An Optimization Principle for Vascular Radius Including the Effects of Smooth Muscle Tone

AbstractAn optimization principle is proposed for the regulation of vascular morphology. This principle, which extends Murray's law, is based on the hypothesis that blood vessel diameter is controlled by a mechanism that minimizes the total energy required to drive the blood flow, to maintain the blood supply, and to support smooth muscle tone. A theoretical analysis reveals that the proposed principle predicts that the optimum shear stress on the vessel wall due to blood flow increases with blood pressure. This result agrees qualitatively with published findings that the fluid shear stress in veins is significantly smaller than it is in arteries

Mechanics of Tunable Helices and Geometric Frustration in Biomimetic Seashells

Helical structures are ubiquitous in nature and engineering, ranging from DNA molecules to plant tendrils, from sea snail shells to nanoribbons. While the helical shapes in natural and engineered systems often exhibit nearly uniform radius and pitch, helical shell structures with changing radius and pitch, such as seashells and some plant tendrils, adds to the variety of this family of aesthetic beauty. Here we develop a comprehensive theoretical framework for tunable helical morphologies, and report the first biomimetic seashell-like structure resulting from mechanics of geometric frustration. In previous studies, the total potential energy is everywhere minimized when the system achieves equilibrium. In this work, however, the local energy minimization cannot be realized because of the geometric incompatibility, and hence the whole system deforms into a shape with a global energy minimum whereby the energy in each segment may not necessarily be locally optimized. This novel approach can be applied to develop materials and devices of tunable geometries with a range of applications in nano/biotechnology

Managers’ Family-Supportive Supervisory Behaviors: A Multilevel Perspective

Using a combination of trait and situational variables we develop a model to explore the antecedents of managers’ family-supportive behaviors. Our model hypotheses were tested using data gathered from a sample of 312 subordinates matched to 92 managers. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) of the nested data yielded results that show both an individual manager’s trait (i.e., empathy) and situational variables (i.e., subordinate’s family-to-work conflict and leader–subordinate exchange quality) significantly predicted managers’ supportive behaviors. Additional HLM analyses showed that the manager’s gender (trait) and group work-to-family conflict (situation) moderated the relationship between manager’s empathy and family-supportive behaviors. Our results suggest that managers’ family-supportive behaviors are related to individual characteristics of the manager and to subordinate workgroup contexts, but not to organizational culture

Evaluation of the bank stability and toe erosion model (BSTEM) for predicting lateral retreat on composite streambanks

Streambank erosion is known to be a major source of sediment in streams and rivers. The Bank Stability and Toe Erosion Model (BSTEM) was developed in order to predict streambank retreat due to both fluvial erosion and geotechnical failure. However, few, if any, model evaluations using long-term streambank retreat data have been performed. The objectives of this research were to (1) monitor long-term composite streambank retreat during a hydraulically active period on a rapidly migrating stream, (2) evaluate BSTEM’s ability to predict the measured streambank retreat, and (3) assess the importance of accurate geotechnical, fluvial erosion, and near-bank pore-water pressure properties. The Barren Fork Creek in northeastern Oklahoma laterally eroded 7.8 to 20.9 m along a 100-m length of stream between April and October 2009 based on regular bank location surveys. The most significant lateral retreat occurred in mid- to late-May and September due to a series of storm events, and not necessarily the most extreme events observed during the monitoring period. BSTEM (version 5.2) was not originally programmed to run multiple hydrographs iteratively, so a subroutine was written that automatically input the temporal sequence of stream stage and to lag the water table in the near-bank ground water depending on user settings. Eight BSTEM simulations of the Barren Fork Creek streambank were performed using combinations of the following input data: with and without a water table lag; default BSTEM geotechnical parameters (moderate silt loam) versus laboratory measured geotechnical parameters based on direct shear tests on saturated soil samples; and default BSTEM fluvial erosion parameters versus field measured fluvial erosion parameters from submerged jet tests. Using default BSTEM input values underestimated the actual erosion that occurred. Lagging the water table predicted more geotechnical failures resulting in greater streambank retreat. Using measured fluvial and geotechnical parameters and a water table lag also under predicted retreat (approximately 3.3 m), but did predict the appropriate timing of streambank collapses. The under prediction of retreat was hypothesized to be due to over predicting the critical shear stress of the non-cohesive gravel, under predicting the erodibility of the non-cohesive gravel, and/or under predicting the imposed shear stress acting on the streambank. Current research improving our understanding of shear stress distributions, streambank pore-water pressure dynamics, and methods for estimating excess shear stress parameters for noncohesive soils will be critical for improving BSTEM and other streambank stability models

