A novel flax fibre composite material for stringed instrument fingerboards.

With growing restrictions on the exploitation and trade of current stringed musical instruments fingerboard materials such as ebony and rosewood, for economical and ethical reasons, instrument makers are looking for alternative materials. The present work describes the development of a homogeneous 60% bio-based flax fibre composite material with physical properties similar to commonly used fingerboard woods. As a proof of concept, prototype guitar neck was built using the material, demonstrating its compatibility with existing guitar manufacturing techniques.

[Internet-based continuing medical education: as effective as live continuing medical education].

E-learning consists in using new multimedia and Internet technologies to improve the quality of learning activities by facilitating access to resources and services, as well as exchanges and remote collaboration. The Internet is used for adult education in most professional domains, but its use for continuing medical education is less developed. Advantages are observed for teachers (e.