Reaction-free concentration gradient generation in spatially non-uniform AC electric fields

The ability to generate stable, spatiotemporally controllable concentration gradients is critical for both electrokinetic and biological applications such as directional wetting and chemotaxis. Electrochemical techniques for generating solution and surface gradients display benefits such as simplicity, controllability, and compatibility with automation. Here, we present an exploratory study for generating micro-scale spatiotemporally controllable gradients using a reaction-free electrokinetic technique in a microfluidic environment. Methanol solutions with ionic Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) molecules were used as an illustrative electrolyte. Spatially non-uniform alternating current (AC) electric fields were applied using hafnium dioxide (HfO2) coated Ti/Au electrode pairs. Results from spatial and temporal analysis, along with control experiments suggest that the FITC ion concentration gradient in bulk fluid (over 50 µm from the electrode) was established due to spatial variation of electric field density, and was independent of electrochemical reactions at the electrode surface. The established ion concentration gradients depended on both amplitudes and the frequencies of the oscillating AC electric field. Overall, this work reports a novel approach for generating stable and spatiotemporally tunable gradients in a microfluidic chamber using a reaction-free electrochemical methodology.

Reaction-free concentration gradient generation in spatially non-uniform AC electric fields

The ability to generate stable, spatiotemporally controllable concentration gradients is critical for both electrokinetic and biological applications such as directional wetting and chemotaxis. Electrochemical techniques for generating solution and surface gradients display benefits such as simplicity, controllability, and compatibility with automation. Here, we present an exploratory study for generating micro-scale spatiotemporally controllable gradients using a reaction-free electrokinetic technique in a microfluidic environment. Methanol solutions with ionic Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) molecules were used as an illustrative electrolyte. Spatially non-uniform alternating current (AC) electric fields were applied using hafnium dioxide (HfO2) coated Ti/Au electrode pairs. Results from spatial and temporal analysis, along with control experiments suggest that the FITC ion concentration gradient in bulk fluid (over 50 µm from the electrode) was established due to spatial variation of electric field density, and was independent of electrochemical reactions at the electrode surface. The established ion concentration gradients depended on both amplitudes and the frequencies of the oscillating AC electric field. Overall, this work reports a novel approach for generating stable and spatiotemporally tunable gradients in a microfluidic chamber using a reaction-free electrochemical methodology.

On a Bianchi type-I space-time with bulk viscosity in f(R,T) gravity

In this paper, we present a spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-I cosmological model with a viscous bulk fluid in [Formula: see text] gravity where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the Ricci scalar and trace of the energy-momentum tensor, respectively. The field equations are solved explicitly using the hybrid law of the scale factor, which is related to the average Hubble parameter and gives a time-varying deceleration parameter (DP). We found the deceleration parameter describing two phases in the universe, the early deceleration phase [Formula: see text] and the current acceleration phase [Formula: see text]. We have calculated some physical and geometric properties and their graphs, whether in terms of time or redshift. Note that for our model, the bulk viscous pressure [Formula: see text] is negative and the energy density [Formula: see text] is positive. The energy conditions and the [Formula: see text] analysis for our spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-I model are also discussed.

Integrated 1-D and 3-D Basin Modelling to Characterize the Deposition and Distribution of Asphaltenes Within Tar Zones from an Oil Field Offshore Abu Dhabi, UAE and Qatar

Increasing the recoverable reserves from oil fields by extracting from tar zones is becoming more desirable in the Middle East. One approach for improved definition of tar zones is to understand the factors which affected the deposition and distribution of asphaltenes within the target interval. In this paper we outline how integrated 1-D and 3-D basin modelling was used to identify the timing of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion from the Jurassic source rock to charge a prolific Jurassic carbonate reservoir formation of an oil field, offshore Abu Dhabi, UAE and Qatar. The source rock is modelled to be in the peak oil mature window today, with the onset of oil generation from the Cenomanian to the Turonian, depending on modelled and assumed source rock kinetics. The onset of oil expulsion was from the earliest Paleocene. Measured bulk fluid parameters in the reservoir formation have a significantly higher Gas-Oil Ratio (GOR) and elevated API gravity values when compared with predicted values. A possible mechanism to explain this discrepancy would be to invoke the contribution of higher GOR fluids from more mature source rocks within the fetch area of the field. Thermochemical sulphate reduction of anhydrite layers in the reservoir is predicted to have begun during the Eocene. Major uplift and erosion in the Oligocene and Mio-Pliocene significantly reduced reservoir pressure and temperature. This reduction in pressure and temperature is modelled to have caused precipitation of solids, gravity segregation and flocculation at the then oil-water contact, depositing the main tar zone and patchy tar in the reservoir beneath this zone as charge continued through time. We present a detailed review, interpretation and 3-D basin model; the first study of its kind conducted on this oil field. The 3-D basin model predicts the timing of the deposition and distribution of asphaltenes in the carbonate reservoirs of the studied field and demonstrate that local problems need to be understood in their regional context.

