Daily consumption of tea catechins improves aerobic capacity in healthy male adults: a randomized double-blind,placebo-controlled,crossover trial

Our previous studies demonstrated that dietary supplementation with tea catechins combined with exercise improved endurance capacity in mice. This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of daily tea catechin consumption on aerobic capacity in humans. Sixteen Japanese non-athlete male subjects (aged 25–47 years) took 500 mL of a test beverage with or without tea catechins (570 mg) daily for 8 weeks and attended a training program twice a week. Aerobic capacity was evaluated by indirect calorimetry and near-infrared spectroscopy during graded cycle exercise. Catechin beverage consumption was associated with a significantly higher ventilation threshold during exercise and a higher recovery rate of oxygenated hemoglobin and myoglobin levels after graded cycle exercise when compared to subjects receiving the placebo beverage. These results indicate that daily consumption of tea catechins increases aerobic capacity when combined with semiweekly light exercise, which may be due to increased skeletal muscle aerobic capacity.     

西雅图社区花园的用地获取、功能分区和元素组成

社区花园在欧美具有悠久历史,在健康城市建设和促进社区发展方面的功效已经得到证实。目前,已针对社区花园的功能、类型、经营和科普等开展研究,但对土地获取和设计相关的研究较少。西雅图的社区花园历史悠久,并获得政府支持,是美国发展社区花园的城市典范。通过对西雅图23个典型案例进行调研,对用地获取方式、功能类型、分区和元素组成进行分类总结,为设计建造具有中国特色的社区花园提供启示。     

Different carbonic supplements induced changes of microflora in two types of compost teas and biocontrol efficiency against Pythium aphanidermatum

ABSTRACT

Considering the different carbonic source utilisation abilities of microbial species, we used six carbonic supplements to acclimate the microorganisms in two types of compost teas (named CT1 and CT2). The effects of the different carbonic supplements on the physicochemical and biological parameters of the acclimated microbial broth were investigated. The influence of these supplements on the biocontrol effect of the broth against cucumber damping off caused by Pythium aphanidermatum was also assessed. Results showed that treatment with glucose, sucrose, or starch reduced the pH and weakened the biocontrol effect of the acclimated microbial broth. The glucose treatment increased the population size of fungi and yeast. The chitin, cellulose, and wheat straw treatments significantly elevated the pH and electrical conductivity (P?<?0.05), increased the bacterial population size, and positively affected the biocontrol effect of the acclimated microbial broth. The glucose treatment had higher (75.3% and 79.4% for the CT1 and CT2, respectively) whereas the wheat straw treatment had lower (34.6% and 25.6% for the CT1 and CT2, respectively) disease incidence relative to the blank control (85.6%), bacterial population size (r?=?0.64 and 0.69) and number of colony types (r?=?0.82 and 0.76) highly correlated with the biocontrol effect of CT1 and CT2 while the reducing sugar content negatively correlated with the biocontrol effect (r?=??0.57 and ?0.86).     

Informing native plant sourcing for ecological restoration: cold‐hardiness dynamics,flowering phenology,and survival of Eriogonum umbellatum

Despite advances in restoration of degraded lands around the world, native plants are still underutilized. Selection of appropriate plant materials is a critical factor in determining plant establishment and persistence. To better inform decision‐making, we examined cold‐hardiness dynamics, flowering phenology, and survival among five geographically distinct sulfur‐flower buckwheat (Polygonaceae: Eriogonum umbellatum Torr.) populations in a common garden. LT₅₀ (a measure of freezing injury) was determined every 6 weeks across a complete year; one population was also evaluated at the source. Cold‐hardiness dynamics were similar across populations, with annual fluctuations in mean LT₅₀ exceeding 40°C. Rate of deacclimation (i.e. loss of cold tolerance) in spring varied across populations and was not related to the elevation from which a population came. Plants were less cold hardy in October 2014 compared to October 2013, likely reflecting a response to colder local conditions in 2013. Although the range of LT₅₀ was similar for a single comparison of common garden versus wild‐grown plants, wild‐grown plants acclimated and deacclimated earlier than common garden‐grown plants. Plants derived from a low‐elevation population showed delayed flowering phenology, while high‐elevation populations showed earlier flowering phenology, with one high‐elevation population having the lowest survival rate in the common garden. These results suggest that while considerable plasticity in seasonal cold‐hardiness dynamics occur, population variability in deacclimation and flowering phenology have implications for selection and movement of sulfur‐flower buckwheat for ecological restoration.     

Selection for genetics‐based architecture traits in a native cottonwood negatively affects invasive tamarisk in a restoration field trial

Climate change and competition from invasive species remain two important challenges in restoration. We examined the hypothesis that non‐native tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) reestablishment after aboveground removal is affected by genetics‐based architecture of native Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) used in restoration. As cottonwood architecture (height, canopy width, number of stems, and trunk diameter) is, in part, determined by genetics, we predicted that trees from different provenances would exhibit different architecture, and mean annual maximum temperature transfer distance from the provenances would interact with the architecture to affect tamarisk. In a common garden in Chevelon, AZ, U.S.A. (elevation 1,496 m), with cottonwoods from provenances spanning its elevation distribution, we measured the performance of both cottonwoods and tamarisk. Several key findings emerged. On average, cottonwoods from higher elevations were (1) two times taller and wider, covered approximately 3.5 times more basal area, and were less shrubby in appearance, by exhibiting four times fewer number of stems than cottonwoods from lower elevations; (2) had 50% fewer tamarisk growing underneath, which were two times shorter and covered 6.5 times less basal area than tamarisk growing underneath cottonwoods of smaller stature; and (3) the number of cottonwood stems did not affect tamarisk growth, possibly because the negative relationship between cottonwood stems and basal area. In combination, these findings argue that cottonwood architecture is affected by local conditions that interact with genetics‐based architecture. These interactions can negatively affect the growth of reinvading tamarisk and enhance restoration success. Our study emphasizes the importance of incorporating genetic and environmental interactions of plants used in restoration.     

Efficacy and repellency of some essential oils and their blends against larval and adult house flies,Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae)

House flies are global pests and notoriously difficult to control. Essential oils of vetiver, cinnamon, and lavender and their blends were tested for toxic and repellent effects against larval and adult flies. All of the oils had moderate toxicity for eggs. Mortality of 2^nd instar larvae was 57–78% in dipping assays, 38–100% in contact assays, and 94–100% in treated media. Lavender was less effective (38% mortality) than the others (91–100%) in contact bioassays. Oil blends were not more effective against larvae than individual oils. Vetiver and cinnamon oils were strongly repellent (84 and 78%, respectively) for larvae in treated media. None of the oils were repellent for adult house flies in olfactometer assays, but testing of additional products demonstrated significant repellency for neem oil, p‐menthane‐3,8‐diol (PMD), and vanillin. Contact/fumigant toxicity of vetiver, cinnamon, and lavender oils was 100%, significantly higher than mortality from sunflower oil (67%). Blends of oils were not more effective against adults than the individual oils, but blends diluted with sunflower oil were as effective as the individual oils. Essentials oils of vetiver and cinnamon may have potential for fly management in situations where conventional insecticides cannot be used.     

公众对园林绿地功能的认知及其对环境教育的启示——以广州市为例

以网络问卷和现场问卷、访谈的形式,分析公众对广州市园林绿地功能的认知情况,以期为环境教育场地的建设提供参考。结果显示,公众对于物种多样性和景观多样性的各项具体描述的认知情况都趋于一致,绝大多数公众认为绿地植被能发挥重要的生态功能,且公众的学历越高,其认知园林植物的欲望越强烈。在休息时,大多数公众会选择植物比较茂密的半开敞空间;在园林设计中通过增强科普信息获取的便利性和趣味性,能更好地发挥绿地的环境教育功能。     

Integrative taxonomy recognized a new cryptic species within Stipa grandis from Loess Plateau of China

Stipa shanxiensis, a cryptic species within Stipa grandis that originated from central and western China, is described based on morphological, genomic, and ecological data from field and common garden experiments. Stipa shanxiensis morphologically resembles S. grandis, although phylogenetically it is closely related to the less morphologically similar Stipa baicalensis and Stipa krylovii. Of the eight significant morphological differences between S. shanxiensis and S. grandis, the two, cauline ligules longer than 2 cm with a filiform apex, and hairs shorter than 0.2 mm on the adaxial surface of the cauline uppermost leaves can be used to distinguish the species. Results from a common garden experiment verified that the two diagnostic characteristics were relatively stable and less morphologically plastic in response to environmental variation. Furthermore, a significant ecological divergence was found between S. shanxiensis and S. grandis, such that the former preferred warmer and more humid climates, and their predicted distribution was generally separated. Taken together, our results highlight that the integrative taxonomic approach was valuable for recognizing a new cryptic species in Stipa. In particular, we find that common garden experiments involving the effects of growth stage and characteristic position helped to morphologically diagnose cryptic species. These findings may also facilitate our understandings of ecological adaption and phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental change.     

Functional analyses of the extra- and intracellular domains of the yeast cell wall integrity sensors Mid2 and Wsc1

Cell wall integrity signalling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae provides a model for the regulation of fungal wall biosynthesis. Chimers of the major plasma membrane sensors Wsc1 and Mid2 fused to GFP have been employed to show that intracellular and membrane distribution is only dependent on a membrane-anchored cytoplasmic tail. Phenotypic analyses of chimeric sensors in an isogenic Deltamid2 Deltawsc1 double deletion strain indicate that this tail, provided that it is linked to an extracellular domain, also determines the cellular response to different surface stresses to a large extent.     

Temperature-dependent development of Xyleborus fornicatus （Coleoptera： Scolytidae）, the shot-hole borer of tea in Sri Lanka： Implications for distribution and abundance

The effect of temperature on the rate of development of Xyleborus fornicatus （Eichh.） was determined by rearing individuals under a range of constant temperatures （15 - 32℃）. Rates of development changed in a linear fashion over a wide range of temperatures. Estimates of lower development thresholds were obtained for eggs （15.7±0.5℃）, larvae （15.8±0.8℃） and pupae （14.3±1.4℃） and the degree days （DD） for development were 70±4.4, 95±8.5 and 72±5.1 DD, respectively. Optimum temperature for development was around 30~C for all stages. Temperature fluctuation in cooler High Country areas （above 1400 m） with a mean temperature around 15℃ seems to be critical for the development of the pest, which may be responsible for the near absence of pest in those areas. Temperature fluctuations （18- 30℃） in the Mid Country region （600- 1200 m） favor the development of the pest compared to development under constant conditions. The altitudinal distribution of the shot-hole borer across tea growing areas in Sri Lanka is, therefore, mainly governed by temperature.