bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
People management and innovation in emerging market multinationals
Authors: Moeller Miriam , Maley Jane , Harvey Michael , Dabic Marina
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– As the internationalization process dictates the existence of cross-country networks it is essential to explore avenues that allow emerging market multinationals (EMNCs) to share and receive knowledge that can benefit them locally and globally. The purpose of this paper is to explore this conundrum by addressing the significance of creating a global mindset in individuals and across the multinational corporation. In the paper the authors articulate the mechanisms that influence global managers’ abilities to engage effectively with other global managers across borders.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a conceptual and theoretical piece.

Findings

– The authors argued that global managers engage in reciprocal learning processes to obtain new, innovative knowledge about other countries’ environments and business practices. The authors furthermore suggest that the effectiveness of new knowledge creation is dependent upon the appropriate input, throughput, and output competencies of those involved in the reciprocal learning process.

Originality/value

– Proper people management plays a crucial role in fostering an environment where employees’ commitment will lead to organizational innovation. Propositions foreshadowing in the new, innovative knowledge creation process across cultural and personal levels are articulated.
Workplace training and generic and technical skill development in the Australian construction industry
Authors: Detsimas Nicole , Coffey Vaughan , Sadiqi Zabihullah , Li Mei
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the current skills gap in both generic and skill areas within the construction industry in Queensland, Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

– An internet-based survey was administered to collect the opinions of construction employees about the workplace-training environment and their perceptions towards training. The survey intended to address the following research questions, specifically in relation to the construction industry.

Findings

– The survey results reveal that whilst overall participation in workplace training is high, the current workplace training environments do not foster balanced skill development. The study reveals that in the current absence of a formal and well-balanced training mechanism, construction workers generally resort to their own informal self-development initiatives to develop the needed role-specific theoretical knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings of the research are based on the data primarily collected in the construction industry in Queensland, Australia. The data are limited to a single Tier 2 construction company.

Practical implications

– The findings of this study can be utilised to suggest improvements in the current (or develop new) workplace training initiatives.

Social implications

– The research suggests that workplace training has positive relationship with career growth. The results suggest that in the construction industry, employees are generally well aware of the importance of workplace training in their career development and they largely appreciate training as being a critical factor for developing their capacity to perform their roles successfully, and to maintain their employability.

Originality/value

– This paper is unique as it investigates the current skills gap in both generic and skill areas within the construction industry in Queensland, Australia. So far no work has been undertaken to identify and discusses the main method of workplace learning within the Tier 2 industry in the context of Queensland Australia.
Leadership by design: intentional organization development of physician leaders
Authors: Swensen Stephen , Gorringe Grace , Caviness John , Peters Dawn
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is: first, to present a qualitative descriptive case study of the Mayo Clinic leadership and organization development philosophy and approach; second, to summarize a strategy for using intentional organization design as a foundation for culturally aligned physician leadership development and third, to describe the Mayo Clinic Leadership Model.

Design/methodology/approach

– This manuscript is a qualitative descriptive case study of the Mayo Clinic leadership development philosophy and approach. The authors reviewed the organization design and leadership development programs of a leading healthcare institution. In the systematic appraisal, the authors sought to understand the key features and elements of team-based leadership development and the supporting organizational characteristics that guide development with the use of a customized institutional leadership model.

Findings

– The authors identified four intentional characteristics of the multi-specialty group practice structure and culture that organically facilitate the development of leaders with the qualities required for the mission. The four characteristics are: patient-centered organizational design, collaborative leadership structure, egalitarian leader selection process and team-based development system. The authors conclude that organization culture and design are important foundations of leadership development. Leadership development cannot be separated from the context and culture of organizational design. Mayo Clinic’s organizational and governance systems are designed to develop culturally aligned leaders, build social capital, grow employee engagement, foster collaboration, nurture collegiality and engender trust. Effective organization design aligns the form and functions of the organization with leadership development and its mission.

Originality/value

– This qualitative descriptive case study presentation and analysis offers a unique perspective on physician leadership and organization development in healthcare.
Coaching: from challenge to opportunity
Authors: Mihiotis Athanassios , Argirou Niki
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present coaching opportunities and applications in the workplace as well as to point out that organizations that want to leverage the benefits of coaching must be mature enough to have certain processes and practices in place. A further purpose of this paper is to gain some insight regarding several critical success factors are not well understood by organizations and to identify possible areas for improvement for them.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors first presents the environment in which coaching was developed, from which disciplines was it affected, and how it was shaped into its current form. Then the authors focus on coaching used as a business development tool and critical factors that play an important role in the effectiveness of coaching from the organizations’ side are presented. The paper ends with some qualitative conclusions.

