Stomata control carbon and water vapor exchange between the leaves and the atmosphere,thus infl uencing photosynthesis and transpiration.Combinations of forest patches with different stand ages are common in nature,however,information of which stomatal traits vary among these stands and how,remains limited.Here,seven different aged forest stands(6,14,25,36,45,55,and 100 years)were selected in typical temperate,mixed broadleaf-conifer forests of northeast China.Stomatal density,size and relative area of 624 species,including the same species in stands of different ages were selected.Stomatal density,size and relative area were distributed log-normally,differing across all species and plant functional groups.Stomatal density ranged from 4.2 to 1276.7 stomata mm^(–2),stomatal size ranged from 66.6 to 8315.7μm^(2),and stomatal relative area 0.1–93.3%.There was a significant negative relationship between density and size at the species and functional group levels,while the relative stomatal area was positively correlated with density and size.Stomatal traits of dominant species were relatively stable across different stand ages but were significantly different for herbs.The results suggest that stomatal traits remain relatively stable for dominant species in natural forests and therefore,spatial variation in stomatal traits across forest patches does not need to be incorporated in future ecological models.
Evidence-based selective cutting at prescribed intervals as part of good forest management can enhance the carbon sequestration capacity of the forest.The effect of forest management on carbon sequestration has,however,not been quantified.Thus,carbon content of various organs was measured for 323 tree species,247 shrub species,and233 herb species in seven temperate coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests that were subjected to selective cutting with restoration durations of 100,55,45,36,25,14,and6 years to explore dynamic changes in carbon storage.The results showed that biomass carbon allocation in different organs followed a pattern:trunk>root>branch>leaf for all forests.With longer restoration durations,more carbon accumulated in different organs and in soils.Interestingly,when the restoration duration exceeded 50 years,carbon storage in ecosystem was larger than that in primary forests with 100-year cutting intervals,suggesting that a reasonable selective cutting interval can increase forest carbon sequestration.Mean diameter at breast height(DBH)and forest carbon storage were significantly positively correlated,and carbon storage of selectively cut forests exceeded that of primary forests when the stand mean DBH exceeded 15.66 cm.Therefore,mean DBH of forests can be an indicator for combining sustainable forest management and forest carbon sequestration.Additionally,the classic coefficients of 0.45 and 0.50 used to estimate carbon sequestration underestimated values by 2.65%and overestimated by 8.16%,respectively,in comparison with the measured carbon content from different plant organs.
Jihua HouJunxia TianLi XuZihao ZhangZhi ChenNianpeng He
Slash pine(Pinus elliottii Engelm.var.elliottii)is a resin-producing species grown worldwide for significant economic benefits for wood production.Resin tapping cre-ates a carbon sink at the expense of carbon allocation for growth and consequently,wood production may be reduced.Non-structural carbohydrates comprising starch and sugars stored in plant organs,may serve as intermediate pools between assimilation and utilisation.However,the effect of resin tapping between tree growth and non-structural carbo-hydrates is not well understood.This study investigated(1)the effects of resin tapping on radial growth,(2)the effects of resin tapping on non-structural carbohydrate pools in different compartments,and(3)the feasibility of resin pro-duction without disruption of tree growth.Twenty one-year-old slash pines were subjected to resin tapping over two suc-cessive years.Non-structural carbohydrate concentrations in needles,branches,stem phloem,and roots of tapped and untapped trees in summer and winter were determined after the second year of resin harvest.The results showed that tapping had no significant effects on annual increments.Starch was the dominant non-structural carbohydrate frac-tion,regardless of tissues and season,and constituted up to 99%of the total non-structural carbohydrates in the phloem and roots.Glucose and fructose were the dominant sugars;sucrose was negligible.Compared with the controls,tapped trees showed 26%lower non-structural carbohydrate concen-tration in the phloem above the tapping wound in summer,which was attributable to the decreased abundance of starch,glucose,fructose,and sucrose.In winter,the altered non-structural carbohydrate profiles in the phloem above the tap-ping wounding were minimised as a result of recovery of the sugar concentrations.In contrast to free sugars,which accu-mulated substantially in needles and branches during winter,starch was enriched in the phloem,roots,and current-year needles.The results provide evidence for a localised effect of resin tapping,and highli
Spot fire increase the difficulty of fire-fighting and threaten public safety,and therefore it is important to study ignition probabilities of fuel bed by different firebrands,in order to understand ignition mechanisms and analyze the formation of spot fires.This will provide an important basis for further study to improve the fire-fighting efficiency and reduce casualties.In this study,the ignition probabilities of larch(Larix gmelinii)fuel beds with different moisture levels and packing ratios by diffreent firebrands,including cones and twigs of different sizes,was investigated.Ignition experiments were conducted at different wind speeds generated by fans.The results show that,regardless of moisture content and packing ratio,ignition probability is zero when there is no wind.Both moisture content and wind speed significantly infuence ignition probability,while packing ratio has almost no effect.The maximum moisture content at which firebrand ignition occurred was 50%,and ignition probability increased with wind speed and decreased with moisture content.Cones have the highest ignition probability,followed by large twigs and by small twigs.Ignition probability is also affected by firebrand shapes and sizes that determine their potential heat and contact area to the fuel bed.Two empirical models were established to link ignition probability with fuel properties and wind speed.This study will help clarify the mechanism of spot ignition and reduce corresponding losses.
