Assessing the Impact of Using Different Land Cover Classification in Regional Modeling Studies for the Manaus Area,Brazil

Land cover classification is one of the main components of the modern weather research and forecasting models, which can influence the meteorological variable, and in turn the concentration of air pollutants. In this study the impact of using two traditional land use classifications, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), were evaluated. The Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF, version 3.2.1) was run for the period 18 - 22 August, 2014 (dry season) at a grid spacing of 3 km centered on the city of Manaus. The comparison between simulated and ground-based observed data revealed significant differences in the meteorological fields, for instance, the temperature. Compared to USGS, MODIS classification showed better skill in representing observed temperature for urban areas of Manaus, while the two files showed similar results for nearby areas. The analysis of the files suggests that the better quality of the simulations favorable to the MODIS file is straightly related to its better representation of urban class of land use, which is observed to be not adequately represented by USGS.

Synthesis, in vitro antitumor activity and molecular modeling studies of a new series of benzothiazole Schiff bases

A new series of benzothiazole Schiff bases 3–29 was synthesized and screened for antitumor activity against cervical cancer（Hela） and kidney fibroblast cancer（COS-7） cell lines. Results indicated that compounds 3, 14, 19, 27 and 28 have promising activity against Hela cell line with IC50 values of 2.41,3.06, 6.46, 2.22 and 6.25 mmol/L, respectively, in comparison to doxorubicin as a reference antitumor agent（IC50 2.05 mmol/L）. In addition, compound 3 displayed excellent activity against COS-7 cell line with IC50 value of 4.31 mmol/L in comparison to doxorubicin（IC50 3.04 mmol/L）. In the present work,structure based pharmacophore mapping, molecular docking, protein-ligand interaction, fingerprints and binding energy calculations were employed in a virtual screening strategy to identify the interaction between the compounds and the active site of the putative target, EGFR tyrosine kinase. Molecular properties, toxicity, drug-likeness, and drug score profiles of compounds 3, 14, 19, 27, 28 and 29 were also assessed.

A Systematic Review of Animal and Clinical Studies on the Use of Scaffolds for Urethral Repair

Replacing urethral tissue with functional scaffolds has been one of the challenging problems in the field of urethra reconstruction or repair over the last several decades. Various scaffold materials have been used in animal studies, but clinical studies on use of scaffolds for urethral repair are scarce. The aim of this study was to review recent animal and clinical studies on the use of different scaffolds for urethral repair, and to evaluate these scaffolds based on the evidence from these studies. Pub Med and OVID databases were searched to identify relevant studies, in conjunction with further manual search. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were systematically evaluated. Of 555 identified studies, 38 were included for analysis. It was found that in both animal and clinical studies, scaffolds seeded with cells were used for repair of large segmental defects of the urethra, such as in tubular urethroplasty. When the defect area was small, cell-free scaffolds were more likely to be applied. A lot of pre-clinical and limited clinical evidence showed that natural or artificial materials could be used as scaffolds for urethral repair. Urinary tissue engineering is still in the immature stage, and the safety, efficacy, cost-effectiveness of the scaffolds are needed for further study.

Modeling study on the flow patterns of gas–liquid flow for fast decarburization during the RH process

A water model and a high-speed video camera were utilized in the 300-t RH equipment to study the effect of steel flow patterns in a vacuum chamber on fast decarburization and a superior flow-pattern map was obtained during the practical RH process. There are three flow patterns with different bubbling characteristics and steel surface states in the vacuum chamber： boiling pattern（BP）, transition pattern（TP）, and wave pattern（WP）. The effect of the liquid-steel level and the residence time of the steel in the chamber on flow patterns and decarburization reaction were investigated, respectively. The liquid-steel level significantly affected the flow-pattern transition from BP to WP, and the residence time and reaction area were crucial to evaluate the whole decarburization process rather than the circulation flow rate and mixing time. A superior flow-pattern map during the practical RH process showed that the steel flow pattern changed from BP to TP quickly, and then remained as TP until the end of decarburization.

