A Study on the Success Potential of Multiple Mobile Payment Technologies

Payment systems all over the world have grown into a complicated web of solutions. This is more challenging in the case of mobile based payment systems. Mobile based payment systems are many and consist of different technologies providing different services. The diffusion of these various technologies in a market is uncertain. Diffusion theorists, for example Rogers, and Davis suggest how innovation is accepted in markets. In the case of electronic payment systems, the tale of Mondex vs Octopus throws interesting insights on diffusion. Our paper attempts to understand the success potential of various mobile payment technologies. We illustrate what we describe as technology breadth in mobile payment systems using data from payment systems all over the world (n=62). Our data shows an unexpected superiority of SMS technology, over other technologies like NFC, WAP and others. We also used a Delphi based survey (n=5) with experts to address the possibility that SMS will gain superiority in market diffusion. The economic conditions of a country, particularly in developing countries, the services availed and characteristics of the user (for example number of un-banked users in large populated countries) may put SMS in the forefront. This may be true more for micro payments using the mobile.

Xenon in sodium Y zeolite. 2. Arrhenius relation, mechanism, and barrier height distribution for cage-to-cage diffusion

Various geometrical and energetic distribution functions and other properties connected with the cage-to-cage diffusion of xenon in sodium Y zeolite have been obtained from long molecular dynamics calculations. Analysis of diffusion pathways reveals two interesting mechanisms-surface-mediated and centralized modes for cage-to-cage diffusion. The surface-mediated mode of diffusion exhibits a small positive barrier, while the centralized diffusion exhibits a negative barrier for the sorbate to diffuse across the 12-ring window. In both modes, however, the sorbate has to be activated from the adsorption site to enable it to gain mobility. The centralized diffusion additionally requires the sorbate to be free of the influence of the surface of the cage as well. The overall rate for cage-to-cage diffusion shows an Arrhenius temperature dependence with E(a) = 3 kJ/mol. It is found that the decay in the dynamical correction factor occurs on a time scale comparable to the cage residence time. The distributions of barrier heights have been calculated. Functions reflecting the distribution of the sorbate-zeolite interaction at the window and the variations of the distance between the sorbate and the centers of the parent and daughter cages are presented.

Inhibition of nuclear protein import by a monoclonal antibody against a novel class of nuclear pore proteins

Nuclear import of proteins is mediated by the nuclear pore complexes in the nuclear envelope and requires the presence of a nuclear localization signal (NLS) on the karyophilic protein. In this paper, we describe studies with a monoclonal antibody, Mab E2, which recognizes a class of nuclear pore proteins of 60-76 kDa with a common phosphorylated epitope on rat nuclear envelopes. The Mab Ea-reactive proteins fractionated with the relatively insoluble pore complex-containing component of the envelope and gave a finely punctate pattern of nuclear staining in immunofluorescence assays. The antibody did not bind to any cytosolic proteins. Mab E2 inhibited the interaction of a simian virus 40 large T antigen NLS peptide with a specific 60-kDa NLS-binding protein from rat nuclear envelopes in photoaffinity labeling experiments. The antibody blocked the nuclear import of NLS-albumin conjugates in an in vitro nuclear transport assay with digitonin-permeabilized cells, but did not affect passive diffusion of a small nonnuclear protein, lysozyme, across the pore. Mab E2 may inhibit protein transport by directly interacting with the 60-kDa NLS-binding protein, thereby blocking signal-mediated nuclear import across the nuclear pore complex. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.

Diffusion path during internal displacement reactions in multi-component oxides: Reaction between Fe and (Co,Mg)TiO3 solid solution at 1273 K

The reaction between Fe foil and a disc of ilmenite solid solution (Co-0.48 Ni-0.52) TiO3 was studied at 1273 K. At the metal/oxide interface, the displacement reaction, Fe + (Co,Mg)TiO3 = Co + (Fe,Mg)TiO3 occurs, resulting in an ilmenite solid solution containing three divalent cations. Ferrous ions diffuse into the oxide solid solution and cause the precipitation of Co-Fe alloy as discrete particles inside the oxide matrix. The morphology of the product layer was characterized by SEM. Only two phases, alloy and ilmenite, were detected in the reaction zone. This suggests that the local flux condition imposed by ilmenite stoichiometry (Co + Fe + Mg):Ti = 1:1] was satisfied during the reactive diffusion: (J(Co) + J(Fe) + J(Mg)) = J(Ti). The composition of the alloy and the oxide was determined using EPMA as a function of distance in the direction of diffusion. Although Mg does not participate in the displacement reaction, its composition in the ilmenite phase was found to be position dependent inside the reaction zone. The up-hill diffusion of inert Mg is caused by the development of chemical potential gradients as a result of displacement reaction. The evolution of composition gradients inside the reaction zone and the diffusion path in a ternary composition diagram of the system CoTiO3-FeTiO3-MgTiO3 are discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

