The study analyzed hourly extreme precipitation events in Chongqing and its six sub-regions from 2011 to 2021 during the warm season. Results showed uneven distribution of the 99.7th percentile hourly extreme precipitation threshold, with lower thresholds along the Yangtze River valley and higher thresholds in the Daba Mountains and Wuling Mountains. Both hourly extreme precipitation amount (HEPA) and intensity (HEPI) exhibited higher values in surrounding areas and lower values in the center, with the western, northeast, and southeastern regions experiencing the highest values. Spatial distribution of hourly extreme precipitation frequency varied, with higher frequencies in the northwestern and southern parts of Chongqing. Interannually, hourly extreme precipitation amount slightly increased, while intensity fluctuated. Monthly peak values for amount, frequency, and intensity occurred in July or August, and on a daily scale, the periods from 03:00 to 07:00 and 17:00 to 21: 00 exhibited higher values for amount and frequency, while the period from 11 :00 to 16:00 showed lower values. In summary, the study provided insights into the spatial and temporal patterns of hourly extreme precipitation events in Chongqing and its sub-regions during the warm season, highlighting variations in thresholds, distribution, and trends over the studied period.

Little is known about antibody responses to natural Omicron infection and the risk factors for poor responders in patients with hematological malignancies (HM). We conducted a multicenter, prospective cohort study during the latest Omicron wave in Chongqing, China, aiming to compare the antibody responses, as assessed by IgG levels of anti-receptor binding domain of spike protein (anti-S-RBD), to Omicron infection in the HM cohort (HMC) with healthy control cohort (HCC), and solid cancer cohort (SCC). In addition, we intend to explore the risk factors for poor responders in the HMC. Among the 466 HM patients in this cohort, the seroconversion rate was 92.7%, no statistically difference compared with HCC (98.2%, p = 0.0513) or SCC (100%, p = 0.1363). The median anti-S-RBD IgG titer was 29.9 ng/mL, significantly lower than that of HCC (46.9 ng/mL, p < 0.0001) or SCC (46.2 ng/mL, p < 0.0001). Risk factors associated with nonseroconversion included no COVID-19 vaccination history (odds ratio [OR] = 4.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.75-12.00, p = 0.002), clinical course of COVID-19 <= 7 days (OR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.31-6.25, p = 0.008) and severe B-cell reduction (0-10/mu L) (OR = 3.22, 95% CI: 1.32-7.88, p = 0.010). Risk factors associated with low anti-S-RBD IgG titer were clinical course of COVID-19 <= 7 days (OR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.59-4.18, p < 0.001) and severe B-cell reduction (0-10/mu L) (OR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.57-5.24, p < 0.001). This study reveals a poor antibody responses to Omicron (BA.5.2.48) infection in HM patients and identified risk factors for poor responders. Highlights that HM patients, especially those with these risk factors, may be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 reinfection, and the postinfection vaccination strategies for these patients should be tailored.

