Humans can only survive the low barometric pressure of altitudes above 6000m by making a complex series of adaptations. The energetics of human survival at such extreme altitudes have not been widely studied. Objectives were to compare the doubly labelled water (DLW) and intake-balance (IB) methods to estimate daily energy expenditure while climbing between 6000 and 8046m and to investigate the putative metabolic cost involved with the process of acclimatization to extreme altitude. Reliability of the DLW method to provide an accurate and portable means to measure human energy expenditure depends upon a series of assumptions regarding the flux of tracer and tracee across the physiological compartments of measurement. Additional objectives were to review and examine the proficiency of these assumptions to account for perturbations experienced while using DLW while climbing at extreme altitude. Findings suggest that the use of DLW at extreme altitudes requires special consideration towards elevated rates of fractional isotope loss, inter-subject isotope transfer, alterations in total body water, changes in background isotopic abundance, and choice of sampling technique. Revised strategies directed at achieving these aims are calculated. Results from extreme altitude indicate that IB and DLW techniques each provide similar estimates of group mean energy expenditure despite substantial changes in body weight and composition and that the metabolic cost for the process of acclimatization accounts for roughly 12% of total daily energy expenditure. Problems associated with maintaining energy balance while climbing at extreme altitude are related to low energy intakes, approximately only 70% of energy demands, and energy expenditure values that are comparable to those of highly trained endurance athletes at sea-level.

This research focuses on the development, evaluation, and application of a mercury (Hg) mass balance model for predicting the accumulation of Hg in fish. This model requires accurate estimates of Hg elimination rate by fish and feeding rates to adequately predict Hg concentration in fish. An empirical model was developed to estimate Hg elimination by fish using data obtained from published experiments. This analysis showed that Hg elimination rate was overestimated in short-term experiments, positively correlated to water temperature, negatively correlated to body size, and that the elimination rate of inorganic Hg was faster than that of methylmercury. This empirical model was then incorporated in a Hg mass balance model to predict the concentration of Hg in fish. The Hg mass balance model accurately predicted Hg concentration in fish when it was combined with food consumption rates that were determined using a radioisotopic method. This analysis suggested that the parameters of the Hg mass balance model were adequate for predicting Hg concentration in fish. I also showed that Hg concentration tended to be underestimated by the Hg mass balance model when it was combined with feeding rates determined with a laboratory-derived bioenergetic model, probably because activity costs derived in the laboratory do not reflect activity costs of fish in the field. Beside predicting Hg concentration in fish, I showed that this mass balance model could also be used to estimate feeding rates of fish in the field by measuring the concentration of Hg in fish. This approach was validated using data obtained from a published experiment. It was also successfully tested using independent estimates of feeding rates obtained with a radioisotopic method. I applied this Hg mass balance model to compare the energy budget of sympatric populations of dwarf and normal whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis). This analysis showed that dwarf whitefish consumed 40--50% more food than normal whitefi

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University (Canada), 1990. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 62-13, Section: A, page: 0000.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 92-102.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 106-126.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2008. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on September 12, 2008) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-119). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-119). Also available on the Internet.