H-1 MAS NMR study of protonic conduction in layered HNbWO6 center dot xH(2)O (x=1.5, 0.5)

H-1 Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) NMR of layered HNbWO6 . xH(2)O (x = 1.5, 0.5) is carried out at room temperature and at various spinning speeds (1-12 kHz). Results on the fully hydrated sample (x = 1.5) are consistent with the model of diffusion of H3O+ ions within the layers. In the partially dehydrated sample (x = 0.5) an exchange between the distinctly present cage protons and H3O+ protons leads to protonic conduction.

Wet chemical formation of nanoparticles of binary perovskites through isothermal gel to crystallite conversion

Coarse BO2·xH2O (2 < x < 80) gels, free of anion contaminants react with A(OH)2 under refluxing conditions at 70�100°C giving rise to crystallites of single phased, nanometer size powders of ABO3 perovskites (A = Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, Pb; B = Zr, Ti, Sn). Solid solutions of perovskites could be prepared from compositionally modified gels or mixtures of A(OH)2. Donor doped perovskites could also be prepared from the same method so that the products after processing are often semiconducting. Faster interfacial diffusion of A2+ ions into the gel generates the crystalline regions whose composition is controllable by the A/B ratio as well as the A(OH)2 concentration.

Monte Carlo simulation of ion conduction in silver based glassy electrolytes

A simplified structural model to study the ionic transport in silver based glasses has been formulated. The diffusion of silver ion under the influence of coulombic interactions of mobile cation and anions has been studied. Monte Carlo simulations of silver ion hopping in glass have suggested two different kinds of population of silver ions. We discuss the results of variation in diffusion constant with dopant (AgI) concentration using the diffusion path model. (C) 1997 Elsevier-Science S.A.

Process-kinetics in facing targets sputtering of multi-component oxide thin films

The kinetics of the processes in facing targets sputtering of multicomponent oxide films is presented. The novel configuration of the process exhibits an enhanced ionization efficiency. Discharge diagnostics performed using optical emission spectroscopy revealed strong dependence of plasma parameters on process conditions. Numerical simulation based on thermalization and diffusion of sputtered atoms has been performed to estimate the transport efficiency in off-axis mode. Composition, structure and epitaxial quality of YBa2Cu3O7-x films prepared was found to be strongly dependent on atomic flux ratios (of Cu/Y and Ba/Y) arriving at the substrate, resputtering effect and phase stability of YBa2Cu3O7-x These studies have been shown to be useful in understanding the complex processes that occur in sputtering of multicomponent films. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Hydrolytic degradation and diffusion studies on a polyphosphate ester

A polyphosphate ester was synthesized by interfacial polycondensation of bisphenol-A and phenylphosphorodichloridate. Accelerated hydrolytic degradation studies were conducted under alkaline conditions. The effect of concentration of alkali and temperature were monitored. The rate of degradation reached a maximum value at 6 molar sodium hydroxide solution and then reduced. The activation energy for hydrolytic degradation was found to be 45 kcal/mol. Diffusion of alkali into the polymer pellet was studied at various concentrations of alkali and at various temperatures. The rate of diffusion also attained a maximum at 6M NaOH and the activation energy for diffusion process was found to be 12 kcal/mol. (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Inc.

Metal-organic chemical vapour deposition of thin films of cobalt on different substrates: study of microstructure

We have investigated the microstructure of thin films grown by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition using a beta-diketonate complex of cobalt, namely cobalt (11) acetylacetonate. Films were deposited on three different substrates: Si(100), thermally oxidised silicon [SiO2/Si(100)] and glass at the same time. As-grown films were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, scanning tunnelling microscopy, atomic force microscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry. Electrical resistivity was measured for all the films as a function of temperature. We found that films have very fine grains, resulting in high electrical resistivity Further, film microstructure has a strong dependence on the nature of the substrate and there is diffusion of silicon and oxygen into cobalt from the substrate. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Slow orientational dynamics of water molecules at a micellar surface

The dynamics of water molecules near an aqueous micellar interface is studied in an atomistic molecular dynamics simulation of cesium pentadecafluorooctanoate (CsPFO) in water. The dipolar orientational time correlation function (tcf) and the translational diffusion of the water molecules are investigated. Results show that both the reorientational and the translational motion of water molecules near the micelle are restricted. In particular, the orientational tcf exhibits a very slow component in the long time which is slower than its bulk value by 2 orders of magnitude. This slow decay seems to be related to the slow decay often observed in experiments. The origin of the slow decay is analyzed.

