Contrasting behaviors between the rapidly intensifying and slowly intensifying tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific basins

Based on 35-yr (1982-2016) best track and Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme data, this study examined climatology of rapidly intensifying (RI) and slowly intensifying (SI) events as well as their time evolutions of storm-related and environmental parameters for tropical cyclones (TCs) in both North Atlantic (AL) and eastern North Pacific (EP) basins. Major hurricanes were intensified mainly through RI while tropical depression and tropical storms were intensified through SI. The percentage of TCs that underwent RI peaks in the late hurricane season whereas the percentage of TCs that underwent SI peaks early. For the first time in the literature, this study found that RI events have significantly different storm-related and environmental characteristics than SI events for before-, during-, and after-event stages. In both AL and EP basins, RI events always intensify significantly faster during the previous 12 h, are located farther south, and have warmer sea surface and 200-hPa temperatures, greater ocean heat content, larger 200-hPa divergence, weaker vertical wind shear, and weaker 200-hPa westerly flow than SI events for all event-relative stages. In the AL basin, RI events have larger low-level and midlevel relative humidity and larger 850-hPa relative vorticity than SI events for all event-relative stages in the AL and most event-relative stages in the EP. RI events are associated with more convectively unstable atmosphere and are farther away from their maximum potential intensities than SI events for most event-relative stages in the AL and for all event-relative stages in the EP

Interactive Music Recommendation: Context,Content and Collaborative Filtering

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Bearing Capacities of the Structure and Joint of JUNO Central Detector

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) central detector will be placed underground to detect neutrinos. In order to achieve the feasible scheme for JUNO, the structural scheme of an acrylic ball supported by a double-layer stainless steel latticed shell is designed and modeled using ABAQUS software. The bearing capacity of the structure under working condition is investigated and influences of external factors are analyzed. For the purpose of studying the load-bearing behavior of the joint of acrylic and stainless steel in this scheme, tests of three joint specimens are conducted and the results are compared with finite element (FE) predictions. It is concluded that the structure is safe and reliable under the effects of external factors. The bearing capacity of the joint is at least 2 times as large as the design load and the stress on the acrylic is limited within 10MPa

3-Eth­oxy-4-hydroxy­benzaldehyde

The title compound (ethyl vanillin), C9H10O3, an important food additive and flavouring agent approved by FAO/WHO, has a vanilla odor four times that of vanillin and shows anti­­mutagenic activity. There are two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, each having a planar conformation and an intramolecular O—H⋯O bond. Mol­ecules are connected side-by-side, building infinite ribbons along c via inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl and hydroxyl groups. The ribbons are then packed into layers perpendicular to the a axis

Ion steric effect induces giant enhancement of thermoelectric conversion in electrolyte-filled nanochannels

Ionic Seebeck effect has received increasing attention because of its advantages such as high Seebeck coefficient and low cost. However, theoretical study on the ionic Seebeck coefficient is still in its infancy and mainly focuses on diluted simple electrolytes excluding the contributions of ion steric effects and short-range electrostatic correlation. Here, we show that the coupling of the steric effects due to finite ion sizes and ion thermodiffusion in electric double layers can significantly enhance the thermoelectric response in confined electrolytes via both theory and simulation. The Seebeck coefficient can reach 100% or even one order of magnitude enhancement as compared to previous theoretical models depending on the degree of the ion steric effects and the sum of ion Soret coefficients. In addition, we demonstrate that the short-range electrostatic correlation is beneficial to achieving the maximum Seebeck coefficient at weaker confinement or more concentrated electrolytes. These findings can provide a strategy for achieving high Seebeck coefficient and high electric conductivity simultaneously to improve the efficiency of the ionic thermoelectric conversion.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Genome-wide identification and analysis of the invertase gene family in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) reveals NtNINV10 participating the sugar metabolism

