Quantifying River Bank Erosion and Accretion Patterns along the Gorai River in Kushtia, Bangladesh: A Geospatial Analysis Utilizing GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques

River bank erosion is a natural process that occurs when the water flow of a river exceeds the bank’s ability to withstand it. It is a common phenomenon that causes extensive land damage, displacement of people, loss of crops, and infrastructure damage. The Gorai River, situated on the right bank of the Ganges, is a significant branch of the river that flows into the Bay of Bengal via the Mathumati and Baleswar rivers. The erosion of the banks of the Gorai River in Kushtia district is not a recent occurrence. Local residents have been dealing with this issue for the past hundred years, and according to the elderly members of the community, the erosion has become more severe activities. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to quantify river bank erosion and accretion and bankline shifting from 2003 to 2022 using multi-temporal Landsat images data with GIS and remote sensing technique. Bank-line migration occurs as a result of the interplay and interconnectedness of various factors such as the degree of river-related processes such as erosion, transportation, and deposition, the amount of water in the river during the high season, the geological and soil makeup, and human intervention in the river. The results show that the highest eroded area was 4.6 square kilometers during the period of 2016 to 2019, while the highest accreted area was 7.12 square kilometers during the period of 2013 to 2016. However, the erosion and accretion values fluctuated from year to year.

Subterranean Origin of Accreted Lapilli in Cone-Sheets of the Houshihushan Sub-Volcanic Ring Complex, Shanhaiguan, China

In addition to syenite ring dykes and multiple alkaline granite stocks, the sub-volcanic Houshihushan alkaline ring complex near Shanhaiguan, Qinhuangdao City, contains cone-sheets of two types： a majority filled with granite porphyry and a minority filled with quartz syenite porphyry. Many cone sheets show evidence of multiple magma intrusion events. Some granite porphyry sheets＇ multiple chilled margins display magmatic roll structures indicating that turbulent magma flowed up the fractures. In one upward-closing cone-sheet K-feldspar phenocrysts floated up through fluid granite porphyry magma and became concentrated at the top providing direct evidence of shallow-level crystal fractionation, confirmed by published rock analyses. Accreted lapilli with K-feldspar crystal cores occur only in the inner parts of a minority of cone-sheets and field relationships indicate that they must have formed beneath the ground surface. Similar lapilli occur in erupted ignimbrites preserved in the collapsed caldera. Voids between lapilli in cone-sheets indicate the presence of volumes of gas below the surface that could have flowed upwards as fast-moving hot gas streams. We propose a mechanism of formation that began with subterranean magmatic rolls with K-feldspar crystal cores that formed on dyke walls, and became detached. Then they were caught up in rising gas streams and erupted at the surface. Thus accreted lapilli formed underground, were erupted along with blobs of fluid glass in escaping gases, and transported over the surface in nuées ardentes, to settle and cool as ignimbrite flows.

Variability of Young Stellar Objects in the Perseus Molecular Cloud

We present an analysis of 288 young stellar objects(YSOs)in the Perseus molecular cloud that have well defined g and r-band lightcurves from the Zwicky Transient Facility.Of the 288 YSOs,238 sources(83%of our working sample)are identified as variables based on the normalized peak-to-peak variability metric,with variability fraction of 92%for stars with disks and 77%for the diskless populations.These variables are classified into different categories using the quasiperiodicity(Q)and flux asymmetry(M)metrics.Fifty-three variables are classified as strictly periodic objects that are well phased and can be attributed to spot modulated stellar rotation.We also identify 22 bursters and 25 dippers,which can be attributed to accretion burst and variable extinction,respectively.YSOs with disks tend to have asymmetric and non-repeatable lightcurves,while the YSOs without disks tend to have(quasi)periodic lightcurves.The periodic variables have the steepest change in g versus g-r,while bursters have much flatter changes than dippers in g versus g-r.Periodic and quasiperiodic variables display the lowest variability amplitude.Simple models suggest that the variability amplitudes of periodic variables correspond to changes of the spot coverage of 30%-40%,burster variables are attributed to accretion luminosity changes in the range of L_(acc)/L_(*)=0.1-0.3,and dippers are due to variable extinction with A_(V)changes in the range of 0.5-1.3 mag.

