Method for finding the critical temperature of the island in a SET structure

We present a method to measure the critical temperature of the island of a superconducting single electron transistor. The method is based on a sharp change in the slope of the zero-bias conductance as a function of temperature. We have used this method to determine the superconducting phase transition temperature of the Nb island of an superconducting single electron transistor with Al leads. We obtain $T_\mathrm{c}^\mathrm{Nb}$ as high as 8.5 K and gap energies up to $\Delta_\mathrm{Nb}\simeq 1.45$ meV. By looking at the zero bias conductance as a function of magnetic field instead of temperature, also the critical field of the island can be determined. Using the orthodox theory, we have performed extensive numerical simulations of charge transport properties in the SET at temperatures comparable to the gap, which match very well the data, therefore providing a solid theoretical basis for our method.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

The role of leadership in nurses' wellbeing and performance: A cross-sectional survey using a dual motivational pathway model

The role of leadership in nurses' wellbeing and performance: A cross-sectional survey using a dual motivational pathway modelAim: To examine the positive motivational paths from perceived autonomy-supportive leadership, and the negative motivational paths from perceived controlling leadership to satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs, work motivation, work performance, work engagement and somatic symptom burden among nurses using Self-Determination Theory. Design: The study used a cross-sectional design mapping nurses' perceptions of the various study variables through a survey. Methods: Nurses working in the municipal healthcare in Norway were recruited through an electronic questionnaire sent out via a link to their emails between 29th of August and 29th of September 2020. Of them, 219 nurses completed the questionnaire. Study hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling. Results: Higher levels of perceived autonomy-supportive leadership were associated with reduced levels of somatic symptom burden and increased levels of work performance and work engagement through the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and autonomous motivation, specifically identified regulation and intrinsic motivation. Perceptions of controlling leadership were associated with heightened levels of somatic symptom burden through basic psychological need frustration, amotivation and introjected motivation, along with lower levels of work engagement through need frustration and amotivation. Conclusion: This study underscores the positive motivational paths of perceived autonomy-supportive leadership on nurses' work performance and wellbeing through the facilitation of basic psychological need satisfaction and autonomous motivation. Conversely, the study highlights negative motivational paths of perceived controlling leadership on reduced work engagement and heightened ill-being through the basic psychological need frustration, controlled motivation and amotivation. Impact: This study provides insights and actionable recommendations for nurses and their leaders, emphasizing the significance of understanding the adverse impact associated with perceived controlling leadership. The findings underscore the importance of addressing these issues to mitigate detrimental effects on motivation and overall work functioning. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution.publishedVersio

Communication style and exercise compliance in physiotherapy (CONNECT). A cluster randomized controlled trial to test a theory-based intervention to increase chronic low back pain patients’ adherence to physiotherapists’ recommendations: study rationale, design, and methods

Physical activity and exercise therapy are among the accepted clinical rehabilitation guidelines and are recommended self-management strategies for chronic low back pain. However, many back pain sufferers do not adhere to their physiotherapist’s recommendations. Poor patient adherence may decrease the effectiveness of advice and home-based rehabilitation exercises. According to self-determination theory, support from health care practitioners can promote patients’ autonomous motivation and greater long-term behavioral persistence (e.g., adherence to physiotherapists’ recommendations). The aim of this trial is to assess the effect of an intervention designed to increase physiotherapists’ autonomy-supportive communication on low back pain patients’ adherence to physical activity and exercise therapy recommendations. \ud \ud This study will be a single-blinded cluster randomized controlled trial. Outpatient physiotherapy centers (N =12) in Dublin, Ireland (population = 1.25 million) will be randomly assigned using a computer-generated algorithm to either the experimental or control arm. Physiotherapists in the experimental arm (two hospitals and four primary care clinics) will attend eight hours of communication skills training. Training will include handouts, workbooks, video examples, role-play, and discussion designed to teach physiotherapists how to communicate in a manner that promotes autonomous patient motivation. Physiotherapists in the waitlist control arm (two hospitals and four primary care clinics) will not receive this training. Participants (N = 292) with chronic low back pain will complete assessments at baseline, as well as 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks after their first physiotherapy appointment. Primary outcomes will include adherence to physiotherapy recommendations, as well as low back pain, function, and well-being. Participants will be blinded to treatment allocation, as they will not be told if their physiotherapist has received the communication skills training. Outcome assessors will also be blinded. \ud \ud We will use linear mixed modeling to test between arm differences both in the mean levels and the rates of change of the outcome variables. We will employ structural equation modeling to examine the process of change, including hypothesized mediation effects. \ud \ud This trial will be the first to test the effect of a self-determination theory-based communication skills training program for physiotherapists on their low back pain patients’ adherence to rehabilitation recommendations. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN63723433\u

No pain, no gain? Satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs, somatic burden, giving up, and life satisfaction in music students

