Consumer Purchase Decision in Instagram Stores:The Role of Consumer Trust

Instagram, a prominent social networking site, has become a popular online shopping platform among young people. In this study, we have attempted to understand what drives people to purchase in virtual stores on Instagram. Specifically, we built upon the integrative framework of trust and identified three groups of factors explaining consumer trust in Instagram stores: trustworthiness of Instagram stores (i.e., perceived benevolence, perceived integrity, and perceived competence), propensity to trust, and external environment (i.e., Key Opinion Leader (KOL) endorsement and peer customer endorsement). These factors are expected to influence consumer trust in Instagram stores, and trust in turn determines consumer intention to purchase. The model was empirically tested with 157 Instagram users. Perceived benevolence, perceived integrity, and KOL endorsement were found to be significant factors affecting consumer trust in Instagram stores, and trust was found to have a strong relationship with consumer purchase intention. The results of this study are expected to advance the trust literature in the context of social commerce and to offer practical guidelines to Instagram storeowners

Effects of a Structured Exercise Programme on Functional Balance in Visually Impaired Elderly Living in a Residential Setting

AbstractOne major priority for health care professionals is to minimize the risk of fall in the elderly population. While the quality of life of an individual is affected by fall accidents, management of post-fall disability in the elderly could be a huge economic burden to the society. Visually impaired elderly are at a higher risk of fall, because “vision”, an important component contributing to balance, is disturbed. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an exercise programme, which focused on improvement of the functional balance of visually impaired elderly. Visually impaired elderly residents were randomly assigned to either the exercise training or control group. A multidimensional, individually tailored exercise programme was introduced by physiotherapists to the exercise group for 12 weeks. Functional balance status reflected by the Berg Balance Scale, chair stand test, and timed up-and-go test assessed before and after the 12-week training programme was compared between the two groups. Results demonstrated a significant improvement in balance outcomes in the exercise group (p < 0.05) but not in the control group. The results of this study suggest that a physiotherapist-designed strengthening and balance-training programme can improve the functional balance status of visually impaired elderly

On Measuring Split-SUSY Neutralino and Chargino Masses at the LHC

In Split-Supersymmetry models, where the only non-Standard Model states produceable at LHC-energies consist of a gluino plus neutralinos and charginos, it is conventionally accepted that only mass differences among these latter are measureable at the LHC. The present work shows that application of a simple `Kinematic Selection' technique allows full reconstruction of neutralino and chargino masses from one event, in principle. A Monte Carlo simulation demonstrates the feasibilty of using this technique at the LHC.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures; EPJC versio

The incidence of all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory disease admission among 20,252 users of lisinopril vs. perindopril: a cohort study

Background: Major international guidelines do not offer explicit recommendations on any specific angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) agent over another within the same drug group. This study compared the effectiveness of lisinopril vs. perindopril in reducing the incidence of hospital admission due to all-cause, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease. Methods: Adult patients who received new prescriptions of lisinopril or perindopril from 2001 to 2005 in all public hospitals and clinics in Hong Kong were included, and followed up for ≥2 years. The incidence of admissions due to all-cause, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease were evaluated, respectively, by using Cox proportional hazard regression models. The regression models were constructed with propensity score matching to minimize indication biases. Results: A total of 20,252 eligible patients with an average age of 64.5 years (standard deviation 15.0) were included. The admission rate at 24 months within the date of index prescription due to any cause, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease among lisinopril vs. perindopril users was 24.8% vs. 24.8%, 13.7% vs. 14.0% and 6.9% vs. 6.3%, respectively. Lisinopril users were significantly more likely to be admitted due to respiratory diseases (adjusted hazard ratios [AHR] = 1.25, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.43, p = 0.002 at 12 months; AHR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.31, p = 0.009 at 24 months) and all causes (AHR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.19, p &lt; 0.001 at 24 months) than perindopril users. Conclusions: These findings support intra-class differences in the effectiveness of ACEIs, which could be considered by clinical guidelines when the preferred first-line antihypertensive drugs are recommended

