Interfunctional Relationships Research Articles

Allergies in the light of global environmental changes

The increase in allergies began worldwide with the onset of the Great Acceleration. Environmental pollution and climate change now threaten to cancel out decades of success in health research. Asummary of environmental influences is provided, which not only shows the significant increase in the prevalence of allergies worldwide but also that of noncommunicable diseases. The effects of the climate crisis on allergies and the multifactorial and interfunctional relationships with other environmental changes are described in detail. In order to obtain an overview of the possible effects of global environmental changes on allergies, awide range of literature was evaluated and the study results were prepared and summarized. Alarge number of allergens are influencing the human exposome on adaily basis. These allergens are triggered by environmental changes, such as air pollution in the ambient air and indoors, chemicals in everyday objects or residues in food. People are sensitized by the interaction of allergens and pollutants. The prevalence of allergies is stagnating in industrialized countries. This is probably just the calm before the storm. The accelerating effects of global warming could make pollen and air pollutants even more aggressive in the future. Urgent action is therefore needed to minimize environmental pollution and mitigate climate change.

The Interfunctional Relationship Between Theory of Mind and Private Speech

Background. Theory of mind is the capacity to explain and predict the behavior of others. Charles Fernyhough’s dialogical model of psychological functions offers a vision of theory of mind that considers the social dimension and the importance of language, especially inner and private speech, for a person’s ability to represent and manipulate multiple perspectives, and its connection to executive function. Objective. There is little direct research on Fernyhough’s model. The present study addressed that gap by studying the relationship between theory of mind, private speech, and executive function (planning) in the preschool years. Design. Data were collected from a total of 86 preschool children from the Mexican state of Tlaxcala; 24 were from the first grade of preschool, 30 from the second, and 32 from the third. Their degree of internalization and their speech types (i.e., social and private) were obtained by coding their utterances during free play and during performance of a Tower of London task. Lastly, their theory of mind was assessed with a change of location and an unexpected contents task. Results. No correlation was found between children’s theory of mind and their degree of internalization. However, inaudible private speech was correlated (negatively) to theory of mind performance in the third grade of preschool. Furthermore, their scores on the Tower of London task were negatively correlated with social speech and positively correlated with inaudible private speech, while the reverse was true for time of execution. Conclusion. The results suggested that the degree of internalization is a measure of the regulative function of language, not the ability to manipulate perspectives, and that it is inadequate for capturing subtle differences between performance and speech types. Role-playing conditions were recommended as better tasks for exploring the capacities for manipulating and understanding different perspectives during the preschool years.

Irina Ivanovna Mamaichuk. Her scientific contributions in child clinical psychology and psychology of developmental disorders

The article is dedicated to the memory of Professor of the Department of Medical Psychology and Psychophysiology of the Saint Petersburg State University, a leading specialist in the field of child clinical psychology Irina Ivanovna Mamaychuk. An attempt to analyze and generalize its great scientific and practical contribution to child clinical psychology is made. The stages of her professional path are singled out and described: (1) the study of the mechanisms and types of disturbed development in children with cerebral palsy; (2) study of the psychology of children with various disorders of the musculoskeletal system; (3) empirical substantiation of strategies and technologies for psychological assistance to children with various variants of disturbed development; (4) development of methodological and applied problems of child clinical psychology. The results and conclusions of Irina Ivanovna’s key studies are revealed, which have made a great contribution to understanding the causes and mechanisms of mental disorders in children and adolescents, and embodying the principles of ontogenetic and system-structural approaches developed at the Leningrad — St. Petersburg school of psychology. In particular, the study of the role of motility in perceptogenesis in various variants of dysontogenesis; specifics of violations of interfunctional relationships in children with motor and mental disorders; subspecies of mental retardation of cerebral-organic origin; psychological characteristics of children and adolescents with somatic pathology. Based on the analysis of scientific works, a list of the main problems and prospects of modern child clinical psychology is highlighted. An approach to psychological assistance and psychological correction of disorders in children and adolescents is described, taking into account the role of the family and the immediate environment. It is emphasized that the empirical work of Irina Ivanovna has become the “gold standard” in the study of the problems of children with mental dysontogenesis, and her theoretical generalizations and methodological developments are very important а for the further development of child clinical psychology and understanding the problem of mental development in general.

