Dynamical density functional theory analysis of the laning instability in sheared soft matter

Using dynamical density functional theory (DDFT) methods we investigate the laning instability of a sheared colloidal suspension. The nonequilibrium ordering at the laning transition is driven by nonaffine particle motion arising from interparticle interactions. Starting from a DDFT which incorporates the nonaffine motion, we perform a linear stability analysis that enables identification of the regions of parameter space where lanes form. We illustrate our general approach by applying it to a simple one- component fluid of soft penetrable particles

Accurate description of bulk and interfacial properties in colloid-polymer mixtures

Large-scale Monte Carlo simulations of a phase-separating colloid-polymer mixture are performed and compared to recent experiments. The approach is based on effective interaction potentials in which the central monomers of self-avoiding polymer chains are used as effective coordinates. By incorporating polymer nonideality together with soft colloid-polymer repulsion, the predicted binodal is in excellent agreement with recent experiments. In addition, the interfacial tension as well as the capillary length are in quantitative agreement with experimental results obtained at a number of points in the phase-coexistence region, without the use of any fit parametersComment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Density functional theory and demixing of binary hard rod-polymer mixtures

A density functional theory for a mixture of hard rods and polymers modeled as chains built of hard tangent spheres is proposed by combining the functional due to Yu and Wu for the polymer mixtures [J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 117}, 2368 (2002)] with the Schmidt's functional [Phys. Rev. E {\bf 63}, 50201 (2001)] for rod-sphere mixtures. As a simple application of the functional, the demixing transition into polymer-rich and rod-rich phases is examined. When the chain length increases, the phase boundary broadens and the critical packing fraction decreases. The shift of the critical point of a demixing transition is most noticeable for short chains.Comment: 4 pages,2 figures, in press, PR

Microscopic theory of solvent mediated long range forces: influence of wetting

We show that a general density functional approach for calculating the force between two big particles immersed in a solvent of smaller ones can describe systems that exhibit fluid-fluid phase separation: the theory captures effects of strong adsorption (wetting) and of critical fluctuations in the solvent. We illustrate the approach for the Gaussian core model, a simple model of a polymer mixture in solution and find extremely attractive, long ranged solvent mediated potentials between the big particles for state points lying close to the binodal, on the side where the solvent is poor in the species which is favoured by the big particles.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Europhysics Letter

Rosenfeld functional for non-additive hard spheres

The fundamental measure density functional theory for hard spheres is generalized to binary mixtures of arbitrary positive and moderate negative non-additivity between unlike components. In bulk the theory predicts fluid-fluid phase separation into phases with different chemical compositions. The location of the accompanying critical point agrees well with previous results from simulations over a broad range of non-additivities and both for symmetric and highly asymmetric size ratios. Results for partial pair correlation functions show good agreement with simulation data.Comment: 8 pages with 4 figure

Mean-Field Theory of Inhomogeneous Fluids

The Barker-Henderson perturbation theory is a bedrock of liquid-state physics, providing quantitative predictions for the bulk thermodynamic properties of realistic model systems. However, this successful method has not been exploited for the study of inhomogeneous systems. We develop and implement a first-principles 'Barker-Henderson density functional', thus providing a robust and quantitatively accurate theory for classical fluids in external fields. Numerical results are presented for the hard-core Yukawa model in three dimensions. Our predictions for the density around a fixed test particle and between planar walls are in very good agreement with simulation data. The density profiles for the free liquid vapour interface show the expected oscillatory decay into the bulk liquid as the temperature is reduced towards the triple point, but with an amplitude much smaller than that predicted by the standard mean-field density functional

Online transition of an international minor in physiotherapy in acute care

Introduction: To meet the global health ongoing needs, physiotherapists should have competences to intervene in conditions and contexts throughout the life cycle of their clients/patients. Educating physiotherapy students in the knowledge and skills required to operate in an acute care setting both expands and improves their entry level capabilities as well as prepares them to intervene with patients regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Alcoitão School of Health Sciences, Portugal and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands took the initiative to develop an International Minor Physiotherapy Course in Acute Care, in order to address the ongoing demand in this specific environment, using the opportunities given by the ERASMUS+, namely student and teachers mobility programs. Methodology: The content was developed using the international descriptors of competences of the Physiotherapist in Acute Care. Pedagogical and assessment strategies were chosen to reflect the competencies to be achieved, with a strong focus on active learning. This Minor as taught entirely online using asynchronous and synchronous strategies. Results: At the end of the Minor edition, students answered anonymous online questionnaire on the organizational and pedagogical aspects. The data revealed a very favourable opinion regarding the contents discussed (more than 80% strongly agree), pedagogical approaches used, such as online activities (more than 90% agree/strongly agree), teacher support (88% agree/strongly agree). Students were satisfied with Minor's adaptation to the pandemic context, allowing them to obtain the necessary skills to work in this context. Conclusions: Based on the positive responses from the students, we consider the implementation to be successful. The next steps are to integrate hybrid learning methodologies and broaden the participation of students and professors from other international institutions. Promoting skills and knowledge needed to work in acute care meets the growing need for professionals capable of working in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio