Phenotypic Plasticity of Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. Seedlings in Response to Varied Light Quality Treatments

Effects of light quality on phenotypic plasticity in Cunninghamialanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. seedlings during growth and development, and the underlying mechanisms, were investigated. The seedlings showed distinct morphological adjustments when exposed to an equal photosynthetic photon flux density (400 mu mol.m(-2).s(-1)) of different light qualities: monochromatic blue (BL), monochromatic red (RL), monochromatic far-red (FrL), mixed RL and FrL at 1:1 (RFr1:1L), mixed RL and FrL at 1:2 (RFr1:2L), and multi-wavelength white (WL, control). Compared with WL, FrL and BL significantly promoted height increment. However, BL was unfavorable for root growth. The seedling biomass was lower and the root-to-shoot ratio was smaller under BL. RL promoted leaf area enlargement, root growth, axillary bud number, and increased the root-to-shoot ratio, but inhibited stem elongation. Low R/Fr ratios or increased FrL proportion increased seedling stem elongation. The seedling growth under RFr1:1L treatment was poorer than that under other treatments; however, the number of axillary buds was the highest. The plasticity of leaf morphology traits was lower in different treatments, and that of axillary bud traits was crucial in the adaptation of C. lanceolata to light quality. Precise management of light quality and wavelength in controlled environments may maximize the economic efficiency of forest production and enhance its quality

Low-loss 25.3km few-mode ring-core fibre for mode-division multiplexed transmission

We report the design, fabrication and characterisation of a few-mode ring-core fibre supporting 4 mode groups. The low loss (~0.3dB/km) and length (25.3km) are both records for a ring-core fibre

Necrostatin-1 Synergizes the Pan Caspase Inhibitor to Attenuate Lung Injury Induced by Ischemia Reperfusion in Rats

Background. Both apoptosis and necroptosis have been recognized to be involved in ischemia reperfusion-induced lung injury. We aimed to compare the efficacies of therapies targeting necroptosis and apoptosis and to determine if there is a synergistic effect between the two therapies in reducing lung ischemia reperfusion injury. Methods. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 5 groups: sham (SM) group, ischemia reperfusion (IR) group, necrostatin-1+ischemia reperfusion (NI) group, carbobenzoxy-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone+ischemia reperfusion (ZI) group, and necrostatin-1+carbobenzoxy-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone+ischemia reperfusion (NZ) group. The left lung hilum was exposed without being clamped in rats from the SM group, whereas the rats were subjected to lung ischemia reperfusion by clamping the left lung hilum for 1 hour, followed by reperfusion for 3 hours in the IR group. 1 mg/kg necrostatin-1 (Nec-1: a specific necroptosis inhibitor) and 3 mg/kg carbobenzoxy-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-fmk: a pan caspase inhibitor) were intraperitoneally administrated prior to ischemia in NI and ZI groups, respectively, and the rats received combined administration of Nec-1 and z-VAD-fmk in the NZ group. Upon reperfusion, expressions of receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1), receptor-interacting protein 3 (RIP3), and caspase-8 were measured, and the flow cytometry analysis was used to assess the cell death patterns in the lung tissue. Moreover, inflammatory marker levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and pulmonary edema were evaluated. Results. Both Nec-1 and z-VAD-fmk, either alone or in combination, significantly reduced morphological damage, inflammatory markers, and edema in lung tissues following reperfusion, and cotreatment of z-VAD-fmk with Nec-1 produced the optimal effect. The rats treated with Nec-1 had lower levels of inflammatory markers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid than those receiving z-VAD-fmk alone (P<0.05). Interestingly, the z-VAD-fmk administration upregulated RIP1 and RIP3 expressions in the lung tissue from the ZI group compared to those in the IR group (P<0.05). Reperfusion significantly increased the percentages of necrotic and apoptotic cells in lung tissue single-cell suspension, which could be decreased by Nec-1 and z-VAD-fmk, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusions. Nec-1 synergizes the pan caspase inhibitor to attenuate lung ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. Our data support the potential use of Nec-1 in lung transplantation-related disorders

Methylene Blue Attenuates Lung Injury Induced by Hindlimb Ischemia Reperfusion in Rats

Objective. This study was aimed to investigate the protective effect of methylene blue against lung injury induced by reperfusion of ischemic hindlimb in a rat model. Methods. Twenty-four healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally randomized into three groups: sham (SM) group, ischemia reperfusion (IR) group, and methylene blue (MB) group. Rats in both IR and MB groups were subjected to 4 h of ischemia by clamping the left femoral artery and then followed by 4 h of reperfusion. Treatment with 1% methylene blue (50 mg/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally at 10 min prior to reperfusion in the MB group. After 4 h of reperfusion, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in lung tissue were detected; inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-6, were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF); correspondingly, the morphological changes and water content in both gastrocnemius muscle and lung samples were evaluated. Results. Hindlimb IR caused remarkable morphological abnormalities and edema in both muscle and lung tissues. SOD activity was decreased, both the MPO activity and MDA level in lung tissue, as well as IL-1β and IL-6 levels in BALF, were increased in the IR group (p<0.05). Compared with the IR group, SOD activity was increased, whereas MPO activity and MDA level in lung tissue and IL-1β and IL-6 levels in BALF were decreased in the MB group (p<0.05). Also, the histological damage and edema in both lung and muscle tissues were significantly attenuated by the treatment of methylene blue. Conclusion. Methylene blue attenuates lung injury induced by hindlimb IR in rats, at least in part, by inhibiting oxidative stress

Structural and Functional Characteristics of Soil Fungal Communities near Decomposing Moso Bamboo Stumps

Background and Objectives: Fungi degrade lignin and other fibers, thus playing an essential role in the decomposition of Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J.Houz. (Moso bamboo) stumps. Herein, we characterized key soil fungal communities near different levels of decomposing Moso bamboo stumps (mildly, moderately, and heavily decayed). Materials and Methods: High-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the soil fungal communities inside and outside of mild, moderate, and heavy decomposing Moso bamboo stumps. Results: We found nine phyla, 30 classes, 77 orders, 149 families, and 247 genera of soil fungi near the bamboo stumps. Soil fungi OTUs and diversity and richness indices were lower outside than inside the stumps, and decreased with increasing degrees of decay. Inside the bamboo stumps, Soil fungi OTUs and diversity and richness indices were the highest and lowest in moderate and heavy decay bamboo stumps, respectively. Ascomycota dominated inside (from 81% to 46%) and outside (from 69% to 49%) the stumps, and their relative abundance gradually decreased with decomposition, whereas that of Basidiomycota increased outside the stumps (from 17% to 49%). Two-way ANOVA showed that the interaction between the two factors of occurring inside and outside the bamboo stumps and the degree of decay, significantly affected Chytridiomycota and Penicillium (p p < 0.05). The abundance of different genera was significantly correlated with saprotrophic functional groups. Conclusion: Changes in the structure and functional groups of soil fungal communities may play an important role during different levels of decomposition of Moso bamboo stumps. This study provides a scientific basis for screening functional fungal strains that promote the decomposition of Moso bamboo stumps