Prolate Shape Research Articles

Multi-level diffusion model for manufactured sand mortar considering particle shape and limestone powder effects

Abstract Manufactured sand (MS) has been widely applied to concrete production due to the fact that the shortage of natural sand is becoming increasingly severe in China and many other countries. To predict the diffusion coefficient of MS mortar considering MS particle shape and limestone powder effects, a multi-level micromechanical model is proposed in this paper. MS mortar is represented as composite cement, powder-cement paste and MS mortar at three levels based on its multi-level microstructures. Homogenization procedures are performed at each level. The effects of limestone powder, including chemical and dilution effects, are respectively considered at the first- and second-level homogenizations. The shape of MS particles, characterized by its aspect ratio with ellipsoid assumption, is incorporated at the third-level homogenization. For verification, available data from experiments and existing models are employed. Results indicate that the proposed multi-level diffusion model is capable of estimating the diffusion coefficient of MS mortar. Finally, the effects of limestone powder content and MS particle shape on the diffusion coefficient of MS mortar are discussed based on the proposed diffusion model, which shows that the diffusion coefficient decreases with the increasing limestone powder content. Compared with the prolate and oblate shapes, MS mortar demonstrates the highest diffusion coefficient when MS particles are spherical. Oblate particle presents much more remarkable influence on the diffusion coefficient than prolate or spherical ones.

Role of fluctuations in a thermal phase transition in a nucleus probed via the giant dipole resonance

We present an experimental investigation of thermal phase transition in atomic nuclei by measuring the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays from the decay of the giant dipole resonance in $^{169}\mathrm{Tm}$ populated by using the reaction $^{4}\mathrm{He}+^{165}\mathrm{Ho}$. The systematic measurement confirms the prolate shape, similar to the ground-state value, till temperature $T=1.23$ MeV. Moreover, the present data, together with the previous experimental studies, point towards the persistence of prolate shape with deformation similar to that of the ground state till $T=1.5$ MeV. In addition, the emergence and evolution of thermal fluctuations observed directly in the experiment suggest that the sharp phase transition from prolate to near spherical at $T\ensuremath{\approx}1.7$ MeV will not be evident experimentally due to statistical fluctuations owing to the finite size of the nucleus.

Stiffness measurement of nanosized liposomes using solid-state nanopore sensor with automated recapturing platform.

This paper describes a method to gauge the stiffness of nanosized liposomes - a nanoscale vesicle - using a custom-made recapture platform coupled to a solid-state nanopore sensor. The recapture platform electrically profiles a given liposome vesicle multiple times through automated reversal of the voltage polarity immediately following a translocation instance to re-translocate the same analyte through the nanopore - provides better statistical insight at the molecular level by analyzing the same particle multiple times compared to conventional nanopore platforms. The capture frequency depends on the applied voltage with lower voltages (i.e., 100mV) permitting higher recapture instances than at higher voltages (>200mV) since the probability of particles exiting the nanopore capture radius increases with voltage. The shape deformation was inferred by comparing the normalized relative current blockade ( at the two voltage polarities to that of a rigid particle, i.e., polystyrene beads. We found that liposomes deform to adopt a prolate shape at higher voltages. This platform can be further applied to investigate the stiffness of other types of soft matters, e.g., virus, exosomes, endosomes, and accelerate the potential studies in pharmaceutics for increasing the drug packing and unpacking mechanism by controlling the stiffness of the drug vesicles.

Revealing microscopic origins of shape coexistence in the Ni isotopic chain

In a two–neutron transfer experiment, performed in Bucharest in July 2016 at sub–Coulomb barrier energy,a photon decay hindered – solely – by a nuclear shape change was identified in the 66Ni nucleus. Such a rare process, at spin zero, was clearly observed before only in actinide nuclei in the 1970’s,where fission isomers were found. The experimental findings on 66Ni have been well reproduced by the Monte Carlo Shell Model Calculations of the Tokyo group, which predict a multifaceted scenario of coexistence of spherical, oblate and prolate shapes in neutron–rich Ni isotopes. The results on 66Ni encouraged a comprehensive gamma–spectroscopy investigation of neutron–rich Ni isotopes, in particular 62Ni and 64–Ni, at IFIN–HH (Bucharest), IPN Orsay and ILL (Grenoble), employing different reaction mechanisms to pin down the wave function composition of selected excited states. The aim is to shed light on the microscopic origin of deformation in neutron–rich Ni nuclei, possibly locating other examples of “shape–isomer–like” structures inthis region.

Effect of femtosecond-assisted intrastromal implantation of MyoRing for keratoconus on corneal asphericity

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of implanting MyoRing into a femtosecond-created corneal pocket on corneal asphericity in patients with keratoconus. Patients and methods This prospective, nonrandomized, interventional clinical study included 38 eyes with keratoconus. Femtosecond-assisted implantation of MyoRing was done for all cases. The intrastromal pocket was 7.4 mm in diameter and deep at a level equal to 80% of central corneal thickness. Corneal asphericity, curvature, thickness, and elevations were evaluated 3 months after surgery. Results The mean age of the patients was 24.53±5.18 years at the time of surgery. The same diameter of the MyoRing was used in all cases. Both uncorrected distance visual acuity and corrected distance visual acuity significantly improved after implantation of the MyoRing. Uncorrected distance visual acuity improved from 0.05±0.01 to 0.31±0.01 and corrected distance visual acuity improved from 0.29±0.14 to 0.34±0.10. The postoperative changes in all measured refractive parameters were significantly better in comparison with the preoperative measures. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent of the refractive error was −9.87±2.91 D, whereas the postoperative spherical equivalent was −0.89±0.30 D. The refractive sphere and cylinder improved also from a preoperative value of −8.31±2.55 and −3.11±1.93 D, respectively, to a postoperative value of −0.46±0.21 and −0.86±0.32 D, respectively. The Q value of anterior corneal surface significantly improved to a less prolate shape, from −0.49±0.11 preoperatively to 0.23±0.01 postoperatively. On the contrary, the Q value of the posterior surface of the cornea showed no statistically significant change after MyoRing implantation. Conclusion MyoRing implantation improved the asphericity of the anterior corneal surface from advanced prolate shape to the optimal prolate Q value of −0.52 and ‘spherical aberration free’ Q value of −0.46. This improvement in corneal asphericity may have a role in increasing the postoperative visual acuity.

Synthesis, thermal and surface activity of cationic single chain metal hybrid surfactants and their interaction with microbes and proteins.

A series of water-soluble metal functionalized surfactants have been prepared using commercially available surfactant cetyl pyridinium chloride and transition metal salts. These complexes were characterized in the solid state by elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H NMR and thermogravimetric analysis. The interfacial surface activity and aggregation behaviour of the metallosurfactants were analysed through conductivity, surface tension and small angle neutron scattering measurements. Our results show that the presence of metal ions as co-ions along with counter ions favours micellization at a low critical micellization concentration (CMC). Small angle neutron scattering revealed that the metallomicelles are of a prolate ellipsoidal shape and exhibit strong counterion binding. This article further describes the interaction of the metallosurfactants with transport protein Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) using different spectroscopic techniques. A spectroscopic study was used to study the binding, interaction and quenching mechanism of BSA with the metallosurfactants. Gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and circular dichroism (CD) investigated the structural and conformational changes produced in BSA due to the metallosurfactants. The results indicate that there is an alteration in the secondary structure of BSA due to the electrostatic interaction between positive head groups and metal co-ions of the metallosurfactants and negatively charged amino acids of BSA. As the concentration increases, the α-helicity of BSA decreases and all the three studied metallosurfactants gave comparable results. Finally, the in vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of the metallosurfactants were evaluated against erythrocytes and microorganisms, which showed prominent effects related to the presence of a metal ion in metallomicelles of the hybrid surfactants.

