Fabrication of alginate-based microspheres with cellular structure for tuning ammonium dinitramide performance

Recently,an emerging category green of energetic material ammonium dinitramide(ADN)has exhibited promising application in propellants due to its outstanding merits in energy release and environmental friendliness.It can be considered to substitute traditional oxidizer of ammonium perchlorate(AP)in military systems and aerospace.In this paper,a novel spherical energetic composite ADN/copper alginate(CA)with a microporous structure was designed and prepared by the W/O gel emulsion method,and a desirable porous microsphere structure was obtained.Multiple characterization techniques were used to investigate the structure and properties of ADN/CA composites.The results showed that ADN crystals were homogeneously encapsulated in an alginate-gel matrix.Thermal decomposition temperature was reduced to 151.7℃compared to ADN,while the activation energy of them was reduced from 129.73 k J/mol(ADN)to 107.50 k J/mol(ADN/CA-4).In addition,as-prepared samples had lower impact and frictional sensitivity than ADN.The mechanism of sensitivity reduction and decomposition are also discussed.Constant-volume combustion tests show that peak pressure of the ADN/CA-4 achieves 253.4 k Pa and pressurization rate of 2750.4 k Pa/s.Hence,this has a promising application in improving the combustion performance and safety performance of solid propellants.

Nerve Growth Factor for the Treatment of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3： An Open-label Study

Background： Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 （SCA3） is the most common subtype of SCA worldwide, and runs a slowly progressive and unremitting disease course. There is currently no curable treatment available. Growing evidence has suggested that nerve growth factor （NGF） may have therapeutic effects in neurodegenerative diseases, and possibly also in SCA3. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of NGF in SCA3 patients. Methods： We performed an open-label prospective study in genetically confirmed adult （〉18 years old） SCA3 patients. NGF was administered by intramuscular injection （18 μg once daily） fbr 28 days consecutively. All the patients were evaluated at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks after treatment using the Chinese version of the scale for assessment and rating of ataxia （SARA）. Results： Twenty-one SCA3 patients （ 10 men and 11 women, mean age 39.14 ± 7.81 years, mean disease duration 4.14 ± 1.90 years, mean CAG repeats number 77,57 ± 2.27） were enrolled. After 28 days of NGF treatment, the mean total SARA score decreased significantly from a baseline of 8.48± 2.40 to 6.30 ± 1.87 （P 〈 0.001 ）. Subsections SARA scores also showed significant improvements in stance （P = 0.003）, speech （P = 0.023）, finger chase （P = 0.015）, fast alternating hand movements （P = 0.009）, and heel-shin slide （P = 0.001）. Conclusions： Our preliminary data suggest that NGF may be effective in treating patients with SCA3.

Nine-hole Peg Test and Ten-meter Walk Test for Evaluating Functional Loss in Chinese Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Background：The 9-hole peg test （9-HPT） and 10-meter walk test （10-MWT） are commonly used to test finger motor function and walking ability.The aim of this present study was to investigate the efficacy of these tests for evaluating functional loss in Chinese Charcot-Marie-Tooth （CMT） disease.Methods：Thirty-four Chinese CMT patients （CMT group） from August 2015 to December 2016 were evaluated with 9-HPT,10-MWT,CMT disease examination score,overall neuropathy limitation scale （ONLS）,functional disability score,and Berg Balance Scale （BBS）.Thirty-five age-and gender-matched healthy controls （control group） were also included in the study.Student＇s nonpaired or paired t-test were performed to compare data between two independent or related groups,respectively.The Pearson test was used to examine the correlations between recorded parameters.Results：The mean 9-HPT completion time in the dominant hand of CMT patients was significantly slower than that in the healthy controls （29.60 ± 11.89 s vs.19.58 ± 3.45 s;t =-4.728,P 〈 0.001）.Women with CMT completed the 9-HPT significantly faster than men with CMT （dominant hand：24.74 ± 7.93 s vs.33.01 ± 13.14 s,t =2.097,P =0.044）.The gait speed of the average self-selected velocity and the average fast-velocity assessed using 10-MWT for CMT patients were significantly slower than those in the control group （1.03 ± 0.18 m/s vs.1.44 ± 0.17 m/s,t =9.333,P 〈 0.001;1.31 ± 0.30 m/s vs.1.91 ± 0.25 m/s,t =8.853,P 〈 0.00 1,respectively）.There was no difference in gait speed between men and women.Both 9-HPT and 10-MWT were significantly correlated with the ONLS,functional disability score,and BBS （P 〈 0.05 for all）.Conclusion：The 9-HPT and 10-MWT might be useful for functional assessment in Chinese patients with CMT.