Cover crops and chicken grazing in a winter fallow field improve soil carbon and nitrogen contents and decrease methane emissions

© The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Zheng, H., Zhou, L., Wei, J., Tang, Q., Zou, Y., Tang, J., & Xu, H. Cover crops and chicken grazing in a winter fallow field improve soil carbon and nitrogen contents and decrease methane emissions. Scientific Reports, 10(1), (2020): 12607, doi:10.1038/s41598-020-69407-y.Using symbiotic farming methods [cover crops and chicken grazing (+ C)] in a winter fallow field, we found that the soil organic matter and total nitrogen of the + C treatment were 5.2% and 26.6% higher, respectively, than those of a treatment with cover crops and no chicken grazing (− C). The annual rice grain yield of the + C treatment was 3.8% higher than that of the − C treatment and 12.3% higher than that of the bare fallow field (CK), while the annual CH4 emissions of the + C treatment were 26.9% lower than those of the − C treatment and 10.6% lower than those of the CK treatment. The 100-year global warming potential of the + C treatment was 6.2% lower than that of the − C treatment. Therefore, the use of winter cover crops and chicken grazing in a winter fallow field was effective at reducing CH4 emissions and significantly improving soil nutrients and rice yield.This study was supported by the Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System (CARS-01-26), the China-UK joint Red Soil Critical Zone project from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41571130053), and Hunan “A Hundred Scholars” Program

Core-Shell Structured Polyamide 66 Nanofibers with Enhanced Flame Retardancy

We report the preparation of polymer nanofibers with enhanced flame retardancy by coaxial electrospinning polyamide 66 (PA 66) and nanoscale graphene hybridized with red phosphorus (NG-RP). Transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the nanofibers contained a NG-RP-based core surrounded by a PA 66 shell. The flame-retardant characteristics of the nanofibers were investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis, micro combustion calorimetry, and a series of vertical flame tests. The encapsulation of the NG-RP not only enhanced the flame-retardant characteristics of the nanofibers, but also improved their mechanical properties while maintaining the color and luster of the polymer, making the resultant nanofibers appropriate for use in a wide range of applications

Antiproliferation and cell apoptosis inducing bioactivities of constituents from Dysosma versipellis in PC3 and Bcap-37 cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recently, interest in phytochemicals from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs with the capability to inhibit cancer cells growth and proliferation has been growing rapidly due to their nontoxic nature. <it>Dysosma versipellis </it>as Bereridaceae plants is an endemic species in China, which has been proved to be an important Chinese herbal medicine because of its biological activity. However, systematic and comprehensive studies on the phytochemicals from <it>Dysosma versipellis </it>and their bioactivity are limited.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifteen compounds were isolated and characterized from the roots of <it>Dysosma versipellis</it>, among which six compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. The inhibitory activities of these compounds were investigated on tumor cells PC3, Bcap-37 and BGC-823 <it>in vitro </it>by MTT method, and the results showed that podophyllotoxone (PTO) and 4'-demethyldeoxypodophyllotoxin (DDPT) had potent inhibitory activities against the growth of human carcinoma cell lines. Subsequent fluorescence staining and flow cytometry analysis indicated that these two compounds could induce apoptosis in PC3 and Bcap-37 cells, and the apoptosis ratios reached the peak (12.0% and 14.1%) after 72 h of treatment at 20 <it>μ</it>M, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study suggests that most of the compounds from the roots of <it>D. versipellis </it>could inhibit the growth of human carcinoma cells. In addition, PTO and DDPT could induce apoptosis of tumor cells.</p

