Intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses (IPAVA) are vascular conduits through which blood flow bypasses the pulmonary circulation, and does not participate in pulmonary gas exchange. Blood flow through IPAVA (QIPAVA) is known to increase with increasing cardiac output, such as exercise, and while breathing normobaric, hypoxic gas at rest or during exercise. Previous studies demonstrate that QIPAVA is decreased at rest and during exercise in hypobaria compared to equivalent normobaric conditions. Studies involving postural changes have shown that QIPAVA may change with body position. In human studies, QIPAVA is measured either by transthoracic saline contrast echocardiography (TTSCE) or by injection of 99mTc-labeled macroaggregates of albumin (99mTc-MAA). It is unknown if discrepancies in measuring QIPAVA in normobaria and hypobaria, and in different body positions, represent real physiological changes or if they are methodological artifacts. In Chapter IV, the effect of hypobaria on QIPAVA was investigated. QIPAVA was reduced during exercise in hypobaria in normoxia and hypoxia compared to normobaric conditions, however gas exchange efficiency was unimpaired. This suggests that pulmonary blood flow may change in hypobaria such that blood flow is directed away from IPAVA. Alternatively, it may suggest that saline contrast is less stable at high altitude and not detected by TTSCE. In Chapter V, the effect of changing body position on QIPAVA as detected by TTSCE was investigated in human subjects at rest. No significant changes were observed in QIPAVA with postural changes. In Chapter VI, a perfusion model was used to investigate behavior of saline contrast microbubbles, MAA, and microspheres (20 µm and 50 µm diameter) encountering a vertical bifurcation. The results indicated that microbubbles and 20 µm microspheres tend to enter the upper branch of the bifurcation, whereas MAA and 50 µm microspheres tend to enter the lower branch. In Chapter VII, the effect of atmospheric pressure on the initial microbubble radius (Ro) of agitated saline contrast microbubbles was investigated. The results of this study demonstrated that the Ro of microbubbles created at sea level pressure was significantly smaller than Ro of microbubbles created at higher altitudes (1,668 m and 5,260 m). / 2019-01-09

Fundamental to the future of space exploration is the development of advanced life support systems capable of maintaining crews for significant periods without re-supply from Earth. Bioregenerative life support systems harness natural ecosystem processes and employ plant photosynthesis and transpiration to produce food, supply oxygen, and regenerate water while consuming carbon dioxide. Proposed Lunar and Martian exploration has prompted interest into the effects of hypobaria on plant development. Reduced atmospheric pressure conditions will reduce the pressure gradient between the structure and the local environment thereby decreasing the engineering requirements, leakage and mass required to construct the growth facility. To establish the optimal conditions for reduced pressure plant growth structures it is essential to determine the atmospheric pressure limits required for plant development and growth. Due to its physiological importance, oxygen will compose a significant portion of this atmosphere. The effects of reduced atmospheric pressure and decreased oxygen partial pressures on plant germination, growth and development were assessed in the University of Guelph’s hypobaric plant growth chambers. Treatments included a range of total pressures from 10 to 98 kPa and oxygen partial pressures from 2 to 20 kPa. Results demonstrated that reduced atmospheric pressure had minimal effect on plant growth, net carbon exchange rate and transpiration if the physiologically important gases including carbon dioxide, oxygen and water vapour, were maintained above threshold levels. The reduction of oxygen partial pressures below 7 kPa had drastic consequences across all atmospheric pressures with poor germination, seedling establishment and growth. It is evident that the response of plants grown at reduced pressures from young seedlings differs from that of older plants that were established at ambient conditions and then subjected to the atmospheric adjustment. The young plant tissues adapt in response to the extreme conditions and maintain productivity despite the limited atmosphere. / Natural Science and Engineering Research Council, Canadian Space Agency, Ontario Graduate Student Program, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, Ontario Innovation Trust