Spatial Distribution of Glomalin-related Soil Proteins in Coniferous and Broadleaf mixed Temperate Forest

Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), as an important component of soil organic carbon (SOC) pool, is a glycoprotein produced by the hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which play a vital role in carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystem. Here we investigated the spatial distribution of GRSP in plant community of the dominated species not associated with AMF based on a typical coniferous and broad-leaved temperate forest in Mt. Changbai, Northeastern China. Spatial distribution of GRSP including easily extractable GRSP (EEG) and total GRSP (TG) is represented by Moran’s I on different soil depth among seven soil layers of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm, 30-50 cm, 50-70 cm and 70-100 cm. The concentrations of EEG and TG decreased with the increase of soil depth according to a logarithmic function. The Moran’s I coefficient of GRSP was negative in all soil layers except TG in 20-30 cm and 50-70 cm soil layers. When EEG and TG were considered, the Moran’s I coefficient was positive in majority of soil layers within the separation distance of less than 4 m but in soil layers of 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm for EEG and in 30-50 cm for TG. The largest Moran’s I coefficient including EEG and TG was observed in the soil layer of 5-10 cm. The spatial distribution of GRSP was discrete in typical coniferous and broad-leaved temperate forest, and was affected by mycorrhizal colonization rate, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen

Productivity prediction of fractured horizontal wells with low permeability flow characteristics

Horizontal well and large-scale fracturing are revolutionary technologies in  petroleum industry. The technologies bring obvious economic benefits to exploiting unconventional oil and gas reservoirs with low permeability, ultra-low permeability and shale gas. With the increasingly extensive application of these technologies, other correlated technologies have also gained great development. However, low-permeability reservoirs exhibit complicated features and horizontal well fractures have complex shape. The existing methods for the productivity prediction of fractured horizontal well in low-permeability reservoirs rarely consider the influencing factors in a comprehensive manner. In this paper, a horizontal well seepage model of casing fracturing completion was established according to the superposition principle of low-permeability reservoir and the relationship between potential and pressure, by which model the seepage characteristics of low-permeability reservoirs could be fully described. Based on the established new seepage model, a new targeted model with coupling seepage and wellbore flow was established for the productivity prediction of low-permeability fractured horizontal well. Finally, the new targeted model was verified through field experiment. The experimental results confirmed the reliability of productivity prediction by the proposed model. Sensitivity analysis was then performed on the parameters in the proposed model

A novel method for objectively, rapidly and accurately evaluating burn depth via near infrared spectroscopy

The accurate and objective evaluation of burn depth is a significant challenge in burn wound care. Herein, we used near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology to measure the different depth of thermal burns in ex vivo porcine models. Based on the intensity of the spectral signals and the diffuse reflection theory, we extracted the optical parameters involved in functional (total hemoglobin and water content) and structural (tissue scattered size and scattered particles) features that reflect the changes in burn depth. Next, we applied support vector regression to construct a model including the optical property parameters and the burn depth. Finally, we histologically verified the burn depth data collected via NIRS. The results showed that our inversion model could achieve an average relative error of about 7.63%, while the NIRS technology diagnostic accuracy was in the range of 50 μm. For the first time, this novel technique provides physicians with real-time burn depth information objectively and accurately

Genetic and Biochemical Investigation of Seed Fatty Acid Accumulation in Arabidopsis

As a vegetable oil, consisting principally of triacylglycerols, is the major storage form of photosynthetically-fixed carbon in oilseeds which are of significant agricultural and industrial value. Photosynthesis in chlorophyll-containing green seeds, along with photosynthesis in leaves and other green organs, generates ATP and reductant (NADPH and NADH) needed for seed fatty acid production. However, contribution of seed photosynthesis to fatty acid accumulation in seeds have not been well-defined. Here, we report the contribution of seed-photosynthesis to fatty acid production by probing segregating green (photosynthetically-competent) and non-green or yellow (photosynthetically-non-competent) seeds in siliques of an Arabidopsis chlorophyll synthase mutant. Using this mutant, we found that yellow seeds lacking photosynthetic capacity reached 80% of amounts of oil in green seeds at maturity. Combining this with studies using shaded siliques, we determined that seed-photosynthesis accounts for 20% and silique and leaf/stem photosynthesis each account for ~40% of the ATP and reductant for seed oil production. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and pyridine nucleotides and ATP analyses revealed that seed photosynthesis provides ATP and reductant for oil production mostly during early development, as evidenced by delayed oil accumulation in non-green seeds. Transcriptomic analyses suggests that the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway could be the source of carbon, energy and reductants required for fatty acid synthesis beyond the early stages of seed development

Is Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Training a Time-Efficient Strategy to Improve Cardiometabolic Health and Body Composition? A Meta-Analysis