A GRADIENT ANALYSIS & MODELING OF THE NECT FOR GLOBAL CHANGE STUDY

The North East China Transect (NECT) is an exemplary region of landmass running along the line of 43°30′ North Latitude and caught between 112° and 130°30′ East Longtitude, and is being sampled by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP) for today’s study on global change. So far, it has already been listed in the first set of IGBP-sponsored transects, becoming a key theatre and "hot spot" for probing terrestrial ecosystems. In terms of biota, the nearly 1,600-kilometre-long tract is located in a mid-latitude zone, featuring a vegetational transition from a temperate timberland of evergreen coniferous forests and broadleaved deciduous forests to a mild-temperate steppe. According to the norms of biome types, it consists of three subzones: meadow steppe, typical steppe and desert steppe in a continuous east-to-west spatial sequence. There are four ecological stations supported by a great number of permanent samples, long-term plots and an enormous build-up of experimental data along

Cold-modeling study of a circulating fluidized bed reactor for flue gas desulfurization (FGD)

Short residence time of the sorbent in the gas stream and formation of a dense layer of reaction product surrounding its surface influence the sulfur removal efficiency. A practical means of improving the process performance is to employ fluidized bed reaction in replacement of entrained bed reaction on normally used in cool side desulfurizaiton. This paper describes cold modeling study of a circulating fluidized bed reactor. Several aspects of the problem are discussed: fluidization behavior of CaO, attrition of the sorbent and solids entrainment from the fluidized bed. Mechanisms and key controlling parameters are identified, and an integral model based on rate of attrition and mass balance is developed for predicting steady state mass flows and particle size distributions of the system. A process flow scheme is finally presented for conducting desulfurization tests in the second stage of the study.

Snow and sea ice thermodynamics in the Arctic:Model validation and sensitivity study against SHEBA data

Evolution of the Arctic sea ice and its snow cover during the SHEBA year were simulated by applying a high-resolution thermodynamic snow/ice model （HIGHTSI）. Attention was paid to the impact of albedo on snow and sea ice mass balance, effect of snow on total ice mass balance, and the model vertical resolution. The SHEBA annual simulation was made applying the best possible external forcing data set created by the Sea Ice Model Intercomparison Project. The HIGHTSI control run reasonably reproduced the observed snow and ice thickness. A number of albedo schemes were incorporated into HIGHTSI to study the feedback processes between the albedo and snow and ice thickness. The snow thickness turned out to be an essential variable in the albedo parameterization. Albedo schemes dependent on the surface temperature were liable to excessive positive feedback effects generated by errors in the modelled surface temperature. The superimposed ice formation should be taken into account for the annual Arctic sea ice mass balance.

Verification of a laboratory-based dilation model for in situ conditions using continuum models

With respect to constitutive models for continuum modeling applications, the post-yield domain remainsthe area of greatest uncertainty. Recent studies based on laboratory testing have led to thedevelopment of a number of models for brittle rock dilation, which account for both the plastic shearstrain and confining stress dependencies of this phenomenon. Although these models are useful inproviding an improved understanding of how dilatancy evolves during a compression test, there hasbeen relatively little work performed examining their validity for modeling brittle rock yield in situ. Inthis study, different constitutive models for rock dilation are reviewed and then tested, in the context of anumber of case studies, using a continuum finite-difference approach （FLAC）. The uncertainty associatedwith the modeling of brittle fracture localization is addressed, and the overall ability of mobilizeddilation models to replicate in situ deformation measurements and yield patterns is evaluated. 2014 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting byElsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An Application of the Modified Shear Lag Model to Study the Influence of Thermal Residual Stresses on the Stiffness and Yield Strength of Short Fiber Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites

The modified shear lag model proposed recently was applied to calculate thermal residual stresses and subsequent stress distributions under tensile and compressive loadings. The expressions for the elastic moduli and the yield strengths under tensile and compressive loadings were derived which take account of thermal residual stresses. The asymmetries in the elastic modulus and the yield strength were interpreted using the derived expressions and the obtained results of the stress calculations. The model predictions have exhibited good agreements with the experimental results and also with the other theoretical predictions

