573 research outputs found
Accelerating Population Balance Model - based particulate process simulations via parallel computing
No full textThe use of Population Balance Models (PBM) for simulating dynamics of particulate systems are inevitably limited at some point by the demands they place on computational resources. PBMs are widely used to describe the time evolutions and distributions of many industrial particulate processes, and its efficient and quick simulation would certainly be beneficial for process design, control and optimization. This thesis is an elucidation of how MATLAB's Parallel Computing Toolbox (PCT), a third-party toolbox called JACKET, and the MATLAB Distributed Computing Server (MDCS) may be combined with algorithmic modification of the PBM to speed up these computations on a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and a computer cluster respectively. Parallel algorithms were developed for three dimensional and four dimensional population balance models incorporating hardware class-specific parallel constructs such as SPMD and gfor. Results indicate significant reduction in computational time without compromising numerical accuracy for all cases except for the GPU. The GPU seemed promising for larger problems despite its limitations of lower clock speeds and on-board memory compared to the CPU. Evaluations of the speedup and scalability further affirm the algorithms' performance.M.S.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Anuj Varghese Prakas
Adenoidectomy: Conventional or Endoscopic Assisted?
No full textABSTRACT
Objectives
Adenoid hypertrophy is known as the most common cause of nasal obstruction in children; thus, adenoidectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the pediatric population. We performed both conventional and endoscopic-assisted adenoidectomies in 54 patients. Our objectives were to compare the efficacy of both methods in terms of subjective and objective relief of symptoms, safety, recurrence, and postoperative morbidity.
Materials and methods
Fifty-four patients were studied and were diagnosed depending upon clinical examination and radiological investigation. The patients were operated by either conventional or endoscopic-assisted adenoidectomy (EAA). Intraoperative and postoperative complications were looked for. After discharge from the hospital, the patients were called for follow-up on 1st week, 3rd week, 2nd and 4th month, and patients were asked for relief of symptoms and examined for nasal disease and for recurrence.
Results
Adenoid hypertrophy was seen commonly in children and the most common presenting complaints were nasal obstruction, mouth breathing, and snoring. The patients were diagnosed to have chronic adenoiditis, chronic adenotonsillitis, with or without chronic suppurative otitis media. More number of patients became symptom free with EAA as compared with conventional adenoidectomy.
Conclusion
Conventional adenoidectomy and EAA both have comparable success rates. Endoscopic-assisted adenoidectomy allows complete removal of adenoid tissue, thereby reducing the chances of developing recurrent adenoid obstructive symptoms and reducing the bacterial reservoir in the nasopharynx.
How to cite this article
Goel AK. Adenoidectomy: Conventional or Endoscopic Assisted? Clin Rhinol An Int J 2017;10(2):74-77.
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Is urethral stricture only a circumferential disease? Reason for change in the plan of urethroplasty for bulbous urethral strictures shorter than 2 cm
No full textObjective: To understand the reasons for choosing the type of urethroplasty for bulbous strictures shorter than 2 cm in length that were ideally suited for anastomotic urethroplasty (AU).
Materials and Methods: Data of adult men, who underwent urethroplasty between November 2002 and September 2011 for isolated bulbous strictures less than 2 cm in length, as measured intra-operatively, were reviewed. Patients who had undergone urethroplasty before were excluded. Data recorded were details of previous interventions, the etiology of the stricture and the type of urethroplasty performed.
Results: Out of 277 men who underwent urethroplasty for bulbous stricture, 65 men fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The etiologies were trauma in 24, post catheterization in 16, and idiopathic in 25. The mean stricture length was 1.60 cm (range 0.8 to 1.9). Anastomotic urethroplasty was performed in 41 men (Group 1). In the remaining 24 men, buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty was performed in 20 and augmented AU in 4 (Group 2). Comparing the two groups we found that Group 2 patients had undergone more internal urethrotomies (mean 2.45±0.88 vs. 1.58±0.63; P=0.005) and had longer stricture length as compared to men in Group 1 (mean 1.8±0.83 vs. 1.48±0.23 cm; P=0.005). The reason why AU could not be performed (Group 2) was shortening of the length of the urethra, making mobilization difficult.
Conclusions: Even short strictures are associated with urethral shortening as the fibrosis is not only circumferential but also longitudinal. The surgeon should be prepared for an alternate plan even for bulbous urethral strictures shorter than 2 cm
Exploring the Critical Success Factors in Social and Health Care Information Systems Project Procurement
No full textA welfare reform involving the mixing of social and health services is being introduced by the Finnish government. Several factors have been identified for this shift, the most relevant of which is that many information systems are not interoperable and data-related problems have been identified. Management and isolated offers of service. Digitalizing to solve these issues is part of the government’s policy. This paper outlines the change landscape and explores the architectural options of the proposed digitalisation process and crucial success factors. The Undertaking The design is applied to the largest county, which consists of over 1,900 information systems related to social support and health care. The goal is to design a single joint framework with no more than 300 supporting information systems, resulting in savings of EUR 3 billion. Six key scientific conclusions are presented as the results.peerReviewe
The genetic architecture of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
No full textHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic heart disorder, affecting at least 1 in 500 individuals, and a leading cause of sudden death. Genetic testing for rare, causal, genetic variants in sarcomere genes is the standard of care and conducted at scale. However, more than half of HCM patients do not carry identifiable pathogenic variants and, in those that do, there is substantial variation in penetrance and disease expression.
