Landscape pattern and its effect on ecosystem functions in Seoul Metropolitan area:Urban ecology on distribution of the naturalized plant species

During land transformation process in the human history, naturalized plants were introduced to several land use patterns by the different ways of plant itself. Including some naturalized plants that had been contribute to land restoration, many naturalized plants have been invaded to original habitat or landscape for native plants. Once the plants were colonized, they extend their area and population size. Urban developed areas often give an important role of source habitat for naturalized plants and expanding their population size. In recent, this situation is appearing as one of environmental problems about the urban landscape management controlling the naturalized plants that invaded in the developed area and conserving the native vegetation. This paper is focusing on relationships between distribution of habitat of naturalized plants and landscape patch in urban area in Seoul. Gangdong-Gu, one of the administrative areas in Seoul was selected for this study. We examined the recent land use change using LANDSAT TM data and spreading of the representative naturalized plants (Robinia pseudoacacia and Eupatorium rugosum) by Seoul Biotope Mapping Project and field survey in 1999. As a result, these two species were often occurred in the same habitat and distributed in forest edge disturbed by man. Their distribution patterns were related to landscape indices (patch size and shape) in the forest edge.

Natural products and extracts from plants as natural UV filters for sunscreens:A review

Although solar exposure is necessary for human health,phototoxicology induced by excessive UVB and UVA radiation,which involves sunburns,skin aging and even tu-morigenesis,has been widely researched.Sunscreen is one of the most important ways to protect skin from UV phototoxic damage.As well as inorganic and organic UV filters,some natural products or plant extracts with aromatic rings in their structures,such as flavonoids or polyphenols,can absorb UV to reduce sunburn,acting as a natu-ral UV filter;they also show antioxidant or/and anti-inflammatory activity.This could explain why,although there are no officially approval natural commercial sun-filters,more and more commercial sunscreen products containing plant extracts are avail-able on the market.Here we summarize articles focusing on natural UV filters from plant published in the last 6 years,selecting the most significant data in order to better understand the photoprotective activity of natural products and extracts from plants,including their major constituents and main biological effects,methods for evaluating UV radiation resistance,anti-UV radiation experimental models and anti-UV radiation mechanisms.

Recent advance in natural plant products for treatment of dry eye disease

Dry eye disease(DED),a chronic multifactorial illness of the ocular surface with itching,burning,irritation,eye fatigue and ocular inflammation,may result in potential damage,such as cornea and conjunctiva,and even decreased vision.With the global prevalence of DED on the rise,it is crucial to find treatment options with minimal side effects.Natural plant products have shown promise in alleviating DED symptoms and may serve as a potential approach for its treatment.However,their application as instilled drugs is limited by solubility,stability and biological barriers.This review summarizes recent studies(published in the last 5 years)on natural plant products and their derivatives for the treatment of DED,focusing on efficacy,mechanism,drug delivery systems.Meanwhile,their shortcomings are also discussed.By exploring these aspects,we find polyphenol,flavonoid and others natural plant products can effectively improve or treat DED by different mechanisms,and suitable delivery system and structural modification can enhance their therapeutic effect,suggesting they are likely to become candidates for the treatment of DED.

Naturalization of Landscaping Woody Plant, Magnolia obovata Potentially Invasive Species

Magnolia obovata, a tree species native to Japan, is a traditional landscaping tree that has also been introduced to various countries. M. obovata individuals have recently emerged in non-planting areas in Korea, prompting us to investigate its distribution by establishing Dosolsan in an urban forest of Daejeon City as the target site. In order to determine its naturalization, the study explored the status of population growth by examining the diameter at breast height of the individuals, and diameter diminution quotient was calculated. Cores of the trees were collected, and the age distribution was estimated by regression analysis. Reproduction possibility was analyzed by verifying the flowerblooming and fruit-bearing. Spontaneous colonization was investigated in the other potential sites which have different location and environment, respectively.The diameter distribution showed a reverse J-shaped curve, and the diminution quotient was ≥ 1.8. The population was composed of different generations,thus confirming the growth of the population. The distributed M. obovata grew and flowered normally,and followed a normal life cycle. The same phenomenon was observed in other planting areas,residual forests in urban or rural areas, alluvial islands, and mountain forests. The continuous spread of M. obovata in new ecosystems may be attributable to its long-term distribution by birds, relatively fast growth, and maturity time. Investigations on the naturalization and spread of M. obovata in Korea, as well as in various countries, are warranted.

