Abstract
A theory of space-time is built on a fractal/multifractal variety. Thus, considering that both the spatial coordinates and the time are fractal/multifractal, it is shown that both the energy and the non-differentiable mass of any biostructure depend on both the “state” of the biostructure and a speed limit of constant value. For the dynamics on Peano fractal/multifractal curves and Compton scale resolutions, it is shown that our results are reduced to those of Einstein relativity. In such a context, it has been shown that the “chameleon effect” of cholesterol corresponds to the HDL-LDL state transfer dictated by the spontaneous symmetry breaking through a fractal/multifractal tunnel effect. Then both HDL and LDL become distinct states of the same biostructure as in nuclear physics where proton and neutron are distinct states of the same nucleon.
Keywords
- fractal/multifractal tunnel effect
- biostructures
- cholesterol
- spontaneous symmetry breaking
- chameleon effect
1. Mathematical model
1.1 Time as a fractal/multifractal
Analyzing the nonrelativistic dynamics of a particle in a fractal/multifractal space [1, 2, 3, 4], we observe a big discrepancy between the space coordinates and the temporal one (considered as affine parameter of motion curve). If the space coordinates are fractal/multifractal, the temporal coordinate is not a fractal/multifractal. This discrepancy has an important consequence: the particle travels on an infinite length curve in a finite time span, and so, it has an infinite velocity. In order to eliminate this contradiction, in the following we will assume that not only the space coordinates are fractal/multifractal but also the temporal one is a fractal/multifractal. Practically, we shall build dynamics of biostructures on a non-differentiable space-time manifold. In this framework, the most important elements from the nonrelativistic approach of scale relativity theory with arbitrary constant fractal dimension, as described in [5, 6, 7], remain valid, but the time differential element
1.2 Consequences of non-differentiability on a space-time manifold
Let us suppose that on a space-time manifold, the motions of biostructures take place on continuous but non-differentiable curves (in particular fractal/multifractal curves). The non-differentiability of motion curves implies the following [2]:
(i) Any continuous but non-differentiable curve is explicitly scale dependent (which will be referred as
Then a continuous but non-differentiable space-time is fractal/multifractal in Mandelbrot’s sense:
(ii) The differential proper time reflection invariance of any variable is broken. For example, the proper time derivative of four-coordinate
These relations are equivalent in the differentiable case,
The sign + corresponds to the forward biophysical process and the sign − to the backward one:
(iii) The differential of four-coordinate
(iv) The non-differentiable part of the four-coordinate satisfies the non-differentiable equation
where
In our opinion, the complexity of the biophysical processes implies dynamics on geodesics with various fractal dimensions. Precisely,
(v) The differential proper time reflection invariance is recovered by combining the derivatives
This specific procedure is called, according to [8], “differentiability by extension in complex on a space-time manifold” (Cresson’s theorem). Applying now the non-differentiable operator to the four-coordinate
with
The real part
(vi) An infinite number of geodesics can be found relating any pair of points of a space-time manifold, and this is true on all scale resolutions of the dynamics of biostructures. Then, in the space-time manifold, all the entities of the biostructures are substituted with the geodesics themselves so that any external constraint can be interpreted as a selection of geodesics in the same space-time manifold. The infinity of geodesics in the bundle, their non-differentiability, the two values of the derivative, etc., imply a generalized statistical fluidlike description (fractal/multifractal fluid). In this way, one provides the fractalization/multifractalization type through stochastic processes. From such a perspective, averages, variances, covariances, etc. of the fractal/multifractal fluid variables (by means of which now we can describe the dynamics of the biostructures) must be considered in the sense of the stochastic process associated with fractalization/multifractalization. In such a context, the choice of the average of
implies through (3)
1.3 Motion non-differentiable operator on a space-time manifold
Let us now consider that the movement curves (continuous and non-differentiable) are immersed in the space-time and that
where
Relations (10) are valid in any point of the space-time manifold and more for the points “
From here, forward and backward average values of (10) become
We make the following stipulations: the average values of the variables
Even the average values of the 4-non-differentiable coordinate
using the convention that the sign + corresponds to
Then (13) takes the form:
If we divide by
These relations also allow us to define the operators:
Under these circumstances, let us calculate
where
The relation also allows us to define the motion non-differentiable operator:
If the non-differentiability of motion curves is realized through Markov type stochastic process [2, 4].
where
If the non-differentiability of motion curves is realized through non-Markov type stochastic process [2, 4].
