Four series of TNT based melt cast explosives were prepared by mixing RDX, CL‐20, FOX‐7, and TKX‐50 with TNT in different mass ratios. The compatibility of these composition explosives was evaluated ...by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) according to the STANAG 4147 standard. Furthermore, the DSC and TGA data were also used to calculate the activation energies by the Kissinger and Ozawa methods. The experimental results indicated that the TNT/FOX‐7 composition explosives had good compatibility, whereas the TNT/CL‐20 composition explosives had poor compatibility. The TNT/RDX and TNT/TKX‐50 composition explosives at the mass ratios of 50 : 50, 40 : 60, 30 : 70, 20 : 80 and 10 : 90 had good compatibility. Furthermore, the decomposition activation energy of TNT/FOX‐7 composition explosives increased with increasing FOX‐7 content. Under the compatible condition, the decomposition activation energy of TNT/RDX composition explosives also increased with increasing RDX content, but the decomposition activation energy of TNT/TKX‐50 composition explosives decreased with increasing TKX‐50 content.
This study pioneeringly dealt with the weighting analysis on activation energy (Ea) values from four series of TNT based high explosives (HEs) by using grey entropy model, initially constructing an ...innovative approach combining with the “Grey System Theory” entropy model and DSC/TGA experimentally-derived thermal analysis parameters for their process safety assessment and thermal stability influence evaluation. Herein, thermal analysis for these energetic samples of the HEs above which have each 10 mass% interval increased from 0 to 100 mass% contents of RDX, FOX-7 CL-20 and TKX-50 mixing with TNT to form four series of TNT based melt-cast explosives was experimentally conducted by DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and TGA (thermogravimetry) under each 1, 2, 5 and 10 ℃ min
−1
heating rate. Their various Ea values, which were then calculated both by Kissinger and Ozawa methods in accordance with the above experimentally-derived thermal analysis data, were subsequently selected as an important indicator for the further weighting analysis and thermal stability evaluations via the grey entropy model toolbox feasibly in this study. The whole thermal stability influence under the various Ea weighting analyses, i.e., the individual “weighting value” along with the different RDX/FOX-7/CL-20/TKX-50 components added inside the TNT based melt-cast explosives were significantly explored and compared with quantitative consequences: TNT/FOX-7 (0.3002) > TNT/RDX (0.2347) > TNT/TKX-50 (0.2342) > TNT/CL-20 (0.2310) by Kissinger method; as well as the same order of TNT/FOX-7 (0.2980) > TNT/RDX (0.2352) > TNT/TKX-50 (0.2348) > TNT/CL-20 (0.2319) by Ozawa method, respectively. This shows that the “TNT/FOX-7” composition all exhibited the most thermal stability among the other compositions, demonstrating that the higher the “weighting value” of Ea properties for an explosive composition, the more thermal stable would be. Through our pioneering connection of the thermodynamic analysis and grey entropy weighting analysis on the Ea values in this study for process safety thermal stability assessment, the outcome could lead to a more comprehensive and broader understanding when such these energetic explosive substances were used. Particularly, this study could positively provide a useful decision-making suggestion associated with the relevant selections and applications of TNT based HEs or their formulations, contributing to the further developing of the burgeoning energetic materials both with thermal stability and energy performance not only in practical petrochemical industrials but also for the national defense military purpose worldwide.
Objective:
To reduce the risk of locoregional recurrence, the addition of neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is recommended before surgical management for rectal cancer patients. ...However, despite identical tumor histology, individual patient response to neoadjuvant CCRT varies greatly. Accordingly, a comprehensive molecular characterization that is used to predict CCRT efficacy is instantly needed.
Methods:
Pearson’s chi-squared test was utilized to correlate dehydrogenase/reductase 9 (DHRS9) expression with clinicopathological features. Survival curves were created applying the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was conducted to compare prognostic utility between high and low DHRS9 expression groups. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was applied to identify independent prognostic biomarkers based on variables with prognostic utility at the univariate level.