The Spin Measurement of MAXI J0637-430:a Black Hole Candidate with High Disk Density

The Galactic black hole candidate MAXI J0637-430 was first discovered by MAXI/GSC on 2019 November 2.We study the spectral properties of MAXI J0637-430 by using the archived NuSTAR data and Swift/XRT data.After fitting the eight spectra by using a disk component and a powerlaw component model with absorption,we select the spectra with relatively strong reflection components for detailed X-ray reflection spectroscopy.Using the most state-of-art reflection model,relxillCp,the spectral fitting measures a black hole spin a_(*)>0.72 and the inclination angle of the accretion disk i=46.1_(-5.3)^(+4.0)degrees,at a 90%confidence level.In addition,the fitting results show an extreme supersolar iron abundance.Combined with the fitting results of reflection model reflionx_hd,we consider that this unphysical iron abundance may be caused by a very high-density accretion disk(n_(e)>2.34×10^(21)cm^(-3))or a strong Fe K_(α) emission line.The soft excess is found in the soft state spectral fitting results,which may be an extra free-free heating effect caused by high density of the accretion disk.Finally,we discuss the robustness of black hole spin obtained by X-ray reflection spectroscopy.The result of relatively high spin is self-consistent with broadened Fe K_(α) line.Iron abundance and disk density have no effect on the spin results.

NuSTAR View of the R-ΓCorrelation in the Hard State of Black Hole Lowmass X-Ray Binaries

The power law and reflection emission have been observed in the X-ray spectra of both black hole X-ray binaries(BHXRBs)and active galactic nuclei(AGNs),indicating a common physical origin of the X-ray emission from these two types of sources.The relevant parameters describing the shape of both components and the potential correlation between these parameters can provide important clues on the geometric and physical properties of the disk and the corona in these sources.In this work,we present a positive correlation between the photon indexΓand the reflection strength R for the low-mass BHXRBs in the hard state by modeling NuSTAR data,which is qualitatively consistent with the previous studies.We compare our results with the predictions from different theoretical disk-corona models.We show that the RIT correlation found in this work seems to favor the moving corona model proposed by Beloborodov.Our results indicate that the coronal geometry varies significantly among BHXRBs.We further compare our results with that of AGNs.We find that the reflection strength R is smaller than unity in the hard state of BHXRBs,while it can be as large as~5 in AGNs,which implies that the variations of the disk-coronal geometry of AGNs are more vigorous than that of the BHXRBs in the hard state.

The Width-Flux Relation of the Broad Iron KαLine during the State Transitions of the Black Hole X-Ray Binaries

The observations of varying broad iron lines during the state transition of the black hole X-ray binaries have been accumulating.In this work,the relation between the normalized intensity and the width of iron lines is investigated,in order to understand better the variation of iron lines and possibly its connection to state transition.Considering the uncertainties due to ionization and illuminating X-rays,only the effects of geometry and gravity are taken into account.Three scenarios were studied,i.e.,the continuous disk model,the innermost annulus model,and the cloud model.As shown by our calculations,at given iron width,the line flux of the cloud model is smaller than that of the continuous disk model;while for the innermost annulus model,the width is almost unrelated with the flux.The range of the line strength depends on both the BH spin and the inclination of the disk.We then apply to the observation of MAXI J1631-479 by Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array during its decay from the soft state to the intermediate state.We estimated the relative line strength and width according to the spectral fitting results in Xu et al.,and then compared with our theoretical width-flux relation.It was found that the cloud model was more favored.We further modeled the iron line profiles,and found that the cloud model can explain both the line profile and its variation with reasonable parameters.

