Leading in the digital age: A systematic review on leader traits in the context of e-leadership

Due to the rapid changes in work environments caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, leadership has shifted from face-to-face to virtual contexts. Accordingly, the new challenges require specific e-leader traits. To summarize the divergent scholarly discussion, we conducted a systematic review and identified distal (i.e., personality, cognitive abilities, motives and attitudes, and core beliefs) and proximal (i.e., skills) attributes of e-leaders. Our results show that some traditional leader traits such as technological, communication, motivational, and organizational skills are also important for e-leadership. However, certain traits become increasingly important in virtual contexts: e-leaders need adaptability and risk- taking to deal with constant change, and higher cultural, social, and emotional intelligence to foster collaboration in diversified teams. In addition, digital technologies require particular change management, coaching, and trust-building skills. Our findings contribute to the current discussion on e-leadership and help practitioners train their leaders towards the identified e-leader profile

A Vanadium(III) Complex with Blue and NIR-II Spin-Flip Luminescence in Solution

Luminescence from Earth-abundant metal ions in solution at room temperature is a very challenging objective due to the intrinsically weak ligand field splitting of first-row transition metal ions, which leads to efficient nonradiative deactivation via metal-centered states. Only a handful of 3dn metal complexes (n ≠ 10) show sizable luminescence at room temperature. Luminescence in the near-infrared spectral region is even more difficult to achieve as further nonradiative pathways come into play. No Earth-abundant first-row transition metal complexes have displayed emission >1000 nm at room temperature in solution up to now. Here, we report the vanadium(III) complex mer-[V(ddpd)2][PF6]3 yielding phosphorescence around 1100 nm in valeronitrile glass at 77 K as well as at room temperature in acetonitrile with 1.8 × 10–4% quantum yield (ddpd = N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-dipyridine-2-ylpyridine-2,6-diamine). In addition, mer-[V(ddpd)2][PF6]3 shows very strong blue fluorescence with 2% quantum yield in acetonitrile at room temperature. Our comprehensive study demonstrates that vanadium(III) complexes with d2 electron configuration constitute a new class of blue and NIR-II luminophores, which complement the classical established complexes of expensive precious metals and rare-earth elements

Photocleavable core cross-linked polymeric micelles of polypept(o)ides and ruthenium(II) complexes

Core cross-linking of polymeric micelles has been demonstrated to contribute to enhanced stability that can improve the therapeutic efficacy. Photochemistry has the potential to provide spatial resolution and on-demand drug release. In this study, light-sensitive polypyridyl-ruthenium(II) complexes were combined with polypept(o)ides for photocleavable core cross-linked polymeric micelles. Block copolymers of polysarcosine-block-poly(glutamic acid) were synthesized by ring-opening N-carboxyanhydride polymerization and modified with aromatic nitrile-groups on the glutamic acid side chain. The modified copolymers self-assembled into micelles and were cross-linked by cis-diaquabis(2,2'-bipyridine)-ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bpy)2(H2O)2]2+) or cis-diaquabis(2,2'-biquinoline)-ruthenium(II) ([Ru(biq)2(H2O)2]2+). Depending on the flexibility and hydrophobicity of the nitrile linker, either small spherical structures (Dh 45 nm, PDI 0.11) or worm-like micelles were obtained. The cross-linking reaction did not affect the overall size distribution but induced a change in the metal-to-ligand charge transfer peak from 482 to 420 nm and 592 to 548 nm. The cross-linked micelles displayed colloidal stability after incubation with human blood plasma and during gel permeation chromatography in hexafluoroisopropanol. Light-induced cleavage of [Ru(bpy)2(H2O)2]2+ was accomplished within 300 s, while [Ru(biq)2(H2O)2]2+ could not be completely released. Analysis in HuH-7 cells revealed increased cytotoxicity via micellar delivery of [Ru(bpy)2(H2O)2]2+ but mostly irradiation damage for [Ru(biq)2(H2O)2]2+. Further evaluation in ovo confirmed stable circulation pointing towards the future development of quick-release complexes.Drug Delivery Technolog

Zur fr\ufcheren Verbreitung von Gallotia simonyi auf Hierro, mit Vorschl\ue4gen zur Wiederansiedlung

Volume: 36Start Page: 417End Page: 42