The mathematical description of the bulk fluid flow and that of the content impurity dispersion, obtained by replacing integer order temporal derivatives with general temporal Caputo or general temporal Riemann-Liouville fractional order derivatives, are objective

In the field of fractional calculus applications, there is a tendency to admit that “integer-order derivatives cannot simply be replaced by fractional-order derivatives to develop fractional-order theories”. There are different arguments for that: initialization problem, inconsistency, use of nonsingular or singular kernels, loss of objectivity. In this paper it is shown that the mathematical description of the bulk fluid flow and that of the content impurity spread replacing integer order temporal derivatives with general temporal Caputo or general temporal Riemann-Liouville fractional order derivatives, are objective. More precisely, it is proven that, the mathematical description of the bulk fluid 2D flow and that of the content impurity spread, in a horizontal unconfined aquifer, obtained replacing integer order temporal derivatives with general temporal Caputo or general temporal Riemann-Liouville fractional order derivatives, are objective. It is also proven that, the mathematical description of a Newtonian, incompressible, viscous bulk fluid 3D flow and that of the contained impurity dispersion, obtained replacing integer order temporal derivatives with general temporal Caputo or general temporal Riemann-Liouville fractional order derivatives, are objective. The obtained results show the compatibility of the general temporal Caputo and general temporal Riemann-Liouville fractional order derivatives with the understanding of the “measured time” evolution. In the same time these results reveal that, the objectivity violation, when integer order temporal derivatives are replaced by classic temporal Caputo or classic temporal Riemann-Liouville fractional order derivatives, is originated in the incompatibility of the classic fractional order derivatives, with the understanding of the “measured time” evolution.

Parasagittal Dural Space and Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Changes Across the Lifespan in Healthy Adults: Implications for Glymphatic Flow

Background: Recent studies have suggested the importance of a glymphatic clearance pathway for brain parenchymal metabolic waste products. One fundamental but relatively under-explored component of this pathway is the anatomic region surrounding the superior sagittal sinus, which has been hypothesized to encompass lymphatic vessels. This so-called parasagittal dural (PSD) space likely plays a physiologically significant role at the distal intracranial component of the human glymphatic circuit, yet owing to the relative novelty of this discovery, fundamental gaps persist in our knowledge of how this space changes with normal aging and intracranial bulk fluid transport. Methods: We tested the hypotheses that volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of the PSD space (i) are directly related to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow at the cerebral aqueduct, and (ii) increase with age. Healthy participants (n=62; age range = 20-83 years) provided informed, written consent and multi-modal 3 Tesla MRI was performed including phase contrast assessment of the CSF flow through the aqueduct of Sylvius, T1-weighted and T2-weighted MRI for tissue volume and PSD assessment. Standard anatomical and cognitive testing were applied to confirm inclusion criteria. PSD volume was extracted using a recently validated neural networks algorithm. Non-parametric regression models were applied to evaluate how PSD volume related to tissue volume and age cross-sectionally, and separately how PSD volume related to CSF flux (significance criteria: two-sided p<0.05). Results: A significant enlargement of PSD volume in relation to normal aging (p<0.001, Spearman’s- =0.6), CSF volume (p<0.001, Spearman’s- =0.6) and bulk CSF flux through the aqueduct of Sylvius (anterograde and retrograde, p<0.001) were observed. The elevation in PSD volume was not significantly related to changes in tissue volume (p=0.11 and p=0.24 for gray and white matter, respectively). Findings are consistent with PSD volume increasing with age and bulk CSF flux.Conclusions: The findings of this study are two folds, first they highlight the feasibility of quantifying PSD volume non-invasively in vivo in humans using machine learning and non-contrast MRI. Second, that PSD volume increases with age, and relates to bulk CSF volume and flux. Values reported should provide useful normative ranges for how PSD volume adjusts with age, which will serve as a necessary pre-requisite for comparisons to persons with neurodegenerative disorders.

