Modeling of intraorgan arterial vasculatures. I. A stationary blood flow at low Reynolds numbers

Based on the statistical relationships between the lengths and diameters of vessels in the arterial beds, obtained by measurements on plastic casts, a method for the generation of models of intraorgan arterial vasculatures was proposed. The dependence of the total hydraulic conductivity of the system on the model parameters was computed. The problem of selecting the adequate models by a comparison of the corresponding biophysical characteristics of vasculatures is discussed.     

Effects of transmural pressure and wall shear stress on LDL accumulation in the arterial wall: a numerical study using a multilayered model

The accumulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is recognized as one of the main contributors in atherogenesis. Mathematical models have been constructed to simulate mass transport in large arteries and the consequent lipid accumulation in the arterial wall. The objective of this study was to investigate the influences of wall shear stress and transmural pressure on LDL accumulation in the arterial wall by a multilayered, coupled lumen-wall model. The model employs the Navier-Stokes equations and Darcy's Law for fluid dynamics, convection-diffusion-reaction equations for mass balance, and Kedem-Katchalsky equations for interfacial coupling. To determine physiologically realistic model parameters, an optimization approach that searches optimal parameters based on experimental data was developed. Two sets of model parameters corresponding to different transmural pressures were found by the optimization approach using experimental data in the literature. Furthermore, a shear-dependent hydraulic conductivity relation reported previously was adopted. The integrated multilayered model was applied to an axisymmetric stenosis simulating an idealized, mildly stenosed coronary artery. The results show that low wall shear stress leads to focal LDL accumulation by weakening the convective clearance effect of transmural flow, whereas high transmural pressure, associated with hypertension, leads to global elevation of LDL concentration in the arterial wall by facilitating the passage of LDL through wall layers.     

Effects of Externally Applied Pressure on the Haemodynamics of the Lower Limb

The effects of externally applied pressure of 5-150 mm Hg on the haemodynamics of the leg of dog and man were investigated. The criteria used for the assessments included femoral arterial and venous blood flow as well as vascular hydraulic conductance. The results indicated that external pressure of 5 mm Hg results in a very small non-significant increase in the femoral arterial and venous flow. Higher external pressure of 15 mm Hg or more significantly reduces the femoral arterial and venous flows as well as the vascular conductance. It therefore seems that compression produced by bandaging in horizontal supine subjects has little or no haemodynamic value and may prove to be harmful unless carefully controlled.     

Using hydraulic input impedance in determination of changes in the arteries of different calibre

In anaesthetised cats, the arterial input impedance in combination with seven-element lumped-parameter model was used to estimate the resistance change in arteries of different caliber. The results show that the method gives reasonable estimations of changes in hydraulic resistance of arterial vessels of different caliber. We found that the method of vascular input impedance permits to reveal and assess quantitatively local constrictions and dilations as well as hemodynamically insignificant stenosis of conduit arteries.     

Functional design space of single-veined leaves: role of tissue hydraulic properties in constraining leaf size and shape

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Morphological diversity of leaves is usually quantified with geometrical characters, while in many cases a simple set of biophysical parameters are involved in constraining size and shape. One of the main physiological functions of the leaf is transpiration and thus one can expect that leaf hydraulic parameters can be used to predict potential morphologies, although with the caveat that morphology in turn influences physiological parameters including light interception and boundary layer thickness and thereby heat transfer and net photosynthesis. METHODS: An iterative model was used to determine the relative sizes and shapes that are functionally possible for single-veined leaves as defined by their ability to supply the entire leaf lamina with sufficient water to prevent stomatal closure. The model variables include the hydraulic resistances associated with vein axial and radial transport, as well as with water movement through the mesophyll and the leaf surface. KEY RESULTS: The four parameters included in the model are sufficient to define a hydraulic functional design space that includes all single-veined leaf shapes found in nature, including scale-, awl- and needle-like morphologies. This exercise demonstrates that hydraulic parameters have dissimilar effects: surface resistance primarily affects leaf size, while radial and mesophyll resistances primarily affect leaf shape. CONCLUSIONS: These distinctions between hydraulic parameters, as well as the differential accessibility of different morphologies, might relate to the convergent evolutionary patterns seen in a variety of fossil lineages concerning overall morphology and anatomical detail that frequently have evolved in linear and simple multi-veined leaves.     

