Intra-annual carbon fluxes and resource use efficiency of subtropical urban forests: insights from Chongming Island ecological observatory

Understanding the carbon budget within cities is crucial in the context of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This study investigates the carbon source-sink dynamics of urban forest ecosystems using carbon flux observations from the Chongming Island Ecological Observatory in Shanghai. The study aims to reveal the intra-annual variations of carbon fluxes and explore the changes in resource use efficiency of urban forest ecosystems within the framework of the big-leaf model. The results reveal distinct patterns in temperature (Tair), relative humidity (RH), radiation, and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Diurnal cycles of net ecosystem exchange (NEE), gross primary production (GPP), and ecosystem respiration (Reco) exhibit seasonal variations, with higher amplitudes observed from April to September. The observed forest ecosystem acts as a moderate carbon sink (318.47 gC m−2 year−1), with the highest carbon uptake occurring in May and the highest carbon emission in February. During the growing season, the total carbon sink was 225.37 gC m−2, composed of GPP 1337.01 gC m−2 and Reco 1111.64 gC m−2. Water-use efficiency (WUE) and light-use efficiency (LUE) exhibit seasonal variations, while carbon-use efficiency (CUE) declines after May. These findings contribute to our understanding of urban forest carbon dynamics and their potential role in carbon management strategies

Facile synthesis of a nickel sulfide (NiS) hierarchical flower for the electrochemical oxidation of H2O2 and the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR).

The synthesis of a novel hierarchical flower-like NiS via a solvothermal method for the electrochemcial oxidation of H2O2 on a carbon paste electrode with high catalytic activity for the (MOR) in an alkaline medium has been reported. Novel nickel sulfide (NiS) hierarchical flower-like structures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscopy. A carbon paste electrode was modified with the as-prepared hierarchical flower-like NiS, resulting in a high electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of H2O2. The NiS-modified electrode was used for H2O2 sensing, which was achieved over a wide linear range from 0.5 μMto1.37mM(I/μA =-0.19025 + 0.06094 C/mM) with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 μM and a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.8 μM. The hierarchical flower-like NiS also exhibited a high electrocatalytic activity for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in an alkaline medium with a high tolerance toward the catalyst-poisoning species generated during the MOR. The MOR proceeded via the direct electrooxidation of methanol on the oxidized NiS surface layer because the oxidation peak potential of the MOR was more positive than that of the oxidation of NiS

Supra-additive effect of chronic inflammation and atherogenic dyslipidemia on developing type 2 diabetes among young adults: A prospective cohort study

Background: Both elevated inflammation and atherogenic dyslipidemia are prominent in young-onset diabetes and are increasingly identified as biologically intertwined processes that contribute to diabetogenesis. We aimed to investigate the age-specific risks of type 2 diabetes (T2D) upon concomitant chronic inflammation and atherogenic dyslipidemia. Methods: Age-stratified Cox regression analysis of the risk of incident diabetes upon co-exposure to time-averaged cumulative high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CumCRP) and atherogenic index of plasma (CumAIP) among 42,925 nondiabetic participants from a real-world, prospective cohort (Kailuan Study). Results: During a median 6.41 years of follow-up, 3987 T2D developed. Isolated CumAIP and CumCRP were significantly associated with incident T2D in the entire cohort and across all age subgroups. Both CumAIP and CumCRP were jointly associated with an increased risk of diabetes (P-interaction = 0.0126). Compared to CumAIP \u3c -0.0699 and CumCRP \u3c 1 mg/L, co-exposure to CumAIP ≥ − 0.0699 and CumCRP ≥ 3 mg/L had a significant hazard ratio (HR) [2.55 (2.23–2.92)] after adjusting for socio-demographic, life-style factors, family history of diabetes, blood pressure, renal function and medication use. The co-exposure-associated risks varied greatly by age distribution (P-interaction = 0.0193): \u3c 40 years, 6.26 (3.47–11.28); 40–49 years, 2.26 (1.77–2.89); 50–59 years, 2.51 (2.00–3.16); 60–69 years, 2.48 (1.86–3.30); ≥ 70 years, 2.10 (1.29–3.40). In young adults ( \u3c 45 years), both exposures had a significant supra-additive effect on diabetogenesis (relative excess risk due to interaction: 0.80, 95% CI 0.10–1.50). Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for age-specific combined assessment and management of chronic inflammation and dyslipidemia in primary prevention against T2D, particularly for young adults. The clinical benefit derived from dual-target intervention against dyslipidemia and inflammation will exceed the sum of each part alone in young adults

