Investigating the Role of Network Exteranlities and Perceived Value in User Loyalty Toward a SNS Site: Integrating Network Externalities and VTSL Model

As the number of SNSs increases, it is challenging for SNS providers to obtain and retain user loyalty toward a SNS site. By integrating both network externalities theory and VTSL (Value-Trust-Satisfaction-Loyalty) model, we propose a research model to investigate how perceived value derived from network externalities affects trust in SNS site and user satisfaction, which further lead to user loyalty. Data analysis was conducted using a total of 267 responses. The results show that perceived network size and perceived complementarity exert significant effect on functional, emotional, and social value. It is also shown that functional and social value influence positively on trust in SNS site, but emotional value is not related to trust. Functional and emotional value are found to be significant determinants of user satisfaction, however social value is not related to user satisfaction. User satisfaction is found to be a strong determinant of user loyalty. Given the findings, SNS providers need to increase network size and accommodate complementary services, applications, and supporting tools to obtain and retain user loyalty

Production of Transgenic Cloned Miniature Pigs with Membrane-bound Human Fas Ligand (FasL) by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Cell-mediated xenograft rejection, including NK cells and CD8+ CTL, is a major obstacle in successful pig-to-human xenotransplantation. Human CD8+ CTL and NK cells display high cytotoxicity for pig cells, mediated at least in part by the Fas/FasL pathway. To prevent cell-mediated xenocytotoxicity, a membrane-bound form of human FasL (mFasL) was generated as an inhibitor for CTL and NK cell cytotoxicity that could not be cleaved by metalloproteinase to produce putative soluble FasL. We produced two healthy transgenic pigs harboring the mFasL gene via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In a cytotoxicity assay using transgenic clonal cell lines and transgenic pig ear cells, the rate of CD8+ CTL-mediated cytotoxicity was significantly reduced in transgenic pig's ear cells compared with that in normal minipig fetal fibroblasts. Our data indicate that grafts of transgenic pigs expressing membrane-bound human FasL control the cellular immune response to xenografts, creating a window of opportunity to facilitate xenograft survival

Methods of weight estimation in pediatric resuscitation

Knowing a pediatric patient's weight is crucial in resuscitation since the decision on the dose of resuscitation drug and the size of the instrument is made mostly based on a patient's weight. However, using a scale may not always be practical in resuscitation. Therefore, it is important to know the methods of weight estimation in resuscitation. The weight estimation can be performed based on various factors: visual assessment, age, height, and body habitus. One of the most common problems of these methods is that the weight tends to be underestimated as a patient's age increases. This is due to an inappropriate reflection of body habitus. Further research is needed to overcome this problem

INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF NETWORK EXTERANLITIES AND PERCEIVED VALUE IN USER LOYALTY TOWARD A SNS SITE: INTEGRATING NETWORK EXTERNALITIES AND VTSL MODEL

Abstract As the number of SNSs increases, it is challenging for SNS providers to obtain and retai