Optimization Study on a Single-cylinder Compressed Air Engine

The current research of compressed air engine（CAE） mainly focused on simulations and system integrations. However, energy efficiency and output torque of the CAE is limited, which restricts its application and popularization. In this paper, the working principles of CAE are briefly introduced. To set a foundation for the study on the optimization of the CAE, the basic mathematical model of working processes is set up. A pressure-compensated valve which can reduce the inertia force of the valve is proposed. To verify the mathematical model, the prototype with the newly designed pressure-compensated intake valve is built and the experiment is carried out, simulation and experimental results of the CAE are conducted, and pressures inside the cylinder and output torque of the CAE are obtained. Orthogonal design and grey relation analysis are utilized to optimize structural parameters. The experimental and optimized results show that, first of all, pressure inside the cylinder has the same changing tendency in both simulation curve and experimental curve. Secondly, the highest average output torque is obtained at the highest intake pressure and the lowest rotate speed. Thirdly, the optimization of the single-cylinder CAE can improve the working efficiency from an original 21.95% to 50.1%, an overall increase of 28.15%, and the average output torque increases also increases from 22.047 5 N · m to 22.439 N · m. This research designs a single-cylinder CAE with pressure-compensated intake valve, and proposes a structural parameters design method which improves the single-cylinder CAE performance.

Application of Headland Control for Stability of Beaches

Studies on the erosion processes and protective measures at the downcoast of the Friendship Port in Mauritania have been successfully conducted by means of 3-D movable-bed model using light model-sand. The headland control was accepted for the stability of the beach. This paper mainly deals with the shape, orientation, size and erosion depth of the artificial headland. Various forms of headland projects, such as the normal groin, arch groins bending to upcoast ancj to downcoast, offshore breakwater, and T-shaped dike, have been experimentally investigated. Through a comparison of effects of these works on the beach processes, optimized headlands have been obtained, that is, unsymmetrical T-shaped dike or arch groin bending to the downcoast, which has been practically and successfully applied for the stability of beaches.

A Model Comparison Study of Fragment Production in 140 A MeV 58,64Ni+9Be Reactions

The cross sections of fragments produced in the 140 A MeV58,64Ni＋9 Be projectile fragmentation reactions are calculated by using the antisymmetrized molecular dynamics （AMD） model, the modified statistical abrasion- ablation （SAA） model, and the empirical EPAX2/EPAX3 formulae. The Gogny-gO interaction is taken as the effective nucleon-nucleon interaction in the AMD calculation, and the decays of fragments obtained from the AMD results are calculated by using the GEMINI code. The calculated cross sections of fragments are compared.

New models to study vulvodynia: hyperinnervation and nociceptor sensitization in the female genital tract

Vulvodynia is a prevalent form of chronic pain, most com- monly affecting the vaginal vestibule （vestibulodynia） （Pukall et al., 2016）. Women with vulvodynia describe intense pain in response to light touch of the affected region, such that sexual function and other activities can be severely limited. Medical costs associated with vulvodynia are high, exceeding $21 billion annually in the United States （Xie et al., 2012）. The high level of direct medical costs has been linked to high treatment failure rates. Many women with the disorder consult multiple practitioners and undergo multiple courses of treatment with limited benefit.

NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL VISCOUS INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOWS IN DIVERGENT CURVED CHANNELS AND TURBULENT MODEL STUDY

In order to make the numerical calculation of viscous flows more convenient for the flows in channel with complicated profile governing equations expressed in the arbitrary curvilinear coordinates were derived by means of Favre density-weighted averaged method, and a turbulent model with effect of curvature modification was also derived. The numerical calculation of laminar and turbulent flown in divergent curved channels was carried out by means of parabolizeil computation method. The calculating results were used to analyze and investigate the aerodynamic performance of talor cascades in compressors preliminarily.

Development of a comprehensive finite element cervical spine model for studying neck injury of pilot

Introduction-The cervical spine is subjected to injury frequently,especially among pilots who are usually on the condition of high acceleration.Injuries of the cervical spine will be potential risk of damage to the spinal cord,which could be result in life threatening

Laboratory Models for the Study of the Peri-implantation Period

The greatest risks to mammalian pregnancy occur during the peri-implantation period (passage through the uterotubal junction, blastulation, zona shedding, embryonic signaling and recognition, blastocyst attachment, postattachment events initiating placentation). Conventional markers and screening methods do not provide the means to clarify the relationship between exposure of a reproductively competent woman to a xenobiotic compound and the specific error in the functional expression of an embryogenetic process identified by impairment or deletion of that process. Laboratory models which provide the flexibility of in vitro culture methods and allow integration of cellular and molecular techniques have identified cell-specific, stage-specific markers that could focus on the mechanism of xenobiotic action. In vitro models have been used to define postattachment trophoblast cell differentiation. Trophoblast specific peptide hormones prove to be valid markers of established pregnancy. They provide no assessment of the risk to the embryo during the peri-implantation period. The relationship between developmental time of exposure and risk is discussed in terms of trophoblast differentiation.

