Moso bamboo expansion decreased soil heterotrophic respiration but increased arbuscular mycorrhizal mycelial respiration in a subtropical broadleaved forest

Moso bamboo(Phyllostachys Pubescens)expansion into adjacent forests has been widely reported to affect plant diversity and its association with mycorrhizal fungi in subtropical China,which will likely have significant impacts on soil respiration.However,there is still limited information on how Moso bamboo expansion changes soil respiration components and their linkage with microbial community composition and activity.Based on a mesh exclusion method,soil respirations derived from roots,arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)mycelium,and free-living microbes were investigated in a pure Moso bamboo forest(expanded),an adjacent broadleaved forest(nonexpanded),and a mixed bamboo-broadleaved forest(expanding).Our results showed that bamboo expansion decreased the cumulative CO_(2)effluxes from total soil respiration,root respiration and soil heterotrophic respiration(by 19.01%,30.34%,and 29.92%on average),whereas increased those from AM mycelium(by 78.67%in comparison with the broadleaved forests).Bamboo expansion significantly decreased soil organic carbon(C)content,bacterial and fungal abundances,and enzyme activities involved in C,N and P cycling whereas enhanced the interactive relationships among bacterial communities.In contrast,the ingrowth of AM mycelium increased the activities ofβ-glucosidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and decreased the interactive relationships among bacterial communities.Changes in soil heterotrophic respiration and AM mycelium respiration had positive correlations with soil enzyme activities and fungal abundances.In summary,our findings suggest that bamboo expansion decreased soil heterotrophic respiration by decreasing soil microbial activity but increased the contribution of AM mycelial respiration to soil C efflux,which may potentially increase soil C loss from AM mycelial pathway.

Study of main factors influencing unsteady-state temperature drop in oil tank storage under dynamic thermal environment coupling

With the increasing oil demand, the construction of oil energy reserves in China needs to be further strengthened. However, given that there has been no research on the main influencing factors of crude oil temperature drop in storage tanks under actual dynamically changing environments, this paper considers the influence of dynamic thermal environment and internal crude oil physical properties on the fluctuating changes in crude oil temperature. A theoretical model of the unsteady-state temperature drop heat transfer process is developed from a three-dimensional perspective. According to the temperature drop variation law of crude oil storage tank under the coupling effect of various heat transfer modes such as external forced convection, thermal radiation, and internal natural convection, the external dynamic thermal environment influence zone, the internal crude oil physical property influence zone, and the intermediate transition zone of the tank are proposed. And the multiple non-linear regression method is used to quantitatively characterize the influence of external ambient temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, internal crude oil density, viscosity, and specific heat capacity on the temperature drop of crude oil in each influencing zone. The results of this paper not only quantitatively explain the main influencing factors of the oil temperature drop in the top, wall, and bottom regions of the tank, but also provide a theoretical reference for oil security reserves under a dynamic thermal environment.

Enhanced surface-insulating performance of EP composites by doping plasmafluorinated ZnO nanofiller

The surface flashover of epoxy resin(EP) composites is a pivotal problem in the field of highvoltage insulation.The regulation of the interface between the filler and matrix is an effective means to suppress flashover.In this work,nano ZnO was fluorinated and grafted using lowtemperature plasma technology,and the fluorinated filler was doped into EP to study the DC surface flashover performance of the composite.The results show that plasma fluorination can effectively inhibit the agglomeration by grafting –CFxgroups onto the surface of nano-ZnO particles.The fluorine-containing groups at the interface provide higher charge binding traps and enhance the insulation strength at the interface.At the same time,the interface bond cooperation caused by plasma treatment also promoted the accelerating effect of nano ZnO on charge dissipation.The two effects synergistically improve the surface flashover performance of epoxy composites.When the concentration of fluorinated ZnO filler is 20%,the flashover voltage has the highest increase,which is 31.52% higher than that of pure EP.In addition,fluorinated ZnO can effectively reduce the dielectric constant and dielectric loss of epoxy composites.The interface interaction mechanism was further analyzed using molecular dynamics simulation and density functional theory simulation.

