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This research focuses on thermodynamic analysis of the copper chlorine cycles. The cycles were simulated using Aspen Plus software. All thermodynamic data for all the chemical species were defined from literature and the reliability of other compounds in the simulation were ascertained. The 5-step Cu–Cl cycle consist of five steps; hydrolysis, decomposition, electrolysis, drying and hydrogen production. The 4-step cycle combines the hydrolysis and the drying stage of the 5-step cycle to eliminate the intermediate production and handling of copper solids. The 3-step cycle has hydrolysis, electrolysis and hydrogen production stages. Exergy and energy analysis of the cycles were conducted. The results of the exergy analysis were 59.64%, 44.74% and 78.21% while that of the energy analysis were 50%, 49% and 35% for the 5-step cycle, 4-step cycle and 3-step cycle respectively. Parametric studies were conducted and possible exergy efficiency improvement of the cycles were found to be between 59.57-59.67%, 44.32-45.67% and 23.50-82.10% for the 5-step, 4-step and 3-step respectively. The results from the parametric analysis of the simulated process could assist ongoing efforts to understand the thermodynamic losses in the cycle, to improve efficiency, increase the economic viability of the process and to facilitate eventual commercialization of the process.

Significant racial disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality have been reported between African American Men (AAM) who are at increased risk for prostate cancer, and European American Men (EAM). In most of the studies carried out on prostate cancer, this population is underrepresented. With the advancement of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), several genetic predictor models of prostate cancer risk have been elaborated, as well as numerous studies that identify both germline and somatic mutations with clinical utility. Despite significant advances, the AAM population continues to be underrepresented in genomic studies, which can limit their generalizability and potentially widen disparities. Here we outline racial disparities in currently available genomic applications that are used to estimate the risk of individuals developing prostate cancer and to identify personalized oncology treatment strategies. While the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer are different between AAM and EAM. the biological features and differences of prostate tumors in AAM and EAM are still being described. Samples from AAM remain to be unrepresented in different studies. This disparity impacts the available genomic data on prostate cancer. As a result, the disparity can limit the predictive utility of the genomic applications that have been developed and may lead to widening disparities. More studies with substantially higher recruitment and engagement of African American patients are necessary to overcome this disparity.

322 Background: Serial biopsy is a mainstay of surveillance for patients on active surveillance for prostate cancer. mpMRI targeting has become a standard for targeting lesions during biopsy as it allows for better identification of the dominant lesion (grade and/or volume). It is unclear whether “targeted biopsy” alone reliably identifies the dominant lesion on serial biopsy, thereby obviating the need for systematic biopsy. The aim of this study was to assess whether targeting alone can consistently identify the dominant lesion on serial biopsies for active surveillance. Methods: Participants enrolled in active surveillance with early-stage prostate cancer (PSA <20, cT1-2, GG1 and 2) at diagnosis and underwent two or more MR fusion biopsy sessions that include both systematic and targeted sampling. Timing and frequency of Gleason upgrading were assessed. Grade and sextant location within the prostate were compared between the systematic and targeted cores to determine concordance. Results: Of 619 men who had multiple MR targeted biopsies, 80% were GG 1 at time of diagnosis and 20% were GG 2. Fifteen percent had their first MR fusion biopsy as their diagnostic, 41% on confirmatory biopsy, and 44% on subsequent surveillance biopsy. The highest grade was sampled by MR targeting from 70% to 91% of the time. In a subset of 106 men with GG1 at first MR fusion biopsy and a subsequent MR fusion biopsy within 36 months, Gleason upgrading was detected in 47 men (44%) on the 2nd MR fusion biopsy. When comparing upgrading between systematic and MRI targeting, 20 men (42%) upgraded inside the target only. Twenty-one men (45%) upgraded on both systematic and MR targeted biopsy. And 6 men (13%) upgraded on systematic biopsy only. Conclusions: In those with serial MR-targeted biopsies, targeting alone identified a majority of upgrading. However, it missed a portion of with upgrading outside the target. This suggests that those on active surveillance, with MR targets, still benefit from systematic biopsies.