On plasmon modes in multi-layer structures

In this paper, we consider the plasmon resonance in multi-layer structures. The conductivity problem associated with uniformly distributed background field is considered. We show that the plasmon mode is equivalent to the eigenvalue problem of a matrix, whose order is the same to the number of layers. For any number of layers, the exact characteristic polynomial is derived by a conjecture and is verified by using induction. It is shown that all the roots to the characteristic polynomial are real and exist in the span [-1, 2]. Numerical examples are presented for finding all the plasmon modes, and it is surprisingly to find out that such multi-layer structures may induce so called surface-plasmon-resonance-like band

Understanding Attitudes towards Proenvironmental Travel: An Empirical Study from Tangshan City in China

Understanding people’s attitudes towards proenvironmental travel will help to encourage people to adopt proenvironmental travel behavior. Revealed preference theory assumes that the consumption preference of consumers can be revealed by their consumption behavior. In order to investigate the influences on citizens’ travel decision and analyze the difficulties of promoting proenvironmental travel behavior in medium-sized cities in China, based on revealed preference theory, this paper uses the RP survey method and disaggregate model to analyze how individual characteristics, situational factors, and trip features influence the travel mode choice. The field investigation was conducted in Tangshan City to obtain the RP data. An MNL model was built to deal with the travel mode choice. SPSS software was used to calibrate the model parameters. The goodness-of-fit tests and the predicted outcome demonstrate the validation of the parameter setting. The results show that gender, occupation, trip purpose, and distance have an obvious influence on the travel mode choice. In particular, the male gender, high income, and business travel show a high correlation with carbon-intensive travel, while the female gender and a medium income scored higher in terms of proenvironmental travel modes, such as walking, cycling, and public transport

Optimization of Hybrid Hub-and-Spoke Network Operation for Less-Than-Truckload Freight Transportation considering Incremental Quantity Discount

This paper presents a mixed integer linear programming model (MILP) for optimizing the hybrid hub-and-spoke network operation for a less-than-truckload transportation service. The model aims to minimize the total operation costs (transportation cost and transfer cost), given the determined demand matrix, truck load capacity, and uncapacitated road transportation. The model also incorporates an incremental quantity discount function to solve the reversal of the total cost and the total demand. The model is applied to a real case of a Chinese transportation company engaged in nationwide freight transportation. The numerical example shows that, with uncapacitated road transportation, the total costs and the total vehicle trips of the hybrid hub-and-spoke network operation are, respectively, 8.0% and 15.3% less than those of the pure hub-and-spoke network operation, and the assumed capacity constraints in an extension model result in more target costs on the hybrid hub-and-spoke network. The two models can be used to support the decision making in network operations by transportation and logistics companies

Achieving SDG related sexual and reproductive health targets in China: what are appropriate indicators and how we interpret them?

Background: Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) targets have been included as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and thus indictors are important to monitor the progress towards these targets. SRH indicators are recommended for setting norms and measuring progress at global level. However, given the diverse political, socioeconomic and cultural contexts in different countries, and lack of global agreement on broad indicators, it is important to select appropriate indicators for specific countries. Based on internationally recommended indicators and data availability in China, this paper selected four indictors to reflect SRH in China and interpreted these indictors by analyzing the underlying factors. Methods: we employed secondary data analysis and key informant interview. The major secondary data were obtained from the China Health Statistical Year Book (2005-2017), China Statistical Year Book (2005-2017), and the sub-national estimates of the Global Burden Diseases Study 2016. We also interviewed 36 key informants at national and sub-national levels. Results: the four selected SRH indicators are contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR), adolescent birth rate, abortion rate, and availability of school sex education. CPR of married women has remained above 75% over the last three decades, indicating a high level of access to family planning (FP) services; however, unmarried but sexually active women have significant unmet needs for FP services. Although adolescent birth rates in China remain low, the abortion rate, abortion numbers, and the ratio of abortions to births increased from 2014-2016 while FP policy was relaxed in China. This suggests that abortion among unmarried women is a significant contributor to the overall figures. Qualitative analysis of the availability of school sex education reveals a situation of policy absence and the conservative attitude of key stakeholders. Conclusion: Since SRH challenges vary significantly between socio-economic, political and cultural contexts, indicators for measuring progress towards SRH targets of SDGs should be selected based on country context. The CPR and abortion rate are currently available and important indicators to monitor the most basic part of SRH in China, but require modification to ensure they can reflect universal access to quality reproductive healthcare by all reproductive age women, regardless their marriage status. Indicators on sex education need to be carefully developed to fit the context in China

Browning mechanism and process optimization during MaizeMaize KX7349 drying: Poster

Browning of KX7349 maize during drying occurred mainly in the pericarp layer. Browning was caused by oxidation of water soluble matter in the pericarp layer. Moisture content had no significant influence on browning rate. Drying temperature, drying time and drying method (vacuum drying or hot-air drying) had significant influence on the browning rate. Through lab research, a prediction model for the relationship between browning rate and drying air temperature was developed. Total drying time is y=- 13.086+0.289X<sub>1</sub>+1.045X<sub>2</sub>, where y is the browning rate(%), X<sub>1</sub> is drying temperature(°C), X<sub>2</sub> is total drying time(h), the value range of X<sub>1</sub> was 30~80, the value range of X<sub>2</sub> was 2~10. The concurrent and counter current dryer was applied in Nenjiang to optimize the drying process. The hot air temperature in each drying stage was reduced. When the hot air temperature of the 1<sup>st</sup>, 2<sup>nd</sup>, 3<sup>rd</sup> drying stage was reduced to 95°C,75°C,60°C respectively, the browning rate was reduced to 15%~16%. Keeping the hot air temperature constant at each drying stage, by drying twice, the browning rate was reduced to 4%~6%.Browning of KX7349 maize during drying occurred mainly in the pericarp layer. Browning was caused by oxidation of water soluble matter in the pericarp layer. Moisture content had no significant influence on browning rate. Drying temperature, drying time and drying method (vacuum drying or hot-air drying) had significant influence on the browning rate. Through lab research, a prediction model for the relationship between browning rate and drying air temperature was developed. Total drying time is y=- 13.086+0.289X<sub>1</sub>+1.045X<sub>2</sub>, where y is the browning rate(%), X<sub>1</sub> is drying temperature(°C), X<sub>2</sub> is total drying time(h), the value range of X<sub>1</sub> was 30~80, the value range of X<sub>2</sub> was 2~10. The concurrent and counter current dryer was applied in Nenjiang to optimize the drying process. The hot air temperature in each drying stage was reduced. When the hot air temperature of the 1<sup>st</sup>, 2<sup>nd</sup>, 3<sup>rd</sup> drying stage was reduced to 95°C,75°C,60°C respectively, the browning rate was reduced to 15%~16%. Keeping the hot air temperature constant at each drying stage, by drying twice, the browning rate was reduced to 4%~6%