Simulation of Quasi-Linear Mesoscale Convective Systems in Northern China：Lightning Activities and Storm Structure

Two intense quasi-linear mesoscale convective systems（QLMCSs） in northern China were simulated using the WRF（Weather Research and Forecasting） model and the 3D-Var（three-dimensional variational） analysis system of the ARPS（Advanced Regional Prediction System） model.A new method in which the lightning density is calculated using both the precipitation and non-precipitation ice mass was developed to reveal the relationship between the lightning activities and QLMCS structures.Results indicate that,compared with calculating the results using two previous methods,the lightning density calculated using the new method presented in this study is in better accordance with observations.Based on the calculated lightning densities using the new method,it was found that most lightning activity was initiated on the right side and at the front of the QLMCSs,where the surface wind field converged intensely.The CAPE was much stronger ahead of the southeastward progressing QLMCS than to the back it,and their lightning events mainly occurred in regions with a large gradient of CAPE.Comparisons between lightning and non-lightning regions indicated that lightning regions featured more intense ascending motion than non-lightning regions;the vertical ranges of maximum reflectivity between lightning and non-lightning regions were very different;and the ice mixing ratio featured no significant differences between the lightning and non-lightning regions.

Are the two polymorphic sites of anti-Marek’s disease in White Leghorn chickens also suitable for Partridge Shank chickens?

Background:The selection of Marek’s disease(MD)-resistant breeds in Partridge Shank chicken,a popular local chicken breed in Henan Province of China,has practical value.We hypothesized that the two polymorphic sites(rs14527240 located in SMOC1 and GGaluGA156129 located in PTPN3)related to MD resistance in White Leghorn chickens are also applicable to Partridge Shank chickens.Methods:In this experiment,we screened 10 live hens and 2 live roosters with the double GG genotype by genotyping the two sites from 6500 Partridge Shank chickens.Nineteen one-day-old chicks with the double GG genotype were obtained by artificial insemination.Seventy-two one-day-old chickens(19 from the population expansion test and 53 randomly selected from chicken farms)were injected with 2000 plaque-forming units of the Md5 virus strain.After 100 days of infection,all chickens were examined by pathological anatomical examination,histological sectioning,genotyping,and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction of SMOC1 and PTPN3.Results:There was only one site(rs14527240 located in SMOC1)associated with MD in Partridge Shank chickens(p<0.05),but the GG genotype of SMOC1 in Partridge Shank chickens indicated susceptibility to MD.SMOC1 expression in MD-susceptible chickens was also significantly higher than that in MDresistant chickens(p<0.05).Conclusion:Therefore,the MD resistance sites selected from White Leghorn chickens were not completely suitable for Partridge Shank chickens,but they can be used as a reference.This study indicated that SMOC1 plays an important role in screening for MD resistance in poultry.

Quality of information disclosure, property rights, and bank loans: A bank heterogeneity perspective

Using the context of the financial reform and the development of the non-state sector in China in the past decade, we examine the roles that the quality of information disclosure and property rights play in the allocation of different types of bank credit. We find that foreign banks and policy banks exercise ‘‘financial discrimination," and that local commercial banks, large state- owned commercial banks, national joint-stock banks, local city commercial banks, and rural commercial banks not only exercise financial discrimination but also provide significant ‘‘financial support" to non-state-owned enterprises by providing more lending opportunities and larger loans. However, when enterprises commit information disclosure violations, the local commercial banks, national joint-stock banks, local city commercial banks, and rural commercial banks reverse their credit decisions and begin to exercise financial dis- crimination against non-state-owned enterprises. At the same time, large stateowned commercial banks continue to provide financial support to non-state-owned enterprises. We also find that the quality of the information disclosed by enterprises has a moderating effect rather than an intermediary effect on the relationship between property rights and bank loans. Overall, the results of this paper shine new light on the market-oriented reform of the banking industry, and provide new empirical evidence for the presence of financial discrimination in the supply of bank credit. Our findings also have practical implications for solving the financing difficulties of non-state-owned enterprises.