Envelhecimento e doenças neurodegenerativas crônicas na Amazônia brasileira: implantação de novas metodologias de avaliação em pacientes com declínio cognitivo leve e doença de Alzheimer

By 2025, the number of elderly people in the world will double and by 2050 will reach around two billion individuals, with the majority of them in developing countries. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the fourth disease that most compromises the quality of life in elderly. This work aims to suggest new methodologies for evaluating elderly people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer‟s disease, introducing a Brazilian version of the TSM-"Test Your Memory" and showing the performance fo this people in tests from CANTAB. It is an analytical, retrospective, longitudinal case-control study, performed at the Laboratory of Neurodegeneration and Infection, University Hospital João de Barros Barreto, from January 2009 to January 2011. Ninety five individuals 65 years old or older were divided in three groups: Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 21), mild cognitive impairment (DCL, n = 31) and control (n = 43). Patients with previous stroke, primary depression, head injury, other dementias and other neuropsychiatric disorders, and serious visuo-auditory deficits were excluded. The participants were submitted to an initial assessment, screening with GDS-5 and DSM-IV, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), CERAD neuropsychological test battery and the TSM - Test Your Memory (Brazilian version).Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, defining the p-value<0.05 to detect significant differences. Female individuals of mixed ethnicity, aged 70 to 79 years predominated in all groups. The average MMSE score between the three groups was significantly different (control: 26.6± 2.2; DCL: 25.1 ± 2.6, DA: 17.3 ± 4.9, p <0.05), however, the TSM proved to be a more sensitive test to distinguish DCL patients from AD (control: 42.4± 5; DCL: 35.5 ± 7.7, DA: 25.7 ± 8, p <0.01 ). The three groups had different mean scores. In the CERAD word list, clock test, TNBr and phonological verbal fluency. The performance in TSM was significantly lower in DCL and AD groups than in the control group. And DA group was worse in this test than the DCL group too. The tests and measurements of CANTAB that best separate the three groups from the performance obtained were RVP A‟, PAL-trials to success and PAL-total errors in 6 patterns phase. Good correlations were found between the TSM and other tests, especially with the MMSE (Pearson‟s coefficient r = 0.79, p <0.0001) and clock test (r = 0.76, p <0.0001), as well as good correlations between the measures of PAL and TSM and MMSE. Physical activity level, in the control group was higher than in all other groups. When the level of physical activity and performance on cognitive tests were correlated, there were no significant differences in the different groups, except by a better performance in word recall test from CERAD, and word list in DCL group (DCL "active":4.7 ± 1.8; DCL"not active": 3 ± 1.5,p <0.01). Taken as a Whole, these results suggest that the application of automated automated neuropsychological tests associated with routine clinical tests and TYM, improve the clinical assessment´s sensitivity and reliability, especially in the early stages of dementia where the precoceous and accurate diagnosis are essential to guide therapeutic actions, drugs or behavioral modifications.Em 2025 o número de idosos no mundo irá dobrar e por volta de 2050 alcançará dois bilhões de indivíduos, estando a maioria em países desenvolvidos. A doença de Alzheimer (DA) é a quarta doença que mais compromete a qualidade de vida dos idosos. Este trabalho pretende sugerir novas metodologias de avaliação de pacientes com declínio cognitivo e doença de Alzheimer, apresentando uma versão brasileira a partir da versão original em língua inglesa intitulada “Test Your Memory” TYM (“teste sua memória- TSM), bem como mostrar os resultados do desempenho dos idosos na bateria de testes neuropsicológicos de Cambridge (CANTAB). Trata-se de estudo analítico, transversal retrospectivo do tipo caso-controle, realizado em pacientes do ambulatório de Geriatria do Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, e em voluntários da comunidade no período de janeiro de 2009 a janeiro de 2011. Participaram 95 indivíduos com 65 ou mais anos de idade, divididos em 3 grupos: Alzheimer (DA, n=21), declínio cognitivo (DCL, n=31) e controle (n=43). Foram excluídos pacientes com história de acidente vascular encefálico (AVE), depressão primária, trauma cranioencefálico, outras demências, outras patologias neuropsiquiátricas e déficits visuo-auditivos limitantes. Os participantes foram submetidos à avaliação inicial, triagem com GDS-5 e DSM-IV, ao Questionário Internacional de Atividades Físicas (IPAQ), testes neuropsicológicos da bateria CERAD, teste do relógio, TSM (versão adaptada para o Português) e a bateria de Alzheimer do CANTAB. A análise estatística foi realizada empregando-se ANOVA, um critério, definindo-se o valor p<0,05 como significante. Houve predomínio em todos os grupos de indivíduos do gênero feminino, de cor parda, na faixa etária de 70 a 79 anos. A média de pontuação do MEEM entre os três grupos foi diferente (controle: 26,6±2,2; DCL: 25,1±2,6; DA: 17,3±4,9; p<0,05), entretanto o TSM mostrou ser uma ferramenta de triagem mais confiável para distinguir os pacientes DCL dos DA (controle: 42,4±5; DCL: 35,5±7,7; DA: 25,7±8; p<0,01). Na lista de palavras do CERAD, teste do relógio, TNBR e na fluência verbal fonológica os três grupos apresentaram diferenças significantes na média de pontos obtidos. A média da pontuação total no TSM foi significativamente menor nos grupos DCL e DA do que no grupo controle, e no grupo DA em relação ao DCL. Os testes e medidas do CANTAB que separam os três grupos pelo desempenho obtido são: RVP A‟, número de tentativas para o sucesso e total de erros na fase de 6 figuras do PAL. Foram encontradas boas correlações entre o TSM e outros testes, principalmente com o MEEM (Coeficiente de Pearson, r = 0,79; p<0,0001) e teste do relógio (r = 0,76; p<0,0001), bem como boa correlação entre as medidas do PAL e a pontuação do TSM e o MEEM. O nível de atividade física no grupo controle foi maior do que em todos os outros grupos. Ao ser correlacionado o nível de atividade física e o desempenho nos testes cognitivos, não foram observadas diferenças significativas nos diferentes grupos, exceto pela evocação de palavras no grupo DCL. Tomados em conjunto os resultados sugerem que a aplicação de testes neuropsicológicos automatizados associados aos testes da rotina clínica e ao TSM aumentam a resolução e a confiabilidade das análises particularmente no estágio inicial das síndromes demenciais onde a precocidade e a precisão diagnóstica são fundamentais para orientar as ações terapêuticas, sejam elas medicamentosas e/ou comportamentais

