How main street drives Wall Street: customer (dis)satisfaction, short sellers, and abnormal returns

Although previous studies have established a direct link between customer-based metrics and stock returns, research is unclear on the mediated nature of their association. The authors examine the association of customer satisfaction and abnormal stock returns, as mediated by the trading behavior of short sellers. Using quarterly data from 273 firms over 2007–2017, the authors find that short interest—a measure of short seller activity—mediates the impact of customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction on abnormal stock returns. Customer dissatisfaction has a more pronounced effect on short selling compared with customer satisfaction. In addition, customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction are more relevant for firms with low capital intensity and firms that face lower competitive intensity. The results show that a one-unit increase in customer satisfaction is associated with a .56 percentage point increase in abnormal returns, while a one-unit increase in customer dissatisfaction is associated with a 1.34 percentage point decrease in abnormal returns

Gender Jeopardy in financial risk taking

This article examines the joint effect of issue capability and gender on risk taking. Across three studies, the authors show that the effect of issue capability is moderated by gender, depending on the compatibility between the goal orientation of the decision maker and the nature of the decision task. For decisions that are mainly driven by achievement of gains (e.g., investment decisions), men\u27s risk-taking propensity is more influenced by their levels of issue capability than women\u27s because the nature of the decision task is consistent with men\u27s agentic orientation focused on the self. Conversely, for decisions that are mainly driven by avoidance of losses (e.g., insurance decisions), women\u27s risk taking is more sensitive to issue capability than men\u27s because the nature of such decisions is consistent with women\u27s communion orientation. The authors analyze the betting data from the Daily Double in the Jeopardy! game show (Study 1). The results show that gender moderates the effect of issue capability on the actual betting behavior in Jeopardy! In Study 2, the authors test the underlying mechanism through mediation analyses of the focus of attention. In Study 3, the authors manipulate the task nature and demonstrate that men\u27s risk taking is more sensitive to issue capability in investment decisions, whereas women\u27s risk taking is more sensitive to issue capability in insurance decisions

Misrepresentation of Credence Goods and Channel Design

Credence goods are often delivered to consumers via a vertical channel where the true quality of the good is determined by a manufacturer (an upstream channel member), while consumers\u27 quality perceptions are driven by the observable signals of quality sent by a retailer (a downstream channel member). We study product misrepresentation in a vertical channel with asymmetric information about true product quality and focus on conditions that incentivize downstream channel members to misrepresent product quality to consumers. We develop a model with credulous consumers who rely on seller signals of quality to determine their expected utility from consumption of goods. The model shows that product misrepresentation rises as an equilibrium outcome due to actions of both the manufacturer and the retailer. We suggest that channel design can be a mechanism mitigating the level of misrepresentation. Specifically, adding more retailers in a channel can reduce the extent of misconduct and can increase the profits of the channel members

A Review of Obesity and its management in Ayurveda

Ayurveda is originated from the Atharvaveda and was preached by Lord Brahma. Its Prayojana is to maintain the health of healthy and to cure the diseases of diseased. In Ayurveda, Sthaulya has been described in all the literatures. Acharya Charaka has described Sthaulya Purusha mong one of the Ashta Nindita Purusha. Sthaulya is caused due to Medovriddhi which includes abnormal and excessive accumulation of Medodhatu in the body. This is caused by frequent and excessive intake of Madhur and Snigdhaahara, lack of physical and mental exercises. These all results into the increase in Kapha Dosha and Medo Dhatu results in the Sthaulya. In modern science, Sthaulya can be compared to the obesity. Obesity is one of the metabolic disorder. WHO considers obesity as a Global epidemic and a public health problem. It is estimated that more than 300 million adults are obese and many are overweight. Sthaulya (obesity) is discouraged by the society for social as well as on the medical grounds. Three main causes have been described in modern literature viz. Dietetic, Genetic and Hormonal. Person of every age and sex is suffering by this widely spreaded epidemic i.e. obesity. It is the major chronic disease in developing as well as in developed countries. The line of treatment includes the treatment of Dhatvagnimandya. In pathogenesis of Sthaulya, Kledaka Kapha, Samana and Vyana Vayu, Meda (fat /lipid) and Medodhatvagni Mandyata are main responsible factors. So the proper treatment should be selected, that can effect on all these factors

Critical analysis of classification techniques for polarimetric synthetic aperture radar data

Full polarimetry SAR data known as PolSAR contains information in terms of microwave energy backscattered through different scattering mechanisms (surface-, double- and volume-scattering) by the targets on the surface of land. These scattering mechanisms information is different in different features. Similarly, different classifiers have different capabilities as far as identification of the targets corresponding to these scattering mechanisms. Extraction of different features and the role of classifier are important for the purpose of identifying which feature is the most suitable with which classifier for land cover classification. Selection of suitable features and their combinations have always been an active area of research for the development of advanced classification algorithms. Fully polarimetric data has its own advantages because its different channels give special scattering feature for various land cover. Therefore, first hand statistics HH, HV and VV of PolSAR data along with their ratios and linear combinations should be investigated for exploring their importance vis-à-vis relevant classifier for land management at the global scale. It has been observed that individually first hand statistics yield low accuracies. And their ratios are also not improving the results either. However, improved accuracies are achieved when these natural features are stacked together

Tension band wiring in a rare case of isolated acromion fracture: a case report

Fracture of the acromion process is an uncommon injury. The most common mechanism of injury is direct trauma to the acromion. Isolated acromion fractures are rare as usually they are associated with concomitant skeletal and soft tissue injuries of the shoulder. We present a case of a 45-year-old male with a type 3 fracture of acromion process with reduction of subacromial space. Patient was managed surgically and fracture was fixed using tension band wiring. Patient was followed up using UCLA, DASH and VAS scores and showed good radiological and functional outcomes. Minimally displaced fractures should be regularly followed up for displacement and sub-acromial space compromise. Although acromion fractures are usually treated conservatively, albeit a higher non-union rate, they should be treated surgically in the event of displacement or sub-acromial space reduction, in order to achieve good functional recovery.

Promotion Matching: the Role of Promotion Type and Self-Construal on Purchase Intentions

We argue that effectiveness of promotions on sales can be enhanced when promotion type is congruent with one's self-construal. Study 1 finds that purchase intentions for an inclusively-framed promotion are greater for individuals who have higher chronic interdependence. An exclusively-framed promotion is introduced in the second study and results indicate that purchase intentions are greater when consumers are exposed to an exclusively-framed promotion and have a (manipulated) independent self-construal rather than an interdependent self-construal. The reverse is found for inclusively-framed promotions. Implications for effectively framing promotions to complement consumers' self-construal are discussed

How political identity shapes customer satisfaction

This article examines the effect of political identity on customers' satisfaction with the products and services they consume. Recent work suggests that conservatives are less likely to complain than liberals. Building on that work, the present research examines how political identity shapes customer satisfaction, which has broad implications for customers and firms. Nine studies combine different methodologies, primary and secondary data, real and hypothetical behavior, different product categories, and diverse participant populations to show that conservatives (vs. liberals) are more satisfied with the products and services they consume. This happens because conservatives (vs. liberals) are more likely to believe in free will (i.e., that people have agency over their decisions) and, therefore, to trust their own decisions. The authors document the broad and tangible downstream consequences of this effect for customers' repurchase and recommendation intentions and firms' sales. The association of political identity and customer satisfaction is attenuated when belief in free will is externally weakened, choice is limited, or the consumption experience is overwhelmingly positive.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Role of cervical dendritic cell subsets, co-stimulatory molecules, cytokine secretion profile and beta-estradiol in development of sequalae to Chlamydia trachomatis infection

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the female genital tract can lead to serious sequelae resulting in fertility related disorders. Little is known about the mechanism leading to Chlamydia induced pathology and factors responsible for it. As only some of the women develops reproductive disorders while majority of the women clears infection without any severe sequalae, mucosal immune response in women with or without fertility disorders was studied to identify factors which may lead to final clinical outcome of chlamydial infection. METHODS: Myeloid DCs (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) populations in cervical mucosa and peripheral blood were analyzed in controls and Chlamydia positive women with or without fertility disorders with multicoloured flow cytometric analysis. Cervical cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma), C-reactive protein levels and sex hormone levels in serum were quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: In cervix of Chlamydia positive women with fertility disorders, significantly high (P < 0.05) numbers of pDCs were present with increased CD80 expression. pDCs correlated significantly with C-reactive protein levels, IL-6 and IFN-gamma levels in women with fertility disorders. In contrast, mDCs showed significant upregulation of CD1a during chlamydial infection and correlated significantly with IL-12 levels in Chlamydia positive fertile women. β-estradiol levels were significantly higher in women having fertility disorders as compared to fertile women and have significant correlations (r = 0.65; P < 0.05) with pDCs numbers, CD80 expression, IL-6 levels and IFN-gamma levels in these women. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that development of sequalae in some women can be a result of interplay of many factors including type of dendritic cell, co stimulatory molecule expression, cytokine secretion pattern and hormone levels