Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the cervical vagus nerve in a neurofibromatosis type 1 patient - An unusual presentation

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST’S) of the head and neck comprise 2% to 6% of head and neck sarcomas. These tumors may arise as sporadic variants or in patients with neurofibromatosis (NF). Development of these MPNST’s is one of the serious complications of neurofibromatosis type 1(NF1). To our knowledge there are only two reported cases of MPNST’s arising in the cervical vagal nerve, occurring in NF1 patients. We present here an NF1 patient who developed an MPNST of the cervical vagus nerve and presented only with a cervical swelling and hoarseness

Notes on methods and sources

Online publication : https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Centres/Global-Lives/Research-projects/Modern-Slavery/Notes-on-methodsWe have compiled two databases as part of a research project in which we investigate how funding streams prioritising 'modern slavery' as a foundational category have influenced the language, methodologies, partnerships, and outputs of individuals and institutions working on systems of vulnerability and exploitation. In this piece, we highlight the methods and sources used to create both databases, followed by a discussion of some of the current limitations of the data. In an appendix, we also provide the names of the organisations that have funded (or disbursed funds for) modern slavery-related projects from/within the United Kingdom

Do Tender Offers Create Value? New Methods and Evidence

We develop the Probability Scaling Method, which rescales short-window announcement period returns; and the Intervention Method, which uses returns associated with intervening events, to estimate value improvements from tender offers. These methods address biases in conventional techniques, which measure only a fraction of the total tender offer gain; and which include revelation about bidder stand-alone value. Perceived value improvements are much larger than traditional methods indicate, so that we cannot reject the hypothesis that bidders on average pay fair prices for targets. Furthermore, our new methods affect inferences about economic forces in the takeover market. We identify several effects (higher combined bidder-target stock returns for hostile offers, lower for equity offers, and lower for diversifying offers) that reflect differences in revelation about stand-alone value, not gains from combination.Tender offers, value improvements, truncation dilemma, revelation bias, agency

ATTENUATION OF IRON OVERLOAD AND EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDANTS SUPPLEMENTATION ON OXIDATIVE STRESS IN HOMOZYGOUS β-THALASSEMIA

It has been projected that ferritin and iron yoke in homozygous thalassemic children is coupled with the enhanced free radical formation and blemished in antioxidative defense coordination. Aim: The purpose of the current study was to analyze the consequence of serum iron, erythrocyte catalase, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (ESOD) in patients with beta-thalassemia major. Method: 60 beta-thalassemia major patients were studied before and after supplementation of A – Z antioxidants for 20 weeks, and status were compared with 60 age and sex-matched healthy normal.    Serum Iron estimation was carried out by Ramsay’s Dipyridyl Method. Estimation of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase was done by Kajari Das Method. The levels of Catalase concentration in erythrocytes were analyzed by the Goth method.  All the objectives mentioned above were run by using a UV visible Spectrophotometer (Systronix). Results: A marked enhancement was seen in the intensity of serum iron, and superoxide dismutase (p<0.001) with parallel decline was observed in the level of erythrocyte catalase (p<0.001) in homozygous thalassemia patients when compared with healthy subjects. After 20 weeks of regular supplementation of antioxidants A-Z syrup, which consists of multimineral multivitamins, the concentration of catalase was increased whereas iron and ESOD (p<0.001) were reduced significantly when compared with normal and baselines thalassemic patients. Conclusion: Due to multiple blood transfusions, beta-thalassemia major children are at advanced risk due to secondary iron surplus and intense oxidative stress. Such kind of circumstances may be handled with supplementation of antioxidants A-Z syrup with their regular treatment. &nbsp

ATTENUATION OF IRON OVERLOAD AND EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDANTS SUPPLEMENTATION ON OXIDATIVE STRESS IN HOMOZYGOUS β-THALASSEMIA

It has been projected that ferritin and iron yoke in homozygous thalassemic children is coupled with the enhanced free radical formation and blemished in antioxidative defense coordination. Aim: The purpose of the current study was to analyze the consequence of serum iron, erythrocyte catalase, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (ESOD) in patients with beta-thalassemia major. Method: 60 beta-thalassemia major patients were studied before and after supplementation of A – Z antioxidants for 20 weeks, and status were compared with 60 age and sex-matched healthy normal.    Serum Iron estimation was carried out by Ramsay’s Dipyridyl Method. Estimation of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase was done by Kajari Das Method. The levels of Catalase concentration in erythrocytes were analyzed by the Goth method.  All the objectives mentioned above were run by using a UV visible Spectrophotometer (Systronix). Results: A marked enhancement was seen in the intensity of serum iron, and superoxide dismutase (p<0.001) with parallel decline was observed in the level of erythrocyte catalase (p<0.001) in homozygous thalassemia patients when compared with healthy subjects. After 20 weeks of regular supplementation of antioxidants A-Z syrup, which consists of multimineral multivitamins, the concentration of catalase was increased whereas iron and ESOD (p<0.001) were reduced significantly when compared with normal and baselines thalassemic patients. Conclusion: Due to multiple blood transfusions, beta-thalassemia major children are at advanced risk due to secondary iron surplus and intense oxidative stress. Such kind of circumstances may be handled with supplementation of antioxidants A-Z syrup with their regular treatment. &nbsp

