Effects of Emoticons on the Acceptance of Negative Feedback in Computer-Mediated Communication

Delivering negative performance feedback is inevitable in the workplace. However, recipients may feel uncomfortable and behave defensively, and may be unwilling to accept negative feedback mainly because they fear losing face. Such unproductive responses are heightened when negative feedback is delivered through computer-mediated communication (CMC) channels in which many nonverbal cues in face-to-face communication cannot be used to alleviate the concerns of losing face. This study examines the effectiveness of emoticons, which are designed as surrogates for facial expressions in CMC environments, in conveying social and emotional signals of the feedback provider. Specifically, based on the feedback process model and the dissonance reduction theory, this study investigates the differing effects of two types of emoticons (i.e., liking and disliking ones) on the acceptance of negative feedback by considering feedback specificity as a contingent factor. Our results suggest that using liking emoticons increases perceived good intention of the feedback provider and decreases perceived feedback negativity when the feedback is specific; however, it has no significant effect for unspecific feedback. By contrast, our results suggest that using disliking emoticons decreases perceived good intention of the feedback provider and increases perceived feedback negativity when the feedback is unspecific, whereas such effects are not significant for specific feedback. In turn, both perceived good intention of the feedback provider and perceived feedback negativity affect acceptance of the negative feedback

The upper and lower solution method for nonlinear third-order three-point boundary value problem

This paper is concerned with the following nonlinear third-order three-point boundary value problem \left\{ \begin{array}{l} u^{\prime \prime \prime }(t)+f\left( t,u\left( t\right) ,u^{\prime}\left(t\right) \right) =0,\, t\in \left[ 0,1\right], \\ u\left( 0\right) =u^{\prime }\left( 0\right) =0,\, u^{\prime}\left( 1\right) =\alpha u^{\prime }\left( \eta \right),\label{1.1} \end{array} \right. where $0<\eta <1$ and $0\leq \alpha <1.$ A new maximum principle is established and some existence criteria are obtained for the above problem by using the upper and lower solution method

Development and characterization of 20 microsatellite markers in spotted sea bass (<em>Lateolabrax maculatus</em>) and cross-amplification in related species

The spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) is an economically valuable cultured fish species in China. In this study, 20 novel polymorphic microsatellite loci of L. maculatus were isolated from genomic data and characterized using 40 wild individuals. The number of alleles and the effective number of alleles ranged from 2 to 12 (average of 5.1000) and from 1.180 to 8.000 (average of 3.3097). The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.083 to 0.875 (average of 0.4405) and from 0.153 to 0.875 (average of 0.5633), respectively. Deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in 11 loci (P Lates calcarifer, achieved successful amplification of 16 primers. The microsatellite markers developed in this study could be used for research on genetic breeding of L. maculatus and genetic relationships among tested taxa

Mobilization and Role of Starch, Protein, and Fat Reserves During Seed Germination of Six Wild Grassland Species

Since seed reserves can influence seed germination, the quantitative and qualitative differences in seed reserves may relate to the germination characteristics of species. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the correlation between germination and seed reserves, as well as their mobilization during germination of six grassland species (Chloris virgata, Kochia scoparia, Lespedeza hedysaroides, Astragalus adsurgens, Leonurus artemisia, and Dracocephalum moldavica) and compare the results with domesticated species. We measured starch, protein, and fat content in dry seeds and the initial absorption of water during imbibition. Starch, soluble protein, fat, and soluble sugar content also were determined at five stages during germination. Starch, protein, and fat reserves in dry seeds were not significantly correlated with germination percentage and rate (speed), but soluble sugar and soluble protein contents at different germination stages were positively significantly correlated with germination rate for the six species. Starch was mainly used during seed imbibition, and soluble protein was used from the imbibition stage to the highest germination stage. Fat content for all species remained relatively constant throughout germination for six species, regardless of the proportion of other seed reserves in the seeds. Our results for fat utilization differ from those obtained for cultivated grasses and legumes. These results provide new insight on the role of seed reserves as energy resources in germination for wild species

Re-flaring of a Post-Flare Loop System Driven by Flux Rope Emergence and Twisting

In this letter, we study in detail the evolution of the post-flare loops on 2005 January 15 that occurred between two consecutive solar eruption events, both of which generated a fast halo CME and a major flare. The post-flare loop system, formed after the first CME/flare eruption, evolved rapidly, as manifested by the unusual accelerating rise motion of the loops. Through nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) models, we obtain the magnetic structure over the active region. It clearly shows that the flux rope below the loops also kept rising accompanied with increasing twist and length. Finally, the post-flare magnetic configuration evolved to a state that resulted in the second CME/flare eruption. This is an event in which the post-flare loops can re-flare in a short period of $\sim$16 hr following the first CME/flare eruption. The observed re-flaring at the same location is likely driven by the rapid evolution of the flux rope caused by the magnetic flux emergence and the rotation of the sunspot. This observation provides valuable information on CME/flare models and their prediction.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in ApJ Lette