Effects of Surface Flux Parameterization on the Numerically Simulated Intensity and Structure of Typhoon Morakot(2009)

The effects of surface flux parameterizations on tropical cyclone（TC） intensity and structure are investigated using the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting（WRF-ARW） modeling system with high-resolution simulations of Typhoon Morakot（2009）.Numerical experiments are designed to simulate Typhoon Morakot（2009） with different formulations of surface exchange coefficients for enthalpy（C_K） and momentum（C_D） transfers,including those from recent observational studies based on in situ aircraft data collected in Atlantic hurricanes.The results show that the simulated intensity and structure are sensitive to C_K and C_D,but the simulated track is not.Consistent with previous studies,the simulated storm intensity is found to be more sensitive to the ratio of C_K/C_D than to C_K or C_D alone.The pressure-wind relationship is also found to be influenced by the exchange coefficients,consistent with recent numerical studies.This paper emphasizes the importance of C_D and C_K on TC structure simulations.The results suggest that C_D and C_K have a large impact on surface wind and flux distributions,boundary layer heights,the warm core,and precipitation.Compared to available observations,the experiment with observed C_D and C_K generally simulated better intensity and structure than the other experiments,especially over the ocean.The reasons for the structural differences among the experiments with different C_D and C_K setups are discussed in the context of TC dynamics and thermodynamics.

A mixed method analysis of patients' complaints: Underpinnings of theory-guided strategies to improve quality of care

Purpose:Patients'complaints can be predictors of patient care quality and safety.Understanding patients'complaints could help healthcare organizations target the areas for improvements.The purpose of this study is to use a mixed method analysis to a)examine the characteristics and categories of patients'complaints,b)explore the relationships of patients'complaints with professions and units,and c)propose theory-based strategies to improve care quality.Methods:This is a descriptive mixed method study.Data examined are patients'complaints filed at a university-affiliated hospital in China from January 2016 to December 2017.A qualitative content analysis was conducted to categorize complaints.A TwoStep cluster analysis was performed to provide an overall profile of patients'complaints.Chi-Square tests were conducted to investigate the relationships among complaints,professions,and units.Results:838 complaints were filed,with 821 valid cases for analysis.Six categories surfaced from the qualitative analysis:uncaring attitudes,unsatisfactory quality of treatment or competence,communication problems,the process of care,fees and billing issues,and other miscellaneous causes.Physicians received most of the complaints(56.6%).The unit receiving the most complaints were outpatient clinics and medical support units(52.7%).The cluster analysis indicated four distinct clusters.Significant relationships existed between complaints and professions(x2(20)=178.82,P<0.01),and between complaints and units(x2(15)=42.72,P<0.01).Conclusions:Patients'complaints are valuable sources for quality improvements.Healthcare providers should be not only scientifically knowledgeable,but also humanistic caring.Caring-based theories may provide guidance in clinical practice.

Isolation and characterization of a high-efficiency marine diesel oil-degrading bacterium

In the recent 50 years,marine oil spills had resulted in severe environmental pollution problems worldwide.In this study,12 petroleum-degrading strains named MJ1 to MJ12,which can use diesel oil as the sole carbon source for growth,were isolated from the seawater in Jiaozhou Bay,China.Strain MJ4 has the highest diesel-degrading rate which is up to 26.54%in 5 days with the diesel oil concentration of 10 g/L.According to the BLAST research,16SrRNA sequence of MJ4 showed 99%similarity to Bacillus megaterium strain.Single-factor experiments and response surface methodology were carried out to optimize the environmental factors and their reciprocal action for affecting the diesel oil degradation process of Bacillus sp.MJ4.Results of single-factor experiments revealed that the highest degradation rate was obtained with temperature of 28°C,pH of 8.8,diesel oil concentration of 25 g/L,P/N ratio of 0.56,nitrogen and phosphorus dosage quantity of 0.35 g/L and 0.18 g/L,respectively.A nonlinear regression equation of diesel oil degradation rate and pH,temperature,P/N ratio was obtained.The model predicted the maximum degradation rate of 72.21%with temperature of 28°C,pH of 8.88,P/N ratio of 0.31,respectively.