Potential role and therapeutic implications of glutathione peroxidase 4 in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder with a complex and incompletely understood pathogenesis. Despite extensive research, a cure for Alzheimer's disease has not yet been found. Oxidative stress mediates excessive oxidative responses, and its involvement in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis as a primary or secondary pathological event is widely accepted. As a member of the selenium-containing antioxidant enzyme family, glutathione peroxidase 4 reduces esterified phospholipid hydroperoxides to maintain cellular redox homeostasis. With the discovery of ferroptosis, the central role of glutathione peroxidase 4 in anti-lipid peroxidation in several diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, has received widespread attention. Increasing evidence suggests that glutathione peroxidase 4 expression is inhibited in the Alzheimer's disease brain, resulting in oxidative stress, inflammation, ferroptosis, and apoptosis, which are closely associated with pathological damage in Alzheimer's disease. Several therapeutic approaches, such as small molecule drugs, natural plant products, and non-pharmacological treatments, ameliorate pathological damage and cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease by promoting glutathione peroxidase 4 expression and enhancing glutathione peroxidase 4 activity. Therefore, glutathione peroxidase 4 upregulation may be a promising strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This review provides an overview of the gene structure, biological functions, and regulatory mechanisms of glutathione peroxidase 4, a discussion on the important role of glutathione peroxidase 4 in pathological events closely related to Alzheimer's disease, and a summary of the advances in small-molecule drugs, natural plant products, and non-pharmacological therapies targeting glutathione peroxidase 4 for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Most prior studies on this subject used animal models, and relevant clinical studies are lacking. Future clinical trials are required to validate the therapeutic effects of strategies targeting glutathione peroxidase 4 in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Impact Factors on Distribution and Characteristics of Natural Plant Community in Reclamation Zones of Changjiang River Estuary

To identify impact factors on the distribution and characters of natural plants community in reclamation area, with survey data from 67 plant quadrats in July 2009, soil properties data from 216 sampling points in April 2009, and TM (30 m) data in 2006, the composition and characteristics of natural plants community in different time of the Fengxian area in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary were analyzed with two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), detrended canonical correspondence analysis (DCCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The results show that: 1) The plant communities in the reclaimed area are mainly mesophytes and helophytic-mesophytic transitional communities, showing a gradient distribution trend with the change in reclamation years. Species richness (MA), species diversity (H) and above-ground biomass also increase with the increase of reclamation years. Nevertheless, they appear to decline slightly in the middle and late reclamation period (> 30 years). 2) With the rise in land use levels, the changes in species richness and species diversity tend to increase at first and then decrease; species dominance (D), however, tends to decline; and above-ground biomass increases slightly. 3) The distribution of the plant community is mainly influenced by the following factors: land use levels (R = 0.55, p < 0.05), soil moisture (R = 0.53, p < 0.05), soil salinity (R = 0.43, p < 0.05) and reclamation time (R = 0.40, p < 0.05).

Study on the insecticidal activities of the extracts from four plants under orthogonal test

Aim To prepare dry powder insecticide by mixing the plant samples of Aconitum ochranthum Mey.,Aconitum hemsleyanum Pritz.and Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz.Method The dosage ratios of the break stocks from the plants mentioned above are installed as four factors,and three levels are selected for every factor.The test is actualized according to L 9(3 4) orthogonal array.Results An optimized recipe A 3 B 3 C 3 D 1 has been obtained after considering multifarious factors such as the resources of these plants and the water-solubility of samples.Conclusion The dry powder insecticide prepared by mixing the plant samples mentioned above as 1∶1∶1mass ratio revealed that insecticidal activities for cickets,grasshopper,aphid,and 3rd instar Mythimna separata walker are significant,respectively.