No description available.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A obesidade é uma doença crônica, resultante do excesso de gordura no organismo. O aumento da obesidade no mundo, tem se revelado como um dos fenômenos clínicos e epidemiológicos da atualidade. Estudos populacionais e em modelos animais demonstram que a origem da epidemia da obesidade está relacionada a fatores genéticos, modificações de hábitos nutricionais, redução da atividade física, e alterações nutricionais durante a lactação, desempenhando um papel relevante no desenvolvimento da obesidade, DM2 e cardiomiopatias. As mitocôndrias são os coordenadores centrais do metabolismo energético, assim, alterações funcionais e estruturais dessa organela têm sido associadas à desordens metabólicas. Elas exercem um papel na sobrevivência e função dos cardiomiócitos devido à alta demanda energética do miocárdio. Desta forma, disfunções mitocondriais estão relacionadas com disfunções no miocárdio e conseqüente progressão de cardiomiopatias. Neste estudo, avaliamos a bioenergética e a ultraestrutura de cardiomiócitos de camundongos obesos e controle hiperalimentados durante a lactação. O consumo de oxigênio das fibras cardíacas foi avaliado por respirometria de alta-resolução, utilizando um oxígrafo-2K-Oroboros. A ultraestrutura dos cardiomiócitos foi analisada por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão e o conteúdo das proteínas Carnitina palmitoil transferase 1 (CPT1), Proteína desacopladora 2 (UCP2) , Transportador de glicose 1 e 4 (GLUT1) e (GLUT4), Proteína Kinase ativada por AMP (AMPK) e Proteína kinase ativada por AMP fosforilada p(AMPK) por Western blotting (WB). Além disso, o peso dos animais, a gordura retroperitoneal, epididimal e a glicemia em jejum foram determinadas. Nossos resultados confirmaram que os animais do grupo hiperalimentados (GH), aos 90 dias de vida, apresentaram aumento da massa corporal, de gordura epididimária e retroperitoneal comparado ao grupo controle (GC). As taxas respiratórias foram semelhantes nos dois grupos quando foram utilizados os substratos dos complexos I e II. Entretanto, quando o ácido graxo palmitoil-L-carnitina foi utilizado, a taxa respiratória máxima do GH foi significativamente menor. A análise ultraestrutural dos cardiomiócitos do GH demonstrou intenso dano na matriz mitocondrial e maior presença de gotículas de lipídios, caracterizando deposição ectópica. Os resultados do WB mostraram aumento significativo do conteúdo de CPT1 e UCP2 no GH comparado ao GC. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas no conteúdo de GLUT1 entre os grupos, entretanto, observamos maior conteúdo do GLUT4 no GH. Além disso, encontramos maior conteúdo de AMPK no GH, ao passo que o conteúdo de pAMPK foi semelhante entre os grupos. Entretanto, a razão pAMPK/AMPK é significativamente menor no GH. Esses resultados sugerem que a hiperalimentação durante a lactação leva a obesidade na vida adulta com alterações na bioenergética e ultraestrutura dos cardiomiócitos. / Obesity is a chronic disease resulting from the excess of fat in the body. The increase of obesity in the world has been on the clinical and epidemiological phenomenon of the present. Population studies and animal models, show that the origin of the "obesity epidemic", is related to genetic factors and habits acquired during early and adult life, such as changes in dietary habits and reduction in physical activity. In this context, nutritional changes during the period of lactation play an important role in the development of obesity, type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Mitochondria are the central coordinators of energy metabolism, playing a role in the survival and function of the cardiomyocytes due to high energy demand of the myocardium. Functional and structural alterations of this organelle have been associated with metabolic disorders as well to myocardium dysfunction, and consequent progression of cardiomyopathies. In this study, we evaluated the bioenergetics and the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes from obese (OG) and control (CG) mice overfed during lactation. The oxygen consumption of cardiac fibers was assessed by high resolution respirometry, using a 2K-oxigraph-Oroboros. The ultrastructure of the cardiomyocytes was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, and the content of proteins carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), glucose transporter 1 and 4, (GLUT1) and (GLUT4), activated Protein kinase by AMP (AMPK) and AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylated (pAMPK) was assessed by Western Blotting (WB). In addition, animal body mass, retroperitoneal and epididymal fat, and fasting blood glucose were determined. Our results confirmed that animals in group OG, at 90 days of life, showed an increase in body mass and mediastinun and retroperitoneal fat when compared with CG. Respiratory rates were similar in both groups when we used complexes I and II substrates. However, when palmitoil-L-carnitine fatty acid was used, the maximum respiratory rate of OG was significantly lower than CG. The ultrastructural analysis of the cardiomyocytes of OG showed intense damage in mitochondrial matrix and greater presence of lipid droplets, characterizing ectopic deposition. WB analyses showed a significant increase of CPT1 and UCP2 contents in OG compared to CG. There were no significant differences in GLUT1 content between groups; however, we observed a greater content of GLUT4 in OG. In addition, we found a higher content of AMPK in OG, while the content of pAMPK was similar between groups. However, the pAMPK/AMPK ratio was significantly lower in OG. These results suggest that overfeeding during lactation leads to obesity in adult life with changes in bioenergetics and ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes.