Thermal Behaviour and Detonation Characterization of N-Benzoyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine

N-benzoyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine(BDNAZ) is a derivative of 3,3-dinitroazetidine (DNAZ). Its thermal behaviour was studied by DSC methods. The results show that there are one melting process and two exothermic decomposition processes. The kinetic parameters of the intense exothermic decomposition process were obtained from the analysis of the DSC curves. The apparent activation energy, pre-exponential factor and the mechanism function are 170.77 kJ mol–1, 1014.12 s–1 and f(α) = (1–a)–1/2, respectively. The specific heat capacity of BDNAZ was determined with a continuous Cp mode of a micro-calorimeter. The standard mole specific heat capacity ofBDNAZwas 286.31 J mol1 K–1 at 298.15 K. Using the relationship between Cp and T with the thermal decomposition parameters, the time of the thermal decomposition from initialization to thermal explosion (adiabatic time-to-explosion, tTIAD), the self-accelerating decomposition temperature (TSADT), thermal ignition temperature (TTIT), critical temperatures of thermal explosion (Tb) and period of validity (t0.9) were obtained to evaluate its thermal safety. The detonation velocity (D) and pressure (P) of BDNAZ were estimated by using the nitrogen equivalent equation according to the experimental density.KEYWORDS N-benzoyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine(BDNAZ), thermalbehaviour, non-isothermalkinetics, thermalsafety, detonation characterization

Intermolecular Interactions and Thermodynamic Properties of 3,6-Diamino-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-1,4-dioxide Dimers: A Density Functional Theoretical Study

Three fully optimized structures of 3,6-diamino-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-1,4-dioxide (LAX-112) dimers have been obtained with the density functional theory (DFT) method at the B3LYP/6-311++G level. Vibrational frequency calculations were carried out to ascertain that each structure is a minimum (no imaginary frequencies). The intermolecular interaction energy is calculated with the basis set superposition error (BSSE) correction and zero point energy (ZPE) correction. The greatest corrected binding energy among the three dimers is –42.38 kJ mol–1. The charge redistribution mainly occurs on the adjacent O(N)……H atoms between submolecules and the charge transfer between two subsystems is very small. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was performed to reveal the origin of the interaction. Based on the vibrational analysis, the standard thermodynamic functions (heat capacities (cop), entropies (Som ) and enthalpies (Hom)) and the changes of thermodynamic properties from the monomer to dimer with the temperature ranging from 200.00 K to 800.00 K have been obtained using statistical thermodynamics. The results show that the strong hydrogen bonds dominantly contribute to the dimers, while the bonding energies are not only determined by the hydrogen bonding. The dimerization process of dimer II can occur spontaneously at room temperature.KEYWORDS 3,6-Diamino-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-1,4-dioxide (LAX-112), intermolecular interaction, density functional theory (DFT), natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, thermodynamic properties

A Computationally Efficient Method for Estimating Multi-Model Process Sensitivity Index

Identification of important processes of a hydrologic system is critical for improving process-based hydrologic modeling. To identify important processes while jointly considering parametric and model uncertainty, Dai et al. (2017), https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR019715, developed a multi-model process sensitivity index. Numerical evaluation of the index using a brute force Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is computationally expensive, because it requires a nested structure of parameter sampling and the number of model simulations is on the order of N-2 (N being the number of parameter samples). To reduce computational cost, we develop a new method (here denoted as quasi-MC for brevity) that uses triple sets of parameter samples (generated using quasi-MC sequence) to remove the nested structure of parameter sampling in a theoretically rigorous way. The quasi-MC method reduces the number of model simulations from the order of N-2 to 2N. The performance of the method is assessed against the brute force MC approach and the recent binning method developed by Dai et al. (2017), https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR019715, through two synthetic cases of groundwater flow and solute transport modeling. Due to its rigorous theoretical foundation, the quasi-MC method overcomes the limitations imposed by the inherently empirical nature of the binning method. We find that the quasi-MC method outperforms both the brute force MC and the binning method in terms of computational requirements and theoretical aspects, thus strengthening its potential for the assessment of process sensitivity indices subject to various sources of uncertainty