Results:
Utilizing a public transcriptome dataset, we identified that the
DHRS9
gene is the most considerably upregulated gene related to epithelial cell differentiation (GO: 0030855) among rectal cancer patients with CCRT resistance. Employing immunohistochemical staining, we also demonstrated that high DHRS9 immunoexpression is considerably associated with an aggressive clinical course and CCRT resistance in our rectal cancer cohort. Among all variables with prognostic utility at the univariate level, only high DHRS9 immunoexpression was independently unfavorably prognostic of all three endpoints (all
p
≤ 0.048) in the multivariate analysis. In addition, applying bioinformatic analysis, we also linked
DHRS9
with unrevealed functions, such as keratan sulfate and mucin synthesis which may be implicated in CCRT resistance.
Conclusion:
Altogether,
DHRS9
expression may serve as a helpful predictive and prognostic biomarker and assist decision-making for rectal cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant CCRT.
Background:
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor originating from the nasopharynx with high morbidity and mortality in Southeast Asia and south of China. Roundabout guidance receptor 1 ...(ROBO1) can regulate axonogenesis (axon-like protrusion), which may play an important role in migration. However, the roles of ROBO1 in NPC have not been clarified.
Methods:
A comparative analysis employing the NPC transcriptome (GSE12452) and the axonogenesis-related genes (GO: 0050772) was performed. In total, 124 tissue blocks from patients primarily diagnosed as NPC (1993-2002) were examined using immunohistochemical staining. The connections between clinicopathological variables and protein immunoexpression were analyzed by Pearson’s chi-square test. The Kaplan–Meier method with a log-rank test was employed to plot survival curves. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model to identify independent prognostic biomarker.
Results:
According to transcriptome analysis, we found that ROBO1 is significantly highly expressed in NPC tissues compared with normal tissues. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining showed that high expression of ROBO1 was significantly related to primary tumor (T1T2 and T3T4) (P = .024), nodal metastasis status (N0N1 and N2N3) (P = .030), stage (I-II and III-IV) (P = .019), and histological grade (keratinizing, non-keratinizing, and undifferentiated) (P = .065). Importantly, NPC patients with high ROBO1 expression had poorer disease-specific survival (DSS) (P = .0001), distal metastasis-free survival (DMeFS) (P < .0001), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) (P = .0001) compared with NPC patients with low ROBO1 expression through the uni-/multivariate and the Kaplan–Meier survival analyses.
Conclusion:
Our report indicates that ROBO1 might be a potential prognostic biomarker for NPC.
The illuminating compositions composed of magnesium (Mg), sodium nitrate (NaNO3), Sodium oxalate (Na2C2O4) and binder (Epoxy and Polyamide) were prepared to study the combustion performances, and ...explored the formulas possessed with both high luminous intensity and low burning rate. The illuminating composition of the Luu‐2B/B aircraft parachute flare was adopted as a standard formula with a weight percentage of Mg/NaNO3/binder=61: 30.9: 8.1, and Na2C2O4 was used as an additive agent for reducing burning rate. Furthermore, Taguchi's experimental design method was used to design nine experimental formulas by way of orthogonal array with four control factors and three levels. The experimental results indicated that the optimal formula for long‐duration illuminating composition was the Mg/NaNO3 weight ratio of 2 : 1 (total content 92.9 wt.%), the Epoxy‐polyamide content of 7.1 wt.%, the additional Na2C2O4 of 4 wt. % and the Na2C2O4 particle size of less than150 μm.
We investigated the association of receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (ROR2) expression with clinicopathological features and oncologic outcomes in large urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the ...upper tract (UTUC) and urinary bladder (UBUC) cohorts. Through transcriptomic profiling of a published dataset (GSE31684), ROR2 was discovered to be the most upregulated gene during UC progression, focusing on the JNK cascade (GO:0007254). Initially, the evaluation of ROR2 mRNA expression in 50 frozen UBUCs showed significantly upregulated levels in high-stage UC. Moreover, high ROR2 immunoexpression significantly correlated with high tumor stage, high tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, and vascular invasion (all p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for standard clinicopathological features, ROR2 expression status was an independent prognosticator of cancer-specific survival and metastasis-free survival in UTUC and UBUC (all p < 0.01). In the subgroup analysis, it also significantly predicted bladder tumor recurrence in non-muscle invasive UBUC. Furthermore, the GO enrichment analysis showed that fatty acid, monocarboxylic acid, carboxylic acid metabolic processes, negative regulation of neutrophil migration, and negative regulation of granulocyte and neutrophil chemotaxis were significantly enriched by ROR2 dysregulation. In conclusion, high ROR2 immunoexpression was associated with aggressive pathological characteristics in UC and independently predicted worse prognosis, suggesting it could play roles in clinical risk stratification and therapy decisions.
