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Understanding the dynamics of physical, chemical and biological processes that control heat, mass and momentum transport in an organism is extremely important in physiology and bioengineering. Since transport phenomena influence both normal and pathological functions of cells and organisms, their knowledge is also fundamental to design medical devices: dialysis machines, accretion of artificial organs on scaffolds and intravenous feeding among others. In this course, the physics of biological flows for medical applications is explored. Particular attention is paid both to develop physical intuition, and to use appropriate mathematical modelling skills. The course will cover basic concepts of fluid mechanics, transport of heat, mass and momentum and biochemical interactions. [Examples and problems discussed during lectures will be solved analytically and/or numerically, see Ubung].

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1. Introduction: The role of transport processes in biological systems; Conservation equations; dimensional analysis and scales of motions; Transport by diffusion; Transport by convection;

2. Fluid Flow in the Circulation and Tissues: Oscillating flow in a cylindrical tube; Flow in Curved Vessels; Flow in Branching Vessels; Flow in arteries (Carotid Artery, Aorta, Coronary Arteries); Wall elasticity; Arterial Fluid Dynamics and Atherosclerosis; Heart-Valve Hemodynamics;

3. Mass Transport in Biological systems - Diffusion: Fick's law; Diffusion through a film; Diffusion through porous media and through porous membranes; Diffusion with reactions;

4. Mass Transport in Biological systems - Convection: Convective transport; Transport from an oxygen bubble; Convective transport with reaction;

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Exams:
3 VO exam dates each semester. Each VO exam covers the entire program of the VO lectures.

Structure of the exam:
-) Each exam consists of 2/3 problems
-) Each problem is divided into parts (2 or 3, typically).
A score is associated to each part (the maximum cumulative score considered to calculate the final grade is 100).
You should solve each problem by applying the correct equations and by providing the required results.

Scores:
Your grade will be assigned as follows:
SCORE                GRADE
<50   -> (fail)          5
51-65 -> (pass)      4
66-73 -> (pass)      3
74-85 -> (pass)      2
>86 -> (pass)         1

NOTE: Depending on the overall behavior of the class, the score ranges given above might change and shift towards lower values.
For instance, if scores are all below 85  then  ranges could be as follows:
SCORE                GRADE
<45   -> (fail)          5
46-60 -> (pass)      4
61-68 -> (pass)      3
69-80 -> (pass)      2
>81 -> (pass)         1

Suggested readings:

• R. B. Bird, W. E. Stewart, E. N. Lightfoot, Transport Phenomena, Ed. John Wiley and Sons, 1960
• G. A. Truskey, F. Yuan, D. F. Katz, Transport phenomena in biological systems, Ed. Prentice-Hall, 2010