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Mechanics dictates embryonic stem cell pluripotency

Submitted by Ning Wang on

We demonstrate that a soft substrate of a stiffness that matches the embryonic stem cell stiffness can promote homogenous self-renewal and pluripotency of these cells, even in the absence of the growth factor-Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF). These findings open the field of stem cell biology for long term culture of embryonic stem cells without generating a heterogeneous population of cells with varying degrees of differentiation and highlight the importance of mechanics in dictating embryonic stem cell pluripotency.

Worldwide Electroactive Polymer Newsletter

Submitted by Zhigang Suo on

The latest issue of the WW-EAP Newsletter is now available.  I’m pleased that the issue includes my submission on a recently completed review on the Theory of Dielectric Elastomers.  As usual, the Newsletter contains lots of extremely valuable information, such as new books in the field, and new products.

Soil Mechanics and Fossil Dinosaur Trackways

Submitted by Lee Margetts on

My PhD student Peter Falkingham (who graduated 15 December 2010) has published some interesting papers on Dinosaur Trackways. These might be of interest to those teaching Soil Mechanics, to give some examples that might be more stimulating than foundation design or traditional geotechnical engineering.

References below:

ABAQUS:Negative Pressure with “Hard” Pressure-Over Closure

Submitted by thanu on

Hi,

I'm using ABAQUS for my research o soil-pile interaction. For the initial modeling of soil-pile interface I have used the "Hard" pressure-over closure relationship. According to the definition negative pressure is not possible with that type of normal contact behavior. But when I check the contact pressure still I can see that negative pressure is applied. What could be the reason?

Thanks,

Thanu

Varying material properties spatially in ABAQUS

Submitted by Vaibhav Yadav on

Hi,

In an ABAQUS 2D-planar model, is it possible to vary the material properties spatially, say defining modulus (E) as a function of coordinates, E = f(x,y)? One way is to use *DISTRIBUTION feature, but that allows variation based on element-sets and does not allow varying the material properties as function of coordinates. If anyone has solved this or similar problem kindly suggest.

 

Thank you

Vaibhav