The droplet deformation's mechanism in a simple shear flow is well understood, but most studies only considered a uniform temperature field of immiscible droplet systems. This research investigates ...the possible droplet deformation and visualizes its evolution under selective radiation heating, which is a novel method to modify droplet dispersion via thermo‐physical mechanism. Polybutenes and PDMS silicone oils were employed as the dispersed droplet phase and matrix phase, respectively. Results showed that the mean value of the droplet's modified deformation parameter was limited to 0.12 and 0.08 at an isothermal ambient room temperature having a viscosity ratio of 4.32 and 17.69, respectively. The droplet under selective radiation was visualized. Experimental investigation showed that the selective radiation method enhanced the droplet deformation, as confirmed by the obtained droplet image during laser irradiation process, even allowing droplet breakup. At a moderate level of viscosity ratio (4.32), selective radiation can be applied effectively, whereas at a higher level of viscosity ratio (17.69), droplet elongation‐breakup and droplet retraction were observed.
A novel method to improve droplet deformation and dispersion was studied in this work. The method was carried out by providing an external heat source, infrared laser irradiation, to the microdroplets of an immiscible system or blend. Different heat absorption will form temperature disparity in the droplet and matrix phase. The temperature disparity will then realize into a viscosity ratio modification of the immiscible blend.The droplet dispersion enhancement is independently and immediately achieved from outside the system through this viscosity modification.
Age and comorbidities are important factors to be considered in the selection of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for first‐line treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase ...(CML‐CP). However, it is yet unclear whether TKI selection, particularly, imatinib versus second‐generation TKIs (2GTKIs), impacts treatment outcomes in the clinical practice. To address this, we compared the clinical outcomes of prospectively registered 452 patients with CML‐CP treated with imatinib and 2GTKIs, taking into consideration their age and/or comorbidities. A total of 136 patients (30.1%) were classified into an older cohort (≥65 years) and 316 (69.9%) into a younger cohort (18‐64 years). The TKI selection did not vary based on age (70.6% received 2GTKIs in the younger cohort and 66.2% in the older cohort). The median follow‐up period was 5.4 years. Treatment responses including the cumulative incidence of deep molecular response (BCR‐ABL1 international scale ≤0.0032%) at any time were similar between the two age cohorts regardless of the type of TKI. The 5‐year overall survival (OS) in the older cohort was lower than that in the younger cohort (95.9% vs 83.8%; p < 0.0001), whereas the 5‐year OS in patients treated with 2GTKIs was not influenced by age factors and comorbidities. Therefore, our results suggest that the selection of 2GTKIs as first‐line treatment is an effective option for both younger and older CML‐CP patients with or without comorbidities. This trial was registered at UMIN‐CTR as 00003581.
The overall survival in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML‐CP) who treated with second‐generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (2GTKIs) was not influenced by age factors, which was not observed in patients on imatinib. 2GTKI as first‐line treatment is a considerable option for both elderly and younger patients with CML‐CP.
Fluoro-Jade C (FJC) staining has been used to detect degenerating neurons in tissue sections. It is a simple and easy staining procedure and does not depend on the manner of cell death. In some ...experiments, double staining with FJC and fluorescent immunostaining (FI) is required to identify cell types. However, pretreatment for FJC staining contains some processes that are harsh to fluorophores, and the FI signal is greatly reduced. To overcome this issue, we improved the double staining protocol to acquire clear double-stained images by introducing the labeled streptavidin–biotin system. In addition, several studies indicate that FJC can label non-degenerating glial cells, including resting/reactive astrocytes and activated microglia. Moreover, our previous study indicated that degenerating mesenchymal cells were also labeled by FJC, but it is still unclear whether FJC can label degenerating glial cells. Acute encephalopathy model mice contained damaged astrocytes with clasmatodendrosis, and 6-aminonicotinamide-injected mice contained necrotic astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Using our improved double staining protocol with FJC and FI, we detected FJC-labeled degenerating astrocytes and oligodendrocytes with pyknotic nuclei. These results indicate that FJC is not specific to degenerating neurons in some experimental conditions:
Liquid benzene emits a significant sum frequency generation (SFG) signal of C–H stretching vibration, though it is composed of centrosymmetric molecules. The present paper theoretically elucidates ...the SFG spectrum from liquid benzene by considering two mechanisms, symmetry breaking at the interface and bulk contribution. Molecular dynamics and quantum chemical calculations reproduced the observed SFG spectrum and revealed that the two mechanisms are equally significant in the SFG spectrum of liquid benzene. At the interface, the SFG signal arises from local C–H stretching modes via the mixing of IR active and Raman active modes. The local modes are readily induced by the anisotropic environment at the interface. The observed SFG signal should also involve significant amount of quadrupole contribution, which is attributed to the IR active mode of the bulk liquid.