Topic: 30. Infections in hematology (incl. supportive care/therapy) Background: SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is still a fatal threat to immunosuppressed hematological malignancies (HM) patients. The neutralizing antibody response after the current Omicron breakthrough infection in HM patients has not yet been established with large sample analysis. Aims: To explore the neutralizing antibody response of HM patients after Omicron breakthrough infection to deal with the possible second wave of novel variants in the future. Methods: During the China’s Omicron infection wave from November 2022 to January 2023, we conducted a multi-center, prospective clinical study in four university hospitals in Chongqing, China, including 361 HM patients and 100 randomly selected age-matched adults without malignant or immunodeficient comorbidities as control. Serum IgG antibody to Omicron spike receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) 3-6 weeks after the breakthrough infection was detected through ELISA method, and data was statistically to distinguish the differences under distinct clinical characteristics and treatment strategies. Results: In this cohort of 361 HM patients and 100 healthy control, median (range) age were 58 (14-83) years and 56 (22-91) years, respectively. 209 (57.9%) and 55 (55%) were male in HM and control group. Serum anti-S-RBD IgG concentration was (36.2 ± 31.0) ng/ml of HM patients comparable to (49.44 ± 16.81) ng/ml of healthy individuals (P <0.001). The concentration of anti-S-RBD in lymphoma (P <0.001) and CLL (P=0.019) was significantly lower while there was no statistical difference in MM (P=0.427) and myeloid cancer (P=0.341) patients when compared with the control group. In the lymphoma subgroup, the concentration of anti-S-RBD in Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple B-cell lymphoma and HIV-related lymphoma was significantly lower than that of the control group (all P<0.005), while T or NK/T lymphoma showed no difference (P=0.223). Compared with patients with active disease, HM patients with CR or PR unexpectedly showed lower antibody concentration (all P<0.005), which may be related to the longer clearance time of SARS-CoV-2 in the former. Previously vaccination did not increase the concentration of anti-S-RBD (all P<0.005), but the antibodies in patients who had been vaccinated with three doses were significantly higher than those who had not been vaccinated or vaccinated with 1-2 doses (all P<0.05). The antibody concentration of patients who had been treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, BTK inhibitor, Bendamustine, PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor, lenalidomide maintenance treatment and auto-HSCT was significantly lower than that of the control group (all P<0.005), while no significant difference in untreated newly diagnosed patients (P=0.392). (Data were shown in Figure 1) Summary/Conclusion: The concentration of anti-S-RBD in HM patients 3-6 weeks after the recent wave of Omicron variant breakthrough infection in China is significantly lower than that in the general population. Many targeted drugs such as CD20 monoclonal antibody and BTK inhibitor, et al have a significant negative impact on the production of antibodies. These results may help the hematologists cope with the possible pandemic of new variant in the future.Keywords: Multiple myeloma, Lymphoma

Based on the hourly precipitation data of 34 meteorological stations in Chongqing in the summers (June to August) from 1996 to 2015, the spatial distribution and daily variation of precipitation amount (PA), precipitation intensity (PI), precipitation frequency (PF), and precipitation extremes in Chongqing are analyzed. The results show that, from the perspective of spatial distribution, the precipitation amount (PA) in Chongqing presents a distribution pattern of more around and less in the middle; the area with high precipitation intensity (PI) is mainly located in the northeast of Chongqing; the large value centers of precipitation frequency (PF) are located in the south and west of Chongqing and near Chengkou. On the spatial distribution of hourly precipitation, the precipitation in most areas of Chongqing is mainly concentrated at night [0200–0900 BT (1800–0100 UTC)], and the rain belt spreads from west to east with the passage of time. On the whole, interannual evolution characteristics of summer precipitation amount, precipitation intensity, and precipitation frequency in Chongqing are basically the same, showing a fluctuation characteristic without obvious trend, but there are some peaks and valleys. From the perspective of diurnal cycle, a larger peak of PA in Chongqing appears near 0300 BT (1900 UTC), another lower peak around 1200 BT (0400 UTC), a larger peak of PI around 0300 BT (1900 UTC), another smaller peak around 1500 BT (0700 UTC), and only one peak of PF around 0700 BT (2300 UTC). The extreme precipitation of different duration in summer in Chongqing is closely related to the topographic characteristics and weather system, the extreme centers of each diachronic precipitation are mainly located near Shapingba, Kaizhou, Youyang, and Shizhu, and the time evolution characteristics of the extreme precipitation are not obvious, but the trend of the extreme precipitation accumulated in 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, or 12 h is basically the same.

