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This short piece provides background context on the issue's cover image, a series of seven caricatures of Bernard Shaw by J. H. Dowd published in Punch on 4 July 1928. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The purpose of this study is to analyze the features of a moving Griffith crack in an initially stressed infinitely long and finitely thick isotropic strip with moving parallel punches of constant load acting on its boundaries owing to plane wave propagation under point loading. Coupled singular integral equations and singularities of the Cauchy-type are used to formulate the present model, Dirac delta function is employed to analyze point load located at the moving crack edge, and Hilbert transformation properties are used for obtaining stress intensity factor (SIF) with constant point loading. Numerical simulations and graphical illustrations are performed to analyze the influences of the prevalent parameters, viz. initial stresses, punch pressure, distinct positions of point load, length and speed of the crack on the SIF for the considered isotropic material strip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calculation of the technological parameters of constrained extrusion of unequal channels is considered, for plane deformation, with misalignment of the punch and matrix; the extruded material may be of hardening or nonhardening type. The analytical expressions obtained permit determination of the total and specific deforming forces and the height of the walls that are formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2000 Tim Ingold considered the nature of skill acquisition in physical locations where our attentive dwelling forms the basis from which learning occurs. He called this 'enskilment'. Although generally considered in relation to ecological/anthropological study, enskilment has more recently been applied to areas like sports education (Woods et al. [2021]. "Enskilment: An ecological anthropological worldview of skill, learning and education in sport." Sports Medicine - Open 7 (33).) and craft (Gowlland [2019]. "The sociality of enskilment." Ethnos 84 (3): 508–524.). By extension, this article employs a case study to unpack the enskilment experience of six doctoral students who immersed themselves inside a feature film production (Punch – 2020–2022). The participants were all concurrently developing projects associated with narrative creation. Seeking opportunities for immersion across pre-production, production and postproduction phases of the project, they experienced a form of learning where skill acquisition was inseparable from collaborative practice and idiosyncratic environments, and insight emerged in non-linear ways. While the article draws correlations between their experiences and existing discourses on enskilment, it also suggests that this pedagogical model might contribute something useful to ongoing discussions around creative endeavours during, and after students have completed their degree studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pencak Silat is a martial sport that contains elements of strength and artistic beauty. There are several punching, kicking and parrying movements in this sport, and scoring is also based on the type of movement performed. So far, punching and kicking movements are still determined manually. Currently the use of technology in developing this technology is limited, both at the training stage for athletes and competitions. This research aims to propose a novel pattern recognition approach for pencak silat punch types classification using supervised learning. This research was carried out in several stages, including hardware design, software design, the process of integrating with the Internet of Things (IoT), data collection, data preprocessing, learning process, testing process, and evaluation process. The data used is primary data by analyzing the pattern of punch movements (xy-axis positions) in pencak silat using hardware and software that has been built. This data is divided into learning data and testing data, which are then used in the learning and testing processes. The learning process uses Self Organizing Map (SOM) and K-Means. The results obtained were the first testing process which was carried out using SOM, obtained accuracy value of 89.00% and an AUC value of 0.91. While accuracy value of the testing process using K-Means obtained an accuracy value of 89.833% and an AUC value of 0.92. It is hoped that the contribution of this research can become a decision support system in determining the type of punch in pencak silat.

