Finite element investigation of the loading rate effect on the spinal load-sharing changes under impact conditions

Sudden deceleration and frontal/rear impact configurations involve rapid movements that can cause spinal injuries. This study aimed to investigate the rotation rate effect on the L2–L3 motion segment load-sharing and to identify which spinal structure is at risk of failure and at what rotation velocity the failure may initiate?Five degrees of sagittal rotations at different rates were applied in a detailed finite-element model to analyze the responses of the soft tissues and the bony structures until possible fractures. The structural response was markedly different under the highest velocity that caused high peaks of stresses in the segment compared to the intermediate and low velocities. Under flexion, the stress was concentrated at the upper pedicle region of L2 and fractures were firstly initiated in this region and then in the lower endplate of L2. Under extension, maximum stress was located in the lower pedicle region of L2 and fractures started in the left facet joint, then they expanded in the lower endplate and in the pedicle region of L2. No rupture has resulted at the lower or intermediate velocities. The intradiscal pressure was higher under flexion and decreased when the endplate was fractured, while the contact forces were greater under extension and decreased when the facet surface was cracked. The highest ligaments stresses were obtained under flexion and did not reach the rupture values. The endplate, pedicle and facet surface represented the potential sites of bone fracture. Results showed that spinal injuries can result at sagittal rotation velocity exceeding 0.5°/ms.     

Effect of boundary conditions,impact loading and hydraulic stiffening on femoral fracture strength

Patient specific quantitative CT (QCT) imaging data together with the finite element (FE) method may provide an accurate prediction of a patient's femoral strength and fracture risk. Although numerous FE models investigating femoral fracture strength have been published, there is little consent on the effect of boundary conditions, dynamic loading and hydraulic strengthening due to intra-medullary pressure on the predicted fracture strength. We developed a QCT-derived FE model of a proximal femur that included node-specific modulus assigned based on the local bone density. The effect of three commonly used boundary conditions published in literature were investigated by comparing the resulting strain field due to an applied fracture load. The models were also augmented with viscoelastic material properties and subject to a realistic impact load profile to determine the effect of dynamic loads on the strain field. Finally, the effect of hydraulic strengthening was investigated by including node specific permeability and performing a coupled pore diffusion and stress analysis of the FE model. Results showed that all boundary conditions yield the same strain field patterns, but peak strains were 22% lower and fracture load was 18% higher when loaded at the greater trochanter than when loaded at the femoral head. Comparison of the dynamic models showed that material viscoelasticity was important, but inertial effects (vibration and shock) were not. Finally, pore pressure changes did not cause significant hydraulic strengthening of bone under fall impact loading.     

In vitro storage of Eucalyptus grandis germplasm under minimal growth conditions

Slow growth-storage, for up to 10 months, has been achieved for Eucalyptus grandis shoot cultures by either the addition of 10 mg l⁻¹ abscisic acid to the growth medium or by the halving of nutrient supply (half MS) and removal of exogenous plant growth regulators. Reduction of light intensity or the addition of mannitol to the media were less effective in reducing growth rate. Isolated in vitro axillary buds encapsulated in calcium alginate and stored under low temperature and low light intensities survived for up to 3 months without loss in viability. Storage of such encapsulated fresh axillary buds at higher temperature resulted in a loss in viability. These methods have immediate applications to forestry breeding and clonal programs. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

In vitro storage of cedar shoot cultures under minimal growth conditions

We developed procedures for slow-growth storage of Cedrus atlantica and Cedrus libani microcuttings of juvenile and adult origin, noting factors favouring the extension of subculture intervals. Microcuttings could be stored effectively up to 6 months at 4°C and reduced light intensity, provided that they were grown on a diluted modified MS medium. The addition of 6% mannitol to the storage media affected negatively survival and multiplication capacity of the cultures. The slow-growth storage conditions used in our experiments did not induce remarkable effects on both RAPD variability and average DNA methylation in the species.     

