Social Brain-Constructed Relational Leadership: A Neuroscience View of the Leader-Follower Duality

Relationship-based approaches to leadership represent one of the most fast growing leadership fields that emphasize the interaction between the leader and the follower. The critical question though is the way that leadership actors (leaders and followers) are linked to each other and in particular how they try to understand how to do that in the workplace. Also, what is even less understood is the role of consciousness in this relationship. In this respect, this conceptual paper explores consciousness within the context of the social brain theory to argue that leadership actors need to revise their approach to individuality and focus on mutually dependent relations. We introduce the concept of Homo Relationalis arguing that leadership is not just social constructed element, but also social brain constructed phenomenon. We finally recommend a new approach of applying cognitive style analysis to capture the duality of leader/follower in the same person, following the self-illusion theory

Neuroscience for Leaders: Practical Insights to Successfully Lead People & Organizations (2nd Ed.)

Neuroscience for Leaders (2nd ed.) captures the most up-to-date and important findings in neuroscience and links these to the business world. The book offers a simple framework to put these principles into practice to make better decisions, take the right actions and find faster solutions. The book presents a comprehensive approach to leading people and organizations based on academic research. The authors' 'Brain Adaptive Leadership' approach offers a step-by-step guide to enhancing the way leaders think, understanding and nurturing emotions, shaping automated brain responses and developing dynamic relationships. Examples, activities and practical suggestions are all designed to be clear and engaging. Neuroscience for Leaders is the essential guide for leaders who are ready to gain the business advantage scientifically

Brain-Adjusted Relational Leadership: A Social-Constructed Consciousness Approach to Leader-Follower Interaction

Relationship-based approaches to leadership represent one of the fastest-growing leadership fields and help us to understand better organizational leadership. Relation-based approaches emphasize the relationship and interaction between the leader and the follower. The emphasis is placed on the way that they interact and influence each other at attaining mutual goals. It is known that leaders are linked to followers and vice versa in a sense of responding to other's needs toward the achievement of mutual goals. Leaders and followers are an essential part of this social process implying that they are losing their traditional identity rooted in the formal organizational structure (manager-subordinate) and become inseparable actors of a co-constructing process of leadership. What is less known though is the way that leadership actors are linked to each other and in particular how they try to understand how to do that in the workplace. What is even less understood is the importance and role of consciousness in this relationship. Especially since consciousness appears to be both a fundamental and a very elusive element in human relations. Therefore, this paper conceptually explores the concept of consciousness within the context of the social brain theory to argue that leadership actors need to rethink their approach to individuality and focus on mutually dependent relations with each other. This paper contributes to the field of Neuro-management by introducing the concept of Homo Relationalis. In this respect, we suggest that leadership is not just a socially constructed element but also a social brain constructed phenomenon that requires an understanding of the human brain as a social organ. We further recommend a new approach of applying cognitive style analysis to capture the duality of leader/follower in the same person, following the self-illusion theory. Finally, we conclude that we need to further emphasize a social brain-adjusted relational leadership approach and we introduce two new cognitive styles that can help capture the essence of it

A Small Volatile Bacterial Molecule Triggers Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Murine Skeletal Muscle

Mitochondria integrate distinct signals that reflect specific threats to the host, including infection, tissue damage, and metabolic dysfunction; and play a key role in insulin resistance. We have found that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing infochemical, 2-amino acetophenone (2-AA), produced during acute and chronic infection in human tissues, including in the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, acts as an interkingdom immunomodulatory signal that facilitates pathogen persistence, and host tolerance to infection. Transcriptome results have led to the hypothesis that 2-AA causes further harm to the host by triggering mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle. As normal skeletal muscle function is essential to survival, and is compromised in many chronic illnesses, including infections and CF-associated muscle wasting, we here determine the global effects of 2-AA on skeletal muscle using high-resolution magic-angle-spinning (HRMAS), proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics, in vivo 31P NMR, whole-genome expression analysis and functional studies. Our results show that 2-AA when injected into mice, induced a biological signature of insulin resistance as determined by 1H NMR analysis-, and dramatically altered insulin signaling, glucose transport, and mitochondrial function. Genes including Glut4, IRS1, PPAR-γ, PGC1 and Sirt1 were downregulated, whereas uncoupling protein UCP3 was up-regulated, in accordance with mitochondrial dysfunction. Although 2-AA did not alter high-energy phosphates or pH by in vivo 31P NMR analysis, it significantly reduced the rate of ATP synthesis. This affect was corroborated by results demonstrating down-regulation of the expression of genes involved in energy production and muscle function, and was further validated by muscle function studies. Together, these results further demonstrate that 2-AA, acts as a mediator of interkingdom modulation, and likely effects insulin resistance associated with a molecular signature of mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle. Reduced energy production and mitochondrial dysfunctional may further favor infection, and be an important step in the establishment of chronic and persistent infections

Genome-wide identification of microRNAs regulating cholesterol and triglyceride homeostasis

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have linked genes to various pathological traits. However, the potential contribution of regulatory noncoding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), to a genetic predisposition to pathological conditions has remained unclear. We leveraged GWAS meta-analysis data from >188,000 individuals to identify 69 miRNAs in physical proximity to single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with abnormal levels of circulating lipids. Several of these miRNAs (miR-128-1, miR-148a, miR-130b, and miR-301b) control the expression of key proteins involved in cholesterol-lipoprotein trafficking, such as the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) and the ATP-binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) cholesterol transporter. Consistent with human liver expression data and genetic links to abnormal blood lipid levels, overexpression and antisense targeting of miR-128-1 or miR-148a in high-fat diet–fed C57BL/6J and Apoe-null mice resulted in altered hepatic expression of proteins involved in lipid trafficking and metabolism, and in modulated levels of circulating lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides. Taken together, these findings support the notion that altered expression of miRNAs may contribute to abnormal blood lipid levels, predisposing individuals to human cardiometabolic disorders.Organismic and Evolutionary Biolog

