Mapping of industry building product model for detailed thermal simulation and analysis

Advances in Engineering Software373133-14

Synthesis of Mg2Cu nanoparticles on carbon supports with enhanced hydrogen sorption kinetics

The reaction kinetics and reversibility for hydrogen sorption were investigated for supported Mg2Cu nanoparticles on carbon. A new preparation method is proposed to synthesize the supported alloy nanoparticles. The motivation of using a support is to separate the nanoparticles to prevent sintering at elevated temperatures. Supported nanocrystallites with an average size of 20 nm were obtained on porous graphite and larger particles ( 300 nm) on non-porous graphite by first deposition of metallic Cu species, using solution impregnation, followed by addition of molten Mg and hydrogenation. The temperature for hydrogen release of the 20 nm particles was much lower ( 150 C) than the micronsized material, and the reaction was reversible with the same improved kinetic performance after several hydrogen sorption cycles. The 20 nm Mg2Cu crystallites had a lower activation energy for the hydrogen desorption reaction compared to the bulk material (97 ( 9) and 128 ( 6) kJ mol 1 respectively). A desorption enthalpy of 66 ( 3) kJ mol 1 and an entropy value of 126 ( 10) J mol K 1 were found for this system. The use of a porous carbon support was beneficial for obtaining Mg2Cu nanoparticles, which improved the hydrogen sorption kinetics

Risk factors for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients receiving taxane- and platinum-based chemotherapy

201906 bcrcVersion of RecordPublishe

Identification of Serum Amyloid A Protein As a Potentially Useful Biomarker to Monitor Relapse of Nasopharyngeal Cancer by Serum Proteomic Profiling

Purpose: Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a common cancer in Hong Kong, and relapse can occur frequently. Using protein chip profiling analysis, we aimed to identify serum biomarkers that were useful in the diagnosis of relapse in NPC. Experimental Design: Profiling analysis was performed on 704 sera collected from 42 NPC patients, 39 lung cancer patients, 30 patients with the benign metabolic disorder thyrotoxicosis (TX), and 35 normal individuals (NM). Protein profile in each NPC patient during clinical follow up was correlated with the relapse status. Results: Profiling analysis identified two biomarkers with molecular masses of 11.6 and 11.8 kDa, which were significantly elevated in 22 of 31 (71%) and 21 of 31 (68%) NPC patients, respectively, at the time of relapse (RP) as compared with 11 patients in complete remission (CR; RP versus CR, P = 0.009), 30 TX (RP versus TX, P < 0.001), or 35 NM (RP versus NM, P < 0.001). The markers were also elevated in 16 of 39 (41%) lung cancer patients at initial diagnosis. By tryptic digestion, followed by tandem mass spectrometry fragmentation, the markers were identified as two isoforms of serum amyloid A (SAA) protein. Monitoring the patients longitudinally for SAA level both by protein chip and immunoassay showed a dramatic SAA increase, which correlated with relapse and a drastic fall correlated with response to salvage chemotherapy. Serum SAA findings were compared with those of serum Epstein-Barr virus DNA in three relapsed patients showing a similar correlation with relapse and chemo-response. Conclusions: SAA could be a useful biomarker to monitor relapse of NPC.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Donor-Derived Genotype 4 Hepatitis E Virus Infection, Hong Kong, China, 2018

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 4 (HEV-4) is an emerging cause of acute hepatitis in China. Less is known about the clinical characteristics and natural history of HEV-4 than HEV genotype 3 infections in immunocompromised patients. We report transmission of HEV-4 from a deceased organ donor to 5 transplant recipients. The donor had been viremic but HEV IgM and IgG seronegative, and liver function test results were within reference ranges. After a mean of 52 days after transplantation, hepatitis developed in all 5 recipients; in the liver graft recipient, disease was severe and with progressive portal hypertension. Despite reduced immunosuppression, all HEV-4 infections progressed to persistent hepatitis. Four patients received ribavirin and showed evidence of response after 2 months. This study highlights the role of organ donation in HEV transmission, provides additional data on the natural history of HEV-4 infection, and points out differences between genotype 3 and 4 infections in immunocompromised patients