A recent pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 infection has caused severe health problems and substantially restricted social and economic activities. RT-qPCR plays a vital role in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 ...infection. The N protein-coding region is widely analyzed in RT-qPCR to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection in Japan. We recently encountered two cases of SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens showing atypical amplification curves in the RT-qPCR.
We performed whole-genome sequencing of 63 samples (2 showing aberrant RT-qPCR curve and 61 samples infected with SARS-CoV-2 simultaneously in the same area) followed by Phylogenetic tree analysis.
We found that the viruses showing abnormal RT-qPCR curves were Delta-type variants of SARS-CoV-2 with a single nucleotide mutation in the probe-binding site. There were no other cases with the same mutation, indicating that the variant had not spread in the area. After searching the database, hundreds of variants were reported globally, and one in Japan contained the same mutation. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the variant was very close to other Delta variants endemic in Japan but quite far from the variants containing the same mutation reported from outside Japan, suggesting sporadic generation of mutant in some domestic areas.
These findings propose two key points: i) mutations in the region used for SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR can cause abnormal amplification curves, and ii) various mutations can be generated sporadically and unpredictably; therefore, efficient and robust screening systems are needed to promptly monitor the emergence of de novo variants.
Comorbidities at diagnosis among patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML‐CP) may affect their overall survival (OS) rate even in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) era. However, ...the prognostic impact of comorbidities in patients with CML‐CP treated with a second‐generation TKI (2GTKI) has not been elucidated. We evaluated the effect of comorbidities on survival using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) in patients with CML‐CP treated with imatinib or a 2GTKI (nilotinib and dasatinib). From April 2010 to March 2013, 506 patients with CML‐CP were registered for the population‐based cohort study, and 452 with a median age of 56 y were assessable. Treatment groups included 139 patients receiving imatinib, 169 receiving nilotinib, and 144 receiving dasatinib. Comorbidities were diagnosed in 99 patients. CCI scores were stratified as follows: 2, 353 patients; 3, 72 patients; and ≥4, 27 patients. Treatment response did not vary relative to CCI scores. However, across the entire cohort, the OS rate was significantly lower among patients with higher CCI scores than in those with a CCI score of 2 (94.4% in score 2, 89.0% in score 3, and 72.8% in score ≥4; P < .001). Multivariate analysis identified a CCI score of ≥4 as a strong adverse prognostic factor for OS rather than the disease‐specific risk factor, older age, performance status, or selection of TKI (Wald test, P < .01). Our results demonstrated that comorbidities at diagnosis were the most important predictive factor for successful treatment, regardless of the TKI type used in CML‐CP. This trial was registered at UMIN‐CTR as 00003581.
The prognostic impact of comorbidities in chronic myeloid leukemia in patients with chronic phase CML (CML‐CP) treated with a second‐generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) remains to be elucidated. This study demonstrated that comorbidities at diagnosis were the most important predictive factor for successful treatment, regardless of the TKI type used in CML‐CP.
A flow manufacturing process was investigated for the synthesis of Pd@Pt core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) with high productivity and exact structural control. Pd@Pt core-shell NPs were successfully ...synthesized in a flow reactor using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a capping agent. However, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of the Pd@Pt/PVP/C catalyst was found to be significantly lower than that of commercial Pt/C as the remaining PVP inhibited ORR. In order to improve ORR activity, it is necessary to support the highly dispersed Pd@Pt NPs on activated carbon without the use of PVP. Cyclic voltammetry, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption fine structure analyses showed that Pd@Pt NPs could be uniformly dispersed on activated carbon by adding bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (diglyme) as a capping agent. The particle size and core-shell structure of the Pd@Pt NPs did not differ significantly between the NPs synthesized with PVP or diglyme, indicating that advanced structural control was possible without PVP. Furthermore, the mass activity per Pt weight of the Pd@Pt/C catalyst using diglyme was found to be 1.8-fold higher than that of Pt/C. We thus succeeded in synthesizing Pd@Pt core-shell NPs with precisely controlled structure and high ORR activity by flow process.
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•Flow manufacturing process was investigated for synthesis of Pd@Pt core-shell NPs.•Pd@Pt core-shell NPs were characterized via TEM, EDS, CV, EELS and XAFS.•Pd@Pt NPs dispersed uniformly on activated carbon by adding diglyme as a capping agent.•MA of the Pd@Pt/C catalyst using diglyme was 1.8-fold higher than that of Pt/C.
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