UTILITY OF TUMOUR VOLUME IN DETERMINING MEDIAN SURVIVAL FOR LOCALLY ADVANCED ORAL CANCER: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Background: Surgical intervention has traditionally served as the primary therapeutic modality for mouth cancer. Patients who are not subjected to surgical intervention are often managed with the administration of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Several variables contribute to the survival of patients, and tumour volume is perhaps one of these aspects. The objective of this research is to investigate the impact of pre-treatment tumour volume on survival outcomes. Methodology:  A retrospective analysis was carried out on the reports of the patients treated for oral cancer. The tumour volume was estimated by performing a CT scan before treatment. The ideal tumour volume was determined for this study. The statistical analysis was carried out to estimate the effect of various factors on the survival outcome. Results:  The average total tumors volume among the 40 patients who were treated with radiation was 74 cm3. The average primary volume of the tumour was 59 cm3. The average volume of the tumour in the lymph nodes was 6 cm3. The patients who had a volume of the tumor less than 52 cm3 had higher survival of 34 months and those who had more than 52 cm3 had survival of 9 months. Conclusion:  The volume of the tumour influences the prognosis of oral cancer. The volume above 52 cm3 resulted in a poor survival outcome. The TTV can be used as a factor to develop a treatment that delivers a favourable outcome. Recommendation:  Total tumour volume (TTV) should be used by the oncologist to develop a treatment plan that is effective and improves overall survival. Also, prospective studies are required in this domain to confirm the association of various factors with survival outcomes

Study of monopole plasma antenna parameters

This paper is aimed to investigate the plasma antenna parameters to help the optimization of plasma antenna dimensions (length and radius of plasma antenna). Five different configurations of plasma antenna have been simulated with the help of high frequency structure simulator (HFSS 13.0). The observations have been made on variation in antenna parameters like resonance frequency, directivity, gain and radiation pattern with the radius and length of the plasma column. The results of the study indicate that plasma column of radius r< 1.5 cm shows better performance in the sense of directivity and gain than the plasma column of radius r> 0.5 cm. In addition, tunability of the plasma antenna has been studied with respect to the resonance frequencies. Moreover, simulation results have been matched with experimental results, e.g., directivity and radiation patterns, providing more interesting results which cannot be measured due to experimental restrictions

Novel secondary structures of DNA; and development of a sensitive methodology for capturing DNA/RNA G-quadruplexes from living Drosophila salivary glands

Work reported in this thesis, from three independent projects, highlights: first, a novel DNA secondary structure fold from a neurodegenerative disease-linked repeat sequence; second, a new approach for assembling and reversing a long and 1- dimensional DNA nanostructure. The third and most substantial project reports the development of and biological results from a highly selective and sensitive approach for in vitro and in vivo tagging of DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes. In the first project, a wholly novel higher-order fold of DNA, named as “iCD-DNA”, was discovered and characterized. iCD-DNA was found to be formed uniquely by a hexanucleotide repeat expansion sequence, d(C2G4)n, located at the 5’ UTR of the C9orf72 gene, causally linked to multiple neurological disorders such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). It was found that incubating d(C2G4)n under mildly acidic conditions and in the presence of non-quadruplex supporting cations (e.g. Li+, Mg2+) gave rise to a distinctive higher order structure whose most striking feature was an inverted circular dichroism (CD) spectrum, distinguishable from the inverted CD spectra of either a left-handed duplex (“Z-DNA”) or a left-handed G-Quadruplex (“Z-GQ”). On the basis of CD spectroscopy, gel mobility and chemical footprinting, structural models were proposed for iCD-DNA. In the second project, a new strategy for creating a long (~200-300 nm) and reversible 1-Dimensional DNA nanostructure/ nanowire (1DDN), named “(TQs)n”, was designed and carried out. “(TQs)n” incorporates a hybrid of DNA triple and quadruplex helices. In this design, a novel approach for joining together DNA helices (called guanine-rich “glue junctions”) was proposed and demonstrated. In the third project, a highly specific and sensitive methodology for uniquely biotin-tagging DNA/RNA G-quadruplexes (by way of their intrinsic peroxidase activity while complexed with heme) was deeply characterised, first, in vitro, and then applied to tag and pull down G-quadruplex forming RNAs and DNAs from living Drosophila larval salivary glands. Preliminary-sequencing data, so obtained, provided initial insights for the potential occurrence of G-quadruplexes in living cells but needs detailed future investigation

Investigation on Mechanical Properties of Aluminum 8011 Metal Matrix Compositewith Titanium Carbide Particulate Reinforcement

Aluminium metal matrix composites are the key material in engineering fields like aerospace, defense, automobiles and consumer goods. Aluminium matrix composite dominates the conventional materials due to its low economic rate, high wear resistance and strength to weight ratio. So, the present work considered Al 8011 alloy as the metal matrix and titanium carbide (TiC) particles as reinforced material for investigation. The composite was prepared by stir casting method. A digital pin on disc tester was used to measure the wear with EN32 steel disc as counter surface (72HRC) and cylindrical pin as the composite specimens. The present tests were conducted for various sliding velocity of 1,57 m/s, 2,62 m/s and 3,67 m/s. The normal load of 20 N, 40 N, 60 N and the filler content of 0%, 10%, 20% have been considered for the sliding distance of 1000, 3000 and 5000 m. The results of new composite show better wear resistance than matrix metal. The micro structural characterization of worn surface was investigated using De-wintor inverted trinocular metallurgical microscope. Prepared polished matrix shows the distribution of TiC particles in Al 8011 metal matrix based on the quantity added. The impact energy of the samples was found using Izod impact testing machine. Final results showed improved mechanical properties for Al 8011 with 7% TiC compared with other two samples

Factors Affecting the Integration of E-Procurement in the Public Sector of Pakistan with an Emphasis on Combating Corruption

The aim of study to investigates the role of e-procurement technologies to mitigate corruption within the public procurement sector of Pakistan due to which E-procurement can’t be implemented. It examines the factors that contribute to corruption probability in government procurement process. The implementation of E-Procurement, within the public sector represents a significant transformation in the country's governance which serves as a strategic response to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public procurement processes. In the design of E-procurement adoption, three primary factors were taken into consideration to address obstacles: Monopoly power; Information asymmetry; Transparency and accountability. A survey was distributed to 232 procurement specialists and government suppliers; the approach chosen involves the distribution of a well-structured closed-ended questionnaire to enable quantitative assessment, utilizing a convenience sampling method. Obtained informed consent from participants that ensure participants understand the purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits of the research project and voluntarily agree to participate. The SPSS software was employed to compile the results of multiple regression models. The findings reveal a substantial 76.9% impact of various variables contributing to adaptation of E-procurement. The result indicates that all three-independent variable: Monopoly power, Information asymmetry, transparency & accountability are creating major resistance in implementation of E-procurement in the government organizations which are the major cause of corruption. This research provides valuable insights into enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of resources within the public sector. As one of the few studies on this topic, it serves as a foundational piece of literature that can guide future research and policymaking endeavors in Pakistan's public procurement landscape. Ultimately, the successful implementation of E-Procurement has the potential to transform how public funds are managed, ensuring greater accountability, transparency, and efficiency in public sector operations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio