Purpose The purpose of this study was to understand factors affecting market mavens' use of social media for fashion-related information provision. The study examined market mavens' motivations to share fashion-related information. Specifically, this study investigates the impact of their motivations (i.e. pleasure from helping, a sense of obligation) and technology acceptance model variables (i.e. beliefs about and attitude toward using social media) on intention to use social media for sharing fashion-related information. Design/methodology/approach An online survey yielded 862 responses from US female respondents. A subset ( N = 307) representing those high in market mavenism was used for the study. Structural equation modeling was employed for the analysis. Findings The results confirmed that market mavens were driven by pleasure from helping and a sense of obligation to share fashion-related information. These motivations and attitude toward using social media to disseminate fashion-related information positively influenced market mavens' intention to use it to disseminate fashion-related information. Furthermore, belief variables (i.e. perceived usefulness, ease of use and enjoyment associated with social media) indirectly impacted this intention. Originality/value The study adds to the scant research examining market mavens' motivations for sharing fashion-related information with others and their intention to use social media. It provides valuable insights for fashion retailers looking to enhance the impact of social media marketing through the deployment of market mavens – very knowledgeable, motivated and trusted consumers.
The use of energy-based devices to treat genitourinary syndrome of menopause, termed vaginal thermotherapy (VTT), has gained significant interest in recent years. Among the primary safety concerns of this relatively new procedure is the possibility of unintentionally heating tissues adjacent to the vaginal wall, i.e., heating too deeply. Herein we use numerical simulations to evaluate monopolar radiofrequency-based (RF) VTT specifically focusing on the resultant depth of heating through a range of input parameters. Varying RF power, exposure time, and the simulated rate of blood perfusion, we map the parameter space identifying which combinations of input parameters are likely to heat past the depth of the vaginal wall and affect adjacent tissue. We found that the device parameters commonly used in the literature are likely to heat past the vaginal wall and merit further investigation. In addition, we found that the parameter typically used to describe VTT devices, total energy delivered, does not reliably indicate the resultant depth of heat dispersion.
The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between bacteria in the family Rhizobiaceae and members of the legume family (Fabaceae) has been well studied, particularly from the perspective of the early signaling and recognition events. Recent studies of non-nodulating legume mutants have resulted in the identification of a number of genes that are responsive to signal molecules from the bacteria. However, a second group of nodule-forming bacteria, completely unrelated to the Rhizobiaceae, which are α-Proteobacteria, has been discovered. These bacteria belong to the β-Proteobacteria and have been designated β-rhizobia to distinguish them from the better-known α-rhizobia. Here, we review what is known in this economically important symbiosis about the interaction between legumes and α-rhizobia, and we incorporate information, where known, about the β-rhizobia.
The goal of this project is to reduce the average wait time spent by a patient in the outpatient clinical laboratory area to 15 minutes, from time of check-in to completion of specimen collection. (1) Perform gemba walk of entire process, from patient arrival through completion of phlebotomy. (2) Adequately staff all outpatient laboratory areas in proportion to patient volume. (3) Adjust staff scheduling to meet times of high patient demand. (4) Redistribute check-in process tasks to allow admitting representatives to process patients more efficiently. (5) Assign lead phlebotomist or coordinator at each outpatient site. (6) Install computers in each phlebotomist bay for more efficient review of orders. (7) Create of different workflows for scheduled labs vs walk-in patients. (8) Rotate phlebotomists among different sites to ensure a uniform approach and mission. (1) Bottlenecks identified. (2) Adequate phlebotomy staffing and appropriate scheduling achieved. (3) Phlebotomists actively involved in check-in process, by walking patient from waiting area to phlebotomy bay. (4) Computers and printers installed in each phlebotomist bay. (5) Outpatient laboratory wait time has steadily declined since initiation of project. This has occurred despite a shift in patient volume. Outpatient building: 26 minutes in 2015 to 15 minutes in 2016. Professional office building: 33 minutes in 2015 to 21 minutes in 2016. Aston: 21 minutes in 2015 to 14 minutes in 2016. Patients are happier due to decreased wait time, and clinicians are more satisfied because of fewer complaints from patients about the long wait time. We monitor our wait time every week and continuously look for opportunities for improvement until the goal of 15 minutes wait time is accomplished. And we are almost there.
