There’s Never Enough: A Taxonomy of Online Retail Scarcity Cues

E-commerce continues to change the landscape of modern retail. Consider for instance that the majority of consumers (81%) now begin the decision making process with online searches (Morrison, 2014). Not only are more people researching products online, but consumers are increasingly purchasing those products online as well. This past November, the United States experienced its biggest online shopping day in history (Peterson, 2017). A record $6.59 billion was spent shopping online during Cyber Monday, a figure that is up 17% from 2016 (Rubin, 2017). Of course, perceived scarcity fuels the thrill of the hunt contributing to these enormous expenditures. A number of different scarcity cues are regularly used online that may influence a consumer’s shopping experience. It is well established that scarcity increases consumers’ preference for desired products (Verhallen, 1982). Essentially, the more challenging it is to acquire a product, the more valuable it is perceived to be (Lynn, 1992). While scarcity has been well-explored in the context of brickand-mortar retailers (e.g., Parker and Lehmann, 2011; Aggarwal, Jun, and Huh, 2011; Gierl and Huettl, 2010) there are still considerable gaps to explore within the online environment. Strategies applied to traditional retail may not translate to the online environment. For example, Wu and Lee (2016) argue that specific attention be paid to scarcity in the online environment since technological advancements provide online retailers with unique challenges and opportunities over their brick-and-mortar counterparts. How does scarcity translate to the online environment? The research presented aims to understand how scarcity cues are used online. Specifically, this research investigates a sample of major online retailers in the United States to create a taxonomy of scarcity cues that influence online purchase. Our findings suggest that online retail scarcity can be categorized into three types—product-related cues (indicates a perceived limited quantity available), social cues (indicates that other consumers desire this product), and temporal cues (indicates a temporal limit on availability). Based on these findings, scarcity is a larger concept than has been previously conceptualized in the literature. E-retailers have more flexibility and greater freedom to communicate scarcity online and consumers may respond to different depictions of scarcity cues

Long-term Survival and Reproduction in a North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) with an Intraperitoneal Radio-Transmitter

Intraperitoneal implantation of radio-transmitters is a useful method of monitoring free-ranging aquatic and semi-aquatic mammals; however, some researchers are concerned about the physiological effects of such implants. Few studies have investigated the long-term consequences of intraperitoneal implants on survival or reproductive performance. An adult female North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) surgically equipped with an intraperitoneal radio-transmitter and released in northwestern Pennsylvania in June 1990 as part of a reintroduction project was killed in March 1999. The North American River Otter was estimated to be 10 years old and was pregnant with two fetuses at the time of her death. Our observation suggests that wild North American River Otters surgically equipped with intraperitoneal radio-transmitters can live long after implantation of the radio-transmitter and continue to reproduce successfully

Influence of Social Media Posts on Service Performance

Purpose Much research regarding social media posts and relevancy has resulted in mixed findings. Furthermore, the mediating role of relevancy has not previously been examined. This paper aims to examine the correlating relationship between types of posts made by hotels and the resulting occupancy rates. Then, the mediating role of relevancy is examined and ways that posts can increase/decrease relevancy of the post to potential hotel users. Design/methodology/approach Within the context of the hotel industry, three studies were conducted – one including hotel occupancy data from a corporate chain – to examine the impact of social media posts on relevancy and intentions to stay at the hotel. Experimental studies were conducted to explain the results of the real-world hotel data. Findings The findings show that relevancy is an important mediator in linking social media posts to service performance. A locally (vs nationally) themed post can decrease both the relevancy of a post and the viewer’s intentions to stay at a hotel. This relationship, however, can be weakened if a picture is included with the post, as a visual may increase self-identification with a post. Originality/value These results have important theoretical and practical implications as social media managers attempt to find the best ways to communicate to their customers and followers. Specifically, there are lower and upper limits to how many times a hotel should be posting to social media. The data also show many hotels post about local events, such as school fundraisers or a job fair, that can be harmful to stay intentions, likely due to the irrelevant nature of local posts to customers who are likely to stay in a hotel. National posts are seen as more relevant and likely to increase stay intentions, and the inclusion of a picture can help local posts seem more relevant

Eccentric Resistance Training in Adults with and without Spinal Cord Injuries

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(1): 154-165, 2017 The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of active lower body eccentric resistance training (ERT) in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) and controls (CON). Specifically, the study was designed to determine if those with iSCI adapt similarly to ERT as CON participants as well as the overall safety and efficacy of ERT in this population. This pilot investigation involved the recruitment of persons with iSCI (n = 3) and age- and sex-matched able-bodied CON (n = 3). The 8-week intervention focused on building lower extremity eccentric strength by progressively increasing the duration and intensity of training sessions. Control participants completed the same training intervention. Main outcome measures were eccentric strength (eccentric ergometer), isometric strength (hand held dynamometer), and leg muscle mass (DEXA). All participants completed the ERT. At posttest, eccentric strength improved from pretest (p = .044, ηp2 = .68) with similar changes between groups (p \u3e .05). The percent improvement in isometric strength for those with iSCI (41.5%) was different than CON (-2.8%) after training (p = .044). Neither group demonstrated muscle mass gains at posttest (p \u3e .05). Active lower body ERT is well tolerated and effective at increasing lower extremity strength in those with iSCI. These adaptations are likely attributable to neuromuscular development rather than a hypertrophic response

Power in Pairs: Assessing the Statistical Value of Paired Samples in Tests for Differential Expression

