Nucleation and growth of orbital ordering.

The dynamics of the first-order phase transitions involving a large displacement of atoms, for example, a liquid-solid transition, is generally dominated by the nucleation of the ordered phase and the growth of the nuclei, where the interfacial energy between the two phases plays an important role. On the other hand, electronic phase transitions seldom exhibit such a nucleation-growth behavior, probably because two-phase coexistence is not dominated by only the interfacial energy in such phase transitions. In the present paper, we report that the dynamics of a phase transition associated with an ordering of d orbitals in a vanadate exhibits a clear nucleation-growth behavior and that the interfacial energy between the orbital-ordered and -disordered phases dominated by the orbital-spin coupling can be experimentally obtained.

Physical fitness of non-disabled school-aged children born with extremely low birth weights.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of long-term outcomes in survivors born with extremely low birth weights (ELBWs) has become increasingly important. However, little has been reported on the physical fitness of non-disabled school-aged children born with ELBWs. AIMS: To assess the physical fitness of non-disabled school-aged children born with ELBWs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: We analyzed 169 ELBW infants without cerebral palsy or intellectual disability (based on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) Full Scale intelligence quotient (IQ) test < 70). OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical fitness was assessed using the grip strength, sit-up repetitions, sit & reach, side steps, standing long jump, and softball throw tests. T-scores were calculated using national survey data. RESULTS: The T-scores for the grip strength, sit-up repetitions, sit & reach, side steps, standing long jump, softball throw tests, and the overall T-score were 43.7 ±â€¯7.5, 44.2 ±â€¯10.5, 46.0 ±â€¯9.7, 40.9 ±â€¯8.0, 40.0 ±â€¯9.8, 42.4 ±â€¯8.1, and 42.9 ±â€¯5.5, respectively. After adjusting for other age-related factors, the height (SD score), WISC-III Performance IQ score, and percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) independently predicted the overall T-scores. Their standardized partial regression coefficients (ß) were 0.334 (p = 0.009), 0.190 (p = 0.022), and 0.187 (p = 0.032), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our cohort's physical fitness at approximately 8 years of age was significantly impaired compared to average Japanese children of the same age. Height, FVC, and Performance IQ independently predicted physical fitness, with height being the strongest predictor.