Parametric geometry modeling of the carotid artery bifurcation: the need for new flow metrics
Although well established correlations now exist between regions of reversed flow and sites of arterial disease [1], little evidence is available for methodologies that systematically compare how geometrical differences affect such relationships. Drawing on techniques developed in aerodynamic design, a parametric tuning-fork geometry model of the carotid artery bifurcation - based on the glass models described in [2] - is here employed to investigate the impact of bulb size and the angle of the internal carotid artery (ICA) on time-averaged shear stress. Since we seek to directly compare the effect of varying these geometric parameters, we demonstrate the need for a new metric, the integral of negative mean shear stress (INMSS), to highlight the stronger correlation between the extent of reversed flow and bulb width relative to the angle of the ICA.
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Avian infectious bronchitis.
Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is caused by the gammacoronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). The virus causes infections mainly in chickens and is a significant pathogen of commercial meat and egg type birds. IB is an acute, contagious disease characterised primarily by respiratory signs in growing chickens. In hens, decreased egg production and quality are often observed. Some strains of the virus are nephropathogenic and produce interstitial nephritis and mortality. The severity of IBV-induced respiratory disease is enhanced by the presence of other pathogens, including bacteria, leading to chronic complicated airsacculitis. Diagnosis of IB requires virus isolation or demonstration of viral nucleic acid from diseased flocks. Demonstration of a rising serum antibody response may also be useful. The widespread use of live and inactivated vaccines may complicate both the interpretation of virus isolation and serology findings. The occurrence of antigenic variant strains may overcome immunity induced by vaccination.