ABSTRACT. This paper provides an elementary introduction into modeling of localized inelastic processes such as cracking or formation of shear bands. The basic concepts are explained using a simple one-dimensional example. It is shown that a stress-strain law with softening used in a standard continuum description leads to physically meaningless results and that the numerical solution suffers b...

In a common medical procedure known as shock-wave lithotripsy hypersonic waves are generated and focused at the kidney stone. These shock waves are thought to fragment the stone but also lead to injuries of the kidney tissue. To predict and estimate this damage we develop here a mechanical model for the response of soft tissue to the exposure of shock waves. The material model combines shear in...

The view of DNA packaging into chromatin as a mere obstacle to DNA repair is evolving. In this review, we focus on histone variants and heterochromatin proteins as chromatin components involved in distinct levels of chromatin organization to integrate them as real players in the DNA damage response (DDR). Based on recent data, we highlight how some of these chromatin components play active role...

Experimental and theoretical studies have shown that size effects in structure deformations and failure become significant as soon as strain gradients are high. For instance as soon as material failure dominates a deformation process, the specimen displays increasingly softening and the finite element computation is significantly affected by the element size. Without considering this effect in ...

PURPOSE This paper reviews 10 principles of experience-dependent neural plasticity and considerations in applying them to the damaged brain. METHOD Neuroscience research using a variety of models of learning, neurological disease, and trauma are reviewed from the perspective of basic neuroscientists but in a manner intended to be useful for the development of more effective clinical rehabilit...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the central nervous system (CNS) by inflammatory lesions, direct axonal injury, and by a rather diffuse and widespread neurodegeneration. For a long time, research has mainly focused on these destructive aspects of MS, while the compensatory effects of cellular repair and neural plasticity have received little consideration. However, as current effective immunomo...

• Influence of plastic material properties on fracture resistance parameter is analyzed. Mechanism-based strain-gradient plasticity theory, Taylor dislocation model are used. Amplitude and stress intensity factors for strain gradient formulated. Behavior SIFs differs significantly from HRR solution. The crack tip mechanics solids investigated analytically numerically. A first-order mechanism-ba...

The pervasive action of oxidative stress on neuronal function and plasticity after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is becoming increasingly recognized. Here, we evaluated the capacity of the powerful antioxidant curry spice curcumin ingested in the diet to counteract the oxidative damage encountered in the injured brain. In addition, we have examined the possibility that dietary curcumin may favor...