Background: When genomics researchers design a high-throughput study to test for differential expression, some biological systems and research questions provide opportunities to use paired samples from subjects, and researchers can plan for a certain proportion of subjects to have paired samples. We consider the effect of this paired samples proportion on the statistical power of the study, using characteristics of both count (RNA-Seq) and continuous (microarray) expression data from a colorectal cancer study. Results: We demonstrate that a higher proportion of subjects with paired samples yields higher statistical power, for various total numbers of samples, and for various strengths of subject-level confounding factors. In the design scenarios considered, the statistical power in a fully-paired design is substantially (and in many cases several times) greater than in an unpaired design. Conclusions: For the many biological systems and research questions where paired samples are feasible and relevant, substantial statistical power gains can be achieved at the study design stage when genomics researchers plan on using paired samples from the largest possible proportion of subjects. Any cost savings in a study design with unpaired samples are likely accompanied by underpowered and possibly biased results

Examining the Associations of Racism, Sexism, and Stressful Life Events on Psychological Distress among African-American Women

African-American women may be susceptible to stressful events and adverse health outcomes as a result of their distinct social location at the intersection of gender and race. Here, racism and sexism are examined concurrently using survey data from 204 African-American women residing in a southeastern U.S. urban city. Associations among racism, sexism, and stressful events across social roles and contexts (i.e., social network loss, motherhood and childbirth, employment and finances, personal illness and injury, and victimization) are investigated. Then, the relationships among these stressors on psychological distress are compared, and a moderation model is explored. Findings suggest that racism and sexism are a significant source of stress in the lives of African-American women and are correlated with one another and with other stressful events. Implications for future research and clinical considerations are discussed. (APA PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved

Assessing Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Measure Program Outcomes in Human Service Organizations

Leadership and organizational performance are interconnected, and in many cases the two go hand in hand. In nonprofit organizations, leaders are expected to guide and produce positive program outcomes that reflect the mission of the organization. One problem nonprofit leaders face, however, is how to measure program outcomes. What metrics, including impact measurement and performance measurement, of outcomes are available for nonprofit leaders to use? How does a leader know if his or her nonprofit is performing well? Are there any new frameworks or models to consider that may help with this problem? This paper addresses these questions by exploring the nonprofit literature on performance measurement specific to human service organizations. In addition, the paper creates three frameworks that can be used by nonprofit leaders to help measure their program outcomes

Women Bound to Be Active: One Year Follow-Up to an Innovative Pilot Intervention to Increase Physical Activity and Self-Worth in Women

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention (a women’s book club; Women Bound to be Active) in promoting long-term physical activity (PA). Thirty-five women (26-70 years; mean age 50.6 years) completed the 8-month intervention and participated in the one-year follow-up. At follow-up, PA returned to baseline levels; however, self-worth and body mass index significantly improved. Women were more knowledgeable about PA at follow-up; however, they failed to maintain PA after the intervention. Components of the intervention were effective in improving self-worth and lowering BMI at one-year follow-up. To enhance long-term PA adherence continued research and intervention modifications are needed

Brain Activity During Autobiographical Retrieval Is Modulated by Emotion and Vividness: Informing the Role of the Amygdala

Growing evidence indicates that the amygdala contributes to processing both emotional stimuli and highly vivid episodic memories. The present research used event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine the individual and joint contributions of these dimensions on the neural responses to naturalistic stimuli, namely, autobiographical memories, which vary in terms of associated emotion and the vividness of recollection. In Experiment 1, participants recalled positive and negative personal memories, and memories for which no mention of emotion was made. Events recollected with high vividness showed no effect of emotion, whereas ERPs for events recollected with low vividness differed for both positive and negative memories versus non-emotional memories. The conjoint effects of emotion and vividness reflect the correlation of these variables in everyday life: more emotional memories are more vividly recalled. In Experiment 2, we pursued the interaction of emotion and vividness by asking participants to recall negative high-arousal, negative low-arousal, and emotionally neutral memories. Processing differed by vividness but not by emotion condition. The research implies that focus on the emotional valence associated with a memory, without conjoint consideration of how vividly it is recalled, neglects a critical determinant of neural processes that are modulated by the amygdala during recall of autobiographical memories

Behavioral Evaluation of Modafinil and The Abuse-related Effects of Cocaine in Rhesus Monkeys

This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record.Modafinil is a central nervous system stimulant used to promote wakefulness, and it is being evaluated clinically as an agonist-based medication to treat stimulant abuse. This is the first report of the effects of modafinil on the abuse-related effects of cocaine in nonhuman primates. Three studies were conducted to examine the behavioral effects of modafinil. In the first study, the discriminative stimulus effects of modafinil were evaluated in monkeys trained to discriminate either low (0.18 mg/kg, IM) or high (0.4 mg/kg, IM) doses of cocaine from saline. Modafinil dose-dependently substituted for cocaine in 6/7 monkeys. In the second study, the effects of chronically administered modafinil (32-56 mg/kg/day, IV) on food- and cocaine-maintained operant responding were examined. Modafinil was administered 3 times/hr for 23 hr/day to ensure stable drug levels. Chronic treatment with 32 mg/kg/day modafinil selectively reduced responding maintained by intermediate (0.003 mg/kg/inj) and peak (0.01 mg/kg/inj) reinforcing doses of cocaine, but responding maintained by higher doses of cocaine was unaffected. Food-maintained behavior did not change during chronic treatment with modafinil. In a third study, after extinction of cocaine self-administration, modafinil (32 and 56 mg/kg/day, IV) significantly increased saline self-administration on the first day of treatment. These findings indicate that modafinil shares discriminative stimulus effects with cocaine and selectively reduces responding maintained by reinforcing doses of cocaine. These data are generally consistent with clinical findings and provide new evidence that these preclinical models may be useful for predicting the effectiveness of novel medications for drug abuse treatment