IntroductionJackup rigs are one of the most widely used and popular offshore structures in semi-deep waters due to their mobility. The new jackups usually consist of a floating triangular body supported by three independent vertical truss legs that can be raised, lowered and jacked, and each of these legs rests on foundations known as spuds. They ride and reach stability and balance by penetrating deep into the soil. In cases where the seabed soil has a layered structure including a strong layer placed on top of a weak layer, there is a possibility of punch failure during foundation penetration. Knowing about the soil flow mechanisms around the foundation of the spudcon that suffer continuous large penetration and also estimating the probability and degree of intensity of a sudden spudcon penetration are very important issues.MethodologyIn the present research, a numerical study was carried out to investigate the bearing capacity of the spudken foundation of the offshore jackup structure in soil with a two-layer system of sand on clay. Finite element analysis of large deformations has been used to simulate the continuous penetration of the spudken foundation in a layered soil consisting of a strong sand layer placed on top of a weak clay layer. Numerical simulation is done by "Eulerian-Lagrangian coupling" method in ABAQUS software.In this research, the effect of characteristics of sand and clay layers, including relative density (ID) and thickness of sand layer, shear strength at the boundary of two layers (su0), gradient of shear strength of clay layer on bearing capacity and punch rupture phenomenon are studied. In this research, the Mohr-Columb model was used to model the behavior of sandy and clay soils.Results and discussionThe results of the research show that the parameters related to geotechnical characteristics, including the shear strength of the clay layer, the shear resistance gradient, the relative density of the sand layer, and the thickness of the sand layer have a direct relationship with the bearing strength of the Spadken foundation. So that with the increase of each of these characteristics, the bearing resistance also increases. The obtained results showed that by increasing the thickness (Hs) and relative density (ID) of the sand layer, the load bearing capacity of the pispodken (q) and the volume of the transferred sandy soil mass (the height of the soil mass (hplug) and the width of the soil mass) (bplug) increases, so that with the increase of Hs from 6 m to 8 m, the value of qpeak increases from 263 kPa to 346 kPa, the value of hplug from 6.52 m to 8.26 m and the value of bplug from 6.6 m to 6.9 m and with The increase of ID from 20% to 60% increases the qpeak value from 328 kPa to 367 kPa, the hplug value from 6.85 m to 7.14 m, and the bplug value from 5.7 m to 6 m. Also, the investigation of the effects of shear resistance (su0) and shear resistance gradient (ρ) of the clay layer shows their direct relationship with the bearing capacity and the reverse relationship with the volume of the transferred soil mass, so that with the increase of su0 from 11 kPa to 20 kPa, the value of qpeak from 307 kPa to 390 kPa, the value of hplug from 7.41 m to 7.14 m and the value of bplug from 6.9 m to 6.6 m, and with the increase of ρ from 1 kPa/m to 2 kPa/m, the value of qpeak from 314 kPa At 352 kPa, the value of hplug goes from 7.14 m to 6.9 m and the value of bplug goes from 6 m to 5.7 m.ConclusionsThe results of this research can be summarized as follows:• Parameters related to geotechnical characteristics, including shear resistance of clay layer, gradient of shear resistance, relative density of sand layer, thickness of sand layer have a direct relationship with the load bearing strength of the foundation. So that with the increase of each of these characteristics, the bearing resistance also increases.• The severity and risk of punch breakage increases with the increase in the thickness of the sand layer and the decrease in the shear strength of the clay layer.• The soil rupture pattern under the infiltrating spudken foundation changes with respect to the depth, such that at surface depths, the rupture has two components, shear along the almost vertical shear plane in the sand layer and local shear rupture in the clay layer.

The aim of the study was to determine the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in patients with intractable plantar keratosis (IPK) by comparing the histopathological findings of biopsies. A prospective, observational, and concordance study was carried out. Three different specimens were taken from each IPK. A first punch was sent for histopathological examination, and a second punch and a superficial skin scraping were both sent for HPV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and type determination. A total of 51 patients were included. From the histopathological examination, it was determined that 35 (68.6%) samples were diagnosed as warts and 16 (31.3%) as keratosis. However, the presence of HPV was confirmed by PCR in 49 (96.1%) and in 42 (82.4%) samples obtained by punch and superficial scraping, respectively. In the 49 PCR‐positive samples, the most common HPV types were HPV1, HPV2, HPV27, HPV57, and HPV65, accounting for 81.6% of the samples. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that HPV infection and IPK lesions are very closely related. Although we cannot confirm that HPV is the cause of the development of IPK, the high prevalence of HPV observed in these lesions calls for a change to the procedures for managing IPK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propagation of shear waves inside/at the Earth’s crust during earthquake may cause the progression of punch in the rock medium. In this study, the movement of semi-infinite punch due to the propagation of the shear wave in a pre-stressed vertically transversely isotropic poro-viscoelastic medium has been analyzed. Based on Wiener–Hopf technique and two-sided Fourier integral transformations, the dynamic stress concentration due to moving punch is determined in closed form. The significant effects of various affecting parameters viz. velocity of moving punch, horizontal initial stress, vertical initial stress, anisotropy parameter, porosity, and viscoelasticity on dynamic stress concentration have been discussed. It is noteworthy that as the punch propagates with higher velocity, dynamic stress concentration in the considered poro-viscoelastic medium escalates. It is also found that horizontal tensile and vertical compressive initial stresses have an adverse impact on the dynamic stress concentration. On the other hand, the horizontal compressive and vertical tensile initial stresses have a favorable influence on the dynamic stress concentration. Also, its values increase with the increase of porosity, while it gets decreased as anisotropic parameter prevails in the considered medium. The behavior of dynamic stress concentration in three different types of pre-stressed vertically transversely isotropic poro-viscoelastic media viz. sandstone (a sedimentary rock), granite (an igneous rock), and marble (a metamorphic rock) has been compared. From this comparison, it is obtained that the dynamic stress concentration attains maximum value if the rock medium is marble and minimum value if the rock medium is sandstonel. Some graphical illustrations and numerical computations have also been established. Furthermore, some important properties are identified from the obtained dynamic stress concentration expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the plane stress state of a homogeneous elastic space, weakened by a periodic system of finite tunnel cracks. It is assumed there are also resting shear stresses under the punches, apart from the normal stresses. The shear stresses are directly proportional to the normal contact pressure with a proportionality coefficient that depends on the coordinates of the points of the contacting surfaces. Based on discontinuous solutions for the equations of the theory of elasticity for a plane with a periodic system of cracks, a governing system of equations for the problem is obtained in the form of a system of singular integral equations. The solution of system is constructed by the numerical-analytical method of mechanical quadratures. Numerical calculations were carried out and patterns of changes in important physical and mechanical characteristics were studied depending on the physical, mechanical and geometric parameters of the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of openings on the punching shear strength of 'non-coarse aggregate acrylic polymer concrete' (APC) slabs. Twelve specimens representing scaled models of a flat, with different parameters such as concrete type, opening size, and distance from the column edge. The specimens were divided into five groups, including a control group of normal strength concrete and APC specimen without openings, as well as APC specimens with various opening sizes and distances, along with APC enhancement specimens. Experimental results were validated using Abaqus finite element software, demonstrating good agreement between the experimental and simulated outcomes. The analysis encompassed several aspects, including load-deflection response, ultimate loading capacity, post-ultimate loading capacity, failure patterns, and strain distribution. The absence of coarse aggregate in APC significantly impacted its shear resistance, leading to a reduction in internal friction. Compared to ordinary concrete slabs, the ultimate capacity of APC slabs without openings was approximately 36% lower. The presence of two openings adjacent to the column further decreased the ultimate capacity by approximately 33%. The size and distance of the openings played a crucial role in determining the ultimate capacity of APC slabs. Notably, the APC specimens exceeded the design ultimate load calculated by Egyptian Code of Practice (ECP-203-2020) and ACI-318-19 codes by approximately 1.4 and 1.6, respectively. However, the study advises against relying solely on APC in shear-sensitive constructions without integrating additional enhancements for shear resistance, as the results indicate a significant reduction in the shear resistance compared to ordinary concrete slabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising lower- and middle-class Victorians benefited from affordable opportunities for travel, with the hospitality industry newly opened to travelers of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Travel destinations, domestic and international, became spaces of contention, shared by the wealthy-accustomed to privilege-and the lower classes-who aimed to share in that privilege. Popular periodicals satirized these developments, as iii the Punch character'Arry, a Coekney man known for following the latest trends, including travel. Symbolizing the generic lower-class tourist, 'Arry also appears in newspapers and other periodicals, and in works of fiction by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Marie Corelli, and Florence Marryat. Arry and his companion 'Arriet highlight class and race tensions, at home and abroad, in unique and unprecedented ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of the strain state of a workpiece in constrained extrusion of unequal channels is considered for plane deformation with misalignment of the punch and matrix. Formulas are obtained for the coordinates of the points and the plastic deformation under the punch close to the thick wall created, with hindered flow, for any punch pass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate and compare the performance, perceptual and reaction skills and neuromuscular control indicators of sub-elite (SEG) and elite (EG) karate athletes during the execution of a Gyaku Tsuki punch. The study included 14 male athletes, equally divided into two subgroups according to their current competitive level. We analyzed the peak and mean linear velocity of the wrist, linear peak acceleration/deceleration of the wrist, braking time, pre-motor time, motor time, reaction time, movement time and co-contraction index between selected muscle groups. EG athletes presented higher values in almost all performance variables, with the exception of the mean linear velocity of the wrist, which was similar between the groups. In the perceptual and reaction skills, the EG athletes presented shorter time durations with the exception of the pre-motor time, which did not reveal significant differences. The only significant difference in the indicators of neuromuscular control were found during the deceleration phase, where the EG athletes presented a higher co-contraction index between the biceps brachii and the triceps brachii. In conclusion, the EG athletes, in addition to being faster to react, faster to accelerate the wrist, could perform the braking in less time than the SEG athletes, making the technique less perceptible to the opponent.

