Comprehensive evaluation of high-resolution satellite-based precipitation products over China

Characterizing the errors in satellite-based precipitation estimation products is crucial for understanding their effects in hydrological applications. Six precipitation products derived from three algorithms are comprehensively evaluated against gauge data over mainland China from December 2006 to November 2010. These products include three satellite-only estimates: the Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation Microwave-IR Combined Product (GSMaP_MVK), the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) MORPHing (CMORPH), and Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN), as well as their gauge-corrected counterparts: the GSMaP Gauge-calibrated Product (GSMaP_Gauge), bias-corrected CMORPH (CMORPH_CRT), and PERSIANN Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR). Overall, the bias-correction procedures largely reduce various errors for the three groups of satellite-based precipitation products. GSMaP_Gauge produces better fractional coverage with the highest correlation (0.95) and the lowest RMSE (0.53 mm/day) but also high RB (15.77%). In general, CMORPH_CRT amounts are closer to the gauge reference. CMORPH shows better performance than GSMaP_MVK and PERSIANN with the highest CC (0.82) and the lowest RMSE (0.93 mm/day), but also presents a relatively high RB (-19.60%). In winter, all six satellite precipitation estimates have comparatively poor capability, with the IR-based PERSIANN_CDR exhibiting the closest performance to the gauge reference. Both satellite-only and gauge-corrected satellite products show poor capability in detecting occurrence of precipitation with a low POD (40%)

lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 expression in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension due to congenital heart disease

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are potential regulators of a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, there is a series of differentially expressed lncRNAs in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) that may be used as markers to diagnose PAH and even predict the prognosis. However, their specific mechanisms remain largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the biological role of lncRNAs in patients with PAH. First, we screened patients with PAH secondary to ventricular septal defect (VSD) and those with VSD without PAH to assess differences in lncRNA and mRNA expression between the two groups. Our results revealed the significant upregulation of 813 lncRNAs and 527 mRNAs and significant downregulation of 541 lncRNAs and 268 mRNAs in patients with PAH. Then, we identified 10 hub genes in a constructed protein-protein interaction network. Next, we performed bioinformatics analyses, including Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and subsequently constructed coding-noncoding co-expression networks. We screened lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 and lncRNA-ENST00000433673 as candidate genes and verified the expression levels of the lncRNAs using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Although expression levels of lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 in the plasma from the PAH groups were significantly increased compared with the control groups, there was no significant difference in the expression of lncRNA-ENST00000433673 between the two groups. This study bolsters our understanding of the role of lncRNA in PAH occurrence and development and indicates that lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 is a novel potential molecular marker for PAH

A comprehensive and up-to-date web-based interactive 3D emergency response and visualization system using Cesium Digital Earth: taking landslide disaster as an example

As with the fast advances in the technologies of big Earth data and information communication, Web-based 3D GIS system has come a long way from a few years ago. These advances reflect in many aspects of 3D GIS such as higher real-time performance, enhanced interactivity, more realistic 3D visualization effect and improved user interface. This paper aims to present a comprehensive and up-to-date 3D Web GIS for Emergency Response using the current vue.js web application framework and the well-known Cesium API, taking landslide disaster as an example. Building upon recent advances in WebGL technology, we developed a suite of enhanced 3D spatial analysis functions, including interactive route planning, instant text/image/video messaging being incorporated into both 3D WebGL page and mobile GIS applications, and progressive 3D construction and AR visualization using LiDAR and camera over local emergency network or internet. Moreover, professional functions such as landslide susceptibility mapping, landslide monitoring, spatial temporal contingency plan management, landslide information management, personnel and equipment management, and communication are all implemented and integrated in the 3D GIS system. Most of the functions of the system are implemented using open-source projects, which is beneficial to the development of the 3D GIS research community

lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 expression in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension due to congenital heart disease.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are potential regulators of a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, there is a series of differentially expressed lncRNAs in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) that may be used as markers to diagnose PAH and even predict the prognosis. However, their specific mechanisms remain largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the biological role of lncRNAs in patients with PAH. First, we screened patients with PAH secondary to ventricular septal defect (VSD) and those with VSD without PAH to assess differences in lncRNA and mRNA expression between the two groups. Our results revealed the significant upregulation of 813 lncRNAs and 527 mRNAs and significant downregulation of 541 lncRNAs and 268 mRNAs in patients with PAH. Then, we identified 10 hub genes in a constructed protein-protein interaction network. Next, we performed bioinformatics analyses, including Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and subsequently constructed coding-noncoding co-expression networks. We screened lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 and lncRNA-ENST00000433673 as candidate genes and verified the expression levels of the lncRNAs using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Although expression levels of lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 in the plasma from the PAH groups were significantly increased compared with the control groups, there was no significant difference in the expression of lncRNA-ENST00000433673 between the two groups. This study bolsters our understanding of the role of lncRNA in PAH occurrence and development and indicates that lncRNA-TCONS_00008552 is a novel potential molecular marker for PAH

Metal dopants adjusted perovskite stannates: Conductivity and optical properties

Perovskite-type transparent conductive oxides have attracted continuous attentions due to their applications in optoelectronic devices, but the optimization of their transmittance and conductivity is under way. In this work, the energetics, electronic and optical properties of the perovskite stannates (ASnO3, A = Ca, Sr, Ba) with diverse dopants La, Sb and Nb are studied using density functional theory. The energetically preferred substitution positions are predicted as A site for La but Sn site for Sb and Nb. Therefore, the doped perovskite stannates are all identified as n-type semiconductors due to the extra electron from the dopants. The calculated absorption coefficient and reflectivity in La, Sb and Nb doped perovskite stannates decrease but their transmittance in the visible light range increases as a result of the adjusted band structures. In addition, the carrier concentration dependent electric conductivity of the doped perovskites is predicted. The uncovered mechanism of improved electronic and optical properties for doped perovskite stannates is expected to benefit the design of high performance perovskite transparent conductive materials

Discovery of ABO3 perovskites as thermal barrier coatings through high-throughput first principles calculations

High-throughput first-principles calculations are performed on ABO3 perovskites for new thermal barrier coating (TBC) materials. We present systematic investigations comprised of multiple selection criteria to achieve the prediction of target materials. A database including mechanical/thermal properties of 190 perovskites is initially established. Six perovskites are proposed as novel TBC materials with predicted thermal conductivities under 1.25 W/(m·K) and good damage tolerance. The observed anisotropy of thermal conductivity provides possibilities for the performance controlling via the growth orientation design. The adopted strategy and established database are expected to inspire the design of ABO3-based TBC materials and future structural material investigations