Sensitivity experiments of RegCM4 using different cumulus and land surface schemes over the upper reaches of the Yangtze river

For the optimal performance of climate simulation, it is critical to localize physical parameterization schemes of climate models, especially in regions with unique geographic characteristics. To study the performance of different physical parameterization schemes for climate simulation in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River Basin (UYRB), we conducted short-term simulations with a resolution of 50 km from 1990 to 1993 using RegCM4 driven by ERA-Interim. Simulations with 72 different scheme combinations were conducted and analyzed to identify the optimal cumulus convection schemes (CSs) and the land surface process schemes in the RegCM4 model. Using the multi-standard scoring method, we evaluated the model performance of precipitation and temperature over the UYRB with different physical parameterization schemes. The results show that precipitation is more sensitive to the CSs than the LSPs. Among the selected CSs, the Kain-Fritsch scheme can better reproduce precipitation characteristics of the UYRB, with a wet bias of only 0.2 mm/day for the multi-year average precipitation. Compared to the community land model (CLM 3.5 and CLM4.5), the Biosphere-Atmosphere Transfer Scheme (BATS) performs better in reproducing temperature characteristics of the UYRB, with an average cold bias of only 0.2°C for all BATS schemes. The soil moisture, evapotranspiration and precipitation are lower and sensible heat flux is higher in CLM simulations, which can account for CLMs simulating warmer temperatures than BATS. The results provide a baseline for the localization of the RegCM4’s parameterization schemes in the UYRB and other regions of China

The Classification of the Persistent Infection Risk for Human Papillomavirus among HIV-Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men: Trajectory Model Analysis

Objective. To classify the infection risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) among human immunodeficiency virus- (HIV-) negative men who have sex with men (MSM) using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM). Methods. This study collected data on demographic and sexual behavior characteristics by questionnaires at semiannual visits from March 1st, 2016 to December 31th, 2017. Researchers collected anal exfoliated cells to finish HPV testing and blood samples to finish HIV testing at baseline and follow-up visits. Accumulative infection numbers of different types of HPV as the primary outcome and the follow-up visits as the independent predicator to build a GBTM model. Results. There were 500 potentially eligible HIV-negative participants at baseline, 361 (72.2%) of whom were included in this study after screening. Three trajectory groups were identified as the best-fitted GBTM model. Trajectory 1, defined as decreased group (DG) accounted for 44.6% (161/361) of the sample, showed a declining pattern with visits. Trajectory 2, defined as flat group (FG) accounted for 49.6% (179/361) of the sample, showed a flat pattern with visits. Trajectory 3, regarded as the increased group (IG) accounted for 5.8% (21/361) of the sample, showed an uptrend. Compared to the DG, risk factors for the FG included receptive anal intercourse (AOR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.36-3.71), occasional condom use in anal sex during the past six months (AOR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.16-3.14), experience of transactional sex with males in the past year (AOR, 3.60; 95% CI, 1.12-11.54), and substance use (AOR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.08-3.04). Risk factors for the IG included receptive anal intercourse (AOR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.04-7.70), occasional condom use in anal sex during the past six months (AOR, 3.93; 95% CI, 1.40-11.01), and history of other STIs (AOR, 5.72; 95% CI, 1.40-23.46). Conclusion. The MSM data in this study showed three distinct developmental trajectories (DG, FG, and IG) of HPV infection among HIV-negative MSM, with receptive anal intercourse and occasional condom use in anal sex during the past six months being the risk factors associated with FG and IG

Research Progress on Peony under High Temperature Stress Caused by Climate Warming

Global warming and worsening environmental problems have worsened the heat resistance of peony and difficult maintenance and management. The high temperature stress caused by the environment has become an important environmental factor for the growth and development of peony. The article summarizes the morphology, yield, physiological and biochemical indicators and research status of peony under high temperature stress; summarizes the research status of peony heat tolerance evaluation index screening, germplasm heat tolerance evaluation and heat-resistant peony breeding, in order to promote tolerance Selection and breeding process of hot peony germplasm resources. At present, related researches on peony mainly focus on pharmacological effects and germplasm resources. The physiological mechanism of high temperature and breeding of heat-resistant varieties of peony are relatively lagging behind. In-depth study of the physiological mechanism of high temperature in peony combined with multi-omics will help to adopt technical measures to improve the heat tolerance of high plants and reduce heat damage, so as to speed up the selection and breeding of heat-resistant peony germplasm, and meet the survival and medicine of peony in harsh environments. Use and other needs

Serum RGC-32 in children with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be more severe than adult patients. Early diagnosis and accurate evaluation of the disease are very important for the patients. Response gene to complement-32 (RGC-32) protein is the downstream regulator of C5b-9 complex which is the terminal pathway of complement activation. Complement system plays a very important role in the pathogenesis of SLE. RGC-32 in patients with SLE has not been reported yet. We aimed to examine the clinical value of RGC-32 in children with SLE. A total of 40 children with SLE and another 40 healthy children were enrolled for this study. Clinical data were obtained prospectively. Serum RGC-32 was determined by ELISA. We found that serum RGC-32 was significantly elevated in children with SLE than that in the healthy group. Serum RGC-32 was significantly higher in the children with moderately/severely active SLE than that in the children with no/mildly active SLE. Furthermore, serum RGC-32 level correlated positively with C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and ferritin and correlated negatively with white blood cell counts and C3. RGC-32 may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. RGC-32 might become a good biomarker in the diagnosis and evaluation of SLE

