Carbon cycle of larch plantation based on CO2FIX model

Aims
Plantations play important roles in modifying regional carbon budget and maintaining regional carbon balance. In this study, we assessed larch plantation (Larix gmelinii var. principis-rupprechtii) carbon dynamics in Weichang County from a perspective of the forest biomass-soil-wood-products chain. Our objectives were to elucidate the carbon sink capacity of larch plantation and the influences of biomass, soil and wood product pools on carbon balance.
Methods
CO2FIX model was used to evaluate the carbon storage and flow of larch plantation over a time span of 120 years. Input data for model were derived from practical investigations and published papers. We validated the simulated results and found that this model was suitable in the region and the simulated results were reliable.
Important findings
(1) Soil was the largest carbon pool for larch plantation and the wood product pool had the smallest carbon storage. Meanwhile, carbon storage in wood products gradually increased with time. (2) In a rotation of 50 years from secondary poplar-birch forest to larch plantation, 250 t C·hm^-2 was sequestrated by the larch plantation. 70% of the carbon was transferred into soil in the form of litter and logging slash and the other 30% was transferred into wood products. (3) Larch plantation was a carbon sink during most of its growing period and turned to temporary carbon source when it was harvested. Larch plantation could sequestrate about 0.3 t C·hm^-2·a^-1 in the long term. Our results indicated the importance of wood product carbon pool in carbon dynamics of plantation, which facilitated our understanding in the carbon dynamics and capacity of plantation.     

Spatial distribution and antifungal interactions of a Bacillus biological control agent on wheat surfaces

The proximity of a biological control agent and its associated anti-microbial metabolites to pathogens on plant surfaces can determine the outcome of disease control. In this study we investigated whether deficiencies in inoculum deposition and localization could explain the inability of the biological control agent Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain TrigoCor to consistently control Fusarium head blight in the field, despite producing effective and consistent disease control in greenhouse settings. Using epifluorescent stereomicroscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we visualized the coverage of wheat spike surfaces by Bacillus post-application in greenhouse and field environments, and determined that there are large unprotected areas on wheat spikes sprayed with commercial-scale field equipment, as compared to typical greenhouse applications. Additionally, we found that in conditions of low relative humidity, antifungal compounds produced by Bacillus were not able to diffuse across wheat surfaces in biologically relevant amounts, further suggesting that the inadequate coverage of wheat surfaces by Bacillus could be directly limiting disease control. Bacillus cells were easily rinsed off wheat surfaces within 8 h of application, indicating that rainfastness might be an additional limitation of biological control in field settings. Finally, we observed the inhibition of Fusarium graminearum spore germination by TrigoCor inoculum on wheat surfaces, confirming this as a mode of action for TrigoCor biocontrol. Future optimization efforts for biological control agents applied to above-ground plant parts should focus on enhancing the rainfastness, quantity, and spatial coverage of the inoculum on plant surfaces.     

黄淮海地区玉蜀黍黑粉菌群体遗传结构分析

利用17个多态性ISSR引物对2017年在我国黄淮海地区采集的41株玉蜀黍黑粉菌Ustilago maydis样本进行了种群遗传结构分析。基于UPGMA法和贝叶斯模型对玉蜀黍黑粉菌群体遗传结构分析显示,采集的样本可以分为两大群,且种群的划分表现出了与来源地理纬度的一致性。因此按照各样本所属地理纬度将样本分为北纬33°-34°、北纬35°-36°、北纬37°-38° 3大种群。结果表明,分离自北纬33°-34°地区的玉蜀黍黑粉菌遗传多样性最丰富,Nei’s基因多样性（H）为0.2216,Shannon指数（I）为0.3300。分子方差分析（AMOVA）显示,变异中来自种群内部的变异为86%,种群间变异14%（φpt=0.141）。     

