This thesis’s main focus is a CO2 capture technology known as chemical looping combustion (CLC). The technology is a novel form of combustion and fuel processing that can be applied to gas, solid and liquid fuels. By using two interconnected fluidised-bed reactors, with a bed material capable of transferring oxygen from air to the fuel, a stream of almost pure CO2 can be produced. This stream is undiluted with nitrogen and is produced without any direct process efficiency loss from the overall combustion process. The heart of the process is the oxygen carrier bed material, which transfers oxygen from an air to fuel reactor for the conversion of the fuel. Oxygen carrier materials and their production should be of low relative cost for use in large-scale systems. The first part of this research centres on development and investigative studies conducted to assess the use of low-cost materials as oxygen carriers and as supports. Mixed-oxide oxygen carriers of modified manganese ore and iron ore were produced by impregnation. While copper (II) oxide supported on alumina cement and CaO have been produced by pelletisation. These oxygen carriers were investigated for their ability to convert gaseous fuels in a lab-scale fluidised bed, and characterised for their mechanical and chemical suitability in the CLC process. The modified ores and pelletised copper-based oxygen carriers’ mechanical properties were enhanced by their production methods and in the case of the modified iron ore, significant oxygen uncoupling was observed. The copper-based oxygen carriers particularly those containing alumina cement showed high conversion rates of gaseous fuels and improved mechanical stability. The second part of this research thesis focuses on the design philosophy, commissioning and operation of a dual-fast bed chemical looping pilot reactor. Based on the operational experience, recommendations for modifications to the CLC system are discussed. In support, a parallel hydrodynamic investigation has been conducted to validate control and operational strategies for the newlydesigned reactor system. It was determined that the two fast bed risers share similar density and pressure profiles. Stable global circulation rate is flexible and could be maintained despite being pneumatically controlled. Reactor-reactor leakage via the loop-seals is sensitive to loop seal bed-height, and inlet fluid velocity but can be maintained as such to ensure no leakage is encountered.

In chemical-looping, a fuel is oxidised by a solid metal oxide, MeO, in one reactor: (2$n+m$)MeO+C$_{n}$H$_{2m}\rightarrow$(2$n+m$)Me+$m$H$_{2}$O+$n$CO$_{2}$. The exit gas yields pure CO$_{2}$ after the steam has been condensed. The reduced metal oxide, Me, is transferred to an oxidation reactor and regenerated: Me+air$\rightarrow$MeO. Adding these reactions, the fuel has been combusted, but the CO$_{2}$ has been separated from the nitrogen in air. In fact, it is in a suitable form for sequestration in the Earth where prevention of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere is desired. Generally, Me is a transition metal and, to withstand many such redox cycles, it has to be supported on a suitable refractory oxide, with particles of the resulting construct being termed the "oxygen carrier". This Dissertation is concerned with the release and uptake of gaseous oxygen when Me is copper. In particular, the interest is in the following reaction at temperatures exceeding ~900°C undertaken in a fluidised bed reactor:$\\$ 4CuO$_{(s)}\Leftrightarrow$2Cu$_{2}$O$_{(s)}$+O$_{2(g)}$. (1)$\\$ The value of this reaction is that the oxygen released as part of a chemical looping scheme is important in combusting unreactive solid fuels, e.g. coal chars, whilst the Cu$_{2}$O could, in principle, be further reduced to Cu by the more reactive components of the fuel. This Dissertation investigates the development and characterisation of suitable, Cu-based oxygen carriers, which must (i) be inexpensive and easy to produce at a large scale and (ii) remain stable in prolonged operation in terms of mechanical integrity and chemical reactivity when fluidised. Here, a suitable oxygen carrier was developed, satisfying the above criteria, using a wet-mixing method and containing nominally 60 wt% CuO, 23 wt% Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$ and 17 wt% CaO. In particular, it was found that this oxygen carrier could operate between CuO and Cu$_{2}$O without problem in a circulating fluidised bed but agglomeration and de-fluidisation was observed when the carrier was re-oxidised from the Cu form. For design, it is important to understand the thermodynamics and kinetics of the release of gaseous O$_{2}$ from the oxygen carrier, because the combustion of the solid fuel depends critically on this reaction. A novel method was developed to measure experimentally the thermodynamics of reaction (1) for the supported copper oxide. It was found that the thermodynamic equilibrium deviated slightly from that of the pure CuO/Cu$_{2}$O system reported in the literature and that the enthalpy of reaction was lower by ~ 15%; the reasons for this are discussed. The rate of release of O$_{2}$ from the oxygen carrier was investigated using a thermogravimetric analyser and the activation energy for the forward reaction of (1) was found to be 59.7$\pm$5.6 kJ/mol, obtained after appropriate modelling of the external mass transfer resistances present in the experimental apparatus. A critical analysis of the seemingly disparate activation energies reported in the literature revealed that the activation energy of the forward step in reaction (1) was, in fact, similar for many CuO-based oxygen carriers supported on different materials. The associated pre-exponential factor for the forward rate constant was also determined in the present research, and the kinetic parameters were used in a numerical model to predict the behaviour of the oxygen carriers in a fluidised bed reactor. Excellent agreement between theory and experiment was found, confirming that the kinetic parameters obtained in this work reflect the intrinsic chemical kinetics of the oxygen carrier, rather than being totally dominated by transport effects.

