Table 1.
Model variables and parameters.
| variable | meaning | units |
|---|---|---|
| P(t) | placental volume on day t of gestation | ml |
| K | carrying capacity of placental volume | ml |
| r | growth rate of placental volume | 1 d−1 |
| F(t) | foetal fat mass on day t of gestation | kg |
| A(t) | anhydrous fat-free mass on day t of gestation | kg |
| FFM(t) | fat-free mass on day t of gestation | kg |
| λF | caloric value of a kg of anhydrous fat mass | kcal kg−1 |
| λA | caloric value of a kg of anhydrous fat-free mass | kcal kg−1 |
| e | efficiency of fat deposition | dimensionless |
| γ | conversion constant | 1 ml−1 |
| m | maternal caloric intake per day | kcal d−1 |
| g | glycaemic impact of intake | dimensionless |
| μ | proportion the total body mass contributes to expenditure | kcal kg−1 d−1 |