Electric Field Assisted Microfluidic Platform for Generation of Tailorable Porous Microbeads as Cell Carriers for Tissue Engineering

Injection of cell‐laden scaffolds in the form of mesoscopic particles directly to the site of treatment is one of the most promising approaches to tissue regeneration. Here, a novel and highly efficient method is presented for preparation of porous microbeads of tailorable dimensions (in the range ≈300–1500 mm) and with a uniform and fully interconnected internal porous texture. The method starts with generation of a monodisperse oil‐in‐water emulsion inside a flow‐focusing microfluidic device. This emulsion is later broken‐up, with the use of electric field, into mesoscopic double droplets, that in turn serve as a template for the porous microbeads. By tuning the amplitude and frequency of the electric pulses, the template droplets and the resulting porous bead scaffolds are precisely produced. Furthermore, a model of pulsed electrodripping is proposed that predicts the size of the template droplets as a function of the applied voltage. To prove the potential of the porous microbeads as cell carries, they are tested with human mesenchymal stem cells and hepatic cells, with their viability and degree of microbead colonization being monitored. Finally, the presented porous microbeads are benchmarked against conventional microparticles with nonhomogenous internal texture, revealing their superior performance.     

Power-Law Decay in the Ionization of H Rydberg Atoms

We consider a classical study of the ionization of hydrogen Rydberg atoms by circularly polarized microwaves (CPM) in the frequency regime, where typically diffusive manner of the ionization is observed [1,2]. The CPM field pulse shape and the atomic initial state influence on the survival probability, S, are investigated in the two-dimensional (2D) Hamiltonian model [3]. This is motivated by the fact that it is possible experimentally to prepare circular states, e.g. by the crossed fields method [4]. For such states and for states with not too large eccentricity the simplified 2D model should be a good approximation of the three-dimensional life for high enough states. Ionization of highly excited hydrogen atoms by linearly polarized microwaves (LPM) has been studied in the last twenty years (e.g. see [5,6]). The very first experimental results [7] were explained theoretically [8] using Monte-Carlo classical simulations. Classically, the ionization occurs due to the break up of the Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser (KAM) tori when the microwave amplitude is large enough, hence the ionization threshold can be associated with the onset of classical chaos. Therefore, in the presence of an external periodic force we can observe the escape process of an electron to the continuum from a certain phase-space region defined by the initial conditions. For Hamiltonian systems, the escape may be slowed down significantly due to the presence of the remnants of KAM tori (Cantori) and one can observe the power-law (algebraic) decay S ~ t-z from the region containing KAM stability islands rather than exponential decay S ~ exp(-t), in the limit of large time t.     

Anderson accelerated fixed-stress splitting schemes for consolidation of unsaturated porous media

In this paper, we study the robust linearization of nonlinear poromechanics of unsaturated materials. The model of interest couples the Richards equation with linear elasticity equations, generalizing the classical Biot equations. In practice a monolithic solver is not always available, defining the requirement for a linearization scheme to allow the use of separate simulators. It is not met by the classical Newton method. We propose three different linearization schemes incorporating the fixed-stress splitting scheme, coupled with an L-scheme, Modified Picard and Newton linearization of the flow equations. All schemes allow the efficient and robust decoupling of mechanics and flow equations. In particular, the simplest scheme, the Fixed-Stress-L-scheme, employs solely constant diagonal stabilization, has low cost per iteration, and is very robust. Under mild, physical assumptions, it is theoretically shown to be a contraction. Due to possible break-down or slow convergence of all considered splitting schemes, Anderson acceleration is applied as post-processing. Based on a special case, we justify theoretically the general ability of the Anderson acceleration to effectively accelerate convergence and stabilize the underlying scheme, allowing even non-contractive fixed-point iterations to converge. To our knowledge, this is the first theoretical indication of this kind. Theoretical findings are confirmed by numerical results. In particular, Anderson acceleration has been demonstrated to be very effective for the considered Picard-type methods. Finally, the Fixed-Stress-Newton scheme combined with Anderson acceleration shows the best performance among the splitting schemes.     

