An unusual case of cauda equina secondary to spinal metastasis of thyroid cancer

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Cauda equina secondary to metastatic follicular thyroid cancer of the lumbosacral area is a rare entity. CASE REPORT: We report an unusual case of a 52-year-old male who presented with backache, lower limb weakness, and perianal numbness. A CT-scan of the lumbosacral area showed an enhancing mass at the L4, L5 and S1 vertebrae. Histopathology after excision revealed a metastatic thyroid cancer. Hence, a CT scan of the neck and chest was performed which showed a nodule in the left lobe of the thyroid and a mass in the left chest wall. A total thyroidectomy and excision of the chest wall lesion was undergone, which was diagnosed as a follicular carcinoma of the thyroid. CONCLUSION: Metastatic workup of spinal metastasis should include evaluation of the thyroid gland

Development of semi-empirical models to measure mass flow rate of solids in an air seeder

The air seeder, which is primarily used for seeding, plays a significant role in the large-scale agricultural industry. Air seeding technology is based on the principles of pneumatic conveying where seed or fertilizer are conveyed by air from a reservoir to the land through pipe. Although air seeding technology has seen many developments since its arrival in the 1950s, it still lacks in the area of mass flow measurement of conveyed solids. An effective method of on-line seed flow monitoring is important to reduce product wastage and also, to anticipate plugging in the lines. The goal of this research has therefore been to develop methods to measure mass flow rate in horizontal gas-solid flow in a way that can be implemented in an air seeder. In order to do that, two novel methods have been described. Both of the methods develop relationships between the solids flow rate, the pressure drop in the pipeline and the average air velocity by conducting experiments with wheat in a laboratory prototype air seeder. Pressure drop and average air velocity are two quantities that can be measured without difficulty under all conditions that an air seeder operates. Hence, these two quantities were chosen as the independent variables and material mass flow rate was chosen as the dependent variable. An earlier empirical model for mass flow measurement was developed prior to this research. But that model was only valid under its test condition and did not provide any insight on the flow mechanism. Hence, this investigation developed models based on existing relationships for gas-solid flow. These models provide better understanding of the mechanism of pressure drop and also, show superior potential for adaptability from test to real-time conditions. The first model was developed by modifying a relationship described for horizontal gas-solid flow by Hinkle (1953), Cabrejos and Klinzing (1992) and a few other researchers. That relationship between the specific pressure drop and the mass loading ratio was valid for fully-developed flow and higher air velocities. It needed modification because generally air seeders have a straight horizontal section in the non-developed region of the flow. The modified model is the first of its genre that describes the relationship between the specific pressure drop and the mass loading ratio in the non-developed flow region for both higher and lower air velocities. Although it was developed to be implemented on an air seeder, it can be applied to any horizontal gas-solid flow. The second model for mass flow measurement of solids used the so-called “dimensionless” state diagram for horizontal flow. The primary relationship between the mass loading ratio and the Froude number described in the dimensionless state diagram remains unchanged for all products being pneumatically conveyed. Only a single parameter varies with the mass flow rate of solids. This varying parameter was correlated with specific pressure drop in this second model. Again, this model is one of the first models to use the dimensionless state diagram for solids mass flow measurement. Both models had errors less than 20% in the predicted mass flow rate when tested. The first model had less than 10% error for 73% of the total estimates. The second model had less than 6% error for 60% of the total estimates. For the rest of the estimates, the error values varied between 10% and 15%. These results indicate that both of the models have promising potential to be implemented into an air seeder

Mode properties of annular gain lasers

The properties of a new class of laser resonators are investigated theoretically and experimentally. In these lasers the radiation propagates longitudinally in an annular amplifying medium, and useful low loss modes can be obtained even when the axial region is obscured. Alignment characteristics and far field patterns are discussed, and experiments have been conducted using coaxial double-discharge CO₂ devices

Air Breakdown in a Radial-Mode Focusing Element

A new radial focusing device is described that condenses an incident laser beam to an extremely intense and uniformly illuminated focal spot. The focal region is useful for many applications. When used with a 10.6-µm CO₂ TEA laser source, a disk-shaped air-breakdown spark results, and the properties of this spark have been investigated

An eco-friendly dyeing of woolen yarn by Terminalia chebula extract with evaluations of kinetic and adsorption characteristics