Generalizing Ellipsoidal Growth

This paper generalizes previous work of Rios and Villa on spherical growth. The generalized equation applies to nucleation of ellipsoids according to an inhomogeneous Poisson point process. Microstructural evolution in three dimensions of nucleation and growth transformations of ellipsoids is simulated using the causal cone method. In the simulation, nuclei are located in space according to an inhomogeneous Poisson point process. The transformed regions grow with prolate and oblate ellipsoidal shapes. The ellipsoids have their corresponding axes parallel. The simulation and the exact analytical solution are in excellent agreement. Microstructures generated by the computer simulation are displayed. From these generated microstructures one can obtain the contiguity. In the contiguity against volume fraction plot, data from the sphere and all ellipsoids fall on the same curve. The contiguity curve for nucleation according to an inhomogeneous Poisson point process falls above the contiguity curve for nucleation according to a homogeneous Poisson point process. This behavior indicates that nucleation according to an inhomogeneous Poisson point process introduced a nucleus clustering effect.

Assessing the changes in soil properties and possible ground water pollution with application of primary treated distillery spentwash

The present study deals with pollen morphology of fifteen species of Commelinaceae belonging to three genera: Commelina (6 species), Cyanotis (7 species) and Murdannia (2 species), collected from different localities in Andhra Pradesh, India. Species have shown diversity in size, shape and ornamentation, but all share a common feature; heteropolar and monosulcate apertural nature. While all the six species of Commelina have echinate ornamentation, four of them with prolate shape and two others have spheroidal shape. Seven species of Cyanotis have granular ornamentation and prolate in shape, except Cyanotis axillaris which is perprolate. Both the species of Murdannia have granular ornamentation; but differ in shape: prolate in M. nodiflora and perprolate in M. nimmoniana. These observations are of immense value in taxonomical, melissopalynological and aeropalynological studies.

Pollen morphology of 15 species in Commelinaceae (Commelinids: Angiosperms) from Andhra Pradesh, India

The present study deals with pollen morphology of fifteen species of Commelinaceae belonging to three genera: Commelina (6 species), Cyanotis (7 species) and Murdannia (2 species), collected from different localities in Andhra Pradesh, India. Species have shown diversity in size, shape and ornamentation, but all share a common feature; heteropolar and monosulcate apertural nature. While all the six species of Commelina have echinate ornamentation, four of them with prolate shape and two others have spheroidal shape. Seven species of Cyanotis have granular ornamentation and prolate in shape, except Cyanotis axillaris which is perprolate. Both the species of Murdannia have granular ornamentation; but differ in shape: prolate in M. nodiflora and perprolate in M. nimmoniana. These observations are of immense value in taxonomical, melissopalynological and aeropalynological studies.

Pollen Morphologıes of Alyssum L. (Brassıcaceae) Genus Some Taxa

The present study evaluated the taxa A. linifolium Stephan ex. Willd. var. teheranicum Bornm., A. simplex Rudolph, A. trichocarpum T.R. Dudley & Hub.-Mor., A. armenum Boiss., A. praecox Boiss. & Bal., A. lepidoto-stellatum (Hausskn. &Bornm.) T. R. Dudley, A. sulphureum T. R. Dudley & Hub. - Mor., A. murale Waldst. & Kit. subsp. murale, A. pateri Nyar. subsp. pateri of the genus Alyssum L. from the family Brassicaceae in terms of palynological characteristics. Samples of these taxa were collected in field studies. 9 taxa from this genus were examined using light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results of the study revealed some common characteristics such as tectate pollens, subprolate, prolate shapes of pollens, heteropolar symmetry. Aperture type was tricolpate. SEM microphoto also indicated that ornamentation structures were reticulate.

Membrane Wrapping Efficiency of Elastic Nanoparticles during Endocytosis: Size and Shape Matter.

Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we systematically investigate the receptor-mediated endocytosis of elastic nanoparticles (NPs) with different sizes, ranging from 25 to 100 nm, and shapes, including sphere-like, oblate-like, and prolate-like. Simulation results provide clear evidence that the membrane wrapping efficiency of NPs during endocytosis is a result of competition between receptor diffusion kinetics and thermodynamic driving force. The receptor diffusion kinetics refer to the kinetics of receptor recruitment that are affected by the contact edge length between the NP and membrane. The thermodynamic driving force represents the amount of required free energy to drive NPs into a cell. Under the volume constraint of elastic NPs, the soft spherical NPs are found to have similar contact edge lengths to rigid ones and to less efficiently be fully wrapped due to their elastic deformation. Moreover, the difference in wrapping efficiency between soft and rigid spherical NPs increases with their sizes, due to the increment of their elastic energy change. Furthermore, because of its prominent large contact edge length, the oblate ellipsoid is found to be the least sensitive geometry to the variation in NP's elasticity among the spherical, prolate, and oblate shapes during the membrane wrapping. In addition, simulation results indicate that conflicting experimental observations on the efficiency of cellular uptake of elastic NPs could be caused by their different mechanical properties. Our simulations provide a detailed mechanistic understanding about the influence of NPs' size, shape, and elasticity on their membrane wrapping efficiency, which serves as a rational guidance for the design of NP-based drug carriers.

Morphology, palynology, and stipe anatomy of four common ferns from Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Indonesia

Sofiyanti N, Iriani D, Fitmawati, Marpaung AA. 2019. Morphology, palynology, and stipe anatomy of four common ferns from Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 327-336. The fern explorations had been conducted in Pekanbaru, Riau Province from 2013 to 2017. The objectives of this study were to characterize the morphological characters, to examine the spore features and stipe anatomy characters of four common ferns from Pekanbaru. The specimens were collected from the fields using the exploration method from 21 study sites from 10 sub-districts. The spores were then observed using a digital microscope. A total of four fern species were known as the most common fern species in this region, i.e., Dicranopteris linearis, Stenochlaena palustris, Nephrolepis biserrata, and Davalia denticulata. This study examined the morphology, palynology and stipe anatomy of these four common ferns from Pekanbaru, Riau. The anatomical preparation was conducted using paraffin method while spore preparation using acetolysis method. We found dimorphic ferns (Stenochlaena palustris and Davallia denticulata) and monomorphic ferns (Dicranopteris linearis and Nephrolepis biserrata). The vascular bundle of stipes of four species examined is similar, i.e., amphicribral concentric, however, the vascular bundles within the species varies in size. We also observed similar type of stele, atactostele, among the species. The spore features found in this study were monolete and trilete with prolate and subprolate shape. The result of this study supports the anatomical data of the examined species.

Surface oscillations of a sub-Rayleigh charged drop levitated in a quadrupole trap

A conducting charged drop, when subjected to a small amplitude perturbation, becomes unstable when the surface charge exceeds its Rayleigh limit. On the other hand, a drop with a charge in the sub-Rayleigh limit exhibits capillary oscillations whose amplitude and frequency depend upon the amount of the charge. In experiments, such systems are studied by levitating them in a quadrupole potential. The oscillations of a sub-Rayleigh charged drop in such setups now also depend upon the strength of the quadrupole potential. We conduct the first of its kind of experiments which indicate that a highly charged drop (but in the sub-Rayleigh limit) undergoes several cycles of prolate and oblate shape deformations. The surface oscillations of the levitated charged drop are observed to follow the frequency of the applied alternate current electric field, and the magnitude of prolate deformations is higher than the oblate deformation. To explain this, we provide a theory in the viscous potential flow limit that assumes axisymmetric shape oscillations of a perfectly conducting charged drop levitated in a quadrupole electric field. The analysis indicates that the experimental results can be explained only if a positional shift of the drop in the quadrupole field is assumed, thereby demonstrating the role of the local electric field.A conducting charged drop, when subjected to a small amplitude perturbation, becomes unstable when the surface charge exceeds its Rayleigh limit. On the other hand, a drop with a charge in the sub-Rayleigh limit exhibits capillary oscillations whose amplitude and frequency depend upon the amount of the charge. In experiments, such systems are studied by levitating them in a quadrupole potential. The oscillations of a sub-Rayleigh charged drop in such setups now also depend upon the strength of the quadrupole potential. We conduct the first of its kind of experiments which indicate that a highly charged drop (but in the sub-Rayleigh limit) undergoes several cycles of prolate and oblate shape deformations. The surface oscillations of the levitated charged drop are observed to follow the frequency of the applied alternate current electric field, and the magnitude of prolate deformations is higher than the oblate deformation. To explain this, we provide a theory in the viscous potential flow limit that assume...