One-dimensional coordination polymers containing penta-supertetrahedral sulfide clusters linked by dipyridyl ligands

通讯作者地址: Feng, PY (通讯作者), Univ Calif Riverside, Dept Chem, Riverside, CA 92521 USA 地址: 1. Univ Calif Riverside, Dept Chem, Riverside, CA 92521 USA 2. Calif State Univ Long Beach, Dept Chem & Biochem, Long Beach, CA 90840 USA 电子邮件地址: [email protected] new one-dimensional coordination polymers [Zn8S(SC6H5)(14).C12H10N2](1), [Zn7CoS(SC6H5)14(.)C(13)H(14)N(2)](2) and [Zn8S(SC6H5)14(.)C(13)H(14)N(2)](3) have been prepared containing penta-supertetrahedral clusters and linear crosslinking dipyridyl ligands; the two complexes show optical transitions with band gaps of similar to 3.44 eV (1) and similar to 3.54 eV (2)

Oceanospirillales containing the DMSP lyase DddD are key utilisers of carbon from DMSP in coastal seawater

Background: Ubiquitous and diverse marine microorganisms utilise the abundant organosulfur molecule dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), the main precursor of the climate-active gas dimethylsulfide (DMS), as a source of carbon, sulfur and/or signalling molecules. However, it is currently difficult to discern which microbes actively catabolise DMSP in the environment, why they do so and the pathways used. Results: Here, a novel DNA-stable isotope probing (SIP) approach, where only the propionate and not the DMS moiety of DMSP was 13C-labelled, was strategically applied to identify key microorganisms actively using DMSP and also likely DMS as a carbon source, and their catabolic enzymes, in North Sea water. Metagenomic analysis of natural seawater suggested that Rhodobacterales (Roseobacter group) and SAR11 bacteria were the major microorganisms degrading DMSP via demethylation and, to a lesser extent, DddP-driven DMSP lysis pathways. However, neither Rhodobacterales and SAR11 bacteria nor their DMSP catabolic genes were prominently labelled in DNA-SIP experiments, suggesting they use DMSP as a sulfur source and/or in signalling pathways, and not primarily for carbon requirements. Instead, DNA-SIP identified gammaproteobacterial Oceanospirillales, e.g. Amphritea, and their DMSP lyase DddD as the dominant microorganisms/enzymes using DMSP as a carbon source. Supporting this, most gammaproteobacterial (with DddD) but few alphaproteobacterial seawater isolates grew on DMSP as sole carbon source and produced DMS. Furthermore, our DNA-SIP strategy also identified Methylophaga and other Piscirickettsiaceae as key bacteria likely using the DMS, generated from DMSP lysis, as a carbon source. Conclusions: This is the first study to use DNA-SIP with 13C-labelled DMSP and, in a novel way, it identifies the dominant microbes utilising DMSP and DMS as carbon sources. It highlights that whilst metagenomic analyses of marine environments can predict microorganisms/genes that degrade DMSP and DMS based on their abundance, it cannot disentangle those using these important organosulfur compounds for their carbon requirements. Note, the most abundant DMSP degraders, e.g. Rhodobacterales with DmdA, are not always the key microorganisms using DMSP for carbon and releasing DMS, which in this coastal system were Oceanospirillales containing DddD. [MediaObject not available: see fulltext.]