Multimodal imaging reveals a small subpopulation of Deinococcus radiodurans exhibiting correlated low superoxide radical levels with extraordinary silver ion metabolism

AbstractA polyvalent strategy has recently been assumed to be adopted by Deinococcus radiodurans that can generate various resistance against many different detrimental sources of oxidative damage (e.g., reactive oxygen species, heavy metal ions, and ionizing radiation). On this basis, investigating more than one restorative metabolic activities and their interrelation of the very same entities of D. radiodurans is of great significance for exploring its polyextremophile nature, which will be insightful for obtaining fundamental generic insights into life sustainability. Herein, we apply mainly fluorescence microscopy and back‐reflection microscopy to visibly assess the respective activities of superoxide radical generation and silver ion metabolism for individual D. radiodurans. Strikingly, only a minority (< 20%) of the bacteria, which show low superoxide radical levels, is revealed to exhibit considerable formation of silver nanoparticles, while those containing more superoxide radicals, all show minimum silver ion metabolism. The discovery of the strong negative correlation for the small subpopulation between the two visualized different metabolic activities not only provides direct experimental evidence in terms of bacterial functionality for the inferred survival regime of the extreme microbe, but also suggests a new way of chemically examining biology from the perspective of interfunctional relationship.Keypoints The use of back‐reflection microscopy allows the discovery of a small subpopulation of Deinococcus radiodurans exhibiting extraordinary silver ion metabolism. Combining fluorescence microscopy and bright‐field microscopy, we further show the subpopulation all contain correlated relatively low levels of superoxide radicals. The findings from the angle of exploring interfunctional relationship directly support the polyvalent strategy currently proposed for the polyextremophile for survivals against various sources of oxidative damage.

Organizational Commitment in the Cross-functional Relation: Case of the Moroccan Hospital Supply Chain

In recent years, the environment of health systems has been changing particularly with the rapid progression of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, since February 2020, the COVID-19 has constituted a major challenge for the health system, in general, and an organizational challenge for all hospitals, in particular, where the quality of inter-functional relationships plays an essential role. Thus, the internal services of the hospital require critical interactions in order to anticipate a significant influx of patients. In this perspective, this research aims to conceptualize the hospital as a Hospital Supply Chain (HSC) and explore the causal relationship between organizational commitment and cross-functional relationships in the HSC context. In doing so, the analysis of the literature makes it possible to deduce a series of propositions. In this sense, an exploratory qualitative study, based on semi-structured interviews, makes it possible to compare our theoretical framework with the empirical framework.

Самоопределяющие автобиографические воспоминания в системе личностно-мнемических межфункциональных связей

The aim of this paper is to extend the field of research in cultural-historical psychology by assimilating the construct of self-defining autobiographical memories (SDMs), which are in high demand among cognitive psychologists of personality. On the one hand, SDMs reflect one’s core motivation, personal traits, and leading goals. On the other hand, SDMs serve as a means of forming a sense of personal identity and continuity within one’s individual history. In the literature review, evidence supporting the SDM construct's validity was critically appraised through the lenses of individual differences, correlations with other variables, clinical cases, and experimental results on causal links between SDM transformation and various measures of personality. The Self-Memory System model (SMS), which connects autobiographical memory and the self, is discussed as a pertinent framework for interpreting SDM’s unique properties. The argument ends with the proposition that the cultural-historical approach would benefit from accommodating SDMs as an ideal mediator of interfunctional relationships, both inside personality and between personality and cognitive processes.

