Impact Of Tip Research Articles

Damage Resistance of Kevlar® Fabric, UHMWPE, PVB Multilayers Subjected to Concentrated Drop-Weight Impact.

The impact resistance of layered polymer structures using polyvinyl butyral (PVB) in combination with Kevlar® fabric and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were fabricated and tested. Methods of wet impregnation and hot-press impregnation and consolidation of fabric with PVB and UHMWPE were used to manufacture multilayer constructs. All sandwich constructs were fixed to the surface of ballistic clay and subject to a free drop-weight test with a conical impactor having a small contact area. All tests were made at the same impact energy of 9.3 J and velocity of 2.85 m/s. The change in the resistance force was recorded using a piezoelectric force sensor at the time intervals of 40 μs. Using experimental force-time history, the change in the impactor's velocity, the depth of impactor penetration, the energy transformation at various stages of impactor interaction with the sample, and other parameters were obtained. Three indicators were considered as the main criteria for the effectiveness of a sample's resistance to impact: (1) minimum deformation, bulging, of the panel backside at the moment of impact, (2) minimum absorption of impact energy per areal density, and (3) minimal or, better yet, no destruction of structural integrity. Under the tested conditions, the rigid Kevlar-PVB-Kevlar sandwich at the frontside and relatively soft but flexible UHMWPE-Kevlar-UHMWPE layers in the middle helped to localize and absorb impact energy, while the backside Kevlar-PVB-Kevlar sandwich minimized local bulging providing the best overall performance. The front layer damage area was very shallow and less than two impactor tip diameters. The backside bulging was also less than in any other tested configurations.

Low-velocity impact and bending response of graphene nanoparticle-reinforced adhesively bonded double strap joints

The low-velocity impact and bending performance of adhesive joints are critically important for their reliable use in multiple industrial applications. Enhancements of adhesive joints’ mechanical properties are significantly valuable for the long-term safe use and overall life of structural components. This study investigated the low-velocity impact and bending properties of double strap joints (DSJs) reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). In this context, GNP-reinforced adhesives with 1%, 2%, and 3% reinforcement by weight were prepared, and the dispersion quality of graphene was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Subsequently, graphene-modified DSJs were manufactured and mechanical tests were carried out. Low-velocity impact tests were performed at 5 J and 10 J energies in a single impact configuration. Tests of the nonperforated specimens showed that the contact force increased with graphene reinforcement. The absorbed energy and the contact time of the specimens with the impactor tip decreased with nano reinforcement by 5% and 4%, respectively. Additionally, a significant decrease in the displacement was observed with 2% and 3% graphene reinforcements. Significant improvements of up to 58% were observed in the flexural strength of the joints with graphene reinforcement.

On the mechanical behaviour of steel wire mesh subjected to low-velocity impact

Woven wire mesh is a metallic fabric outperforming traditional metal sheets in air circulation, weight saving, impact resistance, etc. In this study, the dynamic mechanical response of steel wire mesh subjected to low-velocity impact loading was investigated using both experimental and numerical methods. An instrumented drop-weight impact facility was used for experimental impact tests, with the effects of clamping wire direction, impact energy, impactor’s mass and size being considered. The extents of damage to the wire mesh specimens under different loading conditions were evaluated after impact tests. Three types of contact force vs. displacement curves corresponding to the plastic deformation, wire breakage, and perforation of wire mesh were identified. Weft wires were found to be stronger and stiffer than warp wires because they could resist higher peak forces and experienced smaller maximum displacements under the same impact energies. The experimental results revealed that the peak contact force increased with impact energy until wire breakage occurred, after which the peak force remained almost unchanged. With the increase of impactor mass, wire mesh specimens experienced severer damage due to the inertia effect and strain rate effect. Impactor size had a significant influence on the dynamic response of wire mesh; a great increase in peak contact force was found when using a larger impactor tip. Moreover, a mesoscale finite element model was developed to analyse the propagation of stress and the evolution of dynamic failure in wire mesh during impact. The simulation results showed that more than 80% of the impactor’s kinetic energy was absorbed through the deformation and failure of wire mesh, while the frictional energy dissipation accounted for about 10% of impact energy.

