China In June Research Articles

How Does the East Asian Summer Monsoon Behave in the Decaying Phase of El Niño during Different PDO Phases?

Abstract Modulation of the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) on the behavior of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) in El Niño decaying years has been studied. When El Niño is in phase with the PDO (El Niño/high PDO), the low-level atmospheric anomalies are characterized by an anticyclone around the Philippines and a cyclone around Japan, inducing an anomalous tripolar rainfall pattern in China. In this case, the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) experiences a one-time slightly northward shift in July and then stays stationary from July to August. The corresponding anomalous tripolar rainfall pattern has weak subseasonal variations. When El Niño is out of phase with the PDO (El Niño/low PDO), however, the anomalous Philippines anticyclone has a much larger spatial domain, thereby causing an anomalous dipole rainfall pattern. Accordingly, WPSH experiences clearly two northward shifts. Therefore, the related dipole rainfall pattern has large subseasonal variations. One pronounced feature is that the positive rainfall anomalies shift northward from southern China in June to central China in July and finally to northern China in August. The different El Niño–EASM relationships are caused by the influences of PDO on the decaying speed of El Niño. During the high PDO phase, El Niño decays slowly and has a strong anchor in the north Indian Ocean warming, which is responsible for the anomalous EASM. Comparatively, during the low PDO phase, El Niño decays rapidly and La Niña develops in summer, which induces different EASM anomalies from that during the high PDO phase. Additionally, PDO changes El Niño behaviors mainly via modifying the background tropical winds.

Essential Oil Composition of Justicia brandegeeana

The results of the essential oil analysis of J. brandegeeana are presented in Table 1. GC and GC-MS analysis showed 32 compounds, representing 96.19% of the total oil. Alcohols are the dominant class of compounds, constitute 68.42% of the total oil, including phytol (33.12%), 1-octen-3-ol (14.45%), 3-octanol (14.30%), 9,12,15-octadecatrien-1-ol (6.10%), and trans-2-pinanol (0.45%). Aldehydes and ketones constitute 9.92% of the total oil. Ester and alkanes constitute only 6.59% and 1.10% of the total oil, respectively. The aerial parts of J. brandegeeana were collected during the flowering stage from Guilin, Guangxi, China in June 2011. A voucher specimen have been deposited in the Herbarium of the Guangxi Institute of Botany (IBK00055519). The fresh leaves of the plant (300 g) were subjected to hydrodistillation for 4 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The clear yellowish oil was isolated in a yield of 0.1% (w/w). The constituents of the oil were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. GC analysis of the volatile components was carried out using an Agilent 7890 instrument coupled to a flame ionization detector (FID). Compounds were separated on a HP-5 capillary column (30 m 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 m). The column temperature was kept at 50C for 1 min and programmed to 230C at a rate of 5C/min, and kept constant at 230C for 6 min and then programmed to 300C at a rate of 10C/min. Injector and detector temperatures were 250C, and the flow rate of helium as carrier gas was 1 mL/min. Retention indices (RI) were determined in relation to a homologous series of n-alkanes (C8–C24) under the same conditions. Relative concentrations of the components were obtained by peak area normalization. No response factors were calculated. GC/MS analysis was performed using an Agilent 5975 mass spectrometer coupled to an Agilent 7890 gas chromatograph equipped with an HP-5MS capillary column (30 m 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 m). The carrier gas was helium, and the chromatographic conditions were as above. All mass spectra were acquired in the electron-impact (EI) mode with an ionization voltage of 70 eV. Identification of the individual oil components was accomplished by comparison of their mass spectral data with the MS library (NIST 98 and Wiley 5) and literature values. Identification of the oil components was also possible by comparison of their linear retention indices with those from the literature [9–13] and those stored in the MS library [NIST database ChemStation data system]. For the purpose of quantitative analysis, the area percent obtained by FID was used as base.

External quality assessment for Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus detection using armored RNA.

An external quality assessment (EQA) program for the molecular detection of avian influenza A (H7N9) virus was implemented by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories (NCCL) of China in June 2013. Virus-like particles (VLPs) that contained full-length RNA sequences of the hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), matrix protein (MP), and nucleoprotein (NP) genes from the H7N9 virus (armored RNAs) were constructed. The EQA panel, comprising 6 samples with different concentrations of armored RNAs positive for H7N9 viruses and four H7N9-negative samples (including one sample positive for only the MP gene of the H7N9 virus), was distributed to 79 laboratories in China that carry out the molecular detection of H7N9 viruses. The overall performances of the data sets were classified according to the results for the H7 and N9 genes. Consequently, we received 80 data sets (one participating group provided two sets of results) which were generated using commercial (n = 60) or in-house (n = 17) reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) kits and a commercial assay that employed isothermal amplification method (n = 3). The results revealed that the majority (82.5%) of the data sets correctly identified the H7N9 virus, while 17.5% of the data sets needed improvements in their diagnostic capabilities. These "improvable" data sets were derived mostly from false-negative results for the N9 gene at relatively low concentrations. The false-negative rate was 5.6%, and the false-positive rate was 0.6%. In addition, we observed varied diagnostic capabilities between the different commercially available kits and the in-house-developed assays, with the assay manufactured by BioPerfectus Technologies (Jiangsu, China) performing better than the others. Overall, the majority of laboratories have reliable diagnostic capacities for the detection of H7N9 virus.

Relationship between soil temperature in may over Northwest China and the East Asian summer monsoon precipitation

This study investigates the relationship between the soil temperature in May and the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) precipitation in June and July using station observed soil temperature data over Northwest China from 1971 to 2000. It is found that the memory of the soil temperature at 80-cm depth can persist for at least 2 months, and the soil temperature in May is closely linked to the EASM precipitation in June and July. When the soil temperature is warmer in May over Northwest China, less rainfall occurs over the Yangtze and Huaihe River valley but more rainfall occurs over South China in June and July. It is proposed that positive anomalous soil temperature in May over Northwest China corresponds to higher geopotential heights over the most parts of the mainland of East Asia, which tend to weaken the ensuing EASM. Moreover, in June and July, a cyclonic circulation anomaly occurs over Southeast China and Northwest Pacific and an anticyclonic anomaly appears in the Yangtze and Huaihe River valley at 850 hPa. All the above tend to suppress the precipitation in the Yangtze and Huaihe River valley. The results also indicate that the soil temperature in May over Northwest China is closely related to the East Asia/Pacific (EAP) teleconnection pattern, and it may be employed as a useful predictor for the East Asian summer monsoon rainfall.

Exceptionally active agricultural fire season in mid‐eastern China in June 2012 and its impact on the atmospheric environment

AbstractFire activity and its environmental effects in eastern China were studied using satellite and surface observations. First, seasonal and interannual variations of fire activity were investigated based on the fire occurrence data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer measurements during July 2003 to December 2012. Second, an extraordinarily active agricultural fire season in June 2012 was revealed in mid‐eastern China (MEC, 32°N–35°N, 115°E–120°E), where fire pixel density was twice the decadal average and the smoke layer height was observed to be 4 ~ 5 km. Third, significant effects of this fire season on the atmospheric environment were characterized using a combination of ground and satellite data. Crop fires enhanced aerosol optical depth (AOD), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) amounts near the source and in downwind regions by ~15–60%. A combination of observations and model simulations is required for better understanding effects of crop fires on atmospheric environment and climate.

Diatom Distributions in the Eastern Yangtze River and the Main Lakes, Jiangsu Province, China, and their Significance for the Forensic Diagnosis of Drowning

In the presented paper, diatom distributions in the eastern Yangtze River and the main lakes, Jiangsu Province, China, were investigated, and on this basis, its significance for the diagnosis of drowning was discussed as well. Totally, 14 water samples were collected in 5 sites along the eastern Yangtze River and in 3 lakes within Jiangsu province of China in June and September, 2012. The genus and the quantity of the diatoms in the water samples were subsequently investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With reference to diatom distribution, there is significant difference between the waters sampled from the different sites and in the different months. These data on diatom distribution are helpful to the diagnosis of the cause of the death as well as to the determination of the drowning site in cases of drowning. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the database of diatoms in more extensive water bodies for the forensic diagnosis of drowning in the future.

