Browsing by Author "Zhu, Meng"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Algorithm Versus Human Expert Recommendations Preferences in Decision Support: Two Essays
    Lyvers, Aaron Kenneth (Virginia Tech, 2024-10-04)
    Algorithms refer to the software programs designed to support problem solving in a wide range of decision domains. Given the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution, algorithms have become an integral part of our personal, social, and professional lives. As technology rapidly advances, these algorithms are not only becoming more capable but are also finding a growing array of applications in managerial and consumer decision support. Despite their increasing presence, reactions to algorithms are mixed. While some research highlights a preference for algorithms over human judgment ("algorithm appreciation"), other studies reveal a contrary preference ("algorithm aversion"), where people favor human expertise. This research provides a conceptual framework and empirical evidence regarding factors that may influence preference for algorithmic versus human expert recommendations in business decision contexts. We use experimental psychological methods to investigate how algorithm characteristics, decision-maker psy
  • Thumbnail Image
    Death, Mortality and Consumer Decision Making: Two Essays  
    McGraw, Dwayne Scott (Virginia Tech, 2024-10-03)
    Death, Mortality and Consumer Decision Making: Two Essays Dwayne Scott McGraw ABSTRACT This dissertation presents two essays that address specific aspects of the broad domain of death, mortality and consumer decision making. Essay 1 examines how priming mortality salience (MS) and financial vulnerability (FV) influences insurance policy choices of young, middle aged and senior consumers. Essay 2 investigates how, in funeral planning contexts when consumer may be dealing with significant grief, manipulating choice architecture (via additive vs. subtractive framing of funeral package options) influences the composition and cost of the chosen funeral package. In Essay 1, we use a three-factor design: 2 (MS prime: present/absent) x 2 (FV prime: present/absent) x 3 (Age: Young/Middle-Aged/Senior) to examine how participants evaluate and choose among three hypothetical policies (premium/benefits: low, medium, and high). In a control group (neither prime present), the younger and middle age groups modally select the medium policy whereas the seniors select the high policy. However, the primes affect these choices. When MS alone is primed (FV prime absent), young adults move toward the low policy (assures death benefits at affordable cost). The middle-aged group moves toward the high policy. The seniors remain over-insured with the high policy. When FV is primed, the senior group seems to recognize that their strong financial situation and low obligation levels warrant the medium policy. Interestingly, sensitive to higher financial obligations, the middle-aged tend to buy the high policy. With both MS and FV primed, seniors continue to show affinity toward the medium policy (salience of lower FV tempers the MS effect). Sensitized to their financial situation, younger adults continue to favor the low policy. The middle-aged group remains with the higher policy: both primes have impact. These evaluation data are generally consistent with the choice data. The findings have significant implications for designing life insurance products attuned to the needs of consumers in various age groups. They provide insight into the factors that, if made salient at choice, may facilitate better consumer choices. The results also have important regulatory implications. In Essay 2, we examine if consumers are influenced by how funeral package options are presented at the time of choice. Specifically, we study these effects of choice architecture using manipulations of choice architecture (additive versus subtractive framing of package options). In study1, we examine how grief and related emotions surrounding death influence the effects of additive versus subtractive framing of items. In Study 2, we examine how these effects are moderated by when the funeral is pre-planned or planned at the time of death. These studies shed light on how options framing influence the choice of funeral packages and also the costs and benefits of preplanning funeral events and providing advanced directives for end-of-life care and death related expenses.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Network Topologies and Dynamics Leading to Endotoxin Tolerance and Priming in Innate Immune Cells
    Fu, Yan; Glaros, Trevor; Zhu, Meng; Wang, Piang; Wu, Zhanghan; Tyson, John J.; Li, Liwu; Xing, Jianghua (PLOS, 2012-05-01)
    The innate immune system, acting as the first line of host defense, senses and adapts to foreign challenges through complex intracellular and intercellular signaling networks. Endotoxin tolerance and priming elicited by macrophages are classic examples of the complex adaptation of innate immune cells. Upon repetitive exposures to different doses of bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) or other stimulants, macrophages show either suppressed or augmented inflammatory responses compared to a single exposure to the stimulant. Endotoxin tolerance and priming are critically involved in both immune homeostasis and the pathogenesis of diverse inflammatory diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. By means of a computational search through the parameter space of a coarse-grained three-node network with a two-stage Metropolis sampling approach, we enumerated all the network topologies that can generate priming or tolerance. We discovered three major mechanisms for priming (pathway synergy, suppressor deactivation, activator induction) and one for tolerance (inhibitor persistence). These results not only explain existing experimental observations, but also reveal intriguing test scenarios for future experimental studies to clarify mechanisms of endotoxin priming and tolerance.