Know your perceived expertise! : how to foster future sales strategies with stakeholder co-creation by the example of complex products

Compared to other generations Millennials are relatively little loyal to brands but search for brands and products that suit their lifestyle and character. Hence, it is crucial for managers to know how to gain their attention and what convinces them to purchase and recommend. The present research investigates Millennials’ attitude towards stakeholder co-creation. Namely brand perceptions and behavioral intentions are investigated. Whereas former studies of co-creation mainly focused on investigating user co-creation, this study compares the out-come of communicating products as co-created by stakeholders with different perceived lev-els of expertise for complex products. Moreover, it aims to analyze the mediating effect of co-actors’ perceived expertise, which predicts Millennials’ behavioral intentions. The hypotheses are tested in a single factor, independent group, between-subjects experiment, using three levels of perceived expertise for the factor co-actor and one control group repre-senting generic design. The data was collected with an online questionnaire on Qualtrics, quantifying respondents’ perception of brand uniqueness, innovation ability, and their inten-tions to buy and recommend. The findings indicate that brands, offering complex products, which are labeled as co-created, are perceived as more innovative and unique than brands with generic design. At the same time those perceptions partially influence behavioral intentions. Interestingly, results reveal that expertise is a mediator of behavioral intentions. Thus, the study suggests to managers that knowing Millennial consumers’ perception about the expertise level of co-actors is crucial for the success of communication strategies.Em comparação com outras gerações, os Millennials são relativamente pouco fiéis às marcas, mas procuram marcas e produtos que se adequem ao seu estilo de vida e caráter. Portanto, é crucial que os gestores saibam como captar a sua atenção e o que os convence a comprar e recomendar. A presente pesquisa investiga a atitude dos Millennials em relação à cocriação das partes in-teressadas. Ou seja, perceções da marca e intenções comportamentais são investigadas. Con-siderando que os estudos anteriores de cocriação se concentraram principalmente na investi-gação da cocriação de indivíduos, este estudo compara o resultado de produtos de comuni-cação como cocriado pelas partes interessadas com diferentes níveis de conhecimento para produtos complexos. Além disso, visa analisar o efeito mediador do nível de conhecimento dos coatores, que prevê as intenções comportamentais dos Millennials. As hipóteses são testadas num único fator, grupo independente, utilizando três níveis de conhecimento para o fator coator e um grupo de controle representando o design genérico. Os dados foram recolhidos através de um questionário on-line sobre a Qualtrics, quantificando a perceção dos entrevistados sobre a singularidade da marca, a capacidade de inovação e suas intenções de comprar e recomendar. Os resultados indicam que as marcas, oferecendo produtos complexos, que são rotulados co-mo cocriados, são tidas como mais inovadoras e exclusivas do que marcas com design genéri-co. Ao mesmo tempo, essas perceções influenciam parcialmente as intenções comportamen-tais. Curiosamente, os resultados revelam que o conhecimento é um mediador das intenções comportamentais. Assim, o estudo sugere aos gestores que conhecer a perceção dos consumi-dores Millennials sobre o nível de conhecimento dos coatores é crucial para o sucesso das estratégias de comunicação

MULTIMEDIA PEMBELAJARAN INTERAKTIF BERBANTUAN GAME MENGGUNAKAN MODEL PROBLEM BASED LEARNING PADA MATAPELAJARAN PEMROGRAMAN WEB UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PEMAHAMAN SISWA DI SMK

Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mendapatkan: (1) Multimedia pembelajaran interaktif berbantuan game untuk mata pelajaran pemrograman web, (2) Mendapatkan hasil peningkatan pemahaman peserta didik dalam multimedia pembelajaran interaktif berbantuan game dengan menggunakan model Problem Based Learning. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian Research and Development (R&D). Penelitian dilakukan hanya menggunakan satu kelas yaitu kelas eksperimen di kelas X RPL 3, perlakuan yang diberikan pada kelas eksperimen adalah pembelajaran dengan menggunakan multimedia pembelajaran interaktif berbantuan game dengan menggunakan model pembelajaran problem based learning. Analisis data dalam penelitian ini menggunakan Anova dengan menggunakan aplikasi SPSS 16. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa adanya peningkatan hasil belajar peserta didik dengan data nilai yang diperoleh sebagai berikut: nilai pretest yang diperoleh rerata nilai 77 untuk kelompok kelas atas, 63.52 untuk kelompok kelas tengah, lalu nilai 41.50 untuk kelompok kelas bawah dan nilai posttest yang dimana diperoleh rerata nilai 84.50 untuk kelompok kelas atas, 75.04 untuk kelompok kelas tengah dan 60.25 untuk kelompok kelas bawah. Dari hasil nilai rerata pretest ke posttest yang didapat maka dapat disimpulkan adanya peningkatan hasil belajar pada peserta didik setelah penggunaan multimedia pembelajaran interaktif berbantuan game dengan model problem based learning dilakukan.;---This research was conducted to obtain: (1) Create interactive learning multimedia base on game for web programming subject, (2) To improved understanding of student in learning with using creative interactive learning multimedia base on game with problem based learning model. The method that used was Research and Development (R & D). Research was conducted using class room experiment using one class in X RPL 3, the treatment given to the experimental class is learning by using creative interactive learning multimedia base on game with problem based learning model. The data in this research analyzed with SPSS 16 application using Anova method. The results indicate that the improvement of learning outcomes of students with the data values obtained as follows: pretest value obtained a mean score of 77 for the upper classes, 63.52 for the middle-classes, then 41.50 for the lower classes and posttest value that which obtained a mean score of 84.50 for the upper classes, 75.04 for the middle-classes and 60.25 for the lower classes. From the results of pretest and posttest obtained, it can be concluded that learning outcomes from students has been increased following the using of creative interactive learning multimedia base on game with problem based learning model

INTEGRATION OF COMPLEMENTARY BIOMARKERS IN PATIENTS WITH FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS: RESEARCH PROTOCOL OF A PROSPECTIVE FOLLOW UP STUDY

In this project, we recruited a sample of 150 patients with first episode of psychosis with schizophrenia features (FEP) and 100 healthy controls. We assessed the differences between these two groups, as well as the changes between the acute phase of illness and subsequent remission among patients over 18-month longitudinal follow-up. The assessments were divided into four work packages (WP): WP1- psychopathological status, neurocognitive functioning and emotional recognition; WP2- stress response measured by saliva cortisol during a stress paradigm; cerebral blood perfusion in the resting state (with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and during activation paradigm (with Transcranial Ultrasonography Doppler (TCD); WP3-post mortem analysis in histologically prepared human cortical tissue of post mortem samples of subjects with schizophrenia in the region that synaptic alteration was suggested by WP1 and WP2; WP4- pharmacogenetic analysis (single gene polymorphisms and genome wide association study (GWAS). We expect that the analysis of these data will identify a set of markers that differentiate healthy controls from patients with FEP, and serve as an additional diagnostic tool in the first episode of psychosis, and prediction tool which can be then used to help tailoring individualized treatment options. In this paper, we describe the project protocol including aims and methods and provide a brief description of planned post mortem studies and pharmacogenetic analysis

Black holes, gravitational waves and fundamental physics: a roadmap

The grand challenges of contemporary fundamental physics—dark matter, dark energy, vacuum energy, inflation and early universe cosmology, singularities and the hierarchy problem—all involve gravity as a key component. And of all gravitational phenomena, black holes stand out in their elegant simplicity, while harbouring some of the most remarkable predictions of General Relativity: event horizons, singularities and ergoregions. The hitherto invisible landscape of the gravitational Universe is being unveiled before our eyes: the historical direct detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration marks the dawn of a new era of scientific exploration. Gravitational-wave astronomy will allow us to test models of black hole formation, growth and evolution, as well as models of gravitational-wave generation and propagation. It will provide evidence for event horizons and ergoregions, test the theory of General Relativity itself, and may reveal the existence of new fundamental fields. The synthesis of these results has the potential to radically reshape our understanding of the cosmos and of the laws of Nature. The purpose of this work is to present a concise, yet comprehensive overview of the state of the art in the relevant fields of research, summarize important open problems, and lay out a roadmap for future progress. This write-up is an initiative taken within the framework of the European Action on 'Black holes, Gravitational waves and Fundamental Physics'

