Radiomics analyses for outcome prediction in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and glioblastoma multiforme using multimodal imaging data

Personalized treatment strategies for oncological patient management can improve outcomes of patient populations with heterogeneous treatment response. The implementation of such a concept requires the identification of biomarkers that can precisely predict treatment outcome. In the context of this thesis, we develop and validate biomarkers from multimodal imaging data for the outcome prediction after treatment in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), using conventional feature-based radiomics and deep-learning (DL) based radiomics. For LARC patients, we identify promising radiomics signatures combining computed tomography (CT) and T2-weighted (T2-w) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with clinical parameters to predict tumour response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Further, the analyses of externally available radiomics models for LARC reveal a lack of reproducibility and the need for standardization of the radiomics process. For patients with GBM, we use postoperative [11C] methionine positron emission tomography (MET-PET) and gadolinium-enhanced T1-w MRI for the detection of the residual tumour status and to prognosticate time-to-recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS). We show that DL models built on MET-PET have an improved diagnostic and prognostic value as compared to MRI

A Feminist Representation in Pakistani Cinema: A Case Study of “Bol” The Movie

The Study analyses the Pakistani movie ‘Bol’ particularly from the feminist perspective. Qualitative discourse analysis is the method used by the researcher. To analyze feminist ideology five categories (realization of self, concept of patriarchy, challenging patriarchal ideologies, male chauvinism and reproductive rights) are constructed. Findings show that the movie is based on liberal feminist ideologies. The analysis also finds the fact that creation of ideologies and distribution of power is done through language. Study explores the ways through which ideologies are constructed and manipulated through media. Keywords: Liberal Feminism, Discourse Analysis, Movie, Bol

Presentation of Pakistan’s Image: Thematic Analysis of Editorials of the Washington Post

The present research aims to study the image of Pakistan through identifying the themes which are used by the editorials of The Washington Post. The population of the study comprised of editorials of The Washington Post that have the word Pakistan in title or in opening paragraph. A total of 116 editorials were analyzed with the help of NVIVO 10 that identified eight different themes. The thorough analysis of the data revealed that the newspapers mostly wrote about Pakistan through the following themes: Pakistan backing Taliban, negative image of President Musharraf, democracy in Pakistan, nuclear technology and Pakistan government, Pakistan’s operation against terrorism, Indian terrorist attacks, US military operation and Osama bin Laden, and social issues in Pakistan. It was also observed that Pakistan was presented in a very negative way. General Pervez Musharraf was very harshly criticized. Overall Pakistan was presented as a frail, threatening and monstrous country. Pakistan policy makers must develop counter strategies to combat this negative image building

Does Abusive Supervision Influence Organizational Citizenship Behavior? Testing the Mediation Effects of Organizational Cynicism

This study determines whether abusive supervision can influence the level of organizational citizenship behavior in the mediating role of psychological contract violation and organizational cynicism. A survey conducted from 391 respondents from different service sector organizations of the Pakistan. Specifically, CFA and SEM tests performed to analyze the data. The analysis of their responses supported our model which describes that abusive supervision has an adverse effect on organizational citizenship behavior either directly or indirectly. The mediating role of psychological contract violation and organizational cynicism proved to be significant. Both mediators negatively correlated with organizational citizenship behavior. Implementations mentioned for managers and researchers, and limitations identified

Poly[(μ6-2-methyl-3,5-dinitro­benzoato)potassium]

In the structure of the title coordination polymer, [K(C8H5N2O6)]n, each ligand bridges six K+ cations. The carboxyl­ate group coordinates both bidentately to one K+ ion and monodentately to two K+ ions, while one nitro group coordinates bidentately to a fourth K+ ion. The last two K+ ions are coordinated by the remaining nitro group, one in a bidentate fashion, the other monodentately through one O atom. This bridging mode results in a three-dimensional network. The coordination geometry of the K+ ion is represented by an irregular KO9 polyhedron. Very weak C—H⋯O inter­actions are observed in the crystal structure

Plastid genomics of Nicotiana (Solanaceae) : insights into molecular evolution, positive selection and the origin of the maternal genome of Aztec tobacco (Nicotiana rustica)

The genus Nicotiana of the family Solanaceae, commonly referred to as tobacco plants, are a group cultivated as garden ornamentals. Besides their use in the worldwide production of tobacco leaves, they are also used as evolutionary model systems due to their complex development history, which is tangled by polyploidy and hybridization. Here, we assembled the plastid genomes of five tobacco species, namely N. knightiana, N. rustica, N. paniculata, N. obtusifolia and N. glauca. De novo assembled tobacco plastid genomes showed typical quadripartite structure, consisting of a pair of inverted repeats (IR) regions (25,323–25,369 bp each) separated by a large single copy (LSC) region (86,510 –86,716 bp) and a small single copy (SSC) region (18,441–18,555 bp). Comparative analyses of Nicotiana plastid genomes showed similar GC content, gene content, codon usage, simple sequence repeats, oligonucleotide repeats, RNA editing sites and substitutions with currently available Solanaceae genomes sequences. We identified twenty highly polymorphic regions mostly belonging to intergenic spacer regions (IGS), which could be appropriate for the development of robust and cost-effective markers to infer the phylogeny of genus Nicotiana and family Solanaceae. Our comparative plastid genome analysis revealed that the maternal parent of the tetraploid N. rustica was the common ancestor of N. paniculata and N. knightiana, and the later species is more closely related to N. rustica. The relaxed molecular clock analyses estimated that the speciation event between N. rustica and N. knightiana appeared 0.56 Ma (HPD 0.65–0.46). The biogeographical analysis showed a south-to-north range expansion and diversification for N. rustica and related species, where N. undulata and N. paniculata evolved in North/Central Peru, while N. rustica developed in Southern Peru and separated from N. knightiana, which adapted to the Southern coastal climatic regimes. We further inspected selective pressure on protein-coding genes among tobacco species to determine if this adaptation process affected the evolution of plastid genes. These analyses indicated that four genes involved in different plastid functions, such as DNA replication (rpoA) and photosynthesis (atpB, ndhD and ndhF), came under positive selective pressure as a result of specific environmental conditions. Genetic mutations of the following genes might have contributed to the survival and better adaptation during the evolutionary history of tobacco species.Peer reviewe

catena-Poly[[(2-methyl­benzoato-κ2 O,O′)sodium]-di-μ-aqua-κ4 O:O′]

In the title coordination polymer, [Na(C8H7O2)(H2O)2]n, the cation is chelated by the carboxyl­ate O atoms of the anion in a bidentate mode and is surrounded by the O atoms of four water mol­ecules. The coordination of the Na+ cation is distorted octa­hedral. The water mol­ecules bridge adjacent metal cations, forming polymeric layers parallel to (100). The structure is stabilized by an extensive network of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Suppliers’ Integration – Associated Challenges And Future Direction

The contemporary organizations are facing lots of challenges from different sides, and organizations are trying various ways to overcome those obstacles. One such thing is the supplier relationship management. There are various benefits that an organization can attain from partnering and integrating with its suppliers yet this area has to be developed further so that organization can take advantage of this. The purpose of this research was to evaluate challenges associated with the integration of an organization with its suppliers. For this purpose, the researcher used two-fold strategy, which included a review of the literature and a personal reflection on the selected topic. The findings of research revealed some challenges including different types of organizational systems, different priorities, issue of trust and secrecy, different level of the supply chain, etc. Future researchers should evaluate this issue keeping in mind soft organizational factors such as employee motivation, loyalty, commitment, etc

Comparison of Chloroplast Genomes among Species of Unisexual and Bisexual Clades of the Monocot Family Araceae

The chloroplast genome provides insight into the evolution of plant species. We de novo assembled and annotated chloroplast genomes of four genera representing three subfamilies of Araceae: Lasia spinosa (Lasioideae), Stylochaeton bogneri, Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Zamioculcadoideae), and Orontium aquaticum (Orontioideae), and performed comparative genomics using these chloroplast genomes. The sizes of the chloroplast genomes ranged from 163,770 bp to 169,982 bp. These genomes comprise 113 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding, 4 rRNA, and 30 tRNA genes. Among these genes, 17–18 genes are duplicated in the inverted repeat (IR) regions, comprising 6–7 protein-coding (including trans-splicing gene rps12), 4 rRNA, and 7 tRNA genes. The total number of genes ranged between 130 and 131. The infA gene was found to be a pseudogene in all four genomes reported here. These genomes exhibited high similarities in codon usage, amino acid frequency, RNA editing sites, and microsatellites. The oligonucleotide repeats and junctions JSB (IRb/SSC) and JSA (SSC/IRa) were highly variable among the genomes. The patterns of IR contraction and expansion were shown to be homoplasious, and therefore unsuitable for phylogenetic analyses. Signatures of positive selection were seen in three genes in S. bogneri, including ycf2, clpP, and rpl36. This study is a valuable addition to the evolutionary history of chloroplast genome structure in Araceae

4-[(4-Methyl­benzene­sulfonamido)­meth­yl]cyclo­hexa­necarb­oxy­lic acid

The title compound, C15H21NO4S, crystallized with two independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit in which the dihedral angles between the mean planes of the benzene and cyclo­hexane rings are 78.3 (2) and 67.6 (2)°. The substituents of the cyclo­hexyl rings are in equatorial orientations. In the crystal, both mol­ecules form R 2 2(6) carb­oxy­lic acid inversion dimers via pairs of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Further N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O inter­actions generate a three-dimensional network