ISSN 0253-2778

CN 34-1054/N

2022 Vol. 52, No. 10

Display Method:
2022-10 Contents
2022, 52(10): 1-2.
Abstract:
2022-10 Abstract
2022, 52(10): 1-2.
Abstract:
Physics
Twenty years of quantum contextuality at USTC
Zheng-Hao Liu, Qiang Li, Bi-Heng Liu, Yun-Feng Huang, Jin-Shi Xu, Chuan-Feng Li, Guang-Can Guo
2022, 52(10): 1. doi: 10.52396/JUSTC-2022-0073
Abstract:
Quantum contextuality is one of the most perplexing and peculiar features of quantum mechanics. Concisely, it refers to the observation that the result of a single measurement in quantum mechanics depends on the set of joint measurements actually performed. The study of contextuality has a long history at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Here we review the theoretical and experimental advances in this direction achieved at USTC over the last twenty years. We start by introducing the renowned simplest proof of state-independent contextuality. We then present several experimental tests of quantum versus noncontextual theories with photons. Finally, we discuss the investigation of the role of contextuality in general quantum information science and its application in quantum computation.
Design and optimization of transparent scattering solar concentrator based on SiO2 aerogel
Feng Zhang, Jun Bao, Chen Gao
2022, 52(10): 2. doi: 10.52396/JUSTC-2022-0047
Abstract:
Scattering solar concentrators (SSCs), an important component of transparent/translucent photovoltaic devices, can concentrate large-area sunlight on small-area solar cells while allowing some sunlight to pass through the devices. However, owing to the lack of suitable scattering materials, there have been few reports on SSCs in recent years. In this study, we fabricated SiO2 aerogel-based SSCs and tested their performances. The photoelectric performance was found to be moderate. Additionally, the results demonstrated excellent transmittance and color rendering index, which meet the lighting requirements of the windows. A Monte Carlo ray tracing program was developed to simulate an SSC and analyze the fate of all photons. We also analyzed the multiple scattering mechanism in SSCs that damages the photoelectric efficiency of a device via theoretical simulation. Finally, we proposed an anisotropic scattering device that can increase the primary scattering and suppress multiple scattering, resulting in excellent photoelectric efficiency.
Chemistry
Regioselective synthesis of branched alkenylborons via copper-catalyzed protoborylation of 1,4-diynes
Xinyue Sun, Jianlin Xu, Qi Li, Weiwei Ma, Yunhe Xu
2022, 52(10): 3. doi: 10.52396/JUSTC-2022-0074
Abstract:
A copper-catalyzed highly regioselective protoborylation of 1,4-diynes for the synthesis of alkenylboramide compounds was reported. Various (hetero)aryl and alkyl substituted terminal 1,4-diynes afforded the corresponding products in high yields and regioselectivities. The utility of alkenyl-B(dan) products was proven by their convenient derivatizations.
Management
Promoting exercise behavior with monetary and social incentives: An empirical study based on an online fitness program
Zhiguo Zhang, Jun Zhang, Bowen Zheng, Jingzhi Zhang
2022, 52(10): 4. doi: 10.52396/JUSTC-2022-0062
Abstract:
Due to the importance of employees’ physical well-being, organizations have long been conducting wellness programs to motivate their employees to exercise. The wide use of wearable devices (e.g., smart bands and smartphones) and fitness applications (e.g., fitness mobile applications) enable organizations to shift from offline to online fitness programs where participants use physical activity records tracked by wearable devices to complete fitness tasks and challenges. To better motivate employees’ exercise behavior, online fitness programs widely offer monetary or social incentives strategies. However, little is known about the interaction effects of the two types of incentives when they are jointly offered. Besides, organizers lack knowledge of how to set an optimal fitness challenge for the incentives in online fitness programs. In this study, we obtained a rich panel dataset from a university-wide online fitness program, which includes the daily exercise records of 2578 participants during a 100-day period, to empirically investigate the joint effects of monetary and social incentives on individuals’ exercise behavior. Most interestingly, we found that there is a crowd-out effect between monetary and social incentives—the influences of social incentives (i.e., social support and social contagion) are relatively weaker when there exists an unachieved monetary goal; once the monetary goal has been achieved, the influences of social incentives become stronger. In addition, we found that participants’ exercise behavior can be maximized when the dynamic goal is set at an optimal level. Our findings can help practitioners better design the online fitness programs and the associated fitness technologies.
Fresh product e-tailer’s optimal fresh-keeping strategy under three scenarios
Qiufang Huang, Yaqin Hu
2022, 52(10): 5. doi: 10.52396/JUSTC-2022-0018
Abstract:
In the direct sales model, the e-tailers sell fresh products to consumers in the online market and promise consumers a full-refund policy without return. Consumers are always concerned the products’ freshness level before purchasing online fresh products. Third-party logistics (3PL) providers will be motivated to exert a fresh-keeping effort to keep the fresh product at the optimum level when offering consumers or e-tailers fresh-keeping services. Considering the fresh-keeping service provided by 3PL providers, to alleviate consumers’ concerns about the freshness level and encourage them to purchase fresh products, some e-tailers will purchase fresh-keeping services from 3PL providers and offer them to consumers for free. However, some e-tailers have stopped offering the free service; they have offered consumers the opportunity to purchase fresh-keeping services. To explore an e-tailer’s optimal fresh-keeping strategy, we consider a market consisting of an e-tailer and a 3PL provider. Three alternative scenarios are discussed, scenario N: no fresh-keeping service; scenario C: some consumers voluntarily purchase fresh-keeping services; and scenario S: the e-tailer offers a complementary fresh-keeping service. We find that introducing a fresh-keeping service increases the retail price in scenario C when the coefficient of fresh-keeping cost is high and the unit fresh-keeping service fee is low, but that decreases in scenario S when the unit fresh-keeping service fee is low. Comparing the e-tailer’s equilibrium profits, we find that introducing a fresh-keeping service does not necessarily benefit the e-tailer. The coefficients of fresh-keeping costs and unit fresh-keeping service fees play a critical role in selecting the fresh-keeping strategy. Meanwhile, the 3PL provider is biased; specifically, the 3PL provider’s fresh-keeping effort is related to that of the policyholder.