Three-dimensional Systems Research Articles

Kinetically blocked self-assembly of colloidal strings with tunable interactions in magnetic fields.

Tunable self-assembly driven by external electric or magnetic fields is of significant interest in modern soft matter physics. While extensively studied in two-dimensional systems, it remains insufficiently explored in three-dimensional systems. In this study, we investigated the formation of vertical strings from an initial monolayer system of particles deposited on a horizontal substrate under the influence of an external magnetic field using experiments, computer simulations, and theoretical frameworks. We demonstrated that the main mechanism of string self-assembly is merging, driven by the interplay between gravity and induced tunable interparticle interactions. During this process, the system has to overcome a saddle point on the energy landscape, whose height increases with the string height. At a certain point, further self-assembly becomes kinetically blocked in a metastable state, far from equilibrium. This contrasts sharply with the typical scenario for tunable self-assembly in two dimensions, where the resulting structures usually correspond to the equilibrium state. Therefore, this finding opens up opportunities for more detailed control of three-dimensional tunable self-assembly by designing and tuning various potential barriers along the kinetic pathways.

Three-dimensional higher-order saddle-point-induced flatbands in Co-based kagome metals

The saddle point (Van Hove singularity) exhibits a divergent density of states in two-dimensional systems, leading to fascinating phenomena such as strong correlations and unconventional superconductivity, yet it is seldom observed in three-dimensional (3D) systems. In this work we find two types of 3D higher-order saddle points (HOSPs) in emerging 3D kagome metals YbCo6Ge6 and MgCo6Ge6. Both HOSPs exhibit a singularity in their density of states, which is significantly enhanced compared to the ordinary saddle point. The HOSP near the Fermi energy generates a flatband extending a large area in the Brillouin zone, potentially amplifying the correlation effect and fostering electronic instabilities. Two types of HOSPs exhibit distinct robustness upon element substitution and lattice distortions in these kagome compounds. Our work paves the way for engineering exotic band structures, such as saddle points and flatbands, and exploring interesting phenomena in Co-based kagome materials. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Enhancing Ex Vivo Limbal Epithelial Cell Expansion on Amniotic Membrane: A Comparative Study of Monolayer (2D) Versus Sandwich (3D) Culture Configurations.

This study compared two-dimensional (monolayer) and three-dimensional (sandwich) systems for expanding ex vivo limbal epithelial cells on amniotic membrane and evaluated the outcomes after transplantation into rabbits with experimentally induced limbal stem cell deficiency. Evaluations included markers for progenitor cells, proliferation, apoptosis, and clinical monitoring for up to 63 days. In the monolayer culture, epithelial cells derived from limbal explants were expanded on amniotic membrane as the substrate. In the sandwich culture, the cells were cultured between 2 layers of amniotic membrane. Evaluations included markers for progenitor cells, proliferation, and apoptosis, along with clinical monitoring for up to 63 days. Sandwich cultures demonstrated increased cellular proliferation and fewer progenitor cells compared with monolayer cultures. In treating limbal stem cell deficiency, the group receiving transplantation from sandwich cultures exhibited reduced neovascularization and decreased corneal ulceration compared with those treated with monolayer cultures, with similar clinical outcomes in corneal opacity. The configuration of the culture system did not affect the presence of apoptotic cells. Corneas treated with sandwich cultures showed a higher presence of progenitor cells compared with the monolayer group, suggesting a potential long-term viability advantage for these transplants. In conclusion, although the sandwich culture system enhanced cellular proliferation, it also resulted in a decrease in progenitor cells within the cultures. Nevertheless, both systems demonstrated comparable therapeutic efficacy in treating limbal stem cell deficiency, with the sandwich approach potentially offering long-term benefits because of the increased presence of progenitor cells in the transplanted cornea.

