Micro-scale flow on naturally occurring and engineered functional surfaces

The deposition and controlled flow of continuous thin liquid film droplets on surfaces containing complex microscale surface patterning (either man-made or naturally occurring) plays a key part in numerous engineering and biologically related fields. For example, in an engineering context, complex surface patterning is present in processes involving printing/photolithography [1] and the application of precision protective coatings [2]; in biological systems they occur in such diverse areas as plant disease control [3], in redistribution of lung linings in respiratory systems [4], and in sustaining life itself, as in the unusual case of the Namibian desert beetle which drinks by harvesting morning mists [5] -- the mist condenses on hydrophilic bumps on its upper surface to form larger droplets which then roll down waxy hydrophobic channels between the bumps to reach the beetle's mouth

Finite element simulation of three-dimensional free-surface flow problems

An adaptive finite element algorithm is described for the stable solution of three-dimensional free-surface-flow problems based primarily on the use of node movement. The algorithm also includes a discrete remeshing procedure which enhances its accuracy and robustness. The spatial discretisation allows an isoparametric piecewise-quadratic approximation of the domain geometry for accurate resolution of the curved free surface. The technique is illustrated through an implementation for surface-tension-dominated viscous flows modelled in terms of the Stokes equations with suitable boundary conditions on the deforming free surface. Two three-dimensional test problems are used to demonstrate the performance of the method: a liquid bridge problem and the formation of a fluid droplet

Expression of Plet1 controls interstitial migration of murine small intestinal dendritic cells.

Under homeostatic conditions, dendritic cells (DCs) continuously patrol the intestinal lamina propria. Upon antigen encounter, DCs initiate C-C motif chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) expression and migrate into lymph nodes to direct T cell activation and differentiation. The mechanistic underpinnings of DC migration from the tissues to lymph nodes have been largely elucidated, contributing greatly to our understanding of DC functionality and intestinal immunity. In contrast, the molecular mechanisms allowing DCs to efficiently migrate through the complex extracellular matrix of the intestinal lamina propria prior to antigen encounter are still incompletely understood. Here we show that small intestinal murine CD11b <sup>+</sup> CD103 <sup>+</sup> DCs express Placenta-expressed transcript 1 (Plet1), a glycophoshatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored surface protein involved in migration of keratinocytes during wound healing. In the absence of Plet1, CD11b <sup>+</sup> CD103 <sup>+</sup> DCs display aberrant migratory behavior, and accumulate in the small intestine, independent of CCR7 responsiveness. RNA-sequencing indicated involvement of Plet1 in extracellular matrix-interactiveness, and subsequent in-vitro migration assays revealed that Plet1 augments the ability of DCs to migrate through extracellular matrix containing environments. In conclusion, our findings reveal that expression of Plet1 facilitates homeostatic interstitial migration of small intestinal DCs

Expression of Plet1 controls interstitial migration of murine small intestinal dendritic cells

Under homeostatic conditions, dendritic cells (DCs) continuously patrol the intestinal lamina propria. Upon antigen encounter, DCs ini

Kinetics of the desulfurization of molten iron. Final report

Experimental work has involved the fabrication of impervious slip-cast CaO crucibles, measurement of the rate of desulfurization of liquid iron by solid CaO and measurement of the rate of desulfurization of liquid iron by CaO-saturated liquid FeO. Above 0.087 < wt % S < 0.67, the activity of FeS is high enough to form a liquid phase in the system CaO-Fe-S. With lower sulfur levels, CaO does not cause any desulfurization of the liquid iron. When CaO-saturated liquid FeO is brought into contact with a liquid Fe-S alloy a rapid initial rate of desulfurization occurs due to surface tension-induced local convection at the slag-metal interface. After this initial period, the rate of desulfurization is determined by diffusion of sulfur in the metal. No change occurs in the oxygen content of the metal during desulfurization and hence the half cell reactions occurring in the electrochemical transfer process are (Fe) ..-->.. (Fe/sup 2 +/) + 2e/sup -/ and (S) + 2e/sup -/ ..-->.. (S/sup 2 -/). Addition of CaF/sub 2/ to the CaO-saturated slag has no effect on the desulfurization