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To investigate the perforating characteristics of Zr-based bulk metallic glass fragments against thin steel target, ballistic experiments were carried out to measure ballistic the limit velocities of fragments perforating against different thicknesses of targets. The fragments were driven by a 57 mm one-stage light gas gun to impact the thin steel target. The numerical model of Zr-based bulk metallic glass fragments perforating against thin steel target was established using Autodyn2D commercial software, and the perforating process and perforating mechanism were analyzed by numerical simulation. The semi-empirical model to predict the ballistic limit velocity was fitted. An energy model for calculating the residual velocity of a fragment was derived based on the conservation of energy. The theoretical results of the semi-empirical model and the energy model are in good agreement with experiment results and simulation results. And the energy model has good applicability without fitting the parameters for different target thicknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorless and transparent polymer films and sheets with good high-temperature resistance and low dielectric constant (low-Dk) and low dissipation factors (low-Df) features are highly desired in advanced optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEIC) fabrications. In the current work, a series of semi-alicyclic polyimide (PI) powders were first prepared by the onestep high-temperature polycondensation of an alicyclic dianhydride, hydrogenated 3,3',4,4'-biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride (HBPDA) and aromatic diamines which were beneficial for endowing the derived PI films with low-Dk features, including 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane (BAPP) for PI-1, 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane (BDAF) for PI-2, and 9,9-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]fluorene (BAOFL) for PI-3. Then, the derived PI powders were fabricated into colorless films and light-colored sheets, respectively. The freestanding flexible and tough PI films showed excellent optical transparency with the ultraviolet (UV) cutoff wavelength (λcut) lower than 300 nm, the optical transmittance higher than 85% at the wavelength of 400 nm, yellow indices (b*) lower than 1.0, and haze values lower than 1.2%. The hot-processed PI sheets also exhibited light colors. The PI films and sheets showed good thermal stability with the glass transition temperatures (Tg) higher than 220 °C. More importantly, the derived semi-alicyclic PI sheets showed Dk and Df values as low as 2.56 and 0.008 at 1 MHz, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenoxy-phosphazene (PPZ) oligomer (Rabitle® FP100) flame retardant (FR) was successfully incorporated into the colorless and transparent semi-alicyclic polyimide (CPI) film matrix derived from 1,2,4,5-cyclohexanetetracarboxylic dianhydride (CHDA) and 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) (PI-a, CHDA-ODA). The PPZ FR showed good miscibility with the PI-a matrix with a loading amount of up to 10 wt% in the composite films. PI-b (CHDA-ODA-FP100-5) film maintained good optical properties with the transmittance of 83.9% at the wavelength of 400 nm, the yellow index (b*) of 3.28, and the haze of 2.14%. PI-b film also showed good flame retardancy with the limiting oxygen indices (LOI) of 41.2% and the flammability rating of UL94 VTM-0. In addition, PI-b film exhibited the obviously reduced heat release rate (HRR) and total smoke production (THR) during the cone calorimeter measurement. At last, PI-b showed the glass transition temperature (Tg) and 5% weight loss temperature (T5%) of 325.0 and 404.3 °C, respectively, which was slightly lower than those of the pristine PI-a film (Tg = 346.8 °C; T5% = 431.6 °C). Continuous PI-b films with a length of 1000 m and a width of 1000 mm were successfully obtained on the demonstration production line by optimizing the processing parameters via the modified solvent cast technology. Similar thermal, optical, and flame retardancy properties and obviously improved tensile properties were observed for the mass production of PI-b film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the benefits of betahistine or vestibular rehabilitation (Tetrax biofeedback) on the quality of life and fall risk in patients with Ménière's disease. Methods: Sixty-six patients with Ménière's disease were randomly divided into three groups: betahistine, Tetrax and control groups. Patients' Dizziness Handicap Index and Tetrax fall index scores were obtained before and after treatment. Results: Patients in the betahistine and Tetrax groups showed significant improvements in Dizziness Handicap Index and fall index scores after treatment versus before treatment (p < 0.05). The improvements in the Tetrax group were significantly greater than those in the betahistine group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Betahistine and vestibular rehabilitation (Tetrax biofeedback) improve the quality of life and reduce the risk of falling in patients with Ménière's disease. Vestibular rehabilitation (Tetrax biofeedback) is an effective management method for Ménière's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-holes array and micro-electrodes array are widely used in biomedical industry, aerospace