Collaborative Research: The Interplay of Water Condensation and Fungal Growth on Biological Surfaces

合作研究：水凝结与生物表面真菌生长的相互作用

• 批准号: 2401506
• 负责人: Kyoo-Chul Park
• 金额: $ 30.18万
• 依托单位: Northwestern University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-06-01 至 2028-05-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2401506&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Interplay; Water; Condensation

Condensed water on the bumpy fungal patches is important for the development, reproduction, and dissemination of fungi; these contribute to contamination in plants, corrosion on engineered surfaces, and the quality of the air in indoor environments. The project will study the relationship between fungal growth and condensation on plant and engineered surfaces. Inspired by biological systems like fungal patches, the research also aims to explore the inter-related roles of condensation and fungi on infrastructure, and indoor air quality such as those in airplanes and enclosed buildings. The educational component of the project is multifaceted, involving undergraduate research and mentorship, with a particular emphasis on involving students from underrepresented minority groups.The technical objectives aim to explore (1) the spatial and temporal variations in the macroscale topography and wettability characteristics of biological surfaces due to fungi; (2) the cumulative effects of macroscale surface topography on repeated condensation; (3) the impact of surface absorption of water vapor on fungi and on the associated phase change heat transfer phenomena; and (4) the development and application of mathematical models. Despite numerous empirical studies illustrating the robust correlation between the expansion of fungal patches, high levels of humidity, and elevated temperatures, the underlying thermal transport dynamics occurring during the periodic phase transitions of water have remained largely elusive. The intellectual significance of this research lies in discovering the mechanisms inherent in phase transitions. The study incorporates precise quantitative evaluations of fungal and plant surfaces, leveraging advanced optical measurement methodologies within a custom-built humidity chamber to facilitate these assessments. Mathematical models that incorporate fungal growth and condensation behavior will also be developed.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

颠簸的真菌斑块上的冷凝水对于真菌的开发，繁殖和传播至关重要。这些导致植物的污染，工程表面的腐蚀以及室内环境中空气的质量。该项目将研究真菌生长与植物和工程表面的凝结之间的关系。受到真菌斑块等生物系统的启发，该研究还旨在探索凝结和真菌在基础设施中的相关作用，以及诸如飞机和封闭建筑物的室内空气质量。该项目的教育组成部分是多方面的，涉及本科研究和指导，特别强调涉及来自代表性不足的少数群体的学生。该技术目标旨在探索（1）由于Fungi的生物表面生物学表面的空间和时间变化（1）空间和时间的变化； （2）宏观表面地形对重复凝结的累积影响； （3）水蒸气表面吸收对真菌和相关相变热现象的影响； （4）数学模型的开发和应用。尽管许多实证研究说明了真菌斑块的扩展，高湿度和温度升高之间的牢固相关性，但在水的周期性相跃迁期间发生的基本热运输动力学仍然难以捉摸。这项研究的智力意义在于发现相变固有的机制。该研究结合了对真菌和植物表面的精确定量评估，利用定制湿度室内的先进的光学测量方法来促进这些评估。还将开发纳入真菌增长和凝结行为的数学模型。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并且使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响审查标准，被认为值得通过评估来获得支持。