Findings

– The value that organizations realize form coaching is proportional to the quality of coaching delivered. Organizations that invest in quality coaches, have, themselves, a clear understanding of what coaching really is and actively support coaching initiatives at every aspect of coaching’s procedure, can reap the greatest benefits from it.

Originality/value

– Several studies have been conducted to determine the organization-dependent factors that affect coaching and the quality of the result. However, do date it has not been highlighted that organizations that want to leverage the benefits of coaching must be mature enough to have certain processes and practices in place. Furthermore, possible areas for improvement for companies are identified regarding several critical success factors that are not well understood by them.
Performing hackathons as a way of positioning boundary organizations
Authors: Seravalli Anna , Simeone Luca
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to compare two boundary organizations situated in Malmö (Sweden) and oriented toward opening production. Particularly, it looks at how the two organizations tried to establish and communicate their boundaries during their official opening events, which were structured according to the format of hackathon.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors adopted an ethnographic approach and followed the two events, observing and interacting with organizers and participants. The findings reported here draw upon data collected through direct observation, the authors’ experience as participants, unstructured conversations, e-mail exchanges.

Findings

– This paper analyzes the two events in order to show how different cultures of opening production lead to different ways of performing hackathons and, consequently, how these events affect the process of establishing and communicating the organizational boundaries.

Originality/value

– The paper looks at the potential of events structured according to the format of hackathon as a way for boundary organizations to position themselves.
Wikimedia movement governance: the limits of a-hierarchical organization
Authors: Jemielniak Dariusz
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show the limits of a-hierarchical organization in the Wikimedia movement governance model. Wikimedia governance, as well as the dynamic transformations it is currently undergoing, remains to be covered by the literature on organization and management studies; yet, they exemplify the problems with the “organization of the future,” which is highly idealized throughout the management literature.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research design relies on an ethnographic, long-term, participative study of the Wikipedia community at large. The methods used rely mainly on discourse analysis and interviews. The study benefits from the unique participant immersion of the researcher (who spent six years participating in the studied community, making over five edits each day on average, and being elected to several positions of highest trust within the organization).

Findings

– The findings show that the open, participative, and democratic character of the organization, which in theory is oriented toward sustainable solidarity, as well as the semi-anonymous character of some of the members’ identities, makes the community more empowered yet more belligerent. Also, the entirely open and flat governance model makes it more difficult to establish a stable leadership consensus.

Research limitations/implications

– Research is limited due to its methodological design, as it relies on in-depth qualitative case studies, rather than wider analysis. Further quantitative research is needed to confirm the findings on a bigger scale and in other open collaboration organizations.

Practical implications

– The findings show that participative organizational design, especially in open collaboration projects, have adverse effects in leading to overly confrontational and quarrelsome organizational culture, which not only makes decision making more difficult, but also deters people less used to debating and conflict.

Social implications

– The social implications of the findings suggest that even in highly democratized structures, some minimal forms of leadership, and governance are useful to facilitate the decision-making processes.

Originality/value

– This paper extends the understanding of organizational dynamics and governance in open collaboration organizations, and exposes the shortcomings of this model, which are an inevitable trade-off for its indisputable benefits.
Are you ready for the global change? Multicultural personality and readiness for organizational change
Authors: Caliskan Sibel , Isik Idil
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate employee readiness for their organizations’ global change and the predictive effect of their personality and perception of change.

Design/methodology/approach

– Participants were from work groups that are known to have various levels of contribution to the globalization process in a retail company. Following focus group study, surveys of multicultural personality (MP), organizational change (OC) perception, and individual readiness for global change were conducted.

Findings

– Results showed that the participants from the work groups with higher involvement in global work evaluated themselves more in terms of MP characteristics, with a more positive perception of OC process and climate, and more readiness for change. There was no effect of MP on OC perception or readiness for change. Perceived OC partially mediated the relationship between the perceived global content of the job and individual readiness for change.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample is relatively small which limits the external validity of the findings.

Practical implications

– Results revealed the importance of recruiting the right employees and corporate communication during the globalization process among all work groups.

Originality/value

– This study is one of the first that integrates OC in the process of globalization with employees’ MP. Further, it elaborates on how the perception of and readiness for OC differs across diverse work units throughout the globalization process.
Co-evolution between institutional environments and organizational change
Authors: Zhang Xiaojun
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to interpret organizational change from a co-evolutionary perspective. It examines the co-evolution between institutional environments and organizational change with the mediating role of uncertainty as perceived by managers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author employed an inductive case study to explore how institutional environments interact with organizational change in a novel context: a Chinese state-owned enterprise.

