Improved simulation of winter wheat yield in North China Plain by using PRYM-Wheat integrated dry matter distribution coefficient

The accurate simulation of regional-scale winter wheat yield is important for national food security and the balance of grain supply and demand in China.Presently,most remote sensing process models use the“biomass×harvest index(HI)”method to simulate regional-scale winter wheat yield.However,spatiotemporal differences in HI contribute to inaccuracies in yield simulation at the regional scale.Time-series dry matter partition coefficients(Fr)can dynamically reflect the dry matter partition of winter wheat.In this study,Fr equations were fitted for each organ of winter wheat using site-scale data.These equations were then coupled into a process-based and remote sensingdriven crop yield model for wheat(PRYM-Wheat)to improve the regional simulation of winter wheat yield over the North China Plain(NCP).The improved PRYM-Wheat model integrated with the fitted Fr equations(PRYM-Wheat-Fr)was validated using data obtained from provincial yearbooks.A 3-year(2000-2002)averaged validation showed that PRYM-Wheat-Fr had a higher coefficient of determination(R^(2)=0.55)and lower root mean square error(RMSE=0.94 t ha^(-1))than PRYM-Wheat with a stable HI(abbreviated as PRYM-Wheat-HI),which had R^(2) and RMSE values of 0.30 and 1.62 t ha^(-1),respectively.The PRYM-Wheat-Fr model also performed better than PRYM-Wheat-HI for simulating yield in verification years(2013-2015).In conclusion,the PRYM-Wheat-Fr model exhibited a better accuracy than the original PRYM-Wheat model,making it a useful tool for the simulation of regional winter wheat yield.

On the Influences of Urbanization on the Extreme Rainfall over Zhengzhou on 20 July 2021: A Convection-Permitting Ensemble Modeling Study

This study investigates the influences of urban land cover on the extreme rainfall event over the Zhengzhou city in central China on 20 July 2021 using the Weather Research and Forecasting model at a convection-permitting scale[1-km resolution in the innermost domain(d3)].Two ensembles of simulation(CTRL,NURB),each consisting of 11 members with a multi-layer urban canopy model and various combinations of physics schemes,were conducted using different land cover scenarios:(i)the real urban land cover,(ii)all cities in d3 being replaced with natural land cover.The results suggest that CTRL reasonably reproduces the spatiotemporal evolution of rainstorms and the 24-h rainfall accumulation over the key region,although the maximum hourly rainfall is underestimated and displaced to the west or southwest by most members.The ensemble mean 24-h rainfall accumulation over the key region of heavy rainfall is reduced by 13%,and the maximum hourly rainfall simulated by each member is reduced by 15–70 mm in CTRL relative to NURB.The reduction in the simulated rainfall by urbanization is closely associated with numerous cities/towns to the south,southeast,and east of Zhengzhou.Their heating effects jointly lead to formation of anomalous upward motions in and above the planetary boundary layer(PBL),which exaggerates the PBL drying effect due to reduced evapotranspiration and also enhances the wind stilling effect due to increased surface friction in urban areas.As a result,the lateral inflows of moisture and high-θe(equivalent potential temperature)air from south and east to Zhengzhou are reduced.

A two-scale approach for estimating forest aboveground biomass with optical remote sensing images in a subtropical forest of Nepal

Forests account for 80%of the total carbon exchange between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems.Thus,to better manage our responses to global warming,it is important to monitor and assess forest aboveground carbon and forest aboveground biomass(FAGB).Different levels of detail are needed to estimate FAGB at local,regional and national scales.Multi-scale remote sensing analysis from high,medium and coarse spatial resolution data,along with field sampling,is one approach often used.However,the methods developed are still time consuming,expensive,and inconvenient for systematic monitoring,especially for developing countries,as they require vast numbers of field samples for upscaling.Here,we recommend a convenient two-scale approach to estimate FAGB that was tested in our study sites.The study was conducted in the Chitwan district of Nepal using GeoEye-1(0.5 m),Landsat(30 m)and Google Earth very high resolution(GEVHR)Quickbird(0.65 m)images.For the local scale(Kayerkhola watershed),tree crowns of the area were delineated by the object-based image analysis technique on GeoEye images.An overall accuracy of 83%was obtained in the delineation of tree canopy cover(TCC)per plot.A TCC vs.FAGB model was developed based on the TCC estimations from GeoEye and FAGB measurements from field sample plots.A coefficient of determination(R2)of 0.76 was obtained in the modelling,and a value of 0.83 was obtained in the validation of the model.To upscale FAGB to the entire district,open source GEVHR images were used as virtual field plots.We delineated their TCC values and then calculated FAGB based on a TCC versus FAGB model.Using the multivariate adaptive regression splines machine learning algorithm,we developed a model from the relationship between the FAGB of GEVHR virtual plots with predictor parameters from Landsat 8 bands and vegetation indices.The model was then used to extrapolate FAGB to the entire district.This approach considerably reduced the need for field data and commercial very high resolution imagery while achieving two-scale forest information and FAGB estimates at high resolution(30 m)and accuracy(R2=0.76 and 0.7)with minimal error(RMSE=64 and 38 tons ha-1)at local and regional scales.This methodology is a promising technique for cost-effective FAGB and carbon estimations and can be replicated with limited resources and time.The method is especially applicable for developing countries that have low budgets for carbon estimations,and it is also applicable to the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation(REDD?)monitoring reporting and verification processes.

Constructing retroviral vector carrying green fluorescent protein(GFP)and investigating the expression of GFP in primary rat myoblast

Objective:To construct green fluorescent protein(GFP)retroviral vector(pLgXSN),and to investigate the expression of GFP in primary rat myoblast.Methods:GFP cDNA was subcloned into the plasmid pLgXSN,and the recombinant vector was transfected into packaging cell PT67.G418 was used to select positive colony.Myoblasts were infected by a high-titer viral supernatant.The recombinant retroviral plasmid vector was identified by restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequence analysis.Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were used to detect the expression of GFP.Results:The GFP cDNA sequence was identical to that of GenBank.Recombinant retroviral plasmid vector pLgGFPSN was constructed successfully.The titer of the packaged recombinant retrovirus was 1 × 106 cfu/ml.Bright green fluorescence of the transfected cells was observed under confocal microscope 48 h after transfection.The transfection rate was 33%.The effective expression of GFP in myoblast infected by recombinant retrovirus lasted for 6 weeks.Conclusion:GFP gene could be effectively and stably expressed in myoblast,which suggests that GFP could act as a marker for studies on myoblast.

The Influence of Dust and Black Carbon on Clouds, in Africa

The aerosol can change the clouds properties;the clouds, however, affect the normal behavior of aerosol optical depth. Considerable effects arise while the interaction of aerosol and clouds unavoidably encounters the presence of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in atmosphere. This research discusses the influence of two selected aerosol types, on the clouds in Africa, over the selected sub-time series in the years 1980-2018. Sahara desert’s dust is mainly constituted by hematite minerals;which, in return, is mainly composed by the iron oxides, a powerful solar and infra-red radiation absorbing matter and thus a strong and direct radiative forcing agent. For that reason, together with the fact that it is windblown over the biggest region that surrounds the desert, dust is one of the strongly considered aerosol in this research. Besides, black carbon (BC), mostly from the anthropogenic biomass burning process in the mid latitude’s African savanna, is the second aerosol type selected for this research: it is one of the abundantly available aerosol types and it is one of the strongest atmospheric radiant energy absorbers. For sake of valid and trustworthy results, the data is collected from multiple satellite remote sensing tools and instruments, all targeting the aerosol-cloud interaction and effects. In this research, different measurements were carried out;those are the spatiotemporal averaged cloud cover, the aerosol (dust and BC) extinction optical thickness (AOT), the anomaly of aerosol optical depth (AAOD) as well as different scatter plots’ correlation analysis. For findings: the direct influence of hydrophilic BC on clouds formation in central African sub-region is experimentally demonstrated;the dust aerosol highly influences the North African sub-region’s cloud formation.

Cyan-green-emitting Ca_(3)Sc_(2)Si_(3)O_(12):Ce^(3+)transparent ceramics:A promising color converter for high-brightness laser lighting

Transparent phosphor ceramics have received increasing attention for high-brightness laser lighting,but commercially available phosphor ceramics are currently mainly limited to yellow YAG:Ce and green LuAG:Ce garnets,leaving a“cyan cavity”which is an obstacle to realizing full-color lighting.Achieving new phosphor ceramics capable of filling the cavity is a challenge.Herein,for the first time,cyan-green-emitting Ca_(3)Sc_(2)Si_(3)O_(12):Ce^(3+)(CSS:Ce)transparent ceramics have been successfully developed by two-step sintering technique under vacuum.The as-prepared CSS:Ce ceramics present high relative density of 99.7%and optical transmittance of 71%in the cyan-green spectral region.It exhibits an efficient band emission peaking at 504 nm(under 450 nm excitation)with internal/external quantum efficiency of 91%/62%.Furthermore,it has excellent thermal stability with a thermal quenching temperature(T_(0.5))of 838 K,approximately 100 K higher than that of LuAG:Ce ceramics(738 K).In addition,the CSS:Ce ceramics can withstand blue laser density of 45.6 W/mm^(2)and meanwhile generates cyan-green light with a forward luminous flux of 813 lm and forward luminous efficacy of 162 lm/W.The CSS:Ce transparent ceramics exhibit excellent luminescence performance comparable to the commercial LuAG:Ce ceramics and could be a highly promising color converter for high-brightness laser lighting.

