bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
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

Summary

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

Summary

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

SummaryPredation 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

Summary1. 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.
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

AbstractBackgroundsApolipoprotein 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).MethodsPeople with LLD were assessed by mini‐mental state examination and were examined the distribution of APOE ε4 allele, MTHFR, and MTR polymorphisms.ResultsOdds 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).ConclusionPeople 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

AbstractIntroductionSingle‐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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsSILC 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.ConclusionOur 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

AbstractThe 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

AbstractThis 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

BackgroundPrimary 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 conclusionThis 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 reportA 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.ConclusionAlthough 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

ObjectiveThe 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.DesignProspective 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.ResultsBaseline 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.ConclusionEndurance 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

ObjectivesAlthough 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.MethodsThe 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.ResultsA 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.ConclusionsThese 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.