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) often cause heavy precipitation events during the warm season over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). By using the 1-hr gridded data sets with the resolution of 0.1 degrees x 0.1 degrees from the geostationary satellites of Fengyun-2 series (FY-2C/2E), the characteristics of MCSs over the TP during the warm season (May-August) from 2005 to 2012 are analysed. Based on objective criteria, MCSs over the TP can be divided into six categories, namely mesoscale convection complexes (MCCs), persistent elongated convection systems (PECSs), meso-beta circular convection systems (M(beta)CCSs), meso-beta elongated convection systems (M(beta)ECSs), smaller meso-beta circular convection systems (SM(beta)CCSs), as well as smaller meso-beta elongated convection systems (SM(beta)ECSs). The results show that there are 1,465 MCSs occurring over the TP during the warm seasons of 2005-2012, and most MCSs occur in a banded area around 30 degrees N with two high-frequency centres. The frequency of MCSs reaches a maximum in July, followed by August and June, while the lowest frequency occurs in May. The high-frequency centre is located in the northern part of the TP in May, and moves southward to the central and southern part of the TP from June to August. 82.3% of the MCSs over the TP belong to the elongated categories, out of which M(beta)ECSs account for the most. MCSs over the TP have significant diurnal variations, which usually initiate at around 1700 LST (LST, LST = UTC + 8 hr), then develop and reach maturity at 2000 LST, then weaken and dissipate at 2200 LST. The life cycles of MCSs are characterized by slow growth and rapid weakening. The larger the scale of MCSs over the TP is, the longer the duration will be.

In this research, the observation datasets from 106 gauge stations over the central and eastern areas of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and the ERA (ECMWF Re-Analysis)-Interim reanalysis datasets in the summers of 1981–2016 are used to study the characteristics and synoptic patterns of extreme precipitation events over the TP. By using a modern statistical method, the abnormal circulation characteristics at high, middle, and low latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere during extreme precipitation events over the central-eastern Tibetan Plateau are discussed, and the physical mechanisms related to the extreme precipitation events are investigated. The results show that the largest amount of extreme precipitation is found in the southern and eastern areas of the TP, where the frequency of daily extreme rainfall events (exceeding 25 mm) and the frequency of all extreme precipitation events both show obvious quasi-biweekly oscillation. When the daily extreme precipitation event threshold over the TP is met and more than 5 stations show daily extreme precipitation at the same time, with at least three of them being adjacent to each other, this is determined as a regional extreme precipitation event. As such, 33 regional daily extreme precipitation events occur during the summer periods of 1981–2016. According to the influence system, the 33 regional extreme precipitation events can be divided into three types, namely the plateau trough type, the plateau shear line type, and the plateau vortex type. For the plateau trough type, the South Asian high is anomalously strong at 100 hPa. For the other two types, the South Asian high is slightly weaker than usual. For the plateau shear line type, the development of the dynamic disturbance is the strongest, reaching 200 hPa. In the plateau trough type and plateau vortex type, the water vapor is transported by the westerly belt and the southwesterly flow from the Bay of Bengal.

The molecular mechanisms underlying HIV-induced inflammation, which persists even during effective long-term treatment, remain incompletely defined. Here, we studied pathogenic and nonpathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections in macaques and African green monkeys, respectively. We longitudinally analyzed genome-wide DNA methylation changes in CD4 + T cells from lymph node and blood, using arrays. DNA methylation changes after SIV infection were more pronounced in lymph nodes than blood and already detected in primary infection. Differentially methylated genes in pathogenic SIV infection were enriched for Th1-signaling (e.g., RUNX3 , STAT4 , NFKB1 ) and metabolic pathways (e.g., PRKCZ ). In contrast, nonpathogenic SIVagm infection induced DNA methylation in genes coding for regulatory proteins such as LAG-3, arginase-2, interleukin-21 and interleukin-31. Between 15 and 18% of genes with DNA methylation changes were differentially expressed in CD4 + T cells in vivo. Selected identified sites were validated using bisulfite pyrosequencing in an independent cohort of uninfected, viremic and SIV controller macaques. Altered DNA methylation was confirmed in blood and lymph node CD4 + T cells in viremic macaques but was notably absent from SIV controller macaques. Our study identified key genes differentially methylated already in primary infection and in tissues that could contribute to the persisting metabolic disorders and inflammation in HIV-infected individuals despite effective treatment.

