Ankle disease in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: ultrasound findings in clinically swollen ankles

The ankle joint is frequently involved in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), but it is unclear whether this is predominantly due to synovitis, tenosynovitis, or both. We performed clinic-based ultrasound examination to assess the prevalence of synovitis and tenosynovitis in children with JIA felt clinically to have active inflammatory disease of the ankle.

Effect of resonance frequency, power input, and saturation gas type on the oxidation efficiency of an ultrasound horn

The sonochemical oxidation efficiency (eta(ox)) of a commercial titanium alloy ultrasound horn has been measured using potassium iodide as a dosimeter at its main resonance frequency (20 kHz) and two higher resonance frequencies (41 and 62 kHz). Narrow power and frequency ranges have been chosen to minimise secondary effects such as changing bubble stability, and time available for radical diffusion from the bubble to the liquid. The oxidation efficiency, eta(ox), is proportional to the frequency and to the power transmitted to the liquid (275 mL) in the applied power range (1-6 W) under argon. Luminol radical visualisation measurements show that the radical generation rate increases and a redistribution of radical producing zones is achieved at increasing frequency. Argon, helium, air, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide have been used as saturation gases in potassium iodide oxidation experiments. The highest eta(ox) has been observed at 5 W under air at 62 kHz. The presence of carbon dioxide in air gives enhanced nucleation at 41 and 62 kHz and has a strong influence on eta(ox). This is supported by the luminol images, the measured dependence of eta(ox). on input power, and bubble images recorded under carbon dioxide. The results give insight into the interplay between saturation gas and frequency, nucleation, and their effect on eta(ox). (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Eclipsing Binary Science via the Merging of Transit and Doppler Exoplanet Survey Data—A Case Study with the MARVELS Pilot Project and SuperWASP

Exoplanet transit and Doppler surveys discover many binary stars during their operation that can be used to conduct a variety of ancillary science. Specifically, eclipsing binary stars can be used to study the stellar mass-radius relationship and to test predictions of theoretical stellar evolution models. By cross-referencing 24 binary stars found in the MARVELS Pilot Project with SuperWASP photometry, we find two new eclipsing binaries, TYC 0272-00458-1 and TYC 1422-01328-1, which we use as case studies to develop a general approach to eclipsing binaries in survey data. TYC 0272-00458-1 is a single-lined spectroscopic binary for which we calculate a mass of the secondary and radii for both components using reasonable constraints on the primary mass through several different techniques. For a primary mass of M 1 = 0.92 ± 0.1 M sun, we find M 2 = 0.610 ± 0.036 M sun, R 1 = 0.932 ± 0.076 R sun, and R 2 = 0.559 ± 0.102 R sun, and find that both stars have masses and radii consistent with model predictions. TYC 1422-01328-1 is a triple-component system for which we can directly measure the masses and radii of the eclipsing pair. We find that the eclipsing pair consists of an evolved primary star (M 1 = 1.163 ± 0.034 M sun, R 1 = 2.063 ± 0.058 R sun) and a G-type dwarf secondary (M 2 = 0.905 ± 0.067 M sun, R 2 = 0.887 ± 0.037 R sun). We provide the framework necessary to apply this analysis to much larger data sets.

Mechanism of Ultrasound Scission of a Silver-Carbene Coordination Polymer

Scission of a supramolecular polymer-metal complex can be carried out using collapsing cavitation bubbles created by ultrasound. Although the most plausible scission mechanism of the coordinative bonds is through mechanical force, the influence of radicals and high hot-spot temperatures on scission has to be considered. A silver(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complex was exposed to 20 kHz ultrasound in argon, nitrogen, methane, and isobutane saturated toluene. Scission percentages were almost equal under argon, nitrogen, and methane. Radical production differs by a factor of 10 under these gases, indicating that radical production is not a significant contributor to the scission process. A model to describe the displacement of the bubble wall, strain rates, and temperature in the gas shows that critical strain rates for coil-to-stretch transition, needed for scission, are achieved at reactor temperatures of 298 K, an acoustic pressure of 1.2 x 10(5) Pa, and an acoustic frequency of 20 kHz. Lower scission percentages were measured under isobutane, which also shows lower strain rates in model simulations. The activation of the polymer-metal complexes in toluene under the influence of ultrasound occurs through mechanical force.

