Altitudinal Patterns of Leaf Traits and Leaf Allometry in Bamboo Pleioblastus amarus

Awareness of local-scale variation in leaf traits for a single species and the relationships between these traits and their dependence on altitude might be essential for extrapolating ecophysiological processes from the leaf to the ecosystem level. While altitudinal patterns of leaf traits have been extensively studied in a number of species, little is known about such patterns in bamboos. We analyzed leaf functional traits and leaf allometric relationships of Pleioblastus amarus at three different altitudes (200, 400, and 800 m). With increasing altitude, most functional traits, including leaf length, width, perimeter, area, dry weight, and water content, decreased significantly, while the leaf length:width ratio exhibited a marked increase, resulting in a tendency toward narrow leaves. Specific leaf area first increased, and then decreased, while the change in leaf dry matter content showed the opposite trend. Leaf area was positively correlated with leaf length, leaf width and leaf perimeter, but negatively correlated with the leaf length:width ratio. With increasing altitude, the slopes of these relationships for leaf area first increased, and then decreased. Leaf biomass was positively correlated with leaf length, width, perimeter, and area, with the slopes of the relationships being the same at all altitudes. Thus, the leaves of this bamboo species at middle altitude have the highest specific leaf area and lowest leaf dry matter content. Our findings suggest that this bamboo species has a big potential of growth and morphological plasticity

MHD Peristaltic Flow of Fractional Jeffrey Model through Porous Medium

The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) peristaltic flow of the fractional Jeffrey fluid through porous medium in a nonuniform channel is presented. The fractional calculus is considered in Darcy’s law and the constitutive relationship which included the relaxation and retardation behavior. Under the assumptions of long wavelength and low Reynolds number, the analysis solutions of velocity distribution, pressure gradient, and pressure rise are investigated. The effects of fractional viscoelastic parameters of the generalized Jeffrey fluid on the peristaltic flow and the influence of magnetic field, porous medium, and geometric parameter of the nonuniform channel are presented through graphical illustration. The results of the analogous flow for the generalized second grade fluid, the fractional Maxwell fluid, are also deduced as special cases. The comparison among them is presented graphically

Elevated CO2 and O3 Levels Influence the Uptake and Leaf Concentration of Mineral N, P, K in Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J.Houz. and Oligostachyum lubricum (wen) King f.

Rising CO2 and O3 concentrations significantly affect plant growth and can alter nutrient cycles. However, the effects of elevated CO2 and O3 concentrations on the nutrient dynamics of bamboo species are not well understood. In this study, using open top chambers (OTCs), we examined the effects of elevated CO2 and O3 concentrations on leaf biomass and nutrient (N, P, and K) dynamics in two bamboo species, Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J.Houz. and Oligostachyum lubricum (wen) King f. Elevated O3 significantly decreased leaf biomass and nutrient uptake of both bamboo species, with the exception of no observed change in K uptake by O. lubricum. Elevated CO2 increased leaf biomass, N and K uptake of both bamboo species. Elevated CO2 and O3 simultaneously had no significant influence on leaf biomass of either species but decreased P and N uptake in P. edulis and O. lubricum, respectively, and increased K uptake in O. lubricum. The results indicate that elevated CO2 alleviated the damage caused by elevated O3 in the two bamboo species by altering the uptake of certain nutrients, which further highlights the potential interactive effects between the two gases on nutrient uptake. In addition, we found differential responses of nutrient dynamics in the two bamboo species to the two elevated gases, alone or in combination. These findings will facilitate the development of effective nutrient management strategies for sustainable management of P. edulis and O. lubricum under global change scenarios

Industrial development of long chain paraffin (n-C10-C13) dehydrogenation catalysts and the deactivation characterization

Pt–Sn–K–Mg/Al2O3 catalysts for the dehydrogenation of long chain paraffins (n-C100–C130) were successfully developed and applied in the industry. The catalysts were tested on both the industrial side fixed bed reactor and the industrial PACOL dehydrogenation plant. The industrially deactivated Pt–Sn–K–Mg/Al2O3 catalysts were characterized by TG–DTA, elemental analysis, UV Raman spectroscopy, TPO, SEM, XRD, BET, MIP and CO-chemisorption. The industrial 72-day-run dada indicated that Pt–Sn–K–Mg/Al2O3 catalysts performed excellent dehydrogenation conversion of 11.6% and high mono-olefin selectivity of 94.1%. The daily output of alkylbenzene over Pt–Sn–K–Mg/Al2O3 catalysts was as high as 333.6 ton/day. The deactivated catalysts were deposited by the amorphous and graphitized coke, of which the weight percentage was 3.78% and the H/C mole ratio was 1.19. The coke covered parts of the Pt and support surface, while the pore and crystalline structure of the catalysts were not destroye

Metals modification of the paraffin dehydrogenation catalyst regenerated by coke combustion