industry and micro-electromechanical systems. The machining of micro-holes array is a difficult problem for traditional machining technology. Currently electrical discharge machining technology (EDM) is an alternative machining technology for the fabricating of micro-holes array in high strength and hardness of metal material because of it is free from mechanical force. However, distribution and concentration of debris particles in the discharge gap easily leads to the intensive distribution of discharge positions, which significantly influences machining performance of EDM of micro-holes array. In this study, a three-dimensional flow field simulation model of ultrasonic assisted EDM of micro-holes array is proposed by FLUENT software. The effect of ultrasonic vibration and the depth-to-diameter ratio on debris particles distribution in ultrasonic assisted EDM of micro-holes array will be investigated by numerical simulation. It is shown that reducing the depth-diameter ratio and increasing the ultrasonic amplitude and frequency are beneficial to enhance the exhaustion of debris particles out of the discharge gap and decrease the concentration of debris particles in the discharge gap. In addition, machining experiments are carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nannochloropsis is widely used in aquaculture as a feed source. However, large-scale cultivation of Nannochloropsis usually fails due to rotifer contamination. In order to identify an effective technique for reducing rotifer contamination, the effect of Brachionus plicatilis contamination on photosynthetic characteristics in Nannochloropsis oculata and the efficacy of the celangulin (CA):toosendanin (TSN) (1:9) combination for rotifer extermination were investigated using chlorophyll a fluorescence transient. B. plicatilis could directly devour microalgal cells and sharply reduced N. oculata density to very low levels. B. plicatilis also inhibited activities of PSII reaction centers, both acceptor and donor side, thereby damaging the photosynthetic performance of surviving N. oculata cells. However, the CA:TSN (1:9) combination could completely eliminate B. plicatilis, thereby preventing rotifers from devouring microalgae cells and protecting the photosynthetic performance of the surviving algal cells against rotifers damage. Therefore, the binary combination of CA:TSN (1:9), is considered to be a good candidate of botanical pesticide for controlling rotifer contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel ester-containing polyimide (PI) resins have been synthesized from an alicyclic dianhydride monomer, 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyldicyclohexanecarboxylate-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (HTABP) and various aromatic diamines. The derived PI resins (PI-1~PI-5) were easily soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). The PI alignment agents prepared from the HTABP-PI resins, NMP solvent, and the butyl cellulose (BC) leveling agent with a solid content of 6 wt% showed good stability during the storage at 25 °C for half a year. Smooth and uniform PI alignment layers were formed by spin-coating the PI varnishes onto indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates, followed by thermally baking at the temperature up to 230 °C. Liquid crystal (LC) cells were successfully fabricated by using the rubbing treated PI layers as the alignment components for LC molecules. The LC cells fabricated with the newly-developed PI alignment layers exhibited good electro-optical properties with the pretilt angles around 1.26-2.82° and voltage holding ratio (VHR) as high as 98.36% at room temperature. The residual direct current voltage (RDC) values of the HTABP-PI alignment layers were in the range of 915-2146 mV due to the high volume resistivity values of the PI layers. In addition, the HTABP-PI layers showed good thermal stability with the 5% weight loss temperatures (T5%) higher than 415 °C and glass transition temperatures (Tg) in the range of 150.5-201.4 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of organo-soluble polyimide (PI) resins were synthesized by a two-step chemical imidization reaction from two semi-alicyclic dianhydrides, 1,4-dihydroxyphenyl-dicyclohexanecarboxylate-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (HTA-HQ, I) and 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl dicyclohexanecarboxylate-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (HTABP, II) and two rigid-rod aromatic diamines, 2,2′-dimethylbenzidine (DMBZ, a) and 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (TFMB, b), respectively. Then, PI ultrafine non-woven fabrics were successfully fabricated via a one-step electrospinning procedure with the synthesized semi-alicyclic PI resins dissolved in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), followed by heat treatment at 200 °C. Comparatively, the standard wholly aromatic PI fabric, poly(pyromellitic dianhydride-oxydianiline) (PI-ref, PMDA/ODA) was prepared by a two-step electrospinning procedure with poly(amic acid) (PAA), followed by the high-temperature imidization procedure up to 350 °C. The derived electrospun semi-alicyclic PI non-woven fabrics exhibited much higher optical reflectance and whiteness than that of the PI-ref. For example, PI-IIb (HTA-BP/TFMB) fabric showed an optical reflectance (R457) value of 90.6% at the