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Zero-dimensional metal halides have attracted much attention due to their attractive photoelectric properties. Here, we propose a new strategy of synthesizing metal halides crystals by recrystallization in water. The as-synthesized Cs2 InCl5 (H2 O)-orange crystals are dissolved and recrystallized in water (Cs2 InCl5 (H2 O)-blue), with its photoluminescence (PL) changing from orange to blue, both of which are derived from self-trapping excitons (STEs). The time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectrum of Cs2 InCl5 (H2 O)-blue shows that it has an ultralong lifetime up to milliseconds (τ=52.98 ms), which is expected to be applied in biological sensors. The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) increases from 2.25% to 11.61% in the self-assembly process. By using a post-doping method, the PL of crystals turns into red when we introduce Mn2+ as dopant while there is no obvious change upon using a traditional solvent-thermal method. Recrystallization in water and post-doping provide a new perspective for the synthesis and doping of metal halides.

Considering the significance of lncRNA/miRNA axis in explaining atherosclerosis (AS) progression, this investigation was intended to clarify whether lncRNAs XIST/SNHG5 would regulate AS aetiology by sponging miR‐155, an AS‐promoting molecule. We altogether recruited 367 patients who were examined by coronary angiography, and meanwhile, human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) were purchased to establish cells models via ox‐LDL treatment. The study results indicated that lowly expressed XIST/SNHG5 and highly expressed miR‐155 were frequently detectable among AS patients who showed severe stenosis and possessed high triglyceride (TG), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) levels. Besides, HCAECs treated by ox‐LDL released large amounts of inflammatory cytokines, and their apoptosis rate was also raised. Moreover, expressions of XIST and SNHG5 declined markedly within ox‐LDL‐treated HCAECs, whereas miR‐155 expression significantly ascended. Transfection of pcDNA‐XIST and pcDNA‐SNHG5 both reduced the expression of TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐8 and IL‐1β within HCAECs and also dampened the apoptotic tendency of HCAECs. Co‐treatment of pcDNA‐XIST and pcDNA‐SNHG5 produced a larger effect on HCAEC activity than pcDNA‐XIST or pcDNA‐SNHG5 alone. Furthermore, miR‐155, modified by XIST and SNHG5, was capable of reversing the impacts of XIST and SNHG5 on HCAEC activity. Eventually, CARHSP1 was activated by XIST and SNHG5, and its overexpression dwindled impacts of miR‐155 mimic on proliferation and inflammation response of HCAECs. In conclusion, targeting XIST and SNHG5 might be an ideal alternative in delaying AS progression, allowing for their repression of downstream miR‐155.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a unique class of commercially manufactured biodegradable polyesters with properties suitable for partially substituting petroleum-based plastics. However, high costs and low volumes of production have restricted their application as commodity materials. In this study, tri-metallic complexes were developed for carbonylative polymerization via a dual catalysis strategy, and 17 products of novel PHAs with up to 38.2 kg mol

Various types of polyoxometalates (POMs) have been synthesized since the 19th century, but their assortment has been mostly limited to Groups 5 and 6 metals. Herein, a new family of POMs composed of a carbon group element as the addenda atoms with two distinct phases, LnPbOClO4‐1 (Ln = Sm to Ho, Y) and LnPbOClO4‐2 (Ln = Er and Tm) is reported. Both structures are built from [Ln6O8] rare‐earth metal hexamers being incorporated in [Pb18O32]/[Pb12O24] polyplumbites, and unbound perchlorates as charge‐balancing anions. Impressively, YPbOClO4‐1 and ErPbOClO4‐2 exhibit exceptional uptake capacities (434.7 and 427.7 mg g−1) toward ReO4−, a chemical surrogate for the key radioactive fission product in the nuclear fuel cycle 99TcO4−, which are the highest values among all inorganic anion‐exchange materials reported until now. The sorption mechanism is clearly elucidated and visualized by single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal structural transformation from ErPbOClO4‐2 to a perrhenate‐containing complex ErPbOReO4, revealing a unique ReO4− uptake selectivity driven by specific interaction within Pb···O‐ReO3− bonds.