Effects of Impactor Size on Biomechanical Characteristics of Spinal Cord in Hemicontusion Injury Model Using Finite Element Analysis

A cervical hemicontusion spinal cord injury (SCI) produces forelimb deficits on the ipsilateral side of the injury while sparing the function of the limbs on the contralateral side of the injury, allowing for the evaluation of experimental therapeutics for functional recovery. Although the effects of contusion force on the functional and behavioral outcomes were adequately described in previous experimental studies, the size of the impactor tip also had significant effects on the extent of the lesion on the contralateral side of the injury in the hemicontusion rat model. However, studies regarding the effects of impactor size on the spinal cord for the hemicontusion model are limited. In this study, a finite element (FE) model of the rat cervical spinal cord was developed to investigate the effects of impactor size in the hemicontusion SCI model on the stress, strain, and displacement of the spinal cord for the New York University (NYU) and Infinite Horizon (IH) impactors. The impactor tip diameters of 1.2 mm and 1.6 mm with high impact loading resulted in the highest stresses and strains in the right (ipsilateral) side of the spinal cord. Thus, impactor tip diameters between 1.2 mm and 1.6 mm would be convenient to use in the rat hemicontusion SCI models for the cervical region without damaging the left (contralateral) side of the spinal cord. Our findings provide an insight into SCI mechanisms in the rat cervical hemicontusion model.

Quantifying the Effect of Repeated Impacts and Lateral Tip Movements on Brain Responses during Controlled Cortical Impact.

Controlled cortical impact (CCI) is a widely used laboratory neurotrauma model to study traumatic brain injury. During CCI, the brain is damaged by an impactor tip, which travels along its axial direction to a pre-defined depth at a pre-set speed. A recent study, however, using high-speed imaging analysis demonstrated that the impactor tip of an electromagnetically driven CCI device experienced repeated impacts and lateral movements, rather than a single axial impact. How these repeated impacts and lateral movements affect internal brain stresses/strains-which are the direct cause of neuronal damage and affect the accuracy and reproducibility of CCI-remains unknown. We use a previously validated, highly detailed three-dimensional finite element (FE) mouse brain model to investigate the effect of repeated impacts and lateral movements on brain responses during CCI. We also measured tip movements of an in-house pneumatically driven CCI and conducted FE simulations. We found that the repeated impacts had minimal effect on peak strains. The lateral movements of the tip, however, greatly increased brain strains and affected large brain regions. Hence, it is necessary to monitor and control lateral movements to ensure the accuracy and reproducibility of CCI.

Maximizing the fixation strength of modular components by impaction without tissue damage.

ObjectivesTaper junctions between modular hip arthroplasty femoral heads and stems fail by wear or corrosion which can be caused by relative motion at their interface. Increasing the assembly force can reduce relative motion and corrosion but may also damage surrounding tissues. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of increasing the impaction energy and the stiffness of the impactor tool on the stability of the taper junction and on the forces transmitted through the patient’s surrounding tissues.MethodsA commercially available impaction tool was modified to assemble components in the laboratory using impactor tips with varying stiffness at different applied energy levels. Springs were mounted below the modular components to represent the patient. The pull-off force of the head from the stem was measured to assess stability, and the displacement of the springs was measured to assess the force transmitted to the patient’s tissues.ResultsThe pull-off force of the head increased as the stiffness of the impactor tip increased but without increasing the force transmitted through the springs (patient). Increasing the impaction energy increased the pull-off force but also increased the force transmitted through the springs.ConclusionsTo limit wear and corrosion, manufacturers should maximize the stiffness of the impactor tool but without damaging the surface of the head. This strategy will maximize the stability of the head on the stem for a given applied energy, without influencing the force transmitted through the patient’s tissues. Current impactor designs already appear to approach this limit. Increasing the applied energy (which is dependent on the mass of the hammer and square of the contact speed) increases the stability of the modular connection but proportionally increases the force transmitted through the patient’s tissues, as well as to the surface of the head, and should be restricted to safe levels.Cite this article: A. Krull, M. M. Morlock, N. E. Bishop. Maximizing the fixation strength of modular components by impaction without tissue damage. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:196–204. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.72.BJR-2017-0078.R2.

