The world is facing a consistent increase in human population and a noticeable decrease in cultivable lands due to soil salinization,abrupt climatic changes,and less rainfall.These problems have increased the importan...The world is facing a consistent increase in human population and a noticeable decrease in cultivable lands due to soil salinization,abrupt climatic changes,and less rainfall.These problems have increased the importance of finding ecologically sustainable solutions to ensure global food security.Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria can be advantageous to enhancing plant productivity and safeguarding against environmental stresses.They may assist plants by atmospheric nitrogen fixation,nutrient recycling,phosphate solubilization,iron sequestration via siderophore formation,and production of phytohormones like indole-3-acetic acid and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase.They can also be used as biofertilizers and biocontrol agents as they produce antibiotics,exopolysaccharides,and hydrolytic enzymes.In this review,the connections between microbial populations,as microbial inoculants,and plant systems are highlighted,focusing on the enhancement of plant development,environmental resilience of agricultural systems,ecosystem services,and biological challenges under stressed conditions.This review also emphasizes the use of advanced molecular tools and techniques to effectively characterize potent soil microbial communities,their importance in increasing crop yield in stressed soils,and the prospects for future research.展开更多
BACKGROUND Cold exposure has traditionally been considered a pathological factor that can easily impair gastrointestinal(GI)digestion.Shihosogan-tang(ST),Yijung-tang(YT),and Pyeongwi-san(PS)are well-known herbal formu...BACKGROUND Cold exposure has traditionally been considered a pathological factor that can easily impair gastrointestinal(GI)digestion.Shihosogan-tang(ST),Yijung-tang(YT),and Pyeongwi-san(PS)are well-known herbal formulas frequently used to treat GI disorders in East Asia.AIM To compare the effects of these herbal formulas on GI motility and investigate their mechanisms of action using a cold stress(CS)-induced dyspepsia mouse model.METHODS C57BL/6J mice were exposed to CS by immersion in cold water(10±1℃)while being restrained in conical tubes for 1 hour.This procedure was repeated six times over 2 weeks.Herbal formulas or mosapride(positive control)were administered orally five times per week over a 2-week period.RESULTS The pre-test results revealed that CS,rather than restraint stress,significantly delayed gut motility in mice.However,PS and ST notably improved gastric emptying and intestinal transit,surpassing YT.Additionally,PS and ST significantly reduced gastric potential of hydrogen and increased pepsin and lipase gene expression compared to CS.The observed mechanisms likely involved increased gastric acidity and enhanced levels of digestive enzymes,such as pepsin and lipase.Furthermore,PS administration elevated GI hormone levels and metabolites related to the gut microbiota(5-hydroxytryptamine and short-chain fatty acid)more effectively than ST and YT treatments.CONCLUSION PS more effectively alleviated CS-induced GI dysfunction than both YT and ST.These comparative findings offer valuable insights for clinical applications in the treatment of cold-related digestive disorders.展开更多
Environmental protection is one of the most important measures to achieve the long run and sustainability of living organisms in the world.The study was conducted in Burera and Gicumbi districts with the main aim of a...Environmental protection is one of the most important measures to achieve the long run and sustainability of living organisms in the world.The study was conducted in Burera and Gicumbi districts with the main aim of assessing the impact of environment protection in Rwanda.A case study of Rugezi Marchland.Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 20 and STATA statistical software vision 13.Off-farm income,occupation,educational level,age,and farm size,showed a positive relationship with Rugezi marchland protection.Variables such as value of product distance to Rugezi marchland,gender,and family size had a negative influence on Rugezi marchland protection.The study also indicated that factors such as water management,increase of grass species,increase of wild animals and birds,modern house construction,zero grazing keeping revealing a positive relationship with Rugezi marchland protection.Two most serious problems encountered are the lack of occupation and low level of education.展开更多
The biotreatment of mine drainage containing dissolved manganese(Mn)using Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria is challenging.Sequencing-batch(SBRs)and continuous-flow reactors(CFRs)packed with limestones and inoculated with the...The biotreatment of mine drainage containing dissolved manganese(Mn)using Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria is challenging.Sequencing-batch(SBRs)and continuous-flow reactors(CFRs)packed with limestones and inoculated with the mine-drainage microbial communitywere compared to determine the removal efficiency of Mn(II)from mine drainage.Mn(II)removal in CFRs was 11.4%±0.0%(mean±standard deviation)in the first two weeks and;it slightly increased to 13.6%±0.0%after four weeks,and more than 94%of Mn(II)was removed under the steady-state treatment phase.The performance of SBRs was more effective,wherein 24.4%±0.1%of Mn was removed in the first two weeks,and in four weeks,surpassed 66.6%±0.2%.Rapid Mn(II)removal observed in the start-up of SBR resulted from higher microbial metabolic activities.The adenosine triphosphate(ATP)content of the microbial community was four-fold more than in CFR,but comparable during the steady-state phase.The Mn-oxide deposits occurring in the SBR and CFR at steady-state were mixed phases of birnessite and woodruffite,and the average Mn oxidation valence in the SBR(+3.73)was slightly higher than that in the CFR(+3.54).During the start-up treatment,the closest relatives of Methyloversatilis,Methylibium,and Curvibacter dominated the SBR,whereas putative Mn oxidizers were associated with Hyphomicrobium,Pedobacter,Pedomicrobium,Terricaulis sp.,Sulfuritalea,and Terrimonas organisms.The growth of potential Mnoxidizing genera,including Mesorhizobium,Rhodococcus,Hydrogenophaga,Terricaulis sp.,and‘Candidatus Manganitrophus-noduliformans’was observed under the steady state.The SBR operation was effective as a prior start-up treatment for mine drainage-containing Mn(II),through which the CFR performed well as posterior bio-treatment.展开更多
The inflammatory response is a crucial physiological process that can lead to tissue damage and is considered a causative factor for various chronic diseases,such as rheumatoid arthritis.Recent research has focused on...The inflammatory response is a crucial physiological process that can lead to tissue damage and is considered a causative factor for various chronic diseases,such as rheumatoid arthritis.Recent research has focused on exploring valuable nutrients derived from Cannabis sativa L.(hemp)seeds,particularly hemp seed proteins.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the release of anti-inflammatory peptides from Lactobacillus paraplantarum-fermented hemp seed proteins.To confirm the complete hydrolysis of hemp seed proteins during the fermentation process,sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE)was employed.Further,the isolation and purification of peptides were achieved through ultrafiltration.The identity of peptides was nextly established using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-QTOF-MS).The results revealed a total of 39 identified peptides in fermented hemp seeds,with 9 peptides selected based on their relative quantity.Notably,AAELIGVP(P1),AAVPYPQ(P2),VFPEVAP(P4),DVIGVPLG(P6),and PVPKVL(P9)demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory abilities in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells.Molecular docking was used to understand the potential anti-inflammatory mechanism of these 5 peptides,and in silico results indicated that P1,P2,P4,P6,and P9 could bind to the active sites of toll-like receptor 4(TLR-4),nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB),and inhibitor of NF-κB kinase(IKK)with higher binding energies.Overall,these findings indicate that hemp seeds have potential to be a source of bioactive peptides for functional foods with anti-inflammatory properties.展开更多
