Pattern Transition on Inertial Focusing of Neutrally Buoyant Particles Suspended in Rectangular Duct Flows.

The continuous separation and filtration of particles immersed in fluid flows are important interests in various applications. Although the inertial focusing of particles suspended in a duct flow is promising in microfluidics, predicting the focusing positions depending on the parameters, such as the shape of the duct cross-section and the Reynolds number (Re) has not been achieved owing to the diversity of the inertial-focusing phenomena. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the variation of the inertial focusing depending on Re in rectangular duct flows.

Margination of Platelet-Sized Particles in the Red Blood Cell Suspension Flow through Square Microchannels.

In the blood flow through microvessels, platelets show high concentrations near the vessel wall. This phenomenon is called margination of platelets and is closely associated with hemostasis and thrombosis. In the present study, we conducted in vitro experiments using platelet-sized fluorescent particles as platelet substitutes to investigate the cross-sectional distribution of these particles in the red blood cell suspension flowing through microchannels with a square cross section.

Development of margination of platelet-sized particles in red blood cell suspensions flowing through Y-shaped bifurcating microchannels.

Background: In the blood flow through microvessels, platelets exhibit enhanced concentrations in the layer free of red blood cells (cell-free layer) adjacent to the vessel wall. The motion of platelets in the cell-free layer plays an essential role in their interaction with the vessel wall, and hence it affects their functions of hemostasis and thrombosis.

Objective: We aimed to estimate the diffusivity of platelet-sized particles in the transverse direction (the direction of vorticity) across the channel width in the cell-free layer by in vitro experiments for the microchannel flow of red blood cell (RBC) suspensions containing platelet-sized particles.

Cross-sectional distributions of normal and abnormal red blood cells in capillary tubes determined by a new technique.

Background: In the microcirculation, red blood cells (RBCs) were observed to be confined to an axial stream surrounded by a marginal RBC depleted layer. This axial accumulation of RBCs is considered to arise from the RBC deformability.

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate the effect of RBC deformability on their axial accumulation at a flow condition comparable to that in arterioles by developing a new observation system for accurate measurements of radial RBC positions in the cross section of capillary tubes.

Venular valves and retrograde perfusion.

Forced retrograde perfusion through the venous system with arterial blood can provide adequate oxygen to peripheral tissues at rest through veno-capillary networks which is the basis for surgical restoration of blood flow by distal vein arterialization (DVA). To be successful such surgery requires disruption of valve leaflets in the veins, which can be accomplished easily in the larger vessels. However, the smallest veins (venules) of less than 100 μm in diameter, also possess valves, are distributed widely throughout all tissues and are too fine for any effective surgical interference.

Transition of planar Couette flow at infinite Reynolds numbers.

An outline of the state space of planar Couette flow at high Reynolds numbers (Re<10^{5}) is investigated via a variety of efficient numerical techniques. It is verified from nonlinear analysis that the lower branch of the hairpin vortex state (HVS) asymptotically approaches the primary (laminar) state with increasing Re. It is also predicted that the lower branch of the HVS at high Re belongs to the stability boundary that initiates a transition to turbulence, and that one of the unstable manifolds of the lower branch of HVS lies on the boundary.

Segregation by size difference in binary suspensions of fluid droplets in channel flow.

In channel flow of multicomponent suspensions, segregation behavior of suspended components perpendicular to the flow direction is often observed, which is considered to be caused by the differential properties of the lateral migration depending on their shape, size, flexibility, and other characteristics. In the present study, we investigate the effect of size differences between suspended components on the segregation behavior, by a two-dimensional numerical simulation for binary dispersed suspensions of fluid droplets of two different sizes subjected to a plane Poiseuille channel flow. The small and large droplets are assumed to have equal surface tensions and equal viscosity ratios of internal to external fluids.

Charge effects on the hindered transport of macromolecules across the endothelial surface glycocalyx layer.

A fluid mechanical and electrostatic model for the transport of solute molecules across the vascular endothelial surface glycocalyx layer (EGL) was developed to study the charge effect on the diffusive and convective transport of the solutes. The solute was assumed to be a spherical particle with a constant surface charge density, and the EGL was represented as an array of periodically arranged circular cylinders of like charge, with a constant surface charge density. By combining the fluid mechanical analyses for the flow around a solute suspended in an electrolyte solution and the electrostatic analyses for the free energy of the interaction between the solute and cylinders based on a mean field theory, we estimated the transport coefficients of the solute across the EGL.

Mechanotransduction in leukocyte activation: a review.

We review recent evidence which suggests that leukocytes in the circulation and in the tissue may readily respond to physiological levels of fluid shear stress in the range between about 1 and 10 dyn/cm 2, a range that is below the level to achieve a significant passive, viscoelastic response. The response of activated neutrophilic leukocytes to fluid shear consists of a rapid retraction of lamellipodia with membrane detachment from integrin binding sites. In contrast, a subgroup of non-activated neutrophils may project pseudopods after exposure to fluid shear stress.

The fluid shear stress distribution on the membrane of leukocytes in the microcirculation.

Recent in-vivo and in-vitro evidence indicates that fluid shear stress on the membrane of leukocytes has a powerful control over several aspects of their cell function. This evidence raises a question about the magnitude of the fluid shear stress on leukocytes in the circulation. The flow of plasma on the surface of a leukocyte at a very low Reynolds number is governed by the Stokes equation for the motion of a Newtonian fluid.