Persuasion in Mobile Financial Service: A Case Study with a Bank Savings Mobile Application

Financial institutions are undergoing a technology transformation. The digitization now drives the addition of new services and expectations. In this context, mobile has become a strategic channel to encourage users to adopt specific behaviors and change habits effortlessly. The research question underlying this study focuses on mobile banking applications and how they could support the adoption of savings behaviors. A qualitative study was conducted, in order to evaluate the persuasiveness embedded in a mobile bank saving app. Three experts in human-computer interaction (HCI) assessed the mobile app interfaces through a scientific grid of persuasive criteria to guide their heuristic inspection. Results confirm both a satisfactory level of persuasiveness of the mobile app and the dynamic application of persuasive criteria. The study shows that a mobile app involving certain specific features supports a positive banking customer’s experience related to savings. This study contributes to the user experience field, showing that mobile apps can support behavioral change when persuasiveness is embedded in the design process. Using a valid and reliable assessment method to establish the level of persuasiveness of a bank savings mobile app, this study confirms that the persuasion grid is applicable to mobile interfaces

Respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness among industrial workers exposed to different classes of occupational agents: a study from Algeria

Occupational exposures play a role in the onset of several chronic airway diseases. We investigated, in a cross-sectional study, lung function parameters and bronchial hyper-responsiveness to histamine in workers exposed to different airborne compounds

Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate

The report provides the comprehensive risk assessment of the substance Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). It has been prepared by Belgium in the frame of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 793/93 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances, following the principles for assessment of the risks to humans and the environment, laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1488/94. Part I - Environment This part of the evaluation considers the emissions and the resulting exposure to the environment in all life cycle steps. Following the exposure assessment, the environmental risk characterisation for each protection goal in the aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric compartment has been determined. The environmental risk assessment concludes that there is no concern. Part II ¿ Human Health This part of the evaluation considers the emissions and the resulting exposure to human populations in all life cycle steps. The scenarios for occupational exposure, consumer exposure and humans exposed via the environment have been examined and the possible risks have been identified. The human health risk assessment concludes that there is concern for workers and consumers with regard to irritation of skin, eye and respiratory tract, skin sensitisation and lung effects induced by repeated inhalation exposure. There is a need for further information and for testing (on hold) on the toxicity for fertility for workers and consumers. For humans exposed via the environment and for human health (physico-chemical properties) there is no concern. The conclusions of this report will lead to risk reduction measures to be proposed by the Commission¿s committee on risk reduction strategies set up in support of Council Regulation (EEC) N. 793/93.JRC.DDG.I.2-Chemical assessment and testin

Socio-cultural determinants and impact of HIV infection in the Sudan

Background: Sudan, among the Subsaharan African countries has a low prevalence of HIV infection particularly in the North of the predominantly Muslim population. The peace agreement (2005) which stopped the civil war in the South opened the boarders with the HIV-high prevalence countries of Central and West Africa. This is expected to increase the transmission of HIV in the whole of Sudan. Methods and results: The present study interviewed 635 HIV positive individuals reporting for testing in three voluntary counseling and treatment (VCT) centres in Khartoum. Socio-cultural determinants of the infection showed that the young adults less than 50 years constitute 66.1% of all infected, with 60% males, 40% females and majority 64.9% are either illiterate or had minimum level of education. 61% of them were Muslims and 39% were Christians or non believers, 50.1% were married. The quality of life changed in 89% of individuals.Conclusion: It is concluded that the infection with HIV in Sudan may increase and health education messages need to be tailored according to the sociocultural determinants of the infection in a multicultural, multi-religious country like the Sudan. Muslims will not be protected against HIV infection unless they adhere to the code of Islam.Keywords: human immuno-deficiency virus, Muslims, Subsahara