Damage Profiles Research Articles

PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION GUIDED BY PERIPHERAL OR CENTRAL BLOOD PRESSURE: COMPARISON OF THE TWO STRATEGIES IN THE INCIDENCE OF INTERMEDIATE OUTCOMES

Objective: To compare the parameters of central and peripheral blood pressure measurements, arterial stiffness, target organ damage (TOD), biochemical and renal profiles among participants who had the therapeutic strategy guided by central (CG) and peripheral (PG) blood pressure values. Design and method: Randomized study in two groups: CG and PG. Five visits were carried out, the first (V1) being selection and randomization followed by intermediate visits, every 3 months, to assess blood pressure and adjust antihypertensive drugs. The procedures performed in the initial and final visit (V5) were: measurement of central arterial pressure and pulse wave velocity (PWV) (mobil-o-graph) and peripheral (OMRON HEM1100), carotid ultrasound, echodopplercardiogram and laboratory tests. Paired and unpaired t and chi-square tests were used. Adopted significance level of 5% and a confidence interval of 95%. Results: A total of 59 participants were evaluated (30 from the CG and 29 from the PG). Age, BMI, central and peripheral blood pressure measurements, PWV, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), carotid intimal mean thickness, biochemical profile and glomerular filtration rate did not differ between the two groups (p > 0.05) in randomization. The augmentation index (AIx) was higher in the CG than in the PG at randomization (27.3% ± 12.2% vs 20.3% ± 13.3% p 0.041). After 1 year of follow-up, in the analysis between the groups, the central diastolic pressure was lower in the CG (78.9mmHg ± 9.7mmHg vs 84.3 ± 10.4mmHg, p 0.024) and the difference in AIx between the groups ceased to exist. When intra-group comparisons were made before and after the intervention, a reduction in the PWV (p < 0.001) and LVMI (p = 0.018) was observed in the CG. In PG there was an increase in PWV (p < 0.001) and LVMI (p = 0.003). Conclusions: The intervention guided by central pressure, after 1 year of follow-up, was able to reduce the central diastolic pressure and correct the AIx parameter and, in the intra-group analysis, it promoted a reduction in PWV and LVMI. There was no difference between the two groups regarding the improvement of outcomes related to central and peripheral blood pressure, cardiac and vascular TOD, biochemical and renal profile.

Quasi-Static Compression Response of Carbon Fiber Reinforced 2.5D Woven Composites at Different Loading Directions.

2.5D woven composites have been increasingly used in aerospace and military applications due to their excellent mechanical properties. In this research, 2.5D woven composites were produced, and their compression responses were investigated in different directions by compression experiments. XR-CT (X-ray computed tomography) technology was used to observe the microstructural damage profiles, and to analyze the failure mechanism of the material. The results show that when subjected to compression loads, the maximum load-bearing capacity of the material in the thickness direction was better than the maximum load-bearing capacity in the warp and weft directions. The compressive strength of the material in the warp and weft directions was lower than that in the thickness direction, and compression damage patterns in each direction also differed.

Coordination between phospholipid pools and DNA damage sensing.

Both phospholipid synthesis and the detection of DNA damage are coupled to cell cycle progression, yet whether these two aspects crosstalk to each other remains unassessed. We postulate here that shortage of phospholipids, which negatively affects proliferation, may reduce the need for checkpoint activation in response to DNA damage. To test this hypothesis, we explore herethe DNA Damage Response activation in response to seven different genotoxins, in three distinct cell types, and manipulate phospholipid synthesis both pharmacologically and genetically. This allows us to point at the DNA damage response kinase ATR as responsible for the coordination between phospholipid levels and DNA damage sensing. ATR could combine its ability to sense DNA damage and phospholipid profiles in order to finetune the response to DNA lesions depending on metabolic cues. Further, our analysis reveals the functional significance of this crosstalk to keep genome homeostasis.