Since cellular uptake of PEG [poly(ethylene glycol)]-liposomal L-OHP (oxaliplatin) induces bioactive changes in CRC (colorectal cancer), we have investigated its apoptotic effect and anticancer mechanism. Human CRC SW480 cells were treated with PEG-liposomal L-OHP and a caspase-8 inhibitor [Z-IETD-FMK (benzyloxycarbonyl-Ile-Glu-Thr-dl-Asp-fluoromethylketone)]. Apoptosis was measured by FCM (flow cytometry) and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling) assay. Expression of Fas/FasL and cytochrome c was detected using FCM and an immunofluorescence assay. Expression of caspase-8, Bid, caspase-9, caspase-7 and activated caspase-3 (P17) was examined by Western blot analyses. The results indicated that PEG-liposomal L-OHP (28 μg/ml L-OHP) induced marked apoptosis in SW480 cells compared with 28 μg/ml free L-OHP. The expression levels of Fas, FasL, cytochrome c, caspase-9, caspase-7 and activated caspase-3 proteins were up-regulated, with a corresponding increase in apoptosis; however, expression of caspase-8 and Bid were down-regulated as apoptosis increased. When cells were treated with Z-IETD-FMK, apoptosis was inhibited, but there was little impact on the expression of Fas, FasL, cytochrome c, Bid, caspase-9, caspase-7 and activated caspase-3. These findings indicate that PEG-liposomal L-OHP enhances the anticancer potency of the chemotherapeutic agent; moreover, Fas/FasL and caspase-8 signalling pathways play a key role in mediating PEG-liposomal L-OHP-induced apoptosis.

This paper presents an analytical method for establishing a stage-fall-discharge rating using hydraulic performance graphs (HPG). The rating curves derived from the HPG are used as the basis to establish the functional relation of stage, fall and discharge through regression analysis following the USGS procedure. In doing so, the conventional trial-and-error process can be avoided and the associated uncertainties involved may be reduced. For illustration, the proposed analytical method is applied to establish stage-fall-discharge relations for the Keelung River in northern Taiwan to examine its accuracy and applicability in an actual river. Based on the data extracted from the HPG for the Keelung River, one can establish a stage-fall-discharge relation that is more accurate than the one obtained by the conventionally used relation. Furthermore, the discharges obtained from the proposed rating method are verified through backwater analysis for measured high water level events. The results indicate that the analytical stage-fall-discharge rating method is capable of circumventing the shortcomings of those based on single-station data and, consequently, enhancing the reliability of flood estimation and forecasting.

