Abnormal phosphorylation / dephosphorylation and Ca2+ dysfunction in heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) can be caused by a variety of causes characterized by abnormal myocardial systole and diastole. Ca2+ current through the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) on the membrane is the initial trigger signal for a cardiac cycle. Declined systole and diastole in HF are associated with dysfunction of myocardial Ca2+ function. This disorder can be correlated with unbalanced levels of phosphorylation / dephosphorylation of LTCC, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and myofilament. Kinase and phosphatase activity changes along with HF progress, resulting in phased changes in the degree of phosphorylation / dephosphorylation. It is important to realize the phosphorylation / dephosphorylation differences between a normal and a failing heart. This review focuses on phosphorylation / dephosphorylation changes in the progression of HF and summarizes the effects of phosphorylation / dephosphorylation of LTCC, ER function, and myofilament function in normal conditions and HF based on previous experiments and clinical research. Also, we summarize current therapeutic methods based on abnormal phosphorylation / dephosphorylation and clarify potential therapeutic directions.

Tree growth is connected with distribution and warming-induced degradation of permafrost in southern Siberia.

Hemiboreal and boreal forests growing at the southern margin of the permafrost distribution are vulnerable to climate warming. However, how climate warming threatens the growth of dominant tree species that are distributed on permafrost remains to be determined, particularly in synchrony with warming-induced permafrost degradation. Tree growth in the permafrost region of southern Siberia was hypothesized to be highly sensitive to temperature increasing and warming-induced permafrost degradation. To test this hypothesis, we sampled the tree ring width of 535 trees of dominant species, larch (including Larix gmelinii and L. sibirica) and white birch (Betula platyphylla), in ten hemiboreal to boreal forest plots within different permafrost zones. The relationships between the tree ring basal area index (BAI) and temperature, precipitation, and the Palmer drought severity index (PDSI) were compared among plots located in two permafrost zones. In the isolated permafrost zone, white birch grows better than larch and is not drought-stressed (p < .05). We suggest that the deep-rooted white birch benefits from the water from thawing permafrost, while the growth of the shallow-rooted larch is stressed by drought. In the sporadic discontinuous permafrost zone, both white birch and larch benefited from permafrost melting, but the sensitivity of larch growth to PDSI is still significant (p < .05), indicating drought is still an important climatic factor limiting the growth of larch. Our results imply that the permafrost degradation caused by climate warming affects tree growth by creating the root layer additional water source. In the future, it is necessary to focus on monitoring permafrost degradation to better predict forest dynamics at the southern margin of the permafrost distribution.

Tallo: A global tree allometry and crown architecture database.

Data capturing multiple axes of tree size and shape, such as a tree's stem diameter, height and crown size, underpin a wide range of ecological research-from developing and testing theory on forest structure and dynamics, to estimating forest carbon stocks and their uncertainties, and integrating remote sensing imagery into forest monitoring programmes. However, these data can be surprisingly hard to come by, particularly for certain regions of the world and for specific taxonomic groups, posing a real barrier to progress in these fields. To overcome this challenge, we developed the Tallo database, a collection of 498,838 georeferenced and taxonomically standardized records of individual trees for which stem diameter, height and/or crown radius have been measured. These data were collected at 61,856 globally distributed sites, spanning all major forested and non-forested biomes. The majority of trees in the database are identified to species (88%), and collectively Tallo includes data for 5163 species distributed across 1453 genera and 187 plant families. The database is publicly archived under a CC-BY 4.0 licence and can be access from: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6637599. To demonstrate its value, here we present three case studies that highlight how the Tallo database can be used to address a range of theoretical and applied questions in ecology-from testing the predictions of metabolic scaling theory, to exploring the limits of tree allometric plasticity along environmental gradients and modelling global variation in maximum attainable tree height. In doing so, we provide a key resource for field ecologists, remote sensing researchers and the modelling community working together to better understand the role that trees play in regulating the terrestrial carbon cycle.

