Clinical, operative, and outcome analysis of giant extradural hematoma: A retrospective study in tertiary care center

Background: This study is aimed to find a critical volume of operated giant or massive extradural hematoma (EDH) that affects outcome significantly and analyze them with respect to their clinical, surgical, and outcome perspective. Methods: This retrospective study includes 253 patients operated for EDH in emergency in the Department of Neurosurgery of IMS BHU, Varanasi, India, a tertiary care center, between August 1, 2018, and November 1, 2019. Giant EDH critical volume was evaluated. Twenty-nine patients with giant EDH with clot volume ≥ 80 ml were further analyzed for clinical, surgical, and outcome predictive factors. Statistical analysis was done using Prism GraphPad ver. 8.0.0. P value was taken at 0.05. Results: Dichotomized group analysis with Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) 4–5 versus GOS 1–3 for testing clot volume revealed significance difference with P < 0.001. Mean volume of GOS 1–3 came out to be 79.68 ml. Hence, we took clot volume >80 ml for further analysis. The most common age group was 20–40 (55.17%). M2 (31.03%) was the most common best motor response in operated giant EDH cases. Most of them were having severe (79.31%) head injury. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at admission (P < 0.0001), pupillary changes (P = 0.0032), and best motor response (P < 0.0001) was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with outcome following surgery for giant EDH. Conclusion: Giant EDH with volume ≥ 80 ml is associated with poorer outcome. GCS at admission, pupillary changes, and best motor response is predictors for surgical outcome of giant EDH.

Energy Efficiency of a Small Bioreactor in Various Climatic Zones

The authors proposed a model for estimating the heat balance and energy efficiency of a bioreactor that makes possible for a small-sized reactor operating on a relatively low-energy substrate to determine the critical volume, under which the existing climatic conditions allow year-round fully autonomous operation of the digester, as well as for evaluation the potential energy efficiency of such a bioreactor (output commodity heat). For the numerical characteristics of the climatic zone, it is proposed to use the average annual temperature and/or the “degree-day of the heating period” (DDHP) indicator common in construction heat engineering; the DDHP value more adequately characterizing the unevenness of the average monthly temperature distribution, i.e. degree of climate continentality. At the same time, the value of the critical volume of the bioreactor, at which year-round autonomous operation of the digester operating on the municipal sewage sludge, is possible, varies from 7.5 (Vladikavkaz, DDHP = 3410) to 17.0 m3 (Tomsk, DDHP = 6938), i. e. increases almost in proportion to the degree-day of the heating period. It should be noted that when using a substrate with a high biogas yield, e. g., pig manure (a biogas yield of 40 g/kg is adopted), the critical volume in all cases is less than 1 m3. Such results are relevant only for relatively low-energy raw materials. The nature of changes in the output of commodity heat, depending on the volume of the bioreactor and climatic conditions, is quite expectable, viz. the amount of heat that is useful for business interests is higher, the higher is the reactor volume and the milder is the climate. However, when the reactor volume is less than 5 m3, the non-linearity of the graphs is much higher, i. e. for a designer of especially small bioreactors, it seems mandatory to carry out such calculations. The obtained numerical values can be useful both for the designer of bioreactors and for the customer of the project when evaluating the economic efficiency of the planned new innovations.

Estimation of Rheological Properties of Ash Silicate Paints

Information provided on the color of paint coatings on the mortar substrate, depending on the type of pigment in accordance with the RAL color file. It is shown that presence of glycerin in the composition of the sol of silicate paint promotes an increase in the cohesive strength of coatings, an improvement in the filling of paint, and an improvement in the quality of the appearance of coatings. Information is given on the rheological properties of a silicate paint sol with the addition of glycerin depending on the pigment content. It has been established, that the introduction of glycerin into the paint formulation leads to an increase in the values of the critical volume concentration of the pigment (filler). A model for changing the viscosity of paint from a pigment volume concentration (filler) is proposed.