Sucrose (Suc) is directly associated with plant growth and development as well as tolerance to various stresses. Invertase (INV) enzymes played important role in sucrose metabolism by irreversibly catalyzing Suc degradation. However, genome-wide identification and function of individual members of the INV gene family in Nicotiana tabacum have not been conducted. In this report, 36 non-redundant NtINV family members were identified in Nicotiana tabacum including 20 alkaline/neutral INV genes (NtNINV1-20), 4 vacuolar INV genes (NtVINV1-4), and 12 cell wall INV isoforms (NtCWINV1-12). A comprehensive analysis based on the biochemical characteristics, the exon-intron structures, the chromosomal location and the evolutionary analysis revealed the conservation and the divergence of NtINVs. For the evolution of the NtINV gene, fragment duplication and purification selection were major factors. Besides, our analysis revealed that NtINV could be regulated by miRNAs and cis-regulatory elements of transcription factors associated with multiple stress responses. In addition, 3D structure analysis has provided evidence for the differentiation between the NINV and VINV. The expression patterns in diverse tissues and under various stresses were investigated, and qRT-PCR experiments were conducted to confirm the expression patterns. Results revealed that changes in NtNINV10 expression level were induced by leaf development, drought and salinity stresses. Further examination revealed that the NtNINV10-GFP fusion protein was located in the cell membrane. Furthermore, inhibition of the expression of NtNINV10 gene decreased the glucose and fructose in tobacco leaves. Overall, we have identified possible NtINV genes functioned in leaf development and tolerance to environmental stresses in tobacco. These findings provide a better understanding of the NtINV gene family and establish the basis for future research

Long Non-Coding RNA PVT1/miR-150/ HIG2 Axis Regulates the Proliferation, Invasion and the Balance of Iron Metabolism of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background/Aims: To investigate the biological roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) PVT1 in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: qRT-PCR was performed to measure the expression of miRNA and mRNA. Western blot was performed to measure the protein expression. CCK-8 assay was performed to determine cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was performed to detect cell apoptosis. Wounding-healing assay and Transwell assay was performed to detect cell migration and invasion. Dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the target relationship. Quantichrom iron assay was performed to check uptake level of cellular iron. Results: PVT1 expression was up-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. Function studies revealed that PVT1 knockdown significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, PVT1 could directly bind to microRNA (miR)-150 and down-regulate miR-150 expression. Hypoxia-inducible protein 2 (HIG2) was found to be one target gene of miR-150, and PVT1 knockdown could inhibit the expression of HIG2 through up-regulating miR-150 expression. In addition, the expression of miR-150 was down-regulated, while the expression of HIG2 was up-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. Moreover, inhibition of miR-150 could partly reverse the biological effects of PVT1 knockdown on proliferation, motility, apoptosis and iron metabolism in vitro, which might be associated with dysregulation of HIG2. In vivo results showed that PVT1 knockdown suppressed tumorigenesis and iron metabolism disorder by regulating the expression of miR-150 and HIG2. Conclusion: Taken together, the present study demonstrates that PVT1/miR-150/HIG2 axis may lead to a better understanding of HCC pathogenesis and provide potential therapeutic targets for HCC

Calculation of Nonlimit Active Earth Pressure against Rigid Retaining Wall Rotating about Base

A retaining wall with sandy fill was considered as the research object in order to study the nonlimiting active earth pressure under the rotation about the base (RB mode). Rankine’s and Coulomb’s earth pressure theories are no longer applicable to the above conditions (RB mode and nonlimiting active earth pressure). In order to improve the traditional earth pressure calculation methods (Rankine and Coulomb), a calculation method using curvilinear thin layer elements is presented with overall considerations of wall displacement, soil arching effect, and friction angle exertion coefficient to deduce the nonlimit active earth pressure under RB. Additionally, the calculation results were in good agreement with model test data (from Fang and Smita). Moreover, a parametric analysis was carried out. It was revealed that the developed value of the shear strength decreased with the depth, and the active earth pressure distribution curve was linear and nonlinear in the upper and lower halves, respectively