We study the kinetics of the isotropic-smectic phase transition in a colloidal rod/polymer mixture by visualizing individual smectic layers. First, we show that the bulk isotropic-smectic phase transition is preceded by a surface freezing transition in which a quasi-two-dimensional smectic phase wets the isotropic-nematic interface. Next, we identify a two-step kinetic pathway for the formation...

In this study, we compared the effects of repeated freezing/thawing of human sperm by our in-house method of rapid freezing with slow programmable freezing. Sperm samples from 11 normozoospermic subjects were processed through density gradients and divided into three aliquots: non-frozen, rapid freezing and slow programmable freezing. Sperm in the rapid freezing group had better motility and vi...

The effect of seminal plasma, as well as some seminal plasma fractions, on the heterogeneity and viability of frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa was studied. Fresh and frozen sperm samples were simultaneously assessed by a routine semen-quality assay and centrifugal countercurrent distribution (CCCD) in an aqueous two-phase system analysis. All samples used for this study were obtained from Salz ram...

The objective of the following paper is to describe a new technology for large volume and double freezing of semen in 12 mL test tubes. Semen from two different bulls was frozen with a new technique using 12 mL test tubes and was refrozen after thawing in mini straws. All freezing was done in a "Multi thermal gradient" (MTG) freezing apparatus, which moves the container at a constant velocity (...

This article presents a multi-phase-field poromechanics model that simulates the growth and thaw of ice lenses resultant frozen heave settlement in multi-constituent soils. The segregated inside freezing-induced fracture is implicitly represented by evolution two-phase fields indicate locations damaged zone, respectively. induced their own driving forces capture physical mechanisms crack growth...

We present a numerical study of the random Blume-Capel model in three dimensions. The phase diagram is characterized by spin-glass-paramagnet phase transitions of both first and second order in the thermodynamic sense. Numerical simulations are performed using the exchange Monte Carlo algorithm, providing clear evidence for inverse freezing. The main features at criticality and in the phase coe...

cryopreservation is the method of choice for long term storage of human pbmcs. this study was designed to compare the different combinations of variables affecting the cryopreservation of pbmcs samples. the viability of pbmcs separated from 2×5 ml peripheral blood samples obtained from 16 healthy adult volunteers, were measured using trypan blue dye exclusion method just before freezing with di...