The effects of pulsed ultrasound (PUS) (power: 240w) with varying time (0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15min) on rheological and structural properties of chicken myofibrillar protein (CMP) were examined. PUS treatment significantly caused a decrease in the viscosity coefficients (k) but an increase in the flow index (n) value of CMP solutions within short time (0-6min), while had no significant effect for longer time (9-15min). Besides, at 6min, the solubility and microstructure of CMP samples were optimum. The primary structure of CMP was not altered by PUS treatment. However, Raman spectroscopy revealed a decrease in the α-helix and β-sheets proportion and an increase in the β-turn of CMP following PUS treatment. Random coil reached a maximum at 6min. The changes in tertiary and quaternary structure of CMP by PUS treatment also occurred. As PUS time extended, S-ANS for CMP increased measured by ANS fluorescence probe method. However, the normalized intensity of 760cm increased from 0min to 6min, and then decreased to 15min by Raman test. Moreover, the reactive sulphur (SH) contents and disulfide bonds (S-S) of samples increased while the total SH contents decreased within 0-6min. At 9min and above, the contents of reactive SH groups were almost equal to the contents of total SH groups. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of CMP showed that peak temperature (T) for myosin and peak temperature (T) for actin were both reduced in the first 6min, while T was not observed from 9min following PUS treatment. Therefore, 6min was the optimum PUS time to obtain better CMP rheological and structural properties.

No abstract

Ultrafine hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL‐20) samples were prepared by a ultrasound‐ and spray‐assisted precipitation method. Raw CL‐20 and ultrafine CL‐20 samples were characterized by SEM, FT‐IR spectroscopy, XRD, and particle size analysis. The impact sensitivity and thermal stability of two CL‐20 samples were also tested and compared. The results indicate that by this recrystallization process, the mean particle size of CL‐20 is 470 nm, and the particle size distribution was in the range from 400–700 nm. The particle morphology is nearly spheric with a smooth surface. Compared with raw CL‐20, the impact sensitivity of the ultrafine sample is significantely reduced and the drop height (H50) is increased from 12.8 to 37.9 cm. The critical explosion temperature of ultrafine CL‐20 decreased from 235.6 to 229.0 °C, which suggests that the thermal stability of ultrafine CL‐20 is lower than that of raw CL‐20.

A new insensitive booster explosive based on 2,6‐diamino‐3,5‐dinitropyrazing‐1‐oxide (LLM‐105) was prepared by a solvent‐slurry process with ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) as binder. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) was employed to characterize the morphology and particle size of LLM‐105 and molding powder. The mechanical sensitivity, thermal sensitivity, shock wave sensitivity, and detonation velocity of the LLM‐105/EPDM booster were also measured and analyzed. The results show that both mechanical sensitivity and thermal sensitivity of LLM‐105/EPDM are much lower than that of conventional boosters, such as PBXN‐5 and A5. Its shock wave sensitivity is also lower than that of PBXN‐5 and PBXN‐7. When the density of charge is 95 % TMD, its theoretical and measured detonation velocities are 7858 m s−1 and 7640 m s−1, respectively. These combined properties suggested that LLM‐105/EPDM can be used as an insensitive booster.

No abstract

GTSE1 is well correlated with tumor progression; however, little is known regarding its role in liver cancer prognosis. By analyzing the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) datasets in GEO and TCGA databases, we showed that high expression of GTSE1 was correlated with advanced pathologic stage and poor prognosis of HCC patients. To investigate underlying molecular mechanism, we generated GTSE1 knockdown HCC cell line and explored the effects of GTSE1 deficiency in cell growth. Between GTSE1 knockdown and wild-type HCC cells, we identified 979 differentially expressed genes (520 downregulated and 459 upregulated genes) in the analysis of microarray-based gene expression profiling. Functional enrichment analysis of DEGs suggested that S phase was dysregulated without GTSE1 expression, which was further verified from flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, three other DEGs: CDC20, PCNA, and MCM6, were also found contributing to GTSE1-related cell cycle arrest and to be associated with poor overall survival of HCC patients. In conclusion, GTSE1, together with CDC20, PCNA, and MCM6, may synergistically promote adverse prognosis in HCC by activating cell cycle. Genes like GTSE1, CDC20, PCNA, and MCM6 may be promising prognostic molecular biomarkers in liver cancer.

The solubility of cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX) in four ionic liquids (ILs): 1,3‐dimethylimidazolium dimethylphosphate ([Memim]DMP), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl), 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide ([Hmim]Br), and 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Emim]BF4) was investigated. Nano‐HMX were produced particles by spraying [Hmim]Br solution into purified ice water. Finally, the particle size, morphology, crystal phase, impact sensitivity, and thermal decomposition properties of nano‐HMX particles were tested and analyzed. All four ILs could dissolve HMX to a greater or lesser extent in the temperature range from 20 °C to 80 °C. The solubility of HMX in [Hmim]Br at 80 °C is up to 0.7 g mL−1. Recrystallized HMX particles are of polyhedral or spherical shape and 40 to 130 nm in size. X‐ray diffraction indicated that nano‐HMX has a similar crystal structure as raw HMX (β‐form). Compared with raw HMX, the nano‐HMX particles have much lower impact sensitivity. However, they are easier to explode than raw HMX under thermal stimulus due to the lower peak temperature and activation energy.

HTPB/CL‐20 castable booster explosives were prepared successfully by a cast‐cured process. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the charge density test were employed to characterize the molding effect of HTPB/CL‐20 explosives. The propagation reliability, detonation velocity, mechanical sensitivity, thermal decomposition characteristics and thermal stability of the HTPB/CL‐20 explosives were also measured and analyzed. The results show that, when CL‐20 content is less than 91 wt.‐%, the charges with better molding effect were obtained easily. The critical diameter of HTPB/CL‐20 explosives is less than 1 mm, which exhibits good propagation reliability. When the density of HTPB/CL‐20 charge with 91 wt.‐% CL‐20 is 1.73 g cm−3, its detonation velocity can reach 8273 m s−1. Moreover, this kind of explosives has low mechanical sensitivity and good thermal stability.