Leader-member congruence in mindfulness and work outcomes: the mediating role of leader-member exchange

This study extends the mindfulness literature by introducing the constructs of congruence and leader-member exchange (LMX) into the mindfulness model. I collected dyadic data from 210 subordinates and 58 supervisors in universities and banks in south-west Nigeria. The study revealed that leader mindfulness was positively related to leaders' job satisfaction and work engagement but was not significant for job performance and LMX. Member mindfulness was also positively related to members' job satisfaction, work engagement, and job performance. Further, I found that leader-member mindfulness congruence was positively related to the leaders' job satisfaction and members' job satisfaction and work engagement. Finally, leader LMX mediated the relationship between leader-member mindfulness congruence and member work engagement but did not mediate other work outcomes. This study contributes to the organizational behavior literature by showing the benefits of mindfulness, LMX, and congruence in Sub-Saharan African culture

Solar-eclipse-induced perturbations at mid-latitude during the 21 August 2017 event

A study of the response of some ionospheric parameters and their relationship in describing the behaviour of ionospheric mechanisms during the solar eclipse of 21 August 2017 is presented. Mid-latitude stations located along the eclipse path and with data available from the Global Ionospheric radio Observatory (GIRO) database were selected. The percentage of obscuration at these stations ranges between 63&thinsp;% and 100&thinsp;%. A decrease in electron density during the eclipse is attributed to a reduction in solar radiation and natural gas heating. The maximum magnitude of the eclipse consistently coincided with a hmF2 increase and with a lagged maximum decrease in NmF2 at the stations investigated. The results revealed that the horizontal neutral wind flow is as a consequence of the changes in the thermospheric and diffusion processes. The unusual increase and decrease in the shape and thickness parameters during the eclipse period relative to the control days points to the perturbation caused by the solar eclipse. The relationships of the bottomside ionosphere and the F2 layer parameters with respect to the scale height are shown in the present work as viable parameters for probing the topside ionosphere during the eclipse. Furthermore, this study shows that in addition to traditional ways of analysing the thermospheric composition and neutral wind flow, proper relation of standardized NmF2 and hmF2 can be conveniently used to describe the mechanisms.</p

Protective intraoperative ventilation with higher versus lower levels of positive end-expiratory pressure in obese patients (PROBESE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) increase the morbidity and mortality of surgery in obese patients. High levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) with lung recruitment maneuvers may improve intraoperative respiratory function, but they can also compromise hemodynamics, and the effects on PPCs are uncertain. We hypothesized that intraoperative mechanical ventilation using high PEEP with periodic recruitment maneuvers, as compared with low PEEP without recruitment maneuvers, prevents PPCs in obese patients. Methods/design The PRotective Ventilation with Higher versus Lower PEEP during General Anesthesia for Surgery in OBESE Patients (PROBESE) study is a multicenter, two-arm, international randomized controlled trial. In total, 2013 obese patients with body mass index ≥35 kg/m2 scheduled for at least 2 h of surgery under general anesthesia and at intermediate to high risk for PPCs will be included. Patients are ventilated intraoperatively with a low tidal volume of 7 ml/kg (predicted body weight) and randomly assigned to PEEP of 12 cmH2O with lung recruitment maneuvers (high PEEP) or PEEP of 4 cmH2O without recruitment maneuvers (low PEEP). The occurrence of PPCs will be recorded as collapsed composite of single adverse pulmonary events and represents the primary endpoint. Discussion To our knowledge, the PROBESE trial is the first multicenter, international randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of two different levels of intraoperative PEEP during protective low tidal volume ventilation on PPCs in obese patients. The results of the PROBESE trial will support anesthesiologists in their decision to choose a certain PEEP level during general anesthesia for surgery in obese patients in an attempt to prevent PPCs. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02148692. Registered on 23 May 2014; last updated 7 June 2016. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-1929-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Variability In The F1 And F2 Region Electron Density During A Geomagnetic Activity At Mid – Latitude

This paper investigated the variation in the F1 and F2 region electron density during a geomagnetic activity at East Asian mid-latitude stations. In this analysis, D(foF1) and D(foF2) representing deviation of the critical frequency for the F1 and F2 ionospheric regions respectively were employed. The F1 region appears to be much more stable than the F2 layer during the stormy event, as there was no significant effect on the F1 layer in most of the ionospheric stations under investigation. It was also observed that independent of the sign of the storm effect on NmF2, the electron density, if any, in the F1 region is always negative. Moreover, no F1 ionospheric response was observed at midnight (0000UT) throughout the storm event in all the stations; but recorded its maximum effects between 0600UT-1800UT during the day. Conclusively, there is a considerable intra-hour variability of F2 electron density NmF2 during ionospheric disturbances. Keywords: Electron density, Geomagnetic storm, Critical frequency, Ionospheric response Journal of Environmental Extension Vol. 7 2008: pp. 48-5

Moderate storms: a class of rarely investigated geomagnetic storms

No Abstract.International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 3 (4) 2007: pp. 537-54

