Abstract Structural rejuvenation is one of the key topics in the field of metallic glasses (MGs). In this work, we evaluated the combined effects of annealing treatment and elastic cyclic loading to discover pathways for promoting structural rejuvenation and improving the mechanical properties in the MGs. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, it was revealed that the sole cyclic loading led to the increase of rejuvenation degree; however, a saturated state was observed upon the 40th cycle. On the other side, the sample exposed to the combined treatment exhibited a slight relaxation at the first step of cycling process and then a sharp rejuvenation degree was detected in the material. The thorough analyses indicated that the change in the fraction of coordination polyhedrons at the relaxation stage was the main reason for the extra rejuvenation in the sample exposed to the combined treatments. The results also suggest that the combination of rejuvenation treatments improves the magnitude of rejuvenation in the amorphous alloys. It should be noted that the increase of rejuvenation in the alloying systems accompanied with a reduction in the tensile strength and an enhancement in the homogenous plastic deformation.

ABSTRACT Objective: To measure the Achilles tendon length, thickness and cross-sectional area in asymptomatic adult Saudi participants and to investigate the possible changes in these measurements based on their different ages and body height. Methods: The prospective cohort study was done between January 2014 and March 2015. A total of 200 asymptomatic participants with 175 males (87.5%) and 25 females (12.5%) between the ages of 14 and 65 years, with the mean age of 25 ± 1.5 years, were scanned at two radiology departments. Ultrasound (US) scans for the Achilles tendons were performed using a Hitachi (EZU-MT30-S1 HI Vision Avius, Hitachi, Japan) US machine. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to analyse the results. Results: There was no significant difference in the length, cross-sectional area and thickness of the Achilles tendons among the participants of different ages; however, the cross-sectional area of Achilles tendons of the older participants (≥ 47 years) was higher than that of the participants of the younger age groups. Moreover, there was no correlation between the length, cross-sectional area, and thickness of the Achilles tendons and their body heights; however, the participants of ≥ 153 cm in height showed an increase in their Achilles tendon cross-sectional areas. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a useful imaging tool in the assessment of the Achilles tendons. The normal variations of the tendon morphological characteristics should be considered in the clinical diagnosis. Additional studies on the correlations among the Achilles tendon length, thickness and cross-sectional areas of ethnicity of the participants in Saudi Arabia are suggested.