Analytical modeling of intumescent coating thermal protection system in a JP-5 fuel fire environment

The thermochemical response of Coating 313 when exposed to a fuel fire environment was studied to provide a tool for predicting the reaction time. The existing Aerotherm Charring Material Thermal Response and Ablation (CMA) computer program was modified to treat swelling materials. The modified code is now designated Aerotherm Transient Response of Intumescing Materials (TRIM) code. In addition, thermophysical property data for Coating 313 were analyzed and reduced for use in the TRIM code. An input data sensitivity study was performed, and performance tests of Coating 313/steel substrate models were carried out. The end product is a reliable computational model, the TRIM code, which was thoroughly validated for Coating 313. The tasks reported include: generation of input data, development of swell model and implementation in TRIM code, sensitivity study, acquisition of experimental data, comparisons of predictions with data, and predictions with intermediate insulation

Experiences along the diagnostic pathway for patients with advanced lung cancer in the USA: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with lung cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages. However, the advent of oral targeted therapies has improved the prognosis of many patients with lung cancer. PURPOSE: We aimed to understand the diagnostic experiences of patients with advanced lung cancer with oncogenic mutations. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with oncogenic alterations. Patients were recruited from online support groups within the USA. Interviews were conducted remotely or in person. Analysis used an iterative inductive and deductive process. Themes were mapped to the Model for Pathways to Treatment. RESULTS: 40 patients (12 male and 28 female) with a median age of 48 were included. We identified nine distinct themes. During the 'patient interval', individuals became concerned about symptoms, but often attributed them to other causes. Prolonged or more severe symptoms prompted care-seeking. During the 'primary care interval', doctors initially treated for illnesses other than cancer. Discovery of an imaging abnormality was a turning point in diagnostic pathways. Occasionally, severity of symptoms prompted patients to seek emergency care. During the 'secondary care interval', obtaining tissue samples was pivotal in confirming diagnosis. Delays in accessing oncology care sometimes led to patient distress. Obtaining genetic testing was crucial in directing patients to receive targeted treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Patients experienced multiple different routes to their diagnosis. Some patients perceived delays, inefficiencies and lack of coordination, which could be distressing. Shifting the stage of diagnosis of lung cancer to optimise the impact of targeted therapies will require concerted efforts in early detection

Experiences along the diagnostic pathway for patients with advanced lung cancer in the USA: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with lung cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages. However, the advent of oral targeted therapies has improved the prognosis of many patients with lung cancer. PURPOSE: We aimed to understand the diagnostic experiences of patients with advanced lung cancer with oncogenic mutations. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with oncogenic alterations. Patients were recruited from online support groups within the USA. Interviews were conducted remotely or in person. Analysis used an iterative inductive and deductive process. Themes were mapped to the Model for Pathways to Treatment. RESULTS: 40 patients (12 male and 28 female) with a median age of 48 were included. We identified nine distinct themes. During the 'patient interval', individuals became concerned about symptoms, but often attributed them to other causes. Prolonged or more severe symptoms prompted care-seeking. During the 'primary care interval', doctors initially treated for illnesses other than cancer. Discovery of an imaging abnormality was a turning point in diagnostic pathways. Occasionally, severity of symptoms prompted patients to seek emergency care. During the 'secondary care interval', obtaining tissue samples was pivotal in confirming diagnosis. Delays in accessing oncology care sometimes led to patient distress. Obtaining genetic testing was crucial in directing patients to receive targeted treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Patients experienced multiple different routes to their diagnosis. Some patients perceived delays, inefficiencies and lack of coordination, which could be distressing. Shifting the stage of diagnosis of lung cancer to optimise the impact of targeted therapies will require concerted efforts in early detection

The influence of Pt particle size on the surface oxidation of titania supported platinum

A range of reduced titania (TiOx) supported platinum electrocatalysts have been synthesised using physical vapour deposition on arrays of electrodes. Surfaces with equivalent thicknesses of platinum in the range 0.2–2.5 nm on a uniform layer of TiOx have been synthesised on 10 × 10 arrays. The arrays have been used to study the surface redox chemistry of the supported platinum as well as the oxidation of a monolayer of carbon monoxide on the platinum. It is shown that below an equivalent thickness of 0.8 nm, there is a positive shift in the potential for the oxidation of the platinum surface and a negative shift for the reduction of the oxide with decrease in the platinum loading. These shifts show that it is the kinetics of the platinum/platinum oxide couple that change with platinum loading; the couple becomes increasingly irreversible with decreasing loading. The peak potential for the oxidation of the monolayer of carbon monoxide also shifts positive and broadens with decreasing platinum loading; these trends are again particularly marked below an equivalent thickness of 0.8 nm while below 0.4 nm no CO oxidation peak is observed although it could be confirmed that CO is adsorbed on such surfaces. Again, these changes with platinum loading are associated with the irreversibility of the platinum/platinum oxide couple. At low equivalent thicknesses, it is impossible to form the oxidised platinum species within the carbon monoxide monolayer essential to the commencement of oxidation of the CO monolayer