Microstructure and mechanical properties of Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.22C investment castings by current solution treatment

This study examined the impact of current solution treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.22C alloy investment castings.The findings reveal that the current solution treatment significantly promotes the dissolution of carbides at a lower temperature.The optimal conditions for solution treatment are determined as a solution temperature of 1,125°C and a holding time of 5.0 min.Under these parameters,the size and volume fraction of precipitated phases in the investment castings are measured as6.2μm and 1.1vol.%.The yield strength,ultimate tensile strength,and total elongation of the Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.22C investment castings are 535 MPa,760 MPa,and 12.6%,respectively.These values exceed those obtained with the conventional solution treatment at 1,200°C for 4.0 h.The findings suggest a phase transformation of M_(23)C_(6)→σ+C following the current solution treatment at 1,125°C for 5.0 min.In comparison,the traditional solution treatment at 1,200°C for 4.0 h leads to the formation of M_(23)C_(6)and M_(6)C carbides.It is noteworthy that the non-thermal effect of the current during the solution treatment modifies the free energy of both the matrix and precipitation phase.This modification lowers the phase transition temperature of the M_(23)C_(6)→σ+C reaction,thereby facilitating the dissolution of carbides.As a result,the current solution treatment approach achieves carbide dissolution at a lower temperature and within a significantly shorter time when compared to the traditional solution treatment methods.

By Deepening Regional Cooperation,the CCPIT Serve as a Bridge for Foreign Investment

On June 28,t he China Council for the Promotion of International Trade(CCPIT)held its regular monthly press conference in Beijing.Spokesperson Zhao Ping introduced China’s latest progress and policy trends in terms of attracting foreign investment,regional cooperation and supporting Chinese brands at the meeting.

Risk assessment of oil and gas investment environment in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative

With the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, China is deepening its cooperation in oil and gas resources with countries along the Initiative. In order to better mitigate risks and enhance the safety of investments, it is of significant importance to research the oil and gas investment environment in these countries for China's overseas investment macro-layout. This paper proposes an indicator system including 27 indicators from 6 dimensions. On this basis, game theory models combined with global entropy method and analytic hierarchy process are applied to determine the combined weights, and the TOPSIS-GRA model is utilized to assess the risks of oil and gas investment in 76 countries along the Initiative from 2014 to 2021. Finally, the GM(1,1) model is employed to predict risk values for 2022-2025. In conclusion, oil and gas resources and political factors have the greatest impact on investment environment risk, and 12 countries with greater investment potential are selected through cluster analysis in conjunction with the predicted results. The research findings may provide scientific decisionmaking recommendations for the Chinese government and oil enterprises to strengthen oil and gas investment cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.

Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Power Grid Construction Project Investment Ranking Based on the Prospect Theory Improved by Rewarding Good and Punishing Bad Linear Transformation

Using the improved prospect theory with the linear transformations of rewarding good and punishing bad(RGPBIT),a new investment ranking model for power grid construction projects(PGCPs)is proposed.Given the uncertainty of each index value under the market environment,fuzzy numbers are used to describe qualitative indicators and interval numbers are used to describe quantitative ones.Taking into account decision-maker’s subjective risk attitudes,a multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)method based on improved prospect theory is proposed.First,the[−1,1]RGPBIT operator is proposed to normalize the original data,to obtain the best andworst schemes of PGCPs.Furthermore,the correlation coefficients between interval/fuzzy numbers and the best/worst schemes are defined and introduced to the prospect theory to improve its value function and loss function,and the positive and negative prospect value matrices of the project are obtained.Then,the optimization model with the maximum comprehensive prospect value is constructed,the optimal attribute weight is determined,and the PGCPs are ranked accordingly.Taking four PGCPs of the IEEERTS-79 node system as examples,an illustration of the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method is provided.

Agricultural Investment Project Decisions Based on an Interactive Preference Disaggregation Model Considering Inconsistency

Agricultural investment project selection is a complex multi-criteria decision-making problem,as agricultural projects are easily influenced by various risk factors,and the evaluation information provided by decisionmakers usually involves uncertainty and inconsistency.Existing literature primarily employed direct preference elicitation methods to address such issues,necessitating a great cognitive effort on the part of decision-makers during evaluation,specifically,determining the weights of criteria.In this study,we propose an indirect preference elicitation method,known as a preference disaggregation method,to learn decision-maker preference models fromdecision examples.To enhance evaluation ease,decision-makers merely need to compare pairs of alternatives with which they are familiar,also known as reference alternatives.Probabilistic linguistic preference relations are employed to account for the presence of incomplete and uncertain information in such pairwise comparisons.To address the inconsistency among a group of decision-makers,we develop a pair of 0-1mixed integer programming models that consider both the semantics of linguistic terms and the belief degrees of decision-makers.Finally,we conduct a case study and comparative analysis.Results reveal the effectiveness of the proposed model in solving agricultural investment project selection problems with uncertain and inconsistent decision information.

