Investigation of the bag-breakup phenomena of the spray generation processes during wind-wave interaction in the laboratory experiments with optical methods

Present paper devoted to the investigations with optical methods processes of artificially induced bag-breakup type of spray formation phenomenon within wind-wave interaction. Experiments were carried out on the Thermostratified Wind-Wave Tank of the IAP RAS. High-speed video filming with the shadow imaging method demonstrated that it was possible to artificially reproduce all the main stages of this phenomenon, which are also observed for the sporadically occurred ones: inflation of a thin membrane surrounded by a thicker rim, rupture of the membrane leading to the formation of small droplets, fragmentation of the rim with the formation of large droplets. Special processing of the images allowed us to estimate typical lifetimes and sizes of membrane for artificial bag-breakup events which turned out to be close to the same parameters for sporadically occurred ones.

Extrusion of a nanosecond surface discharge plasma near a dielectric ledge

The presence of a dielectric ledge along the pulse discharge propagation led to a redistribution of the pulsed surface (plasma sheets) discharge glow. Discharge glow on the surface without the ledge, was uniform and lasted no more than 200 ns. Two plasma channels with increased glow intensity were observed near the rectangular ledge placed in the discharge area. The duration of these longitudinal plasma channels increased and lasted for about 0.9 μs (at a voltage of 25 kV and a density of 0.03 – 0.18 kg/m3 ). A nine-frame nanosecond camera recorded the evolution of the plasma glow. The dynamics of the flow induced by the pulse surface discharge was recorded using a high-speed shadow imaging during 40-50 μs after the ignition of the discharge.

Comparison of Experimental and Numerical Transient Drop Deformation during Transition through Orifices in High-Pressure Homogenizers

The droplet deformation in dispersing units of high-pressure homogenizers (HPH) is examined experimentally and numerically. Due to the small size of common homogenizer nozzles, the visual analysis of the transient droplet generation is usually not possible. Therefore, a scaled setup was used. The droplet deformation was determined quantitatively by using a shadow imaging technique. It is shown that the influence of transient stresses on the droplets caused by laminar extensional flow upstream the orifice is highly relevant for the droplet breakup behind the nozzle. Classical approaches based on an equilibrium assumption on the other side are not adequate to explain the observed droplet distributions. Based on the experimental results, a relationship from the literature with numerical simulations adopting different models are used to determine the transient droplet deformation during transition through orifices. It is shown that numerical and experimental results are in fairly good agreement at limited settings. It can be concluded that a scaled apparatus is well suited to estimate the transient droplet formation up to the outlet of the orifice.

Sizing of airborne particles in an operating room

Medical procedures that produce aerosolized particles are under great scrutiny due to the recent concerns surrounding the COVID-19 virus and increased risk for nosocomial infections. For example, thoracostomies, tracheotomies and intubations/extubations produce aerosols that can linger in the air. The lingering time is dependent on particle size where, e.g., 500 μm (0.5 mm) particles may quickly fall to the floor, while 1 μm particles may float for extended lengths of time. Here, a method is presented to characterize the size of <40 μm to >600 μm particles resulting from surgery in an operating room (OR). The particles are measured in-situ (next to a patient on an operating table) through a 75mm aperture in a ∼400 mm rectangular enclosure with minimal flow restriction. The particles and gasses exiting a patient are vented through an enclosed laser sheet while a camera captures images of the side-scattered light from the entrained particles. A similar optical configuration was described by Anfinrud et al.; however, we present here an extended method which provides a calibration method for determining particle size. The use of a laser sheet with side-scattered light provides a large FOV and bright image of the particles; however, the particle image dilation caused by scattering does not allow direct measurement of particle size. The calibration routine presented here is accomplished by measuring fixed particle distribution ranges with a calibrated shadow imaging system and mapping these measurements to the in-situ imaging system. The technique used for generating and measuring these particles is described. The result is a three-part process where 1) particles of varying sizes are produced and measured using a calibrated, high-resolution shadow imaging method, 2) the same particle generators are measured with the in-situ imaging system, and 3) a correlation mapping is made between the (dilated) laser image size and the measured particle size. Additionally, experimental and operational details of the imaging system are described such as requirements for the enclosure volume, light management, air filtration and control of various laser reflections. Details related to the OR environment and requirements for achieving close proximity to a patient are discussed as well.

