Customization Mode, Decision Outcome, and Task Enjoyment: the Role of Regulatory Focus

This research investigates the interaction effects between customization mode and regulatory focus on consumers' decision outcome and task enjoyment in customization service. Concerned with decision outcome, we posit that in subtractive customization preventionfocused consumers retain more options in the final customized offering than promotion-focused consumers, whereas such an effect is reduced in additive customization. Concerned with task enjoyment, we propose that promotion-focused consumers more enjoy additive customization than prevention-focused consumers, whereas prevention-focused consumers more enjoy subtractive customization than promotion-focused consumers. The current research both contributes to multi-option screening literature and extends regulatory fit theory into a customization service context. [to cite]

Allelic effects and variations for key bread-making quality genes in bread wheat using high-throughput molecular markers

We developed and validated high-throughput Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) assays for key genes underpinning bread-making quality, including the wbm gene on chromosome 7AL and over-expressed glutenin Bx7 (Glu-B1al) gene. Additionally, we used pre-existing KASP assay for Sec1 (1B.1R translocation) gene on chromosome 1B. The newly developed KASP assays were compared with gel-based markers for reliability and phenotypically validated in a diversity panel for Mixograph, Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) and Mixolab traits. Genotypes carrying the 1B.1R translocation had significantly lower Mixolab parameters than those without the translocation. Similarly, superior effects of the wbm+ and Bx7 alleles on Mixograph and RVA properties and their extremely low frequencies in global wheat collections supported the idea of using these genes for bread-making quality improvement. The allele frequencies of wbm+ and Bx7 were extremely low in historical Chinese and CIMMYT wheat germplasm, but were relatively higher in synthetic hexaploid wheats and their breeding derivatives. In both the Vavilov and Watkins global landrace collections, the frequency of wbm+ was 6.4 and 3.5%, and frequency of Bx7 was 3.2% and 7.0%, respectively. The high-throughput marker resources and large-scale global germplasm screening provided further opportunities to exploit these genes in wheat breeding to enhance bread-making quality

Amygdala Atrophy and Its Functional Disconnection with the Cortico-Striatal-Pallidal-Thalamic Circuit in Major Depressive Disorder in Females

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is approximately twice as common in females than males. Furthermore, female patients with MDD tend to manifest comorbid anxiety. Few studies have explored the potential anatomical and functional brain changes associated with MDD in females. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the anatomical and functional changes underlying MDD in females, especially within the context of comorbid anxiety. Methods In this study, we recruited antidepressant-free females with MDD (N = 35) and healthy female controls (HC; N = 23). The severity of depression and anxiety were evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), respectively. Structural and resting-state functional images were acquired on a Siemens 3.0 Tesla scanner. We compared the structural volumetric differences between patients and HC with voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analyses. Seed-based voxel-wise correlative analyses were used to identify abnormal functional connectivity. Regions with structural deficits showed a significant correlation between gray matter (GM) volume and clinical variables that were selected as seeds. Furthermore, voxel-wise functional connectivity analyses were applied to identify the abnormal connectivity relevant to seed in the MDD group. Results Decreased GM volume in patients was observed in the insula, putamen, amygdala, lingual gyrus, and cerebellum. The right amygdala was selected as a seed to perform connectivity analyses, since its GM volume exhibited a significant correlation with the clinical anxiety scores. We detected regions with disrupted connectivity relevant to seed primarily within the cortico-striatal-pallidal-thalamic circuit. Conclusions Amygdaloid atrophy, as well as decreased functional connectivity between the amygdala and the cortico-striatal-pallidal-thalamic circuit, appears to play a role in female MDD, especially in relation to comorbid anxiety

Specifically Progressive Deficits of Brain Functional Marker in Amnestic Type Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background: Deficits of the default mode network (DMN) have been demonstrated in subjects with amnestic type mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) who have a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, no longitudinal study of this network has been reported in aMCI. Identifying links between development of DMN and aMCI progression would be of considerable value in understanding brain changes underpinning aMCI and determining risk of conversion to AD. Methodology/Principal Findings: Resting-state fMRI was acquired in aMCI subjects (n = 26) and controls (n = 18) at baseline and after approximately 20 months follow up. Independent component analysis was used to isolate the DMN in each participant. Differences in DMN between aMCI and controls were examined at baseline, and subsequent changes between baseline and follow-up were also assessed in the groups. Posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/PCu) hyper-functional connectivity was observed at baseline in aMCI subjects, while a substantial decrement of these connections was evident at follow-up in aMCI subjects, compared to matched controls. Specifically, PCC/PCu dysfunction was positively related to the impairments of episodic memory from baseline to follow up in aMCI group. Conclusions/Significance: The patterns of longitudinal deficits of DMN may assist investigators to identify and monitor the development of aMCI

"Tailoring" customization services: Effects of customization mode and consumer regulatory focus

Purpose: The aim of this article is to examine the interaction effect of customization mode and regulatory focus on the "tailoring" outcomes of customized services in both the number of options retained and consumer evaluations. Design/methodology/approach: Two experiments investigate the interaction between customization mode and consumer regulatory focus, together with mediating and moderating factors. Findings: An interaction effect of customization mode and regulatory focus exists: it significantly influences the number of options retained, and prevention-focused consumers retain more options in the final customized offering than promotion-focused consumers in subtractive customization, whereas this effect is reduced in additive customization; it significantly affects how consumers evaluate the customization service with regard to task enjoyment and attitudes toward products; and it is fully mediated by task enjoyment and positively moderated by product familiarity. Originality/value: This article provides an important contribution to service customization design and regulatory focus theory by shedding light on the interaction between customization mode and consumer regulatory focus and revealing how this interaction affects the decision outcomes of customization services. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

When Does Halo Prevail Against Animosity? Country-Of-Origin Effects Contingent on Regulatory Focus

This research focuses on foreign products which can simultaneously trigger both the country-of-origin-related halo and animosity effects. Drawing on regulatory focus theory, the current research investigates when the halo effect dominates over the animosity effect in determining consumers' attitude towards foreign products. We propose that for promotion-focused consumers, the country-oforigin-related halo effect is more diagnostic than the country-of-origin-related animosity effect, which reflects the use of heuristic processing, whereas prevention-focused consumers are susceptible to neither the halo effect nor the animosity effect, for they tend to rely on substantive product attribute for evaluation. Preliminary findings provide initial evidence for the hypothesis

Asymmetric Effects of Regulatory Focus on Expected Desirability and Feasibility of Embracing Self-Service Technologies

This research draws on regulatory focus theory to examine the asymmetric effects of regulatory focus (promotion focus versus prevention focus) on expected desirability and feasibility of using self-service technologies (SSTs) in a retail setting. To study consumers' SST trial intention from the perspective of regulatory focus theory, this research first integrates the attributes of SSTs explored in prior studies into a desirability-feasibility framework. The proposed asymmetric effects of regulatory focus (promotion focus versus prevention focus) lie in both scope (on desirability, feasibility, versus both desirability and feasibility) and valence (positive versus negative): The promotion focus facilitates consumers to recognize both desirability (consumption value) and feasibility of using SSTs, whereas the prevention focus inhibits consumers from understanding the feasibility-related attributes of SSTs. In addition, it is proposed that the promotion focus contributes to the easement of consumers' technology anxiety, whereas the prevention focus has a reverse effect. Furthermore, expected desirability (consumption value) and feasibility both positively influence consumers' intention to adopt SSTs, whereas technology anxiety negatively affects consumers' trial intention. Structural equation modeling is used to test the overall model, and the results support the hypotheses in general. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex