The present study has focused on the use of coil heat exchangers (CHEs) with microencapsulated phase change material (MPCM) slurries to understand if CHEs can yield greater rates of heat transfer. An experimental study was conducted using a counterflow CHE consisting of 3 helical coils. Two separate tests were conducted, one where water was used as heat transfer fluid (HTF) on the coil and shell sides, respectively; while the second one made use of MPCM slurry and water on the coil and shell sides, respectively. The NTU-effectiveness relationship of the CHE when MPCM fluid is used approaches that of a heat exchanger with a heat capacity ratio of zero. The heat transfer results have shown that when using a MPCM slurry, an increase in heat transfer rate can be obtained when compared to heat transfer results obtained using straight heat transfer sections. It has been concluded that the increased specific heat of the slurry as well as the fluid dynamics in helical coil pipes are the main contributors to the increased heat transfer.

Treatment for neurological diseases has been limited by the presence of the protective blood-brain barrier. Recent studies from our laboratory have shown that direct intraventricular implantation of microcapsules containing genetically modified cells can effectively deliver the transgene product to the mouse brain, thereby circumventing the blood-brain barrier. In this thesis, the experiments were aimed at scaling up the murine experiments to determine if direct implantation of alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate microcapsules to the central nervous system of dogs was a feasible means of treating the large animal brain. In the first two experiments reported here, microcapsules containing cells genetically modified to secrete human growth hormone were injected into the central nervous system of dogs. Two routes of delivery were examined, intraventricular brain surgery and injection into the spinal intrathecal space (cisterna magna). While empty capsules within the central nervous system were benign, microcapsules containing cells induced an acute inflammatory response in the brain and spinal cord tissue, irrespective of the route of delivery. Human growth hormone was detected transiently in four of six dogs, but the data were interpreted with caution due to extraneous variables such as compromised microcapsules in two of the dogs and previous systemic treatment in six of the other dogs. In the last experiment, microcapsules containing cells genetically modified to secrete the lysosomal enzyme a-L-iduronidase were implanted into the lateral ventricles of a dog with Mucopolysaccharidosis type I in an attempt to correct the characteristic neuronal pathology. An immune response ensued and appeared to abolish any possible effect of the microcapsule treatment. The experiments presented here demonstrate the challenges and obstacles that need to be overcome to effectively scale up therapies from rodent experiments to large animals. The data also shed light on the immunological complications that may arise with invasive and repeated treatment in the central nervous system of large animals. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

The present research work aims to develop a new heat transfer fluid by combining multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCMs). Stable nanofluids have been prepared using different sizes of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their properties like thermal conductivity and viscosity have been measured. Microencapsulated phase change material slurries containing microcapsules of octadecane have been purchased from Thies Technology Inc. Tests have been conducted to determine the durability and viscosity of the MPCM slurries. Heat transfer experiments have been conducted to determine the heat transfer coefficients and pressure drop of the MWCNT nanofluids and MPCM slurries under turbulent flow and constant heat flux conditions. The MPCM slurry and the MWCNT nanofluid have been combined to form a new heat transfer fluid. Heat transfer tests have been conducted to determine the heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drop of the new fluid under turbulent flow and constant heat flux conditions. The potential use of this fluid in convective heat transfer applications has also been discussed. The heat transfer results of the MPCM slurry containing octadecane microcapsules was in good agreement with the published literature. The thermal conductivity enhancement obtained for MWCNTs with diameter (60-100 nm) and length (0.5-40?m) was 8.11%. The maximum percentage enhancement (compared to water) obtained in the heat transfer coefficient of the MWCNT nanofluid was in the range of 20-25%. The blend of MPCMs and MWCNTs was highly viscous and displayed a shear thinning behavior. Due to its high viscosity, the flow became laminar and the heat transfer performance was lowered. It was interesting to observe that the value of the maximum local heat transfer coefficient achieved in the case of the blend (laminar flow), was comparable to that obtained in the case of the MPCM slurry (turbulent flow). The pressure drop of the blend was lower than that of the MWCNT nanofluid.

A biodisponibilidade de ferro de diferentes fontes foi avaliada pelo método de recuperação de hemoglobina em suínos anêmicos. O ensaio teve duração de 13 dias e os grupos foram homogeneizados de acordo com o produto do peso (kg) x hemoglobina (g/dL). As fontes de ferro estudadas foram: ferro microencapsulado com polímero de carboximetilcelulose sódica (NaCMC), ferro microencapsulado com polímero de alginato, ferro quelado com metionina e ferro reduzido eletrolíticamente. Com a finalidade de corrigir respostas devidas à variação na ingestão de ferro foram acrescentados três grupos chamados de grupos-padrão, cuja fonte dietética de ferro foi FeSO4.7H2O. A porcentagem média de absorção de ferro para os grupos experimentais variou de 12,8 (4,3) % (ferro eletrolítico) a 15,1 (3,8) % (ferro alginato), não sendo significativamente diferentes (P>0,05). A porcentagem média de absorção relativa ao FeSO4.7H2O variou de 89,5 (25,9)% (ferro NaCMC) a 105,9 (60,5)% (ferro quelado com metionina), sem diferenças significativas (p>0,05). Também não houve diferença significativa nos índices de conversão alimentar, eficiência alimentar e coeficiente de eficácia proteica (CEP). Não houve diferenças significativas (p>0,05) nas concentrações de ferro hepático entre as diferentes fontes estudadas. Nas condições deste ensaio, houve similaridade entre as fontes de ferro testadas quanto à biodisponibilidade. A microencapsulação proporcionou rneltlOr distribuição do produto na mistura quando comparada ao FeSO4.7H2O. / The iron availability from different sources was evaluated by the hemoglobin regeneration method in anemic pigs. The assay took 13 days and the animais were selected according to the weight (kg) x hemoglobina (g/dL) product. The iron sources studied were: microencapsulated iron with sodium carboximetilcelulose polymer (NaCMC), microencapsulated iron with alginato polymer, metionin-quelated iron and electrolytically reduced iron. To COITect answers due to iron ingestion variation three control groups were added, whose dietary iron source was FeSO4.7H2O. The average percentage of iron absorption for the experimental groups ranged from 12,8 (4,3) % (electrolytic iron) to 15,1 (3,8) % (iron alginato), without significant differences (p>0,05). The average percentage of FeSO4.7H2O relative absorption ranged from 89,5 (25.9)% (NaCMC iron) to 105,9 (60,5)% (metionin quelated-iron), without significant differences (p>O,OS). Also it did not have significant difference in the alimentary conversion and efficiency indexes and proteic effectiveness coefficient (CEP). No significant differences (p>0,05) were found in the hepatic iron concentrations among the different studied sources. Based on this assay\'s conditions, there were similarities among the tested iron sources regarding to their bioavailability. Microencapsulation provided better distribution of the product in the mixture when compared to the FeSO4.7H2O.

A biodisponibilidade de ferro de diferentes fontes foi avaliada pelo método de recuperação de hemoglobina em suínos anêmicos. O ensaio teve duração de 13 dias e os grupos foram homogeneizados de acordo com o produto do peso (kg) x hemoglobina (g/dL). As fontes de ferro estudadas foram: ferro microencapsulado com polímero de carboximetilcelulose sódica (NaCMC), ferro microencapsulado com polímero de alginato, ferro quelado com metionina e ferro reduzido eletrolíticamente. Com a finalidade de corrigir respostas devidas à variação na ingestão de ferro foram acrescentados três grupos chamados de grupos-padrão, cuja fonte dietética de ferro foi FeSO4.7H2O. A porcentagem média de absorção de ferro para os grupos experimentais variou de 12,8 (4,3) % (ferro eletrolítico) a 15,1 (3,8) % (ferro alginato), não sendo significativamente diferentes (P>0,05). A porcentagem média de absorção relativa ao FeSO4.7H2O variou de 89,5 (25,9)% (ferro NaCMC) a 105,9 (60,5)% (ferro quelado com metionina), sem diferenças significativas (p>0,05). Também não houve diferença significativa nos índices de conversão alimentar, eficiência alimentar e coeficiente de eficácia proteica (CEP). Não houve diferenças significativas (p>0,05) nas concentrações de ferro hepático entre as diferentes fontes estudadas. Nas condições deste ensaio, houve similaridade entre as fontes de ferro testadas quanto à biodisponibilidade. A microencapsulação proporcionou rneltlOr distribuição do produto na mistura quando comparada ao FeSO4.7H2O. / The iron availability from different sources was evaluated by the hemoglobin regeneration method in anemic pigs. The assay took 13 days and the animais were selected according to the weight (kg) x hemoglobina (g/dL) product. The iron sources studied were: microencapsulated iron with sodium carboximetilcelulose polymer (NaCMC), microencapsulated iron with alginato polymer, metionin-quelated iron and electrolytically reduced iron. To COITect answers due to iron ingestion variation three control groups were added, whose dietary iron source was FeSO4.7H2O. The average percentage of iron absorption for the experimental groups ranged from 12,8 (4,3) % (electrolytic iron) to 15,1 (3,8) % (iron alginato), without significant differences (p>0,05). The average percentage of FeSO4.7H2O relative absorption ranged from 89,5 (25.9)% (NaCMC iron) to 105,9 (60,5)% (metionin quelated-iron), without significant differences (p>O,OS). Also it did not have significant difference in the alimentary conversion and efficiency indexes and proteic effectiveness coefficient (CEP). No significant differences (p>0,05) were found in the hepatic iron concentrations among the different studied sources. Based on this assay\'s conditions, there were similarities among the tested iron sources regarding to their bioavailability. Microencapsulation provided better distribution of the product in the mixture when compared to the FeSO4.7H2O.