Here, the genetic architecture of HCM is further evaluated, under a central hypothesis that the genetic aetiology of HCM extends beyond known rare variant contributions. Through a series of case-control analyses monogenic, oligogenic and polygenic models of disease were assessed. Burden testing analyses support prior knowledge regarding the monogenic basis to HCM. Quantitative analyses directed towards quantifying the penetrance and expressivity of disease-causing HCM variants were largely underpowered. Similarly, systematic evaluation for oligogenicity was underpowered. However, haplotype analysis of a candidate variant (MYBPC325) presumed to be of importance to oligogenicity revealed synthetic association with a rare pathogenic variant (MYBPC3 c.1224-52G>A), quelling this specific oligogenic hypothesis. Polygenicity was evaluated through genome wide association analyses. The additive effects of common variants explained 34.0±2.4% of phenotypic variance in sarcomere-negative HCM, and 15.8±3.8% in sarcomere-positive HCM. Meta-analysis revealed 28 loci (13 independent genome-wide significant variants (p-value < 5×10−8) and 16 <5% local false discovery rate variants (p-value < 1.82×10−6)). A genetic risk score (GRS) assessed the aggregate impact of these independent common variants: HCM risk was halved for individuals in the lowest quintile and more than doubled for those in the highest quintile.
Collectively, these analyses reject the null hypothesis that the genetic aetiology of HCM is restricted to known rare variant contributions and extend understanding regarding the genetic architecture of HCM
Gritty sensation on catheter: A new clinical sign for self-diagnosis of stone formation in the continent urinary pouch
No full textWith more experience and better management, the incidence of complications like stone formation after continent urinary diversion is uncommon today. We report a case of large stone bulk in a patient who underwent this surgery 10 years back and who suggested the formation of stones in the pouch herself by sounding them. Proper counseling, regular pouch irrigation and follow-up are essential in any kind of diversion
Quantum transport in graphene nanotransistors
No full textOver the past decade, interest in using graphene in condensed-matter physics and materials science applications has exploded, owing to its unique electrical properties. Narrow strips of graphene, called graphene nanoribbons, also display exotic behavior. A nanoribbon’s edge geometry determines its electronic transport properties, and the rich behavior
of conductance of nanoribbons in response to external potentials makes them ideal for use within transistors.
In this thesis, we work towards creating an accurate model of graphene nanoribbon transistors, and we asses two possible applications which exploit their amazing potential. We begin by outlining the basic theoretical and computational framework for the model developed in this work. We then demonstrate the capability of graphene nanoribbon transistors, with nanopores, to electronically detect, characterize, and manipulate translocating DNA
strands. Specifically, we explore the tunability of such devices, by examining the role of lattice geometry, such as a quantum point contact constriction, on their performance. We perform a demonstration of the ability to detect the passage of double and single-stranded
DNA, through molecular dynamics simulations. The transistors presented are capable of sensing the helical shape of double-stranded DNA molecules, the unraveling of a DNA helix into a planar-zipper form, and the passage of individual nucleotides of a single strand of DNA
through the nanopore. We outline a preliminary analysis on the proper design of a multilayer transistor stack to control both the electronic properties of the conducting membrane, as well as the motion of the DNA. Lastly, we present another type of nanoribbon device,
an all-carbon spintronic transistor for use in cascaded logic circuits. A thorough analysis of the transport properties of zigzag nanoribbon transistors in magnetic fields, in addition to the design and construction of logic gate circuits containing these spintronic transistors, is presented.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I only', the embargo will last until 2017-05-01The student, Anuj Girdhar, accepted the attached license on 2015-04-18 at 16:01.The student, Anuj Girdhar, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2015-04-18 at 16:02.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2015-04-24 at 10:12.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #7936 on 2015-07-22 at 14:18:16Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T22:33:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2015-04-24Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 79875
Lift date: 2017-07-22T22:34:16Z
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A new approach to electronic systems reliability assessment
No full textAugust 2007School of EngineeringPh
Management of panurethral strictures
No full textIntroduction : Treatment of panurethral stricture is considered a surgical challenge. We searched the literature to present a comprehensive review.
Materials and Methods : A review of literature was performed using MEDLINE/PubMed database using terms "urethral stricture" and "urethroplasty." Only articles published between 1990 and 2009 and written in English language were included in the review.
Results : The main causes of panurethral strictures are previous catheterization, urethral surgery, and lichen sclerosus. The treatment of each individual case has to be tailored according to the etiology, history of previous urethral surgeries, availability of local tissues for flap harvesting, availability of appropriate donor tissue, and the expertise of the treating surgeon. In patients with complicated strictures, previously failed urethroplasties and in patients with poor quality of urethral plate two-stage surgery is a better option. In all other situations, either a flap or graft urethroplasty or if adequate tissue is not available then combination of flap and graft gives reasonable success rates.
Conclusions : Panurethral strictures are relatively less common. For successful results, the surgeon should be experienced and should be familiar with all the treatment modalities
Enhanced Oil Recovery using Carbonated Polymeric Nanofluids : A New Age Approach to CO2 Utilization and Corrosion Mitigation
No full textThe author would like to thank the CIF facility and its staff, including Mr. Anuj Prajapati, Mr. Zahoor Alam, and Mr. Brijesh. Thanks are also extended to all the members associated with the work.Peer reviewe
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