THE PECULIARITIES OF MENTAL DEVELOPMENT IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WITH ATTENTIVE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME WITH HYPERACTIVITY

The article is devoted to the analysis of the peculiarities of the early manifestations of attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preschool children. The topic of ADHD requires a detailed psychological analysis. Such work will allow the formation of methodological and theoretical tools, the need for which is now felt by the practical psychologists. The following research methods have been used: theoretical analysis, generalization of scientific approaches, theoretical modeling, symptomatic analysis. Based on the data obtained, a unified theoretical and methodological model has been developed that allows to carry out the comprehensive analysis of the developmental features of preschool children. The analysis of the developmental features of the child in the early stages of ontogenesis can be carried out along several axes, which go through several stages of their formation, which are accompanied by dynamic changes such as interfunctional relationships and the child’s worldview is shown. A comparison of the results of studies of the features of the early stages of children development with ADHD has allowed to expose a deficit axis of development, changes in the formation of which lead to the appearance of children’s behavioral disorders of such a group. The peculiarities of the passage of the axes development in the process of ontogenesis also makes it possible to identify the mechanisms of their correction and habilitation, which has undoubted practical value. At the moment, this integrative model has already shown its practical value. A number of correctional development programs, as well as support programs, have been worked out. The results of empirical studies show their high efficiency. In addition, the model demonstrates its high efficiency in advising family members and child support groups, in particular, when conducting psycho-educational work.

Entropia e acrasia. Verso una sociologia della mente

The essay aims to analyze the developments of the Theory of Action with reference to the analysis of the sub-intentional roots of subjective rationality. The focus is on the attention that many authors - after Gilbert Ryle - have devoted to indeterministic, substantially entropic, properties which, in certain conditions, dominate the dynamics of mental life and on which the acratic dimension depends, compromising every design of rationality teleological, coherency and reliable judgment. From a thematic-disciplinary point of view, the extrinsic purpose of the analysis is, on one hand, to outline the conditions of a specific and indispensable inter-functional relationship between the sociological categories and the categories of cognitive psychology, and on the other to advance ar gued reservations about the admissibility of the autonomistic principle of an ecology of the mind.

Nitq Pozuntusu Olan Exolaliyanın Psixoloji Korreksiyası (Psychological Correction of Echolalia As a Speech Disorder)

Azerbaijani Abstract: Məqalədə psixi inkisaf problemi olan məktəbəqədər yasli usaqlarda nitq pozuntusu olan exolaliyanin psixoloji korreksiya metodu gostərilib. Klassik ədəbiyyata istinad edilərək, ontogenezdə bir necə nov psixi funksiyalararasi əlaqələr movcudlugu həm qeyd olunub, həmdə muəllif tərəfindən ozunəməxsus səkillər ilə təqdim olunub. Patologiya zamani psixi funksiyalararasi əlaqələrin pozulmasina əsaslanan muəllif, motor alaliyasi, autizm, intellektual catismazliqla əziyyət cəkən usaqlarin exolaliyadan azad olmasi ucun ardicil və sistemli səkildə aparilan psixoloji korreksiya isini valideyn-mutəxəssis arasinda olan əməkdasliq cərcivəsində qurmusdur. Məqsəd isə exolaliya ilə əziyyət cəkən usaqlarin spesifik inkisaf xususiyyətlərini nəzərə alaraq onlarin inkisafinda qusur əsasinda yaranan reqress hali islah etməkdən, bioloji qusur əsasinda inkisafda yaranan ikinci qusurun qarsisini almaqdan və usagin təbii bioloji inkisaf əsasi uzərində kompensator vasitələrdən istifadə edərək maksimal və potensial imkanlarin acilmasina yardim etməkdən ibarət idi. English Abstract: Psychological correction method of echolalia as a speech disorder for preschool-aged children with problems of mental development is stated in the article. Referring to the classic literature, author mentions existence of several types of mental interfunctional relationships in ontogenesis and portrays them with the help of peculiar pictures. The author refers to the distortion of mental interfunctional relationships during formation of pathology, as well as line up the psychological correction conducted consistently and systematically within the framework of cooperation between the parent and specialist in order to cure echolalia of children enduring motor alalia, autism, intellectual disability. The goal is normalizing regressive state exhibited on the ground of handicap in development by taking into account the specific developmental characteristics of children, enduring echolalia; by averting secondary developmental disorder directly related to the biological nature of the defect, and using compensatory means on the basis of natural biological development of the child in order to help with opening up the maximum and potential opportunities.