Geomagnetic Storm And Its Effects On The Ionospheric Environment: A Case Study

Study and prediction of magnetic storms are becoming increasingly important as they have profound influence on human and societal life. Intense solar flares release very high energy particles that can be as injurious to human as the low energy radiation from nuclear blasts. Ionospheric storms can affect radio communications at all latitudes – some radio frequencies are absorbed and others are reflected, leading to rapidly fluctuating signals and unexpected propagation paths. Other areas affected by geomagnetic storm include: · Disruption of defense communication such as early warning radio system · Erratic behaviour of air and marine navigation instrument · Current surges in power lines, causing flickering lights and blackouts that result in damage that attracts colossal amount of money. Seeing that our environment is vulnerable to magnetic storm this paper presents the interplanetary origin of an intense storm and the response of our ionosphere to it. Keywords: magnetic storms, solar flares, current surges, ionosphere Journal of Environmental Extension Vol. 7 2008: pp. 31-3

A study of magnetic field (Bz) and ionospheric variation during magnetic activites at low latitude

A large foF2 data base was collected for the four magnetic storms occurring in January 10, 1976; April 12-13, 1981; October 29, 1973 and July 8, 1975; for the low latitude station of Manila (14.70N) in the East Asian sector. Also, plots of D(foF2) deviations versus time (UT) and that of the interplanetary magnetic field component (Bz) versus time (UT) for the low latitude station were analyzed. From our analysis, it was observed that there is a direct variation between Bz and the F2 region response. Davis et al (1997) have shown that a southward turning with change in Bz of &#948;Bz > 11.5nT results in foF2 showing a marked decrease in amplitude reaching a minimum value of 20hrs after the southward turning. It was also observed that there is homogeneity in the response of F2 region at low latitude stations (i.e. foF2 enhancement) irrespective of the period of storm event, but more pronounce during intense storms which was in agreement with Adeniyi, 1986; Mikhailov et al, 1994; who states that the positive phase in most cases (90%) is observed at equatorial latitudes during magnetic disturbances. Keywords: Magnetic storm, F2 region, equatorial latitudes, magnetic disturbances, interplanetary magnetic field. Journal of Environmental Extension Vol. 6 2007: pp. 46-5

Effective Economic Combination of Waste Seashell and River Sand as Fine Aggregate in Green Concrete

This research elucidates the idea of eco-friendly concrete and highlights the benefits attainable from its effective practice towards sustainable construction materials. The design mix employed a water/cement ratio of 0.5, a concrete mix ratio of 1:2:4, varying percentages of 2.5 mm seashells, 4.75 mm river sand as fine aggregates, and granite 20 mm as coarse aggregates. Laboratory tests showed that the true slump was achieved for all mixes as a decrease in workability was observed with seashell additions. Compressive strength declined with increasing percentages of seashells at all curing ages (7, 14, and 28 days). No seashell-modified mix achieved the target strength for concrete grade 25. Nevertheless, the 10 and 20% seashell blends obtained strength requirements for concrete grade 20. The splitting tensile strength results indicated that 10&ndash;50% seashell-concrete blends yield acceptable splitting tensile strength after 28 days of curing. Correlation and regression analysis showed that compressive strength has a high negative correlation with seashell percentage and a significant correlation with splitting tensile strength. However, no significant correlation was seen between seashell percentage and splitting tensile strength. Models were further developed for predicting workability, splitting tensile strength, and compressive strength, with seashell percentage data. Green concrete production, which reutilizes waste seashells should be promoted, bearing in mind its environmental sustainability and economic prospects

20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acid (20-HETE): Bioactions, Receptors, Vascular Function, Cardiometabolic Disease and Beyond

Vascular function is dynamically regulated and dependent on a bevy of cell types and factors that work in concert across the vasculature. The vasoactive eicosanoid, 20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) is a key player in this system influencing the sensitivity of the vasculature to constrictor stimuli, regulating endothelial function, and influencing the renin angiotensin system (RAS), as well as being a driver of vascular remodeling independent of blood pressure elevations. Several of these bioactions are accomplished through the ligand-receptor pairing between 20-HETE and its high-affinity receptor, GPR75. This 20-HETE axis is at the root of various vascular pathologies and processes including ischemia induced angiogenesis, arteriogenesis, septic shock, hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and cardiometabolic diseases including diabetes and insulin resistance. Pharmacologically, several preclinical tools have been developed to disrupt the 20-HETE axis including 20-HETE synthesis inhibitors (DDMS and HET0016), synthetic 20-HETE agonist analogues (20-5,14-HEDE and 20-5,14-HEDGE) and 20-HETE receptor blockers (AAA and 20-SOLA). Systemic or cell-specific therapeutic targeting of the 20-HETE-GPR75 axis continues to be an invaluable approach as studies examine the molecular underpinnings activated by 20-HETE under various physiological settings. In particular, the development and characterization of 20-HETE receptor blockers look to be a promising new class of compounds that can provide a considerable benefit to patients suffering from these cardiovascular pathologies