Impact of the carbon market on investment benefits of power-grid enterprises in China: a system dynamics analysis

The power grid,as the hub connecting the power supply and consumption sides,plays an important role in achieving carbon neutrality in China.In emerging carbon markets,assessing the investment benefits of power-grid enterprises is essential.Thus,studying the impact of the carbon market on the investment and operation of powergrid enterprises is key to ensuring their efficient operation.Notably,few studies have examined the interaction between the carbon and electricity markets using system dynamics models,highlighting a research gap in this area.This study investigates the impact of the carbon market on the investment of power-grid enterprises using a novel evaluation system based on a system dynamics model that considers carbon-emissions from an established carbon-emission accounting model.First,an index system for benefit evaluation was constructed from six aspects:financing ability,economic benefit,reliability,social responsibility,user satisfaction,and carbon-emissions.A system dynamics model was then developed to reflect the causal feedback relationship between the impact of the carbon market on the investment and operation of power-grid enterprises.The simulation results of a provincial power-grid enterprise analyze comprehensive investment evaluation benefits over a 10-year period and the impact of carbon emissions on the investment and operation of power-grid enterprises.This study provides guidelines for the benign development of power-grid enterprises within the context of the carbon market.

How R&D investment promotes green technology innovation in the context of digitalization?-An empirical analysis based on provincial panel data

Green technology innovation is an important driving force and source to promote my country’s high-quality development,and it is the core path to achieve sustainable development.This paper uses my country’s provincial panel data from 2016 to 2019 to study the impact mechanism of R&D investment on green technology innovation,and introduces the level of digitization,using the panel threshold model to discuss its role in the impact mechanism of R&D investment on green technology innovation.The study found that when the level of digitalization in a region is low,increasing R&D investment does not necessarily improve the ability of green technology innovation;when the level of digitalization is relatively high,R&D investment has a positive role in promoting green technology innovation.Therefore,it is necessary to improve policies to encourage enterprises to increase investment in research and development;at the same time,it is necessary to promote the coordinated development of digital foundation,digital investment,digital literacy,digital economy and digital application,and promote the deep integration of digitalization and green technology innovation.

China’s Unprecedented Focus on Foreign Investment

The Communique of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China(CPC),which has just been concluded,mentions that it is necessary to steadily expand institutional opening-up,deepen foreign trade structural reform,further reform the management systems for inward and outward investment,improve planning for regional opening up,and refine the mechanisms for high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

National Social Investment Programmes in Nigeria:A Descriptive Analysis of the Socio-Economic Contributions of N-Power Programme in Benue State

This study analysed the socio-economic contributions of N-Power programme amongst the beneficiaries of the scheme in Benue State.Prior to the introduction of N-Power programme,successive administrations in Nigeria have made concerted efforts towards improving the standard of living of the citizenry through the execution of various welfare or social intervention programmes,but not much successes were recorded.Learning from the mistakes of the past regimes,and by way of deliberate state policy,the Buhari’s government initiated a multi-pronged social investment policy,one of which is the N-power programme that came onboard in 2016,which also doubles as the subject of this study.To achieve the goal of this study,a combination of desktop research and survey design was employed.Questionnaires were administered to 390 respondents through a combination of stratified and random sampling techniques.The results of the survey were matched with that of the secondary data obtained through online websites and other related sources.The result indicated that N-Power made positive contributions to the socio-economic life of the beneficiaries in Benue State:specifically,the scheme contributed in poverty eradication,employment generation,skills acquisitions and capacity building.However,some aspect of our findings revealed that the programme has a number of challenges such as:inadequate cash support,delay in monthly cash transfer to beneficiaries,distance participants had to move to their work stations,absence of posting in N-Teach scheme,and lack of adequate working tools amongst others.To salvage this problem the paper recommended the following solutions:expansion of the scheme to cover N-Teach and other aspects,increment in the monthly cash transfer to cushion the high rate of inflation,support for the participants/beneficiaries in transportation and logistics,enrolment of more youth into the various schemes,proper monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the schemes amongst others.

Chinese Enterprises’ Investment in Southeast Asia Continues Unabated

As we all know,Southeast Asia has become a hot destination for Chinese enterprises to invest in.The latest report shows that Southeast Asia continues to attract China’s capital,within which the medical industry has become an important area for Chinese enterprises to invest in,and the investment activity has gradually warmed up despite fluctuations.

How to Further Attract and Stabilize Foreign Investment

During the Two Sessions,how to attract foreign investment to China and how to further optimize the business environment for foreign investment have become hot topics in the economic field.The 2024 government work report proposes increased efforts to attract foreign investment.It will continue to reduce the negative list of foreign investment access,completely lift restrictions on foreign investment accessto the manufacturing industry.

Renewing Chinese Investment in Indonesia’s Energy Sector

On April 1,the China RE Invest Indonesia 2024,a symposium cohosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in China,the Southeast Strategics(a business and investment research and advisory institute),and the Center for Strategic and International Studies(CSIS)Indonesia,took place in Beijing.Representatives from renewable energy investment companies,equipment manufacturers,financial institutions,government departments,renewable energy-related enterprises.

Which Cities are More Attractive for Business Investment?

