Soil microorganisms and enzymes play crucial roles in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration by promoting soil aggregate formation and stability and by participating in SOC cycling and accumulation. ...However, the effects by which soil microorganisms and enzymes act as mediators driving dynamic changes in SOC during rapid urbanization remain unclear. Therefore, this study selected the built-up area of Nanchang City, China (505 km
), as the study area. Sampling surveys were conducted using 184 sample plots stratified based on the proportion of impermeable surface area to distinguish different urbanization levels. The driving factors of dynamic changes in SOC of different aggregates during the process of urbanization were analyzed using the soil microbial community and enzyme activities. The results demonstrated that with an increase in urbanization intensity, both SOC content and stock exhibited a significant decline (
< 0.05). The highest SOC stock and contribution rate were observed in the 0.25-1 mm aggregates, and they were significantly influenced by urbanization (
< 0.05). In addition, the biomass of gram-positive bacteria (G+) and actinomycetota, and the activities of N-acetylglucosaminidase and acid phosphatase (AP) were significantly higher in low-urbanization areas than in high-urbanization areas (
< 0.05). SOC of each aggregate was positively correlated with fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, G+, gram-negative bacteria, actinomycetota, protozoa, β-1,4-glucosidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, AP, urease, and catalase. Compared to soil enzymes, soil microorganisms exhibited a greater role in SOC sequestration (22.7%). Additionally, a structural equation model indicated that urbanization can directly or indirectly lead to a decrease in SOC of aggregates by altering soil physicochemical properties and affecting microbial and enzyme dynamics. However, the larger vegetation characteristics index mitigate the negative impacts of urbanization on SOC. Overall, urbanization had a negative impact on soil carbon storage. In the future, it is important to consider strategies that focus on improving soil nutrients, maintaining soil structure, protecting existing urban trees, and enhancing plant diversity during the urbanization process. These measures can help increase soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity, thereby improving soil and aggregate-related SOC content. The study could contribute to enhancing carbon sequestration in urban greenspaces.
Abstract Because of the overbearing low temperature, cold areas increase the morbidity and mortality of chronic non-communicable diseases (chronic diseases) in exposed populations. With the growth of ...the aging population and the superposition of lifestyle risk factors, the number of people with chronic diseases in cold areas is climbing, and the family and social burdens are rising. These health-threatening circumstances in the cold areas render the general practitioners to face serious challenges and difficulties in the community management of chronic diseases. This paper summarizes the current situation of chronic disease management in cold areas and explores the relevant management models so as to provide a useful reference for regional health construction, graded diagnosis and treatment, and prevention and control of chronic diseases in China.
Brassica napus, a hybrid resulting from the crossing of Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea, is one of the most important oil crops. Despite its significance, B. napus productivity faces substantial ...challenges due to heavy metal stress, especially in response to cadmium (Cd), which poses a significant threat among heavy metals. Natural resistance-associated macrophage proteins (NRAMPs) play pivotal roles in Cd uptake and transport within plants. However, our understanding of the role of BnNRAMPs in B. napus is limited. Thus, this study aimed to conduct genome-wide identification and bioinformatics analysis of three Brassica species: B. napus, B. rapa, and B. oleracea.
A total of 37 NRAMPs were identified across the three Brassica species and classified into two distinct subfamilies based on evolutionary relationships. Conservative motif analysis revealed that motif 6 and motif 8 might significantly contribute to the differentiation between subfamily I and subfamily II within Brassica species. Evolutionary analyses and chromosome mapping revealed a reduction in the NRAMP gene family during B. napus evolutionary history, resulting in the loss of an orthologous gene derived from BoNRAMP3.2. Cis-acting element analysis suggested potential regulation of the NRAMP gene family by specific plant hormones, such as abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). However, gene expression pattern analyses under hormonal or stress treatments indicated limited responsiveness of the NRAMP gene family to these treatments, warranting further experimental validation. Under Cd stress in B. napus, expression pattern analysis of the NRAMP gene family revealed a decrease in the expression levels of most BnNRAMP genes with increasing Cd concentrations. Notably, BnNRAMP5.1/5.2 exhibited a unique response pattern, being stimulated at low Cd concentrations and inhibited at high Cd concentrations, suggesting potential response mechanisms distinct from those of other NRAMP genes.
In summary, this study indicates complex molecular dynamics within the NRAMP gene family under Cd stress, suggesting potential applications in enhancing plant resilience, particularly against Cd. The findings also offer valuable insights for further understanding the functionality and regulatory mechanisms of the NRAMP gene family.
Newly found biochemical characteristics of the placenta can provide new insights for further studies on the possible markers of physiological/pathological pregnancy or the function of the placenta. ...We compared the proteome of the dairy cow placenta after enzymatic hydrolysis by three different proteases using a label-free mass spectrometry approach. In total, 541, 136, and 86 proteins were identified in the trypsin group (TRY), pepsin group (PEP), and papain group (PAP). By comparing the proteome of the PAP and TRY, PEP and TRY, and PEP and PAP groups, 432, 421, and 136 differentially expressed proteins were identified, respectively. We compared the up-regulated DEPs and down-regulated DEPs of each comparison group. The results show that the proteins identified by papain were mostly derived from the extracellular matrix and collagen, and were enriched in the relaxin signaling pathway and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications; pepsin digestion was able to identify more muscle-related proteins, which were enriched in the lysosome, platelet activation, cardiac muscle contraction, the bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, and small cell lung cancer; trypsin mainly enzymatically degraded the extracellular matrix, blood particles, and cell-surface proteins that were enriched in arginine and proline metabolism, olfactory transduction proteasome, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, pyruvate metabolism, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). In summary, these results provide insights into the discovery of the physiological functions of dairy cow placenta and the selection of proteases in dairy cow placenta proteomics.
