Sales manager problem resolution styles:measure development and an examination of their salesperson-related consequences

Personal selling and sales management play a critical role in the short and long term success of the firm, and have thus received substantial academic interest since the 1970s. Sales research has examined the role of the sales manager in some depth, defining a number of key technical and interpersonal roles which sales managers have in influencing sales force effectiveness. However, one aspect of sales management which appears to remain unexplored is that of their resolution of salesperson-related problems. This study represents the first attempt to address this gap by reporting on the conceptual and empirical development of an instrument designed to measure sales managers' problem resolution styles. A comprehensive literature review and qualitative research study identified three key constructs relating to sales managers' problem resolution styles. The three constructs identified were termed; sales manager willingness to respond, sales manager caring, and sales manager aggressiveness. Building on this, existing literature was used to develop a conceptual model of salesperson-specific consequences of the three problem resolution style constructs. The quantitative phase of the study consisted of a mail survey of UK salespeople, achieving a total sample of 140 fully usable responses. Rigorous statistical assessment of the sales manager problem resolution style measures was undertaken, and construct validity examined. Following this, the conceptual model was tested using latent variable path analysis. The results for the model were encouraging overall, and also with regard to the individual hypotheses. Sales manager problem resolution styles were found individually to have significant impacts on the salesperson-specific variables of role ambiguity, emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, organisational commitment and organisational citizenship behaviours. The findings, theoretical and managerial implications, limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

Intracellular Signaling and Trafficking in Cancer: Role of Rab5-GTPase in Migration and Invasion of Breast Cells

Metastasis is characterized pathologically by uncontrolled cell invasion, proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. Steroid hormones, such as estrogen, and growth factors, which include insulin growth factor I/II (IGF-1/IGF-2) therapy has been associated with most if not all of the features of metastasis. It has been determined that IGF-1 increases cell survival of cancer cells and potentiate the effect of E2 and other ligand growth factors on breast cancer cells. However not much information is available that comprehensively expounds on the roles of insulin growth factor receptor (IGFR) and Rab GTPases may play in breast cancer. The latter, Rab GTPases, are small signaling molecules and critical in the regulation of many cellular processes including cell migration, growth via the endocytic pathway. This research involves the role of Rab GTPases, specifically Rab5 and its guanine exchange factors (GEFs), in the promotion of cancer cell migration and invasion. Two important questions abound: Are IGFR stimulation and downstream effect involved the endocytic pathway in carcinogenesis? What role does Rab5 play in cell migration and invasion of cancer cells? The hypothesis is that growth factor signaling is dependent on Rab5 activity in mediating the aggressiveness of cancer cells. The goal is to demonstrate that IGF-1 signaling is dependent on Rab5 function in breast cancer progression. Here, the results thus far, have shown that while activation of Rab5 may mediate increased cell proliferation, migration and invasion in breast cancer cells, the Rab5 GEF, RIN1 interacts with the IGFR thereby facilitating migration and invasion activities in breast cells. Furthermore, endocytosis of the IGFR in breast cancer cells seems to be caveolin dependent as the data has shown. This taken together, the data shows that IGF-1 signaling in breast cancer cells relies on IGF-1R phosphorylation, caveolae internalization and sequestration to the early endosome RIN1 function and Rab5 activation.

Comparação entre técnicas de nitretação em cátodo oco e gaiola catódica na deposição de TiN

The plasma nitriding has been used in industrial and technological applications for large-scale show an improvement in the mechanical, tribological, among others. In order to solve problems arising in the conventional nitriding, for example, rings constraint (edge effect) techniques have been developed with different cathodes. In this work, we studied surfaces of commercially pure titanium (Grade II), modified by plasma nitriding treatment through different settings cathodes (hollow cathode, cathodic cage with a cage and cathodic cage with two cages) varying the temperature 350, 400 and 430oC, with the goal of obtaining a surface optimization for technological applications, evaluating which treatment generally showed better results under the substrate. The samples were characterized by the techniques of testing for Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, microhardness, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and a macroscopic analysis. Thus, we were able to evaluate the processing properties, such as roughness, topography, the presence of interstitial elements, hardness, homogeneity, uniformity and thickness of the nitrided layer. It was observed that all samples were exposed to nitriding modified relative to the control sample (no treatment) thus having increased surface hardness, the presence of TiN observed by XRD as per both Raman and a significant change in the roughness of the treated samples . It was found that treatment in hollow cathode, despite having the lowest value of microhardness between treated samples, was presented the lowest surface roughness, although this configuration samples suffer greater physical aggressiveness of treatment