Material properties of the placenta under dynamic loading conditions

Trauma during pregnancy especially occurring during car crashes leads to many foetal losses. Numerical modelling is widely used in car occupant safety issue and injury mechanisms analysis and is particularly adapted to the pregnant woman. Material modelling of the gravid uterus tissues is crucial for injury risk evaluation especially for the abruption placentae which is widely assumed as the leading cause of foetal loss. Experimental studies on placenta behaviour in tension are reported in the literature, but none in compression to the authors' knowledge. This lack of data is addressed in this study. To complement the already available experimental literature data on the placenta mechanical behaviour and characterise it in a compression loading condition, 80 indentation tests on fresh placentae are presented. Hyperelastic like mean experimental stress versus strain and corridors are exposed. The results of the experimental placenta indentations compared with the tensile literature results tend to show a quasi-symmetrical behaviour of the tissue. An inverse analysis using simple finite element models has permitted to propose parameters for an Ogden material model for the placenta which exhibits a realistic behaviour in both tension and compression.     

贮藏条件对川硬皮肿腿蜂存活率的影响

在相对湿度为50%~70%的条件下,设置5个温度梯度,将川硬皮肿腿蜂SclerodermasichuanensisXiao雌成蜂分别进行直接贮藏和定期补充15%蜂蜜水后贮藏,并对该蜂在不同条件下的贮藏存活率进行了比较。结果表明,贮藏温度和补充营养对川硬皮肿腿蜂雌成蜂的存活率有显著影响,其中6~15℃下贮藏相同时间的蜂存活率较高,比较适合该蜂的贮藏,而在12℃贮藏相同时间的供试蜂存活率最高,最适该蜂的贮藏。除此之外,在贮藏期间适时添加补充营养也能大大延长川硬皮肿腿蜂雌成蜂的贮藏寿命,但补充营养对该蜂存活率的影响大小与贮藏温度有关。     

Conservation and storage of a haploid cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) collection under in vitro conditions

 Over 3 consecutive years (1992–1994), a collection of cucumber haploids was obtained from three different lines and one hybrid. Attempts were made to maintain and store a subcollection of these haploids for 3 years. Cucumber haploids appeared to be stable when cultured in vitro. There were no instances of spontaneous doubling and only one morphologically changed plant. During the first year of storage, between 30% and 80% the clones were lost, due to disturbances in plant development, increased levels of endogenous bacteria, and physiological changes resulting in continuous flowering. After 2 years of storage haploids showed reduced vigour. Therefore, plants were regenerated directly from primordial leaf microexplants. Haploid plants were obtained from nearly all of the previous haploid plants. The rejuvenated haploids possessed the same ploidy level and morphological traits as the old collection. The only new characteristic was faster vegetative growth. Received: 17 March 1998 / Revision received: 14 April 1999 / Accepted: 10 May 1999     

Development and differentiation of fetal rat sensory ganglia and spinal cord segments in vitro

Summary Fetal spinal ganglia and spinal cord segments with adhering spinal ganglia were explanted on collagen-coated coverslips. They were investigated with enzyme histochemical methods for the existence of hydrolases and dehydrogenases up to 54 days of cultivation.Alkaline phosphatase was located in arachnoid cells and in mantle cells (satellite cells). Butyrylcholinesterase and alpha-glycerophosphate-menadione-tetrazolium reductase were found in mantle cells. Acetylcholinesterase and indoxylesterase were active in the whole neuron; acid phosphatase and alpha-naphthylacetate esterase were restricted to the perikarya.During the process of cell differentiation in vitro alkaline phosphatase decreased in mantle cells. Acid phosphatase became diminished distinctly in spinal ganglion cells. The other neuronal enzymatic activities remained unaltered during the whole period of cultivation. Proliferated Schwann cells were conspicuous by their activity for butyrylcholinesterase. In newly formed myelin sheaths arylsulphatase was active. Lactate dehydrogenase was contained in the perineurium which had developed. Cultures of long duration could contain cytological formations which were reminiscent of sensory end-organs with respect to their enzyme patterns.The enzyme activities of nervous tissues in vitro in their approximation to the situation in situ are discussed.A preliminary report was presented at the 17th Meeting of the Association of German Neuropathologists and Neuroanatomists, in Freiburg, September 1972.The skilled technical assistance of Miss Johanna Sixel and Miss Charlotte Beyer is gratefully acknowledged.     

