Subjects: Mathematics >> Mathematics （General） submitted time 2022-06-30
Abstract：This paper discusses the properties the spaces of fuzzy sets in a metric space?equipped with the endograph metric and the sendograph metric, respectively.?We fist give some relations among the endograph metric, the sendograph?metric and the -convergence, and then investigate the level characterizations?of the endograph metric and the -convergence. By using the above results,?we give some relations among the endograph metric, the sendograph metric,?the supremum metric and the dp* metric. On the basis of the above results,?we present the characterizations of total boundedness, relative compactness?and compactness in the space of compact positive -cuts fuzzy sets equipped?with the endograph metric, and in the space of compact support fuzzy sets?equipped with the sendograph metric, respectively. Furthermore, we give?completions of these metric spaces, respectively.
Peer Review Status:
Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Developmental Psychology Subjects: Psychology >> Educational Psychology submitted time 2022-06-30
Abstract：
The nature of deficits of dyslexia has been under debate for a long time. A large number of studies have revealed that the dyslexics suffer from impaired audiovisual temporal integration. However, these studies only examined the overall performance of audiovisual temporal integration, and neglected to explore its dynamic process over time. Audiovisual temporal recalibration is an indicator describing the dynamic process of audiovisual temporal integration. Difficulty in recalibrating the differences between internal temporal representations and sensory inputs leads to impaired multisensory integration. Given that developmental dyslexics have deficits in recalibration-related abilities, the essence of the deficit in audiovisual temporal integration in developmental dyslexia may be impaired audiovisual temporal recalibration. Future studies could examine the specific performances of audiovisual temporal recalibration in developmental dyslexia, as well as its cognitive and neural mechanisms.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Biology >> Botany >> Applied botany submitted time 2022-06-29 Cooperative journals: 《广西植物》
Abstract： Iron (Fe) is crucial for the growth and development of plants and cadmium (Cd) is toxic to plants. There is an antagonistical mechanism between Fe and Cd uptake in plants. OsIMAs are a class of small peptides, and their overexpression improves Fe accumulation in rice. To explore the role of OsIMA genes in response to Cd stress, we analyzed the expression of two OsIMA genes by qRT-PCR, generated OsIMA1 overexpression plants and CRISPR/Cas9 edited ima1 mutants by genetic transformation, assessed the phenotypes of OsIMA1 overexpressing plants and ima1 loss-of-function mutant plants under Cd stress, and measured the Fe and Cd concentration of root and shoot. The results were as follows: (1) Both OsIMA1 and OsIMA2 were induced by Cd treatment. (2) Overexpression of OsIMA1 gene improved the tolerance of plants to Cd stress. (3) The loss-of-function of OsIMA1 led to the higher sensitivity of plants to Cd stress. (4) Measurement of Cd concentration indicated that OsIMA1 overexpressing plants accumulated more Cd in the root and the ima1 mutants accumulated more Cd in the shoot. Taken together, these data suggest that OsIMA1 improves Cd tolerance by restricting Cd translocation from root to shoot, which provides the theoretical base for breeding the Cd-tolerant rice.
Subjects: Biology >> Botany >> Applied botany submitted time 2022-06-29 Cooperative journals: 《广西植物》
Abstract： In order to study the adaptive strategy of dominant tree species in a karst seasonal rain forest to heterogeneous habitat conditions, seven dominant tree species in a virgin forest in Nonggang, China, were taken as the research objects. The leaf micromorphological indexes of adult individuals of each tree species and the photosynthetic indexes of leaves in the growing season of these trees were measured. The ecological adaptability of these leaf structural and functional indexes to the habitat gradient in the karst peak cluster depression landform was tested. The results were as follows: (1) Along the karst habitat gradient from depression to peak, nine leaf micro-morphological indexes, such as leaf compactness, palisade tissue thickness, cuticle thickness, and upper epidermis thickness, showed a significant upward trend, while leaf looseness showed a significant downward trend. (2) Along the karst habitat gradient from depression to peak, the light compensation point, dark respiration efficiency, and maximum transpiration rate of these leaves all showed a significant upward trend. However, the maximum water use efficiency, the maximum intercellular CO2 concentration, and the apparent quantum efficiency showed a significant downward trend. (3) Leaf compactness was positively correlated with photosynthetic and transpiration ability indexes. Leaf looseness was negatively correlated with these two types of indexes. The above results show that there is a trade-off relationship between photosynthetic efficiency and drought tolerance in leaf functional traits of dominant tree species in the karst seasonal rain forest. Trees distributed in the depressions have obvious adaptive characteristics to weak light. Trees distributed on the middle slopes show extensive habitat adaptability. Due to the limitation of strong light, high temperature and exposed rock, the trees distributed on the mountain peaks show strong drought adaptability and conservative ecological adaptive strategies.
Subjects: Biology >> Botany >> Applied botany submitted time 2022-06-29 Cooperative journals: 《广西植物》
Abstract：
Allium, including garlic, onion, green Chinese onion, Chinese chive and other important vegetable crops with unique spicy flavor, is one of the largest genera of angiosperms. S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides, the unique secondary metabolites of Allium, which giving Allium spicy flavor and medicinal value, are the precursors of various volatile sulfur compounds. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the metabolic pathway of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides in Allium. Seven S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides have been found in Allium plants. These S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides are mainly synthesized in leaves through glutathione pathway, and then transported to the cytoplasm of storage organs such as bulbs for accumulation. At present, there are many studies on the catabolism of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides in Allium, while few studies on the biosynthesis of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides. Only two biosynthetic enzymes, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO), have been confirmed at the molecular level. In addition, S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides are the downstream product of plant sulfur metabolism. The upstream of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides metabolism involves the absorption and transport of sulfur compounds, the metabolism of cysteine and glutathione, and the changes of these metabolic processes will also affect the biosynthesis of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides. With the rapid development of omics technology, genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics have been applied in the study of Allium plants, especially the completion of garlic genome sequence assembly, which provides great convenience for the study of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides metabolism pathway in Allium plants. Two aspects of research should be strengthened in the future. One is to continue to clone and identify the key enzyme genes in the biosynthesis pathway of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides and study their functions. Another is to strengthen the study of sulfur metabolism in Allium plants, so as to lay a foundation for the study of the regulation of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides biosynthesis. These studies will provide a reference for further analyzing the metabolic pathway of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides in Allium and regulating the flavor of Allium by molecular breeding technology.
Subjects: Biology >> Botany >> Applied botany submitted time 2022-06-29 Cooperative journals: 《广西植物》
Abstract： Lianas are one of the components in maintaining forest diversity. However, the over-increase of lianas in tropical and subtropical forests, especially in secondary forests is threatening the restoration and healthy development of forests. Few domestic researches have paid attention to the phenomenon and make a comprehensive evaluation on the mechanism of the over-increase of lianas and negative effects on forests. In this paper, we reviewed and summarized the related researches on mechanisms and ecological consequences of the over-increase of lianas both at home and abroad with the purpose of offering reference for forest management and forest ecological restoration. Based on the relevant studies we hold the opinions: (1) The increase of lianas can be corelated with drought severity, elevated atmospheric CO2, increased natural disturbance (gaps) and forest fragments. Lianas possess the advantages of rapid growth, strong reproductive capacity and phenotypic plasticity, and high resource use efficiency under the altered environment. Thus, the favorable environment and inherent advantages can contribute to the increase of lianas. (2) Lianas compete with trees by means of shading stress, nutrient and water competition and mechanical loading, abrasion, and strangulation, which all may increase the mortality of trees. (3) Empirical evidence shows that the over-increase of lianas can negatively affect the tree growth recruitment, reproduction, and survival; at community level, lianas can alter tree community composition and decrease community diversity; at ecosystem level, lianas have the potential to ramify forest ecosystem function by decreasing carbon storage and altering carbon, nutrient, and water cycling. We recommend that future studies should be aimed at the correlations between population dynamic of liana species and environmental changes, the effect of forest disturbance on the growth of lianas, responses of lianas to the environmental changes and the adaption mechanisms, comprehensive evaluation on the ecological consequences of the increase of lianas by means of long-term dynamic monitoring plots and controlling experiments. It is also essential to find appropriate management and control strategies of the over-increase of lianas. We suggest that paying more attentions to the increase of lianas and the potential negative effects in secondary forest.
Subjects: Biology >> Botany >> Applied botany submitted time 2022-06-29 Cooperative journals: 《广西植物》
Abstract： In order to determine the optimum conditions and antioxidant activity of total alkaloids from leaves Mahonia fortunei by macroporous resins, the best resins were selected by comparing the static adsorption and desorption effects of six kinds of macroporous adsorption resins on total alkaloids. The process conditions for the dynamic purification of total alkaloids were investigated, and the anti-oxidation performance of total alkaloids before and after purification was evaluated by DPPH method. The results were as follows: (1) AB-8 macroporous adsorption resins had the best purification effects. The optimum process conditions were crude herbal dose of 50 mg·mL-1, sample volume of 26 BV, sample flow rate of 2 BV·h-1, eluted successively with 3 BV water and 4 BV 50% ethanol. Under these optimized conditons, the content of total alkaloids was increased from 13.33% to 56.64%. （ 2 ） The total alkaloids had good scavenging effects on DPPH· before and after purification. The scavenging rate of DPPH· was Vc (IC50=10.39 μg·mL-1) > purified total alkaloids (IC50=39.08 μg·mL-1) > crude total alkaloids (IC50=55.28 μg·mL-1). AB-8 macroporous adsorption resin can effectively enrich the effective parts of total alkaloids from leaves of Mahonia fortunei, and the total alkaloids have certain antioxidant activities.
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2022-06-29
Abstract：
Morality is an eternal topic that has been contemplated and pursued by both philosophers and lay people alike for thousands of years. Psychologists have found that individuals’ moral judgments, moral emotions, moral intentions, moral motivations, moral reasoning and moral behaviors are not internally consistent. Among which, moral behavior is most relevant to everyday life. Given that moral behaviors are influenced by various factors such as personality traits (e.g., virtue), social situations (e.g., time pressure), and social desirability (e.g., moral image), it is quite challenging to effectively and accurately measure moral behaviors both in the laboratory and in real-life social situations. Our current work synthesizes differing concepts of moral behaviors and their conceptual distinctions from diverse disciplinary perspectives. We then offer a selective review on differing paradigms such as scale method, laboratory experiment, virtual reality, field experiment, big data approaches and experience-sampling method. It is our hope that this work would inspire researchers to better capture and explore the complex and dynamic moral behaviors, and provide potential future prospects to the emerging trends of novel thoughts, theories, methods, paradigms and applications for unveiling moral behaviors and their underlying processes.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Library Science，Information Science >> Library Science submitted time 2022-06-29
Abstract：
[Purpose/significance] In response to the strategic goal of Digital China formulated in the 14th five year plan, this paper propose a smart library construction scheme with Smart-Native concept.[Method/process] The solutions are proposed from Smart-Native concept for the deficiencies and bottlenecks of smart library construction under the current development needs, based on the digital library construction process. [Result/conclusion] It looks forward to the paradigm shift of library service paradigm under the Smart-Native architecture. And the construction strategies of smart library include distributed data governance, centralized knowledge management, zero trust architecture, and the cultivation of Librarians' overall wisdom are proposed.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Computer Science >> Other Disciplines of Computer Science submitted time 2022-06-28
Abstract：
Data processing of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is carried out in pipeline mode, and the execution efficiency of pipeline is an important factor to be considered in SKA data processing. Continuum imaging is one of the main observation modes of SKA and is a prerequisite for many other scientific works. In this paper, we take the imaging pipeline of SKA low-frequency precursor Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), as an example and optimize the parallel processing pipeline on the China SKA Regional Centre prototype (CSRC-P). Previous optimization schemes have focused on a few performance hotspots and lacked systematic optimization of the overall pipeline, resulting in a relatively poor overall speedup ratio. In this paper, we propose a global optimization scheme that combines C++ multi-threading, Python multi-processing, and Shell multi-tasking parallelism for pipelines using multiple programming languages and image datasets that can be processed independently, and verify the accuracy of the optimization results. Experiments show taht the optimized pipeline achieves an overall speedup of 2.7 and 2.4 times on the x86 and ARM nodes of CSRC-P, respectively, and the ARM compute nodes shows good adaptability to SKA applications. The optimization strategies and methods in this paper are also applicable to other SKA applications and will be useful for the scientific operation and future operation of the SKA precursor telescope.