Avaliação imuno-histoquímica das proteínas BMP-4, FGF-8 e Sindecan-1 em tumores odontogênicos

The development and progression of odontogenic tumors have been associated with an imbalance in the activity of growth factors, adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix proteins and their degradation enzymes, angiogenic factors and osteolytic. Some studies have shown that interaction relationships inductive epithelial / mesenchymal determinants of Odontogenesis are mimicked by these tumors. The objective of this research was to investigate the immunolocalization of growth factors (BMP-4 and FGF-8) and Sindecan-1 structural protein in a series of odontogenic tumors presenting different biological behaviors, to contribute to a better understanding of the role of these proteins in tumor development. The sample consisted of 21 of the solid ameloblastoma, odontogenic keratocysts 19 and 14 odontogenic adenomatoid tumors. Increased Sindecan-1 immunostaining was seen in the epithelium of the lesions when compared with mesenchyme. In ameloblastoma and odontogenic keratocysts, this expression was higher than in AOT. Epithelial expression of BMP4 showed quantitatively similar in the three studied lesions; however, when anlisada mesenchymal immunoreactivity, was detected significant higher expression when compared to the ameloblastoma keratocysts. In ameloblastoma, mesenchymal expression was predominantly (p = 0.008), while in keratocyst higher expression in the epithelium was observed (p = 0.046). In all injuries, strong or moderate correlation was observed in the BMP-4 immunoreactivity in the epithelium and mesenchyme. FGF-8, no injury was observed difference between the immunoreactivity in the epithelium or mesenchyme, however in ameloblastoma positive correlation was found (Spearman correlation, rho = 0.857, p <0.001). The results of this study suggest that the three evaluated biomarkers actively involved in the pathogenesis of lesions, especially the expression of ameloblastomas indicating a strong interaction between parenchymal and stromal cells which may contribute to its marked aggressiveness.

A atenção à crise e o apoio matricial: analisadores da estratégia atenção psicossocial

The National Policy on Mental Health is characterized as a territorial - political community , and it has the Psychoso cial Care Strategy (Eaps) as guideline for the proposal and the development of their actions. In its design, CAPS is idealized to be a strategic equipment within the Psychoso cial Care Network/RAPS. Matricial support and at tention to the crisis constitute strategic areas of action of CAPS in its replacement mission , and as it is g uided by the scope of deinstitutionalization, those are essential to the success of these services. We argue that sustain crises in existential territories of life is a condition for the effectiveness of psychosocial care and, ultimately, to the sustainability of its Reform. In this direction, the matricial support tool reveals a territorial supporter, intercessory and powerful in building a psychosocial care to the crisis. Recognized as one of the major challenges by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, forward these fronts materializes for workers in their mi cropolitical crafts. Our research arises as an investment toward empower them , and aimed to understand the operationalization of attention to the crisis and matricial support in a CAPS II, in the view of its workers . Besides, it aims to examine such practi ces forward the principles and purposes of Psychosocial Care Strategy. Inspired by the research - intervention and by the political and social ideas of Institutiona l Analysis, we offer a space for reflection and exchange, by implicational interviews , enablin g workers to launch them in analysis of practices in the EAPs view. We have done a documentary consulting CAPS Technical Project, and a return stage to the institution, by organizing workshop and conversation groups with CAPS workers. The results have show n that there are institutional logics in competition on that service. When operating the logic risk, some difficulties in sustaining most intense crisis situations were identified, the psychiatric hospital internment is used as a facility, particularly in view of some cases, in which the aggressiveness of the person in crises becomes aggressive, and when the brackets SAMU, the CAPS III and Comprehensive Care Beds do not respond satisfactorily to their users requests. Order weaknesses were indicated in this thesis as macropolitical and micropolitical interfering in network support. The matricial actions were identified as a powerful intercessor resource in crisis care appeared weakened, and indicates little porosity in the relationship between the Service and the territory where it takes place. Noticed by the logic of home care, without operate primarily as a knowledge exchange device, we saw capture points in the logic of assistance with ambulatoriza tion production of CAPS, welfare practices and "ext empore " . T he E APs , although it emerge s as a guiding, it is not seen to workers as effective practice. On the one hand, the results signaled that the attention to the crisis and the matricial actions are developed without tenacious connection with the purposes of EA Ps, on the other hand, successful cases were indicated with the main leads to conducting wire of intersectoral actions to the powerful bonds and to the participation of user in their care process es , indicating insurgent forces tha t intend by traditional lo gic .

