Measuring tree root respiration using (13)C natural abundance: rooting medium matters

Tree root respiration utilizes a major portion of the primary production in forests and is an important process in the global carbon cycle. Because of the lack of ecologically relevant methods, tree root respiration in situ is much less studied compared with above-ground processes such as photosynthesis and leaf respiration. This study introduces a new (13)C natural tracer method for measuring tree root respiration in situ. The method partitions tree root respiration from soil respiration in buried root chambers. Rooting media substantially influenced root respiration rates. Measured in three media, the fine root respiration rates of longleaf pine were 0.78, 0.27 and 0.18 mg CO(2) carbon mg(-1) root nitrogen d(-1) at 25 degrees C in the native soil, tallgrass prairie soil, and sand-vermiculite mixture, respectively. Compared with the root excision method, the root respiration rate of longleaf pine measured by the field chamber method was 18% higher when using the native soil as rooting medium, was similar in the prairie soil, but was 42% lower if in the sand-vermiculite medium. This natural tracer method allows the use of an appropriate rooting medium and is capable of measuring root respiration nondestructively in natural forest conditions.     

Involvement of regulatory volume decrease in the migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

The transwell chamber migration assay and CCD digital camera imaging techniques were used to investigate the relationship between regulatory volume decrease (RVD) and cell migration in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2Z cells). Both migrated and non-migrated CNE-2Z cells, when swollen by 47% hypotonic solution, exhibited RVD which was inhibited by extracellular application of chloride channel blockers adenosine 5‘-triphosphate (ATP), 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB) and tamoxifen. However, RVD rate in migrated CNE-2Z cells was bigger than that of non-migrated cells and the sensitivity of migrated cells to NPPB and tamoxifen was higher than that of nonmigrated cells. ATP, NPPB and tamoxifen also inhibited migration of CNE-2Z cells. The inhibition of migration was positively correlated to the blockage of RVD, with a correlation coefficient (r) = 0.99, suggesting a functional relationship between RVD and cell migration. We conclude that RVD is involved in cell migration and RVD may play an important role in migratory process in CNE-2Z cells.     

黄柄钙皮菌的生活史

利用基物培养、燕麦-琼脂培养技术及扫描电镜技术研究了黄柄钙皮菌的个体发育过程,在燕麦琼脂培养基上完成了从孢子到孢子的生活史。结果表明,生活史包括单核的黏变形体或游动胞、多核的营养体原质团以及孢子形成阶段。孢子球形,表面具疣突。孢子萌发为裂式,释放1黏变形体。黏变形体行变形运动,在有水的条件下,可转变为游动胞并游动。可观察到1长具极性的鞭毛。合子形成原质团。成熟原质团棕色。原质团类型为显型,具有扇形网络状菌脉。琼脂培养基上获得的黄柄钙皮菌孢子与野生型相似,并具有可育性。     

Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing of carnobacteria isolated from hindgut chamber and large intestine of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua l.)

Autochthonous and allochthonous bacteria were isolated from hindgut chamber and large intestine of fed and starved Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.). All bacterial strains isolated from hindgut chamber belong to carnobacteria. However, only 10.2% of the bacteria strains from the large intestine belong to carnobacteria. Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using three selective primers, was performed to further identify the carnobacteria strains. Nine of these were isolated from hindgut chamber contents, ten associated with epithelial cells of the hindgut chamber, and six isolated from the large intestines of fed and starved fish. The 25 isolates segregated into eight clusters. The major cluster comprised nine strains isolated from the hindgut chamber of both fed and starved fish showing low similarity with the reference strains. The other strains isolated from the hindgut were located in clusters showing high similarity with Carnobacterium gallinarum or Carnobacterium piscicola. Strains isolated from large intestine appeared more divergent and were located in five different clusters. Autochthonous (indigenous) bacteria were clearly demonstrated in the hindgut chamber as transmission electron microscopy revealed rod-shaped bacteria between adjacent microvilli. Endocytosis of bacteria by epithelial cells was observed in the hindgut chamber.     

Fluid Mechanics of the Human Eye: Aqueous Humour Flow in The Anterior Chamber

We consider and compare the various different kinds of flow that may take place in the anterior chamber of a human eye. The physical mechanisms responsible for causing such flows may be classified as follows: (i) buoyancy-driven flow arising from the temperature difference between the anterior surface of the cornea and the iris, (ii) flow generated by the aqueous production of the ciliary body, (iii) flow generated by the interaction between buoyancy and gravity while sleeping while sleeping in a face-up position, (iv) flow generated by phakodenesis (lens tremor), (v) flow generated by Rapid Eye Movement (REM) during sleep. Each flow is studied using a traditional fluid mechanics/asymptotic analysis approach. We also assess the veracity of a hypothesis that was recently advanced [see Maurice, D.M., 1998. The Von Sallman Lecture 1996: An ophthalmological explanation of REM sleep. Exp. Eye. Res. 66, 139–145, for details] to suggest that, contrary to previous opinion, the purpose of REM during sleep is to ensure corneal respiration in the absence of the buoyant mixing that routinely takes place due to (i) above during waking conditions.     

Analysis of morphological relationship between micro- and macromorphology of Mortierella species using a flow-through chamber coupled with image analysis

Using a flow-through chamber coupled with image analysis, the morphological parameters of 11 Mortierella species were quantified, and the relationship between micro- and macromorphology was investigated. On potato-dextrose-agar plates, 5 species formed rose petal-like colonies, 3 formed large round colonies, and 3 formed donut-like colonies. By observing micromorphology in a flow-through chamber, fungi were divided into 3 groups, classified according to morphological parameters: (i) a group with a high branch formation rate (q(b): tip/microm/h) and a low tip extension rate (q(tip): microm/tip/h); (ii) a group with a low branch formation rate and a high tip extension rate; and (iii) a group intermediate between the former and the latter groups. In suspension culture, group (i) fungi formed a hyphal bundle with a pulpy pellet-like morphology and a pellet core. In contrast, group (ii) fungi showed an aggregation of hyphae without the pellet core. In a narrow-specific hyphal growth rate (mu(l)) range (0.35-0.45 h(-1)), a higher branch formation rate led to increased hyphal branching, resulting in the formation of a hyphal bundle with a pulpy pellet-like morphology and a pellet core. When the branch formation rate was lower than 2 x 10(-3) tips/microm/h, the mycelia formed less branched but longer hypha. Our study surmises that a micromorphology consisting of a high hyphal growth rate (0.4 h(-1)), low tip extension rate (20 tips/microm/h), and high branch formation rate (8 x 10(-3) tips/microm/h) forms the suitable macromorphology for arachidonic acid production.     

前列腺癌细胞Transwell 小室体外侵袭模型的建立 及应用价值研究

目的:建立前列腺癌细胞transwell小室体外侵袭模型,并探讨该侵袭模型在前列腺癌转移研究方面的意义。方法:将200μl2组前列腺癌细胞加入Transwell小室侵袭模型上室分别培养12、24、36、48h,加入侵袭模型上室的细胞取不同浓度(1.0×105、2.0×105、3.0×105、4.0×105/m1)温箱中培养,在不同时间点观察不同浓度的前列腺癌细胞穿过基质膜的细胞数,测定2组前列腺癌细胞系的侵袭能力。结果:穿过ECM胶聚碳酸酯膜的细胞在第12h较少,而随着时间的延长逐渐增多。细胞穿膜在24小时前后最显著;同时,穿过人工基底膜的细胞数随着细胞浓度增高而增多,但细胞浓度大于3.0×105/ml时,穿过人工基底膜的细胞数无明显变化。结论:本实验成功建立了前列腺癌细胞Transwell小室体外侵袭模型,其在前列腺癌研究方面具有较高的应用价值。该侵袭模型的建立可间接判断肿瘤的侵袭力并且对探明前列腺癌的转移机制及影响因素具有重要意义。     