The organisms that make us ill, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, are like attacking armies. We now know a great deal more about this unseen world of microscopic invaders. Fortunately for us, the human immune system is ever vigilant against them. Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi occupy almost every corner of the Earth, and even parts of the human body. Some organisms are beneficial to us, helping to produce milk, cheese or yogurt. Others are potentially harmful, yet we don#t always develop illnesses from them; they are kept in check by the sentinels of our immune system. Our immune system is routinely challenged by these organisms every day. When the immune response is diminished, our ability to fight off these bugs is lowered. And that's when we become ill. Space flight presents a challenge to the immune system. Scientists believe that the stressful conditions of space flight - launch into orbit, adapting to microgravity, heavy workloads, and isolation from family and friends, to name but a few - reduce the astronauts' immunity. This immune suppression makes them more susceptible to common illnesses from bacteria and to re-infections from latent viruses in the body. In addition, risk of spreading illness in the confined environment of the Space Shuttle is high. Understanding changes in immune function will help scientists develop ways to keep astronauts healthy in space. This knowledge can also benefit earthbound populations. This experiment will give scientists insight into the immune system by comparing how certain cells of astronauts' innate immune system - the first line of defense against invaders - function after flight compared to before flight.
The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between bacteria in the family Rhizobiaceae and members of the legume family (Fabaceae) has been well studied, particularly from the perspective of the early signaling and recognition events. Recent studies of non-nodulating legume mutants have resulted in the identification of a number of genes that are responsive to signal molecules from the bacteria. However, a second group of nodule-forming bacteria, completely unrelated to the Rhizobiaceae, which are alpha-Proteobacteria, has been discovered. These bacteria belong to the beta-Proteobacteria and have been designated beta-rhizobia to distinguish them from the better-known alpha-rhizobia. Here, we review what is known in this economically important symbiosis about the interaction between legumes and alpha-rhizobia, and we incorporate information, where known, about the beta-rhizobia.
The interactive nature of social media has led to users' heightened awareness of social causes, and social media influencers have contributed spontaneously to promoting social campaigns and movements. The purpose of the study was to explore influencers' social cause communication and investigate consumers' responses to those messages using an exploratory sequential mixed method. Specifically, in Study 1, data mining through sentiment and semantic network analyses was conducted to inductively explore the patterns of sentiments and themes that emerge from influencers' social cause communication on Instagram. In Study 2, a between-subjects, 2 x 2 experimental study was employed to deductively examine the antecedents and outcomes of consumers' perceptions of influencers' social responsibility authenticity in their messages. Study 1 discovered that, regardless of social cause topics, influencers: 1) commonly discussed the importance of supporting social campaigns by offering stories about beneficiaries, 2) used both positive and negative sentiments to share personal feelings and experiences related to the social cause, and 3) used hashtags to increase audience reach. The study also compared the results with effective CSR communication contents proposed by a previous study. It was found that influencers discussing the importance of supporting the social cause and sharing their intrinsic motives to support the cause were in common with effective CSR communication content. However, influencers also distinctively expressed their emotions, promoted cause-related and fashion-related products while discussing social causes, and actively encouraged the public to engage in social campaigns. In Study 2, transparency was proposed as an antecedent variable of perceived social responsibility authenticity, and social cause fit was considered a moderator. Therefore, the levels of transparency and social cause fit (2 x 2) were manipulated in stimuli, reflecting the findings from Study 1 to incorporate the actual contents that influencers used in their social cause messages. Specifically, a mock influencer in the stimuli shared personal stories, thoughts, and emotions to discuss the importance and motives of supporting the cause and used hashtags and sentimental words. Participants were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk, and their responses to an online survey were collected through Qualtrics for Study 2. A total of 750 responses were used for confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results of the study indicated that transparency in a social cause communication helps enhance an influencer's perceived social responsibility authenticity. Moreover, the fit between the social cause and the influencer's domain of interest (i.e., fashion) moderated the influence of transparency. The influencer's perceived social responsibility authenticity positively impacted consumers' attitude toward the influencer, which subsequently contributed to promoting consumers' intentions to purchase a product that the influencer promotes and engage in social cause communication, such as sharing the message with others and donating to the cause. The study took the first step in investigating influencers' social responsibilities, viewing them as business entities. This study improves our understanding of influencers' communication practices that may be catalysts in enhancing influencers' role as product endorsers and increasing consumer involvement in social causes. As the study investigates the outcomes of influencers' social cause communication from functionalistic and constitutive aspects, it has practical contributions for both businesses and influencers.