Análise da imunoexpressão da podoplanina e da triptase em carcinoma epidermóide de língua e sua relação com parâmetros clinicopatológicos

Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) has an aggressive biological behavior, with a high propensity for the development of lymph node metastases. In this context, lymphangiogenesis is considered an important phenomenon for the spread of tumor cells and may be influenced by microenvironmental stimuli. Mast cells have been implicated in tumor progression, although their influence in the formation of lymphatic vessels is not well established. The aim of this study was to analyze, in a case series of OTSCC (n=50), possible correlations between lymphatic vessel density (LVD), mast cell count and clinicopathological features, including tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, histological grade of malignancy (Bryne, 1998), and nodal metastasis. LVD was established as the mean number of lymphatic vessels immunostained by anti-podoplanin (D2-40) antibody, identified in five microscopic fields (200x). For the analysis of mast cells, tryptase-immunoreactive cells were quantified in five fields (400x). Both immunostainings were analyzed in the tumor center and invasion front. Intratumoral lymphatic density (ILD) was higher in cases in advanced clinical stages (III-IV), compared to those in initial stages (I-II), as well as in metastatic cases in respect of non-metastatic (p<0,05). There were no statistically significant differences between low-grade and high-grade malignancy cases with respect to ILD (p>0,05). Peritumoral lymphatic density (PLD) and mast cell counts showed no significant relations with any of the clinicopathological parameters evaluated (p>0,05). Also there were no significant correlations between LVD and mast cell counts, whether in intratumoral (r = -0,004; p=0,977) or peritumoral region (r = -0,154; p=0,285). The results of the present study suggest that intratumoral lymphatic vessels may contribute in part to the progression of OTSCC, although PLD may be insufficient to justify differences in biological behavior. This supports the hypothesis of involvement of other mechanisms in metastatic spread of malignant cells, which could complement the effects of lymphangiogenesis. Although mast cells perform several pro- and antitumoral functions, they do not appear to directly influence aggressiveness of OTSCC. In addition, the quantity of these cells may not be essential for lymphatic vessel formation.

Imunoexpressão de receptores de calcitonina e corticosteroides em lesões centrais de células gigantes dos ossos maxilares

The aim of this study was to analyze the immunoexpression of calcitonin (CTR) and glucorticoid (GCR) receptors in aggressive and non-aggressive central giant cell lesions (CGCL). This is an immunohistochemistry study (immunoperoxidase technique) of 52 cases of CGCL of the jaws, in which 12 patients were treated with intralesional triamcinolone injections and one with calcitonin nasal spray. The mean of immunostaining was compared between the cell types and clinical subtype of the lesion. The correlations among means were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test. Of the 52 cases studied, 53.8% were females, with a mean of 25.69 years. Most lesions were located in the mandible. Thirty patients (57.7%) had aggressive lesions and 22 (42.3%) of the cases consisted of non-aggressive lesions. Surgery was the treatment of choice in 75% of the cases. In 56.7% of the aggressive CGCL surgery was performed, while 43.4% of patients were submitted to conservative treatment. Among cases submitted to conservative treatment, the majority (n = 8; 61.5%) responded well to treatment. CTR expression was observed in 67.3% and GCR in 96.15% of cases. There was no significant statistical difference between the expression of CTRs and GCRs in mononuclear and multinucleated CGCLscells, regarding aggressiveness, treatment performed for aggressive lesions and the response to conservative treatment (p>0.05). The results of our research suggest that the immunoreactivity of CTRs and GCRs did not influence the response to clinical treatment with calcitonin or triamcinolone in the sample studied and it exhibited a varied expression regardless of the aggressiveness of the lesion.

