bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brand tribalism and self-expressive brands: social influences and brand outcomes
Authors: Ruane Lorna , Wallace Elaine 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– This study aims to examine the relationship between social influence and consumers’ self-expression through brands. It considers susceptibility to interpersonal influence and social network influence on self-expressive brands and brand tribalism. The study examines whether self-expressive brands and brand tribalism influence brand loyalty and word of mouth (WOM).Design/methodology/approach– A cross-sectional online survey was carried out with members of Generation Y in Ireland. Data from 675 complete responses were analysed using SPSS 20 and AMOS 20. A structural model tested nine hypothesised relationships.Findings– Findings indicate that both online social network influence and susceptibility to interpersonal influence are antecedents of tribalism and self-expressive brands. Consumers of self-expressive brands are loyal and offer positive WOM. By contrast, those who seek tribal membership have less brand loyalty and offer less WOM than other consumers. Findings suggest that consumers may be loyal to tribes, rather than to brands. This informs our understanding of the role of tribes for consumers and brand outcomes.Research limitations/implications– This study is limited to Generation Y consumers within Ireland.Originality/value– This is the first study to explore the effect of consumers’ perceptions about online social network influence on brand tribalism. In addition, their views about the influence of the social network on self-expressive brand consumption, and brand outcomes, are identified. This paper highlights consumers’ susceptibility to interpersonal influence on their brand choices and brand tribalism. In addition, it is shown that brand loyalty and WOM are not always a consequence of tribal membership. By contrast, self-expressive brand consumption enhances brand WOM and brand loyalty.
The coherence and congruence of convergence in consumer electronics
Authors: Azhari Muhammad Zakky , Afiff Adi Zakaria 
Published: July 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to examine two important factors in developing convergence products: the congruence of basic product and the addition in terms of utilitarian or hedonic consumption goals, and the overall coherence of consumption goals. In recent years, the proliferation of convergence products, i.e. any product that combines two or more basic product functionalities in consumer electronics, is increasingly prevalent. For manufacturers, the lingering question in developing convergence products is what kind of basic product functionalities can be combined and can elicit favorable response from consumers.

Design/methodology/approach
– The study is a 2 × 2 × 2 experimental design, with basic product functionality’s consumption goals (utilitarian, hedonic) as the between-subject factor, and the additional product functionality’s consumption goals (utilitarian, hedonic) and the coherence of consumption goals (coherent addition, incoherent addition) as the two within-subject factors.

Findings
– It confirms and validates prior work on goal congruence effects. More importantly, this study finds that overall consumption goal coherence elicits higher value addition irrespective of goal congruence or incongruence on utilitarian or hedonic consumption goals.

Research limitations/implications
– In some literatures, the combination of two or more product functionalities from different product categories is considered as product bundling. While product bundling concept can be used in many different product categories, convergence product concept is utilized more specifically in consumer electronics.

Practical implications
– As convergence era offers wide opportunities for manufacturers to develop new convergence products, this study provides guidance as to what kind of new functionalities need to be added.

Originality/value
– Not only does the present research investigates the likely success of convergence products involving the congruence of basic product and the addition, but also in more comprehensive way by looking at the overall coherence of consumption goals.
Understanding the phenomenon of Chilean social enterprises under the lens of Kerlin’s approach
Authors: Gatica Sebastian 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature about the emergence of social enterprises in the world through the case of Chile by proposing the associative–business–cooperative approach as a new inclusive approach to organizational models of social enterprise that complements Kerlin’s conceptual framework.Design/methodology/approach– This work included a literature review of the theoretical frameworks developed by Kerlin (2013) and Salamon and Solokowski (2010), and field work that included 20 in-depth interviews of members of the Chilean social enterprise community and three expert group discussions about the specific dynamics of Chilean social enterprises.Findings– The emergent phenomenon of social enterprise in Chile has two distinctive features that appear to indicate that Kerlin’s conceptual framework does not fully capture how social enterprise is currently conceptualized in Chile: the long-term dynamics of convergence and (re-)emergence of different organizational models of social enterprises and the participation and evolution of different organizational models of social enterprise over the course of history and their lasting impact.Research limitations/implications– The lack of data is the main limitation of this research.Practical implications– Capture the emergent phenomenon of social enterprises in Chile at an early stage of development with an inclusive approach that considers the diversity of the main organizational models of social enterprise and the profound institutional changes happening in Chile during the past decades.Originality/value– A deep understanding of the Chilean institutional context in the development of social enterprises.
Adjustment of diving behaviour with prey encounters and body condition in a deep diving predator: the Southern Elephant Seal
Authors: Jouma'a Joffrey , Le Bras Yves , Richard Gaëtan , Vacquié‐Garcia Jade , Picard Baptiste , El Ksabi Nory , Guinet Christophe 
Published: July 2015

Summary

Optimal diving models have been developed to investigate how air‐breathing predators should adjust their diving behaviour to optimize their foraging efficiency. Using time‐depth recorders and 3D accelerometers, we addressed this question on six free‐ranging Southern Elephant Seal (SES) females equipped on Kerguelen Island.