The paper presents a research study into the effect of temperature on the properties of a mandrel and a punch during hot screw rolling and subsequent forging of 1000 medium-carbon structural steel vessels at the rolling and pressing line of the BF JSC NPO Pribor machine-building enterprise. According to the performed study, the main cause of downtimes in the technological production cycle and decreased geometric quality indicators of rolled products is related to deteriorated mechanical properties of the deforming tool. Significant temperature variations (more than 250°C) along the length of the piercing and pressing tool, made of 4Kh5MFS steel, during the hot pressure treatment were revealed. The main reasons leading to deterioration of the tool quality were established, including the loss of its strength and hardness, as well as an increase in the ductility of a piercing mandrel and a punch of up to 30 and 19%, respectively. The study identified rational ways to extend the service life of the most loaded processing tools and decrease the cost of vessels at the exit of the rolling and pressing line by 3–5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the coverage of conflict and peace issues in Nigerian newspapers, specifically focusing on Punch and Daily Trust. The research aims to achieve three primary objectives: assess the frequency of conflict and peace reportage in both newspapers, determine the level of prominence given to these issues by Punch and Daily Trust, and identify the categories under which such issues are reported. The study draws on the Agenda-Setting Theory and Framing Theory to provide a comprehensive analysis. Using a quantitative content analysis approach, the study examines stories related to conflict and peace issues published in the selected newspapers from January 2019 to July 2019. The key findings reveal distinct patterns in the reportage of conflict and peace matters. Punch exhibits a higher emphasis on certain categories like "Calamity/Killing," "Prevention," and "Warning," while Daily Trust places greater prominence on the "Call for Peace" theme. Moreover, the study unveils variations in the prominence given to different categories across the newspapers. The study concludes that the nuanced ways in which Punch and Daily Trust cover conflict and peace issues is based on their editorial decisions in shaping public awareness and discussions. Based on the study's outcomes, it is recommended that newspapers strategically consider their coverage of conflict and peace topics, fostering greater balance and comprehensive reporting. By adhering to these recommendations, newspapers can contribute to more informed public discourse on crucial societal matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of the strain state of a workpiece in constrained extrusion of unequal channels is considered for plane deformation with misalignment of the punch and matrix. Formulas are obtained for the coordinates of the points and the accumulated strain in the plastic deformation zone under the thick wall created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate and compare the performance, perceptual and reaction skills and neuromuscular control indicators of sub-elite (SEG) and elite (EG) karate athletes during the execution of a Gyaku Tsuki punch. The study included 14 male athletes, equally divided into two subgroups according to their current competitive level. We analyzed the peak and mean linear velocity of the wrist, linear peak acceleration/deceleration of the wrist, braking time, pre-motor time, motor time, reaction time, movement time and co-contraction index between selected muscle groups. EG athletes presented higher values in almost all performance variables, with the exception of the mean linear velocity of the wrist, which was similar between the groups. In the perceptual and reaction skills, the EG athletes presented shorter time durations with the exception of the pre-motor time, which did not reveal significant differences. The only significant difference in the indicators of neuromuscular control were found during the deceleration phase, where the EG athletes presented a higher co-contraction index between the biceps brachii and the triceps brachii. In conclusion, the EG athletes, in addition to being faster to react, faster to accelerate the wrist, could perform the braking in less time than the SEG athletes, making the technique less perceptible to the opponent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of plastic flow theory, the determination of the kinematic and stress state of a workpiece in constrained channel extrusion is considered for plane deformation with misalignment of the punch and matrix. The forces and geometric parameters of the process are determined. Formulas are obtained for the extrusion parameters of unequal channels with a relatively thin horizontal floor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the problem of a layered and orthotropic material with a negative value of Poisson's ratio under a horizontal punch through a rigid line. Full-field solutions near the edge of the rigid line are developed and expressed in terms of the relevant values of the stress intensity factor and energy release rate. The Influences of Poisson's ratio, orthotropicity orientation and the difference between the properties of the layered materials on the stress field and energy absorption are identified. The results show that materials with a negative value of Poisson's ratio have a great potential to reduce the stress concentration and to increase punch resistance. If the punch load is maintained constant, the punch edge stress will increase with the layer thickness. However, if the punch displacement is maintained, the punch edge stress will decrease with layer thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate evaluation of the situation and timely reaction are crucial for the performance in sports such as boxing. There are few studies on the visual motor reaction time of boxers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the visual motor reaction time of boxers during a complex dynamic cognitive task, depending on their sport experience. This