Evaluation of the Accuracy of Digital Models Obtained Using Intraoral and Extraoral Scanners versus Gold Standard Plaster Model (Diagnostic Accuracy Study)

Introduction: Digital models showed promising results for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Digital models can be obtained from alginate impressions as well as direct intra-oral scanners. Studies assessing the accuracy of digital models have shown digital models to be valid, clinically acceptable, and more quickly obtainable. With the advent of new scanners with better scanning technology researches are necessary to evaluate their accuracy and reliability. Aim of Study: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 3D digital models obtained through intraoral and extraoral scanning modalities to the reference gold standard plaster model. Material & Methods: Twenty-four adult male and female subjects were randomly selected for this study. The intraoral scanners evaluated in this study were Sirona (CEREC Omnicam) and 3 shape (TRIOS 3), while the laboratory scanners used were Sirona (inEos X5), and 3 shape (D850). Intra-oral scanning of the subjects and extra-oral scanning of their alginate impressions, plaster models of the alginate impression, rubber base impression, and plaster model of their rubber base impression were done. Linear dental measurements included intermolar width, interpremolar width, intercanine width, mesiodistal width of the 1st permanent molar, 1st premolar, canine and central incisor and arch width. All data were collected, tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: Small differences between the plaster and digital models were observed. Intra-observer reliability analysis for 14 out of the 16 measurements showed that all variables exhibited good to excellent reliability. Conclusions: There was no difference between the digitization using the intraoral scanner or the laboratory scanner. The most accurate digitization technique was the 3 Shape laboratory scanner of the cast of the alginate impression. The inEos X5 showed the highest error of digitization of the alginate and rubber base impressions.

Dynamical Study of a Constant Viscous Dark Energy Model in Classical and Loop Quantum Cosmology

Dynamical behaviors and stability properties of a flat space Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe filled with pressureless dark matter and viscous dark energy are studied in the context of standard classical and loop quantum cosmology. Assuming that the dark energy has a constant bulk viscosity, it is found that the bulk viscosity effects influence only the quintessence model case leading to the existence of a viscous late time attractor solution of de- Sitter type, whereas the quantum geometry effects influence the phantom model case where the big rip singularity is removed. Moreover, our results of the Hubble parameter as a function of the redshift are in good agreement with the more recent data.

Validation of the Ability of Full Configuration Interaction Quantum Monte Carlo for Studying the 2D Hubbard Model

To validate the ability of full configuration interaction quantum Monte Carlo （FCIQMC） for studying the 2D Hubbard model near half-filling regime, the ground state energies of a 4×44×4 square lattice system with various interaction strengths are calculated. It is found that the calculated results are in good agreement with those obtained by exact diagonalization （i.e., the exact values for a given basis set） when the population of psi particles （psips） is higher than the critical population required to correctly sample the ground state wave function. In addition, the variations of the average computational time per 20 Monte Carlo cycles with the coupling strength and the number of processors are also analyzed. The calculated results show that the computational efficiency of an FCIQMC calculation is mainly affected by the total population of psips and the communication between processors. These results can provide useful references for understanding the FCIQMC algorithm, studying the ground state properties of the 2D Hubbard model for the larger system size by the FCIQMC method and using a computational budget as effectively as possible.

A study on remote sensing models of sea ice thickness by microwave radiometry

Extrapolating from the propagation theories of electromagnetic waves in a layered medium, a three-layer medium model is deduced in this paper by using microwave radiometric remote sensing technology which is suitable to first-year sea ice condition of the northern part of China seas. Comparison with in situ data indicates that for microwave wavelength of 10 cm, the coherent model gives a quite good fit result for the thickness of sea ice less than 20 cm, and the incoherent model also works well for thickness within 20 to 40 cm. Based on three theoretical models, the inversion soft ware from microwave remote sensing data for calculating the thickness of sea ice can be set up. The relative complex dielectrical constants of different types of sea ice in the Liaodong Gulf calculated by using these theoretical models and measurement data are given in this paper. The extent of their values is (0. 5-4. 0)-j(0. 07~0. 19).