联合检测血清NGAL、KIM-1和SCr可有效提高慢性肾病分期诊断

为了探讨中性粒细胞明胶酶相关脂质运载蛋白(neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, NGAL)和肾损伤分子-1 (kidney injury molecule-1, KIM-1)以及血肌酐(serum creatinine, SCr)联合检测对慢性肾病(chronic kidney disease, CKD)的早期诊断价值,本研究收集260例肾病患者和85例健康体检者,检测其血清NGAL、KIM-1和SCr水平。依据肾功能分级标准,CKD患者分为CKD 1期(53例),CKD 2期(68例),CKD 3期(71例),CKD 4期(46例)和CKD 5期(22例),并分析以上指标在各组间的含量差异,及其联合测定对CKD早期的敏感性。与健康对照组相比较,CKD 1期、CKD 2期、3期、4期和5期患者的NGAL、KIM-1水平均明显升高(p<0.001)。血清SCr含量在CKD 3期、4期和5期组较健康对照组显著增加(p<0.001)。以上3项指标均随着CKD严重程度增加而升高。各组指标阳性率分析显示,3项联合检测阳性率高于单项检测阳性率。ROC曲线分析NGAL、KIM-1、SCr对CKD诊断的AUC值F分别是为0.824、0.805、0.856。相关性分析结果显示,GFR和NGAL、KIM-1、SCr相关系数分别是r=-0.784、-0.756、-0.728 (p<0.05)。NGAL与KIM-1、SCr的相关系数分别是r=0.932、0.764 (p<0.05);KIM-1与SCr的相关系数r分别是0.791 (p<0.05)。本研究初步得出结论:血清NGAL、Kim-1可作为CKD早期诊断的重要指标,联合检测血清NGAL、Kim-1、SCr可有效提高CKD早期肾损伤诊断的敏感度,对CKD的分期诊断和治疗具有极其重要的临床价值。     

北极狐β-防御素103基因 (CBD103) 启动子活性及转录调控元件分析

本研究旨在筛选调控北极狐毛色基因CBD103的启动子活性区域及转录因子结合位点,为揭示CBD103基因调控北极狐毛色形成的分子遗传机制提供依据。克隆获得了北极狐CBD103基因5′侧翼区2 123 bp的片段,并构建了4个不同长度的启动子缺失片段表达载体,通过双荧光素酶检测系统对启动子活性进行检测。对启动子活性最高区域预测出的3个特异性蛋白1 (Sp1)转录因子结合位点分别进行点突变并构建3个突变载体,利用双荧光素酶检测系统测定其活性。结果显示,在构建的4个不同长度启动子缺失片段中1 656 (-1 604/+51)区域活性最高,在此区域构建的3个突变载体的启动子活性较野生型(片段1 656)均显著降低,说明-1 604/+51区域为北极狐CBD103基因的核心启动子区,-1 552/-1 564、-1 439/-1 454和-329/-339区域为正调控区域。文中成功获得了北极狐CBD103基因的核心启动子区域和正调控区域,这为进一步研究该基因调控北极狐被毛颜色分子遗传机制奠定了基础。     

外源保幼激素对异色瓢虫卵巢发育及生殖相关基因转录水平的影响

【目的】本研究旨在明确外源保幼激素(juvenile hormone, JH)对异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis成虫卵巢发育以及生殖信号通路中关键基因转录水平的影响。【方法】以萝卜蚜Lipaphis erysimi饲喂的异色瓢虫雌成虫为空白对照组,以点滴同体积丙酮的雌成虫为溶剂对照组,对人工饲料饲喂的羽化后第2天的雌成虫点滴不同剂量(80, 120和160 ng/头)JHⅢ 1, 3, 5, 7和9 d后,解剖成虫卵巢,拍照并测量卵巢长度及其第一卵室的长度和宽度。利用qPCR分析在最适JHⅢ剂量(120 ng/头)处理后1, 5和9 d的异色瓢虫雌成虫生殖信号通路中关键基因JH受体methoprene-tolerant (Met)基因、krüppel homolog 1(Kr-h1)基因、卵黄原蛋白(vitellogenin, Vg)基因(Vg1和Vg2)和卵黄原蛋白受体(vitellogeninreceptor, VgR)基因表达水平。【结果】与溶剂对照组相比,点滴80和120 ng/头剂量JHⅢ可促进异色瓢虫成虫卵巢发育,其中120 ng/头剂量JHⅢ处理羽化后第2天雌成虫后7 d卵巢中出现大量卵黄沉积,与萝卜蚜饲喂的空白对照组卵巢发育状态一致,卵巢长度以及第一卵室的长度和宽度均显著高于溶剂对照组的;160 ng/头剂量JHⅢ处理则抑制卵巢发育。qPCR结果表明,120 ng/头剂量JHⅢ处理后5和9 d雌成虫中HaMet, HaKr-h1, HaVg1, HaVg2和HaVgR基因表达量较对照组(丙酮处理组)均增加,其中处理后5 dHaMet, HaVg1和HaVgR基因表达量分别为对照组的2.78, 13.14和8.28倍,处理后9 d分别为对照组的2.36,1.85和2.01倍,差异极显著。【结论】120 ng/头JHⅢ可促进异色瓢虫成虫卵巢发育,上调处理后5和9 d时雌成虫HaMet, HaKr-h1, HaVg和HaVgR基因表达量;推测这些关键基因在保幼激素调控异色瓢虫卵巢发育及卵黄形成过程发挥重要作用。     

Bromoenol Lactone Attenuates Nicotine-Induced Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration

Objectives

Calcium independent group VIA phospholipase A₂ (iPLA₂β) and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are upregulated in many disease states; their involvement with cancer cell migration has been a recent subject for study. Further, the molecular mechanisms mediating nicotine-induced breast cancer cell progression have not been fully investigated. This study aims to investigate whether iPLA₂β mediates nicotine-induced breast cancer cell proliferation and migration through both in-vitro and in-vivo techniques. Subsequently, the ability of Bromoenol Lactone (BEL) to attenuate the severity of nicotine-induced breast cancer was examined.

Method and Results

We found that BEL significantly attenuated both basal and nicotine-induced 4T1 breast cancer cell proliferation, via an MTT proliferation assay. Breast cancer cell migration was examined by both a scratch and transwell assay, in which, BEL was found to significantly decrease both basal and nicotine-induced migration. Additionally, nicotine-induced MMP-9 expression was found to be mediated in an iPLA₂β dependent manner. These results suggest that iPLA₂β plays a critical role in mediating both basal and nicotine-induced breast cancer cell proliferation and migration in-vitro. In an in-vivo mouse breast cancer model, BEL treatment was found to significantly reduce both basal (p<0.05) and nicotine-induced tumor growth (p<0.01). Immunohistochemical analysis showed BEL decreased nicotine-induced MMP-9, HIF-1alpha, and CD31 tumor tissue expression. Subsequently, BEL was observed to reduce nicotine-induced lung metastasis.

Conclusion

The present study indicates that nicotine-induced migration is mediated by MMP-9 production in an iPLA₂β dependent manner. Our data suggests that BEL is a possible chemotherapeutic agent as it was found to reduce both nicotine-induced breast cancer tumor growth and lung metastasis.     

滨海快速城市化地区土地生态安全评价与预警——以曹妃甸新区为例

对滨海快速城市化地区进行土地生态安全评价和预警是保障土地可持续利用和有效维护土地生态安全的重要内容.基于“压力-状态-响应”(P-S-R)模型,构建了滨海快速城市化地区土地生态安全评价指标体系.借助遥感数据和GIS方法,以1 km×1 km网格为评价单元并通过空间插值,获取了基于像元大小30 m×30 m的曹妃甸新区2005和2013年土地生态安全评价结果.并采用分类树方法对未来曹妃甸新区土地生态安全(LES)进行预警,共分为4种预警类型：安全但有退化趋势预警、亚安全且缓慢退化预警、亚安全且快速退化预警、不安全预警.结果表明：曹妃甸新区2005年土地生态安全平均值为0.55,处于中等安全水平,而2013年为0.52,处于中下安全水平,区域土地生态安全呈下降趋势.曹妃甸新区不安全预警及亚安全且快速退化预警区域主要分布在城市建设用地快速扩展区域,说明城市建设用地的快速扩张是导致区域土地生态安全恶化的最主要因素.工业区、十里海和南堡盐场3个乡镇处于高度危险预警状态,其不安全预警、亚安全且快速退化预警及亚安全且缓慢退化预警3者之和分别占其总面积的58.3%、98.9%和81.2%,未来应加强这些区域的土地生态管理调控.研究结果可为曹妃甸新区土地规划和生态保护提供一定参考.     

一株新的拮抗细菌SL19及其抑菌活性物质

生防菌SL19对多种植物病原菌有抑菌活性。通过形态观察、生理生化实验和基于16S rDNA同源性序列分析构建系统发育树,鉴定该菌为Bacillus velezensis。利用对峙实验测定了该菌的抑菌谱,发现该菌对大丽轮枝菌、尖孢镰刀菌、灰葡萄孢菌、立枯丝核菌、疮痂链霉菌等多种植物病原微生物有明显的抑菌作用。利用硫酸铵盐析法分离纯化活性物质,并对其理化性质进行初步探索显示:抑菌活性物质经60°C、80°C处理20 min后的抑菌活性不变;经100°C处理20 min,活性降低为原来的75.3%;经120°C处理20 min后抑菌活性完全丧失。对胰蛋白酶、胃蛋白酶、蛋白酶K、氯仿、紫外光均不敏感,SDS-PAGE检测发现该抑菌活性物质中含有分子量约为50 kD的蛋白质,初步推测该菌分泌的抑菌活性物质主要是蛋白质类物质。实验表明,该抗菌蛋白能够抑制大丽轮枝菌菌丝的生长及孢子的萌发,为该菌用于生物防治提供了理论基础。