Imunoexpressão de receptores de calcitonina e corticosteroides em lesões centrais de células gigantes dos ossos maxilares

The aim of this study was to analyze the immunoexpression of calcitonin (CTR) and glucorticoid (GCR) receptors in aggressive and non-aggressive central giant cell lesions (CGCL). This is an immunohistochemistry study (immunoperoxidase technique) of 52 cases of CGCL of the jaws, in which 12 patients were treated with intralesional triamcinolone injections and one with calcitonin nasal spray. The mean of immunostaining was compared between the cell types and clinical subtype of the lesion. The correlations among means were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test. Of the 52 cases studied, 53.8% were females, with a mean of 25.69 years. Most lesions were located in the mandible. Thirty patients (57.7%) had aggressive lesions and 22 (42.3%) of the cases consisted of non-aggressive lesions. Surgery was the treatment of choice in 75% of the cases. In 56.7% of the aggressive CGCL surgery was performed, while 43.4% of patients were submitted to conservative treatment. Among cases submitted to conservative treatment, the majority (n = 8; 61.5%) responded well to treatment. CTR expression was observed in 67.3% and GCR in 96.15% of cases. There was no significant statistical difference between the expression of CTRs and GCRs in mononuclear and multinucleated CGCLscells, regarding aggressiveness, treatment performed for aggressive lesions and the response to conservative treatment (p>0.05). The results of our research suggest that the immunoreactivity of CTRs and GCRs did not influence the response to clinical treatment with calcitonin or triamcinolone in the sample studied and it exhibited a varied expression regardless of the aggressiveness of the lesion.

Discovery and Characterization of a Novel Fatty Acid Synthase Inhibitor with Antineoplastic Activity against Breast Cancer

During oncogenesis, cancer cells go through metabolic reprogramming to maintain their high growth rates and adapt to changes in the microenvironment and the lack of essential nutrients. Several types of cancer are dependent on de novo fatty acid synthesis to sustain their growth rates by providing precursors to construct membranes and produce vital signaling lipids. Fatty acid synthase (FASN) catalyze the terminal step of de novo fatty acid synthesis and it is highly expressed in many types of cancers where it’s up-regulation is correlated with cancer aggressiveness and low therapeutic outcome. Many FASN inhibitors were developed and showed potent anticancer activity however, only one inhibitor advanced to early stage clinical trials with some dose limiting toxicities. Using a modified fluorescence-linked enzyme chemoproteomic strategy (FLECS) screen, we identified HS-106, a thiophenopyrimiden FASN inhibitor that has anti-neoplastic activity against breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. HS-106 was able to inhibit both; purified human FASN activity and cellular fatty acid synthesis activity as evaluated by radioactive tracers incorporation into lipids experiments. In proliferation and apoptosis assays, HS-106 was able to block proliferation and induce apoptosis in several breast cancer cell lines. Several rescue experiment and global lipidome analysis were performed to probe the mechanism by which HS-106 induces apoptosis. HS-106 was found to induce several changes in lipids metabolism: (i) inhibit fatty acids synthesis. (ii) Inhibit fatty acids oxidation as indicated by the ability of inhibiting Malonyl CoA accumulation to block HS-106 induced apoptosis and the increase in the abundance of ceramides. (iii) Increase fatty acids uptake and neutral lipids formation as confirmed 14C Palmitate uptake assay and neutral lipids staining. (iv)Inhibit the formation of phospholipids by inhibiting de novo fatty acid synthesis and diverting exogenous fatty acids to neutral lipids. All of these events would lead to disruption in membranes structure and function. HS-106 was also tested in Lapatinib resistant cell lines and it was able to induce apoptosis and synergizes Lapatinib activity in these cell lines. This may be due the disruption of lipid rafts based on the observation that HS-106 reduces the expression of both HER2 and HER3. HS-106 was found to be well tolerated and bioavailable in mice with high elimination rate. HS-106 efficacy was tested in MMTV neu mouse model. Although did not significantly reduced tumor size (alone), HS-106 was able to double the median survival of the mice and showed potent antitumor activity when combined with Carboplatin. Similar results were obtained when same combinations and dosing schedule was used in C3Tag mouse model except for the inability of HS-106 affect mice survival.