The industrially deactivated Pt-0.5-Sn-1.5-K-0.5-Mg-1/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst for dehydrogenation of long chain paraffins (n-C-10 degrees-C-(13 degrees)) was regenerated by coke burn off and metals (Pt, Sn and K) modification. The catalysts were characterized by TG, BET, CO-chemisorption, H-2-TPR, XRD and mechanical crushing strength test. Paraffin dehydrogenation was performed on a bench reactor at the industrial site. Results showed that temperature increase during coke combustion can be effectively controlled with O-2 content lower than 1%. The combustion temperature should be higher than 500 degrees C to burn all the coke and lower than 550 degrees C to avoid Pt sintering. Under optimal conditions, coke combustion results only in 92% recovery of catalyst activity. Subsequent metals modification with additional 0.01 wt.% Pt addition can recover catalytic performance completely, paraffin conversion and olefin selectivity to the levels of fresh catalyst. The modified catalyst has longer life-time of 77 days compared to fresh catalyst of 69 days. Results are explained in terms of the characteristics of the catalysts. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Changes in Textural Quality and Water Retention of Spiced Beef under Ultrasound-Assisted Sous-Vide Cooking and Its Possible Mechanisms

The present study investigated the effects of ultrasound (28 kHz, 60 W at 71 °C for 37 min) combined with sous-vide cooking (at 71 °C for 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 min) on the textural quality, water distribution, and protein characteristics of spiced beef. Results showed that the spiced beef treated with conventional cooking (CT) had the highest cooking loss (41.31%), but the lowest value of shear force (8.13 N), hardness (55.66 N), springiness (3.98 mm), and chewiness (64.36 mJ) compared to ultrasound-assisted sous-vide (USV) and sous-vide cooking (SV) groups. Compared with long-time thermal treatment, USV heating within 100 min enhanced the water retention of spiced beef by maintaining the lower values of cooking loss (16.64~25.76%), T2 relaxation time (242.79~281.19 ms), and free water content (0.16~2.56%), as evident by the intact muscle fibers. Moreover, the USV group had relatively lower carbonyl content, but higher sulfhydryl content compared to CT and SV groups. More protein bands coupled with a minor transformation from α-helixes to β-turns and random coils occurred in USV40~USV80. In conclusion, these results indicated that USV treatment within 100 min positively affected the textural quality and water retention of spiced beef by moderate protein oxidation

<i>HOXB1</i> Is a Tumor Suppressor Gene Regulated by miR-3175 in Glioma

<div><p>The <i>HOXB1</i> gene plays a critical role as an oncogene in diverse tumors. However, the functional role of HOXB1 and the mechanism regulating HOXB1 expression in glioma are not fully understood. A preliminary bioinformatics analysis showed that HOXB1 is ectopically expressed in glioma, and that HOXB1 is a possible target of miR-3175. In this study, we investigated the function of HOXB1 and the relationship between HOXB1 and miR-3175 in glioma. We show that HOXB1 expression is significantly downregulated in glioma tissues and cell lines, and that its expression may be closely associated with the degree of malignancy. Reduced HOXB1 expression promoted the proliferation and invasion of glioma cells, and inhibited their apoptosis in vitro, and the downregulation of HOXB1 was also associated with worse survival in glioma patients. More importantly, HOXB1 was shown experimentally to be a direct target of miR-3175 in this study. The downregulated expression of miR-3175 inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, and promoted apoptosis in glioma. The oncogenicity induced by low HOXB1 expression was prevented by an miR-3175 inhibitor in glioma cells. Our results suggest that HOXB1 functions as a tumor suppressor, regulated by miR-3175 in glioma. These results clarify the pathogenesis of glioma and offer a potential target for its treatment.</p></div

The role of HOXB1 in glioma cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis.

<p><b>(A-C)</b> Three siRNA targeting different sites of HOXB1 and a siRNA negative control (si-NC) were transfected into U87 cells using Lipofectamine 2000. Total mRNA or total protein was isolated at 24 h or 48 h after transfection. HOXB1 mRNA expression was assessed by qRT-PCR. HOXB1 protein expression was determined with western blot analysis. si-HOXB1-2 as the most efficient siRNA was used in further studies. <b>(D)</b> An MTT cell proliferation assay was performed at 48 h after transfection with equal concentrations of si-HOXB1 and si-NC in glioma cell lines. <b>(E-F)</b> Scratch wound assay of glioma cell lines transfected with equal concentrations of si-HOXB1 and si-NC. A linear wound was made with a 200 μl pipette tip and the wound width was recorded at three different reference points after 0 and 24 h (40 ×, Scale bars = 200 μm). <b>(G-H)</b> Transwell assay of glioma cell lines transfected with equal concentrations of si-HOXB1 and si-NC. The migrated cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde, stained with Giemsa and calculated with microscope in three non-overlapping, randomly selected fields (100 ×, Scale bars = 200 μm). <b>(I-J)</b> Flow cytometric analysis of apoptosis in glioma cell lines after transfection with equal concentrations of si-HOXB1 and si-NC. Apoptosis was assessed with Annexin V-FITC/PI. All results are representative of three independent experiments, and a statistical analysis is performed (mean ± SD, *<i>P</i> < 0.05, **<i>P</i> < 0.01, and ***<i>P</i> < 0.001).</p

Multivariate Cox regression analysis of prognostic factors in glioma patients.

<p>^<b>a</b> Data from imaging measurement.</p><p>^<b>b</b> Patients who suffer from enormous tumor both in frontal lobe, parietal lobe and temporal lobe are counted repeatedly.</p><p>Multivariate Cox regression analysis of prognostic factors in glioma patients.</p