[en] Objective: To discuss the therapeutic efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) via a coaxial microcatheter combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The preoperative DSA and multi-slice CT findings in 1000 patients with HCC, encountered from May 1998 to May 2007, were retrospectively analyzed. In 179 cases, the lesion was limited in one hepatic segment, and super-selective catheterization TACE with a coaxial microcatheter was performed in these patients. Four weeks after TACE, dynamic enhanced CT and/or MR scanning was made to observe the results. In 40 cases, there was poor lipiodol deposit in the lesion, and CT-guided RFA was employed for these patients. Follow-up check was done one month after the treatment. Results: DSA examination totally revealed 670 lesions with diameter larger than 3 cm, 202 lesions with diameter smaller than 3 cm, 400 satellite nodules, 482 arteriovenous fistulae or arterio-portal shunts, 430 abnormal blood-supplying vessels and 362 cancerous thrombosis in portal vein. Four weeks after microcatheter embolization, the local control rate of the tumor was 77.6%. RFA was carried out for patients with poorly-controlled tumors, and one month after RFA the local control rate of the tumor reached 97.5%. Conclusions: DSA is the most powerful examination means in detecting lesions less than 3 cm, satellite nodules, tumor's blood-supply, arteriovenous fistulae and arterio-portal shunts. Therefore, DSA plays an important role in making the preoperative evaluation of HCC, undoubtedly, this role can not be substituted by any other equipment. RFA is an effective treatment for HCC as well as an ideal alternative for patients who show poor response to TACE. (authors)

[en] Highlights: • The pressure drop plateau effects are observed in THF/CO₂/H₂ hydrate formation process. • The hydrate crystals transform from THF• 16.8 H₂O to THF• 17 H₂O between the two plateaus. • The CO₂ Raman peaks in hydrate structure appear a slim shift due to the crystal transforming. • H₂ Raman signals are not observed at the first plateau but are detected at second plateau. -- Abstract: Hydrate-based carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and hydrogen (H₂) purification is a promising technology in clean energy fields. In this work, in order to reveal the effect and mechanism of tetrahydrofuran (THF) on the hydrate-based CO₂ separation from Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) syngas, the CO₂/H₂/THF hydrates formation processes were studied with and without memory effect. According to the pressure drop curves, there appear two pressure plateaus in the CO₂/H₂/THF hydrate formation processes. Furthermore, with the usage frequency of the THF solution increasing, the plateau effects are more ambiguous and difficult to be observed. It is interesting that the Raman spectra for CO₂ and H₂ molecules also reveal slim Raman shifts between the two different hydrate plateaus. According to the powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns, indeed, the detail Miller indices indicates that CO₂/H₂/THF hydrate mainly forms THF• 16.8 H₂O structure in the first plateau, while mainly forms THF• 17 H₂O structure in the second plateau. The reason for this phenomenon is mainly the influence of CO₂, its large molecular size and the localized tension it causes in the water network of the small cages which can enhance the storage capability for the large cages of THF hydrate. The experimental results illustrate that the highest Split fraction (S.Fr) is 69.02% obtained at 6 MPa/284.85 K (memory effect), and this work highlights that the memory solution are more suitable for industrial application.

[en] Highlights: • We describe an exquisite photomechanical effect observed in an azobenzene-Gd(III) MOF. • The single crystals of this material display complex motion. • This work outlines a direction of MOF-based photomechanical motion. -- Abstract: Photo-response molecular-scale movement has been well developed in azobenzene photochromic molecules. However, material capable of converting this molecular-scale movement to macroscopic work remains a formidable challenge. Here, we describe an exquisite photomechanical effect observed in an azobenzene-Gd(III) MOF. The single crystal of this material displays complex motion including walking, rolling, self-rotating, swing, and finally popping, dependent on the exposed time under UV and the size of the crystals. Consequently, this functional material gives the direct and impressive evidence to support the potential of MOF material in photomechanical motion.

