A espécie asinina (E. asinus) teve sua origem há milhares de anos, se desenvolvendo a partir de um tronco comum ao do eqüino doméstico que conhecemos. Vem passando por um processo adaptativo, apresentando características distintas, quando os observamos em diversas partes do planeta. Na região nordeste do Brasil, desenvolve um papel fundamental, influenciando diretamente na renda das famílias locais. Tendo em vista o grande número de afecções locomotoras e a falta de cuidados a que estão submetidos, realizou-se um estudo anatômico e radiográfico da região distal de seus membros torácicos, buscando-se subsídios a prática clínica e cirúrgica dedicada a esses animais, bem como a compreensão de sua maior resistência a lesões locomotoras, quando comparado ao eqüino. A avaliação anatômica revelou características musculares semelhantes as já descritas para eqüinos. O exame radiográfico evidenciou lesões severas, caracterizadas por osteíte podal e áreas de reabsorção óssea e remodelamento na margem solear, associadas à rotação da falange distal. Ainda na avaliação radiográfica, caracterizaram-se os principais vasos arteriais dessa região através de técnica angiográfica. Não se observou correlação entre o ângulo de inclinação da muralha do casco e falange distal, com a área de secção transversal dos tendões dos músculos flexores. As maiores secções transversais para o tendão flexor digital superficial, profundo e interósseo, mostraram coincidência com os pontos de maior estresse articular, caracterizando, assim, a resistência dos asininos à lesões nestas estruturas em seu aparelho locomotor. / The asinine species was originated thousands of years ago from the same branch of the domestic equine. The asinine have been undergoing to a great adaptation resulting in different characteristics of each population of asinine around the world. In the northeast region of Brazil, they play an essential role in the income of the local families. Due to a large number of locomotor disorders and a lack of professional care, an anatomic and radiographic study of the distal forelimb region of the asinine was carried out in order to gather information to improve the clinical and surgical practice in this species, and to explain the less susceptibility to locomotor disorders compared to equines. The anatomical study showed that asinine have similar muscular characteristics already described for equines. The radiographic exam showed severe lesions, characterized by pedal osteitis, bone reabsorption areas and remodelling of sole margin associated to the distal phalanx rotation. The radiographic study also showed the characterization of the main arterial vessels. No significant correlation was observed between the angle of the hoof wall and the angle of the distal phalanx with the cross section area of the flexor tendons. The larger cross section areas of the superficial digital flexor tendon, deep digital flexor tendon and interosseus tendon were coincidental with the great articular stress, explaining the greater resistance of the asinines to lesions in those structures of their locomotor apparatus.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of cyclic loading on the extensibility of hamstring muscle-tendon units in vivo.Study Design: A test-retest randomised controlled trial with repeated measures was undertaken.Background: Stretching has been commonly promoted to increase the passive extensibility of the muscle-tendon units, yet the mechanism behind its proposed effects remains ambiguous. In vivo studies of stretching have mostly been limited to the viscoelastic characteristic of stress-relaxation. Few studies have investigated the characteristic of creep. Animal and cadaver in vitro creep experiments have consistently shown increases in the length of the soft tissues, with associated changes in their resistance and stiffness. These results however, might not be representative of human muscle-tendon units under in vivo conditions. Additionally, those in vivo human studies that have investigated creep phenomenon have contrasting results. To date, no known in vivo study has examined passive cyclic loading of human hamstrings to a constant load level.Method: Using a repeated measures design the extensibility of the hamstring muscles were assessed by a passive knee extension test (PKE) to maximal stretch tolerance using a KinCom® dynamometer. Those participants in the intervention group underwent 45 continuous passive cyclic loadings as the KinCom® dynamometer moved the knee joint into extension until torque reached 85% of maximal passive resistance torque measured in the passive knee extension test. The control group sat quietly relaxed during the intervention period. Measurements of hamstring passive extensibility using the PKE test were repeated at the end of the intervention.Results: Following the intervention, the PKE test showed for the cyclic loading group there was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in both maximal passive resistance torque (mean 23%) and knee joint angle (mean 6.3%). A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in passive resistance torque (mean 11.8%) when re-measured at the baseline position of maximal passive knee angle was observed. A significant increase (p < 0.05) was found for passive stiffness over the final 10% of the knee torque-angle curve. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was found for passive stiffness for the full (100%) of the torque-angle curve. Of the control group, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed for all variables of the PKE test. Analysis of cycle one compared to forty-five of the cyclic loading intervention procedure showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in both passive knee joint angle (mean 5.2%) and passive stiffness (mean 28.6%) over the final 10% of the knee joint torque-angle. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was found for passive stiffness across the full (100%) knee joint torque-angle.Conclusion: The findings of the current study demonstrated that after cyclic loading the hamstring muscles lengthened and became stiffer over the final gained range of knee joint motion. Although the current study cannot determine the mechanism behind the changes in the variables of interest, these findings do provide some evidence that most likely a combination of altered stretch tolerance and local mechanical effects within the muscle-tendon unit, i.e. creep lengthening were responsible.

