MODELLING OF RESPONSES FROM ORTHOGONAL METAL CUTTING OF MILD STEEL USING CARBIDE INSERT TOOL

The purpose of this research was to develop models for the prediction of responses from orthogonal metal cutting process that are responsible for the machinability ratings of this technological system. Mild steel work-piece material that is representative sample for various industrial applications was machined. The various industrial applications of this representative sample range from mechanical shafts to fasteners, screws and hydraulic jack. These machine elements require high degree of surface finish. A fifteen-run based Box-Behnken response surface design was created using widely established machining parameters, namely cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut. The optimum predicted responses from the orthogonal cutting process for the optimal process parameters are 0.1742 micron, 0.4933 micron, 0.1845 micron, 0.3673 micron, 794.6839 seconds and 19.642 seconds for the Ra, Rz, Rq, Rt, TL and M/C time respectively. The associated desirabilities for these optimum responses are 1.000000, 1.000000, 1.000000, 1.000000, 0.524122, and 0.361858 respectively.   http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v36i1.1

Variational inference for latent variables and uncertain inputs in Gaussian processes

The Gaussian process latent variable model (GP-LVM) provides a flexible approach for non-linear dimensionality reduction that has been widely applied. However, the current approach for training GP-LVMs is based on maximum likelihood, where the latent projection variables are maximised over rather than integrated out. In this paper we present a Bayesian method for training GP-LVMs by introducing a non-standard variational inference framework that allows to approximately integrate out the latent variables and subsequently train a GP-LVM by maximising an analytic lower bound on the exact marginal likelihood. We apply this method for learning a GP-LVM from i.i.d. observations and for learning non-linear dynamical systems where the observations are temporally correlated. We show that a benefit of the variational Bayesian procedure is its robustness to overfitting and its ability to automatically select the dimensionality of the non-linear latent space. The resulting framework is generic, flexible and easy to extend for other purposes, such as Gaussian process regression with uncertain or partially missing inputs. We demonstrate our method on synthetic data and standard machine learning benchmarks, as well as challenging real world datasets, including high resolution video data.This research was partially funded by the European research project EU FP7-ICT (Project Ref 612139 \WYSIWYD"), the Greek State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) and the University of She eld Moody endowment fund. We also thank Colin Litster and \Fit Fur Life" for allowing us to use their video les as datasets

Morphometry of the Myopectineal Orifice: Relevance in Prosthesis Hernia Repair

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Obesity and prostate cancer-specific mortality after radical prostatectomy: results from the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database.

BackgroundAt the population level, obesity is associated with prostate cancer (PC) mortality. However, few studies analyzed the associations between obesity and long-term PC-specific outcomes after initial treatment.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 4268 radical prostatectomy patients within the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database. Cox models accounting for known risk factors were used to examine the associations between body mass index (BMI) and PC-specific mortality (PCSM; primary outcome). Secondary outcomes included biochemical recurrence (BCR) and castration-resistant PC (CRPC). BMI was used as a continuous and categorical variable (normal <25 kg/m2, overweight 25-29.9 kg/m2 and obese ⩾30 kg/m2). Median follow-up among all men who were alive at last follow-up was 6.8 years (interquartile range=3.5-11.0). During this time, 1384 men developed BCR, 117 developed CRPC and 84 died from PC. Hazard ratios were analyzed using competing-risks regression analysis accounting for non-PC death as a competing risk.ResultsOn crude analysis, higher BMI was not associated with risk of PCSM (P=0.112), BCR (0.259) and CRPC (P=0.277). However, when BMI was categorized, overweight (hazard ratio (HR) 1.99, P=0.034) and obesity (HR 1.97, P=0.048) were significantly associated with PCSM. Obesity and overweight were not associated with BCR or CRPC (all P⩾0.189). On multivariable analysis adjusting for both clinical and pathological features, results were little changed in that obesity (HR=2.05, P=0.039) and overweight (HR=1.88, P=0.061) were associated with higher risk of PCSM, but not with BCR or CRPC (all P⩾0.114) with the exception that the association for overweight was no longer statistical significant.ConclusionsOverweight and obesity were associated with increased risk of PCSM after radical prostatectomy. If validated in larger studies with longer follow-up, obesity may be established as a potentially modifiable risk factor for PCSM

Southern Ocean albedo, inter-hemispheric energy transports and the double ITCZ: global impacts of biases in a coupled model

