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1. An in vitro Study to Investigate Biomechanical Responses of Peripheral Nerves in Hypoxic Neonatal Piglets

   https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4051283  

   Singh, Anita ; Magee, Rachel ; Balasubramanian, Sriram ( May 2021 , Journal of Biomechanical Engineering)

   null (Ed.)

   Abstract Despite occurrence of neonatal hypoxia and peripheral nerve injuries in complicated birthing scenarios, the effect of hypoxia on the biomechanical responses of neonatal peripheral nerves is not studied. In this study, neonatal brachial plexus and tibial nerves, obtained from eight normal and eight hypoxic 3-5 days old piglets, were tested in uniaxial tension until failure at a rate of 0.01 mm/s or 10 mm/s. Failure load, stress, and modulus of elasticity were reported to be significantly lower in hypoxic neonatal brachial plexus (BP) and tibial nerves than respective normal tissue at both 0.01 and 10 mm/s rates. Failure strain was significantly lower in the hypoxic neonatal BP nerves only at 10 mm/s rate when compared to normal BP nerve. This is the first available data that indicates weaker mechanical behavior of hypoxic neonatal peripheral nerves as compared to normal tissue, and offers an understanding of the biomechanical responses of peripheral nerves of hypoxic neonatal piglets. 

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2. Effects of Prestretch on Neonatal Peripheral Nerve: An In Vitro Study

   https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1743132  

   Singh, Anita ; Majmudar, Tanmay ; Magee, Rachel ; Gonik, Bernard ; Balasubramanian, Sriram ( January 2022 , Journal of Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injury)

   Abstract Background Characterizing the biomechanical failure responses of neonatal peripheral nerves is critical in understanding stretch-related peripheral nerve injury mechanisms in neonates. Objective This in vitro study investigated the effects of prestretch magnitude and duration on the biomechanical failure behavior of neonatal piglet brachial plexus (BP) and tibial nerves. Methods BP and tibial nerves from 32 neonatal piglets were harvested and prestretched to 0, 10, or 20% strain for 90 or 300 seconds. These prestretched samples were then subjected to tensile loading until failure. Failure stress and strain were calculated from the obtained load-displacement data. Results Prestretch magnitude significantly affected failure stress but not the failure strain. BP nerves prestretched to 10 or 20% strain, exhibiting significantly lower failure stress than those prestretched to 0% strain for both prestretch durations (90 and 300 seconds). Likewise, tibial nerves prestretched to 10 or 20% strain for 300 seconds, exhibiting significantly lower failure stress than the 0% prestretch group. An effect of prestretch duration on failure stress was also observed in the BP nerves when subjected to 20% prestretch strain such that the failure stress was significantly lower for 300 seconds group than 90 seconds group. No significant differences in the failure strains were observed. When comparing BP and tibial nerve failure responses, significantly higher failure stress was reported in tibial nerve prestretched to 20% strain for 300 seconds than BP nerve. Conclusion These data suggest that neonatal peripheral nerves exhibit lower injury thresholds with increasing prestretch magnitude and duration while exhibiting regional differences. 

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3. Characterization of the strain-rate–dependent mechanical response of single cell–cell junctions

   https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2019347118  

   Esfahani, Amir_Monemian ; Rosenbohm, Jordan ; Safa, Bahareh_Tajvidi ; Lavrik, Nickolay_V ; Minnick, Grayson ; Zhou, Quan ; Kong, Fang ; Jin, Xiaowei ; Kim, Eunju ; Liu, Ying ; et al ( February 2021 , Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

   Cell–cell junctions are essential components in multicellular structures and often experience strains of different magnitudes and rates. However, their mechanical behavior is currently underexplored due to the lack of techniques to quantitatively characterize junctional stress–strain relationships. We developed a polymeric microstructure to strain the mutual junction of a single cell pair while simultaneously recording the junction stress and observed previously unseen strain-rate–dependent junction responses. We showed that cytoskeleton growth could relax the stress buildup and prevent junction failure at low strain rates, while high strain rates led to synchronized junction failures at remarkably large strains (over 200%). We expect this platform and our biophysical understanding to form the foundation for the rate-dependent mechanics of cell–cell junctions.

