scholarly journals The alveolar gas equation: do lessons from WW2 research into high flying pilots provide insights into the adaptation to high altitude flight in birds?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Seear

AbstractDalton’s law of partial pressures applies equally to birds and mammals so, as gas moves from the nostrils to the smallest gas-diffusion airways, the sequential addition of water vapour and CO2, steadily reduce the partial pressure of O2 (PO2) within the gas mixture. The PO2, at the point of gas exchange, at sea level, will be about 60 mm Hg less than the original PO2 within atmospheric air. As a result, the inspired PO2 is an inaccurate starting point for any model of oxygen transport. In humans, the interactions of gases at the point of diffusion, is described and quantified by the Alveolar Gas Equation (AGE). Its development during WW2, provided valuable insights into human gas exchange and also into the responses to high altitude flight in pilots but, except for an early study of hypoxia in pigeons, the AGE is not mentioned in the avian literature. Even detailed models of oxygen transport in birds omit the effect of CO2 clearance on pulmonary oxygen transfer. This paper develops two related arguments concerning the application of the AGE to birds. The first is that avian blood gas predictions, based on the theory of multicapillary serial arterialization (MSA), are inaccurate because they do not account for the added partial pressure of diffused CO2. The second is that the primary adaptation to hypobaric hypoxia is the same for both classes and consists of defending PaO2 by reducing PaCO2 through increasing hyperventilation. Support for the first is demonstrated by comparing PaO2 predictions made using the AGE, with published values from avian studies and also against values predicted by the theory of MSA. The second is illustrated by comparing the results of high altitude studies of both birds and humans. The application of the AGE to avian respiratory physiology would improve the predictive accuracy of models of the O2 cascade and would also provide better insights into the primary adaptation to high altitude flight.

1987 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 371-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRIAN R. McMAHON ◽  
WARREN W. BURGGREN

The Japanese weatherloaeh (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus Cantor) can exchange gases both with water, via gills and skin, and with air, via the posterior region of the alimentary canal (intestine). Air breathing occurs by unidirectional ventilation of the alimentary canal with air taken in at the mouth and simultaneous expulsion of intestinal gas from the vent. Although the weatherloaeh is not an obligate air-breather, aerial gas exchange normally occurs even at 10°C in air-saturated water. The alimentary canal was examined histologically to assess differences in capillary density and distribution and the diffusion distance for gases across those regions modified for aerial respiration. A respirometer system specifically designed for 2- to 3-g fish allowed continuous measurement of O2 and CO2 exchange via both aquatic and aerial routes at rest and at various ambient temperatures, and respiratory gas partial pressures. Air ventilation volumes, O2 and CO2 partial pressures of exhaled gas, O2 extraction, and O2 and CO2 exchange via the intestine were also determined, allowing the role of the intestine in total gas exchange in the weatherloaeh to be determined and compared with aerial gas exchange organs in other fishes. The alimentary canal is divided into three zones, an anterior glandular portion separated by a spiral section from the posterior, respiratory zone which has the greatest capillary densities and shortest gas diffusion distances. At rest (20°C), the intestine takes up about 20% of total O2 but accounts for less than 3 % of total CO2 elimination (gas exchange ratio = 0.08 for intestine). O2 extraction averages 50%. Increasing temperature causes only slight increases in total metabolic rate (Q10 for MOO2= 1.5-1.8), but highly significant increases in intestinal gas exchange relative to total gas exchange develop as temperature rises. Intestinal gas exchange also rises with decreasing O2 availability. A strong hypoxic drive and weak hypercapnic drive exist for aerial ventilation of the intestine, but are reduced or absent for aquatic ventilation of the gills. In spite of having to function in respiration, absorption, secretion and buoyancy regulation, the potential effectiveness of intestinal gas exchange is shown to be similar to that of other structures used for aerial gas exchange in facultative air-breathing fish.


Author(s):  
John W. Kreit

Gas Exchange explains how four processes—delivery of oxygen, excretion of carbon dioxide, matching of ventilation and perfusion, and diffusion—allow the respiratory system to maintain normal partial pressures of oxygen (PaO2) and carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in the arterial blood. Partial pressure is important because O2 and CO2 molecules diffuse between alveolar gas and pulmonary capillary blood and between systemic capillary blood and the tissues along their partial pressure gradients, and diffusion continues until the partial pressures are equal. Ventilation is an essential part of gas exchange because it delivers O2, eliminates CO2, and determines ventilation–perfusion ratios. This chapter also explains how and why abnormalities in each of these processes may reduce PaO2, increase PaCO2, or both.


Author(s):  
Philip J. Peyton

Under the three-compartment model of ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) scatter, Bohr-Enghoff calculation of alveolar deadspace fraction (VDA/VA) uses arterial CO2 partial pressure measurement as an approximation of "ideal" alveolar CO2(ideal PACO2). However, this simplistic model suffers from several inconsistencies. Modelling of realistic physiological distributions of VA and Q instead suggests an alternative concept of "ideal" alveolar gas at the VA/Q ratio where uptake or elimination rate of a gas is maximal. The alveolar-capillary partial pressure at this "modal" point equals the mean of expired alveolar and arterial partial pressures, regardless of VA/Q scatter severity or overall VA/Q. For example, modal ideal PACO2 can be estimated from Estimated modal ideal PACO2 = (PACO2+PaCO2)/2 Using a multicompartment computer model of log normal distributions of VA and Q, agreement of this estimate with the modal ideal PACO2 located at the VA/Q ratio of maximal compartmental VCO2 was assessed across a wide range of severity of VA/Q scatter and overall VA/Q ratio. Agreement of VDA/VA for CO2 from the Bohr equation using modal idealPCO2 with that using the estimated value was also assessed. Estimated modal ideal PACO2 agreed closely with modal ideal PACO2, intraclass correlation (ICC) > 99.9%. There was no significant difference between VDA/VACO2 using either value for ideal PACO2. Modal ideal PACO2 reflects a physiologically realistic concept of ideal alveolar gas where there is maximal gas exchange effectiveness in a physiological distribution of VA/Q, which is generalizable to any inert gas, and is practical to estimate from arterial and end-expired CO2 partial pressures.


Author(s):  
Henrik Grimler ◽  
Annika Carlson ◽  
Henrik Ekström ◽  
Carina Lagergren ◽  
Rakel Wreland Lindström ◽  
...  

Abstract To promote the development of anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC), an understanding of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics in porous gas diffusion electrodes is essential. In this work, experimental polarisation curves for electrodes with different platinum catalyst loadings and oxygen partial pressures at the cathode are fitted to a physics-based porous electrode model in the voltage range from open circuit voltage (OCV) to 0.7 V. The model is verified against polarisation curves with different anode platinum catalyst loading, and hydrogen partial pressures. The reactions are described using a two-step Tafel-Volmer pathway at the anode and concentration-dependent Butler-Volmer kinetics at the cathode. The model shows a good fit to the kinetic region with an exchange current density of 1.0e-8 A/cm2, for oxygen humidified to 95 % RH at 50 °C, a charge transfer coefficient of 0.8 and a first order dependence on oxygen partial pressure. For lower oxygen partial pressure, hydrogen crossover is needed for explaining the downward shift of the polarisation curves in the kinetic region. In the experimental data, the polarisation curves show an apparent limitation at lower hydrogen partial pressures, which can be explained by the lower rate of the Tafel step at these conditions.


Author(s):  
Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja ◽  
Natalia Zubieta-DeUrioste

Acute high-altitude illnesses are of great concern for physicians and people traveling to high altitude. Our recent article “Acute Mountain Sickness, High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema and High-Altitude Cerebral Edema, a View from the High Andes” was questioned by some sea-level high-altitude experts. As a result of this, we answer some observations and further explain our opinion on these diseases. High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) can be better understood through the Oxygen Transport Triad, which involves the pneumo-dynamic pump (ventilation), the hemo-dynamic pump (heart and circulation), and hemoglobin. The two pumps are the first physiologic response upon initial exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. Hemoglobin is the balancing energy-saving time-evolving equilibrating factor. The acid-base balance must be adequately interpreted using the high-altitude Van Slyke correction factors. Pulse-oximetry measurements during breath-holding at high altitude allow for the evaluation of high altitude diseases. The Tolerance to Hypoxia Formula shows that, paradoxically, the higher the altitude, the more tolerance to hypoxia. In order to survive, all organisms adapt physiologically and optimally to the high-altitude environment, and there cannot be any “loss of adaptation”. A favorable evolution in HAPE and pulmonary hypertension can result from the oxygen treatment along with other measures.


2014 ◽  
Vol 789 ◽  
pp. 466-470
Author(s):  
Qing Hao Shi ◽  
Bing Ying Wang ◽  
Bin Zhao

The corrosion mechanism of organic silicon modified polyurea composite coating under different CO2 partial pressures was studied using high-temperature autoclave, combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), adhesion tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technology. The experimental results showed that: there was no corrosion product formed on the surface of coating sample after high-temperature high-pressure corrosion test, and with the increasing of CO2 partial pressure, the coating adhesion and impedance values decline increases. Moreover CO2 partial pressure increases accelerated the failure process of polyurea composite coating system.


1986 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.J. Van Der Kolk ◽  
M.J. Verkerk

AbstractAl was evaporated at oxygen partial pressures, PO2, varying between 10−7 and 10−4 Pa on substrates of silicon nitride. The substrate temperature was varied between 20 °C and 250°C. The films were annealed at temperatures up to 500°C.For Al films deposited at 20°C, it was found that the average grain size decreases with increasing oxygen partial pressure. After annealing recrystallization was observed. The relative increase of grain size was less for higher values of pO2. Annealing gave rise to a broad grain size distribution.For Al films deposited at 250°C, the presence of oxygen caused the growth of rough inhomogeneous films. This inhomogeneous structure remained during annealing.


1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3580-3586 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Crossley ◽  
J. L. MacManus-Driscoll

A detailed study has been made of the control and optimization of partial melting of dipcoated Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8+δAg0.1 (Bi-2212) tapes using reduced oxygen partial pressures. A coulometric titration technique has been employed to vary the oxygen partial pressure in a region of the phase diagram corresponding to binary melting, and the amount of partial melting has been quantified. Using this information, tapes have been processed using both isothermal and isobaric techniques. An optimum processing route was determined which combined isothermal and isobaric processes. Highly aligned material at the point of optimum melting was obtained.


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