Twenty active male volunteers were studied to compare maximum oxygen consumption (˙V02 max) to the oxidative capacity of a muscle homogenate (˙Q02) and to determine how fiber type relates to these measures of aerobic power. Maximum oxygen consumption was determined by bicycle ergometry. Correlations of 0.81 and 0.75 were found between ˙V02 max and ˙Q02and ˙V02 max and %ST, respectively (p<.01). A significant relationship (r=0.74) was also found between ˙Q02 and %ST. Multiple correlation analysis (R=0.85) indicated that 72% (R2=0.72) of the variance in ˙V02 max could be accounted for by the combined effect of ˙Q02 and fiber type. These data therefore indicate that Q02 and fiber type play a large role in determining maximum aerobic power but these factors cannot completely account for the total variance in ˙V02max.

This work aimed to evaluate the subsystems of a novel mediated oxycombustion system and determine the expected final conditions of the integrated subsystems. The subsystems included a cerium based oxygen transport membrane, transport membrane coatings to assist in the pickup and release of oxygen, and a molten intermediary oxygen carrier. Various doping levels of yttrium and zirconium were investigated, both as singular dopants and in a co-doped scheme. Regression analysis was performed to quantitatively evaluate how each dopant affected the material properties. Zirconium was not found to have statistically significant effects, although an effect was clearly noted on pure ceria. Functions of the doping level of yttrium were found for relative density, hardness, and the contributing factors of electrical conductivity. Chemical looping combustion experiments were performed to determine viable candidates for oxygen pickup and release coatings. It was discovered that a release coating was not necessary due to the use of a reactive fluid, and iron showed promise as a pickup coating but short of showing statistical significance. The ability of antimony oxide to react with hydrocarbon fuels and be regenerated by oxygen was investigated to determine the reaction rates. It was discovered that a co-doping scheme of yttrium and zirconium at a level of 8.33% (1/12th) each achieved the highest oxygen flux with a value of 3.671x10-7 mol O/s/cm2. All of the subsystems were we analyzed and a complete, theoretical system was described. It is recommended that the shape of the oxygen transport membrane be of a single-closed-end cylinder. This allows the increase of oxygen permeation with a smaller device footprint. It was found that the system would be capable of combusting 6.699 grams of carbon based fuel per minute per square meter of footprint. This equates to a heat rate of 3.6 kilowatts per square meter when utilizing a medium volatile bituminous coal. This value will continue to be improved as further research is conducted into the components of the system.

The purpose of this thesis was to assess the adaptation of middle-aged and older females to a three to six month endurance training program. Sixty-nine subjects were divided into four age groups to determine the effect of aging on cardiorespiratory improvements. Two treadmill tests for maximal aerobic power were administered prior to training and following the subjects' ability to run a continuous two miles. As a result of training, maximal oxygen consumption (max V02) and maximal ventilation (max VE) increased significantly in all age groups with the youngest group exhibiting the greatest gains and the oldest group showing the least improvements. Age tended to effect max V02 at both T1 and T2 but it also played a role in interfering with the ability to improve in the 55 to 65 age range. Training had little effect on the resting variables observed in this study. Nor did age effect basal parameters such as body weight, serum cholesterol and resting heart rate. However, age did become significant when fat percent and blood pressures were observed.

Some animals have adapted to hypoxia by increasing their haemoglobin affinity for oxygen, but in vitro studies have not shown any change of haemoglobin affinity for oxygen in human high altitude natives or lowlanders acutely acclimatized to high altitude. We conducted the first in vivo study of the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve by progressively reducing arterial PO2 while maintaining normocapnia in lowlanders at sea level, lowlanders sojourning at 3600m for two weeks and native Andeans at the same altitude. We found that the in vivo PO2 at which haemoglobin is half-saturated (P50) is higher in lowlanders at sea level (32 mmHg) than that measured in vitro (27 mmHg) and that lowlanders and highlanders do significantly increase the in vivo affinity of their haemoglobin for oxygen with exposure to high altitude. These results indicate the value of an in vivo approach for studying the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve.

