Figure 5.

Bead arrangement and tube aspect ratio are interrelated. (a) Cross section of an empty hard polycarbonate circular tube, aspect ratio 1.00 (left). Images of a range of JBs (75–90) swollen in capped polycarbonate tubes (right). (b) Quantification of the fraction pattern distribution in the polycarbonate tubes shown in (a). The other category includes the (3,2,1), (2,2,0) and (4,2,2) patterns. (c) Cross-sectional image of an empty hard vinyl elliptical tube, aspect ratio 1.25 (left). Images of a range of JBs (75–90) swollen in capped vinyl tubes (right). (d) Quantification of the fraction pattern distribution in the vinyl tubes shown in (c) as in (b). Note that almost all JBs are arranged in the (2,1,1) staircase pattern. (b,d) λ values differ for equal JB number owing to unequal cross-sectional areas of round polycarbonate and elliptical vinyl tubes. Error bars correspond to s.e. (e) Correlation between the JB pattern and the local aspect ratio (α) measured at 11 points along the length of a silicone tube after 80 JBs (λ = 1.31) have swollen. Scale bar, 2.5 cm. (f) Quantitation of α in areas of silicone tubes with the (2,1,1) or (3,2,1) pattern of JB arrangement after 80 JBs have swollen (n = 6 tubes, *p < 0.0001, Welch's t-test). Note the deformation into a more elliptical shape associated with the (2,1,1) pattern. Scale bars, 1 mm for circular and elliptical tube cross sections. (g) Staircase (2,1,1) pattern fraction in silicone versus polycarbonate tubes at (λ = 1.33). Unpaired t-test, *p = 0.011 (n = 5).