Coordination of DC power flow controllers and AC/DC converters on optimising the delivery of wind power

The generation of offshore wind power is less predictable. This can cause the overload of offshore DC transmission system and thus requires the curtailment of wind power. To reduce the amount of wind power curtailment, a method of optimising DC power flow using DC power flow controller (DC-PFC) is proposed. The analytical expression of coordinating DC-PFCs and converters in controlling the power flow of the DC system has been created. Method has been developed to optimise the power flow of DC grids within which control setting changes automatically in different wind conditions to reduce both the power curtailment and power losses. The proposed method has been demonstrated and validated on a 9-port DC system. It is concluded that both the curtailment of wind power and power losses are effectively reduced by inserting DC-PFCs into DC grids

Interleukin-33 predicts poor prognosis and promotes ovarian cancer cell growth and metastasis through regulating ERK and JNK signaling pathways

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecological cancer, it remains a huge challenge to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the aggressive behavior of EOC cells. Here we investigated the role of an immunomodulatory cytokine IL-33 and its receptor ST2 in mediating the growth and metastasis of EOC. Our data show that both IL-33 and ST2 were highly up-regulated in EOC tumors compared with normal ovary and ovarian benign tumors, and the expression levels were further increased in tumor tissues at the metastatic site. The expression levels of IL-33 and ST2 were positively correlated with the Ki-67 expression, and negatively correlated with the patient survival time. Using EOC cell lines, we observed that cells knocked down of IL-33 gene by siRNA had reduced migratory and invasive potential, while full length human IL-33 (fl-hIL-33) promoted the invasive, migratory and proliferative capacity of EOC cells and this process could be inhibited by IL-33 decoy receptor sST2. Signaling pathway analysis suggested that IL-33 increased the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK which was blocked by sST2. Fl-hIL-33-induced increases in EOC cell migration, invasive potential and proliferation were specifically abrogated by treatment with the ERK inhibitor U0126 while JNK inhibitor SP600125 only disrupted IL-33-induced enhancement of cell viability. Taken together, our data suggest that IL-33/ST2 axis closely associates with poor prognosis of EOC patients, and it promotes ovarian cancer growth and metastasis through regulating ERK and JNK signaling pathways. Thus IL-33/ST2 might be potential prognosis markers and therapeutic targets for EOC patients

Bacterial dimethylsulfoniopropionate biosynthesis in the East China Sea

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is one of Earth’s most abundant organosulfur molecules. Recently, many marine heterotrophic bacteria were shown to produce DMSP, but few studies have combined culture-dependent and independent techniques to study their abundance, distribution, diversity and activity in seawater or sediment environments. Here we investigate bacterial DMSP production potential in East China Sea (ECS) samples. Total DMSP (DMSPt) concentration in ECS seawater was highest in surface waters (SW) where phytoplankton were most abundant, and it decreased with depth to near bottom waters. However, the percentage of DMSPt mainly apportioned to bacteria increased from the surface to the near bottom water. The highest DMSP concentration was detected in ECS oxic surface sediment (OSS) where phytoplankton were not abundant. Bacteria with the genetic potential to produce DMSP and relevant biosynthesis gene transcripts were prominent in all ECS seawater and sediment samples. Their abundance also increased with depth and was highest in the OSS samples. Microbial enrichments for DMSP-producing bacteria from sediment and seawater identified many novel taxonomic groups of DMSP-producing bacteria. Different profiles of DMSP-producing bacteria existed between seawater and sediment samples and there are still novel DMSP-producing bacterial groups to be discovered in these environments. This study shows that heterotrophic bacteria significantly contribute to the marine DMSP pool and that their contribution increases with water depth and is highest in seabed surface sediment where DMSP catabolic potential is lowest. Furthermore, distinct bacterial groups likely produce DMSP in seawater and sediment samples, and many novel producing taxa exist, especially in the sediment

Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults

Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities(.)(1,2) This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity(3-6). Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean BMI segregated by place of residence (a rural or urban area) from 1985 to 2017. We show that, contrary to the dominant paradigm, more than 55% of the global rise in mean BMI from 1985 to 2017-and more than 80% in some low- and middle-income regions-was due to increases in BMI in rural areas. This large contribution stems from the fact that, with the exception of women in sub-Saharan Africa, BMI is increasing at the same rate or faster in rural areas than in cities in low- and middle-income regions. These trends have in turn resulted in a closing-and in some countries reversal-of the gap in BMI between urban and rural areas in low- and middle-income countries, especially for women. In high-income and industrialized countries, we noted a persistently higher rural BMI, especially for women. There is an urgent need for an integrated approach to rural nutrition that enhances financial and physical access to healthy foods, to avoid replacing the rural undernutrition disadvantage in poor countries with a more general malnutrition disadvantage that entails excessive consumption of low-quality calories.Peer reviewe