A semi-idealized modeling study on the long-lived eastward propagating mesoscale convective system over the Tibetan Plateau

Based on a 16-warm-season statistical study on the mesoscale convective systems(MCSs)that were generated over the Tibetan Plateau(TP),11 long-lived eastward propagating MCSs of the same type were selected for a composite semiidealized simulation and a corresponding no-latent-heating sensitivity run by using the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF)model.Common evolutionary features and associated mechanisms of this type of long-lived eastward propagating MCS were investigated.Main results are as follows:(i)This type of MCS was generated in a favorable background environment which was characterized by a notable upper-tropospheric divergence south of an upper-level jet,a strong warm advection around a middle-level shortwave trough’s central area,and an instable convective stratification below the trough.Development of the MCS featured rapid increase of cyclonic vorticity in the middle and lower troposphere.The convergence-related vertical stretching and tilting were key factors for the cyclonic-vorticity’s production,and convection-related upward cyclonic-vorticity transport contributed to the upward extending of the MCS.(ii)During the vacating stage of the MCS,it first coupled with a quasistationary Tibetan Plateau vortex(TPV)over the TP’s eastern section,and then decoupled from the vortex.In the former stage,the MCS contributed to maintaining ascending motions and convergence associated with the TPV,which favored its persistence;whereas,in the latter stage,decoupling weakened the TPV-associated convection significantly.This reduced the upward transport of cyclonic vorticity notably,which,together with the negative tilting effect,finally led to the vortex’s dissipation.(iii)After vacating TP,the MCS first weakened due to the disappearance of strong direct sensible heating from the TP on its bottom,and then,under the favorable conditions associated with the shortwave trough over the eastern section of the TP,the MCS redeveloped rapidly.Convergence-related cyclonic-vorticity production in the middle and lower troposphere and upward transport of cyclonic vorticity due to convection governed the MCS’s redevelopment.(iv)Sensitivity simulation shows that latent heating was a necessary condition for the formation and development of the long-lived eastward propagating MCS.On the one hand,this MCS affected the TP’s eastern section and downstream regions directly by inducing precipitation;and on the other hand,it exerted effects on the precipitation over a wider range in the downstream regions by modulating large-scale circulations over and around the TP.

Synthesis and optical properties of novel Gd^(3+)-doped BaZn_(2)(PO_(4))_(2)glass-ceramics for radiation detection applications

45 P_(2)O_(5)-15 BaO-25 ZnO-15 B2O_(3)glasses doped with different concentrations(0 mol%,0.1 mol%,0.25 mol%,0.5 mol%,and 0.75 mol%)of Gd^(3+)were prepared by a melt-quenching method and treated to fabricate glass-ceramics containing BaZn_(2)(PO_(4))_(2)crystals by controllable crystallization.The structural,optical,and dosimetric properties were investigated.FTIR spectra indicate that the glasses are composed of[PO_(4)],[BO_(3)],and[BO_(4)]basic structural units.The XRD pattern analysis indicates that the samples contain BaZn_(2)(PO_(4))_(2)crystals.In the photoluminesce nce(PL)spectra,two emission bands are observed at 307 and 313 nm due to the^(6)P_(5/2)→^(8)S_(7/2)and^(6)P_(7/2)→^(8)S_(7/2)transitions of Gd^(3+),respectively.The OSL dosimetric properties of glass-ceramics were studied further under beta radiation of90Sr.The optimal Gd^(3+)doping concentration of 0.5 mol%was determined.The fading of the OSL signal shows that the CW-OSL signal of Gd^(3+)-doped BaZn_(2)(PO_(4))_(2)glass-ceramics decays by about 58.95%within120 h,and the intensity remains stable thereafter.The thermoluminescence(TL)curve has three peaks at 164,240,and 344℃.Minimum detectable dose(MDD)of the 0.5 mol%Gd^(3+)-doped BaZn_(2)(PO_(4))_(2)glass-ceramics was calculated as 0.675 mGy.The samples also exhibit good signal reusability and a broad linear dose-response range(0.3-500 Gy).Results show the excellent dosimetric properties of Gd^(3+)-doped BaZn_(2)(PO_(4))_(2)glass-ceramics and their potential application in radiation dosimetry.