wavelength of 457 nm and whiteness index (WI) of 92.7, which were quite higher than those of PI-ref (R457: 37.3%; WI: 59.0). In addition, the semi-alicyclic PI fabrics exhibited good thermal stability with the glass transition temperatures (Tg) higher than 217°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have attracted more attention for their roles in tumor progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of lncRNA ZFPM2 antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2- AS1) in the progression of renal cell cancer (RCC), and to explore the possible underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Expression levels of ZFPM2-AS1 in both RCC cells and 50 paired tissue samples were detected by Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Moreover, the relationship between lncRNA ZFPM2-AS1 expression level and clinic- pathological characteristics as well as patients' disease-free survival rate was explored, respectively. Furthermore, cell proliferation assay, wound healing assay and transwell assay were performed to investigate the role of lncRNA ZFPM2-AS1 in vitro. In addition, Western blot assay, Luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were used to explore the possible underlying mechanism. RESULTS: The expression level of ZFPM2- AS1 in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that of corresponding normal tissues. ZFPM2- AS1 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor stage and survival time of RCC patients. Moreover, the overexpression of ZFPM2-AS1 significantly promoted the growth, invasion and migration of tumor cells, whereas remarkably inhibited cell apoptosis in vitro. Further experiments revealed that miR-137 was a direct target of ZFPM2-AS1. In addition, miR-137 expression in tumor tissues was negatively correlated with ZFPM2-AS1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that ZFPM2-AS1 could promote metastasis and proliferation, whereas inhibiting the apoptosis of RCC via targeting miR-137. This study might provide a new vision for interpreting the mechanism of RCC development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have revealed the important role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the progression of tumorigenesis. This study aims to identify how lncRNA LUCAT1 functions in the progression of OSCC (oral squamous cell carcinoma). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Relative expression of lncRNA LUCAT1 in both OSCC cells and 50 paired tissue samples was detected by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Moreover, biological function of LUCAT1 in OSCC was identified by performing transwell assay, wound healing assay and proliferation assay in vitro. The underlying mechanism was explored by qRT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: LUCAT1 expression was remarkably downregulated in OSCC tissues when compared with that in adjacent normal samples. Moreover, proliferation, invasion and migration of OSCC cells were inhibited after knockdown of LUCAT1 in vitro. Knockdown of LUCAT1 downregulated PCNA in OSCC cells at mRNA and protein level in vitro. Besides, PCNA expression in OSCC tissues was positively correlated with the expression of LUCAT1. CONCLUSIONS: Knockdown of LUCAT1 could inhibit migration, invasion and proliferation capacities of OSCC cells through downregulating PCNA, which may offer a new therapeutic intervention for OSCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: We aimed at detecting the expression of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) maternally expressed 3 (MEG3) in the serum of fracture patients, and at investigating its impacts on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and the specific molecular mechanism of action. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The serum samples of 48 fracture patients diagnosed in our hospital (Fracture group) and 30 healthy people receiving physical examination (Health group) were collected. The expression level of serum lncRNA MEG3 in Fracture group and Health group was measured via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, a small interfering RNA (siRNA) was applied to construct mouse osteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1 with a stable knockout of MEG3. The growth status of the cell was observed, and the impacts of MEG3 knockout on the osteoblast proliferation were determined using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), a proliferation activity detection kit. Meanwhile, 5-ethynyl-2’-de-oxyuridine (EdU) staining was applied to detect the proportion of EdU positive cells in the osteoblasts in Control group and MEG3 knockout group (MEG3 siRNA group). In addition, RT-PCR was performed to measure the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of differentiation-related genes. Finally, RT-PCR and Western blotting assay were adopted to analyze the expression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. RESULTS: The expression of serum lncRNA MEG3 in fracture patients was increased markedly (p<0.05). Results of in-vitro cell experiment indicated that intervention with MEG3 siRNA could obviously promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1. The results of RT-PCR and Western blotting assay revealed that the role of MEG3 in promoting differentiation and proliferation might be mediated by the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in osteoblasts. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA MEG3 can promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, so it is expected to become a new target for accelerating the fracture healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment and recycling for offshore oilfield can bring economic and social benefits. This paper produced wastewater treatment and recycling technological process for offshore oilfield combining with engineering practice. Considering the complexity of internal flow in disc separator, VOF model and RNG k-ε turbulence model were used to numerically simulate the process of separating oil-water in the separator then the law of distribution and the efficiency of separating oil-water such as flow velocity, pressure, turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent flow, laminar flow and so on were obtained. The discrete phase model (DPM) was used to simulate the motion of particles, then obtained the motion process and separation efficiency of discrete phase particles. The test results show that, the separation efficiency of the calculation and actual measurements both meet the design requirements with the separation efficiency calculated slightly higher than that in the actual measurements. The relative error of oil-water separation efficiency and particle separation efficiency are 1.5% and 1.4% respectively. The data indicate that the numerical simulation method is reliable for predicting the separation performance of the separator, so wastewater treatment and recycling technological process meet the requirements of engineering application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of the application of high-volume hemofiltration (HVHF) in children with sepsis combined with acute kidney injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 76 child patients were enrolled and randomly divided equally (n=38) into control and the observation groups respectively. The control group received conventional volume hemofiltration (the ultrafiltration rate of 35-50 ml/kg/h), and the observation group received HVHF (50-100 ml/kg/h). RESULTS: The serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-a (TNF-α) and creatinine levels were significantly lower in the observation group than the control group at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h of hemofiltration (p<0.05). The efficacy rate of treatment was improved. The mortality rate and incidence rate of complications were decreased, and the treatment course was significantly shortened (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The application of HVHF in children with sepsis combined with acute kidney injury has a better safety and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of thermoplastic polyimide (PI) films (PI-1~PI-5) with intrinsic heat sealability have been synthesized by the high-temperature polycondensation reaction of asymmetrical 2,3,3.,4.-oxydiphthalic anhydride (aODPA) and various aromatic diamines in order to meet the demands of advanced flexible copper clad laminates (FCCL). The derived PI resins had good solubility in polar aprotic solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) at a solid content up to 20 wt%. Flexible and tough films could be cast from the PI/NMP solution and the films exhibited tensile strength higher than 83 MPa. Among the developed PIs, those derived from aODPA and benzimidazole-containing diamines, including PI-4 from aODPA and 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5-aminobenzimidazole (4APBI) and PI-5 from aODPA and 2-(3-aminophenyl)-5-aminobenzimidazole (3APBI) exhibited the highest thermal stability (glass transition temperatures, Tg > 340°C), lowest linear coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE < 35·10-6 1/K), and superior adhesion to copper foil (peeling strength >1.0 N/mm). Flexible copper clad laminate (FCCL) with no curling was successfully prepared from PI-4 and copper foil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A polyimide (PI) aerogel with excellent combined thermal and dielectric properties was successfully prepared by the polycondensation of 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), 5-amino-2-(4-aminophenyl)benzoxazole (APBO) and octa(amino-phenyl)silsesquioxane (OAPS) crosslinker, followed by a supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) drying treatment. The developed PI aerogel exhibited an ultra-low dielectric constant (k) of 1.15 at a frequency of 2.75 GHz, a volume resistivity of 5.45·1014 Ω·cm, and a dielectric strength of 132 kV/cm. The flexible PI aerogel exhibited an openpore microstructure consisting of three-dimensional network with tangled nanofibers morphology with a porosity of 85.6% (volume ratio), an average pore diameter of 19.2 nm, and a Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area of 428.6 m²/g. In addition, the PI aerogel showed excellent thermal stability with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 358.3 °C, a 5% weight loss temperature over 500 °C, and a residual weight ratio of 66.7% at 750 °C in nitrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In biological transport mechanisms such as insect respiration and renal filtration, fluid travels along a leaky channel allowing material exchange with systems exterior to the channel. The channels in these systems may undergo