A novel semi-three-dimensional (semi-3D) layer-integrated approach was proposed in this study for the shallow water free-surface flow computation. A quadratic shape function proposed to approximate the velocity distribution in the layer ensures the continuity of velocities and shear stresses at interfaces. To discretize the governing equations, the finite volume formulation with staggered grid is used. As the two-dimensional (2D) sub-model for locating the free surface is not needed in this approach, the computational time consumption has been dramatically reduced. The model was verified through the wind-induced circulation in a closed basin by comparing the velocity profiles to the analytical solution. The formation of the velocity profiles due to change of viscosity distribution and the evolution process of water surface slope were also investigated. Further, the eddy viscosity is estimated by a function related to discharge, water depth, and Manning's n under the assumption of parabolic distribution of longitudinal velocity along the vertical direction for open channel flows. Two designed hypothetical cases were conducted to examine the proposed eddy viscosity relation and to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed model. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In the framework of the specified-time-interval scheme, the accuracy of the characteristic method is greatly related to the form of the interpolation. The linear interpolation was commonly used to couple the characteristics method (LI method) in open channel flow computation. The LI method is easy to implement, but it leads to an inevitable smoothing of the solution. The characteristics method with the Hermite cubic interpolation (HP method, originally developed by Holly and Preissmann, 1977) was then proposed to largely reduce the error induced by the LI method. In this paper, the cubic-spline interpolation on the space line or on the time line is employed to integrate with characteristics method (CS method) for unsteady flow computation in open channel. Two hypothetical examples, including gradually and rapidly varied flows, are used to examine the applicability of the CS method as compared with the LI method, the HP method, and the analytical solutions. The simulated results show that the CS method is comparable to the HP method and more accurate than the LI method. Without tackling the additional equations for spatial or temporal derivatives, the CS method is easier to implement and more efficient than the HP method. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This paper proposes an accurate integral-based scheme for solving the advection–diffusion equation. In the proposed scheme the advection–diffusion equation is integrated over a computational element using the quadratic polynomial interpolation function. Then elements are connected by the continuity of first derivative at boundary points of adjacent elements. The proposed scheme is unconditionally stable and results in a tridiagonal system of equations which can be solved efficiently by the Thomas algorithm. Using the method of fractional steps, the proposed scheme can be extended straightforwardly from one-dimensional to multi-dimensional problems without much difficulty and complication. To investigate the computational performances of the proposed scheme five numerical examples are considered: (i) dispersion of Gaussian concentration distribution in one-dimensional uniform flow; (ii) one-dimensional viscous Burgers equation; (iii) pure advection of Gaussian concentration distribution in two-dimensional uniform flow; (iv) pure advection of Gaussian concentration distribution in two-dimensional rigid-body rotating flow; and (v) three-dimensional diffusion in a shear flow. In comparison not only with the QUICKEST scheme, the fully time-centred implicit QUICK scheme and the fully time-centred implicit TCSD scheme for one-dimensional problem but also with the ADI-QUICK scheme, the ADI-TCSD scheme and the MOSQUITO scheme for two-dimensional problems, the proposed scheme shows convincing computational performances. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

SUMMARY A depth-averaged two-dimensional model has been developed in the curvilinear co-ordinate system for free-surface flow problems. The non-linear convective terms of the momentum equations are discretized based on the explicit‐finite‐analytic method with second-order accuracy in space and first-order accuracy in time. The other terms of the momentum equations, as well as the mass conservation equation, are discretized by the finite difference method. The discretized governing equations are solved in turn, and iteration in each time step is adopted to guarantee the numerical convergence. The new model has been applied to various flow situations, even for the cases with the presence of sub-critical and supercritical flows simultaneously or sequentially. Comparisons between the numerical results and the experimental data show that the proposed model is robust with satisfactory accuracy. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The objective of this paper is to present a methodology of using a two-step split-operator approach for solving the shallow water flow equations in terms of an orthogonal curvilinear co-ordinate system. This approach is in fact one kind of the so-called fractional step method that has been popularly used for computations of dynamic flow. By following that the momentum equations are decomposed into two portions, the computation procedure involves two steps. The first step (dispersion step) is to compute the provisional velocity in the momentum equation without the pressure gradient. The second step (propagation step) is to correct the provisional velocity by considering a divergence-free velocity field, including the effect of the pressure gradient. This newly proposed method, other than the conventional split-operator methods, such as the projection method, considers the effects of pressure gradient and bed friction in the second step. The advantage of this treatment is that it increases flexibility, efficiency and applicability of numerical simulation for various hydraulic problems. Four cases, including back-water flow, reverse flow, circular basin flow and unsteady flow, have been demonstrated to show the accuracy and practical application of the method. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The specified-time-interval (STI) scheme has been used commonly in applying the method of characteristics (MOC) to unsteady open-channel flow problems. However, with the use of STI scheme, the numerical error for the simulation results can always be induced due to the interpolation used to approximate the characteristics trajectory. Hence, in order to remedy the numerical errors caused by the interpolation, one needs to seek some kind of interpolation technique with higher-order accuracy. Instead of the linear interpolation technique, which has been used very commonly and can induce serious numerical diffusion, the Holly--Preissmann two-point, method, which is a cubic interpolation technique with fourth-order of accuracy, is proposed here to integrate with the method of characteristics for the computation of one-dimensional unsteady flow in open channel. The concept of reachback and reachout in space and time directions for the characteristics is also introduced to assure the model stability. The computed results from this new model are compared with those computed by using the Preissmann four-point scheme and the multimode method of characteristics with linear interpolation.

