished by endoscopic sinus surgery. Associated middle turbinate hypertrophy and septal deviation must be previously addressed. Precise and gentle endoscopic removal of the obstruction of the ethmoid infundibulum, simply performing an inferior posteroanterior uncinectomy, since the uncinate process has constantly been found atelectatic and adherent to the lateral nasal wall, can reestablish the patency of the natural maxillary ostium. In our experience, following middle meatal antrostomy, long-term observation with staged orbital surgery, if required, is recommended. In this study, we present our cases with a focus on surgical stratagems developed in order to reduce the risk of injuring the orbit and to achieve long-lasting results

Nasal tip sutures: how to control shape and orientation in rhinoplasty

Nasal tip surgery is universally recognized as the most challenging part of the rhinoplasty procedure. "The tip makes the nose”. Narrowing the anatomically complex alar cartilages can lead to functional and aesthetic unfavourable outcomes. A thorough understanding of the ideal surface aesthetics and contours and spatial relationships of the structures of the nose tip is mandatory. In primary rhinoplasty, a very large percentage of visible tip deformities involve two major areas: the domes and the lateral crura. Suture techniques have the potential to modify the position, shape and definition of the tip. However, even sutures may result in changes beyond the main goals for which they are placed. The final suture effects are influenced by factors such as forces intrinsic to the cartilages, the degree of suture tightening, and limitations posed by the soft-tissue attachments. The closed delivery approach is our favourite. In a step-by-step fashion, first the medial pillar of the tripod should be addressed, establishing stable and strong tip support and basic dome projection symmetry. Subsequently and in our experience, in a standard procedure shaping lateral crura and domes, using reversible techniques that preserve structural integrity of the rimstrip, would be advisable. One of the main goals is not only to narrow the tip but to change the angle of rotation of the lateral crus surface in relation to the sagittal upper septal margin. Once marked the new dome defining point, with a variable combination of the lateral crural steal technique, sutures such as cranial tip sutures (CTS) and hemitransdomal sutures (HTS) might produce the needed outcome of everting and rotating the caudal margin of the lateral crura above the cranial edge. These sutures can gradually increase domal convexity and reduce lateral crura convexity. Additional dome equalization suture can guarantee more symmetry and then one or more lateral crural spanning sutures help in achieving supplementary eversion of the lateral crus. After establishing adequate projection, the tip rotation or position sutures are placed between the cranial edge of intermediate crura and the dorsal septum. The personal association of suture techniques is presented in this study and the long-term subjective and objective results are discussed along with the pros and cons

Nasal tip sutures: how to control shape and orientation in rhinoplasty

Nasal tip surgery is universally recognized as the most challenging part of the rhinoplasty procedure. "The tip makes the nose”. Narrowing the anatomically complex alar cartilages can lead to functional and aesthetic unfavourable outcomes. A thorough understanding of the ideal surface aesthetics and contours and spatial relationships of the structures of the nose tip is mandatory. In primary rhinoplasty, a very large percentage of visible tip deformities involve two major areas: the domes and the lateral crura. Suture techniques have the potential to modify the position, shape and definition of the tip. However, even sutures may result in changes beyond the main goals for which they are placed. The final suture effects are influenced by factors such as forces intrinsic to the cartilages, the degree of suture tightening, and limitations posed by the soft-tissue attachments. The closed delivery approach is our favourite. In a step-by-step fashion, first the medial pillar of the tripod should be addressed, establishing stable and strong tip support and basic dome projection symmetry. Subsequently and in our experience, in a standard procedure shaping lateral crura and domes, using reversible techniques that preserve structural integrity of the rimstrip, would be advisable. One of the main goals is not only to narrow the tip but to change the angle of rotation of the lateral crus surface in relation to the sagittal upper septal margin. Once marked the new dome defining point, with a variable combination of the lateral crural steal technique, sutures such as cranial tip sutures (CTS) and hemitransdomal sutures (HTS) might produce the needed outcome of everting and rotating the caudal margin of the lateral crura above the cranial edge. These sutures can gradually increase domal convexity and reduce lateral crura convexity. Additional dome equalization suture can guarantee more symmetry and then one or more lateral crural spanning sutures help in achieving supplementary eversion of the lateral crus. After establishing adequate projection, the tip rotation or position sutures are placed between the cranial edge of intermediate crura and the dorsal septum. The personal association of suture techniques is presented in this study and the long-term subjective and objective results are discussed along with the pros and cons