Accurate simulation of the continuous icebreaking process in level ice is crucial for the design of icebreakers. The crushing and bending failures of ice sheet, as well as the rotating, sliding and accumulating of ice cusps broken from the ice sheet constitute a complex system for the icebreaking process. In this paper, cohesive element method is combined with an elastoplastic softening constitutive model to simulate continuous icebreaking process in level ice. Firstly, the elastoplastic softening constitutive model in modelling ice local crushing is calibrated by simulating the ice cone crushing tests. Three different softening laws are proposed and their effects on simulation results are evaluated by comparing with the experimental data. Then, the continuous icebreaking process in level ice is simulated by cohesive element method. The regular tri-prism mesh is applied to ice bulk elements to realize the random propagation of crack. The mesh dependency study is carried out, and the simulation results are validated by comparing with model test results in both of time domain and frequency domain. The ice failure patterns during continuous icebreaking process are also compared between the simulated and experimental results. Finally, the influences of ship velocity on ice resistance and ice failure patterns are investigated by numerical methods and semi-empirical formulas.

The hydrodynamic characteristics of a marine propeller operating in oblique inflow are investigated by using CFD method. Two propellers with different geometries are selected as the study subjects. RANS simulation is carried out for the propellers working at a wide range of advance coefficients and incidence angles. The effects of axial inflow and lateral inflow are demonstrated with the hydrodynamic force on the propeller under different working conditions. Based on the obtained flow field details, the hydrodynamic mechanism of propeller operating in oblique inflow is analyzed further. The trailing vortex wake of propeller is highly affected by the lateral inflow, resulting in the deflected development path and the circumferentially non-uniform structure, as well as the enhanced axial velocity in slipstream. Different flow patterns are observed on the propeller blade with the variation of circumferential position. Combined with the computed hydrodynamic forces and pressure distribution on propeller, the mechanism resulting in the increase of propulsive loads and the generation of propeller side force is explored. Finally, a systematic analysis is carried out for the propulsive loads and propeller side force as a function of axial and lateral advance coefficients. The major terms that play a dominant role in the modeling of propulsive loads and propeller side force are determined through the sensitivity analysis. This study provides a deeper insight into the hydrodynamic characteristics of propeller operating in oblique inflow, which is useful to the investigation of propeller performance during ship maneuvers.

Objective. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has limited monozygotic twin concordance, implying a role for pathogenic factors other than genetic variation, such as epigenetic changes. Using the disease-discordant twin model, we investigated genome-wide DNA methylation changes in sorted CD4+ T cells, monocytes, granulocytes, and B cells in twin pairs with at least 1 SLE-affected twin. Methods. Peripheral blood obtained from 15 SLE-affected twin pairs (6 monozygotic and 9 dizygotic) was processed using density-gradient centrifugation for the granulocyte fraction. CD4+ T cells, monocytes, and B cells were further isolated using magnetic beads. Genome-wide DNA methylation was analyzed using Infinium HumanMethylation450K BeadChips. When comparing probes from SLE-affected twins and co-twins, differential DNA methylation was considered statistically significant when the P value was less than 0.01 and biologically relevant when the median DNA methylation difference was >7%. Findings were validated by pyrosequencing and replicated in an independent case-control sample. Results. In paired analyses of twins discordant for SLE restricted to the gene promoter and start region, we identified 55, 327, 247, and 1,628 genes with differentially methylated CpGs in CD4+ T cells, monocytes, granulocytes, and B cells, respectively. All cell types displayed marked hypomethylation in interferon-regulated genes, such as IFI44L, PARP9, and IFITM1, which was more pronounced in twins who experienced a disease flare within the past 2 years. In contrast to what was observed in the other cell types, differentially methylated CpGs in B cells were predominantly hypermethylated, and the most important upstream regulators included TNF and EP300. Conclusion. Hypomethylation of interferon-regulated genes occurs in all major cellular compartments in SLE-affected twins. The observed B cell promoter hypermethylation is a novel finding with potential significance in SLE pathogenesis.

