Predicting leadership and performance in uniformed organisations using the five factor model of personality

This is a digitised version of a thesis that was deposited in the University Library. If you are the author and you have a query about this item please contact PEARL Admin ([email protected])Metadata merged with duplicate record (http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/743 - now deleted) on 20.12.2016 by CS (TIS).Selection has been primarily focussed on the use of ability and aptitude measures as they have been shown to predict job performance in uniformed organisations. Personality assessment has largely been ignored as a possible contributor to improving predictions of performance. The emergence of the Five Factor Model as a framework for personality research, together with the development of the Trait Self Description Inventory (TSDI), has provided the opportunity to investigate how personality assessment might improve upon existing selection methods to predict performance in training. It was found that existing criterion measures did not fully reflect the core aims of the training organizations. This led to the use of a Leadership Trait Rating Scale as a criterion measure for subsequent investigation of the psychometric properties of the TSDI, and the development of a performance taxonomy. Five studies were carried out. Four of the studies involved soldiers and officers from the British Army as participants. These studies were undertaken to contrast the predictive validity of the Big Five factors against overall and specific areas of performance and to examine the incremental validity of the Big Five factors and their sub factors over general ability measures. The fifth study examined the general isability of the findings using similar data gathered from the Metropolitan Police Service. Contextual factors were found to have great influence on relationships between personality assessment and criterion measures. A novel, robust, two factor leadership model was identified. The first factor represented cognitively orientated leadership traits and the second, personality orientated leadership traits. These factors broadly equated to "can do" and "will do" attributes. Overall, the Big Five personality measures predicted no worse than, and, in some cases, as well as, some of the Army's Regular Commissions Board (RCB) dimensions. Big Five sub factors (facets) in certain situations were shown to predict performance better than the Big Five factors. The development potential of personality assessment for improving existing selection systems in uniformed organizations was confirmed by the findings.The University of Plymouth, the British Army, the Defence Leadership and Management Centre, Defence Academy, Shrivenham, and the Metropolitan Police Servic

Select Metal and Metalloid Surveillance of Free-ranging Eastern Box Turtles from Illinois and Tennessee

The Eastern box turtle has been proposed as a biomonitor because it is long lived, relies on the environment for food and water, and has a small home range. To establish this designation, ISTC partnered with the Illinois Natural History Survey, the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois, and the Clinch River Environmental Studies Organization. Plasma samples from 273 free-range box turtles were collected in 2011 and 2012 in Tennessee and Illinois. Full results reported in Allender, Matthew C., et al (2015). "Select metal and metalloid surveillance of free-ranging Eastern box turtles from Illinois and Tennessee (Terrapene carolina carolina)." Ecotoxicology 24, 1269–1278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-015-1498-5Ope

Investigating detrusor muscle concentrations of oxybutynin after intravesical delivery in an Ex Vivo porcine model

Intravesical oxybutynin is highly effective in the treatment of overactive bladder. Traditionally the mechanism of action was explained by antagonism of muscarinic receptors located in the detrusor, however evidence now suggests antimuscarinics may elicit their effect by modifying afferent pathways in the mucosal region. This study aimed to investigate the bladder wall distribution of oxybutynin in an ex vivo setting providing tissue - layer specific concentrations of drug achieved after intravesical delivery. Whole ex vivo porcine bladders were intravesically instilled with 0.167 mg mL−1 oxybutynin solution. After 60 min, tissue samples were excised, serially sectioned parallel to the urothelial surface and extracted drug quantified. Drug distribution into the urothelium, lamina propria and detrusor was determined. Oxybutynin permeated into the bladder wall at a higher rate than other drugs previously investigated (apparent transurothelial Kp = 1.36 × 10−5 cm s−1). After 60 min intravesical instillation, concentrations achieved in the urothelium (298.69 μg g−1) and lamina propria (43.65 μg g−1) but not the detrusor (0.93 μg g−1) were greater than reported IC50 values for oxybutynin. This work adds to the increasing body of evidence suggesting antimuscarinics elicit their effects via mechanisms other than direct inhibition of detrusor contractio

