The objective of this research is to expand on the investigators earlier discovery of "avalanching" in airway opening during inspiration/ventilation. The investigator discovered that an airway will open when the inflation pressure exceeds the critical opening threshold pressure. The random spatial distribution of the critical opening threshold pressure causes multiple airway openings for a given increase in airway pressure. This essentially causes the avalanche effect. This research seeks to: (1) continue to study heterogeneity of structure and function in airway opening, (2) to study dynamics of lung sounds, and (3) develop improved variable ventilation strategies for mechanical ventilation based on a stochastic resonance model. ***