Findings

– The author developed a co-evolutionary model of organizational change that emphasizes the interaction between institutional-level factors and organizational-level change as bridged by top management perceptions of uncertainty. The model also illustrates the dynamics of organizational uncertainty and its effects on organizational change.

Practical implications

– The study implies that uncertainty may not be an inevitable negative influence on organizational development, and tell managers how to manages the dynamics of uncertainty through two principles.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the organizational change literature by interpreting organizational change as the results of interaction between multi-level factors from institutional, organizational, and team levels. The author also expand the understanding of uncertainty from a dynamic perspective.
Brand constellations: reflections of the emotional self
Authors: Flight Richard L. , Coker Kesha K.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role that enduring consumer emotional traits play in brand constellation formation. Theories of self-image and brand-image congruence are used as the foundation to explain how complex brand constellations are a reflection of emotional dispositions.

Design/methodology/approach

A clustering technique based on 24 consumption emotion set items was used to analyze data from 287 consumers and 66 different consumer brands. A conjoint analysis was also performed to examine the degree of brand congruence within each cluster.

Findings

Results reveal four unique consumer clusters (Sad, Passionate, Joyful, and Balanced Middle) with unique brand constellations and differing degrees of brand congruence. Of significance is the Sad cluster, which shows a strong brand congruence to seemingly hedonic products.

Research limitations/implications

Given the nature of self-reported data, an inherent potential bias because of a single source for both dependent and independent variables exists. Also, this research design is based on an inductive form of reasoning, and thus, results may not be falsifiable.

Practical implications

Implications of brand constellations based on emotional dispositions for marketing theory and practice are discussed. Given this exploratory research on brand constellations defined by emotional disposition, limitations and avenues for future research are also presented.

Social implications

In this paper, the consumer’s enduring psychological traits act as the grouping mechanism, and from this psychometric profile, brands group to reflect the collective self-image of consumers based on emotional disposition. By introducing the emotional disposition approach to constellation formation, the authors demonstrate that psychometric variables offer a new methodology by which brands may be categorized.

Originality/value

Using a cluster analysis to essentially reverse-engineer consumption patterns is novel and reflects a valid approach toward demonstrating how otherwise unrelated brands may be consumed together.
The lady doth protest too much: a neurophysiological perspective on brand tarnishment
Authors: Boshoff Christo
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate consumers’ subconscious/emotional responses to brand tarnishment.

Design/methodology/approach

Brand tarnishment and the responses of business firms in protecting their brands against economic harm have been controversial topics for many years. Unfortunately, those who have resorted to the courts to protect their brands have met with mixed success, mainly because the methodologies used to demonstrate economic harm have proved controversial. One caveat in the history of court cases is the absence of any investigation related to emotional responses to brand dilution in general, and to brand tarnishment in particular. This is so, despite several calls to investigate this relationship.

Findings

It is concluded that the brand tarnishment of fairly well-known brands is largely ineffectual (neutral emotional responses).

Research limitations/implications

The primary contribution of this study is that, for the first time, some light is shed on consumers’ emotional responses to brand tarnishment. Irrespective of the neurophysiological measure used, the results consistently demonstrate that the subconscious responses to brand tarnishment are generally neutral. The results thus do not suggest any likelihood of severe economic harm due to negative emotional responses to brand tarnishment.

Practical implications

The results of this study have important managerial implications for brand managers, and particularly for those responsible for relatively well-established brands. It is clear that at the unconscious level, brand tarnishment is not as harmful as many seem to believe. There is evidence that brands will not be harmed if the “tarnishment” consists of social commentary.

Social implications

It could also suggest that consumers can differentiate between different forms of tarnishment, and that tarnishment involving social commentary is not frowned upon. This may be because the consumer agrees with the social commentary, or finds it amusing. In short, it seems that consumers may see the tarnishment as mildly amusing, but realize that it is not of a serious nature.

Originality/value

The results seem to suggest that legal action against those who tarnish brands is unnecessary and probably ineffective. Instead, this study proposes more innovative ways to respond to brand tarnishment.
Neural imprints of national brands versus own-label brands
Authors: Marques dos Santos Jose Paulo , Martins Marisa , Ferreira Hugo Alexandre , Ramalho Joana , Seixas Daniela
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to explore brain-based differences in national and own-label brands perceptions. Because price is a differentiating characteristic, able to discriminate between national and own-label brands, its influence is also studied.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the Save Holdings Or Purchase (SHOP) task with functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the differences in brain functioning for national versus own-label branded products.

