The impact of information technology on the banking industry

This paper analyses the effects of investment in information technologies (IT) in the banking sector using bank-level data from a panel of 68 US banks over the period 1986–2005. Although IT can improve bank's performance by reducing operational cost (supply side), it can bring in competition among banks in order to embrace new technology (demand side). Since most empirical studies have adopted the production function approach, it is difficult to identify which effect has dominated. In a differentiated model with network effects, this paper characterizes the conditions to identify these two effects. The results suggest that (at individual firm levels) the bank profits can decline due to adoption and diffusion of IT investment, reflecting negative network competition effects in this industry. Using panel cointegration tests, we confirm that the estimated profit equation is indeed a long-run equilibrium relation.     

Exact solutions of Feinberg–Horodecki equation for time-dependent anharmonic oscillator

In this work, an alternative treatment known as Nikiforov–Uvarov (NU) method is proposed to find the exact solutions of the Feinberg–Horodecki equation for the time-dependent potentials. The present procedure is illustrated with two examples: (1) time-dependent Wei Hua oscillator, (2) time-dependent Manning–Rosen potential.     

Alkyne Versus Ynamide Reactivity: Regioselective Radical Cyclization of Yne‐Ynamides

Ynamides are typically more reactive than simple alkynes and olefins. However, a serendipitous observation revealed a rare case where the reactivity of simple alkynes exceeds that of ynamides. This led to the development of a unique sulfur‐radical‐triggered cyclization of yne‐tethered ynamides, which involves attack of the alkyne by a thiyl radical followed by cyclization with the ynamide. A wide range of novel 4‐thioaryl pyrroles that could tolerate common functional moieties and N‐protecting groups were expediently constructed by this strategy. The current method contrasts with the typical cyclization of yne‐ynamides, which involves the attack of the alkyne moiety by the ynamide core. Control experiments and DFT calculations supported the participation of the sulfur radical in the reaction and the regioselective cyclization. The synthetic potential of the substituted pyrroles is also discussed.     

Cellulose‐Derived Functional Polyacetal by Cationic Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Levoglucosenyl Methyl Ether

The unsaturated bicyclic acetal levoglucosenyl methyl ether was readily obtained from sustainable feedstock (cellulose) and polymerized by cationic ring‐opening polymerization to produce a semicrystalline thermoplastic unsaturated polyacetal with relatively high apparent molar mass (up to ca. 36 kg mol^?1) and decent dispersity (ca. 1.4). The double bonds along the chain can undergo hydrogenation and thiol–ene reactions as well as crosslinking, thus making this polyacetal potentially interesting as a reactive functional material.     

Gold(I)/Chiral Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydroamination–Hydroarylation of Alkynes: The Effect of a Remote Hydroxyl Group on the Reactivity and Enantioselectivity

The catalytic enantioselective hydroamination–hydroarylation of alkynes under the catalysis of (R₃P)AuMe/(S)‐3,3′‐bis(2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl‐2,2′‐diyl hydrogenphosphate ((S)‐TRIP) is reported. The alkyne was reacted with a range of pyrrole‐based aromatic amines to give pyrrole‐embedded aza‐heterocyclic scaffolds bearing a quaternary carbon center. The presence of a hydroxyl group in the alkyne tether turned out to be very crucial for obtaining products in high yields and enantioselectivities. The mechanism of enantioinduction was established by carefully performing experimental and computational studies.     

An ab-initio Investigation: The Physical Properties of ScIr2 Superconductor

Physics of the Solid State - Using ab initio technique the physical properties of ScIr2 superconductor have been investigated with Tc 1.03 K with a MgCu2-type structure. We have carried out the...     

Reversible Self‐Assembly of Carboxylated Peptide‐Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles Driven by Metal‐Ion Coordination

Carboxylated peptide‐functionalized gold nanoparticles (peptide‐GNPs) self‐assemble into two‐ and three‐dimensional nanostructures in the presence of various heavy metal ions (i.e. Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺) in aqueous solution. The assembly process is monitored by following the changes in the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of gold nanoparticles in a UV/Vis spectrophotometer, which shows the development of a new SPR band in the higher‐wavelength region. The extent of assembly is dependent on the amount of metal ions present in the medium and also the time of assembly. TEM analysis clearly shows formation of two‐ and three‐dimensional nanostructures. The assembly process is completely reversible by addition of alkaline ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution. The driving force for the assembly of peptide‐GNPs is mainly metal ion/carboxylate coordination. The color and spectral changes due to this assembly can be used for detection of these heavy‐metal ions in solution.