Charged Higgs bosons in the Next-to MSSM (NMSSM)

The charged Higgs boson decays $H^\pm\to W^\pm A_1$ and $H^\pm\to W^\pm h_i$ are studied in the framework of the next-to Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM). It is found that the decay rate for $H^\pm\to W^\pm A_1$ can exceed the rates for the $\tau^\pm\nu$ and $tb$ channels both below and above the top-bottom threshold. The dominance of $H^\pm\to W^\pm A_1$ is most readily achieved when $A_1$ has a large doublet component and small mass. We also study the production process $pp\to H^\pm A_1$ at the LHC followed by the decay $H^\pm\to W^\pm A_1$ which leads to the signature $W^\pm A_1 A_1$. We suggest that $p p\to H^\pm A_1$ is a promising discovery channel for a light charged Higgs boson in the NMSSM with small or moderate $\tan\beta$ and dominant decay mode $H^\pm \to W^\pm A_1$. This $W^\pm A_1 A_1$ signature can also arise from the Higgsstrahlung process $pp\to W^\pm h_1$ followed by the decay $h_1\to A_1 A_1$. It is shown that there exist regions of parameter space where these processes can have comparable cross sections and we suggest that their respective signals can be distinguished at the LHC by using appropriate reconstruction methods.Comment: 20 pages, 22 eps figures, more reference adde