Overview of the Mount Tai Experiment (MTX2006) in central East China in June 2006: studies of significant regional air pollution

Abstract. We conducted an intensive field campaign at the summit of Mt. Tai (36.26° N, 117.11° E, 1534 m above sea level), Shandong Province, located at the center of central East China, during the period 28 May to 30 June 2006, to study seasonal maxima of regional air pollution with respect to ozone (O3) and aerosols. The specific objectives, campaign design, and major findings are summarized. High concentrations of O3 and its precursors, and aerosols, were detected and studied in the context of annual variations. Most importantly, we identified that emissions from regional-scale open crop residue burning after the harvesting of winter wheat, together with photochemical aging, strongly increased the concentrations of O3, aerosols, and primary pollutants in this month of year. Studies of in situ photochemical activity, regional source attribution of O3, O3–aerosol interactions, validation of satellite observations of tropospheric NO2, behaviors of volatile organic compounds and organic/inorganic aerosol species, loss rates of black carbon (BC), and instrument inter-comparisons are also summarized. The observed BC levels must have a strong impact on the regional climate.

Survey of Tetracyclines, Sulfonamides, Sulfamethazine, and Quinolones in UHT Milk in China Market

This study surveyed 180 samples of ultra high temperature (UHT) milk of four top Chinese dairy brands collected in the 25 cities in China in June 2011, and assessed their contamination with antibiotics, using the ELISA method. The percentages of tetracyclines, sulfonamides, sulfamethazine, and quinolones detected in the samples were 0, 16.7, 40.6, and 100%, respectively. The maximum concentrations of the tetracyclines, sulfonamides, sulfamethazine and quinolones in UHT milk samples were <1.5, 26.2, 22.6, and 58.8 μg kg−1, respectively. None of the samples exceeded the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for these four veterinary drugs, according to the regulations set by China, the European Union (EU) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

Effects of Artificial Sand Fixing on Community Characteristics of a Rare Desert Shrub

Eremosparton songoricum (Fabaceae) is a rare, native, clonal small shrub of the deserts of central Asia. Although human activities have greatly fragmented the distribution of E. songoricum, it occurs in areas where artificial sand fixing (AS) has been implemented. We sought to explore whether AS promotes survival and growth of E. songoricum. In the Gurbantunggut Desert of northwestern China in June 2010, we established 10 plots in an area where sand fixing occurred (5-10 years previously) and 11 plots on original sand substrate on which some plants had settled without fixing sand. Sand fixing changed soil properties and biological characteristics in sand-fixed plots. The soil surface where sand fixing occurred was covered by algal crusts and some lichen, but not bare sand (BS). Soil nutrients; water content of deep soil (30-150 cm); overall plant and herbaceous species richness, diversity, abundance, and cover; above- and belowground biomass; and cover, biomass, and height of E. songoricum in the sand-fixed plots were significantly greater than in plots of BS. However, distribution of E. songoricum individuals in the 2 types of plots did not differ. Our results indicate AS may enhance survival of E. songoricum and increase the overall diversity and stability of the desert plant community. We suggest AS as a way to protect this rare desert plant in situ.

Climatological characteristics of frontogenesis and related circulations over East China in June and July

