Hysteresis in sap flow and its controlling mechanisms for a deciduous broad-leaved tree species in a humid karst region

The critical zone(CZ) represents the intersection of the biosphere with the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.Understanding the hydrological processes and human impact factors on the CZ is fundamental to sustainable water resources management for agroforestry. Transpiration(T) is an important component of terrestrial evapotranspiration(ET), and understanding the time lag(TL) between vegetation transpiration and meteorological factors can improve our knowledge of the mechanisms of vegetation adaptability to a changing environment. However, the controlling factors on the TL remain poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this study is identifying the temporal dynamics of key controlling factors on the TL, using a typical deciduous broad-leaved tree species(Zenia insigins Chun) of CZ in subtropical humid karst regions. This species is used as an example to explore the characteristics of the TL between SF(sap flow) and hydro-meteorological forcing. Sap flow in these 6 trees was monitored using the thermal dissipation probes(TDP). Results showed that:(1) the peak of diurnal sap flow generally lagged behind PAR but preceded Ta(air temperature), RH(relative humidity) and VPD(vapor pressure deficit), with the mean TL of-67.4 min(PAR), 90.5 min(Ta), 91.6 min(RH) and 92.9 min(VPD), respectively;(2) TL had no significant relationships with the daily mean meteorological factors and soil moisture, but was highly(R^2>0.66) correlated to CRs(changing rates of meteorological factors) in the morning;(3) At seasonal scale, the sap flow rate and TL both were controlled by the seasonality of precipitation and temperature. Overall, the seasonality of the TL was caused by plants' high water loss and strongly active physiological response in hot seasons, leading to close stomata earlier than in cold seasons;(4) The reason why CRs proposed can explain the TL better than mean values of metrological factors is that the CRs considered the distribution and change processes of metrological factors in the daytime. This study may be helpful for understanding the physiological response of vegetation to climatic change, and may be useful for constructing models to simulate transpiration processes more accurately during a day.

IKKβ mediates homeostatic function in inflammation via competitively phosphorylating AMPK and IκBα

Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit beta(IKKβ)is one of important kinases in inflammation to phosphorylate inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B(IκBα)and then activate nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB).Inhibition of IKKβhas been a therapeutic strategy for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.Here we report that IKKβis constitutively activated in healthy donors and healthy Ikkβ^(C46A)(cysteine 46 mutated to alanine)knock-in mice although they possess intensive IKKβ-IκBα-NF-κB signaling activation.These indicate that IKKβactivation probably plays homeostatic role instead of causing inflammation.Compared to IkkβWTlittermates,lipopolysaccharides(LPS)could induce high mortality rate in Ikkβ^(C46A) mice which is correlated to breaking the homeostasis by intensively activating p-IκBα-NF-κB signaling and inhibiting phosphorylation of 5’adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(p-AMPK)expression.We then demonstrated that IKKβkinase domain(KD)phosphorylates AMPKa1 via interacting with residues Thr183,Ser184,and Thr388,while IKKβhelix-loop-helix motifs is essential to phosphorylate IκBαaccording to the previous reports.Kinase assay further demonstrated that IKKβsimultaneously catalyzes phosphorylation of AMPK and IκBαto mediate homeostasis.Accordingly,activation of AMPK rather than inhibition of IKKβcould substantially rescue LPS-induced mortality in Ikkβ^(C46A) mice by rebuilding the homeostasis.We conclude that IKKβactivates AMPK to restrict inflammation and IKKβmediates homeostatic function in inflammation via competitively phosphorylating AMPK and IκBα.

A prospective cohort study of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples from multiple bodily sites:implications for transmission routes of COVID-19

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic resulting from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has still spread globally. The occurrence of the Delta variant, which is more infectious and spreads faster than earlier forms of the virus that causes COVID-19, makes infection prevention more challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to gain a comprehensive insight into the transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 for curbing the propagation of SARS-CoV-2 in human populations.Methods: We studied a prospective cohort of 576 patients admitted consecutively to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 21 to June 8, 2020. These patients were chosen based on their similar clinical phenotypes or imaging findings. There were 21 (3.6%) laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients (16 severe and 5 mild cases) and 555 non-COVID-19 patients. The antibody response and routes and duration of viral shedding were systematically evaluated in serial clinical specimens. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was also detected in a mouth rinse, urine, and tear samples. This study was approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (approval No. 2020-77).Results: SARS-CoV-2 mainly existed in sputum, nasal and throat swabs, and feces samples. Virus latency was longer in sputum and feces samples than in nasopharyngeal samples. IgG antibody response in respiratory samples was related to disease severity. Although droplets and aerosols are the major transmission routes for COVID-19, covert routes of transmission from asymptomatic patients, contaminated surfaces, and wastewater are also of interest.Conclusion: Our findings provide a solid foundation for developing prophylactic measures against SARS-CoV-2.

Controllable Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species on Cyano-Group-Modified Carbon Nitride for Selective Epoxidation of Styrene

The controlled generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS)to selectively epoxidize styrene is a grand challenge.Herein,cyano-group-modified carbon nitrides(CNCY_(x) and CN-T_(y))are prepared,and the catalysts show better performance in regulating ROS and producing styrene oxide than the cyano-free sample.The in situ diffuse reflectance infrared and density functional theory calculation results reveal that the cyano group acts as the adsorption and activation site of oxygen.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and NMR spectrum results confirm that the cyano group bonds with the intact heptazine ring.This unique structure could inhibit H_(2)O_(2) and,OH formation,resulting in high selectivity of styrene oxide.Furthermore,high catalytic activity is still achieved when the system scales up to 2.7 L with 100 g styrene under solar light irradiation.The strategy of cyano group modification gives a new insight into regulating spatial configuration for tuning the utilization of oxygen-active species and shows potential applications in industry.