Biological systems, nonequilibrium

Demirel, Y., 2002, Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics Transport and Rate Processes in Physical and Biological Systems, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 186-205. 

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics—with applications to physical, chemical, and biological systems—has received much attention in recent years. 

Deposition of liquid crystalline material containing cholesterol esters on the inner surfaces of human arteries is another nonequilibrium process in which much interest exists. No doubt there are other examples as well where dynamic phenomena involving liquid crystals are important in biological systems. 

States away from global equilibrium are called the thermodynamic branch (Figure 2.2). Systems not far from global equilibrium may be extrapolated around equilibrium state. For systems near equilibrium, linear phenomenological equations may represent the transport and rate processes. The linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics theory determines the dissipation function or the rate of entropy production to describe such systems in the vicinity of equilibrium. This theory is particularly useful to describe coupled phenomena, and quantify the level of coupling in physical, chemical, and biological systems without detailed process mechanisms. 

Another attempt to overcome the phenomenological character of nonequilibrium thermodynamics is called mosaic nonequilibrium thermodynamics. In the formulation of mosaic nonequilibrium thermodynamics, a complex system is considered a mosaic of a number of independent building blocks. The species and each process are separately described and hence the biochemical and biophysical structures of the system are included in the description. The mosaic nonequilibrium thermodynamics model can be expanded to complex physical and biological systems by adding the well-characterized steps. These steps obey the thermodynamic laws and kinetic principles. 

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics transport and rate processes in physical, chemical and biological systems. -2nd ed. 

This book introduces the theory of nonequilibrium thermodynamics and its use in transport and rate processes of physical and biological systems. The first chapter briefly presents the equilibrium thermodynamics. In the second chapter, the transport and rate processes have been summarized. The rest of the book covers the theory of nonequilibrium thermodynamics, dissipation function, and various applications based on linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Extended nonequilibrium thermodynamics is briefly covered. All the parts of the book can be used for senior- and graduate-level teaching in engineering and science. 

The physical state of materials is often defined by their thermodynamic properties and equilibrium. Simple one-component systems may exist as crystalline solids, liquids or gases, and these equilibrium states are controlled by pressure and temperature. In most food and other biological systems, water content is high and the physieal state of water often defines whether the systems are frozen or liquid. In food materials science and characterization of food systems, it is essential to understand the physical state of food solids and their interactions with water. Equilibrium states are not typical of foods, and food systems need to be understood as nonequilibrium systems with time-dependent characteristics. 

---