Working in dangerous contexts: conceptualising leadership in emergency response team

This thesis explores processes of leadership in UK public sector Emergency Response teams. Leadership has received much attention as a field of study, predominantly in the standard organisational context with an emphasis on the functional approaches leaders use to manage situations. In conventional operation, the organisational context is characterised by relatively low levels of ambiguity, and where there is information, resource and time available to enable adaptive responses. In comparison to this, few studies have focused on leadership in dangerous contexts, characterised by high levels of complexity, where ambiguity is high, and resources and time are constrained. Emergency response teams such as police, fire and ambulance, continuously face dangerous situations to their personnel and the public. The focus of this study is on specialist operational teams within the emergency services that particularly respond to dangerous incidents. Emergency response teams such as police firearms, hazardous area response and fire service teams are collectively tasked with understanding their environment and co-creating adaptive leadership response strategies. This doctoral study contributes to leadership theory in dangerous contexts. This thesis is informed by a social constructionist epistemology, and interpretivist philosophy. The focus of the empirical study is on understanding the constructed meaning of leadership and leadership processes of individuals who operate in dangerous contexts, within emergency response teams. The data collection method used for the study is a series of focus groups, involving sixty-one participants, adopting a thematic analysis approach and applying the principles of progressive focussing. This thesis contributes to leadership theory by conceptualising leadership as a complex dynamic and fluid process, specifically in relation to emergency response teams operating in dangerous contexts. This thesis proposes a new framework for understanding leadership for teams working in dangerous environments. It explores the complexity of leadership processes and highlights how fluid leadership as a core element can inform team training and team development

Bio-mechanical Characterization of Adherent Cell Layers with a PDMS Cantilever

In the last few decades, the mechanical characteristics of human cells has been linked to many physiological processes and pathological conditions, illustrating the importance as effective biomarkers. Mounting research has shown the mechanical force between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a vital role in cellular processes such as tissue homeostasis, wound healing, cancer metastasis, and the progression of various diseases. This mechanical force, or the force that a cell produces on its surroundings, is termed as the cellular traction force (CTF). Precise characterization of the CTF can expand our knowledge of these important cellular processes as well as lead to the development of novel mechanical biomarkers of various cellular disorders. Current methods to measure the CTF require special substrates and fluorescent microscopy, rendering them less suitable in a clinical setting. This study details the development of a novel method to measure the CTF that is more affordable and accessible in a clinical setting than conventional approaches. The developed device, an ultrathin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cantilever, demonstrated a rapid and direct approach to measure the combined CTF of a large population of cells. The CTF of benign and aggressive breast cancer cell lines were measured. The device was then used to measure the CTF of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts while their cytoskeletal network was altered. In addition, the CTF and the dynamic contraction force of live rat cardiomyocytes were characterized. Lastly, the combination of the thin film PDMS cantilever and beating cardiomyocytes created a self-propelled swimming biorobot

Advancing Torpor Inducing Transfer Habitats for Human Stasis to Mars

SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) has conducted an evaluation of an advanced habitat system designed to transportcrews between the Earth and Mars. This new and innovative habitat concept is capable of placing crew members ininactive, torpor states during transit phases of a deep space mission. This substantially reduces the mass and size ofthe habitat, which ultimately leads to significant reductions in the overall architecture size.Our approach for achieving this is based on extending the current and evolving medical practice of TherapeuticHypothermia (TH) - a proven and effective treatment for various traumatic injuries. TH is a medical treatment thatlowers a patient's body temperature by just 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit causing human metabolic rate to decreasesignificantly and the body to enter an unconscious state. This method avoids the intractable challenges often associatedwith cell metabolic cessation through cryogenic freezing and other highly speculative approaches.The initial results obtained from the research and analysis conducted in the Phase I effort warranted further study ofthis concept and technology. The specific objectives of the continued work include:1. Addressing critical medical aspects and risks for inducing torpor via Therapeutic Hypothermia and theapproach for providing nutrition and hydration for the crew during torpor. 2. Focusing on mitigation aspects and technology potential for solving key human spaceflight challenges. 3. Addressing critical engineering aspects of the design that may impact the initial performance and cost resultsobtained in Phase I. 4. Examining the broader extensibility and enabling capabilities of this concept through applicability toadditional exploration missions beyond Mars. 5. Establishing a technology development roadmap, addressing both medical and engineering aspects, thatindicate a logical and scientifically achievable path forward for maturation of this technology

Multiple-Choice Testing Using Immediate Feedback-Assessment Technique (IF AT®) Forms: Second-Chance Guessing vs. Second-Chance Learning?

