Acoustic measurement differences on trees and logs from hardwoods in wet and dry condition

peer-reviewedAcoustic velocities measured on standing trees using time-of-flight (TOF) devices have been found to be between 7% and 36% higher for softwoods than those in logs using resonance techniques based on longitudinal frequencies. This effect was explained in three different ways: (1) TOF devices on standing trees measure outerwood containing more mature wood while resonance methods assess the whole crosssection, (2) the variation in the velocity is due to loading conditions in standing trees, while logs are free of loads and (3) the acoustic waves are dilatational waves in the case of TOF measurements on standing trees and one-dimensional longitudinal waves in the case of resonance on logs. This is an important topic considering the fact that resonance methods are considered more accurate for predicting mechanical properties and it has been proposed that correction factors should be applied on TOF measurements. In the present work, four hardwoods from Irish forests were studied and, on average, TOF velocities measured in the forest above fibre saturation point (FSP) were 19.8% higher than those from resonance measurements taken on logs immediately after felling. However, this difference reduced to 5.4% when the measurements were repeated at a moisture content (MC) of about 18% in the laboratory. Therefore, there is a MC effect on the velocity differences. Furthermore, higher differences were systematically found in older specimens in wet condition. However, this age effect was small in most cases

Comparación de la clasificación visual de la madera en condiciones húmedas y secas de acuerdo con la norma española UNE 56544 y la alemana DIN 4074-1

Visual strength grading is widely used to estimate mechanical properties of structural timber. National visual grades are allocated to strength classes according to European standard EN1912. The recent discussion about the proper function of visual strength grading standards and the assignment of strength classes shows the need for further research in this field. Spanish-sourced radiata, Scots, Salzmann and maritime pine timber samples were visually graded in wet and dry condition according to the Spanish UNE56544 (2011) and German DIN4074-1 (2012) standards. Rejection was far higher dry due to distortion (warping) parameters. However, this rejection could be significantly mitigated by adopting a higher twist limit (2 mm / 25 mm width). UNE 56544 is more suitable for visually grading these species because it was specifically designed for them and a Spanish source. However, both standards underestimated the Scots pine rejection pieces which mechanical properties fulfill the MEG and S10 grades.La clasificación visual es ampliamente utilizada para estimar las propiedades mecánicas de la madera. Las calidades visuales son asignadas a clases resistentes de acuerdo a la norma europea EN1912. La reciente discusión sobre el apropiado funcionamiento de las normas de clasificación visual y de la asignación de clases resistentes hace necesario seguir investigando sobre el tema. Madera de pino radiata, silvestre, laricio y pinaster fue clasificada visualmente en condiciones húmedas y secas de acuerdo a la norma española UNE56544 y la alemana DIN4074-1. Muchas más piezas fueron rechazadas en seco debido a las deformaciones. Sin embargo, este rechazo se ve significativamente reducido adoptando un nuevo límite de alabeo (2 mm / 25 mm). UNE56544 es más adecuada para la clasificación visual de estas especies pues fue diseñada para ellas y procedencia española. Sin embargo, ambas normas infravaloran el lote rechazado de pino silvestre, cuyas propiedades mecánicas cumplen MEG y S10

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy in the neuropsychological assessment of spatial memory: A systematic review; 35123299

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive optical imaging technique that employs near-infrared light to measure cortical brain oxygenation. The use of fNIRS has increased exponentially in recent years. Spatial memory is defined as the ability to learn and use spatial information. This neuropsychological process is constantly used in our daily lives and can be measured by fNIRS but no research has reviewed whether this technique can be useful in the neuropsychological assessment of spatial memory. This study aimed to review empirical work on the use of fNIRS in the neuropsychological assessment of human spatial memory. We used four databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science, and a total of 18 articles were found to be eligible. Most of the articles assessed spatial or visuospatial working memory with a predominance in computer-based tasks, used fNIRS equipment of 16 channels and mainly measured the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The studies analysed found linear or quadratic relationships between working memory load and PFC activity, greater activation of PFC activity and worse behavioural results in healthy older people in comparison with healthy adults, and hyperactivation of PFC as a form of compensation in clinical samples. We conclude that fNIRS is compatible with the standard neuropsychological assessment of spatial memory, making it possible to complement behavioural results with data of cortical functional activity. © 202

Nondestructive testing used on timber in spain: A literature review

Nondestructive testing (NDT) includes several highly efficient techniques for the estimation of the physical and mechanical properties of structural timber. Apart from visual grading, scientific research using Nondestructive testing on timber has been used in Spain since the 1990s. Nondestructive testing can be used for two different purposes: timber grading and the assessment of existing timber structures. The most common devices used in Spain are portable ones based on ultrasound, stress waves, vibration and probing techniques. Many statistical linear models for estimating the mechanical properties of new sawn timber and timber from existing structures have been proposed. Furthermore, several factors that affect Nondestructive testing measurements have been studied (moisture content, temperature, specimen dimensions, sensors position-grain angle…) and adjustment factors have also been proposed. Species have been characterized for visual grading standards from the 1980s to date. The large number of research works using different species, devices and procedures shows the need of homogenization and standardization of Nondestructive testing use. This paper presents a review of research works using Nondestructive testing on timber in Spain, in order to add to knowledge, elucidate the concepts to unify Nondestructive testing used and promote research group collaboration in the near future

