Three-Dimensional Analysis of Spiny Dendrites Using Straightening and Unrolling Transforms

Current understanding of the synaptic organization of the brain depends to a large extent on knowledge about the synaptic inputs to the neurons. Indeed, the dendritic surfaces of pyramidal cells (the most common neuron in the cerebral cortex) are covered by thin protrusions named dendritic spines. These represent the targets of most excitatory synapses in the cerebral cortex and therefore, dendritic spines prove critical in learning, memory and cognition. This paper presents a new method that facilitates the analysis of the 3D structure of spine insertions in dendrites, providing insight on spine distribution patterns. This method is based both on the implementation of straightening and unrolling transformations to move the analysis process to a planar, unfolded arrangement, and on the design of DISPINE, an interactive environment that supports the visual analysis of 3D patterns

Quantitative imaging of concentrated suspensions under flow

We review recent advances in imaging the flow of concentrated suspensions, focussing on the use of confocal microscopy to obtain time-resolved information on the single-particle level in these systems. After motivating the need for quantitative (confocal) imaging in suspension rheology, we briefly describe the particles, sample environments, microscopy tools and analysis algorithms needed to perform this kind of experiments. The second part of the review focusses on microscopic aspects of the flow of concentrated model hard-sphere-like suspensions, and the relation to non-linear rheological phenomena such as yielding, shear localization, wall slip and shear-induced ordering. Both Brownian and non-Brownian systems will be described. We show how quantitative imaging can improve our understanding of the connection between microscopic dynamics and bulk flow.Comment: Review on imaging hard-sphere suspensions, incl summary of methodology. Submitted for special volume 'High Solid Dispersions' ed. M. Cloitre, Vol. xx of 'Advances and Polymer Science' (Springer, Berlin, 2009); 22 pages, 16 fig

Affine and non-affine motions in sheared polydisperse jammed emulsions

We study dense and highly polydisperse emulsions at droplet volume fractions \phi >= 0.65. We apply oscillatory shear and observe droplet motion using confocal microscopy. The presence of droplets with sizes several times the mean size dramatically changes the motion of smaller droplets. Both affine and nonaffine droplet motions are observed, with the more nonaffine motion exhibited by the smaller droplets which are pushed around by the larger droplets. Droplet motions are correlated over length scales from one to four times the mean droplet diameter, with larger length scales corresponding to higher strain amplitudes (up to strains of about 6%).Comment: 6 page

Drying colloidal systems: laboratory models for a wide range of applications

The drying of complex fluids provides a powerful insight into phenomena that take place on time and length scales not normally accessible. An important feature of complex fluids, colloidal dispersions and polymer solutions is their high sensitivity to weak external actions. Thus, the drying of complex fluids involves a large number of physical and chemical processes. The scope of this review is the capacity to tune such systems to reproduce and explore specific properties in a physics laboratory. A wide variety of systems are presented, ranging from functional coatings, food science, cosmetology, medical diagnostics and forensics to geophysics and art

An Application of Computational Fluid Dynamics to Optimize Municipal Sewage Networks; A Case of Tororo Municipality, Eastern Uganda.

Two-phase pipe flow is a common occurrence in many industrial applications such as sewage, water, oil, and gas transportation. Accurate prediction of liquid velocity, holdup and pressure drop is of vast importance to ensure effective design and operation of fluid transport systems. This paper aimed at the simulation of a two-phase flow of air and sewage (water) using an open source software OpenFOAM. Numerical Simulations have been performed using varying dimensions of pipes as well as their inclinations. Specifically, a Standard k- turbulence model and the Volume of Fluid (VOF) free water surface model is used to solve the turbulent mixture flow of air and sewage (water). A two dimensional, 0.5m diameter pipe of 20m length is used for the CFD approach based on the Navier-Stokes equations. Results showed that the flow pattern behaviour is influenced by the pipe diameters as well as their inclination. It is concluded that the most effective way to optimize a sewer network system for Tororo Municipality conditions and other similar situations, is by adjusting sewer diameters and slope gradients and expanding the number of sewer network connections of household and industries from 535 (i.e., 31.2% of total) to at least 1,200 (70% of total).</jats:p