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Why companies should not give their customers discounts after service failures

A new study published in the Journal of Marketing found that price-based recovery incentives after service failures are negatively associated with the likelihood of subscribers renewing their contracts at the end of the contract period. The researchers propose several ways subscription-based service providers can reduce the negative ef...

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateJul 25, 2019

Vulnerability of cloud service hardware uncovered

Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) discovered a vulnerability in field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) used in cloud services, allowing hackers to carry out side-channel attacks and spy on other users. The finding highlights the need for protection measures to safeguard against cyber threats.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalIACR Transactions on Cryptographic Hardware and Embedded Systems·DateMay 31, 2019

Social media has limited effects on teenage life satisfaction

A large-scale Oxford Internet Institute study of UK teenagers found that social media use had limited effects on life satisfaction, with some bidirectional effects observed. The researchers used improved data and statistical approaches to test the relationship between social media use and life satisfaction, finding modest trends.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 6, 2019

Strongly agree: It's time to test the Likert scale

A University at Buffalo researcher and his team tested the impact of response options on the reliability of psychological measures, finding that six options appears to be the magic number for optimal accuracy. They argue that too few or too many options can lead to inaccurate results due to human cognitive limitations.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPsychological Assessment·DateApr 23, 2019

Putting understudied terrorists under a microscope

Researchers at Michigan State University found that ideological cyberterrorist attacks by far-left groups are on the rise, targeting companies and organizations with data breaches, web defacements, and doxing. The attacks have a significant economic and emotional impact, making them a growing threat.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalTerrorism and Political Violence·DateJan 25, 2019

Anonymous yet trustworthy

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara created an application to safeguard group members' anonymity while verifying the reliability of posts. The app allows communities to create secure groups on social media, enabling them to build trust with their readership over time.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Internet Services and Applications·DateJan 15, 2019

Chemistry freed from space and time

Researchers have successfully used remote servers in Japan to autonomously optimize conditions for synthesizing drugs in a British laboratory. The process was controlled over the internet by researchers in the USA, demonstrating the potential of cloud-based approaches for international collaboration and efficient production processes.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 19, 2018

What's next for smart homes: An 'Internet of Ears?'

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are developing a new system that uses changes in vibrations, sound, and electrical fields to improve energy consumption and monitor occupants' movements. The system has the potential to provide energy savings, track structural integrity, and enhance building safety.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement·DateNov 15, 2018

Clemson researcher warns of spread of homemade steroids

Homemade steroids have become a widespread issue, with online tools and cryptocurrency facilitating their rapid spread. Clemson researcher Bryan Denham's study examines the impact of these substances on public health, noting that purchasing black-market steroids is similar to buying other illicit substances.

SourceClemson University·JournalContemporary Drug Problems·DateOct 4, 2018

Study sheds light on why the US and China don't see eye-to-eye on e-commerce

A new study by Singapore Management University finds that the US and China have distinct stances on e-commerce regulation, with the US prioritizing digital barriers and China focusing on traditional trade barriers. The study suggests that policy makers should look for areas of common interest to bring down trade barriers.

SourceSingapore Management University·JournalJournal of International Economic Law·DateSep 13, 2018