study included 20 male boxers, all right-handed. They were divided into two groups according to their boxing experience: 1-3 years (mean age of 21.2 ± 5.45 years) and more than 5 years (mean age of 24.4 ± 6.92 years). The boxers did not have any significant differences in their anthropometric measurements. They were instructed to press as fast as possible buttons that were flashing red or green in random order and position with their dominant and non-dominant hand, depending on the color of the button. Hits were analyzed as "jab" (forward) or "cross" (diagonal) according to the arm movement required to reach the button. The visual motor reaction times of the group with more than 5 years of experience were shorter than those of the other group. The "jab" hits were faster than the "cross" ones in both groups. Sport experience had greater effect on the "jab" reaction times than on the "cross" ones. In both groups of boxers, the visual motor reaction times with the dominant hand were shorter than those with the non-dominant hand. Owing to the specific training of boxers, their automatic reaction abilities during a task-specific cognitive load increase more prominently for the "jab" hits. Despite sport experience, the effects of hand laterality on the visual motor reaction times are preserved. Greater experience in boxing significantly shortens the overall response time and leads to specific differences in the motor response of the performing arm depending on the stimulus/target position. The developed methodology is suitable for assessing the progress and selection of athletes as well as for developing better training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of plastic flow theory, the determination of the kinematic and stress state of a workpiece in constrained channel extrusion is considered for plane deformation with misalignment of the punch and matrix. The flow rate and stress are determined in the plastic deformation region under the punch and close to the thick channel wall that forms. Formulas are obtained for the extrusion parameters of unequal channels with a thin horizontal floor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exact solution of the problem of contact interaction of an absolutely rigid stamp with a flat base with an elastic half-plane is constructed, when the shear stresses acting in the contact zone are related to the normal pressure by dry friction law. It is assumed that the coefficient of friction depends on the coordinates of the contacting points of the contacting bodies and is directly proportional to them. A numerical calculation was carried out, the results of which were compared with the results obtained for a similar contact problem solved using Galin’s contact model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel is one of the most widely used metals. Cold work tool steels (CWTS) are frequently preferred in the mold industry. Recently, in addition to traditional CWTS, new generation CWTS have been put into use. This study examines the use of traditional and two new generation CWTS as staple material in the pressing of rotors used in electric motors. It has been observed that the new generation CWTS offer a longer lifespan compared to the traditional ones. The microstructures were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and the carbide structures they could form were evaluated using FactSage® 8.2 thermodynamic software. It has been observed that both fine and evenly distributed and multiple carbide structures are formed in the new generation CWTS. The carbides in new generation CWTS were also rich in Niobium and Molybdenum. These were considered as the reasons for long service life of CWTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information is provided regarding the density distribution of seals made of cast-iron composites and the particle motion in cold molds on cold pressing. The influence of the mold's shaping kinematics on the density distribution over the height of the sleeve-type seal is assessed. The deviation from the mean workpiece density over the height is less in bidirectional pressing than in unidirectional pressing. The relation between the pressure on the workpiece and the compaction mechanism is analyzed for different pressing procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of plastic flow theory, the determination of the kinematic and stress state of a workpiece in constrained channel extrusion is considered for plane deformation with misalignment of the punch and matrix. The flow rate and stress are determined in the plastic deformation region under the thick channel wall that forms. Formulas are obtained for the extrusion parameters of unequal channels with a thin horizontal floor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plantar wart is a frustrating infection for both patients and clinicians that can significantly cause embarrassment, negative gauging by others, and vexation due to persistence and/or recurrence of warts, affecting a patient's quality of life. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study from April 2020 to March 2021 was conducted in an Indian tertiary care center on 250 patients aged between 15 and 40 years. Punch excision of solitary to multiple plantar warts was carried out with a 5-mm punch. Results: A total of 342 plantar warts were punch excised in 250 cases with 162 males and 88 females. 214 (85%) patients had a complete cure over 10 days of treatment. Eleven (5%) patients developed local secondary bacterial infections managed with oral and topical antibiotics. Complete healing was achieved in all over 2–4 weeks without any scarring. There was no recurrence among 225 cases over the follow-up period of 3 months, while 25 (10%) were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Use of punch excision for plantar warts is a simple, affordable, and quick outpatient department procedure, requiring no suturing even with an excision size of 5 mm. It needs minimum postprocedural care and heals without scarring. This methodology of management of plantar wart highlights it as a preferable procedure in primary care centers or resource-poor settings that requires less expertise.

