Failure Modeling: A Basis for Strength Prediction of Lumber

Failure modeling of knot-containing wood members was investigated as a means to predict member tensile strength. A finite element/fracture mechanics model was developed to model the progressive fracture process observed during failure of wood members. The failure modeling process yields predicted tensile strengths for members that contain knots in the wide face. Predicted strengths compared favorably with tensile strength data measured in initial experimental tests. Predicted strengths are generated from basic engineering computation and are not derived or adjusted by any empirical factors. With further research and verification, the concepts presented hold promise for use in lumber grading and quality assurance

Genetic influences on neural plasticity.

Neural plasticity refers to the capability of the brain to alter function or structure in response to a range of events and is a crucial component of both functional recovery after injury and skill learning in healthy individuals. A number of factors influence neural plasticity and recovery of function after brain injury. The current review considers the impact of genetic factors. Polymorphisms in the human genes coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and apolipoprotein E have been studied in the context of plasticity and stroke recovery and are discussed here in detail. Several processes involved in plasticity and stroke recovery, such as depression or pharmacotherapy effects, are modulated by other genetic polymorphisms and are also discussed. Finally, new genetic polymorphisms that have not been studied in the context of stroke are proposed as new directions for study. A better understanding of genetic influences on recovery and response to therapy might allow improved treatment after a number of forms of central nervous system injury

Creating the Entrepreneurship & Libraries Conference 2020: A Collaboration of Public, Special, and Academic Librarians, Vendors, and Economic Development Stakeholders

Despite the increasing importance to libraries of supporting entrepreneurship and economic development, professional development opportunities on those topics have been rare. Also rare are opportunities for public, special, and academic librarians plus other types of professionals to collaborate on major professional development events like a multi-day conference. The authors and a diverse planning group worked to challenge that status quo by creating the Entrepreneurship & Libraries Conference (ELC) 2020. After making a COVID-19-mandated pivot to an online format, this conference featured speakers, networking hours, a discussion room hour, and a pitch competition with cash prizes for libraries proposing economic development projects. This article describes how a diverse group of librarians and economic development stakeholders from across the United States and Canada worked together to define, develop, and lead the ELC 2020. The article concludes with assessment and recommendations

Modeling the Effect of Out-of-Plane Fiber Orientation in Lumber Specimens

A method is presented to account for the effect of three-dimensional fiber orientations near knots in a two-dimensional lumber tensile strength prediction model. Data we have collected show that grain angles dive from 15 to 90 degrees out of the wide face plane of flat-grained lumber within a region of about one knot radius from the visual edge of a knot. The diving nature of the grain angles is accounted for in a two-dimensional model, called GASPP+, by transforming a three-dimensional material compliance matrix, and extracting the appropriate coefficients for use in a two-dimensional compliance matrix. Failure criteria are modified to reflect the decreased strength associated with nonzero dive angles. These modifications led to accurate tensile behavior predictions, as evidenced by load-displacement plots and ultimate load measurements of lumber specimens. It is shown that consideration of dive angles is important in predicting the tensile strength and failure mode of thin lumber specimens. Lumber specimen thickness and the manner of loading influence the magnitude of the dive effect on strength

Leading from Below: Influencing Vendors and Collection Budget Decisions as a Subject Liaison

Subject liaisons are responsible to their facility and students for subject-specific research tools funded by the library, but most subject liaisons don’t make the final decisions on subscriptions and other big-ticket items. How can we make effective recommendations to the decision makers? And how can we influence vendors about product development, pricing, and licensing issues as subject specialists but not budget controllers? In this lively discussion, the authors facilitated discussions of these questions with a group of librarians and vendors. After presenting one common model of a budget decision making process involving liaisons, budget decision makers, and vendors, we discussed how liaisons can best pitch a new resource to decision makers regarding content, pricing, and licensing issues. Participants next considered how to influence vendors though building relationships, explaining liaisons’ roles in the budget process, and describing the financial situation and research needs on our campuses. Finally, we concluded with best practices on how to influence as a liaison

The influence of genetic factors on brain plasticity and recovery after neural injury.

Purpose of reviewThe fields of clinical genetics and pharmacogenetics are rapidly expanding. Genetic factors have numerous associations with injury and with treatment effects in the setting of neural plasticity and recovery.Recent findingsEvidence is reviewed that established genetic variants, as well as some more recently described variants, are related to outcome after neural injury and in some cases are useful for predicting clinical course. In many cases, the interaction of genetics with clinical factors such as experience and therapy may be important. As an extension of this, genetic factors have been associated with differential response to a number of forms of therapy, including pharmacological, brain stimulation, psychotherapy, and meditation. Genetic variation might also have a significant effect on plasticity and recovery through key covariates such as depression or stress. A key point is that genetic associations might be most accurately identified when studied in relation to distinct forms of a disorder rather than in relation to broad clinical syndromes.SummaryUnderstanding genetic variation gives clinicians a biological signal that could be used to predict who is most likely to recover from neural injury, to choose the optimal treatment for a patient, or to supplement rehabilitation therapy

FMRI investigation of cross-cultural music comprehension.

The popular view of music as a "universal" language ignores the privileged position of the cultural insider in comprehending musical information unique to their own tradition. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that listeners would demonstrate different neural activity in response to culturally familiar and unfamiliar music and that those differences may be affected by the extent of subjects' formal musical training. Just as familiar languages have been shown to use distinct brain processes, we hypothesized that an analogous difference might be found in music and that it may depend in part on subjects' formal musical knowledge. Using fMRI we compared the activation patterns of professional musicians and untrained controls reared in the United States as they listened to music from their culture (Western) and from an unfamiliar culture (Chinese). No overall differences in activation were observed for either subject group in response to the two musical styles, although there were differences in recall performance based on style and there were activation differences based on training. Trained listeners demonstrated additional activation in the right STG for both musics and in the right and left midfrontal regions for Western music and Chinese music, respectively. Our findings indicate that listening to culturally different musics may activate similar neural resources but with dissimilar results in recall performance

Effects of Microstructural Heterogeneity in Cement Excelsior Board

Heterogeneity in the properties and arrangement of constituents can have an important effect on a composite's properties. This paper evaluates the effects of variability in wood strand dimensions, mechanical properties, and orientation on the engineering properties of cement excelsior board. The finite element method is used to analyze a heterogeneous three-dimensional microstructure of strands, predicting elastic and strength properties. Results suggest that variability in strand mechanical properties can significantly lower composite tensile and compressive strengths, while composite stiffness is not affected. The model also predicts that relatively modest alignment of strands can lead to significant increases in composite strength and stiffness in the direction of alignment

Polymers for Delivering a Substance into a Cell

Disclosed herein are polymers that can be made cationic and used to deliver a substance into a cell. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the polymers and methods of using the polymers

Brain Plasticity and Genetic Factors

Brain plasticity refers to changes in brain function and structure that arise in a number of contexts. One area in which brain plasticity is of considerable interest is recovery from stroke, both spontaneous and treatment-induced. A number of factors influence these poststroke brain events. The current review considers the impact of genetic factors. Polymorphisms in the human genes coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) have been studied in the context of plasticity and/or stroke recovery and are discussed here in detail. Several other genetic polymorphisms are indirectly involved in stroke recovery through their modulating influences on processes such as depression and pharmacotherapy effects. Finally, new genetic polymorphisms that have not been studied in the context of stroke are proposed as new directions for study. A better understanding of genetic influences on recovery and response to therapy might allow improved treatment after stroke