Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of nitrogen in marsh soils from an inland alkaline wetland – A case study of Fulaowenpao wetland, China

Samples of surface (0–10 cm) and subsurface soils (10–20 cm) were collected using a grid sampling method in July and September in order to study the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of all forms of nitrogen and total nitrogen (TN) and the relationships between nitrogen concentrations and selected soil properties in Fulaowenpao wetland, a typical inland alkaline wetland. Results showed that there existed obvious heterogeneity at spatial and temporal scales. Generally, higher spatial variability for nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^-–N), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺–N) and available nitrogen (AN) were observed compared to organic nitrogen (Org-N) and TN. At the spatial scale, concentrations of NO₃^-–N, NH₄⁺–N and AN in surface soils were higher than those in subsurface soils, but no significant differences were observed between both soil layers (p < 0.05). However, concentrations of Org-N and TN were significantly higher in surface soils compared to subsurface soils (p < 0.05), and both of them had similar spatial distribution patterns. At the temporal scale, with the exception of NH₄⁺–N in both soil layers and NO₃^-–N in subsurface soils, concentrations of all the other forms of nitrogen and TN were generally higher in September than them in July, while there were no significant differences between both sampling periods (p < 0.05) except for AN (p < 0.01) in both soil layers. Correlation analysis showed that AN, Org-N and TN were significantly and positively correlated with soil organic matter, total phosphorous, and clay contents, while they were significantly negatively correlated with soil pH values; NO₃^-–N was also correlated with soil organic matter and total phosphorous, however, NH₄⁺–N was only closely lined to water contents.     

Monte Carlo Simulation of Release of Vesicular Content in Neuroendocrine Cells

The release of transmitter from the vesicle, its diffusion through the fusion pore, and the cleft and its interaction with the carbon electrode were simulated using the Monte Carlo method. According to the simulation the transmitter release is largely determined by geometric factors – the ratio of the fusion pore cross-sectional and vesicular areas, if the diffusion constant is as in the aqueous solution – but the speed of transmitter dissociation from the gel matrix plays an important role during the rise phase of release. Transmitter is not depleted near the entrance to the fusion pore and there is no cleft-to-vesicle feedback, but the depletion becomes evident if the diffusion constant is reduced, especially if the pore is wide. In general, the time course of amperometric currents closely resembles the time course of the simulated transmitter concentration in the cleft and the time course of release. Surprisingly, even a tenfold change of the electrode efficiency has only a marginal effect on the amplitude or the time course of amperometric currents. Greater electrode efficiency however lowers the cleft concentration, but only if the cleft is narrow. As the cleft widens the current amplitudes diminish and rise times lengthen, but the decay times are less affected. Moreover, the amplitude dependence of the rise and decay times becomes steeper as the cleft widens and/or as the release kinetics slows. Finally, lower diffusion constant of transmitter in the narrow cleft does not further prolong the amperometric currents, whose slow time course reflects slow release kinetics.     

Sulfur dioxide relaxes rat aorta by endothelium-dependent and -independent mechanisms

This study aimed to investigate the vasoactivity of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a novel gas identified from vascular tissue, in rat thoracic aorta. The thoracic aorta was isolated, cut into rings, and mounted in organ-bath chambers. After equilibrium, the rings were gradually stretched to a resting tension. Isometric tension was recorded under the treatments with vasoconstrictors, SO2 derivatives, and various drugs as pharmacological interventions. In endothelium-intact aortic rings constricted by 1 microM phenylephrine (PE), SO2 derivatives (0.5-8 mM) caused a dose-dependent relaxation. Endothelium removal and a NOS inhibitor L-NAME reduced the relaxation to low doses of SO2 derivatives, but not that to relatively high doses (>or=2 mM). In endothelium-denuded rings, SO2 derivatives attenuated vasoconstriction induced by high K+ (60 mM) or CaCl2 (0.01-10 mM). The relaxation to SO2 derivatives in PE-constricted rings without endothelium was significantly inhibited by blockers of ATP-sensitive K+(KATP) and Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa) channels, but not by those of voltage-dependent K+ channels, Na+- K+-ATPase or Na+-Ca2+ exchanger. SO2 relaxed vessel tone via endothelium-dependent mechanisms associated with NOS activation, and via endothelium-independent mechanisms dependent on the inhibition of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, and the opening of KATP and KCa channels.     

单条草的皂甙成分

从单条草（ＬｙｓｉｍａｃｈｉａｃａｎｄｉｄａＬｉｎｄｌ）全草中分离出３个皂甙类化合物,经波谱分析并结合化学方法鉴定为：报春花素Ａ３ＯβＤ吡喃木糖基（１→２）βＤ吡喃葡萄糖基（１→４）［βＤ吡喃葡萄糖基（１→２）］αＬ吡喃阿拉伯糖甙（１）、原报春花素Ａ３ＯβＤ吡喃木糖基（１→２）βＤ吡喃葡萄糖基（１→４）［βＤ吡喃葡萄糖基（１→２）］αＬ吡喃阿拉伯糖甙（ｌｙｓｉｋｏｉａｎｏｓｉｄｅ,２）和α菠甾醇葡萄糖甙（３）。其中１是新化合物,命名为单条草甙（ｃａｎｄｉｄｏｓｉｄｅ）。     

Honoring a legend:Celebrating the life and legacy of Professor Heng LiOA

<正>Professor Heng Li (李恒,March 9,1929-January 12,2023) was a legendary plant taxonomist and phytogeographer at the Kunming Institute of Botany,Chinese Academy of Sciences (Fig.1).She made important contributions to our understanding of China’s flora,including the biodiversity and biogeography of Dulong Valley and the Gaoligong Mountains,as well as the vegetation of plateau lakes and wetlands in Southwest China.     

Does pollinator dependence decrease along elevational gradients?OA

Plants have long been thought to be less dependent on pollinators for seed production at higher elevations due to adverse pollination environments.However,recent research has yet to consistently support the generality of this expectation.In this study,we asked whether pollinator dependence decreases along an elevational gradient and how it varies with various reproductive traits.To answer these questions,we quantified pollinator-plant associations and various reproductive traits for 112 flowerin...