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Investment and insurance constitute pivotal subjects in financial management, especially in an era characterized by inflation. Unit-Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs), with a unique combination of investment risks and insurance protection, potentially trigger distinct psychological processes that have been inadequately explored. To bridge this gap, the current research aims to develop a cognitive model for decision-making in purchasing ULIPs. Utilizing structural equation modeling, our research manipulated information related to ULIP products (performance and dividends) while measuring participants’ perceptions, cognitive assessments, emotional states, and investment willingness concerning the products (bottom-up pathway), along with their traits such as risk tolerance (top-down pathway). Our results indicated that perceived performance and dividends affect cognitive assessment and positive emotions within the bottom-up pathway, thereby enhancing the willingness to invest in ULIPs. Conversely, risk tolerance negatively affects perceptions, evaluations, and emotions associated with ULIPs in the top-down pathway. Understanding the perception of product characteristics and individuals’ risk tolerance plays a crucial role in shaping financial decisions. These findings have significant implications for the ULIP decision-making processes.

To enhance the sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio and durance of electrospray mass spectrometer, an off-axis ion guide combining a traveling-wave (TW) stacked-ring and a shaped ion funnel has been designed, which is capable of filtering out the neutral contaminants and charged droplets entrained in the electrospray plume. According to its structural characteristics, the corresponding TW and radio frequency (RF) coupling power supply and measurement as well as control system were designed. Customizable Ethernet communication protocol was used to control the field-programmable logic gate array (FPGA) for full-circuit signal control and generation, and an 8-channel traveling-wave amplitude monitoring was achieved through a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a 16-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC). In addition, dual-plane transformer coupling circuit was designed. The use of traveling wave changed the central reference frame of the RF, achieving the purpose of programmed RF and the effect of TW in the stacked-ring to provide axial kinetic energy. The stability and accuracy of the electrical parameters of the hardware system on the off-axis transmission structure were tested. The results showed that the controllable voltage range of TW power supply is 0.1-100 V and the controlled DC power supply’s full range detection and control absolute error are less than 0.04 V. The frequency of TW up to 400 kHz, both rising edge and falling edge are less than 30 ns. Furthermore, the waveforms of TW, RF and post-coupling waveform are sufficiently smooth. The test results also showed that the performance of the power supply and measurement and control system are stable and reliable, and their accuracy and range can satisfy the design requirements. Then, the performance of off-axis structure was tested under rough vacuum using reserpine ions. It was found that the reference voltage difference between the upper and lower traveling-waves (the voltage which the ions were extracted), the voltage of the upper traveling-waves, and the traveling-wave duty cycle of the off-axis ion transmitter have more significant effects on the off-axis transmission of ions than other electrical parameters. The experimental results provide a fundamental understanding of ion transport and off-axis separation of traveling-wave stacked-ring structures, which is valuable for the development of high signal-to-noise mass spectrometry system. In the future, this novel traveling-wave off-axis transmitter and its coupling power supply system will be applied to homemade mass spectrometry instruments. Besides, we will compare the developed device with the mainstream ion transmission devices in the market so as to further improve the device structure and power supply parameters, and deeply explore the role of traveling-wave off-axis transmitter in different ionization sources and different detectors.

Chemical kinetics is a branch of physical chemistry that constitutes an essential part of undergraduate education. In general, a complex and expensive experimental apparatus is indispensable for observing the kinetics of a chemical process owing to the continuity of chemical reactions. Thus, intuitive visualization of the chemical kinetics using a simple experimental apparatus is challenging. Herein, a portable flow reactor was designed and used to observe the chemical kinetics of a first-order process. Continuous chemical reactions were visualized via the flow reactor as static patterns with color gradients. The thermochromism of the rhodamine B salicylaldehyde hydrazone zinc(II) complex was visualized via the flow reactor and found to follow first-order kinetics. The color gradients of static reaction patterns were analyzed by comparing them with standard color cards, and the kinetic parameters, such as the reaction rate constants at different temperatures and the activation energy, were determined. By performing this experiment, students can learn about flow chemistry, photochromism, and thermochromism. The interesting experimental process and distinct color changes can hold the students' attention. The two calculation methods can help the students better understand the rate equation of a first-order reaction. The experimental apparatus is low cost and commercially available, which is beneficial for the widespread use of this experiment.