Adoption of Mobile Money Transfer Services in Bangladesh: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

In recent years, mobile phones have created a platform to expand commercial transactions in a very easy manner and have created a wide array of business opportunities through the expansion of wireless communication in developing countries. One of such uses is the use of mobile phones in financial services industry. Hence, this research aims to investigate the key factors that influence the Bangladeshi consumers’ acceptance and use of mobile money transfer technology using key constructs from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory. We analyzed the data using Structured Equation Modeling (SEM) to evaluate the strength of the hypothesized relationships, if any, among the constructs, which include Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Trust, Perceived Risk, Perceived Transaction Cost and Trialability as independent variables, and Behavior Intention to Use as the dependent variable. The results provide support of the extended TAM model and confirm its robustness in predicting customers’ intention of adoption of MMT. This study contributes to the literature by formulating and validating TAM to predict MMT adoption, and its findings provide useful information for firms in formulating MMT marketing strategies. Keywords: Technology Acceptance Model, Diffusion Of Innovation, Adoption, Mobile Money Transfer Technology, Structured Equation Modeling

Recent Advances in Molten Salt-Based Nanofluids as Thermal Energy Storage in Concentrated Solar Power: A Comprehensive Review

This study critically reviews the key aspects of nanoparticles and their impact on molten salts (MSs) for thermal energy storage (TES) in concentrated solar power (CSP). It then conducts a comprehensive analysis of MS nanofluids, focusing on identifying the best combinations of salts and nanoparticles to increase the specific heat capacity (SHC) efficiently. Various methods and approaches for the synthesis of these nanofluids are explained. The article presents different experimental techniques used to characterize nanofluids, including measuring the SHC and thermal conductivity and analyzing particle dispersion. It also discusses the challenges associated with characterizing these nanofluids. The study aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms behind the observed increase in SHC in MS nanofluids. Finally, it summarizes potential areas for future research, highlighting crucial domains for further investigation and advancement

Efficacy of a Newly Designed Cephalometric Analysis Software for McNamara Analysis in Comparison with Dolphin Software.

Cephalometric norms of McNamara analysis have been studied in various populations due to their optimal efficiency. Dolphin cephalometric software greatly enhances the conduction of this analysis for orthodontic measurements. However, Dolphin is very expensive and cannot be afforded by many clinicians in developing countries. A suitable alternative software program in Farsi/English will greatly help Farsi speaking clinicians. The present study aimed to develop an affordable Iranian cephalometric analysis software program and compare it with Dolphin, the standard software available on the market for cephalometric analysis.In this diagnostic, descriptive study, 150 lateral cephalograms of normal occlusion individuals were selected in Mashhad and Qazvin, two major cities of Iran mainly populated with Fars ethnicity, the main Iranian ethnic group. After tracing the cephalograms, the McNamara analysis standards were measured both with Dolphin and the new software. The cephalometric software was designed using Microsoft Visual C++ program in Windows XP. Measurements made with the new software were compared with those of Dolphin software on both series of cephalograms. The validity and reliability were tested using intra-class correlation coefficient.Calculations showed a very high correlation between the results of the Iranian cephalometric analysis software and Dolphin. This confirms the validity and optimal efficacy of the newly designed software (ICC 0.570-1.0).According to our results, the newly designed software has acceptable validity and reliability and can be used for orthodontic diagnosis, treatment planning and assessment of treatment outcome