Modulation of homogeneous turbulence seeded with finite size bubbles or particles

The dynamics of homogeneous, isotropic turbulence seeded with finite sized particles or bubbles is investigated in a series of numerical simulations, using the force-coupling method for the particle phase and low wavenumber forcing of the flow to sustain the turbulence. Results are given on the modulation of the turbulence due to massless bubbles, neutrally buoyant particles and inertial particles of specific density 1.4 at volumetric concentrations of 6%. Buoyancy forces due to gravity are excluded to emphasize finite size and inertial effects for the bubbles or particles and their interactions with the turbulence. Besides observing the classical entrapment of bubbles and the expulsion of inertial particles by vortex structures, we analyze the Lagrangian statistics for the velocity and acceleration of the dispersed phase. The turbulent fluctuations are damped at mid-range wavenumbers by the bubbles or particles while the smallscale kinetic energy is significantly enhanced. Unexpectedly, the modulation of turbulence depends only slightly on the dispersion characteristics (bubble entrapment in vortices or inertial sweeping of the solid particles) but is closely related to the stresslet component (finite size effect) of the flow disturbances. The pivoting wavenumber characterizing the transition from damped to enhanced energy content is shown to vary with the size of the bubbles or particles. The spectrum for the energy transfer by the particle phase is examined and the possibility of representing this, at large scales, through an additional effective viscosity is discussed

First-Order Transition and Critical End-Point in Vortex Liquids in Layered Superconductors

We calculate various thermodynamic quantities of vortex liquids in a layered superconductor by using the nonperturbative parquet approximation method, which was previously used to study the effect of thermal fluctuations in two-dimensional vortex systems. We find there is a first-order transition between two vortex liquid phases which differ in the magnitude of their correlation lengths. As the coupling between the layers increases,the first-order transition line ends at a critical point. We discuss the possible relation between this critical end-point and the disappearance of the first-order transition which is observed in experiments on high temperature superconductors at low magnetic fields.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Harnessing Electric Fields for Microfluidics – From Lightning Sparks to Tiny Tornadoes

The dominance of surface tension and viscous effects over body forces such as inertia, gravity or centrifugal force makes fluid actuation and particle manipulation at microscale dimensions extremely difficult. We demonstrate the possibility of exploiting electric fields to drive unstable turbulent-like flows for micromixing and complex flows for efficient particle separation and concentration. In particular, the ions resulting from the breakdown of air surrounding a theoretically singular sharp electrode tip due to corona discharge is employed to accelerate the air towards the surface of a liquid in a cylindrical microchamber. Through interfacial shear, the surface liquid layer is recirculated to produce a Batchelor-type flow within the chamber that spirals suspended colloidal particles to a stagnation point at the bottom no-slip plane. We show the use of this technology for rapid and efficient separation of red blood cells from plasma for the development of miniaturised point-of-care diagnostics. Such liquid flows also become unstable at high applied voltages and frequencies leading to the generation of vortices that span a cascade of length scales, which can be exploited for micromixing

Modified Appleby Procedure with Arterial Reconstruction for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Literature Review and Report of Three Unusual Cases.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic body and tail ductal adenocarcinomas are often diagnosed with local vascular invasion of the celiac axis (CA) and its various branches. With such involvement, these tumors have traditionally been considered unresectable. The modified Appleby procedure allows for margin negative resection of some such locally advanced tumors. This procedure involves distal pancreatectomy with en bloc splenectomy and CA resection and relies on the presence of collateral arterial circulation via an intact pancreaticoduodenal arcade and the gastroduodenal artery to maintain prograde hepatic arterial perfusion. When the resultant collateral circulation is inadequate to provide sufficient hepatic and gastric arterial inflow, arterial reconstruction (AR) is necessary to supercharge the inflow. Herein, we review all reported cases of AR with modified Appleby procedures that we have identified in the literature, and we report our experience of three recent cases with arterial reconstruction including two cases with arterial bypasses not requiring interposition grafting. METHODS: Perioperative and oncologic outcomes from our Institutional Review Board-approved database of pancreatic resections at the Thomas Jefferson University were reviewed. Additionally, PubMed search for cases of distal or total pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection and concurrent AR was performed. RESULTS: From the literature, 12 reports involving 28 patients were identified of distal and total pancreatectomy with AR after CA resection. The most common AR in the literature, performed in 12 patients, was a bypass from the aorta to the common hepatic artery (CHA) using a variety of interposition conduits. In our institutional experience, patient #1 had a primary side-to-end aorto-CHA bypass, patient #2 had a primary end-to-end bypass of the transected distal CHA to the left gastric artery in the setting a replaced left hepatic artery, and patient #3 required an aortic to proper hepatic artery bypass with saphenous vein graft and portal venous reconstruction. All patients recovered from their operations without ischemic complications, and they are currently 16, 15, and 13 months post-op, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The criteria for resectability in patients with locally advanced pancreatic body and tail neoplasms are expanding due to increasing experience with AR in the setting of the modified Appleby procedure. When performing AR, primary arterial re-anastomosis may be considered preferable to interposition grafting as it decreases the potential for the infectious and thrombotic complications associated with conduits and it reduces the number of vascular anastomoses from two to one. Consideration must also be given to normal variant anatomy of the hepatic circulation during operative planning as the origin of the left gastric artery is resected with the CA. The modified Appleby procedure with AR, when used in appropriately selected patients, offers the potential for safe, margin negative resection of locally advanced pancreatic body and tail tumors

N-(4-Bromophenyl)methoxycarbothioamide

The synthesis, spectroscopic and crystallographic characterisation of the title compound, O-methyl-N-4-bromophenyl thiocarbamate, MeOC(=S)N(H)PhBr-4 (1), are described. Spectroscopy confirmed the formation of the compound and the molecular structure was determined crystallographically. Two independent but chemically similar molecules comprise the asymmetric unit of 1. The C-S and C-N bond lengths confirm the presence of the thioamide tautomer. The thione-S and amide-N-H atoms are syn, enabling the formation of amide-N-H . . . S(thione) hydrogen bonds between the two independent molecules that generates a two-molecule aggregate via an eight-membered { . . . HNCS}2 synthon. The aggregates are connected into a three-dimensional architecture via weak intermolecular interactions, including Br. . . π(4-bromophenyl), S . . . π(4-bromophenyl), and weak Br. . . S halogen bonding contacts. The overall molecular conformation, thioamide tautomer, and the presence of amide-N-H . . . S(thione) hydrogen bonding in the crystal conform with expectation for this class of compound

O-Methyl m-Tolylcarbamothioate

The synthesis, spectroscopic, and crystallographic characterisation of the title compound,O-methyl m-tolylcarbamothioate, MeOC(=S)N(H)(m-tolyl) (1), are described. The crystallographic study confirms the structure determined by spectroscopy and shows the presence of the thioamide tautomer, a syn-disposition of the thione-S and thioamide-N-H atoms and, in the crystal, thioamide-N-H . . . S(thione) hydrogen bonding leading to an eight-membered { . . . HNCS}2 synthon