A Review on Optimization of the Process Parameters in Friction Stir Welding of Aluminium Alloys (AA6082 and AA6105) by Taguchi Technique

This study is describing a simple and systematic methodology for optimizing the Process parameters of friction stir welding (FSW) of (AA6105 and AA6082) aluminium alloy using Taguchi technique. The main focus of this review paper is to discuss FSW principle, process parameter and mechanical properties. The current study focuses on the friction stir welding of wrought aluminium alloys 6082 and aluminium alloy 6105 that are commonly used in the structural and automotive industries. Apart from this paper FSW process has been done on various aluminium alloys but dissimilar friction stir welding of these two materials are not reported in their research. A systematic study has been performed on the joint properties on the dissimilar welding of the selected materials and their relationships between various parameters

Spreading in Social Systems: Reflections

In this final chapter, we consider the state-of-the-art for spreading in social systems and discuss the future of the field. As part of this reflection, we identify a set of key challenges ahead. The challenges include the following questions: how can we improve the quality, quantity, extent, and accessibility of datasets? How can we extract more information from limited datasets? How can we take individual cognition and decision making processes into account? How can we incorporate other complexity of the real contagion processes? Finally, how can we translate research into positive real-world impact? In the following, we provide more context for each of these open questions.Comment: 7 pages, chapter to appear in "Spreading Dynamics in Social Systems"; Eds. Sune Lehmann and Yong-Yeol Ahn, Springer Natur

How general practitioners and patients discuss type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases concerns during consultations: Implications for digital health

Objective: To analyse general practitioner–patient consultations about type 2 diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular diseases and describe (i) the nature of self-management discussions; (ii) actions required from patients during and after consultation regarding self-management; and (iii) implications for digital health to support patients during (and after) consultation. Method: This study screened 281 general practitioner consultations conducted in 2017 within the UK general practice setting from an existing dataset containing videos and transcripts of consultations between GPs and patients. Secondary analysis was conducted using a multi-method approach, including descriptive, content, and visualisation analysis, to inform the nature of self-management discussions, what actions are required from patients, and whether digital technology was mentioned during the consultation to support self-management. Results: Analysis of eligible 19 consultations revealed a discord between what self-management actions are required of patients during and after consultations. Lifestyle discussions are often discussed in depth, but these discussions rely heavily on subjective inquiry and recall. Some patients in these cohorts are overwhelmed by self-management, to the detriment of their personal health. Digital support for self-management was not a major topic of discussion, however, we identified a number of emergent gaps where digital technology can support self-management concerns. Conclusion: There is potential for digital technology to reconcile what actions are required of patients during and after consultations. Furthermore, a number of emergent themes around self-management have implications for digitalisation

Diabetes conversation map - A novel tool for diabetes management self-efficacy among type 2 diabetes patients in Pakistan: A randomized controlled trial

Background: This study aimed to measure the effect of diabetes education using the novel method of "diabetes conversation map (DCM)"as compared to routine counselling (RC) on diabetes management self-efficacy (DMSE) among patients living with type 2 diabetes in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: A parallel arm randomized controlled trial among patients with type 2 diabetes aged 30-60 years, with HbA1c > 7%, diagnosed for at least 5 yrs., was conducted at the national institute of diabetes and endocrinology in Karachi, Pakistan. A total 123 type 2 diabetes patients were randomized into DCM (n = 62) or RC (n = 61). Four weekly diabetes control sessions of 40 min each using the DCM or RC was provided. DMSE was measured using a validated Urdu language DMSE tool at baseline and after three months of the randomization. Change in DMSE and HbA1c levels within groups (pre-post) and between the groups after 3 months of enrollment was compared. Results: Baseline characteristics except HbA1c were similar between the two arms. After 3 months of enrollment, there was no change in the DMSE score in the RC arm however, significant increase in DMSE score was noted in the DCM arm (P = < 0.001). The average difference (95% confidence interval) in DMSE score between the DCM and RC arm was 33.7(27.3, 40.0; p = < 0.001) after 3 months of the enrollment. Difference in HbA1c within groups was not significant. Conclusions: DCM significantly improved DMSE among type 2 diabetes patients in a developing country setting like Pakistan. Healthcare workers caring for type 2 diabetes patients need to be trained on DCM to effectively utilize this novel tool for educating diabetes patients. Trial registration: This trial was prospectively registered. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03747471. Date of registration: Nov 20. 2018