We hypothesize that seals would initially increase their foraging time with distance to the foraging patches before reducing it for physiological reasons, regardless of the prey encountered. We expect that SES spends more time at depths where more Prey Catch Attempts (PCA) occur, that is at the bottom. We also hypothesize that bottom time should be related to both the seal body density and the swimming effort dedicated to catching prey, as we expect seals to be more active when catching prey. Finally, because oxygen is acquired at the surface only, we expect that recovery times increase with the duration of the previous dives.

A total of 72·6% of PCA detected by accelerometer occurred at the bottom of the dive. At shallow depths (<300 m), seals spent more time at the bottom in dives where PCA occurred compared to non‐PCA dives. At deeper depths, SES had shorter bottom times in PCA dives due to higher swimming effort. When only dives associated with PCA were considered, the time spent at the bottom increased with the number of PCA. In addition, the closer the seal was to neutral buoyancy, the longer was the bottom duration. Body density, that is buoyancy, was found to be a critical factor in controlling variations in the dive duration through the swimming effort to access the prey at the bottom of the dive. Finally, post‐dive surface intervals were related to the duration and swimming effort of the previous dive.

This study reveals how a marine top predator adjusts the time spent at the bottom depending on its body density, prey encounter rate and prey accessibility. It also highlights that using the duration of the foraging phase as a proxy of foraging success can be seriously misleading in SES. Finally, the need to use an energetic approach with bio‐logging technology to study behavioural ecology is emphasized.
Constructing, conducting and interpreting animal social network analysis
Authors: Farine Damien R. , Whitehead Hal 
Published: July 2015

Summary

Animal social networks are descriptions of social structure which, aside from their intrinsic interest for understanding sociality, can have significant bearing across many fields of biology.

Network analysis provides a flexible toolbox for testing a broad range of hypotheses, and for describing the social system of species or populations in a quantitative and comparable manner. However, it requires careful consideration of underlying assumptions, in particular differentiating real from observed networks and controlling for inherent biases that are common in social data.

We provide a practical guide for using this framework to analyse animal social systems and test hypotheses. First, we discuss key considerations when defining nodes and edges, and when designing methods for collecting data. We discuss different approaches for inferring social networks from these data and displaying them. We then provide an overview of methods for quantifying properties of nodes and networks, as well as for testing hypotheses concerning network structure and network processes. Finally, we provide information about assessing the power and accuracy of an observed network.

Alongside this manuscript, we provide appendices containing background information on common programming routines and worked examples of how to perform network analysis using the r programming language.

We conclude by discussing some of the major current challenges in social network analysis and interesting future directions. In particular, we highlight the under‐exploited potential of experimental manipulations on social networks to address research questions.
Retrofitting of power lines effectively reduces mortality by electrocution in large birds: an example with the endangered Bonelli's eagle
Authors: Chevallier Clément , Hernández‐Matías Antonio , Real Joan , Vincent‐Martin Nicolas , Ravayrol Alain , Besnard Aurélien 
Published: July 2015

Summary

Mortality caused by power lines is a conservation problem for many vulnerable bird species. Many large species are especially threatened by electrocution as they frequently perch on pylons leading to electrocution that typically causes death. Electrocution mitigation measures have been implemented to protect several species; however, a resulting decrease in mortality due to these measures has not previously been demonstrated at the population scale.

In this study, we used data from a long‐term capture–recapture programme (combining resightings of live birds and recovery of dead birds) carried out on the French population of the Bonelli's eagle Aquila fasciata from 1990 to 2009 to estimate the impact of the insulation of power lines on key demographic rates.

We found that the survival probability of all age classes increased after the insulation of dangerous power lines, due to a decrease in mortality caused by electrocution. This decrease was partially compensated for by an increase in other causes of death.

Our findings show that insulation of power lines has a strong positive impact on juveniles and immature birds and a lesser impact on adults. The overall increase in survival due to power line insulation led to a sharp increase in predicted population growth rates (from 0·82 to 0·98), although our findings still suggest that the population is not self‐sustaining. Elasticity values indicate that adult survival is the key parameter in the population dynamics of this species, and since adult mortality caused by electrocution seemed close to zero, our ability to act on this parameter is limited.

