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Controlling excitons and their transport in two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) heterostructures is central to advancing photonics and electronics on-chip integration. We investigate the controlled generation and manipulation of excitons and their complexes in monolayer (1L) MoSe2-WSe2 lateral heterostructure (LHS), directly grown via water-assisted chemical vapor deposition. Using a field-effect transistor design by incorporating a few-layer graphene back gate, single-layer graphene edge contact and encapsulation with few-layer hexagonal boron nitride, we achieve precise electrical tuning of exciton complexes and their transfer across 1D interfaces. At cryogenic temperatures (4 K), photoluminescence and photocurrent maps reveal the synergistic effect of local electric field and interface phenomena in the modulation of excitons, trions, and free carriers. We observe spatial variations in exciton and trion densities driven by exciton-trion conversion under electrical manipulation. The first-principle density functional theory calculation reveals significant band modification at the lateral interfaces and graphene-TMDs contact region. Furthermore, we demonstrate the versatility of 2D TMDS LHS in hosting and manipulating quantum emitters, achieving precise control over narrow-band emissions through modulating carrier injection and electrical biasing. This work extends the boundary of the present understanding of excitonic behaviour within lateral heterojunctions, highlighting the potential for controlled exciton manipulation across 1D interfaces and paving the way for next-generation electro-optical quantum devices., Comment: 5 Figs

In this paper, we obtain a precise estimate of the probability that the sparse binomial random graph contains a large number of vertices in a triangle. The estimate of log of this probability is correct up to second order, and enables us to propose an exponential random graph model based on the number of vertices in a triangle. Specifically, by tuning a single parameter, we can with high probability induce any given fraction of vertices in a triangle. Moreover, in the proposed exponential random graph model we derive the large deviation principle for the number of edges. As a byproduct, we propose a consistent estimator of the tuning parameter., Comment: Follow up of arXiv:2112.06526v2

Nonlinear optical phenomena are at the heart of various technological domains such as high-speed data transfer, optical logic applications, and emerging fields such as non-reciprocal optics and photonic time crystal design. However, conventional nonlinear materials exhibit inherent limitations in the post-fabrication tailoring of their nonlinear optical properties. Achieving real-time control over optical nonlinearities remains a challenge. In this work, we demonstrate a method to switch third harmonic generation (THG), a commonly occurring nonlinear optical response. Third harmonic generation enhancements up to 50 times are demonstrated in zinc oxide films via the photoexcited state generation and tunable electric field enhancement. More interestingly, the enhanced third harmonic generation follows a quadratic scaling with incident power, as opposed to the conventional cubic scaling, which demonstrates a previously unreported mechanism of third harmonic generation. The THG can also be suppressed by modulating the optical losses in the film. This work shows that the photoexcitation of states can not only enhance nonlinearities, but can create new processes for third harmonic generation. Importantly, the proposed method enables real-time manipulation of the nonlinear response of a medium. The process is switchable and reversible, with the modulations occurring at picosecond timescale. Our study paves the way to boost or suppress the nonlinearities of solid-state media, enabling robust, switchable sources for nonlinear optical applications.

A tiny drop of one liquid, suspended within another, may be set into motion aligned with an imposed thermal gradient, as influenced by thermocapillary action stemming from the gradients in interfacial tension due to the local variations in temperature. In real-world situations, however, such drops do not remain in isolation, as they interact with their neighbouring entities including other drops in the proximity as well as a nearby solid boundary, setting up a complex interplay between the confinement-mediated interactions and three-dimensional nature of the droplet dynamics. In this study, we present numerical solutions for the migration dynamics of a tightly-confined drop-couple, incorporating deformable interfaces, film flow, and Marangoni effects in the presence of dynamically evolving thermocapillary stresses induced by an imposed uniform temperature gradient. Unlike prior investigations, our work highlights the influence of the confinement towards orchestrating non-trivial features of drop migration, as dictated by an intricate coupling of the thermal and flow fields amidst the interferences of the domain boundaries. The study reveals that hydrodynamic interactions resulting from a juxtaposition of these influences deform the drops in a unique manner as compared to the characteristics evidenced from previously reported studies, causing a distortion of the local thermal fields around them. The consequent alteration in the drop velocities is shown to govern their migration in a distinctive manner, presenting unique signatures as compared to more restrictive scenarios studied previously. These findings hold significance in designing thermocapillary-driven micro-confined systems for controlling drop trajectories under an imposed thermal field, bearing far-reaching implications in a plethora of overarching applications ranging from droplet microfluidics to space technology.

We generalize the Bush--Mosteller learning, the Roth--Erev learning, and the social learning to include mistakes such that the nonlinear replicator-mutator equation with either additive or multiplicative mutation is generated in an asymptotic limit. Subsequently, we exhaustively investigate the ubiquitous Rock-Paper-Scissors game for some analytically tractable motifs of mutation pattern. We consider both symmetric and asymmetric game interactions, and reveal that mistakes can some-times help the players learn. While the replicator-mutator flow exhibits rich dynamics that include limit cycles and chaotic orbits, it can control chaos as well to lead to rational Nash equilibrium outcome. Moreover, we also report an instance of hitherto unknown Hamiltonian structure of the replicator-mutator equation., Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures

In this paper, the replicator dynamics of the two-locus two-allele system under weak mutation and weak selection is investigated in a generation-wise non-overlapping unstructured population of individuals mating at random. Our main finding is that the dynamics is gradient-like when the point mutations at the two loci are independent. This is in stark contrast to the case of one-locus multi-allele where the existence gradient behaviour is contingent on a specific relationship between the mutation rates. When the mutations are not independent in the two-locus two-allele system, there is the possibility of non-convergent outcomes, like asymptotically stable oscillations, through either the Hopf bifurcation or the Neimark--Sacker bifurcation depending on the strength of the weak selection. The results can be straightforwardly extended for multi-locus two-allele systems., Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure

Electrokinetic energy conversion provides a scheme for energy harvesting and storage for on-chip applications. However, the major drawback of electrokinetic energy conversion is its low conversion efficiency. Researchers are in a quest to find ways to improve this efficiency. With the same motive, we investigated the generation of streaming potential by applying surface modification and employing a non-Newtonian fluid to flow through the microchannel under constant pressure difference across its ends. Shear-thickening liquids tend to lessen electrokinetic effects, whereas shear-thinning liquids favour them. Also, having superhydrophobic surfaces improve the magnitude of generated streaming potential. We examine the combined effect of fluid rheology and surface modification on electrokinetic energy generation. We have learned intriguing insights about using non-Newtonian fluid in hydrophobic microchannels as an outcome of our combined research. Hydrophobic surfaces do not enhance the efficiency for a fluid with below a power law index of 0.7. The findings of this research can be used towards the selection of fluid-substrate combination that will optimize electrokinetic power generation efficiency.

In this note, we investigate fundamental relations between exploration processes in random graphs, and branching processes. We formulate a class of models that we call {\em rank-$k$ random graphs}, and that are special in that their neighborhood explorations can be obtained by a {\em thinning} of multi-type branching processes. We show that any rank-2 random graph can be described in terms of thinning of a 2-type branching process, while for higher rank, it is not clear how many types are needed., Comment: 12 pages

In this paper we consider the Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi random graph in the sparse regime in the limit as the number of vertices $n$ tends to infinity. We are interested in what this graph looks like when it contains many triangles, in two settings. First, we derive asymptotically sharp bounds on the probability that the graph contains a large number of triangles. We show that conditionally on this event, with high probability the graph contains an almost complete subgraph, i.e., the triangles form a near-clique, and has the same local limit as the original Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi random graph. Second, we derive asymptotically sharp bounds on the probability that the graph contains a large number of vertices that are part of a triangle. If order $n$ vertices are in triangles, then the local limit (provided it exists) is different from that of the Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi random graph. Our results shed light on the challenges that arise in the description of real-world networks, which often are sparse, yet highly clustered, and on exponential random graphs, which often are used to model such networks., Comment: 31 pages, updated references