Magnetic Field Structure in Spheroidal Star-forming Clouds

Abstract A model of magnetic field structure is presented to help test the prevalence of flux freezing in star-forming clouds of various shapes, orientations, and degrees of central concentration, and to estimate their magnetic field strength. The model is based on weak-field flux freezing in centrally condensed Plummer spheres and spheroids of oblate and prolate shape. For a spheroid of given density contrast, aspect ratio, and inclination, the model estimates the local field strength and direction, and the global field pattern of hourglass shape. Comparisons with a polarization simulation indicate typical angle agreement within 1°–10°. Scalable analytic expressions are given to match observed polarization patterns and to provide inputs to radiative transfer codes for more accurate predictions. The model may apply to polarization observations of dense cores, elongated filamentary clouds, and magnetized circumstellar disks.

Five-Year Changes of Anterior Corneal Indices in Diabetics versus Non-Diabetics: The Shahroud Eye Cohort Study

ABSTRACTPurpose: To compare 5-year changes of central and peripheral corneal thickness, corneal volume, and keratometry between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals (>40 years) in a population-based study.Materials and Methods: Right eye corneal indices of the 333 diabetic persons were compared with 2865 non-diabetics. Studied indices included the apical corneal thickness (ACT), minimal corneal thickness (MCT), thickness values on corneal rings of 4 mm, 6 mm, and 8 mm in diameter, the volume of the 10 mm of the corneal diameter, and the central 3 mm keratometry in two steep (Kmax) and flat (Kmin) axes as measured with Pentacam (Oculus, Inc, Lynnwood, WA).Results: In the diabetic and non-diabetic groups, respectively, the 5-year change was +0.1 ± 11.9 and −1.2 ± 11.9 μm (p = 0.035) for ACT, −1.1 ± 12.1 and −2.4 ± 11.9 μm (p = 0.056) for MCT, −3.9 ± 12.6 and −5.1 ± 12.3 μm (p = 0.007) for the 4 mm ring, −5.0 ± 15.3 and −7.5 ± 14.5 μm (p = 0.006) for the 6 mm ring, and −7.0 ± 20.1 and −10.8 ± 19.2 μm (p = 0.011) for the 8 mm ring. The diabetic group showed less reduction in corneal volume (−0.5 ± 1.8 mm3) compared to non-diabetics (−0.8 ± 1.6 mm3) (p = 0.030). Kmax (+0.3 ± 0.5D vs. +0.4 ± 0.5, p = 0.028) and Kmin (+0.4 ± 0.5D vs. +0.5 ± 0.5, p = 0.005) showed less change in diabetics compared to non-diabetics.Conclusions: The overall patterns of change in corneal thickness and shape in over 40-year old diabetics are similar to non-diabetics, such that with aging, reduced thickness and increased keratometry take the cornea towards a prolate shape. However, the age-related changes in central and peripheral corneal thickness, volume and corneal shape are less pronounced in diabetic subjects.

Excited levels in the multishaped Pd117 nucleus studied via β decay of Rh117

Monoisotopic samples of exotic, neutron-rich $^{117}\mathrm{Rh}$ nuclei, produced in the proton-induced fission of $^{238}\mathrm{U}$ and separated using the IGISOL mass separator coupled to the JYFLTRAP Penning trap, were used to perform $\ensuremath{\beta}$ and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence spectroscopy of $^{117}\mathrm{Pd}$. The spin parity of the ground state of $^{117}\mathrm{Pd}$ was determined to be $1/{2}^{+}$ and the 19.1 ms isomer at 203.2 keV was assigned a spin-parity $7/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. The $^{117}\mathrm{Rh}$ ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$-decay scheme was considerably extended, and various sequences of the levels were interpreted as resulting from the prolate, oblate, and triaxial nuclear shapes. Some of the ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ decays were considered as the allowed Gamow-Teller transitions. The experimental distribution of Gamow-Teller strength is discussed.

