Challenging Management Situations Research Articles

Predicting spatio‐temporal distributions of migratory populations using Gaussian process modelling

Abstract Knowledge concerning spatio‐temporal distributions of populations is a prerequisite for successful conservation and management of migratory animals. Achieving cost‐effective monitoring of large‐scale movements is often difficult due to lack of effective and inexpensive methods. Taiga bean goose Anser fabalis fabalis and tundra bean goose A. f. rossicus offer an excellent example of a challenging management situation with harvested migratory populations. The subspecies have different conservation statuses and population trends. However, their distribution overlaps during migration to an unknown extent, which, together with their similar appearance, has created a conservation–management dilemma. Gaussian process (GP) models are widely adopted in the field of statistics and machine learning, but have seldom been applied in ecology so far. We introduce the R package gplite for GP modelling and use it in our case study together with birdwatcher observation data to study spatio‐temporal differences between bean goose subspecies during migration in Finland in 2011–2019. We demonstrate that GP modelling offers a flexible and effective tool for analysing heterogeneous data collected by citizens. The analysis reveals spatial and temporal distribution differences between the two bean goose subspecies in Finland. Taiga bean goose migrates through the entire country, whereas tundra bean goose occurs only in a small area in south‐eastern Finland and migrates later than taiga bean goose. Synthesis and applications. Within the studied bean goose populations, harvest can be targeted at abundant tundra bean goose by restricting hunting to south‐eastern Finland and to the end of the migration period. In general, our approach combining citizen science data with GP modelling can be applied to study spatio‐temporal distributions of various populations and thus help in solving challenging management situations. The introduced R package gplite can be applied not only to ecological modelling, but to a wide range of analyses in other fields of science.

Microsurgical Management of Intracranial Aneurysms After Failed Flow Diversion

Flow diversion has become increasingly popular for treatment of cerebral aneurysms in the past few years. In an increasing number of patients with aneurysms, flow diversion (FD) has failed, with a paucity of reported data regarding salvage treatment for these challenging cases. We present a multicenter series of 13 aneurysms for which FD failed and that were subsequently treated with open surgery. We also present a review of the reported data regarding operative management of aneurysms after unsuccessful FD. Twelve patients with 13 aneurysms were included in the present study. All 12 patients had undergone surgery after FD because of persistent aneurysm filling, mass effect, or aneurysm rupture. The patients underwent aneurysm clipping and parent vessel reconstruction, decompression of the aneurysm mass, occlusion of proximal flow to the aneurysm, or aneurysm trapping with or without extracranial-intracranial artery bypass. Aneurysms for which FD fails present a variety of unique and challenging management situations that will likely be encountered with increased frequency, given the popularity of FD. Microsurgical salvage options require individualized care tailored to the underlying pathological features, patient characteristics, and surgical expertise.

Gentleman's Furniture Role-Play

Managers trying to execute strategic change often struggle when their strategic initiatives encounter their organization's culture. Being aware of an organization's culture—the generally unquestioned, shared assumptions people have about how things should be done around here”—is an ever-present challenge for leaders, to say nothing of trying to change that culture. This fictional role-play case was designed to help students build expertise in understanding fundamentals of organizational culture, strategy development, and change management, group process in a top management team, and negotiation. Grounded in the pedagogy of experiential learning, this case consists of six roles in a single role-play exercise scenario that exemplifies a challenging management situation. Individuals are faced with differences in perspectives and goals, and students must address those differences in order to develop a productive strategy and culture for the organization. Excerpt UVA-OB-0928 GENTLEMAN'S FURNITURE ROLE-PLAY Gentleman's Furniture was a family-run firm stretching across three generations, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. For more than 68 years, the company sold wood-based furniture that was designed primarily for home use. With 56 product lines, 17 of which were considered classic brands, the furniture had sold reliably year after year until recently. Gentleman's sold its products in the United States (with minor market penetration in Canada and Mexico) through wholesalers, mass merchandisers, Internet retailers, and specialty stores. Phillip Gentleman is the current chief executive officer (CEO) and board chair. Phillip's grandfather, Austin Gentleman, started the firm and made it a regional success in the Midwest. Austin Gentleman instilled a tradition of classic, comfortable and functional furniture that still sells well today. . . .