Mitofusin-2 (Mfn-2) Might Have Anti-Cancer Effect through Interaction with Transcriptional Factor SP1 and Consequent Regulation on Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Protein 3 (PITPNM3) Expression.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to explore the influence of mitofusin-2 (Mfn-2) on phosphatidylinositol transfer protein 3 (PITPNM3) and tumor growth and the potential mechanism behind the regulation of Mfn-2 on PITPNM3 in hepatic carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721. MATERIAL AND METHODS We obtained promoter sequence of PITPNM3 gene from University of Santa Cruz (UCSC) genomic database, and we predict transcriptional factor of PITPNM3 genes by JASPAR database. Target transcription factor was determined by comparison of binding sites number for promoter. SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with expression plasmid containing Mfn-2, transcription factor gene and PITPNM3. The cells transfected with empty vector were used as control. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the mRNA level of target genes. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay was used to determine the interaction between Mfn-2 and target transcription factor. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP) assay was used to determine the binding of transcription factor with PITPNM3 promoter. Tumorigenicity assay was used to compare the effect of Mfn-2, SP1, and PITPNM3 on tumor development. RESULTS SP1 was selected as the target transcriptional factor. In the Co-IP assay, Mfn-2 was shown to interact with SP1. In the ChIP assay Mfn-2 transfection resulted in decreased binding number of SP1 with PITPNM3 promoter. Furthermore, PITPNM3 mRNA levels were significantly increased in SMMC-7721 cells transfected with SP1 but were decreased after transfection with Mfn-2. In nude mice, PITPNM3 and SP1 upregulation lead to larger tumor lump and conversely Mfn-2 upregulation lead to smaller tumor lump. CONCLUSIONS Mfn-2 could suppress expression of PITPNM3 through interaction with transcription factor SP1; Mfn-2 may have anti-tumor activity; SP1 and PITPNM3 may promote tumor development.

[Preliminary Study on the Structural Characteristics of Residue from Rice Straw Burning in Field].

Because of their special structural characteristics, straw burning residues (biochar) have important impacts on the soil carbon sequestration and the transport and transformation behavior of pollutants. In this paper, a series of qualitative and quantitative analysis methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) , X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) have been used to study the basic physical and chemical properties and structural features of rice straw burning residues generating at different incineration intensity in field. The results show that: the basic physical and chemical properties of straw burning residues from field were closely associated with the burning intensity. The higher the burning intensity, the lower the TOC content. Meanwhile, the order degree of carbon atoms in the resulting residue increased. Wherein the fatty component of rice straw burning residues is gradually reduced with the burning intensity while the aromaticity of rice straw burning residues is gradually increased. In addition, the organic components in the straw burning residues from field have more significant contribution to the surface area.

Mechanism of Cu(II) adsorption inhibition on biochar by its aging process.

Biochar exposed in the environment may experience a series of surface changes, which is called biochar aging. In order to study the effects of biochar aging on Cu(II) adsorption, we analyzed the surface properties before and after biochar aging with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and then explored the influence of the aging process on Cu(II) adsorption by batch experiments. After the aging process, the oxygen concentration, phenolic hydroxyl groups, aromatic ethers and other oxygen-containing functional groups on the biochar surface increased, while carboxyl groups slightly decreased. Thus, over a range of pH, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and adsorption capacity of Cu(II) on the aged biochar were smaller than those of new biochar, indicating that when biochar is incubated at constant temperature and water holding capacity in the dark, the aging process may inhibit Cu(II) adsorption. Meanwhile, the dissociation characteristics of oxygen-containing functional groups changed through the aging process, which may be the mechanism by which the biochar aging process inhibits the Cu(II) adsorption. Carboxyl groups became more easily dissociated at low pH (3.3-5.0), and the variation of maximum adsorption capability (qm) of Cu(II) on the old biochar was enlarged. Phenolic hydroxyl groups increased after the aging, making them and carboxyl groups more difficult to dissociate at high pH (5.0-6.8), and the variation of qm of Cu(II) on the aged biochar was reduced.

Effect of humus on photodegradation of quinclorac under different fertilization modes.

Humus is a specific kind of organic matter widely distributed in soils. The characteristics of humus have significant impacts on the fate of pollutants in the environment. In this study, we examined the effects of fertilization modes from rice rotation systems on the contents, spectral properties, photochemical activity, and photosensitization of quinclorac (QNC) of humic (HA) and fulvic acids (FA). The results showed that under the rice-vegetable rotation system, organic fertilizer treatment decreased the humification degree and molecular weight of HA, but increased the number of oxygen-containing functional groups and the abilities of photoproducing hydroxyl radical (HO·), singlet oxygen (1O2) and photosensitizing QNC, compared with chemical fertilizer treatment. Under organic fertilization mode, the molecular weight of FA was increased, but the number of redox functional groups and the abilities of photoinducing HO· and 1O2 and photosensitizing QNC were decreased. Under rice-shrimp cultivation system, organic-inorganic fertilizer treatment increased the humification degree, molecular weight, number of redox functional groups and oxygen-containing functional groups, and 1O2 photogeneration of HA, but decreased the abilities of photoproducing HO· and photosensitizing QNC, as compared with chemical fertilizer treatment. The humification degree and molecular weight of FA under organic-inorganic fertilization mode were increased, while the abilities of photoproducing HO· and 1O2 and photosensitizing QNC were decreased. In conclusion, organic fertilization could enhance the photochemical activity and photosensitizing efficiency of humus, and further promote the photodegradation of QNC in the environment.