This study demonstrates that insulation of power lines is relevant for the conservation of large bird species at a population scale as it allows the survival rate of all age classes to increase and thus in turn has a strong positive impact on population growth rates.

Synthesis and applications. We demonstrated that mortality rates induced by electrocution are considerable and have major consequences for the population viability of birds. We also demonstrated that electrocution mitigation measures can lead to a sharp increase in survival through reducing mortality from electrocution leading to improved population viability. In the light of these results, there is an urgent need that conservationists contact power line stakeholders not only to urge them to generalize retrofitting actions but also, in planning new infrastructure development, to plan for less harmful power lines, since this will be far less costly than developing a posteriori mitigation actions.
FORUM: Effective management of ecological resilience – are we there yet?
Authors: Spears Bryan M. , Ives Stephen C. , Angeler David G. , Allen Craig R. , Birk Sebastian , Carvalho Laurence , Cavers Stephen , Daunt Francis , Morton R. Daniel , Pocock Michael J. O. , Rhodes Glenn , Thackeray Stephen J. 
Published: July 2015

Summary

Ecological resilience is developing into a credible paradigm for policy development and environmental management for preserving natural capital in a rapidly changing world. However, resilience emerges from complex interactions, limiting the translation of theory into practice.

Main limitations include the following: (i) difficulty in quantification and detection of changes in ecological resilience, (ii) a lack of empirical evidence to support preventative or proactive management and (iii) difficulties in managing processes operating across socio‐ecological systems that vary in space and time.

We highlight recent research with the potential to address these limitations including new and/or improved indicators of resilience and tools to assess scale as a driver of resilience.

Synthesis and applications. Effective resilience‐based management must be adaptive in nature. To support this, we propose an operational model using resilience‐based iterative management actions operating across scales.
Unravelling conflicting density‐ and distance‐dependent effects on plant reproduction using a spatially explicit approach
Authors: Fedriani José M. , Wiegand Thorsten , Calvo Gemma , Suárez‐Esteban Alberto , Jácome Miguel , Żywiec Magdalena , Delibes Miguel 
Published: July 2015

SummaryDensity‐ and distance‐dependent (DDD) mechanisms are important determinants of plant reproductive success (PRS). Different components of sequentialPRScan operate either in the same or in different directions and thus reinforce or neutralize each other, and they may also operate at different spatial scales. Thus, spatially explicit approaches are needed to detect such complexDDDeffects across multiplePRScomponents and spatial scales.To revealDDDeffects of different components of earlyPRSof the Iberian pear (Pyrus bourgaeana) sampled over three consecutive years, we used marked point pattern analysis. Our special interest is to identify conflicting processes that regulate populations at different spatial scales, for example whetherDDDon fruit initiation and on fruit development acted in opposite directions. To evaluate the significance of observed mark correlation functions based on empirical data (e.g. fruiting success), we compared them to expectations given by spatially explicit null models.DiverseDDDprocesses affected several aspects ofPRSin a variable extent over the three seasons. First, fruit initiation was higher for individuals with more neighbours at small distances (i.e. up to 40 m). However,P. bourgaeanafruit development decreased with increasing number of nearby neighbours, but these effects cancelled for overall fruit set that did not showDDDeffects. Secondly, the absolute number of fruits produced (crop sizes) by trees showed positive density dependence in 2011 and 2012 but not in 2013. Finally, the total number of seeds produced did not showDDDeffects, indicating that conflicting demographic processes can disrupt the initial spatial pattern of tree investment in reproduction.Synthesis. Understanding complex spatial effects ofDDDprocesses requires dissection of component processes to attain the complete picture since contrastingDDDprocesses may be hidden behind a single cumulative measure of reproductive success. The combination of novel and classic mark correlation functions used here constitutes a powerful spatially explicit tool that can be broadly applied to unravel conflicting mechanisms ofDDDregulating the persistence of sessile organisms at a range of spatial scales. Our findings help to explain why some authors failed to find expectedDDDofPRSand highlight the importance of detailed multiyear field studies on plant reproductive success.
Picroside II has a neuroprotective effect by inhibiting ERK1/2 activation after cerebral ischemic injury in rats
Authors: Wang Tingting , Zhai Li , Guo Yunliang , Pei Haitao , Zhang Meizeng 
Published: July 2015

SummaryIn the study, the neuroprotective effect and underlying mechanism of picroside II were explored, and its involvement in the ERK1/2 signal pathway after cerebral ischemia injury in rats. A monofilament thread was inserted to generate middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in 100 Wistar rats that were administered an intraperitoneal injection of picroside II (20 mg/kg). The neurobehavioural function of rats was evaluated using a modified neurological severity score (mNSS) test. The cerebral infarct volume (CIV) was measured using tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The morphology and ultra‐structure of the nerve cells in the cortex were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The apoptotic cells were counted using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The expression of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) in the cortex was determined using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Neurological dysfunction was observed in all rats with MCAO. In both the model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) groups, the CIV increased, the neuronal damage in the cortex was more severe, and the number of apoptotic cells and the pERK1/2 expression significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In treatment and U0126 groups, the neurological function was improved, the CIV decreased, the neuronal damage in the cortex was attenuated, and the number of apoptotic cells and the pERK1/2 expression significantly decreased compared with the model group (P < 0.05). No significant differences in these indices were observed between model and LPS groups or treatment and U0126 groups (P > 0.05). The results suggest that activation of ERK1/2 in cerebral ischaemia induces neuronal apoptosis and picroside II may reduce neuronal apoptosis to confer protection against cerebral ischemic injury by inhibiting ERK1/2 activation.
Human muscle sympathetic nerve responses to urocortin‐2 in health and stable heart failure
Authors: Chan W Y Wandy , Charles Christopher J , Frampton Christopher M , Richards A Mark , Crozier Ian G , Troughton Richard W , Jardine David L 
Published: July 2015

SummarySympatholytic and vasodilator drugs have been of major therapeutic benefit in patients with heart failure (HF). Urocortin‐2 (Ucn2) is a small corticotrophin‐related peptide distributed throughout the cardiovascular system which inhibits cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (CSNA) and is also a powerful vasodilator. This study analysed the effects of a 60‐min infusion of Ucn2 (25 μg) on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) recorded from the lower limb in eight healthy men and four men with stable HF. During Ucn2 infusion, mean arterial pressure fell to a nadir of 84 ± 2 compared to 95 ± 2 mmHg during placebo (P = 0.001) and heart rate increased to a maximum of 74 ± 1 compared to 64 ± 1 b.p.m. (P < 0.001). Total peripheral resistance fell by 23 ± 4% compared with an increase of 23 ± 4% (P < 0.001) and cardiac output increased by 22 ± 4 compared to 4 ± 4% (P = 0.001). The MSNA burst frequency increased by 9 ± 2 compared to 1 ± 2 burst/min (P = 0.005) and burst area/min by 133 ± 7 vs 107 ± 7% (P = 0.01). Burst incidence and baroreflex sensitivity were not significantly altered. Qualitatively similar changes were observed in stable HF patients. Ucn2‐induced vasodilatation increased MSNA in humans, as opposed to the decrease in CSNA we observed in sheep. Therefore, if Ucn2 has a central inhibitory effect on MSNA, it was over‐run by off‐loading the cardiovagal baroreflex. Alternatively, CSNA may be less responsive to baroreflex off‐loading than MSNA.
Enhanced vasorelaxation effect of endogenous anandamide on thoracic aorta in renal vascular hypertension rats
Authors: Guo Zan , Liu Yi‐Xian , Yuan Fang , Ma Hui‐Jie , Maslov Leonid , Zhang Yi 
Published: July 2015

SummaryEmerging evidence has indicated that anandamide (AEA) is able to stimulate vasorelaxation in both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and L‐NAME‐induced hypertensive rats. Yet it remains unknown whether AEA modulates vasomotion of the aorta in renovascular hypertensive (RVH) rats. The aim of present study is to explore the effect of AEA on the relaxation of thoracic aortas in two‐kidney one‐clip (2K1C)‐induced RVH rats. It is demonstrated that AEA stimulates a pronounced relaxation in the aortas of 2K1C rats compared with sham rats. The enhanced relaxation caused by AEA in aortas from 2K1C rats was diminished in the presence of the cannabinoid receptor‐1 (CB1) antagonist AM251 and the CB2 receptor antagonist AM630. Likewise, the vasodilation action of AEA was blocked in L‐NAME‐treated or endothelium‐denuded aortas. The Western blot results revealed that the expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors was increased in the 2K1C rat aortas compared with sham rats. The phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p‐eNOS) at the activation site Ser1177 was enhanced in AEA‐treated rings from 2K1C rats in both time‐dependent and dose‐dependent manners. The augmented p‐eNOS expression was inhibited by the co‐treatment with AM251 or AM630. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that AEA enhanced endothelium‐dependent aortic relaxation through activation of both CB1 and CB2 receptors and P‐eNOS/NO pathway in 2K1C rats.