Study on the X-Ray Re-brightening Signature of GRB 220117A

The Swift/XRT detected the X-ray afterglow of long burst GRB 220117A,which began to rebrighten 300 s after triggering and followed a single power-law decay segment after thousands of seconds of the orbital observation gap.This segment is different from the shallow decay segment(plateau)and flare,and may belong to a giant X-ray bump.We investigated this segment by the fall-back accretion model and found that the model can interpret this segment with reasonable parameter values.Within this physical model scenario,the fall-back accretion rate reaches a peak value~1.70×10~(-5)M_⊙s~(-1)around 300 s in the central engine frame,which is compatible with the late mass supply rate of some low-metallicity massive progenitor stars.The initial black hole(BH)spin is a_0=0.64_(-0.26)~(+0.24)and implies that this re-brightening signature requires a larger BH spin.The total accretion mass during the fall-back process is M_(acc)=(3.09±0.02)×10~(-2)M_⊙.The jet energy from the fall-back accretion is(9.77±0.65)×10~(52)erg,with a ratio of 0.066 to the isotropic-equivalent radiation energies of the GRB prompt phase in the 1-10~4 keV band.The fall-back radius r_p corresponding to the peak time of fall-back t_p is(3.16±0.05)×10~(10)cm,which is consistent with the typical radius of Wolf-Rayet stars.In summary,our results provide additional support for the origin of the long burst from the core collapse of Wolf-Rayet stars,and its late central engine activity is likely due to the fall-back accretion process.

The Year-scale X-Ray Variations in the Core of M87

The analysis of light variation of M87 can help us understand the disk evolution.In the past decade,M87 has experienced several short-term light variabilities related to flares.We also find that there are year-scale X-ray variations in the core of M87.Their light variability properties are similar to clumpy-ADAF.By re-analyzing 56Chandra observations from 2007 to 2019,we distinguish the“non-flaring state”from“flaring state”in the light variability.After removing flaring state data,we identify four gas clumps in the nucleus and all of them can be well fitted by the clumpy-ADAF model.The average mass accretion rate is~0.16M⊙yr^(-1).We analyze the photon index(Γ)-flux(2-10 keV)correlation between the non-flaring state and flaring state.For the non-flaring states,the flux is inversely proportional to the photon index.For the flaring states,we find no obvious correlation between the two parameters.In addition,we find that the flare always occurs at a high mass accretion rate,and after the luminosity of the flare reaches the peak,it will be accompanied by a sudden decrease in luminosity.Our results can be explained as that the energy released by magnetic reconnection destroys the structure of the accretion disk,thus the luminosity decreases rapidly and returns to normal levels thereafter.

The fate of carbon resulting from pore water exchange in a mangrove and Spartina alterniflora ecozone

Mangrove and salt-marsh wetlands are important coastal carbon sinks.In order to quantify carbon export via pore water exchange and to evaluate subsequent fate of the exported carbon,we carried out continuous observations in a mangrove-Spartina alterniflora ecozone in the Zhangjiang River Estuary,China.The carbon fluxes via pore water exchange were estimated using^(222)Rn and^(228)Ra as tracers to be(2.15±0.63)mol/(m^(2)∙d)for dissolved inorganic carbon(DIC)and(-0.008±0.07)mol/(m^(2)∙d)for dissolved organic carbon(DOC)in the wet season and(3.02±0.65)mol/(m^(2)∙d)for DIC and(-0.15±0.007)mol/(m^(2)∙d)for DOC in the dry season in the mangrove-dominated creek(M-creek),while(2.52±0.82)mol/(m^(2)∙d)for DIC and(0.02±0.09)mol/(m^(2)∙d)for DOC in the dry season in the S.alterniflora-dominated creek(SA-creek).The negative value means that pore water was a sink of DOC in the creek.The total carbon via pore water exchange in the tidal creeks in the mangroves accounted for 41%-55%of the net carbon fixed by mangrove vegetation and was 3-4 times as much as the soil carbon accretion in the mangroves.The exported carbon in the form of DIC contributed all of the carbon outwelling from the M-creek and 79%of the carbon outwelling from the SA-creek,implying effective fixation of carbon by the wetland ecosystem.Moreover,it resulted in 54%in the dry season,75%in the wet season of the carbon dioxide released from the M-creek to the atmosphere,and 84%of the release from the SA-creek.Therefore,quantification of pore water exchange and related soil carbon loss is essential to trace the fate of carbon fixed in intertidal wetlands.

Formation of South Tianshan suture and its geological significance

South Tianshan–Solonker suture,is the largest and southernmost suture within the Central Asian orogenic belt(CAOB).It records the ultimate collision between Tarim–North China cratons and Siberia craton,and is commonly interpreted as marking the eventual closure of Paleo-Asian Ocean.South Tianshan suture belongs to the western segment of the suture zone,and its evolutionary features are important for defining the formation age of the South Tianshan–Solonker suture.In this paper,the authors review the geochronological,geochemical,petrographic,and paleontological evidence within South Tianshan suture to delineate its formation era and closure characteristics,and thus further revealing the ultimate evolutionary pattern of the western segment of Paleo-Asian Ocean.This suture records strong plate collision before Late Carboniferous,forming a series of high-pressure metamorphic rocks,characterized by the presence of blue schist,eclogite and mica schist.In Permian,the whole area was under a relatively stable post-orogenic setting,with the formation of bimodal volcanic rocks,post-collisional granites,and terrestrial molasses.Sedimentary facies gradually changed from marine to either lacustrine or fluvial during this period.An Early Permian granite dike crosscuts the HP metamorphic belt,and the HP metamorphic rocks also underwent retrograde metamorphism at this time,indicating the formation of the South Tianshan suture was earlier than Permian.Hence,the western section of Paleo-Asian Ocean closed during Late Carboniferous,and Tarim Craton moved northward to collide with Kazakhstan–Yili Block,leading to the formation of the South Tianshan suture.

Electromagnetic-Wave Mechanism of Formation and Propagation of Astrophysical Vortex Jets Generated in the Jumper of a Spiral Galaxy

An explanation of the mechanism of generation and acceleration of jets in outer space is given on the basis of experiments in the physics of electrical discharge. The presence of two arms in the spiral Galaxy gives grounds to assume that they have excess charges of the opposite sign. At the moment when the electric field strength between the tips of the arms becomes sufficient, an electrical breakdown occurs, which is accompanied by the movement of the current-plasma leader in the jumper between the tips of the arms. In the head part of the leader there is a flat electric domain of a strong field, which, during its inception, emits intense transverse electromagnetic waves in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the leader’s motion and to the plane of the accretion disk. The electric domain periodically appears and collapses due to the entry of neutral particles. Transverse electromagnetic waves capture charged particles from the discharge region and accelerate them in the direction of wave propagation. The crossed fields of an electromagnetic wave perform the functions of a multistage accelerator. The acceleration of the particles of the plasma produced in the discharge to relativistic energy values in the region of narrow vortex jets occurs under the action of forces caused by the components of the electromagnetic wave fields and the pressure gradient. The charged particles of a vortex jet acquire a significant rotational moment under the action of the Lorentz force. Explanations of the generation of microwave, bremsstrahlung and optical radiation from the region of the jumper between the arms of the Galaxy in the absence of electrical breakdown are also given.

The RXTE/PCA 35-Day X-Ray Lightcurve of Hercules X-1

The archival Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) Proportional Counter Array (PCA) observations of HZ Her/Her X-1 are analyzed here. The time periods for Anomalous Low States are refined. The 35-day X-ray lightcurve of Her X-1 is produced using 35-day phases determined with RXTE All-Sky Monitor (ASM) and Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) data, with adjustments based on the RXTE/PCA data. As a result, we constructed the best-phased 35-day lightcurve of Her X-1 with the highest sensitivity. The RXTE/PCA data are separated into 8 different substates of the 35-day cycle: Main High (MH) turn-on, MH, MH decline, Low State (LS) 1, Short High (SH) turn-on, SH, SH decline, and LS2. Orbital lightcurves are created for each substate, and they are compared. Eclipse data are extracted for each substate to determine the changes in eclipse shape with 35-day phase. A scattering corona model is fit to the eclipses for the different 35-day substates: this shows that the corona is present with similar intensity at all 35-day phases. We search for previously reported dips without absorption but find none.

