Structural analysis of atherosclerotic coronary arteries has suggested that stress concentrations are associated with plaque rupture and that these stress concentrations are critically dependent on the geometry and mechanical properties of the fibrous cap and lipid pool. Recent clinical trials of lipid-lowering therapy have shown a significant reduction in cardiac events associated with plaque ...

Here, hypotheses about stem and root xylem structure and function were assessed by analyzing xylem in nine chaparral Rhamnaceae species. Traits characterizing xylem transport efficiency and safety, mechanical strength and storage were analyzed using linear regression, principal components analysis and phylogenetic independent contrasts (PICs). Stems showed a strong, positive correlation between...

This study investigated the use of waste chicken feather (barbs and rachis) as reinforcement in cement-bonded composites. A series of composite boards consisting of various proportions of waste feather, cement, sand, and chemical admixtures were prepared. Mix workability decreased significantly as the proportion by weight of feathers or ground feathers increased from 5% to 20%. Boards containin...

To analyze the effects of decellularization on the biomechanical properties of porcine common carotid arteries, decellularization was performed by a detergent-enzymatic procedure that preserves extracellular matrix scaffold. Internal diameter, external diameter, and wall thickness were measured by optical microscopy on neighboring histological sections before and after decellularization. Ruptur...

Turkey arthritis reovirus (TARV) causes lameness and tenosynovitis in commercial turkeys and is often associated with gastrocnemius tendon rupture by the marketing age. This study was undertaken to characterize the biomechanical properties of tendons from reovirus-infected turkeys. One-week-old turkey poults were orally inoculated with O'Neil strain of TARV and observed for up to 16 weeks of ag...

The increase of shear strength in soil, reinforced with the geogrid (alternate reinforcer), is resulted from an increase of modulus of soil hardness, and also from the tensile strength of reinnforcer. The shear strength of contact surface in soil appears due to both the friction strength against the contact surface, and the passive strength formed in front of the elements of the geogri...

Merbau wood has a disadvantage in outdoor applications because its water-soluble extractives readily leach out and stain adjacent materials. This study examined the thickness of the heat-treated wood specimen on water-soluble extractives and some mechanical properties. The results show that heat treatment is efficient at removing the water-soluble extractives of merbau heartwood and overcoming ...

During the fall semester of the 2005-2006 academic year, I decided to try to produce some scale models of structural systems out of rubber. I had in mind to use these models to demonstrate structural behavior to undergraduate students, thinking that seeing models deform under load would be far more convincing than the standard line diagrams of deformed shapes that we typically use in engineerin...

Cellulosic microfibrils (SMF) and microparticles (SMP) extracted from soybean hulls were used in films and also combined with woodbased micro and nanofibrillar cellulose (MNFC) in hybrid systems. During film consolidation a remarkable reduction in water drainage was observed in the presence of SMF and SMP. The hybrid films displayed strength (elastic modulus and strength at rupture) and barrier...

This paper investigated the potentiality of muli (Melocanna baccifera) for making bamboo mat plywood. Bamboo mat plywood with the length, width and thickness of 2.4 m × 1.2 m × 7 mm was made using liquid urea formaldehyde resin. The physical and mechanical properties of such plywood were compared with the existing market plywood. The average density of bamboo mat plywood was much higher compare...