Engineered microorganisms and enzymes for efficiently synthesizing plant natural products

Plant natural products are a kind of active substance widely used in pharmaceuticals and foods.However,the current production mode based on plant culture and extraction suffer complex processes and severe concerns for environmental and ecological.With the increasing awareness of environmental sustainability,engineered microbial cell factories have been an alternative approach to produce natural products.Many engineering strategies have been utilized in microbial biosynthesis of complex phytochemicals such as dynamic control and substructure engineering.Meanwhile,Enzyme engineering including directed evolution and rational design has been implemented to improve enzyme catalysis efficiency and stability as well as change promiscuity to expand product spectra.In this review,we discussed recent advances in microbial biosynthesis of complex phytochemicals from the following aspects,including pathway construction,strain engineering to boost the production.

Morphological Assessment of the Small Intestine of Broilers Fed Dietary Natural Zeolite Including Plant Extract

Many kinds of feed additives （e.g., probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, etc.） can be used in chicken diets to stimulate intestinal morphological maturation and, consequently, intestinal function. The aim of this trial was to investigate the possibility that natural zeolite including plant extract （ZEM） could encourage the hypertrophy of intestinal villi and the absorptive function of epithelial cells in broiler chickens. At 7 days old, 64 male Marshall Chunky broilers were divided into four groups, each with four replicates of four chickens. The birds were fed a basal mash diet supplemented with ZEM at 0% （control）, 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2% for 42 days. At 49 days old, four chickens from each treatment were killed to obtain intestinal samples. Morphological intestinal assessment was conducted using both a light and a scanning electron microscope. A tendency to increased villus height and cell area could be observed throughout the intestinal segments of the broilers fed ZEM. Particularly, the villus height in the duodenum was significantly increased （P 〈 0.05） in the 0.05% ZEM group when compared with the control group. The area of the villus cells tended to be higher in the ZEM groups in all intestinal regions and showed a significant increase （P 〈 0.05） in the ileal part of the 0.2% ZEM group. Also, the assessment of cells mitosis in the intestinal crypts showed significantly higher numbers （P 〈 0.05） in all levels of ZEM groups in the duodenum and a tendency to increase in value in the jejunum and ileum, as compared with the control group. More protuberated cells and multi-cell clusters were found in the ZEM groups than in the control group, resulting in a rough cellular surface. In conclusion, the present study might suggest that the intestinal villi and epithelial cells on the villus apical surface are hypertrophied in the ZEM groups, and that intestinal villi adapt to enhance their absorption capacity by increasing the absorptive surface area. These results are indicated that ZEM can provide effective nutritive value when used as a feed additive.

Modeling and Simulation of Skid-mounted LNG Plants Using HYSYS Software

This study presents three kinds of skid-mounted plants, including single mixed refrigerant cycle （MRC）, nitrogen expander cycle, and natural gas （NG） Claude cycle. Hysys simulation shows that single MRC is the most efficient cycle among the three. The specific power of single MRC liquefiers is 1 485 k.l/kg, 15% higher than that of large liquefaction process. Considering the recovery of stranded-gas, commercial analysis suggests that the initial cost of LNG plants ranging from 1 to 100 ms/day can be paid back in 2 to 4 years.

Multi-objective optimization of high-sulfur natural gas purif ication plant

There exists large space to save energy of high-sulfur natural gas purification process.The multi-objective optimization problem has been investigated to effectively reduce the total comprehensive energy consumption and further improve the production rate of purified gas.A steady-state simulation model of high-sulfur natural gas purification process has been set up by using ProMax.Seven key operating parameters of the purification process have been determined based on the analysis of comprehensive energy consumption distribution.To solve the problem that the process model does not converge in some conditions,back-propagation(BP)neural network has been applied to substitute the simulation model to predict the relative parameters in the optimization model.The uniform design method and the table U21(107)have been applied to design the experiment points for training and testing BP model.High prediction accuracy can be achieved by using the BP model.Nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II has been developed to optimize the two objectives,and 100 Pareto optimal solutions have been obtained.Three optimal points have been selected and evaluated further.The results demonstrate that the total comprehensive energy consumption is reduced by 13.4%and the production rate of purified gas is improved by 0.2%under the optimized operating conditions.

The Application of the Concept of"Nearly Natural"Plant Community in the Optimization of Coastal Ecological Space

The overexploitation of the natural environment caused by urbanization makes more and more natural and semi-natural plant communities gradually lack,which causes a lot of irreversible damage to the environment.Therefore,it is very important to carry out ecological environment construction in all fields of urban construction.In this paper,based on theory and method of plant landscape construction under the concept of"nearly natural"plant community,through the investigation and analysis on plant species,distribution,and structural characteristics of plant community in Baguang District of Shenzhen,regional native plant species are summarized,and structural characteristics of original zonal plant community are simulated.The research aims to provide a reference basis for creating a coastal plant landscape with subtropical marine climate for Baguang and even Lingnan,constructing near natural ecological park according to local conditions,forming the pattern well-coordinated with the local natural ecosystem,and carrying out protection of the regional ecological environment.

Efficacy Evaluation of a Compound Plant Extract Used in Makeup Base

Cytological test and human skin test were used to study the antioxidant,anti-aging and moisturizing effects of a compound plant extract,and to evaluate its safety.The cytological test results showed that the compound extract could significantly scavenge the reactive oxygen species(ROS)generated by H2O2 stimulation and protect cells from oxidative damage.It can significantly inhibit the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP-1).The results of human skin test showed that the moisture content of cheek stratum corneum,R2 value and Q1 value of skin elasticity were significantly improved after 28 days of continuous use of the Makeup Base product added with the compound plant extract.The Ra value,Rz value and Rt value of skin texture around eyes have been significantly improved,which shows that the product has the effects of improving the moisture content of stratum corneum,improving skin elasticity and diminishing the fine lines around the eyes;the product has good safety.

Pollutant Sources and Foaming Control Measures of Decarbonization Solution in Natural Gas Purification Plant

Yanbei project of Schlumberger Copower Oilfield Engineering Co.,Ltd.-natural gas purification plant decarbonization unit is equipped with two sets of decarbonization systems(parallel operation).The two sets of systems adopt two tower process,full lean liquid circulation regeneration process,one tower absorption(absorption pressure 5.4mpag),one tower regeneration(regeneration temperature 95℃-110℃),purified natural gas carbon dioxide content≤2.5vol%,single set The treatment capacity is 2300 KM3/d.This paper introduces the problems existing in the decarbonization solution of the decarbonization unit in the natural gas purification plant in recent three years,analyzes the causes of pollutants affecting the quality of the decarbonization solution,and probes into the control measures for the pollution of the decarbonization solution,so as to provide reference.

Application of Natural Medicinal Plants Active Ingredients in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is the most common malignant cancer of the head and neck,with high morbidity and mortality,ranking as the sixth most common cancer in the world.The treatment of OSCC is mainly radiotherapy,chemotherapy and surgery,however,the prognosis of patients is still poor and the recurrence rate is high.This paper reviews the range of effects of natural medicinal plant active ingredients(NMPAIs)on OSCC cancer,including the types of NMPAIs,anti-cancer mechanisms,involved signaling pathways,and clinical trials.The NMPAIs include terpenoids,phenols,flavonoids,glycosides,alkaloids,coumarins,and volatile oils.These active ingredients inhibit proliferation,induce apoptosis and autophagy,inhibit migration and invasion of OSCC cells,and regulate cancer immunity to exert anti-cancer effects.The mechanism involves signaling pathways such as mitogen-activated protein kinase,phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B,nuclear factor kappa B,miR-22/WNT1/β-catenin and Nrf2/Keap1.Clinically,NMPAIs can inhibit the growth of OSCC,and the combined drug is more effective.Natural medicinal plants are promising candidates for the treatment of OSCC.

Property of Dual-purposed Maca Powder as Medicine and Food

[Objective] The aim was to research property of maca and three plants＇ powders and process parameters of compound maca direct compression. [Method] Based on analysis data from SAS, bulk density, tap density, angle of repose and swelling of powders were studied as per single factor method and orthogonal exper- imental design. [Result] The test indicated that fillibilities of plant A and B, and maca powders are better and flowability plays an important role in fractional close of compound maca powder; plant A and B powders have a significant effect on bulk density of maca （P=0.0125）, an extremely significant effect on swelling volume ratio （P=0.008 9） and little effect on tap density （g/ml）; the optimal process condition of compound maca powder is as follows： A at 0.15 share; B at 0.10 share; C at 0.05 share; the optimal swelling volume ratio is at 2.459. [Conclusion] The technology is reasonable in formulation and satisfactory in fillibility, swelling ability, flowability, and it could serve as theoretical basis for the industrial production of maca tablets.

