To understand the role of knuckle walking in hominin evolution, we need to better understand behavioral variation in knuckle walking, and specifically whether behavioral similarities between chimpanzees and gorillas are likely homologous. Differences in how the hands of gorillas and chimpanzees contact the ground while knuckle walking have been noted but not quantified: it is widely believed th...

The sealing performance of end fittings is very important for offshore oil and gas pipelines. To investigate the sealing behavior of a ring-shaped wedge seal, global and local numerical models of the ring–pipe interaction have been developed based on the finite-element method. First, the sealing process of the ring under pressure is simulated. Second, a criterion for the penetration of fluid pr...

The friction and adhesion between elastic bodies are strongly influenced by the roughness of the surfaces in contact. Here we develop a multiscale molecular dynamics approach to contact mechanics, which can be used also when the surfaces have roughness on many different length-scales, e.g., for self affine fractal surfaces. As an illustration we consider the contact between randomly rough surfa...

− The achievement of a proper and uniform pressure distribution between the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and the bipolar plates of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a key factor of stack design and assembly. Contact pressure levels are usually controlled by selecting an appropriate external clamping pressure on the endplates. Very few studies have been focused on the measurem...

BACKGROUND Paralysis of the common peroneal nerve is one of the relatively common nerve injuries related to the lithotomy position with the use of a knee-crutch/leg-holder system. Several risk factors have been implicated in lithotomy position-related common peroneal nerve paralysis during operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the present study, 21 young healthy volunteers participated in the i...