Findings

For the same product, the higher priced national brands and the lower priced own-label brands lead to more buying decisions. It is also found that there are brain structures that are more active/deactive for national than for own-label brands, both marked with real market prices. Price is a powerful driver of buying decisions and has its neural correlates. Parietal regions activate when brand information is subtracted from brand-plus-price information. The most surprising finding is that visual and visual associative areas are involved in the contrasts between branded products marked with switched prices and marked with real market prices.

Originality/value

The activation/deactivation brain patterns suggest that accepted models of brain functioning are not suitable for explaining brand decisions. Also, to our knowledge, this is the first time that a study directly addresses the brain’s functioning when subjects are stimulated with national versus own-label brands. It paves the way for a new approach to understanding how such brand categories are perceived, revealing the neural origins of the associated psychological processes.
The role of fMRI in detecting attitude toward brand switching: an exploratory study using high technology products
Authors: Al-Kwifi Sam O.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that underpin consumer attitude toward switching a product brand, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study brain activity during the decision-making process. Most of the literature shows that in the past, conventional marketing research approaches have been used to study brand switching among consumers. However, there is a lack of understanding of the importance of evaluating brain activations during the decision-making process when a consumer is selecting a brand.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model is a simplified version of consumer acceptance of technology model. This model accounts for cognitive and affect factors when choosing a product by including perceived usefulness and pleasure variables, respectively. An event-related fMRI experiment was designed and conducted using two smartphone brands.

Findings

The level of brain activation at the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) increased when participants were asked to judge images that reflect brand perceived usefulness compared with judging images that reflect brand pleasure. Similarly, the higher the perceived usefulness of the other smartphone, the greater the activation of the vmPFC during decision-making to switch to that smartphone.

Practical Implications

This study contributes to the literature on brand switching by exploring the importance of fMRI technique in evaluating brain activities during decision-making to adopt a brand. For managers, research findings would allow them to draft better marketing and advertisement strategies that enhance consumer perception value of high technology brands and positive emotional experience.

Originality/value

Although the literature reports considerable research on brand switching, this is the first exploratory study to utilize fMRI to investigate consumer attitude toward switching. In addition, unlike most prior research, which uses generic products in fMRI studies, this study is utilizing high technology product to investigate the brand switching behavior.
Relative importance of soil properties and microbial community for soil functionality: insights from a microbial swap experiment
Authors: Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel , Grinyer Jasmine , Reich Peter B. , Singh Brajesh K.
Published: April 2016

The most accepted theories in soil ecology suggest that broad (e.g. respiration) and specialized (e.g. denitrification) functions are affected differently by resource availability and microbial communities in terrestrial ecosystems. However, there is a lack of experimental approaches quantifying and separating the role of microbial communities from the effect of soil abiotic properties on different aspects of soil ecosystem functionality.

Here, we conducted a full‐factorial design microcosm experiment and used random forest and structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses to evaluate the role and the relative importance of soil properties (sterile soils A, B and C differing in abiotic attributes) and microbial communities (microbial inoculums from soils A, B and C) in driving soil respiration (i.e. broad functioning), denitrification (i.e. specialized functioning) and four enzyme activities and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) availability in soil.

Soils with the higher total C (soils B and C) promoted the highest soil C and N availability, enzyme activities and broad functioning (i.e. soil respiration); however, we did not find any effect of total C on specialized functions (i.e. denitrification rates). Random forest analyses showed that both soil properties (i.e. total C and pH) and microbial abundance determined broad functioning (i.e. soil respiration), as well as the production of enzyme activities, and C and N availability in soil. However, we found that microbial communities were more important than soil properties for modulating specialized functioning (i.e. denitrification rates) in soil environments. Finally, our SEM also indicated that broad functioning, which is widely distributed across living organisms, is limited by both resource availability and microbial abundance. Furthermore, specialized functioning, which is conducted by particular groups of organisms, may be highly sensitive to changes in the microbial community.

Overall, our findings provide direct experimental evidence for the relative importance of soil properties and microbial communities on broad and specialized functioning. Such evidence helps advance our understanding of different drivers of soil ecosystem functioning which will be crucial to developing an ecologically relevant theory about below‐ground ecosystem functioning.

