The ability of superhydrophobic surfaces to stay dry, self-clean and avoid biofouling is attractive for applications in biotechnology, medicine and heat transfer 1-10 . It requires that water droplets placed on superhydrophobic surfaces have large apparent contact angles (θ* > 150°) and low roll-off angles (θroll-off < 10°), realized with surfaces having low-surface-energy chemistry as well as micro-or nanoscale surface roughness that minimizes liquid-solid contact 11-17 . But rough surfaces where liquid contacts only a small

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Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a global health problem that causes major illnesses and disabilities worldwide. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that the prevalence of AR has increased progressively over the last few decades in more developed countries and currently affects up to 40% of the population worldwide. Likewise, a rising trend of AR has also been observed over the last 2–3 decades in developing countries including China, with the prevalence of AR varying widely in these countries. A survey of self-reported AR over a 6-year period in the general Chinese adult population reported that the standardized prevalence of adult AR increased from 11.1% in 2005 to 17.6% in 2011. An increasing number of original articles and imporclinical trials on the epidemiology, pathophysiologic mechanisms, diagnosis, management and comorbidities of AR in Chinese subjects have been published in international peer-reviewed journals over the past 2 decades, and substantially added to our understanding of this disease as a global problem. Although guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of AR in Chinese subjects have also been published, they have not been translated into English and therefore not generally accessible for reference to non-Chinese speaking international medical communities. Moreover, methods for the diagnosis and treatment of AR in China have not been standardized entirely and some patients are still treated according to regional preferences. Thus, the present guidelines have been developed by the Chinese Society of Allergy to be accessible to both national and international medical communities involved in the management of AR patients. These guidelines have been prepared in line with existing international guidelines to provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of AR in China.

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Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is promising in construction of concrete structures that suffer impact and explosive loads. In order to make UHPC structures more ductile and cost-effective, hybrid fiber reinforcements are often incorporated. In this study, a reference UHPC mixture with no fiber reinforcement and five mixtures with a single type of fiber reinforcement or hybrid steel fiber reinforcements of 6 and 13 mm in length at a total dosage of 2%, by the volume of concrete, were prepared. Quasi-static compressive and flexural properties of those mixtures were investigated. Split Hopkinson press bar (SHPB) testing was adopted to evaluate their dynamic compressive properties under three impact velocities. Test results indicated that UHPC with 1.5% long fiber reinforcements and 0.5% short fiber reinforcements demonstrated the best static and dynamic mechanical properties. The static compressive and flexural strengths of UHPC with 2% long fiber reinforcements were greater than those with 2% short fiber reinforcements, whereas comparable dynamic compressive properties were observed. Strain rate effect was observed for the dynamic compressive properties, including peak stress, dynamic increase factor, and absorbed energy. The reinforcing mechanisms of hybrid fiber reinforcements in UHPC were eventually discussed.

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Endoscopic nasopharyngectomy is a feasible and effective surgical treatment for recurrent and residual nasopharyngeal carcinomas.