Topological elastic wave transport and manipulation in three-dimensional metamaterials stacked with sandwich plates

Topological metamaterials demonstrate unprecedented wave manipulation abilities with topologically protected robustness, which have been extensively investigated in one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) mechanical systems, but less explored in three-dimensional (3D) systems. In this study, a 3D topological mechanical metamaterial with periodically stacked sandwich metamaterial plates is proposed to achieve 2D topological surface wave transport in a relatively low-frequency range. An innovative chiral compression-torsion coupling core is employed on the sandwich metamaterial plate to lower the band frequency. Analogous to the quantum valley Hall effect, the two-fold topological nodal line is lifted by breaking the spatial inversion symmetry, opening a topological band gap. By supercell analysis, the topological interface state is demonstrated to appear at the interface of two topologically different domains, and the topological boundary state can also be excited under appropriate free or fixed boundary conditions. Taking advantage of the 3D periodicity, the wave propagation based on both topological interface states and boundary states is examined in both 2D flat plates and 3D structures, realizing 1D topological waveguide and 2D topological surface wave transport respectively. It is found that mode symmetry matching is crucial for constructing the topological wave transport with both interface and boundary states. Leveraging the dependence of boundary states on boundary conditions, this work innovatively presents route-switchable and layer-selective wave manipulation by controlling boundary conditions without complicated structure design, enriching the strategies for tunable elastic wave manipulation. Besides, the topologically protected surface wave transport is demonstrated by introducing defects and disorders. These findings provide new insights into the topological transport of elastic waves in 3D mechanical metamaterials and contribute to the development of intelligent and robust devices for various purposes, such as vibration mitigation, energy harvesting, and signal sensing.

Templex-based dynamical units for a taxonomy of chaos.

Discriminating different types of chaos is still a very challenging topic, even for dissipative three-dimensional systems for which the most advanced tool is the template. Nevertheless, getting a template is, by definition, limited to three-dimensional objects based on knot theory. To deal with higher-dimensional chaos, we recently introduced the templex combining a flow-oriented BraMAH cell complex and a directed graph (a digraph). There is no dimensional limitation in the concept of templex. Here, we show that a templex can be automatically reduced into a "minimal" form to provide a comprehensive and synthetic view of the main properties of chaotic attractors. This reduction allows for the development of a taxonomy of chaos in terms of two elementary units: the oscillating unit (O-unit) and the switching unit (S-unit). We apply this approach to various well-known attractors (Rössler, Lorenz, and Burke-Shaw) as well as a non-trivial four-dimensional attractor. A case of toroidal chaos (Deng) is also treated.

Three-Dimensional Organotypic Systems for Modelling and Understanding Molecular Regulation of Oral Dentogingival Tissues.

Three-dimensional organotypic models benefit from the ability to mimic physiological cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions and therefore offer superior models for studying pathological or physiological conditions compared to 2D cultures. Organotypic models consisting of keratinocytes supported by fibroblasts embedded in collagen matrices have been utilised for the study of oral conditions. However, the provision of a suitable model for investigating the pathogenesis of periodontitis has been more challenging. Part of the complexity relates to the different regional epithelial specificities and connective tissue phenotypes. Recently, it was confirmed, using 3D organotypic models, that distinct fibroblast populations were implicated in the provision of specific inductive and directive influences on the overlying epithelia. This paper presents the organotypic model of the dentogingival junction (DGJ) constructed to demonstrate the differential fibroblast influences on the maintenance of regionally specific epithelial phenotypes. Therefore, the review aims are (1) to provide the biological basis underlying 3D organotypic cultures and (2) to comprehensively detail the experimental protocol for the construction of the organotypic cultures and the unique setup for the DGJ model. The latter is the first organotypic culture model used for the reconstruction of the DGJ and is recommended as a useful tool for future periodontal research.

The influence of unconventional assembly techniques on the comfort indicators of waterproof materials

The present paper aims to highlight the correlations between the comfort indicators of waterproof cotton-based fabrics, and the specific parameters of unconventional assembly technology. The materials considered include layers of Gore-Tex film, serving as substitutes for waterproof materials, intended to manufacture outerwear products such as protective equipment (jackets and overalls), which are breathable waterproof membranes. The comfort indicator values were obtained through standardised methods, and data processing and representation in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) systems using correlation/graphing methods were carried out in Excel software, and using Jandel Table Curve 3D v2. Although experimental research can be extended to include specific functions related to durability indicators, this study focused theoretically and experimentally on how the variation in temperature of the low-pressure hot air jet can lead to changes in the vaporization coefficient, air permeability index, and thermal conductivity coefficient. The relationship between the comfort indicator values (thermal conductivity coefficient, air permeability index, and vapour permeability coefficient) of the considered materials and the treatment parameters of the installation (pressure, temperature, velocity) is expressed through statistically adequate mathematical models, highlighted by a correlation coefficient R = 0.983, with significance certified by the Fischer test. The study of comfort indicators was conducted under optimized treatment parameters, ensuring durability and presentation value functions in the treatment zone remain unchanged compared to those of the base materials.

Solving Nonlinear Difference Equations: Insights from Three-Dimensional Systems and Numerical Examples

This paper presents a study on nonlinear difference equation systems of 6k + 3 order. The equations are of the form pn+1 =pn−(6k+2) / (±1±qn−2k rn−(4k+1) pn−(6k+2)), qn+1 =qn−(6k+2) / (±1±rn−2kpn−(4k+1) qn−(6k+2)),rn+1 =rn−(6k+2) / (±1± pn−2kqn−(4k+1) rn−(6k+2)), k ≥ 0 where n is a non-negative integer (belonging to the set N0 = N ∪ {0}) and the starting values p−l , q−l , r−l , l ∈ {0, 1, . . . , 6k+2} are arbitrary nonzero real numbers. We propose a systematic approach to solve this system, introducing a novel technique to find explicit solutions. The main outcomes of our study are the explicit solutions derived from the considered system. The study examines four different cases of this system and provides numerical examples to illustrate the results. The numerical examples demonstrate the behavior of the system for various initial conditions. The study is concluded with graphical representations of the solutions for each case, providing insights into the behavior of the systems.

Identification and Manipulation of Spermatogonial Stem Cells with the Aim of Inducing Spermatogenesis in Vitro.

Assisted reproduction techniques for infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia require a sufficient number of functional germ cells produced in vitro. Understanding the mechanisms that allow the resumption of spermatogenesis outside the testicular environment is crucial for fertility preservation in these patients. A review of the literature was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, with keywords including "spermatogonial stem cell," "germ cells," "male factor infertility," and "enrichment and propagation of SSCs in vitro." Currently, two models-"in vivo" and "in vitro"-have been developed for producing haploid germ cells. The "in vivo" models include spermatogonial stem cell transplantation and testicular xenograft techniques. In contrast, the "in vitro" models consist of conventional culture systems, organ culture, and three-dimensional culture systems, all designed to induce spermatogenesis in vitro. These culture systems enable the simulation of the seminiferous epithelium in vitro, which facilitates better regulation of cell-signaling pathways that control the self-renewal and differentiation of SSCs. This review provides up-to-date information on the organization of SSCs, focusing on the identification, proliferation, and differentiation of spermatogonia in vitro.

Quasi-two-dimensional dispersions of Brownian particles with competitive interactions: phase behavior and structural properties.