Nail penetration into a battery pack, resulting in a state of short-circuit and thus burning, is likely to occur in electric car collisions. To demonstrate the behavior of a specific battery when ...subject to such incidents, a standard nail penetration test is usually performed; however, conducting such an experiment is money consuming. The purpose of this study is to propose a numerical electrochemical model that can simulate the test accurately. This simulation makes two accurate predictions. First, we are able to model short-circuited lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) via electrochemical governing equations so that the mass and charge transfer effect could be considered. Second, the temperature variation of the cell during and after nail penetration is accurately predicted with the help of simulating the temperature distribution of thermal runaway cells by thermal abuse equations. According to this nail penetration model, both the onset of battery thermal runaway and the cell temperature profile of the test are obtained, both of which are well fitted with our experimental results.
•The experiment and simulation of LIB nail penetration test are performed.•We model the behavior of short-circuit LIBs using porous electrode theory.•Accurately describing the short-circuit voltage is essential.•Nail penetration induced thermal runaway is described by abuse equations.•The short-circuit heating determines the moment of thermal runaway.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), characterized by the infiltration of lymphocytes, is a malignancy derived from the epithelium of the nasopharynx. Despite its sensitivity to radiation and ...chemotherapy, NPC has a high propensity for recurrence and metastasis. Although lymph node levels have been indicated as an independent prognostic factor for NPC, there has been no precise prognostic biomarker to predict clinical outcomes for NPC before advanced disease. In the present study, we surveyed differentially expressed genes in NPC via the next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based Oncomine database and identified the spindlin family member 4 (SPIN4) gene as the most relevant to advanced nodal status. We collected 124 tumor samples from NPC patients receiving biopsy, and the expression level of SPIN4 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that tumors with high SPIN4 expression were significantly correlated with advanced nodal status (p < 0.001) and advanced AJCC stages (p < 0.001). High SPIN4 expression in tumor samples was an unfavorable prognostic factor for all three endpoints at the univariate level: disease-specific survival (DSS), distal metastasis-free survival (DMeFS), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) (all p < 0.05). High SPIN4 expression remained independently prognostic of worse DMeFS (p = 0.049) at the multivariate level. Using bioinformatics analysis, we further found that high SPIN4 level may link tight junctions to cancer cell survival. Collectively, these results imply that high SPIN4 expression is linked to an aggressive clinical course, including advanced nodal status and poor survival in NPC patients, emphasizing the promising prognostic utility of SPIN4 expression.
Within a battery pack of electric vehicles, a constant and homogeneous temperature distribution is an ideal case. However, what is in fact frequently observed is an unbalanced cycle life performance ...between series/parallel connected cells. While previous studies have proposed models that simulate the capacity fade of a single lithium-ion battery (LIB) in cycle life tests, most of them do not consider the accompanying effects when batteries are connected, and these models could only investigate cycling under a constant cell temperature. To analyze the temperature difference effect on a battery pack, we develop a cycle life model that allows for temperature variation of LIBs during cycling, and we apply the model to the simulation of series connected LIBs based on the porous electrode theory. We assign different hypothetical temperatures to each of the cells in series. Such a design generates a state of performance imbalance. Our result shows that the capacity degradation of the battery pack increases with the increase of temperature difference and of the average temperature. We then conduct an experiment to verify this adverse effect. The experimental data agree well with the simulation result.
•A cycle life model is proposed to simulate the capacity fade of LIBs.•We simulate the discharge curve of series connected LIBs.•Increased temperature difference among cells decreases the pack capacity.•The adverse effect of temperature is experimentally verified.