Catalysts for highly water-resistant catalytic decomposition of ozone: Hausmannite Mn3O4 on exposed (101) crystal surface.

Recently, ozone pollution has gradually replaced PM2.5 as the main pollutant affecting air pollution. In this study, we synthesized a series of Mn3O4 catalysts by hydrothermal method changing the precursors and tested their activities at different relative humidity, gas volume space velocity of 150,000 h-1 and 5 ppm ozone. Remarkably, Mn3O4-SO4 prepared with MnSO4 as precursor showed excellent catalytic ozone decomposition activity, almost completely converting 5 ppm of ozone at different relative humidity ranges. Finally, the most active Mn3O4-SO4 catalyst was tested for its usability limit at RH= 90%, after 28 h of testing under high humidity conditions, it had retained successfully the complete decomposition of low concentrations of ozone. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, Raman, HRTEM, XPS, BET, H2O-TPD and in situ IR NH3 adsorption. The characterization analysis revealed that the Mn3O4-SO4 surface could exposed a highly active (101) crystalline surface with high specific surface area, excellent hydrophobicity as well as ozone adsorption capacity, which were highly favorable for ozone decomposition under high humidity conditions. In this work, Mn3O4 exhibits good catalytic activity, which provides an additional option for future studies of manganese oxides.

Development Mode of Recreation Belt around the City: Ecological Authenticity or Fashion Creativity?

The recreational belt around the city has low population density, good ecological environment, and rich natural and cultural landscapes, which can meet the tourism needs of urban residents to get close to nature and experience culture. Particularly in today's increasingly normal epidemic prevention and control, outing and microtourism have become the first choice of urban public tourism and an important part of rural tourism development. In the process of developing rural tourism, there are two distinct voices: one is to pay attention to the local complex and strive to let people "see mountains and water and remember nostalgia." In the era of cultural tourism integration, we should promote rural tourism with culture, highlight rural culture with rural tourism, and give full play to the bridge between cultural tourism and rural cultural innovation. In view of this situation, this paper discusses the theme orientation of the advanced development of the recreational belt around the city through three studies. In Study 1, tourists' perceptions of local complex and rural cultural creation were compared through field investigation. In Study 2, brand trust was used as a calibration variable to further test the robustness of the conclusion. Study 3 analyzed the "distortion" mechanism of rural cultural creation and tested the intermediary effect of psychological distance. At the same time, it discusses the evolution model of the recreational space system around the city. The development of recreation space shows that the recreation space around the city is the product of the agglomeration of population and economic activities, and its occurrence and development process is closely related to the expansion of urban space and the change of human living space. This paper analyzes the spatial process of the development of recreation around the city, focuses on the types of recreation space that continue to appear in the development and evolution of modern recreation space, and then tries to find the context of the gradual development and evolution of recreation around the city with the process of urbanization and excavate the organic connection between the recreational space and the city and its surrounding areas in the process of development and evolution. It is found that (1) tourists' perception of local culture is further distorted, which leads to a further reduction in tourists' perception of "local culture" and "recreation," and (2) the increase in psychological distance is the key psychological mechanism for tourists to perceive "lost property."

Research on the Impact of Outlets' Experience Marketing and Customer Perceived Value on Tourism Consumption Satisfaction and Loyalty.

The research object of this subject, through cooperation with Shanghai International Fashion Education Center, a fashion travel education institution, is a convenient sample for the members of its "Japan Fashion Travel Project," using quantitative research methods and research tools for questionnaires. From the perspective of tourist shopping experience marketing, this paper studies the relationship among tourist marketing, value perception, shopping satisfaction, and customer loyalty to outlets, and discusses the recommendations for sustainable development of outlets.

Drought-modulated allometric patterns of trees in semi-arid forests.

Tree allometry in semi-arid forests is characterized by short height but large canopy. This pattern may be important for maintaining water-use efficiency and carbon sequestration simultaneously, but still lacks quantification. Here we use terrestrial laser scanning to quantify allometry variations of Quercus mongolica in semi-arid forests. With tree height (Height) declining, canopy area (CA) decreases with substantial variations. The theoretical CA-Height relationship in dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) matches only the 5th percentile of our results because of CA underestimation and Height overestimation by breast height diameter (DBH). Water supply determines Height variation (P = 0.000) but not CA (P = 0.2 in partial correlation). The decoupled functions of stem, hydraulic conductance and leaf spatial arrangement, may explain the inconsistency, which may further ensure hydraulic safety and carbon assimilation, avoiding forest dieback. Works on tree allometry pattern and determinant will effectively supply tree drought tolerance studying and support DGVM improvements.