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Computer Science >> Other Disciplines of Computer Science submitted time 2022-06-28
Abstract：
The connection between astronomy and high performance computing is becoming stronger with the devel- opment of cutting-edge observing facilities such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and the proposed innovative platform for big data and high performance computing. Astronomical computation is character- ized by huge data volume and massive parallelism, especially for pulsar search which is one of the leading scientific directions of the SKA. In this paper, we present an approach to accelerate the pulsar search pipeline based on OpenMP and multiprocessing techniques, propose a method to solve the load imbalance problem,and successfully has the pipeline installed on both x86 and ARM compute nodes on China SKA regional center prototype (CSRC-P). The performance evaluation from the tests on the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) VCS observations shows that our optimization method works well on both x86 and ARM nodes, improving the relative speedup by a factor of 10.4–12.2 and 24.5–27.6, respectively, compared to the original single- thread approach. The ARM platform was found to be 1.1–1.3 times faster than the x86 platform in the tested cases, showing its great potential for SKA data processing. Recently, this optimized pulsar search pipeline deployed on CSRC-P will be especially used for low-frequency pulsar survey of the Southern-sky MWA Rapid Two-metre (SMART) program,for various scientific goals including pulsar timing arrays for gravitational wave detections.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Astronomy >> Astrophysical processes submitted time 2022-06-28 Cooperative journals: 《天文研究与技术》
Abstract：为提高地平式太阳望远镜库德焦面的指向跟踪精度，文章首先仿真了库德光路中主光轴、方位轴、高度轴、消旋轴不同心时在库德焦面上引入的跟踪误差，分析了库德焦面指向跟踪误差的复杂性，这一问题无法用夜天文望远镜卡焦指向模型解决。然后文章提出了一种基于机器学习的支持向量回归方法来构建太阳望远镜库德焦面的指向跟踪模型，并在NVST望远镜进行了实测建模和实验论证。实验结果表明：在模型改正之前，NVST在库德焦面的指向误差最大值是650.55角秒、RMS是115.88角秒，30分钟跟踪误差是6.46角秒；模型改正之后，指向误差最大值是25.02角秒、RMS值是3.98角秒，30分钟跟踪误差是1.10角秒。由此可见，基于机器学习的支持向量回归建模方法能有效提高地平式太阳望远镜库德焦面的指向跟踪精度。
Subjects: Astronomy >> Astrophysical processes submitted time 2022-06-28 Cooperative journals: 《天文研究与技术》
Abstract：我国探月工程嫦娥七号将构建由中继星上4.1m口径抛物面天线及地基射电望远镜组成的首个月地空间甚长基线干涉测量（Very Long Baseline Interferometry, VLBI)试验系统。不同于地基甚长基线干涉测量望远镜，受中继星轨道扰动和设备时延影响，射电源预报时延模型和实际时延有时可能会有较大差异，导致无法引导VLBI相关处理机正常工作，需要通过射电源条纹搜索方法寻找实际时延模型才能解决这一问题。由于4.1m空间天线口径较小，接收信号能力弱。为提高信噪比，需要长时间积分，而线性时延模型无法保证长时间的时延精度。针对这一问题，提出了一种用于空间甚长基线干涉测量的射电源条纹搜索算法，首先通过建立时延和时延率的二维搜索网格，使用每个网格点对应的先验时延和时延率构建线性时延模型；再使用该线性时延模型对原始数据分时段相关处理；然后采用二维傅里叶变换搜索残余时延和时延率，确定最大的相关幅度值对应的网格点；最后使用该网格点的先验时延和时延率以及残余时延和时延率重构二次项时延模型。通过对RadioAstron空间甚长基线干涉测量的地空基线实际数据处理，验证了该射电源条纹搜索算法的正确性。
Subjects: Astronomy >> Astrophysical processes submitted time 2022-06-28 Cooperative journals: 《天文研究与技术》
Abstract：现代天文学认为分子云核是恒星诞生的区域，对分子云核的检测和其性质的全方面研究有利于理解恒星的形成过程以及星系和宇宙的演化。随着银河画卷巡天项目 (Milky Way Imaging Scroll Painting, MWISP)的开展和实测数据的快速积累，开发分子云核智能仿真与检测系统成为必要。系统提供分子云核智能检测、仿真建模、参数还原、三维可视化、数据存储等功能。借助该系统，科研人员可以方便快捷的对MWISP实测数据开展分子云核的检测和三维可视化，更好地研究其物理性质。
Subjects: Astronomy >> Astrophysical processes submitted time 2022-06-28
Abstract：
After years of planning for the next generation of radio telescopes, the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), the construction of the SKA phase one (SKA1) had started in July 2021.After the formal operation of SKA1, it is expected that 750 petabytes of scientifically processed data will be generated every year. The data will be stored at SKA regional centers around the world for further analysis by researchers.In this paper, the models of SKA observation station, central signal processor, scientific data processing and regional center are quantitatively analyzed. Based on the high-priority scientific observation of SKA1, the data flow evaluation at each stage and the demand for computing power of scientific data processing are obtained. Taking the current SKA1-Low and SKA1-Mid arrays as examples, the key factors affecting the layout of interference arrays including resolution, sensitivity and UV coverage are summarized. Finally, OSKAR is used for data simulation of interference array. Through the simulation of SKA1-Mid, the scalability and stability of the system are obtained. Through the simulation of SKA1-Low on CSRC-P, it can be seen that the design of prototype SKA regional center in China has been fully optimized. And the detailed requirements of computing power and the detailed information of data volume are obtained. The SKA's demand for data processing, computing and storage also requires a combination of technologies and interdisciplinary efforts from areas such as electronics, communication, information technology and computer.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Astronomy >> Astrophysical processes submitted time 2022-06-28
