Bubble size prediction in co-flowing streams

In this paper, the size of bubbles formed through the breakup of a gaseous jet in a co-axial microfluidic device is derived. The gaseous jet surrounded by a co-flowing liquid stream breaks up into monodisperse microbubbles and the size of the bubbles is determined by the radius of the inner gas jet and the bubble formation frequency. We obtain the radius of the gas jet by solving the Navier-Stokes equations for low Reynolds number flows and by minimization of the dissipation energy. The prediction of the bubble size is based on the system's control parameters only, i.e. the inner gas flow rate $Q_i$, the outer liquid flow rate $Q_o$, and the tube radius $R$. For a very low gas-to-liquid flow rate ratio ($Q_i / Q_o \rightarrow 0$) the bubble radius scales as $r_b / R \propto \sqrt{Q_i / Q_o}$, independently of the inner to outer viscosity ratio $\eta_i/\eta_o$ and of the type of the velocity profile in the gas, which can be either flat or parabolic, depending on whether high-molecular-weight surfactants cover the gas-liquid interface or not. However, in the case in which the gas velocity profiles are parabolic and the viscosity ratio is sufficiently low, i.e. $\eta_i/\eta_o \ll 1$, the bubble diameter scales as $r_b \propto (Q_i/Q_o)^\beta$, with $\beta$ smaller than 1/2

Evaporating pure, binary and ternary droplets: thermal effects and axial symmetry breaking

The Greek aperitif Ouzo is not only famous for its specific anise-flavored taste, but also for its ability to turn from a transparent miscible liquid to a milky-white colored emulsion when water is added. Recently, it has been shown that this so-called Ouzo effect, i.e. the spontaneous emulsification of oil microdroplets, can also be triggered by the preferential evaporation of ethanol in an evaporating sessile Ouzo drop, leading to an amazingly rich drying process with multiple phase transitions [H. Tan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113(31) (2016) 8642]. Due to the enhanced evaporation near the contact line, the nucleation of oil droplets starts at the rim which results in an oil ring encircling the drop. Furthermore, the oil droplets are advected through the Ouzo drop by a fast solutal Marangoni flow. In this article, we investigate the evaporation of mixture droplets in more detail, by successively increasing the mixture complexity from pure water over a binary water-ethanol mixture to the ternary Ouzo mixture (water, ethanol and anise oil). In particular, axisymmetric and full three-dimensional finite element method simulations have been performed on these droplets to discuss thermal effects and the complicated flow in the droplet driven by an interplay of preferential evaporation, evaporative cooling and solutal and thermal Marangoni flow. By using image analysis techniques and micro-PIV measurements, we are able to compare the numerically predicted volume evolutions and velocity fields with experimental data. The Ouzo droplet is furthermore investigated by confocal microscopy. It is shown that the oil ring predominantly emerges due to coalescence

Hysteretic clustering in granular gas

Granular material is vibro-fluidized in N=2 and N=3 connected compartments, respectively. For sufficiently strong shaking the granular gas is equi-partitioned, but if the shaking intensity is lowered, the gas clusters in one compartment. The phase transition towards the clustered state is of 2nd order for N=2 and of 1st order for N=3. In particular, the latter is hysteretic. The experimental findings are accounted for within a dynamical model that exactly has the above properties

Microstructure and Rheology of Lamellar Liquid Crystalline Phases

We have investigated the microstructure and rheological properties of ternary surfactant mixtures in a salt solution. The surfactants were 6% sodium 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonate, 3% C13-15 ethoxylated alcohol with seven ethylene oxide (EO) units and 1% C13-15 ethoxylated alcohol with 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 20, or 25 EO units. The salt solution was 10% nitrilotriacetate·H2O. Microstructural investigations (electron microscopy, light microscopy, confocal laser microscopy, conductivity measurements, and centrifugation) show that at rest the samples containing the surfactant with 2 EO to 9 EO units are dispersions of lamellar droplets (curved surfactant bilayers). The samples containing the surfactant with 11 EO to 25 EO units show a continuous lamellar structure (sheets of surfactant bilayers) with a small amount of lamellar droplets present. The change in several rheological parameters reflects this change in microstructure. The power law index from flow experiments at low shear rates changes from 0.1 for the lamellar dispersions to 0.4 for the continuous lamellar phases. Similar changes are observed in shear modulus and in the limiting strain for linear viscoelastic behavior. The continuous lamellar phase is converted to droplets by shearing at rates above 1 s-1. The continuous lamellar structures will recover in about a week when the samples are allowed to relax. The nature of the droplets is highly dynamic. Confocal laser microscopy shows small fluctuations in droplet shape on a time scale of about 100 s. This time coincides with a characteristic time of around 100 s pertaining to a (shallow) peak in G''

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia : a personalized approach

