Explosive blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), a "signature wound" of recent military conflicts, commonly affects service members. While past blast injury studies have provided insights into TBI with moderate- to high-intensity explosions, the impact of primary low-intensity blast (LIB)-mediated pathobiology on neurological deficits requires further investigation. Our prior considerations of blast physics predicted ultrastructural injuries at nanoscale levels. Here, we provide quantitative data using a primary LIB injury murine model exposed to open field detonation of 350 g of high-energy explosive C4. We quantified ultrastructural and behavioral changes up to 30 days post blast injury (DPI). The use of an open-field experimental blast generated a primary blast wave with a peak overpressure of 6.76 PSI (46.6 kPa) at a 3-m distance from the center of the explosion, a positive phase duration of approximate 3.0 milliseconds (ms), a maximal impulse of 8.7 PSI × ms and a sharp rising time of 9 × 10 ms, with no apparent impact/acceleration in exposed animals. Neuropathologically, myelinated axonal damage was observed in blast-exposed groups at 7 DPI. Using transmission electron microscopy, we observed and quantified myelin sheath defects and mitochondrial abnormalities at 7 and 30 DPI. Inverse correlations between blast intensities and neurobehavioral outcomes including motor activities, anxiety levels, nesting behavior, spatial learning and memory occurred. These observations uncover unique ultrastructural brain abnormalities and associated behavioral changes due to primary blast injury and provide key insights into its pathogenesis and potential treatment.

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Black chokeberry or Aronia melanocarpa is a small fruit‐bearing shrub in the rose family. Although it is native to Maryland, its range nowadays is from Newfoundland, west to Ontario, south into Alabama, and east to Georgia, and hardy to Zone 3. Aronia is a landscape quality plant, susceptible to few pests and diseases that persist in soils and temperate climatic conditions. It is an ideal candidate for organic fruit production. The Aronia fruit has nutraceutical qualities, heightening its marketability and sales potential as a value‐added product. There is currently great interest in fruits and vegetables that contain high concentrations of flavonoids, considered potent antioxidants. Some recent studies have implicated the relationship between in‐field plant nutrient fertility and antioxidant production in aronia. Here we present the data for the antioxidant content of Aronia melanocarpa as a function of the difference of age, amount of time spent in the sun or shade, and nitrogen treatment levels of crops. We have shown that the level of nitrogen treatment in the soil influences the antioxidant capacity significantly. Detailed measurements and analysis of anthocyanin and polyphenols as well as ORAC factor will be presented and discussed. The aim of the project is to determine the treatment that produces the highest capacity of antioxidants in aronia. Grant Funding Source: Supported by Grant T34GM008411, from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences