Generalized Young equation for a spherical droplet inside a smooth and homogeneous cone involved by quadratic parabola

We thermodynamically investigate the wetting characteristics of a spherical droplet in a smooth and homogeneous cone rotated by the quadratic parabola through the mechanisms of both Gibbs’s dividing surfaces and Rusanov’s dividing line. For the triple phase system including the solid, liquid and vapor phases, the derivation of a generalized Young equation containing the influences of the line tension is successfully carried out. Additionally, we as well analyze various approximate forms for this generalized Young equation by using the corresponding assumptions

Generalized Cassie-Baxter equation for wetting of a spherical droplet within a smooth and heterogeneous conical cavity

Introducing the concepts of both Gibbs’s dividing surface and Rusanov’s dividing line, the wettability behaviors of spherical drops inside a smooth and heterogeneous conical cavity are studied. A new generalized Cassie-Baxter equation for contact angles including the influences of the line tension is derived thermodynamically. Additionally, various approximate formulae of this generalized Cassie-Baxter equation are also discussed correspondingly under some assumptions

Experimental study of THGEM detector with mini-rim

The gas gain and energy resolution of single and double THGEM detectors (5{\times}5cm2 effective area) with mini-rims (rim is less than 10{\mu}m) were studied. The maximum gain can reach 5{\times}103 and 2{\times}105 for single and double THGEM respectively, while the energy resolution of 5.9 keV X-ray varied from 18% to 28% for both single and double THGEM detectors of different hole sizes and thicknesses.All the experiments were investigated in mixture of noble gases(argon,neon) and small content of other gases(iso-butane,methane) at atmospheric pressure.Comment: 4pages,6figures, it has been submitted to Chinese Physics

Plant-derived natural products as leads to antitumor drugs

Cancer is the main cause of death worldwide. Chemotherapeutic agents used for disease treatments have shown limited antitumor activity, with a high recurrence rate. It has prompted the research efforts to identify anti-tumor compounds. Research on medicinal plants began to focus on discovery of natural products as potential leads to antitumor drugs. Medicinal plants are very interesting, have the ability to produce remarkable chemical structures with diverse biological activities. Plant-derived natural products have been used by human societies for millennia, and their biological source is most likely available and can be employed for production, have been considered as valuable sources for antitumor drugs. Many interesting natural products with biological activity are evidenced in the past few years. This review highlights the potential of natural compounds as candidates for antitumor drugs. A brief illustration of the sources and general biological effects of the main classes of plant-derived natural compounds and related molecules are also provided

Pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine Derivatives as Type II Kinase Insert Domain Receptor (KDR) Inhibitors: CoMFA and CoMSIA Studies

Kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) inhibitors have been proved to be very effective anticancer agents. Molecular docking, 3D-QSAR methods, CoMFA and CoMSIA were performed on pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives as non-ATP competitive KDR inhibitors (type II). The bioactive conformation was explored by docking one potent compound 20 into the active site of KDR in its DFG-out inactive conformation. The constructed CoMFA and CoMSIA models produced statistically significant results with the cross-validated correlation coefficients q2 of 0.542 and 0.552, non-cross-validated correlation coefficients r2 of 0.912 and 0.955, and predicted correction coefficients r2pred of 0.913 and 0.897, respectively. These results ensure the CoMFA and CoMSIA models as a tool to guide the design of a series of new potent KDR inhibitors

The controlling nutritional status score predicts postoperative mortality in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: a retrospective study

BackgroundRuptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAAs) are challenging for vascular surgeons because they have a high mortality rate. In many diseases, nutritional status is closely associated with prognosis. The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) screening tool score is a prognostic factor in some malignant and chronic diseases; however, the impact of nutritional status on rAAA has not yet been reported. In this study, we explored the relationship between the CONUT score and the postoperative prognosis of patients with rAAA.MethodsThis was a retrospective review of 39 patients with rAAA who underwent surgical treatment from March 2018 to September 2021 at one center. Patient characteristics, nutritional status (CONUT score), and postoperative status were recorded. The patients were divided into groups A and B based on the CONUT score. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were compared, and Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression analyses were used to determine independent predictors of mid-term mortality and complications, respectively.ResultsThe overall mid-term mortality rate was 28.21% (11/39). Compared with group A, group B had higher intraoperative (P = 0.047) and mid-term mortality (P = 0.033) rates. The univariate analysis showed that age [hazard ratio (HR), 1.098; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.019–1.182; P = 0.014], CONUT score (HR, 1.316; 95% CI, 1.027–1.686; P = 0.03), and surgical procedure (HR, 0.127; 95% CI, 0.016–0.992; P = 0.049) were associated with mid-term mortality, whereas the multivariate analysis showed that the CONUT score (HR, 1.313; 95% CI, 1.009–1.710; P = 0.043) was an independent predictor of mid-term mortality. The multivariate logistic regression analysis did not reveal any associations with complications. The Kaplan–Meier curves showed that group B had a lower mid-term survival rate (log-rank P = 0.024).ConclusionMalnutrition is closely associated with the prognosis of patients with rAAA, and the CONUT score can be used to predict mid-term mortality

Recent developments in the immunopathology of COVID-19

There has been an important change in the clinical characteristics and immune profile of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients during the pandemic thanks to the extensive vaccination programs. Here, we highlight recent studies on COVID-19, from the clinical and immunological characteristics to the protective and risk factors for severity and mortality of COVID-19. The efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines and potential allergic reactions after administration are also discussed. The occurrence of new variants of concerns such as Omicron BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5 and the global administration of COVID-19 vaccines have changed the clinical scenario of COVID-19. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) may cause severe and heterogeneous disease but with a lower mortality rate. Perturbations in immunity of T cells, B cells, and mast cells, as well as autoantibodies and metabolic reprogramming may contribute to the long-term symptoms of COVID-19. There is conflicting evidence about whether atopic diseases, such as allergic asthma and rhinitis, are associated with a lower susceptibility and better outcomes of COVID-19. At the beginning of pandemic, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) developed guidelines that provided timely information for the management of allergic diseases and preventive measures to reduce transmission in the allergic clinics. The global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with reduced pathogenic potential dramatically decreased the morbidity, severity, and mortality of COVID-19. Nevertheless, breakthrough infection remains a challenge for disease control. Hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) to COVID-19 vaccines are low compared to other vaccines, and these were addressed in EAACI statements that provided indications for the management of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis to COVID-19 vaccines. We have gained a depth knowledge and experience in the over 2 years since the start of the pandemic, and yet a full eradication of SARS-CoV-2 is not on the horizon. Novel strategies are warranted to prevent severe disease in high-risk groups, the development of MIS-C and long COVID-19