水深对塘堰湿地水力性能的影响

塘堰湿地因其良好的生态性能而被广泛用于水稻灌区的排水净化,由于湿地的水力性能及净化效果受到诸多因素影响,客观认识这些因素的作用机理有助于提高湿地设计和运行管理的质量.本文通过示踪剂试验探讨了不同水深（20、40、60 cm）对塘堰湿地水力特性的影响.结果表明： 随着湿地水深的减小,湿地的有效容积率从0.421增加到0.844,水力效率从0.281增加到0.604;在水深较小时（20和40 cm）,湿地前半部分的有效容积率达到0.9以上,明显优于湿地整体情况,湿地前半部分的水流混合情况高,接近于完全混合流.通过对原始示踪曲线的标准化分析发现,矩分析参数与水力参数有较好的数值一致性,水力参数与不受尾部截断误差影响的矩指数之间具有良好的一致性.塘堰湿地水深较小时有利于提高湿地的水力性能,试验结果可为今后塘堰湿地的优化设计提供参考.     

Classical electrical and hydraulic Windkessel models validate physiological calculations of Windkessel (reservoir) pressure

Our "reservoir-wave approach" to arterial hemodynamics holds that measured arterial pressure should be considered to be the sum of a volume-related pressure (i.e., reservoir pressure, P(reservoir)) and a wave-related pressure (P(excess)). Because some have questioned whether P(reservoir) (and, by extension, P(excess)) is a real component of measured physiological pressure, it was important to demonstrate that P(reservoir) is implicit in Westerhof's classical electrical and hydraulic models of the 3-element Windkessel. To test the validity of our P(reservoir) determinations, we studied a freeware simulation of the electrical model and a benchtop recreation of the hydraulic model, respectively, measuring the voltage and the pressure distal to the proximal resistance. These measurements were then compared with P(reservoir), as calculated from physiological data. Thus, the first objective of this study was to demonstrate that respective voltage and pressure changes could be measured that were similar to calculated physiological values of P(reservoir). The second objective was to confirm previous predictions with respect to the specific effects of systematically altering proximal resistance, distal resistance, and capacitance. The results of this study validate P(reservoir) and, thus, the reservoir-wave approach.     

Modeling of intraorgan arterial vasculatures. II. Propagation of pressure waves

The dependences of the wave conductivity of self-similar dichotomous branching models of intraorgan arterial vasculatures on the model parameters have been calculated. It was found that, with different sets of parameters, it is possible to model the sucking effect connected with negative wave reflection at the arterial branching as well as the resonant properties of arterial beds. It was shown that the selection of an adequate model for a given intraorgan vasculature should be based on the agreement between the biophysical characteristics of the model and the vasculature that reflect the propagation and reflection of pulse waves.     

Assessing the impact of agro-industrial olive wastes in soil water retention: Implications for remediation of degraded soils and water availability for plant growth

Olive solid waste (OSW) is a toxic by-product of olive oil production. Disposal of OSW is a major problem in many Mediterranean countries leading to increased interest in its potential as an organic fertiliser. Relatively little is known regarding the impact of augmentation with OSW and olive solid waste compost (OSWC) on soil hydraulic properties. The effect of OSW and OSWC on the hydraulic characteristics of common agricultural soils with high sand but very different silt and clay contents was analysed. Increased organic inputs induced reductions in soil bulk density and increases in air capacity, hydraulic conductivity and the water content available for plant growth (AWC) in the Sandy Clay Loam (SCL) soil. Similar patterns were observed in Loamy Sand (LS) soil augmented with OSW, but OSWC caused reductions in hydraulic conductivity, air capacity and AWC. Nonetheless, over longer timescales OSWC may benefit the hydraulic properties of loamy sand soils as the compost becomes fully incorporated within the soil structure. Augmentation with organic olive waste induced the hydraulic parameters of the sandy clay loam soil to become identical to those loamy sand (LS) with a higher available water capacity; suggesting that soil augmentation with OSW and OSWC may be an effective tool in remediating and improving degraded or organic poor soils. In terms of the improvement of hydraulic parameters, application rates of 6–8% OSW/OSWC were most beneficial for both soil types.     

