Endoscopic Resection and Topical 5-Fluorouracil as an Alternative Treatment to Craniofacial Resection for the Management of Primary Intestinal-Type Sinonasal Adenocarcinoma

Introduction. Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of the sinonasal tract is very rare and is responsible for less than 4% of tumours of the sinuses. Craniofacial resection has been the mainstay of treatment for many years; however, techniques for endoscopic resection are constantly being developed. Discussion. The use of transnasal endoscopic resection (TER) and topical chemotherapy applications as an alternative to cranio-facial resection (CFR) is discussed. TER offers advantages over CFR in terms of fewer intra-operative complications and an improved cosmetic outcome. Survival and metastatic rates are similar between both procedures. Patients with locally invasive tumours are better managed with CFR. Topical applications of 5-Fluorouracil has been shown to be effective in increasing survival in patients with sino-nasal malignancy. Conclusion. Trans-nasal endoscopic resection and topical 5-Fluorouracil could potentially offer an acceptable alternative treatment to the standard of cranio-facial resection. This should be investigated in trials with a longer followup period than this paper in order to directly compare the two treatment modalities

Electronic conductance of quantum wire with serial periodic potential structures

A theory based on the total transfer matrix is presented to investigate the electronic conductance in a quantum wire with serial periodic potentials. We apply the formalism in computation of the electronic conductance in a wire with different physical parameters of the wire structure. The numerical results could be used in designing some future quantum electronic devices

Effect of Impact Hot- Dry Weather Conditions on the Properties of High Performance Lightweight Concrete

The aim of this investigation is to produce high performance lightweight aggregate concrete in actual hot- dry weather conditions, and then study the combined effect of hot-dry weather conditions on the fresh properties of high performance lightweight aggregate concrete such as workability, initial and final setting time, measuring concrete temperature, and hardened concrete properties (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength, modulus of elasticity). The experimental program including the use of fixed mix proportions and was carried out in a typical Iraqi summer days (under actual conditions) of different times during the day, where the mean maximum temperature in shadow in July and August usually is more than 44° C and relative humidity of about 24 %, the results were compared with the specimens prepared and casted in laboratory and others in shadow site. The results indicate that as temperature rises, and relative humidity falls, the initial and final setting time were reduced, beside that actual drop in slump. The results also show that rising placing temperatures more than allowable concrete temperature that recommended in ACI 305 does not, as a rule, lead to lower strengths. The strength performance of concrete can remain unaffected by higher placing temperatures, or it can even improve over that at lower temperatures. Using pre-soaked lightweight aggregates (pumice) as internal water reservoirs for producing this type of concrete under actual hot-dry weather condition played positive role in improvement of concrete properties by compensate the evaporation of water due to the rising temperature and decreasing relative humidity, and provide additional moisture in concrete for a more effective hydration of the cement

Persistent CSF Rhinorrhoea, Pneumocephalus, and Recurrent Meningitis Following Misdiagnosis of Olfactory Neuroblastoma

A 41-year-old female patient was admitted with streptococcal meningitis on a background of 5-month history of CSF rhinorrhoea. Imaging revealed an extensive skull base lesion involving the sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses, the pituitary fossa with suprasellar extension and bony destruction. Histological examination of an endonasal transethmoidal biopsy suggested a diagnosis of olfactory neuroblastoma. A profuse CSF leak occurred and the patient developed coliform meningitis. A second endonasal endoscopic biopsy was undertaken which demonstrated the tumour to be a prolactinoma. Following endonasal repair of the CSF leak and lumbar drainage, she developed profound pneumocephalus. The patient underwent three further unsuccessful CSF leak repairs. Definitive control of the CSF leak was finally achieved through a transcranial approach with prolonged lumbar drainage. This case illustrates some of the potentially devastating complications which can occur as a consequence of complex skull base lesions. A multidisciplinary approach may be required to successfully manage such cases

Investigation of single cart gantry crane system performance using scheduling algorithm

This paper investigates the implementation of two types of scheduling algorithm to obtain the best performances of the Single Cart Gantry Crane System (GCS). In this research, Deadline Monotonic Priority Assignment (DMPA) and Earliest Deadline First (EDF) scheduling algorithm are chosen to be implemented. The main ideas of this approach is to find the schedule that more compatible and provide more stable result for the system. The Cart performances will be analyzed in term of Settling Time (Ts) and Overshoot (OS). In this study, a simple PID controller that acts as a basic control structure is used. The application of TRUETIME kernel block also is implemented to be executed in a MATLAB environment. It has been demonstrated that implementation of these two algorithms will help this system to be more stabilized according to appropriate execution time

Mechanical Properties of Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) with Various Steel Fiber and Silica Fume Contents

An experimental work was carried out to investigate some mechanical properties of Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) which are particularly required as input data for structural design. These properties include compressive strength, tensile strength (direct, splitting and flexural), flexural toughness, load-deflection capacity and static modulus of elasticity. The effects of three variable parameters on these properties were carefully studied which are, the silica fume content SF (0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%) as a partial replacement by weight of cement, hooked macro steel fibers volume fraction Vf (0%, 1%, 2% and 3%) and superplasticizertype(Sikament®-163N and PC200).The diameter of the steel fiber is 0.5mm and its length is 30mm with aspect ratio 60.The experimental results showed that as the silica fume content (SF) increases from 0% to 30% the compressive strength significantly increases, while the increase in tensile strength is relatively lower. The inclusion of steel fibers leads to a considerable increase intensile strength, while the addition of steel fibers causes a slight increase in compressive strength of RPC as fiber volume fraction increases from 0% to 3%.The increase in the steel fibers volume fraction and silica fume content improved the loaddeflection behavior and consequently gave higher ductility and fracture toughness of RPC

