Characterisation of fluid flow through porous media using three-dimensional microimaging and pulsed gradient stimulated echo NMR.

Pulsed gradient stimulated echo (PGSTE) and microimaging nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) are used to probe correlations between structure and flow in the void space of a model porous system formed from a packing of 1-mm diameter glass spheres. The pulsed gradient stimulated echo data determine the average propagator and permit the dispersion of the flow to be studied as a function of delay time. Microimaging yields structural information and, specifically, a reduced radial distribution function (rdf) for the structure of the void space.

MRI study of non-aqueous phase liquid extraction from porous media.

Magnetic resonance imaging is used to investigate, at the pore scale, the dissolution and mobilisation of discrete non-aqueous phase liquid (octanol) ganglia trapped within porous media by capillary forces, by a mobile aqueous phase. Dissolution is observed to be described by a mass-transfer limited model. Mobilisation of entrapped ganglia commences at lower flowrates when a surfactant is introduced into the mobile aqueous phase.

Diffusion of liquids into semicrystalline polyethylene.

Pulsed field gradient (PFG) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and microimaging experiments have been performed to study the diffusion of liquid alkanes into a variety of semicrystalline polyethylene (PE) samples. The results highlight the importance of the crystalline phase in controlling the diffusion process in terms of both the geometric impedance imposed by the presence of impenetrable crystals and their effect on the mobility of the polymer chains comprising the amorphous material through which the penetrants migrate.

Visualisation of structure and flow in packed beds.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volume- and velocity-measurement techniques are used to probe structure-flow correlations within the interparticle space of a packed bed of ballotini. Images of the three mutually orthogonal components of the velocity field are obtained in axial and radial image slices within a bed of 5-mm-diameter ballotini, packed within a glass column of internal diameter 4.6 cm.

Peripheral O2 diffusion does not affect V(O2)on-kinetics in isolated insitu canine muscle.

To test the hypothesis that muscle O2 uptake (V(O2)) on-kinetics is limited, at least in part, by peripheral O2 diffusion, we determined the V(O2) on-kinetics in 1) normoxia (Control); 2) hyperoxic gas breathing (Hyperoxia); and 3) hyperoxia and the administration of a drug (RSR-13, Allos Therapeutics), which right-shifts the Hb-O2 dissociation curve (Hyperoxia+RSR-13). The study was conducted in isolated canine gastrocnemius muscles (n = 5) during transitions from rest to 3 min of electrically stimulated isometric tetanic contractions (200-ms trains, 50 Hz; 1 contraction/2 s; 60-70% peak V(O2)). In all conditions, before and during contractions, muscle was pump perfused with constantly elevated blood flow (Q), at a level measured at steady state during contractions in preliminary trials with spontaneous Q x Adenosine was infused intra-arterially to prevent inordinate pressure increases with the elevated Q x Q was measured continuously, arterial and popliteal venous O2 concentrations were determined at rest and at 5- to 7-s intervals during contractions, and V(O2) was calculated as Q x arteriovenous O2 content difference.

Faster adjustment of O2 delivery does not affect V(O2) on-kinetics in isolated in situ canine muscle.

The mechanism(s) limiting muscle O2 uptake (VO2) kinetics was investigated in isolated canine gastrocnemius muscles (n = 7) during transitions from rest to 3 min of electrically stimulated isometric tetanic contractions (200-ms trains, 50 Hz; 1 contraction/2 s; 60-70% of peak V(O2)). Two conditions were mainly compared: 1) spontaneous adjustment of blood flow (Q) [control, spontaneous Q (C Spont)]; and 2) pump-perfused Q, adjusted approximately 15 s before contractions at a constant level corresponding to the steady-state value during contractions in C Spont [faster adjustment of O2 delivery (Fast O2 Delivery)]. During Fast O2 Delivery, 1-2 ml/min of 10(-2) M adenosine were infused intra-arterially to prevent inordinate pressure increases with the elevated Q.

Lactate distribution in the blood during steady-state exercise.

