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Social Exclusion Enhances Customized Product Purchase? Influences of Customization Association and Cognitive Reappraisal
No full textThis research aims to investigate how social exclusion influences consumers' intention to purchase customized products. Consumers who feel socially excluded tend to experience loss of sense of control, and thus they will increase the intention to purchase customized products. Three experiments are conducted to test the purposed hypotheses. Study 1 examines the impact of social exclusion on the intention to purchase customized products, and tests loss of sense of control as the underlying mechanism behind this behavior. Study 2 investigates the moderating effect of consumer association with product customization (sense of control vs. sense of enjoyment vs. sense of uniqueness). Study 3 examines the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal.
The results show that consumers who feel socially excluded tend to purchase customized products than consumers who feel socially included and consumers who feel misfortunate. Additionally, loss of sense of control is found as underlying mechanism to explain customized product purchase behavior. Furthermore, different association with customization will also affect this effect. When consumers associate customization with sense of control, socially excluded individuals show higher intentions to purchase customized products than socially included ones. Howerver, no such differences found between socially excluded and socially included people when associating customization with sense of enjoyment or uniqueness. The impacts of social exclusion on customized product purchase are reduced when consumers are primed with cognitive reappraisal. The results of this research not only contribute to the social exclusion research but also provide marketers with managerial implications in promoting customized products
Formability Prediction using Machine Learning combined with Process Design for High Drawing Ratio Aluminum Alloys Cups
No full textThe aim of this study is to discuss the geometric and process parameters for A7075 in deep drawing, and to derive the possible forming range of the material. Finite element simulation is employed to set geometric parameters during the deep drawing process. Four parameters such as forming temperature, punch velocity, material diameter and thickness are used to investigate the impact of these four parameters on the forming process and its results.
Through finite element simulation a dataset is established to determine the forming results. This dataset is for machine learning training and validation, leading to an artificial intelligence predictive model. In the future, import the forming parameters into this predictive model can receive the forming results rapidly.
Because different classifiers may have different learning effects. Therefore, a comparison of different classifiers' learning effects is conducted using validation index to identify the optimal classifier. Based on the predictive model's result, users can obtain the material's forming range. This can help researchers to assess the material forming condition is success or hard to form.
At the end, to validate the feasibility of the obtained forming range, several experiments with different parameters are used and the outcomes are recorded to compare the predictive model results to verify the feasibility of applying machine learning to deep drawing and the reliability of the artificial intelligence predictive model
The analysis and targeting of the functional CEMIP2 domain to modulate its oncogenic activities in solid tumor-derived cell lines
No full textAs a trending topic, the issue of the relationship between inactive Cell migration-inducing hyaluronidase 2 (CEMIP2) and various types of cancers is discussed. Herein, a series of deletion mutations was conducted to identify the active domain of this transmembrane protein, and then its relationships with migration, invasion, and cell proliferation were investigated in different cancer cell lines. Given a strong and solid relationship between overexpression of the protein and development of colorectal and bladder cancers, and according to the encouraging views of aptamers in recent years, by performing 11 rounds of in vitro Cell-SELEX, an appropriate aptamer to intensely hinder CEMIP2 was obtained. With a variety of in vitro cell assays and biochemical assessments, as well as comparing with customized CEMIP2 antibody, it was seen that the finalized aptamer (aptCEMIP2(101)) can be considered a suitable option for anti-cancer drugs. The achieved promising results from the aptamer led to its use in the fabrication of bio-friendly mesoporous silica nanoparticles. aptCEMIP2(101) was used from two points of view as a probe to bind and inhibit CEMIP2 protein. Last but not least, to complete the nanoparticle, the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) was used as a coup de grace in the pores of the synthesized nanoparticles. Altogether, it was seen that the designed nano-system binds to the target protein with admirable binding specificity and leads to inhibition of CEMIP2 oncogene protein from two lines of attack. It is hoped that by using the designed aptamer and the nano-system, a smoother path will be provided to deal with all types of CEMIP2-related cancers
Study the roles of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in fluoroquinolone-mediated growth inhibition in cancer cells
No full textFluoroquinolones (FQs) are broad-spectrum antibiotics which are used to treat various bacterial infections. Apart from their antibacterial properties, evidence has implied their potential as an anticancer agent, with multiple anticancer activities including pro-apoptosis, antiproliferative, and enhancing chemotherapies. However, the mechanism underlying the anticancer activities of FQs remains unclear. Here, we found that the antiproliferative of FQs was mediated by inducing insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) through a p53-dependent pathway. FQs-induced IGFBP3 suppressed IGF-I signaling and IGF-I-induced cell proliferation. Moreover, ciprofloxacin, a commonly used FQ, was found to attenuate growth of tumor in a syngeneic mouse tumor model of hepatocellular carcinoma by triggering apoptosis of tumor cells with upregulation of IGFBP3. Our results reveal a novel mechanism by which FQs exert their antiproliferative effect, prompting further investigation for their potential application and derivative compounds in treatment against cancer
DC-AC joint measurement to probe how humidity and gate voltage influence on the electrical characteristics of the graphene field-effect transistors
No full textThe research develops a joint measurement utilizing a lock-in amplifier and a two-channel source measure unit simultaneously to probe the evolution of the electric properties of the graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs).