Based on daily precipitation data from 212 stations in East China and NCEP/NCAR daily global final analysis data in June and July from 2000 to 2010, the climatological characteristics of frontogenesis and related circulations have been analyzed. The results demonstrate that frontogenesis function distributes non-uniformly in East China. The different terms of the kinematic frontogenesis show different intensities and distributions of frontogenesis. The strongest frontogenesis integrated from different kinematic frontogenesis terms is observed in the Jianghuai area. Frontogenesis events are separated into four types as per the different shear and convergence types of horizontal wind along the strong frontogenesis band at 850 hPa. The four types include the warm shear type, cold shear type (with two subtypes), west wind convergence type, and east wind convergence type. The events in different frontogenesis types occur with different frequencies over the past decade. The warm shear type occurs most frequently. Different types of frontogenesis have distinctive horizontal and vertical structures. Strong frontogenesis is featured with 340-K contour of θse parallel to the frontal zone in the vertical. Varied large-scale circulation patterns manifested in shifted location and strength of cyclone or anticyclone, wind convergence, as well as vertical circulation structure are associated with different types of frontogenesis. Moreover, a strong positive correlation between frontogenesis and precipitation is found, i.e., the stronger the frontogenesis, the more precipitation there is. Daily precipitation related to the warm shear type frontogenesis is the largest, and often occurs inside the frontal zone with the same orientation with the strong frontogenesis belt. The second largest daily precipitation occurs with the cold shear type frontogenesis, and related rainfall is usually observed to the south of the frontal zone, with the rain belt extending northeastward. Precipitation related to the west wind convergence type frontogenesis is the third largest, occurring mostly in the south of the frontal zone.

Construction of the OKJ teleconnection index

This study focuses on the construction of an index to measure Okhotsk–Japan (OKJ) teleconnection pattern that mainly occurs in early summer. There are three major results presented here. The first is that four indices were developed to describe the OKJ pattern occurring in the monthly mean height field by using one point correlation and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. Although there is no substantial difference among them, the third OKJ index (OKJ-III) gives a better result for the OKJ pattern when correlated with height field at 500 hPa in June. Second, there exists a significant positive correlation between the East Asian monsoon index and the OKJ-III in June. The positive OKJ-III is associated with the positive anomalies of precipitation rate to the south of the Yangtze River and Northeast China in June and negative anomalies of the surface air temperature over Japan in June through August and vice versa. All of these coincide well with the features of Rossby wave propagation in OKJ pattern that were summarized in previous studies. This index that simply represents the strength of the OKJ propagation can be used as a diagnostic tool to assess East Asian summer monsoon climate, especially for the month of June. Third, the OKJ pattern can be detected by using the first principal component of the EOF analysis in June 500 hPa height field, and it accounts for large portion of the total variance. Such a strong OKJ signal was not found in the rest of the summer months, i.e., July and August. These results strongly suggest the importance of the OKJ pattern in the East Asian circulation of early summer.

Contribution of typhoon over coastal waters to summer rainfall in eastern China

Now, it is difficult to consider the typhoon rainfall in the short-term climate prediction. This is mainly because the typhoon is a strong synoptic scale system and it does not match the scale of the short-term climate forcast. It is a factor restricting the great improvement of forecast. By using station precipitation data in eastern China from 1960 to 2011 and CMA-STI Best track dataset for tropical cyclones over the western north pacific, we analyse the strength variation of typhoon influence from month and quarter scale in summer by determining the typhoon influence index, then discuss the contribution of typhoon rainfull to summer rainfall in eastern China. 1) On average, the typhoon is enhanced from June to August, it is weakest in June, and strongest in August. 2) From the distribution of typhoon rainfall and its proportion of the total precipitation in eastern China, totally, the tyhoon rainfall is higher in eastern region than in the western region on the same latitude, and it is higher in southern region than in the northern region on the same longitude. The ratio of typhoon rainfall to the total precipitation could reach up to 10% in the South of the Yangtze river region. The typhoon rainfall can also reach up to 100 mm in the southeast coastal area in July and August, which can amount to 40% of the total precipitation during the month. 3) The correlation of the typhoon influence index with summer precipitation shows that the typhoon’s influences on the precipitation in eastern China are different spatiotemporally. The results indicate that the negative correlation is in southern part of China in June, the positive correlation is the southeast coastal area in July, the positive correlation is in the south China in August, and the negative correlation is in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze river region, which are mainly due to the typhoon, summer moonsoon, and high pressure in the north-east pacific subtripics respectively.

