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At least 37 records · Page 2

Investigating the Interaction Between Circulating Tumor Cells and Local Hydrodynamics via Experiment and Simulations

Introduction: The biological and mechanical properties of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in combination with the hemodynamics affect the preference of metastatic sites in the vasculature. Despite the extensive literature on the effects of biological properties on cell adhesion, the effects of hydrodynamic forces on primary attachment remains an active area of research. Here, using simulations in conjunction with experimentation, we provide new insight into the interplay of CTCs dynamics and local hydrodynamics. Methods: A flow experiment of CTC attachment was performed within a bioprinted, double branching endothelialized vessel. Simulations of fluid flow and CTC transport in the reconstructed and idealized bifurcated vessel were respectively performed by HARVEY, our in-house massively parallel computational fluid dynamics solver. HARVEY is based on the lattice Boltzmann and finite element methods to model the fluid and cells dynamics. The immersed boundary method is employed for resolving the fluid–structure interaction. Results: CTC attachment was quantified experimentally at all regions of the complex vessel. The results demonstrate a clear preference for CTCs to attach at the branch points. To elucidate the effect of the vessel topology on the location of attachment, a fluid-only simulation was performed assessing the differences in the hydrodynamics along the vessel. CTC transport in idealized bifurcated vessels was subsequently studied to examine the effects of cell deformability on the local hydrodynamics patterns and, thus, the preference of attachment sites. Conclusions: The current work provides evidence on the correlation of the hydrodynamics forces arising from the vessel topology and CTC properties on the attachment regions.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

PHF19 activates hedgehog signaling and promotes tumorigenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Aberrant activation of Hedgehog-Gli1 signaling and accumulation of Gli1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are frequently observed. However, the mechanisms leading to the overactivation of this signaling pathway are not fully understood. In this study, we show that the short isoform of PHD finger protein 19 (PHF19) interacts with β-TrCP, the E3 ligase of Gli1, and that knocking down PHF19 promotes the ubiquitination of Gli1. In a biological function study, PHF19 was found to promote the growth of HCC cells both in liquid culture and in soft agar. Moreover, knocking out PHF19 in a HCC mouse model (Myc{sup F/F}) using the hydrodynamic method inhibited tumorigenesis and improved survival. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PHF19 promotes the growth of HCC cells by activating the Hedgehog signaling pathway.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Insights into the failure mode of the Chelyabinsk meteor from high-fidelity simulation

In 2013, an asteroid with a diameter of approximate 20 m broke up in the atmosphere above the Russian city of Chelyabinsk producing what is known as an airburst event. The event was recorded on video from multiple angles and a 500-kg fragment was recovered from Lake Chebarkul shortly thereafter. These aspects, coupled with the asteroid’s large size, distinguish the Chelyabinsk event as unique. In this study, we use the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method to examine the breakup mode of a Chelyabinsk-sized monolithic asteroid and probe whether a monolithic structure is consistent with observations from the Chelyabinsk event. We model the object as a homogeneous sphere with properties consistent with Chelyabinsk meteorites. We use planar-2D simulations to test the sensitivity of results to variations in the material model and to qualitatively inspect the cause of crack nucleation and fragmentation. We then compare results from a 3D simulation to observations from the event. Our 3D simulation predicts a burst height within 3 km of the observed peak luminosity suggesting the responsible asteroid may have been monolithic.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Simulations of Tidal Disruption Events

Numerical simulations have historically played a major role in understanding the hydrodynamics of the tidal disruption process. Given the complexity of the geometry of the system, the challenges posed by the problem have indeed stimulated much work on the numerical side. Smoothed Particles Hydrodynamics methods, for example, have seen their very first applications in the context of tidal disruption and still play a major role to this day. Likewise, initial attempts at simulating the evolution of the disrupted star with the so-called affine method have been historically very useful. Here, we provide an overview of the numerical techniques used in the field and of their limitations, and summarize the work that has been done to simulate numerically the tidal disruption process.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Massively-parallel Lagrangian particle code and applications

Massively-parallel, distributed-memory algorithms for the Lagrangian particle hydrodynamic method (Samulyak et al., 2018) have been developed, verified, and implemented. The key component of parallel algorithms is a particle management module that includes a parallel construction of octree databases, dynamic adaptation and refinement of octrees, and particle migration between parallel subdomains. The particle management module is based on the p4est (parallel forest of k-trees) library. The massively-parallel Lagrangian particle code has been applied to a variety of fundamental science and applied problems. A summary of Lagrangian particle code applications to the injection of impurities into thermonuclear fusion devices and to the simulation of supersonic hydrogen jets in support of laser-plasma wakefield acceleration research has also been presented.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

The passage of a star by a massive black hole

The gridless, smoothed particle hydrodynamic method of Lucy (1977) and Gingold and Monaghan (1977, 1980, a, b, 1981) is used to solve the three-dimensional problem posed by the effects on a 1.0 solar mass star of a 10,000 solar mass black hole's passage, in an initially parabolic orbit with a variety of pericenter distances. It is found that the tidal forces induce rotation and radial and nonradial pulsations in the star, and that the loss of orbital energy to these internal motions leads to the star's capture by the black hole. While the outer layers of the star are disrupted at small pericenter distances, the entire star is destroyed at even smaller distances. These results are applicable to X-ray sources, active galactic nuclei, and quasars

Nolthenius, R. A.↗

Modeling of dust halo formation following comet outbursts Preliminary results

Evolution of gas and dust distributions following a spatially and temporally localized comet outburst was calculated using a hybrid kinetic - hydrodynamic method. It was found that a comet outburst resulted in significantly increased dust terminal velocities. As these higher terminal velocity values result in larger apex distances, therefore the outburst generates distinct dust envelopes in front of the regular dust coma. Such envelopes were observed at several comets (cf. comet Donati).

Gombosi, T. I.↗

Time-dependent numerical modeling of dust halo formation at comets

The evolution of gas and dust distributions following a spatially and temporally localized comet outburst was calculated using a hybrid kinetic-hydrodynamic method. In the inner coma the time-dependent continuity, momentum, and energy equations of the dusty gas flow were solved simultaneously using 12 dust sizes. Beyond 300 km a three-dimensional kinetic model was used to calculate the trajectory of each individual dust grain. It was found that following the onset of the comet outburst a gas-dust blast wave propagates outward in the inner coma. About 15 minutes after the increased gas and dust production was initiated at the nucleus, a new equilibrium was reached in the inner coma. The most important feature of this new steady state was the significant increase of the dust terminal velocities. These higher terminal velocity values resulted in larger apex distances for dust particles emitted during the outburst. The dust particles spend a relatively long time near their apex points; therefore, the outburst generates long-lasting distinct dust envelopes in front of the regular dust coma.

Gombosi, T. I.↗

A simulation of the collapse and fragmentation of cooling molecular clouds

The application of the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics method to the fragmentation of rotating cloud and disk systems is described, allowing for molecular cooling due to H2 and CO. A novel approach to solving Poisson's equation for disklike structures which exploits the multigrid algorithm is also described. Numerical studies are presented which investigate the evolution of both rotating clouds and Maclaurin disks, in each case with both an isothermal equation of state and with molecular cooling. The results establish the influence of molecular cooling on the fragmentation of molecular clouds. The isothermal sequences, if they fragment at all, do so into far fewer lumps than the cooling sequences. This is not due to a cooling instability as such, but rather to the reduced thermal support. One of the sequences shows a remarkable similarity to the W49A star-forming region.

Monaghan, Joe J.↗

The origin of the moon and the single impact hypothesis. IV

The smoothed-particle hydrodynamics method developed to simulate the conditions under which a major planetary collision may have led to the formation of the moon is presently used in 41 simulations exploring the relevant parameter space. Two possible scenarios emerge: one in which the moon is formed directly in the collision or only after dissipation and evolution of the disk. Attention is given to the Giant Blowoff hypothesis, in which not only the primitive atmosphere but large amounts of mantle material flow over the surface of the orbiting disk and blow off in the forward direction. Large amounts of angular momentum can also be lost.

