1,721,079 research outputs found
Assisted Reproductive Treatment: the role of Alexithymia, Romantic Attachment, Marital Relationship on Couple’s Quality of Life
No full textIntroduction: Fertility problems can cause serious implications for couples’ wellbeing. Aims of the study were to evaluate: possible differences between women and men in quality of life, alexithymia, romantic attachment and quality of marital relationship during an Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART); predictive effects of these variables on quality of life of women and men. Methods: 84 women (age m=38.1 sd=5.5) and 25 men (m=37.5 sd=5.6) participated in the study. At the beginning of ART women and men completed: socio-demographic questionnaire, Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQuoL), 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Experience in Close Relationship-Revised (ECR-R) and Couple Relation Inventory (CRI). Results: Differences in FertiQuoL Total (p=.02) Emotional (p=.001), Mind-Body (p=.05) and Tolerability (p=.001) subscales scores emerged in the direction of a lower quality of life in women. Furthermore, women scored significantly higher in TAS-20 Difficulty in Identifying Feelings (DIF;p=.04) and CRI Idealization (p=.01), whereas men scored significantly higher in CRI Erotic Fantasy (p=.04). Several significant associations among quality of life, alexithymia, quality of marital relationship and attachment dimensions were reported in women and men. Regression analysis showed the predictive effect of DIF (p=001) and CRI Attunement with partner (p=.01) on women’s quality of life. Conclusions: The findings support a more severe effect of infertility and its treatments on women than men. The findings highlight the predictive effect of the difficulty in identifying feeling and attunement with the partner on the quality of life of women during the ART. Clinical implication will be discussed
4D approach for urban tunnelling in a BIM environment
No full textIn underground works, one topic that must be carefully studied and analysed is how to deal with interferences induced on buildings by the excavation machine. The paper provides a proposal for the management of the behaviour that must take place in the event of a building falling in a subsidence basin by creating a 4D BIM model able to control the influencing parameters, to visualise subsidence values and to foresee harmful events. To predict the formation of chimneys that could damage buildings structures and facades, the method assumes some predefined design values of the expected subsidence graphically monitoring, over time, different thresholds that can promptly activate safety procedures. The proposed model makes possible, as well, to check the tunnel ring parameters linked to the TBM machine. Dynamo has been used to semi-automatically connect an Excel file with a Revit one to import all the data in the 3D model. As a case study, the paper shows the application of the method to a portion of the central section of the new M4 metro line in Milan, where EPB-type TBM machines have been used. An additional output of the research consists of seven safety guidelines for interference management to be adopted when operational values exceed the assigned threshold. According to all the technicians involved in the M4 metro line site as specialists, the joint use of the 4D BIM model and the set of the safety procedures improve tunnelling management and can be applied with the appropriate changes in similar works
Effects of an expressive writing intervention in a group of public employees subjected to work relocation
No full textBACKGROUND: Pennebaker’s writing technique has yielded good results on health, psychological and performance dimen- sions. In spite of the positive outcomes, the technique has rarely been applied directly within the workplace and its effects on burnout have never been tested. METHOD: 18 public employees subjected to work relocation were asked to write about their present work situation or another difficult event of their life (Writing Group), while another 17 were not assigned any writing task (Control Group). OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there was an improvement in burnout, alexithymia and psychological well-being in the Writing Group compared with the baseline measurement and the Control Group. RESULTS: While the baseline levels in the Writing and Control Groups in the 3 dimensions considered were similar, scores in the Writing Group at both a second (1 month after the end of the procedure) and third measurement (7 months after the end) improved when compared with the baseline, whereas those in the Control Group worsened. CONCLUSIONS: Pennebaker’s writing technique appears to promote adaptive coping strategies in stressful situations, and to increase occupational and psychological well-being as well as the ability to process emotions. It also appears to buffer the negative effects of work-related stress
Near-surface eddy dynamics in the southern ocean