A lay summary is available for this article.
Bottom time does not always predict prey encounter rate in Antarctic fur seals
Authors: Viviant Morgane , Jeanniard‐du‐Dot Tiphaine , Monestiez Pascal , Authier Matthieu , Guinet Christophe
Published: April 2016

Optimal foraging models applied to breath‐holding divers predict that diving predators should optimize the time spent foraging at the bottom of dives depending on prey encounter rate, distance to prey patch (depth) and physiological constraints.

We tested this hypothesis on a free‐ranging diving marine predator, the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella, equipped with accelerometers or Hall sensors (n = 11) that recorded mouth‐opening events, a proxy for prey capture attempts and thus feeding events. Over the 5896 dives analysed (>15 m depth), the mean number of mouth‐opening events per dive was 1·21 ± 1·69 (mean ± SD). Overall, 82% of mouth‐openings occurred at the bottom of dives.

As predicted, fur seals increased their inferred foraging time at the bottom of dives with increasing patch distance (depth), irrespective of the number of mouth‐openings.

For dives shallower than 55 m, the mean bottom duration of dives without mouth‐openings was shorter than for dives with mouth‐opening events. However, this difference was only due to the occurrence of V‐shaped dives with short bottom durations (0 or 1 s). When removing those V‐shaped dives, bottom duration was not related to the presence of mouth‐openings anymore. Thus, the decision to abandon foraging is likely related to other information about prey availability than prey capture attempts (i.e. sensory cues) that seals collect during the descent phase. We did not observe V‐shaped dives for dives deeper than 55 m, threshold beyond which the mean dive duration exceeded the apparent aerobic dive limit. For dives deeper than 55 m, seals kept on foraging at bottom irrespective of the number of mouth‐openings performed.

Most dives occurred at shallower depths (30–55 m) than the 60 m depth of highest foraging efficiency (i.e. of greatest number of mouth‐opening events per dive). This is likely related to physiological constraints during deeper dives.

We suggest that foraging decisions are more complex than predicted by current theory and highlight the importance of the information collected by the predator during the descent as well as its physiological constraints. Ultimately, this will help establishing reliable predictive foraging models for marine predators based on diving patterns only.

A lay summary is available for this article.
Top predators negate the effect of mesopredators on prey physiology
Authors: Palacios Maria M. , Killen Shaun S. , Nadler Lauren E. , White James R. , McCormick Mark I.
Published: April 2016

Predation theory and empirical evidence suggest that top predators benefit the survival of resource prey through the suppression of mesopredators. However, whether such behavioural suppression can also affect the physiology of resource prey has yet to be examined.

Using a three‐tier reef fish food web and intermittent‐flow respirometry, our study examined changes in the metabolic rate of resource prey exposed to combinations of mesopredator and top predator cues.

Under experimental conditions, the mesopredator (dottyback,Pseudochromis fuscus) continuously foraged and attacked resource prey (juveniles of the damselfishPomacentrus amboinensis) triggering an increase in prey O2uptake by 38 ± 12·9% (mean ± SE). The visual stimulus of a top predator (coral trout,Plectropomus leopardus) restricted the foraging activity of the mesopredator, indirectly allowing resource prey to minimize stress and maintain routine O2uptake. Although not as strong as the effect of the top predator, the sight of a large non‐predator species (thicklip wrasse,Hemigymnus melapterus) also reduced the impact of the mesopredator on prey metabolic rate.

We conclude that lower trophic‐level species can benefit physiologically from the presence of top predators through the behavioural suppression that top predators impose on mesopredators. By minimizing the energy spent on mesopredator avoidance and the associated stress response to mesopredator attacks, prey may be able to invest more energy in foraging and growth, highlighting the importance of the indirect, non‐consumptive effects of top predators in marine food webs.
Terrestrial Precipitation Analysis (TPA): A resource for characterizing long‐term precipitation regimes and extremes
Authors: Lemoine Nathan P. , Sheffield Justin , Dukes Jeffrey S. , Knapp Alan K. , Smith Melinda D.
Published: April 2016

1. World‐wide, climate change is altering precipitation amounts, variability and extremes (e.g. droughts), and these changes are altering ecosystem structure and function. Precipitation manipulation experiments in terrestrial ecosystems around the world have identified many consequences of altered precipitation regimes, but a lack of standardized protocols has complicated attempts to synthesize results from these studies. Thus, there is a clear need to identify standard, ecologically relevant treatments that can be more easily compared across systems. Tools that facilitate comparisons of precipitation statistics across sites would allow researchers to (1) optimize treatments for multi‐site precipitation studies and (2) place past and current experiments in the context of historical precipitation patterns.