The majority of patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) obtain complete hematological remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy, but the incidence of relapse is considerable despite chemotherapeutic consolidation therapy. Currently, post-remission treatment (PRT) for the prevention of relapse may include continued chemotherapy, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), or allogeneic HSCT (alloHSCT). Although alloHSCT is associated with the lowest incidence of relapse, counterbalancing non-relapse mortality (NRM) may compromise overall outcome. The decision to perform an alloHSCT for patients with AML in first CR depends on the assessment of risks and benefits (ie, mortality and relapse risk reduction), which is based on disease features, but also factors related to patient characteristics, transplantation procedures and type of donor. Such a risk versus benefit evaluation of alloHSCT has evolved into a personalized approach for patients with AML in first CR. The studies described in this thesis address the benefits of alloHSCT identifying different AML patient subgroups with improved outcome following alloHSCT. Secondly, the studies in this thesis addressed morbidity and mortality following alloHSCT. Lastly, this thesis discussed the value of alloHSCT as PRT in specific AML subgroups, potential challenges with respect to alloHSCT-related NRM, and statistical considerations analyzing PRT for AML. A personalized transplant decision approach for patients with AML in first CR was presented, which may be applied in daily clinical practice

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia : a personalized approach

The majority of patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) obtain complete hematological remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy, but the incidence of relapse is considerable despite chemotherapeutic consolidation therapy. Currently, post-remission treatment (PRT) for the prevention of relapse may include continued chemotherapy, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), or allogeneic HSCT (alloHSCT). Although alloHSCT is associated with the lowest incidence of relapse, counterbalancing non-relapse mortality (NRM) may compromise overall outcome. The decision to perform an alloHSCT for patients with AML in first CR depends on the assessment of risks and benefits (ie, mortality and relapse risk reduction), which is based on disease features, but also factors related to patient characteristics, transplantation procedures and type of donor. Such a risk versus benefit evaluation of alloHSCT has evolved into a personalized approach for patients with AML in first CR. The studies described in this thesis address the benefits of alloHSCT identifying different AML patient subgroups with improved outcome following alloHSCT. Secondly, the studies in this thesis addressed morbidity and mortality following alloHSCT. Lastly, this thesis discussed the value of alloHSCT as PRT in specific AML subgroups, potential challenges with respect to alloHSCT-related NRM, and statistical considerations analyzing PRT for AML. A personalized transplant decision approach for patients with AML in first CR was presented, which may be applied in daily clinical practice

Cyclic fatigue resistance tests of Nickel-Titanium rotary files using simulated canal and weight loading conditions

published_or_final_versio

Road centre line simplification principles for angular segment analysis

Angular segment analysis is one of the most fundamental analyses in space syntax practice that helps understand movement, land-use and other socio-economic patterns. It was initially applied in axial segment maps and later was used in road centre line maps as an attempt to overcome the 'segment problem' (Turner, 2005). Furthermore, the growing need to examine large urban systems has led to the wide use of road centre line maps instead of the previously hand-drawn axial maps. However, this transition to such datasets has lacked systematic studies on what is required to convert a road centre line map into a segment map, in order to produce reliable results of the angular segment analysis. To date, no consensual methodology has been developed within the space syntax community. This paper attempts to clarify what a road centre line segment represents spatially and suggests principles and rules to simplify a road centre line map to a segment map. Based on previous experience, the simplification mostly relies on the following two principles: reducing the number of nodes in the dual graph representation of a street network; optimising the angular change between adjacent nodes of the dual graph when space allows it. In addition to the above general principles, we discuss rules for special and complex cases, e.g. roundabouts, underpasses, bridges etc. To evaluate these rules and principles comparisons are carried out between traditional axial and RCL unsimplified and simplified segment maps, to develop a good understanding of how changes in dual graph representation of a street network can affect space syntax measure of 'choice'. Correlations of angular segment choice values are performed in order to evaluate which simplification technique can approximate better the axial representation of actual human activity. The results show that using a raw road centre line data set raises several inconsistencies in the analysis results, and the progressive application of the different simplification techniques brings these results closer to those of a traditional axial segment map, and thus to a better representation of socio-economic activity. The purpose of simplification is to minimise inconsistencies to ensure maximum accuracy in the results of angular segment analysis

Gamma-irradiation of liposomes composed of saturated phospholipids. Effect of bilayer composition, size, concentration and absorbed dose on chemical degradation and physical destabilization of liposomes

AbstractLiposomes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG), or mixtures of these two phospholipids were exposed to gamma-irradiation in an air environment. Disappearance of the mother compounds was monitored by HPLC analysis. Plotting of the logarithmic values of residual DPPC or DPPG concentration versus irradiation dose resulted in straight lines. The slopes of these lines (overall degradation constants) depended on the type of phospholipids, concentration of the liposomes and the size of the liposomes. Under the chosen conditions, addition of DPPG in DPPC-liposomes did not affect the degradation rate constant of DPPC and visa versa. The presence of phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), pH or presence of sodium chloride did not affect the irradiation damage either. Minor changes were found upon analysis of total fatty acids by GLC and upon measurement of water soluble phosphate compounds. These changes were less pronounced than the changes monitored by HPLC of phospholipids, because the HPLC analysis monitored the overall degradation of the liposomal phospholipids. Thin-layer chromatography/fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (TLC/FAB-MS) analysis of irradiated and non-irradiated DPPC or DPPG provided information on the structure of several degradation products. Degradation routes which include these degradation products are proposed. Gamma-irradiation neither affected the size of the liposomes nor the bilayer rigidity as determined by dynamic light scattering and fluorescence anisotropy of the probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), respectively. However, upon gamma-irradiation, changes in the melting characteristics of the liposomes were found by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The pre-transition melting enthalpy of the liposomal bilayer decreased or disappeared and the main-transition broadened. The changes found in DSC scans correlated qualitatively well with the changes recorded after HPLC analysis of phospholipids