A model for tool-use traditions in primates: implications for the coevolution of culture and cognition

Inspired by the demonstration that tool-use variants among wild chimpanzees and orangutans qualify as traditions (or cultures), we developed a formal model to predict the incidence of these acquired specializations among wild primates and to examine the evolution of their underlying abilities. We assumed that the acquisition of the skill by an individual in a social unit is crucially controlled by three main factors, namely probability of innovation, probability of socially biased learning, and the prevailing social conditions (sociability, or number of potential experts at close proximity). The model reconfirms the restriction of customary tool use in wild primates to the most intelligent radiation, great apes; the greater incidence of tool use in more sociable populations of orangutans and chimpanzees; and tendencies toward tool manufacture among the most sociable monkeys. However, it also indicates that sociable gregariousness is far more likely to produce the maintenance of invented skills in a population than solitary life, where the mother is the only accessible expert. We therefore used the model to explore the evolution of the three key parameters. The most likely evolutionary scenario is that where complex skills contribute to fitness, sociability and/or the capacity for socially biased learning increase, whereas innovative abilities (i.e., intelligence) follow indirectly. We suggest that the evolution of high intelligence will often be a byproduct of selection on abilities for socially biased learning that are needed to acquire important skills, and hence that high intelligence should be most common in sociable rather than solitary organisms. Evidence for increased sociability during hominin evolution is consistent with this new hypothesis. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Severe wear of a near eutectic aluminium-silicon alloy

The severe wear of a near eutectic aluminium silicon alloy is explored using a range of electron microscopic, spectroscopic and diffraction techniques to identify the residually strained and unstrained regions, microcracks and oxidized regions in the subsurface. In severe wear the contact pressure exceeds the elastic shakedown limit. Under this condition the primary and eutectic silicon particles fragment drastically. The fragments are transported by the matrix as it undergoes incremental straining with each cyclic contact at the asperity level. The grains are refined from similar to 2000 nm in the bulk to 30 nm in the near surface region. A large reduction in the interparticle distance compared with that for a milder stage of wear gives rise to high strain gradients which contribute to an enhancement of the dislocation density. The resulting regions of very high strain in the boundaries of the recrystallized grains as well as within the subgrains lead to the formation of microvoidskracks. This is accompanied by the formation of brittle oxides at these subsurface interfaces due to enhanced diffusion of oxygen. We believe that the abundance of such microcracks in the near surface region, primed by severe plastic deformation, is what distinguishes a severe wear regime from mild wear. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Te addition on the optical properties of As(2)S(3) thin film

Bilayer thin films of Te/As(2)S(3) were prepared from Te and As(2)S(3) by thermal technique under high vacuum. Optical constants were calculated by analysing the transmission spectrum in the spectral range 400-1100 nm. The optical band gap decreases with the addition of Te to As(2)S(3). The decrease of optical band gap has been explained on the basis of density of states and the increase in disorder in the system. We have irradiated the as-deposited films using a diode pumped solid state laser of 532 nm wavelength to study photo-diffusion of Te into As(2)S(3). The changes were characterised by Fourier Transform Infrared and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The optical band gap is found to be decreased with the light irradiation which is proposed due to homopolar bond formation. The core level peaks in XPS spectra give information about different bond formation. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Growth Kinetics of Nanoclusters in Solution

We study the growth kinetics of nanoclusters in solution. There are two generic factors that drive growth: (a) reactions that produce the nanomaterial; and (b) diffusion of the nanomaterial due to chemical-potential gradients. We model the growth kinetics of ZnO nanoparticles via coupled dynamical equations for the relevant order parameters, We study this model both analytically and numerically. We find that there is a crossover in thenanocluster growth law: from L(t) similar to t(1/2) in the reaction-controlled regime to L(t) t(1/3) in the diffusion-controlled regime.