Entrainment of respiratory frequency to exercise rhythm during hypoxia.

Breathing frequency (f) is often reported as having an integer-multiple relationship to limb movement (entrainment) during rhythmic exercise. To investigate the strength of this coupling while running under hypoxic conditions, two male Caucasians and four male Nepalese porters were tested in the Annapurna region of the Himalayas at altitudes of 915, 2,135, 3,200, 4,420, and 5,030 m. In an additional study in a laboratory at sea level, three male and four female subjects inspired various O2-N2 mixtures [fraction of inspired O2 (FIO2) = 20.93, 17.39, 14.40, 11.81%] that were administered in a single-blind randomized fashion during a treadmill run (40% FIO2 maximum O2 consumption). Breathing and gait signals were stored on FM tape and later processed on a PDP 11/73 computer. The subharmonic relationships between these signals were determined from Fourier analysis (power spectrum), and the coincidence of coupling occurrence was statistically modeled. Entrainment decreased linearly during increasing hypoxia (P less than 0.01). Moreover, a significant linear increase in f occurred during hypoxia (P less than 0.05), whereas stride frequency and metabolic rate remained constant, suggesting that hypoxic-induced increases in f decreased the degree of entrainment.

Evaluation of a dielectrophoretic bacterial counting technique.

Dielectrophoresis, an electrokinetic migration of particles, can occur in non-uniform alternating electric fields and is dependent upon the dielectric nature of the cells and their suspending medium. An enumeration system utilising this phenomenon is described, which has the potential to count particles selectively, including different bacterial or eukaryotic cell species and even sub-populations of different cell viability states or sizes. Relationships were observed between suspension concentrations and the extent of dielectrophoretic (DEP) collection for polystyrene latex beads, pure bacterial samples and mixtures of bacterial species including Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. A similar relationship was utilised for polystyrene latex as a calibration line to enable the concentration of particles in a suspension to be determined according to the level of DEP collection. The particle concentration of an unknown test sample was found to lie within the predicted concentration range determined on the basis of DEP collection. In addition, the predicted limits were found only to deviate between -6.2 and +6.9% from the mean particle concentration.

Mechanisms for enhanced biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by a microbe-colonized gas-liquid foam.

AIMS: A microbe-colonized gas-liquid foam formulation has been previously shown to provide enhanced biodegradation capabilities in soil microcosms. The present study considers the reservoir properties of this foam and how this affects hydrocarbon degradation rates. METHODS AND RESULTS: Oxygen solubility in protein hydrolysate solutions draining from aerated and oxygenated foams was measured. The suitability of oxygenated foam to enhance the degradation of n-hexadecane in soil microcosms was assessed. Sorption of bacterial isolates at the gas-liquid interface was also investigated using a range of microscopy techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Oxygenated bioactive foam enhanced biodegradation rates by improving oxygen availability and transfer. Biodegradation of n-hexadecane was also stimulated by the protein hydrolysate used and by the inclusion of known bacterial hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria. The interaction of bacteria with the gas-liquid interface was shown to be a significant factor governing the drainage of the bacteria from the bioactive foam. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Protein hydrolysate-based bioactive foam may be a suitable treatment technology to enhance the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil.

Measurement of the dielectrophoretic enrichment of yeast on grid electrodes using image analysis.

Dielectrophoresis using grid electrode structures offers many advantages for the abstraction and enrichment of cells in analytical microbiology. Modifications to the quantification method of a grid-based dielectrophoresis system are described, utilizing a more rapid and efficient image analysis technique. The grid electrode arrangement enabled dielectrophoretic enrichment of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, resulting in between 36.2 and 46.1% concentration of cells (by a single pass), relative to an identical control sample suspension analysed without an applied electric field. These enrichment factors compare favourably with previously obtained data using alternative measurement techniques. In addition, the image analysis technique is considerably less labour intensive and enables the continuous detection of cellular concentration and dielectrophoretic behaviour. Utilizing differences in frequency dependent cell responses, the system described could be suitable for highly selective pre-enrichment or cell separation on a large scale. Dielectrophoretic techniques, including enrichment, viable cell analysis and assessment of low microbial concentrations, could enhance or replace many existing methods for the analysis of micro-organisms and other cells.