peristaltic pumping which is thought to enhance the material exchange. To date, little analytic work has been done to study the effect of pumping on material extraction across the channel walls. In this paper, we examine a fluid extraction model in which fluid flowing through a leaky channel is exchanged with fluid in a reservoir. The channel walls are allowed to contract and expand uniformly, simulating a pumping mechanism. In order to efficiently determine solutions of the model, we derive a formal power series solution for the Stokes equations in a finite channel with uniformly contracting/expanding permeable walls. This flow has been well studied in the case in which the normal velocity at the channel walls is proportional to the wall velocity. In contrast we do not assume flow that is proportional to the wall velocity, but flow that is driven by hydrostatic pressure, and we use Darcy's law to close our system for normal wall velocity. We incorporate our flow solution into a model that tracks the material pressure exterior to the channel. We use this model to examine flux across the channel-reservoir barrier and demonstrate that pumping can either enhance or impede fluid extraction across channel walls. We find that associated with each set of physical flow and pumping parameters, there are optimal reservoir conditions that maximize the amount of material flowing from the channel into the reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The security risk of magnesium alloys used as biodegradable implant material was evaluated in this study. Dose-response assessment was conducted by using toxicological data from authoritative public health agencies (World Health Organization) and assuming 1~3 years of uniform corrosion. Through modification calculation, the tolerable corrosion rate of biodegradable magnesium alloys in vivo was proposed, which theoretically ensured the bio-safety of the degradation products. The tolerable limits corresponding to various component elements in magnesium alloys were considered separately, although there are deficits in the toxicological data of some component elements. The influence of corrosion on the strength of magnesium alloys was evaluated, which would contribute to the rationally utilization of magnesium alloys as degradable implant materials. This study illustrates that not only toxicological calculations but also mechanical performance should be taken into consideration when developing novel degradable metallic implant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is very important to investigate the multiple spreaders' effects since the spreading phenomenon is ubiquitous in many complex systems. In this letter, we investigate the effects of the distance among the initial multiple spreaders for regular networks and WS (Watts-Strogatz) small-world networks based on the SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered) model. Assuming the epidemics can spread over the network, the theoretical and experimental results show that for regular networks the larger the distance between spreaders is, the more effective the spreading is. For WS networks, the spreading efficiency will decrease when the distance exceeds a certain value, and a larger connection probability and average degree will result in a smaller distance of the most effective spreading. A better spreading strategy using n spreaders is to choose either the highest k or ks nodes with the condition that there are not any pairs of the n spreaders linked directly (Kitsak M. et al., Nat. Phys., 6 (2010) 888). However, we find that the spreading will be more effective when the distances among the largest-degree spreaders increase. All these results are independent of the network size for the two initial spreaders case. This work may give new insights to explore more effective methods to inhibit the epidemic spreading or increase the information diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The statistical properties of the user interaction behaviors in a city have great significance for developing the network marketing strategy, promoting personalized service and so on. In this paper, we investigate the interaction property of the users from New Orleans network in the Facebook, and find that one's out-degree and in-degree are approximately the same. In addition, when the number of a user friends is less than 65, the number of their posts would linearly grow with the slope 4.2, but when one user's friends are more than 65, their posts would grow with the slope 2.1. Further, the average link weight is relatively flat when the out-degree ranges from 28 to 65, and before or after the section it is on the rise or in decline, respectively, from which we can conclude that one could not maintain stable and meaningful relationships with more than 65 people in a single city. We present a null model to reshuffle the network to guarantee that the empirical results are not obtained by accident. The result obtained after reshuffling suggests that there exists a limit that restricts people's social activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Y on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the solution treated Mg–6Zn–0·5Ca alloys were investigated in this study. The results indicated that the alloy was mainly composed of α-Mg solid solution and the secondary phases of MgZn2, Ca2Mg6Zn3 and Mg12ZnY. The grains size of the