Leaf ultrastructure, photosynthetic rate and growth of myrtle plantlets under different in vitro culture conditions

The in vitro rooting of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) plantlets was performed in containers with gas permeable (V) and non-permeable (C) closures characterized by a different number of gas exchanges (1.4 and 0.3 h^{− 1}, respectively). The rooting was induced on Perlite, soaked with half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 0.5 mg dm⁻³ IBA, either with and without 15 g dm⁻³ of sucrose. During the rooting phase, it was demonstrated that C cultures without sucrose (C−) negatively affect the growth of myrtle plantlets. The net photosynthetic rate and the starch content showed the lowest values in C cultures with and without sucrose (C+ and C−) while chlorophyll a content did not vary among treatments, therefore it could not be considered an indicative parameter to evaluate the autotrophic metabolism in myrtle plantlets. Electron microscopy and image analysis were employed to evaluate the leaf ultrastructure at three sample dates. Plantlet rooted in vented vessels with and without sucrose (V+ and V−) showed chloroplasts with numerous starch inclusions, while several osmiophilic plastoglobules (frequently related with leaf senescence) were found in chloroplast of leaf cells of C− myrtle plantlets.     

Numerical investigations of rib fracture failure models in different dynamic loading conditions

Rib fracture is one of the most common thoracic injuries in vehicle traffic accidents that can result in fatalities associated with seriously injured internal organs. A failure model is critical when modelling rib fracture to predict such injuries. Different rib failure models have been proposed in prediction of thorax injuries. However, the biofidelity of the fracture failure models when varying the loading conditions and the effects of a rib fracture failure model on prediction of thoracic injuries have been studied only to a limited extent. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of three rib failure models on prediction of thoracic injuries using a previously validated finite element model of the human thorax. The performance and biofidelity of each rib failure model were first evaluated by modelling rib responses to different loading conditions in two experimental configurations: (1) the three-point bending on the specimen taken from rib and (2) the anterior–posterior dynamic loading to an entire bony part of the rib. Furthermore, the simulation of the rib failure behaviour in the frontal impact to an entire thorax was conducted at varying velocities and the effects of the failure models were analysed with respect to the severity of rib cage damages. Simulation results demonstrated that the responses of the thorax model are similar to the general trends of the rib fracture responses reported in the experimental literature. However, they also indicated that the accuracy of the rib fracture prediction using a given failure model varies for different loading conditions.     

In vitro response of rat gastrointestinal segments to cholecystokinin and bombesin

In previous studies of the rat gastrointestinal (GI) tract, we have demonstrated specific binding of cholecystokinin (CCK) to the pylorus and of bombesin (BN) to the gastric fundus, gastric antrum, duodenum, and ileum. We now present the results of an investigation of the in vitro response of the same regions of the rat GI tract to CCK-8 (the active octapeptide of CCK) and BN. Sections of rat fundus, antrum, pylorus, duodenum, and ileum were suspended in a Tyrode buffer and attached to an isometric pressure transducer in a longitudinal orientation. Dose-response curves to CCK-8 and BN were generated for each tissue. CCK-8 consistently induced a change only in pylorus, while BN induced a response from fundus, antrum and duodenum. With the exception of the lack of ileal response to BN, the regions of the rat GI tract which biologically respond (i.e., contract or relax) to CCK-8 or BN were the same regions in which we have located BN and CCK-8 binding sites. This correlation supports the hypothesis that GI function is modified by specified hormone-receptor interactions with these peptides.     

Variability in storage potential of banana shoot cultures under medium term storage conditions

Shoot cultures of 401 banana clones were conserved under slow growth conditions (16±1°C, 25mol m^–2 s^–1). Storage duration-defined as 60% survival time of 20 shoot cultures of a clone-averaged 334 days. However, large differences occurred among the different genomic (sub)groups and even within the same (sub)group. East-African highland bananas and non-plantain AAB bananas can be stored for significantly longer periods. Shoot tip cultures of another 41 banana clones conserved at higher ambient temperature (22±3°C) needed to be subcultured sooner (every 220 days on average).Abbreviations BA 6-benzyladenine - CIRAD Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBPGR International Board for Plant Genetic Resources - INIBAP International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain - PPF photosynthetic photon flux - QDPI Queensland Department of Primary Industries     

Effect of loading rate on mechanical properties and fracture morphology of spider silk

Spider silks have been shown to have impressive mechanical properties. In order to assess the effect of extension rate, both quasi-static and high-rate tensile properties were determined for single fibers of major (MA) and minor (MI) ampullate single silk from the orb weaving spider Nephila clavipes . Low rate tests have been performed using a DMA Q800 at 10(-3) s(-1), while high rate analysis was done at 1700 s(-1) utilizing a miniature Kolsky bar apparatus. Rate effects exhibited by both respective silk types are addressed, and direct comparison of the tensile response between the two fibers is made. The fibers showed major increases in toughness at the high extension rate. Mechanical properties of these organic silks are contrasted to currently employed ballistic fibers and examination of fiber fracture mechanisms are probed via scanning electron microscope, revealing a globular rupture surface topography for both rate extremums.     

