SUMMARIES OF TOP EVENTS IN CHINA AND AFRICA

China Increases Payment Convenience for Foreigners China has recently intensified efforts to enhance the convenience of payment services for foreigners,who primarily rely on bank cards and cash,while mobile payment is emerging as the predominant method of payment in China.

EXCERPTS FROM MAJOR CHINESE MAGAZINES

NEW QUALITY PRODUCTIVE FORCES Outlook Weekly 11 March Faced with increasingly fierce international competition,China’s intensified push to foster new quality productive forces is of great significance in propelling the intelligent,green and highend development of industries,improving the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains,and consolidating the economic recovery momentum.

Middle and near ultraviolet spectrograph of the Scientific Experimental system in Near SpacE(SENSE)

The Scientific Experimental system in Near SpacE(SENSE)consists of different types of instruments that will be installed on a balloon-based platform to characterize near-space environmental parameters.As one of the main scientific payloads,the middle and near ultraviolet spectrograph(MN-UVS)will provide full spectra coverage from middle ultraviolet(MUV,200−300 nm)to near ultraviolet(NUV,300−400 nm)with a spectral resolution of 2 nm.Its primary mission is to acquire data regarding the UV radiation background of the upper atmosphere.The MN-UVS is made up of six primary components:a fore-optical module,an imaging grating module,a UV intensified focal plane module,a titanium alloy frame,a spectrometer control module,and a data processing module.This paper presents in detail the engineering design of each functional unit of the MN-UVS,as well as the instrument’s radiometric calibration,wavelength calibration,impact test,and low-pressure discharge test.Furthermore,we are able to report ground test and flight test results of high quality,showing that the MN-UVS has a promising future in upcoming near-space applications.

Genome sequencing revealed the red-flower trait candidate gene of a peach landrace

Peach(Prunus persica)is an economically important fruit crop globally and an excellent material for genomic studies.While considerable progress has been made in unveiling trait-associated genes within cultivars and wild relatives,certain novel genes controlling valuable traits in peach landraces,such as the red-flowering gene,remained unclear.In this study,we sequenced and assembled the diploid genome of the red-flower landrace‘Yingzui’(abbreviated as‘RedY’).Multi-omics profiling of red petals of‘RedY’revealed the intensified red coloration associated with anthocyanins accumulation and concurrent decline in f lavonols.This phenomenon is likely attributed to a natural variant of Flavonol Synthase(FLS)harboring a 9-bp exonic insertion.Intriguingly,the homozygous allelic configurations of this FLS variant were only observed in red-flowered peaches.Furthermore,the 9-bp sequence variation tightly associated with pink/red petal color in genome-wide association studies(GWAS)of collected peach germplasm resources.Functional analyses of the FLS variant,purified from procaryotic expression system,demonstrated its diminished enzymatic activity in f lavonols biosynthesis,impeccably aligning with the cardinal trait of red flowers.Therefore,the natural FLS variant was proposed as the best candidate gene for red-f lowering trait in peach.The pioneering unveiling of the red-flowered peach genome,coupled with the identification of the candidate gene,expanded the knowledge boundaries of the genetic basis of peach traits and provided valuable insights for future peach breeding efforts.

Intensified reactive extraction of 4-hydroxypyridine with di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid in 1-octanol by using tributyl phosphate

The efficient separation of amphoteric organic compounds from dilute solutions is of great importance in the industrial field. In the present work, the reactive extractions of 4-hydroxypyridine(4-HP) with tributyl phosphate(TBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid(D2EHPA) and TBP + D2EHPA dissolved in 1-octanol were investigated, respectively. The influences of the initial concentrations of TBP, D2EHPA and TBP + D2EHPA on distribution ratio(D) were discussed, as well as the reactive extraction mechanism were proposed. The obvious intensification effect was observed when the mixture of TBP and D2EHPA was used as extractant. The best extraction conditions were found to be of the molar ratio of D2EHPA and TBP at 2:1 and the equilibrium aqueous pH at 3.50-4.50. D values increased with the increase of the total concentration of TBP and D2EHPA in 1-octanol. Especially, the analysis on the extraction mechanisms clearly indicate(i) TBP in 1-octanol shows negligible reactive extraction toward 4-HP,(ii) D2EHPA in 1-octanol exhibits moderate extraction effect by forming 4-HP:D2EHPA(1:1) and 4-HP:2D2EHPA(1:2) type complexes, while(iii) D2EHPA in TBP/1-octanol demonstrates the maximum distribution ratio with the 4-HP:D2EHPA(1:1) type complex domination. The discussion provides new insights on the mechanism and opens a new way for the intensified extraction of amphoteric organic compounds by using the mixture of multiple extractants in the diluent.

