Using a pulse transmission ultrasound method, we have determined the elastic properties of bone samples taken from along the length and around the periphery of a bovine femur. Twenty specimens, in the form of 5-mm cubes, were tested. All nine of the orthotropic elastic constants were determined for each specimen. Analysis of our data indicate that there are statistically significant variations from the usual assumption of transverse isotropy.

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Acousto-optic spectrum analyzers provide a convenient means of separating wide-bandwidth signals into their frequency components. By a change in the rf input signal into the spectrum analyzer and by the provision of additional digital postprocessing, it is possible to perform radiometry, signal autocorrelation, and matched-filter reception. Although the acousto-optic device has a space-integrating architecture, the matched-filter receiver can be implemented for signals having time durations much longer than the acousto-optic cell. The resulting signal-to-noise ratio improvements from the receiver are consistent with the time-bandwidth product of the waveform, rather than the time-bandwidth product of the acousto-optic device. A mathematical foundation of the processor is presented along with specific receiver implementations. Computer-simulation and experimental results demonstrate key findings. In one experimental example, a linear-frequency-modulated waveform is matched-filter processed to recover a signal that is -24 dB with respect to the input noise floor.

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