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Microfluidics, a cutting-edge field involving various applications in advanced materials, new energy, single-cell/single-molecule studies, human health, biomedicine, and so forth, has advanced rapidly in the last two decades [...]

We study the hydrodynamics of a spherical and dumbbell-shaped microswimmer in a tube. Combined with a squirmer model generating tangential surface waves for self-propulsion, a direct-forcing fictitious domain method is employed to simulate the swimming of the microswimmers. We perform the simulations by considering the variations of the swimming Reynolds numbers (Re), the blockage ratios (κ) and the relative distances (ds) between the squirmers of the dumbbell. The results show that the squirmer dumbbell weakens the inertia effects of the fluid more than an individual squirmer. The constrained tube can speed up an inertial pusher (propelled from the rear) and an inertia pusher dumbbell; a greater distance ds results in a slower speed of an inertial pusher dumbbell but a faster speed of an inertial puller (propelled from the front) dumbbell. We also illustrate the swimming stability of a puller (stable) and pusher (unstable) swimming in the tube at Re = 0. At a finite Re, we find that the inertia and the tube constraint competitively affect the swimming stability of the squirmers and squirmer dumbbells. The puller and puller dumbbells swimming in the tube become unstable with increasing Re, whereas an unstable–stable–unstable evolution is found for the pusher and pusher dumbbells. With increasing κ, the puller and puller dumbbells become stable while the pusher and pusher dumbbells become unstable. In addition, we find that a greater ds yields a higher hydrodynamic efficiency η of the inertial squirmer dumbbell.

In this paper, the lateral migration of a neutrally buoyant spherical particle in the pressure-driven rectangular channel flow of an Oldroyd-B fluid is numerically investigated with a fictitious domain method. The aspect ratio of the channel cross-section considered is 1 and 2, respectively. The particle lateral motion trajectories are shown for the bulk Reynolds number ranging from 1 to 100, the ratio of the solvent viscosity to the total viscosity being 0.5, and a Weissenberg number up to 1.5. Our results indicate that the lateral equilibrium positions located on the cross-section midline, diagonal line, corner and channel centreline occur successively as the fluid elasticity is increased, for particle migration in square channel flow with finite fluid inertia. The transition of the equilibrium position depends strongly on the elasticity number (the ratio of the Weissenberg number to the Reynolds number) and weakly on the Reynolds number. The diagonal-line equilibrium position occurs at an elasticity number ranging from roughly 0.001 to 0.02, and can coexist with the midline and corner equilibrium positions. When the fluid inertia is negligibly small, particles migrate towards the channel centreline, or the closest corner, depending on their initial positions and the Weissenberg number, and the corner attractive area first increases and then decreases as the Weissenberg number increases. For particle migration in a rectangular channel with an aspect ratio of 2, the transition of the equilibrium position from the midline, ‘diagonal line’ (the line where two lateral shear rates are equal to each other), off-centre long midline and channel centreline takes place as the Weissenberg number increases at moderate Reynolds numbers. An off-centre equilibrium position on the long midline is observed for a large blockage ratio of 0.3 (i.e. the ratio of the particle diameter to the channel height is 0.3) at a low Reynolds number. This off-centre migration is driven by shear forces, unlike the elasticity-induced rapid inward migration, which is driven by the normal force (pressure or first normal stress difference).

Plant height is a major trait affecting yield potential in rice. Using a large-scale hybrid transcription factor approach, we identified the novel MYB-like transcription factor OsMPH1 (MYB-like gene of Plant Height 1), which is involved in the regulation of plant height in rice. Overexpression of OsMPH1 leads to increases of plant height and grain yield in rice, while knockdown of OsMPH1 leads to the opposite phenotypes. Microscopy of longitudinal stem sections indicated that a change in internode cell length resulted in the change in plant height. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of transgenic rice lines showed that multiple genes related to cell elongation and cell wall synthesis, which are associated with plant height and yield phenotypes, exhibited an altered expression profile. These results imply that OsMPH1 might be involved in specific recognition and signal transduction processes related to plant height and yield formation, providing further insights into the mechanisms underlying the regulation of plant height and providing a candidate gene for the efficient improvement of rice yield.

The steady state of motion of two particles in Poiseuille flow of power-law fluid is numerically studied using the lattice Boltzmann method in the range of Reynolds number 20 ≤ Re ≤ 60, diameter ratio of two particles 0.125 ≤ β ≤ 2.4, and power-law index of the fluid 0.4 ≤ n ≤ 1.2. Some results are validated by comparing with other available results. The effects of Re, β, and n on the steady state of motion of two particles are discussed. The results show that, for two particles of the same diameter, the particle spacing l in the steady state is independent of n. In shear-thinning fluid, l increases rapidly at first and then slowly, finally approaching a constant for different Re. In shear-thickening fluid, although l tends to be stable in the end, the values of l after stabilization are different. For two particles of different sizes, l does not always reach a stable state, and whether it reaches a stable state depends on n. When the small particle is downstream, l increases rapidly at first and then slowly in shear-thickening fluid, but increases rapidly at first and then decreases slowly, finally approaching a constant in a shear-thinning fluid. In shear-thinning fluid, the larger n is, the smaller l is. In shear-thickening fluid, β has no effect on l in steady-state. When the large particle is downstream, l increases rapidly at first and then slowly in shear-thinning fluid but increases rapidly at first and then decreases in a shear-thickening fluid. The effect of n on l in the steady state is obvious. In shear-thinning fluid, l increases rapidly at first and then slowly, the larger Re is, the smaller l is. In shear- thickening fluid, l will reach a stable state.