From the above, HS-106 represent a novel FASN inhibitor that has anticancer activity both in vivo and in vitro. Being a chemically tractable molecule, the synthetic route to HS-106 is readily adaptable for the preparation of analogs that are similar in structure, suggesting that, the pharmacological properties of HS-106 can be improved.

Transitions in Contentious Behaviour in Infancy and Later Aggressive Conduct Problems

Background. Individual trajectories toward aggression originate in early infancy, before there is intent to harm. We focused on infants who were contentious, i.e., prone to engage in anger and use of physical force with other people, and examined change in levels of contentiousness between 6 and 12 months of age with reference to later aggressive conduct problems.
Sample. The CCDS is a nationally representative sample of 321 firstborn children whose families were recruited from antenatal clinics in two National Health Service Trusts.
Method. Mothers, fathers, and a third family member or friend who knew infants well completed the Cardiff Infant Contentiousness Scale (CICS) at 6 months, which was stable form 6 to 12 months, and validated by direct observation of infants’ use of force against peers. Primary caregivers again completed the CICS at 12 months, and up to three informants completed the Child Behaviour Check List at mean ages of 36 and 84 months. We used Latent Transition Analysis to identify different groups of infants in respect to their patterns of contentiousness from 6 to 12 months.
Results
Three ordered classes of contentiousness from low to high were found at 6 and 12 months. Infants exposed to greater family adversity were more likely to move into the high-contentious class from 6 to 12 months. Higher contentiousness in infancy predicted more aggressive conduct problems at 33 months and thereafter.
Conclusions
Infants exposed to family adversity are already at disadvantage by 6 months and likely to escalate in their anger and aggressiveness over time.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia, the old and the new: a mini review

Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes have since been classified as types 1 and 2, each with specific phenotypic patterns. MEN1 is usually associated with pituitary, parathyroid and paraneoplastic neuroendocrine tumours. The hallmark of MEN2 is a very high lifetime risk of developing medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) more than 95% in untreated patients. Three clinical subtypesdMEN2A, MEN2B, and familial MTC (FMTC) have been defined based on the risk of pheochromocytoma, hyperparathyroidism, and the presence or absence of characteristic physical features). MEN2 occurs as a result of germline activating missense mutations of the RET (REarranged during Transfection) proto-oncogene. MEN2-associated mutations are almost always located in exons 10, 11, or 13 through 16. Strong genotype-phenotype correlations exist with respect to clinical subtype, age at onset, and aggressiveness of MTC in MEN2. These are used to determine the age at which prophylactic thyroidectomy should occur and whether screening for pheochromocytoma or hyperparathyroidism is necessary. Specific RET mutations can also impact management in patients presenting with apparently sporadic MTC. Therefore, genetic testing should be performed before surgical intervention in all patients diagnosed with MTC. Recently, Pellegata et al. have reported that germline mutations in CDKN1B can predispose to the development of multiple endocrine tumours in both rats and humans and this new MEN syndrome is named MENX and MEN4, respectively. CDKN1B. A recent report showed that in sporadic MTC, CDKN1B V109G polymorphism correlates with a more favorable disease progression than the wild-type allele and might be considered a new promising prognostic marker. New insights on MEN syndrome pathogenesis and related inherited endocrine disorders are of particular interest for an adequate surgical and therapeutic approach.

Secretory breast cancer. Case report

Secretory carcinoma of the breast is a rare tumor initially described in children but occurring equally in adult population. This unusual breast cancer subtype has a generally favorable prognosis, although several cases have been described in adults with increased aggressiveness and a risk of metastases. However, surgery is still considered the most appropriate treatment for this pathology. We describe the case of a 50 –year-old woman who has undergone a breast conservative surgery for a little tumor, preoperatively diagnosticated by a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) as a well differentiated infiltrating carcinoma.

