Utility-Fuzzy-Taguchi based hybrid approach in investment casting process

In this paper, the use of the Utility-Fuzzy-Taguchi based hybrid approach in investment casting process for optimizing multiple quality characteristics of wax patterns has been conceptualized. Selection of an appropriate orthogonal array, preference scale construction followed by preference values, generation of multi-performance index (MPI) by fuzzy logic, analysis of means and analysis of variance are employed to study the performance characteristics of the process. The control factors considered are injection temperature, injection pressure and injection time, whereas linear shrinkage, surface roughness and penetration are the corresponding responses. The optimal setting obtained by the proposed method is validated by confirmatory experiments. This concludes the application feasibility of the proposed method for parametric optimizations in investment casting process. Further, the result of the aforementioned optimization technique has been compared with that of Utility-Taguchi technique. It is found that the optimal condition for both is same, while the most influential process parameter is different in both cases due to employment of random selection of weights in Utility-Taguchi method.     

Assessing Coronavirus Fear in Indian Population Using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction - The current study aimed to determine the level of fear of COVID-19 among Indian residents using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and...     

The use of ultrasound in evaluating orthopaedic trauma patients

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a low-cost, noninvasive method of evaluating orthopaedic trauma patients. It is particularly useful for patients with metallic hardware, which may degrade computed tomography or magnetic resonance images. Ultrasound has been used to evaluate fracture union and nonunion, infection, ligamentous injury, nerve compression, and mechanical impingement caused by hardware. Real-time dynamic examination allows identification of pathology and provides direct correlation between symptoms and the observed pathology.     

The thermal effects of intramedullary reaming

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of tourniquet control on intramedullary reaming. DESIGN: An experimental prospective nonsurvival animal study was performed using 5 mongrel dogs. A pneumatic tourniquet was randomized to either the right or left hind limb. Tibial intramedullary reaming was performed with progressively larger reamers. Cortical temperatures were measured using thermocouples inserted into the tibial diaphyseal cortex. Thermocouples were connected to an analog to digital converter that output continuous data that was collected on a computer. Upon completion of the procedure, the animals were killed. RESULTS: The peak and low temperatures for each thermocouple with each reamer passage were recorded. Reamer sizes larger than the internal diameter of the intramedullary canal produced higher peak temperatures. The mean delta t (peak temperature minus low temperature) was calculated for each reamer passage. This measurement represents the overall amount of heat generated during each reamer passage. There were no significant differences between the 2 conditions (P = 0.8, paired t test). Temperatures decreased in between reamer exchange but did not return to baseline levels. CONCLUSIONS: Because similar temperatures were measured both with and without a tourniquet, the risk of thermal necrosis appears to be related more to the process of intramedullary reaming than to the tourniquet. Higher temperatures were measured with reamer sizes larger than the internal diameter of the intramedullary canal. Increasing the time interval between the passage of successive reamers may allow heat to dissipate and decrease the risk of thermal necrosis. The clinical practice of limited reaming ("ream-to-fit") should minimize the occurrence of this complication.     

Effect of Structural Changes in Proteins Derived from GATA4 Nonsynonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease is the most common type of birth defect. The single nucleotide polymorphism in GATA4 is associated with various congenital heart disease phenotypes. In the present study, we analysed the nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism of GATA4, which are involved in congenital heart disease by predicting the changes in protein structures. Total of 49 nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms of GATA4 was screened from congenital heart disease patients of Mysore and also globally reported nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms. To understand the role of nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms, we mutated the sequence and translated into amino acids. Further the mutated protein secondary structure is predicted and tertiary structure is predicted using homology modeling. The quantitative evaluation of protein structure quality was verified with Volume Area Dihedral Angle Reporter server. Results revealed the secondary, tertiary structural changes along with changes in free energy of folding, volume and accessible surface area. Thus, the structural changes in the mutated proteins impaired the normal function of GATA4.