A causal link has been invoked between inter-hemispheric albedo, cross-equatorial energy transport and the double-IntertropicalConvergence Zone (ITCZ) bias in climate models. Southern Ocean cloud biases are a major determinant of inter-hemispheric albedo biases in many models, including HadGEM2-ES, a fully coupled model with a dynamical ocean. In this study, targeted albedo corrections are applied to explore the dynamical response to artificially reducing these biases. The Southern Hemisphere jet increases in strength in response to the increased tropical-extratropical temperature gradient, with increased energy transport into the mid-latitudes in the atmosphere, but no improvement is observed in the double-ITCZ bias or atmospheric cross-equatorial energy transport. The majority of the adjustment in energy transport in the tropics is achieved in the ocean, with the response further limited to the Pacific Ocean. As a result, the frequently argued teleconnection between the Southern Ocean and tropical precipitation biases is muted. Further experiments in which tropical longwave biases are also reduced do not yield improvement in the representation of the tropical atmosphere. These results suggest that the dramatic improvements in tropical precipitation that have been shown in previous studies may be a function of the lack of dynamical ocean and/or the simplified hemispheric albedo bias corrections applied in that work. It further suggests that efforts to correct the double ITCZ problem in coupled models that focus on large-scale energetic controls will prove fruitless without improvements in the representation of atmospheric processes.MKH, MC and JMH were supported by the Natural Environment Research Council/Department for International Development via the Future Climates for Africa (FCFA) funded project ’Improving Model Processes for African Climate’ (IMPALA, NE/M017265/1). JMH and AJ were supported by the Joint UK DECC/Defra Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Programme (GA01101)

Medical Help-Seeking for Sexual Concerns in Prostate Cancer Survivors.

INTRODUCTION: Although sexual dysfunction is common after prostate cancer, men's decisions to seek help for sexual concerns are not well understood. AIM: Describe predictors of actual prior help-seeking and intended future medical help-seeking for sexual dysfunction in prostate cancer survivors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 510 prostate cancer survivors assessed masculine beliefs, attitudes, support/approval from partner/peer networks (subjective norm), and perceived control as predictors of medical help-seeking for sexual concerns. A theory of planned behavior (TPB) perspective was used to examine actual prior and planned future behavior and contributing factors. Statistical analyses included multiple and logistic regressions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intention to see a doctor for sexual advice or help in the next 6 months was measured using the intention subscale adapted from the Attitudes to Seeking Help after Cancer Scale. Prior help-seeking was measured with a dichotomous yes/no scale created for the study. RESULTS: Men were Mage 71.69 years (SD = 7.71); 7.54 years (SD = 4.68) post-diagnosis; received treatment(s) (58.1% radical prostatectomy; 47.1% radiation therapy; 29.4% hormonal ablation); 81.4% reported severe ED (IIED 0-6) and 18.6% moderate-mild ED (IIED 7-24). Overall, 30% had sought sexual help in the past 6 months, and 24% intended to seek help in the following 6 months. Prior help-seeking was less frequent among men with severe ED. Sexual help-seeking intentions were associated with lower education, prior sexual help-seeking, sexual importance/ priority, emotional self-reliance, positive attitude, and subjective norm (R(2) = 0.56). CONCLUSION: The TPB has utility as a theoretical framework to understand prostate cancer survivors' sexual help-seeking decisions and may inform development of more effective interventions. Masculine beliefs were highly salient. Men who were more emotionally self-reliant and attributed greater importance to sex formed stronger help-seeking intentions. Subjective norm contributed most strongly to help-seeking intentions suggesting that health professionals/partners/peers have a key role as support mechanisms and components of psycho-sexual interventions

Clinical Impact, Safety, and Efficacy of Single- versus Dual-Coil ICD Leads in MADIT-CRT

BACKGROUND: Current data on efficacy, safety and impact on clinical outcome of single- versus dual-coil implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads are limited and contradictory. METHODS: Defibrillation threshold (DFT) at implantation and first shock efficacy were compared in patients implanted with single- versus dual-coil ICD leads in MADIT-CRT. The risk for atrial tachyarrhythmias and all-cause mortality were evaluated. Short- (< 30 days after the implantation) and long-term (throughout the entire study duration) complications were assessed. RESULTS: Patients with dual-coil ICD leads had significantly lower DFTs compared to patients with single-coil ICD leads (17.6 +/- 5.8 J vs 19.4 +/- 6.1 J, P < 0.001). First shock efficacy was similar among patients with dual and single-coil ICD leads (89.6% vs 92.3%, P = 1.00). When comparing patients with dual versus single-coil ICD leads, there was no difference in the risk of atrial tachyarrhythmias (HR = 1.57, 95% CI: 0.81-3.02, P = 0.18), or in the risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.58-2.07, P = 0.77). Patients implanted with single- or dual-coil ICD lead had similar short and long-term complication rates (short-term HR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.56-1.65, P = 0.88, long-term procedure-related HR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.62-1.59, P = 1.00, long-term ICD lead related: HR = 1.2, 95% CI: 0.5-2.9, P = 0.68) during the mean follow-up of 3.3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with single-coil ICD leads have slightly higher DFTs compared to those with dual-coil leads, but the efficacy, safety, and clinical impact on atrial tachyarrhythmias, and mortality is similar. Implantation of single-coil ICD leads may be favorable in most patients