The determinants of investment in information and communication technologies

In this paper, we assess the determinants of information and communication technology (ICT) investment at the macro-level, for a panel of 10 advanced countries, in the period 1992–2005. We investigate the idea that, since ICTs are general purpose technologies, the decision to invest in these technologies is strongly affected by the general business environment in which the investment takes place. The empirical results are consistent with this idea: facilitating factors such as changes in market regulation, amount of human capital, expenditure on R&D, and the share of the dynamic services sector in the economy, positively influence investment in ICT.     

User Perceptions of Mobile and Online Channels for Purchasing Financial Products

ABSTRACT

This study investigates users' perceptions of costs and benefits of mobile versus online, PC-based, channels for accessing financial information and completing financial transactions. Results indicate that, in the financial services context, the mobile channel has no perceived advantages over the online channel. The older online channel does have several perceived advantages related to transaction cost, risk, ease of use, meeting financial goals, and information accessibility. The channels are similar on four dimensions, but most of the similarities arise because the online and mobile channels enable purchase of the same financial products. Finally, users are more willing to use the mobile channel for less risky tasks (accessing information) than they are for more risky tasks (buying financial products).     

建构中专班主任与学生心灵沟通的桥梁

作为中专班主任应了解新时期职高生的特点,根据其角色意识的觉醒,建构心灵沟通的桥梁,并总结新时期中专班主任工作应具备的理念。     

基于一体化平台的供电局调度通信系统研究

随着我国经济的飞速发展,城市化进程加快,居民生活水平不断提高,我国对能源的需求日益增加。电能是国家的重要能源之一,供电系统作为国家电网的基础设施,其健康运行是经济发展、社会和谐稳定的重要保证。供电系统的调度承担着指挥、协调电力系统正常运行的重要职责,因此我们要对供电系统的调度通信系统有充分的认识,并加以有效利用,从而保障电力系统的安全、稳定运行。     

Consumers un-tethered: A three-market empirical study of consumers' mobile marketing acceptance

This study examines factors influencing consumers' acceptance of mobile marketing across three influential markets, namely U.S., China, and Europe. The authors develop an integrative conceptual model on consumers' attitudes and behaviors toward mobile marketing. The authors incorporate three individual-level characteristics, namely personal attachment, innovativeness, and risk avoidance and investigate how permission-based acceptance influences the relationship between consumers' attitude and mobile marketing activity. Focusing on Generation Y consumers, the model is empirically tested with data from U.S., China, and Europe. The findings illustrate several cross-market differences and similarities regarding the relationships between individual-level characteristics, attitude, and mobile marketing activity. Research and managerial implications of these findings are discussed.     

Telecentres for sustainable rural development: Review and case study of a South African rural telecentre

This paper evaluates a South African rural telecentre that may serve as a ‘best practice’ model. The paper first provides a brief literature review of telecentres and the role of information and communication technology in economic development. A qualitative evaluation of a case study is presented within the context of sustainability considerations and development outcomes; that is, showing how the telecentre has improved the lives of the rural community at Thabina. Some of the observed economic development impacts are listed in the paper and an attempt is made to capture the essence of the vital links between the use of information and communication technology (technology transfer), human development, education and economic development.     

Effectiveness of mobile application for menstrual management of working women in Japan: randomized controlled trial and medical economic evaluation

Abstract

Aims: Hormonal imbalances can affect a woman’s physical and mental condition, impacting her daily life and productivity. A mobile application, “Karada-no-kimochi”, predicts the menstrual cycle based on recorded data, and provides the information regarding menstruation. This study investigates the effectiveness of the application from health condition and labor productivity loss perspectives, and evaluates its cost-effectiveness for employed women in Japan.

Materials and methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed to compare the use of the application and non-intervention in female workers (20–45 years) based on an online survey. A discrete-event model based on the RCT data, published literature, and claims data was used for the cost-effectiveness analysis.

Results: The intervention and non-intervention groups comprised 612 and 914 women, respectively. In the intervention group, the incidences of depression (0.16%) and dysmenorrhea (0.33%) were significantly lower than those of the non-intervention group (0.77% and 1.31%, respectively) in the third month. While labor productivity and absenteeism varied, presenteeism showed almost no change across groups. The quality-adjusted life year in the intervention group was 6.84 (0.07 higher than that in the non-intervention group). By analyzing medical expenses and making assumptions regarding productivity, we estimated that the aggregate of medical expenses, productivity loss, and application fee for the intervention group could be lower than that of the non-intervention group by over JPY 130,000 (USD 1,170, as of December 2017) per individual.

Limitations: The subjects included were willing or relatively willing to use the application. Because all outcomes were based on online surveys, the results depended on the objectivity and preciseness of the reports provided by users, and those with severe symptoms might not provide reports.

Conclusions: The results suggest that using the application is cost-effective and might reduce the incidence of dysmenorrhea and depression.     

电动机软启动器控制柜故障处理3例

文章以几起较为特殊的电气故障为例,就如何利用常用的检测仪表快捷地查找出故障点,以便尽快地恢复生产进行了探析。     

The third-generation-mobile (3G) policy and deployment in China: Current status, challenges, and prospects

Since the inception of telecom reform in 1994, structural reform has been a main thread surrounding the course of the development of China's telecommunications industry. In structuring the 2008 reform and the 2009 3G rollout China's government adopted a relatively balanced approach in the hope of creating level-playing-field in 3G era. Nevertheless, due to the presence of substantial switching costs, substitution effects from the present technology mode, that is, 2.5G, the absence of killer applications, among other technological and institutional factors, China may not have a realistic 3G era before moving toward 4G and beyond. At the bare minimum, currently there is a lacking of either adequate technological-push or demand-pull for a full-scale 3G commercialization—there is no sign that this situation will change in the near term. Triggered by recent initiatives of market convergence between the telecommunications, Internet, and cable, a renewed circle of market, and regulatory reform is probably necessary to cast a sounder industry basis for a timing migration toward the next-generation-networks (NGNs). The timing migration toward 4G (and beyond) may provide a chance for a late-mover nation like China to leapfrog its western counterparts in leading the industry in the era of NGNs. To this end, China is confronted with a challenge in re-examining its industry policy as well as technological strategies for a sustainable development in the era of NGNs. This study offers heuristic analysis and insights on the above issues based on archival documents and interviews. While implications are suggested for China's circumstances, the Chinese experiences may also be considered by other countries and investors when it comes to 3G (and beyond) policies, regulations, deployments, and evolutions.     

Cross-cultural Awareness in Interpretation

这篇文章旨在从跨文化交流的角度研究口译。在口译过程中，译员可能会遇到文化障碍和冲突。培养译员的跨文化意识是解决文化差异的主要途径，也使他们在口译过程中成功完成跨文化交流。口译不仅仅是一种语言转换还是一种特定文化背景下的文化转换。这篇文章，通过中英文口译中的例子，解释了文化转换的重要性。跨文化意识是一种跨文化思维方式和对文化因素和文化认同的敏感性，它对于高质量的口译是不可缺的根本因素。因此，坚持不懈的培养跨文化意识是译员的基本要求。