Characterizing the softness of deformable materials having partial elastic and partial viscous behaviour via soft lubrication experiments has emerged as a versatile and robust methodology in recent times. However, a straightforward extension of the classical elastohydrodynamic lubrication theory that is commonly employed for characterizing elastic materials turns out to be rather inadequate in explaining the response of such viscoelastic materials subjected to dynamic loading conditions, despite adhering to a mathematically acceptable framework via the complex Young's modulus as a material property. This deficit stems from a non-trivial interplay of the material compressibility and its time-dependent dynamic response under fluid-mediated oscillatory loading typical to surface probing experiments. Here we develop a soft-lubrication based theoretical framework that enables the consistent recovery of viscoelastic model properties of materials from experimental data, independent of the specific loading condition. A major advancement here is the rectification of inconsistencies in viscoelasticity characterization of previously reported models that are typically manifested by unphysical dependencies of the model parameters on the substrate layer thickness and the oscillation frequency of the surface probing apparatus. Our results provide further pointers towards the design of characterization experiments for consistent and specific mapping of the experimental data with the parametric values of the chosen material-model. These findings appear to be imperative in designing and selecting materials for emerging bio-engineering tools including organ-on-a-chip and human body-on-a-chip., Comment: 27 pages, 4 figures

Classical continuum-based liquid vapour phase-change models typically assume continuity of temperature at phase interfaces along with a relation which describes the rate of evaporation at the interface (Hertz-Knudsen-Schrage, for example). However, for phase transitions processes at small scales, such as the evaporation of nanodroplets, the assumption that the temperature is continuous across the liquid-vapour interface leads to significant inaccuracies (McGaughey & Ward 2002; Rana et al. 2019), as may the adoption of classical constitutive relations that lead to the Navier-Stokes-Fourier equations (NSF). In this article, to capture the notable effects of rarefaction at small scales, we adopt an extended continuum-based approach utilizing the coupled constitutive relations (CCR). In CCR theory, additional terms are invoked in the constitutive relations of NSF equations originating from the arguments of irreversible thermodynamics as well as consistent with kinetic theory of gases. The modelling approach allows us to derive new fundamental solutions for the linearised CCR model and to develop a numerical framework based upon the method of fundamental solutions (MFS) and enables threedimensional multiphase micro-flow simulations to be performed at remarkably low computational cost. The new framework is benchmarked against classical results and then explored as an efficient tool for solving three-dimensional phase-change events involving droplets.

We consider bootstrap percolation and diffusion in sparse random graphs with fixed degrees, constructed by configuration model. Every node has two states: it is either active or inactive. We assume that to each node is assigned a nonnegative (integer) threshold. The diffusion process is initiated by a subset of nodes with threshold zero which consists of initially activated nodes, whereas every other node is inactive. Subsequently, in each round, if an inactive node with threshold $\theta$ has at least $\theta$ of its neighbours activated, then it also becomes active and remains so forever. This is repeated until no more nodes become activated. The main result of this paper provides a central limit theorem for the final size of activated nodes. Namely, under suitable assumptions on the degree and threshold distributions, we show that the final size of activated nodes has asymptotically Gaussian fluctuations., Comment: 21 pages

Understanding fluid phase behavior in high pressure and high temperature conditions is crucial for developing high-fidelity simulations of chemically reacting flows in liquid-fueled combustion systems. The study of vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) curves also forms an integral part of the design and modeling of the control processes in chemical and oil-gas industries. The main objective of this study was to develop data-driven models to predict VLE of Type III binary mixtures involving long-chained n-alkanes and nitrogen. Two data-driven models have been proposed in this study, each of which was competent in estimating VLE for the binary systems of C10/N2 and C12/N2, at pressures ranging up to 50-60 MPa. Both the models showed better performance (less average absolute percentage error) in predicting equilibrium pressure of the binary mixtures as compared to the VLE modeled using Peng-Robinson equation of state (PR-EOS). The data-driven models were also able to correctly trace the change in curvature of the vapor phase composition, close to the mixture critical point, at high pressures and temperatures-a feature of the n-alkane/nitrogen system VLE which the PR-EOS model fails to capture.

We determine the size of $k$-core in a large class of dense graph sequences. Let $G_n$ be a sequence of undirected, $n$-vertex graphs with edge weights $\{a^n_{i,j}\}_{i,j \in [n]}$ that converges to a kernel $W:[0,1]^2\to [0,+\infty)$ in the cut metric. Keeping an edge $(i,j)$ of $G_n$ with probability $\min \{ {a^n_{i,j}}/{n},1 \}$ independently, we obtain a sequence of random graphs $G_n(\frac{1}{n})$. Denote by $\mathcal{A}$ the property of a branching process that the initial particle has at least $k$ children, each of which has at least $k-1$ children, each of which has at least $k-1$ children, and so on. Using branching process and the theory of dense graph limits, under mild assumptions we obtain the size of $k$-core of random graphs $G_n(\frac{1}{n})$, \begin{align*} \text{size of $k$-core of } G_n\left(\frac{1}{n}\right) =n \mathbb{P}_{X^W}\left(\mathcal{A}\right) +o_p(n). \end{align*} Our result can also be used to obtain the threshold of appearance of a $k$-core of order $n$., Comment: 23 pages. The main theorem is proved under optimal condition

The shape of a microchannel during flow through it is instrumental to understanding the physics that govern various phenomena ranging from rheological measurements of fluids to separation of particles and cells. Two commonly used approaches for obtaining a desired channel shape (for a given application) are (i) fabricating the microchannel in the requisite shape and (ii) actuating the microchannel walls during flow to obtain the requisite shape. However, these approaches are not always viable. We propose an alternative, passive approach to {\it a priori} tune the elastohydrodynamics in a microsystem, towards achieving a pre-determined (but not pre-fabricated) flow geometry when the microchannel is subjected to flow. That is to say, we use the interaction between a soft solid layer, the viscous flow beneath it and the shaped rigid wall above it, to tune the fluid domain's shape. Specifically, we study a parallel-wall microchannel whose top wall is a slender soft coating of arbitrary thickness attached to a rigid platform. We derive a nonlinear differential equation for the soft coating's fluid--solid interface, which we use to infer how to achieve specific conduit shapes during flow. Using this theory, we demonstrate the tuning of four categories of microchannel geometries, which establishes, via a proof-of-concept, the viability of our modeling framework. We also explore slip length patterning on the rigid bottom wall of the microchannel, a common technique in microfluidics, as an addition `handle' for microchannel shape control. However, we show that this effect is much weaker in practice., Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures; v2: minor update to parameters and figures; v3: reorganization + regenerated figures for clarity; accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. E; v4: corrects minor typos

Selective heating of a microparticle surface had been observed to cause its autonomous movement in a fluid medium due to self-generated temperature gradients. In this work, we theoretically investigate the response of such an auto-thermophoretic particle near a planar wall which is held isothermal. We derive an exact solution of the energy equation and employ the Reynolds reciprocal theorem to obtain the translational and rotational swimming velocities in the creeping flow limit. Subsequently, we analyse the trajectories of the micromotor for different thermo-physical and configurational parameters. Results show that the micromotor trajectories can be switched either from wall-bound sliding or stationary state to escape from the near-wall zone by suitably choosing the particle and the surrounding fluid pair having selective thermal conductivity contrasts. Further, we discuss the dependency of this swimming-state transition on the launching orientation and the coverage of the metallic cap. Our results reveal that the scenario addressed here holds several exclusive distinguishing features from the otherwise extensively studied self-diffusiophoresis phenomenon near an inert wall, despite obvious analogies in the respective constitutive laws relating the fluxes with the gradients of the concerned forcing parameters. The most contrasting locomotion behaviour here turns out to be the ability of a self-thermophoretic micromotor to migrate towards the wall with large heated cap even if it is initially directed away from the wall. Besides, during the stationary state of swimming, the cold portion on the micromotor surface faces away from the wall, under all conditions. Such unique aspects of locomotion hold the potential of being harnessed in practice towards achieving intricate control over autonomous motion of microparticles in thermally-regulated fluidic environments.

Motion of an object near a soft wall with intervening fluid is a canonical problem in elastohydrodynamics, finding presence in subjects spanning biology to tribology. Particularly, motion of a sphere towards a soft substrate with intervening fluid is often encountered in the context of scanning probe microscopy. While there have been fundamental theoretical studies on this setup, they have focussed on specific applications and thus enforced suitable simplifications. Here we present a versatile semi-analytical framework for studying the elastohydrodynamics of axisymmetric loading of a rigid sphere near a soft elastic substrate coated on a rigid platform mediated by an aqueous electrolytic solution. Three loading modes are considered - approach, recession and oscillatory. The framework incorporates - large oscillation frequency and amplitude, two-way coupling between pressure and substrate deformation, and presence of DLVO forces. From computations using the framework, we gain insights on the effects of DLVO forces, substrate thickness, substrate material compressibility (quantified by Poisson's ratio) and high oscillation frequency for different physical setups encountered in SPM and the likes. We list some key observations. A substrate that is thicker and more compressible allows for larger deformation, i.e. is effectively softer. Presence of DLVO forces lead to magnification in force of upto two orders of magnitude and in substrate deformation of upto an order of magnitude for oscillatory loading at low frequencies and approach/recession loading at low speed. For oscillatory loading at high frequencies, DLVO forces do not appreciably affect the force and deflection behaviour of the system. Having demonstrated the versatility and utility of our framework, we expect it to evolve into a diverse and useful tool for solving problems of soft-lubrication.

Introducing controlled fluid motion inside a droplet turns out to be of outstanding scientific importance. In this work, we suggest a new method of flow manipulation inside a sessile droplet by simply deploying a static charge produced by triboelectric effect. This is physically actuated by charge transfer between the two lateral electrodes within which the droplet is entrained, triggering a strong ionized air current. The flow inside the droplet is generated due to the shear exerted at the liquid-air interface by the charged induced ionized air flow around the droplet, a paradigm that has hitherto remained unexplored. The strength of the fluid flow can be controlled by adjusting the supplied charge. Such unique controllability without sacrificing the physical simplicity opens up new possibilities of flow manipulation in a multitude of applications in droplet based microfluidics.

We consider heterogeneously interacting diffusive particle systems and their large population limit. The interaction is of mean field type with weights characterized by an underlying graphon. A law of large numbers result is established as the system size increases and the underlying graphons converge. The limit is given by a graphon mean field system consisting of independent but heterogeneous nonlinear diffusions whose probability distributions are fully coupled. Well-posedness, continuity and stability of such systems are provided. We also consider a not-so-dense analogue of the finite particle system, obtained by percolation with vanishing rates and suitable scaling of interactions. A law of large numbers result is proved for the convergence of such systems to the corresponding graphon mean field system., Comment: 34 pages. To appear in Annals of Applied Probability

Instability mechanism based on Coriolis force, on a rapidly rotating portable device handling shear thinning fluids such as blood, is of utmost importance for eventual detection of diseases by mixing with the suitable reagents. Motivated by this proposition, the present study renders a modal stability analysis of shear thinning fluids in a rotating microchannel modelled by the Carreau rheological law. When a microchannel is engraved a rotating compact disc (CD) based device, the centrifugal force acts as the driving force that actuates the flow and the Coriolis force enhances the mixing process in significantly short span by destabilizing the flow. An OrrSommerfeld-Squire analysis is performed to explore the role of these forces on the linear stability of rotating shear-thinning flow. Reported results on shear thinning flow with streamwise disturbances indicate that the critical Reynolds number for the flow transition with viscosity perturbation is nearly half of that of the critical value for the same without viscosity perturbation. In sharp contrast, the present analysis considering spanwise disturbances reveals that the critical Reynolds numbers with and without viscosity perturbation remain virtually unaltered under rotational effects. However, the viscosity variation has no significant influence on the Coriolis force-based instability. Numerical results confirm that a momentous destabilization is possible by aid of the Coriolis force via generating secondary flow inside the channel. Interestingly, the roll cells corresponding to the instabilities at lower time constants exhibit the existence of two distinct vortices, and the centre of the stronger one is essentially settled towards the unstable stratified region. Moreover, for a higher value of the time constant, only one vortex occupies the entire channel.

Enhancing solute dispersion in electrically actuated flows has always been a challenging proposition, as attributed to the inherent uniformity of the flow field in absence of surface patterns. Over the years, researchers have focused their attention towards circumventing this limitation, by employing several fluidic and geometric modulations. However, the corresponding improvements in solute dispersion often turn out to be inconsequential. Here we unveil that by exploiting the interplay between an externally imposed temperature gradient, subsequent electrical charge redistribution and ionic motion, coupled with the rheological complexities of the fluid, one can achieve up to one order of magnitude enhancement of solute dispersion in a pressure-driven flow of an electrolyte solution. Our results demonstrate that the complex coupling between thermal, electrical, hydro-dynamic and rheological parameters over small scales, responsible for such exclusive phenomenon, can be utilitarian in designing novel thermally-actuated micro and bio-microfluidic devices with favorable solute separation and dispersion characteristics.

