Simulation of convectively coupled waves using WRF: a framework for assessing the effects of mesoscales on synoptic scales

The atmospheric variability in the tropics is primarily driven by convective heating. Observations revealed that convection in the tropics is organized into a hierarchy of multiscale convective systems ranging from the individual cloud cells to planetary scale disturbances that are nested within each other like Russian dolls. Current global climate models simulate very poorly these convectively coupled waves due in part to inadequate treatment of organized convection by the underlying cumulus parameterizations. Here, we present idealized simulations of convectively coupled equatorial waves (CCWs) using the weather research and forecast model in a horizontally limited domain consisting of a 4,500 km-wide square centered at the equator at moderate horizontal resolution of 10 km. We attempted and compared various configuration options, including switching on and off the cumulus parameterization (CP) and nesting a fine resolution 3.33 km domain, a 2,000 km-wide square, in the middle of the domain. It turns out that the results without a CP are much superior than those using a CP. While the cases without a CP resulted in a coherent eastward propagating CCW, which has many common features with observed convectively coupled Kelvin waves, the cumulus parameterization tends to destroy both the coherence of the propagating waves, even in the case with a nested domain, and reduces dramatically the variability. A primary demonstration on how such results could be used to show evidence of energy exchange, through momentum transport, between small-scale circulation due to mesoscale convection and the propagating synoptic scale wave will be reported is also presented.     

Dual Reciprocity Boundary Element Method for Magnetohydrodynamic Flow Using Radial Basis Functions

A dual reciprocity boundary element method is given to obtain the solution in terms of velocity and induced magnetic field for the study of MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) flow through a rectangular duct having insulating walls. The equations are transformed to two types of nonlinear Poisson equations and the right-hand sides in these equations are approximated using combinations of two classes of radial basis functions (the value of the function and its normal derivatives are utilized for approximation). Computations are carried out for several values of the Hartman number (0 h M h 10) by using constant boundary elements. Comparisons are made for two types of formulations and for traditional and osculatory type approximations of the right-hand side functions. It is found that osculatory interpolation gives better results than traditional interpolation and the type of the Poisson equation, which contains derivative of the unknown function, is better than the other type, which contains unknown function only. The results for velocity and induced magnetic field are illustrated by some selected graphs.     

An extensive review of studies on mycobacterium cell wall polysaccharide-related oligosaccharides – part II: Synthetic studies on complex arabinofuranosyl oligosaccharides carrying other functional motifs and related derivatives and analogs

Abstract

Lipoarabinomannan (LAM), mannosyl LAM (ManLAM), and mycolyl-arabinogalactan (mAG) are unique and ubiquitous cell wall constituents of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), the bacterium causing tuberculosis (TB). It has been well documented that LAM, ManLAM, and mAG play an important role in mycobacterial infections and in the elicitation of specific immune responses against M. tb in the host. Therefore, LAM, ManLAM, mAG, and related molecules are attractive targets for the development of novel TB diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Accordingly, numerous research groups have spent great effort on the chemical synthesis and biological studies of mycobacterium-related arabinofuranosyl oligosaccharides and their mimetics and conjugates. This article provides an extensive review about the progresses in this area. Due to the page limit of this journal, the review is published in three parts separately. This part (Part II) is focused on the synthesis of various ManLAM and mAG analogs containing mannose, galactose or galactosamine units and other natural structural motifs, as well as arabinofuranosyl oligosaccharide C-analogs and other derivatives.     

ZnO–SnO2 branch–stem nanowires based on a two-step process: Synthesis and sensing capability

ZnO–SnO₂ branch–stem nanostructures were realized on a basis of a two-step process. In step 1, SnO₂-stem nanowires were synthesized. In step 2, ZnO-branch nanowires were successfully grown on the SnO₂-stem nanowires through a simple evaporation technique. We have pre-deposited thin Au layers on the surface of SnO₂ nanowire stems and subsequently evaporated Zn powders on the nanowires. The ZnO branches, which sprouted from the SnO₂ stems, had diameters in a range of 30–35 nm. As-synthesized branches were of single crystalline hexagonal ZnO structures. Since the branch tips were comprised of Au-containing nanoparticles, the Au-catalyzed vapor–liquid–solid growth mechanism was more likely to control the growth process of the ZnO branches. To test a potential use of ZnO–SnO₂ branch–stem nanostructures in chemical gas sensors, their sensing performances with respect to NO₂ gas were investigated, showing the promising potential in chemical gas sensors.     

