The fatigue life of tubular joints commonly found in offshore industry is not only dependent on the value of Hot-spot stress (HSS), but is also significantly influenced by the through-the-thickness stress distribution characterized by the degree of bending (DoB). The determination of DoB values in a tubular joint is essential for improving the accuracy of fatigue life estimation using the stres...

In order to investigate the influence of 3D morphology parameters of marble joint surface on its mechanical and seepage characteristics, artificial joints of coarse-grained marbles were scanned by Tianyuan OKIO-typed 3D laser scanner; and then, the professional software was used to obtain the 3D morphology parameters of marble joint surface. Tests of water flowing through a single joint were co...

OBJECTIVE To assess the correlation between five anthropometric parameters and the distance from tibial tuberosity to medial malleolus in 100 volunteers. METHODS Six anthropometric parameters were measured in 50 male and 50 female medical students using a metallic scale: medial knee joint line to ankle joint line (K-A), medial knee joint line to medial malleolus (K-MM), tibial tuberosity to a...

The intention is to provide a Bayesian formulation of regularized local linear regression, combined with techniques for optimal bandwidth selection. This approach arises from the idea that only those covariates that are found to be relevant for the regression function should be considered by the kernel function used to define the neighborhood of the point of interest. However, the regression fu...

This study examines the valiie relevance of miindated disclosures by UK firms of the investor-finn share o{ liabilities of equily-aecounled ass(x:iaie and joint venture inveslecs. It does so for the six years following the intrtxluction of FRS 9: AssovUiWs ami Join! Ventures, which forced a substantial increase in such disclosures by UK firms. Since ihe increased disclosure requirements were pa...

OBJECTIVES The functional impact of gout is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of hand function in gout. METHODS Twenty unselected patients with gout were recruited from rheumatology clinics. No patient had an acute gout flare at assessment. Participants were assessed for clinical characteristics of gout, including the site and number of tophi. Hand function ...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the prognostic value of procollagen type II carboxy-terminal propeptide (PIICP) level in synovial fluid in relation to early tibiofemoral joint osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS Data were collected on 172 women (age 40 to 59 years) who had knee pain and tibiofemoral joint OA in the early stage. Standing semiflexed knee radiographs were obtained by fluoroscopy at baseline a...

OBJECTIVES Early therapy improves outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is therefore important to improve predictive algorithms for RA in early disease. This study evaluated musculoskeletal ultrasound, a sensitive tool for the detection of synovitis and erosions, as a predictor of outcome in very early synovitis. METHODS 58 patients with clinically apparent synovitis of at least one joint...