Performance-related somatic symptoms may include pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, and they are commonly experienced by students in higher music education. From a Self-Determination Theory perspective, this study examines the relationship between the basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration, somatic symptom burden, giving up, and life satisfaction among music performance students (n = 281). Two theoretical models were tested hypothesising that music students’ basic psychological need satisfaction (BPNS) would be negatively associated with both students’ somatic symptoms and giving up, and positively related to general life-satisfaction. Basic psychological need frustration (BPNF) was anticipated to have the opposite relations. The two models were confirmed. Participants whose basic psychological needs were satisfied were unlikely to be burdened by somatic symptoms and giving up, and simultaneously likely to experiencing high levels of general life-satisfaction. Conversely, participants whose basic psychological needs were frustrated were more likely to be burdened by various somatic symptoms and to giving up facing adversity. Need-frustrated participants also reported low levels of life satisfaction. This study contributed to extending the application of Self-Determination Theory to address somatic symptom burden in the context of music performance. Educational implications are discussed in the light of teaching and learning in higher music education

Motivasjon i fokus

Motivation in Focus: Self-Determination Theory, in Theory and Practice sheds light on how Self-Determination Theory (SDT) can be applied in the workplace, education, health, sports and the arts. This anthology provides a systematic overview of SDT's scientific status and how it can be used to promote motivation and well-being. Each chapter examines new research and provides concrete examples in which practical implementation of SBT serves to strengthen individual achievement and independence. The anthology brings together leading researchers from a variety of disciplines in Norway and offers both theoretical and practical insights. It will be a useful reference work for anyone interested in how motivation can be deliberately encouraged in different life situations, and particularly relevant for students, researchers and practitioners in the fields of economics, administration, education, health, sports and the arts

Achievement motives and emotional processes in children during problem-solving: Two experimental studies of their relation to performance in different achievement goal conditions

In two studies, the influence of key emotional and motivational factors on performance in different achievement goal-type situations is examined. In study 1, based on 314 sixth-graders, two types of goal situations were induced; performance and mastery. The goals were examined with respect to important antecedents (e.g., motive dispositions) and several consequences (e.g., performance, satisfaction, pleasant affect, worry, and emotionality). The results showed that the motive to achieve success (Ms) produced positive affects, satisfaction, and increased performance, whereas the motive to avoid failure (Mf) produced worries and performance reduction. In study 2, based on 331 sixth-graders, three types of goal situations were induced; performance–approach, performance–avoidance, and mastery goals. The findings revealed that the most important single factors positively related to performance were Ms and mastery–goal situation. In addition, high Ms pupils performed better under mastery condition than under performance condition. Finally, avoidance-goal situation accentuate the negative effects of high Mf on performance

Will They Stay or Will They Go? Motivational Profiles, Retirement-Related Correlates, and Retirement Intentions Among 58–72-Year-Old Workers

Demographic changes indicate that the number of people aged 60 years and above will double in the next 30 years, and politicians around the world have an interest in delaying retirement in order to benefit national economies by lowering the burden on public pension systems. In this study, it is examined whether and how combinations of multiple types of work motivation based on self-determination theory (SDT) would be associated with retirement-related factors and retirement intentions. Using a person-centered approach to identify latent work motivation profiles among older workers, four profiles emerged: (1) the Low Motivation Profile with below-average levels on most motivational regulations, but in particular, lack identified work regulation; (2) the Autonomous Motivation Profile with higher levels of autonomous motivation and lower levels of controlled motivation and amotivation; (3) the High Motivation Profile with simultaneously high autonomous and controlled motivation; (4) the Amotivated Profile. Compared to the Low Motivation and Amotivated Profiles, the Autonomous and the High Motivation profiles show higher levels of vigor and lower levels of job stress, exhaustion and turnover-, and retirement intentions. However, the High Motivation Profile seems to pay a cost because they experience significantly more job stress than employees in the Autonomous profile. In addition, variable-based correlations showed higher levels of vigor and lower levels of job stress, exhaustion, and turnover intentions to be associated with lower levels of retirement intentions. The results are discussed in relation to managers and organizational endeavors to rebuild lost work identification and reduce extrinsic work motivation and amotivation in order to motivate older workers to stay longer at work.</jats:p

Motivational Mechanisms in the Relation between Job Characteristics and Employee Functioning

AbstractThis study investigates the job demands-resources (JD-R) model in relation to work motivation in a self-determination theory (SDT) perspective, with the purpose of developing a model where social-contextual factors are seen in relation to psychological needs in order to explain autonomous work motivation and, in turn, self-reported work performance and somatic symptom burden. SEM-analyses of cross-sectional survey data including 405 waiters/waitresses in Norway were conducted to evaluate the hypothesized model. Results indicate that different job resources have different relations to psychological need satisfaction, and that certain types of job demands (i.e., job challenges) actually may enhance satisfaction of specific psychological needs. In particular, task autonomy had a positive relation to autonomy satisfaction (p &lt; .001) and to competence satisfaction (p &lt; .05), positive feedback had a positive relation to autonomy-, competence-, and relatedness satisfaction (p &lt; .001), and workload had a positive relation to competence satisfaction (p &lt; .001). Furthermore, psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness positively related to autonomous work motivation and, in turn, positively to work performance and negatively to somatic symptom burden (p &lt; .001). Indirect relations were also detected between the job characteristics and autonomous work motivation and between the basic needs and work performance (p &lt; .05). Hence, when explaining autonomous work motivation and work outcomes, it is important to distinguish between different job demands and job resources, as well as among the three psychological needs.</jats:p