Exploring leadership styles and behaviours in the medical field

Defining leadership has proven to be quite difficult, as no universal definition currently exists. Leadership is a complex concept described by many theories, each taking a different viewpoint on what makes a leader successful. As an aspiring medical student and pediatric physician with a passion for leadership, I sought to understand which leadership theory, if any, has resulted in more success over others when used in a variety of medical settings. To answer this question, I completed an Individual Study course during the Fall 2021 semester. For this course, I conducted research on various leadership topics within a medical context and wrote four papers that summarized my findings and critically reflected on how they could inform my personal leadership style. Research topics included determining if leader-member exchange theory or transformational leadership is more effective; how a leader can employ servant leadership behaviours to improve the confidence of others; and why a leader being friends with their colleagues can make it very difficult for them to fulfill their leadership duties. Results were then interpreted in terms of personal, team, organizational, and patient outcomes. Finally, an informational interview with a prominent Canadian leader in a medical profession was conducted to understand how my research findings apply to real-world scenarios. It became clear from my research that the most effective leadership incorporates concepts from multiple theories to develop one’s own leadership style. In doing so, a leader should understand and develop their personal core values and lead by them daily

Exploring leadership styles and behaviours in the medical field

Defining leadership has proven to be quite difficult, as no universal definition currently exists (Northouse, 2021). Leadership is a complex concept described by many theories, each taking a different viewpoint on what makes a leader successful (Northouse, 2021). As an aspiring medical student and pediatric physician with a passion for leadership, I sought to understand which leadership theory, if any, has resulted in more success over others when used in a variety of medical settings. To answer this question, I completed an Individual Study course during the Fall 2021 semester. For this course, I conducted research on various leadership topics within a medical context and wrote four papers that summarized my findings and critically reflected on how they could inform my personal leadership style. Research topics included determining if leader-member exchange theory or transformational leadership is more effective; how a leader can employ servant leadership behaviours to improve the confidence of others; and why a leader being friends with their colleagues can make it very difficult for them to fulfill their leadership duties. Results were then interpreted in terms of personal, team, organizational, and patient outcomes. Finally, an informational interview with a prominent Canadian leader in a medical profession was conducted to understand how my research findings apply to real-world scenarios. It became clear from my research that the most effective leadership incorporates concepts from multiple theories to develop one’s own leadership style. In doing so, a leader should understand and develop their personal core values and lead by them daily. References: Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and practice (9th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc

Backcasting and forecasting biological invasions of inland lakes

Human introduction of nonindigenous species constitutes a serious threat to many ecosystems, particularly lakes. Recent attempts to predict invasions have focused on the supply of propagules of nonindigenous species to recipient ecosystems from source populations. Here we develop a spatially explicit “gravity” model to test this concept for Bythotrephes longimanus, a crustacean waterflea from Eurasia that is rapidly invading lakes in Ontario, Canada. The gravity model predicted spread of Bythotrephes based upon seven identified risk factors (e.g., use of contaminated fishing or boat anchor line) that may allow dispersal of either live individuals or their resting eggs from invaded to noninvaded lakes, as well as based on the spatial arrangement of invaded and noninvaded lakes in Ontario. Discriminant analysis of lake gravity scores successfully identified invasion status for 74% of 170 inland lakes. A retrospective analysis of 31 invaded lakes revealed that the order in which lakes were invaded was directly related to the magnitude of vector inflows from invaded sources. Analysis of the dominant vector inflow to each invaded lake revealed a “stepping stone” pattern in which at least five lakes were sequentially invaded from the source population in Lake Huron. One invaded lake (Muskoka) apparently served as an invasion “hub,” resulting in up to 18 additional direct and 17 indirect invasions. Species spread occurred via a combination of dominant, local diffusion (median distance 12.5 km) and rare, long-distance (\u3e100 km) dispersal. Eleven of 131 lakes that were not invaded in 2000 were reported invaded in 2001. Gravity scores of these lakes were significantly higher than those of other noninvaded systems, indicating that susceptibility to invasion can be related to the magnitude of vector inflows. A GIS model based on gravity scores indicated that distribution of Bythotrephes is expected to expand to eastern and northwestern Ontario, although most new invasions are expected to occur in the central region of the province. Our results indicate that quantitative analysis of human dispersal vectors provides a robust starting point with which to assess vulnerability of discrete ecosystems to invasion. Management efforts focused on reducing the number and magnitude of human-mediated dispersal vectors may reduce the rate of invasion of new ecosystems

Assessing elemental ratios as a paleotemperature proxy in the calcite shells of patelloid limpets

