Numerical Simulation of Rotating Accretion Disk Around the Schwarzschild Black Hole Using GRH Code

The 2D time dependent solution of thin accretion disk in a close binary system have been presented on the equatorial plane around the Schwarzschild black hole. To do that, the special part of the General Relativistic Hydrodynamical(GRH) equations are solved using High Resolution Shock Capturing (HRSC) schemes. The spiral shock waves on the accretion disk are modeled using perfect fluid equation of state with adiabatic indices $\gamma = 1.05, 1.2$ and 5/3. The results show that the spiral shock waves are created for gammas except the case $\gamma=5/3$. These results consistent with results from Newtonian hydrodynamic code except close to black hole. Newtonian approximation does not give good solution while matter closes to black hole. Our simulations illustrate that the spiral shock waves are created close to black hole and the location of inner radius of spiral shock wave is around $10M$ and it depends on the specific heat rates. We also find that the smaller $\gamma$ is the more tightly the spiral winds.Comment: 19 pages 11 figure

Long-term neurological, visual, and endocrine outcomes following transnasal resection of craniopharyngioma

Journal ArticleObject. The authors report on a cohort of patients with craniopharyngioma treated principally through transnasal (TN) resection and followed up for a minimum of 5 years. More specifically, they evaluate the role of the TN approach in the management of craniopharyngioma. Methods. Between 1984 and 1994, 68 patients underwent TN resection of craniopharyngiomas at the University of Southern California. The tumor was at least partially cystic in 88% of cases. Four tumors were purely intrasellar, 53 had intra- and suprasellar components, and 11 were exclusively suprasellar. During the same period, 18 patients underwent transcranial (TC) resection of purely suprasellar craniopharyngiomas. Long-term neurological, visual, and endocrine outcomes were reviewed for all patients. In 61 (90%) of 68 patients in the TN group, total resection was achieved, according to 3-month postoperative magnetic resonance images, although four patients suffered a recurrence. Three (43%) of the seven tumors that had been partially resected were enlarged on serial imaging. Fifty-four (87%) of 62 patients with preoperative visual loss experienced improvement in one or both eyes, but two patients (3%) with exclusively suprasellar tumors experienced postoperative visual worsening in one or both eyes. New instances of postoperative endocrinopathy (that is, not present preoperatively) occurred as follows: hypogonadism (eight of 22 cases), growth hormone (GH) deficiency (four of 18 cases), hypothyroidism (11 of 49 cases), hypocortisolemia (nine of 52 cases), and diabetes insipidus (DI; four of 61 cases). One case each of hypocortisolemia and hypothyroidism resolved after surgery. Hyperphagia occurred in 27 (40%) of 68 patients. One patient had short-term memory loss. Postoperative complications included one case of cerebrospinal fluid leak. Among the 18 patients in the TC group, 11 had complete resections. In one case (9%) the tumors recurred. Three (43%) of the seven subtotally resected tumors grew during the follow-up interval. Vision improved in 11 (61%) of 18 cases and worsened in three (17%) as a result of surgery. New instances of postoperative endocrinopathy occurred as follows: hypogonadism (one of six cases), GH deficiency (four of seven cases), hypothyroidism (11 of 14 cases), hypocortisolemia (eight of 15 cases), and DI (nine of 16 cases). No instance of preoperative endocrinopathy was corrected through TC surgery. Four patients (22%) exhibited short-term memory loss and 11 (61%) had hyperphagia after surgery. When compared with those in the TC group, patients in the TN group had shorter hospital stays. Conclusions. Use of the TN approach can render good outcomes in properly selected patients with craniopharyngioma, particularly when the tumor is cystic. Even in mostly suprasellar cases, an extended TN approach can afford complete resection. Note that endocrine function often worsens after surgery and that postoperative obesity can be a significant problem

Lifelong learning in engineering: An imperative to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

Many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can only be achieved through the active participation and contribution of skilled engineers and technologists. However, the advent of new technologies, automation, demographic changes and employment mobility will require continuous reskilling on the part of the engineering profession. This will necessitate building engineering capacity, as well as a structured approach, quality assurance and accreditation to lifelong learning. This chapter analyses the current state of lifelong learning in engineering and future approaches for creating a framework for policies, infrastructure and quality assurance to help achieve the goals and targets set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development