In lipid membranes lacking activating lipids, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor adopts an uncoupled conformation that binds ligand, but does not transition into an open conformation. Understanding the mechanisms of lipid-dependent uncoupling is essential to understanding lipid-nAChR interactions, which may be implicated in pathological conditions such as nicotine addition. Here, I tested two structural features of a proposed uncoupling method to elucidate the mechanism of lipid-dependent uncoupling. First, infrared measurements and electrophysiological characterization performed in prokaryotic homologues indicate that lipid sensitivity is largely controlled by the most peripheral α-helix in the transmembrane domain, M4. My data show that tighter association of M4 with the adjacent M1 and M3 transmembrane α-helices decreases a receptor’s propensity to adopt a lipid-dependent uncoupled conformation. Second, I indirectly tested the hypothesis that uncoupling results from a conformational change at the extracellular/transmembrane domain interface that leads to an increased separation between the two domains and ultimately to a constriction of the channel pore. Finally, biophysical studies presented in this dissertation shed light on the complex binding of a number of non-competitive channel blockers to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel pore in both the resting and desensitized states. The data provide further insight into the structural rearrangements that occur upon uncoupling of ligand binding and gating in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Atualmente no Brasil mais da metade da população adulta tem excesso de peso e 21% estão obesos. A obesidade é uma doença que se encontra em evidente crescimento, sendo considerada a epidemia do século XXI. Como alternativa de tratamento e prevenção, o uso de ácidos graxos que possuem habilidade de induzir a expressão de genes com importante papel em modulações metabólicas e mitocondriais têm sido estudados. O ácido linoleico conjugado (CLA, 18:2) é da família ômega-6, descrito por sua propriedade antiobesidade relacionada à diminuição da adiposidade e ao aumento do metabolismo corporal. O óleo de peixe (OP) é uma mistura de ácidos graxos poli-insaturados eicosapentaenóico (EPA, 20:5) e docosahexaenóico (DHA, 22:6) da família ômega-3, conhecido por aumentar a sensibilidade à insulina, o colesterol-HDL, pelas suas propriedades antiinflamatórias e sua ação protetora sobre o sistema nervoso. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar os efeitos da suplementação da dieta de camundongos C57BL6 com CLA em conjunto com OP durante 60 dias sobre aspectos bioquímicos, moleculares e fisiológicos do metabolismo mitocondrial e corporal. Verificamos que a suplementação da dieta com CLA e OP in vivo: aumenta o metabolismo corporal, efeito atribuído à ambos os óleos; prejudica o metabolismo da glicose circulante, proporcionado exclusivamente pelo CLA; reduz o nível de movimentação, proporcionado exclusivamente pelo OP. No fígado: aumenta a expressão de UCP2, a atividade de proteínas desacopladoras e a ?- oxidação, efeito atribuído à ambos os óleos; aumenta o número de mitocôndrias, proporcionado exclusivamente pelo OP. CLA aumenta a produção de espécies reativas de O2 (EROs) a qual é revertida pelo OP em conjunto. No músculo sóleo: aumenta a biogênese mitocondrial via PGC- 1? e a expressão de UCP2, proporcionados pelo OP. Por fim, no hipocampo: aumenta o número de mitocôndrias, estimulo dado por ambos os óleos; aumenta a atividade desacopladora e reduz a produção de EROs, proporcionados exclusivamente pelo CLA. Concluímos que na suplementação conjunta os efeitos do OP são predominantes nos metabolismos corporal, hepático e muscular, e na movimentação corporal, enquanto que o efeito predominante do CLA é a diminuição na sensibilidade à insulina. Já no cérebro, o OP potencializa os efeitos do CLA. / Currently in Brazil more than a half of adult population has overweight, and 21% are obese. This evident growing disease is considered the 21th century\'s epidemy. Some fatty acids have been considered an alternative treatment and prevention strategy for obesity due to their ability to stimulate gene expression with important role in cellular and mitochondrial metabolisms. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, 18:2) from omega-6 family, with anti-obesity properties related to diminution of adiposity and increments in body metabolism. The fish oil (FO) is a mixture of the poli-unsaturated fatty acids eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, 22:6) from omega-3 family, known for improving insulin sensibility and HDL-cholesterol, anti-inflammatory properties and protective action over the central nervous system. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of dietary supplementation of CLA in conjunction with FO during 60 days over biochemical, molecular and physiological aspects of mitochondrial and body metabolism in C57BL6 mice. Diet supplementation with CLA and FO in vivo: raise body metabolism, an effect attributed to both oils; affect glucose metabolism, exclusively proportionate by CLA; diminish the level of mice movement, exclusively proportionate by FO. In liver: increase UCP2 expression, uncoupling proteins activity and ?-oxidation, stimulated by both oils; increase mitochondrial density, exclusively proportionate by FO. CLA also raises the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which is reversed by FO in conjunction. In soleus muscle: increase mitochondrial biogenesis through PGC-1? and the UCP2 expression, exclusively proportionate by FO. Lastly, in hippocampus: increase mitochondrial density, stimulated by both oils; stimulate uncoupling activity and diminish ROS production, exclusively proportionate by CLA. In conclusion, in the dietary supplementation with CLA and FO in conjunction the FO effects are prevalent in metabolisms of body, liver and muscle, and in body movement, while the CLA effects are prevalent in decreasing insulin sensitivity. However in the brain, the FO potentiates the effects of CLA.

[EN] Heart failure (HF) constitutes a major public health problem worldwide. Operationally it is defined as a clinical syndrome characterized by the marked and progressive inability of the ventricles to fill and generate adequate cardiac output to meet the demands of cellular metabolism that may have significant variability in its etiology and it is the final common pathway of various cardiac pathologies. Much attention has been paid to the understanding of the arrhythmogenic mechanisms induced by the structural, electrical, and metabolic remodeling of the failing heart. Due to the complexity of the electrophysiological changes that may occur during heart failure, the scientific literature is complex and sometimes equivocal. Nevertheless, a number of common features of failing hearts have been documented. At the cellular level, prolongation of the action potential (AP) involving ion channel remodeling and alterations in calcium handling have been established as the hallmark characteristics of myocytes isolated from failing hearts. At the tissue level, intercellular uncoupling and fibrosis are identified as major arrhythmogenic factors. In this Thesis a computational model for cellular heart failure was proposed using a modified version of Grandi et al. model for human ventricular action potential that incorporates the formulation of the late sodium current (INaL) in order to study the arrhythmogenic processes due to failing phenotype. Experimental data from several sources were used to validate the model. Due to extensive literature in the subject a sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the influence of main ionic currents and parameters upon most related biomarkers. In addition, multiscale simulations were carried out to characterize this pathology (transmural cardiac fibres and tissues). The proposed model for the human INaL and the electrophysiological remodeling of myocytes from failing hearts accurately reproduce experimental observations. An enhanced INaL appears to be an important contributor to the electrophysiological phenotype and to the dysregulation of calcium homeostasis of failing myocytes. Our strand simulation results illustrate how the presence of M cells and heterogeneous electrophysiological remodeling in the human failing ventricle modulate the dispersion of action potential duration (APD) and repolarization time (RT). Conduction velocity (CV) and the safety factor for conduction (SF) were also reduced by the progressive structural remodeling during heart failure. In our transmural ventricular tissue simulations, no reentry was observed in normal conditions or in the presence of HF ionic remodeling. However, defined amount of fibrosis and/or cellular uncoupling were sufficient to elicit reentrant activity. Under conditions where reentry was generated, HF electrophysiological remodeling did not alter the width of the vulnerable window (VW). However, intermediate fibrosis and cellular uncoupling significantly widened the VW. In conclusion, enhanced fibrosis in failing hearts, as well as reduced intercellular coupling, combine to increase electrophysiological gradients and reduce electrical propagation. In that sense, structural remodeling is a key factor in the genesis of vulnerability to reentry, mainly at intermediates levels of fibrosis and intercellular uncoupling. / [ES] La insuficiencia cardíaca (IC) constituye un importante problema de salud pública en todo el mundo. Operacionalmente se define como un síndrome clínico caracterizado por la incapacidad marcada y progresiva de los ventrículos para llenar y generar gasto cardíaco adecuado para satisfacer las demandas del metabolismo celular, que puede tener una variabilidad significativa en su etiología y es la vía final común de varias patologías cardíacas. Se ha prestado mucha atención a la comprensión de los mecanismos arritmogénicos inducidos por la remodelación estructural, eléctrica, y metabólica del corazón afectado de IC. Debido a la complejidad de los cambios electrofisiológicos que pueden ocurrir durante la IC, la literatura científica es compleja y, a veces equívoca. Sin embargo, se han documentado una serie de características comunes en corazones afectados de IC. A nivel celular, se han establecido como las características distintivas de los miocitos aislados de corazones afectados de IC la prolongación del potencial de acción (PA), que implica la remodelación de los canales iónicos y las alteraciones en la dinámica del calcio. A nivel de los tejidos, el desacoplamiento intercelular y la fibrosis se identifican como los principales factores arritmogénicos. En esta tesis se propuso un modelo celular computacional para la insuficiencia cardíaca utilizando una versión modificada del modelo de potencial de acción ventricular humano de Grandi y colaboradores que incorpora la formulación de la corriente tardía de sodio (INaL) con el fin de estudiar los procesos arritmogénicas debido al fenotipo de la IC. Los datos experimentales de varias fuentes se utilizaron para validar el modelo. Debido a la extensa literatura en la temática se realizó un análisis de sensibilidad para evaluar la influencia de las principales corrientes iónicas y los parámetros sobre los biomarcadores relacionados. Además, se llevaron a cabo simulaciones multiescala para caracterizar esta patología (en fibras y tejidos transmurales). El modelo propuesto para la corriente tardía de sodio y la remodelación electrofisiológica de los miocitos de corazones afectados de IC reprodujeron con precisión las observaciones experimentales. Una INaL incrementada parece ser un importante contribuyente al fenotipo electrofisiológico y la desregulación de la homeostasis del calcio de los miocitos afectados de IC. Nuestros resultados de la simulaciones en fibra ilustran cómo la presencia de células M y el remodelado electrofisiológico heterogéneo en el ventrículo humano afectado de IC modulan la dispersión de la duración potencial de acción (DPA) y el tiempo de repolarización (TR). La velocidad de conducción (VC) y el factor de seguridad para la conducción (FS) también se redujeron en la remodelación estructural progresiva durante la insuficiencia cardíaca. En nuestras simulaciones transmurales de tejido ventricular, no se observó reentrada en condiciones normales o en presencia de la remodelación iónica de la IC. Sin embargo, determinadas cantidades de fibrosis y / o desacoplamiento celular eran suficientes para provocar la actividad reentrante. En condiciones donde se había generado la reentrada, el remodelado electrofisiológico de la IC no alteró la anchura de la ventana vulnerable (VV). Sin embargo, niveles intermedios de fibrosis y el desacoplamiento celular ampliaron significativamente la VV. En conclusión, niveles elevados de fibrosis en corazones afectados de IC, así como la reducción de acoplamiento intercelular, se combinan para aumentar los gradientes electrofisiológicos y reducir la propagación eléctrica. En ese sentido, la remodelación estructural es un factor clave en la génesis de la vulnerabilidad a las reentradas, principalmente en niveles intermedios de fibrosis y desacoplamiento intercelular. El remodelado electrofisiológico promueve la arritmogénesis y puede ser alterado dependi / [CAT] La insuficiència cardíaca (IC) constitueix un important problema de salut pública arreu del món. A efectes pràctics, es defineix com una síndrome clínica caracteritzada per la incapacitat marcada i progressiva dels ventricles per omplir i generar el cabal cardíac adequat, per tal de satisfer les demandes del metabolisme cel·lular, el qual pot tenir una variabilitat significativa