A growing recognition that uneven-aged silviculture can offer multiple benefits to forested ecosystems has encouraged some landowners in the southern region of the United States to convert even-aged pine stands into m...A growing recognition that uneven-aged silviculture can offer multiple benefits to forested ecosystems has encouraged some landowners in the southern region of the United States to convert even-aged pine stands into multi-aged stands.For shade-intolerant pines of the southern United States,however,few studies have examined residual tree growth following silvicultural treatments that convert even-aged stands to multi-aged stands.Understanding the growth response of residual trees to different kinds of stand conversion treatments is critical to stand development and sustainability,as trees must be recruited into larger size classes during the conversion process to develop the desired stand structure and maintain productivity.In this study,we utilized a replicated,long-term silvicultural experimental trial in the southeastern United States to assess the effects of two cutting treatments(dispersed"single tree cutting"that created small canopy gaps and the"patch cutting"that created 0.1-0.8ha patch openings)and an uncut control on the 14-year growth(~cutting cycle length)of residual longleaf pine(Pinus palustris Mill.)trees.We found that tree growth,measured as mean basal area increment(BAI),was significantly higher following patch cutting(mean BAI of 16.97cm^(2))compared to both the single tree cutting(13.33cm^(2))and the uncut control(12.68cm^(2))(p<0.001).In patch cutting,the size of the patch opening,the location of trees surrounding the patch opening,and the position of the tree canopy all had a significant effect on BAI.Trees surrounding patch openings of 0.4ha exhibited greater growth,with a mean BAI of 19.24cm^(2),compared to those surrounding 0.1 and 0.8ha patch openings,which had mean BAI values of 15.89 and 15.71cm^(2),respectively(p<0.001).The position of a tree around the patch opening also influenced tree growth,as residual trees more to the North,South,and East sides exhibited significantly higher mean BAI than trees on the West side of the patch openings(p<0.001).However,distance from the patch opening border did not significantly affect the mean BAI(p=0.522).In all treatments,dominant and co-dominant trees exhibited higher BAI than intermediate and overtopped trees,indicating that tree canopy position significantly influenced tree growth(p<0.001).Understanding how residual trees grow after these silvicultural treatments is crucial for thoroughly assessing their efficacy with longleaf pine.This study's findings will enhance our understanding of stand dynamics during stand conversion and help land managers anticipate the growth of longleaf pine into larger size categories after single tree and patch cuttings.展开更多
Soil microorganisms are major drivers of soil carbon(C) cycling;however,the response of these microorganisms to climate change remains unclear.In the present study,we investigated how 18 months of multifactor climate ...Soil microorganisms are major drivers of soil carbon(C) cycling;however,the response of these microorganisms to climate change remains unclear.In the present study,we investigated how 18 months of multifactor climate treatments(warmed air temperature by 3℃ and decreased or increased precipitation manipulation by 30%) affected soil microbial biomass C and nitrogen(N),community substrate utilization patterns,and community composition.Decreased and increased precipitation significantly reduced microbial biomass C by 13.5% and 24.9% and microbial biomass N by 22.9% and 17.6% in unwarmed plots,respectively(P<0.01).Warming enhanced community substrate utilization by 89.8%,20.4%,and 141.4% in the natural,decreased,and increased precipitation plots,respectively.Particularly,warming significantly enhanced the utilization of amine and carboxylic acid substrates among all precipitation manipulation plots.Compared with the natural air temperature with natural precipitation treatment,other treatments affected fungal community richness by -0.9% to 33.6% and reduced the relative abundance of the dominant bacterial and fungal groups by 0.5% to 6.8% and 4.3% to 10.7%,respectively.The warming and/or precipitation manipulation treatments significantly altered Zygomycota abundance(P<0.05).Our results indicate that climate change drivers and their interactions may cause changes in soil microbial biomass C and N,community substrate utilization patterns,and community composition,particularly for the fungal community,and shifts in the microorganism community may further shape the ecosystems function.展开更多
The current dogma in neural regeneration research implies that chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans（CSPGs） inhibit plasticity and regeneration in the adult central nervous system（CNS）. We argue that the role of the C...The current dogma in neural regeneration research implies that chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans（CSPGs） inhibit plasticity and regeneration in the adult central nervous system（CNS）. We argue that the role of the CSPGs can be reversed from inhibition to activation by developmentally expressed CSPG-binding factors. Heparin-binding growth-associated molecule（HB-GAM; also designated as pleiotrophin） has been studied as a candidate molecule that might modulate the role of CSPG matrices in plasticity and regeneration. Studies in vitro show that in the presence of soluble HB-GAM chondroitin sulfate（CS） chains of CSPGs display an enhancing effect on neurite outgrowth. Based on the in vitro studies, we suggest a model according to which the HB-GAM/CS complex binds to the neuron surface receptor glypican-2, which induces neurite growth. Furthermore, HB-GAM masks the CS binding sites of the neurite outgrowth inhibiting receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma（PTPσ）, which may contribute to the HB-GAM-induced regenerative effect. In vivo studies using two-photon imaging after local HB-GAM injection into prick-injury of the cerebral cortex reveal regeneration of dendrites that has not been previously demonstrated after injuries of the mammalian nervous system. In the spinal cord, two-photon imaging displays HB-GAM-induced axonal regeneration. Studies on the HB-GAM/CS mechanism in vitro and in vivo are expected to pave the way for drug development for injuries of brain and spinal cord.展开更多
Aboveground biomass in grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has displayed an overall increasing trend during 2003–2016, which is profoundly influenced by climate change. However, the responses of different biomes ...Aboveground biomass in grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has displayed an overall increasing trend during 2003–2016, which is profoundly influenced by climate change. However, the responses of different biomes show large discrepancies, in both size and magnitude. By applying partial least squares regression, we calculated the correlation between peak aboveground biomass and mean monthly temperature and monthly total precipitation in the preceding 12 months for three different grassland types(alpine steppe, alpine meadow, and temperate steppe) on the central and eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results showed that mean temperature in most preceding months was positively correlated with peak aboveground biomass of alpine meadow and alpine steppe, while mean temperature in the preceding October and February to June was significantly negatively correlated with peak aboveground biomass of temperate steppe. Precipitation in all months had a promoting effect on biomass of alpine meadow, but its correlations with biomass of alpine steppe and temperate steppe were inconsistent. It is worth noting that, in a warmer, wetter climate, peak aboveground biomass of alpine meadow would increase more than that of alpine steppe, while that of temperate steppe would decrease significantly, providing support for the hypothesis of conservative growth strategies by vegetation in stressed ecosystems.展开更多
Lysozyme reaction was developed as a novel technique for minimizing the amount of excess sludge in the sequential batch reactor(SBR).In the present work,excess sludge taken from a SBR system was treated by lysozyme re...Lysozyme reaction was developed as a novel technique for minimizing the amount of excess sludge in the sequential batch reactor(SBR).In the present work,excess sludge taken from a SBR system was treated by lysozyme reaction and then returned to the reactor.The quality of the effluent water and characteristics of the activated sludge in the SBR were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the reduction process.The results show that excess sludge production could be reduced to almost 100%in the first30 d of operation and could be reduced to further by 40%in the succeeding 20 d or so.In these time periods,the average removal efficiencies of the chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen are 87.38%and 52.78%,respectively,whereas the average total phosphorous in the effluent is nearly 17.18%greater than that of the effluent of the reference system.After 50 d of operation,the sludge floc size is in the range of 20 to 80μm,which was smaller than the size prior to the start of the hydrolysis and the ratio of mixed liquor volatile suspended solids/mixed liquor suspended solids increases from 86%to 90%.展开更多
The aim of this study was to estimate fine root production （FP） and fine root mortality （FM） at 0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm soil depths using minirhizotrons in a 75-year-old Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. forest lo...The aim of this study was to estimate fine root production （FP） and fine root mortality （FM） at 0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm soil depths using minirhizotrons in a 75-year-old Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. forest located in Gwangneung, Korea. We developed the conversion factors （frame cm-2） of three soil depths （0.158 for 0-10 cm, 0.120 for 10-20 cm, and 0.131 for 20-30 cm） based on soil coring and minirhizotron data. FP and FM were estimated using conversion factors from March 26, 2013 to March 2, 2014. The annual FP and FM values at the 0-30 cm soil depth were 3200.2 and 2271.5 kg ha-1 yr -1, respectively. The FP estimate accounted for approximately 17 % of the total net primary production at the study site. FP was highest in summer （July 31-September 26）, and FM was highest in autumn （September 27-November 29）. FP was positively correlated with seasonal change in soil temperature, while FM was not related to that change. The sea- sonality of FP and FM might be linked to above-ground photosynthetic activity. Both FP and FM at the 0-10 cm depth were significantly higher than at 10-20 and 20-30 cm depths, and this resulted from the decrease in nutrient availability with increasing soil depth. The minirhizotron approach and conversion factors developed in this study will enable fast and accurate estimation of the fine root dynamics in P. densiflora forest ecosystems.展开更多