    

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4. Fastenerless Joining of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composite to Aluminum

   https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2023-116762  

   Phadatare, Akash ; Jo, Eonyeon ; Pokkalla, Deepak Kumar ; Kim, Seokpum ; Vaidya, Uday ( October 2023 , ASME 2023 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition)

   Continuous efforts are underway for the reduction of the structural weight of transit through the introduction of a multi-material metal-composites system. There are major challenges in joining dissimilar materials to result in optimum structural integrity. The conventional joining techniques have limitations in terms of preparation time, weight penalty resulting from adhesives, and uncertainty in joint integrity. Recently adoption of macro scale mechanical interlocking in the adhesive joining resulted in significant improvement of joint performance. This made mechanical interlocking gain an attention for hybrid joining. In this study, fastenerless method of mechanical interlocking based on Japanese wood joining craft is considered for joining carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide thermoplastic composite to aluminum. Different interlocking joining designs (IJDs) were developed. The joints were obtained by force-fitting the male into the female counterpart. Here the male and female segments joined at macro level with no joining integrity at the interface. Further, these joints were tested and evaluated for tensile strength. A finite element analysis (FEA) model is developed for stress analysis and studying failure mechanisms of the IJDs. It was observed that the geometry of IJD dictates the failure mode and material composition governs the maximum strength achieved by a particular IJD. Each IJD showed higher load capacity with metal as a female counterpart to the composite compared to other way round.

    

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5. A Late Holocene Stable Isotope and Carbon Accumulation Record from Teringi Bog in Southern Estonia

   https://doi.org/10.3390/quat5010008  

   Stansell, Nathan D. ; Klein, Eric S. ; Hill, Kristyn ; Terasmaa, Jaanus ; Dodd, Justin ; Boes, Maxwell ; Eensalu, Mariliis ; Fortney, Carolyn ; Fritts, Annabella ; Garcia, Roxana ; et al ( March 2022 , Quaternary)

   Radiocarbon-dated peat cores collected from an ombrotrophic bog in southern Estonia record shifting environmental conditions and carbon accumulation rates in northern Europe during the late Holocene. Modern observations indicate that the water balance of the peatland is highly influenced by changes in relative humidity, followed by temperature and precipitation. The modern δ18O and δ2H values of surface water suggest that the groundwater is an integration of several months of precipitation. There also appears to be little or no direct influence of surface evaporation on the water within the bog, suggesting that water loss is preferentially through transpiration and sub-surface flow. Bulk peat δ13C values exhibit a trend of higher values through the late Holocene, suggesting a pattern of overall increased surface wetness. The δ15N values were low from ~4130 to 3645 cal yr BP, suggesting drier conditions, followed by intermediate values until ~2995 cal yr BP. The δ15N values decrease again from ~2995 to 2470 cal yr BP, suggesting a return to drier conditions, followed by intermediate values until ~955 cal yr BP. The δ15N values were high, suggesting wetter conditions from ~955 to 250 cal yr BP, followed by intermediate values through the modern. Carbon accumulation rates were low to intermediate from ~4200 to 2470 cal yr BP, followed by intermediate-to-high values until ~1645 cal yr BP. Carbon accumulation rates were then low until ~585 cal yr BP, followed by intermediate values through the modern. The geochemical data, combined with observed changes in peat composition and regional proxies of temperature and water table fluctuations through the late Holocene, suggest that carbon accumulation rates were relatively low under dry and warm conditions, whereas accumulation was generally higher (up to ~80 g C m−2 yr−1) when the climate was wetter and/or colder. These findings further suggest that future environmental changes affecting the regional water balance and temperature will impact the potential for northern peatlands to capture and store carbon. 

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