Analysis of Wind Fluctuations Using the Orthogonal Wavelet Transform

This paper presents a study of velocity fluctuations occurring in the stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer over an Antarctic ice shelf. The approach is based on wavelet analysis which has advantages over conventional Fourier analysis. Two case studies are presented, comprising: pure turbulent flow and a large amplitude solitary wave.     

The Onset of Convection in an Inclined Anisotropic Porous Layer with Oblique Principle Axes

We consider the onset of convection in an inclined anisotropic porous layer heated from below. To date the principle axes of the permeability and diffusivity tensors have been assumed to be aligned with the coordinate directions. Therefore particular emphasis is laid upon how the basic flow and criteria for the onset of convection are altered by the presence of oblique principle axes. When these axes are not aligned with the coordinate directions and when the ratios of the principle permeabilities or diffusivities are not too large or too small, we find that there is always a smooth transition in the orientation of the most dangerous mode of instability as the inclination increases from the horizontal. In more extreme cases there may be sudden changes in the orientation, Darcy–Rayleigh number and wavenumber.     

An intermediate wavelength, weakly nonlinear theory for the evolution of capillary gravity waves

A new nonlinear evolution equation is derived for surface solitary waves propagating on a liquid-air interface where the wave motion is induced by a harmonic forcing. Instead of the traditional approach involving a base state of the long wave limit, a base state of harmonic waves is assumed for the perturbation analysis. This approach is considered to be more appropriate for channels of length just a few multiples of the depth. The dispersion relation found approaches the classical long wave limit. The weakly nonlinear dispersive waves satisfy a KdV-like nonlinear evolution equation with steeper nonlinearity.     

Rational Design of Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes for Three-Photon Phosphorescence Bioimaging

Compared to 2PE (two-photon excitation) microscopy, 3PE microscopy has superior spatial resolution, deeper tissue penetration, and less defocused interference. The design of suitable agents with a large Stokes shift, good three-photon absorption (3PA), subcellular targeting, and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) properties, is challenging. Now, two Ir^III complexes (3PAIr1 and 3PAIr2) were developed as efficient three-photon phosphorescence (3PP) agents. Calculations reveal that the introduction of a new group to the molecular scaffold confers a quadruple promotion in three-photon transition probability. Confocal and lifetime imaging of mitochondria using Ir^III complexes as 3PP agents is shown. The complexes exhibit low working concentration (50 nm ), fast uptake (5 min), and low threshold for three-photon excitation power (0.5 mW at 980 nm). The impressive tissue penetration depth (ca. 450 μm) allowed the 3D imaging and reconstruction of brain vasculature from a living specimen.     

The Onset of Darcy–Forchheimer Convection in Inclined Porous Layers Heated from Below

It is well known that the onset of convection in an inclined porous layer heated from below takes the form of longitudinal vortices when Darcy’s law is valid. In this paper we consider briefly how the onset criterion alters when form drag, as modelled by the Forchheimer terms, is significant. In general, the critical Rayleigh number increases substantially as form drag effects strengthen, but the wavenumber rises by only a small amount. This numerical study is supplemented by a brief asymptotic analysis of the case when the Forchheimer terms dominate and it is shown that the critical Rayleigh number increases in direct proportion with the form drag parameter.     

Creeping flow analysis of an integrated microfluidic device for rheometry

This paper analyzes flow of a power-law fluid in a microfluidic device for the purpose of discovering an algorithm for rheometry. Previous investigations have shown that measurement of the velocity field or the pressure field and the inlet flow rate in a microfluidic T-junction allow determination of rheological parameters uniquely. However, the range of shear induced within the flow domain was limited by the constant pressure drop applied across the micro-device. To avoid this control restriction and further develop our inverse technique, a constant flow rate system was investigated. With this configuration, the flow rate can be set appropriately to achieve a desired shear range and the rheological parameters can be inferred from the measurement of mean pressure at the inlet and at the junction. By assuming creeping flow conditions and the existence of a Hagen-Poiseuille-like law for the relationship between the pressure drop and the volumetric flow rate, the analysis produces an algorithm that is self-consistent (demonstrates the Hagen-Poiseuille law) and permits the inference of the power-law parameters from the ratio of any two field variables measured over a region (averaged), the pressure drop, and the volumetric flow rate.     

Metastable ions arising from pseudomolecular [M-H]- ions produced by fast-atom bombardment negative-ion mass spectrometry of ecdysteroids

Metastable ions arising from pseudomolecular [M-H]- ions produced by fast-atom bombardment negative-ion mass spectrometry of a range of free ecdysteroids, ecdysteroid conjugates and polar metabolites were investigated by means of linked scanning at constant B/E. Free ecdysteroids displayed daughter-ion spectra which allow 20-hydroxyecdysteroids and ecdysteroids lacking C-20 hydroxylation to be readily distinguished. The ejection of acetic acid from acetylated ecdysteroids was also readily detectable. Characteristic metastable-ion decomposition of ecdysteroid acids was not observed, presumably as a result of charge localization. High-mass daughter ions were also lacking in the case of phosphate conjugates.