The swimming mode of two interacting squirmers under gravity in a narrow vertical channel is simulated numerically using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) in the range of self-propelling strength 0.1 ≤ α ≤ 1.1 and swimming type −5 ≤ β ≤ 5. The results showed that there exist five typical swimming patterns for individual squirmers, i.e., steady upward rising (SUR), oscillation across the channel (OAC), oscillation near the wall (ONW), steady upward rising with small-amplitude oscillation (SURO), and vertical motion along the sidewall (VMS). The parametric space (α, β) illustrated the interactions on each pattern. In particular, the range of oscillation angle for ONW is from 19.8° to 32.4° as α varies from 0.3 to 0.7. Moreover, the swimming modes of two interacting squirmers combine the two squirmers’ independent swimming patterns. On the other hand, the pullers (β < 0) attract with each other at the initial stage, resulting in a low-pressure region between them and making the two pullers gradually move closer and finally make contact, while the result for the pushers (β > 0) is the opposite. After the squirmers’ interaction, the squirmer orientation and pressure distribution determine subsequent squirmer swimming patterns. Two pushers separate quickly, while there will be a more extended interaction period before the two pullers are entirely separated.

The filamentous ‘Pf’ bacteriophages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa play roles in biofilm formation and virulence, but mechanisms governing Pf prophage activation in biofilms are unclear. Here, we identify a prophage regulatory module, KKP (kinase-kinase-phosphatase), that controls virion production of co-resident Pf prophages and mediates host defense against diverse lytic phages. KKP consists of Ser/Thr kinases PfkA and PfkB, and phosphatase PfpC. The kinases have multiple host targets, one of which is MvaU, a host nucleoid-binding protein and known prophage-silencing factor. Characterization of KKP deletion and overexpression strains with transcriptional, protein-level and prophage-based approaches indicates that shifts in the balance between kinase and phosphatase activities regulate phage production by controlling MvaU phosphorylation. In addition, KKP acts as a tripartite toxin-antitoxin system that provides defense against some lytic phages. A conserved lytic phage replication protein inhibits the KKP phosphatase PfpC, stimulating toxic kinase activity and blocking lytic phage production. Thus, KKP represents a phosphorylation-based mechanism for prophage regulation and antiphage defense. The conservation of KKP gene clusters in >1000 diverse temperate prophages suggests that integrated control of temperate and lytic phage infection by KKP-like regulatory modules may play a widespread role in shaping host cell physiology. The ‘Pf’ bacteriophages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa play roles in biofilm formation and virulence. Here, the authors identify a prophage regulatory module, KKP (kinase-kinase-phosphatase), that controls virion production of co-resident Pf prophages and mediates host defense against diverse lytic phages.

Pressure drop, heat transfer, and energy performance of ZnO/water nanofluid with rodlike particles flowing through a curved pipe are studied in the range of Reynolds number 5000 ≤ Re ≤ 30,000, particle volume concentration 0.1% ≤ Φ ≤ 5%, Schmidt number 104 ≤ Sc ≤ 3 × 105, particle aspect ratio 2 ≤ λ ≤ 14, and Dean number 5 × 103 ≤ De ≤ 1.5 × 104. The momentum and energy equations of nanofluid, together with the equation of particle number density for particles, are solved numerically. Some results are validated by comparing with the experimental results. The effect of Re, Φ, Sc, λ, and De on the friction factor f and Nusselt number Nu is analyzed. The results showed that the values of f are increased with increases in Φ, Sc, and De, and with decreases in Re and λ. The heat transfer performance is enhanced with increases in Re, Φ, λ, and De, and with decreases in Sc. The ratio of energy PEC for nanofluid to base fluid is increased with increases in Re, Φ, λ, and De, and with decreases in Sc. Finally, the formula of ratio of energy PEC for nanofluid to base fluid as a function of Re, Φ, Sc, λ, and De is derived based on the numerical data.

The inertial focusing of particles in channel flow of a Newtonian fluid is studied using the lattice Boltzmann method. The effects of Reynolds number (Re) and blockage ratio (k) on the stability condition of self-organizing staggered particle trains are explored. The results show that, for staggered particle pairs, the particles will move close to each other with a damped oscillatory trajectory and form a steady horizontal spacing eventually. For single-line particle pairs, the inter-particle spacing increases continuously to a larger value for further downstream. Two lines of 12 particles will self-organize the staggered particle trains. The formation of stable staggered particle trains is dependent on Re and k. Particles with low k in the staggered particle trains are more likely to be unstable or fluctuate within a certain range when Re is larger than a critical value. As k increases, the critical values of Re corresponding to the inter-particle spacing with a stable value or a certain range of fluctuation are also increased. The mean particle spacing decreases with increasing k and decreasing Re, and the blockage ratio k has a greater effect on the particle spacing than Reynolds number Re.

The three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used to simulate the motion of a spherical squirmer in a square tube, and the steady motion velocity of a squirmer with different Reynolds numbers ( Re , ranging from 0.1 to 2) and swimming types is investigated and analyzed to better understand the swimming characteristics of microorganisms in different environments. First, as the Reynolds number increases, the effect of the inertial forces becomes significant, disrupting the squirmer’s ability to maintain its theoretical velocity. Specifically, as the Reynolds number increases, the structure of the flow field around the squirmer changes, affecting its velocity of motion. Notably, the swimming velocity of the squirmer exhibits a quadratic relationship with the type of swimming and the Reynolds number. Second, the narrow tube exerts a significant inhibitory effect on the squirmer motion. In addition, although chirality does not directly affect the swimming velocity of the squirmer, it can indirectly affect the velocity by changing its motion mode.