Monitoring of focusing tube wear during abrasive waterjet (AWJ) cutting of AISI 309

The paper deals with the investigating the possibility of using vibrations as a potential source of information for the detection of the malfunctions during the abrasive supplying and focusing tube wear in the process of AWJ. The tested material was the stainless steel AISI 309. Variable factors in the experiment were the abrasive mass flow ma and the focusing tube diameter df. The scanned vibration signal of the material was subjected to frequency analysis. With the increase of the abrasive mass flow, the shift of the amplitudes will follow the opposite direction and decrease. Frequency spectra of all assessed signals are similar by shape in the high-frequency area

Preliminary analysis of volume material removal at bone cement disintegration by pulsating water jet

The article deals with preliminary analysis of material removal during disintegration of bone cement. This article was created to show possibilities of pulsating water jet utilization in medicine. Experiments with pulsating water jet were done using two types of nozzles - flat and round. Traces in bone cement were measured by optical profilemeter MicroProf FRT. Results show that pulsating water jet will be possible focuses as a tool for medical purposes, but further detailed research is needed

Evaluation of selected surface characteristics of CW004A copper disintegrated by PWJ

Paper deals with copper CW004A surface characteristics evaluation after\ndisintegration by enhanced pulsating water jet. The main aim was identify and\ndescribe areas of pulsating water jet disintegration effects on material with using\ncircular nozzle diameter. 25 samples were disintegrated at change traverse speed\nv = 0.1 – 20 mm·s-1, for assessment of individual areas formation. Surface\ncharacteristics were evaluated based on surface roughness parameters Ra [μm],\nRz [μm], Rp [μm], Rv [μm], mass material removal Δm [mg.mm-1] and volume\nmaterial removal Vm [mm3]. Based on experimental investigation, three areas of\npulsating water jet effects on material were determined

Erosion effects evaluation of pulsating water jet on brass EN 12164

The objective of this experiment is to verify an assumption that with decreasing value of feed rate, mass v material removal Δ of brass EN 12164 during cutting by pulsating water jet is increased, and to seek the mass erosion curve course depending on the change of feed rate v [mm·s-1]. The selected observed parameter was evaluated in two units of Δ [mg·s-1] and Δ [mg·mm-1]. Two mutually related experiments were carried out. In the pilot experiment, the curve originating at hydraulic power output of 15 kW was evaluated that was achieved in combination of nozzle diameter d [mm] and pressure p [MPa] - d/p [mm/MPa] = 1.0668/52; 1.3208/39; 1.6002/31. After the pilot experiment, another experiment followed in which a particular range of feed rate values v = 0.2 - 8 mm·s-1 was selected. This resulted in finding that different courses of erosion process exist for mass material removal expressed in the form of curve Δ [mg·s-1] and Δ [mg·mm-1], depending on feed rate v [mm·s-1]

The Assessment of Patient Satisfaction and Attendance of Community Pharmacies in Slovakia

Aim: Patient-oriented pharmaceutical care in pharmacies could improve patient satisfaction and influence patient’s choice of a community pharmacy. The aim of the work was to assess patient satisfaction and attendance in community pharmacies in Slovakia. Methods: A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to patients visiting 33 community pharmacies in a total of 23 Slovak cities during October-December 2013. The questionnaire contained 29 items and three dimensions were supposed (managing therapy, interpersonal relationship, general satisfaction). A 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = very satisfied, 2 = satisfied, 3 = neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 4 = dissatisfied, 5 = very dissatisfied) was used for assessing patient satisfaction. The results are presented in percentages and by the level of satisfaction within the range: high satisfaction (score 1.00-2.50), moderate satisfaction (score 2.51-3.50) and low satisfaction (score 3.51-5.00). Reasons for attendance in the community pharmacy and factors influencing pharmacy choice were evaluated either. Results: A total 2 844 respondents were included into the survey. Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical care achieved high satisfaction level: interpersonal relationship (1.85 ± 0.598; 86.7% highly satisfied respondents) and general satisfaction (2.02 ± 0.643; 71.3% highly satisfied respondents). Managing therapy scored lower (2.24 ± 0.704; 65.4% highly satisfied respondents). The most frequently reported reasons for attending community pharmacy were to obtain prescription (70.4%) and over-the-counter medications (70.4%). The patient choice of a particular pharmacy was influenced by its location (74.1%). Conclusion: This study presents the first nationwide patientreported outcomes about patient satisfaction and attendance in community pharmacies in Slovakia. Future development and advancement of pharmacy practice leading to higher patient satisfaction requires modification of community pharmacists’ professional behaviour in Slovakia namely in managing therapy of patients