邻体竞争对城市森林微景观中针叶树视觉形态性状的影响

树木视觉形态性状是城市绿地微景观美学质量的重要影响因素之一,树木视觉形态性状的变化与其周围邻体木的竞争作用息息相关,但邻体竞争对树木视觉性状的作用机制尚不明确。研究于2022年8-10月对北京市城市公园中常见的针叶树种白皮松、侧柏、油松、圆柏展开调查,从树冠形态、干冠协调、树干形态3个方面构建了9个树木视觉形态性状指标,采用3个不同的竞争指标分析邻体竞争对针叶树种视觉形态性状的影响。结果表明,针叶树的树冠形态对邻体竞争的响应比较敏感,竞争中的白皮松、侧柏、油松、圆柏偏冠指数与孤立木相比分别提高了16.95%、28.95%、22.76%、17.67%;树冠缺失率分别提高了3.92%、6.09%、4.87%、4.95%。与孤立木相比,部分针叶树种高径比、分枝角变异度在多侧竞争环境中显著提高,而树冠舒展度则显著降低。邻体竞争强度越大,针叶树树冠的偏移与缺失程度越大。当针叶树受到强烈的侧方竞争时,对象木树冠和树干的径向生长显著受阻,表现为树冠舒展度大幅度下降、高径比显著提高,使树冠向细高方向发展。当针叶树上方的生长空间被占据时,其轴向生长同样受到严重阻碍,树木的冠径比和高径比维持较稳定状态。总体而言,四种针叶树种在视觉形态上对竞争胁迫的响应具有一定差异性,其中油松最为敏感,圆柏次之。综上,在城市森林微景观中,邻体竞争会导致针叶树种的树冠及树形发生明显变化,这种变化主要受综合资源竞争的影响,与其周围潜在生长空间的大小及对称性有关。在城市森林景观营建时,建议将针叶树栽植在对称的竞争环境中,但是其邻体木不宜过高,通过四周邻体木的适度竞争,能够促进针叶树的轴向生长,同时降低树冠偏移或变形的风险,提高其视觉美学效果。     

NPC1-regulated dynamic of clathrin-coated pits is essential for viral entry

Science China Life Sciences - Viruses utilize cellular lipids and manipulate host lipid metabolism to ensure their replication and spread. Therefore, the identification of lipids and metabolic...     

Comprehensive Analysis of Synonymous Codon Usage Bias for Complete Genomes and E2 Gene of Atypical Porcine Pestivirus

Atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) is an emerging novel pestivirus causing the congenital tremor (CT) in piglets. The worldwide distribution characteristic of APPV make it a threat to global swine health. E2 is the major envelope glycoprotein of APPV and the crucial target for vaccine development. Considering the genetic variability of APPV complete genomes and its E2 gene as well as gaps for codon analysis, a comprehensive analysis of codon usage patterns was performed. Relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) and effective number of codon (ENC) analyses showed that a relatively instable change existed and a slight low codon usage bias (CUB) were displayed in APPV genomes. ENC-plot analysis and correlation analyses of nucleotide compositions and ENC showed that mutation pressure and natural selection both affected the codon usage bias of the APPV and natural selection had a more obvious influence for E2 gene compared with complete genomes. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analyses confirmed the above results. Correlation analyses between Gravy and Aromaticity values and the codon bias showed that natural selection played an important role in shaping the synonymous codon bias. Furthermore, neutrality plot analysis showed that natural selection was the main force while mutation pressure was a minor force influencing the codon usage pattern of the APPV E2 gene and complete genomes. The results could illustrate the codon usage patterns of APPV genomes and provided valuable basic data for further fundamental research of evolution of APPV.

     

黄土高原刺槐叶片-土壤生态化学计量参数对降雨量的响应特征

以黄土高原10个典型样点的20年刺槐人工林为研究对象,测定了样地中刺槐叶片碳（C）、氮（N）、磷（P）含量,以及0-10 cm和10-20 cm土层土壤的主要理化指标,探讨了黄土高原刺槐叶片-土壤生态化学计量特征参数随水分梯度的变化规律。研究结果发现：①随着降水量增加,刺槐叶C、N含量呈增加趋势,叶片P含量无一致性规律。② 0-10 cm土层中土壤SOC、TN、TP、铵态氮含量以及C ∶ P和N ∶ P均随降雨量增加呈逐渐增加趋势,而C ∶ N比变化不明显。③刺槐叶片C、N、P及其化学计量比与土壤化学计量比相关性较弱,但叶片N、P与土壤铵态氮、速效磷等速效养分含量呈显著正相关（P<0.05）。本研究叶片N ∶ P>16,说明黄土高原刺槐生长主要受P元素限制,且随着降水的增加,土壤P养分的限制加强。     

Compensating effect of fulvic acid and super-absorbent polymer on leaf gas exchange and water use efficiency of maize under moderate water deficit conditions

A field-based pot experiment with maize plants was conducted to examine the effect of combined fulvic acid (FA) and super-absorbent polymer (SAP) on leaf gas exchange, water use efficiency, and grain yield under soil water deficit. SAP (45 kg hm^?2) was applied to the topsoil at sowing. Plants were well-watered (80% field capacity), but subjected to water deficit (50% field capacity) from tassel stage to grain-fill. FA solution (2 g L^?1) was sprayed onto plant leaves at 2 and 9 days after imposing water deficit. Under water deficit, SAP and FA application did not affect evapotranspiration, but increased leaf abscisic acid and decreased leaf transpiration rate with a little change in photosynthesis, thus improving instantaneous water use efficiency. Applying SAP and FA under water deficit also increased grain yield by 19% and grain water use efficiency by 24%, largely attributed to an increase in kernel number. In contrast, under well-watered condition the two chemicals increased stomatal conductance, leaf transpiration, photosynthesis and chlorophyll content, but did not change kernel number and were relatively less effective in respect to water use efficiency compared to water-stressed condition. This study showed that application of foliar FA and soil SAP had little effect on evapotranspiration but maintained high photosynthesis and kernel number, and improved water use efficiency under soil water deficit.     

GoldMag nanocomposite-functionalized graphene sensing platform for one-step electrochemical immunoassay of alpha-fetoprotein

A new flow-through electrochemical immunosensor was designed for sensitive detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in human serum by using nanogold-functionalized magnetic graphene nanosheets as immunosensing probes. Initially, amino functionalized magnetic beads were covalently immobilized on the surface of graphene oxide nanosheets (MGPs), then nanogold particles were adsorbed on the amino groups of the MGPs to construct GoldMag nanocomposites functionalized graphene nanosheets (GMGPs), and then horseradish peroxidase-anti-AFP conjugates (HRP-anti-AFP) were assembled onto the surface of nanogold particles (bio-GMGP). With the aid of an external magnet, the formed bio-GMGPs were attached onto the base electrode in the flow system. With a non-competitive immunoassay format, the injected sample containing AFP antigens was produced transparent immunoaffinity reaction with the immobilized HRP-anti-AFP on the bio-GMGPs. The formed immunocomplex inhibited partly the active center of HRP, and decreased the labeled HRP toward the reduction of H(2)O(2). The performance and factors influencing the performance of the immunosensor were investigated in detail. Under optimal conditions, the electrochemical immunosensor displayed a wide working range of 0.01-200 ng mL(-1) with a low detection limit (LOD) of 1.0 pg mL(-1) AFP (at 3s(B)). Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CV) were below 10%. In addition, the methodology was validated with real serum samples, receiving a good correlation with the results obtained from commercially available electrochemiluminescence automated analyzer.     

Plant derived coumestrol phytochemical targets human skin carcinoma cells by inducing mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis,cell cycle arrest,inhibition of cell migration and invasion and modulation of m-TOR/PI3K/AKT signalling pathway

The current study was undertaken to investigate anticancer activity of coumestrol phytoestrogen against human skin cancer. MTT assay was performed for cell viability assessment and clonogenic assay for cell colony formation assessment. Apoptosis was analysed by Annexin V/FITC staining, AO/EB staining and western blotting assays. Effects on the m-TOR/PI3K/AKT signalling pathway were investigated by western blotting. Results indicated that coumestrol induced significant toxicity in human skin cancer cells in contrast to mouse skin cancer cells. The proliferation rate in normal skin cells remained almost intact. Annexin V-FITC and AO/EB staining assays indicated coumestrol induced cytotoxicity in skin cancer cells is mediated through apoptosis stimulation. The apoptosis in skin cancer cells was mediated through caspase-activation. Cell migration and invasion was inhibited by coumestrol in human skin cancer cells via inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions. Moreover, m-TOR/PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in SKEM-5 cells was blocked by coumestrol.