An ex Vivo investigation into the transurothelial permeability and bladder wall distribution of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory Ketorolac

Transurothelial drug delivery continues to be an attractive treatment option for a range of urological conditions; however, dosing regimens remain largely empirical. Recently, intravesical delivery of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory ketorolac has been shown to significantly reduce ureteral stent-related pain. While this latest development provides an opportunity for advancing the management of stent-related pain, clinical translation will undoubtedly require an understanding of the rate and extent of delivery of ketorolac into the bladder wall. Using an ex vivo porcine model, we evaluate the urothelial permeability and bladder wall distribution of ketorolac. The subsequent application of a pharmacokinetic (PK) model enables prediction of concentrations achieved in vivo. Ketorolac was applied to the urothelium and a transurothelial permeability coefficient (Kp) calculated. Relative drug distribution into the bladder wall after 90 min was determined. Ketorolac was able to permeate the urothelium (Kp = 2.63 × 10–6 cm s–1), and after 90 min average concentrations of 400, 141 and 21 μg g–1 were achieved in the urothelium, lamina propria and detrusor respectively. An average concentration of 87 μg g–1 was achieved across the whole bladder wall. PK simulations (STELLA) were then carried out, using ex vivo values for Kp and muscle/saline partition coefficient (providing an estimation of vascular clearance), to predict 90 min in vivo ketorolac tissue concentrations. When dilution of the drug solution with urine and vascular clearance were taken into account, a reduced ketorolac concentration of 37 μg g–1 across the whole bladder wall was predicted. These studies reveal crucial information about the urothelium’s permeability to agents such as ketorolac and the concentrations achievable in the bladder wall. It would appear that levels of ketorolac delivered to the bladder wall intravesically would be sufficient to provide an anti-inflammatory effect. The combination of such ex vivo data and PK modeling provides an insight into the likelihood of achieving clinically relevant concentrations of drug following intravesical administration

Molecular imprinted polymers binding low functionality templates

A series of highly specific molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) for small, low functionality bicyclic Diels–Alder products was prepared as bulk polymers

4-(3-Aminopropylene)-7-nitrobenzofurazan: a new polymerisable monomer for use in homogeneous molecularly imprinted sorbent fluoroassays

The synthesis of a new polymerisable fluorescent monomer, 4-(3-aminopropylene)-7-nitrobenzofurazan, is described. This compound was further used to prepare a fluorescent atrazine imprinted polymer as a component of a homogeneous pseudo-fluoroassay

Liquid-liquid phase separation: characterisation of a novel device capable of separating particle carrying multiphase flows

Capillary forces on the microscale are exploited to create a continuous flow liquid–liquid phase separator. Segmented flow regimes of immiscible fluids are generated and subsequently separated into their component phases through an array of high aspect ratio, laser machined, separation ducts (36 µm wide, 130 µm deep) in a planar, integrated, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microdevice. A controlled pressure differential across the phase separator architecture facilitates the selective passage of the wetting, organic, phase through the separator ducts, enabling separation of microfluidic multiphase flow streams. The reported device is demonstrated to separate water and chloroform segmented flow regimes at flow rates up to 0.4 ml min−1. Separation efficiency is quantified over a range of flow rates and applied pressure differentials, characterising device behaviour and limits of operation. Experimental measurements and observations are supported by theoretical hydrodynamic and capillary pressure modelling. The influence of material properties and geometric design parameters on phase separation is quantified and optimisation strategies proposed. The novel ability of the membrane free device to separate an organic phase containing suspended microparticulates, from an aqueous phase, is also demonstrated

Continuous molecular enrichment in microfluidic systems

We have demonstrated for the first time highly efficient molecular extractions in continuous flow microfluidic systems utilising the rapid mixing properties of biphasic segmented flow in conjunction with suspended micro-particulate adsorbents to enhance extraction