Three condensed importance of interfunctional communication for the acceptance of CRM system

AbstractCustomer relationship management (CRM) is an IT-based system that manage customer long-term relationship, and also inter-functional relationship within the organization with the ultimate pu...

Market Orientation Impact on Radical and Incremental Marketing Innovation: A Study of Saudi Arabia Hospital Marketing Efforts

We conducted an empirical study to measure influence of market orientation on marketing innovation in hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The sample includes 109 hospital workers that have been identified as having an adequate knowledge of the subject of research. In particular we explain the impact of customer orientation, inter-functional orientation and competitor orientation on marketing innovation. Furthermore the moderating effects of centralization and formalization on those relationships are explained. The findings of our study suggest that there is an important role of market orientation for the successful implementation of innovation and business performance of hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The results indicated that there is a positive influence of customer orientation on radical innovation and incremental innovation, a strong positive impact of competitor orientation on incremental innovation and no significant impact regarding inter-functional coordination on both incremental and radical innovation. The moderating effect of centralization on market innovation and innovation proved to be insignificant and the formalization effect had a positive influence on the customer, competitor and inter-functional orientation and radical innovation relationship. Additionally our study is valuable (for the practice, and theory) as it assisted in developing and further elaborating the science of market orientation, particularly customer and competitor orientation and inter-functional coordination, and the influence on incremental and radical service which are relevant for the financial results of hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The contribution of this research was also to develop a conceptual and theoretical understanding on incremental and radical innovation in the effort to improve performance, especially for the Saudi Arabian hospitals. The practical implication of this study is the insight and the knowledge Saudi Arabian hospital managerial staff, in implementing the concept of market orientation in relation to innovation and overall hospital performance.

Cross-functional bridge in dyadic relationship

Purpose– This paper aims to examine the use of Cross-Functional Bridge (CFB) in dyadic relationships towards enhancing organisational performance. Prior research has flagged conflict in interfunctional relationships. Research on managing such conflict context is, however, limited.Design/methodology/approach– Analysing 20 in-depth interviews conducted in UK financial services organisations, this study explains how the CFB is used to manage interfunctional relationship conflict and enhance performance.Findings– This study underlines three core insights about intragroup working relationship: cultural and disciplinary differences and boundary fencing are core features of, and conflict drivers in, the accounting – marketing interface; CFB is a tool for analysing and managing these conflict drivers; and organisations that use this tool achieve improved organisational performance, an outcome that is enhanced and sustained through the team psychological enhancement factor of the conflict management strategy. Also, this study underlines the need to ensure a fit between conflict management strategy and conflict types.Research limitations/implications– This research has several limitations. It explores only accounting – marketing working relationship in UK financial services organisations. Also, it explores only relationship conflict and cultural and disciplinary diversity and boundary fencing factors. Finally, this study suggests a mediating influence of psychological well-being on the CFB – performance link, a conclusion that is based on a methodologically inadequate tool: causes and effects associations are better assessed quantitatively (Johnson and Onwuegbuzie, 2004).Practical implications– The paper highlights insights for analysing and resolving conflicts towards harmonious dyadic relationships. Importantly, managers who use the flagged CFB tool would achieve psychological enhancement in team, and extendedly enhanced organisational performance. Managers are reminded of the need to adequately address the emotional substances in relationship conflicts, as failure to do this will lead to conflict escalation, transformation and negative performance.Originality/value– The paper offers theory testing and theory building knowledge. The CFB insight is a major highlight, one that lays a brick for future development, especially concerning itsmodus operandi, motivators and how to maximize its performance value.