Soil Organic Carbon Contents and Stocks in Coastal Salt Marshes with Spartina alterniflora Following an Invasion Chronosequence in the Yellow River Delta,China

Plant invasion alters the fundamental structure and function of native ecosystems by affecting the biogeochemical pools and fluxes of materials and energy. Native(Suaeda salsa) and invasive(Spartina alterniflora) salt marshes were selected to study the effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on soil organic carbon(SOC) contents and stocks in the Yellow River Delta. Results showed that the SOC contents(g/kg) and stocks(kg/m^2) were significantly increased(P < 0.05) after Spartina alterniflora invasion of seven years, especially for the surface soil layer(0–20 cm). The SOC contents exhibited an even distribution along the soil profiles in native salt marshes, while the SOC contents were gradually decreased with depth after Spartina alterniflora invasion of seven years. The natural ln response ratios(Ln RR) were applied to identify the effects of short-term Spartina alterniflora invasion on the SOC stocks. We also found that Spartina alterniflora invasion might cause soil organic carbon losses in a short-term phase(2–4 years in this study) due to the negative Ln RR values, especially for 20–60 cm depth. And the SOCD in surface layer(0–20 cm) do not increase linearly with the invasive age. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that silt + clay content was exponentially related with SOC in surface layer(Adjusted R^2 = 0.43, P < 0.001), suggesting that soil texture could play a key role in SOC sequestration of coastal salt marshes.

Natural product sciences: an integrative approach to the innovations of plant natural products

The study on plant natural products not only helps us understand that their structural diversity is the inevitable result of plant species diversity, but also helps us understand certain rules and unity of the inevitable connection between the two. The diversity and complexity of chemical structures of many natural products are beyond imagination before we elucidated their structures.The question that follows is what is the biological significance of these natural products. Intrigued by the relationship between plant resources, natural products and biological functions, the Hao laboratory has taken an integrative approach that employs tools and knowledge from multi-disciplines, including natural product chemistry, chemical ecology and chemical biology, to unveil the effects of plant natural products on plant resistance to diseases, and environmental acclimations. Collaborating with cell biologists, the research has resulted in discovery of new mechanisms of cellular signaling and lead compounds.

Synthetic biology of plant natural products: From pathway elucidation to engineered biosynthesis in plant cells

Plant natural products(PNPs)are the main sources of drugs,food additives,and new biofuels and have become a hotspot in synthetic biology.In the past two decades,the engineered biosynthesis of many PNPs has been achieved through the construction of microbial cell factories.Alongside the rapid development of plant physiology,genetics,and plant genetic modification techniques,hosts have now expanded from single-celled microbes to complex plant systems.Plant synthetic biology is an emerging field that combines engineering principles with plant biology.In this review,we introduce recent advances in the biosynthetic pathway elucidation of PNPs and summarize the progress of engineered PNP biosynthesis in plant cells.Furthermore,a future vision of plant synthetic biology is proposed.Although we are still a long way from overcoming all the bottlenecks in plant synthetic biology,the ascent of this field is expected to provide a huge opportunity for future agriculture and industry.

Engineering Plant Cytochrome P450s for Enhanced Synthesis of Natural Products: Past Achievements and Future Perspectives

Cytochrome P450s(P450s)are the most versatile catalysts and are widely used by plants to synthesize a vast array of structurally diverse specialized metabolites that not only play essential ecological roles but also constitute a valuable resource for the development of new drugs.To accelerate the metabolic engineering of these high-value metabolites,it is imperative to identify and characterize pathway P450s,and to further improve their activities through protein engineering.In this review,we focus on P450 engineering and summarize the major strategies for enhancing the stability and activity of P450s and successful cases of P450 engineering.Studies in which the functions of P450s were altered to create de novo metabolic pathways or novel compounds are discussed as well.We also overview emerging tools,specifically DNA synthesis,machine learning,and de novo protein design,as well as the evolutionary patterns of P450s unveiled from a massive number of DNA sequences that could be integrated to accelerate the engineering of these enzymes.These approaches would greatly aid in the exploitation of plant-specialized metabolites or derivatives for various uses including medical applications.