Hypermultiplets and Topological Strings

The c-map relates classical hypermultiplet moduli spaces in compactifications of type II strings on a Calabi-Yau threefold to vector multiplet moduli spaces via a further compactification on a circle. We give an off-shell description of the c-map in N=2 superspace. The superspace Lagrangian for the hypermultiplets is a single function directly related to the prepotential of special geometry, and can therefore be computed using topological string theory. Similarly, a class of higher derivative terms for hypermultiplets can be computed from the higher genus topological string amplitudes. Our results provide a framework for studying quantum corrections to the hypermultiplet moduli space, as well as for understanding the black hole wave-function as a function of the hypermultiplet moduli.Comment: 21 pages, references adde

Association between olfactory dysfunction and mood disturbances with objective and subjective cognitive deficits in long-COVID

Background and purposeThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with olfactory dysfunction. The persistent symptoms of anosmia or hyposmia were associated in previous studies with the development of memory impairment and mood disturbances. We aimed to investigate the association between the chronicity of reported olfactory dysfunction and subjective and objective cognitive performance in long-COVID patients and to explore whether their emotional symptoms are related to their cognition.MethodsOne hundred twenty-eight long-COVID participants were recruited. Reported symptomatology, subjective memory complaints, anxiety and depression symptomatology, and trait-anxiety were assessed. Subjective memory complaints and mood disturbances were compared among groups of participants with olfactory dysfunction as an acute (AOD), persistent (POD), or nonexistent (NOD) symptom. Seventy-six of the volunteers also participated in a face-to-face session to assess their objective performance on tests of general cognitive function and verbal declarative memory. Objective cognitive performance and mood disturbances were compared among the AOD, POD, and NOD groups.ResultsThe subjective memory complaints and the anxiety and depression symptoms were similar among the groups, but the score in general cognitive function was lower in the participants with symptoms of acute olfactory dysfunction than in those with no olfactory symptoms at any time. Participants’ memory complaints were positively related to their emotional symptoms. The relationship between depressive symptomatology and memory complaints interacted with the olfactory dysfunction, as it only occurred in the participants without symptoms of olfactory dysfunction. Depressive symptomatology and acute olfactory symptoms were negatively associated with general cognitive function and delayed memory performance. The months elapsed from diagnosis to assessment also predicted delayed memory performance. Anxious symptomatology was negatively associated with the immediate ability to recall verbal information in participants who did not present olfactory dysfunction in the acute phase of the infection.ConclusionOlfactory dysfunction in the acute phase of the infection by COVID-19 is related to cognitive deficits in objective tests, and mood disturbances are associated with self-reported and objective memory. These findings may contribute to further understanding the neuropsychological and emotional aspects of long-COVID

Off-shell N=2 tensor supermultiplets

A multiplet calculus is presented for an arbitrary number n of N=2 tensor supermultiplets. For rigid supersymmetry the known couplings are reproduced. In the superconformal case the target spaces parametrized by the scalar fields are cones over (3n-1)-dimensional spaces encoded in homogeneous SU(2) invariant potentials, subject to certain constraints. The coupling to conformal supergravity enables the derivation of a large class of supergravity Lagrangians with vector and tensor multiplets and hypermultiplets. Dualizing the tensor fields into scalars leads to hypermultiplets with hyperkahler or quaternion-Kahler target spaces with at least n abelian isometries. It is demonstrated how to use the calculus for the construction of Lagrangians containing higher-derivative couplings of tensor multiplets. For the application of the c-map between vector and tensor supermultiplets to Lagrangians with higher-order derivatives, an off-shell version of this map is proposed. Various other implications of the results are discussed. As an example an elegant derivation of the classification of 4-dimensional quaternion-Kahler manifolds with two commuting isometries is given.Comment: 36 page

Covariant N=2 heterotic string in four dimensions

We construct a covariant formulation of the heterotic superstring on K3 times T^2 with manifest N=2 supersymmetry. We show how projective superspace appears naturally in the hybrid formulation giving a (partially) geometric interpretation of the harmonic parameter. The low-energy effective action for this theory is given by a non-standard form of N=2 supergravity which is intimately related to the N=1 old-minimal formulation. This formalism can be used to derive new descriptions of interacting projective superspace field theories using Berkovits' open string field theory and the the heterotic Berkovits-Okawa-Zwiebach construction.Comment: 11+3 page

Supergravity description of spacetime instantons

We present and discuss BPS instanton solutions that appear in type II string theory compactifications on Calabi-Yau threefolds. From an effective action point of view these arise as finite action solutions of the Euclidean equations of motion in four-dimensional N=2 supergravity coupled to tensor multiplets. As a solution generating technique we make use of the c-map, which produces instanton solutions from either Euclidean black holes or from Taub-NUT like geometries.Comment: 35 pages, some clarifications adde