High-speed video analysis improves the accuracy of spinal cord compression measurement in a mouse contusion model

BackgroundAnimal models of spinal cord injuries aim to utilize controlled and reproducible conditions. However, a literature review reveals that mouse contusion studies using equivalent protocols may show large disparities in the observed impact force vs. cord compression relationship. The overall purpose of this study was to investigate possible sources of bias in these measurements. The specific objective was to improve spinal cord compression measurements using a video-based setup to detect the impactor-spinal cord time-to-contact. New methodA force-controlled 30kDyn unilateral contusion at C4 vertebral level was performed in six mice with the Infinite Horizon impactor (IH). High-speed video was used to determine the time-to-contact between the impactor tip and the spinal cord and to compute the related displacement of the tip into the tissue: the spinal cord compression and the compression ratio. Results & comparison with existing method(s)Delayed time-to-contact detection with the IH device led to an underestimation of the cord compression. Compression values indicated by the IH were 64% lower than those based on video analysis (0.33mm vs. 0.88mm). Consequently, the mean compression ratio derived from the device was underestimated when compared to the value derived from video analysis (22% vs. 61%). ConclusionsDefault time-to-contact detection from the IH led to significant errors in spinal cord compression assessment. Accordingly, this may explain some of the reported data discrepancies in the literature. The proposed setup could be implemented by users of contusion devices to improve the quantative description of the primary injury inflicted to the spinal cord.

Characterization of controlled cortical impact devices by high-speed image analysis.

As a consequence of their commercial availability, ease of use, and reproducibility, controlled cortical impact (CCI) devices have attained significant prevalence in preclinical traumatic brain injury research. With a CCI, the severity of injury is controlled by varying the impact depth, velocity, and duration, but the actual performance of the device is not well appreciated, partly because of the velocity and short travel distance to impact. This study used a high-speed video digital camera to investigate the performance of five electromagnetically driven CCI devices of the same model. Videography indicated that the impactor tip made a series of distinctive vertical advances and retractions before it attained the desired preset depth; this was also observed in male mouse CCI tests. The impactor tip was also observed to move in the horizontal direction by .8-1.6 mm. On the first advance, the tip extended a distance that was shorter than the preset depth and the velocity of impactor tip was slightly faster than the preset values for three of the five machines. One of the devices was evaluated on four separate occasions over a 14-month period and was found to operate consistently over time. Overall, differences in impact depth and velocity between the devices were modest, suggesting that comparisons of experimental results from different laboratories will generally be informative, particularly if reports provide relevant descriptions of neuropathology. However, the repetitive extension and retraction and horizontal movement of the tip suggests caution in modeling CCI as a single injurious event.

Mechanical Design and Analysis of a Unilateral Cervical Spinal Cord Contusion Injury Model in Non-Human Primates

Non-human primate (NHP) models of spinal cord injury better reflect human injury and provide a better foundation to evaluate potential treatments and functional outcomes. We combined finite element (FE) and surrogate models with impact data derived from in vivo experiments to define the impact mechanics needed to generate a moderate severity unilateral cervical contusion injury in NHPs (Macaca mulatta). Three independent variables (impactor displacement, alignment, and pre-load) were examined to determine their effects on tissue level stresses and strains. Mechanical measures of peak force, peak displacement, peak energy, and tissue stiffness were analyzed as potential determinants of injury severity. Data generated from FE simulations predicted a lateral shift of the spinal cord at high levels of compression (>64%) during impact. Submillimeter changes in mediolateral impactor position over the midline increased peak impact forces (>50%). Surrogate cords established a 0.5 N pre-load protocol for positioning the impactor tip onto the dural surface to define a consistent dorsoventral baseline position before impact, which corresponded with cerebrospinal fluid displacement and entrapment of the spinal cord against the vertebral canal. Based on our simulations, impactor alignment and pre-load were strong contributors to the variable mechanical and functional outcomes observed in in vivo experiments. Peak displacement of 4 mm after a 0.5N pre-load aligned 0.5-1.0 mm over the midline should result in a moderate severity injury; however, the observed peak force and calculated peak energy and tissue stiffness are required to properly characterize the severity and variability of in vivo NHP contusion injuries.

