Heat Transfer Enhancement in the Microscale: Optimization of Fluid Flow.

The focus of this paper is to investigate the effects of the addition of a connector between two serial microchannels. The idea of adding connector at the inlet of microchannels to enhance the random motion of molecules or nanoparticles in low Reynolds numbers was developed in our research group for the first time. It was experimentally determined that the shape of a connector between two microchannels has a significant impact on the enhancement of the random motion of molecules or nanoparticles. Consequently, the heat transfer coefficient is improved inside the second microchannel. The connector is large enough to refresh the memory of the fluid before entering the second channel, causing a higher maximum heat transfer coefficient in the second channel. It was also observed that the heat transfer coefficient can be increased at the end of the channel when the outlet temperature is relatively high. This may be explained by the fact that as temperature increases, the fluid viscosity tends to decrease, which generally drives an increase in the local random motion of base fluid molecules and nanoparticles. This causes an increase in the microchannel heat transfer coefficient. It was found that the addition of nanoparticles significantly modified the impact of the connector on the microchannel heat transfer coefficient. In addition, the effects of changing the Reynolds number and the shape of the connector were investigated through use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations. It was found that both factors have an important impact on the variation of velocity and enhancement of random motion of molecules and consequently significantly affect the heat transfer coefficient.

Hybrid Nanofluid Thermal Conductivity and Optimization: Original Approach and Background.

The focus of this paper was to develop a comprehensive nanofluid thermal conductivity model that can be applied to nanofluids with any number of distinct nanoparticles for a given base fluid, concentration, temperature, particle material, and particle diameter. For the first time, this model permits a direct analytical comparison between nanofluids with a different number of distinct nanoparticles. It was observed that the model's average error was ~5.289% when compared with independent experimental data for hybrid nanofluids, which is lower than the average error of the best preexisting hybrid nanofluid model. Additionally, the effects of the operating temperature and nanoparticle concentration on the thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluids were investigated theoretically and experimentally. It was found that optimization of the operating conditions and characteristics of nanofluids is crucial to maximize the heat transfer coefficient in nanofluidics and microfluidics. Furthermore, the existing theoretical models to predict nanofluid thermal conductivity were discussed based on the main mechanisms of energy transfer, including Effective Medium Theory, Brownian motion, the nanolayer, aggregation, Molecular Dynamics simulations, and enhancement in hybrid nanofluids. The advantage and disadvantage of each model, as well as the level of accuracy of each model, were examined using independent experimental data.

Comparison of ultrafast intense-field photodynamics in aniline and nitrobenzene: stability under amino and nitro substitution.

We report on the photoionization and photofragmentation of aniline (C6H5NH2) and nitrobenzene (C6H5NO2) under single-molecule conditions in the focus of 50 fs, 800 nm laser pulses. Ion mass spectra are recorded as a function of intensity ranging from 6 × 1012 to 3 × 1014 W cm-2. Ion yields are measured in the absence of the focal volume effect and without the need for additional deconvolution of data. We observe evidence of resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization in aniline, in agreement with current literature. Phenyl-based ion fragments, singly-charged parent ions, and dissociative rearrangement processes are observed for both molecules. However, fragmentation in aniline is heavily suppressed in favor of parent ionization while the reverse is true for nitrobenzene, and multiply-charged parent ions are present in aniline and absent in nitrobenzene. We discuss the implications of these and other results as they relate to molecular stability against intense-field ionization and fragmentation, specifically with regards to the opposing behavior of the substituted amino and nitro functional groups.

Milk-derived exosomes for oral delivery of paclitaxel.

In this report milk-derived exosomes have been investigated for oral delivery of the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel (PAC) as an alternative to conventional i.v. therapy for improved efficacy and reduced toxicity. PAC-loaded exosomes (ExoPAC) were found to have a particle size of ~108 nm, a narrow particle size distribution (PDI ~0.190), zeta potential (~ -7 mV) and a practical loading efficiency of ~8%. Exosomes and ExoPAC exhibited excellent stability in the presence of simulated-gastrointestinal fluids, and during the storage at -80 °C. A sustained release of PAC was also observed up to 48 h in vitro using PBS (pH 6.8). Importantly, ExoPAC delivered orally showed significant tumor growth inhibition (60%; P<0.001) against human lung tumor xenografts in nude mice. Treatment with i.p. PAC at the same dose as ExoPAC, however, showed modest but statistically insignificant inhibition (31%). Moreover, ExoPAC demonstrated remarkably lower systemic and immunologic toxicities as compared to i.v. PAC.

Imaging of alignment and structural changes of carbon disulfide molecules using ultrafast electron diffraction.

Imaging the structure of molecules in transient-excited states remains a challenge due to the extreme requirements for spatial and temporal resolution. Ultrafast electron diffraction from aligned molecules provides atomic resolution and allows for the retrieval of structural information without the need to rely on theoretical models. Here we use ultrafast electron diffraction from aligned molecules and femtosecond laser mass spectrometry to investigate the dynamics in carbon disulfide following the interaction with an intense femtosecond laser pulse. We observe that the degree of alignment reaches an upper limit at laser intensities below the ionization threshold, and find evidence of structural deformation, dissociation and ionization at higher laser intensities.

Neurologic injury in the surgical treatment of idiopathic scoliosis: guidelines for assessment and management.

Iatrogenic spinal cord injury resulting from surgical treatment of spinal deformity is a relatively uncommon but devastating complication. Publications on the prevalence of spinal cord injury following surgery are numerous, but no definitive review with clinically pertinent treatment guidelines exists. Methods to reduce the risk of neurologic complications with scoliosis surgery include adequate patient evaluation and preoperative planning, intraoperative preparation, intraoperative neuromonitoring, and postoperative management. Treatment algorithms may be useful in the clinical setting to manage intraoperative or postoperative neurologic injury.