Graphene is a two-dimensional material, which consists of one atomic layer carbon atoms in the hexagonal honeycomb lattice composed of sp2 mixed orbitals. When many layers of graphene stacked into graphite, they are bonded by weak Van der Waals force. Graphene has the characteristics of high specific surface area and high conductivity. Hence graphene is very sensitive to environmental changes by sensing the change in resistance. These characteristics have great advantages for gas sensor applications. However, when measuring carrier mobility, it is necessary to obtain a complete IV curve, and the measurement of this curve takes a long time.
The joint measurement is to apply both DC and AC signals into the gate electrode. Due to the dependence of the source-drain impedance on the gate voltage, the AC signal would be directly related to carrier mobility. Meanwhile, the DC signal is related to both carrier mobility and carrier concentration. Simultaneous determination of the two parameters thus provides us an opportunity to probe the evolution of carrier mobility and carrier concentration respectively. Our results indicate that the device characteristics strongly depend on the humidity and gate voltage. While maintaining the same humidity, changing gate voltage will introduce a change of carrier concentration, but not on the carrier mobility
The effects of macroborers on cultural oysters in Chiku, Taiwan
No full textAlthough boring organisms infesting oysters are reported worldwide, such a study is absent in Taiwan. Hence, I investigated the impact of macroborers on culture oysters at Chiku lagoon, including 1. the prevalence and infestation level of macroborers on oysters; 2. the relationship between macroborers and shell density, Gonadosomatic index (GSI), or Condition index (CI) of oysters; 3. the prevalence and infestation level of macroborers on oysters from different sampling years. The prevalence of macroborers was higher in oysters from the intertidal zone than in the subtidal site. Boring polychaetes were most abundant, and the right valve was preferred. In contrast, boring sponges revealed a higher infestation rate on the left valve. The infestation level was usually = 1.5) was 16.7\ue222.2%, 10%, and 0% in samples from the intertidal zone, deep water channel, and subtidal site, respectively. The condition index of oysters was negatively correlated to the infestation level of boring polychaetes at the subtidal site. The shell density of oysters cultured at the intertidal zone and deep water channel was also negatively correlated to the infestation level but positively associated with the condition index. If oysters are severely bored by macroborers, they may spend more energy to repair the damaged shell than a reproduction investment. Additionally, the decrease in shell density may increase their predation potential. In 1990 and 2011, the prevalence of oysters infested by boring polychaetes was 31% and 91%, respectively. Based on the results, it is proposed that the presence of boring polychaetes was earlier than in 1990
Determinants of Teachers\ue2 Intention to Leave: The Case of Vietnam and Taiwan
No full textAbstract
Objective: This study consists of two sub-studies. The first study aims to explore the effect mechanism of inclusive leadership on teachers\ue2 intention to leave, while the second study aims to reveal antecedents of teachers' intention to leave in Vietnam and Taiwan and compare the predictive power of each determinant.
Methods: This study adopts a quantitative method. Data has been collected from 440 Vietnamese and Taiwanese secondary school teachers, including 238 Vietnamese teachers and 202 Taiwanese teachers, based on an internet-based survey. SPSS 22 and SMARTPLS software were employed for data analysis.