Progress in laser acceleration of particles

Laser acceleration of particles is currently a very active area of research in Plasma Physics, with an emphasis on acceleration of electrons and ions using short but intense laser pulses. In this special issue we access the current status of this field by inviting leading researchers all over the world to contribute their original works here. Many of these results were first presented at the recent Laser-Particle Acceleration Workshop (LPAW 2011) held in Wuzhen, China in June 2011. In addition to the laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) of electrons (Tzoufras et al.) and laser acceleration of ions (Tsung et al.), there were exciting new proposals for a proton-driven plasma wakefield accelerator (Xia et al.) and for a dielectric-structure-based two-beam accelerator (Gai et al.) presented at this workshop, and we are very pleased to have the authors' contributions on these included here.

Analysis of the role played by circulation in the persistent precipitation over South China in June 2010

South China (SC) experienced persistent heavy rain in June 2010. The climatic anomalies and related mechanism are analyzed in this study. Results show that the large-scale circulation pattern favorable for precipitation was maintained. In the upper level, the South Asian High and westerly jet stream provided a divergent circulation over SC. In the middle and low levels, an anomalous strong subtropical high (STH) extended to the South China Sea. The southwesterly monsoon flow along the northwest flank of the STH transported abundant water vapor from the western North Pacific, the Bay of Bengal, and the South China Sea to SC. The precipitation can be classified into two types: the West Siberia low (WSL)-induced low-level cyclone mode, and the STH-induced low-level jet mode. STH and WSL indices are defined to estimate the influence of these two systems, respectively. Analysis shows that both are critical for precipitation, but their respective contributions differ from year to year. In 2010, both were important factors for the heavy rainfall in June.

Impacts of other comprehensive income disclosure on earnings management

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to verify whether the disclosure of other comprehensive income has effectively improved the transparency of corporate disclosure and thus effectively reduced earnings management.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 391 valid samples are selected from more than 860 listed companies of Shanghai A shares in 2009, excluding finance and insurance categories, those with incomplete data and samples whose other comprehensive income is zero.FindingsThe results show that other comprehensive income has played an important role in all comprehensive income and significantly affected earnings management. The disclosure of other comprehensive income is negatively related to earnings management, that is, disclosure of other comprehensive income can curb earnings management to some extent in order to make the public better understand the performance of a given company.Research limitations/implicationsOwing to the short period of time for the issuance of Accounting Standards No. 3, there are fewer comparable data. Besides, only companies from Shanghai A shares during 2009 are surveyed without Shenzhen Share. Finally, there should be a dialectic and mutual relation between earnings management and other comprehensive income.Practical implicationsThe paper's findings suggest that it is necessary to carry out the disclosure to improve the transparency of the accounting information, so as to curb earnings management and improve earnings quality to some extent, which provides valuable reference for the government's decision.Originality/valueFinance [2009] 8 on the issuance of Accounting Standards No. 3 issued by Ministry of Finance Republic of China in June 2009 explained that all listed companies are required to disclose “comprehensive income” and “other comprehensive income” under the item “earnings per share” in the income statement. Based on the 2009 annual report of listed companies, the paper elaborates descriptive statistics related to the composition of other comprehensive income. Empirical research is conducted to verify the effect of the new policy. In a word, the paper selects a big number of samples to conduct the study in order to make more valuable reference.

Using epidemiology and neurotoxicology to reduce risks to young workers

Children around the world are working in hazardous or unsafe conditions and they are at risk to injury through manual labor and susceptible to poisoning due to chemical exposures in the work place. Because of their behavior and the developmental changes occurring throughout childhood and adolescence children are more vulnerable to injury. Often children work because of economic necessity, coming from families living in extreme poverty, with poor housing conditions, unsafe water supplies, poor sanitation, and inadequate food supplies making them even more vulnerable to poor developmental outcomes. This presents a multifaceted problem that can be challenging to address. Although many studies have examined occupational risks among adults very few studies have examined the impact of these risks on children. This paper reflects a summary of the talks from the symposium “Using Epidemiology and Neurotoxicology to Reduce Risks to Young Workers” presented at the 13th International Neurotoxicology Association Meeting and the 11th International Symposium on Neurobehavioral Methods and Effects in Occupational and Environmental Health in Xi’an China in June 2011. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that children are exposed to various neurotoxicants, show increased symptoms and health problems and are working in hazardous conditions with minimal safety restrictions. Other studies have identified neurotoxicology effects in children from occupational exposures. Prevention methods have potential for reducing risks to young workers short of eliminating child labor and should be addressed to multiple stakeholders, parents, employers and children.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Wetland Soils from a Typical Aquatic–Terrestrial Ecotone in Haihe River Basin, North China

