Development and validation of the global surface type data product from S-NPP VIIRS

Accurate representation of actual terrestrial surface types at regional to global scales is an important element for many applications. Based on National Aeronautics and Space Administration Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer land cover algorithms, a global surface-type product from observations of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on board the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership, provides consistent global land cover classification map for various studies, such as land surface modelling for numerical weather predictions, land management, biodiversity and hydrological modelling, and carbon and ecosystem studies. This letter introduces the development and validation of the VIIRS global surface-type product using the land cover classification scheme of the International Geosphere- Biosphere Programme. Surface reflectance data from VIIRS were composited into monthly data and then into annual metrics. The C5.0 decision tree classifier was used to determine the surface type for each pixel in a 1 km grid. To quantitatively evaluate accuracies of the new surface type product, a visual interpretation-based validation was performed in which high-resolution satellite images and other ancillary data were used as the reference. The validation result based on the large validation data set indicated that (78.64 ± 0.57)% overall classification accuracy was achieved

Development and validation of the global surface type data product from S-NPP VIIRS

Accurate representation of actual terrestrial surface types at regional to global scales is an important element for many applications. Based on National Aeronautics and Space Administration Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer land cover algorithms, a global surface-type product from observations of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on board the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership, provides consistent global land cover classification map for various studies, such as land surface modelling for numerical weather predictions, land management, biodiversity and hydrological modelling, and carbon and ecosystem studies. This letter introduces the development and validation of the VIIRS global surface-type product using the land cover classification scheme of the International Geosphere- Biosphere Programme. Surface reflectance data from VIIRS were composited into monthly data and then into annual metrics. The C5.0 decision tree classifier was used to determine the surface type for each pixel in a 1 km grid. To quantitatively evaluate accuracies of the new surface type product, a visual interpretation-based validation was performed in which high-resolution satellite images and other ancillary data were used as the reference. The validation result based on the large validation data set indicated that (78.64 ± 0.57)% overall classification accuracy was achieved

MicroRNA-30b is a multifunctional regulator of aortic valve interstitial cells

ObjectiveCalcific aortic valve disease is an active process involving a wide range of pathologic changes. Valve interstitial cells are the most prevalent cells in the heart valve and maintain normal valve structure and function. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential posttranscriptional modulators of gene expression, and miRNA-30b is a known repressor of bone morphogenetic protein 2–mediated osteogenesis. We hypothesized that miRNA-30b is a multifunctional regulator of aortic valve interstitial cells during calcification.MethodsTo determine the role of miRNA-30b in calcific aortic valve disease, we evaluated miRNA expression in human calcific aortic valve leaflets obtained intraoperatively. Furthermore, human valve interstitial cells were evaluated with regard to miRNA-30b expression and osteogenesis by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, flow cytometry, and alkaline phosphatase assays.ResultsIn this study, we demonstrated that miRNA-30b attenuates bone morphogenetic protein 2–induced osteoblast differentiation by targeting Runx2, Smad1, and caspase-3. Transfection of a mimic of miRNA-30b led to decreases in alkaline phosphatase activity and expressions of Runx2, Smad1, and caspase-3. Furthermore, dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed that Runx2, Smad1, and caspase-3 are direct targets of miRNA-30b.ConclusionsWe demonstrated a remarkable role of miRNA-30b in calcific aortic valve disease as a regulator of human aortic valvular calcification and apoptosis through direct targeting of Runx2, Smad1, and caspase-3. Targeting of miRNA-30b could serve as a novel therapeutic strategy to limit progressive calcification in aortic stenosis

Efficacy and safety of post-auricular injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate and lidocaine in the treatment of acute tinnitus, and its effect on sleep quality

Purpose: To study the efficacy and safety of post-auricular injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate plus lidocaine in the treatment of acute tinnitus, and its effect on sleep quality.Methods: Eighty acute tinnitus patients admitted to Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China from January 2020 to June 2021, served as subjects for this retrospective analysis. The patients were equally assigned to a reference group given postauricular injection of lidocaine, and a research group treated with post-auricular injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate in combination with lidocaine. Treatment efficacy values in the two groups of patients were determined and compared.Results: Total treatment effectiveness values in patients in the research group after one course of treatment, and at three months post-treatment, were significantly higher than the corresponding values in the reference group (p < 0.05). After treatment, the two groups had markedly improved Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores, although patients in the research group had lower scores than those in reference group (p < 0.05). There were significant decreases in post-treatment pure tone threshold and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) in the two groups of patients, with lower values in the research group than in the reference group (p < 0.05). There were no obvious adverse drug reactions during treatment and during 3-month follow-up period.Conclusion: Post-auricular injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate and lidocaine effectively improved the clinical efficacy and the sleep quality of acute tinnitus patients. It is a simple and highly safe operation which merits clinical application

From Decolonial to the Postcolonial: Trauma of an Unfinished Agenda

Expression stability of the candidate reference genes under different conditions. (DOCX 13 kb

An experimental study of impact performance of RC piers with different reinforcement ratios

U ovom se ispitivanju za simuliranje sudara broda i stupa koristi najnapredniji domaći sustav ispitivanja na udar s vrlo visokim padom malja. Osnovni naglasak stavljen je na određivanje sila udara, pomaka i vremenskog razvoja deformacija za pet armiranobetonskih uzoraka stupova s različitim koeficijentima armiranja, isto kao i na analizu oštećenja betona te pojavu i širenje pukotina nakon udara. Dobiveni rezultati pokazuju da povećanje koeficijenta armiranja dovodi u opisanim uvjetima ispitivanja do određenog poboljšanja bočne otpornosti AB stupova na udar.The most advanced domestic super-high drop hammer impact test system was used in this study to simulate ship-piers collisions. The main focus of this study was to examine the impact forces, displacements, and strain time histories of five reinforced concrete pier specimens with different reinforcement ratios, and to analyse concrete damage and crack propagation and development after impact events. The results showed that, under this test conditions, an increase in reinforcement ratio can somewhat improve the lateral impact resistance of reinforced concrete piers

