Plane waves in thermoelasticity with one relaxation time

We apply the thermoelastic equations with one relaxation time developed by Lord and Shulman (1967) to solve some elastic half-space problems. Laplace transform is used to find the general solution. Problems concerning the ramp-type increase in boundary temperature and stress are studied in detail. Explicit expressions for temperature and stress are obtained for small values of time, where second sound phenomena are of relevance. Numerical values of stress and temperature are calculated and displayed graphically

Probing isospin- and momentum-dependent nuclear effective interactions in neutron-rich matter

The single-particle potentials for nucleons and hyperons in neutron-rich matter generally depends on the density and isospin asymmetry of the medium as well as the momentum and isospin of the particle. It further depends on the temperature of the matter if the latter is in thermal equilibrium. We review here the extension of a Gogny-type isospin- and momentum-dependent interaction in several aspects made in recent years and their applications in studying intermediate-energy heavy ion collisions, thermal properties of asymmetric nuclear matter and properties of neutron stars. The importance of the isospin- and momentum-dependence of the single-particle potential, especially the momentum dependence of the isovector potential, is clearly revealed throughout these studies.Comment: 27 pages, 19 figures, 1 table, accepted version to appear in EPJA special volume on Nuclear Symmetry Energ

The Influence of Court Surfaces on Lower Limb Muscle Activation of Tennis Run-and-Stroke

This study aimed to examine the characteristics of lower extremity muscle activity between different tennis court surfaces. Six male right-handed elite tennis players were recruited, and their electromyography activity (EMG) during open stance running forehand were collected. Average activity level of rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), gastrocnemius (GAS), tibialis anterior (TA) from the lead leg, which normalized by maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) was recorded under different situation (hard court, grass court, clay court). Our study demonstrates that GAS was significantly different and the activation level was greater on a hard court than on clay (p = .005). Tennis players should enhance their gastrocnemius muscle performance when matching from clay to hard court to avoid a higher level of gastrocnemius activation when adapting to a different court, which could lead to an injury. KEYWORDS: Grand Slam, training, EMG, performanc

Microwave-Assisted Thermal Remediation of Diesel Contaminated Soil

Leakage of petroleum products, gasoline and diesel, at gas station had become one of major soil contamination sources in Taiwan. Total number of 154 petroleum contaminated gas stations was successively ascertained since the implementation of Soil and Groundwater Remediation Act in 2002. One of the contaminated gas stations, mainly diesel polluted, was studied for the feasibility of microwave-assisted thermal remediation. The average of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHt) in hotspot of this site was 2,845 mg/kg exceeding regulatory limit (1,000 mg/kg). According to the groundwater condition in the site, soil samples treated by microwave radiation with and without water as saturation and vadose zones were respectively tested in laboratory. The results show that a 12-min microwave energy can heat soil with water to reach 235°C and degrade its TPHt to 934 mg/kg; additionally, a 5 min microwave energy can heat soil without water to reach 220°C and degrade its TPHt to 520 mg/kg. Both soil samples passed TPHt regulatory limit and microwave remediation with fast and effective advantages for petroleum products contaminated soil was also verified

Biochemical, haematological and histopathological studies of extract of Ageratum conyzoides L. in Sprague Dawley rats

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety potential of the leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides Linnaeus in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats using biochemical, haematological and histological indices of toxicity. Four groups of seven male SD rats per group were used for the study. To group A was administered 0.25% CMC-Na/ kg body weight and was used as the control group, while groups B, C and D were respectively administered with 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight of the ethanolic leaf extract of A. conyzoides by gastric intubation for 14 days. Animals were subsequently anaesthetized, blood samples were collected for biochemical and haematological assays; organs were isolated and weighed, while the liver, kidney and spleen were processed for histopathological studies. Aspartate amino transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the groups treated with 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight of the extract. Furthermore, there was a significant (p < 0.05) elevation in white blood cell count, mean platelet volume and % platelet distribution width. Histopathological studies indicated various degrees of hepatocellular necrosis in all the treated groups accompanied by significant increases in the weight of liver and spleen. The results showed that the ethanolic leaf extract of A. conyzoides significantly alters the biomarkers of cardiac and skeletal muscle disorders, and higher doses could induce liver cell injury

Validity of the “Streitberger” Needle in a Chinese Population with Acupuncture: A Randomized, Single-Blinded, and Crossover Pilot Study

We studied the validity of a “Streitberger” needle as a valid approach in a Chinese population with experience of acupuncture. Volunteers were recruited from students of the School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. Sixty students receiving education in acupuncture theory and experience in practical acupuncture were tested in study determining whether needling with the placebo needle felt any different from conventional acupuncture. Outcomes included measures of penetration sensation, VAS ratings, and Deqi sensation questionnaire. As a result, needle penetration, VAS ratings for either needle and Deqi sensation were not significantly different between two kinds of needles. Our findings show that the use of “Streitberger” needle is credible in a Chinese population with acupuncture experience