Operating conditions that affect the resistance of lactic acid bacteria to freezing and frozen storage

Thermophilic lactic acid bacteria exhibit different survival rates during freezing and frozen storage, depending on the processing conditions. We used a Plackett and Burman experimental design to study the effects of 13 experimental factors, at two levels, on the resistance of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus to freezing and frozen storage. The resistance was evaluated by quantifying the decrease of acidification activity during freezing and throughout 8 weeks of storage. Acidification activity after freezing and frozen storage was affected by 12 experimental factors. Only the thawing temperature did not show any significant effect. S. thermophilus was more resistant than L. bulgaricus and the cryoprotective effect of glycerol during freezing and storage was confirmed. The temperature and duration of the cryoprotection step influenced acidification activity following the freezing step: the lower the temperature and the shorter the duration, the higher the activity. Acidification activity after storage was affected by several experimental factors involved in the fermentation stage: use of NaOH instead of NH4OH for pH control, addition of Tween 80 in the culture medium, and faster cooling led to better cryotolerance. Resistance to freezing and frozen storage was improved by using a high freezing rate and a low storage temperature. Finally, this study revealed that the conditions under which lactic acid bacteria are prepared should be well controlled to improve their preservation and to limit the variability between batches and between species.     

Coupling and elastic loading affect the active response by the inner ear hair cell bundles

Active hair bundle motility has been proposed to underlie the amplification mechanism in the auditory endorgans of non-mammals and in the vestibular systems of all vertebrates, and to constitute a crucial component of cochlear amplification in mammals. We used semi-intact in vitro preparations of the bullfrog sacculus to study the effects of elastic mechanical loading on both natively coupled and freely oscillating hair bundles. For the latter, we attached glass fibers of different stiffness to the stereocilia and observed the induced changes in the spontaneous bundle movement. When driven with sinusoidal deflections, hair bundles displayed phase-locked response indicative of an Arnold Tongue, with the frequency selectivity highest at low amplitudes and decreasing under stronger stimulation. A striking broadening of the mode-locked response was seen with increasing stiffness of the load, until approximate impedance matching, where the phase-locked response remained flat over the physiological range of frequencies. When the otolithic membrane was left intact atop the preparation, the natural loading of the bundles likewise decreased their frequency selectivity with respect to that observed in freely oscillating bundles. To probe for signatures of the active process under natural loading and coupling conditions, we applied transient mechanical stimuli to the otolithic membrane. Following the pulses, the underlying bundles displayed active movement in the opposite direction, analogous to the twitches observed in individual cells. Tracking features in the otolithic membrane indicated that it moved in phase with the bundles. Hence, synchronous active motility evoked in the system of coupled hair bundles by external input is sufficient to displace large overlying structures.     

Performance of the anaerobic baffled reactor under steady-state and shock loading conditions

The anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) contains a granulated, mixed anaerobic culture segregated into compartments. Operation of four reactors under a range of hydraulic retention times showed that this novel reactor design offers highly efficient performance in the conversion of carbon in the feed stream to methane and carbon dioxide. The design parameter varied was the number of compartments. COD removal at 20 h retention time was routinely over 95% in all reactors, with low washout of biomass. Very high specific reaction rates were achievable (although with a loss of efficiency) at low biomass concentrations and high loading rates. In order to optimize volumetric reaction rates, a tradeoff has to be made between high biomass concentration, granule size, and the resulting mass transfer limitations. Formate is shown to be an important intermediate in the process under conditions of high loading.     