SIMULATION ON THE CONDITIONS AFFECTING PARTIAL DISCHARGE INITIATION IN MICROBUBBLE IMMERSED IN DIELECTRIC LIQUID

Microbubble floating in liquid dielectric and subjected to an electric field may initiate partial discharge (PD). This paper studies the parameters that affect the initiation through a computer simulation. This study inspects how the type of gas inside the microbubble, the size of the microbubble, distance from an electric field, Eo, source and, the magnitude of source’s voltage affect the start of PD. For a prolate spheroid shape, there is an important parameter called ‘c’. This ratio is between the radius of the microbubble polar (‘a’) and the radius of the equator (‘b’). At constant Eo and c, different gases will initiate PD at different distances from source due to differences in a localised electric field inside the microbubble (Emax). Emax is one of the important factors for PD initiation. It is interesting to report that if the ‘a’ and ‘b’ values are chosen so that ‘c’ will be constant, changes in Emax are insignificant. On the other hand, changes in ‘c’ will result in significant changes in Emax. Finally, changes in source’s voltage certainly affect the Emax.

Elucidation of the molecular and electronic structures of some magic silver clusters Agn (n = 8, 18, 20).

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to explore the geometric, spectroscopic, and electronic properties of three magic silver clusters Agn (n = 8, 18, and 20) in detail. The computed results show that the global minima of these clusters are compact, near-spherical structures, while other low-lying isomers exhibit oblate or prolate shapes. Vertical ionization energies for the low-lying isomers were also computed and assigned with respect to available experimental values. Although several isomers were predicted to have similar energies, their electronic and vibrational signatures were quite distinctive, meaning that they could be used as fingerprint signals to distinguish between isomers. In addition, the electronic structures of these systems were explored using the phenomenological shell model. Calculations for the coinage metal clusters M20 (M = Cu, Ag, Au) indicated that the structures and properties of the Ag cluster are similar to those of the Cu cluster in that both Cu20 and Ag20 prefer a compact structure whereas Au20 prefers to adopt a tetrahedral form. Graphical abstract Shell Orbitals of Ag8 Cluster.

Effects of iron nanoparticles’ shape on convective flow of ferrofluid under highly oscillating magnetic field over stretchable rotating disk

The persistence of the current article is to discuss the iron nanoparticles' shape in flows due to highly oscillating magnetic field over a stretchable rotating disk. For ferrofluid, water is considered as base fluid with suspension of iron nanoparticles having sphere, oblate ellipsoid and prolate ellipsoid shapes with different sizes. The impact of the nanoparticles' shape on velocity and temperature profiles, convective heat transfer coefficient, radial and transverse shear stress is deliberated through graphs and tables. The presence of highly oscillating magnetic field forces the particles to rotate faster than the fluid and, as a result, the total viscosity is certainly reduced. The governing equations, which are firstly modeled and thereafter converted into nonlinear ordinary differential equations in dimensionless form using similarity approach, are analytically solved using the Mathematica package BVPh 2.0 which is based on the homotopy analysis method (HAM).

Electrohydrodynamics of confined two-dimensional liquid droplets in uniform electric field

In this study, the electrohydrodynamics of viscous droplets in a confined domain under the action of a uniform electric field is investigated numerically. Considering both the phases to be perfect dielectric or leaky dielectric, two-dimensional numerical simulations are performed to obtain the shape deformation of droplets placed between two parallel plate electrodes. The aim of this study is to show the effect of domain confinement on the droplet morphology and temporal droplet deformation. Perfect dielectric systems always deform into a prolate shape, and the magnitude of deformation is augmented or reduced in a confined domain depending on the electrical permittivity ratio. For leaky dielectric systems, the electrical conductivity ratio comes into play and the droplet can attain an oblate or prolate shape depending on the size of the droplet relative to the channel height. A regime diagram is constructed to show the impact of domain confinement on the droplet shape. Additionally, the steady-state deformation parameter undergoes some non-monotonic variation with domain confinement for the leaky dielectric systems. The domain confinement can significantly decrease the droplet deformation and thereby suppress the droplet breakup phenomenon for few leaky dielectric systems. The domain confinement markedly affects the temporal evolution of the droplet deformation. The temporal evolution of the droplet shape shows that the droplet deforms more sluggishly toward its final steady configuration in a confined domain when the inertial effects are negligible. The oscillations in droplet deformation at the finite inertial regime are also suppressed in a confined domain. Finally, the interaction of two droplets is also studied, which shows that coalescence and detachment of the droplet pairs take place at a slower rate in a confined domain with respect to an unbounded domain. Thus, the present study shows the possibility of modulating the droplet morphology by tuning the domain confinement, which can be of potential use in designing droplet-based microfluidic devices.