Seasonal Changes and Vertical Distribution of Fine Root Biomass During Vegetation Restoration in a Karst Area, Southwest China

In karst ecosystems, plants absorbing smaller amounts of nutrients, owing to shallow soil, show limited growth. In addition, fine roots (diameter < 2 mm) contribute to the regulation of nutrient cycles in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the spatial and temporal variations of fine root biomass in different vegetation types of the karst region remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the seasonal and vertical variation in biomass, necromass, and total mass of fine roots using sequential soil coring under different stages of vegetation restoration (grassland, shrubland, secondary forest, and primary forest) in Southwest China. The results showed that the fine root biomass and necromass ranged from 136.99 to 216.18 g m−2 and 47.34 to 86.94 g m−2, respectively. The total mass of fine roots and their production ranged from 187.00 to 303.11 g m−2 and 55.74 to 100.84 g m−2 year−1, respectively. They showed a single peak across the vegetation restoration gradient. The fine root biomass and total fine root mass also showed a single peak with seasonal change. In autumn, the fine root biomass was high, whereas the necromass was low. Most of the fine roots were concentrated in the surface soil layer (0–10 cm), which accounted more than 57% root biomass, and decreased with increasing soil depth. In addition, fine root production showed a similar vertical pattern of variation with biomass. Overall, our results suggested that fine roots show clear seasonal and vertical changes with vegetation succession. Moreover, there was a higher seasonal fluctuation and a greater vertical decreasing trend in late-successional stages than in the early-successional stages. The conversion of degraded land to forest could improve the productivity of underground ecosystems and vegetation restoration projects in the fragile karst region should, therefore, continue

Habitat associations of woody plant species in evergreen–deciduous broadleaf karst forests in southwest China

The effects of habitat filtering on community assembly have been extensively researched, and topography has been identified as a critical factor influencing the spatial distribution of trees. In this study, a 25-ha plot was established in karst evergreen–deciduous broadleaf forests in southwestern China. Eight topographical factors were used to divide plots into four habitat types, i.e., hilltop, steep slope, gentle slope, and depression, using a multivariate regression tree. A total of 85 evergreen and deciduous tree species were recorded in these four habitats and classified into three life stages, the differentiation of which was assessed using torus-translation tests. A total of 65 species significantly positively associated with at least one habitat and 79 species significantly negatively associated with at least one habitat were identified. Most species, whether evergreen or deciduous, exhibited a positive correlation with steep slopes, whereas relatively few species were adapted to depressions. Moreover, the percentage of evergreen species positively associated with hilltops and steep slopes was higher than that of deciduous species. Both evergreen and deciduous species showed an increasing percentage of positive correlation with hilltops from the sapling stage to the mature stage. However, more evergreen species grew on steep slopes in the sapling stage, whereas deciduous species grew in the mature stage. Canonical correspondence was used to analyze the relationship between species and the eight topographical factors. Regardless of life form or life stage, results showed that species distribution was significantly affected by topography. Furthermore, the distribution of evergreen species on sapling-stage trees was found to be more influenced by topography, whereas deciduous species were more influenced by topography in the mature stage. Finally, elevation was identified as the most crucial topographical factor affecting species distribution

Knockdown of hTERT and Treatment with BIBR1532 Inhibit Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Endometrial Cancer Cells

Telomerase activity and expression of the catalytic protein hTERT are associated with cell proliferation and advanced stage in endometrial cancer. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of inhibition of hTERT by siRNA and BIBR1532 on cell growth, apoptosis and invasion in endometrial cancer cells. Knockdown of hTERT or treatment of the cells with BIBR1532 decreased telomerase activity, inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and reduced cell invasion in Ishikawa and ECC-1 cells. Either hTERT siRNA or BIBR1532 in combination with paclitaxel promoted a synergistic inhibitory effect on cell growth through induction of Annexin V expression and a remarkable reduction in cell invasion through reduction of protein expression of MMP9, MMP2, and MMP3. Increased telomerase activity and hTERT protein expression by transfections enhanced the protein expression of MMPs and increased the cell invasion ability. BIBR1532 significantly antagonized cell invasion induced by increased hTERT expression. These findings suggest that telomerase and hTERT facilitate cell invasion via MMP family in human endometrial cancer cells

Cooperation of B Cell Lineages in Induction of HIV-1-Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies

Development of strategies for induction of HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) by vaccines is a priority. Determining the steps of bnAb induction in HIV-1-infected individuals who make bnAbs is a key strategy for immunogen design. Here we study the B cell response in a bnAb-producing individual, and report cooperation between two B cell lineages to drive bnAb development. We isolated an autologous virus-neutralizing antibody lineage that targeted an envelope region (loop D) and selected virus escape mutants that resulted in both enhanced bnAb lineage envelope binding and escape mutant neutralization—traits associated with increased B cell antigen drive. Thus, in this individual, two B cell lineages cooperated to induce the development of bnAbs. Design of vaccine immunogens that simultaneously drive both autologous and broadly neutralizing B cell lineages may be important for vaccine-induced recapitulation of events that transpire during the maturation of neutralizing antibodies in HIV-1-infected individuals

Electromechanical phase transition of a dielectric elastomer tube under internal pressure of constant mass

The electromechanical phase transition for a dielectric elastomer (DE) tube has been demonstrated in recent experiments, where it is found that the unbulged phase gradually changed into bulged phase. Previous theoretical works only studied the transition process under pressure control condition, which is not consistent with the real experimental condition. This paper focuses on more complex features of the electromechanical phase transition under internal pressure of constant mass. We derive the equilibrium equations and the condition for coexistent states for a DE tube under an internal pressure, a voltage through the thickness and an axial force. We find that under mass control condition the voltage needed to maintain the phase transition increases as the process proceeds. We analyze the entire process of electromechanical phase transition and find that the evolution of configurations is also different from that for pressure control condition

Electrochemical Performance of Li_(3.22)Na_(0.569)Mn_(5.78)O_(12.0)

以L iOH.H2O和Mn(CH3COO)2.2H2O作原料,应用微波-固相两段烧结法合成具有L i4Mn5O12结构特征,组成为L i3.22Na0.569Mn5.78O12.0的锂离子电池正极材料.XRD分析表明,在380℃的后处理温度下,微波烧结前处理有利于生成纯L i4Mn5O12尖晶石相.充放电实验表明,在4.5~2.5V电压区间,新制样品的初始放电容量为132 mAh.g-1,100循环的容量衰减率为6.8%;4个月存放样的初始放电容量为122 mAh.g-1,100循环的容量衰减率为17.4%.表现出较好的充放电性能和循环寿命.微波烧结使样品的Mn-O键被加强.By selecting LiOH·H_(2)O and Mn(CH_(3)COO)_(2)2H_(2)O as starting-materials,the positive materials with the structure characterization of Li_(4)Mn_(5)O_(12)and composition of Li_(3.22)Na_(0.569)Mn_(5.78)O_(12.0)were prepared by two-phase sintering method consisted of microwave and solid-state sintering processes.XRD patterns data showed that a pure Li_(4)Mn_(5)O_(12)phase was obtained by the fore-treatment of microwave sintering and the post-treatment of the solid-state sintering at 380℃.The charge-discharge tests showed that the newly prepared sample exhibited an initial capacity of 132 mAh·g~(-1)and its capacity faded after 100 cycles was 6.8% lower as compared with 1st cycle capacity in the voltage range of 4.5 to 2.5 V.The sample stored for 4 months exhibited an initial capacity of 122 mAh·g~(-1)and its capacity faded after 100 cycles was 17.4% lower than its 1st cycle capacity in the same voltage range.The Mn-O bond of the sample strengthened by microwave sintering process.作者联系地址：福建师范大学化学与材料学院,厦门大学固体表面物理化学国家重点实验室,福建师范大学化学与材料学院 福建福州350007,厦门大学固体表面物理化学国家重点实验室,福建厦门361005,福建厦门361005,福建福州350007Author's Address: 1,2,YANG Yong~2,LIAN Jin-ming~21.College of Chemistry and Materials,Fujian Normal University,Fuzhou 350007,China,2.State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface,Xiamen University,Xiamen 361005,Chin