New Landscape of Energy Politics and Global Energy Governance

Since the 1990s,intern ational energy cooperation has ad­vanced on all fronts,and energy governance has become a focal point of global governance.However,with the emerging anti-globalization tide and intensified competition among major countries in recent years,the trend of“politicizing”energy coop­eration has been stronger.

针-板电极空气隙直流放电光信息采集

为研究气体击穿的放电机理,采集直流电压下针-板电极空气隙流注放电击穿瞬间的光信号,实验设计了气体放电光学采集装置.利用光纤,光谱仪和ICCD组成光信号检测系统,其中ICCD单独使用可以捕捉光现象,配合光谱仪可采集光谱.实验中采用具有高速触发脉冲的外部触发方式操作控制器,进行图像及光谱的采集,并对采集到的结果进行分析和讨论.

1988年日地联测期间北京地区TEC行为(英文)

本文研究1988年3月15日—21日、4月16日—21日、6月24日—7月8日及12月15日—25日四个联测时段内太阳事件对电离层产生扰动时,总电子含量(TEC)的几种特性。 一、磁暴对电离层TEC的影响。在后三次联测期出现三个急始型(SC)磁暴和一个缓始(GS)型暴,分别发生在春季夏季及冬季。把暴时TEC的实测值与相应月磁静日或控制日TEC的均值进行比较,高于磁静日者称为正效应,低于磁静日者称为负效应。结果有三。1、冬季磁暴对电离层电子含量的影响是正效应,即磁暴使TEC增加。2、夏季磁暴对TEC的影响是负效应。3、分季磁暴也是正效应。 二、耀斑对电离层的影响。耀斑爆发后,电离层受到扰动,如SID、电离层暴等。过去的研究发现亮耀斑(1B、2B和3B级)引起TEC增加。88年联测期间TEC行为亦表现出增加特性。伴有紫外爆发的89年4月9日0840UT的耀斑事件,使TEC突增2π(=1.04×10^(17)电子/米~2)。伴有X射线爆的耀斑事件,引起VLF相位超前,即D层电离增加,地电波导的有效高度降低。 三、其他现象。冬季TEC行为明显地呈现周期为2日的行星波波动,春季亦然,但夏季(第三次联测)2日波特性极不明显。TEC的季节变化,夏季最低,变化量亦小,分季(4月,10月)最大,变化量亦大,冬季次之。这与最近分析出的北京地区f_0F_2的行为一致。它反映了电离?

The Influence of ENSO on the Summer Climate Change in China and Its Mechanism

The influence of ENSO on the summer climate change in China and its mechanism from the observed data is discussed. It is discovered that in the developing stage of ENSO, the SST in the western tropical Pacific is colder in summer, the convective activities may be weak around the South China Sea and the Philippines. As a consequence, the subtropical high shifted southward. Therefore, a drought may be caused in the Indo-China peninsula and in the South China. Moreover, in midsummer the subtropical high is weak over the Yangtze River valley and Huaihe River valley, and the flood may be caused in the area from the Yangtze River valley to Huaihe River valley. On the contrary, in the decaying stage of ENSO. the convective activities may be strong around the Philippines, and the subtropical high shifted northward, a drought may be caused in the Yangtze River valley and Huaihe River valley.

Numerical Simulation of the Relationship between the Anomaly of Subtropical High over East Asia and the Convective Activities in the Western Tropical Pacific

In this paper, a close relationship between the intraseasonal variation of subtropical high over East Asia and the convective activities around the South China Sea and the Philippines is analysed from OLR data.This relationship is studied by using the theory of wave propagating in a slowly varying medium and by using a quasi-geoslrophic, linear, spherical model and the IAP-GCM, respectively. The results show that when the SST is warming around the western tropical Pacific or the Philippines, the convective activities are intensified around the Philippines. As a consequence, the subtropical high will be intensified over East Asia. The computed results also show that when the anomaly of convective activities are caused around the Philippines, a teleconnection pattern of circulation anomalies will be caused over South Asia, East Asia and North America.

The Modified Envelope Orography and the Air Flow over and around Mountains

By use of the two-layer adiabatic globe spectral model and the zonally averaged climatic data of winter season as initial values, 10-day integrations are carried out based on three kinds of model topography (i.e., (1) the averaged topography; (2) the envelope topography; (3) the modified envelope topography). The results show that the orography of the Northern Hemisphere plays an important role in the simulation of large-scale weather patterns in winter season. The simulation based on the envelope topography developed by Wallace et al. has some improvements in the Rocky Mountains area. But this scheme causes very serious horizontal expansion around the Tibetan Plateau (hereafter referred to as the TV). A modified envelope topography scheme has been worked out that increases the slope of the TP by decreasing the horizontal expansion while keeping the maximum altitude. The results show some improvements of the scheme around the TP. By analysis of the mechanical effects of the large-scale orography on

Sensitivities of Numerical Model Forecasts of Extreme Cyclone Events

A global forecast model is used to examine various sensitivities of numerical predictions of three extreme winter storms that occurred near the eastern continental margin of North America: the Ohio Valley blizzard of January 1978, the New England blizzard of February 1978, and the Mid-Atlantic cyclone of February 1979. While medium-resolution simulations capture much of the intensification, the forecasts of the precise timing and intensity levels suffer from various degrees of error. The coastal cyclones show a 5-10 hPa dependence on the western North Atlantic sea surface temperature, which is varied within a range (± 2.5℃) compatible with interannual fluctuations. The associated vertical velocities and precipitation rates show proportionately stronger dependences on the ocean temperature perturbations. The Ohio Valley blizzard, which intensified along a track 700-800 km from the coast, shows little sensitivity to ocean temperature. The effect of a shift of - 10?latitude in the position of the snow

Neoadjuvant-intensified treatment for rectal cancer:Time to change?

AIM:To investigate whether neoadjuvant-intensified radiochemotherapy improved overall and disease-free survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.METHODS:Between January 2007 and December 2011,80 patients with histologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma were enrolled.Tumors were clinically classified as either T3 or T4 and by the N stage based on the presence or absence of positive regional lymph nodes.Patients received intensified combined modality treatment,consisting of neoadjuvant radiation therapy(50.4-54.0 Gy) and infusional chemotherapy(oxaliplatin 50 mg/m 2) on the first day of each week,plus five daily continuous infusions of fluorouracil(200 mg/m 2 per die) from the first day of radiation therapy until radiotherapy completion.Patients received five or six cycles of oxaliplatin based on performance status,clinical lymph node involvement,and potential risk of a non-sphincter-conserving surgical procedure.Surgery was planned 7 to 9 wk after the end of radiochemotherapy treatment;adjuvant chemotherapy treatment was left to the oncologist's discretion and was recommended in patients with positive lymph nodes.After treatment,all patients were monitored every three months for the first year and every six months for the subsequent years.RESULTS:Of the 80 patients enrolled,75 patients completed the programmed neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy treatment.All patients received the radiotherapy prescribed total dose;five patients suspended chemotherapy indefinitely because of chemotherapyrelated toxicity.At least five cycles of oxaliplatin were administered to 73 patients.Treatment was well tolerated with high compliance and a good level of toxicity.Most of the acute toxic effects observed were classified as grades 1-2.Proctitis grade 2 was the most common symptom(63.75%) and the earliest manifestation of acute toxicity.Acute toxicity grades 3-4 was reported in 30% of patients and grade 3 or 4 diarrhoea reported in just three patients(3.75%).Seventy-seven patients underwent surgery;low anterior resection was performed in 52 patients,Miles' surgery in 11 patients and total mesorectal excision in nine patients.Fifty patients showed tumor downsizing ≥ 50% pathological downstaging in 88.00% of tumors.Out of 75 patients surviving surgery,67 patients(89.33%) had some form of downstaging after preoperative treatment.A pathological complete response was achieved in 23.75% of patients and a nearly pathologic complete response(stage ypT1ypN0) in six patients.An involvement of the radial margin was never present.During surgery,intra-abdominal metastases were found in only one patient(1.25%).Initially,45 patients required an abdominoperineal resection due to a tumor distal margin ≤ 5 cm from the anal verge.Of these patients,only seven of them underwent Miles' surgery and sphincter preservation was guaranteed in 84.50% of patients in this subgroup.Fourteen patients received postoperative chemotherapy.In the full analysis of enrolled cohort,eight of the 80 patients died,with seven deaths related to rectal cancer and one to unrelated causes.Local recurrences were observed in seven patients(8.75%) and distant metastases in 17 cases(21.25%).The fiveyear rate of overall survival rate was 90.91%.Using a median follow-up time of 28.5 mo,the cumulative incidence of local recurrences was 8.75%,and the overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 90.00% and 70.00%,respectively.CONCLUSION:The results of this study suggest oxaliplatin chemotherapy has a beneficial effect on overall survival,likely due to an increase in local tumor control.