Archaeological shell and fish middens are rich sources of paleoenvironmental proxy data. Patelloid limpet shells are common constituents in archaeological middens found along European, African, and South American coastlines. Paleotemperature reconstructions using oxygen isotope ratios of limpet shells depend on the ability to constrain the oxygen isotope ratio of seawater; therefore, alternative proxies are necessary for coastal localities where this is not possible. The study evaluates whether Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li ratios are reliable proxies of sea surface temperature (SST) in the calcite layer of shells of the patelloid limpets, Patella vulgata and Nacella deaurata. We compare Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li ratios to the seasonal variations in contemporaneous δ18Oshell values, which primarily record seasonal changes in SST. Elemental ratios (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li) show no significant correlations with reconstructed SST in P. vulgata and N. deaurata shells, nor do they show sinusoidal cycles expected from a SST proxy. In addition, shell δ13C values show no significant ontogenetic trends, suggesting that these limpets exhibit little change in metabolic carbon incorporation into the shell with increasing ontogenetic age. Although shell growth rate exhibits a logarithmic decrease with age based on calculated linear extension rates, growth rate does not correlate with elemental profiles in these limpets. Overall, ele

Asset prices and portfolio choice with learning from experience

We study asset prices and portfolio choice with overlapping generations, where the young disregard history to learn from own experience. Disregarding history implies less precise estimates of output growth, which in equilibrium leads the young to increase their investment in risky assets after positive returns, that is, they act as trend chasers. In equilibrium, the risk premium decreases after a positive shock and, therefore, trend chasing young agents lose wealth relative to old agents who behave as contrarians. Consistent with findings from survey data, the average belief about the risk premium in the economy relates negatively to future excess returns and is smoother than the true risk premium

Modern Calibrations of Temperature and Nutrient Proxies for Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions in Tropical Mollusks

Molluscan shell O- and C-isotope values have been shown to be useful indicators of upwelling and freshwater input (and thus nutrient status) in nearshore marine environments, but few studies have had the accompanying long term measurements of water δ^18O (δw) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) δ^13C needed to best test the fidelity of shell isotope values as environmental indicators. Previously measured seawater δw and δ^13CDIC values collected biweekly from 2011-2012 allow us to determine if shell δ^18O and δ^13C values record temperature, δw, δ^13CDIC, and ultimately nutrient status in tropical waters. Conus, Vasum, and Strombus shell δ^18O values reflect predicted seasonal upwelling and freshening signals in the Pacific and seasonal freshening with minimal upwelling in the Caribbean. Both Pacific and Caribbean shell δ^13C profiles show cyclicity, but only Conus samples from Veracruz Beach (Pacific) record seasonal changes in δ13CDIC. This observation likely results from: (1) more distinct seasonal δ^13CDIC variation in Pacific waters compared with Caribbean waters and (2) greater availability of metabolic CO2 for shell growth in Strombus, which we hypothesize is related to greater activity associated with an herbivorous feeding habit. To examine N-isotope ratios (^15N/^14N) in tissues and shell organic matrix of bivalves as a proxy for natural and anthropogenic nutrient fluxes in coastal environments, Pinctada imbricata, Isognomon alatus, and Brachidontes exustus bivalves were live-collected and analyzed from eight sites in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Sites include a variety of coastal environments, including more urbanized, uninhabited, riverine, and oceanic sites. At all sites there is no single dominant source of organic matter contributing to bivalve δ^15N and δ^13C values. Bivalve δ^15N and δ^13C values likely represent a mixture of mangrove and seagrass N and C, although terrestrial sources cannot be ruled out. Despite hydrographic differences between end-members, we see minimal δ^15N and δ^13C difference between bivalves from the river-influenced Rio Guarumo site and those from the oceanic Escudo de Veraguas site, with no evidence for N from open-ocean phytoplankton in the latter. Lastly, δ^15N values of tissue and shell organic matrix correlate significantly for pterioideans P. imbricata and I. alatus. Thus for these species, N isotope studies of historical and fossil shells may provide records of ecology of past environments

Documenting head impacts in youth hockey

Sport-related concussions, which can result in long-lasting adverse cognitive and behavioural effects in athletes, have gained the attention of the research community since an estimated 200,000 concussions are reported in Canada each year. While concussions occur in many sports, most of the research on the mechanisms of concussive impacts has focused on football, despite double the concussion rate in hockey. Concussions in youth athletes often result in more detrimental physiological consequences compared to adults, but most research has been conducted in professional sport. With approximately half a million players registering in minor league hockey in Canada every year, concussion awareness and prevention in this susceptible population is therefore imperative to reducing health concerns. Consequently, our proposed study aims to fill this gap within the existing literature by examining head impacts in youth hockey. We will utilize a multi-camera video system to record youth hockey games at local rinks in Windsor-Essex County. From the video records, the following measures related to head impacts that occur during play will be quantified: impact type, frequency, and location; player anticipation based on body position prior to impact, and; head velocities and impact severities. Once described and quantified, these data will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in head impacts in youth hockey. It is also expected that our results will help to inform the development of interventions that reduce head injury rates, including concussions, through concussion education, training in bodychecking anticipation, and possible rule changes that limit head impact potential