The challenging Silent sinus syndrome

The Silent sinus syndrome (SSS), first described in 1964 by Montgomery, is considered a relatively rare pathological entity, but it is presumably underdiagnosed and underreported. Terms such as imploding antrum and chronic maxillary atelectasis (CMA) have interchangeably been used to describe this syndrome, even though CMA has been postulated to represent either a different entity or a stage of evolution of the same disease. Bilateral involvement has been documented in a limited number of cases. Silent ethmoid sinus and silent frontal sinus syndromes have been described. The prevalent initial presentation is facial asymmetry with progressive “silent” painless unilateral enophthalmos and hypoglobus, and rarely diplopia. Isolated maxillary sinus hypoplasia must be differentiated. The etiopathogenesis is poorly understood and still under debate. According to the diagnostic criteria, SSS should spontaneously develops in absence of previous trauma or surgery. Secondary SSS to trauma or surgery, or to other causes like inflammation or tumor, has been documented in literature. The diagnosis relies on the CT, which typically shows unilateral hypoplastic and opacified maxillary sinus with inward bowing and remodeling of the sinus walls and inferior displacement of the orbital floor, an enlarged retroantral fat pad, a lateralized uncinate process, and a blocked ostiomeatal complex. The treatment of SSS aims at restoring the eye position and orbital floor height, to prevent progression of enophthalmos, to restore ventilation and drainage of the sinus. These objectives are achieved in single or two-stage surgery. The timing for management of the orbital floor is still under debate.The universally accepted treatment is surgical and usually accomplished by endoscopic sinus surgery. Associated middle turbinate hypertrophy and septal deviation must be previously addressed. Precise and gentle endoscopic removal of the obstruction of the ethmoid infundibulum, simply performing an inferior posteroanterior uncinectomy, since the uncinate process has constantly been found atelectatic and adherent to the lateral nasal wall, can reestablish the patency of the natural maxillary ostium. In our experience, following middle meatal antrostomy, long-term observation with staged orbital surgery, if required, is recommended. In this study, we present our cases with a focus on surgical stratagems developed in order to reduce the risk of injuring the orbit and to achieve long-lasting results

Riptide: a proton-recoil track imaging detector for fast neutrons

Riptide is a detector concept aiming to track fast neutrons. It is based on neutron--proton elastic collisions inside a plastic scintillator, where the neutron momentum can be measured by imaging the scintillation light. More specifically, by stereoscopically imaging the recoil proton tracks, the proposed apparatus provides neutron spectrometry capability and enable the online analysis of the specific energy loss along the track. In principle, the spatial and topological event reconstruction enables particle discrimination, which is a crucial property for neutron detectors. In this contribution, we report the advances on the Riptide detector concept. In particular, we have developed a Geant4 optical simulation to demonstrate the possibility of reconstructing with sufficient precision the tracks and the vertices of neutron interactions inside a plastic scintillator. To realistically model the optics of the scintillation detector, mono-energetic protons were generated inside a $6\times6\times6$ cm$^3$ cubic BC-408 scintillator, and the produced optical photons were propagated and then recorded on a scoring plane corresponding to the surfaces of the cube. The photons were then transported through an optical system to a $2\times2$ cm$^2$ photo sensitive area with 1 Megapixel. Moreover, we have developed two different analysis procedures to reconstruct 3D tracks: one based on data fitting and one on Principal Component Analysis. The main results of this study will be presented with a particular focus on the role of the optical system and the attainable spatial and energy resolution.Comment: Prepared for submission to JINS