Changes in the Content and Allocation of Carbon and Nitrogen during Forage Regrowth

Regrowth after cutting or grazing perennial grasslands sustains the production potential of forage and the persistence of grassland species. The changes in nature, content and allocation of compounds within plant parts are fundamentally correlated to the forage regrowth process (Lambers et al. 2008). These compounds are sourced from reserves and new assimilates. Carbohydrates and proteins stored mainly in the stem base and the root play an important role at the early stages of regrowth (Meuriot et al. 2004). The newly assimilated compounds include carbon from photosynthesis for the residual leaf and stem, and nitrogen absorbed by the roots from which amino acids and proteins will be produced (Dhont et al. 2003). Assimilates change as the forage regrows, playing a key role in the later stages. This mini-review summarises the changes in the content and allocation of carbon and nitrogen after cutting or grazing

Temporal Variations in the Carbon and Nitrogen Ecological Stoichiometry of Lucerne

Ecological stoichiometry has been of great help in research investigating the coupling between plant and environment (Sterner and Elser 2002). It provides some synchronized evidence to explain the response and adaptability of plants to the environment. Carbon and nitrogen ecological stoichiometry (C/N) also embraces the use efficiency of nitrogen in plants. Previous research has focused on the spatial responses of plant C/N to different environmental factors (Yang and Wang 2011). However, there is still insufficient attention on the temporal variation in C/N, in the hope that such effort will help elucidate the mechanisms underlying plant growth/regrowth. Lucerne (Medicago sativa L) has long been globally utilised. It can be cut 3-4 times annually and lasts for many years. The regrowth process in lucerne is of fundamental importance for the continuous utilisation of the forage and the sustainability of lucerne production. In this study, temporal variations in carbon and nitrogen content and C/N were studied in lucerne leaf, stem and root, as part of an effort to clarify the lucerne growth/regrowth mechanisms from the viewpoint of ecological stoichiometry

Screening the Drug Sensitivity Genes Related to GEM and CDDP in the Lung Cancer Cell-lines

Background and objective Screening of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines with gemcitabine hydrochloride (GEM) and cisplatin (CDDP) related to drug sensitivity gene might clarify the action mechanism of anti-cancer drugs and provide a new clue for overcoming drug resistance and the development of new anti-cancer drugs, and also provide theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of individual. Methods The drug sensitivity of CDDP and GEM in 4 SCLC cell lines and 6 NSCLC cell lines was determined using MTT colorimetric assay, while the cDNA macroarray was applied to detect the gene expression state related to drug sensitivity of 10 lung cancer cell line in 1 291, and the correlation between the two was analysized. Results There were 6 genes showing significant positive correlation (r≥0.632, P < 0.05) with GEM sensitivity; 45 genes positively related to CDDP; another 41 genes related to both GEM and CDDP (r≥± 0.4). Lung cancer with GEM and CDDP sensitivity of two types of drugs significantly related genes were Metallothinein (Signal transduction molecules), Cathepsin B (Organization protease B) and TIMP1 (Growth factor); the GEM, CDDP sensitivity associated genes of lung cancer cell lines mainly distributed in Metallothinein, Cathepsin B, growth factor TIMP1 categories. Conclusion There existed drug-related sensitive genes of GEM, CDDP in SCLC and NSCLC cell lines; of these genes, Metallothinein, Cathepsin B and TIMP1 genes presented a significant positive correlation with GEM drug sensitivity, a significant negative correlation with CDDP drug sensitivity

Site-Selective Functionalization of (sp3 )C-H Bonds Catalyzed by Artificial Metalloenzymes Containing an Iridium-Porphyrin Cofactor.

The selective functionalization of one C-H bond over others in nearly identical steric and electronic environments can facilitate the construction of complex molecules. We report site-selective functionalizations of C-H bonds, differentiated solely by remote substituents, catalyzed by artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) that are generated from the combination of an evolvable P450 scaffold and an iridium-porphyrin cofactor. The generated systems catalyze the insertion of carbenes into the C-H bonds of a range of phthalan derivatives containing substituents that render the two methylene positions in each phthalan inequivalent. These reactions occur with site-selectivity ratios of up to 17.8:1 and, in most cases, with pairs of enzyme mutants that preferentially form each of the two constitutional isomers. This study demonstrates the potential of abiotic reactions catalyzed by metalloenzymes to functionalize C-H bonds with site selectivity that is difficult to achieve with small-molecule catalysts

Measuring pollutant emissions of cattle breeding and its spatial-temporal variation in China

The rapid development of animal husbandry has resulted in serious pollution issues in the livestock and poultry breeding industry, increasing the cost of environmental management. This issue is particularly prominent in China due to its rapid economic development, significant domestic consumption, and aggressive carbon neutrality targets. This study analyses pollution emissions and spatial-temporal variation in China's cattle breeding industry. Using an emission coefficient method and panel data of 31 Chinese provinces/municipalities between 2002 and 2017, we measure the total volume of pollutant emissions from China's cattle breeding industry and five major pollutants: chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, copper, and zinc. We also analyse the dynamic variation of the spatial distribution. The results show that both the total emissions volume and emissions of the five major pollutants have decreased to different extents, among which chemical oxygen demand has decreased the fastest. Spatial divergence is strengthened as the heavy pollution areas have moved from the southeast to the northwest of the country. This study contributes to current research by its focus on the cattle breading industry and by our improvements to the pollutant emission measurement method

The information environment and ecological environment perspectives: Capital market openness and firm ESG rating divergence

Amid increasing demands for green economic growth, firms must adapt their business models and development strategies. However, most of the studies on this topic focus on examining the economic consequences of differences in firms’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings and ignore the external influences that lead to differences in information environments. This paper explores the impact of capital market openness on firm ESG rating divergence and conducts a related mechanism analysis. It is found that capital market openness creates an information environment concern effect that is generated by analysts’ concerns, audit quality, and investors’ concerns, which in turn exacerbates firm ESG rating divergence. A moderating effect test shows that the pressure created by government and public concerns regarding the ecological environment generates an ecological environment concern effect on firm ESG performance and effectively decreases the firm ESG rating divergence caused by the information concern effect