No abstract

Immunomodulatory drugs for COVID-19 (one or more per patient) included corticosteroids (7), interleukin-7 (8), and tocilizumab (1). Continuous variables are expressed as median (interquartile range), and categorical variables as n and (%).

Older people are at high risk of functional decline following hospitalization. On admission, a simple instrument can easily identify these patients, even though the performance of this instrument is moderate.

We report ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations of the (100) and (110) γ-Al2O3/water interfaces at 300 K, using two sets of supercell models for each surface and two time lengths of simulation (10 and 40 ps). We first show that the effect of liquid water on the vibrational frequencies of hydroxyl groups at the interface varies according to the type of surface. This trend is explained by two key parameters affecting the interaction of both surfaces with water: the nature of the OH groups (i.e., μ1-OH, μ1-H2O, μ2-OH, and μ3-OH) and H-bond network among surface OH groups. The hydroxylated (110) surface favors the local structuration of water at the interface and the solvation of its μ1-OH and μ1-H2O groups by water similarly as in bulk liquid water. By contrast, on the (100) surface, a stronger H-bond network among μ1-OH and μ1-H2O groups reduces the water/surface interaction. We illustrate also how the interfacial interacting sites are spatially organized on the surfaces by two-dimensional maps of O–H distances. On both surfaces, the interfacial water layer orientation is predominantly Hup–Hdown. For long AIMD simulation time, Grotthuss-like mechanisms are identified on the (110) surface.

Carboxylic acids were investigated as a means to fabricate a superhydrophobic and corrosion resistant aluminum surface. Alkaline etching produced a hierarchically rough, superhydrophilic and hydroxylated Al surface which could then be modified by immersion in ethanol solution of carboxylic acids of different alkyl chain lengths, from hexanoic to octadecanoic. Acids with chain length longer than seven carbon atoms acted as corrosion inhibitors, but only those with long chains (e.g., octadecanoic acid) acted as a corrosion barrier and made the surface superhydrophobic with water contact angles over 150 degrees. The morphology, topography and chemical composition of unmodified Al and etched Al modified by carboxylic acids were studied using surface analytical tools (scanning electron microscopy with chemical analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry). Modelling based on density functional theory was performed to help explain experimental observations and to provide a rationale of why only carboxylic acids with long enough chains were effective in reducing the rate of corrosion. The reason was attributed to their ability to form more stable and protective organic films. Aluminum surface prepared under appropriate conditions was superhydrophobic, corrosion resistant and durable and showed self-cleaning and delayed ice-melting properties.

Instruments predicting functional adverse outcomes are difficult to compare due to heterogeneity of functional outcomes and hospital settings. The reason why so many tools have been developed is probably because none gives full satisfaction: their general predictive validity and performances are insufficient. Further research is needed to improve the screening of frail older patients admitted to hospital with standardized and validated tools.

Surface analytical techniques were used to characterize the chemical composition and the thickness of the surface oxide on an AlCu2.2%at alloy sample.ToF-SIMS analyses show that the oxide layer is thinner on the intermetallic particles (IMPs) as compared to the Al matrix. Combined with XPS, analyses reveal that IMPs are covered by aluminium and copper(I) oxide whereas the Al matrix is covered by aluminium oxide. Moreover, metallic copper segregates at the oxide/metal interface on both matrix and IMPs.The heterogeneities at the metal/oxide interfaces suggest that complex galvanic effects could occur between IMP and matrix substrate, and within the IMPs.

The result of this study showed that SHERPA score predicts 1-year survival after transfemoral TAVI and could be considered as a useful frailty score in patient selection.