Some animals have adapted to hypoxia by increasing their haemoglobin affinity for oxygen, but in vitro studies have not shown any change of haemoglobin affinity for oxygen in human high altitude natives or lowlanders acutely acclimatized to high altitude. We conducted the first in vivo study of the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve by progressively reducing arterial PO2 while maintaining normocapnia in lowlanders at sea level, lowlanders sojourning at 3600m for two weeks and native Andeans at the same altitude. We found that the in vivo PO2 at which haemoglobin is half-saturated (P50) is higher in lowlanders at sea level (32 mmHg) than that measured in vitro (27 mmHg) and that lowlanders and highlanders do significantly increase the in vivo affinity of their haemoglobin for oxygen with exposure to high altitude. These results indicate the value of an in vivo approach for studying the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve.

Diameters of microvessels undergo continuous structural adaptation in response to hemodynamic and metabolic stimuli. To ensure adequate flow distribution, metabolic responses are needed to increase diameters of vessels feeding poorly perfused regions. Possible modes of metabolic control include release of signaling substances from vessel walls, from the supplied tissue and from red blood cells (RBC). Here, a theoretical model was used to compare the abilities of these metabolic control modes to provide adequate tissue oxygenation, and to generate blood flow velocities in agreement with experimental observations. Structural adaptation of vessel diameters was simulated for an observed mesenteric network structure in the rat with 576 vessel segments. For each mode of metabolic control, resulting distributions of oxygen and deviations between simulated and experimentally observed flow velocities were analyzed. It was found that wall-derived and tissue-derived growth signals released in response to low oxygen levels could ensure adequate oxygen supply, but RBC-derived signals caused inefficient oxygenation. Closest agreement between predicted and observed flow velocities was obtained with wall-derived growth signals proportional to vessel length. Adaptation in response to oxygen-independent release of a metabolic signal substance from vessel walls or the supplied tissue was also shown to be effective for ensuring tissue oxygenation due to a dilution effect if growth signal substances are released into the blood. The present results suggest that metabolic signals responsible for structural adaptation of microvessel diameters are derived from vessel walls or from perivascular tissue.

No description available.

The analysis of hemodynamic parameters and functional reactivity of cerebral capillaries is still controversial. The detailed mapping of tissue oxygen levels on the scale of micrometers cannot be obtained by means of an experimental approach, necessitating the use of theoretical methods in this investigating field. To assess the hemodynamics and oxygen transport in the cortical capillary network, 2D and 3D generic models are constructed (non-tree like) using random voronoi tessellation in which each edge represents a capillary segment. The modelling presented here is based on morphometric parameters extracted from physiological data of the cortex in which the spatial distribution of the diameter of the capillary is based on a Modified Murray method. This method led to a proper link between the diameter topology and flow pattern such that the maximum efficiency for flowing blood is concluded in the model of cortical capillary network. The approach is capable of creating an appropriate generic, realistic model of a cerebral capillary network relating to each part of the brain cortex because its geometrical density is able to vary the capillary density. The pertinent hemodynamic parameters are obtained by numerical simulation based on effective blood viscosity as a function of hematocrit and microvessel diameter, ESL (endothelial surface layer) effect, phase separation and plasma skimming effects. Using a solution method of the Green's function, the model is numerically developed to provide different simulations of oxygen transport for varying perfusion and metabolism in a mesoscale model of the cortical capillary network, bridging smaller and larger scale phenomena. The analysis of hemodynamic parameters (blood flow rate, velocity and hematocrit) demonstrates a consistency with the experimental observation. The distribution pattern of wall shear stress (WSS) in the network model supports the physiological data which in turn represents a proper matching between the hemodynamics and morphometrics in the cerebral capillary network. The distributions of blood flow throughout the 2D and 3D models seem to confirm the hypothesis in which all capillaries in a cortical network are recruited at rest (normal condition). The predictions showed a heterogeneous distribution in the flow pathways (aspect of length and inflow) and the pertinent transit time of red blood cell (RBC) in the network model which is dependent on varying perfusion rates. The analyses of oxygen transport in the model has demonstrated that oxygen levels in the tissue are sensitively dependent on the microvascular architecture and flow distribution. Unlike the homogeneous compartmental models, the mesoscale model presented in this study led to a prediction of tissue PO2 gradients throughout the tissue and a spatial distribution of tissue PO2 on the micron-scale for varying perfusion and metabolism. The predicted nonlinear changes in the oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) of the model as a function of the perfusion rate provide a basis for the quantitative interpretation of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in terms of changes in local perfusion. The model is capable of predicting the brain oxygen metabolism under both normal and disease states, particularly, local hypoxia and local ischemia caused by misery perfusion syndrome. The hypoxic states for different perfusion rates and oxygen consumption rates demonstrated that in a significant decrease in brain perfusion (as can occur in stroke), the tissue hypoxia can be avoided by a moderate reduction in oxygen consumption rate. Increasing oxygen consumption rates (a realization of spatiotemporal stimulation of neural tissue) with respect to maintaining the tissue PO2 in the model led to a predicted flow-metabolism coupling in the model which supports the experimental studies of somatosensory and visual stimulation in humans by positron emission tomography (PET) and functional MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). A disproportionately large increase in blood supply is required for a small increase in the metabolic utilization (oxygen consumption rate) which in turn, is strongly dependent on the resting OEF such that the magnitude of the blood flow increases in the higher resting OEF.