Modeling of intraorgan arterial vasculature. I. Steady flow at low Reynolds numbers

Based on the statistical relationships between lengths and diameters of vessels in arterial beds obtained from measurements on plastic casts, a method is proposed for building models of intraorgan arterial vascualtures. The dependences of full hydraulic conductance on the model parameter values have been calculated. Discussed is the choice of adequate models based upon collation of the biophysical characteristics of the vasculatures.     

非饱和土壤水力参数的模型及确定方法

土壤水力参数的选取和确定是土壤中水分运动和污染物迁移预测的基础,本文在国内外研究成果的基础上,综述了土壤水力参数的模型(土壤水分特征曲线模型、土壤导水率模型)及其直接测定法和间接推求法,并比较了土壤水力参数的模型及确定方法的适用性与局限性,以便为生态环境建设和农业可持续发展研究中土壤水力参数的选取提供依据。     

木本植物水力结构与抗旱性

着重介绍了水力结构及其种种上参数（即导水率Ｋｈ、比导率Ｋｓ、叶比导率ＬＳＣ、胡伯尔值Ｈｖ以及水溶量Ｃ）的生理意义,树木和其它木本植物的水力结构格局以及树木水力结构研究的发展趋势,并试图从机理上阐述树木力结构和抗旱性之间的关系。     

Capillary filtration coefficient is independent of number of perfused capillaries in cat skeletal muscle

The capillary filtration coefficient (CFC) is assumed to reflect both microvascular hydraulic conductivity and the number of perfused capillaries at a given moment (precapillary sphincter activity). Estimation of hydraulic conductivity in vivo with the CFC method has therefore been performed under conditions of unchanged vascular tone and metabolic influence. There are studies, however, that did not show any change in CFC after changes in vascular tone and metabolic influence, and these studies indicate that CFC may not be influenced by alteration in the number of perfused capillaries. The present study reexamined to what extent CFC in a pressure-controlled preparation depends on the vascular tone and number of perfused capillaries by analyzing how CFC is influenced by 1) vasoconstriction, 2) increase in metabolic influence by decrease in arterial blood pressure, and 3) occlusion of precapillary microvessels by arterial infusion of microspheres. CFC was calculated from the filtration rate induced by a fixed decrease in tissue pressure. Vascular tone was increased in two steps by norepinephrine (n = 7) or angiotensin II (n = 6), causing a blood flow reduction from 7.2 +/- 0.8 to at most 2.7 +/- 0.2 ml x min(-1) x 100 g(-1) (P < 0.05). The decrease in arterial pressure reduced blood flow from 4.8 +/- 0.4 to 1.40 +/- 0.1 ml x min(-1) x 100 g(-1) (n = 6). Vascular resistance increased to 990 +/- 260% of control after the infusion of microspheres (n = 6). CFC was not significantly altered from control after any of the experimental interventions. We conclude that CFC under these conditions is independent of the vascular tone and number of perfused capillaries and that variation in CFC reflects variation in microvascular hydraulic conductivity.     

An analytical model of temperature regulation in human head

An analytical model of human brain temperature regulation is proposed. The model describes the distribution of brain temperature as a function of internal and external parameters, such as temperature of the incoming arterial blood, blood flow, oxygen consumption rate, ambient temperature, and heat exchange with the environment. It is shown that substantial changes in human brain temperature can be accomplished only through changes in the temperature of the incoming arterial blood or substantial suppression of blood flow. Other parameters can lead only to temperature changes near the brain surface.     

