Demystifying consumer digital cocreated value: social presence theory-informed framework and propositions

While cocreation research proliferates, existing studies fail to isolate its manifestation through digital (vs. non-digital) platforms. Moreover, extant research predominantly explores the cocreation process (vs. its outcome of cocreated value), which therefore merits further scrutiny, particularly in the digital context. Based on these gaps, we explore consumer digital cocreated value (CDCV), which reflects the consumer-perceived value that arises by interacting, collaborating, or communicating with or through digital platforms (touch-points). We classify digital platforms as (i) human-to-human platforms (H2HPs; e.g. social media), and (ii) human-to-machine platforms (H2MPs), which comprise the sub-types of (a) robotic process automation-based platforms (e.g. call centers), and (b) machine/deep learning-based platforms (e.g. service robots). We next compose a social presence theory-informed framework that explores the effect of perceived platform intimacy and immediacy on CDCV for our proposed platforms. We formalize the framework’s associations by developing a set of Propositions, and conclude by discussing important implications that arise from this research

High Involvement Management, High Performance Work Systems and Well-being

Studies on the impact of high-performance work systems on employees' well-being are emerging but the underlying theory remains weak. This paper attempts to develop theory of the effects on well-being of four dimensions of high-performance work systems: enriched jobs, high involvement management, employee voice, and motivational supports. Hypothesized associations are tested using multilevel models and data from Britain's Workplace Employment Relations Survey of 2004 (WERS2004). Results show that enriched jobs are positively associated with both measures of well-being: job satisfaction and anxiety–contentment. Voice is positively associated with job satisfaction, and motivational supports with neither measure. The results for high involvement management are not as predicted because it increases anxiety and is independent of job satisfaction

A Putative Transcription Factor MYT1 Is Required for Female Fertility in the Ascomycete Gibberella zeae

Gibberella zeae is an important pathogen of major cereal crops. The fungus produces ascospores that forcibly discharge from mature fruiting bodies, which serve as the primary inocula for disease epidemics. In this study, we characterized an insertional mutant Z39P105 with a defect in sexual development and identified a gene encoding a putative transcription factor designated as MYT1. This gene contains a Myb DNA-binding domain and is conserved in the subphylum Pezizomycotina of Ascomycota. The MYT1 protein fused with green fluorescence protein localized in nuclei, which supports its role as a transcriptional regulator. The MYT1 deletion mutant showed similar phenotypes to the wild-type strain in vegetative growth, conidia production and germination, virulence, and mycotoxin production, but had defect in female fertility. A mutant overexpressing MYT1 showed earlier germination, faster mycelia growth, and reduced mycotoxin production compared to the wild-type strain, suggesting that improper MYT1 expression affects the expression of genes involved in the cell cycle and secondary metabolite production. This study is the first to characterize a transcription factor containing a Myb DNA-binding domain that is specific to sexual development in G. zeae

Overexpression of defense response genes in transgenic wheat enhances resistance to Fusarium head blight

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat, caused by Fusarium graminearum and other Fusarium species, is a major disease problem for wheat production worldwide. To combat this problem, large-scale breeding efforts have been established. Although progress has been made through standard breeding approaches, the level of resistance attained is insufficient to withstand epidemic conditions. Genetic engineering provides an alternative approach to enhance the level of resistance. Many defense response genes are induced in wheat during F. graminearum infection and may play a role in reducing FHB. The objectives of this study were (1) to develop transgenic wheat overexpressing the defense response genes α-1-purothionin, thaumatin-like protein 1 (tlp-1), and β-1,3-glucanase; and (2) to test the resultant transgenic wheat lines against F. graminearum infection under greenhouse and field conditions. Using the wheat cultivar Bobwhite, we developed one, two, and four lines carrying the α-1-purothionin, tlp-1, and β-1,3-glucanase transgenes, respectively, that had statistically significant reductions in FHB severity in greenhouse evaluations. We tested these seven transgenic lines under field conditions for percent FHB disease severity, deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxin accumulation, and percent visually scabby kernels (VSK). Six of the seven lines differed from the nontransgenic parental Bobwhite line for at least one of the disease traits. A β-1,3-glucanase transgenic line had enhanced resistance, showing lower FHB severity, DON concentration, and percent VSK compared to Bobwhite. Taken together, the results showed that overexpression of defense response genes in wheat could enhance the FHB resistance in both greenhouse and field conditions

The effect of autonomy, training opportunities, age and salaries on job satisfaction in the South East Asian retail petroleum industry

South East Asian petroleum retailers are under considerable pressure to improve service quality by reducing turnover. An empirical methodology from this industry determined the extent to which job characteristics, training opportunities, age and salary influenced the level of job satisfaction, an indicator of turnover. Responses are reported on a random sample of 165 site employees (a 68% response rate) of a Singaporean retail petroleum firm. A restricted multivariate regression model of autonomy and training opportunities explained the majority (35.4%) of the variability of job satisfaction. Age did not moderate these relationships, except for employees >21 years of age, who reported enhanced job satisfaction with additional salary. Human Capital theory, Life Cycle theory and Job Enrichment theory are invoked and explored in the context of these findings in the South East Asian retail petroleum industry. In the South East Asian retail petroleum industry, jobs providing employees with the opportunity to undertake a variety of tasks that enhanced the experienced meaningfulness of work are likely to promote job satisfaction, reduce turnover and increase the quality of service

DON content in oat grains in Norway related to weather conditions at different growth stages

High concentrations of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), produced by Fusarium graminearum have occurred frequently in Norwegian oats recently. Early prediction of DON levels is important for farmers, authorities and the Cereal Industry. In this study, the main weather factors influencing myco-toxin accumulation were identified and two models to predict the risk of DON in oat grains in Norway were developed: (1) as a warning system for farmers to decide if and when to treat with fungicide, and (2) for authorities and industry to use at harvest to identify potential food safety problems. Oat grain samples from farmers’ fields were collected together with weather data (2004–2013)\ud A mathematical model was developed and used to esti-\ud mate phenology windows of growth stages in oats (til-\ud lering, flowering etc.). Weather summarisations were\ud then calculated within these windows, and the Spearman\ud rank correlation factor calculated between DON-\ud contamination in oats at harvest and the weather\ud summarisations for each phenological window. DON\ud contamination was most clearly associated with the\ud weather conditions around flowering and close to har-\ud vest. Warm, rainy and humid weather during and around\ud flowering increased the risk of DON accumulation in\ud oats, as did dry periods during germination/seedling\ud growth and tillering. Prior to harvest, warm and humid\ud weather conditions followed by cool and dry conditions\ud were associated with a decreased risk of DON accumu-\ud lation. A prediction model, including only pre-flowering\ud weather conditions, adequately forecasted risk of DON\ud contamination in oat, and can aid in decisions about\ud fungicide treatments