Observed trends of heating and cooling degree-days in Xinjiang Province, China

Global warming has the potential to impact various aspects of human society such as agriculture, construction, transportation, water resources management, power generation, and phenology. The impact on energy, especially energy consumption for heating and cooling of buildings, is very important. These influences are different in terms of space and time due to spatial and temporal variations of temperature. In this study, daily data of minimum and maximum temperature of 51 stations for 1959-2004 were used to detect annual and seasonal variations of heating and cooling degree-days in Xinjiang, China, by using the Mann-Kendall trend test and linear regression techniques. The results indicate that: (1) taking 18A degrees C as the base temperature, annual mean heating degree-days (HDD) ranged between 2,700 and 7,973A degrees C, and annual mean cooling degree-days (CDD) (the base temperature is 24A degrees C) ranged between 0.4 and 792A degrees C. CDDs are relatively low in Xinjiang; (2) autumn, winter, and annual HDDs show significant decreasing trends. Annual CDD at 23 out of 51 stations present significant increasing trends, while no remarkable positive trends can be observed at the other stations; and (3) with respect to spatial variations, Xinjiang was characterized by significant decreasing annual, winter, and autumn HDDs, and it was particularly true for the northern Xinjiang. The annual and summer CDDs in the western parts of northern Xinjiang (the edges of the Tarim Basin and the Turpan-Hami Basin) were characterized by significant increasing trends. However, no fixed spatial patterns can be identified in the variations of annual and summer CDDs. The results of this study could be useful for energy management in Xinjiang and are also helpful for better understanding of impacts of global warming on energy consumption in other countries of the world

Conjugation of Functionalized SPIONs with Transferrin for Targeting and Imaging Brain Glial Tumors in Rat Model

Currently, effective and specific diagnostic imaging of brain glioma is a major challenge. Nanomedicine plays an essential role by delivering the contrast agent in a targeted manner to specific tumor cells, leading to improvement in accurate diagnosis by good visualization and specific demonstration of tumor cells. This study investigated the preparation and characterization of a targeted MR contrast agent, transferrin-conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Tf-SPIONs), for brain glioma detection. MR imaging showed the obvious contrast change of brain glioma before and after administration of Tf-SPIONs in C6 glioma rat model in vivo on T2 weighted imaging. Significant contrast enhancement of brain glioma could still be clearly seen even 48 h post injection, due to the retention of Tf-SPIONs in cytoplasm of tumor cells which was proved by Prussian blue staining. Thus, these results suggest that Tf-SPIONs could be a potential targeting MR contrast agent for the brain glioma

Pharmacokinetic characteristics and anticancer effects of 5-Fluorouracil loaded nanoparticles

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is expected that prolonged circulation of anticancer drugs will increase their anticancer activity while decreasing their toxic side effects. The purpose of this study was to prepare 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) loaded block copolymers, with poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) as the hydrophobic block and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as the hydrophilic block, and then examine the 5-FU release characteristics, pharmacokinetics, and anticancer effects of this novel compound.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>5-FU loaded PEG-PBLG (5-FU/PEG-PBLG) nanoparticles were prepared by dialysis and then scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe the shape and size of the nanoparticles, and ultraviolet spectrophotometry was used to evaluate the 5-FU in vitro release characteristics. The pharmacokinetic parameters of 5-FU/PEG-PBLG nanoparticles in rabbit plasma were determined by measuring the 5-FUby high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To study in vivo effects, LoVo cells (human colon cancer cell line) or Tca8113 cells (human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line) were implanted in BALB/c nude mice that were subsequently treated with 5-FU or 5-FU/PEG-PBLG nanospheres.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>5-FU/PEG-PBLG nanoparticles had a core-shell spherical structure with a diameter of 200 nm and a shell thickness of 30 nm. The drug loading capacity was 27.1% and the drug encapsulation was 61.5%. Compared with 5-FU, 5-FU/PEG-PBLG nanoparticles had a longer elimination half-life (t_1/2, 33.3 h vs. 5 min), lower peak concentration (C, 4563.5 μg/L vs. 17047.3 μg/L), and greater distribution volume (V_D, 0.114 L vs. 0.069 L). Compared with a blank control, LoVo cell xenografts and Tca8113 cell xenografts treated with 5-FU or 5-FU/PEG-PBLG nanoparticles grew slower and had prolonged tumor doubling times. 5-FU/PEG-PBLG nanoparticles showed greater inhibition of tumor growth than 5-FU (p < 0.01). In the PEG-PBLG nanoparticle control group, there was no tumor inhibition (p > 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In our model system, 5-FU/PEG-PBLG nanoparticles changed the pharmacokinetic behavior of 5-FU, thus increasing its anticancer activity. 5-Fluorouracil loaded nanoparticles have potential as a novel anticancer drug that may have useful clinical applications.</p