2. To address these needs, we created the Terrestrial Precipitation Analysis package. This package is comprised of the Precipitation Trends (P‐Trend), Precipitation Attributes (P‐Att) and Precipitation Manipulation (P‐Man) tools. Combined, these web tools allow researchers to easily calculate fundamental precipitation statistics for past, present and projected future precipitation regimes for any terrestrial location in the world.

3. The P‐Trend tool allows researchers to visualize and download long‐term precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and drought index records derived from a global gridded data set for any study location. The P‐Att tool allows researchers to characterize the general precipitation regime (including extreme events) at any study site and obtain estimates of precipitation under a severe climate change scenario. The P‐Man tool calculates the proportional change in precipitation required to achieve any level of precipitation extremity based on either long‐term interpolated data or user‐provided long‐term, site‐based precipitation records.
Uncovering the diverse cultural bases of social identity: Ingroup ties predict self‐stereotyping among individualists but not among collectivists
Authors: Rubin Mark , Milanov Milen , Paolini Stefania
Published: April 2016

On what basis do people form their social identities? To investigate this issue, the present research investigates cross‐cultural differences in self‐stereotyping, a key outcome of social identification. In particular, the research tests the hypothesis that ingroup ties are a stronger predictor of self‐stereotyping among people from individualist cultures than among people from collectivist cultures. In Study 1, university students (N = 117) completed measures of ingroup ties and self‐stereotyping with respect to an intimacy group (family and friends). Consistent with predictions, ingroup ties significantly predicted self‐stereotyping among individualists but not among collectivists. Study 2 (N = 104) found a similar pattern of results among members of the global internet community who considered either an intimacy group (their friends), a task group (their work group) or a social category (their gender). These results indicate that people in individualist cultures are more likely than those in collectivist cultures to base their social identities on ingroup ties. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to self‐categorization theory's depersonalization account of social identification.
Methionine synthase 2756AA polymorphism is associated with the risk of cognitive impairment in patients with late‐life depression
Authors: Yang Ya‐Hsu , Chiu Chih‐Chiang , Teng Hao‐Wei , Chu Chih‐Pang , Chang Ching‐Jui , Chiu Wei‐Che , Chen Chin‐Hsin , Lu Mong‐Liang , Liu Shen‐Ing , Huang Shih‐Yi , Liu Hsing‐Cheng , Sun I‐Wen
Published: April 2016

Backgrounds

Apolipoprotein E epsilon‐4 (APOE ε4) allele, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T), and methionine synthase (MTR A2756G) were tested their associations with cognitive impairment in people with late‐life depression (LLD).

Methods

People with LLD were assessed by mini‐mental state examination and were examined the distribution of APOE ε4 allele, MTHFR, and MTR polymorphisms.

Results

Odds ratio of MTR 2756 AA to MTR 2756 AG and GG genotypes for the risk of cognitive impairment was 5.80 (95% confidence interval = 1.18–28.50; P = 0.03).

Conclusion

People with LLD carrying MTR2756 AA genotype have higher risk of cognitive impairment than those carrying G allele.
Preoperative factors predicting the need for additional ports during single‐incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Sato Norihiro , Yabuki Kei , Kudo Yuzan , Koga Atsuhiro , Kohi Shiro , Tamura Toshihisa , Shibao Kazunori , Hirata Keiji
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Single‐incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is gaining popularity as a minimally invasive technique that provides some benefits in terms of improved cosmesis. However, the insertion of an additional port is required in a subset of cases.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 308 SILC procedures in patients with benign gallbladder diseases, except acute cholecystitis, to identify preoperative factors predicting the need for an additional port.

Results

SILC was completed with a single incision in 272 patients (88%); the insertion of at least one additional port was required in 36 patients (12%). The additional port requirement was associated with a longer operative time (P < 0.0001), greater intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.0001), and longer postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.0002). Multivariate analysis revealed male gender (odds ratio: 2.57, P = 0.0170), prior history of upper abdominal surgery (odds ratio: 5.53, P = 0.0132), and a higher preoperative white blood cell count (odds ratio: 3.62, P = 0.0244) to be independent factors associated with the requirement for an additional port.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that gender, prior history of upper abdominal surgery, and white blood cell count can predict the likelihood of requiring an additional port in SILC.
Dietary supplementation with mulberry leaf flavonoids inhibits methanogenesis in sheep
Authors: Ma Tao , Chen Dan‐Dan , Tu Yan , Zhang Nai‐Feng , Si Bing‐Wen , Diao Qi‐Yu
Published: April 2016

