Using information-systems constructs to study online- and telephone-banking technologies

The research literature has seen a number of studies aimed at understanding customer attitudes towards banking technologies, and thereby providing implications for developmental planning and marketing. However, even though banking technologies have a significant amount of information systems (IS) component to them, there is a paucity of research that considers them from the IS perspective. In this paper, we fill this gap by considering three constructs, namely usefulness, ease of use and usage, that are all rooted in the IS literature. We study user’s perceptions of these constructs, as well as the relationships among them, for both online and telephone banking.     

Experimental investigation on surface radiation properties’ degradation of solar collector receiver tube material

In this study, we have investigated the degradation characteristics of surface radiation heat transfer properties of stainless steel 304. The emissivity (ε) and absorptivity (α) of stainless steel has been measured for a surface unexposed to sunlight and that exposed to sunlight for various time intervals (240, 480, 720, and 960?h). The temperature dependence of these properties is also measured for the temperature range of 30–300°C at 10 equal intervals. It is observed that the emissivity of the material increased when it is exposed to sunlight and the temperature dependence is very strong beyond 180°C. The absorptivity of the material increases first and then starts to decrease with exposure time. The combined effect of decrease in absorptivity and increase in emissivity leads to reduction in aS/E ratio, which results in a higher rate of radiation loss for exposed surfaces when compared to that for the unexposed surfaces.     

The Effect of Gradual Fluorination on the Properties of FnZnPc Thin Films and FnZnPc/C60 Bilayer Photovoltaic Cells

Motivated by the possibility of modifying energy levels of a molecule without substantially changing its band gap, the impact of gradual fluorination on the optical and structural properties of zinc phthalocyanine (F_nZnPc) thin films and the electronic characteristics of F_nZnPc/C₆₀ (n = 0, 4, 8, 16) bilayer cells is investigated. UV–vis measurements reveal similar Q‐ and B‐band absorption of F_nZnPc thin films with n = 0, 4, 8, whereas for F₁₆ZnPc a different absorption pattern is detected. A correlation between structure and electronic transport is deduced. For F₄ZnPc/C₆₀ cells, the enhanced long range order supports fill factors of 55% and an increase of the short circuit current density by 18%, compared to ZnPc/C₆₀. As a parameter being sensitive to the organic/organic interface energetics, the open circuit voltage is analyzed. An enhancement of this quantity by 27% and 50% is detected for F₄ZnPc‐ and F₈ZnPc‐based devices, respectively, and is attributed to an increase of the quasi‐Fermi level splitting at the donor/acceptor interface. In contrast, for F₁₆ZnPc/C₆₀ a decrease of the open circuit voltage is observed. Complementary photoelectron spectroscopy, external quantum efficiency, and photoluminescence measurements reveal a different working principle, which is ascribed to the particular energy level alignment at the interface of the photoactive materials.     

Multiferroic Consequence of Porous (BiFeO_3)_x–(BiCrO_3)_(1-x) Composite Thin Films by Novel Sol–Gel Method

In this work, we have presented a spin-coating method to produce thin films started with pure BiCrO_3(BCO) and ended up with BiFeO_3(BFO) by increasing x values in the(BiFeO_3)_x–(BiCrO_3)_(1-x)composites. All the produced thin films have been crystallized at the annealing temperatures of 400 °C for 0.5 h. The XRD and EDAX spectrums give insight that the two crystal phases related to BCO and BFO stayed together within the thin film matrices. SEM analysis showed that the prepared composite had macroporous morphology with interconnected pores and its width(size) decreased with increasing x values. The strong correlations are observed among the microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric, ferromagnetic properties and Fe concentration. Among all composites, the composition of 0.75 shows an attractive magnetization, polarization, switching and improved dielectric behaviors at room temperature. Significant increase in the multiferroic characteristics of 0.75 composition is due to arise of lower leakage current by causing reduction in oxygen vacancy density, and enhancement of super-exchange magnetic interaction between Fe~(3+) and Cr~(3+) at BFO/BCO interface layers. Our result shows that the thin layer on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO_2/Si substrate possesses simultaneously improved ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties which make an inaccessible potential application for nonvolatile ferroelectric memories.     