Quantifying STM-tip induced directed hopping of Sb2 dimers on Si(001): A kinetic Monte Carlo study

In this study, kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of a lattice gas model were performed to investigate the experimentally observed enhanced directed diffusion of Sb2 ad-dimers on Si(001) during asymmetric scanning—one that uses invasive and noninvasive scanning tunneling microscope (STM) settings for leftward and rightward scanning, respectively. The authors model the invasive scanning by postulating an attractive interaction between the STM tip and the adsorbates. This is done by lowering (raising) the activation barrier by an adjustable energy difference ΔE for hopping of Sb2 dimers toward (away from) the STM tip site. Effectively, ΔE is a measure of the severity of the STM tip's impact on surface kinetics. Additionally, they explore the effect of varying ΔE on the activation barrier for hopping of Sb2 dimers orthogonal to the Si dimer rows by setting its value to 0.1–0.4 eV. Experimentally determined to be 1.2 eV, the authors found that for very small ΔE (ΔE < 0.1 eV) the activation barrier could be underestimated by no more than 0.03 eV, and as much as 0.13 eV for large ΔE (ΔE = 0.4 eV). Next, they ask if this model could induce asymmetry in the hopping frequency under asymmetric scanning, that is, STM runs in the invasive mode when moving from right to left, and noninvasive mode in the opposite direction. The authors found that indeed there is a net movement of Sb2 dimers from right to left, or along the direction of the invasive scan. Moreover, they found that this directed motion becomes slightly more pronounced as the scanning speed decreases. These twin observations were explained by noting the asymmetry in the occupation probability of the sites immediately to the left and right of the STM tip—the site trailing the tip, or the site to its right, is more likely to be occupied compared than the one leading it. In this sense, according to their model, the STM tip gently drags the adsorbates it comes in contact with but falls short of precise, active manipulation even for large ΔE (ΔE = 0.4 eV).

Low Velocity Impact of Aluminium Foam - Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic Sandwich Panels

Sandwich structures with metal foams core are widely used in various engineering applications due to their special properties of high-strength and high-stiffness to weight ratio when compared to the properties of pure material systems. Sandwich structures have the capability to resist impact loads which make them favorable for energy absorber application. The aim of this research is to investigate the impact properties of aluminium foam sandwiched with glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP). Drop weight impact test was conducted using hemispherical impactor tip at velocity of 6.7 m/s by striking the samples with and without face-sheets. The result showed that the GFRP and aluminium foam core sandwich panel exhibited promising energy absorption properties, corresponding to the highest specific energy absorption value observed.

A New Rabbit Model of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of disability in childhood, resulting in numerous physical, behavioral, and cognitive sequelae, which can influence development through the lifespan. The mechanisms by which TBI influences normal development and maturation remain largely unknown. Pediatric rodent models of TBI often do not demonstrate the spectrum of motor and cognitive deficits seen in patients. To address this problem, we developed a New Zealand white rabbit model of pediatric TBI that better mimics the neurological injury seen after TBI in children. On postnatal Day 5-7 (P5-7), rabbits were injured by a controlled cortical impact (6-mm impactor tip; 5.5 m/sec, 2-mm depth, 50-msec duration). Rabbits from the same litter served as naïve (no injury) and sham (craniotomy alone) controls. Functional abilities and activity levels were measured 1 and 5 d after injury. Maturation level was monitored daily. We performed cognitive tests during P14-24 and sacrificed the animals at 1, 3, 7, and 21 d after injury to evaluate lesion volume and microglia. TBI kits exhibited delayed achievement of normal developmental milestones. They also demonstrated significant cognitive deficits, with lower percentage of correct alternation rate in the T-maze (n=9-15/group; p<0.001) and less discrimination between novel and old objects (p<0.001). Lesion volume increased from 16% at Day 3 to 30% at Day 7 after injury, indicating ongoing secondary injury. Activated microglia were noted at the injury site and also in white matter regions of the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres. The neurologic and histologic changes in this model are comparable to those reported clinically. Thus, this rabbit model provides a novel platform for evaluating neuroprotective therapies in pediatric TBI.

Essential Roles of Neutral Ceramidase and Sphingosine in Mitochondrial Dysfunction Due to Traumatic Brain Injury

In addition to immediate brain damage, traumatic brain injury (TBI) initiates a cascade of pathophysiological events producing secondary injury. The biochemical and cellular mechanisms that comprise secondary injury are not entirely understood. Herein, we report a substantial deregulation of cerebral sphingolipid metabolism in a mouse model of TBI. Sphingolipid profile analysis demonstrated increases in sphingomyelin species and sphingosine concurrently with up-regulation of intermediates of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis in the brain. Investigation of intracellular sites of sphingosine accumulation revealed an elevation of sphingosine in mitochondria due to the activation of neutral ceramidase (NCDase) and the reduced activity of sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2). The lack of change in gene expression suggested that post-translational mechanisms are responsible for the shift in the activities of both enzymes. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed that SphK2 is complexed with NCDase and cytochrome oxidase (COX) subunit 1 in mitochondria and that brain injury hindered SphK2 association with the complex. Functional studies showed that sphingosine accumulation resulted in a decreased activity of COX, a rate-limiting enzyme of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Knocking down NCDase reduced sphingosine accumulation in mitochondria and preserved COX activity after the brain injury. Also, NCDase knockdown improved brain function recovery and lessened brain contusion volume after trauma. These studies highlight a novel mechanism of secondary TBI involving a disturbance of sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes in mitochondria and suggest a critical role for mitochondrial sphingosine in promoting brain injury after trauma.

Macrophagic and microglial responses after focal traumatic brain injury in the female rat.

BackgroundAfter central nervous system injury, inflammatory macrophages (M1) predominate over anti-inflammatory macrophages (M2). The temporal profile of M1/M2 phenotypes in macrophages and microglia after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats is unknown. We subjected female rats to severe controlled cortical impact (CCI) and examined the postinjury M1/M2 time course in their brains.MethodsThe motor cortex (2.5 mm left laterally and 1.0 mm anteriorly from the bregma) of anesthetized female Wistar rats (ages 8 to 10 weeks; N = 72) underwent histologically moderate to severe CCI with a 5-mm impactor tip. Separate cohorts of rats had their brains dissociated into cells for flow cytometry, perfusion-fixed for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging or flash-frozen for RNA and protein analysis. For each analytical method used, separate postinjury times were included for 24 hours; 3 or 5 days; or 1, 2, 4 or 8 weeks.ResultsBy IHC, we found that the macrophagic and microglial responses peaked at 5 to 7 days post-TBI with characteristics of mixed populations of M1 and M2 phenotypes. Upon flow cytometry examination of immunological cells isolated from brain tissue, we observed that peak M2-associated staining occurred at 5 days post-TBI. Chemokine analysis by multiplex assay showed statistically significant increases in macrophage inflammatory protein 1α and keratinocyte chemoattractant/growth-related oncogene on the ipsilateral side within the first 24 hours after injury relative to controls and to the contralateral side. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated expression of both M1- and M2-associated markers, which peaked at 5 days post-TBI.ConclusionsThe responses of macrophagic and microglial cells to histologically severe CCI in the female rat are maximal between days 3 and 7 postinjury. The response to injury is a mixture of M1 and M2 phenotypes.

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Introduction: TBI affects millions of Americans and causes memory impairment in patients. Factors that moderate memory deficit can be studied in pre-clinical models using the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and NOR task; both assessments have been found to be sensitive to injury in murine models of TBI with injured animals performing worse than sham animals. Previously, MEL was found to reduce deficits in memory, specifically spatial memory, assessed using the MWM, the appropriateness of which has been questioned for this application. The effects of post-TBI MEL therapy on NOR performance are unknown. Methods: An experimental study was conducted using 10–12 week old male wild-type C57BL/6J mice caged individually with ad libitum access to food and water in a room with a 12 hour light/12 hour dark cycle. Mice were randomized to one of 2 groups: TBI + vehicle (n=7) or TBI + 5 mg/kg MEL (n=7). Anesthetized mice were placed in a stereotactic frame and a craniotomy performed. Injury was modeled using controlled cortical impact (CCI) with the following parameters: 3 mm diameter impactor tip compressing the tissue to a depth of 1.2 mm at a velocity of 6 meters/sec. Memory testing was completed on days 12–13 post-injury using a NOR task with 2 objects: one novel and one familiar. Time spent with each object was recorded in seconds. Results: Discrimination Ratios (DR) were calculated as time spent with novel object/total time with both objects. There was a significant difference (p=0.0492) in the average DR when TBI + vehicle (mean= 0.55137) and TBI + MEL (mean= 0.68941) groups were compared using a one-tailed t-test. Discrimination Index (DI) was calculated as the difference in time (sec) spent with the objects (novel time – familiar time) divided by the total time spent with the objects. As with the DR, the DI showed a difference (p= 0.0492) between TBI + vehicle (mean= 0.10275) and TBI + MEL (mean= 0.37882) groups with a one-tailed t-test. Conclusions: In a mouse model of TBI, memory, specifically the ability to recognize novel objects, appears to be improved with post-injury MEL therapy. These results merit additional research exploring the effects of MEL therapy on memory outcomes including the optimal dosage, appropriate therapeutic window, and to identify individuals are most likely to benefit from MEL therapy.

Histological Effects of Residual Compression Sustained for 60 Minutes at Different Depths in a Novel Rat Spinal Cord Injury Contusion Model

Spinal cord injuries are frequently accompanied by persisting residual compression of the spinal cord; however, it remains controversial as to what effect the sustained compression has on neurological damage. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of post-traumatic residual spinal cord compression on the extent and progression of tissue damage within a dynamic thoracic contusion rat model. Twenty-nine male Wistar rats were distributed into one of four groups: spinal cord contusion only, contusion with 40% residual compression, contusion with 90% residual compression, and a surgical control group. A moderate injury was performed (1 mm, 700 mm/sec) with our custom University of British Columbia (UBC) multimechanism apparatus, and the residual compression groups had the impactor tip maintained at 40% or 90% of the initial impact depth (1.0 mm) for 60 min post-injury. All animals were killed at 3 h post-injury, when the spinal cord was harvested and stained for hemorrhage, neuronal damage in the gray matter, and axonal disruption in the white matter. The initial contusion injury immediately damaged tissue beneath the impactor as evidenced by rapid relaxation of the reaction force on the spinal cord during the subsequent compression. Importantly, the rostral-caudal extent of intramedullary hemorrhage was 66% larger after 90% residual spinal cord compression compared to the 40% group (p=0.016). Similarly, the extent of neuronal nuclei lost in different gray matter regions was 60-86% greater after 90% residual compression compared with 40% (p<0.001). Thus, a high level of residual compression of the spinal cord following a moderate contusion injury has the potential to adversely increase the extent of tissue damage, whereas a lower level of residual compression may have little to no effect.

Resveratrol decreases inflammation in the brain of mice with mild traumatic brain injury

Following a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) event, the secondary brain injury that persists after the initial blow to the head consists of excitotoxicity, decreased cerebral glucose levels, oxidant injury, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and neuronal cell death. To date, there are no effective interventions used at decreasing secondary brain injury after mild TBI. In this study, male mice were treated with either placebo or resveratrol (100 mg/kg) at 5 minutes and 12 hours after mild TBI. The mice were injured using the controlled cortical impact device. In this closed-head model, a midline incision was made to access the skull and the impactor tip was aligned on the sagittal suture midway between the bregma and lambda sutures. The mice were injured at a depth of 2.0 mm, velocity of 4 m/s, and a delay time of 100 milliseconds. At 72 hours following injury, the animals were intracardially perfused with 0.9% saline followed by 10% phosphate-buffered formalin. The whole brain was removed, sliced, and stained for microglial activation (Iba1). In addition, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, tissue levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-12 were measured in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. In this study, we found that in the placebo treatment group, there was a significant increase in Iba1 staining in the brain. The levels of microglial activation was reduced by resveratrol in the cerebral cortex (p < 0.001), corpus callosum (p < 0.001), and dentate gyrus (p < 0.005) brain regions after mild TBI. In addition to Iba1, resveratrol decreased the brain levels of IL-6 (p < 0.0001) and IL-12 (p < 0.004), which were observed in the hippocampus of the placebo group. In our model, no increase of IL-6 or IL-12 was observed in the cerebral cortex following TBI. Resveratrol given acutely after TBI results in a decrease in neuroinflammation. These results suggest that resveratrol may be beneficial in reducing secondary brain injury after experiencing a mild TBI.

