The interactive nature of the internet has created many opportunities for mobile payment usage. In certain age groups and geographies, mobile payments have already unseated traditional means of effecting payment. In this study, 1,351 mobile payment users in Ghana were sampled using a structured questionnaire to investigate their intention to continue to use mobile payments technologies. The results showed that vendor reputation, word-of-mouth, and structural assurance significantly contribute to imbuing trust in mobile payment technology customers. When high levels of trust become identified with a brand, high numbers of customers choose to continue to use their current choice of mobile payment technology.
The hepatoportal area is an important glucohomeostatic metabolic sensor, sensing hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). We have reported previously that activation of hepatoportal sensors by intraportal infusion of glucose and GLP-1 or by subcutaneous administration of GLP-1 receptor activator exenatide and of intraportal glucose improved glycemia independent of corresponding changes in pancreatic hormones. It is not clear whether this effect is mediated via the portal vein (PV) or by direct action on the liver itself. To test whether receptors in the PV mediate exenatide's beneficial effect on glucose tolerance, we performed 1) paired oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) with and without exenatide and 2) intravenous glucose tolerance tests before and after PV denervation in canines. Denervation of the portal vein affected oral glucose tolerance; post-denervation (POST-DEN) OGTT glucose and insulin AUC were 50% higher than before denervation (P = 0.01). However, portal denervation did not impair exenatide's effect to improve oral glucose tolerance (exenatide effect: 48 ± 12 mmol·l⁻¹·min before vs. 64 ± 26 mmol·l⁻¹·min after, P = 0.67). There were no changes in insulin sensitivity or secretion during IVGTTs. Portal vein sensing might play a role in controlling oral glucose tolerance during physiological conditions but not in pharmacological activation of GLP-1 receptors by exenatide.
SGLT2 inhibition has positive effects on glucose balance, reducing fasting and postprandial glucose levels, however little is known about the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on lipid levels. PKPD simulation for this canine model was applied for dose selection of dapagliflozin (dapa). Seven dogs were fed a high fat diet for 6 weeks, then received a single low dose of streptozotocin (18.5mg/kg) to induce mild type 2 diabetes. Animals were exposed to dapa (n=4, 1.25mg/kg) or placebo (n=3) once per day for 6 weeks, while remaining on the high fat diet. Animals were then subjected to the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) to assess glucose tolerance and insulin response to glucose, and the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp protocol in conjunction with tracer infusions to evaluate adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and hepatic insulin sensitivity. In the IVGTT, modeling techniques are used to estimate the acute insulin response to a glucose bolus, which was not altered with dapa treatment, but insulin sensitivity was significantly improved compared to placebo-treated animals (dapa 0.54±0.22, control -0.95±0.51mU/l-1.minute-1, p=0.05). The glucose infusion required for euglycemia during steady state in the clamp was decreased with dapa (dapa -3.0±1.05, control 1.53±1.28 mg/minute/kg, change from pre-drug timepoint, P=0.038), supporting the IVGTT results. Urinary glucose disposal rate during the clamp was inconsistent. There is a trend towards higher FFA levels in dapa-treated animals under noninsulin stimulated conditions (P=0.054). These may be a regulator of hepatic glucose production, or reflect a switch towards lipid utilization. We conclude that 6 weeks of dapa treatment improves insulin sensitivity in a canine model of mild type 2 diabetes. Further studies on lipid metabolism, body fat deposition and insulin clearance are on-going. Disclosure R.L. Paszkiewicz: None. R.N. Bergman: Advisory Panel; Self; Ingredion, Inc.. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca. Consultant; Self; GI Dynamics Inc.. Research Support; Self; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Consultant; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. I. Asare Bediako: None. H.J. Mkrtchyan: None. V. Gopaul: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. H. Yang: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. E. Lundborg: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. S. Kim: None. I. Formentini: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. C.M. Kolka: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca.
Short‐term high fat feeding causes left ventricular dysfunction in a canine model of dietary obesity; however, the mechanism remains unknown. It is hypothesized that dietary fat composition plays an important role. To address this hypothesis, mongrel dogs were fed a normal diet (40/30/30, carb/fat/protein) supplemented with 6 g/kg of fat composed of either lard(n = 8, high in saturated fatty acids) or salmon oil (n = 8, high in polyunsaturated fatty acids); resulting in identical caloric composition (30/50/20, carb/fat/protein). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed to evaluate left ventricular (LV) volumes, mass, and myocardial deformation (by tissue tagging) at week 0 and week 6. Lard‐feeding dramatically worsened (all p<0.05) circumferential strain (mean+SE: from ‐12.0 + 0.9 to ‐8.99 + 0.8%) and LV torsion (from 6.7+0.7° to 4.4+0.6°) in all 8 dogs, with no changes in LV mass, arterial blood pressure or heart rate. In contrast, no changes in LV function were observed with salmon oil‐feeding, despite comparable increases in body mass between groups (+8% vs +10%, lard vs. salmon oil). Together, these data advance the hypothesis that saturated fatty acid uptake is cardiotoxic, and may have important implications for cardiovascular disease in obesity and diabetes.
The sole intention of this study was to examine the moderating effects of age and gender on electronic payment based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) theoretical model. Using a sample of 1098 respondents, we collected and analysed the data. The results confirm that “performance expectancy”, effort expectancy for male respondents were higher than the mean for female respondents while the mean score of the variable for social influence for female is higher than the male respondents. On the other hand, the findings statistically concluded that the moderating effect of age was significant.
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