Microscale Modeling of Particle Impact on Thermal Protection System Materials During High-Speed Entry

Micron-sized particles suspended in planetary atmospheres can damage thermal protection systems (TPS) during entry of space capsules into planetary bodies. TPS materials are complex heterogeneous carbon composites, where the microstructure of the composite can play a pivotal role in the propagation of damage caused by the impact. Here, we present the application of a novel computational technique called the lattice particle method to understand the initiation and growth of craters formed on TPS materials upon impact by particles. The simulations are initially compared against experiments that used borosilicate as the impacting particle and fused silica as the target surface. The simulations reproduce the damage profiles, diameters, and depths of the craters being formed on the target silica surface. A parametric study is then performed by varying the fracture strength of the target surface and the impacting particle. It is found that the profiles of the damaged region on the silica surface primarily depend on the fracture strength of the silica surface, and not the impacting particle. The simulations are extended to model the damage of porous carbon composites that are used as TPS materials. Microstructures of carbon composites are generated using an in-house code that has been shown to reproduce features of the real material in past studies. While the crater depth on the fused silica surface was within 38% irrespective of the fracture strength of the particle, the damaged depth changes by at least an order of magnitude when a carbon composite surface is used and the fracture strength of the impacting particle is varied. Finally, the influence of damage on the effective permeability is computed using the direct simulation Monte Carlo technique. The maximum increase in the permeability force for the damaged microstructures is found to be 22%, which is within the statistical variability of the material properties observed for the TPS material that is under investigation.

Countdown to perovskite space launch: Guidelines to performing relevant radiation-hardness experiments

<h2>Summary</h2> Perovskite photovoltaics (PVs) are under intensive development for promise in terrestrial energy production. Soon, the community will find out how much of that promise may become reality. Perovskites also open new opportunities for lower cost space power. However, radiation tolerance of space environments requires appropriate analysis of relevant devices irradiated under representative radiation conditions. We present guidelines designed to rigorously test the radiation tolerance of perovskite PVs. We review radiation conditions in common orbits, calculate nonionizing and ionizing energy losses (NIEL and IEL) for perovskites, and prioritize proton radiation for effective nuclear interactions. Low-energy protons (0.05–0.15 MeV) create a representative uniform damage profile, whereas higher energy protons (commonly used in ground-based evaluation) require significantly higher fluence to accumulate the equivalent displacement damage dose due to lower scattering probability. Furthermore, high-energy protons may "heal" devices through increased electronic ionization. These procedural guidelines differ from those used to test conventional semiconductors.

Internal low-velocity impact damage prediction in CFRP laminates using surface profiles and machine learning

Aircraft operators must maintain the safety of aircraft structures. In order to aim for an easier maintenance of impact damage on the composite structures, the possibility of inferring low-velocity impact (LVI) information in CFRP laminates from the surface damage profiles is verified. This study conducts several low-velocity impact tests considering three factors (stacking sequence, impactor shape, and impact energy), inducing barely visible impact damage on specimens. This is followed by surface profile and internal damage measurements. Subsequently, original features that could contribute to inferring impact information were created from the surface profile. After feature engineering, the predictability of impactor shape, delamination area , and delamination length was confirmed using three machine learning models. The results indicated that the models could infer approximately 80 % of them correctly using dent depth and the volume of indentation. The proposed model enables us to infer non-visible impact information from visible one generally without a great deal of inspections.

Dietary restriction modulates mitochondrial DNA damage and oxylipin profile in aged rats.

Age-related impairment of coordination of the processes of maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis is associated with a decrease in the functionality of cells and leads to degenerative processes. mtDNA can be a marker of oxidative stress and tissue degeneration. However, the mechanism of accumulation of age-related damage in mtDNA remains unclear. In the present study, we analyzed the accumulation of mtDNA damage in several organs of rats during aging and the possibility of reversing these alterations by dietary restriction (DR). We showed that mtDNA of brain compartments (with the exception of the cerebellum), along with kidney mtDNA, was the most susceptible to accumulation of age-related damage, whereas liver, testis, and lung were the least susceptible organs. DR prevented age-related accumulation of mtDNA damage in the cortex and led to its decrease in the lung and testis. Changes in mtDNA copy number and expression of genes involved in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy were also tissue-specific. There was a tendency for an age-related decrease in the copy number of mtDNA in the striatum and its increase in the kidney. DR promoted an increase in the amount of mtDNA in the cerebellum and hippocampus. mtDNA damage may be associated not only with the metabolic activity of organs, but also with the lipid composition and activity of processes associated with the isoprostanes pathway of lipid peroxidation. The comparison of polyunsaturated fatty acids and oxylipin profiles in old rats showed that DR decreased the synthesis of arachidonic acid and its metabolites synthesized by the cyclooxygenase, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and lipoxygenase metabolic pathways.