Numerous studies have elucidated the genetics of Parkinson’s disease; however, the aetiology of the majority of sporadic cases has not yet been resolved. We hypothesized that epigenetic variations could be associated with PD and evaluated the DNA methylation pattern in PD patients compared to brothers or twins without PD. The methylation of DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 62 discordant siblings including 24 monozygotic twins was characterized with Illumina DNA Methylation 450K bead arrays and subsequently validated in two independent cohorts: 221 PD vs. 227 healthy individuals (cohort 1) applying Illumina’s VeraCode and 472 PD patients vs. 487 controls (cohort 2) using pyrosequencing. We choose a delta beta of >15 % and selected 62 differentially methylated CpGs in 51 genes from the discordant siblings. Among them, three displayed multiple CpGs per gene: microRNA 886 (MIR886, 10 CpGs), phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D, 2 CpGs) and tripartite motif-containing 34 (TRIM34, 2 CpGs). PDE4D was confirmed in both cohorts (p value 2.44e−05). In addition, for biomarker construction, we used the penalized logistic regression model, resulting in a signature of eight CpGs with an AUC of 0.77. Our findings suggest that a distinct level of PD susceptibility stems from individual, epigenetic modifications of specific genes. We identified a signature of CpGs in blood cells that could separate control from disease with a reasonable discriminatory power, holding promise for future epigenetically based biomarker development.

The temperature-programmed desorption(TPD) curves of different gases(CO,H2O,CO2) were measured experimentally for the necessary of engineering application,process optimizing and the study on surface properties of LB energy-saving high temperature shift catalyst.All the curves were decomposed and simulated with the peak fitting module in Origin7.5.Desorption activation energy,pre-exponential factors and reaction orders were calculated by using MATLAB operation platform.The results show that LB catalyst expresses good operating performance at low steam-gas ratio,there are multi-adsorption centers for H2O while not for CO,and there are lower-temperature and higher-temperature absorption centers for CO2 on LB catalyst.Desorption of CO,H2O and CO2 on LB catalyst behaved as one-order reaction.The kinds of absorption centers of LB catalyst and their effect on different gases were discussed.

The binary and ternary counter-current diffusion fluxes of different gas-pairs (N2-CO,N2-CO2,CO-CO2,and CO+CO2-N2,CO+N2-CO2,N2+CO2-CO) through reduced LB energy-saving high temperature shift catalyst were measured at 313 K and ambient pressure by the steady-state method. The tests were performed in a domestic-made modified Wicke-Kallenbach (MWK) diffusion cell. The molar ratio of diffusion fluxes of binary and ternary gases is accorded with Graham's law,which shows that the MWK diffusion cell is in a reasonable design with a steady measuring procedure and reliable data,and the diffusion in LB catalyst is in transition region. Based on the cross-linked pore model,the tortuosity factors of reduced LB catalyst were calculated on the basis of mean transport-pore diameters and pore size distribution respectively,which differed from each other. The effective diffusivities of gases in different gas-pairs were calculated.

将影响低汽气比条件下LB型节能高温变换催化剂活性的主要因素作为人工神经网络的特征输入向量,将全部实验数据分为训练集和预测集,运用Matlab神经网络工具箱,按改进的Bayes自动归一化算法建立反向传播神经网络模型,不仅可防止网络陷入局部最小,而且提高了网络训练精度和泛化能力。适当拓宽正交实验各因素的水平范围,经过不同因素、不同水平间的组合模拟,预测出LB型节能高温变换催化剂的最佳制备条件为氧化铈质量分数0.76%、氧化铜质量分数5.8%、氧化铬质量分数8.6%、氧化镧质量分数1.0%、铁液浓度92 g/L、中和过程最终pH值9.5。在最佳条件下试制催化剂在低汽气比下的平均活性达77.6%。