A good business environment is the soft power and core competitiveness for urban economic development,and is a key element to attract business investment.Recently,the“Top 50 Cities with Business Investment Attraction”(hereinafter referred to as the Survey)released by the Big Data Research Institute of Qi Chacha shows that the siphonic effect of the first-tier cities is significant,and in the past five years,enterprises in Shanghai,Beijing and Shenzhen have been invested in the most frequently.

Research on the Threshold Effect of China’s Pharmaceutical Export Trade on Internal and External R&D Investment

Objective To study the threshold effect of export trade on internal and external R&D investment in China’s pharmaceutical industry,and to provide reference for some pharmaceutical enterprises to improve the investment.Methods The panel data of pharmaceutical industry in 25 provinces and cities in China from 2009 to 2019 were selected to conduct empirical analysis by establishing a threshold regression model,and a better export trade interval was obtained.Results and Conclusion There is a threshold value for the effect of new product export on both internal and external R&D expenditures,and the threshold values are 845.2788 million yuan and 318.4198 million yuan,respectively.There is a single threshold effect of export trade on both internal and external R&D investment in China’s pharmaceutical industry,and the effect of export trade on internal and external R&D investment changes from negative to positive as the export trade develops from low to high.

Boosting Bilateral Trade and Investment

China,South Africa committed to broadening economic exchanges during South African leader’s state visit to China.The South African branch of Bank of China,in partnership with the School of Economics and Finance of the University of the Witwatersrand,launched the Chinese Investors’Confidence Index for South Africa in 2023.A first of its kind,the index reports on South Africa’s economic and investment environment based on the views and experiences of Chinese investors in South Africa.

The Role of Digitalization in Enhancing Outward Foreign Direct Investment:New Advantages for Chinese Enterprises

With the rapid development of big data,cloud computing,artificial intelligence,and other technologies,digital construction has gradually become a crucial means of enterprise development,significantly impacting the operation and management activities of enterprises.Outward Foreign Direct Investment(OFDI)is one of the key pathways for Chinese enterprises to“go global,”contributing to improved economic efficiency and promoting national economic development.Therefore,studying the advantages of digitalization in OFDI activities will aid in exploring effective methods for Chinese enterprises to engage in OFDI within the digital economy and provide an important foundation for strategic enterprise planning and national policy formulation.This paper combines the current state of OFDI among Chinese enterprises,analyzes the advantages and roles of digital construction in OFDI,and explores relevant countermeasures,aiming to provide theoretical references for enterprises’OFDI activities in the context of digitalization.

The Influence of Information Technology Investment on the Organizational Performance:The Moderating Role of External Environment

In the information era,enterprises can enhance organizational performance through advanced information technology.Based on the resource-based view,this paper examines the mechanism by which information technology(IT)investment influences organizational performance,with the external environment as a moderating variable.Using 265 valid samples collected from agricultural enterprises in Shandong province,this study conducts an empirical test through partial least squares structural equation modeling.The results demonstrate that IT investment has a significant positive effect on organizational performance,and the external environment significantly moderates the relationship between IT investment and organizational performance.This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationship between IT investment and organizational performance,enriches resource-based theory,expands the research framework on IT investment,and offers guidance for enterprises seeking sustainable growth.

Innovative Strategies for Financial Investment Management Strategies of Enterprises in the New Era

With the in-depth development of economic globalization and the continuous emergence of new technologies,the importance of enterprise financial investment management strategy is becoming more and more prominent.The traditional financial investment management strategy can no longer meet the needs of enterprises in the new era and needs to be innovated with the times.For enterprises,the effectiveness and scientificity of financial investment management strategy will directly affect the competitiveness and long-term development of enterprises.Therefore,this study chooses the innovation based on the financial investment management strategy of enterprises in the new era as the research theme,aiming at exploring the innovative strategy to adapt to the needs of enterprises in the new era.

Research on the Investment Mode and Path of China’s Construction Waste Resourceization Industry

At present,China’s construction waste accounts for about 40%of the total municipal solid waste,with a large stock,a large increment,and a low rate of resource utilization,which is still a big gap compared with developed countries.However,the market prospect of the construction waste industry is relatively broad,the reuse value of the construction waste is high,so these resources should be fully utilized.This paper presents an in-depth analysis of projects in the construction waste resourceization industry,examining the industrial chain,development history,current status,investment and financing modes,and case studies.It proposes targeted strategies for companies to focus on the upstream and downstream segments of the construction industry’s value chain and explores the implementation of investment opportunities in construction waste resourceization.

Research on the Application of Virtual Simulation Experimental Teaching in the Securities Investment Course

With the rapid development of information technology and the increasing complexity of the financial market,the teaching methods and means of the Securities Investment course in universities are facing new challenges and opportunities.The purpose of this paper is to discuss the application and construction path of virtual simulation experimental teaching in the Securities Investment course.Firstly,it analyses the problems existing in the teaching of traditional securities investment courses,such as the disconnection between theory and practice and the single teaching mode.In order to solve these problems,this paper puts forward the necessity of introducing virtual simulation experimental teaching and details the specific application path of virtual simulation experimental teaching in the Securities Investment course.