Effective identification of terrain positions from gridded DEM data using multimodal classification integration

Terrain positions are widely used to describe the Earth’s topographic features and play an important role in the studies of landform evolution, soil erosion and hydrological modeling. This work develops a new multimodal classification system with enhanced classification performance by integrating different approaches for terrain position identification. The adopted classification approaches include local terrain attribute (LA)-based and regional terrain attribute (RA)-based, rule-based and supervised, and pixel-based and object-oriented methods. Firstly, a double-level definition scheme is presented for terrain positions. Then, utilizing a hierarchical framework, a multimodal approach is developed by integrating different classification techniques. Finally, an assessment method is established to evaluate the new classification system from different aspects. The experimental results, obtained at a Loess Plateau region in northern China on a 5 m digital elevation model (DEM), show reasonably positional relationship, and larger inter-class and smaller intra-class variances. This indicates that identified terrain positions are consistent with the actual topography from both overall and local perspectives, and have relatively good integrity and rationality. This study demonstrates that the current multimodal classification system, developed by taking advantage of various classification methods, can reflect the geographic meanings and topographic features of terrain positions from different levels

Effects of Notch signalling pathway on the relationship between vascular endothelial dysfunction and endothelial stromal transformation in atherosclerosis

<p>At present, with the improvement of living standards and population aging, the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease is on the rise and has been a serious threat to human health. Statistics show that the current death caused by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease has become the first cause of death has been increasing year by year. Therefore, studies on coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis (AS) have become a hot topic in clinical and basic research. In this study, the question of the effect of Notch signalling pathway on the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and endothelial stromal transformation in AS was studied in depth. Based on our results, we drew conclusions as follows. First, the Notch signalling pathway was activated in the atherosclerotic model; secondly, the Notch signalling pathway was demonstrated to enhance AS by promoting vascular endothelial dysfunction; thirdly, it was demonstrated that the Notch signalling pathway was mediated by promoting endothelial and to enhance AS; finally, we confirmed the endothelial function through the Notch signalling pathway to affect the transformation of endothelial stroma to achieve synergistic AS effect. The results of this study have a good guiding significance for the important role of Notch signalling in AS and indicate the ability to influence endothelial function and endothelial stromal transformation by intervening Notch signalling pathway and can affect the relationship between them, and thus eventually achieve the treatment of AS.</p

Optimal temperature of the LUCs.

<p>The enzyme activity at a temperature gradient ranging from 10 to 60°C was determined. Experiments were performed in triplicate and error bars correspond to the standard deviation.</p

Optimization of SpyCatcher protein: a double deletion at the N-terminus (26–47 aa) and C-terminus (134–138 aa) which named SpyCatcherΔNC.

<p>All the internal regions of the SpyCatcherΔNC are identical with full-length SpyCatcher. Gray regions contain the His₆-tag and tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease cleavage site. Blue regions indicate deleted parts in SpyCatcherΔNC.</p

The thermostabilities of the LUCs.

<p><b>(A)</b> The residual activities of the enzyme were measured after incubation at 45°C for different time intervals from 0 to 90 min <b>(B)</b> The residual activities of the enzyme were measured after incubation at various temperatures, from 25 to 55°C, for 15 min. Experiments were performed in triplicate and error bars correspond to the standard deviation.</p

Kinetic properties of LUCs.

<p>Values are means ± S.D. for three independent measurements.</p

Optimal pH values of the LUCs.

<p>The activity was determined by injecting purified enzyme into assay buffers with different pHs (pH 2.0–12.0). Experiments were performed in triplicate and error bars correspond to the standard deviation.</p

SDS-PAGE of the purified LUCs.

<p>Lane M is the protein molecular weight markers. Lane 1, 2, 3, 4 are LUC, circular LUC, linear LUC and truncated circular LUC, respectively, purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography.</p

The pH stability of the LUCs.

<p>The LUCs were incubated in various buffers, at the pH range of 2.0–12.0 for 30 min at 25°C and then were assayed for residual activity at room temperature. Experiments were performed in triplicate and error bars correspond to the standard deviation.</p

A cartoon of the SpyCatcher/SpyTag-mediated cyclization of LUC.

<p>We fused SpyCatcher and SpyTag to the N and C termini of LUC, respectively. An irreversible covalent bond formed between the reactive Lys of SpyCatcher and Asp of SpyTag during protein expression <i>in vivo</i>.</p