en la seua etiologia i és la via final comuna de diverses patologies cardíaques. S'ha prestat molta atenció a la comprensió dels mecanismes aritmogènics induïts per la remodelació estructural, elèctrica, i metabòlica del cor afectat d'IC. A causa de la complexitat dels canvis electrofisiològics que poden ocórrer durant la IC, trobem que la literatura científica és complexa i, de vegades, equívoca. No obstant això, s'han documentat una sèrie de característiques comunes en cors afectats d'IC. A nivell cel·lular, com característiques distintives dels miòcits aïllats de cors afectats d'IC, s'han establert la prolongació del potencial d'acció (PA), que implica la remodelació dels canals iònics, i les alteracions en la dinàmica del calci. A nivell dels teixits, el desacoblament intercel·lular i la fibrosi s'identifiquen com els principals factors aritmogènics. Per tal d'estudiar els processos aritmogènics a causa del fenotip de la IC, es va proposar un model cel·lular computacional d'IC utilitzant una versió modificada del model de potencial d'acció ventricular humà de Grandi i els seus col·laboradors, el qual incorpora la formulació del corrent de sodi tardà (INaL). Amb l'objectiu de validar el model es van utilitzar dades experimentals de diverses fonts. A causa de l'extensa literatura en la temàtica, es va realitzar una anàlisi de sensibilitat per tal d'avaluar la influència de les principals corrents iòniques i els paràmetres sobre els biomarcadors relacionats. A més, es van dur a terme simulacions multiescala per a la caracterització d'aquesta patología (fibres i teixits transmurals). El model proposat per al corrent de sodi tardà i la remodelació electrofisiològica dels miòcits de cors afectats d'IC van reproduir amb precisió les observacions experimentals. Una INaL incrementada sembla contribuir de manera important al fenotip electrofisiològic i a la desregulació de l'homeòstasi del calci dels miòcits afectats d'IC. Els resultats de les nostres simulacions en fibra indiquen que la presència de cèl·lules M i el remodelat electrofisiològic heterogeni en el ventricle humà afectat d'IC modulen la dispersió de la durada del potencial d'acció (DPA) i el temps de repolarització (TR). La velocitat de conducció (VC) i el factor de seguretat per a la conducció (FS) també es van reduir en la remodelació estructural progressiva durant la IC. A les nostres simulacions transmurals de teixit ventricular, no s'observà cap reentrada ni en condicions normals ni en presència de la remodelació iònica de la IC. No obstant això, amb determinades quantitats de fibrosi i/o desacoblament cel·lular sí que es provocà l'activitat reentrant. I amb les condicions que produïren la reentrada, el remodelat electrofisiològic de la IC no va alterar l'amplada de la finestra vulnerable (FV). Tanmateix, nivells intermedis de fibrosi i el desacoblament cel·lular sí que ampliaren significativament la FV. En conclusió, nivells elevats de fibrosi en cors afectats d'IC, així com la reducció d'acoblament intercel·lular, es combinen per augmentar els gradients electrofisiològics i reduir la propagació elèctrica. Per tant, la remodelació estructural és un factor clau en la gènesi de la vulnerabilitat a les reentrades, principalment en nivells intermedis de fibrosi i desacoblament intercel·lular. / Gómez García, JF. (2015). Multiscale Modeling and Simulation of Human Heart Failure [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/52389 / TESIS

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第22073号 / 農博第2365号 / 新制||農||1072(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R1||N5227(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科食品生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 井上 和生, 教授 保川 清, 教授 谷 史人 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第22510号 / 農博第2414号 / 新制||農||1078(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R2||N5290(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科食品生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 井上 和生, 教授 佐々木 努, 准教授 後藤 剛 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第19785号 / 農博第2181号 / 新制||農||1042(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H28||N5001(農学部図書室) / 32821 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科食品生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 河田 照雄, 教授 金本 龍平, 教授 谷 史人 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第24911号 / 農博第2574号 / 新制||農||1102(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 舟場 正幸, 教授 太田 毅, 教授 横井 伯英 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

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