Contextualizing Leadership Upon Followers’ Unique Characteristics: An Argument for Explicit Consideration of Accurate Person Perception

Leadership scholarship, in terms of theories and models, continues to make risky assumptions that the person in a leader role accurately accounts for not only follower behavior, but also the motives and personality aspects from which said behaviors manifest. In this paper we propose an integrated path model that utilizes both Leader-Member Exchange and Transformational Leadership, while explicitly focusing on the science behind interpersonal judgment accuracy. It is only by having an accurate understanding of the follower, which has been a long held untested assumption, can congruence be purposely obtained, narrowing the gap between ideology and practice

Computing the local pressure in molecular dynamics simulations

Computer simulations of inhomogeneous soft matter systems often require accurate methods for computing the local pressure. We present a simple derivation, based on the virial relation, of two equivalent expressions for the local (atomistic) pressure in a molecular dynamics simulation. One of these expressions, previously derived by other authors via a different route, involves summation over interactions between particles within the region of interest; the other involves summation over interactions across the boundary of the region of interest. We illustrate our derivation using simulations of a simple osmotic system; both expressions produce accurate results even when the region of interest over which the pressure is measured is very small.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Examining the influence of tobacco control mass media campaign expenditure on the association between motivation to stop smoking and quit attempts: A prospective study in England

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether expenditure on national tobacco control mass media campaigns moderates the association between motivation to stop smoking and future quit attempts. METHOD: Data were from 2601 people who smoke participating in a population survey with 12-month follow-up between April 2015 and February 2021. We used logistic regression to test associations of (i) baseline level of motivation to stop smoking, (ii) mean monthly tobacco control mass media campaign expenditure in England between baseline and follow-up, and (iii) their interaction, on past-year quit attempts assessed at 12-month follow-up. Covariates included age, sex, occupational social grade, and region. RESULTS: Between baseline and follow-up, 38.6% of participants made a quit attempt. Each one-point increase in baseline motivation to stop smoking was associated with 1.37 times greater odds (95%CI = 1.31-1.43) of making a quit attempt over 12-month follow-up. Each one standard deviation increase in tobacco control mass media expenditure between baseline and 12-month follow-up was associated with 13% greater odds of making a quit attempt (95%CI = 1.05-1.23). There was no significant interaction between mass media expenditure and motivation to stop on quit attempts (OR = 1.01, 95%CI = 0.97-1.05); the data provided strong evidence for the null (Bayes factors = 0.07 and 0.04 based on expected effect sizes of OR = 1.5 and OR = 0.67, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Among people who smoke, self-reported level of motivation to stop strongly predicted whether they made a quit attempt in the subsequent year. Increased expenditure on tobacco control mass media campaigns was associated with increased quit attempts. The association between motivation and quit attempts did not differ according to tobacco control mass media expenditure over this period

Impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the nature of attempts to stop smoking and to reduce alcohol consumption in Great Britain: A representative population survey, 2021-2022

BACKGROUND: Smoking and excessive drinking place a strain on household budgets. We aimed to examine the impact of the cost-of-living crisis in Great Britain on the nature of smoking cessation and alcohol reduction attempts, and explore changes in health professionals offering support. METHODS: Data were from 14,567 past-year smokers and high-risk drinkers (AUDIT-C ≥5) participating in monthly representative surveys, January-2021 through December-2022. We estimated time trends in cost as a motive driving the most recent (smoking cessation/alcohol reduction) attempt, use of paid or evidence-based support, and receipt of GP offer of support for smoking cessation or alcohol reduction, and tested for moderation by occupational social grade. RESULTS: The proportion of attempts motivated by cost did not change significantly over time among smokers (25.4% [95%CI = 23.8-26.9%]), but increased between December-2021 and December-2022 among high-risk drinkers from less advantaged social grades (from 15.3% [95%CI 12.1-19.3] to 29.7% [20.1-44.1]). The only change in support use was an increase in smokers using paid support, specifically e-cigarettes (from 28.1% [23.7-33.3] to 38.2% [33.0-44.4]). Among those visiting their GP, the proportion who received an offer of support was similar over time among smokers (27.0% [25.7-28.2]) and high-risk drinkers (1.4% [1.1-1.6%]). CONCLUSIONS: There is limited evidence that the 2021/22 cost-of-living crisis affected the nature of attempts to stop smoking and reduce alcohol consumption, or receipt of GP offer of support. It is encouraging that use of evidence-based support has not declined and that use of e-cigarettes in quit attempts has increased. However, cost is increasingly motivating alcohol reduction attempts among less advantaged drinkers, and rates of GPs offering support, especially for alcohol reduction, remain very low

How has expenditure on nicotine products changed in a fast-evolving marketplace? A representative population survey in England, 2018-2022

Introduction: In the last five years, there has been a dramatic shift in the types of nicotine products being purchased. This study aimed to estimate how much users spend on types of cigarettes and alternative nicotine products (e-cigarettes, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), heated tobacco, nicotine pouches) and describe changes between 2018 and 2022. / Methods: Monthly representative cross-sectional survey in England. 10,323 adults who smoked cigarettes or used alternative nicotine reported their average weekly expenditure on these products, adjusted for inflation. / Results: Smokers spent £20.49 [95%CI=20.09-20.91] on cigarettes each week (£27.66[26.84-28.50]/£15.96[15.49-16.28] among those who mainly smoked manufactured/hand-rolled cigarettes), e-cigarette users spent £6.30 [5.99-6.55] (£8.41[7.17-9.78]/£6.42[5.58-7.39]/£5.93[5.64-6.30] among those who mainly used disposable/pod/refillable devices), NRT users £6.11 [5.53-6.69], and heated tobacco users £13.87 [9.58-20.09]. Expenditure on cigarettes grew by 10% September-2018 to July-2020, then fell by 10% July-2020 to June-2022. These changes coincided with a 13% reduction in cigarette consumption and a 14% increase in the proportion mainly smoking hand-rolled cigarettes. Expenditure on e-cigarettes was stable between 2018 and late-2020, then rose by 31% up to mid-2022. Expenditure on NRT increased slowly 2018-2020 (+4%) and more quickly thereafter (+20%). / Conclusions: Inflation-adjusted expenditure on cigarettes has fallen since 2020, such that the average smoker in England currently spends the same on cigarettes each week as in 2018. This has been achieved by smoking fewer cigarettes and switching to cheaper hand-rolled cigarettes. Expenditure on alternative nicotine has increased above inflation; users spent around a third more on these products in 2022 than between 2018–2020. / Implications: People in England continue to spend substantially more on smoking cigarettes than using alternative nicotine products. The average smoker in England spends around £13 a week (~£670 a year) more than people using only e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement therapy. The average expenditure on manufactured cigarettes is double that of hand-rolled cigarettes

Nicotine strength of e-liquids used by adult vapers in Great Britain:a population survey 2016 to 2024