Effects of Bentonite Nanoclay and Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide Modified Bentonite Nanoclay on Phase Inversion of Water-in-Oil Emulsions

The effects of unmodified and modified bentonite nanoclays (with various degrees of surfactant modification) on the catastrophic phase inversion from water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion to oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion were determined experimentally. The bentonite nanoclay (NC-Bt) was suspended in the aqueous phase, and the critical volume fraction of water where phase inversion from W/O to O/W emulsion took place was determined through conductivity measurements. Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as a surfactant to modify the nanoclay. The adsorption of CTAB onto nanoclay had a strong influence on the contact angle and the critical volume fraction of water where phase inversion took place. The modification of the nanoclay brought about by the adsorption of CTAB increased the three-phase contact angle (measured through the aqueous phase), thereby making it more hydrophobic, and prolonged the phase inversion point. CTAB alone and CTAB-modified nanoclay delayed the phase inversion process in a similar manner, showing a strong dependence on the CTAB concentration.

Experimental study on demulsification speed of emulsified asphalt based on equivalent surface area principle

In order to simplify the demulsification speed test of emulsified asphalt, rapid-breaking, medium-breaking and slow-breaking emulsified asphalt as well as different aggregates were selected for the demulsification speed test. The specific surface area of each single grade was determined by the actual measurement, and the equivalent aggregate was collected according to the principle of equivalent surface area. The results show that the equivalent aggregate can be composed by the assembling of gradations smaller than 0.075mm and one or two bigger gradations. Therefore, the types of gradation in the equivalent aggregate will be reduced by one-half compared with that in the standard aggregate. The surface area of the equivalent aggregate is the same as that of the standard aggregate, and under a certain volume ratio, the demulsification rate determined by equivalent aggregate or standard aggregate is the same.There is also a critical volume ratio existing for the equivalent aggregate, If the critical volume ratio is exceeded, the demulsification rate determined by the equivalent aggregate will be greatly different from that determined by the standard aggregate. It is also found that the volume ratio turns to 1 without any changes when the proportion of gradation smaller than 0.075mm reaches 25%-30%.

Analysis of NTCP Based Radiobiological Models: A Systematic Review of Literatures

To achieve the optimal treatment goal, radiobiological parameters have to evaluate and predict the outcome of this treatment plan in terms of both TCP and NTCP. Different types of radiobiological model were used to achieve prescribed treatment dose of radiation during the tumor control. Where TCP models play an important role in order to achieve desired dose to the tumor. A suitable NTCP model was theoretically found among different models that can be used in treatment plan evaluation. Theoretically, six different radiobiological dose response models were analyzed in this project. Lyman–Kutcher–Burman, Critical element, critical volume, Relative Seriality, Parallel architecture, Weibull distribution models were analyzed from the derivation. All models were discussed elaborately with its various parameters and were used in the calculation of normal tissue complication probability during the treatment in radiotherapy. Further, all models were compared with each other. The models denote the dose for 50% complication probability (D50) parameters is the most commonly used radiobiological models for the normal tissues. The functional subunit response models (critical element & Relative seriality, Critical Volume, parallel architecture) are used in the derivation of the formulae for the normal tissue. Since all complicated NTCP model predict same as the simple NTCP model that is Lyman–Kutcher–Burman model as well as it is computationally efficient. Also Lyman–Kutcher–Burman model can be used in different treatment planning system incorporating with other model. For this reason, our suggested model is Lyman–Kutcher–Burman NTCP model which can be used in treatment plan evaluation. After analyzing six different model of NTCP, finding of the study is the treatment plan evaluation in where Lyman–Kutcher–Burman model is the best model for biological plan evaluation.

Unravelling the effects of size, volume fraction and shape of nanoparticle additives on crystallization of nanocomposite polymers

Adding nanoparticles to polymer depending on the shape may enhance crystallization. However, crystallization retardation may follow due to confinement effects. Equations for critical volume fraction and particle size are derived in confinement limit.