Phosphatases are diverse groups of enzymes that deserve special attention because of their significant roles in organic phosphorus (OP) mineralization to inorganic available forms (Pi). This work 1) compared the catal...Phosphatases are diverse groups of enzymes that deserve special attention because of their significant roles in organic phosphorus (OP) mineralization to inorganic available forms (Pi). This work 1) compared the catalytic potentials of commercially acid phosphatase from wheat germ, sweet potato, and potato, and alkaline phosphatase from E. coli;2) demonstrated that the rate of hydrolysis, catalytic efficiency, thermal stability, and optimal pH of these enzymes depended on enzyme sources and the stereochemical or stereoisomeric structures of the substrates;3) revealed that both acid and alkaline phosphatases exhibited broad range of substrate hydrolysis with high affinity for p-nitrophenyl phosphate bis (cyclohexylammonium) than the widely used p-nitrophenyl phosphate disodium hexahydrate for phosphatase assay. Sweet potato had relatively higher reaction kinetics (Vmax, Km, Kcat, Kcat/Km) values with most substrates tested. The order of catalytic activity was in the order: sweet potato > wheat germ > potato, while the order of substrate hydrolyzed was: PNPBC > PNP > PNP2A2E > DG6P2Na > DG6PNa > Bis-PNP > phytate. The optimum pH for the acid phosphatase was observed to be 5.0. Generally, the activity of alkaline phosphatase was similar to that of acid phosphatase with optimal pH between 10 and 13, depending on the substrates. Knowledge derived from this work would be helpful in enzyme catalysis in soils and water environments.展开更多
Background: Galliformes are widely distributed throughout the world and economically important to humans as domesticated animals or gamebirds. They are at a unique position for advancing knowledge and techniques of wi...Background: Galliformes are widely distributed throughout the world and economically important to humans as domesticated animals or gamebirds. They are at a unique position for advancing knowledge and techniques of wildlife conservation as the barometer of the status of applied ecology. Populations of many galliform species have declined mainly due to habitat loss and over-hunting. An assessment of knowledge of Galliformes could help to provide guidelines for future research and conservation strategies.Methods: Using the Web of Science search engine, we conducted a literature review of galliform-related articles published from 1990 to 2016. We used the "research area" option to filter articles focused on the zoology, environmental sciences ecology, biodiversity conservation, forestry, behavioral sciences, reproductive biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, cell biology, genetics and heredity, evolutionary biology, physiology and developmental biology. We then checked duplication based on the title, abstract and full text. In addition, we examined the reference lists of selected studies to include the publications that were missed by above searching.Results: We retained 1874 articles related to the Galliformes from the initial 243,128 publications that were found. About 91.4% focused on one or two species, and 85.0% were conducted within a short duration, typically 1–2 years. The majority of the articles concentrated on macroscopic ecology(55.5%), mainly focusing on habitat selection or habitat use. With recent advances of molecular biology, the studies of taxonomy and phylogenetics rose quickly in last two decades. The study of physiology and biochemistry was no longer limited to simple description but expanded to the mechanisms of phenotype and micro-evolutionary potential. An additional area receiving increasing attention is the conservation of Galliformes, with the assessment of the conservation status and conservation management effectiveness of Galliformes(e.g. species diversity and genetic diversity) becoming the focus.Conclusions: The studies on Galliformes have made great achievements since 1990, but there are still gaps, particularly in macroscopic ecology, molecular genetics, and conservation. There is an urgent need to enhance long-term monitoring and analysis of population dynamics, and applying different disciplines to galliform conservation. Moreover, life history information of many galliform species is still lacking, which has hindered conservation efforts and effectiveness. In addition, multidiscipline studies and new technologies are not common for galliform studies, and should be encouraged.展开更多
Animals can avoid predation by masquerading as objects that are not food to their predators. Alder moth Acronicta alni larvae go through an impressive ontogenetic change from masquerade to highly conspicuous appearanc...Animals can avoid predation by masquerading as objects that are not food to their predators. Alder moth Acronicta alni larvae go through an impressive ontogenetic change from masquerade to highly conspicuous appearance： early larval stages resemble bird droppings but in the last instar the larval coloration changes into striking yellow-and-black stripes. We hypothe- sized that such a change may be driven by differential predation favoring dissimilar anti-predator strategies in different life stages We show with a series of laboratory assays that larvae are distasteful to birds regardless of their developmental stage, suggesting that ontogenetic color change is not driven by the differential chemical defense. Birds showed higher variance in hesitation to- ward conspicuous prey; some individuals hesitated long time before attacking whereas all birds attacked instantly masqueraded prey. We also found that the activity level of the larvae increased with age, which fits to the fact that larvae need to move from foliage to pupation sites. In the field by using artificial larvae resembling the two life-history stages we found predation risk to vary during the season： In early summer larger yellow-and-black larvae were attacked most, whereas later in the summer small ＇bird-dropping-larvae＇ suffered the highest predation. We conclude that the ontogenetic switch from masquerading to aposema- tism is adaptive most likely because actively moving prey cannot mimic immotile objects and thus, aposematism during the ac- tive and vulnerable period when larvae are searching for pupation sites becomes beneficial展开更多
The complete mitochondrial cytb gene and the partial nuclear c-mos gene of Oligodon ningshaanensis Yuan, 1983 were sequenced and used for reconstructing the phylogenetic relationship of this taxon amongst alethinophid...The complete mitochondrial cytb gene and the partial nuclear c-mos gene of Oligodon ningshaanensis Yuan, 1983 were sequenced and used for reconstructing the phylogenetic relationship of this taxon amongst alethinophidian snakes. Its strong affinity to the New World subfamily Dipsadinae and the Old World species Thermophis baileyi was inferred. Hemipenial morphology found by authors conflicts with the original description and its similarity with those of the dipsadid snakes is in accordance with our molecular results. Feeding tests show that O. ningshaanensis is a malacophagous predator, which is another matchless character for this species. This behavior is described and compared with other known slug- and snail-feeding snakes. The discovery of the particular position of our subject indicates that erecting a new genus is necessary accommodate this unique species.展开更多
The steeply sloping agricultural highlands in Korea have severe soil erosion.Estimation of both soil erosion and sedimentation in these highlands is necessary to make plans for soil-conservation measures,but it is not...The steeply sloping agricultural highlands in Korea have severe soil erosion.Estimation of both soil erosion and sedimentation in these highlands is necessary to make plans for soil-conservation measures,but it is not feasible using existing soil-erosion models.This study measured the site-specific concentrations of ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) on both a highland slope(33%slope)and a reference site(undisturbed flat area)to estimate soil erosion and redistribution.The use of the fallout radionuclide(FRN)method was evaluated to see if it is a suitable method for characterizing soil erosion.Results were compared with those obtained with the Universal Soil Loss Equation(USLE),which is an empirical model that estimates annual soil erosion.The average concentrations of ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) at the reference site were 11.57±0.24 Bq kg^(-1) and 59.74±4.2 Bq kg^(-1),respectively.Concentrations of ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) in the experimental slope were 16.4%and 10.8%,respectively,of those at the reference site.Radionuclide inventories were lower at the upper point of the slope than those at the basal point of the slope.Concentrations of ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) were significantly correlated with available phosphorus,organic matter,CEC,and exchangeable cations.Estimation of soil redistribution rate using ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) showed site-specific variations at different points along the slope,and respective ranges were^(-1)7.46~-207.51 and 1.55~-581.38 Mgha^(-1) yr^(-1),which indicated that more erosion was assessed by ^(210)Pb_(ex) than by ^(137)Cs.Redistribution analysis showed that soil erosion occurred along the entire slope,except for the bottom point of the slope where 1.55 Mgha^(-1) yr^(-1) of sediment accumulated.The USLE provided a single value of the average annual soil loss in the entire slope,which was either 166 or 398 Mgha^(-1) yr^(-1),depending on the soil erodibility factor(soil series factor and calculated factor from soil sample analysis)used in the model.We conclude that the FRN method using ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) radionuclides can be used to assess soil erosion and redistribution in steeply sloping agricultural highlands.Verification of soil-erosion values using the FRN method and soil-erosion models has been controversial,but it merits further study at many locations with different soils,topography,and management practices.展开更多