Background and aims: In March 2024, the UK government announced plans to introduce a Vaping Products Duty that will tax e-liquids based on their nicotine strength. This study examined trends in the nicotine strength of e-liquids used by adult vapers and differences in those currently used across relevant subgroups.Design: Nationally-representative, cross-sectional household survey, July 2016 to January 2024.Setting: Great Britain.Participants: 7,981 adult vapers.Measurements: Participants were asked whether the e-cigarette they mainly use contains nicotine (yes/no) and the e-liquid strength (no nicotine/&gt;0-≤6/7-11/12-19/≥20 mg/ml). We also collected information on the main device type used (disposable/refillable/pod), age, gender, occupational social grade, history of ≥1 mental health conditions, smoking status, and (among past-year smokers) level of cigarette addiction.Findings: The proportion of vapers in England using high-strength (≥20mg/ml) e-liquids increased from an average of 3.8% [95% confidence interval [CI] 2.9-5.0%] up to June 2021 to 32.5% [27.9-37.4%] in January 2024 (the vast majority of whom (93.3% in January 2024) reported using exactly 20mg/ml; the legal limit). This rise was most pronounced among those using disposable e-cigarettes, those aged 18-24y, and all smoking statuses (including never smokers) except long-term (≥1y) ex-smokers. Of those surveyed in 2022-24 in Great Britain, overall, 89.5% [88.1-90.8%] said they usually used e-cigarettes containing nicotine, 8.7% [7.5-10.0%] used nicotine-free e-cigarettes, and 1.8% [1.2-2.4%] were unsure. The proportion using ≥20mg/ml was higher among those mainly using disposable (47.9%) compared with pod (16.3%) or refillable (11.5%) devices; never smokers (36.0%), current smokers (28.8%), or recent (&lt;1y) ex-smokers (27.4%), compared with long-term ex-smokers (13.9%); and younger (16-24y; 44.2%) compared with older (≥25y; range 9.4-25.1%) age groups. There were no notable differences across other subgroups of interest.Conclusions: Use of high-strength nicotine e-liquids in England appears to have increased sharply in recent years. Most adult vapers in Great Britain appear to use e-cigarettes that contain nicotine but different subgroups use different strengths: nicotine strengths tend to be higher among those who mainly use disposable devices and those aged 16-24y, and lower among long-term ex-smokers.<br/

Evaluation of the impact of a regional educational advertising campaign on harm perceptions of e-cigarettes, prevalence of e-cigarette use, and quit attempts among smokers

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated how effective an advertising campaign that was piloted by Cancer Research UK in January/February 2018 was at promoting quit attempts by increasing awareness of the relative harms of e-cigarettes compared with smoking. METHODS: Adults (≥16 years, n = 2217) living in Greater Manchester (campaign region) and Yorkshire & Humber and the North East of England (control regions) completed cross-sectional surveys immediately before and after the campaign period. Surveys measured socio-demographics, perceptions and use of e-cigarettes, and motivation and attempts to quit smoking. We tested interactions between time (pre, post) and region (campaign, control). RESULTS: 36.7% (95% CI 33.0%-40.6%) of those in the intervention region recognised the campaign. In the general population, interactions were non-significant for all outcomes except for perception of e-cigarettes as effective cessation aids, with smaller increases from pre- to post-campaign in the campaign (49.9% to 54.0%) compared with the control region (40.5% to 55.0%; OR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.45-0.98). Among smokers, motivation to quit increased in the intervention region (44.0% to 48.0%) but decreased in the control region (40.5% to 21.5%; OR = 2.97, 95% CI 1.25-7.16), with no other significant differences between regions over time. A Bayesian analysis confirmed that non-significant results were inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the control region, the campaign was associated with an increase in smokers' motivation to quit but a smaller increase in adults' perception of e-cigarettes as an effective cessation aid. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether the campaign affected other outcomes

Smoking prevalence and purchasing of menthol cigarettes since the menthol flavour ban in Great Britain:a population-based survey between 2020 and 2023