Process of Rifting and Collision along Plate Margins of the Qinling Orogenic Belt and Its Geodynamics

The Qinling orogenic belt underwent complicated processes of rifting and collision, as shown by the coexistence of 1 ocean extension and plate margin rifting and 2 subduction of the frontal oceanic crust and extension of the rear plate margin. These resulted in a basin-mountain framework characterized by the coexistence of plates separated by the ocean basin and continental blocks demarcated by the rifting sea trough in the marginal region and the coexistence of subduction orogeny and ocean extension. Generally speaking, the plate marginal area between the North China plate and Yangtze plate continually rifted from north to south and the rifted micro-plates continually accreted northwards. This especial orogenic process was probably controlled by two events of deep mantle geodynamic adjustment and mantle plume activities, which occurred in the Shangdan suture belt and Mianlüe suture belt from north to south respectively.

Geochemistry,Nd Isotopic Characteristics of Metamorphic Complexes in Northern Hebei:Implications for Crustal Accretion

The middle segment of the northern margin of the North China Craton （NCC） consists mainly of metamorphosed Archean Dantazi Complex, Paleoproterozoic Hongqiyingzi Complex and unmetamorphosed gabbro-anorthosite-meta-alkaline granite, as well as metamorphosed Late Paleozoic mafic to granitoid rocks in the Damiao-Changshaoying area. The -2.49 Ga Dantazi Complex comprises dioritic-trondhjemitic-granodoritic-monzogranitic gneisses metamorphosed in amphibolite to granulite facies. Petrochemical characteristics reveal that most of the rocks belong to a medium- to high-potassium calc-alkaline series, and display Mg^# less than 40, right-declined REE patterns with no to obviously positive Eu anomalies, evidently negative Th, Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies in primitive mantlenormalized spider diagrams, εNd（t）=＋0.65 to -0.03, and depleted mantle model ages TDM=2.78-2.71 Ga. Study in petrogenesis indicates that the rocks were formed from magmatic mixing between mafic magma from the depleted mantle and granitoid magma from partial melting of recycled crustal mafic rocks in a continental margin setting. The 2.44-2.41 Ga Hongqiyingzi Complex is dominated by metamorphic mafic-granodioritic-monzogranitic gneisses, displaying similar petrochemical features to the Dantazi Complex, namely medium to high potassium calc-alkaline series, and the mafic rocks show evident change in LILEs, negative Th, Nb, Ta, Zr anomalies and positive P anomalies. And the other granitiod samples also exhibit negative Th, Nb, Ta, P and Ti anomalies. All rocks in the Hongqiyingzi Complex show right-declined REE patterns without Eu anomaly. The metamorphic mafic rocks with εNd（t） = -1.64 may not be an identical magmatic evolution series with granitoids that have εNd（t） values of ＋3.19 to ＋1.94 and TDM ages of 2.55-2.52 Ga. These granitic rocks originated from hybrid between mafic magma from the depleted mantle and magma from partial melting of juvenile crustal mafic rocks in an island arc setting. All the -311 Ma Late Paleozoic metamorphic mafic rocks and related granitic rocks show a medium-potassium calc-alkaline magmatic evolution series, characterized by high Mg^#, obviously negative Th, Nb, Ta anomalies and positive Sr anomalies, from no to strongly negative Ti anomalies and flat REE patterns with εNd（t） = ＋8.42, implying that the maflc magma was derived from the depleted mantle. However the other granitic rocks are characterized by right-declined REE patterns with no to evidently positive Eu anomalies, significantly low εNd（t） = -13.37 to -14.04, and TDM=1.97-1.96 Ga, revealing that the granitoid magma was derived from hybrid between maflc magma that came from -311 Ma depleted mantle and granitoid magma from Archean to Early Paleoproterozoic ancient crustal recycling. The geochemistry and Nd isotopic characteristics as well as the above geological and geochronological results indicate that the middle segment of the northern margin of the NCC mainly experienced four crustal growth episodes from Archean to Late Paleozoic, which were dominated by three continental marginal arc accretions （-2.49, -2.44 and 311 Ma）, except the 1.76-1.68 Ga episode related to post-collisional extension, revealing that the crustal accretion of this segment was chiefly generated from arc accretion and amalgamation to the NCC continental block.

