In this dissertation, a new reconstruction algorithm to estimate the complete temperature field during hyperthermia is developed which relies upon a limited amount of transient measured temperature data. The predictive capabilities of this new algorithm are then systematically studied; first using one-dimensional simulated treatments, then using three-dimensional simulated treatments, and finally applying it to hyperthermia treatments of normal canine thighs. It was found that this new algorithm predicts the complete temperature fields more accurately and robustly than the steady-state approach. In particular, it can better predict the complete temperature fields in situations where the number of unknown blood perfusion parameters are greater than the number of available temperature sensors. It was also found that the steady-state temperature field could be estimated to within 1°C if there was no measurement noise, no model mismatch, and as few as three measurement locations for seven perfusion zones. The addition of measurement noise degraded the performance of this estimation algorithm especially when the number of measurement locations was small. It was found that use of Tikhonov regularization of order zero significantly improved the performance of the algorithm and that there was an optimal choice for the regularization parameter. For the animal experiments, normal canine thighs were instrumented with one-hundred twelve thermocouples and heated to steady-state using a 6 cm planar ultrasound transducer operating at 0.5 MHz: then the power was turned off and the transient cool down temperature data was stored for later use by the reconstruction algorithm. Only a subset of the one-hundred twelve measurements was used as input to the reconstruction algorithm. The remaining measurements were used to compare the results of the reconstruction algorithm with the true temperatures. The results showed that in general the predicted perfusion and reconstructed temperature field did not change significantly as sensors were removed. However, the error was quite large for some of the situations studied particularly when only twenty-seven piecewise constant regions of perfusion were used. Increasing the number of perfusion regions reduced this error suggesting that model mismatch had contributed significantly to the error.

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Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The thermoregulatory responses of subjects wearing two different forms of rugby league jersey, one with plastic sponsorship recognition and numbering (trial Gl) and one without (trial G2), and a lightweight alternative (trial G3), were compared with a trial without any form of upper body garment (trial GO). Ten male volunteers, mean age 20.9 (±2.3) years, height 179.8 (±4.7) cm, weight 80.2 (±8.9) kg, and body surface area 1.99 (±0.13) m2, participated in this study. Subjects had a mean maximal oxygen uptake capacity of 56.0 (±6.3) ml.kg.min-1 and a sum of 8 skinfolds of 80.6 (±23.8) mm. Subjects were exercised at approximately 50% of maximal oxygen uptake in a warm humid environment for 50 minutes. Mean ambient temperature was 27.6°C (±0.32) with a relative humidity of 64.7% (±1.44). Measurements of core and skin (7 sites) temperature, heart rate, oxygen uptake, plasma volume, peak lactate concentration, and pre- and post-trial body weight, hematocrit and garment weight were recorded. The statistical results showed that all subjects experienced significant (p ≤.0001) decreases in body weight representing a percentage decrease ranging from 1.2-1.3%. No significant difference was found between trials with respect to body weight change. No significant effect of garment type was found on pre- and post-trial hematocrit, plasma volume changes or peak blood lactic acid concentration. However, mean peak lactate was highest for trial Gl (5.6 mmol.L-1 ±2.2) and lowest for trial G3 (4.6 mmol.L-1 ±1.27). Post-trial core temperature was significantly (p≤ .0001) higher than the resting value; no significant difference was found between trials. The mean absolute increase for all experimental trials was 0.9°C. A significant (p≤.005) difference between mean total (7 sites) skin temperature was found with a post-hoc test revealing that trials Gl and G2 were significantly higher than trial GO; no significant difference was found when comparing trial G3 with trial GO or when comparing the garments between each other. Mean skin temperature under the garment (4 sites) was found to be significantly (p≤.05) higher for all trials involving a garment when compared with mean skin temperature outside (3 sites) the garment; no significant difference was found between trials. Mean oxygen uptake was significantly different between trials (p≤.005), with trial Gl and G3 found to be significantly lower than trial GO; no difference was found when comparing the garments with each other. Post-trial garment weights were significantly (p≤.001) heavier than pre-trial and were significantly (p≤.0001) different when compared with each other. There was no significant effect on heart rate, haematocrit, plasma volume changes, peak blood lactic acid concentration, or core temperature due to garment type. However, differences in skin temperature suggest that the garment used in trial G3 may have a benefit. Further research should consider the impact of increased exercise intensity and/or environmental temperature and humidity on the measured parameters while wearing the garments described in this study.

In cattle and sheep, a significant decrease in temperature has been noted prior to parturition. In the mare, similar temperature decreases have been documented, although results have been inconsistent when temperatures were taken rectally. One study reported a significant temperature decrease when using data from a radio transmitter inserted into the mare’s flank. The current study utilized nineteen Quarter Horse mares and one Thoroughbred mare, and was conducted from February to June 2006. Each mare had been previously implanted in the nuchal ligament with a microchip capable of reporting body temperatures. Blood collection and temperature recordings began 2 wk prior to each mare’s expected foaling date. Once the mare was estimated to be within 48 h of parturition, temperature was recorded every 3 h until parturition using both the microchip and rectal thermometer. Progesterone and estradiol 17-b were evaluated from daily blood samples from -10 to ± 5 d relative to foaling for determination of the relationship between these steroids and body temperature, time of foaling, birth weight and sex of foal. A significant decrease in rectal temperature (P < 0.05) was noted when the last temperature recorded was taken within 12h of parturition. Microchip data did not demonstrate any significant differences among readings before parturition. No significant difference was noted in the mean rectal temperature of all days relative to the sex of the neonate; however, microchip data showed mares carrying females to have a significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean rectal temperature of all days. Sex of the foal was not shown to be related to maternal concentrations of either progesterone or estradiol 17- b. A direct significant correlation between temperature and maternal plasma concentrations and progesterone and estradiol 17-b was found.

No description available.