Study of Initial Vorticity Forcing for Block Onset by a 4-Dimensional Variational Approach

With the aid of a global barotropic model, the role of the interaction of the synoptic-scale disturbance and the planetary flow in block onset is examined by a 4-dimensional variational approach. A cost function is defined to measure the squared errors of the forecasted stream functions during block onset period (day 4 and day 5 in this study) over a selected blocking domain. The sensitivity of block onset with respect to the initial synoptic-scale disturbance is studied by examining the gradient of the defined cost function with respect to the initial (during the first 24 hours) vorticity forcing, which is evaluated by the adjoint integration. Furthermore, the calculated cost function and gradient are connected with the limited-memory quasi-Newton optimization algorithm for solving the optimal initial vorticity forcing for block onset. For two studied cases of block onset (northern Atlantic and northern Pacific) introducing the optimal initial vorticity forcing, the nonlinear barotropic advection process mostly reconstructs these blocking onset processes. The results show that the formation of blocking can be correctly described by a barotropic nonlinear advection process, in which the wave- (synoptic-scale) flow (planetary-scale) interaction plays a very important role. On an appropriate planetary-scale flow, a certain synoptic-scale disturbance can cause the blocking onset by the interaction between the synoptic scale perturbations and the planetary scale basic flows. The extended forecasts show that the introduction of the optimal initial vorticity forcing can predict the blocking process up to the 7th or 8th day in this simple model case. The experimental results in this study show that the 4-dimensional variational approach has a good potential to be applied to study the dynamics of the medium-range weather processes. This simple model case study is only an initial trial. Applying the framework in this study to a complex model will further our understanding of the mechanism of the atmospheric/oceanic processes and improve their prediction.

IMPACT OF DIABATIC PROCESSES IN AGCM ON 4-DIMENSIONAL VARIATIONAL DATA ASSIMILATION

The impact of diabatic processes on 4-dimensional variational data assimilation (4D-Var) was studied using the 1995 version of NCEP's global spectral model with and without full physics.The adjoint was coded manually.A cost function measuring spectral errors of 6-hour forecasts to 'observation' (the NCEP reanalysis data) was minimized using the L-BFGS (the limited memory quasi-Newton algorithm developed by Broyden,Fletcher,Goldfard and Shanno) for optimizing parameters and initial conditions.Minimization of the cost function constrained by an adiabatic version of the NCEP global model converged to a minimum with a significant amount of decrease in the value of the cost function.Minimization of the cost function using the diabatic model, however,failed after a few iterations due to discontinuities introduced by physical parameterizations.Examination of the convergence of the cost function in different spectral domains reveals that the large-scale flow is adjusted during the first 10 iterations,in which discontinuous diabatic parameterizations play very little role.The adjustment produced by the minimization gradually moves to relatively smaller scales between 10-20th iterations.During this transition period,discontinuities in the cost function produced by 'on-off' switches in the physical parameterizations caused the cost function to stay in a shallow local minimum instead of continuously decreasing toward a deeper minimum. Next,a mixed 4D-Var scheme is tested in which large-scale flows are first adiabatically adjusted to a sufficient level,followed by a diabatic adjustment introduced after 10 to 20 iterations. The mixed 4D-Var produced a closer fit of analysis to observations,with 38% and 41% more decrease in the values of the cost function and the norm of gradient,respectively,than the standard diabatic 4D-Var,while the CPU time is reduced by 21%.The resulting optimal initial conditions improve the short-range forecast skills of 48-hour statistics.The detrimental effect of parameterization discontinuities on minimization was also reduced.

Hyper Catastrophe on 4-Dimensional Canards

When discovering the potential of canards flying in 4-dimensional slow-fast system with a bifurcation parameter, the key notion “symmetry” plays an important role. It is of one parameter on slow vector field. Then, it should be determined to introduce parameters to all slow/fast vectors. It is, however, there might be no way to explore for another potential in this system, because the geometrical structure is quite different from the system with one parameter. Even in this system, the “symmetry” is also useful to obtain the potentials classified by R. Thom. In this paper, via the coordinates changing, the possible way to explore for the potential will be shown. As it is analyzed on “hyper finite time line”, or done by using “non-standard analysis”, it is called “Hyper Catastrophe”. In the slow-fast system which includes a very small parameter , it is difficult to do precise analysis. Thus, it is useful to get the orbits as a singular limit. When trying to do simulations, it is also faced with difficulty due to singularity. Using very small time intervals corresponding small , we shall overcome the difficulty, because the difference equation on the small time interval adopts the standard differential equation. These small intervals are defined on hyper finite number N, which is nonstandard. As and the intervals are linked to use 1/N, the simulation should be done exactly.

Rainfall Assimilation Using a New Four-Dimensional Variational Method:A Single-Point Observation Experiment

Accurate forecast of rainstorms associated with the mei-yu front has been an important issue for the Chinese economy and society. In July 1998 a heavy rainstorm hit the Yangzi River valley and received widespread attention from the public because it caused catastrophic damage in China. Several numerical studies have shown that many forecast models, including Pennsylvania State University National Center for Atmospheric Research’s fifth-generation mesoscale model （MM5）, failed to simulate the heavy precipitation over the Yangzi River valley. This study demonstrates that with the optimal initial conditions from the dimension-reduced projection four-dimensional variational data assimilation （DRP-4DVar） system, MM5 can successfully reproduce these observed rainfall amounts and can capture many important mesoscale features, including the southwestward shear line and the low-level jet stream. The study also indicates that the failure of previous forecasts can be mainly attributed to the lack of mesoscale details in the initial conditions of the models.

Study and application of an improved four-dimensional variational assimilation system based on the physical-space statistical analysis for the South China Sea

The four-dimensional variational assimilation(4D-Var)has been widely used in meteorological and oceanographic data assimilation.This method is usually implemented in the model space,known as primal approach(P4D-Var).Alternatively,physical space analysis system(4D-PSAS)is proposed to reduce the computation cost,in which the 4D-Var problem is solved in physical space(i.e.,observation space).In this study,the conjugate gradient(CG)algorithm,implemented in the 4D-PSAS system is evaluated and it is found that the non-monotonic change of the gradient norm of 4D-PSAS cost function causes artificial oscillations of cost function in the iteration process.The reason of non-monotonic variation of gradient norm in 4D-PSAS is then analyzed.In order to overcome the non-monotonic variation of gradient norm,a new algorithm,Minimum Residual(MINRES)algorithm,is implemented in the process of assimilation iteration in this study.Our experimental results show that the improved 4D-PSAS with the MINRES algorithm guarantees the monotonic reduction of gradient norm of cost function,greatly improves the convergence properties of 4D-PSAS as well,and significantly restrains the numerical noises associated with the traditional 4D-PSAS system.

Trend and seasonal variations of atmospheric CH_4 in Beijing

The atmospheric CH\-4 in Beijing is still increasing, even though its increasing rate has significantly decreased from 1.76%/a during 1985—1989 to 0.50%/a during 1990—1997. The seasonal variation of CH\-4 concentration showed a double\|peak pattern, one peak appearing in winter and the other in summer. It is evident that the annually seasonal variations of atmospheric CH\-4 in Beijing are different. From 1986 to 1997, the atmospheric CH\-4 increased by 185 ppbv, 37% and 21% of which were due to the increase in winter and in summer, respectively. After 1993, the annually seasonal increasing rate of CH\-4 concentration in summer (due to emission from biogenic sources) is negative while the increasing rate in winter (due to emission from non\|biogenic sources) is positive about 25 ppbv/a. As a result, the increase of CH\-4 emission from non\|biogenic sources in winter is the major reason that caused the annually seasonal increasing rate from 1993 to 1997. The biogenic sources in Beijing are shrinking while the non\|biogenic ones (such as fossil fuel combustion) are enlarging.

Genetic variations in the SMAD4 gene and gastric cancer susceptibility

AIM:To explore the association between mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (SMAD4) gene polymorphisms and gastric cancer risk.METHODS:Five tagging single nucleotide polymor-phisms (tSNPs) in the SMAD4 gene were selected and genotyped in 322 gastric cancer cases and 351 cancerfree controls in a Chinese population by using the polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism method.Immunohistochemistry was used to examine SMAD4 protein expression in 10 normal gastric tissues adjacent to tumors.RESULTS:In the single-locus analysis,two significantly decreased risk polymorphisms for gastric cancer were observed:the SNP3 rs17663887 TC genotype (adjusted odds ratio=0.38,95% confidence interval:0.21-0.71),compared with the wild-type TT genotype and the SNP5 rs12456284 GG genotype (0.31,0.16-0.60),and with the wild-type AA genotype.In the combined analyses of these two tSNPs,the combined genotypes with 2-3 protective alleles (SNP3 C and SNP5 G allele) had a significantly decreased risk of gastric cancer (0.28,0.16-0.49) than those with 0-1 protective allele.Furthermore,individuals with 0-1 protective allele had significantly decreased SMAD4 protein expression levels in the norma tissues adjacent to tumors than those with 2-3 protective alleles (P=0.025).CONCLUSION:These results suggest that genetic variants in the SMAD4 gene play a protective role in gastric cancer in a Chinese population.

Seasonal Variations of CH_4 Emissions in the Yangtze River Delta Region of China Are Driven by Agricultural Activities

Developed regions of the world represent a major atmospheric methane(CH_4) source,but these regional emissions remain poorly constrained.The Yangtze River Delta(YRD) region of China is densely populated(about 16% of China's total population) and consists of large anthropogenic and natural CH_4 sources.Here,atmospheric CH_4 concentrations measured at a 70-m tall tower in the YRD are combined with a scale factor Bayesian inverse(SFBI) modeling approach to constrain seasonal variations in CH_4 emissions.Results indicate that in 2018 agricultural soils(AGS,rice production) were the main driver of seasonal variability in atmospheric CH_4 concentration.There was an underestimation of emissions from AGS in the a priori inventories(EDGAR—Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research v432 or v50),especially during the growing seasons.Posteriori CH_4 emissions from AGS accounted for 39%(4.58 Tg,EDGAR v432) to 47%(5.21 Tg,EDGAR v50) of the total CH_4 emissions.The posteriori natural emissions(including wetlands and water bodies) were1.21 Tg and 1.06 Tg,accounting for 10.1%(EDGAR v432) and 9.5%(EDGAR v50) of total emissions in the YRD in2018.Results show that the dominant factor for seasonal variations in atmospheric concentration in the YRD was AGS,followed by natural sources.In summer,AGS contributed 42%(EDGAR v432) to 64%(EDGAR v50) of the CH_4 concentration enhancement while natural sources only contributed about 10%(EDGAR v50) to 15%(EDGAR v432).In addition,the newer version of the EDGAR product(EDGAR v50) provided more reasonable seasonal distribution of CH_4 emissions from rice cultivation than the old version(EDGAR v432).

Effect of CO_2 on the structural variation of Na_2WO_4/Mn/SiO_2 catalyst for oxidative coupling of methane to ethylene

In this work,the influence of CO2 on the structural variation and catalytic performance of Na2WO4/Mn/Si O2 for oxidative coupling of methane to ethylene was investigated. The catalyst was prepared by impregnation method and characterized by XRD,Raman and XPS techniques. Appropriate amount of CO2 in the reactant gases enhanced the formation of surface tetrahedral Na2WO4 species and promoted the migration of O in MOx,Na,W from the catalyst bulk to surface,which were favorable for oxidative coupling of methane. When the molar ratio of CH4/O2/CO2 was 3/1/2,enriched surface tetrahedral Na2WO4 species and high surface concentration of O in MOx,Na,W were detected,and then high CH4 conversion of 33.1% and high C2H4 selectivity of 56.2% were obtained. With further increase of CO2 in the reagent gases,the content of active surface tetrahedral Na2WO4 species and surface concentration of O in MOx,Na,W decreased,while that of inactive species（Mn WO4 and Mn2O3） increased dramatically,leading to low CH4 conversion and low C2H4 selectivity. It could be speculated that Na2WO4 crystal was transformed into Mn WO4 crystal with excessive CO2 added under the reaction conditions. Pretreatment of Na2WO4/Mn/Si O2 catalyst by moderate amount of CO2 before OCM also promoted the formation of Na2WO4 species.