Purpose To address the volatile nature of the retail industry, retailers have adopted clothing subscription services (CSS) to meet the demanding needs of consumers. This study provides insight into different types of CSS, as well as a process by which behavioural intentions are influenced by CSS type through cognitive dissonance (wisdom of purchase and emotional dissonance) and attitude towards the CSS. Design/methodology/approach An experimental design manipulating the CSS type (full/partial/none) was conducted among 358 US consumers to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings Hayes PROCESS macro model results demonstrated that consumers did not experience more cognitive dissonance towards a partially, fully curated or non-curated CSS. However, a significant interaction effect further uncovered that consumers with high aesthetic perception experience more negative wisdom of purchase towards a fully compared to a partially curated CSS, thereby impacting attitude and behavioural intention towards CSS. Practical implications Due to today's rapidly evolving retail industry, retailers endeavouring to engage in this business model should come up with strategies to turn a visitor into a subscriber and decrease hesitation in novice consumers. Moreover, retailers should ascertain consumers’ level of aesthetic perception as it plays an important role in CSS adoption. Originality/value We introduced a unique operationalization of CSS types by differentiating between fully, partially and non-curated subscriptions, which are commonly employed in the subscription-box marketplace. The previous literature rarely makes distinctions between these types, although our findings show that consumers perceive them differently.
Did you know that when astronauts are in space, their height increases about two inches? This happens because the weightlessness of space allows the spine, usually compressed in Earth's gravity, to expand. While this change is relatively harmless, other more serious things can happen with extended stays in weightlessness, notably bone loss. From previous experiments, scientists have observed that astronauts lose bone mass at a rate of about one percent per month during flight. Scientists know that bone is a dynamic tissue - continually being made and repaired by specialized bone cells throughout life. Certain cells produce new bone, while other cells are responsible for removing and replacing old bone. Research on the mechanisms of bone metabolism and the effects of space flight on its formation and repair are part of the exciting studies that will be performed during STS-107. Calcium plays a central role because 1) it gives strength and structure to bone and 2) all types of cells require it to function normally. Ninety-nine percent of calcium in the body is stored in the skeleton. However, calcium may be released, or resorbed, from bone to provide for other tissues when you are not eating. To better understand how and why weightlessness induces bone loss, astronauts will participate in a study of calcium kinetics - that is, the movement of calcium through the body, including absorption from food, and its role in the formation and breakdown of bone.
New York City, the most populated city in the United States, is home to over 8 million humans. This means over 26,000 people per square mile! Imagine, though, what the view would be if you peeked into the world of microscopic organisms. Scientists estimate that a gram of soil may contain up to 1 billion of these microbes, which is as much as the entire human population of China! Scientists also know that the world of microbes is incredibly diverse-possibly 10,000 different species in one gram of soil - more than all the different types of mammals in the world. Microbes fill every niche in the world - from 20 miles below the Earth's surface to 20 miles above, and at temperatures from less than -20 C to hotter than water's boiling point. These organisms are ubiquitous because they can adapt quickly to changing environments, an effective strategy for survival. Although we may not realize it, microbes impact every aspect of our lives. Bacteria and fungi help us break down the food in our bodies, and they help clean the air and water around us. They can also cause the dark, filmy buildup on the shower curtain as well as, more seriously, illness and disease. Since humans and microbes share space on Earth, we can benefit tremendously from a better understanding of the workings and physiology of the microbes. This insight can help prevent any harmful effects on humans, on Earth and in space, as well as reap the benefits they provide. Space flight is a unique environment to study how microbes adapt to changing environmental conditions. To advance ground-based research in the field of microbiology, this STS-107 experiment will investigate how microgravity affects bacteria and fungi. Of particular interest are the growth rates and how they respond to certain antimicrobial substances that will be tested; the same tests will be conducted on Earth at the same times. Comparing the results obtained in flight to those on Earth, we will be able to examine how microgravity induces physiological changes in the microbes.