This study assesses potential effects of adaption to climate change in the future as a carbon related value using a baseline and credit approach, considering the implementation of the Reducing Emissions from Deforesta...This study assesses potential effects of adaption to climate change in the future as a carbon related value using a baseline and credit approach, considering the implementation of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation （REDD） mechanism. Basic data were obtained for implementing the REDD mechanism in the Democratic People＇s Republic of Korea （DPRK） for scientific decision-making to prevent deforestation and forest degradation. The potential effects according to the implementation of the REDD mechanism in the DPRK based on forest status data （the latest） are as follows. If the deforestation rate is reduced to a level below 6% through a 20-year REDD mechanism beginning in 2011, 0.01-11.64 C-tons of carbon credit per ha could be issued for DPRK. Converted into C02-tons per ha, this amounts to 0.03-42.68 C02-tons, which translates to a minimum of 226,000 CO2-tons and a maximum of 289,082,000 C02-tons overall for forests in DPRK. In terms of carbon price, this measures up to 1.1o million USD- 1.4 billion USD, considering that the REDD carbon price in voluntary carbon markets in 2010 was around 5 USD.展开更多
Silicon(Si)is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and has numerous roles in both soils and plants,although it is inaccessible to plants in its native state(insoluble silicate minerals).This inaccess...Silicon(Si)is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and has numerous roles in both soils and plants,although it is inaccessible to plants in its native state(insoluble silicate minerals).This inaccessibility can lead to insufficiency,which induces anomalies in plant growth and development.Specifically,Si alleviates various biotic and abiotic stresses in plants by enhancing tolerance mechanisms at different stages of uptake/deposition as a monosilicic acid.Exclusive utilization of conventional Si fertilizers to boost agricultural productivity in an attempt to meet the world’s ever-increasing food demand may result in surface and groundwater pollution,waterway eutrophication,soil fertility depletion,and accumulation of hazardous elements such as arsenic in soil.By addressing the drawbacks of chemical fertilizers,this review emphasizes an environmentally friendly alternative,namely,Si-solubilizing microorganisms(SSMs),as bioinoculants to liberate soluble Si and thus making it available to plants.A deep understanding of recent advances in the functional diversity,colonization patterns,modes of action,role in biogeochemical cycling,and plant stress tolerance of SSMs and their implementation in Si-based agrowaste management through the fabrication of nanoparticles,could help to establish a reliable tool for economically and environmentally sustainable agriculture.From this perspective,in this review,we comprehensively summarize the latest methodologies for the isolation,screening,and characterization of SSMs and Si solubilization mechanisms,including ligands(divalent cations),acids(inorganic and organic),alkali(nucleophilic attack),extracellular polysaccharides,and factors affecting them,as well as Si-mediated regulation of gene expression involved in Si uptake,transportation,and mineralization.We have critically revised the role of SSMs according to the current literature.The contributions of SSMs to biofertilization are still being explored;hence,we also discuss trajectories for future research in relation to SSM-mediated increases in bioavailable Si.This will create new strategies to reduce the use of agrochemicals,improve plant health,and help us to globally gravitate towards more sustainable agricultural practices,based on the concept of a circular economy.展开更多
Tropical forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they account for large amount o terrestrial carbon storage and productivity.However,there are many uncertainties associated with the estimatio...Tropical forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they account for large amount o terrestrial carbon storage and productivity.However,there are many uncertainties associated with the estimation o carbon dynamics.We estimated forest structure and carbon dynamics along a slope（17.3°–42.8°）and to assess the relations between forest structures,carbon dynamics,and slopes in an intact lowland mixed dipterocarp forest,in Kuala Belalong,Brunei Darussalam.Living biomass,basa area,stand density,crown properties,and tree family composition were measured for forest structure.Growth rate,litter production,and litter decomposition rates were also measured for carbon dynamics.The crown form index and the crown position index were used to assess crown properties,which we categorized into five stages,from very poor to perfect.The living biomass,basal area and stand density were 261.5–940.7 Mg ha-1,43.6–63.6 m2ha-1and 6,675–8400 tree ha-1,respectively.The average crown form and position index were 4,which means that the crown are mostly symmetrical and sufficiently exposed for photosynthesis.The mean biomass growth rate,litter production,litter decomposition rate were estimated as11.9,11.6 Mg ha-1a-1,and 7.2 g a-1,respectively.Biomass growth rate was significantly correlated with living biomass,basal area,and crown form.Crown form appeared to strongly influence living biomass,basal area and biomass growth rate in terms of light acquisition.However,basal area,stand density,crown properties,and biomass growth rate did not vary by slope or tree family composition.The results indicate that carbon accumulation by tree growth in an intact lowland mixed dipterocarp forest depends on crown properties.Absence of any effect of tree family composition on carbon accumulation suggests that the main driver of biomass accumulation in old-growth forests of Borneo is not species-specific characteristics of tree species.展开更多
Evaluation of the protein content is a major indicator of the nutritional quality of rice,and the protein quality of rice is the best among cereal crops. Essential amino acids play an irreplaceable role in human growt...Evaluation of the protein content is a major indicator of the nutritional quality of rice,and the protein quality of rice is the best among cereal crops. Essential amino acids play an irreplaceable role in human growth,development and health care. Essential amino acid is a key ingredient to measure the nutritional value of rice. Using the experimental rice processed from the rice variety " Yuzhenxiang" sprayed with plant nutrients( patent number: ZL201110103910. 9),namely high essential amino acid nutritional rice,combined with five kinds of high quality rice imported by COFCO and homegrown " Wuchang rice",we send the samples of the seven kinds of rice to Hunan Food Testing Center,and adopt HPLC method to test the content of protein and eight kinds of essential amino acids. Three bags of rice are randomly selected for each kind of rice,and each bag is a replication. The test results show that there are highly significant differences in the content of essential amino acids between different kinds of rice( F = 246. 29**,P =5 ×10- 71),and there are also highly significant differences in the content between different kinds of essential amino acids( F = 3937. 09**,P = 4 × 10- 146). The test results of protein content indicate that there are highly significant differences in the content of protein between different kinds of rice( F = 3937. 0973. 29**,P =5. 81 ×10- 11),and the test results of lysine content show that there are highly significant differences in the content of lysine between different kinds of rice( F =3937. 0973. 29**,P =5. 81 ×10- 11).展开更多
文摘The world is facing a consistent increase in human population and a noticeable decrease in cultivable lands due to soil salinization,abrupt climatic changes,and less rainfall.These problems have increased the importance of finding ecologically sustainable solutions to ensure global food security.Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria can be advantageous to enhancing plant productivity and safeguarding against environmental stresses.They may assist plants by atmospheric nitrogen fixation,nutrient recycling,phosphate solubilization,iron sequestration via siderophore formation,and production of phytohormones like indole-3-acetic acid and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase.They can also be used as biofertilizers and biocontrol agents as they produce antibiotics,exopolysaccharides,and hydrolytic enzymes.In this review,the connections between microbial populations,as microbial inoculants,and plant systems are highlighted,focusing on the enhancement of plant development,environmental resilience of agricultural systems,ecosystem services,and biological challenges under stressed conditions.This review also emphasizes the use of advanced molecular tools and techniques to effectively characterize potent soil microbial communities,their importance in increasing crop yield in stressed soils,and the prospects for future research.
