A velocity program using the Kanade–Lucas–Tomasi feature-tracking algorithm with demonstration for pressure and electroosmosis conditions

Investigating microfluidic flow profiles is of interest in the microfluidics field for the determination of various characteristics of a lab-on-a-chip system. Microparticle tracking velocimetry uses computational methods upon recording video footage of microfluidic flow to ultimately visualize motion within a microfluidic system across all frames of a video. Current methods are computationally expensive or require extensive instrumentation. A computational method suited to microparticle tracking applications is the robust Kanade–Lucas–Tomasi (KLT) feature-tracking algorithm. This work explores a microparticle tracking velocimetry program using the KLT feature-tracking algorithm. The developed program is demonstrated using pressure-driven and EOF and compared with the respective mathematical fluid flow models. An electrostatics analysis of EOF conditions is performed in the development of the mathematical using a Poisson's Equation solver. This analysis is used to quantify the zeta potential of the electroosmotic system. Overall, the KLT feature-tracking algorithm presented in this work proved to be highly reliable and computationally efficient for investigations of pressure-driven and EOF in a microfluidic system.     

Biomimetic Peptide Catalytic Bond-Forming Utilizing a Mild Brønsted Acid

Since the global peptide drug market demand has been predicted to increase, highly efficient and inexpensive mass scale peptides are required. However, the production process raises questions about the cost of energy input, scale-up production, raw materials, and solvents treatment. This paper introduces 2 methods for the 2–4 mer oligopeptides bond formation for batch reaction utilizing 50–100 mol% of a mild Brønsted acid under the mild condition. One of the methods has been capably adapted to flow synthesis at room temperature using organic solvents with boiling points below 100 °C. The method applies the tert-butoxycarbonyl amino methoxy group, forming the desired dipeptide without solvent at mild temperatures. Furthermore, the conversion of the carboxylic acid leaving the group to phenyl ester promotes peptide bond formation, and the reaction were applied to di, tri, and tetrapeptide bond formation in excellent yield without notable racemization at ambient temperature (up to >99 % yield and 99 : 1 dr). Finally, this study proposes this new production method to overcome the limited scale-up production by reaction device scale: liquid phase biomimetic catalytic peptide flow synthesis utilizing a mild Brønsted acid.     

Existence and uniqueness of maximal strong solution of a 1D blood flow in a network of vessels

We study the well-posedness of a system of one-dimensional partial differential equations modeling blood flows in a network of vessels with viscoelastic walls. We prove the existence and uniqueness of maximal strong solution for this type of hyperbolic/parabolic model. We also prove a stability estimate under suitable nonlinear Robin boundary conditions.     

A ghost-cell immersed boundary method for large-eddy simulations of compressible turbulent flows

A methodology to perform a ghost-cell-based immersed boundary method (GCIBM) is presented for simulating compressible turbulent flows around complex geometries. In this method, the boundary condition on the immersed boundary is enforced through the use of ‘ghost cells’ that are located inside the solid body. The computations of variables on these ghost cells are achieved using linear interpolation schemes. The validity and applicability of the proposed method is verified using a three-dimensional (3D) flow over a circular cylinder, and a large-eddy simulation of fully developed 3D turbulent flow in a channel with a wavy surface. The results agree well with the previous numerical and experimental results, given that the grid resolution is reasonably fine. To demonstrate the capability of the method for higher Mach numbers, supersonic turbulent flow over a circular cylinder is presented. While more work still needs to be done to demonstrate higher robustness and accuracy, the present work provides interesting insights using the GCIBM for the compressible flows.     

Development of LBGK and incompressible LBGK‐based lattice Boltzmann flux solvers for simulation of incompressible flows

This paper presents lattice Boltzmann Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (LBGK) model and incompressible LBGK model‐based lattice Boltzmann flux solvers (LBFS) for simulation of incompressible flows. LBFS applies the finite volume method to directly discretize the governing differential equations recovered by lattice Boltzmann equations. The fluxes of LBFS at each cell interface are evaluated by local reconstruction of lattice Boltzmann solution. Because LBFS is applied locally at each cell interface independently, it removes the major drawbacks of conventional lattice Boltzmann method such as lattice uniformity, coupling between mesh spacing, and time interval. With LBGK and incompressible LBGK models, LBFS are examined by simulating decaying vortex flow, polar cavity flow, plane Poiseuille flow, Womersley flow, and double shear flows. The obtained numerical results show that both the LBGK and incompressible LBGK‐based LBFS have the second order of accuracy and high computational efficiency on nonuniform grids. Furthermore, LBFS with both LBGK models are also stable for the double shear flows at a high Reynolds number of 10⁵. However, for the pressure‐driven plane Poiseuille flow, when the pressure gradient is increased, the relative error associated with LBGK model grows faster than that associated with incompressible LBGK model. It seems that the incompressible LBGK‐based LBFS is more suitable for simulating incompressible flows with large pressure gradients. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Amperometric detection of indapamide on glassy carbon electrode