Low-dose fractionated radiation reverses cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells via PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling

Objective To investigate whether low-dose fractionated radiation(LDFRT) could enhance cisplatin sensitivity in drug-resistant human ovarian cancer cells SKOV3/DDP, and to further explore the underlying mechanism.Methods SKOV3/DDP ovarian cancer cells were divided into three groups as follows: control, LDFRT, and conventional-dose radiation groups. Cells from all three groups were treated with different concentrations of cisplatin(0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 μg/m L) for 48 h. The proliferation inhibition rate was investigated using the cell counting kit 8(CCK8). The rate of apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry(FCM). Protein levels of AKT, P-AKT, GSK-3β, P-GSK-3β, P21, cyclin D1, and P27 were examined by Western blotting. Results As expected, LDFRT significantly reduced the half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50) of cisplatin and promoted apoptosis in SKOV3/DDP cells. Moreover, in the LDFRT group, protein levels of P-AKT, P-GSK-3β, and cyclin D1 were markedly decreased, those of P21 and P27 were greatly increased, and total AKT and GSK-3β levels showed no significant difference compared to those in both the control and conventional-dose radiation groups.Conclusion LDFRT sensitizes resistant SKOV3/DDP ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin through inactivation of PI3 K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling.

冷热电三联供系统的发展现状和应用综述

冷热电三联供系统(CCHP)是分布式能源系统中非常重要的形式之一,因在能耗、经济和环境等方面的显著综合效益,近年受到国内外的广泛关注和应用。本文对冷热电三联供系统的现状、工作原理和性能、发展趋势和前景进行了综述,为我国冷热电三联供技术的发展提供参考。

Rapid aerobic granulation using biochar for the treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater

Aerobic granular sludge technology has great potential for the treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater.However,strategies to shorten the granulation time and improvement the stability still need to be developed.In this work,biochar was prepared from waste petroleum activated sludge(biochar-WPS) and used in a sequencing batch reactor for the treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater.Biochar-WPS presented the surface area of 229.77 m2/g,pore volume of 0.28 cm3/g,H/C and O/C atomic ratios of 0.42 and 0.21,respectively.The porous structure and a high degree of hydrophilicity were found to facilitate microbial colonization and adhesion as well as particle aggregation.Application of biochar-WPS resulted in the formation of more substantial and stable aerobic granules(~66% of granules> 0.46 mm diameter) 15 days earlier compared with the control.The addition of biochar-WPS enhanced the average removal efficiency of chemical organic demand(~3%),oil(~4%)and total nitrogen(~10%) over the control.Increased microbial richness and diversity were observed within the formed granules and had an increased(~4%) proportion of denitrifying bacteria.These results indicate that an aerobic granulation mechanism using biochar-WPS is a feasible option for the treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater.

The Evolution of Microphysical Structures and Cloud-to-Ground Lightning in a Deep Compact Thunderstorm over the Nanjing Area

In this study,we examine the dynamics and microphysical structures of a deep compact thunderstorm event driving cloud-to-ground(CG)lightning over the Nanjing area located within the Yangtze-Huai River Basin(YHRB)during the monsoon break period.The microphysical structures combined with the dynamics in the glaciated,mixed-phase,and warm-phase layers during the formative,intensifying,and mature stages of the thunderstorm were first investigated using C-band polarimetric radar and CG lightning observations.The results show that the mature phase of the thunderstorm produced a local cold pool,which collided with a southerly warm wind,resulting in a strong updraft.The strong updraft favored the lifting of raindrops to the mixed-phase region to form abundant supercooled liquid water and graupel.From the formative stage to the developing stage and further to the mature stage,increased ZH-and reduced ZDR-values within the mixed-phase region are found,especially within the strong updraft region(>5 m s^(-1)).This phenomenon suggests that supercooled raindrops evolved into large hydrometeors(graupel and hail),indicative of a strong riming process.The signatures within this region are consistent with a favorable environment for thunderstorm electrification and generate the most frequent lightning during the thunderstorm life cycle.

Relationship between thyroid hormones and metabolic syndrome in a normal thyroid function population in Western China:a cross-sectional study based on both epidemiological and genetic analysis

To the Editor:Metabolic syndrome(MetS)is defined as a set of metabolic disorders including abdominal obesity,hyperglycemia,hypertension,and dyslipidemia.[1]As thyroid hormones are essential for cellular energy homeostasis and regulation,the levels of serum thyroid hormones are considered to be associated with various metabolic parameters.Over the past decade,the association between thyroid hormones and MetS has been extensively studied in euthyroid subjects,leading to inconsistent results.Some studies suggested that a high level of thyrotropin(TSH)contributed to the increased incidence of MetS or unfavorable metabolic parameters,whereas other studies found no such correlation.Moreover,some researches have shown that free thyroxin(FT4)levels were inversely proportional to various unfavorable metabolic parameters or MetS,while other studies suggested that FT4 levels have no such association or even a positive association with some unfavorable metabolic components after adjustment.These conflicting results may result from different designs,settings,race,exclusion criteria,adjustments,statistical analyses,and definitions of MetS and population iodine intake.Based on these,our study aimed to evaluate the association and causal relationship between thyroid hormones and MetS in people with normal thyroid function through standard epidemiological and Mendelian randomization analysis.