Variation in the thickness of a fluid interface due to internal wave propagation:a lattice Boltzmann simulation

The change in the thickness of an interface between two immiscible fluids due to the propagation of an internal capillary-gravity wave along the interface is considered using a Bhatnagar, Gross and Krook (BGK) lattice Boltzmann model of a binary of fluid. The vertical thickness of the interface is recorded from the simulations since this is the most easily measured quantities in any simulation or experiment. The vertical thickness is then related to the actual thickness (perpendicular to the interface) which is seen to vary with the phase of the wave. The positions of the maxima and minimum thicknesses are seen to be approximately constant relative to the phase of the propagating wave and the range of variation of the thickness decreases at approximately the same rate as the wave amplitude is damped. A simplified model for the interface is considered which predicts a similar variation due to the interface being stretched as the internal wave propagates

Local growth of icosahedral quasicrystalline tilings

Icosahedral quasicrystals (IQCs) with extremely high degrees of translational order have been produced in the laboratory and found in naturally occurring minerals, yet questions remain about how IQCs form. In particular, the fundamental question of how locally determined additions to a growing cluster can lead to the intricate long-range correlations in IQCs remains open. In answer to this question, we have developed an algorithm that is capable of producing a perfectly ordered IQC, yet relies exclusively on local rules for sequential, face-to-face addition of tiles to a cluster. When the algorithm is seeded with a special type of cluster containing a defect, we find that growth is forced to infinity with high probability and that the resultant IQC has a vanishing density of defects. The geometric features underlying this algorithm can inform analyses of experimental systems and numerical models that generate highly ordered quasicrystals.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, 1 tabl

Tine options for alleviating compaction in wheelings

Repeated trafficking and harvesting operations lead to high levels of compaction in inter-row wheelings used in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) production. This reduces soil porosity and infiltration resulting in water ponding on the soil surface. Even on gently sloping land this can result in runoff generation and an increased risk of soil erosion. A winged tine (WT) is currently used by a leading asparagus grower to loosen compacted inter-row wheelings. In order to test the effectiveness of this tine for alleviating compaction and implications for runoff and soil erosion control, it was evaluated alongside several other tine configurations. These were a narrow tine (NT); a narrow tine with two shallow leading tines (NSLT); a winged tine with two shallow leading tines (WSLT); and a modified para-plough (MPP). Testing was conducted under controlled conditions on a sandy loam soil in the Soil Management Facility at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, UK. Tine performance was assessed at 3 depths (175, 250 and 300 mm) by draught force; soil disturbance (both above and below ground); specific draught for a given level of soil disturbance; surface roughness; and estimated change in soil bulk density. The effectiveness of tines for compaction alleviation and potential for mitigating runoff and soil erosion varied with depth. The most effective tines were found to be the MPP NSLT and the WSLT at 175 mm, 250 mm and 300 mm depth, respectively

The Influence of Heat Input Ratio on Electrical Power Output of a Dual-Core Travelling-Wave Thermoacoustic Engine

This paper presents an analytical and experimental investigation of an electricity generator that employs a two-stage looped tube travellin -wave thermoacoustic prime-mover to deliver acoustic power from heat energy, a loudspeaker to extract electricity from sound energy and a tuning stub to compensate the changes in the acoustic field within the engine to enable close to travelling wave operation at the loudspeaker. Furthermore, the paper explains how to enhance the output power utilizing different heat input ratios through the engine cores. A well-known thermoacoustic design tool called Delta EC is used to simulate the wave propagation through the different parts of the system. The electrical power predicted from the low-cost prototype was 24.4 W acoustic power which confirms the potential for developing low-cost thermoacoustic electricity generator for heat recov ery from low-grade heat sources. The electrical power can be increased to 31.3 W using different heating power percentages through the two units. The verified experimental data shows good agreement with DeltaEC results