Estrone Is Neuroprotective in Rats after Traumatic Brain Injury

In various animal and human studies, early administration of 17β-estradiol, a strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic agent, significantly decreases the severity of injury in the brain associated with cell death. Estrone, the predominant estrogen in postmenopausal women, has been shown to be a promising neuroprotective agent. The overall goal of this project was to determine if estrone mitigates secondary injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats. Male rats were given either placebo (corn oil) or estrone (0.5 mg/kg) at 30 min after severe TBI. Using a controlled cortical impact device in rats that underwent a craniotomy, the right parietal cortex was injured using the impactor tip. Non-injured control and sham animals were also included. At 72 h following injury, the animals were perfused intracardially with 0.9% saline followed by 10% phosphate-buffered formalin. The whole brain was removed, sliced, and stained for TUNEL-positive cells. Estrone decreased cortical lesion volume (p<0.01) and neuronal injury (p<0.001), and it reduced cerebral cortical levels of TUNEL-positive staining (p<0.0001), and decreased numbers of TUNEL-positive cells in the corpus callosum (p<0.03). We assessed the levels of β-amyloid in the injured animals and found that estrone significantly decreased the cortical levels of β-amyloid after brain injury. Cortical levels of phospho-ERK1/2 were significantly (p<0.01) increased by estrone. This increase was associated with an increase in phospho-CREB levels (p<0.021), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression (p<0.0006). In conclusion, estrone given acutely after injury increases the signaling of protective pathways such as the ERK1/2 and BDNF pathways, decreases ischemic secondary injury, and decreases apoptotic-mediated cell death. These results suggest that estrone may afford protection to those suffering from TBI.

Effect of impactor radius on low-velocity impact damage of glass/epoxy composites

With composites finding increased use as primary structures in commercial aircraft, it is necessary to understand the development of damage when a laminate is subject to low-velocity impacts from a variety of sources, which often occur during normal service operations and routine maintenance. In particular, contact with ground service equipment can present a blunt impact to the composite structure. Therefore, the effects of bluntness of an impactor are of interest as this is related to the development of any internal damage in the laminate, or even the surrounding structure, and also affects the visual detectability of an impact event. The objective of this investigation is to determine the effect of impactor radius on the impact damage resistance of composite panels. A low-velocity pendulum impactor was used to strike 200 mm2 woven glass/epoxy composite plates of 3.18 and 6.35 mm thickness. Hemispherical steel impactor tips of radius 12.7, 50.8, and 152.4 mm were mounted to a piezoelectric force sensor which measures the contacting force history during the impact event. Distinct threshold energy levels defining the onset of delamination and backside fiber breakage have been measured to increase significantly with increasing impactor tip radius due to development of higher contact area.

Rate of Neurodegeneration in the Mouse Controlled Cortical Impact Model Is Influenced by Impactor Tip Shape: Implications for Mechanistic and Therapeutic Studies

Controlled cortical impact (CCI), one of the most common models of traumatic brain injury, is being increasingly used with mice for exploration of cell injury mechanisms and pre-clinical evaluation of therapeutic strategies. Although CCI brain injury was originally effected using an impactor with a rounded tip, the majority of studies with mouse CCI use a flat or beveled tip. Recent finite element modeling analyses demonstrate that tip geometry is a significant determinant of predicted cortical tissue strains in rat CCI, and that cell death is proportional to predicted tissue strains. In the current study, a three-dimensional finite element model of a C57BL/6J mouse brain predicted higher maximum principal strains during a simulated 1.0-mm, 3.5-m/s CCI injury with a flat tip when compared to a rounded tip. Consistent with this prediction, experimental CCI with a flat-tip impactor resulted in greater acute cortical hemorrhage and neuron loss in adult male C57BL/6J mice. The amount of neocortical tissue damage was equivalent for the two tip geometries at 9 days following injury, but the rate of neocortical neurodegeneration was markedly slower following CCI with a rounded-tip impactor, with damage reaching a plateau after 24?h as opposed to after 4?h for the flat tip. The flat-tip impactor was associated in general with more regional hippocampal neurodegeneration, especially at early time points such as 4?h. Impactor tip geometry did not have a notable effect on blood?brain barrier breakdown, traumatic axonal injury, or motor and cognitive dysfunction. Execution of CCI injury with a rounded-tip impactor is posited to provide a substantially enhanced temporal window for the study of cellular injury mechanisms and therapeutic intervention while maintaining critical aspects of the pathophysiological response to contusion brain injury.