Competing short-range attractive (SA) and long range repulsive (LR) particle interactions can be used to describe three-dimensional charge-stabilized colloid or protein dispersions at low added salt concentrations, as well as membrane proteins with interaction contributions mediated by lipid molecules. Using Langevin dynamics (LD) simulations, we determine the generalized phase diagram, cluster shapes and size distributions of a generic quasi-two-dimensional (Q2D) dispersion of spherical SALR particles confined to in-plane motion inside a bulk fluid. The SA and LR interaction parts are modelled by a generalized Lennard-Jones potential and a screened Coulomb potential, respectively. The microstructures of the detected equilibrium and non-equilibrium Q2D phases are distinctly different from those observed in three-dimensional (3D) SALR systems, by exhibiting different levels of hexagonal ordering. We discuss a thermodynamic perturbation theory prediction for the metastable binodal line of a reference system of particles with SA interactions only, which in the explored Q2D-SALR phase diagram region separates cluster from non-clustered phases. The transition from the high-temperature (small SA) dispersed fluid (DF) phase to the lower-temperature equilibrium cluster (EC) fluid phase is characterised by a low-wavenumber peak height of the static structure factor (corresponding to a thermal correlation length of about twice the particle diameter) featuring a distinctly smaller value (≈1.4) than in 3D SALR systems. With decreasing temperature (increasing SA), the cluster morphology changes from disk-like shapes in the equilibrium cluster phase, to double-stranded anisotropic hexagonal cluster segments formed in a cluster-percolated (CP) gel-like phase. This transition can be quantified by a hexagonal order parameter distribution function. The mean cluster size and coordination number of particles in the CP phase are insensitive to changes in the attraction strength.

Geophysical Monitoring Technologies for the Entire Life Cycle of CO2 Geological Sequestration

Geophysical monitoring of CO2 geological sequestration represents a critical technology for ensuring the long-term safe storage of CO2 while verifying its characteristics and dynamic changes. Currently, the primary geophysical monitoring methods employed in CO2 geological sequestration include seismic, fiber optic, and logging technologies. Among these methods, seismic monitoring techniques encompass high-resolution P-Cable three-dimensional seismic systems, delayed vertical seismic profiling technology, and four-dimensional distributed acoustic sensing (DAS). These methods are utilized to monitor interlayer strain induced by CO2 injection, thereby indirectly determining the injection volume, distribution range, and potential diffusion pathways of the CO2 plume. In contrast, fiber optic monitoring primarily involves distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS), which can be further classified into distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and distributed temperature sensing (DTS). This technology serves to complement seismic monitoring in observing interlayer strain resulting from CO2 injection. The logging techniques utilized for monitoring CO2 geological sequestration include neutron logging methods, such as thermal neutron imaging and pulsed neutron gamma-ray spectroscopy, which are primarily employed to assess the sequestration volume and state of CO2 plumes within a reservoir. Seismic monitoring technology provides a broader monitoring scale (ranging from dozens of meters to kilometers), while logging techniques operate at centimeter to meter scales; however, their results can be significantly affected by the heterogeneity of a reservoir.

Microscopic Theory of Nonlinear Hall Effect in Three-dimensional Magnetic Systems

Abstract The nonlinear Hall effect (NLHE) has been detected in various of condensed matter systems. Unlike linear Hall effect, NLHE may exist in physical systems with broken inversion symmetry in the crystal. On the other hand, real space spin texture may also break inversion symmetry and result in NLHE. In this letter, we employ the Feynman diagrammatic technique to calculate nonlinear Hall conductivity (NLHC) in three-dimensional magnetic systems. The results connect NLHE with the physical quantity of emergent electrodynamics which originates from the magnetic texture. The leading order contribution of NLHC $\chi_{abb}$ is proportional to the emergent toroidal moment $\mathcal{T}_{a}^{e}$ which reflects how the spin textures wind in three dimension.

Iterative Dissipativity of Partial Difference Equation Dynamics in Open-Loop Iterative Learning Control Mode

Complex physical processes, which could evolve in both spatial and temporal dimensions and be represented by partial difference equations, could also operate in a repetitive mode with iterative learning methods as suitable control laws. For these three-dimensional systems (of the spatial, temporal, and iterative dimensions), the stability in the iterative direction is critical for many applications, which can be analyzed and synthesized under the proposed concept of iterative dissipativity. The definition of iterative dissipativity, which is first introduced in this paper, encapsulates the dominant information in both the spatial and temporal dimensions, while also placing a particular emphasis on the iteration improvement. This property allows for the derivation of sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability in the iteration direction, which are represented by linear matrix inequality criteria that can be readily solved. Performance in both the spatial and temporal dimensions can also be satisfied under this iterative dissipativity concept, even in absence of real-time feedback. Moreover, the optimization solutions of the control parameters can be determined. Finally, a thermal process and a numeric example are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed iteratively dissipative learning control approach.

Alternative Method for Obtaining Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines and Three-Dimensional Growth: A Simplified, Passage-Free Approach that Minimizes Labor.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold significant promise for numerous applications in regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug discovery. However, the conventional workflow for iPSC generation, with cells grown under two-dimensional conditions, presents several challenges, including the need for specialized scientific skills such as morphologically assessing and picking colonies and removing differentiated cells during the establishment phase. Furthermore, maintaining established iPSCs in three-dimensional culture systems, while offering scalability, necessitates an enzymatic dissociation step for their further growth in a complex and time-consuming protocol. In this study, we introduce a novel approach to address these challenges by reprogramming somatic cells grown under three-dimensional conditions as spheres using a bioreactor, thereby eliminating the need for two-dimensional culture and colony picking. The iPSCs generated in this study were maintained under three-dimensional conditions simply by transferring spheres to the next bioreactor, without the need for an enzymatic dissociation step. This streamlined method simplifies the workflow, reduces technical variability and labor, and paves the way for future advancements in iPSC research and its wider applications. Key features • Establishment of induced pluripotent stem cells in a three-dimensional environment. • Maintenance and cryopreservation of iPSCs without the need for a dissociation step.

Stable Silica-Based Zeolites with Three-Dimensional Systems of Extra-Large Pores.

Zeolites are microporous crystalline materials that find a very wide range of applications, which, however, are limited by the size and dimensionality of their pores. Stable silica zeolites with a three-dimensional (3D) system of extra-large pores (ELP, i.e., pores with minimum windows along the diffusion path consisting of more than 12 SiO4/2 tetrahedra, 12R) are in demand for processing larger molecules than zeolites can currently handle. However, they have challenged worldwide synthetic capabilities for more than eight decades. In this review we first present a brief history of the discovery of ELP zeolites. Next, we show that earlier successes of zeolites with 3D ELP were not actually zeolites, but rather interrupted structures with, in addition, a composition that severely detracted from their stability. Finally, we present three new fully connected stable silica-based 3D ELP zeolites ZEO-1, ZEO-3 and ZEO-5, discuss their preparation methods and stability as well as the clear advantage of their increased porosity in catalysis and adsorption processes involving large molecules. We will discuss peculiar characteristics of their preparation and present two new reaction types giving rise to zeolites (1D-to-3D topotactic condensation and interchain expansion), highlighting how new synthesis methods can provide materials that would otherwise be unfeasible.

Three-dimensional localized Rayleigh–Bénard convection in temperature-dependent viscosity fluids

The stability range of localized three-dimensional convective cells in Rayleigh–Bénard convection is determined across a broad range of viscosity contrasts between the boundaries of the fluid layer, for both free-slip and no-slip boundary conditions. The localized convective cell is generated by a finite-amplitude initial perturbation at subcritical Rayleigh numbers. It appears as a radially symmetric upwelling surrounded by nearly stagnant fluid, which can be characterized as an extremely weak plume. The parameter range in which three-dimensional localized upwellings are stable is slightly larger than that found for two-dimensional rolls. With free-slip boundaries, the lowest viscosity contrast at which the three-dimensional system can exhibit localization is approximately 35, about four times lower than for two-dimensional rolls. The wide range of conditions under which localization occurs in three-dimensional systems due to temperature-dependent viscosity further emphasizes its importance for the understanding of processes within the interiors of planetary bodies and for industrial applications.