The evolution of central environmental protection inspection policy attention in China: An investigation based on inspection reports

The central environmental protection inspection (CEPI) system in China is a significant institutional innova‐tion in national environmental governance. The CEPI applies a joint supervision strategy to address salient en‐vironmental issues and strictly enforce the environmental responsibilities of local governments. This study col‐lects and organizes CEPI inspection reports covering three stages that encompass the first round, the “look back”, and the second round, applying text analysis to obtain sample data and conduct statistical quantifica‐tion of word frequency in inspection reports and identify notable changes. The study explores the allocation of CEPI attention between policy objectives and the intensity of policy instruments. We determine that in con‐junction with public opinion feedback, the CEPI conducts targeted inspections and focuses more on pollutant governance, which has high severity and can be addressed quickly. The CEPI fills the gap of normalized gover‐nance with a campaign-style governance approach. Regarding the intensity of policy measures, the CEPI pri‐marily uses economic incentive policy instruments, supplemented by command-and-control and public guid‐ance approaches, advancing the sustainability of regulatory effectiveness through economic, social, and politi‐cal activities. This study extends knowledge in the field of CEPI policy priorities and implementation, expand‐ing the literature related to outcomes of environmental policy in developing countries.

Effects of Different Chinese Hickory Husk Returning Modes on Soil Nutrition and Microbial Community in Acid Forest Soil

Chinese hickory(Carya cathayensis Sarg.)is an important economic forest in Southeastern China.A large amount of hickory husk waste is generated every year but with a low proportion of returning.Meanwhile,intensive management has resulted in soil degradation of Chinese hickory plantations.This study aims to investigate the effects of three Chinese hickory husk returning modes on soil amendment,including soil acidity,soil nutrition,and microbial community.The field experiment carried out four treatments:control(CK),hickory husk mulching(HM),hickory husk biochar(BC),and hickory husk organic fertilizer(OF).The phospholipid fatty acid(PLFA)biomarker method was employed to determine the soil microbial community.After one year of treatment,the results showed that:(i)HM and BC significantly increased soil pH by 0.33 and 1.71 units,respectively;(ii)HM,BC and OF treatments significantly increased the soil organic carbon,alkaline nitrogen,available phosphorous,and available potassium.The OF treatment demonstrated the most significant improvement in the soil nutrient;(iii)The soil microbial biomass significantly increased in the HM,BC and OF treatments,and all microbial groups showed an increasing trend.HM treatment increased the fungal/bacterial ratio(F/B).The OF treatment significantly decreased the Shannon-Wiener diversity(H’)and evenness index(J)of the microbial community(P<0.05).Considering the treatments effects,costs,and ease of operation,our recommended returning modes of Chinese hickory husk are mulching and organic fertilizer produced by composting with manure.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic effects of atorvastatin in acute ischemic stroke

Atorvastatin decreases inflammation and thrombogenesis in patients with carotid artery plaque. Atorvastatin is administered to lower lipid levels, but its anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic effects remain unclear. Eighty-nine patients from northeastern China with acute ischemic stroke caused by large-artery atherosclerosis were randomly divided into the study and control groups. All patients received routine treatment, including antiplatelet therapy, circulatory support, and symp-tomatic treatment. The study group (n=43) also received daily atorvastatin 20 mg/d, and the control group (n=46) received daily placebo pills containing glucose. After 4 weeks, the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and D-dimer were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. Decreases in the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and D-dimer were not associated with de-creases in the levels of triacylglycerol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These results suggest that atorvastatin reduces inflammation and thrombogenesis independent of its lipid-lowering effects in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by large-artery atherosclerosis.

A new derivative of triterpene with anti-melanoma B16 activity from Conyza canadensis

A new derivative of triterpene named Erigeronol 1 was isolated from the EtOH extract of the aerial part of Conyza canadensis together with 15 known compounds for the first time from this plant.The structure of Erigeronol 1 was elucidated as 3-O-(hydroxyacetyl) -23,28-dihydroxy-β-amyrin by hydrolysis and spectroscopic analysis.Erigeronol 1 showed potent cytotoxic activity with IC_(50) value of 7.77±0.47μg/mL against melanoma B16 determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazo-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) method.

microRNA-455-5p alleviates neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Neuroinflammation is a major pathophysiological factor that results in the development of brain injury after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.Downregulation of microRNA(miR)-455-5p after ischemic stroke has been considered a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for neuronal injury after ischemia.However,the role of miR-455-5p in the post-ischemia/reperfusion inflammatory response and the underlying mechanism have not been evaluated.In this study,mouse models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury were established by transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 1 hour followed by reperfusion.Agomir-455-5p,antagomir-455-5p,and their negative controls were injected intracerebroventricularly 2 hours before or 0 and 1 hour after middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO).The results showed that cerebral ischemia/reperfusion decreased miR-455-5p expression in the brain tissue and the peripheral blood.Agomir-455-5p pretreatment increased miR-455-5p expression in the brain tissue,reduced the cerebral infarct volume,and improved neurological function.Furthermore,primary cultured microglia were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation for 3 hours followed by 21 hours of reoxygenation to mimic cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.miR-455-5p reduced C-C chemokine receptor type 5 mRNA and protein levels,inhibited microglia activation,and reduced the production of the inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-αand interleukin-1β.These results suggest that miR-455-5p is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and that it alleviates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting C-C chemokine receptor type 5 expression and reducing the neuroinflammatory response.

Aberrant methylation of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine gene and its significance in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Aberrant methylation in DNA regulatory regions could downregulate tumor suppressor genes without changing the sequences.However,our knowledge of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine(SPARC)and its aberrant methylation in gastric cancer(GC)is still inadequate.In the present research,we performed fundamental research to clarify the precise function of methylation on SPARC and its significance in GC.AIM To investigate promoter methylation and the effects of the SPARC gene in GC cells and tissues and to evaluate its clinical significance.METHODS Plasmids that overexpressed the SPARC gene were transfected into human GC BGC-823 cells;non-transfected cells were used as a control group(NC group).Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting(WB)were then used to detect the expression of SPARC.Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was executed to analyze the gene promoter methylation status.Cell viability was measured by the cell counting kit-8 assay.The migration and invasion ability of cells were detected by scratch assays and transwell chamber assays,respectively.Cell cycle events and apoptosis were observed with a flow cytometer.RESULTS The expression of SPARC mRNA in GC tissues and cells was significantly lower and showed differing degrees of hypermethylation,respectively,than that in normal adjacent tissues and control cells.Treatment with 5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine(5-Aza-Cdr)was able to restore the expression of SPARC and reverse promoter hypermethylation.Overexpression of the SPARC gene significantly inhibited proliferation,migration,and invasion of GC cells,while also causing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis;the NC group exhibited the opposite effects.CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that SPARC could function as a tumor suppressor and might be silenced by promoter hypermethylation.Furthermore,in GC cells,SPARC inhibited migration,invasion,and proliferation,caused cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase,and promoted apoptosis.

Arm Voltage Balancing Control of Modular Multilevel Resonant Converter

Modular multilevel resonant converter is an promising candidate for high voltage applications since it has advantageous features,such as high efficiency,high voltage capability and easy fault-tolerant operation.However,the inequality of arm inductance in practice will lead to imbalance between the upper and lower arm voltages,which will induce large ripples in the circulating current and a dc bias on the voltage generated by modular circuits.To compensate for the voltage imbalance,effects of arm duty cycle changes on arm voltages are discussed.An arm voltage balancing control method is proposed:adjust arm duty cycle according to arm voltage deviation in every switching cycle.Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the theoretical analysis and the proposed control method.