The Spatial and Temporal Variation Characteristics of CH₄and CO₂Emission Flux under Different Land Use Types in the Yellow River Delta Wetland

The Yellow River Delta Wetland is one of the youngest wetlands, and also the most complete, extensive wetlands in China. The wetland in this delta is ecologically important due to their hydrologic attributes and their roles as ecotones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In the study, the spatial and temporal variation characteristics of CH4 and CO2 emission flux under five kinds of land use types in the wetland were investigated. The results indicated that the greenhouse gas emission flux, especially the CO2 and CH4, showed distinctly spatial and temporal variation under different land use types in the wetland. In the spring, the emission flux of CO2 was higher than that of CO2 in the autumn, and appeared negative in HW3 and HW4 in the autumn. CH4 emission flux of HW4 and HW5 was negative in the spring and autumn, which indicated that the CH4 emission process was net absorption. Among the five kinds of land use types, the CO2 emission flux of HW4 discharged the largest emission flux reaching 29.3 mg.m-2.h-1, but the CH4 emission flux of HW2 discharged the largest emission flux reaching 0.15 mg.m-2.h-1. From the estuary to the inland, the emission flux of CO2 was decreased at first and then appeared increasing trend, but the emission flux of CH4 was contrary to CO2.

Relationship Between Gene-Phenotype and Clinical Manifestations of Chromosomal Copy Number Variations Indicated by Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing

Objective:To analyze the clinical value of non-invasive prenatal testing(NIPT)in detecting chromosomal copy number variations(CNVs)and to explore the relationship between gene expression and clinical manifestations of chromosomal copy number variations.Methods:3551 naturally conceived singleton pregnant women who underwent NIPT were included in this study.The NIPT revealed abnormalities other than sex chromosome abnormalities and trisomy 13,18,and 21.Pregnant women with chromosome copy number variations underwent genetic counseling and prenatal ultrasound examination.Interventional prenatal diagnosis and chromosome microarray analysis(CMA)were performed.The clinical phenotypes and pregnancy outcomes of different prenatal diagnoses were analyzed.Additionally,a follow-up was conducted by telephone to track fetal development after birth,at six months,and one year post-birth.Results:A total of 53 cases among 3551 cases showed chromosomal copy number variation.Interventional prenatal diagnosis was performed in 36 cases:27 cases were negative and 8 were consistent with the NIPT test results.This indicates that NIPT’s positive predictive value(PPV)in CNVs is 22.22%.Conclusion:NIPT has certain clinical significance in screening chromosome copy number variations and is expected to become a routine screening for chromosomal microdeletions and microduplications.However,further interventional prenatal diagnosis is still needed to identify fetal CNVs.

Diagnostic Performance and Inter-Observer Agreement of 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography Parathyroid Scans in Patients with Primary and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

