Comparative Analysis of Work Values Across Four Nations

Work values are important factors in career counseling and development. The purpose of this study was to test the measurement invariance of Terada's ( 2009 ) Vocational Values Inventory, as well as compare the means of 5 latent variables across 4 nations (Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Germany) using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that the assumptions of configural, metric, and intercept invariance were satisfied across the 4 nations. A comparison of the means of the 5 latent variables indicated that job security, an extrinsic work value, was perceived as the most important work value across the 4 nations.     

Mind-Mindedness of Male and Female Caregivers in Childcare and the Relation to Sensitivity and Attachment: An Exploratory Study

Mind-mindedness refers to the caregiver’s ability to be attuned to the child’s mental states. Within the parent-child relationship, mind-mindedness relates to parents’ sensitive caregiving, and to children’s secure attachment. However, the same relations are still unexplored in out-of-home care settings. We investigated the associations between childcare professionals’ mind-mindedness, sensitive responsiveness and respect for autonomy, and child-caregiver attachment security. Moreover, we examined whether these relations are influenced by caregivers’ and children’s gender. Participants were 17 caregiver couples (17 males, 17 females) and 34 three-year-old children (17 boys, 17 girls), recruited in childcare centers. Mind-mindedness toward the boy or the girl (dyadic) or both children (non-dyadic), sensitive responsiveness and respect for autonomy were assessed during a semi-structured play. Attachment security was assessed through observations. Male and female caregivers had equivalent scores of mind-mindedness, sensitive responsiveness, and respect for autonomy. Similarly, children were securely attached to male and female caregivers. Girls’ and boys’ secure attachment was predicted by caregivers’ use of non-dyadic mind-related comments. For girls, but not for boys, the relation was partially mediated by caregivers’ respect for autonomy. The results are discussed in terms of their relevance for the quality of child-caregiver relationships, and children’s socio-emotional development.     

General mental ability,conscientiousness, and the work–family interface: A test of mediating pathways

This study proposed a model in which employee general mental ability (GMA) and conscientiousness are linked to work–family conflict and enrichment through their relationship with occupational prestige and coping styles. We evaluated this model in a sample of 709 working adults from the National Survey of Midlife Development II in the United States. Results indicate that, through occupational prestige and subsequent psychological job demands and financial well-being, GMA was related to work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC). GMA was also related to work-to-family enrichment (WFE) but not family-to-work enrichment (FWE) through occupational prestige and autonomy. In contrast, conscientiousness did not influence work–family outcomes through occupational prestige. Additionally, GMA and conscientiousness were both related to WFE/FWE through problem coping, whereas conscientiousness was related to FWC through avoidance coping. Examining the relative effects of GMA and conscientiousness, we found that the indirect effects of GMA through occupational prestige were stronger than those of conscientiousness, whereas the indirect effects of conscientiousness through problem coping were stronger than those of GMA. We discuss our findings in terms of the mechanisms through which stable individual differences may exert influences on work–family outcomes.     

Mechanical work in shuttle running as a function of speed and distance: Implications for power and efficiency

Biomechanics (and energetics) of human locomotion are generally studied at constant, linear, speed whereas less is known about running mechanics when velocity changes (because of accelerations, decelerations or changes of direction). The aim of this study was to calculate mechanical work and power and to estimate mechanical efficiency in shuttle runs (as an example of non-steady locomotion) executed at different speeds and over different distances. A motion capture system was utilised to record the movements of the body segments while 20 athletes performed shuttle runs (with a 180° change of direction) at three paces (slow, moderate and maximal) and over four distances (5, 10, 15 and 20 m). Based on these data the internal, external and total work of shuttle running were calculated as well as mechanical power; mechanical efficiency was then estimated based on values of energy cost reported in the literature. Total mechanical work was larger the faster the velocity and the shorter the distance covered (range: 2.3–3.7 J m⁻¹ kg⁻¹) whereas mechanical efficiency showed an opposite trend (range: 0.20–0.50). At maximal speed, over all distances, braking/negative power (about 21 W kg⁻¹) was twice the positive power. Present results highlight that running humans can exert a larger negative than positive power, in agreement with the fundamental proprieties of skeletal muscles in vivo. A greater relative importance of the constant speed phase, associated to a better exploitation of the elastic energy saving mechanism, is likely responsible of the higher efficiency at the longer shuttle distances.     

基于共济方法的研究型生物样本库伦理治理框架评析

基于共济的伦理治理框架符合研究型生物样本库的核心价值和目标、承认人们积极参与的意愿、减少研究成本和参与者伤害、加速推进研究型生物样本库的建设等,避免了基于自主权的风险治理框架的缺陷。但该框架不适用于商业型生物样本库、过分强调节约研究成本、减少伤害而忽视了研究过程中的风险预防以及缺少相应的伦理规范和外部监督。建议在选择共济框架时充分考虑大数据背景下研究中的不确定性和复杂性风险,重视对参与者个体自主权和风险的考量,探求与基于自主权的风险治理框架的互补与融合,并加强公众参与和外部监督。

     

中国台湾地区安宁疗护的历史变迁、挑战与展望

在人口老龄化的背景下,为尽快改善终末期患者的死亡质量,探求符合东方文化诉求的安宁疗护发展道路,从历史角度对中国台湾地区安宁疗护的发展历程进行梳理。依托相关规定和制度,中国台湾地区安宁疗护取得快速发展,在不同发展阶段依次完成了解决初期困难,完善服务内容,提高服务质量的发展目标。同时,安宁疗护发展目标的实现需要基金会、安宁疗护社团与各界热心人士的精诚合作和不懈努力。中国台湾地区安宁疗护未来的发展仍然面临挑战,质量把控、服务转型、体系融合将是其发展的方向。

     

由临床病例引发对患者医疗自主权的思考

从医务人员视角结合临床病例浅谈患者医疗自主权。阐述患者医疗自主权的概念及涵盖的内容,包括知情同意原则、意定监护、生前预嘱、预立医疗指示、预立医疗照护计划。分析患者医疗自主权在我国实施所存在的阻力,包括受传统孝道束缚、国民对患者医疗自主权的维护意识不强和认知不足、缺乏死亡教育以及医学技术层面等问题。为了有效推广和实施患者医疗自主权,作为医务人员首先要提高自身意识、加强推广力度,其次对于公众要加强死亡教育,另外医患之间、患者与家属之间的交流沟通也非常重要。