SUMMARY A new method combining the Preissmann four-point scheme and the Holly-Preissmann reach-back scheme is introduced to solve the rapidly varied flow problem in an open channel. The Preissmann four-point scheme is well known for the computation of one-dimensional unsteady flow. The Holly-Preissmann reach-back scheme integrates the Holly-Preissmann two-point scheme with the concept of reach-back characteristics, which allows the characteristics to project several time steps beyond the current time level. A spontaneous surge formation case is used to demonstrate and evaluate the applicability of the new method. It has been found that the results from this method are quite compatible with those of Preissmann four-point scheme. In addition, with the appropriate choice of the number of reach-back time steps, this new method can always avoid the numerical oscillation which usually exists when one uses the Preissmann four-point scheme for the condition of Courant number not close to unity.

SUMMARY The use of the Holly-Preissmann two-point scheme has been very popular for the calculation of the dispersion equation. The key to this scheme is to use the characteristics method incorporating the Hermite cubic interpolation technique to approximate the trajectory foot of the characteristics. This method can avoid the excessive numerical damping and oscillation associated with most finite difference schemes for advection computation. On the basis of the fundamental idea of the Holly-Preissmann two-point scheme, a new technique is introduced herein for the computation of the two-dimensional dispersion equation. This new scheme allows the characteristics projecting back several time steps to fall on the spatial or temporal axis, while the characteristics foot is still solved by the Holly-Preissmann two-point method. The diffusion portion of the dispersion equation is solved by the commonly used Crank-Nicholson method. The calculation for these two processes consisting of advection and diffusion is carried out separately but consecutively in one time step, a method known as the split operator algorithm. A hypothetical model was constructed to demonstrate the applicability of this new technique for the calculation of the pure advection and dispersion equation in two dimensions.

SUMMARY The Holly-Preissmann two-point finite difference scheme (HP method) has been popularly used for solving the advection equation. The key idea of this scheme is to solve the dependent variable (i.e. the concentration for the pollutant transport problem) by the method of characteristics with the use of cubic interpolation on the spatial axis. The interpolating polynomials of higher order are constructed by use of the dependent variable and its derivatives at two adjacent grid points. In this paper a new interpolating technique is introduced for incorporation with the Holly-Preissmann two-point method. The new method is denoted herein as the Holly-Preissmann reach-back method (HPRB) and allows the characteristics to project back several time steps beyond the present time level. Through stability analyses it has been observed that the increase of the reach-back time step numbers for the characteristics indeed reduces the numerical damping and dispersive phenomena. A schematic model has been constructed to demonstrate the merits of this new technique for the calculation of the pure advection and dispersion equations. Numerical experiments and comparisons with analytical solutions which support and demonstrate this new technique are presented.

This is a 61-years-old male patient. He had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) for about 14 years, refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD). AF had persisted for two years, so the patient accepted a standard Wolf Minimaze operation, with bilateral pulmonary vein (PV) isolation and left atrial appendage exclusion, in Oct. 2008. After that, sinus rhythm only remained 21 days with oral amiodarone. This patient was referred to our center for radiofrequency catheter ablation in Oct. 2010. Left ventricle end diastolic dimension (LVEDD) was 55 cm, left atrium (LA) long axis dimension was 47 cm, and left ventricle ejection fraction (EF) was 61%. No residual PV potential could be recorded in four PVs. So under the guidance of 3D Carto system, linear ablation was performed in left atrium, including roof, septal, mitral valve isthmus, endocardial coronary sinus, and tricuspid isthmus line in right atrium. AF converted to sinus rhythm with a 200 j direct current electrical shock. After 7 month follow-up, 24 hours ECG examined every month, sinus rhythm remains. Six-minute walk incresed from 300 m to more than 500 m. LVEDD is 51 cm. LA is 37 cm, EF is 71%. In conclusion, after standard Wolf minimaze operation, AF could recur with 4 PVs complete electrical isolation. Again, after more substrate in left and right was destroyed by endocardial linear ablation, sinus rhythm could remain without AAD. The patient recovers to normal heart function with reversed heart remodeling.