Arterial branching within the confines of fractal L-system formalism

Parametric Lindenmayer systems (L-systems) are formulated to generate branching tree structures that can incorporate the physiological laws of arterial branching. By construction, the generated trees are de facto fractal structures, and with appropriate choice of parameters, they can be made to exhibit some of the branching patterns of arterial trees, particularly those with a preponderant value of the asymmetry ratio. The question of whether arterial trees in general have these fractal characteristics is examined by comparison of pattern with vasculature from the cardiovascular system. The results suggest that parametric L-systems can be used to produce fractal tree structures but not with the variability in branching parameters observed in arterial trees. These parameters include the asymmetry ratio, the area ratio, branch diameters, and branching angles. The key issue is that the source of variability in these parameters is not known and, hence, it cannot be accurately reproduced in a model. L-systems with a random choice of parameters can be made to mimic some of the observed variability, but the legitimacy of that choice is not clear.     

Cryopreservation and biophysical properties of articular cartilage chondrocytes

In order to successfully cryopreserve articular cartilage chondrocytes, it is important to characterize their osmotic response during the cryopreservation process, as the ice forms and the solutes concentrate. In this study, experimental work was undertaken to determine the osmotic parameters of articular cartilage chondrocytes. The osmotically inactive volume of articular cartilage chondrocytes was determined to be 44% of the isotonic volume. The membrane hydraulic conductivity parameters for water were determined by fitting a theoretical water transport model to the experimentally obtained volumetric shrinkage data; the membrane hydraulic conductivity parameter L(Pg) was found to be 0.0633 microm/min/atm, and the activation energy E, 8.23 kcal/mol. The simulated cooling process, using the osmotic parameters obtained in this study, suggests a cooling rate of 80 degrees C/min for the cryopreservation of the articular cartilage chondrocytes of hogs. The data obtained in this study could serve as a starting point for those interested in cryopreservation of chondrocytes from articular cartilage in other species in which there is clinical interest and there are no parameters for prediction of responses.     

Hydraulic input impedance measurements in physical models of the arterial wall

A white noise method was used to measure the hydraulic input impedance and transmission characteristics in physical models of an arterial system made of single, unbranched latex tubes. The experimentally obtained impedance curves show a rise in modulus and a positive phase at high frequencies in the absence of wave reflections. Using the impedance moduli in the presence of wave reflections, wave velocity and attenuation were calculated. The influence of wall nonlinearity on hydraulic impedance was also examined. It is concluded that, in the model used neither wave reflections nor wall nonlinearity can account for the deviations of the experimental impedance curves from the theoretically predicted ones. Impedance moduli in the presence of reflections may be used to study transmission characteristics (wave velocity and attenuation) of the model.     

干旱胁迫对油松和侧柏水分运输安全性和有效性的影响

通过采用改良的冲洗法测定5年生苗木油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)和侧柏(Platycladus orientalis)在不同干旱胁迫时期的水力结构参数,结果表明随着干旱胁迫增加,不同分枝级和茎段所在区域的导水率损失(PLC)增加,比导率(Ks)减少。油松和侧柏在0级,1级和2级分枝级的发生栓塞的水势阈值分别为-0.55、-0.49、-0.43和-0.90、-0.78、-0.74MPa。随着相对分枝级的增加,油松和侧柏的水势阈值增大,栓塞脆弱性变大。非限速区PLC大而Ks小,限速区PLC小而Ks大。油松和侧柏相对分枝级和茎段所在区域的栓塞脆弱性大小为2级1级0级,限速区非限速区,且油松大于侧柏。油松和侧柏在不同干旱胁迫,不同相对分枝级,不同茎段所在区域采取不同的方式来适应由水势降低而引起的栓塞变化。其采取的生态策略包括:保持较高的水分安全性;减轻安全性而对有效性的折衷;同时降低有效性和安全性但不终止任何生产力或树高的组织生长所需水的限制。