Origin of Fractal Branching Complexity in the Lung ABSTRACT:Fractal and non-fractal theories predict universal designs for biological branching transport networks whereby energy dissipation is minimized. However, they are inadequate to account for adaptation via designs that appear sub-optimal. Therefore we have evaluated another theory in the developing lung which is based on bifurcation design and the principle of self-organized criticality. The latter is a universal physical theory of morphogenesis in branching structures whereby fractal and multifractal patterns of branching complexity self-organize into meta-stable states poised between order and disorder. We find bifurcation design in the lung does not necessary adhere to universal values, but manifests an adaptable complex-valued fractal dimension, with spatial scaling properties implicating structural origins of airway and vascular disease susceptibility Multifractal Manuscript
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