Title
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Are there analogies between nematic organic liquids and stacking of di-concave discs representing assemblies of red blood cells?
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Author
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Abstract
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A so-called discotic phase of liquids of certain organic molecules was established experimentally some three decades ago. Following quite recent work in which a single red blood cell (RBC) has been isolated in a microdroplet, the question has been raised in this Journal as to whether an assembly of such cells, each having the shape of a di-concave disc, can form an amorphous aggregate. Here, we propose that a disordered discotic phase can exist, in which a RBC is in interaction with its neighbouring cells. We also note that if, as has been proposed earlier, the shape of a di-concave disc is mathematically simplified to that of a finite length cylinder, then it turns out that Onsager, six decades ago, had anticipated such a disordered nematic phase of rods. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Physics and chemistry of liquids. - London
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Publication
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London
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2013
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ISSN
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0031-9104
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DOI
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10.1080/00319104.2013.816959
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Volume/pages
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51
:6
(2013)
, p. 746-748
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ISI
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000324613600008
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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