Includes bibliographical references (p. 118-134).

Thesis--School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., 1992-93. / Title from title screen (viewed Oct. 27, 2003). "October 1994." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1988.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--York University, 1999. Graduate Programme in Philosophy. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-87). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ43457.

Haemostasis is an important aspect in neurosurgical operations for the achievement of good outcome. Bipolar coagulation is an extensively used haemostatic technique in modern neurosurgery but it may also cause iatrogenic brain trauma due to thermal injury. Published studies on coagulation-induced brain injury on a histological level are, however, limited. The present study aimed at investigating the extent of inflammatory and glial responses caused by different settings of bipolar coagulation using an animal model. It also investigated whether and how pre-operative treatment with dexamethasone or progesterone, both known to have neuro-protective effects, would modulate gliosis and macrophage infiltration induced by bipolar coagulation. The study consisted of two parts. The first part investigated the astrocytic and macrophage responses after bipolar coagulation at different power settings. 45 Sprague-Dawley rats received craniotomy, followed by bipolar coagulation at different power output settings (mock operation as control, 20W and 40W) over the rat cortex for a standardized duration of two seconds. On day 3, day 7 and day 28, brain sections were assessed by immunohistochemical staining for GFAP (astrocytes) and ED1 (macrophages). Quantification of outcome by random field cell counting under light microscopy was performed. The second part of the study used another 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into three treatment groups: Group 1 received the vehicle agents only (Control); Group 2 received progesterone 20mg/kg; Group 3 received dexamethasone 1 mg/kg. All treatments were given intraperitoneally two hours before craniotomy. The animals received bipolar coagulation at 40W for a standardized duration of two seconds. On day 1, 3 and 7, brain sections were assessed by immunohistochemical staining for GFAP and ED1. Quantification of outcome by random field cell counting under light microscopy was performed. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for the animals on day 3 was also performed. The results showed that bipolar coagulation was associated with significant glial and inflammatory responses that correlated with power output. Progesterone and dexamethasone were both effective in reducing the glial hypertrophy and macrophage infiltration associated with bipolar coagulation. Dexamethasone had an additional advantage of reducing brain oedema and cavity formation. The findings suggested that progesterone and dexamethasone could be further explored as potential protective and/or remedial agents for bipolar coagulation-induced brain trauma sustained during neurosurgical procedures. / published_or_final_version / Surgery / Master / Master of Research in Medicine

abstract / Surgery / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This study presents a test and analysis method to determine both damage and healing characteristics of asphalt composites using the same test specimen. The test involves applying multiple stretches of load cycles, each separated by a period of zero load introduced at several different levels of reduced stiffness. The analytical procedure involves (1) using modified correspondence principles to transform the time-dependent physical quantities (stress, strain and energy density) into time-independent pseudo-elastic quantities, and then (2) using viscoelastic continuum damage mechanics to quantify damage and healing properties of the material based on the transformed quantities. The results obtained using two different asphalt mortars subjected to uniaxial and shear load cycles confirmed the findings from the previous researchers that the characteristic pseudo stiffness versus damage relationship for a given material is independent of testing conditions. More importantly, this study demonstrated that the aforementioned relationship was also independent of the rest periods introduced intermittently during the cyclic tests. Results also show that healing defined in terms of the change in the internal state variable for damage represents the true healing potential of a material. Furthermore, healing properties obtained using the proposed test method (a) agreed with the properties obtained using a more rigorous protocol with multiple test specimens, and (b) were independent of the loading conditions used to induce fatigue damage. These observations strongly suggest that the proposed method can be used to predict damage and healing properties for any arbitrary loading condition from properties determined using the proposed protocol. / text

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.