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the plasma to red blood cell (RBC) lactate concentration ([La]) gradient and RBC:plasma [La] ratio during 30 min of steady-state cycle ergometer exercise at work rates below lactate threshold (
Methods: Eight subjects (cycling VO2peak = 41.6+/-1.

Bioenergetics of contracting skeletal muscle after partial reduction of blood flow.

The purpose of this study was to examine the bioenergetics and regulation of O2 uptake (VO2) and force production in contracting muscle when blood flow was moderately reduced during a steady-state contractile period. Canine gastrocnemius muscle (n = 5) was isolated, and 3-min stimulation periods of isometric, tetanic contractions were elicited sequentially at rates of 0.25, 0.

Lactate influx into red blood cells from trained and untrained human subjects.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the fractional contributions of the three pathways of lactate transport (band 3 system, nonionic diffusion, and monocarboxylate pathway) into red blood cells (RBC) from trained and untrained humans.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 19 male subjects: 5 untrained, 5 aerobically-trained, 5 competitive collegiate cross-country runners, and 4 competitive collegiate sprinters. The influx of lactate into the RBC was measured by a radioactive tracer technique using [14C]lactate.

Effect of induced alkalosis on exhaustive leg press performance.

Purpose: Fifteen males were studied before, during, and in recovery from exhaustive resistance exercise 105 min after ingesting 0.3 g.kg-1 of either a placebo (white flour) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3).

Magnetic resonance imaging studies of diffusion in polymers.

For a number of polymer/penetrant systems, for example fatty foods in direct contact with plastic wrapping, the migration of substances from the polymer is governed by the amount of penetrant entering the polymer. For food packaging this means that the rate of migration of substances into the food can be governed by the uptake of food into the packaging itself. To develop predictive models of migration under various conditions there is therefore a need to understand the mechanism of the penetration of the food into the packaging.

Lactate distribution in the blood during progressive exercise.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of increment durations of 1-min and 4-min during progressive incremental exercise tests on: 1) the distribution of lactate between plasma and red blood cells (RBCs), and 2) lactate threshold (LT) detection via three conventional methods using whole blood lactate concentration ([La]) or plasma [La]. Eight males (age, 22.5 +/- 0.

Muscle glycogen resynthesis after short term, high intensity exercise and resistance exercise.

Typical rates of muscle glycogen resynthesis after short term, high intensity exercise (15.1 to 33.6 mmol/kg/h) are much higher than glycogen resynthesis rates following prolonged exercise (approximately 2 mmol/kg/h), even when optimal amounts of oral carbohydrate are supplied (approximately mmol/kg/h).

Structure-transport relationships in porous media.

An understanding of adsorption, transport, and reaction processes occurring within porous materials is central to the design and optimisation of chemical processing operations such as gas separations, catalysis, and soil remediation. To address many of the important questions in these areas the process engineer needs to characterise heterogeneities in both the physical and chemical properties of porous media, and to identify the importance of these properties in determining the operating characteristics of the system under consideration. In this paper three examples, each considering different types of structure-transport correlation, are discussed: (1) single and binary component adsorption processes in zeolites, (2) structure and transport heterogeneity in porous catalyst pellets, and (3) the characterisation of the interparticle space in packed beds of particles.

Lactate influx into red blood cells of athletic and nonathletic species.

Transport of lactate across the erythrocyte membrane proceeds by three distinct pathways: 1) nonionic diffusion of lactic acid, 2) inorganic anion exchange (band 3), and 3) a monocarboxylate-specific (MC) carrier mechanism. This study determined the contributions of these three pathways in the red blood cells (RBCs) of "athletic" and "nonathletic" species. Blood samples were obtained from four male animals of each species: 1) Canis familiaris (dogs), 2) Capra hircus (goats), 3) Equus caballus (horses), and 4) Bos taurus (cattle).

Increased [lactate] in working dog muscle reduces tension development independent of pH.

The purpose of this work was to examine the effect of the lactate ion on the fatigue process in working muscle independent of muscle [H+]. L-(+)-lactate was infused, at a pH that did not change arterial pH, into the blood perfusing an isolated, in situ dog gastrocnemius (N = 5) working at a submaximal intensity (isometric contractions at 2 Hz) and compared with control (C) conditions without lactate infusion. Each muscle was stimulated to work for two 60-min periods (separated by 45 min rest), consisting of three 20-min time periods with either the high arterial lactate condition (high [La]) or C condition sequentially ordered within each 60-min work period.

Rapid tracer lactate influx into canine skeletal muscle.

This study evaluated the effects of various lactate transport inhibitors and competitors on rapid tracer lactate influx into the canine gastrocnemius-plantaris muscle (GP). GPs of 25 anesthetized dogs were perfused with red blood cell-free media in situ. At 0.

Effects of flow and contraction on lactate transport in the perfused rat hindlimb.

A perfused rat hindlimb preparation was used to assess the effects of perfusate flow and electrical stimulation to mimic exercise on the rates of lactate influx (measured by a dual tracer technique with [3H]mannitol as the extracellular marker) and net lactate production. The same perfused muscle system was also used for assessing the effects of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (CIN, 15 mM), phloretin (0.6 mM), and pyruvate on tracer lactate influx.

Effect of lactate concentration and metabolic rate on net lactate uptake by canine skeletal muscle.

This study addressed two questions: 1) Does net lactate uptake (L) by muscle approach a saturation limit with increasing blood lactate concentration ([La])? 2) Is the muscle net L response to increasing blood [La] affected by metabolic rate (VO2)? The gastrocnemius plantaris muscle group (GP) was isolated in situ in 20 anesthetized dogs. In three series of experiments, a lactate-lactic acid solution was infused into the arterial inflow of the GP to produce five different plasma [La] values: approximately 3, 9, 16, 22, and 30 mM, each of them maintained for 30 min. In one series, the GP remained at rest, whereas in the second series it contracted at 1 Hz and in the third series at 4 Hz.

L-(+)-lactate infusion into working dog gastrocnemius: no evidence lactate per se mediates VO2 slow component.

Constant-load exercise that engenders a sustained lactic acidosis (i.e., above the lactate threshold) is accompanied by a slow component of O2 uptake (VO2) kinetics that increases VO2 above rather than toward the predicted value.

Probing the structure of porous pellets: an NMR study of drying.

Partially saturated porous catalyst support pellets have been studied using NMR relaxation, PGSE, and imaging techniques. Spatially nonresolved PGSE data were acquired as a function of the fractional saturation of the pellets during drying. Combination of these data with an estimate of the width of the pore-size distribution, as determined by mercury porosimetry, and the results of numerical simulations of diffusion in a random pore network enabled predictions of the connectivity of the pore structure to be determined.

Effect of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on exhaustive resistance exercise performance.

Six weight trained males were studied prior to, during, and in recovery from exhaustive resistance exercise, 105 min after ingesting 300 mg.kg-1 of either a placebo or NaHCO3. The exercise test consisted of four sets of 12 repetitions with a fifth set to volitional fatigue on a Universal leg press machine at a resistance equaling approximately 70% of the subjects 1-repetition maximum.

Effect of blood flow on net lactate uptake during steady-level contractions in canine skeletal muscle.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of blood flow on net lactate uptake (L) at constant elevated blood lactate concentration and metabolic rate in the in situ dog gastrocnemius-plantaris (GP) muscle. In all experiments, an infusion of lactate/lactic acid at a pH of 3.8 established a blood lactate concentration of 10-13 mM while maintaining normal blood gas/pH status as the GP was stimulated to contract with twitches at 1 Hz.

Net lactate uptake during progressive steady-level contractions in canine skeletal muscle.

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in net lactate uptake (L) by skeletal muscle with a constant elevated blood lactate concentration during steady-level contractions of increasing intensity. The gastrocnemius-plantaris muscle group was isolated in situ in 11 anesthetized dogs. An infusion of lactate/lactic acid at a pH of 3.