Legacy of last millennium timber use on plant cover in Central Europe: Insights from tree rings and pollen.

Throughout history, humans have relied on wood for constructions, tool production or as an energy source. How and to what extent these human activities have impacted plant abundance and composition over a long-term perspective is, however, not well known. To address this knowledge gap, we combined 44,239 precisely dated tree-ring samples from economically and ecologically important tree species (spruce, fir, pine, oak) from historical buildings, and pollen-based plant cover estimates using the REVEALS model from 169 records for a total of 34 1° × 1° grid cells for Central Europe. Building activity and REVEALS estimates were compared for the entire study region (4-15°E, 46-51°N), and for low (<500 m asl) and mid/high elevations (≥500 m asl) in 100-year time windows over the period 1150-1850. Spruce and oak were more widely used in wooden constructions, amounting to 35 % and 32 %, respectively, compared to pine and fir. Besides wood properties and species abundance, tree diameters of harvested individuals, being similar for all four species, were found to be the most crucial criterion for timber selection throughout the last millennium. Regarding land use changes, from the 1150-1250's onwards, forest cover generally decreased due to deforestation until 1850, especially at lower elevations, resulting in a more heterogeneous landscape. The period 1650-1750 marks a distinct change in the environmental history of Central Europe; increasing agriculture and intense forest management practices were introduced to meet the high demands of an increasing population and intensifying industrialization, causing a decrease in palynological diversity, especially at low elevations. Likely the characteristic vegetation structure and composition of contemporary landscapes originated from that period. We further show that land use has impacted vegetation composition and diversity at an increasing speed leading to a general homogenization of landscapes through time, highlighting the limited environmental benefits of even-aged plantation forestry.

COVID-19 and offshore oil and gas workers: The role of personality.

This qualitative study aimed to identify mental health hazards in the offshore oil and gas industry, as well as the role of the personality types of the Five Factor Model (FFM) in coping with these stressors. A focus group with 8 participants and a pilot study with 5 participants were conducted. Results showed that several stressors are currently present for Australian offshore oil and gas employees, in particular COVID-19 and the resulting negative effects on rosters, working hours, job security and time spent away from home. Other stressors revealed by participants were lack of space, working in a high-risk environment, stigma, helicopter travel and pressure to keep up with production. Poor safety behaviours were associated with neuroticism, extraversion and openness, while risk avoidance appear to be associated with agreeableness and conscientiousness. Tolerance to shift work was positively related to extraversion, yet negatively associated to neuroticism. Furthermore, neuroticism showed a negative association with help-seeking and productivity, as well as higher levels of concern relating to COVID-19 and job uncertainty. As personality traits are enduring throughout life, it is vital that employees are managed effectively through workplace interventions so that they are able to cope effectively, particularly during stressful events.

Values-Based Leadership: A Survey of Academic Medical Leaders to Inform Curriculum Development.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of effective leaders across all spheres but especially in healthcare. Many Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) offer leadership programming, but these programs have been criticized for lacking impact. In developing a Master's-level leadership course at an AMC, we sought to inform the curriculum with the values, both personal and shared, as well as the competencies defined as essential by a group of leaders who successfully steered their organizations through the pandemic. Methods: Study participants included selected leaders from a medical school, its hospital partner and parent university. We used a combination of semi-structured interviews, conducted virtually, and a rank-order survey to identify values and competencies to be used to inform course content. Results: Our surveyed leaders relied on personal values that prioritized the organization's mission, aligning their teams around that mission and vision as well as leading with empathy and respect. As a group, these leaders valued a highly collegial and collaborative process as well as diversity and equity. Competencies essential to leadership, according to our participants, were the ability to create the environment that supports collaboration, including team development, and to uphold the organization's mission. Conclusion: The surveyed leaders' organizations treated some of the highest numbers of COVID-19 patients of any hospital system and needed to make difficult decisions in order to provide patient care safely. Study participants were therefore uniquely experienced health care system leaders currently meeting unprecedented challenges. Our study suggests that applying a values-based approach to the development of future leaders will positively influence the impact of leadership education in a Master's-level healthcare leadership program.