The main objective of this thesis aims at developing a new generation of software products, in order to obtain a fully automatic simulator predicting the entire Czochralski process while handling correctly the switches between the different growth stages. First of all, new efficient, robust and high-quality automatic mesh generation algorithms with enough flexibility for any complex geometry were implemented, including a 1D mesh generator by global grade-adaptive method, a 2D initial triangulation algorithm by improved sweep line technique and an automatic 2D shape-quality unstructured mesh generator by modified incremental Delaunay refinement technique. Secondly, a Finite Element Navier-Stokes solver based on unstructured meshes was developed and validated. Enhanced turbulence models based on the classical mixing-length or k-l model, together with a generic transformation method to avoid negative k when solving the turbulent kinetic energy equation by the Newton-Raphson iterative method were introduced and implemented. Moreover, laminar and turbulent mathematical models governing the gas convection, thermal distribution and oxygen concentration were developed, and Finite Element numerical methods to solve these governing equations on unstructured meshes were implemented, while appropriate numerical approaches to capture the wall shear stress exerted by the gas flow and experienced by the silicon melt were investigated. Finally, a series of numerical experiments devoted to investigate the industrial Czochralski crystal growth process under various growth conditions are presented based on all the developments implemented. Comparisons of the simulation results with literature and available experimental observations are also presented, and conclusions are drawn based on these simulation results and observations.

Because oxygen is vital to the metabolic processes of all eukaryotic cells, a detailed understanding of its transport and consumption is of great interest to researchers. Existing methods of quantifying oxygen delivery and consumption are non-ideal for in vivo measurements. They either lack the three-dimensional spatial resolution needed, are invasive and disturb the local physiology, or they rely on hemoglobin spectroscopy, which is not a direct measure of the oxygen available to cells. Consequently, many fundamental physiology research questions remain unanswered. This dissertation presents our development of a novel in vivo oxygen measurement technique that seeks to address the shortcomings of existing methods. Specifically, we have combined two-photon microscopy with phosphorescence quenching oximetry to produce a system that is capable of performing depth-resolved, high-resolution dissolved oxygen concentration (PO2) measurements. Furthermore, the new technique allows for simultaneous visualization of the micro-vasculature and measurement of blood velocity. We demonstrate the technique by quantifying PO2 in rodent cortical vasculature under normal and pathophysiologic conditions. We also demonstrate the technique’s usefulness in examining the changes in oxygen transport that result from acute focal ischemia in rodent animal models. / text