Effects of biochar and litter on carbon and nitrogen mineralization and soil microbial community structure in a China fir plantation

To investigate the effects of biochar addition(1 or 3%)to the soil of a China fir plantation with or without litter,we conducted a 90-day incubation experiment.We also studied the C and N dynamics and the microbial community structure of the soil.In soil without litter,the application of biochar at a rate of 3%significantly decreased CO2 emissions,while addition of 1%biochar had no effect.Biochar application did not affect the net N mineralization rate but significantly reduced the NH4?concentration after 90 days.In litter-enriched soil,biochar application had no significant effect on total CO2 emissions;however,application of 3%biochar significantly reduced the net N mineralization rate.Biochar application to soil with or without litter immediately reduced the dissolved organic carbon(DOC)concentration independent of the application rate,which was primarily due to sorption of DOC by the biochar.Phospholipid fatty acid analysis demonstrated that both concentrations of added biochar to soil(with or without litter)altered the soil microbial community structure at the end of incubation,although the effect of biochar was not as strong as the effect of time or litter application.The effect of biochar addition alone on microbial community structure was inconsistent over time.Litter added to soil significantly increased fungi and reduced Gram-positive bacteria.In the presence of litter,biochar applied at both 1%and 3%significantly increased(p<0.05)the proportion of actinomycete only at day 90.Our results indicate biochar as a potentially effective measure for C sequestration in the test soil of a China fir plantation,even in the presence of litter.

Effect of raspberry extract on wound healing

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of raspberry extract on wound healing and compare it with that of ellagic acid.The elimination of excess free radicals was the key to preventing wound inflammation;cellular antioxidation activity was evaluated using an oxidative stress damage cell model.Cell proliferation ability was measured using the WST1 assay,and the migration capacity was determined using the wound scratch assay.A mouse wound model was used to verify the effect of raspberry extract on wound healing.The cellular antioxidant activity of the extract((50.31±3.17)pg/mL)was slightly lower than that of ellagic acid((44.59±2.38)pg/mL).The results of a cell proliferation assay showed that both raspberry extract and ellagic acid at 5μg/mL could significantly(P<0.01)promote the proliferation of HaCaT cells.After culturing for 24 h and 48 h,the cell healing rates of the extract were(41.11±0.38)per cent and(68.88±2.51)per cent,respectively,whereas the corresponding rates of ellagic acid were(39.01±2.40)per cent and(70.33±0.89)per cent;hence,there were no significant differences between them(P>0.05).The wound areas of mice fed low,medium,and high doses of raspberry extract for 14 days were 1.66,1.41,and 1.24 mm2,respectively,which were sign讦icantly lower than that of the blank control group,2.18 mm2(F<0.05).These findings indicate that raspberry extract and ellagic acid exhibit similar antioxidant capacities and equivalent cell proliferation-promoting capabilities.In the mouse test,raspberry extract effectively promoted a reduction in wound area.This work demonstrates the potential of raspberry extract in wound healing,suggesting a promising application of raspberry resources in the fields of functional foods,cosmetics,and medicine.