Synchronized acoustic emission and high-speed imaging of cavitation-induced atomization: The role of shock waves.

This study experimentally investigates the role of cavitation-induced shock waves in initiating and destabilizing capillary (surface) waves on a droplet surface, preceding atomization. Acoustic emissions and interfacial wave dynamics were simultaneously monitored in droplets of different liquids (water, isopropyl alcohol and glycerol), using a calibrated fiber-optic hydrophone and high-speed imaging. Spectral analysis of the hydrophone data revealed distinct subharmonic frequency peaks in the acoustic spectrum correlated with the wavelength of capillary waves, which were optically captured during the onset of atomization from the repetitive imploding bubbles.

Effect of organic solvent additives on the enhancement of ultrasonic cavitation effects in water for lithium-ion battery electrode delamination.

Ultrasonic delamination is a low energy approach for direct recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries. The efficiency of the ultrasonic delamination relies both on the thermophysical properties (such as viscosity, surface tension, and vapour pressure) of the solvent in which the delamination process is carried out, and the properties of the ultrasound source as well as the geometry of the containment vessel. However, the effect of tailoring solutions to optimise cavitation and delamination of battery cathode coatings has not yet been sufficiently investigated.

Observation of cavitation dynamics in viscous deep eutectic solvents during power ultrasound sonication.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a class of ionic liquid with emerging applications in ionometallurgy. The characteristic high viscosity of DESs, however, limit mass transport and result in slow dissolution kinetics. Through targeted application of high-power ultrasound, ionometallurgical processing time can be significantly accelerated.

Effect of Phase-Change Nanodroplets and Ultrasound on Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability In Vitro.

Phase-change nanodroplets (PCND;NDs) are emulsions with a perfluorocarbon (PFC) core that undergo acoustic vaporisation as a response to ultrasound (US). Nanodroplets change to microbubbles and cavitate while under the effect of US. This cavitation can apply forces on cell connections in biological barrier membranes, such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and trigger a transient and reversible increased permeability to molecules and matter.

A mechanistic study identifying improved technology critical metal delamination from printed circuit boards at lower power sonications in a deep eutectic solvent.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are an emerging class of ionic liquids that offer a solution to reclaiming technology critical metals (TCMs) from electronic waste, with potential for improved life cycle analysis. The high viscosities typical of DESs, however, impose mass transport limitations such that passive TCM removal generally requires immersion over extended durations, in some cases in the order of hours. It is postulated that, through the targeted application of power ultrasound, delamination of key structures in electronic components immersed in DESs can be significantly accelerated, thereby enabling rapid recovery of TCMs.

Genetic and context-specific effects on individual inhibitory control performance in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata).

Among-individual variation in cognitive traits, widely assumed to have evolved under adaptive processes, is increasingly being demonstrated across animal taxa. As variation among individuals is required for natural selection, characterizing individual differences and their heritability is important to understand how cognitive traits evolve. Here, we use a quantitative genetic study of wild-type guppies repeatedly exposed to a 'detour task' to test for genetic variance in the cognitive trait of inhibitory control.

Characterising the chemical and physical properties of phase-change nanodroplets.

Phase-change nanodroplets have attracted increasing interest in recent years as ultrasound theranostic nanoparticles. They are smaller compared to microbubbles and they may distribute better in tissues (e.g.

Exploiting animal personality to reduce chronic stress in captive fish populations.

Chronic stress is a major source of welfare problems in many captive populations, including fishes. While we have long known that chronic stress effects arise from maladaptive expression of acute stress response pathways, predicting where and when problems will arise is difficult. Here we highlight how insights from animal personality research could be useful in this regard.

Associations between breast milk intake volume, macronutrient intake and infant growth in a longitudinal birth cohort: the Cambridge Baby Growth and Breastfeeding Study (CBGS-BF).

Growth patterns of breastfed infants show substantial inter-individual differences, partly influenced by breast milk (BM) nutritional composition. However, BM nutritional composition does not accurately indicate BM nutrient intakes. This study aimed to examine the associations between both BM intake volumes and macronutrient intakes with infant growth.

In-situ observations and acoustic measurements upon fragmentation of free-floating intermetallics under ultrasonic cavitation in water.

Grain refinement in alloys is a well-known effect of ultrasonic melt processing. Fragmentation of primary crystals by cavitation-induced action in liquid metals is considered as one of the main driving mechanisms for producing finer and equiaxed grain structures. However, in-situ observations of the fragmentation process are generally complex and difficult to follow in opaque liquid metals, especially for the free-floating crystals.

