A thermal lattice Boltzmann model for micro/nano-flows

The dynamic behavior of charged micro and nanofluids plays a crucial role in a large variety of industrial and biological processes. Such dynamic behavior is characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of several competing mechanisms, such as electrostatic interactions, viscous dissipation and hydrodynamic effects, often taking place in complex geometries. This paper focuses on a thermal lattice Boltzmann model for micro/nano-flows

Effects of rarefaction on cavity flow in the slip regime

The Navier-Stokes-Fourier equations, with boundary conditions that account for the effects of velocity-slip and temperature-jump, are compared to the direct simulation Monte Carlo method for the case of a lid-driven micro-cavity. Results are presented for Knudsen numbers within the slip-flow regime where the onset of nonequilibrium effects are usually observed. Good agreement is found in predicting the general features of the velocity field and the recirculating flow. However, although the steady-state pressure distributions along the walls of the driven cavity are generally in good agreement with the Monte Carlo data, there is some indication that the results are starting to show noticeable differences, particularly at the separation and reattachment points. The modified Navier-Stokes-Fourier equations consistently overpredict the maximum and minimum pressure values throughout the slip regime. This highlights the need for alternative boundary formulations or modeling techniques that can provide accurate and computationally economic solutions over a wider range of Knudsen numbers

Micro-scale cavities in the slip - and transition - flow regimes

Differences between Navier-Stokes-Fourier (NSF) slip/jump solutions and direct simulation Monte-Carlo (DSMC) computations are highlighted for a micro lid-driven cavity problem. The results indicate a need for better modelling techniques which at the same time retain low computational cost of NSF models. We also highlight the fact thatmany micro-flows that have been considered are simple planar flows and typical classification systems are defined on such flows. We show that for complex flows, such as thedriven cavity, non-equilibrium effects are more appreciable and their onset occurs at lower Knudsen numbers than expected

Simulation of Micro-Electronic FlowFET Systems

A microelectronic fluidic system has been investigated by modeling and 3D simulation of fluid flow controlled by an applied gate voltage. The simulations have helped to characterize a novel FlowFET (a fluidic Field Effect Transistor) device under fault-free conditions. The FlowFET operates by applying a voltage field from a gate electrode in the insulated side wall of a microchannel to modulate the ␣-potential at the shear plane [1]. The change in ␣-potential can be used to control both the magnitude and direction of the electroosmotic flow in the microchannel

A design rule for constant depth microfluidic networks for power-law fluids

A biomimetic design rule is proposed for generating bifurcating microfluidic channel networks of rectangular cross section for power-law and Newtonian fluids. The design is based on Murray’s law, which was originally derived using the principle of minimum work for Newtonian fluids to predict the optimum ratio between the diameters of the parent and daughter vessels in networks with circular cross section. The relationship is extended here to consider the flow of power-law fluids in planar geometries (i.e. geometries of rectangular cross section with constant depth) typical of lab-on-a-chip applications. The proposed design offers the ability to precisely control the shear-stress distributions and predict the flow resistance along the bifurcating network. Computational fluid dynamics simulations are performed using an in-house code to assess the validity of the proposed design and the limits of operation in terms of Reynolds number for Newtonian, shear-thinning and shear-thickening fluids under various flow conditions

Discovery of the element with atomic number 112 (IUPAC Technical Report)

The IUPAC/IUPAP Joint Working Party (JWP) on the priority of claims to the discovery of new elements has reviewed the relevant literature pertaining to several claims. In accordance with the criteria for the discovery of elements previously established by the 1992 IUPAC/IUPAP Transfermium Working Group (TWG), and reiterated by the 1999 and 2003 IUPAC/IUPAP JWPs, it was determined that the 1996 and 2002 claims by the Hofmann et al. research collaborations for the discovery of the element with atomic number 112 at Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI) share in the fulfillment of those criteria. A synopsis of Z = 112 experiments and related efforts is presented. A subsequent report will address identification of higher-Z elements including those of odd atomic numbe

Polyclonal Infections Due to Mycobacterium Avium Complex in Patients with AIDS Detected by Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis of Sequential Clinical Isolates.

Invasive infection with organisms of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is common among patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. In previous studies, we analyzed multiple individual colonies of MAC isolated from specimens obtained at the same time and observed that 14 to 20% of patients are simultaneously infected with more than one strain. In this study, we examined sequential isolates from 12 patients with AIDS who had two or more MAC isolates available from clinical specimens collected more than 1 week apart; the intervals between the first and last specimens ranged from 8 to 192 (median, 46) days. For each isolate, restriction digests of genomic DNA were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; DNA was prepared by using a protocol, described here in detail, which had been optimized for conditions of bacterial growth and lysis. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis identified four patients (33%) infected with two different MAC strains. Both M. avium and M. intracellulare were cultured from blood specimens from two patients. In each of the four patients, the second strain was identified from a culture taken within 14 days of the initial study isolate, and in three of these patients, the first strain was detected again in a subsequent culture. These observations suggest that the presence of two different strains among isolates from sequential cultures may reflect ongoing polyclonal infection. We conclude that polyclonal infection with MAC is common among patients with AIDS. The identification of such infections may be critical in the development of effective treatments