Cameron, A. G. W.↗

Nonaxisymmetric evolution in protostellar disks

We present a two-dimensional, multigridded hydrodynamical simulation of the collapse of an axisymmetric, rotating, 1 solar mass protostellar cloud, which forms a resolved, hydrotastic disk. The code includes the effects of physical viscosity, radiative transfer and radiative acceleration but not magnetic fields. We examine how the disk is affected by the inclusion of turbulent viscosity by comparing a viscous simulation with an inviscid model evolved from the same initial conditions, and we derive a disk evolutionary timescale on the order of 300,000 years if alpha = 0.01. Effects arising from non-axisymmetric gravitational instabilities in the protostellar disk are followed with a three-dimensional SPH code, starting from the two-dimensional structure. We find that the disk is prone to a series of spiral instabilities with primary azimulthal mode number m = 1 and m = 2. The torques induced by these nonaxisymmetric structures elicit material transport of angular momentum and mass through the disk, readjusting the surface density profile toward more stable configurations. We present a series of analyses which characterize both the development and the likely source of the instabilities. We speculate that an evolving disk which maintains a minimum Toomre Q-value approximately 1.4 will have a total evolutionary span of several times 10(exp 5) years, comparable to, but somewhat shorter than the evolutionary timescale resulting from viscous turbulence alone. We compare the evolution resulting from nonaxisymmetric instabilities with solutions of a one-dimensional viscous diffusion equation applied to the initial surface density and temperature profile. We find that an effective alpha-value of 0.03 is a good fit to the results of the simulation. However, the effective alpha will depend on the minimum Q in the disk at the time the instability is activated. We argue that the major fraction of the transport characterized by the value of alpha is due to the action of gravitational torques, and does not arise from inherent viscosity within the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method.

Laughlin, Gregory↗

Convection, nucleosynthesis, and core collapse

We use a piecewise parabolic method hydrodynamics code (PROMETHEUS) to study convective burning in two dimensions in an oxygen shell prior to core collapse. Significant mixing beyond convective boundaries determined by mixing-length theory brings fuel (C-12) into the convective regon, causing hot spots of nuclear burning. Plumes dominate the velocity structure. Finite perturbations arise in a region in which O-16 will be explosively burned to Ni-56 when the star explodes; the resulting instabilities and mixing are likely to distribute Ni-56 throughout the supernova envelope. Inhomogeneities in Y(sub e) may be large enough to affect core collapse and will affect explosive nucleosynthesis. The nature of convective burning is dramatically different from that assumed in one-dimensional simulations; quantitative estimates of nucleosynthetic yields, core masses, and the approach to core collapse will be affected.

Bazan, Grant↗

Modeling the Compression of Merged Compact Toroids by Multiple Plasma Jets

A fusion propulsion scheme has been proposed that makes use of the merging of a spherical distribution of plasma jets to dynamically form a gaseous liner. The gaseous liner is used to implode a magnetized target to produce the fusion reaction in a standoff manner. In this paper, the merging of the plasma jets to form the gaseous liner is investigated numerically. The Los Alamos SPHINX code, based on the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method is used to model the interaction of the jets. 2-D and 3-D simulations have been performed to study the characteristics of the resulting flow when these jets collide. The results show that the jets merge to form a plasma liner that converge radially which may be used to compress the central plasma to fusion conditions. Details of the computational model and the SPH numerical methods will be presented together with the numerical results.

Thio, Y. C. Francis↗

Active Galactic Nucleus Obscuration from Winds: From Dusty Infrared-Driven to Warm and X-Ray Photoionized

We present calculations of active galactic nucleus winds at approx.parsec scales along with the associated obscuration. We take into account the pressure of infrared radiation on dust grains and the interaction of X-rays from a central black hole with hot and cold plasma. Infrared radiation (IR) is incorporated in radiation-hydrodynamic simulations adopting the flux-limited diffusion approximation. We find that in the range of X-ray luminosities L = 0.05-0.6 L(sub Edd), the Compton-thick part of the flow (aka torus) has an opening angle of approximately 72deg - 75deg regardless of the luminosity. At L > or approx. 0.1, the outflowing dusty wind provides the obscuration with IR pressure playing a major role. The global flow consists of two phases: the cold flow at inclinations (theta) > or approx.70deg and a hot, ionized wind of lower density at lower inclinations. The dynamical pressure of the hot wind is important in shaping the denser IR-supported flow. At luminosities < or = 0.1 L(sub Edd) episodes of outflow are followed by extended periods when the wind switches to slow accretion. Key words: acceleration of particles . galaxies: active . hydrodynamics . methods: numerical Online-only material: color figures

Dorodnitsyn, Anton V.↗

An implicit method for two-dimensional hydrodynamics

An implicit method for compressible multidimensional flows is presented. The method, which is strongly oriented toward astrophysical applications, enables one to simulate very subsonic flows by removing the Courant condition upon time steps. It consists of an implicit purely Lagrangian step, followed by an explicit and second-order accurate (at least in one dimension) remapping step, which is optional. When the remapping step is performed the time step is limited by the 'particle crossing time' and otherwise it is limited only by accuracy considerations. The suggested method, which results from a compromise between accuracy and efficiency, is very efficient relative to other methods. It enables the computation of many multidimensional problems in stellar evolution, such as those governed by very subsonic flows, which were not calculable with existing explicit methods.

Livne, Eli↗

A high-order Shifted Interface Method for Lagrangian shock hydrodynamics

Here, we present a new method for two-material Lagrangian hydrodynamics, which combines the Shifted Interface Method (SIM) with a high-order Finite Element Method. Our approach relies on an exact (or sharp) material interface representation, that is, it uses the precise location of the material interface. The interface is represented by the zero level-set of a continuous high-order finite element function that moves with the material velocity. This strategy allows to evolve curved material interfaces inside curved elements. By reformulating the original interface problem over a surrogate (approximate) interface, located in proximity of the true interface, the SIM avoids cut cells and the associated problematic issues regarding implementation, numerical stability, and matrix conditioning. Accuracy is maintained by modifying the original interface conditions using Taylor expansions. We demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithms on established numerical benchmarks in one, two and three dimensions.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

An Improved Method for Coupling Hydrodynamics with Astrophysical Reaction Networks

Reacting astrophysical flows can be challenging to model, because of the difficulty in accurately coupling hydrodynamics and reactions. This can be particularly acute during explosive burning or at high temperatures where nuclear statistical equilibrium is established. We develop a new approach, based on the ideas of spectral deferred corrections (SDC) coupling of explicit hydrodynamics and stiff reaction sources as an alternative to operator splitting, that is simpler than the more comprehensive SDC approach we demonstrated previously. We apply the new method to a double-detonation problem with a moderately sized astrophysical nuclear reaction network and explore the time step size and reaction network tolerances, to show that the simplified-SDC approach provides improved coupling with decreased computational expense compared to traditional Strang operator splitting. This is all done in the framework of the Castro hydrodynamics code, and all algorithm implementations are freely available.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

A discontinuous Galerkin method for general relativistic hydrodynamics in thornado

Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods provide a means to obtain high-order accurate solutions in regions of smooth fluid flow while still resolving strong shocks. These and other properties make DG methods attractive for solving problems involving hydrodynamics; e.g., the core-collapse supernova problem. With that in mind we are developing a DG solver for the general relativistic, ideal hydrodynamics equations under a 3+1 decomposition of spacetime, assuming a conformally-flat approximation to general relativity. With the aid of limiters we verify the accuracy and robustness of our code with several difficult test-problems: a special relativistic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability problem, a two-dimensional special relativistic Riemann problem, and a one- and two-dimensional general relativistic standing accretion shock (SAS) problem. We find good agreement with published results, where available. We also establish sufficient resolution for the 1D SAS problem and find encouraging results regarding the standing accretion shock instability (SASI) in 2D.

Dunham, Samuel↗