Table_1_Plant trait-based life strategies of overlapping species vary in different succession stages of subtropical forests, Eastern China.pdf

Plants growing in forests at different succession stages in diverse habitats may adopt various life strategies from the perspective of plant functional traits. However, species composition differs with forest succession, and the effects of forest succession on traits have often been explored without considering the effects of species identity. We comprehensively investigated intraspecific variations in 12 traits of six overlapping species (two tree species and four understory shrub species) in three typical subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests at different succession stages in eastern China. We found that intraspecific variations differed among traits. Fine root specific length presented large intraspecific variation, leaf area, specific leaf area and fine root tissue density showed medium intraspecific variations, and other traits displayed small intraspecific variations. Trees and understory shrubs in the early-stage forest exhibited higher leaf thickness, dry matter contents and tissue densities of leaves, roots, twigs, and stems and lower leaf area and specific leaf area. Those in the medium- and late-stage forests displayed contrasting trait characteristics. From the perspective of plant functional traits, plants in the early-stage forest formed a series of trait combinations for a resource conservative strategy with a low growth rate to adapt to fragile habitats with poor soil nutrients and changeable soil temperature and humidity, and those in the medium- and late-stage forests (especially the former) formed converse trait combinations for a resource acquisitive strategy with a high growth rate to adapt to low light availability and strongly competitive habitats. Our study reveals that plants in forests at different succession stages adopt various life strategies and provides data to the TRY and China plant trait databases.</p

Tough, Stretchable, Compressive Novel Polymer/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Hydrogels with Excellent Self-Healing Performance

Designing hydrogels with high mechanical properties without sacrificing their self-healing efficiencies remains great challenges. We have fabricated cationic polyacrylamide/graphene oxide (GO) hydrogels by free-radical polymerization of acrylamide (AM) and 2-(dimethylamino)­ethylacrylatemethochloride (DAC) in the presence of GO. The mechanical properties and self-healing ability can be tuned by the GO content and the mass ratio of AM and DAC. The ionic bonds between DAC and GO and the hydrogen bonds between AM and GO can efficiently dissipate energy and rebuild the networks. The resulting composite hydrogels possess high stiffness (Young’s modulus: ∼1.1 MPa), high toughness (∼9.3 MJ m^–3), and high fatigue resistance, as well as high self-healing efficiency (>92% of tensile strength, >99% of tensile strain and >93% of toughness). In addition, the completely dried hydrogels can recover their original mechanical values by spraying water and still possess outstanding self-healing efficiency. Our design can provide better fundamental understanding of physical properties of hydrogels and should enable the development of tough, self-healing hydrogels for practical applications

In Situ and Ex Situ pH-Responsive Coatings with Switchable Wettability for Controllable Oil/Water Separation

The development of stimuli-responsive materials with the ability of controllable oil/water separation is crucial for practical applications. Here, a novel pH responsive nonfluorine-containing copolymer was designed. The copolymer together with silica can be dip-coated on different materials including cotton fabric, filter paper, and polyurethane foam. The coated materials exhibit switchable superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity and can be applied in continuous separation of oil/water/oil three phase mixtures, different surfactant stabilized emulsion (oil-in-water, water-in-oil, and oil-in-acidic water) as well as oil uptake and release via in situ and ex situ pH change. We expect that the coatings highlight the practical applications because of the cost-effective preparation process and fluorine-free strategy

Tough, Stretchable, Compressive Novel Polymer/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Hydrogels with Excellent Self-Healing Performance

Designing hydrogels with high mechanical properties without sacrificing their self-healing efficiencies remains great challenges. We have fabricated cationic polyacrylamide/graphene oxide (GO) hydrogels by free-radical polymerization of acrylamide (AM) and 2-(dimethylamino)­ethylacrylatemethochloride (DAC) in the presence of GO. The mechanical properties and self-healing ability can be tuned by the GO content and the mass ratio of AM and DAC. The ionic bonds between DAC and GO and the hydrogen bonds between AM and GO can efficiently dissipate energy and rebuild the networks. The resulting composite hydrogels possess high stiffness (Young’s modulus: ∼1.1 MPa), high toughness (∼9.3 MJ m^–3), and high fatigue resistance, as well as high self-healing efficiency (>92% of tensile strength, >99% of tensile strain and >93% of toughness). In addition, the completely dried hydrogels can recover their original mechanical values by spraying water and still possess outstanding self-healing efficiency. Our design can provide better fundamental understanding of physical properties of hydrogels and should enable the development of tough, self-healing hydrogels for practical applications

No metabolic phenotypes were detected in Cavin-3 null mice.

<p>Cavin-3 null and wild type male mice (n = 8 per group) were given a high fat diet (HFD) starting at 8 weeks of age. The mice fed normal chow served as a control. After 14 weeks on HFD, the animals were fasted for 4–6 hours and the metabolic phenotypes were measured. The body weight gain curve from control and HFD (A), fasting body and fat tissue weight(B), fasting blood glucose levels of control and after HFD (C), body composition (D) and Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) (E) are shown.</p

Loss of cavin-3 does not affect the expression of other caveolar proteins, their localization, or the assembly of high molecular weight caveolin complexes.

<p>A. Abundance of caveolae in Cavin-3, Cav1 knockout and WT MEFs cells. Multiple electron micrographs were obtained for each cell type (396 of control cells and 250 of cavin-3 KO cells), and both the number of caveolae and total length of plasma membrane present were quantified in each image. Caveolae were counted as omega shaped membrane profiles open at the cell surface. Bars are SEM, p values were calculated using an unpaired t-test. B. Subcellular fractionations (PM: Plasma membrane, IM: internal membranes, Cyto, cytosol) of adipocytes from wild type (W), heterozygous (H) and knockout (K) was performed as described in <i>Materials and Methods</i>. Equal protein amounts of the fractions were separated by SDS-PAGE and analyzed by Western blot by using the antibodies to the proteins indicated. Detection was by enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL). C. Wild type (WT) and cavin-3 knockout (KO) adipose tissues were solubilized in 1 ml of MBS containing 1% (v/v) Triton X-100. The lysate was homogenized and mixed with an equal volume of 80% sucrose in MBS (final volume, 2 ml) and overlaid successively with 2 ml of 30% sucrose and 1 ml of 5% sucrose (in MBS). After centrifugation at 200,000 <i>g</i> for 18 h, 0.4-ml fractions were collected from the bottom of the gradient (<i>fraction 1</i> is the top fraction). Lipid raft fractions were separated in native PAGE followed by silver staining or transferred to PVDF membrane for immunoblotting analysis using the antibodies indicated.</p

Table_1_Plant life history strategies vary in subtropical forests with different disturbance histories: an assessment of biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits.docx

Disturbance alters environmental conditions in forests. Plants growing in forests with different disturbance histories in diverse environments may adopt varying life history strategies, but few studies focus on this effect. This study comprehensively investigated plant biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits in subtropical forests with two different disturbance histories in east China to explore differences in life history strategies. Biodiversity was slightly higher in disturbed compared to conserved forests. Significantly higher biomass was measured in conserved relative to disturbed evergreen broadleaved forests (P < 0.05). In conserved forests, leaf tissue density (LTD) was significantly higher and leaf thickness (LT), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), twig tissue density (TTD), twig dry matter content (TDMC), bark tissue density (BTD) and dry matter content (BDMC), and stem tissue density (STD) and dry matter content (SDMC) were significantly lower than in disturbed forests (P < 0.05). In terms of associated plant biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits, conserved forests adopted a resource acquisition strategy, reducing biodiversity and developing multiple functional traits such as high leaf area and specific leaf area and low LT, LDMC, TTD, TDMC, BTD, BDMC, STD, and SDMC to support a high biomass accumulation rate. Disturbed forests adopted a resource conservation strategy, enhancing biodiversity and developing converse trait combinations to lower the rate of biomass accumulation. A comprehensive investigation of plant biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits and subsequent assessment of plant life history strategies in conserved and disturbed forests will aid investigations of regional biodiversity and carbon reserves, contribute data to the TRY and Chinese plant trait databases, and improve ecological management and restoration efforts in east China.</p

Microarray analysis of sorted ATMs from the NC, HFD and Sal groups.

<p>The ATMs were isolated from the ATs of the NC, HFD and Sal groups of the treatment study (n = 2 mice per group). Their RNAs were purified, amplified and analyzed by Affymetrix microarray analysis. The HFD <i>vs.</i> NC (A), Sal <i>vs.</i> NC (B), and Sal <i>vs.</i> HFD (C) gene expression profiles were compared by Volcano plots. Genes showing more than 2-fold differences between groups that were significant (p<0.05) are indicated as red dots if they were upregulated and as blue dots if they were downregulated genes. The genes in HFD and Sal mice that were differentially regulated relative to NC are shown in a FC/FC plot of (HFD <i>vs.</i> NC) <i>vs.</i> (Sal <i>vs.</i> NC) (D). The genes that showed a more than 2-fold difference in this comparison that was significant (p<0.05) are indicated as red dots (HFD down and Sal up), blue dots (HFD up and Sal down), cyan dots (HFD down and Sal further down), and pink dots (HFD up and Sal further up) (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0082847#pone-0082847-t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>). Heat maps show the differential gene expressions of M1 genes (E), M2 genes (F) and NFκB target genes (G).</p

Obesity induces systemic inflammation by increasing the numbers of circulating immune cells and a pro-inflammatory monocyte subset, and Sal and Pio treatment reverse these increases.

<p>The CBCs of the mice from the treatment study described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0082847#pone-0082847-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1</a> were determined by using a Hemavet hematology analyzer (A). The circulating Ly6C^-, Ly6C^lo, and Ly6C^hi monocyte subpopulations were analyzed by flow cytometric analysis (B and C). *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.</p

The top 10 genes that were differentially regulated in the HFD and Sal mouse groups.

<p>The top 10 genes that were differentially regulated in the HFD and Sal mouse groups.</p