The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of low-volume high-intensity interval training (LV-HIIT; i.e., ≤5 min high-intensity exercise within a ≤15-min session) on cardiometabolic health and body composition. A systematic search was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to assess the effect of LV-HIIT on cardiometabolic health and body composition. Twenty-one studies (moderate to high quality) with a total of 849 participants were included in this meta-analysis. LV-HIIT increased cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF, SMD=1.19 [0.87, 1.50]) while lowering systolic blood pressure (SMD=-1.44 [-1.68, -1.20]), diastolic blood pressure (SMD=-1.51 [-1.75, -1.27]), mean arterial pressure (SMD=-1.55 [-1.80, -1.30]), MetS z-score (SMD=-0.76 [-1.02, -0.49]), fat mass (kg) (SMD=-0.22 [-0.44, 0.00]), fat mass (%) (SMD=-0.22 [-0.41, -0.02]), and waist circumference (SMD= -0.53 [-0.75, -0.31]) compared to untrained control (CONTROL). Despite a total time-commitment of LV-HIIT of only 14-47% and 45-94% compared to moderate-intensity continuous training and HV-HIIT, respectively, there were no statistically significant differences observed for any outcomes in comparisons between LV-HIIT and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) or high-volume HIIT. Significant inverse dose–responses were observed between the change in CRF with LV-HIIT and sprint repetitions (β=−0.52 [-0.76, -0.28]), high-intensity duration (β=−0.21 [-0.39, -0.02]), and total duration (β=−0.19 [-0.36, -0.02]), while higher intensity significantly improved CRF gains. LV-HIIT can improve cardiometabolic health and body composition and represent a time-efficient alternative to MICT and HV-HIIT. Performing LV-HIIT at a higher intensity drives higher CRF gains. More repetitions, longer time at high-intensity, and total session duration did not augment gains in CRF

Upregulation of MMP-13 and TIMP-1 expression in response to mechanical strain in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mechanical strain plays a significant role in the regulation of bone matrix turnover, which is mediated in part by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1. However, little is known about the correlation between mechanical strain and osteoblastic cell activities, including extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism. Herein, we determined the effect of different magnitudes of cyclic tensile strain (0%, 6%, 12%, and 18%) on MMP-13 and TIMP-1 mRNA and protein expression in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Furthermore, we employed specific inhibitors to examine the role of distinct signal transduction pathways known to mediate cellular responses to mechanical strain.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified a magnitude-dependent increase in MMP-13 and TIMP-1 mRNA and protein levels in response to mechanical strains corresponding to 6%, 12%, and 18% elongation. The strain-induced increases in MMP-13 and TIMP-1 mRNA expression were inhibited by PD098059 and cycloheximide, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest a mechanism for the regulation of bone matrix metabolism mediated by the differential expression of MMP-13 and TIMP-1 in response to increasing magnitudes of mechanical strain.</p

Proteomic response of wheat embryos to fosthiazate stress in a protected vegetable soil

A proteomic analysis of wheat defense response induced by the widely used organophosphorus nematicide fosthiazate is reported. Seed germination and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) experiments were performed using a Chinese wheat cultivar, Zhenmai No. 5. Root and shoot elongation decreased but thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content in embryos increased with increasing pesticide concentration. More than 1000 protein spots were reproducibly detected in each silver-stained gel. Thirty-seven protein spots with at least 2-fold changes were identified using MALDI-TOF MS/MS analysis. Of these, 24 spots were up-regulated and 13 were down-regulated. Proteins identified included some well-known classical stress responsive proteins under abiotic or biotic stresses as well as some unusual responsive proteins. Ten responsive proteins were reported for the first time at the proteomic level, including fatty acyl CoA reductase, dihydrodipicolinate synthase, DEAD-box ATPase-RNA-helicase, fimbriata-like protein, waxy B1, rust resistance kinase Lr10, putative 12.1 protein, retinoblastoma-related protein 1, pollen allergen-like protein and S-adenosyl-L-methionine:phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferase. The proteins identified were involved in several processes such as metabolism, defense/detoxification, cell structure/cell growth, signal transduction/transcription, photosynthesis and energy. Seven candidate proteins were further analyzed at the mRNA level by RT-PCR to compare transcript and protein accumulation patterns, revealing that not all the genes were correlated well with the protein level. Identification of these responsive proteins may provide new insight into the molecular basis of the fosthiazate-stress response in the early developmental stages of plants and may be useful in stress monitoring or stress-tolerant crop breeding for environmentally friendly agricultural production.A proteomic analysis of wheat defense response induced by the widely used organophosphorus nematicide fosthiazate is reported. Seed germination and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) experiments were performed using a Chinese wheat cultivar, Zhenmai No. 5. Root and shoot elongation decreased but thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content in embryos increased with increasing pesticide concentration. More than 1000 protein spots were reproducibly detected in each silver-stained gel. Thirty-seven protein spots with at least 2-fold changes were identified using MALDI-TOF MS/MS analysis. Of these, 24 spots were up-regulated and 13 were down-regulated. Proteins identified included some well-known classical stress responsive proteins under abiotic or biotic stresses as well as some unusual responsive proteins. Ten responsive proteins were reported for the first time at the proteomic level, including fatty acyl CoA reductase, dihydrodipicolinate synthase, DEAD-box ATPase-RNA-helicase, fimbriata-like protein, waxy B1, rust resistance kinase Lr10, putative 12.1 protein, retinoblastoma-related protein 1, pollen allergen-like protein and S-adenosyl-L-methionine:phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferase. The proteins identified were involved in several processes such as metabolism, defense/detoxification, cell structure/cell growth, signal transduction/transcription, photosynthesis and energy. Seven candidate proteins were further analyzed at the mRNA level by RT-PCR to compare transcript and protein accumulation patterns, revealing that not all the genes were correlated well with the protein level. Identification of these responsive proteins may provide new insight into the molecular basis of the fosthiazate-stress response in the early developmental stages of plants and may be useful in stress monitoring or stress-tolerant crop breeding for environmentally friendly agricultural production