NMR flow imaging of Newtonian liquids and a concentrated suspension through an axisymmetric sudden contraction

Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) flow imaging to examine fluid motions at constant velocities or flows that change relatively slowly has been well-documented in the literature. Application of this technique to accelerative flows, on the other hand, has been limited. This study reports the use of an NMR flow imaging method, for which acceleration is not explicitly compensated in the NMR pulse sequence, to measure axial and radial fluid motions during flow through an axisymmetric sudden contraction. In this flow geometry, both velocity and acceleration are spatially dependent. The flow contraction ratio was 2:1. The method was first applied to examine Newtonian liquids at low and high Reynolds numbers under laminar flow conditions. The measured axial and radial velocity profiles, without accounting for acceleration effects in the data analysis, across the contraction are in excellent qualitative agreement with previous experimental data and theoretical calculations reported in the literature. Quantitative comparison of the axial and radial velocities with numerical results indicates that the maximum error from acceleration effects is about 10%. The method has also been used to examine the flow of a concentrated suspension (50% by volume of solid particles) through the contraction. The flow kinematics of the suspension at creeping flow conditions appear to mimic those of the Newtonian fluid with some slight differences. NMR images taken immediately following the cessation of flow suggest a slight degree of particle migration toward the center of the pipe downstream of the contraction.     

Finite difference method for 2-D and 3-D nonlinear free surface wave problems

A finite difference method is developed for the numerical modelling of the 2-D and 3-D unsteady potential flow generated by transient disturbances on the free surface, on which the nonlinear boundary conditions are fully satisfied. The unknown function is computed with an iteration scheme processing in a transformed time-invariant space. After the velocity is calculated, the location of the free surface is renewed and so is the value of velocity on it. The boundary-value problem of the governing equation is then solved at the next time step. The present method incorporates the FFT. Consequently, a tri-diagonal equation system is obtained which could be readily solved. The feasibility of this method has been demonstrated by 2-D and 3-D examples corresponding to different initial disturbances. This work is supported by the science foundation of Academia Sinica. The paper had been accepted by the XVIth International Congress of IUTAM, Lyngby, Denmark, August, 1984.     

中国科大光力学工作进展

中国科学技术大学光力学实验室近年从事实验力学方法在红外成像、金属物理学以及生化传感等交叉领域的研究，为实验力学带来了新的研究内容，也为相关领域的研究开辟出独特的途径。本文拟对该小组近年来取得的研究进展作一个概述：1）提出微梁阵列FPA变形的高灵敏光学检测法，设计制作出相应的FPA，实现了新概念光学读出红外成像，热成像指标处于国际领先；2）提出用动态散斑研究合金材料锯齿形屈服剪切带，建立了溶质原子与位错交互作用的动态应变时效模型，再现出锯齿形加载曲线和带反复传播的轨迹；3）提出用微梁传感研究大分子／蛋白质构象折叠，检测到构象转变过程中分子间力的相互作用信息和折叠动力学过程，为研究大分子折叠机理提供了一种新途径。     

Thermomechanics of the interface between a body and its environment

We formulate integral statements of force balance, energy balance, and entropy imbalance for an interface between a body and its environment. These statements account for interfacial energy, entropy, and stress but neglect the inertia of the interface. Our final results consist of boundary conditions describing thermomechanical interactions between the body and its environment. In their most general forms, these results are partial differential equations that account for dissipation and encompass as special cases Navier’s slip law, Newton’s law of cooling, and Kirchhoff’s law of radiation. When dissipation is neglected, our results reduce to the well-known zero-slip, free-surface, zero-shear, prescribed temperature, and flux-free conditions. Dedicated to James K. Knowles: teacher, colleague, friend     

Performance of hydrodynamic journal bearing under the combined influence of textured surface and journal misalignment: A numerical survey

