Empirical Examination of the Role of Three Sets of Innovation Attributes for Determining Adoption of IRCTC Mobile Ticketing Service

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited’s (IRCTC) mobile ticketing was recently introduced in India. In this study of its adoption, three competing attribute-sets are compared. This study aims to reveal the attribute-set best predicting its adoption. The research model was empirically tested and validated using SPSS. Four attributes from the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory, four from the PCI theory, and four from Tornatzky and Klein’s meta-analysis significantly affected behavioral intentions. Only complexity failed to influence use intentions, and behavioral intention and riskiness significantly impacted adoption

Examining the role of three sets of innovation attributes for determining adoption of the interbank mobile payment service

The interbank mobile payment service (IMPS) is a very recent technology in India that serves the very critical purpose of a mobile wallet. To account for the adoption and use of IMPS by the Indian consumers, this study seeks to compare three competing sets of attributes borrowed from three recognized pieces of work in the area of innovations adoption. This study aims to examine which of the three sets of attributes better predicts the adoption of IMPS in an Indian context. The research model is empirically tested and validated against the data gathered from 323 respondents from different cities in India. The findings are analysed using the SPSS analysis tool, which are then discussed to derive the key conclusions from this study. The research implications are stated, limitations listed and suggestions for future research on this technology are then finally made

EFFECTS OF VITAMIN B6 DEFICIENCY ON LYMPHOID TISSUES AND HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE IN RATS (IMMUNITY, PYRIDOXINE)

The influence of vitamin B(,6) deficiency on lymphoid tissues and humoral immune response in rats was assessed in two experiments. In experiment I effects of vitamin B(,6) deficiency on humoral immune response and morphological changes of sensitized lymphoid tissues were studied in growing rats. Male weanling rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into three treatment groups: control, restricted control and vitamin B(,6) deficient. Animals in control and vitamin B(,6) deficient groups were fed for 8 wk ad libitum a basal diet supplemented with 7 or 0 mg pyridoxine-HCl(PN-HCl)/kg, respectively. The restricted control group was fed the control diet (7 mg PN-HCl/kg) but restricted in amount to that consumed by the vitamin B(,6) deficient group on the previous day. At 7 wk, formalinized Streptococcus mutans was administered intraperitoneally. Antibody titers against S. mutans, measured by microagglutination test at 9 wk, were significantly lowered by vitamin B(,6) deficiency. Activities of IgM and IgG antibody were low in the deficient group and lymphocyte depletion was observed in thymus and paracortical regions of ileic lymph nodes. Immunized deficient rats showed no germinal centers or poorly developed ones in lymph nodes indicating their inability to respond normally to an antigenic stimulation. In experiment 2, the effect of maternal vitamin B(,6) deficiency on the developing immune system in rats was studied. Female rats (Sprague-Dawley) were fed diets containing 7, 0.6, 0, or 7 mg pyridoxine-HCl (PN-HCl)/kg during gestation and 7, 0.6, 7, or 0 mg PN-HCl/kg during lactation (groups C, MGL, DG and DL). Severe deficiency during gestation adversely affected thymus and spleen sizes of 2-day-old pups. Marginal restriction of vitamin B(,6) imposed on dams throughout gestation and lactation resulted in extremely low weights of thymus and spleen in 20-day-old pups. Severe restriction of vitamin B(,6) during lactation affected spleen weight more than thymus. After weaning, pups in groups, C, MGL, DG, and DL were fed diets containing 7, 0.6, 7, and 7 mg PN-HCl/kg, respectively. On day 42, pups of the MGL group had smaller thymuses and spleens. After 3 or 6 wk of vitamin B(,6) supplementation, weights of lymphoid tissues were restored to controls but the functional ability of ileic lymph nodes to respond to an antigenic stimulation remained impaired. Dietary restriction of vitamin B(,6) during either gestation or lactation did not significantly affect the humoral immune response of progeny. However, marginal restriction of vitamin B(,6) throughout gestation and lactation of dams and during a 21-day postweaning period of their pups resulted in depressed antibody titers of pups immunized with S. mutans