Strain engineering and photocatalytic application of single-layer ReS2_2

We present a theoretical study on the electronic, dynamical, and photocatalytic properties of single-layer ReS$_2$ under uniaxial and shear strains. The single-layer ReS$_2$ shows strong anisotropic responses to straining. It remains dynamically stable for a wide range of $x$-axial strain, but becomes unstable for 2\% $y$-axial compressive strain. The single-layer ReS$_2$ is calculated to be an indirect bandgap semiconductor, and there is an indirect$-$direct bandgap transition under 1$-$5\% $x$-axial tensile straining. The single-layer ReS$_2$ is predicted incapable of catalyzing the water oxidation reaction. However, 1$-$5\% $y$-axial tensile strain can enable the single-layer ReS$_2$ for overall photocatalytic water splitting. Besides, the single-layer ReS$_2$ can also catalyze the overall water splitting and be most efficient under acidic water solutions with pH=3.8

Temporal and spatial stability of Anopheles gambiae larval habitat distribution in Western Kenya highlands.

BACKGROUND: Localized mosquito larval habitat management and the use of larvicides have been proposed as important control tools in integrated malaria vector management programs. In order to optimize the utility of these tools, detailed knowledge of the spatial distribution patterns of mosquito larval habitats is crucial. However, the spatial and temporal changes of habitat distribution patterns under different climatic conditions are rarely quantified and their implications to larval control are unknown. RESULTS: Using larval habitat data collected in western Kenya highlands during both dry and rainy seasons of 2003-2005, this study analyzed the seasonal and inter-annual changes in the spatial patterns in mosquito larval habitat distributions. We found that the spatial patterns of larval habitats had significant temporal variability both seasonally and inter-annually. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of larval habitats is extremely important to the epidemiology of malaria because it results in spatial heterogeneity in the adult mosquito population and, subsequently, the spatial distribution of clinical malaria cases. Results from this study suggest that larval habitat management activities need to consider the dynamic nature of malaria vector habitats

Numerical simulations of rotating stall in axial flow compressors

Gas turbine compressor performance may encounter deterioration during service for various reasons such as damage by debris from the casing or foreign objects impacting on the blades, typically near the rotor's tip. Moreover, mal-schedule of Variable Stator Vanes (VSVs) during start-up may also result in performance deterioration and reduction in the surge margin. Ability to assess the effect of compressor deterioration using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is important at both design stage and in service. Compressor blade damage breaks the cyclic symmetry and the VSVs mal-schecule creates mis-match between stages together with geometric variations, thus computations are desirable to be performed using full annulus assemblies. Furthermore, downstream boundary conditions are also unknown during rotating stall or surge and simulations become difficult. This research presents unsteady time-accurate CFD analyses of compressor performance with tip curl blade damage in a single stage axial flow compressor and VSVs mal-schedule in a 3.5 stage axial flow compressor. Computations were per- formed near stall boundary to predict rotating stall characteristics. The primary objectives are to characterise the overall compressor performance and analyse the detailed flow behaviour. Computations for the nominal blade configurations were also performed for comparison purposes for both compressors. All unsteady simulations were performed at part speeds with a variable nozzle downstream representing an experimental throttle. For the blade damage study, two different degrees of damage for one blade and multiple damaged blades were investigated and compared with the results from the undamaged case. For the VSVs mal-schedule study, the first two stators were assumed to be variable and were used to create mal-schedule vane settings for the investigation. The effects of blade damage and VSVs mal-schedule on the aerodynamics performance and rotating stall characteristics for both compressor assemblies were investigated respectively and discussed in detail

OPE of the stress tensors and surface operators

We demonstrate that the divergent terms in the OPE of a stress tensor and a surface operator of general shape cannot be constructed only from local geometric data depending only on the shape of the surface. We verify this holographically at d=3 for Wilson line operators or equivalently the twist operator corresponding to computing the entanglement entropy using the Ryu-Takayanagi formula. We discuss possible implications of this result.Comment: 20 pages, no figur