In the present study Terminalia chebula was used as an eco-friendly natural colorant for sustainable textile coloration of woolen yarn with primary emphasis on thermodynamic and kinetic adsorption aspects of dyeing processes. Polyphenols and ellagitannins are the main coloring components of the dye extract. Assessment of the effect of pH on dye adsorption showed an increase in adsorption capacity with decreasing pH. Effect of temperature on dye adsorption showed 80 °C as optimum temperature for wool dyeing with T. chebula dye extract. Two kinetic equations, namely pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order equations, were employed to investigate the adsorption rates. Pseudo second-order model provided the best fit (R2 = 0.9908) to the experimental data. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted by Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. The adsorption behavior accorded well (R2 = 0.9937) with Langmuir isotherm model. Variety of eco-friendly and sustainable shades were developed in combination with small amount of metallic mordants and assessed in terms of colorimetric (CIEL∗a∗b∗ and K/S) properties measured using spectrophotometer under D65 illuminant (10° standard observer). The fastness properties of dyed woolen yarn against light, washing, dry and wet rubbing were also evaluated

Quality assurance audit in adult cardiac anaesthesia

Objective: To assess different anaesthesia-related quality indicators during adult cardiac surgery.Methods: The prospective clinical audit was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from October 2016 to March 2017, and comprised all adult patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. Different anaesthesia-related quality indicators were observed during the pre-induction phase, before the cardiopulmonary bypass, during the procedure, and post-surgery till the transfer from the operating room to the cardiac intensive care unit. Data was analysed using SPSS 19.Results: Of the 264 patients, 217(82.2%) had complete record; 160(73.7%) males and 57(26.3%) females. The overall mean age was 56.56±12.46 years. In the pre-induction phase, difficult intravenous and invasive line access was seen in 42(19.3%) patients. Inappropriate information in the preoperative form was found in 6(2.8%) patients, and preoperative drugs for anxiolysis were used in 145(66.8%) patients. Haemodynamic issues were significant during the surgery in 15(6.9%) patients. In the post-surgery period, abnormal activated clotting time was found in 17(7.8%) patients, while monitoring problems were faced in 7(3.2%) cases during transfer to cardiac intensive care unit.Conclusions: It will help to develop quality improvement policies to enhance patient safety, satisfaction and better outcome

Major Artery Occlusion: a Rare Complication of Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is hereditary hemoglobinopathy which causes haemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusive crisis, ischemic injuries and many other morbidities like cerebral infarction. In this report, we describe a case of a young patient with sickle cell disease presenting with right-sided weakness and slurring of speech with examination confirming right-sided hemiparesis with motor aphasia. On further investigation, she was found to have frontotemporal infarction. On magnetic resonance imaging with angiography, she was found to have absent circulation in left internal carotid artery probably secondary to sickle cell disease. Major vessel occlusion is rare complication of sickle cell disease that one must bear in mind

Causal Relationship between Foreign Institutional Investments, Exchange Rate and Stock Market Index i.e. Sensex in India: an Empirical Analysis

Since the global crisis (2008) emerged in the world economy, the inflows of foreign investors increased in developing countries and India was not the exception in terms of huge investment by foreign investors. India’s capital market recognized as an emerging market in the world and growing fast since the economic liberalization and globalization in 1991. Since 1993, when liberalization policies came in to effect and Indian market opened for foreign investment, the FIIs become the driving force for the overall development of economy as well as pose threat in the development. This paper attempts to analyze the impact of currency fluctuations on the investment by the foreign investment investors, for analyzing the impact and causal relationship, Augmented Dickey-Fuller test and Granger Causality test has been applied, and for analyzing FIIs role in the development of Indian capital market linear regression model has been used. After applying the Granger Causality test, we found that FII granger causes Exchange rate. As far as causality relationship is concerned, a unidirectional causality or one-way causality is found from FII towards exchange rate. As far as the causal relationship between the FIIs and SENSEX, FII are only responsible for up to 45.4%. This means that whatever changes have happened in the SENSEX for period under study the FI investments are responsible up to 45.4%. This implies that there are many other macro-economic factors which have indirectly affected the SENSEX in India. Keywords: FIIs, SENSEX, INRUSD, BSE, Volatility, GDP, RBI, FDICausal Relationship between Foreign Institutional Investments, Exchange Rate and Stock Market Index i.e. Sensex in India: an Empirical Analysi