Background: 4D-CT has been used to localize the parathyroid adenomas and hyperplasia since 2006 as a second line study after TC-99 m MIBI and ultrasonography. However, multiple studies have shown that 4D-CT is a robust imaging method with high diagnostic accuracy, becoming increasingly popular among surgeons and radiologists. Purpose: To assess the diagnostic performance of 4D-CT scans to identify the pathologic gland(s), using pathology and intraoperative findings as gold standards. Methods: We analyzed patients with primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism who had intraoperative reports, pathology, parathyroid hormone levels, and preoperative 4D-CT. Histology, surgical findings, and decreased parathyroid hormone levels were used as gold standards. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy and 95% confidence interval were calculated. Fleiss’ kappa was used to assess the inter-observer agreement. Results: Sixty-seven patients were included. Sixty-two patients had a single adenoma, and five patients had a multiple gland disease (adenomas or hyperplasia). A total of 72 glands were proven to have parathyroid adenomas or hyperplasia. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy are 85%, 97%, 96%, 87% and 91% for lateralization and 76%, 96%, 85%, 92% and 90% for quadrant localization, respectively in single-gland disease. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy are 88%, 100%, 100%, 50% and 90% for lateralization and 71%, 100%, 100%, 60% and 80% for quadrant localization respectively in multiple-gland disease. Fleiss’ kappa value is 5.6 (moderate inter-observer agreement). Conclusion: 4D-CT is a robust method in the localization of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands with high accuracy and at least moderate inter-observer agreement.

The Realization of 4-dimensional 3-Lie Algebras

In this paper, we mainly investigate the realization of 3-Lie algebras from a family of Lie algebras. We prove the realization theorem, offer a concrete example realizing all type of 4-dimensional 3-Lie algebras, and also give some properties about semi-simple n-Lie algebras.

Numerical Simulation of Flow Behavior in Basilar Bifurcation Aneurysms Based on 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography Angiography

Initiation, growth, and rupture of cerebral aneurysms are caused by hemodynamic factors. It is extensively accepted that the cerebral aneurysm wall is assumed to be rigid using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Furthermore, fluid-structure interactions have been recently applied for simulation of an elastic cerebral aneurysm model. Herein, we examined cerebral aneurysm hemodynamics in a realistic moving boundary deformation model based on 4-dimensional computed tomographic angiography (4D-CTA) obtained by high time-resolution using numerical simulation. The aneurysm of the realistic moving deformation model based on 4D-CTA at each phase was constructed. The effect of small wall deformation on hemodynamic characteristics might be interested. So, four hemodynamic factors (wall shear stress, wall shear stress divergence, oscillatory shear index and residual residence time) were determined from the numerical simulation, and their behaviors were assessed in the basilar bifurcation aneurysm.

Interactions of chemical carcinogens and genetic variation in hepatocellular carcinoma

In the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in addition to hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections, chemical carcinogens also play important roles. For example, aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) epoxide reacts with guanine in DNA and can lead to genetic changes. In HCC, the tumor suppressor gene p53 codon 249 mutation is associated with AFB 1 exposure and mutations in the K -ras oncogene are related to vinyl chloride exposure. Numerous genetic alterations accumulate during the process of hepatocarcinogenesis. Chemical carcinogen DNA-adduct formation is the basis for these genetic changes and also a molecular marker which reflects exposure level and biological effects. Metabolism of chemical carcinogens, including their activation and detoxification, also plays a key role in chemical hepatocarcinogenesis. Cytochrome p450 enzymes, N -acetyltransferases and glutathione S -transferases are involved in activating and detoxifying chemical carcinogens. These enzymes are polymorphic and genetic variation influences biological response to chemical carcinogens. This genetic variation has been postulated to influence the variability in risk for HCC observed both within and across populations. Ongoing studies seek to fully understand the mechanisms by which genetic variation in response to chemical carcinogens impacts on HCC risk.

Seasonal variations of sulfur aerosols at Zhongshan Station, East Antarctica

Observations of atmospheric methane-sulfonic acid（MSA） and non-sea-salt sulfate（nss-SO4^2-） from December 2010 to November 2011 at Zhongshan Station are presented in this paper. MSA and nss-SO4^2- average concentrations were 24.2 ± 37.9 ng·m^-3（0.5-158.3 ng·m^-3） and 53.0 ± 82.6 ng·m^-3（not detected [n.d.]） - 395.4 ng·m^-3）, respectively. Strong seasonal variations of MSA and nss-SO4^2-, with maxima in austral summer and minima in winter, were examined. The high concentrations of sulfur compounds in December may be attributed the dimethyl sulfide（DMS） emissions from the marginal ice zone, when open water near the sampling site was important in impacting the sulfur species of January and February at Zhongshan Station. In austral winter, there was almost no phytoplanktonic activity in offshore waters, and atmospheric sulfur compounds likely had long-range transport sources.

Seasonal and Spatial Variation of Radiative Effects of Anthropogenic Sulfate Aerosol

On the basis of the emission data of the industrial sulphur dioxide (SO_2) and observed climate fields over East Asia, the distribution of anthropogenic sulfate aerosol(SO_4~2-) with seasonal variation in the troposphere is simulated and analyzed by a regional sulfur transport model, and the direct radiative effects of SO_4~2- under different weather conditions are also calculated using the discrete ordinate method. The results show that the concentration of SO_4~2- has significant seasonal and spatial variations resulting from the effects of SO_2 emission source and precipitation and wind fields. Both the concentration of SO_2 and its radiative forcing have the largest values in October and the lowest in July. SO_4~2- causes the decrease of the radiation flux absorbed by earth-atmosphere and the cooling of air temperature by scattering more solar radiation back into space. Besides, the radiative and climatic effects of SO_4~2- are related to the types and height and optical thickness, etc., of the clouds.

VARIATIONAL METHOD AND COMPUTATION FOR H_∞ CONTROL

The variational approach is further applied to the measurement feedback H ∞ control problems. Based on the induced norm description of the system Γ,the variational functionals J c and J p of state feedback H ∞ control for the future time interval (t,t f ], and of H ∞ filter for the past time interval [0,t), respectively, are combined together to generate the variational functional of the measurement feedback for the whole time interval [0,t f ]. The connection condition at the present time t is that the estimated state vector (t) must be continuously extended to be the initial condition of the future state vector estimation. Another connection condition for the dual vector λ(t) can be naturally derived from the variational principle. The equations thus derived show that the third condition for the optimal parameter γ -2 cr is again a bound of the smallest Rayleigh quotient. Therefore, the precise integration method developed formerly to determine the optimal parameter γ -2 cr of H ∞ control and of H ∞ filter respectively can be further applied to the determination of the optimal parameter.

Finite-Size Scaling Analysis of a Three-Dimensional Blume-Capel Model in the Presence of External Magnetic Field

The Blume-Capel model in the presence of external magnetic field H has been simulated using a cellular automaton algorithm improved from the Creutz cellular automaton in three-dimension lattice. The field critical exponent 5 is estimated using the power law relations and the finite size scaling functions for the magnetization and the susceptibility in the range -0.1≤ h = H/J ≤0. The estimated value of the field critical exponent 5 is in good agreement with the universal value （δ = 5） in three dimensions. The simulations are carried out on a simple cubic lattice under periodic boundary conditions.

The 5-dimensional model for electromagnetism and gravity

The generalization of Einstein’s special theory of relativity (SRT) is proposed. In this model, the possibility of unification of scalar gravity and electromagnetism into a single unified field is considered. Formally, the generalization of the SRT is that instead of (1+3)-dimensional Minkowski space the (1+4)-dimensional extension G is considered. As the fifth additional coordinate the interval S is used. This value is saved under the usual Lorentz transformations in Minkowski space M, but it changes when the transformations in the extended space G are used. We call this model the extended space model (ESM). From a physical point of view, our expansion means that processes in which the rest mass of the particles changes are acceptable now. If the rest mass of a particle does not change and the physical quantities do not depend on an additional variable S, then the electromagnetic and gravitational fields exist independently of each other. But if the rest mass is variable and there is a dependence on S, then these two fields are combined into a single unified field. In the extended space model a photon can have a nonzero mass and this mass can be either positive or negative. In this model the 5- vectors which components correspond to energy, pulse and mass of a particle are isotropic both for massive and massless particles. The rotations in the (1+4) dimensional extended space G can transform massive particles into massless and vice versa.