Application of X-ray diffraction and reflectometry methods for analysis of damaged layers on polar faces of ZnO after surface chemical-mechanical treatment

ZnO single crystals are used for the fabrication of laser targets for high-energy electron irradiated UV laser cathode-ray tubes and homoepitaxial substrates for lasers. The technology of ZnO based UV LEDs imposes strict requirements to surface quality. Chemical-mechanical polishing delivers good surface quality but it is known that polishing of ZnO polar faces may yield different results. Surface-sensitive high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) and X-ray reflectometry (XRR) methods have been used for studying the structure of (0001) and (000–1) polar faces of ZnO after chemical-mechanical polishing. Two double-sided polished (0001) ZnO substrates have been cut out from different hydrothermally grown ingots. The damage and density depth profiles for the Zn and O faces of the specimens have been retrieved from the X-ray diffraction curves and the specular reflection curves, respectively. Intensity distributions in the vicinity of the [0002] and [0000] reciprocal lattice sites have been taken on a D8 Discover X-ray diffractometer (Bruker-AXS, Germany) in a triple-crystal setup. For separating the coherent and incoherent scattering components, the intensity profiles have been analyzed along sections perpendicular to the diffraction vector and located at different distances from the reciprocal lattice sites. The HRXRD and XRR data have been compared with atomic force microscopy (AFM) data. The HRXRD method has revealed damaged layers at both faces of the specimens, with the layer thicknesses differing for the Zn and O faces, i.e., 5–7 nm for the Zn face and 10–11 nm for the O face. The XRR method has shown that both faces are sufficiently smooth. These results have been confirmed by AFM (RMS roughness ~ 0.23 ± 0.07 nm). However, the concentration of electrons in the superficial layers has been found to change. The layer thickness proves to be greater for the O face. We have hypothesized that the phenomena observed are caused by the difference in the chemical interaction of the Zn and O faces with the polishing agents.

Application of X-ray diffraction and reflectometry methods for analysis of damaged layers on polar faces of ZnO after surface chemical-mechanical treatment

ZnO single crystals are used for the fabrication of laser targets for high-energy electron irradiated UV laser cathode-ray tubes and homoepitaxial substrates for lasers. The technology of ZnO based UV LEDs imposes strict requirements to surface quality. Chemical-mechanical polishing delivers good surface quality but it is known that polishing of ZnO polar faces may yield different results. Surface-sensitive high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) and X-ray reflectometry (XRR) methods have been used for studying the structure of (0001) and (000–1) polar faces of ZnO after chemical-mechanical polishing. Two double-sided polished (0001) ZnO substrates have been cut out from different hydrothermally grown ingots. The damage and density depth profiles for the Zn and O faces of the specimens have been retrieved from the X-ray diffraction curves and the specular reflection curves, respectively. Intensity distributions in the vicinity of the [0002] and [0000] reciprocal lattice sites have been taken on a D8 Discover X-ray diffractometer (Bruker-AXS, Germany) in a triple-crystal setup. For separating the coherent and incoherent scattering components, the intensity profiles have been analyzed along sections perpendicular to the diffraction vector and located at different distances from the reciprocal lattice sites. The HRXRD and XRR data have been compared with atomic force microscopy (AFM) data. The HRXRD method has revealed damaged layers at both faces of the specimens, with the layer thicknesses differing for the Zn and O faces, i.e., 5–7 nm for the Zn face and 10–11 nm for the O face. The XRR method has shown that both faces are sufficiently smooth. These results have been confirmed by AFM (RMS roughness ~ 0.23 ± 0.07 nm). However, the concentration of electrons in the superficial layers has been found to change. The layer thickness proves to be greater for the O face. We have hypothesized that the phenomena observed are caused by the difference in the chemical interaction of the Zn and O faces with the polishing agents.

Simulation of the compaction of an all-solid-state battery cathode with coated particles using the discrete element method

The simulation of a cold-pressed electrode, which consists of active material (AM) particles coated with a solid electrolyte (SE), of an all-solid-state battery (ASSB), is presented. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of the SE coating structure on the performance of the ASSB. The new method we developed to simulate the SE-coated AM particles is based on a discrete element method. This approach enables us to simulate mold compaction as well as the delamination of SE from the AM particles. Simulation of the AM as clustered particles held together by fusion bonding allows the mechanical damage to the AM to be reproduced simultaneously. For a ductile SE material, new fusion bonding contacts with other particles could develop when pressure is applied. Our simulations suggest that the SE coating promotes more effective ionic transport, in contrast to conventional particle mixture, owing to the superior percolating network. At low mold pressures, electron transport between the AM particles is disrupted because of the shielding effect of the SE coating. This effect vanishes at higher mold pressures. Both types of electrodes (particle mixture and SE coating) have similar damage profiles, with damage concentrated near the current collector.

Changes in genotoxic stress response, ribogenesis and PAP (3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphate) levels are associated with loss of desiccation tolerance in overprimed Medicago truncatula seeds.

Re‐establishment of desiccation tolerance is essential for the survival of germinated seeds facing water deficit in the soil. The molecular and ultrastructural features of desiccation tolerance maintenance and loss within the nuclear compartment are not fully resolved. In the present study, the impact of desiccation‐induced genotoxic stress on nucleolar ultrastructure and ribogenesis was explored along the rehydration−dehydration cycle applied in standard seed vigorization protocols. Primed and overprimed Medicago truncatula seeds, obtained through hydropriming followed by desiccation (dry‐back), were analysed. In contrast to desiccation‐tolerant primed seeds, overprimed seeds enter irreversible germination and do not survive dry‐back. Reactive oxygen species, DNA damage and expression profiles of antioxidant/DNA Damage Response genes were measured, as main hallmarks of the seed response to desiccation stress. Nuclear ultrastructural features were also investigated. Overprimed seeds subjected to dry‐back revealed altered rRNA accumulation profiles and up‐regulation of genes involved in ribogenesis control. The signal molecule PAP (3′‐phosphoadenosine 5′‐phosphate) accumulated during dry‐back only in primed seeds, as a distinctive feature of desiccation tolerance. The presented results show the molecular and ultrastructural landscapes of the seed desiccation response, including substantial changes in nuclear organization.

A laboratory evaluation of nozzle tip damage in four generations of intraocular lens injector systems using a self-developed damage scale

During intraocular lens (IOL) implantation it is not uncommon for the injector’s nozzle-tip to get damaged. However, the damage has not been systematically described or evaluated using an objective scale. In this study we developed our own system—the Heidelberg Score for IOL Injector Damage (“HeiScore”), which was used to grade 60 injectors from four generations of injector models (Monarch III D, AcrySert C, UltraSert, AutonoMe) made by the same manufacturer. (Alcon Laboratories Inc.) HeiScore has six grades of nozzle-tip damage: no damage (which was graded 0); slight scratches (1), deep scratches (2), extensions (3), cracks (4) and bursts (graded number 5). The score for each injector model was the sum of all grades (total number), and we could compare the four injector models. The injectors showed varying damage profiles, from “no damage” to “crack”. A tendency of a lower damage score in the newer generations of IOL injectors was noted. However, a statistically significant difference was observed only between Monarch III D and AutonoMe. The “Heidelberg Score for IOL Injector Damage” could efficiently and effectively evaluate the damage to IOL injector systems, which might help manufacturers optimize the positioning of the IOL in the injector during pre-loading.

Depth-resolved thermal conductivity and damage in swift heavy ion irradiated metal oxides

We investigated thermal transport in swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiated insulating single crystalline oxide materials: yttrium aluminum garnet- Y3Al5O12 (YAG), sapphire (Al2O3), zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) irradiated by 167 MeV Xe ions at 1012 – 1014 ions/cm2 fluences. Depth profiling of the thermal transport on nano- and micro- meter scales was assessed by time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) and modulated thermoreflectance (MTR) methods, respectively. This combination allowed us to isolate the conductivities of different sub-surface damage-regions characterized by their distinct microstructure evolution regimes. Thermal conductivity degradation in SHI irradiated YAG and Al2O3 is attributed to formation of ion tracks and subsequent amorphization, while in ZnO and MgO it is mostly due to point defects. Additionally, notably lower conductivity when probed by very low penetrating thermal waves is consistent with surface hillock formation. An analytical model based on Klemens-Callaway method for thermal conductivity coupled with a simplified microstructure evolution capturing saturation in defect concentration was used to obtain depth dependent damage across the ion impacted region. The studies showed that YAG has the highest damage profile resulting in the less dependence of thermal conductivity with the depth, while MgO on the contrary has the strongest dependence. The presented work sheds new light on how SHI induced defects affect thermal transport degradation and recovery of oxide ceramics as promising candidates for next generation nuclear reactor applications.

Intracellular Trafficking of Cationic Carbon Dots in Cancer Cell Lines MCF-7 and HeLa-Time Lapse Microscopy, Concentration-Dependent Uptake, Viability, DNA Damage, and Cell Cycle Profile.

Fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) are potential tools for the labeling of cells with many advantages such as photostability, multicolor emission, small size, rapid uptake, biocompatibility, and easy preparation. Affinity towards organelles can be influenced by the surface properties of CDs which affect the interaction with the cell and cytoplasmic distribution. Organelle targeting by carbon dots is promising for anticancer treatment; thus, intracellular trafficking and cytotoxicity of cationic CDs was investigated. Based on our previous study, we used quaternized carbon dots (QCDs) for treatment and monitoring the behavior of two human cancer cell MCF-7 and HeLa lines. We found similarities between human cancer cells and mouse fibroblasts in the case of QCDs uptake. Time lapse microscopy of QCDs-labeled MCF-7 cells showed that cells are dying during the first two hours, faster at lower doses than at higher ones. QCDs at a concentration of 100 µg/mL entered into the nucleus before cellular death; however, at a dose of 200 µg/mL, blebbing of the cellular membrane occurred, with a subsequent penetration of QCDs into the nuclear area. In the case of HeLa cells, the dose-depended effect did not happen; however, the labeled cells were also dying in mitosis and genotoxicity occurred nearly at all doses. Moreover, contrasted intracellular compartments, probably mitochondria, were obvious after 24 h incubation with 100 µg/mL of QCDs. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) slightly increased after 24 h, depending on the concentration, thus the genotoxicity was likely evoked by the nanomaterial. A decrease in viability did not reach IC 50 as the DNA damage was probably partly repaired in the prolonged G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Thus, the defects in the G2/M phase may have allowed a damaged cell to enter mitosis and undergo apoptosis. The anticancer effect in both cell lines was manifested mainly through genotoxicity.

Evaluation of hydrogen retention behavior for damaged tungsten exposed to hydrogen plasma at QUEST with high temperature wall

The undamaged W (tungsten) and 0.3 dpa (displacement per atom) damaged W samples by 6 MeV Fe2+ (Fe ion) irradiation were installed in the first wall of QUEST (Q-shu University Experiment with Steady-State-Spherical Tokamak) device and exposed to H (hydrogen) plasma in 2018A/W (Autumn / Winter) or 2019S/S (Spring / Summer) campaign to evaluate the impact of damages and impurities on hydrogen isotope retention. The surface morphology and chemical states of constituent atoms were observed by TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). It was found that thick Al deposit were found for the samples in 2019S/S campaign, which would come from the insulating plate during the CHI (Coaxial Helicity Injection) discharge. The additional 1 keV D2+ was implanted into both of these samples and D (deuterium) retention enhancement was evaluated by TDS (Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy). The downward ion toroidal drift changed the impurity deposition and damage profiles. In 2018A/W and 2019S/S, the D retentions for undamaged W samples had position independent, indicating that plasma would be well-controlled in this configuration. In case of Fe2+ damaged samples, irradiation damages clearly changed the D retention characteristics.

DNA Damage and Proteomic Profile Changes in Rat Salivary Glands After Chronic Exposure to Inorganic Mercury.

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal that became a public health problem due to environmental contamination caused by anthropogenic activity. In this sense, oral homeostasis can undergo changes due to the toxic effects of metal on the salivary glands. Therefore, our objective was to investigate the proteomic and genotoxic changes in salivary glands after exposure to inorganic mercury (IHg). Forty Wistar rats that were divided into a control group, which received distilled water, and an exposed group, which received 0.375mg/kg of mercury chloride for 45days via orogastric gavage. After that, the animals were euthanized, and the parotid and submandibular glands were collected for analysis of the genotoxic effects, using the comet assay and proteome global profile assessment. The results showed that IHg promoted damage to cellular DNA associated with proteomic changes that showed events such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, changes in the cytoskeleton, and apoptosis. Therefore, these findings show a profile of molecular changes due to the interactions of IHg with several proteins and mechanisms inherent to the cell, which consequently may result in dysfunction of the salivary glands and impaired homeostasis of the oral cavity.

S-allyl Cysteine and Taurine revert peripheral metabolic and lipid profile in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus animals: Combination vs Monotherapy

The present study was designed to evaluate the beneficial synergistic effects of S-allyl Cysteine (SAC) and Taurine (TAU) on hyperglycemia, lipid profile and renal damage markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in rats. Experimental T2DM was developed by administering an intraperitoneal single dose of nicotinamide (NA; 230 mg/kg) and streptozotocin (STZ; 65 mg/ kg) in adult rats. Control and diabetic rats were treated with SAC (150 mg/kg); TAU (200 mg/ kg) or SAC and TAU (75+100 mg/kg) combination for four weeks. Measurements of traditional markers of kidney toxicity in serum, such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), together with serum cholesterol/triglyceride such as serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) may yield a snapshot of renal damage and lipid profile in NA/STZ-treated rats. The variation in levels of fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin and lipid profile was significantly augmented in SAC/TAU treatment group. The diabetic group showed elevated renal injury markers in serum, which were decreased significantly by SAC/TAU treatment. Thus the results of the experiment clearly indicate the potential of the SAC/TAU combination in improving diabetic complications.

Correlating blast vibrations and geomechanical properties to determine damage profiles and improve wall conditions in open pit mining.

Slope stability is one of the biggest concerns for mining practices and to consider the rock mass response over blasting is fundamental to achieve pit geometry. This study consists in developing a methodology which connects the dynamic behavior of one lithological domain to blast designs applied at a copper mine. The central element of this study was the construction of vibration attenuation and seed wave model which, in conjunction with geomechanical properties, has allowed the characterization of this particular rock mass and the vibration attenuation phenomena. The new blast design was developed from the model simulations, once it was possible to recognize which parameters of the blast design affect most of the damage induced by blasting. To guarantee model representativeness, two blast tests were conducted: one with the usual blast design and another using the new one. Furthermore, holes were drilled behind the blasts, which were inspected before and after each blast to compare the produced fracturing with the fracturing expected by the model. The results obtained in these blast tests show a strong correlation between the modeled and the real. The modeling proved to be a useful tool providing manners to stablish a blast design, which generates stable walls.

Atomistic Simulation of Primary Radiation Damage Profiles in Fto Thin Film Target Using Srim Code

Atomistic Simulation of Primary Radiation Damage Profiles in Fto Thin Film Target Using Srim Code

Performance based strengthening with concrete protective coatings on braced unreinforced masonry wall subjected to close-in explosion

Being voluminous and moderately strong in compression, walls of unreinforced masonry (URM) with poor tensile strength possess adequate stabilizing gravity force against destabilizing lateral loads but nevertheless, their flexural and torsional resistances are found to be quite limited. Explosion-induced impulsive loading may destabilize such walls leading to the collapse of the structure if they were part of its load-bearing configuration. Many palatial unreinforced masonry structures in old cities across the world follow such support system. Recent devastating accidental Beirut Ammonium Nitrate explosion and more recently Russian invasion on Ukraine raise the concern of researchers and engineers for safety of such building components. Blast explosive loading may also generate projectile of the debris to cause damage to other building components and grievous injuries to the building occupants. This necessitates the development of effective strengthening techniques to upgrade masonry components against such high intense loadings. In the present work, a URM wall along with bracing lateral walls on the same side at each end is micro-modeled in ABAQUS/Explicit computer code and investigation has been carried out for its blast performance under the 7.49 kg-TNT equivalent load at a scaled distance of 1.83 m/kg1/3. An explicit finite element modelling method is used for the numerical simulations of the wall subjected to explosion loading. The so-called Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model with strain rate effects is adopted to consider the non-linearity of the materials. Observed damage profile of the wall with its almost complete collapse is found matching with that reported in the open literature from the experimental study. To prevent this damage catastrophe, protective coatings of (1) ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) and (2) ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC), of 15 mm thickness have been considered as strengthening materials on the wall. Changes in collapse modes and response parameters of the modified walls are discussed and compared. It was found that the application of concrete coatings on the braced URM wall improved significantly the deformation behavior and overall stability of the wall.