High levels of cadmium (Cd) in soil can cause crop yield reduction or death. Cadmium accumulation in crops affects human and animal health as it passes through the food chain. Therefore, a strategy ...is needed to enhance the tolerance of crops to this heavy metal or reduce its accumulation in crops. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays an active role in plants' response to abiotic stress. The application of exogenous ABA can reduce Cd accumulation in shoots of some plants and enhance the tolerance of plants to Cd; therefore, ABA may have good application prospects. In this paper, we reviewed the synthesis and decomposition of ABA, ABA-mediated signal transduction, and ABA-mediated regulation of Cd-responsive genes in plants. We also introduced physiological mechanism underlying Cd tolerance because of ABA. Specifically, ABA affects metal ion uptake and transport by influencing transpiration and antioxidant systems, as well as by affecting the expression of metal transporter and metal chelator protein genes. This study may provide a reference for further research on the physiological mechanism of heavy metal tolerance in plants.
Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPCs), as a class of compounds widely found in plants, are particularly abundant in grapes and blueberries. It is a polymer comprising many different monomers, such as ...catechins and epicatechins. The monomers are usually linked to each other by two types of links, A-linkages (C-O-C) and B-linkages (C-C), to form the polymers. Numerous studies have shown that compared to high polymeric procyanidins, OPCs exhibit antioxidant properties due to the presence of multiple hydroxyl groups. This review describes the molecular structure and natural source of OPCs, their general synthesis pathway in plants, their antioxidant capacity, and potential applications, especially the anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, cardiovascular disease prevention, and antineoplastic functions. Currently, OPCs have attracted much attention, being non-toxic and natural antioxidants of plant origin that scavenge free radicals from the human body. This review would provide some references for further research on the biological functions of OPCs and their application in various fields.
Water quality estimation tools based on real-time monitoring are essential for the effective management of organic pollution in watersheds. This study aims to monitor changes in the levels of ...chemical oxygen demand (COD, CODMn) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in Erhai Lake Basin, exploring their relationships and the ability of DOM to estimate COD and CODMn. Excitation emission matrix–parallel factor analysis (EEM–PARAFAC) of DOM identified protein-like component (C1) and humic-like components (C2, C3, C4). Combined with random forest (RF), maximum fluorescence intensity (Fmax) values of components were selected as estimation parameters to establish models. Results proved that the COD of rivers was more sensitive to the reduction in C1 and C2, while CODMn was more sensitive to C4. The DOM of Erhai Lake thrived by internal sources, and the relationship between COD, CODMn, and DOM of Erhai Lake was more complicated than rivers (inflow rivers of Erhai Lake). Models for rivers achieved good estimations, and by adding dissolved oxygen and water temperature, the estimation ability of COD models for Erhai Lake was significantly improved. This study demonstrates that DOM-based machine learning can be used as an alternative tool for real-time monitoring of organic pollution and deepening the understanding of the relationship between COD, CODMn, and DOM, and provide a scientific basis for water quality management.
Based on the addition reaction of hydroxyl groups and the isocyanate groups in the bi‐functional monomer acroyloxyethyl isocyanate (AOI), two novel self‐initiating ultraviolet (UV)‐curable acrylate ...monomers were synthesized from benzoin and 2‐hydroxy‐4′‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐2‐methylpropiophenone (commercial‐available Irgacure® 2959), and the products were denoted as Benzoin‐AOI and 2959‐AOI, respectively. The chemical structures of the products were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The UV–visible absorption spectrum showed that the self‐initiating acrylates exhibited similar maximum absorption wavelengths to both benzoin (250 nm) and Irgacure® 2959 (270 nm). When the products were continually exposed to a mercury lamp, the maximum absorption peak gradually blue shifted, showing that the products decomposed under the UV radiation. The photo differential scanning calorimetry (Photo‐DSC) analysis showed that the self‐initiating monomers could initiate the polymerization of 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) as quickly as the original photo‐initiator, and the efficiency of Benzoin‐AOI was slightly lower than that of benzoin, while for 2959‐AOI, the efficiency remained stable after being linked to the AOI moiety. The cytotoxicity assay against fibroblasts cell line L929 showed that 2959‐AOI exhibited lower cytotoxicity at low dosages but higher cytotoxicity at high dosages compared to Irgacure® 2959 after the introduction of the AOI structure.
We report on the first watt-level single frequency all-solid-state Pr 3+ -doped laser operating in continuous-wave mode based on ring cavity method. The achieved red (639.52 nm) single frequency ...laser has a maximum output power of 1.19 W at an absorbed power of 5.91 W with a slope efficiency of about 24.9%. Linewidth of the single frequency was measured to be about 20 MHz. By inserting an F-P etalon into the ring cavity, we also obtained a dual-wavelength laser (639.22+639.63 nm) still operating in single longitudinal mode. This dual-wavelength single-longitudinal-mode laser has the potential to generate a microwave source. In comparison to a conventional method for obtaining single frequency laser in visible through frequency doubling, using Pr 3+ -doped materials combined with single frequency laser technology to directly obtain visible single-longitudinal-mode laser has certain advantages in simplicity, miniaturization, high efficiency and cost efficiency of the total system.
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