Stand Structure and Abiotic Factors Modulate Karst Forest Biomass in Southwest China

Understanding the driving factors of forest biomass are critical for further understanding the forest carbon cycle and carbon storage management in karst forests. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of forest aboveground biomass (AGB) and the effects of stand structural and abiotic factors on AGB in karst forests in Southwest China. We established a 25 ha plot and sampled all trees (≥1 cm diameter) in a subtropical mixed evergreen–deciduous broadleaf forest. We mapped the forest biomass distribution and applied a variation of partitioning analysis to examine the topographic, stand structural, and spatial factors. Furthermore, we used structural equation models (SEM) to test how these variables directly and/or indirectly affect AGB. The average AGB of the 25 ha plot was 73.92 Mg/ha, but that varied from 3.22 to 198.11 Mg/ha in the 20 m × 20 m quadrats. Topographic, stand structural, and spatial factors together explained 67.7% of the variation in AGB distribution. The structural variables (including tree density and the diameter at breast height (DBH) diversity) and topographic factors (including elevation, VDCN (vertical distance to channel network), convexity, and slope) were the most crucial driving factors of AGB in the karst forests. Structural equation models indicated that elevation, tree density, and DBH diversity directly affected AGB, and elevation also indirectly affected AGB through tree density and DBH diversity. Meanwhile, AGB was indirectly influenced by VDCN, convexity, and slope. The evaluation of stand structural and abiotic drivers of AGB provides better insights into the mechanisms that play a role in carbon storage in karst forests, which may assist in improving forest carbon management

Changes in vegetation after 22 years\u27 natural restoration in the Karst disturbed area in northwestern Guangxi, China

Variations of plant vegetation and spatial distribution were investigated in the areas of 4 types of typical disturbance, which had been under natural restoration for 22 years in the Karst area in northwestern Guangxi while the climax plant community was utilized as control. The slope scale and disturbance theory were used to study the plant diversity in the whole area and selected plots. It is clear that the disturbance had resulted in severe loss of plant species, and only 241 species of vascular plants that belong to 91 families and 206 genera survived in disturbed areas, accounting only for 26.6% of those in the natural reserve area. The consequent succession of 6 types of plant vegetation was sparse grass of rocky desertification, grass, shrub, liana-shrub, deciduous broad-leaved forest and mixed segment of evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forest. The height, coverage, biomass and species diversity of plants decreased sharply with slope elevating, and the plant density appeared with normal distribution. Compared with the natural reserve area, all indices of plant vegetation in disturbed areas were much worse. Furthermore, different types of disturbance showed various affections on natural vegetative restoration, among which tilling after the whole slope was set on fire caused the worst impact and rocky desertification was the consequence, followed by depasturing after the whole slope was set on fire. Cutting was selective disturbance, and the vegetative restoration in the area with combination of cutting, grazing and setting on fire on the upper slope was relatively fast; however, it was even better in the area with combination of cutting and setting the upper slope on fire. In our studies, 4 strategies for vegetative recovery, using both natural and artificial approaches, were established, which were suitable for the Karst area in northwestern Guangxi

Spatial distribution of surface soil water content under different vegetation types in northwest Guangxi, China

Abstract Geostatistical and statistical analyses were combined to examine the spatial distribution of soil water content under four vegetation types during the dry season, in the peak-cluster depression in the karst region in northwest Guangxi, southwest China. The soil water content significantly increased from farmland to plantation, secondary forest, and primary forest; whereas the variation coefficients, the sill (C 0 ?C), and total spatial variance increased, although the range decreased. The spatial distribution of soil water content in the different vegetation types had a high spatial autocorrelation. Different models produced a best fit for the semivariograms of the four vegetation types. Elevation and slope position were the primary factors influencing the spatial distribution of soil water content, with other key factors differing between the four vegetation types. Moreover, even though different specific factors influenced soil water content in the four vegetation types, the correlations and degrees of associations between the soil water content and these various factors differed. Therefore, the corresponding strategies for rational usage and management of water resources should be different for the four vegetation types in this region