EFFECT OF CHEMICAL NON-EQUILIBRIUM ON FLOW PARAMETERS IN THE INTERMEDIATE HYPERSONIC REGIME

The new solver hypersonicIithFoam has been developed in the OpenFOAM framework. OpenFOAM has rhoCentralFoam which is a density based N-S solver, is used as a base solver. Additional features are incorporated to model reacting flows, variable multi-species diffusion and thermodynamic proper- ties of high-temperature air. The solver is implemented to model the transport properties based on a kinetic theory for its widespread applicability. Viscosity and Thermal conductivity are obtained using the model based on Lennard-Jones potential, and Chapman-Enskog diffusivity model is used to compute binary dif- fusion coefficient. Multicomponent mixture properties are calcu- lated based on a mole fraction. All species are assumed to be in thermodynamic equilibrium, so the state of the gas is governed by single equilibrium temperature. The solver is tested with the available experimental data for Heat flux and coefficient of pres- sure Cp distribution over a surface of ELECTRE article. The hy- personic solver is shown significant improvement over a conven- tional compressible solver. Simulations are carried out for the flow over a sphere at different altitudes using both the conven- tional and the hypersonic solver for qualitative and quantitative comparisons. Post shock temperature and peak heat flux values are remarkably reduces due to the implementation of real gas ef- fects and air chemistry. Rarefaction effects become significant from 70 km

Numerical Analysis of Rarefied Hypersonic and Chemically Reacting Flow-field

We have developed an open source CFD tool, which can simulate high temperature and chemically reacting flow-field in the rarefied regime. It is used to carry out simulations in the intermediate hypersonic flow regime (Mach number range from 8 to 15). Solver is tested with available data for high speed and rarefied flow applications. Heat load values for blunt conical surface and shock standoff distance for sphere are obtained with our solver and good agreement has been exhibited with the experimental data

Computational Analysis of Side Jet Interaction With a Super-sonic Cross-flow

We have numerically investigated the interaction of a side jet positioned on the small rocket, with the supersonic cross-flow. An open source CFD tool, OpenFOAM is used to model the complex flow of a jet-atmosphere interaction. The flow fields are computed by the steady 3-dimensional Navier-Stokes solver with k- ! SST turbulence model. Our solver is validated with the experimental pressure data available on the rocket wall and a systematic study is done by varying parameters like jet pressure ratio. Aerothermodynamic coefficients for various flow conditions are reported, and pitching moments and normal forces are found to vary linearly with the jet pressure ratios. Possible contamination of the on-board sensor located on the rocket wall due to impinging plumes is also examined. This study helps in designing effective missile control by selection of the location of jet and pressure ratios

Iron oxide nanoparticles fabricated by electric explosion of wire: Focus on magnetic nanofluids

Nanoparticles of iron oxides (MNPs) were prepared using the electric explosion of wire technique (EEW). The main focus was on the fabrication of de-aggregated spherical nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution. According to XRD the major crystalline phase was magnetite with an average diameter of MNPs, depending on the fraction. Further separation of air-dry EEW nanoparticles was performed in aqueous suspensions. In order to provide the stability of magnetite suspension in water, we found the optimum concentration of the electrostatic stabilizer (sodium citrate and optimum pH level) based on zeta-potential measurements. The stable suspensions still contained a substantial fraction of aggregates which were disintegrated by the excessive ultrasound treatment. The separation of the large particles out of the suspension was performed by centrifuging. The structural features, magnetic properties and microwave absorption of MNPs and their aqueous solutions confirm that we were able to obtain an ensemble in which the magnetic contributions come from the spherical MNPs. The particle size distribution in fractionated samples was narrow and they showed a similar behaviour to that expected of the superparamagnetic ensemble. Maximum obtained concentration was as high as 5 % of magnetic material (by weight). Designed assembly of de-aggregated nanoparticles is an example of on-purpose developed magnetic nanofluid. Copyright © 2012 Author(s)

Verification of ZVS boost converter with resonant circuit & modelling of an accurate two-diode PV array system simulator using MATLAB simulink

This thesis proposes a MATLAB Simulink simulator for Photo Voltaic (PV) Array system. The main contribution is the utilisation of a Two-Diode model to represent a PV cell. This model is preferred because of its better accuracy at low irradiance levels. A PV of Kyocera (KC200GT) 50*10 Array is taken & the characteristics curves are plotted. The same simulator can be interfaced with MPPT algorithms & Power Electronics converters for better efficiency. The P-V & I-V Curves of this simulator is found in exact with that given by the manufacturers. It is expected that the proposed work can be very useful for PV professionals who require a simple, fast & accurate PV simulator in order to design their systems. A detailed analysis of a resonant circuit based soft-switching boost-converter for PV applications is also performed. The converter operates at Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) turn-on and turn-off of the main switch, & Zero Current Switching (ZCS) turn-on and ZVS turn-off of the auxiliary switch due to resonant circuit incorporated into the circuit. Detailed operation of the converters, analysis of various modes, simulation as well as experimental results for the design has also been aptly presented. The systems are modelled & simulated in MATLAB 2013a 64-bit version and the output waveforms are shown