Prediction of Batch Processes Runtime Applying Dynamic Time Warping and Survival Analysis

AbstractBatch runs corresponding to the same recipe usually have different duration. The data collected by the sensors that equip batch production lines reflects this fact: time series with different lengths and unsynchronized events. Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) is an algorithm successfully used, in batch monitoring too, to synchronize and map to a standard time axis two series, an action called alignment. The online alignment of running batches, although interesting, gives no information on the remaining time frame of the batch, such as its total runtime, or time-to-end. We notice that this problem is similar to the one addressed by Survival Analysis (SA), a statistical technique of standard use in clinical studies to model time-to-event data. Machine Learning (ML) algorithms adapted to survival data exist, with increased predictive performance with respect to classical formulations. We apply a SA-ML-based system to the problem of predicting the time-to-end of a running batch, and show a new application of DTW. The information returned by openended DTW can be used to select relevant data samples for the SA-ML system, without negatively affecting the predictive performance and decreasing the computational cost with respect to the same SA-ML system that uses all the data available. We tested the system on a real-world dataset coming from a chemical plant

Evaluating Freshwater Mussel Shell δ13C Values as a Proxy for Dissolved Inorganic Carbon δ13C Values in a Temperate River

The stable isotope ratio of dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13CDIC) in rivers reflects the dominant vegetation type in the surrounding watershed, rates of chemical weathering, atmospheric CO2 fluxes, and the relative rates of photosynthesis and respiration. Reconstructing past δ13CDIC values may reveal changes in these characteristics before watersheds experience land-use change and/or climate change. This study uses freshwater mussels, Elliptio complanata, and coeval environmental data to assess how high-resolution changes in the oxygen and carbon isotope ratios of shell carbonate (δ18Oshell and δ13Cshell, respectively) can be used as proxies of paleotemperature and paleo-DIC in rivers. To test our hypotheses, we analyzed time-series δ18Oshell and δ13Cshell values, δ13C values in bivalve tissues, and environmental data collected fortnightly from the Neuse River, North Carolina. Shell microsamples milled every 150 μm along the maximum growth axis represent an average of 12 ± 5 days (n = 524; excluding periods of growth cessation of >30 days), which is similar to the environmental data resolution (∼14 days). Serially sampled δ18Oshell and δ13Cshell values did not capture the full range of environmental conditions due to growth cessation during winter shutdown and extreme weather events. Low water temperature and elevated turbidity appear to be significant drivers of growth cessation. Spatial and temporal differences in the amount of metabolic carbon incorporated in the shell (∼0%–44%) likely occur due to variable mussel metabolic rates within and among study sites. Though high-resolution δ13Cshell values did not reflect variations in δ13CDIC values, average δ13Cshell values were indicative of average δ13CDIC values in the Neuse River

Carbon and nitrogen tracers of land use effects on net ecosystem metabolism in mangrove estuaries, southwest Florida

Four estuaries in southwest Florida with different land-use characteristics in their watersheds were chosen to investigate the effects of anthropogenic land use on estuarine biogeochemical cycling. We compared C:N ratios, concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), chlorophyll-a (chl-a) and particulate organic carbon (POC), stable isotope ratios of DIC (δ13CDIC) and POC (δ13CPOC), and nitrogen isotope ratios of particulate organic nitrogen (δ15NPON) among these estuaries. Values of δ13CDIC ranged from −14.1 to +0.9‰. The more negative values occurred upstream, resulting from DIC inputs derived from both the degradation of organic carbon and dissolution of carbonates. Upstream DIC concentrations were as high as 8066 μmol L−1, suggesting high respiration rates. Further, a comparison of DIC values to a conservative mixing model indicates net heterotrophic metabolic state in all four estuaries. Supporting this interpretation, low δ13CPOC values suggest that terrestrial plants were the main source of POC in the upstream sampling points. However, C:N ratios ranged from 7.2 to 13.4, and were consistent with the decomposition of both terrestrial and aquatic sources. Chl-a concentrations were variable and typically below 20 μg L−1, indicating moderate to low levels of autotrophy in all estuaries. Elevated chl-a concentrations indicative of increased primary productivity occurred at intermediate salinities, and were possibly caused by the mixing front at mid-estuary locations. There were no apparent differences in δ15NPON among estuaries, suggesting that the N sources to these estuaries are comparable. The combined results show no differences between near-natural and anthropogenically influenced estuaries, indicating a minimal effect of anthropogenic activities on the parameters measured, possibly as a result of the filtering capacity of the extensive surrounding mangrove vegetation