Multiple choice testing is a common but often ineffective method for evaluating learning. A newer approach, however, using Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique (IF AT®, Epstein Educational Enterprise, Inc.) forms, offers several advantages. In particular, a student learns immediately if his or her answer is correct and, in the case of an incorrect answer, has an opportunity to provide a second response and receive partial credit for a correct second attempt. For a multiple choice question with five possible answers, the IF AT® form covers spaces labeled A through E with a thin opaque film; when the film is scratched away, a star indicates the correct answer. This study was conducted in order to assess learning after an initial incorrect answer. Based on random chance, students should have mathematically a 25% chance of guessing a correct second answer (i.e. 1 of 4 remaining answers on the IF AT® form). Analysis of second responses for 8775 questions on IF AT® forms in 22 classes over 3 years showed that the percent of correct second answers was 44.9%, significantly higher than one might expect from random guessing. This indicates that students learned from an incorrect answer and, possibly by re-reading the problem, were able to demonstrate some level of mastery of the material. This data leads us to conclude that IF AT® forms are useful assessment tools

Pengaruh Motivasi, Upah dan Disiplin Kerja terhadap Kinerja Pegawai di Kantor Catatan Sipil Manado

Manajemen sumber daya manusia merupakan cara bagaimana mengatur hubungan dan peranan sumber daya yang dimiliki oleh individu secara efisien dan efektif serta dapat digunakan secara maksimal sehingga tercapai tujuan bersama dalam sebuah organisasi. Tujuan Penelitian ini untuk mengetahui apakah motivasi, upah, dan disiplin kerja berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap kinerja pegawai kantor catatan sipil di manado. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah pegawai kantor catatan sipil manado. Teknik pengambilan sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah sampling jenuh, yaitu mengambil seluruh sampel sebanyak 43 responden. Metode penelitian menggunakan metode asosiatif untuk menguji keterhubungan antar variabel. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa motivasi, upah, dan disiplin kerja secara simultan berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap kinerja pegawai. motivasi, upah, dan disiplin kerja secara parsial berpengaruh signifikan terhadap kinerja pegawai. Sebaiknya pihak pimpinan di kantor catatan sipil, dapat mempertahankan bahkan meningkatkan kinerja karyawan sehingga tujuan utama dari organisasi dapat tercapai. Kata kunci: motivasi, upah, dan disiplin kerja, kinerja pegawa

Frog Swarms: Earthquake Precursors or False Alarms?

In short-term earthquake risk forecasting, the avoidance of false alarms is of utmost importance to preclude the possibility of unnecessary panic among populations in seismic hazard areas. Unusual animal behaviour prior to earthquakes has been reported for millennia but has rarely been scientifically documented. Recently large migrations or unusual behaviour of amphibians have been linked to large earthquakes, and media reports of large frog and toad migrations in areas of high seismic risk such as Greece and China have led to fears of a subsequent large earthquake. However, at certain times of year large migrations are part of the normal behavioural repertoire of amphibians. News reports of “frog swarms” from 1850 to the present day were examined for evidence that this behaviour is a precursor to large earthquakes. It was found that only two of 28 reported frog swarms preceded large earthquakes (Sichuan province, China in 2008 and 2010). All of the reported mass migrations of amphibians occurred in late spring, summer and autumn and appeared to relate to small juvenile anurans (frogs and toads). It was concluded that most reported “frog swarms” are actually normal behaviour, probably caused by juvenile animals migrating away from their breeding pond, after a fruitful reproductive season. As amphibian populations undergo large fluctuations in numbers from year to year, this phenomenon will not occur on a yearly basis but will depend on successful reproduction, which is related to numerous climatic and geophysical factors. Hence, most large swarms of amphibians, particularly those involving very small frogs and occurring in late spring or summer, are not unusual and should not be considered earthquake precursors. In addition, it is likely that reports of several mass migration of small toads prior to the Great Sichuan Earthquake in 2008 were not linked to the subsequent M = 7.9 event (some occurred at a great distance from the epicentre), and were probably co-incidence. Statistical analysis of the data indicated frog swarms are unlikely to be connected with earthquakes. Reports of unusual behaviour giving rise to earthquake fears should be interpreted with caution, and consultation with experts in the field of earthquake biology is advised

HPK1 Associates with SKAP-HOM to Negatively Regulate Rap1-Mediated B-Lymphocyte Adhesion

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) is a Ste20-related serine/threonine kinase activated by a range of environmental stimuli including genotoxic stress, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines and antigen receptor triggering. Being inducibly recruited to membrane-proximal signalling scaffolds to regulate NFAT, AP-1 and NFkappaB-mediated gene transcription in T-cells, the function of HPK1 in B-cells to date remains rather ill-defined. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: By using two loss of function models, we show that HPK1 displays a novel function in regulating B-cell integrin activity. Wehi 231 lymphoma cells lacking HPK1 after shRNA mediated knockdown exhibit increased basic activation levels of Ras-related protein 1 (Rap1), accompanied by a severe lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) dependent homotypic aggregation and increased adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). The observed phenotype of enhanced integrin activity is caused downstream of Src, by a signalling module independent of PI3K and PLC, involving HPK1, SKAP55 homologue (SKAP-HOM) and Rap1-GTP-interacting adaptor molecule (RIAM). This alters actin dynamics and renders focal adhesion kinase (FAK) constitutively phosphorylated. Bone marrow and splenic B-cell development of HPK1(-/-) mice are largely unaffected, except age-related tendencies for increased splenic cellularity and BCR downregulation. In addition, naïve splenic knockout B-cells appear hyperresponsive to a range of stimuli applied ex vivo as recently demonstrated by others for T-cells. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We therefore conclude that HPK1 exhibits a dual function in B-cells by negatively regulating integrin activity and controlling cellular activation, which makes it an interesting candidate to study in pathological settings like autoimmunity and cancer

MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF THE EPIDERMAL EXTRACELLULAR SPACES

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65966/1/j.1365-4362.1979.tb01946.x.pd