Using Social Media for Business Communication: A Symbolic Interaction Perspective

It is important to understand the symbolic meaning of social media perceived by users in a particular communication context, as it may completely deviate from designers’ original intentions. In the exploratory case study of Moon Struck hotel in China, we investigate how customers interpret this hotel’s use of WeChat (the most dominate instant messaging tool in China) for business communication and how customers respond to messages received from WeChat in this context. Leveraging the symbolic interaction perspective, we report that customers’ interpretation towards the symbolic meaning of WeChat varies across personal and business communication contexts, and subsequently affects customers’ usage behaviour of WeChat. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 12 selected followers of the hotel’s WeChat account, as well as company executives at this hotel, we identify the key findings and discuss the theoretical implications and practical recommendations

How to Retain Consumers: A Trust-Commitment Model

Although studies on the determinants of consumers’ continuance intention in e-marketplaces have grown in recent years, the research is predominantly related to unidimensional trust and commitment. In this research, the authors focus on the distinct roles of different types of consumer trust and commitment on consumers’ continuance intention. Drawing upon organizational commitment and trust theories, we develop a continuance intention model that includes two types of trust and two types of commitments. We collected a sample of 287 online consumers to validate the theoretical model. Our data suggest that consumers’ trust and commitment positively affect their continuance intention. Our study also indicates that the psychological states underlying the commitments are different. Key findings and implications are discussed

A High Serum Level of Taurocholic Acid is Correlated with the Severity and Resolution of Drug-induced Liver Injury

Background & Aims Alterations in the serum levels of bile acids are associated with drug-induced liver injury (DILI). We investigated the association between serum levels of bile acids and the severity and outcome of DILI, along with the potential role of variants in the ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 11 ( ABCB11) gene and expression of its product, ABCB11 (also called BSEP). Methods We performed this prospective study of 95 patients (median age, 53 years; 73.7% female) with DILI from August 2018 through August 2019. Patients were matched for age, gender, and body mass index with healthy individuals (n=100; healthy controls) and patients with chronic hepatitis B (n=105; CHB controls). We collected demographic and biochemical data at baseline and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after DILI onset and at the time of biochemical recovery, liver failure or liver transplantation. Serum levels of bile acids were measured using high-performance liquid-chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry. All 27 exons of ABCB11 were sequenced and expression of BSEP were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in liver biopsy specimens. Results Levels of 30 of the 37 bile acids analyzed differed significantly between patients with DILI and healthy controls. Changes in levels of taurocholic acid (TCA), glycocholic acid, taurochenodeoxycholate, and glycochenodeoxycholate associated with the increased levels of bilirubin and greater severity of DILI, and were also associated with CHB. Cox regression analysis showed that only change in the levels of TCA independently associated with biochemical resolution of DILI. Combination of TCA level (≥ 1955.41 nmol/L), patient age, and DILI severity was associated with abnormal blood biochemistry at 6 months after DILI onset (area under the curve, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.71–0.88; sensitivity, 0.69; specificity, 0.81). ABCB11 missense variants were not associated with differences in the serum bile acid profiles, DILI severity, or clinical resolution. However, lower levels of BSEP in bile canaliculi in liver biopsies were associated with altered serum levels of bile acids. Conclusions In this prospective study performed in Chinese patients, we found that the serum levels of TCA were associated with the severity and clinical resolution of DILI. Reduced protein expression of BSEP in liver tissue, rather than variants of the ABCB11 gene were associated with altered serum levels of bile acids

Dynamical alterations of brain function and gut microbiome in weight loss

ObjectiveIntermittent energy restriction (IER) is an effective weight loss strategy. However, little is known about the dynamic effects of IER on the brain-gut-microbiome axis.MethodsIn this study, a total of 25 obese individuals successfully lost weight after a 2-month IER intervention. FMRI was used to determine the activity of brain regions. Metagenomic sequencing was performed to identify differentially abundant gut microbes and pathways in from fecal samples.ResultsOur results showed that IER longitudinally reduced the activity of obese-related brain regions at different timepoints, including the inferior frontal orbital gyrus in the cognitive control circuit, the putamen in the emotion and learning circuit, and the anterior cingulate cortex in the sensory circuit. IER longitudinally reduced E. coli abundance across multiple timepoints while elevating the abundance of obesity-related Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Parabacteroides distasonis, and Bacterokles uniformis. Correlation analysis revealed longitudinally correlations between gut bacteria abundance alterations and brain activity changes.ConclusionsThere was dynamical alteration of BGM axis (the communication of E. coli with specific brain regions) during the weight loss under the IER

The Role of Swift Relationship and Institutional Structures in Uncertainty Reduction

Uncertainty has been regarded as the most prominent barrier in ecommerce. However, how communication between buyers and seller contributes to a reduction in uncertainty is under-investigated. Integrating uncertainty reduction theory and relational contract theory, we develop a model that explain how various communication strategies will reduce uncertainty in transactions so as to encourage purchase behavior. In addition, we also explore the role of swift relationships and institutional structures during the uncertainty reduction process, surveying real buyers as data subjects. The study advances our understanding of communication strategies by specifying the e-commerce context to explore how communication can facilitate purchase behavior through uncertainty reduction. We propose that the communication process between individual buyers and sellers may be moderated by both formal and relational contracts. Also, we add to the existing literature by investigating whether formal contracts will affect a relational contract’s impact in the online shopping context

Does IT matter for work meaningfulness?: Exploring the mediating role of job crafting

Purpose: This study aims to investigate how technology characteristics facilitate employees' work meaningfulness through job crafting. Design/methodology/approach: This study applies the survey method and collects data from 357 Chinese participants with the experience of using information technology (IT) at work. Findings: Technology characteristics (i.e. technology reconfigurability and technology customization) enable employees to craft their jobs, contributing to work meaningfulness. Research limitations/implications: It remains to be seen whether the findings can be generalized to other cultural contexts. This study justifies the positive effects of IT but does not take into consideration the IT factors that might thwart job crafting. Practical implications: IT is not merely a work tool. It is a contextual component strongly conducive to cultivating work meaningfulness. However, IT itself cannot directly lead to work meaningfulness. Instead, its contribution to job crafting matters. Originality/value: The literature on the downstream impact of IT has yet to consider the value of IT for job crafting and work meaningfulness. This study verifies that job crafting is the linking mechanism between IT and work meaningfulness

Does IT matter for work meaningfulness?: Exploring the mediating role of job crafting

Purpose: This study aims to investigate how technology characteristics facilitate employees' work meaningfulness through job crafting. Design/methodology/approach: This study applies the survey method and collects data from 357 Chinese participants with the experience of using information technology (IT) at work. Findings: Technology characteristics (i.e. technology reconfigurability and technology customization) enable employees to craft their jobs, contributing to work meaningfulness. Research limitations/implications: It remains to be seen whether the findings can be generalized to other cultural contexts. This study justifies the positive effects of IT but does not take into consideration the IT factors that might thwart job crafting. Practical implications: IT is not merely a work tool. It is a contextual component strongly conducive to cultivating work meaningfulness. However, IT itself cannot directly lead to work meaningfulness. Instead, its contribution to job crafting matters. Originality/value: The literature on the downstream impact of IT has yet to consider the value of IT for job crafting and work meaningfulness. This study verifies that job crafting is the linking mechanism between IT and work meaningfulness