Dual scalable osteogenic microtissue engineering via GelMA microsphere-inspired mechanical training and autonomous assembling of dental pulp stem cell

Large bone tissue defects present a significant clinical challenge due to the lack of stem cells and an osteogenic microenvironment, leading to fibrotic healing and impaired bone regeneration. Microsphere-based cell-on three-dimensional (3D) culture systems show great promise for constructing osteogenic microtissues. However, the underlying mechanisms require further investigation. In this study, we propose a simple, scalable framework for highly efficient osteogenic microtissue construction, utilizing gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) microspheres and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). The GelMA microspheres provide an extensive, scalable 3D framework for the autonomous adhesion, migration, and proliferation of DPSCs. Within the enormous 3D space created by the microspheres, DPSCs anchor to the microspheres and neighboring cells, inducing intrinsic tensile stress and simulating a mechanical force akin to “rock climbing training”. Transcriptomic sequencing results reveal that the 3D spatial and mechanical microenvironment modulates biological processes involved in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization, and the positive regulation of cell migration. Further investigations demonstrate that triggering the FAK/YAP pathway mediate mechanical driven differentiation of DPSCs into the osteoblastic lineage in the excellent osteogenic microtissues. Moreover, this simple scalable 3D framework strategy is expected to enable the efficient and large-scale preparation of stem cell-based microtissues.

Structural properties and mechanical behavior of three-dimensional cylindrical particle-like systems under in situ loading

To investigate the mechanical behavior of granular systems and their impact on density uniformity during compression, a three-dimensional micro-CT in situ loading experiment was conducted on a cylindrical granular system. The granular system was subjected to tomographic scanning and reconstruction, and the variation patterns of structural parameters such as volume fraction, porosity, and intrinsic density during the in situ loading process were analyzed. Internal pores within the granular system were extracted to obtain changes in pore area at each layer, allowing for an analysis of the evolving patterns of layered pore areas across different regions of the granular system during loading. This characterization elucidated the dynamic evolution process of compaction within the granular system. A contact network model for the granular system was established using particle contact area as a representation of inter-particle contact forces, revealing inherent connections between particle contact networks and macroscopic mechanical behaviors within the granular system.

Spin Hall-induced bilinear magnetoelectric resistance.

Magnetoresistance is a fundamental transport phenomenon that is essential for reading the magnetic states for various information storage, innovative computing and sensor devices. Recent studies have expanded the scope of magnetoresistances to the nonlinear regime, such as a bilinear magnetoelectric resistance (BMER), which is proportional to both electric field and magnetic field. Here we demonstrate that the BMER is a general phenomenon that arises even in three-dimensional systems without explicit momentum-space spin textures. Our theory suggests that the spin Hall effect enables the BMER provided that the magnitudes of spin accumulation at the top and bottom interfaces are not identical. The sign of the BMER follows the sign of the spin Hall effect of heavy metals, thereby evidencing that the BMER originates from the bulk spin Hall effect. Our observation suggests that the BMER serves as a general nonlinear transport characteristic in three-dimensional systems, especially playing a crucial role in antiferromagnetic spintronics.

State Observer Synchronization of Three-dimensional Chaotic Oscillatory Systems Based on DNA Strand Displacement.

Currently, DNA strand displacement (DSD) as the theoretical basis of DNA chemical reaction networks (CRNs) has promoted the development of chaotic synchronization technique. This paper introduces the synchronization technology of two isomorphic three-dimensional chaotic systems based on DNA strand displacement under state observer. By studying the theoretical knowledge of DNA molecules, multiple DSD reactions are used to construct three-dimensional chaotic system. Based on two isomorphic chaotic systems, the linear transformation system and the state observer system are designed according to the theory of state observer construction. In addition, in order to realize the synchronization of chaotic systems, a coupling controller is designed between the drive system and the linear transformation system, and a soft variable-structure controller is designed between the state observer system and the response system. Through multiple DSD reactions, the chemical reaction networks of four chaotic systems and two controllers are constructed, and they are cascaded to realize the synchronization of two isomorphic three-dimensional chaotic systems. Numerical simulations verify the effectiveness and robustness of the scheme. Our work will extend and provide a reference for new methods to achieve synchronization of chaotic systems using DSD.