Thèse (Ph. D.)--Université Laval, 2005. / Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 28 mars 2007). Bibliogr.

The hydrodynamic excitation and response behavior of multi-body systems with varying degrees of coupling presents many challenges for designers of offshore structures. In this study, attention is focused upon the analysis and interpretation of experimental data obtained for an unmanned deepwater mini-Tension Leg Platform (mini-TLP) coupled to a tender barge. Each body has its own mooring system and the bodies are connected by two breast lines extending from central points on the mini-TLP to central points on the bow and stern of the tender barge. A fender system is located between the two platforms. Thus the two floating bodies are constrained to move together in surge and yaw while they are free to move independently in heave, roll and pitch with some limitations on sway. The data of the individual records are characterized using statistical moments, including skewness and kurtosis, to examine the degree of non-Gaussian behavior. Correlation analysis and cross spectral analysis are used to investigate the relationships between selected measurements such as the motion of each vessel, tensions in the mooring lines and tendons and the forces on the fenders. The analysis shows that the coupling effects reduce the mooring line and tendon tensions significantly and that the motions of the two vessels influence the line tensions and fender forces. The data distribution patterns followed by the parameters and the corresponding extreme values are also investigated.

Thèse d'exercice : Médecine. Médecine générale : Nantes : 2007. / Bibliogr.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--York University, 2001. Graduate Programme in Kinesiology and Health Science. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ71585.

The deterioration of prestressed concrete structures due to corrosion is a costly problem. This problem is accelerated in cold weather climates where de-icing salts are used. These salts accelerate the corrosion of the steel tendons greatly reducing the service life of the structures and leading to constant costly repairs. Recent research has shown composite materials such as Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP) to be suitable alternatives to steel, providing similar strength without being susceptible to electrochemical corrosion. Carbon FRP in particular has great promise for prestressed applications, showing resistance to corrosion in environments that might be encountered in concrete and experiencing less relaxation than steel. This thesis outlines the testing and implementation of a post-tensioned system that uses CFRP tendons to replace corroded, unbonded post-tensioned steel tendons. This system was then implemented in a parking garage in downtown Toronto. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first example of an unbonded, post-tensioned tendon replacement using FRP tendons. The system used split wedge anchors designed specifically for CFRP tendons at the University of Waterloo. The dead end was anchored by directly bonding the tendon to the concrete slab. Overall, the system was shown to work and provide a durable solution for unbonded post-tensioning systems. The CFRP tendon was successfully inserted in the opening left by the removal of the corroded tendon and stressed. It was found that the current anchorage configuration experienced large load losses of up to 60 % during the transfer. Changing the orientation of the anchor was found to reduce the load lost to a range of 1 % to 9 %. / Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-04-09 15:30:59.865

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Augmented soft tissue mobilization therapy (ASTM) is a newly developed massage technique. ASTM is applied with the aid of specifically designed, solid instruments and has been successfully used in the treatment of chronic tendinitis patients. In a study on collage nase -injure d rat Achilles tendons treated with ASTM, Davidson et. al (1997) reported gait improvement as well as fibroblasts proliferation and suggested ASTM may augment healing by the recruitment of fibroblast. The present study examined the morphological response of enzyme-induced rat Achilles tendons to 3 different ASTM pressure application: 1 newton; 2 newtons and 3 newtons. Collagenase-injured tendons exhibited disrupted and randomly arranged collagen fibers. Treatment applications were performed for 4 days for a total of 4 treatments. Morphological differences were demonstrated between groups in proportion to the ASTM treatment pressure application. The ASTM group treated with 3 newtons demonstrated the greatest mean fibroblast count (370.3 +/- 51.6). Further, electron microscopy revealed the presence of activated fibroblasts in the tendons of the 3 newtons, ASTM group. However, immunochemical staining comparisons of Type I and III collagen, fibroblast growth factor receptor, and insulin-like growth factor between groups were not remarkable. / Department of Physiology and Health Science