Mobile commerce and device specific perceived risk

This study examines the role of perceived risk and access device type on consumers’ on-line purchase decisions. We use a two-step hurdle approach to estimate consumer behavior. In the first step, the decision of whether to engage in eCommerce is estimated and in the second step, how many orders to place is estimated. We use a large multi-year survey sample of households from Canada’s national statistical agency—Statistics Canada. The sample size is such that we are able to conduct sub-sample analysis of PC-only users, mobile-only users, and other-users. We show that online security and price significantly influence mobile eCommerce. We also show that there is a statistically significant difference in the intensity of eCommerce engagement across device type and consumer risk type (high/low). One of our main findings is that perceived risk affects purchase decisions for mobile users more than PC users, however additional comparisons are carried out with our analysis.     

A model of information warfare in a society under a periodic destabilizing effect

A model of information warfare in a society when one of the parties periodically destabilizes the system by a short-term jump-wise increase in the intensity of the propaganda in the media is analyzed. The model has the form of two nonlinear ordinary differential equations with a periodic discontinuous right-hand side. The asymptotical solution to the periodic solutions are constructed for the case of low-intensity dissemination of information through interpersonal communication. The transient regime is investigated numerically.     

Current-induced resonance in ferromagnet-antiferromagnet junctions

The response of a ferromagnet-antiferromagnet junction to a high-frequency magnetic field is calculated as a function of the spin-polarized current density through the junction. Conditions are chosen under which the response is zero in absence of such a current. It is shown that increasing in the current density leads to proportional increase in the resonance frequency and resonant absorption. A principal possibility is indicated of using ferromagnet-antiferromagnet junction as a terahertz radiation detector.     

A new type of gas sensor based on the thermovoltaic effect in zinc oxide inhomogeneously doped with mixed-valence impurities

We propose a new type of potentiometric gas sensor operating on the basis of the thermovoltaic effect in uniformly heated (without temperature gradients) ZnO/ZnO–Fe sandwich structures obtained by the sol–gel method. It is established that a significant contribution to the gas responsivity of sensors is related to the thickness of the upper doped layer of the structure.     

Mechanism of terahertz photoconductivity in semimetallic HgTe/CdHgTe quantum wells

Terahertz photoconductivity in magnetic fields in semimetallic HgTe/CdHgTe quantum wells has been studied. The main contribution to photoconductivity comes from a signal that appears as a result of electron-gas heating. It is shown that, with the cyclotron resonance conditions satisfied, the photoconductivity signal is composed of cyclotron-resonance and bolometric components. However, in this case too, the bolometric contribution predominates.     

Installations for producing electrospark erosion- and abrasion-resistant coatings on the blades of steam turbines of thermal and nuclear power plants

This article is devoted to the creation of installations for generating electric spark erosion- and abrasion-resistant protective and strengthening coatings on the blades of steam turbines of thermal and nuclear power plants such as GBF and KGB, developed and manufactured by the OAO VTI. A characteristic feature of the installations is the fact that they are equipped with electromechanical exciters with a high service life and reliability compared to electromagnetic ones. The study data for the electrical characteristics of the KGB-5 installation are presented.     

Analysis of the Fe–Ce–O–C–<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis> phase diagrams (<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis> = Ca,Mg, Al,Si) by constructing a component-solubility surface

Analysis of the ternary phase diagrams of Ce₂O₃- and CeO₂-containing oxide systems allowed us to find the oxide compounds that form during steel deoxidizing with cerium and with cerium together with aluminum, calcium, magnesium, or silicon. The temperature dependences of the equilibrium constants of formation of Ce₂O₃ oxides and Ce₂O₃ · Al₂O₃, Ce₂O₃ · 11Al₂O₃, Ce₂O₃ · 2SiO₂, 7Ce₂O₃ · 9SiO₂ and Ce₂O₃ · SiO₂ compounds are found. Surfaces for the component solubility in metallic melts Fe–Al–Ce–O–C, Fe- Ca–Ce–O–C, Fe–Mg–Ce–O–C, and Fe–Si–Ce–O–C are constructed. Nonmetallic inclusions that form in the course of experimental melts of St20 steel after its deoxidizing with silicocalcium and rare-earth metal (REM)-containing master alloys in a ladle furnace after degassing are studied. Phase inhomogeneity of the inclusions is found. As a rule, they consist of phases classified into the following three groups: oxide–sulfide, sulfide–oxide, and multiphase oxide–sulfide melt. Calcium aluminates are found to be components of complex sulfide-oxide noncorrosive inclusions.