MULTI-SCALE CHARACTERISTICS STUDY ON THE FREQUENCY OF FOGGY DAYS OCCURRING IN NANJING IN DECEMBER 2007

Based on the number of foggy days in Nanjing in December from 1980 to 2011, we analyzed the surface temperature and atmospheric circulation characteristics of foggy years and less-foggy years. Positive anomalies of the Arctic Oscillation(AO) were found to weaken the East Asian trough, which is not conducive to the southward migration of cold air. Simultaneously, this atmospheric condition favors stability as a result of a high-pressure anomaly from the middle Yangtze River Delta region. A portion of La Nia events increases the amount of water vapor in the South China Sea region, so this phenomenon could provide the water vapor condition required for foggy days in Nanjing.Based on the data in December 2007, which contained the greatest number of foggy days for the years studied, the source of fog vapor in Nanjing was primarily from southern China and southwest Taiwan Island based on a synoptic scale study. The water vapor in southern China and in the southwestern flow increased, and after a period of 2-3 days,the humidity in Nanjing increased. Simultaneously, the water vapor from the southwestern of Taiwan Island was directly transported to Nanjing by the southerly wind. Therefore, these two areas are the most important sources of water vapor that results in heavy fog in Nanjing. Using the bivariate Empirical Orthogonal Function(EOF) mode on the surface temperature and precipitable water vapor, the first mode was found to reflect the seasonal variation from early winter to late winter, which reduced the surface temperature on a large scale. The second mode was found to reflect a large-scale,northward, warm and humid airflow that was accompanied by the enhancement of the subtropical high, particularly between December 15-21, which is primarily responsible for the consecutive foggy days in Nanjing.

Designing the mechanical properties of peptide-based supramolecular hydrogels for biomedical applications

Hydrogels are a class of special materials that contain a large amount of water and behave like rubber.These materials have found broad applications in tissue engineering,cell culturing,regenerative medicine etc.Recently,the exploration of peptide-based supramolecular hydrogels has greatly expanded the repertoire of hydrogels suitable for biomedical applications.However,the mechanical properties of peptide-based hydrogels are intrinsically weak.Therefore,it is crucial to develop methods that can improve the mechanical stability of such peptide-based hydrogels.In this review,we explore the factors that determine or influence the mechanical stability of peptide-based hydrogels and summarize several key elements that may guide scientists to achieve mechanically improved hydrogels.In addition,we exemplified several methods that have been successfully developed to prepare hydrogels with enhanced mechanical stability.These mechanically strong peptide-based hydrogels may find broad applications as novel biomaterials.It is still challenging to engineer hydrogels in order to mimic the mechanical properties of biological tissues.More hydrogel materials with optimal mechanical properties suitable for various types of biological applications will be available in the near future.

An intensive study on aerosol optical properties and affecting factors in Nanjing,China

The optical properties of aerosol as well as their impacting factors were investigated at a suburb site in Nanjing during autumn from 14 to 28 November 2012. More severe pollution was found together with lower visibility. The average scattering and absorption coefficients（B sca and B abs） were 375.7 ± 209.5 and 41.6 ± 18.7 Mm^（-1）, respectively. Higher ？ngstr？m absorption and scattering exponents were attributed to the presence of more aged aerosol with smaller particles. Relative humidity（RH） was a key factor affecting aerosol extinction. High RH resulted in the impairment of visibility, with hygroscopic growth being independent of the dry extinction coefficient. The hygroscopic growth factor was 1.8 ± 1.2 with RH from 19% to 85%.Light absorption was enhanced by organic carbon（OC）, elemental carbon（EC） and EC coatings,with contributions of 26%, 44% and 75%（532 nm）, respectively. The B sca and B abs increased with increasing N_（100）（number concentration of PM_（2.5）with diameter above 100 nm）, PM_1 surface concentration and PM_（2.5）mass concentration with good correlation.

^(18)F-Labeling techniques for positron emission tomography

Much research effort has been made to understand various biological processes at levels of molecules using molecular imaging techniques.Because of great sensitivity,high resolution,and rapid detection,positron emission tomography(PET)imaging is becoming one of the most used imaging techniques for medical diagnose and pre-clinical studies.Here we provide a review on molecular imaging and PET imaging.An introduction is also provided on18F-fluorine labeling techniques for the preparation of PET imaging probes.A summary and comparison of currently available18F-fluorine labeling methods is provided.The perspectives for18F-fluorine labeling techniques are also given.