Highly active and stable Co nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon nanofibers for aqueous-phase levulinic acid hydrogenation

Developing a highly active and durable non-noble metal catalyst for aqueous-phase levulinic acid(LA)hydrogenation to g-valerolactone(GVL)is an appealing yet challenging task.Herein,we report well-dispersed Co nanoparticles(NPs)embedded in nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon nanofibers as an efficient catalyst for aqueous-phase LA hydrogenation to GVL.The Co zeolitic imidazolate framework(ZIF-67)nanocrystals were anchored on the sodium dodecyl sulfate modified wipe fiber(WF-S),yielding one-dimensional(1-D)structured composite(ZIF-67/WF-S).Subsequently,Co NPs were uniformly embedded in nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon nanofibers(Co^(R)NC/SMCNF)through a pyrolysis-reduction strategy using ZIF-67/WF-S as the precursor.Benefiting from introducing modified wipe fiber WF-S to enhance the dispersion of Co NPs,and Co^(0) with Co-N_xdual active sites,the resulting Co^(R)NC/SMCNF catalyst shows brilliant catalytic activity(206 h^(-1) turnover frequency).Additionally,the strong metal-support interactions greatly inhibited the Co NPs from aggregation and leaching from the mesoporous carbon nanofibers,and thus increasing the reusability of the Co^(R)NC/SMCNF catalyst(reusable nine times without notable activity loss).

Alcohol consumption in relation to the incidence of atrial fibrillation in an elderly Chinese population

BACKGROUND Alcohol consumption is a known modifiable risk factor for atrial fibrillation.The association,however,might differ according to gender.We investigated gender-specific associations between alcohol consumption and incident atrial fibrillation in an elderly Chinese population.METHODS Our study participants were elderly residents(≥65 years)recruited from five community health centers in the urban area of Shanghai(n=6,618).Alcohol intake was classified as never drinkers and current light-to-moderate(<40 g/day)and heavy drinkers(≥40 g/day).Atrial fibrillation was detected by a 30-s single-lead electrocardiography(ECG,AliveCor®Heart Monitor)and further evaluated with a regular 12-lead ECG.RESULTS During a median of 2.1 years(interquartile range:2.0−2.2)follow-up,the incidence rate of atrial fibrillation was 1.10%in all study participants.It was slightly but non-significantly higher in men(n=2849)than women(n=3769,1.30%vs.0.96%,P=0.19)and in current drinkers(n=793)than never drinkers(n=5825,1.64%vs.1.03%,P=0.12).In both unadjusted and adjusted analyses,there was interaction between sex and current alcohol intake in relation to the incidence of atrial fibrillation(P<0.0001).After adjustment for confounding factors,current drinkers had a significantly higher incidence rate of atrial fibrillation than never drinkers in women(12.96%[7/54]vs.0.78%[29/3715],adjusted odds ratio[OR]=10.25,95%confidence interval[CI]:3.54−29.67,P<0.0001),but not in men(0.81%[6/739]vs.1.47%[31/2110],OR=0.62,95%CI:0.25−1.51,P=0.29).CONCLUSIONS Our study showed a significant association between alcohol intake and the incidence of atrial fibrillation in elderly Chinese women,but not men.

GPU-Based Simulation of Dynamic Characteristics of Ballasted Railway Track with Coupled Discrete-Finite Element Method

Considering the interaction between a sleeper,ballast layer,and substructure,a three-dimensional coupled discrete-finite element method for a ballasted railway track is proposed in this study.Ballast granules with irregular shapes are constructed using a clump model using the discrete element method.Meanwhile,concrete sleepers,embankments,and foundations are modelled using 20-node hexahedron solid elements using the finite element method.To improve computational efficiency,a GPU-based(Graphics Processing Unit)parallel framework is applied in the discrete element simulation.Additionally,an algorithm containing contact search and transfer parameters at the contact interface of discrete particles and finite elements is developed in the GPU parallel environment accordingly.A benchmark case is selected to verify the accuracy of the coupling algorithm.The dynamic response of the ballasted rail track is analysed under different train speeds and loads.Meanwhile,the dynamic stress on the substructure surface obtained by the established DEM-FEM model is compared with the in situ experimental results.Finally,stress and displacement contours in the cross-section of the model are constructed to further visualise the response of the ballasted railway.This proposed coupling model can provide important insights into high-performance coupling algorithms and the dynamic characteristics of full scale ballasted rail tracks.

Novel Soil Strength Criterion Compared with Conventional Criteria

A novel soil strength criterion is proposed based on the shear stress ratio on a new spatially mobilized plane, where the cube root of principal stresses is constant. The strength failure surface depicted in the principal stress space by this criterion was smoothly conical, with a curved triangle shape on the octahedral plane. A comparative analysis of the strength failure surfaces of the Mohr-Coulomb (M-C), the Drucker-Prager (D-P), the Matsuoka-Nakai (M-N), the Lade-Duncan (L-D), the new criteria, and the shear strength laws of different criteria with parameter b on the π plane showed that the L-D criterion and the new spatially mobilized plane strength criterion were comparable, which revealed the physical essence of the L-D criterion. Comparing the new strength criterion with the measured results of true triaxial tests of 4 kinds of intact loess under conditions of consolidation and drain, the strength law of loess could be described by the new strength criterion under complex stress conditions, and the rationality and reliability of the strength criterion were verified by the correspondence between the criterion and experimental values.

Correction to“Aberrant methylation of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine gene and its significance in gastric cancer”

We have replaced the misapplied images and the revised Figure 6C is provided.

Influence of vibration on the lubrication effect of a splash-lubricated gearbox

In this study,we investigate the effect of rail vibrations on the lubrication and efficiency of a splash-lubricated gearbox;specifically,the gearbox of a rail-transit vehicle.A high-fidelity 3D numerical model of the gearbox in a moving reference system is described,as well as computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulations of the gearbox with different vibration directions.The effects of rotational speed,oil-immersion depth,and different oil-injection volume rates on lubrication and efficiency are discussed.We propose a method of evaluating the internal lubrication condition of a splash-lubricated gearbox and quantitatively compare the effects of different operating parameters on lubrication and efficiency.Finally,our experiment to verify the feasibility of the simulation method is described.The results show that with vibration,the churning loss and oil supply for the bearings are significantly higher than those under static conditions.In addition,among different vibrational directions,lateral vibration has the greatest influence on the lubrication condition and efficiency of the gearbox.For the studied railway-vehicle gearbox,the best lubrication condition is achieved at a rotational speed of 1600 r/min and an oil-immersion depth of two times the tooth height(2.Oh).Rotational speed is the operating parameter that has the most significant effect on the lubrication and efficiencyofthegearbox.

Natural long-chain saturated fatty acids doped LNPs enabling spleen selective mRNA translation and potent cancer immunotherapy

Rationally tailored lipid nanoparticles(LNPs)with efficient and tunable delivery of mRNA in vivo are crucial for mRNA vaccines.Selective expression of antigenic protein in lymphoid tissues/organs could improve the immunostimulatory efficacy and safety of LNPs-based mRNA vaccines.Inspired by the metabolic behavior that long-chain saturated fatty acids tending to enter lymphoid tissue rather than the liver,we developed fatty acid-doped LNPs capable of mediating differential protein expressions in the liver and spleen when administered intravenously.When the molar ratio of saturated fatty acid located 60%–70%,the doped LNPs achieved the spleen selective mRNA translation.The mechanism could be attributed to the different cellular uptake behaviors of saturated fatty acids in hepatocytes.Immunization with a model antigen(ovalbumin)mRNA-loaded spleen selective LNPs,we observed enhanced antigen-specific T cell immune responses,and potent immunotherapeutic and immunoprophylactic efficacy in the mouse lymphoma model.Our natural long-chain saturated fatty acids metabolic characteristics-inspired design of LNPs for spleen-selective mRNA vaccines delivery will provide references for designing mRNA vaccines with high efficacy and safety for tumor immunotherapy.

Superconductivity and pseudogap features of an isolated FeAs layer in KCa_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)F_(2) unraveled by STM/STS

To reveal the intrinsic properties of the basic superconducting units,i.e.,the single layered FeSe/FeAs in iron-based superconductors or CuO_(2) planes in cuprate superconductors,is a necessary prerequisite for understanding the mechanism of high-Tc superconductivity.Up to now,an isolated FeAs layer has rarely been studied due to the difficulty in materials synthesis.Here,we report a scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy(STM/STS)study on the iron-based superconductor KCa_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)F_(2).In situ cleavage produced a single FeAs layer covered by a reconstructed K surface,which is isolated from the bulk by the underlying CaF layer and shows multi-band superconductivity with a much lower T_(c) than its bulk counterpart.In the exposed As-terminated regions with coverage of scattered K atoms,a pseudogap was observed,leading to an inhomogeneous superconductivity without long-range phase coherence in real space,which is remarkably similar to the high-T_(c) cuprate superconductors.These results provide a new perspective to understanding the origin of superconductivity in iron-based superconductors.

JAK inhibition ameliorated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by blocking GM-CSF-driven inflammatory signature of monocytes

Monocytes are key effectors in autoimmunity-related diseases in the central nervous system(CNS)due to the critical roles of these cells in the production of proinflammatory cytokines,differentiation of T-helper(Th)cells,and antigen presentation.The JAK-STAT signaling is crucial for initiating monocytes induced immune responses by relaying cytokines signaling.However,the role of this pathway in modulating the communication between monocytes and Th cells in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis(MS)is unclear.Here,we show that the JAK1/2/3 and STAT1/3/5/6 subtypes involved in the demyelination mediated by the differentiation of pathological Th1 and Th17 and the CNS-infiltrating inflammatory monocytes in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE),a model for MS.JAK inhibition prevented the CNS-infiltrating CCR2-dependent Ly6^(Chi)monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells in EAE mice.In parallel,the proportion of GM-CSF^(+)CD4^(+)T cells and GM-CSF secretion were decreased in pathological Th17 cells by JAK inhibition,which in turns converted CNS-invading monocytes into antigen-presenting cells to mediate tissue damage.Together,our data highlight the therapeutic potential of JAK inhibition in treating EAE by blocking the GM-CSF-driven inflammatory signature of monocytes.

一种用二氧六环制备紫杉醇冻干制剂的简易方法

第二代紫杉醇卡巴他赛(CTX)由于对P-gp糖蛋白的亲和力较低,具有不易产生耐药性等优点,被成功地应用于治疗耐药性前列腺癌的临床治疗中.由于CTX的疏水性较高,临床使用的制剂是由液体表面活性剂Tween-80和乙醇组成的(Tween-80与CTX的质量比为27:1).而Tween-80可能在血液中导致溶血问题,引起过敏反应.在此工作中,我们报道了一种只用少量表面活性剂(pluronic F127与CTX的质量比为3:1)的冻干CTX的制剂:CTX和Pluronic F127一起溶解在由水和1,4-二恶烷(两种常用的冷冻干燥溶剂)组成的混合溶剂系统中制成的冻干粉.胶束状态下的溶剂系统可以经过无菌过滤膜达到除菌效果,结果表明在5%和高于60%的1,4-二恶烷浓度下通过过滤才能达到理想的过滤效果.冻干CTX制剂和重溶胶束的特性取决于共溶剂/溶剂比和F127与CTX的比例,并且能够通过调整比例来调节纳米颗粒的尺寸.用60%的1,4-二恶烷溶解质量比为3:1的F127/CTX所得的冻干CTX产物,重溶后的胶束在水相中能稳定至少三小时.在对小鼠进行静脉给药后,血液中的CTX浓度不依赖于胶束的粒径大小,并且血液代谢和纯Tween-80制剂类似.小鼠抗肿瘤实验表明小鼠体内MIA Paca-2肿瘤抑制功效与Tween-80制剂相似.综上所述,此工作报道了一种简单的冻干方法用于制备紫杉醇药物制剂,具有制备方法高效和表面活性剂添加量低等优点.