控制纳米结构以调控氧化锌的发光、磁性和细胞毒性

氧化锌(ZnO) 纳米材料因其在UV 激光器、发光二极管、太阳能电池、稀磁半导体、生物荧光标示、靶向药物等领域中的广泛应用而成为最热门的研究课题之一. 调节和优化ZnO 纳米结构的性质是ZnO 的实际应用迫切所需. 在此, 通过发展聚乙烯吡咯烷酮导向结晶法、微波加热强制水解法、表面活性剂后处理法, 成功地制备出了尺寸、表面电荷或成分可调的球、半球、棒、管、T 型管、三脚架、片、齿轮、两层、多层、带盖罐子、碗等一系列ZnO 纳米结构. 通过简单地改变ZnO 纳米粒子的尺寸、形貌和表面电荷或成分, 有效地调控ZnO 本身的发光强度和位置, 并近90 倍地增强了荧光素染料的荧光强度; 诱使了强度可调的室温铁磁性; 实现了对ZnO纳米颗粒的细胞毒性的系统性调控.     

熔体旋甩法制备p型填充式方钴矿化合物Ce0.3Fe1.5Co2.5Sb12的微结构及热电性能

采用熔体旋甩法结合放电等离子烧结技术(MS-SPS)制备了p型填充式方钴矿化合物Ce_0.3Fe_1.5Co_2.5Sb₁₂,研究了熔体旋甩工艺对微结构以及热电性能的影响规律.结果表明,较高的铜辊转速和较低的喷气压力有利于提高熔体的冷却速率,使带状产物晶粒细化.薄带经SPS烧结后得到致密、基本单相、晶粒尺寸均匀细小(150—300 nm)的块体.与传统方法制备的试样相比,MS-SPS试样虽然电导率有所降低,但因具有较大的Se 关键词： 熔体旋甩 p型填充式方钴矿化合物 微结构 热电性能     

微波吸收法研究Mn,Cu掺杂对ZnS:Mn,Cu光生载流子复合过程的影响

采用微波吸收法，测量了ZnS:Mn,Cu粉末材料受到超短脉冲激光激发后，其光生电子和浅束缚态电子的衰减过程.发现Mn,Cu的浓度对导带电子的寿命有明显的影响，提高掺杂浓度会使光生电子的寿命大大缩短，还研究了掺杂浓度对光致发光强度的影响. 关键词： 发光材料 硫化锌 光电子 微波吸收技术     

一种抑制合成孔径雷达图像相干斑的各向异性扩散滤波方法

本文提出了一种抑制合成孔径雷达图像乘性相干斑噪声的各向异性扩散滤波新方法.该方法将受自适应耦合函数控制的平均曲率运动嵌入到传统相干斑抑制的各向异性扩散方程中,形成了一种可有效抑制边缘区域相干斑与同质区块效应现象的各向异性扩散新方程,同时在新建的扩散方程中,引入了由改进Frost滤波与局部方向比率联合构建的一种带方向约束的新扩散函数,进一步削弱了块效应现象且明显改善了抑斑图像的边缘抖动扭曲问题.实验结果表明该方法在有效保护图像边缘的同时,能充分平滑同质区与边缘区域的相干斑,明显削弱块效应现象,有效改善抑斑图像边缘抖动扭曲问题,而抑斑图像无论视觉效果还是参数指标均比多种传统抑斑方法更具优势.     

基于有限元法分析宝石级金刚石的合成腔体温度场

以有限元法为理论分析手段模拟分析了温度梯度法合成宝石级金刚石大单晶的腔体温度场,实现了对宝石级金刚石的合成腔体内各位置温度同时测量.模拟结果表明:在宝石级金刚石合成过程中,其温度分布呈不均匀分布.腔体内高温区分布在样品(碳源+触媒)边缘,低温区分布在籽晶附近.样品腔内热量的传递方式和样品腔内的碳源输运方式相同,均由碳源的两侧向籽晶附近传输.籽晶附近轴向温度梯度大于径向温度梯度,导致单位时间内其轴向生长尺寸大于径向生长尺寸.宝石级金刚石腔体温度场分析的理论模型的成功构建,为新型宝石级金刚石腔体的研制提供了良好的设计基础,对促进优质宝石级金刚石的生长技术具有指导意义.