基金Supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea,No.2022M3A9E4017033。
文摘BACKGROUND Cold exposure has traditionally been considered a pathological factor that can easily impair gastrointestinal(GI)digestion.Shihosogan-tang(ST),Yijung-tang(YT),and Pyeongwi-san(PS)are well-known herbal formulas frequently used to treat GI disorders in East Asia.AIM To compare the effects of these herbal formulas on GI motility and investigate their mechanisms of action using a cold stress(CS)-induced dyspepsia mouse model.METHODS C57BL/6J mice were exposed to CS by immersion in cold water(10±1℃)while being restrained in conical tubes for 1 hour.This procedure was repeated six times over 2 weeks.Herbal formulas or mosapride(positive control)were administered orally five times per week over a 2-week period.RESULTS The pre-test results revealed that CS,rather than restraint stress,significantly delayed gut motility in mice.However,PS and ST notably improved gastric emptying and intestinal transit,surpassing YT.Additionally,PS and ST significantly reduced gastric potential of hydrogen and increased pepsin and lipase gene expression compared to CS.The observed mechanisms likely involved increased gastric acidity and enhanced levels of digestive enzymes,such as pepsin and lipase.Furthermore,PS administration elevated GI hormone levels and metabolites related to the gut microbiota(5-hydroxytryptamine and short-chain fatty acid)more effectively than ST and YT treatments.CONCLUSION PS more effectively alleviated CS-induced GI dysfunction than both YT and ST.These comparative findings offer valuable insights for clinical applications in the treatment of cold-related digestive disorders.
文摘Environmental protection is one of the most important measures to achieve the long run and sustainability of living organisms in the world.The study was conducted in Burera and Gicumbi districts with the main aim of assessing the impact of environment protection in Rwanda.A case study of Rugezi Marchland.Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 20 and STATA statistical software vision 13.Off-farm income,occupation,educational level,age,and farm size,showed a positive relationship with Rugezi marchland protection.Variables such as value of product distance to Rugezi marchland,gender,and family size had a negative influence on Rugezi marchland protection.The study also indicated that factors such as water management,increase of grass species,increase of wild animals and birds,modern house construction,zero grazing keeping revealing a positive relationship with Rugezi marchland protection.Two most serious problems encountered are the lack of occupation and low level of education.
基金funded by the JOGMEC Research Grant and JSPS KAKENHI(No.JP21H03636).
文摘The biotreatment of mine drainage containing dissolved manganese(Mn)using Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria is challenging.Sequencing-batch(SBRs)and continuous-flow reactors(CFRs)packed with limestones and inoculated with the mine-drainage microbial communitywere compared to determine the removal efficiency of Mn(II)from mine drainage.Mn(II)removal in CFRs was 11.4%±0.0%(mean±standard deviation)in the first two weeks and;it slightly increased to 13.6%±0.0%after four weeks,and more than 94%of Mn(II)was removed under the steady-state treatment phase.The performance of SBRs was more effective,wherein 24.4%±0.1%of Mn was removed in the first two weeks,and in four weeks,surpassed 66.6%±0.2%.Rapid Mn(II)removal observed in the start-up of SBR resulted from higher microbial metabolic activities.The adenosine triphosphate(ATP)content of the microbial community was four-fold more than in CFR,but comparable during the steady-state phase.The Mn-oxide deposits occurring in the SBR and CFR at steady-state were mixed phases of birnessite and woodruffite,and the average Mn oxidation valence in the SBR(+3.73)was slightly higher than that in the CFR(+3.54).During the start-up treatment,the closest relatives of Methyloversatilis,Methylibium,and Curvibacter dominated the SBR,whereas putative Mn oxidizers were associated with Hyphomicrobium,Pedobacter,Pedomicrobium,Terricaulis sp.,Sulfuritalea,and Terrimonas organisms.The growth of potential Mnoxidizing genera,including Mesorhizobium,Rhodococcus,Hydrogenophaga,Terricaulis sp.,and‘Candidatus Manganitrophus-noduliformans’was observed under the steady state.The SBR operation was effective as a prior start-up treatment for mine drainage-containing Mn(II),through which the CFR performed well as posterior bio-treatment.
基金the 4^(th) Brain Korea(BK)21 Plus Project(4299990913942)financed by the Korean Government,Republic of Korea.
文摘The inflammatory response is a crucial physiological process that can lead to tissue damage and is considered a causative factor for various chronic diseases,such as rheumatoid arthritis.Recent research has focused on exploring valuable nutrients derived from Cannabis sativa L.(hemp)seeds,particularly hemp seed proteins.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the release of anti-inflammatory peptides from Lactobacillus paraplantarum-fermented hemp seed proteins.To confirm the complete hydrolysis of hemp seed proteins during the fermentation process,sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE)was employed.Further,the isolation and purification of peptides were achieved through ultrafiltration.The identity of peptides was nextly established using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-QTOF-MS).The results revealed a total of 39 identified peptides in fermented hemp seeds,with 9 peptides selected based on their relative quantity.Notably,AAELIGVP(P1),AAVPYPQ(P2),VFPEVAP(P4),DVIGVPLG(P6),and PVPKVL(P9)demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory abilities in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells.Molecular docking was used to understand the potential anti-inflammatory mechanism of these 5 peptides,and in silico results indicated that P1,P2,P4,P6,and P9 could bind to the active sites of toll-like receptor 4(TLR-4),nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB),and inhibitor of NF-κB kinase(IKK)with higher binding energies.Overall,these findings indicate that hemp seeds have potential to be a source of bioactive peptides for functional foods with anti-inflammatory properties.