Background: Menthol cigarettes have been banned in Great Britain (GB) since May 2020. Still, menthol accessories and unlabelled cigarettes perceived as mentholated are available, and people can buy menthol cigarettes overseas or illicitly. This study assessed: trends in smoking menthol cigarettes among all adults and 18-24-year-olds in GB between October 2020 and March 2023; trends in and differences between England, Scotland and Wales during the same period and purchase sources among people smoking menthol versus non-flavoured cigarettes.Methods: Population-weighted data were from a monthly cross-sectional survey of adults in GB. Among people smoking cigarettes, we calculated the proportion smoking menthol cigarettes across all adults and 18-24-year-olds, and prevalence ratios (PR) between the first and last quarter. We also calculated the proportions of people smoking menthol/non-flavoured cigarettes by purchase source (including illicit sources).Results: In the first quarter, 16.2% of adults smoking cigarettes reported menthol cigarette smoking with little to no decline throughout the study (PR 0.85, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.01), while it declined among 18-24-year-olds (PR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.89). The prevalence of menthol cigarette smoking fell by two-thirds in Wales (PR 0.36, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.62) but remained relatively stable in England (PR 0.88, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.06) and Scotland (PR 0.94, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.53). The main purchasing sources were licit (93.9%), 14.8% reported illicit sources and 11.5% cross-border purchases, without notable differences from people smoking non-flavoured cigarettes.Conclusions: Roughly one million adults in GB still smoke menthol cigarettes and, with the exception of Wales and young people, there were no noteworthy changes in the post-ban period. There was no indication that the overall persistence of menthol smoking was driven by illicit purchases.Keywords: illegal tobacco products; non-cigarette tobacco products; public policy

Highly efficient and selective extraction of uranium from aqueous solution by a magnetic device: succinyl-ß-cyclodextrin-APTES@maghemite nanoparticles

The removal of radio-elements, notably uranium, from waste-waters is crucial for public health and environmental remediation. To this end, succinyl-ß-cyclodextrin (SßCD) is grafted onto maghemite nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by the polyol method. The nanocomposite was well characterized. The adsorption of U(VI) by SßCD-APTES@Fe2O3 is pH-dependent with a maximum at pH 6. Adsorption occurs mainly by complex formation and displays a very good selectivity for U(VI) compared to other cations such as Cs+, K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Al3+. The data were plotted according to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Elovich, Temkin and Halsey isotherms. The Langmuir isotherm maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) is 286 mg U g-1 and higher than for other reported sorbents. Moreover, Cs-corrected STEM visualizes the uranium on the NP surface, which is consistent with the Halsey isotherm model for multilayer adsorption. The U(VI) adsorbed on SßCD-APTES@Fe2O3 is easily recovered by magnetic sedimentation and desorption performed in a small volume in order to concentrate the extract. The nanocomposite can be regenerated and re-used at least tenfold

Who would be affected by a ban on disposable vapes? A population study in Great Britain

OBJECTIVE: The UK government is consulting on banning disposable e-cigarettes. This study aimed to describe trends in disposable e-cigarette use among adults in Great Britain since 2021 and establish who would currently be affected by a ban on disposables. STUDY DESIGN: Nationally-representative monthly cross-sectional survey. METHODS: We analysed data from 69,973 adults surveyed between January 2021 and August 2023. We estimated monthly time trends in the weighted prevalence of current disposable e-cigarette use among adults and by sociodemographic characteristics and smoking status. RESULTS: From January 2021 to August 2023, the prevalence of disposable e-cigarette use grew from 0.1 % to 4.9 %. This rise was observed across all population subgroups but was most pronounced among younger adults (e.g. reaching 15.9 % of 18-year-olds compared with 1.3 % of 65-year-olds), those who currently smoke (16.3 %), and those who stopped smoking in the past year (18.2 %). Use among never smokers remained relatively rare (1.5 %), except among 18- to 24-year-olds (7.1 %). Use was significantly higher in England than Wales or Scotland (5.3 % vs. 2.0 % and 2.8 %) and among less (vs. more) advantaged social grades (6.1 % vs. 4.0 %), those with (vs. without) children (6.4 % vs. 4.4 %), and those with (vs. without) a history of mental health conditions (9.3 % vs. 3.1 %). CONCLUSIONS: A ban on disposable e-cigarettes would currently affect one in 20 adults in Great Britain (approximately 2.6 million people). The proportion who would be affected would be greatest among young people, including the 316,000 18-24 year-olds who currently use disposables but who have never regularly smoked tobacco, which may discourage uptake of vaping in this group. However, a ban would also affect 1.2 million people who currently smoke and a further 744,000 who previously smoked. It would also have a disproportionate impact on disadvantaged groups that have higher rates of smoking and typically find it harder to quit