Nonlinear waves in solids with slow dynamics: an internal-variable model

In heterogeneous solids such as rocks and concrete, the speed of sound diminishes with the strain amplitude of a dynamic loading (softening). This decrease known as "slow dynamics" occurs at time scales larger than the period of the forcing. Also, hysteresis is observed in the steady-state response. The phenomenological model by Vakhnenko et al. is based on a variable that describes the softening of the material [Phys. Rev. E 70-1, 2004]. However, this model is 1D and it is not thermodynamically admissible. In the present article, a 3D model is derived in the framework of the finite strain theory. An internal variable that describes the softening of the material is introduced, as well as an expression of the specific internal energy. A mechanical constitu-tive law is deduced from the Clausius-Duhem inequality. Moreover, a family of evolution equations for the internal variable is proposed. Here, an evolution equation with one relaxation time is chosen. By construction, this new model of continuum is thermodynamically admissible and dissipative (inelas-tic). In the case of small uniaxial deformations, it is shown analytically that the model reproduces qualitatively the main features of real experiments

Association Between Smoking and Tuberculosis Infection: A Population Survey in a High Tuberculosis Incidence Area

Associations between smoking and tuberculosis disease including death from tuberculosis have been reported, but there are few reports on the influence of smoking on the risk of developing Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The aim of this study was to determine the association between smoking and M tuberculosis infection. In a cross sectional population survey, data on smoking and tuberculin skin test (TST) results of 2401 adults aged >15 years were compared. A total of 1832 (76%) subjects had a positive TST (>10 mm induration). Of 1309 current smokers or ex-smokers, 1070 (82%) had a positive TST. This was significantly higher than for never smokers (unadjusted OR 1.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62 to 2.45). A positive relationship with pack-years was observed, with those smoking more than 15 pack-years having the highest risk (adjusted OR 1.90,95% CI 1.28 to 2.81). Smoking may increase the risk of M tuberculosis infection.\u

Architecture and engineering of a supramolecular functional material by manipulating the nano-structure of fiber network

Three-dimensional fiber networks were created from an organogel system consisting mainly of elongated fibrils by using a nonionic surfactant as an additive. The presence of the surfactant molecules manipulates the network structure by enhancing the mismatch nucleation on the growing fiber tips. Both the fiber network structure and the rheological properties of the material can be finely tuned by changing the surfactant concentration, which provides a robust approach to the engineering of supramolecular soft functional materials.<br /

Analytical solution to the 1D nonlinear elastodynamics with general constitutive laws

International audienceUnder the hypothesis of small deformations, the equations of 1D elastodynamics write as a 2 × 2 hyperbolic system of conservation laws. Here, we study the Riemann problem for convex and nonconvex constitutive laws. In the convex case, the solution can include shock waves or rarefaction waves. In the nonconvex case, compound waves must also be considered. In both convex and nonconvex cases, a new existence criterion for the initial velocity jump is obtained. Also, admissibility regions are determined. Lastly, analytical solutions are completely detailed for various constitutive laws (hyperbola, tanh and polynomial), and reference test cases are proposed

From research to policy in chronic disease prevention: mandatory salt reduction in South Africa

Abstract of a poster that presented at 20th International Congress of Nutrition, Granada, Spain, September 15-20, 2013

The role of play objects and object play in human cognitive evolution and innovation

Abstract: In this contribution, we address a major puzzle in the evolution of human material culture: If maturing individuals just learn their parental generation’s material culture, then what is the origin of key innovations as documented in the archeological record? We approach this question by coupling a life-history model of the costs and benefits of experimentation with a niche-construction perspective. Niche-construction theory suggests that the behavior of organisms and their modification of the world around them have important evolutionary ramifications by altering developmental settings and selection pressures. Part of Homo sapiens’ niche is the active provisioning of children with play objects — sometimes functional miniatures of adult tools — and the encouragement of object play, such as playful knapping with stones. Our model suggests that salient material culture innovation may occur or be primed in a late childhood or adolescence sweet spot when cognitive and physical abilities are sufficiently mature but before the full onset of the concerns and costs associated with reproduction. We evaluate the model against a series of archeological cases and make suggestions for future research