EFFECT OF ULTRASOUND ON THE KINETICS OF OXIDATION OF OCTAN-2-OL AND OTHER SECONDARY ALCOHOLS WITH SODIUM-BROMATE, MEDIATED BY RUTHENIUM TETRAOXIDE IN A BIPHASIC SYSTEM

The initial rate of oxidation of octan-2-ol and other secondary alcohols to their ketones with NaBrO3, mediated by RuO4 in an aqueous-CCl4 biphasic system, is greater with ultrasonic irradiation than by stirring alone. Under ultrasonic irradiation the initial rate of oxidation of octan-2-ol increases with increasing % duty cycle, [RuO4] and [NaBrO3]. The kinetics of alcohol oxidation appear to be closely linked with the oxidative dissolution of RuO2 to RuO4 by NaBrO3. The observed enhancement in rate with ultrasonic irradiation appear to be association, at least in part, with the increase in interfacial surface area via the formation of an emulsion of aqueous microdroplets containing NaBrO3 in the CCl4 layer containing the non-water-soluble secondary alcohol.

EFFECT OF ULTRASOUND ON THE KINETICS OF REDUCTION OF HEXACYANOFERRATE(III) BY THIOSULFATE IONS MEDIATED BY RUTHENIUM DIOXIDE HYDRATE

Ultrasound promotes the reduction of hexacyanoferrate(III) by thiosulfate ions mediated by RuO2 . xH(2)O under diffusion-controlled conditions. There is a strong correlation between the measured first-order rate constant and the absorbance of the dispersion, which, in turn, is closely related to the specific surface area of the catalyst. The enhancement in rate with ultrasonic irradiation appears to be largely associated with the dispersive action of the ultrasound on the aggregated particles of RuO2 . xH(2)O. The rate of reaction increases with increasing %duty cycle and ultrasonic intensity. The measured overall activation energies for the reaction with and without ultrasound, i.e. 18 +/- 1 and 20 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1), respectively, are very similar to those expected for a diffusion-controlled reaction. The homogeneous reaction is not promoted by ultrasound.

THE EFFECT OF POWER ULTRASOUND ON THE OXIDATIVE DISSOLUTION OF RUO2.XH2O BY BROMATE IONS

The effects of continuous sonication and presonication on the kinetics of oxidative dissolution of ruthenium dioxide hydrate by bromate ions under acidic conditions are reported. Compared with unsonicated and presonicated dispersions the overall rate of dissolution of continuously sonicated dispersions is significantly greater due to a reduction in the average particle size and, hence, an increase in the specific surface area. Powder dispersions subjected to continuous ultrasound and presonication exhibit an initial induction period in their corrosion kinetics; the length of this induction period increases with increasing presonication. This corrosion feature is retained in the dissolution kinetics of powder samples which have been subjected to pre-ultrasound, but which are then stirred during the dissolution process. It is believed that this apparent permanent change in the nature of the powder particles is due to the ultrasound induced formation of a very thin layer of a largely unreactive form of ruthenium dioxide (possibly due to partial dehydration) on the surface of the powder particles. A kinetic scheme, based on this model, is used to account for the observed kinetics of dissolution of RuO2 . xH2O which have been subjected to both continuous sonication and presonication.

PHONOPHORESIS OF METHYL NICOTINATE - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY TO ELUCIDATE THE MECHANISM OF ACTION

The skin penetration enhancement effect of ultrasound (phonophoresis) on methyl nicotinate was investigated in 10 healthy volunteers in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial. Each treatment consisted of the application of ultrasound massage (3.0 MHz, 1.0 W/cm2 continuous output) or placebo massage (0 MHz) for 5 min to the forearms of the volunteers, followed by a standardized application of methyl nicotinate at intervals of 15 sec, 1 min, and 2 min postmassage. Percutaneous absorption of methyl nicotinate was monitored using laser Doppler velocimetry. Ultrasound treatment applied prior to methyl nicotinate led to enhanced percutaneous absorption of the drug, for example, ultrasound treatment data versus control data at 2 min showed significant increases (P