Association of cluster determinant 36, scavenger receptor class B type 1, and major facilitator superfamily domain containing the 2a genetic polymorphism with serum lipid profile in aging population with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background Lipid metabolism disorder commonly happens in subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which may be linked to genetic variants of lipid metabolism-related genes. However, few studies have explored the relationship between lipid metabolism-related gene polymorphism and serum lipid profile in aging subjects with T2DM. The present study was designed to explore the impact of genetic polymorphism of cluster determinant 36 (CD36) (rs1049673, rs1054516, rs2151916), scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SCARB1) (rs5888), and major facilitator superfamily domain containing the 2a (MFSD2A) (rs12083239, rs4233508, rs12072037) on the relationship between circulating lipids in aging subjects with T2DM. Methods 205 T2DM patients and 205 age and gender matched control subjects were recruited. Information on demographic characteristics was collected by using a self-administered questionnaire. Fasting venous blood samples were taken for lipid-related gene genotyping and serum lipid profile measurement. The Chi-square test was used to compare percentage differences and to calculate P-value for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Logistic regression and multiple linear regression were used to explore the risk or correlation between variables, and general linear model (GLM) was used to compare the means of serum lipids between the groups. Results In T2DM group, CD36 rs1054516 and MFSD2A rs12072037 were correlated with serum TC level. In control group, CD36 rs1049673 was correlated with serum HDL-C level. Meanwhile, T2DM subjects with MFSD2A rs12083239 (CG), MFSD2A rs4233508 (TT), and MFSD2A rs12072037 (AA) had higher TG level than control subjects. T2DM subjects with CD36 rs1049673 (CG, GG), CD36 rs1054516 (CT), CD36 rs2151916 (TT, CT), SCARB1 rs5888 (GG), MFSD2A rs12083239 (GG, CG), MFSD2A rs4233508 (TT), and MFSD2A rs12072037 (CA, AA) had lower HDL-C level than control subjects. T2DM subjects with MFSD2A rs12072037 (AA) had lower LDL-C level than control subjects. In dominant model, major genotype (GG) of SCARB1 gene was associated with the risk of T2DM (OR = 0.636, P = 0.032). Conclusion The genetic polymorphism of CD36 (rs1049673, rs1054516, rs2151916), SCARB1 (rs5888), and MFSD2A (rs12083239, rs4233508, rs12072037) were associated with serum lipids in T2DM subjects. The SCARB1 rs5888 major genotype (GG) was a protective factor for T2DM. Large scale cohort study is required to determine the relationship between lipid metabolism-related gene polymorphism, serum lipid profile and T2DM in aging subjects

Stiffness of Substrate Influences the Distribution but not the Synthesis of Autophagosomes in Human Liver (LO2) Cells

Extracellular matrix (ECM) often becomes stiffer during tumor development, which not only gives the tumor's hardness feel but also actively contributes to the tumor formation. A good example is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that usually develops within chronically stiffened liver tissues due to fibrosis and cirrhosis. On the other hand, HCC cells exhibit reduced autophagy in a malignancy dependent manner, suggesting autophagy is suppressed during tumor development. However, it is not known whether ECM stiffness would influence autophagy during tumor development. To investigate this issue, We cultured the human liver (LO2) cells that stably expressed autophagosome indicator LC3 on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) gels with stiffness varying from 11 to 1220 kPa. and on plastic cell culture dish as controls for up to 48h. We found that the total protein level of LC3-II in LO2 cells was not affected by the substrate stiffness. However the autophagosomes in LO2 cells cultured on the soft substrate (11 kPa PDMS gel) were localized and accumulated around the nucleus, while those on the stiff substrate (1220 kPa PDMS gel or plastic dish surface) were dispersed throughout the cytoplasmic space. Therefore, our data suggest that ECM stiffness may not directly synthesize nascent autophagosomes, but instead influence the location/translocation and ultimately distribution of autophagosomes in the cells

Vegetable and fruit juice enhances antioxidant capacity and regulates antioxidant gene expression in rat liver, brain and colon

Abstract To explore the effect of fruit and vegetable (FV) juice on biomarkers of oxidative damage and antioxidant gene expression in rats, 36 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, low FV juice dosage or high FV juice dosage treatment groups. The rats were given freshly extracted FV juice or the same volume of saline water daily for five weeks. After intervention, serum and tissues specimens were collected for biomarker and gene expression measurement. FV juice intervention increased total antioxidant capacity, glutathione, vitamin C, b-carotene, total polyphenols, flavonoids levels andglutathione peroxidaseenzyme activity in rat serum or tissues (p &lt; 0.05). FV juice intervention caused reduction of malondialdehyde levels in rat liver (p &lt; 0.05) and significantly modulated transcript levels of glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase l (NQO1)in rat liver and brain (p &lt; 0.05). The results underline the potential of FV juice to improve the antioxidant capacity and to prevent the oxidative damage in liver, brain and colon

