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Contact: Vanessa Beeson

STARKVILLE, Miss.—A Mississippi State University research project born in the classroom and expanded through hands-on collaboration is earning international recognition for advancing wood science.

Faculty and students in MSU’s Department of Sustainable Bioproducts received the George Marra Award from the Society of Wood Science and Technology for their peer-reviewed publication investigating how wood grain angle influences structural performance. This is the second consecutive year for scientists in MSU’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center to receive the recognition.

The team compared the century-old Hankinson formula, which predicts strength based on grain angle direction, with real-time acoustic emission data gathered during compression testing to better understand how damage forms inside the wood.

The work originated in the College of Forest Resources’ Advanced Wood Mechanics course, taught by Jilei Zhang, the university’s Warren S. Thompson Professor of Wood Science and Technology, who has emphasized inquiry-driven learning throughout his career.

“We found a knowledge gap. Everyone knows wood grain affects strength, but no one had completed a comprehensive study connecting grain angle and acoustic emission from 0-90 degrees,” Zhang said.

Students tested southern yellow pine wood samples at varying grain orientations, while sensors captured acoustic emission signatures linked to microcracking inside the material. Their findings showed the historic Hankinson model remains remarkably accurate compared to today’s advanced-sensing tools. The research also establishes new baseline data that can support non-destructive evaluation methods used throughout the wood products industry to enhance quality and safety.

Assistant Professor Franklin Quin, who led the laboratory instruction, said the recognition reinforces the FWRC’s strength.

“Professionally, it shows you can contribute to the overall body of knowledge, take a concept, formalize it and deliver something valuable,” Quin said.

Extension Associate III Edward D. Entsminger helped drive the project forward after finishing the upper-level graduate course as a doctoral student.

“What surprised us most was even after more than 100 years, the original Hankinson formula still aligns very closely with modern acoustic emission technology,” said Entsminger, who graduated with a doctoral degree in forest resources in 2022.

The achievement, he said, reflects a shared commitment to excellence.

“This is one of the highest awards in the Society of Wood Science and Technology,” Entsminger said. “To see a class project evolve into an award-winning publication with such a great team is incredibly humbling and a huge honor.”

Collaborators include former students Rajan Adhikari, who earned a master’s and is a product engineer at Weyerhaeuser, and Samuel Ayanleye, who earned a doctorate and is a staff engineer with The Engineered Wood Association. Wengang Hu, an associate professor at Nanjing Forestry University, also contributed to the work.

For more on MSU’s Department of Sustainable Bioproducts in the College of Forest Resources, visit www.bioproducts.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

West Berkshire Council has secured £50,000 through the Department for Transport’s EV Pavement Channel Grant to help residents without off-street parking charge their electric vehicles (EVs) safely and affordably near or at their home.

The funding will support the installation of cross-pavement charging channels – a practical solution that allows residents to run a charging cable across the pavement without creating a trip hazard. This will make home charging possible for households who do not have off-street parking.

Being able to use domestic electricity tariffs, which are often significantly cheaper than public charging points, will help reduce costs for EV owners and encourage more residents to consider switching to cleaner vehicles. This supports the Council’s wider goals to cut carbon emissions and improve local air quality.

The grant will cover the cost of the Section 178 Licence, which residents would normally pay for when applying for a cross-pavement channel installation. Some households may also be eligible for an additional Government grant to help fund both the charge point and the charging channel (see here for more details).

Cllr Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Environment and Transport at West Berkshire Council, said:

“We know that many residents want to switch to electric vehicles but are held back because they cannot charge at home. This funding helps us remove a major barrier by making safe, affordable home charging an option for more people.

“It’s an important step in supporting cleaner travel and improving air quality across West Berkshire. We’re proud to lead initiatives that not only reduce emissions but also empower local communities to embrace sustainable energy solutions.”

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather, said:

“Our investment is backing the rollout of EV chargers in West Berkshire and helping residents install home charging solutions more easily and cheaply, so they can charge up for as little as 2p per mile.

“We know home charging isn’t just for those with driveways, and that’s why we have a national £25 million scheme to help people install discreet cross-pavement gullies.

“Alongside this we’re also tackling upfront costs with £1.3 billion announced at the Budget to extend the Electric Car Grant to 2030, saving drivers up to £3,750 off new EVs, alongside an extra £200 million to rollout more public chargers.”

Full guidance and application details are available at: www.westberks.gov.uk/evguidance.

We are delighted to be among the first local authorities to receive this funding, demonstrating our proactive approach to expanding sustainable transport options and ensuring fair access to EV charging for all residents.

On Dec. 4, 2025, the U.S. Dept. of State updated its Foreign Affairs Manual to add “Specialized Trainers” to its list of eligible activities for B-1, Business Visitor visa issuance. This update comes as discussions continue between U.S. and South Korean authorities, following the September 2025 ICE Workplace Enforcement Raid, to permit certain highly-specialized trainers to temporarily enter the U.S. to conduct training.

Scope of B-1 Visas

The B-1, Business Visitor visa permits certain Foreign Nationals to temporarily enter the U.S. for no more than 6 months to conduct certain authorized business activities that do not constitute “work” and if the Business Visitor will not receive any remuneration while in the U.S. from a U.S. entity. The determination whether the B-1 classification is appropriate is a case-by-case determination, and the following activities may fall within the scope of the B-1 visa (non-exhaustive):

• Investors seeking investments in the U.S.
• Attend business meetings with colleagues or customers, consult with business associates
• Conduct contract or business negotiations
• Attend short training (preferably classroom)
• Take part in exhibitions, conventions or industry/professional conferences/seminars (as an attendee or as a speaker)
• Undertake independent research
• Certain athletes (and their personnel) or participants in international sporting events (g., the upcoming FIFA World Cup)

Certain Commercial or Industrial Workers might also be eligible for B-1 visas if coming to the U.S. to “install, service, or repair commercial or industrial equipment or machinery,” so long as the equipment/machinery was purchased from a company outside the United States, and such post-sales services are required under the terms of the sales contract.

Eligibility Requirements for a Specialized Trainer

The new Specialized Trainer category is similar to that of Commercial or Industrial Workers, as the training to be conducted must be on “industrial equipment, machinery, or processes that have been acquired or are sourced from a company outside the United States,” in support of a qualifying project (such as an installation project or plant/facility ramp-up project).  Additionally, the visa applicant must show that:

• The training or transfer of knowledge to U.S. workers will be of specialized or proprietary techniques, skills, or know-how, and
• The visa applicant possesses unique knowledge that is not widely available in the United States (somewhat similar to the L-1B, Specialized Knowledge visa).

If approved, the visa will be annotated “B-1 SPECIALIZED TRAINER.”

This new category should provide greater flexibility for foreign entities doing business with U.S. companies, to provide knowledge transfer to the local workforce and to continue their investments in the United States.  It is critical, however, that foreign nationals and their employers strictly comply with the requirements of this new B-1 category while in the U.S.

If you think you or your employee might be eligible for B-1 Specialized Trainer processing, or if you have any question regarding the content of this alert, contact a member of Clark Hill’s Immigration Law Practice.

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