Abstract：
The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) is the largest radio telescope, and the data generated by its observations will be transmitted from Australia and South Africa to the scientific data processing center about one hundred kilometers away at first, and then distributed to various SKA Regional Centres(SRC) with a distance of tens of thousands of kilometers through high-speed network.In the SKA Phase One (SKA1) stage with a scale of 10\% of SKA, it is estimated that about 750PB of data needs to be distributed to each SRC through a network of at least 100Gbps each year. Such high network bandwidth and data scale bring great challenges to data transmission and distribution. This paper analyzes different network protocols such as TCP/UDP/HTTP and uses different software in the field of radio astronomy for testing and research, and then the optimal transmission scheme parameters under the current infrastructure of 10Gbps network are obtained. In this paper, the factors affecting high-speed transmission are discussed, and the corresponding performance optimization strategies are given.Before the real observation data of SKA1 is generated, it will provide the technical foundation for the network construction and layout of China's SKA regional center. The technical details and methods described are available for reference and use in relevant scientific applications. Finally, the challenges of future SKA network requirements are discussed and prospected.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Astronomy >> Astronomical Instruments and Techniques submitted time 2022-06-28
Abstract：
We introduce a machine learning FRB dataset that can train the ML algorithms to reach the FRBs in raw data. It has 8020 FRB simulation images, 4010 non-FRB and 4010 RFI simulation images built from the public FRB observations, and can be expanded in any number as needed. This work provides an open-source dataset for state of art AI to the comparison of FRB event recognition algorithms. The dataset provides image and NumPy format files for both convolutional neural networks and classic machine learning algorithms. The dataset can implement FRB/non-FRB classification, or FRB/RFI/Blank classification. In the example, we used 31 pre-trained classic CNNs. In FRB/non-FRB classification, it achieves the accuracy of 90-92% in the first training epoch and max accuracy of 99.8% in real FRB dataset testing.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Cognitive Psychology submitted time 2022-06-27
Abstract： According to the lexical quality hypothesis, high proficient (fast) readers have well-specified lexical representations which enable automatic word identification and less context decoding (Andrews, 2015; Perfetti, 2007), while low proficient (slow) readers rely on context for word identification during reading due to their imprecise lexical quality. In contrast, the predictive coding framework assumes that high proficient readers rely more on their reading experience to predict the upcoming context compared to low proficient readers (Hawelka et al., 2015). However, it is still unclear how skilled readers with different levels of reading proficiency rely on context information (e.g., predictability) for word processing during Chinese reading. In two experiments, the present study aimed to investigate individual differences in the use of predictability for word identification by using the eye-tracking technique. In Experiment 1, eye movements of fast and slow readers were recorded while they were reading sentences containing predictable or unpredictable target words, with the aim to investigate the differences in predictability effects between the two groups. Sixty pairs of predictable-unpredictable target words were selected, each of which was embedded into the same sentence frame. Fifteen fast and 15 slow readers, selected from a group of 66 participants based on their reading rates, participated in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, parafoveal previews of the 60 predictable target