where λ1 and λ2 are two coefficients associated with the differentiable-non-differentiable transition, then the motion non-differentiable operator takes the form
1.4 Non-differentiable geodesics on a space-time manifold
In what follows, let us consider the functionality of the scale covariance principle [5, 6, 7]: the biophysics laws are simultaneously invariant both with respect to the four-coordinate transformation and with respect to scale transformations. Then the passage from differentiable biophysics in a space-time manifold to the non-differentiable biophysics in a same space-time, manifold which is considered here, can be implemented by replacing the standard derivative
or, also using (6), through separation of motions on scale resolutions (the real part from the imaginary one):
For motions on non-differentiable curves realized through Markov type stochastic process [1, 2, 4], the geodesics equation takes the form
or through separation of motions on scale resolutions:
For motions on non-differentiable curves realized through non-Markov type stochastic process [1, 2, 4], the geodesics equation becomes
or through separation of motions on scale resolutions:
1.5 Non-differentiable geodesics in terms of the scalar complex field on a space-time manifold
Let us choose
Then the geodesics equation (27) becomes
Since
Equation (32) takes the form:
By integrating the above relation, we obtain:
where
Consequently, the non-differentiable geodesics (35) in terms of Ψ are well defined up to an arbitrary function
1.6 Non-differentiable geodesics in terms of Klein-Gordon equation of fractal/multifractal type
If Ψ is independent on τ, i.e., ∂τΨ = 0 and
with
From (37) it results in a scale resolution dependence of the fundamental length
1.7 Non-differentiable specific potential force and energy
Using the explicit form of the function,
Thus it results in
Since the identities from (33) work in variable ln
which implies through the specific non-differentiable potential
the specific non-differentiable force
Thus, the first equation (28) takes the form
If
which implies
the relation (43) becomes
and more, for
Now, by a suitable choice of the constant integration and knowing that [2]:
we obtain the non-differentiable energy expression in the form
where
For relativistic motions on Peano curves,
Relation (48) specifies the following: (i) information propagates with a limit speed V0 which differs from one biophysical structure to another; (ii) energy, through
depends also on the state of the biophysical structure, through
1.8 Non-differentiable state density conservation law
Let us consider Eq. (35) and its complex conjugate:
Multiplying (35) by
where
In the above relations, ρ defines the state density, while
2. Applications of the mathematical model
2.1 Stationary dynamics of the cholesterol at fractal/multifractal scale resolutions
Since cholesterol in any of its forms (principally LDL and HDL) is a fundamental component of blood, its dynamics will be dictated by those of the blood at fractal/multifractal scale resolutions having in view the average dimensions of the cholesterol particles (9–10 nm for HDL and 20–27 nm for LDL [9, 10, 11, 12]).
In such a framework, nonrelativistic equations of the non-differentiable hydrodynamics at fractal/multifractal scale resolutions for the stationary case write like
results obtained from Eq. (28) under the conditions
The first of these equations corresponds to the canceling of specific multifractal force at a differentiable scale resolution, while the second equation corresponds to the incompressibility of the blood at non-differentiable scale.
Generally, it is difficult to obtain an analytical solution for our previous equation system, taking into account its nonlinear nature (induced both by means of non-differentiable convection
We can still obtain an analytic solution in the case of a plane symmetry (in x, y coordinates) of the dynamics of the blood. For this purpose, let us consider the equation system (55) and (56) in the form:
where we substituted
Using the similarities method given in [6, 7] to solve the equation system (57) and (58) with limit conditions
and a constant flux momentum per unit of depth,
we obtain the field of velocities as solutions of the equation system (57) and (58) in the form:
The above equations are simplified greatly if we introduce both non-dimensional variables and non-dimensional parameters:
where
Any of Eqs. (62)–(65) specifies the nonlinearity of the velocity fields: a multifractal soliton for the velocity field across the Ox axis, respectively, “mixtures” of multifractal soliton-multifractal kink for the velocity fields across the Oy axis. The multifractality of the system is “explained” through its dependence from scale resolutions [Figures 1a–c and 2a–c].
The velocity fields (66) and (67) induce the multifractal minimal vortex (Figure 3a–c).
Since the fractal degree depends on the dimensions of the cholesterol particle (the bigger, the lower the fractal degree), from the analysis of both the velocity field and the vortex field, it results that the LDL particles will deposit at the wall, while the HDL particles will not deposit themselves at the wall.