One-Pot Green Synthesis and Bioapplication ofl-Arginine-Capped Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

Water-solublel-arginine-capped Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using a one-pot and green method. Nontoxic, renewable and inexpensive reagents including FeCl3,l-arginine, glycerol and water were chosen as raw materials. Fe3O4 nanoparticles show different dispersive states in acidic and alkaline solutions for the two distinct forms of surface bindingl-arginine. Powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to identify the structure of Fe3O4 nanocrystals. The products behave like superparamagnetism at room temperature with saturation magnetization of 49.9 emu g−1 and negligible remanence or coercivity. In the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride, the anti-chloramphenicol monoclonal antibodies were connected to thel-arginine-capped magnetite nanoparticles. The as-prepared conjugates could be used in immunomagnetic assay

Mechanically-Controlled Binary Conductance Switching of a Single-Molecule Junction

Molecular-scale components are expected to be central to nanoscale electronic devices. While molecular-scale switching has been reported in atomic quantum point contacts, single-molecule junctions provide the additional flexibility of tuning the on/off conductance states through molecular design. Thus far, switching in single-molecule junctions has been attributed to changes in the conformation or charge state of the molecule. Here, we demonstrate reversible binary switching in a single-molecule junction by mechanical control of the metal-molecule contact geometry. We show that 4,4'-bipyridine-gold single-molecule junctions can be reversibly switched between two conductance states through repeated junction elongation and compression. Using first-principles calculations, we attribute the different measured conductance states to distinct contact geometries at the flexible but stable N-Au bond: conductance is low when the N-Au bond is perpendicular to the conducting pi-system, and high otherwise. This switching mechanism, inherent to the pyridine-gold link, could form the basis of a new class of mechanically-activated single-molecule switches

Seed Regeneration Potential of Canopy Gaps at Early Formation Stage in Temperate Secondary Forests, Northeast China

Promoting the seed regeneration potential of secondary forests undergoing gap disturbances is an important approach for achieving forest restoration and sustainable management. Seedling recruitment from seed banks strongly determines the seed regeneration potential, but the process is poorly understood in the gaps of secondary forests. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of gap size, seed availability, and environmental conditions on the seed regeneration potential in temperate secondary forests. It was found that gap formation could favor the invasion of more varieties of species in seed banks, but it also could speed up the turnover rate of seed banks leading to lower seed densities. Seeds of the dominant species, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, were transient in soil and there was a minor and discontinuous contribution of the seed bank to its seedling emergence. For Quercus mongolica, emerging seedling number was positively correlated with seed density in gaps (R = 0.32, P<0.01), especially in medium and small gaps (<500 m2). Furthermore, under canopies, there was a positive correlation between seedling number and seed density of Acer mono (R = 0.43, P<0.01). Gap formation could promote seedling emergence of two gap-dependent species (i.e., Q. mongolica and A. mono), but the contribution of seed banks to seedlings was below 10% after gap creation. Soil moisture and temperature were the restrictive factors controlling the seedling emergence from seeds in gaps and under canopies, respectively. Thus, the regeneration potential from seed banks is limited after gap formation