words (identical word, visually similar pseudocharacter, unpredictable word or visually dissimilar pseudocharacter) were manipulated by using the boundary paradigm (Rayner, 1975) to explore how parafoveal preview influences processing of predictability information in the fast and slow readers. The eye movements of 20 fast and 20 slow readers, selected from a group of 80 participants on the basis of their reading rates, were recorded while they were reading sentences containing predictable target words with different previews in Experiment 2. The results showed that fast readers fixated shorter and less on the target words and were more likely to skip the target words than slow readers. In Experiment 1, although reliable predictability effects with shorter fixations for predictable than unpredictable words were found, it did not interact with reading groups. However, results in Experiment 2 showed robust parafoveal preview effects on the target word which interacted with reading groups. In particular, the two groups had the same first-pass fixation times (i.e., FFD, SFD, GD) at the target words under the identical previews, while slow readers made longer fixations than fast readers at the targets with unpredictable previews or unrelated previews. In addition, fast readers skipped target words at a similar probability under both the identical preview and unpredictable preview conditions, while slow readers were less likely to skip target words with unpredictable previews than identical previews. The current findings indicate that fast and slow readers rely on context to a similar degree during their foveal lexical processing whereas the two groups show different utilization of previews of the predictable word during their parafoveal processing. To be specific, compared to fast readers, slow readers are inefficient in activating the predictable word with a visually similar preview; moreover, slow readers are disturbed more by the unpredictable preview or the visually dissimilar preview for their lexical processing, which suggests that slow readers are less effective in suppressing unrelated or inappropriate information during reading. Such findings provide evidence for the lexical quality hypothesis (Perfetti, 2007) and are in support of the linguistic-pro?ciency hypothesis related to individual differences in the E-Z reader model (Reichle et al., 2013).
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2022-06-27
Abstract：
Inevitably, consumers will be exposed to death-related information in their daily lives. For example, they are informed about deaths and injuries caused by accidents, terrorism and disasters on social media. They may also encounter the experiences of deceased friends and relatives or the news of unfortunate strangers. Especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are more frequently exposed to death cues. Researches have shown that consumers' decision-makings and purchasing behaviors shift when dealing with death threats. Compared to material consumption, experiential consumption delivers greater and persistent well-being and it is emerging as an extremely important consumption pattern. It is unclear, however, whether these mortality cues will exert positive or negative effects on consumers’ preference for experiential purchases. Based on the meaning maintenance model, 4 studies were conducted to examine how mortality salience influences consumers' preference for experiential purchases.
In Study 1a and Study 1b, we experimentally manipulated mortality salience and examined its effect on consumers’ preference for experiential purchases. Study 1a (N = 140) was a single factor (mortality salience) between-subjects design, participants were randomly assigned to different groups to imagine about death or dental surgery. Participants in Study 1b (N = 252) were instructed to write about death or dental pain. Study 2 (N =219) was designed to test the mediating role of meaning in life. Participants were required to read a news report concerning traffic accident or dental surgery, and then finish the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Study 3 (N = 166) was a 2 (mortality salience vs. control condition) ×2 (social support: high level vs. low level) between-subjects design. Participants were provided a news report pertaining to the global fatalities under the COVID-19 pandemic in mortality salience condition, and pertaining to global tourism during the pandemic period in the control condition. Social support was manipulated by writing in detail a difficult situation "in which your family or friends accompanied you", or "in which you had to face all by yourself". Additionally, we used a single-paper meta-analysis (SPM) to document a robust effect across all studies.
The main results of this study are as follows: (1) Exposed to mortality salience will lead to stronger preference for experiential purchases. (2) The effects seem to be driven by meaning in life, whereby exposure to mortality salience undermines consumers' meaning in life, and consumers will gravitate towards experiential consumption to enhance their impaired meaning. (3) Social support moderates the effect of mortality salience on meaning in life. Only when consumers received low level of social support, will mortality salience reduce their meaning in life. (4) Social support moderates the mediating effect of meaning in life on mortality salience and preference for experiential purchases. Specifically, meaning in life mediates the effect of mortality salience on preference for experiential purchases only when consumers received low social support. To enhance the overall validity, we performed a single-paper meta-analysis (SPM) on the four studies. The SPM showed that consumers had greater preference of experiential purchase when exposed to mortality salience (Estimate β = 0.30, SE = 0.07, z = 4.178, p < 0.001), which strengthened the robustness of our general conclusion.
This research yields practical implications by demonstrating that mortality salience exerts positive effect on consumers' preference for experiential purchases, which enables us to identify the changes in consumption patterns and mindset under the pandemic, providing references for marketing and promotion strategies.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Management Psychology submitted time 2022-06-27
Abstract： Aesthetic is the first medium of a product in the era of “appearance economy.” Previous studies have explored the effects of aesthetic elements on consumer behavior, including color, packaging transparency, size, logo shape, and so on. Unlike existing studies, this research discusses the overall dimension of design, that is, the degree of complexity of the design. Specifically, we propose that people’s subjective social status affects their preference for complexity in design. Meanwhile, people with low social status are more likely to prefer a complex packaging design than those with high social status. We conducted five experiments to test the hypotheses. Experiment 1 used 2 (social status: low vs. high) × 2 (product design: simple vs. complex) between-subjects design with 198 adults (female = 128) participating in the experiment. The results showed that people with relatively low social status have higher evaluations of complex packaging designs (vs. simple designs). At the same time, the level of complexity did not influence how people with high social status evaluate products. Using a more rigorous method to manipulate the social status, experiment 2 employed a one-factor two-level (social status: low vs. high) between-subjects design with 134 adults (female = 97). After manipulating social statuses, participants reported their preferences between complex and simple packaging designs. The result confirmed that people with low social status prefer products with complex designs (vs. simple designs). Similar to experiment 2, experiment 3 (211 participants, female = 151) also used a one-way design (social status: low vs. high vs. control) but added a control group as the baseline group for comparison. The results confirmed that a low social status could drive preference for complexity. Furthermore, the results showed that people with low social status prefer complex packing design more than those in control and high social status groups. At the same time, no significant difference was observed in the preference between the high social status and control groups. Experiment 3 also found that consumers’ perceived effort mediated the above effect. Specifically, low social status individuals (vs. individuals in high social status vs. individuals in the control group) perceived that complex packing products entailed more effort from producers. Hence, they preferred such products. Experiment 4 was a pre-registration experiment (200 participants, female = 151). The experimental design and procedure were the same as in experiment 2. The results also showed that people with low social status preferred complex packaging designs and believed these products had a higher value. Compared with high social status individuals, low social status individuals perceived that producers spent more effort on a product if it had a complex packaging design. Thus, these consumers perceived higher product value, as well as higher preference toward the product (sequential mediation: model 6). Experiment 5 tested the mediation effect by moderators. We proposed that the impact of social status only existed in consumers who believed in the value of effort. Experiment 5 used a 2 (social status: low vs. high) × 2 (product design: simple vs. complex) × 2 (belief in effort value: low vs. high) between-subjects design (346 participants, female = 208). The ANOVA revealed a three-way interaction. Furthermore, the Johnson-Neyman analysis found that the preference for complex design among low social status individuals only existed among those who believed in the value of effort. The results of this interaction again suggested that the preference of low social status individuals for complexity stems from their perception of the producer’s effort in making these products. This study has the following theoretical contributions. First, it brings the perspective of subjective social status to the study of consumer aesthetics. Second, it provides a new mechanism for the role of social status, i.e., social status affects people’s behavior by influencing their perceived importance of effort. Previous explanations of the behavior of low social status individuals have tended to be from a compensatory psychological perspective. In contrast, the current research takes the perspective of effort to demonstrate that low social status individuals value effort, which influences their behavior. Third, this research also contributes to the study of consumer effort, as this study finds that simply changing the level of complexity of packaging design can change people’s perceptions of producer effort.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
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