2,957 research outputs found
Stochastic reconstruction of sandstones
A simulated annealing algorithm is employed to generate a stochastic model
for a Berea and a Fontainebleau sandstone with prescribed two-point probability
function, lineal path function, and ``pore size'' distribution function,
respectively. We find that the temperature decrease of the annealing has to be
rather quick to yield isotropic and percolating configurations. A comparison of
simple morphological quantities indicates good agreement between the
reconstructions and the original sandstones. Also, the mean survival time of a
random walker in the pore space is reproduced with good accuracy. However, a
more detailed investigation by means of local porosity theory shows that there
may be significant differences of the geometrical connectivity between the
reconstructed and the experimental samples.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure
Three Dimensional Measurements of Asphaltene Deposition in a Transparent Micro-Channel
This study describes a novel experimental approach to directly measure the thicknesses of asphaltene deposits in micro-channels. The thickness of the asphaltene deposit is estimated using a visualization technique based on 3D digital microscopy. The working fluid is a mixture of n-heptane and dead oil. Induced by the addition of n-heptane, the asphaltenes present in crude oil phase separate at ambient temperature to form aggregates of asphaltene-rich phase. Part of the asphaltene aggregates deposit on the walls of the transparent micro-channel. A two-dimensional profile of the deposit across the channel at selected axial sections is measured. The influences of injection mixture volume on the growth of the thickness of deposited asphaltenes is investigated using two experimental conditions, (i) varying elapsed time at constant flow rate and (ii) increasing the flow rate at a constant elapsed time. In both cases the deposit thickness of asphaltene (δ) increases with the total injection volume (V). The experimental results obtained in this work provide new insights into the deposition process at the micro-scale level, which can be used to facilitate the development of more accurate numerical model for this applicatio
Scale-free brain functional networks
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to extract {\em
functional networks} connecting correlated human brain sites. Analysis of the
resulting networks in different tasks shows that: (a) the distribution of
functional connections, and the probability of finding a link vs. distance are
both scale-free, (b) the characteristic path length is small and comparable
with those of equivalent random networks, and (c) the clustering coefficient is
orders of magnitude larger than those of equivalent random networks. All these
properties, typical of scale-free small world networks, reflect important
functional information about brain states.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, 2 table
Examining Asphaltene Solubility on Deposition in Model Porous Media
Asphaltenes are known to cause severe flow
assurance problems in the near-wellbore region of oil reservoirs. Understanding the mechanism of asphaltene deposition in porous media is of great significance for the development of accurate numerical simulators and effective chemical remediation treatments. Here, we present a study of the dynamics of asphaltene deposition in porous media using microfluidic devices. A model oil containing 5 wt % dissolved asphaltenes was mixed with n-heptane, a known asphaltene
precipitant, and flowed through a representative porous media microfluidic chip. Asphaltene deposition was recorded and analyzed as a function of solubility, which was directly correlated to particle size and PeĚclet number. In particular, pore-scale visualization and velocity profiles, as well as three stages of deposition,
were identified and examined to determine the important convectionâdiffusion effects on deposition
Fully sp²âcarbonâlinked crystalline twoâdimensional conjugated polymers: insight into 2D poly(phenylenecyanovinylene) formation and their optoelectronic properties
Cyanoâsubstituted polyphenylene vinylenes (PPVs) have been in the focus of research for several decades due to their interesting optoelectronic properties and potential applications in organic electronics. With the advent of organic twoâdimensional (2D) crystals, the question arose how the chemical and optoelectronic advantages of PPVs evolve in 2D compared to their linear counterparts. In this work, we present the efficent synthesis of two novel 2D fully sp²âcarbonâlinked crystalline PPVs and investigate the essentiality of inorganic bases for their catalytic formation. Notably, among all bases screened, cesium carbonate (CsâCOâ) plays a crucial role and enables reversibility in the first step with subsequent structure locking by formation of a C=C double bond to maintain crystallinity, which is supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculation. We propose a quantifiable energy diagram of a âquasiâreversible reactionâ which allows to identify further suitable CâC bond formation reactions for 2D polymerizations. Moreover, we delineate the narrowing of the HOMOâLUMO gap by expanding conjugation into two dimensions. To enable environmentally benign processing, we further perform the postâmodification of 2D PPVs, which renders stable dispersions in the aqueous phase
Phase Separation Kinetics in a Model with Order-Parameter Dependent Mobility
We present extensive results from 2-dimensional simulations of phase
separation kinetics in a model with order-parameter dependent mobility. We find
that the time-dependent structure factor exhibits dynamical scaling and the
scaling function is numerically indistinguishable from that for the
Cahn-Hilliard (CH) equation, even in the limit where surface diffusion is the
mechanism for domain growth. This supports the view that the scaling form of
the structure factor is "universal" and leads us to question the conventional
wisdom that an accurate representation of the scaled structure factor for the
CH equation can only be obtained from a theory which correctly models bulk
diffusion.Comment: To appear in PRE, figures available on reques
Domain growth and aging scaling in coarsening disordered systems
Using extensive Monte Carlo simulations we study aging properties of two
disordered systems quenched below their critical point, namely the
two-dimensional random-bond Ising model and the three-dimensional
Edwards-Anderson Ising spin glass with a bimodal distribution of the coupling
constants. We study the two-times autocorrelation and space-time correlation
functions and show that in both systems a simple aging scenario prevails in
terms of the scaling variable , where is the time-dependent
correlation length, whereas is the waiting time and is the observation
time. The investigation of the space-time correlation function for the
random-bond Ising model allows us to address some issues related to
superuniversality.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, to appear in European Physical Journal
Antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antiinvasive activities of biopolyphenolics
A large number of polyphenolic and heterocyclic compounds, i.e. 4-methylcoumarins, 4-methylthionocoumarins, xanthones, pyrazoles, pyrazolylacrylonitriles, flavones and isoflavones have been tested for their antioxidant activity towards NADPH-catalysed liver-microsomal lipid peroxidation with a view to establish their structure-activity relationship. Inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation by 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (DHMC, 2) and 7,8-diacetoxy-4-methylcoumarin (DAMC, 3) was intriguing. We also found that dihydroxy and diacetoxy derivatives of 4-methylthionocoumarin were more potent in comparison to the corresponding coumarin derivatives in inhibiting TNF-Îą induced expression of ICAM-1. The effect of nine different xanthones has been examined on the modulation of cytokine-induced expression of ICAM-1 in human endothelial cells. 1,4-Dihydroxyxanthone (10) showed enhanced antioxidant activity as well as the inhibition of the expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin on endothelial cells in a concentration and time dependent manner. Antioxidant activity of different pyrazoles and pyrazolylacrylonitriles and antiinvasive activity of flavones and isoflavones against solid tumors have also been studied
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