This work describes the development of a fast, precise and reliable voltammetric method for the quantification of indapamide, an orally active diuretic sulfonamide used for hypertensive treatment. This compound acts inhibiting sodium reabsorption and increasing the elimination of water. This characteristic was responsible for its banishment by the International Olympic Committee since 1999. The study begins by finding an adequate potential range (−0.20 to 0.30 V) to avoid poisoning the working glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in phosphate buffer 0.10 mol L⁻¹ (pH=12.0). Utilizing flow injection analysis, linear responses between 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ to 2.5 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ of indapamide (R²=0.995), and detection limit (LOD) 3.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ were obtained. This method was applied for the quantification of indapamide in tablets and in synthetic urine. The same flow system was used for the analysis of commercial drugs and the response obtained corresponded to 98 % of the concentration indicated on the drug label. These tablets were also analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), obtaining a recovery of 103 % and LOD 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. The velocity of analysis using flow methods compares advantageously to the classical chromatographic methods. For synthetic urine, linear responses were obtained in samples spiked in the region from 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ to 30 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ (R²=0.991) and LOD 3.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹.     

Preparation of Fe−Co−LDH/MXene modified electrode for sensitive determination of arsenic (III) in aquatic system

3-dimensional (3D) Fe−Co−LDH/MXene composite was synthesized by in-situ synthesis and assembly of Fe−Co−LDH rod around MXene under hydrothermal condition. Due to the unique 3D configuration and good conductivity, the obtained Fe−Co−LDH/MXene modified glassy carbon electrode (Fe−Co−LDH/MXene/GCE) showed excellent electrochemical activity for As(III) detection. Via square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry, the response current on Fe−Co−LDH/MXene/GCE had good linear relationship with As(III) concentrations (1∼1000 ppt) with superior sensitivity (0.22 μA ppt⁻¹ cm⁻²) and low detection limit (0.9 ppt). The mechanism of As(III) adsorption was demonstrated. The electrode showed excellent anti-interference ability. Real water sample analysis demonstrated the Fe−Co−LDH/MXene/GCE was deployable in aqua-system.     

A lubricated stagnation point flow of nanofluid with heat and mass transfer phenomenon: Significance to hydraulic systems

The improved thermal association of heat transfer is considerably observed due to interaction of nanoparticles in recent days. The lubrication phenomenon with heat and mass transfer effects plays a key role in the hydraulic systems. In current research, the thermal impact of nanofluid over a lubricated stretching surfaces near a stagnation point analytical has been studied. A thin layer of lubricating fluid with a variable thickness provides lubrication. The inspection of thermophoresis and Brownian motion phenomenon is illustrated via Boungrino model. The analytical finding of refurbished boundary layer ordinary differential equations is obtained by a reliable and proficient technique namely variational iteration method (VIM). The Lagrange Multiplier is a potent tool in proposed technique to reduce the computational work. In addition, a numerical comparison is presented to show the effectiveness of this study. The range of flow parameters is based on theoretical flow assumptions. Physical inspection of involved parameters on velocities, temperatures, concentrations, and other quantities of interest when lubrication is presented. The current results present applications in polymer process, manufacturing systems, heat transfer and hydraulic systems.     

Explicit finite difference simulations for accelerating cross diffusion flow over a perpendicular shield with parabolic motion

The heat transfer phenomenon subject to thermos-diffusion effects convey important applications in the heating processes, extrusion systems, chemical processes and various engineering systems. The objective of current work is to observe the contribution of Soret and Dufour effects in oscillating shield for cross diffusion flow. The perpendicular shield with oscillating motion induced the flow. The magnitude of oscillations is assumed to be small so that laminar flow due to oscillating shield has been resulted. The motivations for addressing the thermos-diffusion phenomenon due to oscillating of shield are due to applications in oscillatory pumps, moving surface, metal detectors, power systems etc. The dimensionless problem is obtained via introducing the appropriate set of variables. The numerical outcomes are suggested by using the most interesting explicit finite difference scheme. The physical illustration for flow parameters is presented. Moreover, the aspect of physical quantities involving the flow are graphically reported.     

Switchable Synthesis of 7- and 14-Membered Cyclic Peptides Containing N-Methyl- and β-Amino Acids Utilizing Microflow Technology

Smaller cyclic peptides containing non-proteinogenic amino acids have garnered much attention for use as drugs, but their chemical synthesis is extremely challenging. In this study, a rapid (60.5 min) synthesis of 7- and 14-membered cyclic peptides containing N-methyl- and β-amino acids was achieved by only switching the concentrations (0.20 M or 0.01 M) of the substrates. The developed approach required neither expensive transition-metals nor expensive coupling agents. As far as we could ascertain, this is the first report of the synthesis of smaller (≤16-membered) cyclic N-methylated peptides via dimerization-cyclization strategy.