Characterization of MroQ-Dependent Regulation of Staphylococcus Aureus Quorum Sensing

Gram-positive bacteria produce small autoinducing peptides (AIPs), which act to regulate expression of genes that promote adaptive traits including virulence. The Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus generates a cyclic AIP that controls expression of virulence factors via the accessory gene regulatory (Agr) system. S. aureus strains belong to one of four Agr groups (I, II, III, and IV), and each group harbors allelic variants of AgrD, the precursor of AIP. In a prior screen for S. aureus virulence factors, the Alonzo lab identified MroQ, a putative peptidase. A ΔmroQ mutant closely resembled a Δagr mutant and had significant defects in AIP production in an Agr-I strain. I show that expression of AgrD-I in a ΔmroQ mutant leads to accumulation of an AIP processing intermediate at the membrane that coincides with a loss of secreted mature AIP, indicating MroQ promotes maturation of AgrD-I. MroQ is conserved in all Agr sequence variants, suggesting either identical function amongst all Agr types or activity specific to Agr-I strains. My data indicate that MroQ is required for AIP maturation and activity in Agr-I, -II, and -IV strains irrespective of background. However, MroQ is not required for Agr-III activity despite an identifiable role in peptide maturation. My work suggests that these results may be due to the ability of an AIP-III intermediate to serve as an active AIP. Isogenic Δagr and Δagr ΔmroQ strains complemented with Agr-I-IV validated the critical role for MroQ in the generation of active AIP-I, -II, and -IV, but not AIP-III. These findings were reinforced by skin infection studies in mice. Exploration of other Gram-positive bacteria identified MroQ homologues which may also contribute to respective Agr system function. Together, my data substantiate the prevailing model that MroQ is a mediator of cyclic peptide maturation and highlight a role for Type II CAAX proteases in Gram-positive bacteria

Emotion Transfer from Frontline Social Robots to Human Customers During Service Encounters: Testing an Artificial Emotional Contagion Modell

This research examines mood transitions during human-robot interactions (HRI) compared with human-human interactions (HHI) during service encounters. Based on emotional contagion and social identity theory, we argue that emotion transmission within HRI (e.g., between a frontline service robot and a human customer) may occur through the imitation of the robot’s verbal and bodily expressions by the customer and may be stronger for negative than for positive emotions. The customer’s positive attitude and anxiety toward robots will further be examined as contingencies that strengthen or weaken the emotion transition during the HRI. We already identified the five most important emotions during service encounters (critical incident study with 131 frontline employees). The subsequent output behavior was programmed to a Nao robot and validated (ratings from 234 students). In the next step, we attempt to manipulate the emotional expressions of a frontline social robot and a customer within an experimental study

Führungsverhalten als Einflussgröße der Kundenorientierung von Mitarbeitern : ein dreidimensionales Konzept

Kundenorientierung von Mitarbeitern hat in den letzten Jahren zunehmendes Interesse in Wissenschaft und Praxis auf sich gezogen. In diesem Kontext hat man sich mit der Identifikation von Einflussgrößen der Kundenorientierung beschäftigt, die wiederum Ansatzpunkte zur Steigerung der Kundenorientierung der Mitarbeiter darstellten. Eine zentrale Einflussgröße der Kundenorientierung stellt das Führungsverhalten dar. Der vorliegende Beitrag konzentriert sich auf die Konzeptualisierung des Führungsverhaltens. Dabei wird zwischen drei Dimensionen unterschieden: Leistungsorientierung, Mitarbeiterorientierung und Kundenorientierung. Darüber hinaus werden Auswirkungen des Führungsverhaltens untersucht. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie wurden auf Basis einer Erhebung bei Vertriebsmitarbeitern erzielt, die in zahlreichen Unternehmen des produzierenden Gewerbes sowie des Dienstleistungsbereiches erhoben wurden. Im Ergebnis kann die Präsenz von drei Dimensionen des Führungsverhaltens – Leistungs-, Mitarbeiter- und Kundenorientierung – nachgewiesen werden. Darüber hinaus können unterschiedlich starke Effekte der Führungsverhaltensdimensionen auf die Kundenorientierung festgestellt werden

Kundenorientierte Mitarbeiter : ein neuer Ansatz für Führungskräfte

In dem hier vorgestellten Ansatz für Führungskräfte wird ein umfassendes Spektrum von Maßnahmen vorgestellt, die sich im Kern auf zwei Dinge konzentrieren: die Steigerung der kundenorientierten Einstellung und des kundenorientierten Verhaltens einzelner Mitarbeiter

Can Humanoid Service Robots Perform Better Than Service Employees? A Comparison of Innovative Behavior Cues

