Performance implications of internet channels in financial services: A comprehensive perspective

Advances in information technology (IT) have forced financial services firms to explore new organizational forms and deliver service innovation. Given the obvious differences in the business model in which the financial services sector provides online services, it is natural to ask whether the emergence of Internet channels leads to superior achievement. Using a sample of twenty-four Taiwanese publicly traded financial services firms from 1997 to 2003, this empirical study attempts to assess the Internet channel??s effect on firm performance by means of applying event study methodology and data envelopment analysis. Results show that the magnitudes of average abnormal returns are uniformly positive and increase the operating efficiency of firms following announcements via Internet channels. This work therefore concludes that Internet channels have positive influences on firm performance.     

Utilizing an Animal Model to Identify Brain Neurodegeneration-Related Biomarkers in Aging

Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) regulates S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), a methyl donor in methylation. Over-expressed SAMe may cause neurogenic capacity reduction and memory impairment. GNMT knockout mice (GNMT-KO) was applied as an experimental model to evaluate its effect on neurons. In this study, proteins from brain tissues were studied using proteomic approaches, Haemotoxylin and Eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and ingenuity pathway analysis. The expression of Receptor-interacting protein 1(RIPK1) and Caspase 3 were up-regulated and activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) was down-regulated in GNMT-KO mice regardless of the age. Besides, proteins related to neuropathology, such as excitatory amino acid transporter 2, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit alpha, and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase were found only in the group of aged wild-type mice; 4-aminobutyrate amino transferase, limbic system-associated membrane protein, sodium- and chloride-dependent GABA transporter 3 and ProSAAS were found only in the group of young GNMT-KO mice and are related to function of neurons; serum albumin and Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor 1 were found only in the group of aged GNMT-KO mice and are connected to neurodegenerative disorders. With proteomic analyses, a pathway involving Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signal was found to be associated with aging. The GnRH pathway could provide additional information on the mechanism of aging and non-aging related neurodegeneration, and these protein markers may be served in developing future therapeutic treatments to ameliorate aging and prevent diseases.     

Ti(C,N)粉末制备技术的研究及进展

概括了国内外Ti(C,N)粉末的制备技术,特别系统地介绍了Ti(C,N)粉末的制备技术的最新进展,分析了这些制备技术的工艺过程和工艺特点,讨论了其存在的问题和发展趋势。     

碲铜系合金在饱和NH4Cl溶液中的腐蚀行为

用全浸失重法,研究了碲铜系合金在饱和NH4Cl溶液中的抗腐蚀性能,结合扫描电镜(SEM)、能谱仪(EDS)等测试方法,初步探讨了合金在饱和NH4Cl溶液中的腐蚀行为及腐蚀机制,结果表明碲铜系合金的抗腐蚀性优于纯铜,其腐蚀速率低于纯铜,原因在于碲、镁的加入,可降低纯铜中的非金属杂质含量,同时碲、镁的加入,可沿铜晶界以化合物的形式析出,有利地阻碍了纯铜的沿晶腐蚀.     

Hygroresponsive Torsional Yarns and Actuators Based on Cascade Amplification of the Deformation

Fiber-based hygroresponsive torsional actuators provide desirable merits, such as light weight and shapeability, for developing smart systems to harvest energy from moisture which is a ubiquitous natural resource. A key challenge in this development is to realize moisture-triggered actuation combining large actuation and rapid responses. Here, a multiscale design strategy is explored to create high-performance hygroresponsive torsional actuators consisting of chitosan and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The superior actuation performance arises from the synergism of contributing factors at different scales, including 1) MWNCTs accelerate the water transport in primary twisted fibers (PTFs), fostering the rotation of PTFs upon moisture stimuli; 2) in situ-formed hierarchically-assembled twists realize cascade amplification of moisture-triggered actuation. Specifically, PTFs are self-twisted to generate secondary helical yarns, that are subsequently over-twisted to yield tertiary coiled yarn. The resultant yarn actuator can reach a maximum rotation speed of 11 400 rpm in 5 s, output gravitational potential energy of 2.4 J kg⁻¹ and gravitational potential power of 0.053 W kg⁻¹ during contraction. This work represents the first design of fiber-based actuators by virtue of moisture-triggered in situ formation of yarns. The established principles of multiscale design will enable high-performance fiber-based hygroresponsive actuators toward advanced intelligent textile and soft robotics.     

（LPCCa）2（MgNi）17合金的吸放氢性能

研究了用部分Ca取代LPC（LPC为无钕镧镨铈混合稀土金属），同时用部分Ni取代Mg的（LPCCa）2（MgNi）17合金的吸放氢性能。比较了不同温度下，不同成分配比对合金贮氢性能的影响。其中，（LPC）1.9Ca0.1Mg15Ni2合金具有相对较低的放氢温度和较大的放氢节，住275℃的放氢量达3．43％（质量分数）。分析了（LPC）1.9Ca0.1Mg15Ni2的微观结构，同时对合金放氢温度降低的原冈进行了讨论。     

多孔钯的制备及其结构与性能

研究了以钯粉和碳酸钠为原料制备多孔钯的烧结-溶解新工艺，用FESEM分析了多孔钯的微观结构形貌，并进一步研究了制备的多孔钯的力学性能和氢同位素的交排换代性能。结果表明，烧结-溶解工艺能稳定地制备出孔隙率为85．29％-87．82％的多孔钯，其压缩强度大于2MPa。室温下孔隙率为87.30％的多孔钯对氘的单位质量吸收量为0．0767L／g，氢同位素排代交换率为86．2％。     

延缓与加速A1-Cu合金时效析出反应的研究

研究了溶质原子浓度、Si晶体第二相、残余形变、外加莫来石(Mullite)短纤维及其交互作用，对二元Al—Cu合金时效析出行为的影响。试验材料采用挤压铸造方法制备，复合材料中纤维体积分数为18％。实验结果表明：随溶质原子浓度的升高，A1-Cu二元合金中GP，θ″和θ′相的析出都得到了相应加快；Si含量超过一定值后，随Si含量增加，A1-Cu-Si合金中GP区形成受到抑制，而θ″和θ′相的析出得到加快；形变对GP区的抑制和对θ″，θ′和θ相的加速析出具有十分明显的作用；纤维本身除对GP区抑制和对θ″，θ′相的析出加速外，还会与溶质原子、合金元素或第二相以及残余形变交互作用，使GP区被抑制，而θ″，θ′甚至θ相被加速析出等现象进一步加强。用位错理论能较好地解释析出反应延缓与加速的微观机理。     

水下隧道穿越管道保护效果测试评价

本文通过对四川气田北干线涪江隧道穿越管道阴极保护电参数的现场测试，取得了实际可信的基础数据，验证了处于水下隧道洞内的穿越段管道，能得到陆上强制电流阴极保护系统的有效保护，保护电流所必经的岩石层和锚喷钢筋混凝土层对保护电流没有构成屏蔽的结论，对管道工程设计和运行管理具有指导作用。     

感应加热钢包炉的电磁与结构分析

通过电磁场数值计算，对国外感应加热钢包炉的电磁设计及包壳结构进行分析，为国内开发、应用和优化感应加热钢包炉提供基础。