基金The USDA NIFA McIntire Stennis project#1014653 and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences funded the research presented in this publication.
文摘A growing recognition that uneven-aged silviculture can offer multiple benefits to forested ecosystems has encouraged some landowners in the southern region of the United States to convert even-aged pine stands into multi-aged stands.For shade-intolerant pines of the southern United States,however,few studies have examined residual tree growth following silvicultural treatments that convert even-aged stands to multi-aged stands.Understanding the growth response of residual trees to different kinds of stand conversion treatments is critical to stand development and sustainability,as trees must be recruited into larger size classes during the conversion process to develop the desired stand structure and maintain productivity.In this study,we utilized a replicated,long-term silvicultural experimental trial in the southeastern United States to assess the effects of two cutting treatments(dispersed"single tree cutting"that created small canopy gaps and the"patch cutting"that created 0.1-0.8ha patch openings)and an uncut control on the 14-year growth(~cutting cycle length)of residual longleaf pine(Pinus palustris Mill.)trees.We found that tree growth,measured as mean basal area increment(BAI),was significantly higher following patch cutting(mean BAI of 16.97cm^(2))compared to both the single tree cutting(13.33cm^(2))and the uncut control(12.68cm^(2))(p<0.001).In patch cutting,the size of the patch opening,the location of trees surrounding the patch opening,and the position of the tree canopy all had a significant effect on BAI.Trees surrounding patch openings of 0.4ha exhibited greater growth,with a mean BAI of 19.24cm^(2),compared to those surrounding 0.1 and 0.8ha patch openings,which had mean BAI values of 15.89 and 15.71cm^(2),respectively(p<0.001).The position of a tree around the patch opening also influenced tree growth,as residual trees more to the North,South,and East sides exhibited significantly higher mean BAI than trees on the West side of the patch openings(p<0.001).However,distance from the patch opening border did not significantly affect the mean BAI(p=0.522).In all treatments,dominant and co-dominant trees exhibited higher BAI than intermediate and overtopped trees,indicating that tree canopy position significantly influenced tree growth(p<0.001).Understanding how residual trees grow after these silvicultural treatments is crucial for thoroughly assessing their efficacy with longleaf pine.This study's findings will enhance our understanding of stand dynamics during stand conversion and help land managers anticipate the growth of longleaf pine into larger size categories after single tree and patch cuttings.
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(No.NRF-2013R1A1A2012242)Korea Forest Service(No.S111114L030100)
文摘Soil microorganisms are major drivers of soil carbon(C) cycling;however,the response of these microorganisms to climate change remains unclear.In the present study,we investigated how 18 months of multifactor climate treatments(warmed air temperature by 3℃ and decreased or increased precipitation manipulation by 30%) affected soil microbial biomass C and nitrogen(N),community substrate utilization patterns,and community composition.Decreased and increased precipitation significantly reduced microbial biomass C by 13.5% and 24.9% and microbial biomass N by 22.9% and 17.6% in unwarmed plots,respectively(P<0.01).Warming enhanced community substrate utilization by 89.8%,20.4%,and 141.4% in the natural,decreased,and increased precipitation plots,respectively.Particularly,warming significantly enhanced the utilization of amine and carboxylic acid substrates among all precipitation manipulation plots.Compared with the natural air temperature with natural precipitation treatment,other treatments affected fungal community richness by -0.9% to 33.6% and reduced the relative abundance of the dominant bacterial and fungal groups by 0.5% to 6.8% and 4.3% to 10.7%,respectively.The warming and/or precipitation manipulation treatments significantly altered Zygomycota abundance(P<0.05).Our results indicate that climate change drivers and their interactions may cause changes in soil microbial biomass C and N,community substrate utilization patterns,and community composition,particularly for the fungal community,and shifts in the microorganism community may further shape the ecosystems function.
基金supported by the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation Tekes,Academy of FinlandSigrid Jusélius Foundation
文摘The current dogma in neural regeneration research implies that chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans（CSPGs） inhibit plasticity and regeneration in the adult central nervous system（CNS）. We argue that the role of the CSPGs can be reversed from inhibition to activation by developmentally expressed CSPG-binding factors. Heparin-binding growth-associated molecule（HB-GAM; also designated as pleiotrophin） has been studied as a candidate molecule that might modulate the role of CSPG matrices in plasticity and regeneration. Studies in vitro show that in the presence of soluble HB-GAM chondroitin sulfate（CS） chains of CSPGs display an enhancing effect on neurite outgrowth. Based on the in vitro studies, we suggest a model according to which the HB-GAM/CS complex binds to the neuron surface receptor glypican-2, which induces neurite growth. Furthermore, HB-GAM masks the CS binding sites of the neurite outgrowth inhibiting receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma（PTPσ）, which may contribute to the HB-GAM-induced regenerative effect. In vivo studies using two-photon imaging after local HB-GAM injection into prick-injury of the cerebral cortex reveal regeneration of dendrites that has not been previously demonstrated after injuries of the mammalian nervous system. In the spinal cord, two-photon imaging displays HB-GAM-induced axonal regeneration. Studies on the HB-GAM/CS mechanism in vitro and in vivo are expected to pave the way for drug development for injuries of brain and spinal cord.
基金National Key R&D Program of China,No.2018YFA0606102National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41771056National Key Technology Support Program,No.2012BAH31B02
文摘Aboveground biomass in grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has displayed an overall increasing trend during 2003–2016, which is profoundly influenced by climate change. However, the responses of different biomes show large discrepancies, in both size and magnitude. By applying partial least squares regression, we calculated the correlation between peak aboveground biomass and mean monthly temperature and monthly total precipitation in the preceding 12 months for three different grassland types(alpine steppe, alpine meadow, and temperate steppe) on the central and eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results showed that mean temperature in most preceding months was positively correlated with peak aboveground biomass of alpine meadow and alpine steppe, while mean temperature in the preceding October and February to June was significantly negatively correlated with peak aboveground biomass of temperate steppe. Precipitation in all months had a promoting effect on biomass of alpine meadow, but its correlations with biomass of alpine steppe and temperate steppe were inconsistent. It is worth noting that, in a warmer, wetter climate, peak aboveground biomass of alpine meadow would increase more than that of alpine steppe, while that of temperate steppe would decrease significantly, providing support for the hypothesis of conservative growth strategies by vegetation in stressed ecosystems.
基金Project(51078130)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(10C0419)supported by the the Education Department of Hunan Province,China
文摘Lysozyme reaction was developed as a novel technique for minimizing the amount of excess sludge in the sequential batch reactor(SBR).In the present work,excess sludge taken from a SBR system was treated by lysozyme reaction and then returned to the reactor.The quality of the effluent water and characteristics of the activated sludge in the SBR were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the reduction process.The results show that excess sludge production could be reduced to almost 100%in the first30 d of operation and could be reduced to further by 40%in the succeeding 20 d or so.In these time periods,the average removal efficiencies of the chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen are 87.38%and 52.78%,respectively,whereas the average total phosphorous in the effluent is nearly 17.18%greater than that of the effluent of the reference system.After 50 d of operation,the sludge floc size is in the range of 20 to 80μm,which was smaller than the size prior to the start of the hydrolysis and the ratio of mixed liquor volatile suspended solids/mixed liquor suspended solids increases from 86%to 90%.