Cloning,prokaryotic expression,purification,and functional verification of the insulin gene in black carp(Mylopharyngodon piceus)

In this paper,we studied the structure,expression and function of black carp insulin gene.The complete Mylopharyngodon piceus insulin(Mp-Ins)gene is 1,965 bp long and includes a 1,499 bp 5ʹ-untranslated region(UTR),a 139 bp 3′-UTR with a poly(A)tail,and an open reading frame(ORF)of 327 bp.The predicted molecular weight of the recombinant Mp-Ins(rMp-Ins)protein is 11.87 kDa.The mRNA expression of Mp-Ins is upregulated in the brain and liver.After the injection of rMp-Ins,Mp-Ins mRNA transcript abundance was significantly upregulated in the liver.The rMp-Ins protein could inhibit the concentration of glycogen phosphorylase(GP),growth hormone(GH),fatty acid synthase(FAS),and insulin-like growth factors-1(IGF-1),and it also significantly increased the concentration of PI3K.Additionally,the injection of rMp-Ins did not have a significant impact on the glucose-6-phosphatase(G6Pase)content in blood.In situ hybridization results showed that the positive signal of the Mp-Ins gene was mainly concentrated in the cell nucleus of brain tissue and the cell membrane of liver tissue and muscle tissue.Together,these results demonstrated that Mp-Ins plays an important role in growth and metabolism in M.piceus.

New yellow Ba_(0.93)Eu_(0.07)Al_(2)O_(4) phosphor for warm-white light-emitting diodes through single-emitting-center conversion

Phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes for indoor illumination need to be warm-white(i.e.,correlated color temperature,4000 K)with good color rendition(i.e.,color rendering index.80).However,no single-phosphor,single-emitting-center-converted white light-emitting diodes can simultaneously satisfy the color temperature and rendition requirements due to the lack of sufficient red spectral component in the phosphors’emission spectrum.Here,we report a new yellow Ba_(0.93)Eu_(0.07)Al_(2)O_(4) phosphor that has a new orthorhombic lattice structure and exhibits a broad yellow photoluminescence band with sufficient red spectral component.Warm-white emissions with correlated color temperature,4000 K and color rendering index.80 were readily achieved when combining the Ba_(0.93)Eu_(0.07)Al_(2)O_(4) phosphor with a blue light-emitting diode(440–470 nm).This study demonstrates that warm-white light-emitting diodes with high color rendition(i.e.,color rendering index.80)can be achieved based on single-phosphor,single-emitting-center conversion.

Observation of efficient population of the red-emitting state from the green state by non-multiphonon relaxation in the Er31–Yb31 system

The rare earth Er^(3+) and Yb^(3+) codoped system is the most attractive for showcasing energy transfer upconversion.This system can generate green and red emissions from Er^(3+) under infrared excitation of the sensitizer Yb^(3+).It is well known that the red-emitting state can be populated from the upper green-emitting state.The contribution of multiphonon relaxation to this population is generally considered important at low excitation densities.Here,we demonstrate for the first time the importance of a previously proposed but neglected mechanism described as a cross relaxation energy transfer from Er^(3+) to Yb^(3+),followed by an energy back transfer within the same Er^(3+)–Yb^(3+) pair.A luminescence spectroscopy study of cubic Y_(2)O_(3):Er^(3+),Yb^(3+) indicates that this mechanism can be more efficient than multiphonon relaxation,and it can even make a major contribution to the red upconversion.The study also revealed that the energy transfers involved in this mechanism take place only in the nearest Er^(3+)–Yb^(3+) pairs,and thus,it is fast and efficient at low excitation densities.Our results enable a better understanding of upconversion processes and properties in the Er^(3+)–Yb^(3+) system.

