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

Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors-Induced Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: From Its Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Practice

With the increasing use of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), for the treatment of malignancies, cases of ICI-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (ICI-T1DM) have been reported globally. This review focuses on the features and pathogenesis of this disease. T1DM is an immune-related adverse event that occurs following the administration of anti-PD-1 or anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) alone or in combination with anti-CTLA-4. More than half of the reported cases presented as abrupt-onset diabetic ketoacidosis. The primary mechanism of ICI-T1DM is T-cell stimulation, which results from the loss of interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1 in pancreatic islet. The similarities and differences between ICI-T1DM and classical T1DM may provide insights into this disease entity. ICI-T1DM is a rare but often life-threatening medical emergency that healthcare professionals and patients need to be aware of. Early detection of and screening for this disease is imperative. At present, the only known treatment for ICI-T1DM is insulin injection. Further research into the mechanisms and risk factors associated with ICI-T1DM development may contribute to a better understanding of this disease entity and the identification of possible preventive strategies

The Study on the Subjective Life Satisfaction That the Elderly Perceives in Long-term Care Facility and on the Influence Factors

The objectives of this study are to evaluate influences of environmental factors in elderly long-term care facility on life satisfaction of the elderly who live in the facility; to derive major determinants that affect level of life satisfaction; and thus to provide fundamental information for use in improving life satisfaction of the elderly in currently operating long-term care facilities as well as newly constructed elderly long-term care facilities. This study targeted at 252 of the elderly with age of 56 or greater who lived in the long-term care facility located in D city. The collected data in this study were statistically analyzed using SPSS20.0 program. As results, it was observed that among sociodemographic determinants, gender, religion, and state of health affected life satisfaction. Second, environmental factors showed significant impact on elderly life satisfaction. In terms of the basic environment, amenities had statistically significant impact on odor management, so did health management in structural environment. Third, integrated model presented significant impact on life satisfaction of the elderly living in facility. Based on the aforementioned study findings, this study suggested regulatory measures to improve life satisfaction of the elderly who are living in long-term care facility

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

Effect of interlayer interactions on exciton luminescence in atomic-layered MoS2 crystals

The atomic-layered semiconducting materials of transition metal dichalcogenides are considered effective light sources with both potential applications in thin and flexible optoelectronics and novel functionalities. In spite of the great interest in optoelectronic properties of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, the excitonic properties still need to be addressed, specifically in terms of the interlayer interactions. Here, we report the distinct behavior of the A and B excitons in the presence of interlayer interactions of layered MoS 2 crystals. Micro-photoluminescence spectroscopic studies reveal that on the interlayer interactions in double layer MoS 2 crystals, the emission quantum yield of the A exciton is drastically changed, whereas that of the B exciton remains nearly constant for both single and double layer MoS 2 crystals. First-principles density functional theory calculations confirm that a significant charge redistribution occurs in the double layer MoS 2 due to the interlayer interactions producing a local electric field at the interfacial region. Analogous to the quantum-confined Stark effect, we suggest that the distinct behavior of the A and B excitons can be explained by a simplified band-bending model.1

The Analysis of Antecedents for the Video Telephony Service Adoption: From the Value-Based Perspective

Korean Telecommunications Industry has a large scale market and boasts on high service quality and high technologies enough to provide the Video Telephony Service (VTS) satisfactorily. For many years, Korean telephone companies have been investing enormous sums to advertise their services widely and to allow their customers to change their cell phones for the third-generation (3G) devices indispensable for the service. However, despite their efforts, the VTS adoption rate in Korea is very low and it seems that customers seldom feel the necessity to use. From this viewpoint, it becomes necessary to find the antecedents influencing the intention to use for the VTS empirically. For this purpose, we proposed several hypotheses from the perspective of the Value-based Adoption Model (VAM). VAM is a conceptual model suggested to overcome some limitations of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in explaining the adoption of new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) such as Mobile Internet where customers play the role of service consumer rather than simply technology users. We conducted a survey on 125 samples and found that customers perceive the value of VTS when they can recognize the service is functionally useful (Perceived Usefulness) and when they feel they can put themselves forward by using it (Self-Expression). On the other hand, the other factors including Technical Complexity, Privacy Concern and Perceived Price (Fee) don’t have statistically significant influences on the Perceived Value of VTS

Antioxidant effect of lidocaine and procaine on reactive oxygen species-induced endothelial dysfunction in the rabbit abdominal aorta

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce lipid peroxidation and tissue damage in the endothelium. We tested the antioxidant effect of lidocaine and procaine on ROS-induced endothelial damage in the rabbit aorta. Methods: Aortic rings isolated from rabbits were suspended in an organ bath filled with Krebs-Henseleit (K-H) solution bubbled with 5% CO2 and 95% O 2 at 37.5??C. After precontraction with phenylephrine (PE, 10 -6 M), changes in tension were recorded following a cumulative administration of acetylcholine (ACh 3 ?? 10-8 to 10 -6 M). Differences were measured as percentages of ACh-induced relaxation of aortic rings before and after exposure to ROS as generated by electrolysis of the K-H solution. The aortic rings were pretreated with lidocaine or procaine (10-5 M to 3 ?? 10-3 M) to compare their effects, as well as ROS scavengers, catalase, mannitol, sodium salicylate, and deferoxamine, and a catalase inhibitor, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3AT). Results: Lidocaine and procaine dose-dependently maintained endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by ACh despite ROS activity (P < 0.05 vs control value). The 3AT pretreated procaine (3 ?? 10-3 M) group decreased more significantly than the un-pretreated procaine group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that lidocaine and procaine dose-dependently preserve endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation against ROS attack, potentially via hydrogen peroxide scavenging. Copyright ?? Korean Society of Anesthesiologists, 2010