The paper aims to determine the degree of wear of the punches of a mold for vibro-pressed pavers. Wear of the mold core and/or punches directly affects the shape, dimensions and quality of the pavers. The wear of the edges of the punches influences the contour of the pavers and leads to the appearance of a surface defect through a surplus of material on the edges of the pavers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulas are derived for the geometric parameters that characterize the deformation of structural elements in extruded material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background To handle the competition demands, sparring drills are used for specific technical–tactical training as well as physical–physiological conditioning in combat sports. While the effects of different area sizes and number of within-round sparring partners on physiological and perceptive responses in combats sports were examined in previous studies, technical and tactical aspects were not investigated. This study investigated the effect of different within-round sparring partners number (i.e., at a time; 1 vs. 1, 1 vs. 2, and 1 vs. 4) and area sizes (2 m × 2 m, 4 m × 4 m, and 6 m × 6 m) variation on the technical–tactical aspects of small combat games in kickboxing. Method Twenty male kickboxers (mean ± standard deviation, age: 20.3 ± 0.9 years), regularly competing in regional and national events randomly performed nine different kickboxing combats, lasting 2 min each. All combats were video recorded and analyzed using the software Dartfish. Results Results showed that the total number of punches was significantly higher in 1 versus 4 compared with 1 versus 1 (p = 0.011, d = 0.83). Further, the total number of kicks was significantly higher in 1 versus 4 compared with 1 versus 1 and 1 versus 2 (p

The determination of the kinematic and stress state of a workpiece in completely constrained extrusion of unequal channels is considered for plane deformation with misalignment of the punch and matrix. The forces and geometric parameters of the process are determined. Formulas are obtained for the extrusion parameters of unequal channels with a relatively thin horizontal floor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of predicting the fibrous structure of extruded parts is established. Some incorrect statements about channel extrusion in the literature are noted. A correct sequence for the analysis of fibrous structure is formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest None disclosed.

Abstract Extraction of DNA and RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks is a critical process in molecular oncology testing. Using FFPE, it is possible to choose the portion of tissue to study, taking into account the cell morphology, storage stability and storage conditions at room temperature, and make retrospective studies with clinical and pathological information. In prostate cancer tissue, in contrast with macroscopic tumors, it is not easy to identify the tumor; therefore, it is very important to make a microscopic diagnosis. We do not recommend punching this tissue because it can choose normal tissue for molecular analysis. In the present article we review the differences between punch biopsy and microdissection.

Follicular unit extraction (FUE), now named as follicular unit excision, is one of the methods of harvesting hair follicles from the donor area for implanting in the recipient area. The occipital scalp area is the most common donor area, but nonscalp donor areas like beard, chest, and other hairy body parts can be used as donor hair follicle area. The extraction of the hair follicle leaves a tiny circular scar over the donor area. Over the past 20 years, various devices for FUE have been developed, starting from manual, simple motorized to highly advanced motors with rotation, oscillation, and vibration. Similarly, different types of punch are used: dull, sharp, ultrasharp, serrated, hybrid and specially designed punch blade for long hair follicles harvesting in various diameters from 0.7 mm to 1.1 mm. The follicles can be harvested either by manual method or by motorized method.

Aim: We present the outcomes and the recurrences of 848 patients with pilonidal disease (PD) treated by biopsy punch excision (BPE) and we weigh our results against progressively obtained operative experience. BPE is a modified 'merged' version of both the Bascom 'pit picking' procedure and the Gips procedure. It employs biopsy punches of different calibre, depending on whether treatment is in the natal cleft (calibre as small as possible) or lateral (larger calibre punches or even small incision). Sometimes this procedure is referred to as the Bascom–Gips procedure. Methods: In all, 848 consecutive patients with PD were treated from January 2011 until December 2016 (sex 622 [73.4%] men and 226 [26.6%] women; median age 26.2 years, mean age 24.6 ± 28.99 [range 14–55] years, men 25.1 years, women 24.8 years). Of these 848 patients, 287 were operated in 2011–2012, 301 in 2013–2014 and 260 in 2015–2016. The recurrence rates were recorded 12, 24 and 60 months after surgery both cumulatively and by examining the outcomes of the three biennia individually (years of treatment 2011–2012 or group A, 2013–2014 or group B, 2015–2016 or group C). Results: The mean operating time was 34 ± 24.45 min. Postoperative complications included early (<24 h; n = 22 or 2.6%) and delayed (>24 h; n = 26 or 3.1%) postoperative bleeding. Postoperative fluid collections (<2 weeks) occurred in 83/848 patients (9.8%) and included haematoma (n = 25) and seroma (n = 58). Full recovery was obtained after a mean of 21 ± 12.72 days and work/school/university activities were resumed after a mean of 4 ± 12.02 days. Twelve‐, 24‐ and 60‐month follow‐ups were possible in 725 (85.5%), 682 (80.4%) and 595 (70.2%) patients out of 848. An overall significant (ꭓ2 = 16.87, P = 0.0002) difference was found in the recurrence rates: 59 recurrences/725 patients (or 8.1%) after 1 year, 89 recurrences/682 patients (or 13.0%) after 2 years and 98 recurrences/595 (or 16.4%) after 5 years. However, when subgrouping patients in three 24‐month subsets, the recurrence rates showed a steady and progressive decrease in the three biennia 2011–2012 (group A), 2013–2014 (group B) and 2015–2016 (group C) at 12‐, 48‐ and 60‐month follow‐ups. Recurrences after 12 months were 29/225 (12.9%), 19/285 (6.7%) and 11/215 (5.1%) (ꭓ2 = 8.53, P = 0.014) in groups A, B and C respectively; after 24 months, 36/226 (15.9%), 31/242 (12.8%) and 22/214 (10.2%) (ꭓ2 = 2.38, P = 0.30 N.S.) in groups A, B and C respectively; after 60 months, 38/194 (19.5%), 36/215 (16.7%) and 24/186 (12.9%) (ꭓ2 = 2.23, P = 0.32) in groups A, B and C respectively. Conclusions: BPE is an effective, disease‐targeted, minimally invasive and inexpensive way to treat PD. Its results are influenced by the experience of the team involved, especially regarding early recurrences/failure of surgery. At least 5‐year follow‐ups are needed to ascertain the outcome of surgery for PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New methods are proposed for controlling the shaping process in free channel extrusion with misalignment of the punch and matrix, so as to obtain the required wall height. Comparison with experimental results shows that the formulas obtained are highly accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the design of a specimen fixture which can be installed on the end of a conventional transmission bar so that shear testing (punch and double-notch) can be conducted with any conventional split-Hopkinson apparatus. The research was conducted by using the finite element method in Abaqus/CAE with 6061-T651 Aluminum as the specimen material. The research successfully determined the effect of the fixture's geometry and dimensions on the split-Hopkinson shear bar testing results. The optimum double-notch fixture provides great accuracy, having only a shear stress value difference of 1.49% with the original setup, while attaining force equilibrium after only 70 µs. The punch fixture, however, could only reach force equilibrium after 100 µs, thus providing too few observable data. Future work on the punch fixture is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods are proposed for controlling the shaping process in free channel extrusion with misalignment of the punch and matrix, so as to obtain the required wall height. Comparison with experimental results shows that the formulas obtained are highly accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]