Stability of the Interface Between Two Immiscible Liquids in a Model Eye Subject to Saccadic Motion

The interface between silicone oil and saline layers in a 3D model of the eye chamber was studied under different eye-like saccadic motions in order to determine the stability of the interface and propensity for emulsification in the bulk. The effect of level of fill; saccade amplitude, angular velocity, latency time; and orientation were investigated experimentally in spherical flasks with internal diameters 10, 28 and 40 mm, as well as a 28 mm diameter flask with an indent replicating the lens or the presence of a buckle. The deformation of the interface was quantified in terms of the change in its length in 2-D images. The deformation increased with Weber number, We, and was roughly proportional to We for We &gt; 1. The presence of the lens gave rise to higher deformation near this feature. In both cases emulsification was not observed in either bulk fluid. The velocity profile in the spherical configuration was mapped using particle imaging velocimetry and is compared with an analytical solution and a short computational fluid dynamics simulation study. These confirm that the saccadic motion induces flow near the wall in the saline layer and significantly further into the chamber in the silicone oil. Surfactants soluble in the aqueous and oil phases reduced the interfacial tension, increasing deformation but did not lead to emulsification in the bulk.

Ultrasound-activated ciliary bands for microrobotic systems inspired by starfish

Cilia are short, hair-like appendages ubiquitous in various biological systems, which have evolved to manipulate and gather food in liquids at regimes where viscosity dominates inertia. Inspired by these natural systems, synthetic cilia have been developed and utilized in microfluidics and microrobotics to achieve functionalities such as propulsion, liquid pumping and mixing, and particle manipulation. Here, we demonstrate ultrasound-activated synthetic ciliary bands that mimic the natural arrangements of ciliary bands on the surface of starfish larva. Our system leverages nonlinear acoustics at microscales to drive bulk fluid motion via acoustically actuated small-amplitude oscillations of synthetic cilia. By arranging the planar ciliary bands angled towards (+) or away (−) from each other, we achieve bulk fluid motion akin to a flow source or sink. We further combine these flow characteristics with a physical principle to circumvent the scallop theorem and realize acoustic-based propulsion at microscales. Finally, inspired by the feeding mechanism of a starfish larva, we demonstrate an analogous microparticle trap by arranging + and − ciliary bands adjacent to each other.

Parametric study of heat transfer performance including entropy generation of microchannel heat sink with fan cavity and different rib structure

This numerical study investigates the simultaneous application of axial wall conduction effect and entropy generation minimization as two principles to identify heat transfer performance in a microchannel heat sink with fan cavity and ribs. In this conjugate analysis, three different materials for a microchannel heat sink considered are silicon, aluminium, and copper. In addition to the fan cavity (F), effects of different rib configurations arranged symmetrically inside the fan cavity, that is, backward triangle rib (FB), rectangular rib (FR), forward triangle rib (FF), and diamond rib (FD) with Reynolds numbers ranging from 136 to 588 are studied. The comparative study between silicon and copper in terms of local wall and bulk fluid temperatures, increment in solid wall to fluid thermal conductivity ratio within the range (247.07 < ksf < 669.44), local Nusselt number (Nu x), axial conduction number (M), and entropy generation number ( Ns, a) were furnished and examined. Structural optimization is performed on diamond rib configuration geometrical parameters to observe entropy generation number and wall conduction effects trend as thermal performance is greatly improved to 2.49, at the lowest Ns, a to 0.31 at Re 391.47, with copper in the back to back cavities case. However based on the numerical results, comparative importance of axial wall conduction effect consideration in the present design of microsink, silicon is showing best results in overcoming at Re 588.4, consistently in all optimization cases.