Findings: The result indicated the effect mechanism of inclusive leadership on teachers\ue2 intention to leave with the partial mediation of schools\ue2 organizational justice, teachers\ue2 empowerment, and teachers\ue2 job satisfaction. In addition, when integrating inclusive leadership with other personal-environmental factors to predict teachers\ue2 intention to leave, inclusive leadership is still significant in predicting teachers\ue2 intention to leave. However, when comparing the determinants\ue2 predictive power, it can be seen that colleague and customer\ue2s factors have a higher predictive power than other factors. When comparing two countries\ue2 results, in Taiwan, personal factors have a higher association with teachers\ue2 intention to leave than others, while in Vietnam, environmental factors were found to be stronger. Moreover, some paths are significantly different based on country and school location, and some demographics were found to be control variables (gender and years of experience) in the Taiwan model but not in the whole model and the Vietnam model.
Conclusion: Our research proposed and examined a new model that explores inclusive leadership\ue2s effect mechanism on teachers\ue2 intentions to leave, as well as comparing the predictive power between inclusive leadership and other traditional factors in predicting teachers\ue2 intentions to leave, and indicating how they work between two countries. Based on the research findings, recommendations were provided for governments, educators, and policymakers
Crisis Communication: Effectiveness of company\ue2s post-crisis response strategies
No full textPrevious work in the areas of crisis response strategies have mostly focused on the comparison between two different strategies. This article reports the results of an experiment designed to (1) test the effects of two different types of apology policies on consumers\ue2 post-crisis attitudes toward the company, and (2) determine what perceptions of consumers mediate the effect of apology policies on consumers\ue2 post-crisis attitudes toward the company.
Results show that including the promise of corrective action in the apology response leads to more positive post-crisis attitudes among consumers than giving responses without the promise. Moreover, results show that the efficacy of the response is fully influenced by consumers\ue2 perceptions of the given response. The company\ue2s response influences consumers\ue2 attitudes by impacting perceived credibility, sincerity, and ambiguity. These results provide empirical evidence for the company to consider the inclusion of the promise of corrective action when releasing an apology announcement, especially in a crisis that the company is responsible for
Value-enhancing Strategy of Trade Middlemen under the Disintermediation
No full textInternational trade has been the important part of Taiwan's economy for a long time. However, Taiwan's import agents have been replaced by principal frequently in many kinds of industry. This trend of disintermediation is sweeping across Taiwan agent industry.
In the agency relationship, the agent is often at a relative disadvantage due to less resources and low bargaining power and can only passively accept the decision of the principal. Past research has focused on the strategic choice and analysis of the principal. This study hopes to explore the impact of disintermediation on agents and to organize the value-enhancing strategies proposed by relevant scholars in the past and use them as a framework. And choosing the case of lubricating oil agent - OU-YI INC. is faced with the crisis of disintermediation. The coping strategies are analyzed and extended, and finally make a unified conclusion and strategic suggestions for Taiwan agents. This study can improve the bargaining power and value of the agent and reverse the disadvantage in the agent partnership
On the Behavior of Differentiated Quantity Competition under Licensing and Technology Spillover
No full textThis paper explores the behavior of quantity competition among companies under authorization and technology spillover, and uses the game model to analyze product quality changes under the competition of heterogeneous oligopoly companies. Multinational companies are the first movers, which affect the three types of decisions of multinational company (sell technology, cooperate or not cooperate). Cooperation will affect the company's profits. The key to affecting profits is the size of the license fee (F), and the technology spillover will be added to the discussion later, as well as the impact of the competition between the two companies on social welfare. The research results found that the product quality difference between Company 1 and Company 2 is larger when there is no technology spillover than when there is technology spillover under the condition of purchasing a license, which shows that the product quality of Company 2 has been greatly improved under the condition of technology spillover. Therefore, the competition between the two companies will be greater. This study also found that the impact on social welfare is different when the degree of technology spillover is different. It is concluded that the social welfare of cooperation is greater than the situation of purchasing license fees. Due to the impact of technology spillover, it will be reflected in consumption. In terms of product quality, consumers will face higher quality, thereby increasing consumer surplus and social welfare. At this time, the government may choose to cooperate with company 1 through subsidies and other means, so as to maximize social welfare. Finally, discuss the impact of the preference parameters of political figures on social welfare, and the decline in social welfare, also shows when the government favors a certain party, it may make decisions that maximize non-social welfare