Economics of Linux adoption in developing countries

Software globalization affects build-versus-buy decisions at every level and phase of the software development process. One of the most interesting and controversial issues is the expansion of Linux, an open source operating system, into software development efforts in developing countries. Linux is an interesting example of a globally available software product that has nontrivial choice and productivity implications for software projects in developing countries. We examine the positive and negative effects of adopting Linux and ways to achieve the greatest benefits for developing countries and policy makers. Linux communities and Linux-friendly companies can also help promote diversity and flexible options by working to make proprietary and open source operating systems more interoperable.     

Freestanding 1T‐MnxMo1–xS2–ySey and MoFe2S4–zSez Ultrathin Nanosheet‐Structured Electrodes for Highly Efficient Flexible Solid‐State Asymmetric Supercapacitors

Fabrication of hierarchical nanosheet arrays of 1T phase of transition‐metal dichalcogenides is indeed a critical task, but it holds immense potential for energy storage. A single‐step strategy is employed for the fabrication of stable 1T‐Mn_xMo_1–xS_2–ySe_y and MoFe₂S_4–zSe_z hierarchical nanosheet arrays on carbon cloth as positive and negative electrodes, respectively. The flexible asymmetric supercapacitor constructed with these two electrodes exhibits an excellent electrochemical performance (energy density of ≈69 Wh kg^?1 at a power density of 0.985 kW kg^?1) with ultralong cyclic stability of ≈83.5% capacity retention, after 10 000 consecutive cycles. Co‐doping of the metal and nonmetal boosts the charge storage ability of the transition‐metal chalcogenides following enrichment in the metallic 1T phase, improvement in the surface area, and expansion in the interlayer spacing in tandem, which is the key focus of the present study. This study explicitly demonstrates the exponential enhancement of specific capacity of MoS₂ following intercalation and doping of Mn and Se, and Fe₂S₃ following doping of Mo and Se could be an ideal direction for the fabrication of novel energy‐storage materials with high‐energy storage ability.     

Hierarchical Integrated Hybrid Structural Electrodes Based on Co-N/C and Mo-doped NiCo-LDH@Co-N/C Anchored on MX/CF for High Energy Density Fiber-Shaped Supercapacitor

The judicious design of highly electrochemically active materials on 1D fiber substrate to form a hierarchical integrated hybrid structure is an efficient technique to improve the limited cylindrical space and volumetric energy density of fiber-shaped supercapacitors (FSCs). Herein, a 3D negative electrode, consisting of vertically aligned interconnected mesoporous Co-N/C leaf-like structure on 1D MXene-carbon fiber (Co-N/C@MX/CF) is prepared by controlling the composition and morphology. At the same time, a 3D positive electrode is also prepared by introducing Mo in NiCo-LDH anchored on Co-N/C@MX/CF (Mo-NiCo-LDH@Co-N/C@MX/CF) by electrodeposition method. Benefitting from the systematic hierarchical structures with highly accessible surface area, adequate pore size and easy permeation of electrolyte, both positive and negative electrodes demonstrate highly improved electrochemical performance with areal capacity/capacitance of 0.96 mAh cm⁻²/4.55 mF cm⁻² at a current density of 3.86 mA cm⁻², respectively. Furthermore, the fiber-shaped solid-state hybrid supercapacitor (FSHSC) based on Mo_1.5NiCo-LDH@Co-N/C@MX/CF(+)//Co-N/C_0.5@MX/CF(−) is fabricated, exhibiting compelling energy density of 86.72 mWh cm⁻³ at a power density of 480.30 mW cm⁻³ with an outstanding capacitance retention of 80.2% after 20000 galvanostatic-charge-discharge cycles. This study puts forward a new perspective on the development of highly efficient FSCs for practical application.     

Increasing Returns and the Diffusion of Linux in China

China's unique combination of institutions, industries, and markets has fostered the generation and use of Linux-related innovations. Analyzing increasing returns provides key insight into this proliferation.     

Yb/Er/Ho-α-SiAlON ceramics for high-temperature optical thermometry

Maximum operating temperature in optical thermometry is limited due to poor thermal stability of the sensing material at high temperatures. Here, Yb, Er and Ho-doped α-SiAlON (Yb/Er/Ho-α-SiAlON) ceramic prepared by hot press method has been studied for optical thermometry via upconversion under 980 nm excitation. The phase of the sintered ceramic has been confirmed by Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction data. The temperature-dependent upconversion was studied in a wide temperature range of 298–1023 K and fluorescence intensity ratio technique was used for temperature sensing behavior. Excellent spectral/thermal stability over the investigated temperature range was observed for the Yb/Er/Ho-α-SiAlON as the sensing material. The maximum values of absolute and relative sensitivity based on the thermally coupled levels of Er³⁺ are 59.2 × 10^?4 K^?1 and 1.10 %.K^?1 at 298 K and that based on non-thermally coupled levels are 108 × 10^?4 K^?1 at 385 K and 0.345 %.K^?1 at 329 K, respectively.     

Cybercrime and cyber-security issues associated with China: some economic and institutional considerations

China is linked to cybercrimes of diverse types, scales, motivations and objectives. The Chinese cyberspace thus provides an interesting setting for the study of cybercrimes. In this paper, we first develop typology, classification and characterization of cybercrimes associated with China, which would help us understand modus operandi, structures, profiles and personal characteristics of cybercrime organizations and potential perpetrators, the signature aspects and goals of cybercrimes, the nature and backgrounds of the criminal groups involved, characteristics of potential targets for criminal activities, the nature and extent of the damage inflicted on the victims and the implications to and responses elicited from various actors. We then examine this issue from developmental and international political economy angles. Specifically, we delineate salient features of China’s politics, culture, human capital and technological issues from the standpoint of cyber-security and analyze emerging international relations and international trade issues associated with this phenomenon. Our analysis indicates that China’s global ambition, the shift in the base of regime legitimacy from MarxLeninism to economic growth, the strong state and weak civil society explain the distinctive pattern of the country’s cyber-attack and cyber-security landscapes.     

Efficient Near Infrared to Visible and Near‐Infrared Upconversion Emissions in Transparent (Tm3+, Er3+)‐α‐Sialon Ceramics

Intense visible and near‐infrared frequency upconversion and a frequency downconversion photoluminescence have been reported for the first time in Tm³⁺ and Er³⁺ co‐doped transparent α‐Sialon ceramics under 980 nm excitation. The α‐Sialon ceramics were prepared by hot‐press sintering technique. Intense upconversion bands at 554, 678, 803 nm, and a downconversion band at 1530 nm were observed as a result of the efficient energy transfer between Er³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions. The quadratic dependence of upconversion intensities on the excitation power indicates that the upconversion process is governed by two‐photon absorption process. The sintered samples of thickness 0.20 mm have transparency above 80% in the range of 2000 to 4200 nm and it reaches as high as 82% at 3350 nm. Moderately low phonon energy was found with the highest frequency band at 828 cm^?1. These novel properties manifest the potential applications of transparent α‐Sialon ceramics as a multifunctional material.     

Structural shifts in the Chinese software industry

The Chinese commercial software industry, although lagging behind India's, has recently been undergoing major structural shifts that could make it the Asian industry leader. As in any economic sector, companies in the software industry need to realign and adapt to major technological and market changes. The Indian software industry doesn't seem to make efforts to realign and adapt to technology and market changes. On the other hand, the Chinese software industry is undergoing major interrelated structural shifts in many respects.     

Barriers to e-commerce and competitive business models in developing countries: A case study

This paper integrates and extends research on e-commerce in the developing world. We use three categories of feedback systems–economic, sociopolitical and cognitive—to offer a simple model of e-commerce barriers in the developing world. We also examine characteristics of e-business models that can be successfully employed in developing countries. Then, we provide the case of an e-business model followed by a Nepal-based multiple international award winning online provider. This paper’s theoretical contribution is to explain the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of e-commerce in developing countries and to identify clear contexts and attendant mechanism.     

The simple economics of cybercrimes

The characteristics of cybercriminals, cybercrime victims, and law enforcement agencies have a reinforcing effect on each other, leading to a vicious circle of cybercrime. In this article, the author assessed the cost-benefit structure of cybercriminals. From the potential victims' perspectives, an economic analysis can help explain the optimum investment necessary as well as the measures required to prevent hackers from cracking into their computer networks. The analysis from the cybercriminal's viewpoint also provides insight into factors that might encourage and energize his or her behavior.