AbstractSurface soils were collected in the aquatic–terrestrial ecotone (ATE) of Yongnianwa wetland, downstream of Haihe River basin of North China in June of 2007. Samples were subjected to a total digestion technique before they were analyzed for total concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn to investigate their pollution levels in the ATE. The contamination index, integrated contamination index, geoaccumulation index, toxic units, and sum of toxic units were adopted to assess the heavy metal contamination levels and ecotoxicity, respectively. The results showed all the selected element concentrations in upland soils of the ecotone were relatively higher than those in the lowland soils. No Cr pollution was observed in all soil samples, but almost all samples were slightly polluted by Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn except for Site 1. The contamination indexes and geoaccumulation indexes consistently presented no contamination for Site 1 and slight contamination for other sites. The ΣTUs increased from lowland to upland, but the whole level of toxicity in this ecotone was relatively low.

Overstepping the Balkan boundaries: The lesser known history of Yugoslavia's early relations with Asian countries (new evidence from Yugoslav/Serbian archives)

New discovery of some previously unknown documents from the major Yugoslav/Serbian archives has brought forward some of the long forgotten facts about Yugoslavia's early engagements with certain Asian countries. The leading event among all these was the clandestine recognition of the Republic of China in June 1947 (with the full backing of the USSR), in the light of which special ties with Chinese, Indian, and some Burmese communists were established.

Effects of large-scale forcing and ice clouds on pre-summer heavy rainfall over southern China in June 2008: A partitioning analysis based on surface rainfall budget

The effects of large-scale forcing and ice clouds on rainfall are studied by analyzing a series of sensitivity experiments of a pre-summer heavy rainfall event over southern China from 3 to 8 June 2008. The analysis is conducted categorizing grid-scale rainfall simulation data into eight rainfall types based on different rainfall processes. The rainfall with water vapor divergence and local atmospheric drying and hydrometeor loss/convergence (TfM) has the largest contribution to total rainfall during the development of rainfall when the imposed large-scale forcing produces water vapor convergence. TfM and the rainfall with water vapor convergence and local atmospheric moistening and hydrometeor loss/convergence (tFM) have the largest contributors to total rainfall during the decay phase when the imposed large-scale forcing generates water vapor divergence. TfM becomes the largest contributor during the decay phase when the exclusion of ice clouds decreases tFM and increases TfM. The removal of ice clouds enhances the contribution of the rainfall with water vapor convergence to total rainfall during the life span of the rainfall event.

Coupling effect diagnoses of quasi-stationary mesoscale vortex in Guangxi rainstorm process of China

The mesoscale weather system which affected the Guangxi flash-flood-producing rainstorm of China in June 2008 is a quasi-stationary mesoscale vortex. Its genesis and development is closely related to the coupling effects of weather systems in different scales and different latitudes. On the one hand, the coupling of synoptic scale high- and low-level jets provides the environmental conditions for development of vortices and vertical circulations in the mesoscale vortex; On the other hand, the coupling of waves in mid-latitude westerlies and perturbations in low-latitude warm-moist flow under the influence of complex terrain makes the mesoscale vortex circulations strengthened. With the piecewise potential vorticity (PV) inversion method, PV anomalies in different regions are analyzed; also the vortex-vortex interactions and vortex-background flow interactions are diagnosed. Thus, the reasons why the mesoscale is quasi-stationary at first, while developing and deepening later are indicated. Under the condition of coupling effects, the vertical motions accompanied with the mesoscale vortex can be diagnosed with the PV-ω inversion system based on the analysis of quasi-balanced flow.