Blow-assisted multi-jet electrospinning of poly-L-lactic acid nanofibers

Regardless the low production rate, electrospinning remains the attractive technique for the nanofibers production in various fields. Thus, the development of a multi-jet technologies for electrospinning gives an opportunity to scale up and increase throughput of the fibers production. However, the multi-jet electrospinning technologies exhibit one major drawback– electrostatic mutual jet repulsion issue. In present research, we propose air blow-assisted multi-jet electrospinning system allowing production of nanofibers with yield, at least, tenfold higher than single jet electrospinning. The system produces nanofibers in two modes: multi-jet electrospinning and blow-assisted multi-jet electrospinning. In case of the latter, the application of sheath air stream allows the system to overcome the electrostatic mutual repulsion issue. These lead to the reduction of deviation of the polymer solution jets, the reduction of instabilities of the jets and the improvement of the control of the nanofibers deposition. Nanofibers morphology and size were investigated based on the scanning electron microscope micrographs. The comparison of the two modes shows changes in nanofibers morphology from beaded structure to fine nanofibers, and the slight increase in fiber mean size when the blowing assistance was applied to the process.     

Skin Microstructure is a Key Contributor to Its Friction Behaviour

Due to its multifactorial nature, skin friction remains a multiphysics and multiscale phenomenon poorly understood despite its relevance for many biomedical and engineering applications (from superficial pressure ulcers, through shaving and cosmetics, to automotive safety and sports equipment). For example, it is unclear whether, and in which measure, the skin microscopic surface topography, internal microstructure and associated nonlinear mechanics can condition and modulate skin friction. This study addressed this question through the development of a parametric finite element contact homogenisation procedure which was used to study and quantify the effect of the skin microstructure on the macroscopic skin frictional response. An anatomically realistic two-dimensional image-based multilayer finite element model of human skin was used to simulate the sliding of rigid indenters of various sizes over the skin surface. A corresponding structurally idealised multilayer skin model was also built for comparison purposes. Microscopic friction specified at skin asperity or microrelief level was an input to the finite element computations. From the contact reaction force measured at the sliding indenter, a homogenised (or apparent) macroscopic friction was calculated. Results demonstrated that the naturally complex geometry of the skin microstructure and surface topography alone can play as significant role in modulating the deformation component of macroscopic friction and can significantly increase it. This effect is further amplified as the ground-state Young’s modulus of the stratum corneum is increased (for example, as a result of a dryer environment). In these conditions, the skin microstructure is a dominant factor in the deformation component of macroscopic friction, regardless of indenter size or specified local friction properties. When the skin is assumed to be an assembly of nominally flat layers, the resulting global coefficient of friction is reduced with respect to the local one. This seemingly counter-intuitive effect had already been demonstrated in a recent computational study found in the literature. Results also suggest that care should be taken when assigning a coefficient of friction in computer simulations, as it might not reflect the conditions of microscopic and macroscopic friction one intends to represent. The modelling methodology and simulation tools developed in this study go beyond what current analytical models of skin friction can offer: the ability to accommodate arbitrary kinematics (i.e. finite deformations), nonlinear constitutive properties and the complex geometry of the skin microstructural constituents. It was demonstrated how this approach offered a new level of mechanistic insight into plausible friction mechanisms associated with purely structural effects operating at the microscopic scale; the methodology should be viewed as complementary to physical experimental protocols characterising skin friction as it may facilitate the interpretation of observations and measurements and/or could also assist in the design of new experimental quantitative assays.     

Bandwidth improvement of rat‐race couplers having left‐handed transmission‐line sections

A novel broadband rat‐race coupler has been investigated. The coupler utilizes an artificial left‐handed transmission line section for broadband phase response realization. Moreover, a narrowband model of left‐handed section has been shown to prove the couplers equivalent circuit at the center frequency. To broaden the operational bandwidth multisection quarter‐wave transformers have been proposed. The exemplary rat‐race coupler with two‐section impedance transformers has been designed and manufactured. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 24:341–347, 2014.     