Sperm sex-sorting in the Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus)

In captive Asian elephants, there is a strong need for production of female offspring to enhance reproduction, counter premature aging processes in female animals and reduce challenging management situations derived from husbandry of several bulls in one institution. Artificial insemination of flow cytometrically sex-sorted spermatozoa offers the possibility to predetermine the sex of offspring with high accuracy. The aims of this study were to determine a suitable semen extender and basic parameters for flow cytometrical sex-sorting of Asian elephant spermatozoa. In total 18 semen samples were collected by manual rectal stimulation from one bull. Sperm quality parameters and sex sortability of spermatozoa were evaluated after dilution in three semen extenders (MES-HEPES-skim milk, MES-HEPES, TRIS–citric acid) and DNA staining. MES-HEPES-skim milk was the only semen extender found suitable to sex Asian elephant spermatozoa. From 18 ejaculates collected, 12 were successfully sorted with a purity of 94.5 ± 0.7% at an average sort rate of 1945.5 ± 187.5 spermatozoa per second. Sperm integrity, progressive and total motility were 42.6 ± 3.9%, 48.1 ± 3.3%, 59.4 ± 3.8% after DNA labelling, and 64.8 ± 3.2%, 58.0 ± 5.0%, 70.8 ± 4.4% after sorting, respectively. After liquid storage of sorted spermatozoa for 12 h at 4 °C, sperm integrity, progressive and total motility were 46.4 ± 5.2%, 32.2 ± 4.2% and 58.2 ± 3.9%, respectively. The obtained results provide a promising base to inseminate Asian elephants with sexed semen.

Collaboration, information, and preservation: The role of expertise in farmland preservation task forces

Collaboration between agencies, private groups, and citizens in the field of natural resource management is generally seen as a productive strategy in challenging management situations. Collaborative management is particularly appealing in efforts like farmland preservation, which depend for their success on local initiative and support. However, such partnerships may create new dilemmas about the appropriate use of information in management. This paper analyzes the use of information by 15 county-wide Farmland Preservation task forces in the state of Ohio, U.S.A.

POSTTRAUMATIC COMPLETE AND PARTIAL LOSS OF URETHRA WITH PELVIC FRACTURE IN GIRLS: AN APPRAISAL OF MANAGEMENT

Urethral injury in girls accompanying fracture of the pelvis is rare. We present our experience with 5 such complex cases and review the literature to define the types of problem and determine appropriate management. We report on 5 girls with posttraumatic urethral injuries and pelvic fracture resulting in stricture as well as management based on the site and length of urethral stricture. Associated injuries and results are discussed. Of the 5 girls who presented with stricture 4 had undergone suprapubic cystostomy as initial treatment, whereas in 1 primary repair had failed. Urethral reconstruction using a bladder flap tube and distal urethrotomy into the vagina were performed in 3 and 1 cases, respectively. These 4 girls were continent although 1 required clean intermittent catheterization for a short period. The 3 patients with complete urethral loss had a more severe degree of pelvic fracture, including 1 treated with core through internal urethrotomy. Posttraumatic urethral injury accompanying pelvic fracture in young girls results in challenging management situations. More severely displaced pelvic fracture is associated with greater urethral loss and requires more complex repair. Cases of partial urethral injury or urethral transection without much displacement are better managed by primary repair of the transected urethra, which decreases morbidity. Primary repair may not be feasible in patients with extensive injury, who should be treated with secondary appropriate reconstruction after preliminary suprapubic cystostomy. Complete urethral loss may be managed by bladder flap tube neourethra creations with effective continence and excellent outcomes. Short segment distal urethral strictures may be treated with meatotomy or core through internal urethrotomy.