The dark side of paternalistic leadership : employee discrimination and nepotism

Purpose: Paternalistic leadership is a prevailing leadership style in environments characterized by high power distance, collectivism, and uncertainty avoidance and is a general aspect of family businesses. With this in mind, the purpose of this study is to investigate paternalistic leadership in Turkish business environment and test the relationship between paternalistic leadership and employee discrimination and nepotism. Design/Methodology/Approach: Data were collected by a questionnaire from 183 employees working in family owned companies located in Turkey. Convenience sampling was used. Findings: Findings indicate that benevolent and moral paternalistic leadership is negatively related to perceived discrimination in human resources practices like recruitment, hiring, promotion, assignments, delegation, evaluation, payment, rewards, training and working conditions. Finding of the study shows that when the leader behaves in an authoritarian way, employees specifically perceive nepotism in the hiring process. Practical Implications: This study sheds light on leadership literature by focusing on a leadership style that is viewed negatively in Western societies, but is found to be a socio-cultural characteristic of India, Pakistan, China and Turkey. It provides an important insight about Turkish culture and a prevailing leadership style which is paternalistic leadership. Originality/Value: The study is a unique one that combines paternalistic leadership, discrimination and nepotism in a research model.peer-reviewe

Butterfly adrenal gland with maldevelopment of the mesonephric duct: A rare association in an adult patient

Adrenal gland disorders can be asymptomatic and detected incidentally via imaging techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Fusion anomaly is a condition that can be attributed to errors in the developmental process and may be detected via these imaging modalities. We present a case of butterfly adrenal gland in a 61-year-old man with CT and magnetic resonance images. In our patient, this anomaly is also accompanied by unilateral renal agenesis and a diaphragmatic defect. Positron emission tomography-CT, contrast-enhanced CT, and magnetic resonance images are presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case in which coexistence of unilateral renal agenesis and butterfly adrenal gland anomaly in an adult patient has been documented. Keywords: Butterfly adrenal gland, Unilateral renal agenesi

Fluid Collections Associated With Acute Pancreatitis: A Pictorial Essay

The terminology and classification scheme of acute pancreatitis proposed at the initial Atlanta Symposium was reviewed, and a new consensus statement was recently proposed. Major changes include subdividing acute fluid collections in the first 4 weeks into "acute peripancreatic fluid collection" and "acute necrotic collection" based on the presence of necrotic debris. Delayed fluid collections have been similarly subdivided into "pseudocyst" and "walled-off necrosis." Correct use of the new terms that describe these collections is important because they lead to different treatment decisions. The purpose of this article is to present an overview of fluid collections associated with acute pancreatitis, with an emphasis on their prognostic significance and impact on clinical management, and to illustrate the new terminology

CT and MRI findings in a rare case of renal primitive neuroectodermal tumor

BACKGROUND: Primary renal primitive neuroectodermal tumor/extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma (PNET/EES) is a very rare renal tumor. CASE REPORT: We report a case of primary renal PNET/EES of the kidney in an adult patient and describe its computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings, including diffusion weighted images along with a review of the current medical literature. CONCLUSIONS: Although very rare, a relatively large renal mass which shows very infiltrative growth pattern on CT and MR imaging and striking diffusion restriction should raise the suspicion of a renal primitive neuroectodermal tumor, in a young adult

Adjuvant effects of Astragalus saponins Macrophyllosaponin B and Astragaloside VII

WOS: 000289866500040PubMed ID: 21296141Aim of the study: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the hemolytic activities of two immunomodulator Astragalus saponins [Macrophyllosaponin B (MacB) from Astragalus oleifolius DC. and Astragaloside VII (Ast VII) from Astragalus trojanus Stev.], and their adjuvant potentials on the cellular and humoral immune responses of Swiss albino mice against BSA. Materials and methods: The hemolytic activity of Mac B and Ast VII was determined using 0.5% rabbit red blood cell. For adjuvant activity, Swiss albino mice were immunized subcutaneously with BSA 100 mu g alone or with BSA 100 mu g dissolved in saline containing Ast VII (30, 60, 120 and 240 mu g), Mac B (30, 60, 90 and 120 mu g) or Freund's adjuvant on Days 1 and 15. Sera and splenocytes were collected 2 weeks after the last immunization for concanavalin A (Con A)-, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and BSA-stimulated splenocyte proliferation assay and measurement of BSA-specific antibodies in serum. Results: Mac B and Ast VII showed a slight hemolytic effect, with 0.42% and 0.54% values, respectively, at the highest concentration of 500 mu g/ml. Mac B and Ast VII significantly enhanced the Con A-, LPS-, and BSA-induced splenocyte proliferation in the BSA-immunized mice especially at 120 and 240 mu g (P < 0.001), and 60, 90 and 120 mu g (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 or P < 0.001) doses, respectively. BSA-specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2b antibody titers in serum were also significantly enhanced by Ast VII (120 mu g). Mac B (90 mu g) and Freund's as compared to the control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.001). Moreover, the IFN-gamma and IL-4 levels in the sera were detected using ELISA two weeks after the last immunization. Ast VII and Mac B were also found to stimulate IFN-gamma production such as Freund's, two weeks after the last immunization at doses of 120 mu g and 90 mu g, respectively, as compared to the control. Conclusion: Results show that Ast VII and Mac B generate important specific antibody and cellular response against BSA in mice, proving their potentials as a new class saponin adjuvant. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [109T637]; Ege University Science-Technology Application and Research Center (EBILTEM)Ege University [2010/BIL/016]This work was financially supported in part by a grant from The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, Project No: 109T637), and Ege University Science-Technology Application and Research Center (EBILTEM, Project No: 2010/BIL/016)

Development of antibacterial textiles by cyclodextrin inclusion complexes of volatile thyme active agents

The study aims to develop wash-resistant antibacterial cotton fabrics without using synthetic chemicals. Therefore, natural active agents of thyme, thymol and carvacrol were selected. The inclusion complexes were formed with beta-cyclodextrin using kneading method which is a simple and reproducible method for the encapsulation with high production yield. Differential scanning calorimeter analysis showed that 1:1 and 1:2 beta-CD: Guest Molecule (M:M) for thymol and carvacrol from different ratios studied has the highest complexation degree as 50% and 100%, respectively. It is also revealed that the volatile agents are retained and showed better thermal stability as a result of complexation. Carvacrol inclusion complexes were found relatively more stable (Zeta potential: -28.2 mV) than thymol complexes with smaller particle sizes (204.9 nm). Chemical structures of the inclusion complexes were revealed with Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. The optimum formulations for each active agent were applied to cotton fabrics as per the impregnation method and the capsule treated fabrics were washed 1, 10 and 20 times. The images exhibited the presence of inclusion complexes on the fabrics after 20 washing cycles. Although the antibacterial efficacy of fabrics decreased with increasing washing, the fabrics showed the antibacterial effect after 20 washes against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. This study showed that the developed products can be an alternative to the other products in the market as the long-lasting fragrant natural antibacterial.Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, Republic of Turkiye; Organik Kimya Sanayi ve Tic. A.S., Republic of TurkiyeMinistry of Science, Industry and Technology, Republic of Turkiye; Organik Kimya Sanayi ve Tic. A.S., Republic of Turkiy