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Paraffin is an excellent photo-thermal conversion phase change energy storage material, and extensively used in the thermal storage field at the medium-low temperature. However, the low thermal conductivity of paraffin restricts its application in practice. Adding nanoparticles into paraffin is one of the effective methods to improve its thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, the thermal diffusivity, specific heat and volumetric heat capacity of paraffin as well as timeliness were affected after the addition of nanoparticles. In this paper, the influences of volume fraction of Al₂O₃ nanoparticle and timeliness on these thermal parameters of paraffin were investigated. The results show that the thermal conductivity of paraffin-based Al₂O₃ nanofluids increases first and then decreases with time, and the maximum thermal conductivity is 0.34 W/$(\mathrm{\text{m}}\cdot \mathrm{\text{K}})$ for volume fraction 1% on third day. The higher volume concentration, the lower specific heat and volumetric heat capacity, all present downtrend over time, until stable in the range of 0.3 MJ/$(\mathrm{\text{m}}\cdot \mathrm{\text{K}})$ and 0.4 MJ/$(\mathrm{\text{m}}\cdot \mathrm{\text{K}})$. The average enhancement rate of specific heat and volumetric heat capacity are concentrates on −6% to 9%, −10% to 0%, respectively. While increasing the volume concentration, the thermal diffusivity has no obvious regularity, and presents undulatory property over time.

When examining Form 8-K filings under the Securities and Exchange Commissions' (SEC) Rule 10b-5, Carter and Soo (1999) found that over 26% are filed after the statutory due date. "Bad news" filings resulted in over 30% tardiness. Effective August 23, 2004, the SEC passed the Additional Form 8-K Disclosure and Acceleration of Filing Date Rule (henceforth, the 2004 Current Report Rule), which expanded the number of disclosures required to be submitted on the Form 8-K, while decreasing the reporting deadline from 15 calendar days (for most events) to only four business days after event occurrence. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to assess the immediate compliance behavior of firms, consequent to the passage of the 2004 Current Report Rule (CRR).

In order to examine immediate effects, our sample consists of 2004 fourth quarter Form 8-K filings. Results indicate that compliance with stated Form 8-K deadlines has significantly improved. Relative to the other events examined, Form 8-K filings are more likely to be late if they report director resignations (i.e. "bad news"). Other results indicate no discernable differences between the number of days to file within the four day requirement and no industry is more likely than another to be noncompliant. In sum, this paper's findings should be of interest to the SEC, because they support the SEC's policy (i.e. the 2004 CRR) of firms providing material information to investors in a more timely fashion.

Corporate governance (CG) reformists typically presume better-governed companies are more transparent to investors. We focus on CG and transparency in Japan, where CG has been an ongoing issue. Using local ratings of Japanese companies’ CG and data on corporate disclosures and their associated stock returns, we do find better-governed Japanese companies have made more frequent and timelier disclosures, and their share prices have reflected value-relevant information earlier. While these results hold for good news, they do not hold for bad. Consequently, governance guidance in Japan may not have resulted in both timelier and more balanced release of newsworthy information.

Along with the development and application of underground cavern group in the southwest of China, a Engineering phenomenon occured frequently in the process of engineering development: Rock mass splitting in high side wall of underground cavern. This paper analyzes the mechanical characteristics of defective rock. It elaborate defective rock stress concentration should force distribution principle, and in the research process lieutenant general linear sliding mode crack for a specific object of study. At the same time, it establish timeliness splitting criterion, in order to analyze and judge the rock splitting. By using this method, the criterion of the age splitting of wall rock is used to provide reliable basis and scientific guidance for the engineering construction, design and optimization of large underground cavern.