FABRICATION OF NOVEL COPPER COMPOUNDS AND COMPOSITES: COPPER-COATED CARBON NANOTUBES, COPPER SILICIDE AND COPPER SULPHIDE

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (FOE

Mathematical model of a solar module for energy yield simulation in photovoltaic systems

This paper presents a new mathematical model of a solar module. Solar module temperature, solar radiation and its effect on series resistance are taken into account in the model. The experimental data of the solar module under natural environment condition have been obtained to determine the model parameters. Then, the developed model is used to simulate energy yield of the solar module. This energy yield is compared with those obtained from experimental data and conventional approach. The results indicate that the proposed approach can have more accurate energy yield than conventional approach. Thus, it can be useful for the design of PV systems

Real-world treatment and outcomes of ALK-positive metastatic non–small cell lung cancer in a southeast Asian country

Purpose: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors are associated with good overall survival (OS) for ALK-positive metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, these treatments can be unavailable or limited by financial constraints in developing countries. Using data from a nationwide lung cancer registry, the present study aimed to identify treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of ALK-positive NSCLC in Malaysia. Methods: This retrospective study examined data of patients with ALK-positive NSCLC from 18 major hospitals (public, private, or university teaching hospitals) throughout Malaysia between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2020 from the National Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgical Database (NCTSD). Data on baseline characteristics, treatments, radiological findings, and pathological findings were collected. Overall survival (OS) and time on treatment (TOT) were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: There were 1581 NSCLC patients in the NCTSD. Based on ALK gene-rearrangement test results, only 65 patients (4.1%) had ALK-positive advanced NSCLC. Of these 65 patients, 59 received standard-of-care treatment and were included in the analysis. Crizotinib was the most commonly prescribed ALK inhibitor, followed by alectinib and ceritinib. Patients on ALK inhibitors had better median OS (62 months for first-generation inhibitors, not reached at time of analysis for second-generation inhibitors) compared to chemotherapy (27 months), but this was not statistically significant (P=0.835) due to sample-size limitations. Patients who received ALK inhibitors as first-line therapy had significantly longer TOT (median of 11 months for first-generation inhibitors, not reached for second-generation inhibitors at the time of analysis) compared to chemotherapy (median of 2 months; P<0.01). Conclusion: Patients on ALK inhibitors had longer median OS and significantly longer TOT compared to chemotherapy, suggesting long-term benefit. Keywords: ALK inhibitors, chemotherapy, ALK-positive, NSCL