Relationships between the Parity and Pelvimetry of Egyptian Buffalo Cows: Prediction of Dystocia and Estimation of Age

Background: The current study aimed to determine the most strongly correlated variable of pelvimetry with the parity in our native breed Egyptian buffaloes. Methods: The study was conducted on 36 female buffaloes (nullipara, n=14, primipara n=6 and pluripara, n=16 with 2-4 births) aged between <15 months, n=15 and 65 months, n=21. The internal and external pelvic measurements were obtained using the rice pelvimeter and Freeman’s measuring tape. Results: Strong positive linear relationships were found for the distance between ischiatic tuberosities and the distance between sacral tubercles with the correlation coefficients of 0.64 and 0.62, respectively. The conjugate diameter increased progressively with the age and number of births, with a correlation coefficient of 0.96. The pelvic area had a very strong positive linear relationship with a correlation coefficient of 0.89. The linear combination of the predictor variable (conjugate diameter), to predict the number of birth was developed successfully. Conclusion: The strong relationship between the conjugate diameter and the number of births could be employed to predict the dystocia and estimate the age of female buffalo. Furthermore, these findings could be aid paleontologists in studying buffalo fossils

Speech Therapy in the Treatment of Globus Pharyngeus: Development of a Mobile Application to Improve Patient Access

Introduction: Globus pharyngeus is a well-known disorder accounting for 3-4% of ENT referrals. Various treatment strategies have been proposed for this condition, including speech and language therapy. The aim of this article is to highlight the evidence-based approach to the development of a mobile application to improve patient access to speech therapy as a treatment for globus pharyngeus. Patients and Methods: A literature search was performed to identify articles exploring the use of speech therapy as a management option for this disorder. A survey of speech and language therapists (SLT) in the UK to determine patient access to this treatment and their views on the development of a mobile application is also described. Results: Four studies were identified, including one randomised controlled study. All articles demonstrate a significant improvement in symptoms following the use of speech therapy. SLTs from 27 departments responded to the survey. The globus pharyngeus patient workload was variable and in excess of 1000 patients per year in some departments. Most respondents supported the development of a mobile application for speech therapy for use by globus pharyngeus patients. Conclusion: Speech therapy is an effective treatment for globus pharyngeus patients. Speech therapy is not available in all NHS Trusts in England and some SLT departments have a high workload. Alternative methods for the delivery of this effective treatment should be considered including the use of mobile applications. It is important to rule out the possibility of upper aerodigestive tract malignancy before referring a patient for speech therapy

The Burden of Revision Sinonasal Surgery in the UK – Data from the Chronic Rhinosinusitis Epidemiology Study (CRES); a cross sectional study

Objectives/Hypothesis The aim of this study was to investigate the surgical revision rate in patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) in the UK CRS Epidemiology Study (CRES). Previous evidence from national Sinonasal Audit showed that 1459 CRS patients demonstrated a surgical revision rate 19.1% at 5 years, with highest rates seen in those with polyps (20.6%). Setting Thirty secondary care centres around the UK. Participants A total of 221 controls and 1249 patients with CRS were recruited to the study including those with polyps (CRSwNPs), without polyps (CRSsNPs) and with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS). Interventions Self-administered questionnaire. Primary outcome measure The need for previous sinonasal surgery. Results A total of 651 patients with CRSwNPs, 553 with CRSsNPs and 45 with AFRS were included. A total of 396 (57%) of patients with CRSwNPs/AFRS reported having undergone previous endoscopic nasal polypectomy (ENP), of which 182 of the 396 (46%) reported having received more than one operation. The mean number of previous surgeries per patient in the revision group was 3.3 (range 2 to 30) and a mean duration of time of 10 years since the last procedure. The average length of time since their first operation up to inclusion in the study was 15.5 years (range 0-74). Only 27.9% of all patients reporting a prior ENP had received concurrent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) (n=102). For comparison, surgical rates in patients with CRSsNPs were significantly lower; 13% of cases specifically reported ESS and of those only 30% reported multiple procedures (chi-squared p < 0.001). Conclusions This study demonstrated there is a high burden of both primary and revision surgery in patients with CRS, worst in those with AFRS and least in those with CRSsNPs. The burden of revision surgery appears unchanged in the decade since the Sinonasal Audit

Simulation of EMP generator using MATLAB

Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a sudden burst of wide-band, high-intensity electromagnetic radiation. EMP also called as a transient electromagnetic disturbance, a short burst of electromagnetic energy. Effect of EMP to automobile is classify as medium threats to vehicle attacks where EMP aims at damaging electronic devices such as on board sensors and processors, CPU which found in almost all models from 1990’s and forward. This paper presents a MATLAB simulation of EMP generator by means of Switch Mode Power Supply, thus the electrical shielding can be studied further. Theoretically, EMP generator is developed by implementing energy storage circuit and discharge control circuit. Sending a rapidly changing electrical current through a loop will create an electromagnetic field in the form of a pulse. The results show an increase in pulse voltage from 12 VDC to 758 VDC with a current of 1500 A. A MATLAB model on the coverage area affected by EMP pulse will be developed in the next phase of the research