Privacy by design and customers' privacy and security concerns in the success of e-commerce

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to gain a deeper understanding of customers' perceived privacy and security (CPPS) by investigating privacy concerns, data security, and exploring the factors that elevate or minimise these concerns in relation to organisations' practices.Design/methodology/approach - The research study utilises an explanatory research design. Data were collected from six organisations from different industry sectors through in-depth interviews with managers and from customers' through four focus groups of a high-user demographic segment.Findings - The paper identified Privacy by Design (PbD) in the area of organisations' practices as well as identifying the main areas of CPPS. These themes were used as the basis for an analysis of customer concerns instrumental to the success of e-commerce.Practical implications - The findings will inform the development of a general conceptual model. This will provide a better understanding of CPPS in general and in relation to the success of e-commerce web sites and transactional sites in particular.Originality/value - The value and the originality of the paper comes from the adoption of the "PbD" paradigm. Organisations have to explore the factors that elevate or minimise customers' concerns in relation to adopting and continuing to use online transactions. It is necessary for organisations to do this because when privacy and security practices are clearly disclosed, customers increase their intention to use, or continue to use online transactions

8. Response of left ventricular strain, strain rate and myocardial twist after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Clinical research. Presentation Type: Oral presentation. Introduction: Severe aortic stenosis (AS) causes Impairment of left ventricular (LV) myocardial deformation and associated with adverse outcome. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of TAVI on the recovery of myocardial mechanics. Methodology: Speckle-tracking echocardiography was used to assess global longitudinal strain (GLS), circumferential strain (CS) and rotational mechanics (apical rotation, basal rotation and twist) before and at midterm follow-up after TAVI. Predictors of myocardial recovery, defined as a 20% relative increase in the magnitude of GLS compared to baseline, were examined. Results: Fifty-nine patients (mean age, 80.2 ± 11.7 years) with severe AS and high surgical risk (mean Euro score, 12.9 ± 5.3%) were evaluated. At 8 ± 3 months after TAVI, GLS had significantly improved in patients with normal and depressed LVEF. The patients with baseline LVEF ⩾50%: GLS improved from 9.5 ± 3% to 12.2 ±  3.3% (P = .0001). The patients with baseline LVEF >50%: GLS improved from 13.9 ± 3.3% to 15.2 ± 3.3% (P = .003). In patients with LVEF >50%, LV twist was supraphysiologic at baseline and moved towards normal after TAVI (from 21.2 ± 6.9 to 15.6 ± 7.6, P = .001). In patients with LVEF ⩾50% there is no significant change in LV twist P = .853. In patients with LVEFs ⩾50%, CS was impaired before TAVI and improved after TAVI from −17.3 ± 6.6 to −20.7 ± 6.1, P = .01. Baseline GLS (odds ratio, 0.65, P < .001), base line LVEF (odds ratio, 0.34, P < .01) and LV twist (odds ratio, 0.46, P < .02) were significant predictors of myocardial recovery. Conclusion: TAVI restores LV function toward more physiologic myocardial mechanics in both normal and depressed LVEF groups. Patients with lower systolic function derive the most benefit in terms of longitudinal reverse remodeling. Baseline GLS, LVEF and LV twist wear predictors of myocardial recovery

Contributions to the study of the marine algae inhabiting Umluj Seashore, Red Sea

The marine algal flora of the Umluj city received no attention about the marine macroalgae. In this paper a total of 19 species are reported for the first time as occurring in the Umluj coast of Saudi Arabia. These species related to Chlorophyta (1), Phaeophyceae (6) and Rhodophyceae (12)

Discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy for a month in a patient with HeartMate III continuous-flow left ventricular assist device without thromboembolic events

The recommended anticoagulation regimen for continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) systems is warfarin and aspirin with a targeted international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0–3.0. Our patient is a 58-year-old male who underwent surgical HeartMate III continuous-flow LVAD implantation 3 months ago outside the country. The patient mistakenly stopped taking warfarin for 1 month prior to presenting to our center for a routine visit. Luckily, the patient was doing very well without any complication despite the fact that his INR was 1.0. Keywords: Anticoagulation, Continuous flow LVADs, Heart Mate II

Antibacterial and anti-hyperlipidemic activities of the green alga Cladophora koeiei

In the present investigation, an antihyperlipidemic activity of Cladophora koeiei ethanol extract against six pathogenic bacteria was conducted. Also, we evaluate the activity of the alga extract against hyperlipedemia in the administrated albino rates through measuring the blood lipid profiles [triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), cholesterol] and induced hepatic damage by measuring the contents of creatinine, total proteins, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin and globulin and diagnostic marker enzymes such as aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT). Alga extract proved efficient activity against the tested bacteria ranged between medium and high suppression action. Results revealed also, the efficiency of C. koeiei extract in the decreasing the triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine caused by alcohol. However, the treatment by alga extract exhibits high-density of lipoproteins (HDL-C) (beneficial), total protein, albumin, and globulins. Also, the algal treatments masking the lethal effects caused by harmful alcohol from raising the rate of enzymes ALT, AST, which returned to the normal state in the groups treated with alga extract. Our findings provide the evidence that new natural antioxidant substances can be present in the C. koeiei extract and hence this alga proves to be effective as a source for therapeutic agents

Rapid biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using the marine red alga Laurencia catarinensis and their characterization

Bio-synthesis of AgNPs (silver nanoparticles) by using of the dry and solvent extract of red marine alga Laurencia catarinensis was conducted in the present work. Characterizations of the formed AgNPs was approved by UV–Visible Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering and finally by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. We achieved the synthesis of AgNPs by the reduction of aqueous solutions of AgNO3 with the powder and extract of Laurencia catarinensis. Bio-synthesis of Ag nanoparticles was confirmed by visual inspection. The obtained algal nanoparticles were characterized by highly stable formation, short time of the biogenic process (2 min-3 h), small size (39.41–77.71 nm) with several shapes (spherical, triangular, rectangle, polyhedral and hexagonal)

Endovascular repair of severe aortic coarctation, transcatheter aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis, and percutaneous coronary intervention in an elderly patient with long term follow-up

To the best of our knowledge, there have not been any reports of total transcatheter approach including stenting of severe coarctation of the aorta (CoA), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for concomitant severe aortic valve stenosis, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to treat significant coronary artery disease in a single patient. We report a 70-year-old female, who presented with uncontrolled hypertension and acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and was found to have severe CoA, severe bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis, and significant proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery disease. In a multidisciplinary heart team meeting, we decided to perform an endovascular repair of both cardiac and vascular pathologies using a two-stage approach due to the significant comorbidities; mainly uncontrolled hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and severe calcifications of the ascending aorta. The procedures were successfully performed and the patient was asymptomatic 30 months later at follow-up and was without any significant gradients across the coarctation or the aortic valve. Keywords: Aortic valve stenosis, Coarctation of aorta, Covered stent, Transcatheter stentin