Effect of Counter-Gradient in the Computation of Turbulent Fluxes of Heat and Moisture in a Regional Model

The counter-gradient terms in the computations of turbulent fluxes of heat and moisture have been included in the PBL parameterization of a regional model for monsoon prediction. Results show that inclusion of counter-gradient terms has a marginal impact in the prediction of large scale monsoon circulation and rainfall rates.

Building a global community of shared future free from poverty

Poverty alleviation has been highlighted as one of the essential aspects of global development.It has consistently ranked as the top priority among a list of sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations.1 The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has created an unprecedentedly challenging climate for the global economy,society,and populations worldwide,which has consequently intensified socioeconomic inequities among different population groups,especially for the poor and vulnerable.In 2020,global extreme poverty rose for the first time over the past 20 years under the impact of COVID-19,which resulted in an additional 120 million people living in poverty(1.90 USD/day),with the total number of impoverished residents expected to reach approximately 150 million by the end of 2021.2 Such a changing climate has posed a huge obstacle to efforts to alleviate global poverty in terms of improving the affordability,accessibility,adaptability,and equity of medical services for impoverished populations.Under such circumstances,a sustainable strategy for health poverty alleviation needs to be urgently identified and adopted via global efforts to build a global community with shared future free from poverty.

Gender Differences on the Use of Amplifiers in Academic Writings

This study aims to investigate the use of amplifiers in term of gender and disciplinary groups in academic research arti cles,which is based on the British Academic Written English Corpus(BAWE).18 amplifiers were examined across two dimen sions:gender and disciplinary groups.The results show amplifiers are more common in males' academic writings than in those of females in general,amplifiers are used more often in AH discipline.However,not all amplifiers show significant gender differ ences between men and women.Six words show a significant difference between male and female writers:pretty,by far,perfect ly,quite,a great deal,totally,which are used more often by males.However,the interesting is in LS discipline,most amplifiers are used more often by female than male writers and males tend to use by far more frequently than females.

Numerical study of rapid cyclogenesis over sea

A five-layer primitive equation model was used in the study of rapid cyclogenesis over sea. The numerical simulations show that’the Tibetan Plateau, large-scale baroclinicity and heat flux from the sea surface are the three important agents to produce cyclonic vorticity along the east coast of China. The diagnostic computation of a 24 h control simulation indicates that the nonlinear vorticity advec-tion, baroclinicity and diabatic heating are also responsible for the development of the extratropical cyclones over seas.

Spatial and temporal variation of water mass mixing characteristic in the East China Sea

On the basis of the observation data of Kuroshio since 1984 and relative historical data in the East China Sea, spatial and temporal variation of water mass mixing characteristic in the observation area is analysed. The main results are as follows.

The strong winter monsoon in East Asia and El Nino

- The relationship between meridional wind in mid - latitudes of East Asia and SST in the Equatorial Eastern Pacific is analysed in this paper. It is pointed out that there exist close relations between the seasonal changes of the meridional wind in mid - latitudes of East Asia and SST in the Equatorial Eastern Pacific. The intensification of north winds over East Asia also plays an important role in the rise of SST in Equatorial Eastern Pacific one year later. The strong winter monsoon usually occurs in previous winter of El Nino and it causes low temperature to a great extent in China . The low temperature in China can be regarded as a precursor of El Nino.

Design and performance test of miniature capillary pumped loop for electronics cooling

Considering two characteristics of compact heat dissipation room and high heat flux, a novel miniature capillary pumped loop (MCPL) for electronics cooling was proposed. MCPL consists of evaporator, condenser, vapor and liquid line dissipates heat by boiling and condensation of working fluids with no extra power consumption. Working fluid circulation is ensured by vapor pressure and capillary head. Saturated wick screens vapor and liquid, and ensures one-way flow of working fluid with no extra valve. In order to promote heat dissipation capacity of MCPL, the intensified boiling and condensation structures are embedded into evaporator and condenser respectively, which are useful to increasing boiling and condensation efficiency. Startup and run characteristics are tested by experiments in the condition of different power inputs and working fluids. MCPL is capable of dissipating 80 W of thermal energy and keeping the bottom substrate temperature of evaporator at 80 ℃.