Proposal of a new solution for mold temperature monitoring

The paper deals with the proposal of a new solution for monitoring the mold temperature. The mold is used for the production of thermosetting products by pressing technology. At present, the mold temperature is measured separately at sixteen locations of the mold. This measurement is lengthy and laborious, causing production downtime. At the same time, measurement is physically problematic since the mold has a temperature in the range of 130 to 150°C. The controller must manually record all measured data in the record and re-write the record to the computer. The new solution is to measure four control points at once. The controller will measure these points and the measured data will be sent online to the system. This method will clearly speed up the measurement process

Advantages and effectiveness of the powder metallurgy in manufacturing technologies

Powder metallurgy is the manufacturing science of producing solid parts of desired geometry and material from powders. Although the process has existed for more than 100 years, over the past quarter century it has become widely recognized as a superior way of producing high-quality parts for a variety of important applications. This success is due to the advantages the process offers over other metal forming technologies, advantages in material utilization, shape complexity, near-net-shape dimensional control, among others. Commonly known as powder metallurgy, it may also be referred to as powder processing considering that non-metal powders can be involved. Powders are compacted into a certain geometry then heated (sintered), to solidify the part

Pelvic Positioning in the Supine Position Leads to More Consistent Cup Orientation after Total Hip Arthroplasty

Aims: This study aims to 1) Determine the difference in pelvic position that occurs between surgery and radiographic, supine, post-operative assessment; 2) Examine how the difference in pelvic position influences subsequent cup orientation and 3) Establish whether pelvic position, and thereafter cup orientation differences exist between THAs performed in the supine versus the lateral decubitus positions. Materials and Methods: 321 THAs who had intra-operative, post-cup impaction, AP pelvic radiograph, in the operative position were studied; 167 were performed with patient supine (anterior approach), whilst 154 were performed in lateral decubitus (posterior approach). Cup inclination/anteversion was measured from intra- and post-operative radiographs and difference (Δ) was determined. The target zone was inclination/anteversion of 40/20°±10°. Change in pelvic position (tilt, rotation, obliquity) between surgery and post-operatively was calculated from Δinclination/anteversion using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Results: The post-operative inclination/anteversion was 40°±8/23°±9. 74 had Δinclination and/or Δanteversion>±10° (21%). Intra-operatively (compared to post-operative), the pelvis was on average 4°±10 anteriorly tilted; 1°±10 internally rotated and 1°±5 adducted. Having Δinclination and/or Δanteversion >±10° was associated with a 3.5 odds ratio of having a cup outside the target. A greater proportion of hips operated in the lateral decubitus had Δinclination and/or Δanteversion >±10° (54/153), compared to supine (8/167) (p<0.001). A greater number of cups achieved the target orientation in supine (120/167;73%), compared to lateral position (67/153;44%) (p<0.001). Intra-operatively, pelvis was more anteriorly tilted (p<0.001) and hemi-pelvis was more internally rotated (p=0.04) in lateral position. Conclusion: Pelvic movement is significantly less in supine position, which leads to more consistent cup orientation. Significant differences in pelvic tilt and rotation were seen in the lateral position. Clinical Relevance: Understanding the differences in pelvic orientation and cup orientation between supine and lateral decubitus positions may facilitate better intraoperative practices for surgeons

Identification of a Novel β-Cell Glucokinase (GCK) Promoter Mutation (−71G>C) That Modulates GCK Gene Expression Through Loss of Allele-Specific Sp1 Binding Causing Mild Fasting Hyperglycemia in Humans

OBJECTIVE: Inactivating mutations in glucokinase (GCK) cause mild fasting hyperglycemia. Identification of a GCK mutation has implications for treatment and prognosis; therefore, it is important to identify these individuals. A significant number of patients have a phenotype suggesting a defect in glucokinase but no abnormality of GCK. We hypothesized that the GCK beta-cell promoter region, which currently is not routinely screened, could contain pathogenic mutations; therefore, we sequenced this region in 60 such probands. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The beta-cell GCK promoter was sequenced in patient DNA. The effect of the identified novel mutation on GCK promoter activity was assessed using a luciferase reporter gene expression system. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) were used to determine the impact of the mutation on Sp1 binding. RESULTS: A novel -71G>C mutation was identified in a nonconserved region of the human promoter sequence in six apparently unrelated probands. Family testing established cosegregation with fasting hyperglycemia (> or = 5.5 mmol/l) in 39 affected individuals. Haplotype analysis in the U.K. family and four of the Slovakian families demonstrated that the mutation had arisen independently. The mutation maps to a potential transcriptional activator binding site for Sp1. Reporter assays demonstrated that the mutation reduces promoter activity by up to fourfold. EMSAs demonstrated a dramatic reduction in Sp1 binding to the promoter sequence corresponding to the mutant allele. CONCLUSIONS: A novel beta-cell GCK promoter mutation was identified that significantly reduces gene expression in vitro through loss of regulation by Sp1. To ensure correct diagnosis of potential GCK-MODY (maturity-onset diabetes of the young) cases, analysis of the beta-cell GCK promoter should be included

Barriers and facilitators to using NHS Direct: a qualitative study of ‘users’ and ‘non-users’

Background NHS Direct, introduced in 1998, has provided 24/7 telephone-based healthcare advice and information to the public in England and Wales. National studies have suggested variation in the uptake of this service amongst the UK¿s diverse population. This study provides the first exploration of the barriers and facilitators that impact upon the uptake of this service from the perspectives of both `users¿ and `non- users¿. Methods Focus groups were held with NHS Direct `users¿ (N?=?2) from Bedfordshire alongside `non-users¿ from Manchester (N?=?3) and Mendip, Somerset (N?=?4). Each focus group had between five to eight participants. A total of eighty one people aged between 21 and 94 years old (M: 58.90, SD: 22.70) took part in this research. Each focus group discussion lasted approximately 90 minutes and was audiotape-recorded with participants¿ permission. The recordings were transcribed verbatim. A framework approach was used to analyse the transcripts. Results The findings from this research uncovered a range of barriers and facilitators that impact upon the uptake of NHS Direct. `Non-users¿ were unaware of the range of services that NHS Direct provided. Furthermore, `non-users¿ highlighted a preference for face-to face communication, identifying a lack of confidence in discussing healthcare over the telephone. This was particularly evident among older people with cognitive difficulties. The cost to telephone a `0845¿ number from a mobile was also viewed to be a barrier to access NHS Direct, expressed more often by `non-users¿ from deprived communities. NHS Direct `users¿ identified that awareness, ease of use and convenience were facilitators which influenced their decision to use the service. Conclusions An understanding of the barriers and facilitators which impact on the access and uptake of telephone-based healthcare is essential to move patients towards the self-care model. This research has highlighted the need for telephone-based healthcare services to increase public awareness; through the delivery of more targeted advertising to promote the service provision availabl

Proposal of a new solution for mold temperature monitoring

The paper deals with the proposal of a new solution for monitoring the mold temperature. The mold is used for the production of thermosetting products by pressing technology. At present, the mold temperature is measured separately at sixteen locations of the mold. This measurement is lengthy and laborious, causing production downtime. At the same time, measurement is physically problematic since the mold has a temperature in the range of 130 to 150°C. The controller must manually record all measured data in the record and re-write the record to the computer. The new solution is to measure four control points at once. The controller will measure these points and the measured data will be sent online to the system. This method will clearly speed up the measurement process