Nme Gene Family Evolutionary History Reveals Pre-Metazoan Origins and High Conservation between Humans and the Sea Anemone, Nematostella vectensis

Background: The Nme gene family is involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes such as cellular differentiation, development, metastatic dissemination, and cilia functions. Despite the known importance of Nme genes and their use as clinical markers of tumor aggressiveness, the associated cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Over the last 20 years, several non-vertebrate model species have been used to investigate Nme functions. However, the evolutionary history of the family remains poorly understood outside the vertebrate lineage. The aim of the study was thus to elucidate the evolutionary history of the Nme gene family in Metazoans. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using a total of 21 eukaryote species including 14 metazoans, the evolutionary history of Nme genes was reconstructed in the metazoan lineage. We demonstrated that the complexity of the Nme gene family, initially thought to be restricted to chordates, was also shared by the metazoan ancestor. We also provide evidence suggesting that the complexity of the family is mainly a eukaryotic innovation, with the exception of Nme8 that is likely to be a choanoflagellate/metazoan innovation. Highly conserved gene structure, genomic linkage, and protein domains were identified among metazoans, some features being also conserved in eukaryotes. When considering the entire Nme family, the starlet sea anemone is the studied metazoan species exhibiting the most conserved gene and protein sequence features with humans. In addition, we were able to show that most of the proteins known to interact with human NME proteins were also found in starlet sea anemone. Conclusion/Significance: Together, our observations further support the association of Nme genes with key cellular functions that have been conserved throughout metazoan evolution. Future investigations of evolutionarily conserved Nme gene functions using the starlet sea anemone could shed new light on a wide variety of key developmental and cellular processes.

An assessment of Pythium spp. associated with soft rot disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in Queensland, Australia

In Australia, Pythium soft rot (PSR) outbreaks caused by P. myriotylum were reported in 2009 and since then this disease has remained as a major concern for the ginger industry. From 2012 to 2015, a number of Pythium spp. were isolated from ginger rhizomes and soil from farms affected by PSR disease and assessed for their pathogenicity on ginger. In this study, 11 distinct Pythium spp. were recovered from ginger farms in Queensland, Australia and species identification and confirmation were based on morphology, growth rate and ITS sequences. These Pythium spp. when tested showed different levels of aggressiveness on excised ginger rhizome. P. aphanidemartum, P. deliense, P. myriotylum, P. splendens, P. spinosum and P. ultimum were the most pathogenic when assessed in vitro on an array of plant species. However, P. myriotylum was the only pathogen, which was capable of inducing PSR symptoms on ginger at a temperature range from 20 to 35 °C. Whereas, P. aphanidermatum only attacked and induced PSR on ginger at 30 to 35 °C in pot trials. This is the first report of P. aphanidermatum inducing PSR of ginger in Australia at high temperatures. Only P. oligandrum and P. perplexum, which had been recovered only from soils and not plant tissue, appeared non-pathogenic in all assays.

Fragebogen zur Erfassung von Störungen im Unterricht: die Faktorenstruktur der Schülerinnen- und Schülerversion

In diesem Beitrag wird ein neu entwickelter Schülerinnen- und Schülerfragebogen zur Erfassung aggressiver und nicht aggressiver Schülerstörungen, aggressiven Lehrerverhaltens, Störungen des methodisch-didaktischen Settings sowie Klassenführung und Beziehung vorgestellt und die testtheoretischen Kennwerte diskutiert. Die faktorielle Struktur wurde an einer Stichprobe von N=1341 Schülerinnen und Schüler der fünften und sechsten Klasse ermittelt. Eine explorative Faktorenanalyse mit Oblimin-Rotation ergab sieben eindeutige, gut interpretierbare Faktoren, welche den theoretisch postulierten Konstrukten entsprechen. Vier Faktoren erfassen Störungen und drei Faktoren umfassen störungspräventive Merkmale des Unterrichts. Die internen Konsistenzen der Skalen liegen zwischen .60 und .88. (DIPF/Orig.)