Vegetable and fruit juice enhances antioxidant capacity and regulates antioxidant gene expression in rat liver, brain and colon

Abstract To explore the effect of fruit and vegetable (FV) juice on biomarkers of oxidative damage and antioxidant gene expression in rats, 36 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, low FV juice dosage or high FV juice dosage treatment groups. The rats were given freshly extracted FV juice or the same volume of saline water daily for five weeks. After intervention, serum and tissues specimens were collected for biomarker and gene expression measurement. FV juice intervention increased total antioxidant capacity, glutathione, vitamin C, b-carotene, total polyphenols, flavonoids levels andglutathione peroxidaseenzyme activity in rat serum or tissues (p &lt; 0.05). FV juice intervention caused reduction of malondialdehyde levels in rat liver (p &lt; 0.05) and significantly modulated transcript levels of glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase l (NQO1)in rat liver and brain (p &lt; 0.05). The results underline the potential of FV juice to improve the antioxidant capacity and to prevent the oxidative damage in liver, brain and colon

Single-base methylome profiling of the giant kelp Saccharina japonica reveals significant differences in DNA methylation to microalgae and plants

Brown algae have convergently evolved plant-like body plans and reproductive cycles, which in plants are controlled by differential DNA methylation. This contribution provides the first single-base methylome profiles of haploid gametophytes and diploid sporophytes of a multicellular alga. Although only c. 1.4% of cytosines in Saccharina japonica were methylated mainly at CHH sites and characterized by 5-methylcytosine (5mC), there were significant differences between life-cycle stages. DNA methyltransferase 2 (DNMT2), known to efficiently catalyze tRNA methylation, is assumed to methylate the genome of S. japonica in the structural context of tRNAs as the genome does not encode any other DNA methyltransferases. Circular and long noncoding RNA genes were the most strongly methylated regulatory elements in S. japonica. Differential expression of genes was negatively correlated with DNA methylation with the highest methylation levels measured in both haploid gametophytes. Hypomethylated and highly expressed genes in diploid sporophytes included genes involved in morphogenesis and halogen metabolism. The data herein provide evidence that cytosine methylation, although occurring at a low level, is significantly contributing to the formation of different life-cycle stages, tissue differentiation and metabolism in brown algae

Gender-specific association of SLC19A1 and MTHFR genetic polymorphism with oxidative stress biomarkers and plasma folate levels in older adults

Background Plasma folate levels are closely related to antioxidant capacity and are regulated by folate pathway gene polymorphism. However, few studies have explored the gender-specific association of folate pathway gene polymorphism with oxidative stress biomarkers. The present study was designed to explore the gender-specific independent and combined impacts of solute carrier family 19 member 1 (SLC19A1) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genetic polymorphisms on oxidative stress biomarkers in older adults. Methods A total of 401 subjects were recruited, including 145 males and 256 females. Demographic characteristics of the participants were collected by using a self-administered questionnaire. Fasting venous blood samples were taken for folate pathway gene genotyping, circulating lipids parameters and erythrocyte oxidative stress biomarkers measurement. The difference of genotype distribution and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was calculated by the Chi-square test. The general linear model was applied to compare the plasma folate levels and erythrocyte oxidative stress biomarkers. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the correlation between genetic risk scores and oxidative stress biomarkers. Logistic regression was used to explore the association of genetic risk scores of folate pathway gene with folate deficiency. Results The male subjects have lower plasma folate and HDL-C levels than the female ones, and the male carrying MTHFR rs1801133 (CC) or MTHFR rs2274976 (GA) genotypes have higher erythrocyte SOD activity. The plasma folate levels, erythrocyte SOD and GSH-PX activities were negatively correlated with genetic risk scores in the male subjects. A positive correlation between the genetic risk scores and folate deficiency was observed in the male subjects. Conclusions There was association between folate pathway gene polymorphism of Solute Carrier Family 19 Member 1 (SLC19A1) and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) with erythrocyte SOD and GSH-PX activities, and folate levels in male but not in female aging subjects. Genetic variant of genes involved in folate metabolism has strong impact on plasma folate levels in the male aging subjects. Our data demonstrated that there was a potential interaction of gender and its genetic background in affecting the body's antioxidant capacity and the risk of folate deficiency in aging subjects