The stress singularity of a sharp wedge contacting a frictionless half plane can be avoided by changing the wedge shape. Shape optimization is accomplished with the geometric strain method (GSM), an optimality criterion method. Several numerical examples are provided for different materials in the wedge and half plane to avoid stress singularity near the sharp corner of the wedge. Optimum wedge...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine whether a wedge type seat decreases the lumbar flexion angle of seated workers with limited hip flexion. [Subjects] Twelve sedentary workers with limited hip flexion were recruited. [Methods] Three seat surfaces were used: a level surface, a forward-inclining wedge, and a backward-reclining wedge. The angles of lumbar flexion and pelvic tilt ...

AIMS To evaluate the accuracy of measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient by catheter wedge as compared to balloon wedge (the gold standard). MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-five patients having a clinical diagnosis of intrahepatic portal hypertension were subjected to the two different types of pressure measurements (catheter wedge and balloon wedge) during transjugular liver biopsy under...

Distal femoral varus osteotomy is a well-established procedure for the treatment of lateral compartment cartilage lesions and degenerative disease, correcting limb alignment and decreasing the progression of the pathology. Surgical techniques can be performed with a lateral opening-wedge or medial closing-wedge correction of the deformity. Fixation methods for lateral opening-wedge osteotomies ...

A new optical design for an autocorrelator using a double wedge is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. It consists of two wedges placed in a mirror-image configuration. Instead of splitting a beam by 90 degree angle as done in a conventional autocorrelator based on Michelson interferometer, the wedge splits the beam by 180 degrees. The angle of incidence is nearly normal to all the wedge ...

PURPOSE To evaluate the correlation of kyphosis and wedge angles with pain relief and functional outcome after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV). METHODS 15 men and 19 women aged 41 to 85 (mean, 62) years who presented with osteoporotic wedge compression fractures of the dorsolumbar spine below T5 and had failed conservative treatment were included. Patients were assessed before and one year a...

BACKGROUND Stepped wedge randomised trial designs involve sequential roll-out of an intervention to participants (individuals or clusters) over a number of time periods. By the end of the study, all participants will have received the intervention, although the order in which participants receive the intervention is determined at random. The design is particularly relevant where it is predicted...

We have measured pulmonary artery (PA) and left ventricular diastolic pressures (LVDP) in patients with acute myocardial infarction to establish the relationships of PA pressure to LVDP. Paired determinations for the various parameters showed (mean difference in mm Hg): left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP )LVDP pre-a + 7.9, P <0.001; LVEDP-mean PA wedge + 6.0, P < 0.001; mean PA wedg...

Sandbox modeling is used to study the deformation of accretionary wedges caused by the subduction of oceanic ridges. The first experiment incorporates a massive ridge within a sand wedge. The wedge thickens and shortens when the forward propagation f the basal decollement ceases. The wedge thickening results in taper change, reactivation of preexisting thrusts, and retreat of the frontal part o...