High-Precision Lensless Microscope on a Chip Based on In-Line Holographic Imaging

The lensless on-chip microscope is an emerging technology in the recent decade that can realize the imaging and analysis of biological samples with a wide field-of-view without huge optical devices and any lenses. Because of its small size, low cost, and being easy to hold and operate, it can be used as an alternative tool for large microscopes in resource-poor or remote areas, which is of great significance for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. To improve the low-resolution characteristics of the existing lensless shadow imaging systems and to meet the high-resolution needs of point-of-care testing, here, we propose a high-precision on-chip microscope based on in-line holographic technology. We demonstrated the ability of the iterative phase recovery algorithm to recover sample information and evaluated it with image quality evaluation algorithms with or without reference. The results showed that the resolution of the holographic image after iterative phase recovery is 1.41 times that of traditional shadow imaging. Moreover, we used machine learning tools to identify and count the mixed samples of mouse ascites tumor cells and micro-particles that were iterative phase recovered. The results showed that the on-chip cell counter had high-precision counting characteristics as compared with manual counting of the microscope reference image. Therefore, the proposed high-precision lensless microscope on a chip based on in-line holographic imaging provides one promising solution for future point-of-care testing (POCT).

Super-resolution shadow imaging reveals local remodeling of astrocytic microstructures and brain extracellular space after osmotic challenge

The extracellular space (ECS) plays a central role for brain physiology, shaping the time course and spread of neurochemicals, ions and nutrients that ensure proper brain homeostasis and neuronal communication. Astrocytes are the most abundant type of glia cell in the brain, whose processes densely infiltrate the brain’s parenchyma. As astrocytes are highly sensitive to changes in osmotic pressure, they are capable of exerting a potent physiological influence on the ECS.However, little is known about the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of the ECS that surrounds astrocytes, owing mostly to a lack of appropriate techniques to visualize the ECS in live brain tissue. Mitigating this technical limitation, we applied the recent SUper-resolution SHadow Imaging technique (SUSHI) to astrocyte-labeled organotypic hippocampal brain slices, which allowed us to concurrently image the complex morphology of astrocytes and the ECS with nanoscale resolution in a live experimental setting.Focusing on ring-like astrocytic microstructures in the spongiform domain, we found them to enclose sizable pools of interstitial fluid and cellular structures like dendritic spines. Upon an experimental osmotic challenge, these microstructures remodeled and swelled up at the expense of the pools, effectively increasing the physical contact between astrocytic and cellular structures.Our study reveals novel facets of the dynamic microanatomical relationships between astrocytes, neuropil and the ECS in living brain tissue, which could be of functional relevance for neuronglia communication in a variety of (patho)physiological settings, e.g. LTP induction, epileptic seizures or acute ischemic stroke, where osmotic disturbances are known to occur.

An Application of the Visualization Methods for Investigation Small Scale Processes in the Atmosphere-hydrosphere Boundary Layer within Laboratory Experiments on the Wind-wave Facilities

Hydro/aerodynamic laboratory experiment aimed at the laboratory modelling of the physical processes marine atmospheric boundary layer is one of the most complicated. Especial features as spray of droplets, the bubbles in the water and foam generated during the breaking of the waves should be taken into account when modelling extreme weather conditions caused by severe winds. Thus, in the experiment we are dealing with a multiphase turbulent flow with a free boundary. This investigation describes developing approaches to the use of optical methods based on visualization for performing these investigations. Presented results were obtained in experiments carried out on wind-wave facilities. To study the processes of fragmentation of the water surface leading to the formation of droplets and foam, high-speed multi-angle video taking is used in combination with the shadow imaging method.