Interaction of motile microrganisms with a nearby solid substrate is a well studied phenomenon. However, the effects of hydrodynamic slippage on the substrate have received a little attention. In the present study, within the framework of the squirmer model, we impose a tangential velocity at the swimmer surface as a representation of the ciliatory propulsion and subsequently obtain exact solution of the Stokes equation based on a combined analytical-numerical approach. We illustrate how the near-wall swimming velocities are non-trivially altered by the interaction of wall slip and hydrodynamic forces. We report a characteristic transition of swimming trajectories for both puller and pusher type microswimmers by hydrodynamic slippage if the wall-slip length crosses a critical value. In case of puller microswimmers that are propelled by a breast-stroke like action of their swimming apparatus ahead of their cell body, the wall slip can cause wall-bound trapping swimming states, either as periodic or damped periodic oscillations which would otherwise escape from a no slip wall. The associated critical slip length has a non-monotonic dependence on the initial orientation of the swimmer which is represented by novel phase diagrams. Pushers, which get their propulsive thrust from posterior flagellar action, also show similar swimming state transitions but in this case the wall slip mediated reorientation dynamics and the swimming modes compete in a different fashion to that of the pullers. The present results pave the way for understanding the motion characteristic of biological microswimmers near confinements with hydrophobic walls or strategize the design of microfluidic devices used for sorting and motion rectification of artificial swimmers by tailoring their surface wettability.

The force between two approaching solids in a liquid medium becomes increasingly large with decreasing separation, a phenomenon that prevents contact between the two solids. This growth in force occurs because of the intervening liquid, and, studies of such physical systems constitute the classical discipline of lubrication. Furthermore, when the solid(s) are soft, there are quantitative as well as qualitative alterations in the force interaction due to the solids' deformation. The underlying physics as well as resultant system behaviour are even more complex when forces of non-hydrodynamic origin come into play, two major classes of such forces being the DLVO (Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek) forces and the non-DLVO molecular forces. Studies assessing the coupling of these physical phenomenon are avenues of contemporary research. With this view, we perform an analytical study of fluid-mediated oscillatory motion of a rigid sphere over an ultra-thin soft coating, delineating the distinctive effects of solvation force as well as substrate compliance. Our key finding is the major augmentation in the force and substrate-deformation characteristics of the system due to solvation force when the confinement reduces to a few nanometers. Consideration of solvation force leads to upto four orders of magnitude and upto three orders of magnitude increment in force and substrate-deformation respectively. While higher softness leads to higher deformation (as expected), its effect on force and substrate-deformation characteristics exhibits a tendency towards amelioration of the increment due to solvation force.

Sessile droplets exposed to an incipient condition lead to an inevitable loss of mass, which is critical in many practical applications. By considering an arbitrarily configured two-dimensional array of droplets, here we provide a simple generalized theoretical limit to their lifetime in an evaporating state. Notwithstanding the geometrical and physical complexity of the effective confinement generated due to their cooperative interactions, we show that the consequent evaporation characteristics may be remarkably insensitive to the topographical details of the overall droplet organization, for a wide range of droplet-substrate combinations. With subsequent deployment of particle-laden droplets, however, our results lead to the discovery of a unique pathway towards tailoring the internal flows within the collective system by harnessing an exclusive topologically-driven symmetry breaking phenomenon, yielding a new strategy of patterning particulate matters around the droplet array., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures (under review in Journal of Fluid Mechanics)

Implantable medical devices and biosensors are pivotal in revolutionizing the field of medical technology by opening new dimensions in the field of disease detection and cure. These devices need to harness a biocompatible and physiologically sustainable safe power source instead of relying on external stimuli, overcoming the constraints on their applicability in-vivo. Here, by appealing to the interplay of electromechanics and hydrodynamics in physiologically relevant microvessels, we bring out the role of charged Endothelial Glycocalyx layer (EGL) towards establishing a streaming potential across physiological fluidic conduits. We account for the complex rheology of blood-mimicking fluid by appealing to Newtonian fluid model representing the blood plasma and a viscoelastic fluid model representing the whole blood. We model the EGL as a poroelastic layer with volumetric charge distribution. Our results reveal that for physiologically relevant microflows, the streaming potential induced is typically of the order of 0.1 V/mm, which may turn out to be substantial towards energizing biosensors and implantable medical devices whose power requirements are typically in the range of micro to milli Watt. We also bring out the specific implications of the relevant physiological parameters towards establishment of the streaming potential, with a vision of augmenting the same within plausible functional limits. We further unveil that the dependence of streaming potential on EGL thickness might be one of the key aspects in unlocking the mystery behind the angiogenesis pattern. Our results may open up novel bio-sensing and actuating possibilities in medical diagnostics as well as may provide a possible alternative regarding the development of physiologically safe and biocompatible power sources within the human body., Comment: 9 figures