Fine equiaxed β grains and superior tensile property in Ti-6Al-4V alloy deposited by coaxial electron beam wire feeding additive manufacturing

Coarse columnar β grains result in anisotropic mechanical properties in Ti alloys deposited by additive manufacturing. This study reports that Ti-6Al-4V alloy fabricated by coaxial electron beam wire feeding additive manufacturing presents a weak anisotropy, high strength and ductility. The superior tensile property arises from a microstructure with fine equiaxed β grains(EGβ), discontinuous grain boundary α phase and short intragranular α lamellae. A large region of fine EGβ arises from a special combination of the temperature gradient and solidification rate, and attractive α morphology is caused by solid phase transformations during interpass thermal cycling and post heat treatments.

Static coarsening behaviour of lamellar microstructure in selective laser melted Ti–6Al–4V

Static coarsening mechanism of selective laser melted(SLMed) Ti–6Al–4V with a lamellar microstructure was established at temperatures from 700℃ to 950℃. Microstructure evolution revealed that high heat treatment temperature facilitated martensite decomposition and promoted lamellae growth. At each temperature, the growth rate decreased with increasing holding time. The static coarsening behaviour of SLMed Ti–6Al–4V can be interpreted by Lifshitz, Slyozov, and Wagner(LSW) theory. The coarsening coefficient were 0.33, 0.33–0.4, 0.4–0.5 for 700–800℃, 900℃ and 950℃, respectively. This indicated the coarsening mechanism was bulk diffusion at 700–800℃, and a combination of bulk diffusion and interface reaction at 900℃ and 950℃ conditions.

Linking observation,modelling and satellite-based estimation of global land evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration(ET)is a pivotal process for ecosystem water budgets and accounts for a substantial portion of the global energy balance.In this paper,the exited actual ETmain datasets in global scale,and the global ET modeling and estimates were focused on discussion.The Source energy balance(SEB)models,empirical models and other process-based models are summarized.Accuracy for ET estimates by SEBmodels highly depends on accurate surface temperature retrieval,and SEB models are hard to apply in large heterogeneous surface.The Penman-Monteith(PM)equations are thought to be with considerable sound mechanism.However,it involves large number of parameters,which are not all global available.A simplified PM equation by Priestley and Taylor(PT)is found to perform well on well-watered surface.For both PM and PT equations in estimating ET,the key is to consider the constraint from surface resistance primarily water stress.Empiricalmodels are simple but the accuracy of which highly depends on training samples.Coupling satellite data into ET models can improve ET estimates with higher resolution spatiotemporal information inputs;However,finding the most proper way to estimate global ET remains problematic.Several reasons for this issue are also analyzed in this review.

Changes in the Urban Surface Thermal Environment of a Chinese Coastal City Revealed by Downscaling MODIS LST with Random Forest Algorithm

Analysis of the formation and evolution of urban surface thermal environment is crucial for urban planning and improving the environment of a settlement.Qingdao was selected in this study as a typical coastal city undergoing rapid urbanization,and the spatiotemporal dynamic characteristics of its urban surface thermal environment from2010 to 2019 were evaluated.The random forest(RF)algorithm was adopted to obtain its land surface temperature(LST)map with 30-m resolution by downscaling the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS)LST product;the remote sensing indices emphasizing different land cover types,LST calculated by the radiative transfer equation,and elevation were used as input variables in the algorithm.The heat island intensity(HII),urban heat island(UHI)volume,and UHI grade were used to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamic characteristics of the urban surface thermal environment in Qingdao.The results show an increasing trend in average HII between 1.1 and 2.52°C in the study area over the past 10 years.The northern city appeared to have the highest UHI volume,while change of the UHI volume in Huangdao District of southwestern Qingdao was the most significant.The areas with high HII have gradually expanded during the last 10 years,and the areas with a 10-yr persistently high HII are distributed mainly in old urban areas with high building density and a dense population.Different factors may influence UHI,such as artificial heat sources,surface heat sources,and hybrid heat sources.Finally,adjusting the urban structure,increasing the vegetated area,and changing building colors are proposed to mitigate UHI in the areas with continuously high HII.

Influence of oxygen doping on resistive-switching characteristic of a-Si/c-Si device

The influence of oxygen doping on resistive-switching characteristics of Ag/a-Si/p^+-c-Si device was investigated.By oxygen doping in the growth process of amorphous silicon, the device resistive-switching performances,such as the ON/OFF resistance ratios, yield and stability were improved, which may be ascribed to the significant reduction of defect density because of oxygen incorporation. The device I–V characteristics are strongly dependent on the oxygen doping concentration. As the oxygen doping concentration increases, the Si-rich device gradually transforms to an oxygen-rich device, and the device yield, switching characteristics, and stability may be improved for silver/oxygen-doped a-Si/p^+-c-Si device. Finally, the device resistive-switching mechanism was analyzed.