Contagion processes on the static and activity driven coupling networks

The evolution of network structure and the spreading of epidemic are common coexistent dynamical processes. In most cases, network structure is treated either static or time-varying, supposing the whole network is observed in a same time window. In this paper, we consider the epidemic spreading on a network consisting of both static and time-varying structures. At meanwhile, the time-varying part and the epidemic spreading are supposed to be of the same time scale. We introduce a static and activity driven coupling (SADC) network model to characterize the coupling between static (strong) structure and dynamic (weak) structure. Epidemic thresholds of SIS and SIR model are studied on SADC both analytically and numerically with various coupling strategies, where the strong structure is of homogeneous or heterogeneous degree distribution. Theoretical thresholds obtained from SADC model can both recover and generalize the classical results in static and time-varying networks. It is demonstrated that weak structures can make the epidemics break out much more easily in homogeneous coupling but harder in heterogeneous coupling when keeping same average degree in SADC networks. Furthermore, we show there exists a threshold ratio of the weak structure to have substantive effects on the breakout of the epidemics. This promotes our understanding of why epidemics can still break out in some social networks even we restrict the flow of the population

On wave diffraction of two-dimensional moonpools in a two-layer fluid with finite depth

This paper studies the wave diffraction problem of two-dimensional moonpools in a two-layer fluid by using domain decomposition scheme and the method of eigenfunction expansion. Wave exciting forces, free surface and internal wave elevations are computed and analyzed for both surface wave and internal wave modes. The present model is validated by comparing a limiting case with a single-layer fluid case. Both piston mode and sloshing mode resonances have been identified and analyzed. It is observed that, compared with the solutions in surface wave mode, the wave exciting forces in internal wave mode are much smaller, and show more peaks and valleys in low-frequency region. As the wave frequency increases, the bandwidth of sloshing mode resonances decreases. Extensive parametric studies have been performed to examine the effects of moonpool geometry and density stratification on the resonant wave motion and exciting forces. It is found that, for twin bodies with deep draft in surface wave mode, the decreasing density ratio has little effects on the sloshing mode resonance frequencies but can somehow suppress the horizontal wave exciting forces and surface wave elevations around piston mode resonance region. In addition, the presence of lower-layer fluid can lead to the reduction of piston mode resonance frequency

Synergistic tailoring of band structure and charge carrier extraction in "green" core/shell quantum dots for highly efficient solar energy conversion

Environment-friendly colloidal core/shell quantum dots (QDs) with controllable optoelectronic characteristics are promising building blocks for future commercial solar technologies. Herein, we synergistically tailor the electronic band structure and charge carrier extraction of eco-friendly AgInS2 (AIS)/ZnS core/shell QDs via Mn-alloying and Cu-doping in the core and shell, respectively. It is demonstrated that the Mn-alloying in AIS core can broaden the band gap to facilitate delocalization of photogenerated electrons into the shell and further incor-poration of Cu in the ZnS shell enables the creation of Cu-related states that capture the photogenerated holes from core, thus leading to charge carrier recombination and accelerated transfer of photogenerated electrons in the core/shell QDs. As-prepared Mn-AIS/ZnS@Cu QDs were assembled as light harvesters in a photo-electrochemical (PEC) device for light-driven hydrogen evolution, delivering a maximum photocurrent density of ~ 6.4 mA cm-2 with superior device stability under standard one sun irradiation (AM 1.5G, 100 mW cm(-2)). Our findings highlight that simultaneously engineering the band alignment and charge carrier dynamics of "green " core/shell QDs endow the feasibility to design future high-efficiency and durable solar hydrogen pro-duction systems