Induction of RNAi core machinery's gene expression by exogenous dsRNA and the effects of pre-exposure to dsRNA on the gene silencing efficiency in the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum)

The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is an important agricultural pest and biological model organism, and RNA interference (RNAi) is an important tool for functional genomics and for insect pest management. However, the efficiency of RNAi in pea aphids is variable, limiting its application in aphids. In this study, we present optimized conditions for inducing and increasing the gene silencing efficiency of RNAi in pea aphids. The optimal gene silencing of the target Aphunchback gene was achieved by injecting 600 ng double-stranded (ds) RNA, and the highest mRNA depletion rate (74%) was detected at 36 h after injection. Moreover, the same gene silencing conditions were used to achieve transcript silencing for nine different genes in the pea aphid, although the silencing efficiencies for the different genes varied. Furthermore, the pre-exposure of aphids to dsRNA (600 ng dsGFP) led to significant hunchback silencing following a secondary exposure to 60 ng of dshunchback, a dose which did not lead to gene silencing when independently injected. The information presented here can be exploited to develop more efficient RNAi bioassays for pea aphids, both as gene functional study tools and an insect pest control strategy

Observation-based global soil heterotrophic respiration indicates underestimated turnover and sequestration of soil carbon by terrestrial ecosystem models

This study is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number: 41988101), National Key R&D Program of China (2019YFA0607304), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number: 42022004 and 41901085) and the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (2019QZKK0606).Peer reviewedPostprin

Projected soil carbon loss with warming in constrained Earth system models

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42230411), the NSFC project Basic Science Centre for Tibetan Plateau Earth System (41988101), the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (2019QZKK0606), the Science and Technology Plan Project of Tibet Autonomous Region (XZ202201ZY0015G), and Innovation Program for Young Scholars of TPESER (TPESER-QNCX2022ZD-02). We also acknowledge the support of Kathmandu Center for Research and Education, Chinese Academy of Sciences—Tribhuvan University.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Effects of afforestation on soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation depend on initial soil nitrogen status

Long-term carbon (C) sequestration in terrestrial vegetation and soil is mediated by soil nitrogen (N) supply. Afforestation is regarded as a global-scale solution to climate change; thus, resolving the role of N in either facilitating or reducing the long-term C benefits of this practice has essential implications to maximize its C sink potential. The impacts of afforestation on soil C, N, and their stoichiometric ratio have been widely explored but what regulates these impacts remains unclear at regional and global scales. In this study, we conducted an intensive field sampling investigation including 610 pairs of afforested and control plots in northern China and extensively compiled a global data set containing 211 afforested-control pairs worldwide to evaluate responses of soil N concentrations and C:N ratios to afforestation and further explored their major regulator. We identified a soil N threshold, the inflection point where afforestation changes from increasing to decreasing soil C and N, which was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.81-0.91) kg N m−2 in 0-1 m depth. Changes in soil C:N ratios with afforestation were mediated by initial relative abundance of soil C and N and types of mycorrhiza associated with planted trees. Increases in soil C:N were mostly driven by trees with ectomycorrhizal associations but did not change for those associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. These results provide a data-based understanding on soil C and N dynamics following afforestation and its underlying mechanisms and further highlight the importance of site selection based on initial soil properties in future afforestation

The paleoclimatic footprint in the soil carbon stock of the Tibetan permafrost region

Data and code availability The authors declare that the majority of the data supporting the findings of this study are available through the links given in the paper. The unpublished data are available from the corresponding author upon request. The new estimate of Tibetan soil carbon stock and R code are available in a persistent repository (https://figshare.com/s/4374f28d880f366eff6d). Acknowledgements This study was supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program (A) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA20050101), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41871104), Key Research and Development Programs for Global Change and Adaptation (2017YFA0603604), International Partnership Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (131C11KYSB20160061) and the Thousand Youth Talents Plan project in China. Jinzhi Ding acknowledges the General (2017M620922) and the Special Grade (2018T110144) of the Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Decadal soil carbon accumulation across Tibetan permafrost regions

Acknowledgements We thank the members of Peking University Sampling Teams (2001–2004) and IBCAS Sampling Teams (2013–2014) for assistance in field data collection. We also thank the Forestry Bureau of Qinghai Province and the Forestry Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region for their permission and assistance during the sampling process. This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31670482 and 31322011), National Basic Research Program of China on Global Change (2014CB954001 and 2015CB954201), Chinese Academy of Sciences-Peking University Pioneer Cooperation Team, and the Thousand Young Talents Program.Peer reviewedPostprintPostprin

Blockchain or Not? Optimal Decisions for Food Retailers Considering Consumer Expertise

Abstract This paper studies the benefit of the blockchain food traceability system (BFTS). Based on game theory and the willingness-to-pay model, pricing models are formulated considering important factors like the proportion of consumer with high expertise in traceability, risk attitude to doubtful traceability information and perceived convenience of traceability information checking. By compared the optimal total welfare under the BFTS and that under the traditional food traceability system in valuation analysis, conditions where applying the BFTS is more valuable than applying the TFTS are figured out. Finally, insightful management implications are given.</jats:p