千烟洲红壤丘陵区人工针叶林土壤CH4排放通量

 CH₄在温室效应中起着重要作用,为估算中亚热带CH₄的源汇现状,评价森林生态系统对温室效应的影响,采用静态箱-气相色谱法研究了千烟洲红壤丘陵区人工针叶林的土壤CH₄ 排放通量特征及水热因子对其的影响。对2004年9月～2005年12月期间的观测结果分析表明 ：千烟洲人工针叶林土壤总体表现为大气CH₄的吸收汇,原状林地土壤(Forest soil)情况下,CH₄通量的变化为7.67～-67.17μg&;#8226;m^-2&;#8226;h^-1,平均为-15.53μg&;#8226;m^-2&;#8226;h^-1;无凋落物处理(Litter-free)情况下,CH₄通量的变化是9.31～-90.36 μg&;#8226;m^-2&;#8226;h^-1,平均为-16.53μg&;#8226;m^-2&;#8226;h^-1。 二者对土壤CH₄的吸收表现出明显的季节变化规律,秋>夏>冬>春,但无凋落物处理CH₄变化幅度较原状林地土壤大,无凋落物处理吸收高峰出现在10月,最低值出现在翌年3月,原状林地土壤则分别在9月和翌年2月,均提前1个月。对土壤CH₄吸收通量与温度和湿度的相关分析表明： 无论是原状林地土壤还是无凋落物处理情况下,土壤CH₄通量都与地下5 cm的温度和湿度相关性最高。偏相关分析反映了不同季节水热配置对土壤吸收CH₄通量的影响：冬季为12月～翌年2月,温度起主要作用;雨季3～6月,温度作用为主,随着温度的升高而升高,水分作用微弱;7～8月,CH₄吸收通量随着湿度的降低而增加,但高温限制了CH₄的吸收;秋季（9～11月）水热配置适宜,CH₄通量达到高峰值。总之,CH₄吸收通量随着温度的升高和 湿度的降低而增大,但温度过高会抑制其吸收。     

不同土壤水分含量下高寒草地CH4释放的比较研究

2003年6月30日～9月4日,利用密闭箱-气相色谱法,对发育于不同水分状况下的灌丛草甸(GC)、矮嵩草草甸(AC)、藏嵩草草甸(ZC)和季节性湿地(SD)的CH4释放速率进行了比较研究.结果表明,观测期间,季节性湿地处于淹水状态,其它三种土壤平均水分含量分别为39.6%(GC)、38.4%(AC)、65.9%(ZC),而CH4平均释放速率分别为-0.031±0.030(GC)、-0.026±0.018(AC)、1.103±0.240(ZC)和6.922±4.598 mg·m-2·h-1(SD),随着土壤水分含量的增加,高寒草地土壤CH4释放由吸收转为排放,表现出与土壤湿度很好的一致性.矮嵩草草甸不同处理CH4吸收强度AC＜AJ＜AL,它们之间的差异除与土壤水分有关,还可能与处理引起的CH4传输途径不同有关.实验期间,矮嵩草草甸和灌丛草甸土壤-植物系统分别吸收CH438.69和46.13 mg·m-2,是大气温室气体CH4的弱汇,藏嵩草草甸和季节性湿地则是大气温室气体CH4的源,分别排放CH4 1.641和10.30 g·m-2.     

Dynamic and complex microclimate responses to warming and grazing manipulations

Synthesis efforts that identify patterns of ecosystem response to a suite of warming manipulations can make important contributions to climate change science. However, cross‐study comparisons are impeded by the paucity of detailed analyses of how passive warming and other manipulations affect microclimate. Here we document the independent and combined effects of a common passive warming manipulation, open‐top chambers (OTCs), and a simulated widespread land use, clipping, on microclimate on the Tibetan Plateau. OTCs consistently elevated growing season averaged mean daily air temperature by 1.0–2.0°C, maximum daily air temperature by 2.1–7.3°C and the diurnal air temperature range by 1.9–6.5°C, with mixed effects on minimum daily air temperature, and mean daily soil temperature and moisture. These OTC effects on microclimate differ from reported effects of a common active warming method, infrared heating, which has more consistent effects on soil than on air temperature. There were significant interannual and intragrowing season differences in OTC effects on microclimate. For example, while OTCs had mixed effects on growing season averaged soil temperatures, OTCs consistently elevated soil temperature by approximately 1.0°C early in the growing season. Nonadditive interactions between OTCs and clipping were also present: OTCs in clipped plots generally elevated air and soil temperatures more than OTCs in nonclipped plots. Moreover, site factors dynamically interacted with microclimate and with the efficacy of the OTC manipulations. These findings highlight the need to understand differential microclimate effects between warming methods, within warming method across ecosystem sites, within warming method crossed with other treatments, and within sites over various timescales. Methods, sites and scales are potential explanatory variables and covariables in climate warming experiments. Consideration of this variability among and between experimental warming studies will lead to greater understanding and better prediction of ecosystem response to anthropogenic climate warming.