Full text linkThe Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is a crucial component of the global ocean conveyor belt, acting as a zonal link among the major ocean basins but, to some extent, limiting meridional exchange and tending to isolate the ocean south of it from momentum and heat income. In this work we investigate one of the most important mechanisms contributing to the poleward transfer of properties in the Southern Ocean, that is the eddy component of the dynamics. For this particular purpose, observations obtained from near-surface drifters have been used: they represent a very useful data set to analyse the eddy field because of their ability to catch a large number of scales of motion while providing a quasi-synoptic coverage of the investigated area. Estimates of the eddy heat and momentum fluxes are carried out using data taken from the Global Drifter Program databank; they refer to Surface Velocity Program drifter trajectories collected in the area south of 35°S between 1995 and 2006. Eddy kinetic energies, variance ellipses, momentum and heat fluxes have been calculated using the pseudo-Eulerian method, showing patterns in good agreement with those present in the literature based on observational and model data, although there are some quantitative differences. The eddy fluxes have been separated into their rotational and divergent portions, the latter being responsible for the meridional transports. The associated zonal and depth-exponentially integrated meridional heat transport exhibits values spanning over a range between -0.4 PW and -1.1 PW in the ACC region, consistent with previous estimates. © 2011 M. Trani et al
Exclusive endoscopic removal of a planum sphenoidale meningioma: a case report
No full textMidline suprasellar meningiomas have traditionally been removed through transcranial approaches. Endoscopic endonasal approaches have already been described for the removal of tuberculum sellae meningiomas (Cook), but their exclusive use for planum sphenoidale meningiomas has never been reported. A case report of a planum sphenoidale meningioma removed through a transnasal endoscopic approach is presented: the goal of this technique is tumor control with minimal morbidity. The anterior skull base defect has been reconstructed with a pedicled mucosa flap from nasal septum (Hadad-Bassagasteguy flap). The postoperative course was uneventful, and no sign of recurrence was noticed at the MRI control performed after 3 months
University Culture: A quali-quantitative study on the emotional representations of online learning by psychology university students
No full textThe pandemic of covid-19 has led to the conversion from face-to-face to online learning in almost every university in the world. Online learning was perceived by students as an opportunity and an impediment to the learning process and an obstacle for social contact. The main aim of this research was to explore the representations of distance learning by university students. We collected 127 interviews from university students and used the paradigm of Emotional Text Mining (EMT) for their analysis. Three factors (Learning Process, University Life, Blended learning) and four clusters (Being in a Relationship, Online learning, Missed Rituality, Process of Adapting) were identified. The factors highlight an unconscious defence mechanism which "separates" the reality of online learning (without relationships) from the reality of the face-to-face learning (with relationships). The clusters show how university students represent online learning as useful at a practical level, but as an obstacle to social contact and a sense of belonging to the university culture. In addition, the interpretation of the clusters reveals an immature process of adaptation of students to the post-pandemic reality. All these findings highlight face-to-face learning as a place for interaction and social sharing and necessary to feel integrated in university culture
Voice therapy in pediatric functional dysphonia: A prospective study
No full textObjective: We evaluated the efficacy of voice therapy according to Borragan's method associated to S. Magnani's vocal counselling in functional dysphonia in children. Patients and methods: We prospectively treated 16 patients with vocal fold nodules (10 males, 6 females). Age ranged from 6 to 11 years with a mean age of 9 years. We performed a full screening phoniatric evaluation. In addition psychological tests were carried out to investigate psychological background. Results: We lost three patients at follow-up; one patient received surgery, eight patients healed (43.75%), four improved (25%). There was no statistical difference in the analysis of electroacoustical parameters while MPT significatively raised after therapy. Conclusion: If patients have motivation voice therapy could improve functional dysphonia in children. It is also important psychological background. Further studies on bigger populations with long-term follow-up are needed. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved
Large infratemporal fossa trigeminal schwannoma: A case report
No full textTrigeminal schwannomas with exclusive extracranial involvement (Type E) are rare neoplasms: only 19 cases have been reported in international literature. We report a case of a large (5 cm × 4 cm × 3.5 cm) extracranial trigeminal schwannomas: the neoplasm extensively involved the infratemporal fossa, the pterygopalatine fossa and the infraorbital canal. Diagnosis has been pre-operatively made by a biopsy performed with a Caldwell-Luc approach, although imaging (particularly MRI with gadolinium) was strongly orientative. Neoplasm was treated by a combined endoscopic transnasal and transmaxillary approach. At the radiologic follow-up, made after 3 and 6 months from the operation, the schwannoma did not show any sign of recurrence. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved
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