Persistent risk for new, subsequent new and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma despite successful anti-hepatitis B virus therapy and tumor ablation: The need for hepatitis B virus cure.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most significant hepatocarcinogens. The ultimate goal of anti-HBV treatment is to prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). During the last two decades, with the use of currently available anti-HBV therapies (lamivudine, entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumatate), there has been a decrease in the incidence of HBV-associated HCC (HBV-HCC). Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated a reduction in recurrent or new HCC development after initial HCC tumor ablation. However, during an observation period spanning 10 to 20 years, several case reports have demonstrated the development of new, subsequent new and recurrent HCC even in patients with undetectable serum HBV DNA. The persistent risk for HCC is attributed to the presence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the hepatocyte nucleus which continues to work as a template for HBV replication. While a functional cure (loss of hepatitis B surface antigen and undetectable viral DNA) can be attained with nucleos(t)ide analogues, these therapies do not eliminate cccDNA. Of utmost importance is successful eradication of the transcriptionally active HBV cccDNA from hepatocyte nuclei which would be considered a complete cure. The unpredictable nature of HCC development in patients with chronic HBV infection shows the need for a complete cure. Continued support and encouragement for research efforts aimed at developing curative therapies is imperative. The aims of this minireview are to highlight these observations and emphasize the need for a cure for HBV

Experimental investigation into droplet impingement upon moving films using high speed video and thermal imaging

Aeroengine bearing chambers are geometrically complex, typically containing shafts, bearings, seals and stationary components. Oil is supplied for lubrication and cooling and so the chamber contains a highly rotating two-phase (oil/air) flow where the oil is typically present as droplets, ligaments, mist and films. These films may be thick or thin and film speed varies with chamber location. It is desirable to know a priori the outcome of a droplet-film impact event in terms of mass, momentum and energy transfer. There is a significant body of research on the interaction between droplets and static films. The experimental parameter space has been characterised on the basis of film thickness and impact parameter to predict the outcome of an impingement. The impingement of droplets on moving films has only begun to be investigated over the last decade and consequently models have not yet been developed and the parameter space has barely begun to be characterised. Within this paper results are presented from an experimental study in which water droplets of 3 mm and 3.8 mm at 20°C falling under the influence of gravity impinged onto water films flowing down an inclined plane. Film temperature was 30°C and film thicknesses were between 2.3 mm and 4.2 mm. High speed imaging was used to determine the impingement outcomes and cavity morphology. A high speed infrared camera was used to determine the extent of the thermally affected region and its temperature behaviour. We find that by using the resultant droplet velocity (combining droplet and film velocities) the film impingement outcomes can be characterised into regions very similar to those for static films. The data is presented as a function of splashing parameter and non-dimensional film thickness. It was observed that for these impacts on supercritical films (Fr > 1) there is less propensity for secondary droplet formation through jet breakup than on static and subcritical films (Fr < 1). Data was obtained for extent of the thermally affected region. It was found that the cooler droplet liquid spreads over the inside of the crater before heating up to film temperature. Development of crater shape and size was also studied and data compared to established models for droplet impact on deep static films. During the initial stages of an impact crater area increases similarly to that for static films although the crater shape itself is less similar and is asymmetrical due to the film motion

A multi-modal data resource for investigating topographic heterogeneity in patient-derived xenograft tumors.

Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) are an essential pre-clinical resource for investigating tumor biology. However, cellular heterogeneity within and across PDX tumors can strongly impact the interpretation of PDX studies. Here, we generated a multi-modal, large-scale dataset to investigate PDX heterogeneity in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) across tumor models, spatial scales and genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and imaging assay modalities. To showcase this dataset, we present analysis to assess sources of PDX variation, including anatomical orientation within the implanted tumor, mouse contribution, and differences between replicate PDX tumors. A unique aspect of our dataset is deep characterization of intra-tumor heterogeneity via immunofluorescence imaging, which enables investigation of variation across multiple spatial scales, from subcellular to whole tumor levels. Our study provides a benchmark data resource to investigate PDX models of metastatic CRC and serves as a template for future, quantitative investigations of spatial heterogeneity within and across PDX tumor models