Patients With Kidney Cancer

To develop a preoperative prognostic model in order to predict recurrence-free survival in patients with nonmetastatic kidney cancer.A multi-institutional data base of 1889 patients who underwent surgical resection between 1987 and 2007 for kidney cancer was retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative variables were defined as age, gender, presentation, size, presence of radiological lymph nodes and clinical stage. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the variables were performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. A model was developed with preoperative variables as predictors of recurrence after nephrectomy. Internal validation was performed by Harrells concordance index.The median follow-up was 23.6 months (1222 months). During the follow-up, 258 patients (13.7) developed cancer recurrence. The median follow-up for patients who did not develop recurrence was 25 months. The median time from surgery to recurrence was 13 months. The 5-year freedom from recurrence probability was 78.6. All variables except age were associated with freedom from recurrence in multivariate analyses (P 0.05). Age was marginally significant in the univariate analysis. All variables were included in the predictive model. The calculated c-index was 0.747.This preoperative model utilizes easy to obtain clinical variables and predicts the likelihood of development of recurrent disease in patients with kidney tumors

Application of extracts from the poisonous plant, Nerium Oleander L., as a wood preservative

The antifungal properties of poisonous plant extracts from oleanders (Nerium oleander L.) were determined when used as a wood preservative. The extract was prepared from oleanders leaves andflowers in 96% ethyl alcohol. The wood blocks of Turkish oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) were impregnated with the extracts. The abilities of the extract to suppressattack by Postia placenta (Fr.) (brown rot) and Trametes versicolor (L: Fr.) Quel. (a white-rot) was investigated. Treated blocks were exposed to P. placenta and T. versicolor attacks for 12 weeks by following the soil-block method. While untreated wood specimens have weight loss ranging between 27.37 and 30.66% for P. placenta and 8.64 and 24.06% for T. versicolor, the wood treated with theextracts is of weight loss between 5.54 and 10.98% for P. placenta, and between 5.02 and 28.25% for T. versicolor. The lowest weight loss was found to be for beech wood (5.02%) impregnated with the extractof oleander at a concentration level of 0.25% against T. versicolor. While the highest weight loss was also on the beech wood (28.25%) treated with the same extract at the level of 0.50% concentrationagainst T. versicolor. In conclusion, the extracts could be used as effective wood preservative

Quantum chemical analysis of the structures of MgSO4 hydrates

Magnesium sulfate salts can form hydrated compounds with up to seven degree of hydration with an energy exchange of the order of 2.8GJ/m3 [1]. In addition, this salt is abundant in nature and thus this material is a potential candidate for storing energy in seasonal heat storage systems. One of the main issues in using this material for seasonal heat storage system is its slow kinetics and low extent of water take-up under normal atmospheric conditions [2]. In addition, the salt undergoes considerable changes in its crystalline structure during hydration and dehydration, and often they encounter the formation of cracks and pores in the crystal structure [3]. This significantly affects the efficiency of the salt in storing energy and also reusability of the material. A molecular level investigation is necessary to understand the process of hydration and dehydration in detail. Presence of an extensive network of hydrogen bonds in MgSO4.7H2O crystal is identified by Allan Zalkin et al [4]. Significant delocalization of hydrogen atoms within the hydrogen bonds are reported in the study. The 7th water molecule in a hepta-hydrate crystal is captured in the interstitial space within the crystals due to coulombic forces and they are very easily removable. Thus modeling a stable molecule of magnesium sulfate hepta hydrate is difficult. So we undertake the hexa hydrated magnesium sulfate to study the equilibrium molecular structure. The hydrogen bonds present in the structure, which stabilizes the molecule, is a focus of attention in this study. In addition, we report Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) [5] charges of Mg and S as a function of degree of hydration in this study. The NBO analysis gives information about electronic occupations in the molecule. In addition, the variation of the natural charges give information about the nature of inters atomic interactions involved in the hydration process of magnesium sulfates. The hydration process is accompanied by a considerable amount of energy exchange with the surroundings. In addition, significant changes in the crystal structure are predicted to happen during hydration. The binding of a water molecule on a slab of magnesium sulfate will resemble the hydration phenomena of a real crystal. Maslyuk et al [6] have performed such an analysis on kieserite structures and found the influence of hydrogen bonds during hydration. A similar study has done towards the last part of this account, which gives important information about hydration process of magnesium sulfate crystal

Light harvesting with Ge quantum dots embedded in SiO2 and Si3N4

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Germanium quantum dots (QDs) embedded in SiO2 or in Si3N4 have been studied for light harvesting purposes. SiGeO or SiGeN thin films, produced by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, have been annealed up to 850 degrees C to induce Ge QD precipitation in Si based matrices. By varying the Ge content, the QD diameter can be tuned in the 3-9 nm range in the SiO2 matrix, or in the 1-2 nm range in the Si3N4 matrix, as measured by transmission electron microscopy. Thus, Si3N4 matrix hosts Ge QDs at higher density and more closely spaced than SiO2 matrix. Raman spectroscopy revealed a higher threshold for amorphous-to-crystalline transition for Ge QDs embedded in Si3N4 matrix in comparison with those in the SiO2 host. Light absorption by Ge QDs is shown to be more effective in Si3N4 matrix, due to the optical bandgap (0.9-1.6 eV) being lower than in SiO2 matrix (1.2-2.2 eV). Significant photoresponse with a large measured internal quantum efficiency has been observed for Ge QDs in Si3N4 matrix when they are used as a sensitive layer in a photodetector device. These data will be presented and discussed, opening new routes for application of Ge QDs in light harvesting devices. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC

Rituximab for treatment of severe lupus nephritis

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Introduction and evaluation of the wood preservative potentials of the poisonous Sternbergia candidum extracts

The ability of Sternbergia candida (SB Candidum Mathew.) extract to suppress attack by Postia placenta (Fries) M. Larsen et Lombard (Mad 698), (a brown-rot) and Trametes versicolor (L.ex Fr.) Quel.(a white-rot) was investigated. The extract was dissolved from Sterinbergia Candidum’s bulb and leaves in 96% ethyl alcohol. Poisonous extract impregnated into wood blocks of Turkish oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Extract dosages were 0.25, 0.75, 1.50 and 3.00%. Treated blocks were exposed to P. placenta and T. versicolor attack for 12 weeks by the soil block method. Only extract dosages of 0.25 and 0.75% were found efficacious in suppressing attack. A tukey studentized test found both dosages significant at 5% level. In conclusion, the poisonous extracts could be used as effective wood preservative when concentration was adjusted

Preliminary validation of the paediatric vasculitis activity score (PVAS)

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