基金supported by the Korea Ministry of Environment(2014001310008)the Korea Forest Service(S111314L100120)
文摘The aim of this study was to estimate fine root production （FP） and fine root mortality （FM） at 0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm soil depths using minirhizotrons in a 75-year-old Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. forest located in Gwangneung, Korea. We developed the conversion factors （frame cm-2） of three soil depths （0.158 for 0-10 cm, 0.120 for 10-20 cm, and 0.131 for 20-30 cm） based on soil coring and minirhizotron data. FP and FM were estimated using conversion factors from March 26, 2013 to March 2, 2014. The annual FP and FM values at the 0-30 cm soil depth were 3200.2 and 2271.5 kg ha-1 yr -1, respectively. The FP estimate accounted for approximately 17 % of the total net primary production at the study site. FP was highest in summer （July 31-September 26）, and FM was highest in autumn （September 27-November 29）. FP was positively correlated with seasonal change in soil temperature, while FM was not related to that change. The sea- sonality of FP and FM might be linked to above-ground photosynthetic activity. Both FP and FM at the 0-10 cm depth were significantly higher than at 10-20 and 20-30 cm depths, and this resulted from the decrease in nutrient availability with increasing soil depth. The minirhizotron approach and conversion factors developed in this study will enable fast and accurate estimation of the fine root dynamics in P. densiflora forest ecosystems.
文摘Phosphatases are diverse groups of enzymes that deserve special attention because of their significant roles in organic phosphorus (OP) mineralization to inorganic available forms (Pi). This work 1) compared the catalytic potentials of commercially acid phosphatase from wheat germ, sweet potato, and potato, and alkaline phosphatase from E. coli;2) demonstrated that the rate of hydrolysis, catalytic efficiency, thermal stability, and optimal pH of these enzymes depended on enzyme sources and the stereochemical or stereoisomeric structures of the substrates;3) revealed that both acid and alkaline phosphatases exhibited broad range of substrate hydrolysis with high affinity for p-nitrophenyl phosphate bis (cyclohexylammonium) than the widely used p-nitrophenyl phosphate disodium hexahydrate for phosphatase assay. Sweet potato had relatively higher reaction kinetics (Vmax, Km, Kcat, Kcat/Km) values with most substrates tested. The order of catalytic activity was in the order: sweet potato > wheat germ > potato, while the order of substrate hydrolyzed was: PNPBC > PNP > PNP2A2E > DG6P2Na > DG6PNa > Bis-PNP > phytate. The optimum pH for the acid phosphatase was observed to be 5.0. Generally, the activity of alkaline phosphatase was similar to that of acid phosphatase with optimal pH between 10 and 13, depending on the substrates. Knowledge derived from this work would be helpful in enzyme catalysis in soils and water environments.
基金supported by the funded by the National Key Programme of Research and 422 Development,Ministry of Science and Technology(2016YFC0503200)
文摘Background: Galliformes are widely distributed throughout the world and economically important to humans as domesticated animals or gamebirds. They are at a unique position for advancing knowledge and techniques of wildlife conservation as the barometer of the status of applied ecology. Populations of many galliform species have declined mainly due to habitat loss and over-hunting. An assessment of knowledge of Galliformes could help to provide guidelines for future research and conservation strategies.Methods: Using the Web of Science search engine, we conducted a literature review of galliform-related articles published from 1990 to 2016. We used the "research area" option to filter articles focused on the zoology, environmental sciences ecology, biodiversity conservation, forestry, behavioral sciences, reproductive biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, cell biology, genetics and heredity, evolutionary biology, physiology and developmental biology. We then checked duplication based on the title, abstract and full text. In addition, we examined the reference lists of selected studies to include the publications that were missed by above searching.Results: We retained 1874 articles related to the Galliformes from the initial 243,128 publications that were found. About 91.4% focused on one or two species, and 85.0% were conducted within a short duration, typically 1–2 years. The majority of the articles concentrated on macroscopic ecology(55.5%), mainly focusing on habitat selection or habitat use. With recent advances of molecular biology, the studies of taxonomy and phylogenetics rose quickly in last two decades. The study of physiology and biochemistry was no longer limited to simple description but expanded to the mechanisms of phenotype and micro-evolutionary potential. An additional area receiving increasing attention is the conservation of Galliformes, with the assessment of the conservation status and conservation management effectiveness of Galliformes(e.g. species diversity and genetic diversity) becoming the focus.Conclusions: The studies on Galliformes have made great achievements since 1990, but there are still gaps, particularly in macroscopic ecology, molecular genetics, and conservation. There is an urgent need to enhance long-term monitoring and analysis of population dynamics, and applying different disciplines to galliform conservation. Moreover, life history information of many galliform species is still lacking, which has hindered conservation efforts and effectiveness. In addition, multidiscipline studies and new technologies are not common for galliform studies, and should be encouraged.
文摘Animals can avoid predation by masquerading as objects that are not food to their predators. Alder moth Acronicta alni larvae go through an impressive ontogenetic change from masquerade to highly conspicuous appearance： early larval stages resemble bird droppings but in the last instar the larval coloration changes into striking yellow-and-black stripes. We hypothe- sized that such a change may be driven by differential predation favoring dissimilar anti-predator strategies in different life stages We show with a series of laboratory assays that larvae are distasteful to birds regardless of their developmental stage, suggesting that ontogenetic color change is not driven by the differential chemical defense. Birds showed higher variance in hesitation to- ward conspicuous prey; some individuals hesitated long time before attacking whereas all birds attacked instantly masqueraded prey. We also found that the activity level of the larvae increased with age, which fits to the fact that larvae need to move from foliage to pupation sites. In the field by using artificial larvae resembling the two life-history stages we found predation risk to vary during the season： In early summer larger yellow-and-black larvae were attacked most, whereas later in the summer small ＇bird-dropping-larvae＇ suffered the highest predation. We conclude that the ontogenetic switch from masquerading to aposema- tism is adaptive most likely because actively moving prey cannot mimic immotile objects and thus, aposematism during the ac- tive and vulnerable period when larvae are searching for pupation sites becomes beneficial
文摘The complete mitochondrial cytb gene and the partial nuclear c-mos gene of Oligodon ningshaanensis Yuan, 1983 were sequenced and used for reconstructing the phylogenetic relationship of this taxon amongst alethinophidian snakes. Its strong affinity to the New World subfamily Dipsadinae and the Old World species Thermophis baileyi was inferred. Hemipenial morphology found by authors conflicts with the original description and its similarity with those of the dipsadid snakes is in accordance with our molecular results. Feeding tests show that O. ningshaanensis is a malacophagous predator, which is another matchless character for this species. This behavior is described and compared with other known slug- and snail-feeding snakes. The discovery of the particular position of our subject indicates that erecting a new genus is necessary accommodate this unique species.
基金This research was supported in part by Research Grant from Kangwon National University(No.520160156:2016)the Korea Ministry of Environment,with the strategic EcoSSSoil Project,KEITI(Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute),Korea(Grant No.2019002820004).
文摘The steeply sloping agricultural highlands in Korea have severe soil erosion.Estimation of both soil erosion and sedimentation in these highlands is necessary to make plans for soil-conservation measures,but it is not feasible using existing soil-erosion models.This study measured the site-specific concentrations of ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) on both a highland slope(33%slope)and a reference site(undisturbed flat area)to estimate soil erosion and redistribution.The use of the fallout radionuclide(FRN)method was evaluated to see if it is a suitable method for characterizing soil erosion.Results were compared with those obtained with the Universal Soil Loss Equation(USLE),which is an empirical model that estimates annual soil erosion.The average concentrations of ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) at the reference site were 11.57±0.24 Bq kg^(-1) and 59.74±4.2 Bq kg^(-1),respectively.Concentrations of ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) in the experimental slope were 16.4%and 10.8%,respectively,of those at the reference site.Radionuclide inventories were lower at the upper point of the slope than those at the basal point of the slope.Concentrations of ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) were significantly correlated with available phosphorus,organic matter,CEC,and exchangeable cations.Estimation of soil redistribution rate using ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) showed site-specific variations at different points along the slope,and respective ranges were^(-1)7.46~-207.51 and 1.55~-581.38 Mgha^(-1) yr^(-1),which indicated that more erosion was assessed by ^(210)Pb_(ex) than by ^(137)Cs.Redistribution analysis showed that soil erosion occurred along the entire slope,except for the bottom point of the slope where 1.55 Mgha^(-1) yr^(-1) of sediment accumulated.The USLE provided a single value of the average annual soil loss in the entire slope,which was either 166 or 398 Mgha^(-1) yr^(-1),depending on the soil erodibility factor(soil series factor and calculated factor from soil sample analysis)used in the model.We conclude that the FRN method using ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pb_(ex) radionuclides can be used to assess soil erosion and redistribution in steeply sloping agricultural highlands.Verification of soil-erosion values using the FRN method and soil-erosion models has been controversial,but it merits further study at many locations with different soils,topography,and management practices.
文摘This study assesses potential effects of adaption to climate change in the future as a carbon related value using a baseline and credit approach, considering the implementation of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation （REDD） mechanism. Basic data were obtained for implementing the REDD mechanism in the Democratic People＇s Republic of Korea （DPRK） for scientific decision-making to prevent deforestation and forest degradation. The potential effects according to the implementation of the REDD mechanism in the DPRK based on forest status data （the latest） are as follows. If the deforestation rate is reduced to a level below 6% through a 20-year REDD mechanism beginning in 2011, 0.01-11.64 C-tons of carbon credit per ha could be issued for DPRK. Converted into C02-tons per ha, this amounts to 0.03-42.68 C02-tons, which translates to a minimum of 226,000 CO2-tons and a maximum of 289,082,000 C02-tons overall for forests in DPRK. In terms of carbon price, this measures up to 1.1o million USD- 1.4 billion USD, considering that the REDD carbon price in voluntary carbon markets in 2010 was around 5 USD.
文摘Silicon(Si)is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and has numerous roles in both soils and plants,although it is inaccessible to plants in its native state(insoluble silicate minerals).This inaccessibility can lead to insufficiency,which induces anomalies in plant growth and development.Specifically,Si alleviates various biotic and abiotic stresses in plants by enhancing tolerance mechanisms at different stages of uptake/deposition as a monosilicic acid.Exclusive utilization of conventional Si fertilizers to boost agricultural productivity in an attempt to meet the world’s ever-increasing food demand may result in surface and groundwater pollution,waterway eutrophication,soil fertility depletion,and accumulation of hazardous elements such as arsenic in soil.By addressing the drawbacks of chemical fertilizers,this review emphasizes an environmentally friendly alternative,namely,Si-solubilizing microorganisms(SSMs),as bioinoculants to liberate soluble Si and thus making it available to plants.A deep understanding of recent advances in the functional diversity,colonization patterns,modes of action,role in biogeochemical cycling,and plant stress tolerance of SSMs and their implementation in Si-based agrowaste management through the fabrication of nanoparticles,could help to establish a reliable tool for economically and environmentally sustainable agriculture.From this perspective,in this review,we comprehensively summarize the latest methodologies for the isolation,screening,and characterization of SSMs and Si solubilization mechanisms,including ligands(divalent cations),acids(inorganic and organic),alkali(nucleophilic attack),extracellular polysaccharides,and factors affecting them,as well as Si-mediated regulation of gene expression involved in Si uptake,transportation,and mineralization.We have critically revised the role of SSMs according to the current literature.The contributions of SSMs to biofertilization are still being explored;hence,we also discuss trajectories for future research in relation to SSM-mediated increases in bioavailable Si.This will create new strategies to reduce the use of agrochemicals,improve plant health,and help us to globally gravitate towards more sustainable agricultural practices,based on the concept of a circular economy.
基金supported by research grants from the Korea Forest Service(S121314L130100)
文摘Tropical forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they account for large amount o terrestrial carbon storage and productivity.However,there are many uncertainties associated with the estimation o carbon dynamics.We estimated forest structure and carbon dynamics along a slope（17.3°–42.8°）and to assess the relations between forest structures,carbon dynamics,and slopes in an intact lowland mixed dipterocarp forest,in Kuala Belalong,Brunei Darussalam.Living biomass,basa area,stand density,crown properties,and tree family composition were measured for forest structure.Growth rate,litter production,and litter decomposition rates were also measured for carbon dynamics.The crown form index and the crown position index were used to assess crown properties,which we categorized into five stages,from very poor to perfect.The living biomass,basal area and stand density were 261.5–940.7 Mg ha-1,43.6–63.6 m2ha-1and 6,675–8400 tree ha-1,respectively.The average crown form and position index were 4,which means that the crown are mostly symmetrical and sufficiently exposed for photosynthesis.The mean biomass growth rate,litter production,litter decomposition rate were estimated as11.9,11.6 Mg ha-1a-1,and 7.2 g a-1,respectively.Biomass growth rate was significantly correlated with living biomass,basal area,and crown form.Crown form appeared to strongly influence living biomass,basal area and biomass growth rate in terms of light acquisition.However,basal area,stand density,crown properties,and biomass growth rate did not vary by slope or tree family composition.The results indicate that carbon accumulation by tree growth in an intact lowland mixed dipterocarp forest depends on crown properties.Absence of any effect of tree family composition on carbon accumulation suggests that the main driver of biomass accumulation in old-growth forests of Borneo is not species-specific characteristics of tree species.
基金Supported by Key Research Project of Hunan Provincial Department of Science and Technology in 2015(2015CK3001)Key Science and Technology Project in Changsha City in 2015(2015314)
文摘Evaluation of the protein content is a major indicator of the nutritional quality of rice,and the protein quality of rice is the best among cereal crops. Essential amino acids play an irreplaceable role in human growth,development and health care. Essential amino acid is a key ingredient to measure the nutritional value of rice. Using the experimental rice processed from the rice variety " Yuzhenxiang" sprayed with plant nutrients( patent number: ZL201110103910. 9),namely high essential amino acid nutritional rice,combined with five kinds of high quality rice imported by COFCO and homegrown " Wuchang rice",we send the samples of the seven kinds of rice to Hunan Food Testing Center,and adopt HPLC method to test the content of protein and eight kinds of essential amino acids. Three bags of rice are randomly selected for each kind of rice,and each bag is a replication. The test results show that there are highly significant differences in the content of essential amino acids between different kinds of rice( F = 246. 29**,P =5 ×10- 71),and there are also highly significant differences in the content between different kinds of essential amino acids( F = 3937. 09**,P = 4 × 10- 146). The test results of protein content indicate that there are highly significant differences in the content of protein between different kinds of rice( F = 3937. 0973. 29**,P =5. 81 ×10- 11),and the test results of lysine content show that there are highly significant differences in the content of lysine between different kinds of rice( F =3937. 0973. 29**,P =5. 81 ×10- 11).