2.2 On the chameleonic behavior of cholesterol
Cholesterol fractions, especially LDL and HDL cholesterol, are frequently analyzed biomarkers in clinical laboratories [9]. Observational studies have shown that LDL and HDL have opposing associations with the risk of myocardial infarction, with LDL cholesterol being a positive factor and HDL cholesterol being a negative (protective) factor [10]. Observational studies cannot separate the causal role in the pathological process from the role of a marker of the underlying pathophysiology. The results of both randomized trials of LDL-cholesterol-lowering treatments [11] and from human Mendelian diseases [12] are suggesting that plasma LDL cholesterol is related to the risk of myocardial infarction. However, few proofs are available for the causal relevance of HDL cholesterol from randomized trials or Mendelian diseases, and the existing ones are inconsistent [10, 11]. Moreover, more and more studies are starting to oppose the idea that raising plasma HDL cholesterol will surely translate into a risk reduction of myocardial infarction [9, 10, 11, 12]. Therefore both LDL and HDL cholesterol can constitute risk factors for myocardial infarction. Such a behavior has been called by experts in the field the “chameleonic effect” of cholesterol [9, 10, 11, 12]. In the present paragraph, using our previous mathematical model, LDL and HDL cholesterol dynamics is proposed. In such a context, a fractal/multifractal tunneling effect for biostructures with spontaneous symmetry breaking is analyzed. If the spontaneous symmetry breaking is assimilated to an inflammation (in the form of a specific scalar potential), then two fractal/multifractal states can be observed. In these conditions, these two states, which have been associated with biostructures such as LDL and HDL, transfer their states through a fractal/multifractal tunneling effect. As a result, in our opinion, the widely used notions of “good” and “bad” cholesterol must be redefined as two different states of the same biostructure named “cholesterol,” such as in nuclear physics the neutron and proton are two different states of the same particle named nucleon.
With this aim in view, let us reconsider the differential equation (35) with
For nonrelativistic dynamics, Eq. (69) in the one-dimensional case admits the fractal/multifractal stationary solution:
where
If, in such a context, we suppose that the state transfer between LDL and HDL cholesterol implies spontaneous symmetry breaking [13], then
In these conditions, the stationary fractal/multifractal equation becomes
For each of the three regions, the solutions of the equations are
with
and
integration constants.
Due to the infinite potential in the two extreme regions,
Since the state density
so that
These, along with
namely
Due to the algebraic form of the two equation pairs, in order to establish the actual expression of the “secular equation” (for eigenvalues
which leads to the equation for ρ:
We find
which implies
For
where
For
where
It results in, for now, at least qualitatively that the presence of the barrier (of finite height
Taking the above into account, we can thus state that LDL and HDL are two different states of the same biostructure, like in the case of neutron and proton which are two different states of the same particle, named nucleon. The state transfer between LDL and HDL occurs by means of a fractal/multifractal tunneling effect (Figure 5).
The fact presented above is in accordance with the latest study results. Thus, we can unequivocally state that the role of cholesterol fractions must be clearly reconsidered. Our model could offer an explanation of why high values of HDL cholesterol can be “toxic” or why, in certain conditions, LDL cholesterol can be a protective factor. We can practically discuss about different states of the same entity, HDL and LDL being expressions of a unique entity—cholesterol—with a pro- or antiatherogenic effect modeled by the instant state and the alternation between the two possible sides. As a consequence, as long as cholesterol fractions maintain a continuous “fluidity,” the maximum benefit will be attained if the total cholesterol, in absolute value, is decreased. Our mathematical model only enforces the recent medical findings in the field, which are more and more frequent. At the same time, in our opinion, the present mathematical model confirms and explains the apparent paradoxes from clinical studies.
The mathematical model developed here allows also some numerical evaluations on both the time of transfer between the LDL and HDL states and on the probability of achieving such a transfer. Thus, having in view the nonrelativistic relations,
one gets through λ = αv0, in the case of motion on Peano curves of the cholesterol particles, a time of transfer τ, of the state, of the form
In the relations (87) and (88), α is the dimension of the cholesterol particle and
3. Conclusions
The main conclusions of the present work are as follows: (i) we develop a dynamics of the biological systems on a fractal space-time manifold. In such a context, we build the motion operator and the equations of geodesics for rotational and irrotational motions on non-differentiable curves induced by Markov and non-Markov type
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