Uterine Artery Embolization for Management of Primary Postpartum Hemorrhage Associated with Placenta Accreta

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of uterine artery embolization(UAE) in the management of primary postpartum hemorrhage associated with placenta accreta. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with placenta accreta between January 2010 and August 2014. Totally 18 women(mean age 30.8±4.2 years) of primary massive postpartum hemorrhage with diagnosis of placenta accrete received treatment of UAE after delivery. Images of DSA and medical records were reviewed. Technical success was defined as control of bleeding after embolization. The complications, control of hemorrhage and recurrent bleeding of the placenta left inside the uterus were retrospectively collected for assessment. Results All patients underwent transcatheter embolization of bilateral uterine arteries. The technical success rate of embolization was 100%. Bleeding was controlled in 17 of 18 patients(94%) during follow-up period(median 18 months, 3-31months) without further bleeding recurred. One patient with placenta percreta undertook an emergent hysterectomy along with surgical bladder repair after UAE because of persistent uterine bleeding. Eight patients had postembolization syndrome and no other complications occurred. Conclusion Uterine artery embolization is an effective and safe treatment for the management of primary postpartum massive hemorrhage associated with placenta accreta.

The Influence of Freezing Drizzle on Wire Icing during Freezing Fog Events

Both direct and indirect effects of freezing drizzle on ice accretion were analyzed for ten freezing drizzle events during a comprehensive ice thickness, fog, and precipitation observation campaign carried out during the winter of 2008 and 2009 at Enshi Radar Station （30°17′N, 109°16′E）, Hubei Province, China. The growth rate of ice thickness was 0.85 mm h-1 during the freezing drizzle period, while the rate was only 0：4 mm h-1 without sleet and freezing drizzle. The rain intensity, liquid water content （LWC）, and diameter of freezing drizzle stayed at low values. The development of microphysical properties of fog was suppressed in the freezing drizzle period. A threshold diameter （Dc） was proposed to estimate the influence of freezing drizzle on different size ranges of fog droplets. Fog droplets with a diameter less than Dc would be affected slightly by freezing drizzle, while larger fog droplets would be affected significantly. Dc had a correlation with the average rain intensity, with a correlation coefficient of 0.78. The relationships among the microphysical properties of fog droplets were all positive when the effect of freezing drizzle was weak, while they became poor positive correlations, or even negative correlations during freezing drizzle period. The direct contribution of freezing drizzle to ice thickness was about 14.5%. Considering both the direct and indirect effects, we suggest that freezing drizzle could act as a ＂catalyst＂ causing serious icing conditions.

Long-term follow-up of abdominal aortic balloon occlusion for the treatment of pernicious placenta previa with placenta accreta

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of balloon occlusion of the abdominal aorta for the treatment of pernicious placenta previa with placenta accreta.Methods:The clinical data of 623 patients with pernicious placenta previa combined with placenta accrete,who were admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent abdominal aortic balloon occlusion combined with cesarean section,and 78 patients underwent sequential bilateral uterine artery embolization.We analyzed the operation time,intraoperative blood loss,blood transfusion volume,intraoperative and postoperative complications,fetal radiation exposure time and dose,and the Apgar score of the newborns.We also performed other evaluations to ascertain the efficacy and safety of abdominal aortic balloon occlusion treatment for dangerous placenta previa with placenta accrete.Results:Of the 623 patients,545 underwent only abdominal aortic balloon occlusion,and 78 underwent uterine artery embolization due to intraoperative or postoperative bleeding.The uterus was successfully preserved in all patients.Except for five cases of right lower extremity arterial thrombosis,the remaining patients did not have postoperative lower extremity arteriovenous thrombosis,renal insufficiency,late postpartum hemorrhage,ectopic embolism,spinal cord or peripheral nerve damage,pelvic infection,or other serious complications.The mean operative time was 65.3(±14.5)min.The mean intraoperative blood loss was620(±570)ml.Ninety-six patients(15.4%,96/623)were treated with blood transfusion,and the average amount of blood transfused was 750(±400)ml.The average number of hospitalization days was 6.8(±3.4)days,the average time of fetal ray exposure was 5.2(±1.6)s,and the average radiation dose was 4.1(±2.7)m Gy.The neonatal Apgar score,was 8.4(±0.6)points at 1 min,and 9.6(±0.4)points at 5 min.In the follow-up to May 31,2019,29 patients were lost to follow-up,96 were lactating,and 498 were menstruating.Except for the cases lost to follow-up,the remaining 596 surviving newborns(including 2 twins)showed no abnormalities at the 42-day postnatal outpatient follow-up examination.Conclusion:Balloon occlusion of the abdominal aorta is a safe and effective method for the treatment of pernicious placenta previa with placenta accreta.

Change of BMD after Weaning or Resumption of Menstruation in Chinese Women with Different FokI VDR-genotypes:A Randomized,Placebo-controlled,Calcium Supplementation Trial

Objective To investigate the effect of calcium supplementation on bone mineral density （BMD） in Chinese women with different Fokl vitamin D receptor （VDR） genotypes （FF, Ff, and ff） after weaning or resumption of menstruation during lactation. Methods A total of 40 subjects with the same Fokl VDR genotype were randomly divided into two groups： one received calcium tablet （600 mg once daily as CaCO3） and the other placebo tablet once daily for 1 year. At baseline, BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at lumbar spine （L2-L4） and at left hip whereas serum PICP, serum OC, and urinary CTX, serum 25（OH）VitD3, and serum estradiol were measured at weaning and I year thereafter. Results After the intervention, BMD at lumbar spine and at left hip increased significantly in all these women with a trend among different Fokl VDR genotypes such as FF 〉 Ff 〉 ff （P〈O.05, 〈0.01, and 〈0.001, respectively）. BMD at lumbar spine in women with FF VDR genotype increased much more rapidly than in those with ff VDR genotype （P〈0.05）. Compared with the control group women with the FF genotype regained more BMD after calcium supplementation （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Daily calcium 600 mg supplementation has beneficial effect on the bone health of women with FF VDR genotype.

Monitoring Method for Blast Furnace Wall With Copper Staves

A monitoring method that has been designed for the first time for blast furnace wall with copper staves manufactured in China was introduced. Combining the method of ＂inverse problem＂ and the concept ＂non-inverse problem＂, the monitoring program for blast furnace wall with copper staves has been realized, which can be used to calculate online the accretion thickness and temperature of hot surface of copper staves after obtaining the values of thermocouples of copper staves. The accretion state obtained in the actual investigation has proved that the result of the program is correct. The monitoring program shows that the accretion would easily fluctuate when the accretion layer is extremely thick or thin, thereby the stable and smooth operation of the blast furnace is hindered. By maintaining appropriate accretion thickness, both long campaigns and high productivity of the blast furnace can be achieved; furthermore, it can also optimize the operation of blast furnace and maximize its production. Approximately 30--50 mm in thickness of accretion layer is maintained on the wall of Shougang blast furnace 2, which can meet the requirement for obtaining both long campaign and high productivity.

Torrential Rainfall Responses to Ice Microphysical Processes during Pre-Summer Heavy Rainfall over Southern China

In this study, the effects of key ice microphysical processes on the pre-summer heavy rainfall over southern China during 3-8 June 2008 were investigated. A series of two-dimensional sensitivity cloud-resolving model simulations were forced with zonally uniform vertical velocity, zonal wind, horizontal temperature, and water vapor advection data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction （NCEP）/Global Data Assimilation System （GDAS）. The effects of key ice microphysical processes on the responses of rainfall to large-scale forcing were analyzed by comparing two sensitivity experiments with a control experiment. In one sensitivity experiment, ice crystal radius, associated with depositional growth of snow from cloud ice, was reduced from 100 #m in the control experiment to 50 #m, and in the other sensitivity experiment the efficiency of the growth of graupel from the accretion of snow was reduced to 50~ from 100% in the control experiment. The results show that the domain-mean rainfall responses to these ice microphysical processes are stronger during the decay phase than during the onset and mature phases. During the decay phase, the increased mean rain rate resulting from the decrease in ice crystal radius is associated with the enhanced mean local atmospheric drying, the increased mean local hydrometeor loss, and the suppressed mean water vapor divergence. The increased mean rain rate caused by the reduction in accretion efficiency is related to the reduced mean water vapor divergence and the enhanced mean local hydrometeor loss.