Variables during swing associated with decreased impact peak and loading rate in running

When the foot impacts the ground in running, large forces and loading rates can arise that may contribute to the development of overuse injuries. Investigating which biomechanical factors contribute to these impact loads and loading rates in running could assist clinicians in developing strategies to reduce these loads. Therefore, the goals of our work were to determine variables that predict the magnitude of the impact peak and loading rate during running, as well as to investigate how modulation of knee and hip muscle activity affects these variables. Instrumented gait analysis was conducted on 48 healthy subjects running at 3.3 m/s on a treadmill. The top four predictors of loading rate and impact peak were determined using a stepwise multiple linear regression model. Forward dynamics was performed using a whole body musculoskeletal model to determine how increased muscle activity of the knee flexors, knee extensors, hip flexors, and hip extensors during swing altered the predictors of loading rate and impact peak. A smaller impact peak was associated with a larger downward acceleration of the foot, a higher positioned foot, and a decreased downward velocity of the shank at mid-swing while a lower loading rate was associated with a higher positioned thigh at mid-swing. Our results suggest that an alternative to forefoot striking may be increased hip flexor activity during swing to alter these mid-swing kinematics and ultimately decrease the leg's velocity at landing. The decreased velocity would decrease the downward momentum of the leg and hence require a smaller force at impact.     

Resistance and hemodynamic reactions in healthy pilots under the conditions of passive orthostatic loading

The results of the analysis of materials on the expert assessment of 66 healthy pilots subjected to a passive orthostatic stress test (POT) by the generally accepted technique of a 20-min head-down tilt bed rest at an angle of 80° to the horizontal are presented. The obtained hemodynamic responses to the test were typified using the generally accepted concepts of functional classes (FC). A good POT tolerance was recorded in 86.4% of the observations, with 36.4% assigned to the first functional class (FC-I) and 50%, to the second functional class (FC-II). A satisfactory orthostatic test tolerance (FC-III) was recorded in 10.6% of the observations, whereas a reduced and poor tolerance (FC-IV and FC-V) was found in 3% of the observations. According to ECGs and computer-assisted tachooscillography, subjects of the FC-I group reached the optimum indicators in their adaptive hemodynamic responses, compared to the pilots of the FC-II group and, particularly, the FC-III group. The latter two groups were found to exhibit some previously unknown objective symptoms, such as marked blood pressure (BP) lability and reversible hypo- and hypertensive responses, which allowed us to differentiate the FC-I pilots from the latter two groups. Based on the obtained results, additional clinical functional tolerance assessment criteria have been developed for a passive orthostatic test as part of the medical expert assessment of flight personnel with different levels of functional stability.     

Variability in storage response within a coffee (Coffea spp.) core collection under slow growth conditions

Anin vitro core collection of African coffee germplasm, structured in 32 diploid diversity groups, was established and conserved under slow growth for 3 years (6 subcultures). The initial objective was to store twenty accessions per group, with four replicates per accession. A statistical model was developed to analyse observations of survival rates within each diversity group. The goodness of fit of the model was shown. Survival analysis indicated a broad variability of the accessions in their response to the storage conditions and confirmed the importance of structuring the coffee complex down to the intraspecific level. Intra- and inter-group differences had consequences on the genetic representativity of thein vitro core collection. For practical purposes, conservation was carried on when the intra-group genetic drift was less than 50%.Abbreviations BA 6-benzyladenine - CAR Central African Republic - CIRAD Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - FAO Food and Agriculture Organization - IBPGR International Board for Plant Genetic Resources - IDEFOR-DCC Institut Des Fôrets - Département Café Cacao - ORSTOM Institut français de recherche scientifique pour le développement en coopération     

A compilation of in vitro rate and affinity values for xenobiotic biotransformation in fish, measured under physiological conditions

Scientific literature from the past 25 years was searched to obtain in vitro biotransformation rate and affinity data for fish. To maximize the environmental relevance of this dataset, we focused on studies conducted at multiple substrate concentrations, and established acceptance criteria with respect to assay temperature and pH. Altogether, enzyme rate and affinity parameters are provided for 43 species and 77 compounds. In all but three instances, the reported reactions exhibited saturation at high substrate concentrations and could be used to calculate Michaelis-Menten rate (Vmax) and affinity (Km) constants. Most of this information was obtained using in vitro systems derived from liver tissue. Information from non-hepatic tissues was included, however, to provide a basis for comparisons among tissues. Where possible, in vitro enzyme parameters were examined to compare: (1) hepatic metabolism of a common substrate within a species, (2) hepatic metabolism of common substrates by different species, and (3) metabolism of a common substrate by different tissues of one species. Comparisons within species highlight a number of factors that may substantially influence xenobiotic metabolism in fish including gender, life stage, and acclimation temperature. Limited data suggest that Vmax and Km for the same reaction may vary by up to three orders of magnitude among species.