Geometric and kinematic analysis of faults bordering the Andaman sea continental shelves: a 3D seismic case study

To clarify the tectonic evolution of M15 block in the Andaman Sea, we perform a delicate study of fault geometry and dynamics using a 3D seismic data. The data reveal eight sequence interfaces from the Early Oligocene to the Quaternary, large scale and multi angle extensional strike-slip faults, and a series of normal faults. The two large scale faults F1 and F2 start in the Eocene and end in the Quaternary, controlling the regional structure. The NNE-SSW strike-slip F1 fault belongs to the South Sagaing fault and the NNE-SSW strike-slip F2 is the eastern Andaman fault, the strike-slip movement of which are controlled by the impact of the collision between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate. Through the analysis of the fault development history by the method of the ancient drop and the growth index, we find that most of the large or secondary scale faults reach the maximum drop and growth index in the Miocene, indicating that the Miocene is a significant period of plate collision enhancing and faults generating. The regional stress field is dominated by E-W tension. The continental crust has expanded rapidly from the Oligocene to the Miocene which results in the rapid subsidence of the crust. This regional stress intensity becomes weak after the Miocene. The activities of the faults caused a large difference in terrain height between the west and the east in the study area, forming a pattern of the western depression and the eastern terrace. Many NNE-SSW, NE-SW or NEE-SWW trend strike-slip faults and minor faults develop in the Miocene. It echoes the event that the convergence and subduction of the Indian plate from SW to NE direction led to the right rotation and N-NNE strike-slip of the West Myanmar block in the Miocene, thus forming a regional large strike-slip fault. All of the faults affect the structure of the region

Identification and expression of cysteine sulfite decarboxylase genes and their response to hyposalinity stress in Ruditapes philippinarum

Cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSAD) is a rate-limiting enzyme in taurine biosynthesis. In this study, the structure and expression characteristics of the RpCSAD gene in Ruditapes philippinarum were analyzed. The pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent amino acid carboxylase structural domains and catalytic active sites of six copies of RpCSAD were highly conserved. Tissue expression analysis demonstrated that RpCSAD1 and RpCSAD3-6 was primarily expressed in the mantle tissue, and RpCSAD2 in the water tube and gonad tissue. After exposure to hyposalinity stress, the expression levels of RpCSADs were found to be upregulated in all three shell-colored groups of clams. Remarkably, there was a pronounced increase in the expression of RpCSAD1-6 observed specifically in the zebra shell-color groups. These findings strongly suggest the involvement of taurine metabolism in the response of zebra shell-color clams to low salinity stress, thereby emphasizing its critical role in the adaptation mechanisms. These findings could contribute to a better understanding the mechanisms of osmotic stress tolerance in shellfish

Identification of KANSARL as the First Cancer Predisposition Fusion Gene Specific to the Population of European Ancestry Origin

Gene fusion is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Recent advances in RNA-seq of cancer transcriptomes have facilitated the discovery of fusion transcripts. In this study, we report identification of a surprisingly large number of fusion transcripts, including six KANSARL (KANSL1-ARL17A) transcripts that resulted from the fusion between the KANSL1 and ARL17A genes using a RNA splicingcode model. Five of these six KANSARL fusion transcripts are novel. By systematic analysis of RNA-seq data of glioblastoma, prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and lymphoma from different regions of the World, we have found that KANSARL fusion transcripts were rarely detected in the tumors of individuals from Asia or Africa. In contrast, they exist in 30 - 52% of the tumors from North Americans cancer patients. Analysis of CEPH/Utah Pedigree 1463 has revealed that KANSARL is a familially-inherited fusion gene. Further analysis of RNA-seq datasets of the 1000 Genome Project has indicated that KANSARL fusion gene is specific to 28.9% of the population of European ancestry origin. In summary, we demonstrated that KANSARL is the first cancer predisposition fusion gene associated with genetic backgrounds of European ancestry origin

Correlation Analysis of 3D Printability and Rheological Properties of Sodium Alginate Hydrogels

In this study, Ca2+-induced sodium alginate hydrogel was used as a model. The rheological properties were measured via steady-state shear, oscillation strain sweep, and yield stress. The network of sodium alginate hydrogels was analyzed using water distribution and rheological parameters. After a comprehensive analysis of the morphology and Micro-CT structure of 3D printing products, the mathematical relationship between rheological parameters and 3D printing effect was established using the Spearman's correlation analysis. The results showed that the highest score of 3D printing product was prepared at the mass ratio of SA to Ca2+ at 24:1 and the concentration of SA at 4.5%. At the same time, the filament structure of 3D printing product was fine and the porosity was 12.21%. Rheological parameters of K, η1, G', G", τ0 and τy were 255.1 Pa·sn, 2740 Pa·s, 3509 Pa, 673.2 Pa, 261.4 Pa, and 51.62 Pa, respectively. The capillary water (about 99.20%) was dominant in the gel network, showing strong water holding capacity of hydrogel. Results of correlation analysis showed that the viscosity properties (K, η1, and G") were negatively correlated with the extrudability, and the correlation coefficient was -0.577. The self-supporting capacity of the 3D printing product was positively correlated with the elastic modulus and stress (G', τ0, and τy) (P<0.05)