Leadership style, group orientation of conspiracy beliefs and uncertainty in the era of COVID-19: Effects on moral leadership and leader identification and the moderating role of right-wing authoritarianism

In this study, we investigate the effects of (a) group orientation of conspiracy theories and (b) leadership style on moral leadership, as well as the moderating role of right-wing authoritarianism in the relationship between group orientation of conspiracy beliefs and moral leadership and identification with the leader. We manipulated leadership style as democratic and despotic by producing two scenarios respectively, describing the leader of a fictional country. We also manipulated group orientation of conspiracy beliefs by producing a scenario about a conspiracy with the domestic government of the fictional country as the protagonist (in-group conspiracy) or a foreign country as the protagonist of the conspiracy (outgroup conspiracy). A pre-test study (N=100) provided evidence for the efficiency of our experimental manipulations. The main study employed a 2 (in-group vs. outgroup orientation conspiracy theories) x 2 (democratic vs despotic leadership) factorial design (N=480). Results showed that there was a statistically significant main effect of orientation of conspiracy beliefs on moral leadership and identification with the leader, a statistically significant main effect of leadership style and a statistically significant interaction effect between group orientation of conspiracy beliefs and leadership style on moral leadership and identification with the leader. A significant moderating effect of right-wing authoritarianism was found in the relationship between group orientation of conspiracy theories and perceptions of moral leadership and identification with the leader. Discussion focuses on the use of in-group or outgroup orientated conspiracy beliefs in moral leadership practice.

The Impact of Social Role Identity on Communication in Hospital-Based Antimicrobial Stewardship

Background: Evidence-based hospital antimicrobial stewardship interventions, such as postprescription review with feedback, prior authorization, and handshake stewardship, involve communication between stewards and frontline prescribers. Hierarchy, asymmetric responsibility, prescribing etiquette, and autonomy can obstruct high-quality communication in stewardship. Little is known about the strategies that stewards use to overcome these barriers. The objective of this study was to identify how stewards navigate communication challenges when interacting with prescribers. Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with antimicrobial stewards recruited from hospitals across the United States. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a flexible coding approach and the framework method. Social identity theory and role theory were used to interpret framework matrices. Results: Interviews were conducted with 58 antimicrobial stewards (25 physicians and 33 pharmacists) from 10 hospitals (4 academic medical centers, 4 community hospitals, and 2 children’s hospitals). Respondents who felt empowered in their interactions with prescribers explicitly adopted a social identity that conceptualized stewards and prescribers as being on the “same team” with shared goals (in-group orientation). Drawing on the meaning conferred via this social role identity, respondents engaged in communication strategies to build and maintain common bonds with prescribers. These strategies included moderating language to minimize defensive recommendations when delivering stewardship recommendations, aligning the goals of stewardship with the goals of the clinical team, communicating with prescribers about things other than stewardship, compromising for the sake of future interactions, and engaging in strategic face-to-face interaction. Respondents who felt less empowered in their interactions thought of themselves as outsiders to the clinical team and experienced a heightened sense of “us versus them” mentality with the perception that stewards primarily serve a gate-keeping function (ie, outgroup orientation). These respondents expressed deference to hierarchy, a reluctance to engage in face-to-face interaction, a feeling of cynicism about the impact of stewardship, and a sense of low professional accomplishment within the role. Respondents who exhibited an in-group orientation were more likely than those who did not to describe the positive impact of stewardship mentors or colleagues on their social role identity. Conclusions: The way antimicrobial stewards perceive their role and identity within the social context of their healthcare organization influences how they approach communication with prescribers. Social role identity in stewardship is shaped by the influence of mentors and colleagues, indicating the importance of supportive relationships for the development of steward skill and confidence.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

Theoretical Study of Hydrogen Bond Formation in Four Rare Sugars: Gulose, Allose, Altrose, and Talose

Rare sugars are monosaccharides with tremendous potential for applications in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, nutraceutical, and flavors industries. The four rare sugars, including; gulose, allose, altrose and talose are stereoisomers that are different in the hydroxyl group orientation (axial or equatorial) on the C2-4 atoms. The DFT, AIM, and, NBO calculations were used to probe the probability of formation of internal H-bonds in four rare sugars. The AIM analysis identified that altrose and talose can form three predominantly intramolecular H-bonds, whereas gulose and allose revealed one and two H-bonds, respectively and these normal intramolecular H-bonds are mostly closed-shell interactions. The theoretical calculated O-H stretching FT-IR vibrational frequencies confirmed that the intramolecular H-bonds shifted toward low frequencies in comparison to the free hydroxyl group, which caused the red-shift. Also, the lowest IR frequency in each sugar was related to the structure with the highest stabilization energy and the most strongest intramolecular H-bonds.

invitation to submit a Frontiers article to Dalton Transactions - Inorganic radiopharmaceutical chemistry of oxine

8-Hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ, oxine) is a small, monoprotic, bicyclic aromatic compound and its relative donor group orientation imparts impressive bidentate metal chelating abilities that have been exploited in a vast array...

Quantitative Disorder Analysis and Particle Removal Efficiency of Polypropylene-Based Masks

We demonstrate a methodology for predicting particle removal efficiency of polypropylene-based filters used in personal protective equipment, based on quantification of disorder in the context of methyl group orientation as structural motifs in conjunction with an Ising model. The corresponding Bragg-Williams order parameter is extracted through either Raman spectro-scopy or scanning electron microscopy. Temperature-dependent analysis verifies the presence of an order-disorder transition, and the methodology is applied to published data for multiple samples. The result is a method for predicting the particle removal efficiency of filters used in masks based on a material-level property.

Pengenalan Budaya Komunikasi Bisnis Jepang Melalui Kurasu Katsudo

Introduction of Japanese business communication culture to Japanese learners is one of the important elements in learning Japanese. This introduction can be done through kurasu katsudo 'class activities' to make it easier for students to understand. Kurasu Katsudo is strongly suggested done in various ways and repeatedly by inserting information about cultural elements in the middle of the teaching process. The purpose of this study is to describe Japanese business communication culture through kurasu katsudo. This research is a qualitative descriptive study. Data are collected by library method through several Japanese textbooks. The results of this study indicates that group orientation as one of the Japanese business communication culture can be introduced through the learning of jikoshokai 'self-introduction' and meishi kokan 'exchange business cards'. In addition, hierarchical culture can be taught by the teaching of osewa ni narimashita expression and juju hyogen expression. While the horenso culture can be introduced through learning the N gurai Vru monda sentence pattern.

An Examination of Ethnic Identity, Self-Compassion, and Acculturative Stress in Asian International Students

There is a dearth of research examining psychosocial factors that contribute to Asian international students’ acculturative stress. This study examines: (a) whether ethnic identity associates with acculturative stress, (b) whether other-group orientation mediates the relation between ethnic identity and acculturative stress, and (c) whether self-compassion moderates the relation between ethnic identity and acculturative stress. Results indicated that a stronger ethnic identity was associated with heightened acculturative stress. Self-compassion was significantly negatively associated with acculturative stress. Asian international students who strongly affiliated with their own ethnic group reported an increased openness to other ethnic groups and, in turn, reported reduced acculturative stress. Additional studies should examine other mediators that may explain the positive correlation between ethnic identity and acculturative stress.