The Human Serum Metabolome

Continuing improvements in analytical technology along with an increased interest in performing comprehensive, quantitative metabolic profiling, is leading to increased interest pressures within the metabolomics community to develop centralized metabolite reference resources for certain clinically important biofluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, urine and blood. As part of an ongoing effort to systematically characterize the human metabolome through the Human Metabolome Project, we have undertaken the task of characterizing the human serum metabolome. In doing so, we have combined targeted and non-targeted NMR, GC-MS and LC-MS methods with computer-aided literature mining to identify and quantify a comprehensive, if not absolutely complete, set of metabolites commonly detected and quantified (with today's technology) in the human serum metabolome. Our use of multiple metabolomics platforms and technologies allowed us to substantially enhance the level of metabolome coverage while critically assessing the relative strengths and weaknesses of these platforms or technologies. Tables containing the complete set of 4229 confirmed and highly probable human serum compounds, their concentrations, related literature references and links to their known disease associations are freely available at http://www.serummetabolome.ca

Dynamics, control and design requirements of a multi rotor aerial robot

88 σ.Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο--Μεταπτυχιακή Εργασία. Διεπιστημονικό-Διατμηματικό Πρόγραμμα Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών (Δ.Π.Μ.Σ.) “Συστήματα Αυτοματισμού”Η εργασία αυτή έχει ως σκοπό την παρουσίαση της δυναμικής, του ελέγχου και των απαιτήσεων σχεδιασμού εναέριων ρομπότ πολλών στροφείων με έμφαση σε αυτά καθέτου απογειώσεως και προσγειώσεως (Vertical Take Off and Landing- VTOL). Σαν παράδειγμα επιλέγεται μία διάταξη τεσσάρων στροφείων γνωστή ως quad-rotor χωρίς να παραβιάζεται η γενίκευση για περισσότερα στροφεία. Το δυναμικό μοντέλο που παρουσιάζεται αρχικά, αποτελείται από απλές εξισώσεις που είναι έγκυρες μόνο για τη φάση της αιώρησης, ενώ επεκτείνεται στη συνέχεια σε ένα πιο πολύπλοκο μαθηματικό μοντέλο το οποίο λαμβάνει υπόψη ρεαλιστικούς αεροδυναμικούς συντελεστές καθώς επίσης τα μοντέλα των αισθητήρων και των επενεργητών. Οι σημαντικότερες εκτιμήσεις κατάστασης που απαιτούνται για τον έλεγχο ενός quad-rotor είναι το ύψος (απόσταση από το έδαφος), η γωνιακή ταχύτητα, η γραμμική ταχύτητα και η θέση. Λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τη χρησιμότητα των αισθητήρων που απαιτεί ένα ιπτάμενο όχημα και τις μετρήσεις που μπορούν να ληφθούν από αυτούς παρουσιάζονται τα μοντέλα τους και αναλύεται η δυνατότητα εκτίμησης του προσανατολισμού του οχήματος, της μεταφορικής ταχύτητας και της θέσης του βάσει των μετρήσεων που μπορούν να ληφθούν από τους αισθητήρες αυτούς. Το πρόβλημα του ελέγχου ενός εναέριου ρομπότ πολλών στροφείων προσεγγίζεται παραθέτοντας τους νόμους ελέγχου βάσει του δυναμικού μοντέλου και των εξισώσεων κατάστασης που προκύπτουν από το δυναμικό μοντέλο. Παρουσιάζεται ο έλεγχος των κινητήρων του οχήματος, ο έλεγχος του προσανατολισμού του, ο έλεγχος και ο σχεδιασμός τροχιάς. Τέλος, παρουσιάζονται αναλυτικά οι απαιτούμενες προδιαγραφές για το σχεδιασμό και την κατασκευή ενός ιπτάμενου οχήματος πολλών στροφείων. Παρουσιάζονται οι απαιτήσεις σε αισθητήρες, υπολογιστική ισχύ, κινητήρες, μπαταρίες και έλικες παραθέτοντας πίνακες με ενδεικτικά στοιχεία για το κάθε ένα από τα παραπάνω όπου φαίνονται τα τεχνικά χαρακτηριστικά τους και οι διαστάσεις τους.This thesis aims to present the dynamics, control and design requirements of multi-rotor aerial robots with emphasis on those Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL). A device with four rotors is selected as an example, known as quad-rotor, without violating the generalization to more rotors. The dynamic model presented initially consists of simple equations that are valid only for hovering phase, and then is extended to a more complex mathematical model that takes into account realistic aerodynamic coefficients as well as models of sensors and actuators. The most significant state estimates needed to control a quad-rotor are the altitude, the angular velocity, linear velocity and position. Sensor models are presented down considering their usefulness for a flying vehicle. We also discuss the ability of estimating the attitude of the vehicle, the conveyor speed and position on the basis of measurements can be taken from these sensors. The problem of control of a multi rotor aerial vehicle is approached demonstrating the control laws based on the dynamic model and state equations resulting from it. Vehi-cle’s motor control, attitude control, trajectory control and trajectory planning are presented. Finally, the mandatory design and construction specifications for a multi rotor aerial vehicle are presented. The demand in sensors, computing power, motors, batteries and propellers, are presented in tables, showing their technical specifications.Νικόλαος Π. Ψυχογιό

Introduction – The leadership enigma and the human brain

As understanding of neuroscience increases, it is better understood how scientific insights can be applied to develop and enhance leadership. Neuroscience for Leaders captures the most up-to-date and important findings in neuroscience and links these to the business world. </p