Mechanisms of ultrasonic de-agglomeration of oxides through in-situ high-speed observations and acoustic measurements.

Ultrasonic de-agglomeration and dispersion of oxides is important for a range of applications. In particular, in liquid metal, this is one of the ways to produce metal-matrix composites reinforced with micron and nano sized particles. The associated mechanism through which the de-agglomeration occurs has, however, only been conceptualized theoretically and not yet been validated with experimental observations.

Extensive Study of Breast Milk and Infant Growth: Protocol of the Cambridge Baby Growth and Breastfeeding Study (CBGS-BF).

Growth and nutrition during early life have been strongly linked to future health and metabolic risks. The Cambridge Baby Growth Study (CBGS), a longitudinal birth cohort of 2229 mother-infant pairs, was set up in 2001 to investigate early life determinant factors of infant growth and body composition in the UK setting. To carry out extensive profiling of breastmilk intakes and composition in relation to infancy growth, the Cambridge Baby Growth and Breastfeeding Study (CBGS-BF) was established upon the original CBGS.

Fifteen-minute consultation: Clinical pubertal assessment.

A pubertal assessment is an important part of the clinical examination of a young person. Clinicians must be empowered to do this confidently and in a sensitive manner. Tanner staging allows an objective measurement of pubertal status, including pubic and axillary hair growth, and breast or genital development.

Previously Unrecognized Exposure of Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) to Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in the California Mojave Desert.

A 2013 outbreak of respiratory disease in bighorn sheep from California's Mojave Desert metapopulation caused high mortality in at least one population. Subsequent PCR and strain-typing indicate widespread infection of a single strain of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae throughout this region. Serosurvey of archived samples showed that some populations have had antibodies to M.

Lipid ratios representing SCD1, FADS1, and FADS2 activities as candidate biomarkers of early growth and adiposity.

Background: Altered lipid metabolism in early life has been associated with subsequent weight gain and predicting this could aid in obesity prevention and risk management. Here, a lipidomic approach was used to identify circulating markers for future obesity risk in translational murine models and validate in a human infant cohort.

Methods: Lipidomics was performed on the plasma of APOE*3 Leiden, Ldlr-/-.

On the governing fragmentation mechanism of primary intermetallics by induced cavitation.

One of the main applications of ultrasonic melt treatment is the grain refinement of aluminium alloys. Among several suggested mechanisms, the fragmentation of primary intermetallics by acoustic cavitation is regarded as very efficient. However, the physical process causing this fragmentation has received little attention and is not yet well understood.

Characterising the cavitation activity generated by an ultrasonic horn at varying tip-vibration amplitudes.

Dual-perspective high-speed imaging and acoustic detection is used to characterise cavitation activity at the tip of a commercial 20 kHz (f) ultrasonic horn, over 2 s sonications across the range of input powers available (20 - 100%). Imaging at 1 × 10 frames per second (fps) captures cavitation-bubble cluster oscillation at the horn-tip for the duration of the sonication. Shadowgraphic imaging at 2 Mfps, from an orthogonal perspective, probes cluster collapse and shock wave generation at higher temporal resolution, facilitating direct correlation of features within the acoustic emission data generated by the bubble activity.

Which infancy growth parameters are associated with later adiposity? The Cambridge Baby Growth Study.

Highly consistent positive associations are reported between infancy growth and later obesity risk. However, it is unclear whether infancy growth parameters beyond body weight add to the prediction of later obesity risk. To assess whether infancy length and skinfold thicknesses add to infancy weight in the prediction of childhood adiposity.

Genetic variance for behavioural 'predictability' of stress response.

Genetic factors underpinning phenotypic variation are required if natural selection is to result in adaptive evolution. However, evolutionary and behavioural ecologists typically focus on variation among individuals in their average trait values and seek to characterize genetic contributions to this. As a result, less attention has been paid to if and how genes could contribute towards within-individual variance or trait 'predictability'.

Evidence from 3-month-old infants shows that a combination of postnatal feeding and exposures in utero shape lipid metabolism.

We tested the hypothesis that both postnatal feeding and conditions in utero affect lipid metabolism in infants. Infants who experienced restrictive growth conditions in utero and others exposed to maternal hyperglycaemia were compared to a control group with respect to feeding mode. Dried blood spots were collected from a pilot subset of infant participants of the Cambridge Baby Growth Study at 3mo.