This research compares human-robot interaction with human-human interaction. More specifically, it compares potential customer responses to a humanoid service robot’s (HSR’s) behavioral cues during service encounters with those expressed by a human service employee. The behavioral cues tested in this study include innovative service behavior, defined as the extent to which a service representative creates new ideas and solutions for the customer. Based on role theory and the expectancy disconfirmation paradigm, we propose that customers generally respond positively toward an HSR’s artificial innovative service behavior cues. The experimental laboratory study with 132 student participants and an HSR of the Pepper type, shows positive responses to an HSR’s artificial innovative service behavior, but that those responses are weaker compared to human-human interactions within a similar setting. Furthermore, innovative service behavior cues exceed customer expectations and therefore, lead to customer satisfaction and delight with the HSR

Robotic Psychology. What Do We Know about Human-Robot Interaction and What Do We Still Need to Learn?

“Robotization”, the integration of robots in human life will change human life drastically. In many situations, such as in the service sector, robots will become an integrative part of our lives. Thus, it is vital to learn from extant research on human-robot interaction (HRI). This article introduces robotic psychology that aims to bridge the gap between humans and robots by providing insights into particularities of HRI. It presents a conceptualization of robotic psychology and provides an overview of research on service-focused human-robot interaction. Theoretical concepts, relevant to understand HRI with are reviewed. Major achievements, shortcomings, and propositions for future research will be discussed

Facts vs. Stories - Assessment and Conventional Signals as Predictors of Freelancers’ Performance in Online Labor Markets

This paper investigates how freelancers’ use of signals predicts earnings in online labor markets. Extant literature has questioned the usefulness of some assessment signals to evaluate a freelancer’s quality. We find that conventional signals - signals based on non-verifiable information - can be predictors of higher revenue, when they are based on anecdotes of positive past events (self-promotion). However, mere kindness and flattery towards the customer (ingratiation) is negatively associated with a freelancers’ earnings in OLM. Moreover, we find evidence that the number of tests performed on the platform is significantly associated with higher earnings - with each test that is added to the profile a freelancer-˜s revenue increases by 4.1 %. We base our analysis on a sample of 1065 freelancers using objective financial earnings data, independent codings and survey data

Social Influence in Customer-Robot Interactions

This paper focuses on social influence in customer-robot interactions. Drawing on social impact theory and the computers-are-social-actors (CASA) paradigm, we argue that customers\u27 reluctance to provide information to a service robot decreases when other customers exhibit high information disclosure. The effect of demonstrated information disclosure on customers\u27 reluctance to provide information is enhanced by the application of social norms. The results also show that social influence is stronger in customer-robot interactions than in customer-employee interactions. This article demonstrates the potential of social influence to reduce reluctance towards service robots, which has both theoretical and managerial implications. We extend existing research on the imitation of robot behavior with the imitation of user behavior, and discuss the ethical implications of customers mindlessly following other customers in customer-robot interactions

Facial Emotion Expressions in Human-Robot Interaction: A Survey

Facial expressions are an ideal means of communicating one's emotions or intentions to others. This overview will focus on human facial expression recognition as well as robotic facial expression generation. In the case of human facial expression recognition, both facial expression recognition on predefined datasets as well as in real-time will be covered. For robotic facial expression generation, hand-coded and automated methods i.e., facial expressions of a robot are generated by moving the features (eyes, mouth) of the robot by hand-coding or automatically using machine learning techniques, will also be covered. There are already plenty of studies that achieve high accuracy for emotion expression recognition on predefined datasets, but the accuracy for facial expression recognition in real-time is comparatively lower. In the case of expression generation in robots, while most of the robots are capable of making basic facial expressions, there are not many studies that enable robots to do so automatically. In this overview, state-of-the-art research in facial emotion expressions during human-robot interaction has been discussed leading to several possible directions for future research

See No Evil, Hear No Evil: How Users Blindly Overrely on Robots with Automation Bias

Recent developments in generative artificial intelligence show how quickly users carelessly adhere to intelligent systems, ignoring systems\u27 vulnerabilities and focusing on their superior capabilities. This is detrimental when system failures are ignored. This paper investigates this mindless overreliance on systems, defined as automation bias (AB), in human-robot interaction. We conducted two experimental studies (N1 = 210, N2 = 438) with social robots in a corporate setting to investigate psychological mechanisms and influencing factors of AB. Particularly, users experience perceptual and behavioral AB with the robot that is enhanced by robot competence depending on task complexity and is even stronger for emotional than analytical tasks. Surprisingly, robot reliability negatively affected AB. We also found a negative indirect-only mediation of AB on robot satisfaction. Finally, we provide implications for the appropriate use of robots to prevent employees from using them as a self-sufficient system instead of a supporting system