Chemical Composition, Antibacterial Activity, and Synergistic Effects with Conventional Antibiotics and Nitric Oxide Production Inhibitory Activity of Essential Oil from Geophila repens (L.) I.M. Johnst

Geophila repens (L.) I.M. Johnst, a perennial herb, belongs to the Rubiaceae family. In this study, we identified the chemical composition of the Geophila repens essential oil (GR-EO) for the first time. Totally, seventy-seven compounds were identified according to GC and GC-MS, which represent 98.0% of the oil. And the major components of GR-EO were β-caryophyllene (23.3%), β-elemene (8.0%), farnesyl butanoate (7.4%), myrcene (3.5%), and trans-nerolidol (3.3%). Then we evaluated the antibacterial activities of GR-EO and the synergistic effects of GR-EO in combination with commercial antibiotics using the microdilution and Checkerboard method. The results demonstrated that GR-EO possessed an excellent broad spectrum antibacterial activity, especially against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. It also showed that the combined application of GR-EO with antibiotics led to synergistic effects in most cases. And the most prominent synergistic effect was noticed when GR-EO was in combination with Streptomycin and tested against Escherichia coli (fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICI) of 0.13). Additionally, the results of a Griess assay revealed that GR-EO exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 (murine macrophage) cells. In conclusion, the combination of GR-EO and the commercial antibiotics has significant potential for the development of new antimicrobial treatment and reduction of drug resistance

Soil Infiltration Characteristics in Agroforestry Systems and Their Relationships with the Temporal Distribution of Rainfall on the Loess Plateau in China.

Many previous studies have shown that land use patterns are the main factors influencing soil infiltration. Thus, increasing soil infiltration and reducing runoff are crucial for soil and water conservation, especially in semi-arid environments. To explore the effects of agroforestry systems on soil infiltration and associated properties in a semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau in China, we compared three plant systems: a walnut (Juglans regia) monoculture system (JRMS), a wheat (Triticum aestivum) monoculture system (TAMS), and a walnut-wheat alley cropping system (JTACS) over a period of 11 years. Our results showed that the JTACS facilitated infiltration, and its infiltration rate temporal distribution showed a stronger relationship coupled with the rainfall temporal distribution compared with the two monoculture systems during the growing season. However, the effect of JTACS on the infiltration capacity was only significant in shallow soil layer, i.e., the 0-40 cm soil depth. Within JTACS, the speed of the wetting front's downward movement was significantly faster than that in the two monoculture systems when the amount of rainfall and its intensity were higher. The soil infiltration rate was improved, and the two peaks of soil infiltration rate temporal distribution and the rainfall temporal distribution coupled in rainy season in the alley cropping system, which has an important significance in soil and water conservation. The results of this empirical study provide new insights into the sustainability of agroforestry, which may help farmers select rational planting patterns in this region, as well as other regions with similar climatic and environmental characteristics throughout the world

Analysis of urban agglomeration structure through spatial network and mobile phone data

Urban agglomeration is an important strategy used to promote economic development and urbanization in China. Understanding the structure of urban agglomeration is therefore essential for policy-makers and planners. In this study, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration (BTHUG) is explored through a proposed spatial network analytical framework and a large mobile phone data set (over 20 million users). We first construct a weight-directed spatial interaction network based on an origin–destination matrix derived from the data set. Several network metrics (i.e., degree, strength, the rich-club coefficient, and the assortativity coefficient) and three selected community detection algorithms (i.e., Infomap, Louvain, and Regionalization) are applied and compared to reveal the structure of the BTHUG. A four-level hierarchical structure is defined and observed: one global center, two local centers, major cities that have low mobility flow but strong linkages with the three centers, and peripheral cities that have low mobility flow and weak linkages with the three centers. In particular, the results imply that the spatial structure of the BTHUG is over-dependent on the global center (i.e., Beijing and northern Langfang). Further, ignoring spatial interaction patterns in top-down administrative planning for urban agglomeration may lead to ineffective integrated development. The implications for BTHUG planning are discussed

Analysis of urban agglomeration structure through spatial network and mobile phone data

Urban agglomeration is an important strategy used to promote economic development and urbanization in China. Understanding the structure of urban agglomeration is therefore essential for policy-makers and planners. In this study, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration (BTHUG) is explored through a proposed spatial network analytical framework and a large mobile phone data set (over 20 million users). We first construct a weight-directed spatial interaction network based on an origin–destination matrix derived from the data set. Several network metrics (i.e., degree, strength, the rich-club coefficient, and the assortativity coefficient) and three selected community detection algorithms (i.e., Infomap, Louvain, and Regionalization) are applied and compared to reveal the structure of the BTHUG. A four-level hierarchical structure is defined and observed: one global center, two local centers, major cities that have low mobility flow but strong linkages with the three centers, and peripheral cities that have low mobility flow and weak linkages with the three centers. In particular, the results imply that the spatial structure of the BTHUG is over-dependent on the global center (i.e., Beijing and northern Langfang). Further, ignoring spatial interaction patterns in top-down administrative planning for urban agglomeration may lead to ineffective integrated development. The implications for BTHUG planning are discussed

Variation of the infiltration rate as the soil depth increased.

<p>Variation of the infiltration rate as the soil depth increased.</p

Time required for the wetting front to reach specific soil depths with different rainfall levels (hours).

<p>Note: Three rainfall events were observed during the observation period in 2013 (11 years), i.e., moderate rainfall of 19.7 mm on May 17, heavy rainfall of 38.4 mm on May 25, and torrential rainfall of 73.1 mm on July 17. Beginning when the rain started, the times required for the wetting front to reach different soil depths were recorded. The data represent the mean ± standard error. Different lowercase letters within a column indicate significant differences (<i>P</i> < 0.05). JTCAS: walnut (<i>Juglans regia</i>)-wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>) alley cropping system; JRMS: walnut monoculture system; TAMS: wheat monoculture system.</p><p>Time required for the wetting front to reach specific soil depths with different rainfall levels (hours).</p

Characteristics of the interannual variation of the infiltration rate.

<p>Note: different lowercase letters at the top of the column plot indicate significant differences (P < 0.05).</p

Planting arrangement and characteristics of the experimental site.

<p>Note: Characteristics of walnut trees at the experimental site during July 2013 (11years). DBH: diameter at breast height.</p><p>Planting arrangement and characteristics of the experimental site.</p

Characteristics of the infiltration rate during the growing season and its relationship with the rainfall temporal distribution.

<p>Note: JTCAS: walnut (<i>Juglans regia</i>)-wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>) alley cropping system; JRMS: walnut monoculture system; TAMS: wheat monoculture system. Different lowercase letters at the top of the column plot indicate significant differences (P < 0.05).</p