Evaluation of the bank stability and toe erosion model (BSTEM) for predicting lateral retreat on composite streambanks

Streambank erosion is known to be a major source of sediment in streams and rivers. The Bank Stability and Toe Erosion Model (BSTEM) was developed in order to predict streambank retreat due to both fluvial erosion and geotechnical failure. However, few, if any, model evaluations using long-term streambank retreat data have been performed. The objectives of this research were to (1) monitor long-term composite streambank retreat during a hydraulically active period on a rapidly migrating stream, (2) evaluate BSTEM’s ability to predict the measured streambank retreat, and (3) assess the importance of accurate geotechnical, fluvial erosion, and near-bank pore-water pressure properties. The Barren Fork Creek in northeastern Oklahoma laterally eroded 7.8 to 20.9 m along a 100-m length of stream between April and October 2009 based on regular bank location surveys. The most significant lateral retreat occurred in mid- to late-May and September due to a series of storm events, and not necessarily the most extreme events observed during the monitoring period. BSTEM (version 5.2) was not originally programmed to run multiple hydrographs iteratively, so a subroutine was written that automatically input the temporal sequence of stream stage and to lag the water table in the near-bank ground water depending on user settings. Eight BSTEM simulations of the Barren Fork Creek streambank were performed using combinations of the following input data: with and without a water table lag; default BSTEM geotechnical parameters (moderate silt loam) versus laboratory measured geotechnical parameters based on direct shear tests on saturated soil samples; and default BSTEM fluvial erosion parameters versus field measured fluvial erosion parameters from submerged jet tests. Using default BSTEM input values underestimated the actual erosion that occurred. Lagging the water table predicted more geotechnical failures resulting in greater streambank retreat. Using measured fluvial and geotechnical parameters and a water table lag also under predicted retreat (approximately 3.3 m), but did predict the appropriate timing of streambank collapses. The under prediction of retreat was hypothesized to be due to over predicting the critical shear stress of the non-cohesive gravel, under predicting the erodibility of the non-cohesive gravel, and/or under predicting the imposed shear stress acting on the streambank. Current research improving our understanding of shear stress distributions, streambank pore-water pressure dynamics, and methods for estimating excess shear stress parameters for noncohesive soils will be critical for improving BSTEM and other streambank stability models

Fungi of Two Forest Soils of Johnson County

It was noted that the undergrowth under a stand of Robinia Pseudo-Acacia was sparse as compared with that under an adjoining area dominated by elms, oaks and hickories. It was thought that perhaps this difference might be reflected in the fungal population of the two soils. The soil under R. Pseudo-Acacia was found to be loosely packed, moist and to have a pH 6.89-7.00 for both soil and overlying humus. The mosaic pattern of the trees did not seem sufficiently dense to limit significantly the amount of light reaching the ground line. Therefore it was conjectured that the sparse vegetation under the tree was due to the presence of some antagonistic substance that was either exuded from the roots or leached out of the fallen leaves. This contention that limited growth was not due to environmental conditions was substantiated by the comparison of soil conditions of the neighboring stand with that of R. Pseudo-Acacia, and from the results obtained by growing seedlings of Ulmus americana and R. Pseudo-Acacia in crocks containing soil from either their own stand or from the other stand