The contributed volume puts emphasis on a superior role of water in
(bio)systems exposed to a mechanical stimulus. It is well known
that water plays an extraordinary role in our life. It feeds
mammalian or other organism after distributing over its whole
volume to support certain physiological and locomotive
(friction-adhesion) processes to mention but two of them, both of
extreme relevance. Water content, not only in the mammalian
organism but also in other biosystems such as whether those of soil
which is equipped with microbiome or the ones pertinent to plants,
having their own natural network of water vessels, is always
subjected to a force field.The decisive force field applied to the
biosystems makes them biomechanically agitated irrespective of
whether they are subjected to external or internal force-field
conditions. It ought to be noted that the decisive mechanical
factor shows up in a close relation with the space-and-time scale
in which it is causing certain specific phenomena to occur.The
scale problem, emphasizing the range of action of gravitational
force, thus the millimeter or bigger force vs. distance scale, is
supposed to enter the so-called macroscale approach to water
transportation through soil or plants' roots system. It is merely
related to a percolation problem, which assumes to properly inspect
the random network architecture assigned to the biosystems invoked.
The capillarity conditions turn out to be of prior importance, and
the porous-medium effect has to be treated, and solved in a fairly
approximate way.The deeper the scale is penetrated by a
force-exerting and hydrated agent the more non-gravitational force
fields manifest. This can be envisaged in terms of the
corresponding thermodynamic (non-Newtonian) forces, and the
phenomena of interest are mostly attributed to suitable changes of
the osmotic pressure. In low Reynolds number conditions, thus in
the (sub)micrometer distance-scale zone, they are related with the
corresponding viscosity changes of the aqueous, e.g. cytoplasmatic
solutions, of semi-diluted and concentrated (but also electrolytic)
characteristics. For example, they can be observed in articulating
systems of mammals, in their skin, and to some extent, in other
living beings, such as lizards, geckos or even insects. Through
their articulating devices an external mechanical stimulus is
transmitted from macro- to nanoscale, wherein the corresponding
osmotic-pressure conditions apply. The content of the proposed work
can be distributed twofold. First, the biomechanical mammalian-type
(or, similar) systems with extraordinary relevance of water for
their functioning will be presented, also including a presentation
of water itself as a key physicochemical system/medium. Second, the
suitably chosen related systems, mainly of soil and plant
addressing provenience, will be examined thoroughly. As a common
denominator of all of them, it is proposed to look at their
hydrophobic and/or (de)hydration effects, and how do they impact on
their basic mechanical (and related, such as chemo-mechanical or
piezoelectric, etc.) properties. An additional tacit assumption
employed throughout the monograph concerns statistical scalability
of the presented biosystems which is equivalent to take for granted
a certain similarity between local and global system's properties,
mostly those of mechanical nature. The presented work's chapters
also focus on biodiversity and ecological aspects in the world of
animals and plants, and the related systems. The chapters' contents
underscore the bioinspiration as the key landmark of the proposed
monograph.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