[en] Herein we report a novel azo metal-organic framework (MOF), namely Zn₂(DMF)(ADC)₂(L)_0.5 (ECUT-100, H₂ADC=azobenzene-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid, L=N, N'-di(pyridin-4-yl)naphthalene-1,4-dicarboxamide), showing a polycatenated 3D array of interlaced 2D bilayers. Without any pre-treatment the as-synthesized ECUT-100 samples effectively adsorb U(VI), leading to the ultrahigh adsorption capacity up to 381 mg/g. This value is greatly higher than that observed in most established porous adsorbents. The origin is primarily due to the free standing azo and amide groups from ADC^2- and L ligands that may provide special interactions with U(VI) ions.

[en] An ideal porous adsorbent toward uranium with not only large adsorption capacity and high selectivity but also broad applicability even under rigorous conditions is highly desirable but still extremely scarce. In this work, a porous adsorbent, namely [NH${}_4$]${}^{+}$[COF‐SO${}_3$${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->}$], prepared by ammoniating a SO${}_3$H‐decorated covalent organic framework (COF) enables remarkable performance for uranium extraction. Relative to the pristine SO${}_3$H‐decorated COF (COF‐SO${}_3$H) with uranium adsorption capacity of 360 mg g${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->1}$, the ammoniated counterpart of [NH${}_4$]${}^{+}$[COF‐SO${}_3$${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->}$] affords ultrahigh uranium uptake up to 851 mg g${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->1}$, creating a 2.4‐fold enhancement. Such a value is the highest among all reported porous adsorbents for uranium. Most importantly, a large distribution coefficient, K${}_d$${}^U$, up to 9.8 × 10${}^6$ mL g${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->1}$ is observed, implying extremely strong affinity toward uranium. Consequently, [NH${}_4$]${}^{+}$[COF‐SO${}_3$${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->}$] affords highly selective adsorption of uranium over a broad range of metal ions such as S${}_{U/Cs}$ = 821, S${}_{U/Na}$ = 277, and S${}_{U/Sr}$ = 124, making it as effective uranium adsorbent from seawater, resulting in amazing uranium adsorption capacity of 17.8 mg g${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->1}$. Moreover, its excellent chemostability also make it an effective uranium adsorbent even under rigorous conditions (pH = 1, 8, and 3 m acidity). (© 2019 The Authors. Published by WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

[en] Highlights: • The new azo-MOF shows excellent U(VI) removal performance with the adsorption capacity up to 200 mg/g. • The new azo-MOF with free-standing azo or amide groups benefits to U(VI) removal. • The new azo-MOF shows high removal rate of U(VI) from waste water without any pretreatment. - Abstract: Uranium is not only a radioactive element but also an important nuclear-energy source. Thus the design of material for effective uranium adsorption is highly desirable from both environmental and energy considerations. In this work, a new azo-MOF was explored such use. It shows excellent U(VI) removal performance with the adsorption capacity up to 200 mg/g. The adsorption, as disclosed by the adsorption kinetics, is dominated by chemical adsorption, mainly due to coordination interaction between azo/amide and U(VI) ions. The results suggest that design of material with free-standing azo or amide groups benefits to U(VI) removal.

[en] We develop a deep-learning technique to infer the nonlinear velocity field from the dark matter density field. The deep-learning architecture we use is a “U-net” style convolutional neural network, which consists of 15 convolution layers and 2 deconvolution layers. This setup maps the three-dimensional density field of 32³ voxels to the three-dimensional velocity or momentum fields of 20³ voxels. Through the analysis of the dark matter simulation with a resolution of 2h ⁻¹ Mpc, we find that the network can predict the the nonlinearity, complexity, and vorticity of the velocity and momentum fields, as well as the power spectra of their value, divergence, and vorticity and its prediction accuracy reaches the range of k ≃ 1.4 h Mpc⁻¹ with a relative error ranging from 1% to ≲10%. A simple comparison shows that neural networks may have an overwhelming advantage over perturbation theory in the reconstruction of velocity or momentum fields.