The effects of flavonoids on methanogenesis and microbial flora in Dorper × thin‐tailed Han crossbred ewes were evaluated in two experiments. To investigate the effects of flavonoids on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance, 18 ewes (60.0 ± 1.73 kg body weight (BW)) were allotted to two dietary treatments in experiment one, a control diet and the control diet supplemented with flavonoids (2 g/head/day). In experiment two, the effects of supplementary flavonoids on ruminal fermentation and microbial flora were investigated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction with six ewes (67.2 ± 0.79 kg BW) with ruminal cannula assigned to the identical dietary treatments used in experiment one. Supplementary flavonoids improved the apparent digestibility of nitrogen (N, P < 0.001) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF, P = 0.024) and decreased daily CH4 output (P < 0.001). The ruminal pH (P = 0.638) and ammonia (P = 0.690) were not affected by supplementary flavonoids, whereas the total volatile fatty acid (VFA) content increased (P = 0.037). Supplementary flavonoids decreased ruminal populations of protozoans (P = 0.002) and methanogens (P < 0.001) and increased the populations of Fibrobacter succinogenes (P = 0.016). In conclusion, flavonoids improved the digestibility of organic matter and reduced CH4 output by inhibiting the populations of microbes involved in methanogenesis.
The effects of different levels of superoxide dismutase in Modena on boar semen quality during liquid preservation at 17°C
Authors: Zhang Xiao‐Gang , Li Hao , Wang Le , Hao Yang‐Yi , Liang Guo‐Dong , Ma Yun‐Hui , Yang Gong‐She , Hu Jian‐Hong
Published: April 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on the quality of boar semen during liquid preservation at 17°C. Semen samples from 10 Duroc boars were collected and pooled, divided into five equal parts and diluted with Modena containing different concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 U/mL) of SOD. During the process of liquid preservation at 17°C, sperm motility, acrosome integrity, membrane integrity, total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content were measured and analyzed every 24 h. Meanwhile, effective survival time of boar semen during preservation was evaluated and analyzed. The results indicated that different concentrations of SOD in Modena showed different protective effects on boar sperm quality. Modena supplemented with SOD decreased the effects on reactive oxygen species on boar sperm quality during liquid preservation compared with that of the control group. The added 200 U/mL SOD group showed higher sperm motility, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, effective survival time and T‐AOC activity. Meanwhile, the added 200 U/mL SOD group showed lower MDA content and H2O2content. In conclusion, addition of SOD to Modena improved the boar sperm quality by reducing oxidative stress during liquid preservation at 17°C and the optimum concentration was 200 U/mL.
Primary ciliary dyskinesia in two English Cocker Spaniels
Authors: Bell ET , Griffin P , Martinello P , Robinson P
Published: April 2016

Background

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an inherited condition characterised by structural and functional defects of ciliated cells. Ciliated cells are present in several different anatomic locations and PCD can thus cause a variety of clinical signs; however, the predominant clinical signs in dogs are respiratory in nature, most commonly chronic nasal discharge and recurrent lower respiratory tract infections commencing in the neonatal period.

Case report and conclusion

This report describes two cases of PCD in English Cocker Spaniel puppies presenting with chronic nasal discharge and bronchopneumonia. We describe the use of a minimally invasive technique to collect samples suitable for cilial studies for its diagnosis.
Non‐communicating gastric duplication cyst in a 10‐week‐old Labrador Retriever puppy
Authors: Jack MW , Burgess D , Griffin A
Published: April 2016

Case report

A 10‐week‐old male Labrador Retriever puppy was presented for acute onset of vomiting over a 48‐h period. Ultrasound examination showed a cystic structure in the area of the pylorus that was impinging on gastric outflow. Surgery was performed to resect this structure. Histological examination showed the cystic structure to be composed of gastric mucosa surrounded by a smooth muscle wall. This finding, together with the intraoperative observations, led to a definitive diagnosis of a non‐communicating gastric duplication cyst.

Conclusion

Although rare, gastric duplication cyst is a differential diagnosis for acute‐onset vomiting in a young dog. This report should aid in the decision‐making process in future cases.
Influence of endurance and sprinting exercise on plasma adiponectin, leptin and irisin concentrations in racing Greyhounds and sled dogs
Authors: Bell MA , Levine CB , Downey RL , Griffitts C , Mann S , Frye CW , Wakshlag JJ
Published: April 2016

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of both short‐term anaerobic exercise and long‐term aerobic exercise on leptin, adiponectin and irisin concentrations in both sprint and endurance canine athletes.

Design

Prospective field trial repeated measures. The 25 racing Greyhounds were run over 400 m, with blood samples collected prior to exercise and at 10 min and 120 min after exercise. The 16 sled dogs were run an average of 3.5–5 h/day on 5 out of 8 days of stage stop racing competition, with assessment on days 0, 2 and 8.

Results

Baseline leptin concentrations were found to be lower than previously recorded values of domestic dogs, possibly because of a lower body fat content in athletes, with concentrations in sled dogs being slightly higher than those in Greyhounds. Baseline adiponectin concentrations in both groups of dogs, on average, were lower than most previously recorded values in domestic dogs; although unexpected, these findings may be attributed to differences in body fat content of the study population.

Conclusion

Endurance exercise in sled dogs resulted in a persistent decrease in leptin that appears to be independent of race‐associated weight loss, with no appreciable changes in adiponectin or irisin concentrations. The anaerobic exercise of Greyhounds produced no detectable changes in leptin and adiponectin concentrations; however, a significant rise in irisin 10 min post‐exercise may be a compensatory mechanism for restoration of ATP homeostasis in skeletal muscle.
Cognitive variability in bipolar II disorder: who is cognitively impaired and who is preserved
Authors: Solé Brisa , Jiménez Esther , Torrent Carla , del Mar Bonnin Caterina , Torres Imma , Reinares María , Priego Ángel , Salamero Manel , Colom Francesc , Varo Cristina , Vieta Eduard , Martínez‐Arán Anabel
Published: April 2016

Objectives

Although it is well established that euthymic patients with bipolar disorder can have cognitive impairment, substantial heterogeneity exists and little is known about the extent and severity of impairment within the bipolar II disorder subtype. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to analyze cognitive variability in a sample of patients with bipolar II disorder.

Methods

The neuropsychological performance of 116 subjects, including 64 euthymic patients with bipolar II disorder and 52 healthy control subjects, was examined and compared by means of a comprehensive neurocognitive battery. Neurocognitive data were analyzed using a cluster analysis to examine whether there were specific groups based on neurocognitive patterns. Subsequently, subjects from each cluster were compared on demographic, clinical, and functional variables.

Results

A three‐cluster solution was identified with an intact neurocognitive group (n = 29, 48.3%), an intermediate or selectively impaired group (n = 24, 40.0%), and a globally impaired group (n = 7, 11.6%). Among the three clusters, statistically significant differences were observed in premorbid intelligence quotient (p = 0.002), global functional outcome (p = 0.021), and leisure activities (p = 0.001), with patients in the globally impaired cluster showing the lowest attainments. No differences in other clinical characteristics were found among the groups.

Conclusions

These results confirm that neurocognitive variability is also present among patients with bipolar II disorder. Approximately one‐half of the patients with bipolar II disorder were cognitively impaired, and among them 12% were severely and globally impaired. The identification of different cognitive profiles may help to develop cognitive remediation programs specifically tailored for each cognitive profile.
Mania secondary to focal brain lesions: implications for understanding the functional neuroanatomy of bipolar disorder
Authors: Satzer David , Bond David J
Published: April 2016

Objectives

Approximately 3.5 million Americans will experience a manic episode during their lifetimes. The most common causes are psychiatric illnesses such as bipolar I disorder and schizoaffective disorder, but mania can also occur secondary to neurological illnesses, brain injury, or neurosurgical procedures.

Methods

For this narrative review, we searched Medline for articles on the association of mania with stroke, brain tumors, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, epilepsy, and neurosurgical interventions. We discuss the epidemiology, features, and treatment of these cases. We also review the anatomy of the lesions, in light of what is known about the neurobiology of bipolar disorder.

Results

The prevalence of mania in patients with brain lesions varies widely by condition, from <2% in stroke to 31% in basal ganglia calcification. Mania occurs most commonly with lesions affecting frontal, temporal, and subcortical limbic brain areas. Right‐sided lesions causing hypo‐functionality or disconnection (e.g., stroke; neoplasms) and left‐sided excitatory lesions (e.g., epileptogenic foci) are frequently observed.

Conclusions

Secondary mania should be suspected in patients with neurological deficits, histories atypical for classic bipolar disorder, and first manic episodes after the age of 40 years. Treatment with antimanic medications, along with specific treatment for the underlying neurologic condition, is typically required. Typical lesion locations fit with current models of bipolar disorder, which implicate hyperactivity of left‐hemisphere reward‐processing brain areas and hypoactivity of bilateral prefrontal emotion‐modulating regions. Lesion studies complement these models by suggesting that right‐hemisphere limbic‐brain hypoactivity, or a left/right imbalance, may be relevant to the pathophysiology of mania.