solution treated alloys decreased from 210 to 80 μm with the increasing of Y content up to 1·5 wt-%. The great progressional mechanical properties were observed in the prepared Mg–6Zn–0·5Ca–1Y alloy at room temperature, the ultimate tensile strength (σb), tensile yield strength (σ0·2) and elongation (ϵ) were 284 MPa, 166 MPa and 14·7% respectively, which was determined by the combined contributions of solid solution strengthening, precipitation strengthening plus grain size refinement strengthening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of soil moisture simulation using land surface models depends largely on the accuracy of the meteorological forcing data. The present study investigated how to reduce the uncertainty arising from meteorological forcings in a simulation by adopting a multiple meteorological forcing ensemble approach. Simulations by the Community Land Model version 3.5 (CLM3.5) over mainland China were conducted using four different meteorological forcings, and the four sets of soil moisture data related to the simulations were then merged using simple arithmetical averaging and Bayesian model averaging (BMA) ensemble approaches. Compared to in situ observations, the four simulations captured the spatial and seasonal variations of soil moisture in most cases with some mean bias. They performed differently when simulating the seasonal phases in the annual cycle, the interannual variation and the magnitude of observed soil moisture over different subregions of mainland China, but no individual meteorological forcing performed best for all subregions. The simple arithmetical average ensemble product outperformed most, but not all, individual members over most of the subregions. The BMA ensemble product performed better than simple arithmetical averaging, and performed best for all fields over most of the subregions. The BMA ensemble approach applied to the ensemble simulation reproduced anomalies and seasonal variations in observed soil moisture values, and simulated the mean soil moisture. It is presented here as a promising way for reproducing long-term, high-resolution spatial and temporal soil moisture data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy measurements of SO2 and NO2 were performed in the Guangzhou Eastern Area (GEA) during the Guangzhou Asian Games 2010 from November 2010 to December 2010. Spatial and temporal distributions of SO2 and NO2 in this area were obtained and emission sources were determined by using wind field data. The NO2 vertical column densities were found to agree with OMI values. The correlation coefficient (R2) was 0.88 after cloud filtering. During the Guangzhou Asian Games and Asian Paralympics (Para) Games, the SO2 and NO2 emissions in the area were quantified using averaged wind speed and wind direction. For times outside the Games the average SO2 emission was estimated to be 9.50±0.90 tons per hour and the average NO2 emission was estimated to be 3.50±1.89 tons per hour. During the phases of the Asian and Asian Para Games, the SO2 and NO2 emissions were reduced by 53.5 and 46 %, respectively, compared to the usual condition. We also investigated the influence of GEA on Guangzhou University Town, the main venue located northwest of the GEA, and found that SO2 concentrations here were about tripled by emissions from the GEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of the first attempt to use Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data for the purposes of lithologic mapping on the Antarctic Peninsula are presented for an area on the Oscar II Coast, eastern Graham Land. This study included undertaking laboratory reflectance spectroscopy of ∼70 rock samples from the study area and spectral lithologic analysis of two ASTER scenes. Spectra of the granitoids, silicic volcanic/volcaniclastic and terrestrial sedimentary rocks in the study area display a limited range of absorption features associated with muscovite, smectite and chlorite that are generally present as the alteration products of regional metamorphism. ASTER data analysis was undertaken using the reflective bands of the Level 1B registered radiance at-sensor data and the standard thermal infrared (TIR) emissivity product (AST05). For both wavelength regions, standard qualitative image processing methods were employed to define image end-members that were used as reference within Matched Filter (MF) processing procedures. The results were interpreted with reference to existing field observations, and photogeologic analysis of the ASTER visible to near-infrared (VNIR)/shortwave infrared (SWIR) data was used to resolve ambiguities in the spectral mapping results. The results have enabled the discrimination of most of the major lithologic groups within the study area as well as delineation of hydrothermal alteration zones of propylitic, and argillic grades associated with the Mesozoic Mapple Formation volcanics. The results have extended the mapped coverage of the Mapple Formation into un-investigated regions further north and validated previously inferred geological observations concerning other rocks throughout the study area. The outcomes will enable important revisions to be made to the existing geological map of the Oscar II Coast and demonstrate that ASTER data offers potential for improving geological mapping coverage across the Antarctic Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]