We demonstrate a method of concentrating and patterning of biological cells on a chip, exploiting the confluence of electric and thermal fields, without necessitating the use of any external heating or illuminating source. The technique simply employs two parallel plate electrodes and an insulating layer over the bottom electrode, with a drilled insulating layer for inducing localized variations in the thermal field. A strong induced electric field, in the process, penetrates through the narrow hole and generates highly non-uniform heating, which in turn, results in gradients in electrical properties and induces mobile charges to impose directional fluid flow. The toroidal vortices, induced by secondary electrokinetic forces originating out of temperature-dependent electrical property variations, transport the suspended cells towards a hot-spot site of the chip, for rapid concentrating and patterning into different shaped clusters based on pre-designed conditions, without exceeding safe temperature limits that do not result in damage of thermally labile biological samples. We characterize the efficacy of the cell trapping process for two different biological entities, namely, Escherichia coli bacteria and yeast cell. These results may be of profound importance towards developing novel biomedical microdevices for drug discovery, antibiotic resistance assessment and medical diagnostics.

Developing low-weight, frugal and sustainable power sources for resource-limited settings appears to be a challenging proposition for the advancement of next-generation sensing devices and beyond. Here, we report the use of centimeter-sized simple wet fabric pieces for electrical power generation, by deploying the interplay of a spontaneously induced ionic motion across fabric channels due to capillary action and simultaneous water evaporation by drawing thermal energy from the ambient. Unlike other reported devices with similar functionalities, our arrangement does not necessitate any input mechanical energy or complex topographical structures to be embedded in the substrate. A single device is capable of generating a sustainable open circuit potential up to 700 mV. This suffices establishing an inherent capability of functionalizing self-power electronic devices, and also to be potentially harnessed for enhanced power generation with feasible up-scaling., Comment: 12

Diffusion of colored dye on water saturated paper substrates has been traditionally exploited with great skill by renowned water color artists. The same physics finds more recent practical applications in paper based diagnostic devices deploying chemicals that react with a bodily fluid yielding colorimetric signals for disease detection. During spontaneous imbibition through the tortuous pathways of a porous electrolyte saturated paper matrix, a dye molecule undergoes diffusion in a complex network of pores. The advancing front forms a strongly correlated interface that propagates diffusively but with an enhanced effective diffusivity. We measure this effective diffusivity and show that it is several orders of magnitude greater than the free solution diffusivity and has a significant dependence on the solution pH and salt concentration in the background electrolyte. We attribute this to electrically mediated interfacial interactions between the ionic species in the liquid dye and spontaneous surface charges developed at porous interfaces, and introduce a simple theory to explain this phenomenon., Comment: 14

A graph $G$ percolates in the $K_{r,s}$-bootstrap process if we can add all missing edges of $G$ in some order such that each edge creates a new copy of $K_{r,s}$, where $K_{r,s}$ is the complete bipartite graph. We study $K_{r,s}$-bootstrap percolation on the Erd\H{o}s-R\'{e}nyi random graph, and determine the percolation threshold for balanced $K_{r,s}$ up to a logarithmic factor. This partially answers a question raised by Balogh, Bollob\'as, and Morris. We also establish a general lower bound of the percolation threshold for all $K_{r,s}$, with $r\geq s \geq 3$., Comment: 14 pages, to appear in the Electronic Journal of Combinatorics

Coalescence of liquid droplets involves an interplay between capillary forces, viscous forces and inertial forces. Here, we unveil a universal temporal evolution of the neck radius during the coalescence of two polymeric drops. Through high speed imaging we demonstrate that drops of polyacrylamide (PAM), poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and xanthan gum (XG) depict a universal behavior $R/\sqrt(\nu_0\lambda) \sim (t/\lambda)^{0.36}(C/C^{*})^{-0.83}$ over a dilute, semi-dilute and non-dilute range of concentrations. A linear Phan-Thein-Tanner viscoelastic model captures the temporal aspect of universality., Comment: 3 Figures. Soft Matter, 2020