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We investigate how online price dispersion has evolved since the bursting of the Internet bubble by comparing price dispersion levels in years 2000, 2001, and 2003 and between multi-channel and pure play e-tailers. The results show that although online price dispersion declined between 2000 and 2001 when there was a shakeout in Internet retailing, it increased from 2001 to 2003, the post bubble period, in particular, for desktop computers, laptop computers, PDAs, electronics and software. The proportion of items for which price dispersion at multi-channel retailers was higher than that at pure play e-tailers, increased steadily during 2000–2003. These findings suggest that online price dispersion is persistent even as Internet markets mature.

Smart firms are not worried about the impact of the Internet on pricing, but realise that they have the unique opportunity to exploit new options and improve their marketing performance. Multi‐channel pricing is one of the most interesting opportunities firms can exploit in the digital economy. Reviews the existing literature on pricing on the Internet and on multi‐channel pricing. Presents the results of an exploratory research on price opportunities perceived by firms. Offers a picture of the possible multi‐channel options available to firms and highlights the importance of the value for and of the customer.

In this paper, we first develop a game theoretic model of price competition between a pure play e-tailer and a bricks-and-clicks e-tailer. We show that in general, the pure play e-tailer has a lower equilibrium price. We then develop a simultaneous equation model of e-tailer price and traffic and estimate this model using data collected from 905 e-tailers across eight product categories. The empirical results show that after controlling for the effects of other variables, prices at pure play e-tailers are generally lower. E-tailers with high traffic do not always command higher prices. E-tailers with high level of reliability, shopping convenience, and deep information, generally do not generate high web traffic and do not enjoy high prices. However, trust enhances e-tailer traffic and early online entry is associated with both high e-tailer traffic and high prices.

This paper aims to evaluate the inhibitive effect and adsorption behavior of 5-(ethylthio)-1H-tetrazole (EHT) and 5-(benzylthio)-1H-tetrazole (BHT) on copper in a sulfur-ethanol system.

Evaluation was carried out using electrochemical measurement and surface analysis techniques. Measurements of static friction coefficient by scanning electron microscopy and contact angle analysis were applied and finally confirmed the existence of the adsorbed film. The inhibitive mechanism of the two compounds was evaluated by means of quantitative calculation and molecular dynamics simulation. The friction coefficient of corrosion surface before and after adding corrosion inhibitor was determined through static friction coefficient measurements.

The electrochemical measurement indicated that the most effective concentration of two corrosion inhibitors was 70 mg L^–1, while the inhibition efficiency of that was EHT > BHT. The friction coefficient data showed that the addition of corrosion inhibitor reduced the roughness of the corrosion surface. Adsorption behavior of two inhibitors followed the Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm and was attributed to mixed-type adsorption. The results of quantitative calculation and molecular dynamics simulation showed that tetrazole rings of the two inhibitors and its connected S atoms were adsorbed on Cu(111) surface in parallel.

The corrosion inhibition performance of two tetrazolium derivatives in a sulfur-ethanol system was studied by combining experiments with theory, which provided a theoretical basis for the future research.

The purpose of this paper is to explain how post-1997 Hong Kong has been perceived in Taiwan and to critically evaluate the demonstration effects of Hong Kong under the “One Country, Two Systems” policy on cross-strait relations.

“Today’s Hong Kong, Tomorrow’s Taiwan” has become a dominant discourse in cross-strait relations in recent years. The paper has adopted discourse analysis of selected texts during and after the 2014 Sunflower Movement to elucidate the disapproval of the developments of post-handover Hong Kong and the construction of the Movement’s self-identity.

It has observed the following arguments which shaped the prevailing perceptions among critics of the “One Country, Two Systems” policy: political infiltration of China in Hong Kong could be extended to Taiwan in the sense that the Beijing authorities would adopt the identical approach to manipulate Taiwan through the cross-strait trading agreements; negative perceptions and images of China and Chinese capitals as a collective aggressor and a threat, raising fear and worries in both Hong Kong and Taiwan; and Kuomintang, as a ruling party at that time under the leadership of President Ma Ying-jeoh, was dismissed by protesters as an incompetent gatekeeper and defender of Taiwan’s interests.

The pervasive sentiments and perceptions about post-1997 Hong Kong has been articulated discursively by the young activists in Taiwan and Hong Kong into a statement – “Today’s Hong Kong, Tomorrow’s Taiwan” – which has brought about a somewhat unexpected bonding effect between Hong Kong and Taiwan through a strong disapproval of “One Country, Two Systems” and the China factor, which has be reproduced, delivered and circulated in both societies since 2014.

This paper aims to reduce environment pollution caused by benzotriazole. The authors chose one of the best inhibitors from 2-aminobenzimidazole, 2-methylbenzimidazol, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole and benzimidazole in combination with benzotriazole.

The electrochemical measurement indicated that 2-methylbenzimidazol had the best inhibition behavior. Then, it was mixed with benzotriazole. Techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and optical contact angle measurements were used.

The results showed that the inhibition efficiency was up to 99.98%, when the mixture concentration was 20 mmol/L and the molar ratio 1:1.

1-benzotriazole was mixed with 2-methylbenzimidazol for the first time. During the exist of methyl, 2-methylbenzimidazol has the better inhibition; this point was ignored by researchers.