Interplay among NH 4 + uptake, rhizosphere pH and plasma membrane H+-ATPase determine the release of BNIs in sorghum roots – possible mechanisms and underlying hypothesis

Aims and background The ability to suppress soil nitrification through the release of nitrification inhibitors from plant roots is termed ‘biological nitrification inhibition’ (BNI). Earlier, we reported that sorghum roots release higher BNI-activity when grown with NH4+, but not with NO3- as N source. Also for BNI release, rhizosphere pH of 7.0. This study is aimed at understanding the inter-functional relationships associated with NH4+ uptake, rhizosphere-pH and plasma membrane H+-ATPase (PM H+-ATPase) activity in regulating the release of BNIs (biological nitrification inhibitors) from sorghum roots.

Duodenal PKC-δ and Cholecystokinin Signaling Axis Regulates Glucose Production

OBJECTIVEMetabolism of long-chain fatty acids within the duodenum leads to the activation of duodenal mucosal protein kinase C (PKC)-δ and the cholecystokinin (CCK)-A receptor to lower glucose production through a neuronal network. However, the interfunctional relationship between duodenal PKC-δ and CCK remains elusive. Although long-chain fatty acids activate PKC to stimulate the release of CCK in CCK-secreting cells, CCK has also been found to activate PKC-δ in pancreatic acinar cells. We here evaluate whether activation of duodenal mucosal PKC-δ lies upstream (and/or downstream) of CCK signaling to lower glucose production.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSWe first determined with immunofluorescence whether PKC-δ and CCK were colocalized within the duodenal mucosa. We then performed gain- and loss-of-function experiments targeting duodenal PKC-δ and the CCK-A receptor and evaluated the impact on changes in glucose kinetics during pancreatic (basal insulin) clamps in rats in vivo.RESULTSImmunostaining of PKC-δ was found to colocalize with CCK in the duodenal mucosa. Intraduodenal coinfusion of either the CCK-A receptor antagonist MK-329 or CR-1409 with the PKC activator negated the ability of duodenal mucosal PKC-δ activation to lower glucose production during the pancreatic clamps in normal rats. Conversely, molecular and pharmacological inhibition of duodenal PKC-δ did not negate the ability of the duodenal CCK-A receptor agonist CCK-8 to lower glucose production, indicating that activation of duodenal PKC-δ lies upstream (and not downstream) of CCK signaling. Finally, intraduodenal PKC activator infusion failed to lower glucose production in rats with high-fat diet–induced duodenal CCK resistance.CONCLUSIONSIn summary, activation of duodenal PKC-δ leads to the stimulation of CCK release and activation of the CCK-A receptor signaling axis to lower glucose production in normal rats, but fails to bypass duodenal CCK-resistance in high fat-fed rats.

Sales Buy-In of Marketing Strategies: Exploration of its Nuances, Antecedents, and Contextual Conditions

This study uses a qualitative research design with the grounded theory method to explore the multifaceted nature of sales buy-in—that is, the sales function’s belief that marketers’ proposed strategy is appropriate and has merit. Based on 49 in-depth interviews with sales and marketing professionals, the findings indicate that obtaining sales buy-in consists of four key components: (1) objectivity and rational persuasion, (2) sensitivity and responsiveness to reality, (3) involvement in strategy creation, and (4) positioning for success. The findings also show that three organizational-level factors play an important role in determining sales buy-in: (1) eliminating interfunctional walls, (2) bridging the cultural divide between sales and marketing, and (3) developing interfunctional relationships. Last, sales buy-in depends on two contextual conditions—hierarchy and strategy absorption time.

The Impact of Incentives on Interfunctional Relationship Quality: Views from a South African Firm

Interfunctional relations and their impact on organizational performance have long been a concern of management and marketing scholars. Similarly, the use of incentives, and how they motivate individuals toward performance, has been a perennial focus of management researchers. Curiously, the effect of incentives on interfunctional relations has not received the same attention in the literature. The research in this paper sought to discover the extent to which the incentives an organization offers its personnel are perceived as being ‘fair’ by different functional groupings. The results of a study are presented in which the perceptions of a large sales function of the fairness of a series of incentives are compared with those of the rest of the organization. The implications of these findings for the quality of interfunctional relationships are discussed.

Vygotsky's Non‐classical Dialectical Metapsychology

The approach taken here is to begin to understand the focus from abstract to concrete in learning to master the principles of methodology, which are different from Western methods and procedures. This methodology is opposed to the empiricist approach of establishing rules and procedures from the concrete to the abstract. The initial discussion revolves around an explanation of the use of metaphor, metatheory, and psychology understood as a non‐classical science. There is then a discussion on dialectics, dialectical synthesis, and metafacts. The core of the article is dedicated to a metatheoretical description Vygotsky uses as an abstract outline of possible guidelines in better understanding how to implement a model for non‐classical psychology, using the example of a table being reflected in a mirror. A represents the actual table, while a represents the object being reflected in the mirror, and X represents the processes that take place in the mirror (i.e., the reflection of a table is the refraction of light beams). Therefore, Vygotsky concludes that both A and X are real processes and that a is their apparent, i.e., unreal result. The reflection does not exist, but both the table and the light exist. The result is that the objective existence of X and A independent of a is a dogma of materialistic psychology. There is a discussion on the interfunctional relationships of importance in such a model, and the role of consciousness, and language. The focus of this metatheoretical framework supports Vygotsky's intentions of reaching individual inner freedom and freedom of action, together with Spinoza's social determinism.

Sales–distribution interfunctional climate and relationship effectiveness

The sales–distribution relationship represents a critical interfunctional relationship, which has been mostly overlooked. A study was therefore undertaken to investigate how interfunctional climate, comprised of the two elements of communication ease and cooperation, might affect sales–distribution relationship effectiveness. Unlike prior interfunctional studies, the present study also examined the impact of management and subordinate levels within each respective function. The guiding research question was to ascertain whether interfunctional climate and relationship effectiveness are generally reflected at the function level, at a particular level in the organization hierarchy, or both. Results from a company study of 865 sales and distribution personnel reveal that differences can lie at both function and hierarchical levels. Results further highlight that cooperation is an important element for sales–distribution effectiveness across both functions and across management levels. Implications for managing the sales–distribution relationship and conducting future interfunctional research are presented.

Interactions between Marketing and Quality at the SBU Level: Influences and Outcomes

The management of quality and development of effective cross-functional cooperation have assumed a new strategic importance over the past decade. However, many companies have reported that quality strategies have failed to deliver anticipated performance benefits and that ineffective interfunctional relationships may be to blame. This study explores marketing-quality interfunctional relationships as a potential source of quality strategy implementation failure at the strategic business unit (SBU) level. This study focuses on interdepartmental connectedness, communication and conflict between marketing and quality, and the antecedents and consequences of these dimensions of interfunctional interaction. Using data from a pooled response mail survey, the results suggest that marketing-quality interactions are associated with senior management quality leadership, strategic quality planning process, and control system characteristics. Interfunctional interactions between marketing and quality are found to be only weakly related to relative quality, market performance, and financial performance outcomes.

Enhancing Communication between Marketing and Engineering: The Moderating Role of Relative Functional Identification

Using research in social psychology, the authors illustrate how two key routes to improve communication between marketing and engineering are dependent on the strength of managers’ psychological connection to their functional area compared to the firm as a whole (i.e., relative functional identification). In particular, they argue that relative functional identification moderates the relationship between strategies traditionally used to affect interfunctional relationships (information-sharing norms and integrated goals) and the frequency, bidirectionality, and coerciveness of interfunctional communication behaviors. In turn, these communication behaviors are linked to information use and perceived relationship effectiveness. The authors empirically test predictions of the framework in two studies. Study 1 results suggest that (1) the efficacy of the traditional strategies depends on marketing managers’ relative functional identification and (2) the traditional strategies can have negative and unintended effects on communication behaviors. In Study 2, the authors replicate and extend Study 1 by illustrating that bidirectional communication is as important as frequency in increasing both information use by engineering personnel and the perceived effectiveness of interfunctional relationships. The authors conclude with implications for theory building and managerial practice.