Collisions of electrons with hydrogen atoms I. Package outline and high energy code

Being motivated by the applied researchers’ persisting need for accurate scattering data for the collisions of electrons with hydrogen atoms, we developed a computer package–Hex–that is designed to provide trustworthy results for all basic discrete and continuous processes within non-relativistic framework. The package consists of several computational modules that implement different methods, valid for specific energy regimes. Results of the modules are kept in a common database in the unified form of low-level scattering data (partial-wave T$T$-matrices) and accessed by an interface program which is able to produce various derived quantities like e.g. differential and integral cross sections. This article is the first one of a series of articles that are concerned with the implementation and testing of the modules. Here we give an overview of their structure and present (a) the command-line interface program hex-db that can be also easily compiled into a derived code or used as a backend for a web-page form and (b) simple illustrative module specialized for high energies, hex-dwba, that implements distorted and plane wave Born approximation.     

The electrochemical redox processes in PMMA gel electrolytes—behaviour of transition metal complexes

Electrochemical properties of polymer gel electrolytes based on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were studied by cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy using new solid-state PMMA-Cd-Cd²⁺ reference electrode. The suitable potential window of the PC-PMMA system was estimated from -0.2 to + 1.5 V versus Cd-Cd²⁺. New polymer gels containing ferrocene-ferricinium (Fc-Fc⁺) couple and other transition metal complexes were prepared by the direct polymerisation of methylmethacrylate (MMA) monomer and the solution of metal complex and supporting electrolyte in anhydrous aprotic solvent—propylene carbonate (PC). The half-wave potentials and apparent diffusion coefficients of used complexes and their dependence on the composition of the system (liquid or gel) were estimated. Time dependent electrochemical measurements showed almost three order decrease of the diffusion coefficients of ferrocene (Fc) and ferricinium (Fc⁺) cation from 6 × 10⁻⁵ to 2 × 10⁻⁹ cm² s⁻¹ during the polymerisation from the liquid to the polymer state. The results show that the PC-PMMA gel electrolyte can be described as a system of embedded solvent in the polymer network of PMMA without present monomer.     

An ultra-low energy (30-200 eV) ion-atomic beam source for ion-beam-assisted deposition in ultrahigh vacuum

The paper describes the design and construction of an ion-atomic beam source with an optimized generation of ions for ion-beam-assisted deposition under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. The source combines an effusion cell and an electron impact ion source and produces ion beams with ultra-low energies in the range from 30 eV to 200 eV. Decreasing ion beam energy to hyperthermal values (≈10(1) eV) without loosing optimum ionization conditions has been mainly achieved by the incorporation of an ionization chamber with a grid transparent enough for electron and ion beams. In this way the energy and current density of nitrogen ion beams in the order of 10(1) eV and 10(1) nA/cm(2), respectively, have been achieved. The source is capable of growing ultrathin layers or nanostructures at ultra-low energies with a growth rate of several MLs/h. The ion-atomic beam source will be preferentially applied for the synthesis of GaN under UHV conditions.     

Thickening of waste activated sludge by biological flotation

Waste activated sludge was thickened by biological flotation without polymer flocculant dosage. The BIOFLOT® process utilizes the denitrifying ability of activated sludge bacteria. Gaseous products of anaerobic nitrate reduction cause spontaneous flotation of the sludge suspended solids. Laboratory tests confirmed the dependence of sludge thickening efficiency on available nitrate concentration, flotation time and temperature. Full-scale experiments were performed in a fully automatized unit for discontinuous sludge thickening from wastewater treatment plants with a capacity of up to 5000 I.E. Waste activated sludge from wastewater treatment plants at Pisek. Milevsko and Björnlunda was thickened from 6.2, 10.7 and 3.5 g/l MLSS to 59.4, 59.7 and 66.7 g/t MLSS, respectively. Concentrations of COD, ammonium and phosphate ions were decreased in sludge water. The average nitrate consumption for bioflotation was 21.2 mg NO₁⁻ per 1 g of MLSS of activated sludge. Flotation time ranged from 4 to 48 h.