Action-research-based optimisation model for health care behaviour change in rural India

In this research, we utilise a multi-method braided approach for a real-world health care intervention in rural India. We first use action research to conceptually underpin the role of self-help groups, disease profiles and appropriate interventions in health care behaviour change and improvement. Action research is then coupled with a non-linear integer-programming-based simulation to determine how health care resources need to be distributed over time, disease type and groups. The action research provides specific research questions and distributional forms needed for the optimisation analysis, while the non-linear integer-programming simulation provides specific recommendations on where and when to distribute resources. External validity of the study is ensured by the adoption of recommendations in the field as part of the action research. Findings from this research have important policy implications. For example, it identifies the value of continuous embedded interventions as opposed to periodic ones and the importance of flexibility in terms of which community groups and disease types to serve over time. This research also provides an important bridge between the operations research, health care in developing nations, organisational theory and humanitarian operations bodies of knowledge.     

Synthesis and characterization of some new polyurethaneoximes

Two new polyurethaneoximes containing double and triple bonds in the main chain were prepared. An in situ preparation of 2-butene-1,4-diisocyanate and 2-butyne-1,4-diisocyanate and their polycondensation with dimethylglyoxime yielded polymers of low molecular weight. The UV, IR, NMR, DSC and TGA analyses of these polymers are reported. The possible mechanism of thermal degradation of one of the polymers is discussed.     

Silver nanorods induced oxidative stress and chromosomal aberrations in the Allium cepa model

The production of different size and shape silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has increased considerably in recent years due to several commercial and biological applications. Here, rod‐shaped AgNPs (SNRs) were prepared using the microwave‐assisted method and characterised by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The present study aims to investigate the cyto–genotoxic effect of various concentrations (5, 10, and 15 µM) of SNRs using Allium cepa model. As a result, concentration‐dependent cyto–genotoxic effect of SNRs was observed through a decrease in the mitotic index, and an increase in the chromosomal aberrations such as chromosome break, disturbed metaphase, and anaphase bridge. To check the impact of Ag⁺ ions, 15 µM silver nitrate (AgNO₃) was prepared and tested in all the assays. Furthermore, cell viability and different reactive oxygen species assays were performed to test the cytotoxicity evaluation of SNRs. The authors found that in all the tested assays, SNRs at high concentrations (15 µM) and AgNO₃ (15 µM) were observed to cause maximal damage to the roots. Therefore, the current study implies that the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of SNRs were dependent on the concentration of SNRs.Inspec keywords: ultraviolet spectra, biomedical materials, silver, cellular biophysics, nanorods, toxicology, visible spectra, nanoparticles, nanofabrication, transmission electron microscopy, nanomedicine, aberrations, microwave materials processingOther keywords: biological applications, rod‐shaped AgNPs, microwave‐assisted method, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, chromosomal aberrations, chromosome break, silver nitrate, reactive oxygen species assays, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, silver nanorods, oxidative stress, shape silver nanoparticles, concentration‐dependent cyto‐genotoxic effect, Allium cepa model, mitotic index, disturbed metaphase, anaphase bridge, cell viability, cytotoxicity evaluation, Ag     

Grain Floatation During Equiaxed Solidification of an Al-Cu Alloy in a Side-Cooled Cavity: Part I—Experimental Studies

Experimental studies were performed to investigate the role and influence of grain movement on macrosegregation and microstructure evolution during equiaxed solidification. Casting experiments were performed with a grain-refined Al-Cu alloy in a rectangular sand mold. For the aluminum alloy studied, the equiaxed grains are lighter than the bulk melt and thus float up. Experiments were designed to investigate floatation phenomena of equiaxed grains in the presence of thermosolutal convection. Cooling curves were recorded at key locations in both the casting and the chill. Quantitative image analysis and spatial chemical analysis were performed on the solidified casting to observe the chemical and microstructural inhomogeneity created by the melt convection and solid floatation. Several notable features that can be attributed to grain movement were observed in temperature histories, macrosegregation patterns, and microstructures. In our experiments, the floatation of grains influences the thermal conditions and the overall flow direction in the casting cavity. In some cases, the induced flow resulting from the grain movement caused a flow reversal. This in turn influences the solidification direction, microstructure evolution, and the overall macrosegregation behavior.     

Evaluation of enterprise information technologies: a decision model for high-level consideration of strategic and operational issues

Despite the possibility of short-term financial losses and concerns by executive management of potential failure, enterprise information technologies (EITs) are being implemented by a growing number of Fortune 100 and midsize corporations in the hope of acquiring long-term benefits. EITs, expensive and risky information technology assets, must be evaluated on the basis of both their productivity gains and their support for corporate reengineering through integration of business processes. In this paper, we propose a two-stage methodology (involving a combination of the analytical network process and integer programming) to conduct a high-level evaluation of an interdependent set of tangible, intangible, strategic and operational factors that should be considered in EIT evaluation. We perform sensitivity analyses and conduct tests with real-world data to show the robustness of our methodology and the resulting managerial implications.