A wisely chosen geometry of micro textures with the favorable relative motion of lubricated surfaces in contacts can enhance tribological characteristics. In this paper, a computational investigation related to the combined influence of bearing surface texturing and journal misalignment on the performances of hydrodynamic journal bearings is reported. To this end, a numerical analysis is performed to test three texture shapes: square “SQ”, cylindrical “CY”, and triangular “TR”, and shaft misalignment variation in angle and degree. The Reynolds equation of a thin viscous film is solved using a finite differences scheme and a mass conservation algorithm (JFO boundary conditions), taking into account the presence of textures on both full film and cavitation regions. Preliminary results are compared with benchmark data and are consistent with a positive enhancement in misaligned bearing performances (load carrying capacity and friction). The results suggest that the micro-step bearing mechanism is a key parameter, where the micro-pressure recovery action present in dimples located at the second angular part of the bearing (from 180° to 360°) can compensate for the loss on performances caused by shaft misalignment, while the micro-pressure drop effect at the full film region causes poor performances. Considering the right arrangement of textures on the contact surface, their contours geometries can have a significant impact on the performance of misaligned journal bearings, particularly at high eccentricity ratios, high misalignment degrees and when the misalignment angle α approaches to $0\mathrm{°}$ or $180\mathrm{°}$.     

Multifunctional Nano‐Bioprobes Based on Rattle‐Structured Upconverting Luminescent Nanoparticles

Lanthanide‐doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have shown great promise in versatile bioapplications. For the first time, organosilica‐shelled β‐NaLuF₄:Gd/Yb/Er nanoprobes with a rattle structure have been designed for dual‐modal imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Benefiting from the unique rattle structure and aromatic framework, these nanoprobes are endowed with a high loading capacity and the disaggregation effect of photosensitizers. After loading of β‐carboxyphthalocyanine zinc or rose Bengal into the nanoprobes, we achieved higher energy transfer efficiency from UCNPs to photosensitizers as compared to those with conventional core–shell structure or with pure‐silica shell, which facilitates a large production of singlet oxygen and thus an enhanced PDT efficacy. We demonstrated the use of these nanoprobes in proof‐of‐concept X‐ray computed tomography (CT) and UC imaging, thus revealing the great potential of this multifunctional material as an excellent nanoplatform for cancer theranostics.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of GdIII‐Based Magnetic Resonance Contrast Agents for Molecular Imaging of Prostate‐Specific Membrane Antigen

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is advantageous because it concurrently provides anatomic, functional, and molecular information. MR molecular imaging can combine the high spatial resolution of this established clinical modality with molecular profiling in vivo. However, as a result of the intrinsically low sensitivity of MR imaging, high local concentrations of biological targets are required to generate discernable MR contrast. We hypothesize that the prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA), an attractive target for imaging and therapy of prostate cancer, could serve as a suitable biomarker for MR‐based molecular imaging. We have synthesized three new high‐affinity, low‐molecular‐weight Gd^III‐based PSMA‐targeted contrast agents containing one to three Gd^III chelates per molecule. We evaluated the relaxometric properties of these agents in solution, in prostate cancer cells, and in an in vivo experimental model to demonstrate the feasibility of PSMA‐based MR molecular imaging.     

Rare Earth Ion Mediated Fluorescence Accumulation on a Single Microbead: An Ultrasensitive Strategy for the Detection of Protein Kinase Activity at the Single‐Cell Level

A single microbead‐based fluorescence imaging (SBFI) strategy that enables detection of protein kinase activity from single cell lysates is reported. We systematically investigated the ability of various rare earth (RE) ions, immobilized on the microbead, for specific capturing of kinase‐induced phosphopeptides, and Dy³⁺ was found to be the most prominent one. Through the efficient concentration of kinase‐induced fluorescent phosphopeptides on a Dy³⁺‐functionalized single microbead, kinase activity can be detected and quantified by reading the fluorescence on the microbead with a confocal fluorescence microscope. Owing to the extremely specific recognition of Dy³⁺ towards phosphopeptides and the highly‐concentrated fluorescence accumulation on only one microbead, ultrahigh sensitivity has been achieved for the SBFI strategy which allows direct kinase analysis at the single‐cell level.     

The Quest for Polysulfides in Lithium–Sulfur Battery Electrolytes: An Operando Confocal Raman Spectroscopy Study

Confocal Raman spectra of a lithium–sulfur battery electrolyte are recorded operando in a depth‐of‐discharge resolved manner for an electrochemical cell with a realistic electrolyte/sulfur loading ratio. The evolution of various possible polysulfides is unambiguously identified by combining Raman spectroscopy data with DFT simulations.