Guang YangJibin NingLifu ShuJili ZhangHongzhou YuXueying Di
Chemotherapy is the prime tool for the clinical treatment of cancer.The efficiency of treatment has been greatly improved with the assistance of nanomedicine delivery systems.However,it still meets the challenge of ineffi-cient drug delivery and damage to normal tissues caused by uncontrolled drug release.Considering the various processes of nanomedicine acting on cancer cells,a pH-responsive mesoporous Fe_(2)O_(3)–Au nanomedicine delivery system with magnetic targeting was designed to achieve controlled drug release and improve the safety and ef-ficiency.Fe_(2)O_(3) particles were constructed with external mesopores and internal hollow structures,while Au nanoparticles were connected on the surface of Fe_(2)O_(3) particles through pH-responsive valence bonds to encapsulate the drug.The Fe_(2)O_(3)–Au nanomedicine delivery system was equipped with magnetic targeting function,which could be induced by an external magnetic field to increase the drug concentration to kill cancer cells as well as reduce damage to normal cells.Meanwhile,based on the pH-responsive feature,the drug embedded could only be released in the weakly acidic condition of the cancer environment,while the nanomedicine delivery system remained closed in normal tissues.The Fe_(2)O_(3)–Au nanomedicine delivery system possessed the functions of pH responsiveness and magnetic targeting,enhancing safety and efficiency and providing a promising method for cancer therapy.
Jingxi WangFengnian ZhuKun LiJunwei XuPing LiYubo Fan
Abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA)is a progressive focal dilatation and weakening of the abdominal aorta,causing 1.3%of all deaths among men aged 65–85 years worldwide.The formation of AAA is a complex process with multiple risk factors.Therefore,this study aimed to determine the relationship of disease severity and physiological factors,and gut microbiota structures in AAA patients.Physiological indicators and fecal 16S rRNA gene sequences from healthy controls and patients with AAA were collected.The correlations between the diameter of the AAA and clinical parameters,and gut microbiota composition were then analyzed separately using multivariable analysis.The diameter of AAA was extremely positively correlated with smoking index,alkaline phosphatase,blood glucose,and blood triglycerides and negatively correlated with prealbumin and Cystatin C.As the diameter of AAA increased,the α-diversity,including Chao 1,Shannon,and Simpson indices,of the gut microbiota decreased and presented a negative linear relationship.Patients with AAA with more severe disease had significantly increased relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae and decreased relative abundance of Veillonellaceae.A strong correlation was observed between the diameter and physiological data,as well as between diameter and gut microbiota composition.This study could improve the understanding of AAA,and gut microbiota may be a potential target to prevent and treat this deadly disease.
Kun ZhangShiwei YangYingchun HuangXian QinKai QuYidan ChenLizhao ChenJuhui QiuYingxue HaoGuixue Wang
Riboflavin/UV-mediated corneal collagen cross-linking can increase the mechanical strength of the cornea and prevent or delay corneal expansion and keratoconus progression.We performed quantitative analysis of protein iTRAQ in rabbit eye white matter after cross-linking to explore the changes of protein expression in cornea at different times after cross-linking and to understand the process of corneal stroma remodeling after cross-linking.The screening conditions are fold Change1.2 and P-value<0.05,we identified 713 and 38 differentially expressed proteins in cornea at 1 week and 1 month after cross-linking.There were 16 differentially expressed proteins at two time points after corneal cross-linking.By annotating the functions of these proteins,we identified some proteins that affect the mechanical properties of the cornea,and these proteins are involved in cell growth,oxidative stress response,and signal transduction in the cornea.It has a guiding role in studying the corneal stroma remodeling process after collagen crosslinking.
Soil microorganisms and physicochemical properties are considered the two most influencing factors for maintaining plant diversity.However,the operational mechanisms and which factor is the most influential manipulator remain poorly understood.In this study,we examine the collaborative influences of soil physicochemical properties(i.e.,soil water,soil organic matter(SOM),salinity,total phosphorus and nitrogen,pH,soil bulk density and fine root biomass)and soil microorganisms(fungi and bacteria)on plant diversity across two types of tree patches dominated by big and small trees(big trees:height≥7 m and DBH≥60 cm;small trees:height≤4.5 m and DBH≤20 cm)in an arid desert region.Tree patch is consists of a single tree or group of trees and their accompanying shrubs and herbs.It was hypothesized that soil physicochemical properties and microorganisms affect plant diversity but their influence differ.The results show that plant and soil microbial diversity increased with increasing distances from big trees.SOM,salinity,fine root biomass,soil water,total phosphorus and total nitrogen contents decreased with increasing distance from big trees,while pH and soil bulk density did not change.Plant and soil microbial diversity were higher in areas close to big trees compared with small trees,whereas soil physicochemical properties were opposite.The average contribution of soil physicochemical properties(12.2%-13.5%)to plant diversity was higher than microbial diversity(4.8%-6.7%).Salinity had the largest negative affect on plant diversity(24.7%-27.4%).This study suggests that soil fungi constrain plant diversity while bacteria improve it in tree patches.Soil physicochemical properties are the most important factor modulating plant diversity in arid desert tree patches.