MAGIC and H.E.S.S. detect VHE gamma rays from the blazar OT081 for the first time: a deep multiwavelength study

https://pos.sissa.it/395/815/pdfPublished versio

The influence of high and low temperatures on the impact properties of glass–epoxy composites

The aim of this paper is to present the influence of high and low temperatures on the impact properties glass–epoxy composites. The impact strength an is presented for four different glass–epoxy composite structures at three different temperatures, i.e., at room temperature t = 20 °C, at an elevated temperature t = +50 °C and at a low temperature t = –50 °C. Standard mechanical testing was carried out on the composite materials with specific masses of reinforcement of 210 g m-2 and 550 g m-2 and orientations 0°/90° and ±45°. Micromechanical analysis of the failure was performed in order to determine real models and mechanisms of crack and temperature influence on the impact properties

Feeding value of low quality grass silage supplemented with maize silage for sheep

The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of interactions between low quality grass silage (GS) dominated by orchardgrass and maize silage (MS) on ad libitum intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in wether sheep. The study consisted of four feeding treatments involving GS and MS alone and GS and MS mixtures in a ratio of 67:33 or 33:67 (dry matter (DM) basis) fed twice daily. The GS was high in DM (463 g kg 1), neutral detergent fibre (715 g kg 1DM) and acid detergent fibre (429 g kg 1DM) while low in crude protein (90.1 g kg 1DM). The DM content (g kg 1) and starch concentration (g kg 1DM) of MS were 264 and 211, respectively. The inclusion of MS into diet had positive linear effects on fresh matter ad libitum intake (kg d 1 and g kg 1M0.75d 1) (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001 respectively), digestibility of DM (P < 0.01), organic matter (P < 0.01), acid detergent fibre (P < 0.05), starch (P < 0.001), digestibility of organic matter in DM (D-value) (P < 0.001), nitrogen intake (P < 0.01) and nitrogen output in faeces (P < 0.01). A positive associative effect of low quality GS and MS was observed for ad libitum intake (kg d 1 and g kg 1M0.75d 1) of fresh matter (quadratic, P < 0.01), DM (quadratic, P < 0.001 and P < 0.01 respectively) and organic matter (P < 0.001), for digestibility of DM, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, crude protein, starch and D-value (quadratic, P < 0.01), digestibility of organic matter (quadratic, P < 0.05), nitrogen intake (quadratic, P < 0.001) and nitrogen balance (quadratic, P < 0.05). It was concluded that differences between low quality GS and MS resulted in positive associative responses of GS and MS for all parameters measured (intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention).vo

Human genetic adaptation related to cellular zinc homeostasis.

SLC30A9 encodes a ubiquitously zinc transporter (ZnT9) and has been consistently suggested as a candidate for positive selection in humans. However, no direct adaptive molecular phenotype has been demonstrated. Our results provide evidence for directional selection operating in two major complementary haplotypes in Africa and East Asia. These haplotypes are associated with differential gene expression but also differ in the Met50Val substitution (rs1047626) in ZnT9, which we show is found in homozygosis in the Denisovan genome and displays accompanying signatures suggestive of archaic introgression. Although we found no significant differences in systemic zinc content between individuals with different rs1047626 genotypes, we demonstrate that the expression of the derived isoform (ZnT9 50Val) in HEK293 cells shows a gain of function when compared with the ancestral (ZnT9 50Met) variant. Notably, the ZnT9 50Val variant was found associated with differences in zinc handling by the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, with an impact on mitochondrial metabolism. Given the essential role of the mitochondria in skeletal muscle and since the derived allele at rs1047626 is known to be associated with greater susceptibility to several neuropsychiatric traits, we propose that adaptation to cold may have driven this selection event, while also impacting predisposition to neuropsychiatric disorders in modern humans

Biofilm in group A streptococcal necrotizing soft tissue infections

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