Energy efficient distillation columns sequence for hydrocarbon mixtures fractionation process

The objective of this paper is to present the study and analysis of the energy saving improvement for the hydrocarbon mixtures (HM) fractionation process by using driving force method. To perform the study and analysis, the energy efficient HM fractionation plant methodology is developed. Accordingly, the methodology consists of four hierarchical steps; step 1: existing HM sequence energy analysis, step 2: optimal HM sequence determination, step 3: optimal HM sequence energy analysis, and step 4: energy comparison and economic analysis. In the first step, a simple and reliable short-cut method of process simulator (Aspen HYSYS) is used to simulate a base (existing) HM sequence. The energy used to recover individual fractions in the base sequence is analyzed and taken as a reference. In the second stage, an optimal HM sequence is determined by using driving force method. All individual driving force curves for all adjacent components are plotted and the optimal sequence is determined based on the plotted driving force curves. Once the optimal HM sequence has been determined, the new optimal sequence is then simulated in step three using a simple and reliable short-cut method (using Aspen HYSYS), where the energy used in the optimal HM sequence is analyzed. Finally, the energy used in the optimal HMs sequence is compared with the base sequence. The return of investment (ROI) and simple payback period are also calculated. Several case studies have been used to test the performance of the developed methodology. The results show that a maximum energy saving of 40% was achieved when compared the optimal (driving force) sequence with the existing direct sequence. The ROI of 3 was obtained with 4 month of payback period. It can be concluded that, the sequence determined by the driving force method is able to reduce energy used for HM fractionation process. Individual column energy has also been analyzed, and from that several columns that can be improved in terms of energy saving have been identified. All of this findings show that the methodology is able to design minimum energy distillation column sequence for HM fractionation process in an easy, practical and systematic manner

Giant submandibular sialolipoma masquerading as huge goitre: a case report

Background: Sialolipoma is a rare tumour which may arise from both major and minor salivary glands and has recently been described as a variant of salivary gland lipomatous lesions. Case presentation: We report a 54-year-old male who presented with a 7-year history of large right anterior neck swelling. He was clinically euthyroid and had no compressive or infiltrative symptoms. He sought medical attention due to the discomfort exerted by the weight of the mass and was keen for excision. The swelling appeared like a goitre but physical examination proved otherwise. Imaging was suggestive of a benign tumour arising from the right parapharyngeal fossa. The mass was surgically excised and was noted to be adherent to part of the submandibular gland. Histopathological examination revealed a new variant of benign adipocytic tumour of salivary gland or sialolipoma arising from the submandibular gland. Besides being the largest sialolipoma to be reported, there are also no reports of giant submandibular sialolipomas masquerading as a huge goitre in appearance. Conclusion: Submandibular sialolipomas can present in really large sizes and appear as a giant goitre. It is important to differentiate between benign lipomas from liposarcomas and tailor the management accordingly. Surgical enucleation is the preferred choice of treatment for these benign tumours with low recurrence rates

Primary prostatic signet ring cell carcinoma in elderly with obstructive uropathy: a case report

Background: Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) of the prostate is a rare and aggressive subtype of prostate adenocarcinoma with a poor prognosis, with only approximately 60 cases reported worldwide. Case presentation: A 62-year-old man presented with acute urinary retention and hematuria, after a year’s history of lower urinary tract symptoms. Digital rectal examination revealed an irregular and hard prostate. Flexible cystoscopy showed bladder base infiltration by the enlarged prostate obscuring both ureteric orifices, necessitating nephrostomy and subsequent bilateral antegrade stenting to relieve the obstruction and improve his renal function. Transrectal ultrasonography biopsy of the prostate was performed revealing histological features of SRCC. Due to its rarity, there is currently no standardized treatment approach and it is often similarly treated according to the traditional management of prostate adenocarcinoma. Conclusions: SRCC of the prostate is a rare and aggressive subtype of acinar adenocarcinoma with no established guidelines. Histological criteria for SRCC of the prostate are highly variable in the available literature. It is important to differentiate between the primary and metastatic SRCC of the prostate as both are managed differently. However, the overall prognosis remains poor in general

A University-Wide Preparedness Effort in the Alert Phase of COVID-19 Incorporating Community Mental Health and Task-Shifting Strategies: Experience from a Bornean Institute of Higher Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic caught the world by surprise, causing millions of confirmed cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths. Hence, the Malaysian government announced a Movement Control Order at the start of the containment phase to flatten the epidemiological curve. Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), a public university in Borneo, was accelerated into alert phase because of high risk of case importation from more than 400 China incoming undergraduates. Measures to mitigate the potential COVID-19 outbreaks in its population were taken by using conventional public health measures with special attention to task-shifting and widespread community mental health interventions. A Preparedness and Response Centre was established to overseer the mitigating measures happening inside the university. Measures taken included empowerment of frontline staff, strengthening of restrictions, strengthening university health center, vigorous contact tracing, widespread health education, maintaining cultural sensitivity, and establishment of early standard operating procedures and university continuity plans. Hence, UMS was able to ensure no importation of cases into its campus during both acute and containment phases at the nationwide level

Comparison of detection techniques in optical CDMA access network for point to multipoint configuration

In this paper, we are proposing a detection scheme known as spectral direct detection technique implemented with Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) act as encoder/decoder. This FBG based is used to encode and decode the spectral amplitude coding namely modified double weight (MDW) code in Optical Code Division Multiple Access (OCDMA). This code is used due to its flexibility where its weight can be any even number that greater than two. Moreover, it can maintain the cross-correlation parameter equal to one. The performance of spectral direct detection technique against AND-subtraction technique which is both implemented with FBG based encoder/decoder is compared via simulation in downstream and upstream access network at point to multipoint (P2MP) configuration. The simulation will be carried out using OptiSystem version 6.0 and the performance is characterized through bit error rate (BER) and power received at various bit rate

The ChoCO-W prospective observational global study: Does COVID-19 increase gangrenous cholecystitis?

BACKGROUND: The incidence of the highly morbid and potentially lethal gangrenous cholecystitis was reportedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the ChoCO-W study was to compare the clinical findings and outcomes of acute cholecystitis in patients who had COVID-19 disease with those who did not. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected over 6 months (October 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021) with 1-month follow-up. In October 2020, Delta variant of SARS CoV-2 was isolated for the first time. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed and reported according to the STROBE guidelines. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients who had COVID-19 were compared with those who did not. RESULTS: A total of 2893 patients, from 42 countries, 218 centers, involved, with a median age of 61.3 (SD: 17.39) years were prospectively enrolled in this study; 1481 (51%) patients were males. One hundred and eighty (6.9%) patients were COVID-19 positive, while 2412 (93.1%) were negative. Concomitant preexisting diseases including cardiovascular diseases (p < 0.0001), diabetes (p < 0.0001), and severe chronic obstructive airway disease (p = 0.005) were significantly more frequent in the COVID-19 group. Markers of sepsis severity including ARDS (p < 0.0001), PIPAS score (p < 0.0001), WSES sepsis score (p < 0.0001), qSOFA (p < 0.0001), and Tokyo classification of severity of acute cholecystitis (p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group. The COVID-19 group had significantly higher postoperative complications (32.2% compared with 11.7%, p < 0.0001), longer mean hospital stay (13.21 compared with 6.51 days, p < 0.0001), and mortality rate (13.4% compared with 1.7%, p < 0.0001). The incidence of gangrenous cholecystitis was doubled in the COVID-19 group (40.7% compared with 22.3%). The mean wall thickness of the gallbladder was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group [6.32 (SD: 2.44) mm compared with 5.4 (SD: 3.45) mm; p < 0.0001]. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of gangrenous cholecystitis is higher in COVID patients compared with non-COVID patients admitted to the emergency department with acute cholecystitis. Gangrenous cholecystitis in COVID patients is associated with high-grade Clavien-Dindo postoperative complications, longer hospital stay and higher mortality rate. The open cholecystectomy rate is higher in COVID compared with non -COVID patients. It is recommended to delay the surgical treatment in COVID patients, when it is possible, to decrease morbidity and mortality rates. COVID-19 infection and gangrenous cholecystistis are not absolute contraindications to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in a case by case evaluation, in expert hands