Expression analysis of the TAB2 protein in adult mouse tissues

Background: The Interleukin-1 (IL-1) signaling component TAK1 binding protein 2 (TAB2) plays a role in activating the NFκB and JNK signaling pathways. Additionally, TAB2 functions in the nucleus as a repressor of NFκB-mediated gene regulation. Objective: To obtain insight into the function of TAB2 in the adult mouse, we analyzed the in vivo TAB2 expression pattern. Materials and methods: Cell lines and adult mouse tissues were analyzed for TAB2 protein expression and localization. Results: Immunohistochemical staining for TAB2 protein revealed expression in the vascular endothelium of most tissues, hematopoietic cells and brain cells. While TAB2 is localized in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm in cell lines, cytoplasmic localization predominates in hematopoietic tissues in vivo. Conclusions: The TAB2 expression pattern shows striking similarities with previously reported IL-1 receptor expression and NFκB activation patterns, suggesting that TAB2 in vivo is playing a role in these signaling pathways

Phase Effect of A General Two-Higgs-Doublet Model in b→sγb\to s\gamma

In a general two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM), without the {\it ad hoc} discrete symmetries to prevent tree-level flavor-changing-neutral currents, an extra phase angle in the charged-Higgs-fermion coupling is allowed. We show that the charged-Higgs amplitude interferes destructively or constructively with the standard model amplitude depending crucially on this phase angle. The popular model I and II are special cases of our analysis. As a result of this phase angle the severe constraint on the charged-Higgs boson mass imposed by the inclusive rate of $b\to s\gamma$ from CLEO can be relaxed. We also examine the effects of this phase angle on the neutron electric dipole moment. Furthermore, we also discuss other constraints on the charged-Higgs-fermion couplings coming from measurements of $B^0-\bar{B^0}$ mixing, $\rho_0$, and $R_b$.Comment: LaTeX 17 pages, 3 figure

Heavy quarkonium: progress, puzzles, and opportunities

A golden age for heavy quarkonium physics dawned a decade ago, initiated by the confluence of exciting advances in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and an explosion of related experimental activity. The early years of this period were chronicled in the Quarkonium Working Group (QWG) CERN Yellow Report (YR) in 2004, which presented a comprehensive review of the status of the field at that time and provided specific recommendations for further progress. However, the broad spectrum of subsequent breakthroughs, surprises, and continuing puzzles could only be partially anticipated. Since the release of the YR, the BESII program concluded only to give birth to BESIII; the $B$-factories and CLEO-c flourished; quarkonium production and polarization measurements at HERA and the Tevatron matured; and heavy-ion collisions at RHIC have opened a window on the deconfinement regime. All these experiments leave legacies of quality, precision, and unsolved mysteries for quarkonium physics, and therefore beg for continuing investigations. The plethora of newly-found quarkonium-like states unleashed a flood of theoretical investigations into new forms of matter such as quark-gluon hybrids, mesonic molecules, and tetraquarks. Measurements of the spectroscopy, decays, production, and in-medium behavior of c\bar{c}, b\bar{b}, and b\bar{c} bound states have been shown to validate some theoretical approaches to QCD and highlight lack of quantitative success for others. The intriguing details of quarkonium suppression in heavy-ion collisions that have emerged from RHIC have elevated the importance of separating hot- and cold-nuclear-matter effects in quark-gluon plasma studies. This review systematically addresses all these matters and concludes by prioritizing directions for ongoing and future efforts.Comment: 182 pages, 112 figures. Editors: N. Brambilla, S. Eidelman, B. K. Heltsley, R. Vogt. Section Coordinators: G. T. Bodwin, E. Eichten, A. D. Frawley, A. B. Meyer, R. E. Mitchell, V. Papadimitriou, P. Petreczky, A. A. Petrov, P. Robbe, A. Vair

Search for direct production of charginos and neutralinos in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √s = 7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the direct production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three electrons or muons and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is based on 4.7 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations in three signal regions that are either depleted or enriched in Z-boson decays. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set in R-parity conserving phenomenological minimal supersymmetric models and in simplified models, significantly extending previous results