[en] Highlights: • This work presents the first case of anchoring Fe⁰ on MOFs for removal of U(VI). • This resultant material enables ultrahigh U(VI) adsorption capacity. • A significant synergism effect from MOF and Fe⁰ is observed. -- Abstract: Uranium is the most radioactive element using in the nuclear industry and nuclear technology application. However, it is harmful for environment and human health due to its high toxicity and mobility. Thus designing effective material for uranium removal is highly desirable. In this paper, a novel adsorbent of nZVI@Zn-MOF-74 prepared by anchoring nZVI on Zn-MOF-74 was investigated for the removal of uranium from aqueous solutions. Impressively, nZVI was synthesized for the first time by a spraying approach in a simple and convenient manner. The experimental results indicated that nZVI@Zn-MOF-74 can significantly enhance the removal of U(VI) than both Zn-MOF-74 material and nZVI, leading to high adsorption capacity up to 348 mg/g at pH = 3 and 298 K. The origin, as unveiled by XPS, is due to both U(VI) adsorption from Zn-MOF-74 and U(VI)-to-U(IV) reduction by nZVI.

[en] Highlights: • Hydrate-based carbon dioxide separation was achieved in systems with and without gas supply. • Hydrate formation interface and normal interface are generated. • Raman peak intensity around interface is the weakest. • Gas flux through the boundary layer around interface affects hydrate nucleation. • Change of water molecules aggregation benefits for hydrate nucleation. Hydrate carbon dioxide (CO₂) separation is a promising method for reducing carbon emission. In this work, water-solubility of tetrahydrofuran (THF) was added into water to generate the single gas/liquid interface. In order to understand hydrate nucleation and crystallization well, CO₂ concentration in the residual gaseous phase was measured, morphology of the hydrate formation was filmed, and structure changes of compounds around the gas/liquid interface was monitored by in situ Raman spectrometer. Two groups of experiments were carried out at 274.15 K and 4.0 MPa in the systems with and without gas supply. The experimental results illustrate that hydrate formation is completed in 5 h according to CO₂ concentration, gas consumption and morphology, however, the compound transition and hydrate crystallization are still in process from the microstructure point of view. For the system with gas supply, the hydrates initially occur in the gas/liquid interface due to stable gas flux in the boundray layer, where Raman spectra change regularly at the beginning. Such stable gas flux has a positive impact on changing water aggregation. This change of water aggregation benefits for the original structures in the process of hydrate nucleation. With the hydrate formation, the hydrate nucleation interface is moving from the gas/liquid interface towards the THF solution. Otherwise, for the system without gas supply, no obvious hydrate was observed in the gas/liquid interface, and Raman spectra around the interface change with the saltation from gaseous phase towards the THF solution. For the two systems, THF hydrates form prior to the multi-hydrates and keep forming, and both intensity of Raman peaks around the interfaces is the weakest.

[en] Highlights: • A continuous CO₂ separation device with hydrate combined with chemical absorption is developed. • Both device and process are proven to be feasible after the success of continuous CO₂ separation. • Average gas production rate reaches to 21.7 Nm³/h, and more than 70% CO₂ is separated by hydrate. • Energy consumption of the combination process is about 30% lower than that of cryogenic separation. -- Abstract: Hydrate-based carbon dioxide (CO₂) separation from gas mixture has been extensively investigated for it being process simple and environmentally friendly. However, as the concentration of CO₂ in the gas mixture decreases, the condition of the hydrate formation becomes very harsh. Therefore, it is significantly difficult for a single hydrate-based method to separation CO₂ completely. In this work, the first set of device for continuously separating CO₂ from gas mixture was developed on the base of the method of hydrate combined with chemical absorption. The process feasibility of the combined method and the device were proved through experimental study on CO₂ separation from integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) syngas. The experimental results also indicated CO₂ could be completely separated from the balance component, and the estimated energy cost for CO₂ separation with the combined method is about ¥209 per ton CO₂, which is lower than that with cryogenic separation process by about 30.0%. The study provides scientific data and theoretical guidance for the industrial application of hydrate-based CO₂ separation and capture in future.