Novel Quantitative Ultrasonic Analysis of Patellar Tendon in Collegiate Athlete Following Bilateral Debridement: A Case Report

An NCAA Division I female basketball athlete (20 years, 190.5 cm, 87 kg) suffered from chronic tendinopathy. After failed conservative treatments, the athlete underwent bilateral open patellar debridement surgery. Pain and dysfunction were assessed via the Victorian Institute of Sport-P (VISA-P) with concurrently collected B-mode ultrasound images of the patellar tendon throughout a 12 month rehabilitation. Peak spatial frequency radius (PSFR), a quantitative ultrasound parameter previously shown to correlate to collagen organization, was compared to changes in VISA-P scores. An overall increase in PSFR values across 0, 30, 60, and 90° of knee flexion were observed throughout recovery. Despite increased PSFR and returning to sport, the athlete still reported significant pain. This level 3 exploration case report provides novel insight into ultrasonically-measured structural changes of the patellar tendon following surgery and during rehabilitation of an athlete suffering from chronic tendinopathy. Perceived pain measurements were not necessarily related to structural adaptations.

Study of nitrazepam drug interaction with alcohol: An ultrasonic and physiochemical investigation

The intermolecular interaction between the constituent components of liquid mixtures can be revealed by ultrasonic analysis. In the present study, interaction of nitrazepam drug with methyl alcohol has been studied and presented using ultrasonic tools. The investigation involves calculation of ultrasonic velocity (ν), density (ρ), viscosity (η) and the associated derived parameters. The specific acoustic impedance (Z), isentropic compressibility(β), relaxation time (τ), intermolecular free length(L_f) and solvation number Sn are calculated to reveal the interaction information. The solvent-solvent and solute-solvent interaction between the nitrazepam and alcohol molecules is considered. To see the impact of nitrazepam drug with alcohol in ordinary day to day scenario, investigation is carried out at normal temperature and pressure conditions with temperature range varying from 303K to 313K range. The results indicate increased molecule association of nitrazepam drug in presence of alcohol. This study suggests the presence of synergistic depressants effect, when nitrazepam drug is used with alcohol.

Response of Ovalbumin to Fructose Addition and pH Variations - Ultrasonic and FTIR Study

Main aim of this work is to understand how the protein ovalbumin is affected by the presence of cosolvent and variations in pH of the medium. The addition of cosolvent in many cases is found to control the extent of denaturation and pH is one of the main sources of denaturant of proteins. In this work, keeping fructose solution as cosolvent and pH of the solution as main variable, the extent of denaturation is analysed by ultrasonic methods and are further confirmed by FTIR amide-I second derivative spectra at 303 K. Obtained results shows that denaturation is sensitive to pH, however, acidic and alkaline behave totally in a different way. It was found that the impact of alkaline pH produces lesser denaturation and is slower whereas the impact of acidic pH is specific and instantaneous. Ultrasonic analysis shows that pH variation can denature the protein whereas the addition of cosolvent supports renaturation. FTIR spectra were recorded for the experimental samples from which the second derivative curve fitted spectra were constructed using Origin program. Quantitative assignment of peaks and the variations in cumulative areas calculated for the structures like α-helix, β-sheets etc confirms the observations of ultrasonic analysis that the pH variations aid in denaturation whereas the cosolvent supports the renaturation of protein.

Response of Ovalbumin to Fructose Addition and pH Variations - Ultrasonic and FTIR Study

Main aim of this work is to understand how the protein ovalbumin is affected by the presence of cosolvent and variations in pH of the medium. The addition of cosolvent in many cases is found to control the extent of denaturation and pH is one of the main sources of denaturant of proteins. In this work, keeping fructose solution as cosolvent and pH of the solution as main variable, the extent of denaturation is analysed by ultrasonic methods and are further confirmed by FTIR amide-I second derivative spectra at 303 K. Obtained results shows that denaturation is sensitive to pH, however, acidic and alkaline behave totally in a different way. It was found that the impact of alkaline pH produces lesser denaturation and is slower whereas the impact of acidic pH is specific and instantaneous. Ultrasonic analysis shows that pH variation can denature the protein whereas the addition of cosolvent supports renaturation. FTIR spectra were recorded for the experimental samples from which the second derivative curve fitted spectra were constructed using Origin program. Quantitative assignment of peaks and the variations in cumulative areas calculated for the structures like α-helix, β-sheets etc confirms the observations of ultrasonic analysis that the pH variations aid in denaturation whereas the cosolvent supports the renaturation of protein.

Fatigue Damage Monitoring of CFRP Elements by Thermographic Procedure under Bending Loads

For structural health of mechanical structures, non-destructive detection and material defect characterization represent the main useful tools for mechanical decay prediction caused by local composite damage phenomena. In this work, internal delamination due to alternate bending were characterized in flat specimens, performing fatigue and static tests, coupled with thermographic, optical, and ultrasonic analysis for damage detection and evolution purposes. Damage to rupture behavior of CFRP material through mechanical tensile tests is performed on several samples and non-destructive inspection procedures are optimized during successive HCF tests to detect in real time local compliance variations and damage initiation. Thermographic continuous monitoring and occasional ultrasonic analysis are implemented to analyze composite anomalies during fatigue life and to elaborate a procedure for identification of delamination induced damage before failure. IRT and UT results are computed with MATLAB analysis for damage evaluation with strain and compliance data acquired during tests.

Investigation of zirconium nanowire by elastic, thermal and ultrasonic analysis

The elastic, thermal and ultrasonic properties of zirconium nanowire (Zr-NW) have been investigated at room temperature. The second and third order elastic constants (SOECs and TOECs) of Zr-NW have been figured out using the Lennard–Jones Potential model. SOECs have been used to find out the Young’s modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus, Poisson’s ratio, Pugh’s ratio, Zener anisotropic factor and ultrasonic velocities. Further these associated parameters of Zr-NW have been utilized for the evaluation of the Grüneisen parameters, thermal conductivity, thermal relaxation time, acoustic coupling constants and ultrasonic attenuation. On the basis of the above analyzed properties of Zr-NW, some characteristics features of the chosen nanowire connected with ultrasonic and thermo-physical parameters have been discussed.