Bias Correction for Precipitation Simulated by RegCM4 over the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Based on the Mixed Distribution Quantile Mapping Method

Traditional multi-parameter single distribution quantile mapping (QM) methods excel in some respects in correcting climate model precipitation, but are limited in others. Multi-parameter mixed distribution quantile mapping can potentially exploit the strengths of single distribution methods and avoid their weaknesses. The correction performance of mixed distribution QM methods varies with the geographical location they are applied to and the combination of distributions that are included. This study compares multiple sets of single distribution and multi-parameter mixed distribution QM methods in order to correct the precipitation bias in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River basin (UYRB) in RegCM4 simulated precipitation. The results show that, among the selected distributions, the gamma distribution has the highest performance in the basin; explaining more than 50% of the precipitation events based on the weighting coefficients. The Gumbel distribution had the worst performance, only explaining about 10% of the precipitation events. The performance parameters, such as the root mean square error (RMSE) and the correlation coefficient (R) of the corrected precipitation, that were derived by using mixed distribution were better than those derived by using single distribution. The QM method that is based on the gamma-generalized extreme value distribution best corrected the precipitation, could reproduce the annual cycle and geographical pattern of observed precipitation, and could significantly reduce the wet bias from the RegCM4 model in the UYRB. In addition to enhancing precipitation climatology, the correction method also improved the simulation performance of the RegCM4 model for extreme precipitation events

Controlling Shear Rate for Designable Thermal Conductivity in Direct Ink Printing of Polydimethylsiloxane/Boron Nitride Composites

Efficient heat dissipation is vital for advancing device integration and high-frequency performance. Three-dimensional printing, famous for its convenience and structural controllability, facilitates complex parts with high thermal conductivity. Despite this, few studies have considered the influence of shear rate on the thermal conductivity of printed parts. Herein, polydimethylsiloxane/boron nitride (PDMS/BN) composites were prepared and printed by direct ink writing (DIW). In order to ensure the smooth extrusion of the printing process and the structural stability of the part, a system with 40 wt% BN was selected according to the rheological properties. In addition, the effect of printing speed on the morphology of BN particles during 3D printing was studied by XRD, SEM observation, as well as ANSYS Polyflow simulation. The results demonstrated that increasing the printing speed from 10 mm/s to 120 mm/s altered the orientation angle of BN particles from 78.3° to 35.7°, promoting their alignment along the printing direction due to the high shear rate experienced. The resulting printed parts accordingly exhibited an impressive thermal conductivity of 0.849 W∙m−1∙K−1, higher than the 0.454 W∙m−1∙K−1 of the control sample. This study provides valuable insights and an important reference for future developments in the fabrication of thermal management devices with customizable thermal conductivity

INFLUENCE OF HIGH-DOSE ATORVASTATIN ON BILE ACID METABOLISM IN MICE WITH LIVER INJURY AND RELATED MECHANISM

Objective To investigate the influence of high-dose atorvastatin on bile acid metabolism in mice with liver injury and its mechanism. Methods A total of 40 specific pathogen-free male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal saline group (group A) and low-, middle-, and high-dose atorvastatin groups (groups B, C, and D, respectively), with 10 mice in each group. After 30 days of intragastric administration of normal saline and atorvastatin at a dose of 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg, respectively, orbital blood was collected from the mice in each group, and these groups were compared in terms of the serum levels of total bile acid (TBA), endotoxin (ET), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT); after liver tissue samples were collected, HE staining was performed to observe the pathological changes of liver tissue, and PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of the bile acid metabolism-related genes farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and multidrug resis-tance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) in liver tissue. Results The mice in group D had slight swelling, sporadic inflammatory cell infiltration, and feather-like degeneration in liver tissue. Compared with the other groups, group D had significant increases in the serum levels of TBA, ET, AST, and ALT (P<0.05). Compared with group A, groups C and D had significant reductions in the relative mRNA expression levels of FXR and MRP2 in liver tissue (P<0.05), and compared with group B, group D had significant reductions in the relative mRNA expression levels of FXR and MRP2 in liver tissue (P<0.05). Conclusion Atorvastatin can induce the increase in serum TBA level in mice and lead to changes in the expression of the downstream FXR and MRP2 genes associated with bile acid metabolism in liver tissue, and abnormal bile acid metabolism in liver tissue caused by high-dose administration may be one of the main causes of atorvastatin hepatotoxicity

A TiO₂ Coated Carbon Aerogel Derived from Bamboo Pulp Fibers for Enhanced Visible Light Photo-Catalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

Carbon aerogels (CA) derived from bamboo cellulose fibers were coupled with TiO2 to form CA/TiO2 hybrids, which exhibited extraordinary performance on the photo-catalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). The structure and morphology of CA/TiO2 were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectrum. The CA displayed a highly porous and interconnected three-dimensional framework structure, while introducing the catalytic active sites of TiO2 onto the aerogel scaffold could remarkably enhance its photo-catalytic activity. The adsorption and photo-catalytic degradation of MB by the CA/TiO2 hybrid were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity of CA/TiO2 for MB was 18.5 mg/g, which outperformed many similar materials reported in the literature. In addition, compared with other photo-catalysts, the present CA/TiO2 demonstrated superior photo-catalytic performance. Almost 85% of MB in 50 mL solution with a MB concentration of 10 mg/L could be effectively degraded by 15 mg CA/TiO2 in 300 min