Observation of the Kibble-Zurek Mechanism in Microscopic Acoustic Crackling Noises

Characterizing the fast evolution of microstructural defects is key to understanding “crackling” phenomena during the deformation of solid materials. For example, it has been proposed using atomistic simulations of crack propagation in elastic materials that the formation of a nonlinear hyperelastic or plastic zone around moving crack tips controls crack velocity. To date, progress in understanding the physics of this critical zone has been limited due to the lack of data describing the complex physical processes that operate near microscopic crack tips. We show, by analyzing many acoustic emission events during rock deformation experiments, that the signature of this nonlinear zone maps directly to crackling noises. In particular, we characterize a weakening zone that forms near the moving crack tips using functional networks and we determine the scaling law between the formation of damages (defects) and the traversal rate across the critical point of transition. Moreover, we show that the correlation length near the transition remains effectively frozen. This is the main underlying hypothesis behind the Kibble-Zurek mechanism (KZM) and the obtained power-law scaling verifies the main prediction of KZM

Effects of Aqueous Extract of Kola Nut (Cola Nitida Rubra) on Reproductive Hormones in Rats

Our previous study suggests that aqueous extract of kola nut had effect on reproductive hormones in male rats. This study evaluates the effects of kola nut extract on plasma level of testosterone and luteinizing hormones in male rats. 30 adult male rats were used. These were divided into three groups: group A served as control and it received water only, group B and C received kola nut extract only (8mg/kg body weight), C served as recovery group. All the groups were treated for four weeks. The C which served as recovery group was allowed to recover for another four weeks at the end of the extract administration period. The plasma level of testosterone was significantly increased (p<0.05) while that of luteinizing hormone was significantly decreased (p<0.05) when compared with control animals. The recovery group showed values that were insignificantly lowered but a bit closer to those of the control animals. This showed that the rats were able to recover to some extent after the extract administration.Keywords: Kola nut, Testosterone, Luteinizing hormone, RatNig. J. Physiol. Sci. 25(December 2010) 121 – 12

Re:Generation – A Model For Age-Inclusive Care

The Canadian population is aging. Seniors are becoming the fastest growing age group as a result of the aging of the baby boom generation, and a lowered fertility rate and an increase in life expectancy in the millennial generation. Currently, the population of Canada is approximately 35 million people, of which five million are aged 65 and over. It is estimated that by 2051, about one in four Canadians will be aged 65 and over. At the rate our population is aging, it is foreseeable that the cost of services for the elderly will escalate rapidly as a result of an increased demand for services but a lack of caregivers and facilities to support them. As such, there is a growing demand for new models of living and care for seniors with a shift towards a more economically sustainable, community-oriented schema, where the collaboration and mutual support between the residents could ease the economic and social burden for society. The author has developed a new approach with regards to designing for an aging population – a conceptual kit of parts known as the Model For Age-Inclusive Care. The thesis proposes the development of an age-inclusive multi-service and care hub to reintegrate the elderly into the social fabric of the city by using underperforming, under-utilized commercial developments as an activator. In essence, this thesis will attempt to connect between the more disparate parts of society through the incorporation of places with potential for development in an attempt to present a model of symbiotic community space aging

Understanding effective leadership for quality early childhood programmes in Hong Kong

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Catalytic Addition of Simple Alkenes to Carbonyl Compounds by Use of Group 10 Metals

Recent advances using nickel complexes in the activation of unactivated monosubstituted olefins for catalytic intermolecular carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions with carbonyl compounds, such as simple aldehydes, isocyanates, and conjugated aldehydes and ketones, are discussed. In these reactions, the olefins function as vinyl- and allylmetal equivalents, providing a new strategy for organic synthesis. Current limitations and the outlook for this new strategy are also discussed.National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (GM-063775)National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (GM-072566)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (CAREER CHE-0134704)Amgen Inc.Boehringer Ingelheim PharmaceuticalsBristol-Myers Squibb CompanyMerck & Co., Inc.GlaxoSmithKlineJohnson & JohnsonPfizer Inc.Alfred P. Sloan FoundationWyeth ResearchDeshpande Center for Technological InnovationNational Science Foundation (U.S.) (CHE-9809061)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (DBI-9729592)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (1S10RR13886-01

Fruits intake and cardiovascular function in normotensive young adults: A 4 - Week Study

This study assessed the effect of increase fruits intake on cardiovascular health as specified by blood pressure and pulse rate. It is a 4 week study involving 70 apparently healthy normotensive students, between the ages of 20–30 years. They were recruited from the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and grouped into 7 (A - G). While group A received no fruit for the period of the study, B – G received as follows; guava, carrot, orange, apple, banana and a combination of all five fruits respectively. Blood pressure and pulse rate were determined before and after the study to assess the level of cardiovascular health. The results showed that blood pressure and pulse rate remained normal throughout the study. However, blood pressure and pulse rate fell non- significantly (p >0.05) in the treatment groups than those of the controls and as well as the values before treatment. Comparatively, carrot had the most percentage impact on systolic pressure (6.0%) while Apple had the most impact on diastolic pressure (8.81%) and pulse rate (8.49%). Thus, fruits intervention in normotensive  subjects is recommendable and may even be more beneficial for hypertensive individuals considering its clinical  advantage.Key words: Phyto-chemical, Fruits, Hypertension, Blood pressure, Pulse rat

Hand numbness and carpal tunnel syndrome after volar plating of distal radius fracture

We report the incidence of late onset post-operative carpal tunnel syndrome (late carpal tunnel syndrome) and late median nerve neuropathy after volar plating of distal radius fracture by conducting a retrospective study on volar plating for distal radius fracture performed during 2002 to 2006. Two hundred eighty-two volar plating were performed for acute distal radius fracture after exclusion. Post-operative hand numbness occurred in 24 patients of which nine had carpal tunnel syndrome. Thus, the incidence of late carpal tunnel syndrome was 3.2% (9/282). Of the eight (8/24, 33%) patients with post-operative hand numbness that failed to respond to conservative treatment, five had carpal tunnel release and three had neurolysis of median nerve at distal forearm. All had clinical improvement except in one patient. The incidence of late carpal tunnel syndrome after volar plating of distal radius in the present series is similar to the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in general population. The incidence is low compared with other series, regardless of treatment method (conservative treatment, volar or dorsal plating). The outcome of post-operative hand numbness is generally favourable

Association of the DYX1C1 Gene with Chinese Literacy in a Healthy Chinese Population

DYX1C1, the first dyslexia candidate gene, has been associated with developmental dyslexia in different populations, but its influence on reading abilities in the general population is less well known. Copy number variants (CNVs) have been implicated in neurodevelopmental and childhood-onset disorders involving cognitive development in previous studies. In this report, we investigated the extent to which genomic CNVs for the SNP previously linked to dyslexia, -3G/A (rs3743205) in the gene DYX1C1, contribute to Chinese and English literacy in the general population in a Chinese cohort, and whether these processes, in turn, are influenced by environmental factors, such as family income, parents’ education, and IQ. Our findings suggest that the logR ratio (which is a way to detect CNVs) of a previously reported dyslexia-related SNP, -3G/A (rs3743205) is significantly associated with Chinese literacy in a cohort of Chinese children with normal reading abilities