Automatic Filters for the Detection of Coherent Structure in Spatiotemporal Systems

Most current methods for identifying coherent structures in spatially-extended systems rely on prior information about the form which those structures take. Here we present two new approaches to automatically filter the changing configurations of spatial dynamical systems and extract coherent structures. One, local sensitivity filtering, is a modification of the local Lyapunov exponent approach suitable to cellular automata and other discrete spatial systems. The other, local statistical complexity filtering, calculates the amount of information needed for optimal prediction of the system's behavior in the vicinity of a given point. By examining the changing spatiotemporal distributions of these quantities, we can find the coherent structures in a variety of pattern-forming cellular automata, without needing to guess or postulate the form of that structure. We apply both filters to elementary and cyclical cellular automata (ECA and CCA) and find that they readily identify particles, domains and other more complicated structures. We compare the results from ECA with earlier ones based upon the theory of formal languages, and the results from CCA with a more traditional approach based on an order parameter and free energy. While sensitivity and statistical complexity are equally adept at uncovering structure, they are based on different system properties (dynamical and probabilistic, respectively), and provide complementary information.Comment: 16 pages, 21 figures. Figures considerably compressed to fit arxiv requirements; write first author for higher-resolution version

Lipoma of Guyon’s canal causing ulnar neuropathy

Lipoma is a benign soft tissue tumor which rarely causes neuropathy. In closed compartments such as Guyon’s canal, even small volume loss can lead to compression of nerve. Hence in such areas, even innocuous tumors such as lipomas can cause neuropathy and warrant surgery. We present one such case of ulnar neuropathy caused by lipoma of Guyon’s canal

Composition-Dependent Dielectric and Piezoelectric Properties of Na1-zKzNbO3 Ceramics

Sodium potassium niobate, Na1-zKzNbO3, is a ceramic material that exhibits dielectric and piezoelectric properties, which can be tuned by changing the composition of the material. The dielectric properties of Na1-zKzNbO3 ceramics are characterized by a high dielectric constant and low loss, which makes them useful for applications in capacitors, filters, and resonators. Pellets of Na1-zKzNbO3 (0.120 ≤ z ≤ 0.210) were prepared by the solid-state reaction technique. The structural and morphological study was carried out on the prepared compositions at room temperature (RT). A Piezoelectric indirect constant (d33*) was obtained for the prepared compositions. Additionally, dielectric measurements were performed at frequencies 10-1000 kHz, from ambient temperature to 500 °C. For the prepared compositions with z = 0.175, a break in the XRD peak shifting patterns was observed, and the average grain size was calculated at 2.044 ± 0.3 µm. Also, the maximum indirect piezoelectric constant (d33*) was observed for z = 0.175 among the prepared compositions. For the prepared compositions, compositions with z = 0.140 showed the highest dielectric constant (peak value 1486, 385 °C). Among the prepared samples, dielectric constant (ε), loss tangent (tan δ) and electric conductivity (σ) were found to be minimum for the composition with z = 0.175 at all the measured frequencies. Anomalous dielectric, piezoelectric and structural properties are evident for the samples with z = 0.175 among the prepared samples. Overall, the composition-dependent dielectric and piezoelectric properties of Na1-zKzNbO3 ceramics make them promising materials for use in various electronic and sensing applications where high-performance dielectric and piezoelectric materials are required

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa involving multiple nerves

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa (MDL), a rare congenital disorder, is considered by some to be a localized form of Proteus syndrome. The implication of the PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) gene in both strengthens this belief. We present a case who had MDL in multiple nerve territories—all on the same side of the body—with hypertrophy of mainly fibroadipose tissue throughout their distribution, thus pointing to a form of localized hemihypertrophy; both hemihypertrophy and lipomatous tumors are components of Proteus syndrome