Adsorption characterizations of fulvic acid fractions onto kaolinite.

Fulvic acids extracted from a typical rice-production region near Taihu Lake of China were fractionated into three fractions including F4.8, F7.0 and F11.0 (eluted by pH 4.8 buffer, pH 7.0 buffer and pH 11.0 buffer, respectively). Sorption of fulvic acid (FA) fractions onto kaolinite was studied by batch adsorption experiments, and characterizations of kaolinite before and after adsorption were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Adsorption isotherms of kaolinite for three FA fractions fit well with the Langmuir adsorption model. The adsorption density of the three fractions was positively correlated with the ratio of the amount of the alkyl carbon to that of carboxyl and carbonyl carbon in FA fractions and followed an order of F11.0 > F7.0 > F4.8. Hydrophobic interaction was one of the control mechanisms for the sorption of FA fraction onto kaolinite. SEM images confirmed that compared to blank kaolinite samples, kaolinite samples coated by a FA fraction displayed an opener and more dispersed conformation resulting from the disruption of the floc structure in complex. Dispersion of kaolinite after adsorption was due to the repulsion between negatively charged FA-coated particles, which is closely related to the amount of FA fractions absorbed on kaolinite.

[Mechanism of copper and zinc on tanshinones of cultivated Salvia miltiorrhiza].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of microelement including Cu and Zn on the accumulation of three danshinones in Salviae miltiorrhizae root and build a theory basis for its good quality and high yield. METHOD: Sand culture experiments were conducted to study the effect of Cu and Zn on the accumulation of three danshinones and oxidase including peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity in the plant root. The correlation between available Cu and Zn contents in matrix and oxidase activity in the plant root and, the correlation between available Cu and Zn contents in matrix and contents of tanshinones in the root were discussed. RESULT: Contents of danshinones in the root increased with the increasing of Cu and Zn concentration. Dynamic monitoring on contents of dan-shinones of the plant roots growing in the pots with different Cu and Zn concentration in the whole growing season showed that the contents of danshinones for 60 days were the lowest, for 120 days the highest and then dropped for 150 days. In addition, among available Cu and Zn contents of matrix, oxidase including peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity and contents of tanshinones in the root,the correlation between two factors were significant difference (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The mechanism of Cu and Zn on the accumulation of danshinones may be that Cu and Zn improve the activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase, which promote transformation of phenolic compounds to terpenes and therefore to increase contents of danshinones.

[Aliphatic characteristics of the fractions isolated from the soil fulvic acid using XAD-8 column].

In order to truly understand the character and structure of fulvic acid, which contains many substances, the authors isolated fulvic acid detailedly according to its definite character and its characteristic of similar structure. Fulvic acid with H+ can be adsorbed by the XAD-8 column balanced by the usual buffer(pH 2). The hydrophilic fraction in fulvic acid can be divided into three groups using the buffer with various pH (4.8, 7.0 and 11.0), while the hydrophobic fraction can be classified into two groups by the distilled water and alcohol separately. For FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) and NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy analysis, three paddy soils were used. It may be concluded that the content of oxygen and carboxyl group dissolved at low pH is more than that dissolved in the water and alcohol, but the content of aliphatic fraction is less and has short side chain.

Effects of fulvic fractions on the pH-dependent sorption of Cu(II) to kaolinite.

Sorption of copper on kaolinite in the absence and presence of four fulvic acid (FA) fractions fractionated using XAD-8 resin, including F4.8, F7.0, F11.0 and Feth fractions (eluted by pH4.8 buffer, pH7.0 buffer, pH11.0 buffer, and ethanol (95%), respectively, was investigated by batch experiments. Results showed that the binding of Cu(II) by pure kaolinite increased with an increase in pH values. The presence of each FA fraction significantly affects the sorption of Cu(II) to kaolinite. Below pH 6.3, Cu(II) sorption was pronouncedly promoted after adding FA fraction to binary systems, compared to that in pure kaolinite suspensions. Magnitude in enhancement of Cu(II) sorption to solid phase, which was caused by FA fractions, followed an order of F4.8>F7.0>11.0>Feth. Above pH 6.3, nearly all the Cu(II) were removed from solution in pure koalinte system, while a portion of Cu(II) left in aqueous phase via formation of dissolved Cu-FA complexes, was observed in systems in the presence of FA fractions. The largest Cu(II) distribution coefficients (K(d)) between solid phase and aqueous solution at pH 3.15-5.7, are obtained from the ternary system with F4.8 fraction. The smallest K(d) are from system in the presence of Feth fraction. Conversely, over a pH range from 5.7 to 7.0, the highest K(d) values are from system with Feth fraction. Overall, F4.8 fraction exhibited the greatest effect on Cu(II) pH-dependent sorption to kaolinite, and Feth fraction had the least. Functional groups such as carboxyl, phenolic moieties of FA played the vital role in Cu(II) sorption to kaolinite at lower pH conditions, and solubility under neutral conditions.

Binding of pyrene to dissolved organic matters: fractionation and characterization.

Based on a modified Leenheer DOM fractionation scheme, fractionation of DOM from the paddy soil was conducted by using XAD-8 resin into hydrophobic bases (HOB), hydrophobic acids(HOA), acid-insoluble matter (AIM), hydrophobic neutrals (HON) and hydrophilic matter (HIM). In total carbon content of DOM, 35.32% were the HIM and only 0.73% the HOB. However, HOA and AIM altogether occupied 53.45%, while the HON fraction represented 10%. The sorption experiments were conducted to determine the sorption capacity of pyrene on unfractionated DOM and its fractions. Elemental analysis, 1H-NMR and FTIR spectra were carried out on unfractionated DOM and its fractions to examine the relationship between the structure of DOM and partition coefficients (K(oc)). The results showed that HON had a greater affinity for binding pyrene than other fractions. While HON was characterized by large long-chain alkylate (aliphatic structure). AIM exhibited relative higher K(oc) values than HOA and HIM, due to much aromatic structure in AIM, while the high content of carboxylic groups of HOA and HIM depressed their binding capacity. This study demonstrated HON is a key subcomponents of DOM in binding of pyrene, in other words, aliphalic structure in DOM play an important role in binding of pyrene.

[Fractionation and spectroscopic property of dissolved organic matters in soils].

Based on a modified Leenheer DOM fractionation sche me, fractionation of DOM from paddy soils was conducted byusing XAD-8 resin into hydrophobic bases (HOB), hydrophobic acids (HOA), acid-insoluble matter (AIM), hydrophobic neutrals (HON) and hydrophillic matter (HIM), and their structural characteristics were studied by means of elemental composition, FTIR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The fractionation scheme used here provided a preferable separation of the fractions in terms of hydrophobicity and a high recovery. Of the DOC extracted from the soils, the HOB was the least fraction, accounting for 0.73%-3.83%, and the HIM fraction was the largest, accounting for 36%-42%. The HON fraction represented 7%-15%. The relative content of the HOA plus AIM was about 50%. Separated by this technique, the large-chain alkylate and the major portion of the N components mainly characterized HON, while the HOA fraction contained a large amount of carboxyl groups but less amount of aromatic groups with a higher quantity of carbohydrates compared to that of FA. AIM fraction was dominated by high branched (n value) polyphenols and humus bound carbohydrates. HIM was characterized by considerable amount of carboxyl and carbohydrates.

[Structural changes of aged biochar and the influence on phenanthrene adsorption].

Biochars prepared by pyrolysis of rice husk at 350 degrees C and 550 degrees C were incubated in the lucifugal thermostat for 300 d. Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques were applied to explore the structural change before and after incubation. It was found that the oxygen content was increased after incubation, suggesting the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups. Incubation of the biochars also enhanced their nonlinear adsorption of phenanthrene. Structural change subjected to incubation was in fact affected by the pyrolysis temperatures at which the biochars were synthesized. Increase of polarity and decrease of aromaticity were found for biochars prepared at 350 degrees C. In contrast, incubation of biochars prepared at 550 degrees C resulted in increased aliphatic contents and aromaticity, as well as decrease of carboxyl group. The adsorption capacity of phenanthrene predicted by Langmuir model was 3.57 and 2.35 mg x g(-1) for new and aged biochar with lower pyrolysis temperature, respectively. It was assumed that change of the surface structure of the biochars due to aging inhibited the adsorption. On the contrary, aging of biochares prepared at 550 degrees C resulted in enhanced adsorption capacity of phenanthrene from 0.42 to 4.17 mg x (-1), which was probably correlated to the partition effect due to enhanced aromaticity. The data obtained in this research suggested that aging of biochars potentially affected the fate of the pollutants in environment.

[Effects of dissolved organic matter on phenanthrene adsorption by soil].

This paper studied the effects of exotic and native dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the phenanthrene adsorption by three soils differed in soil organic carbon content (foc). The exotic DOM came from decayed rice straw, while the native DOM was extracted from the test soils. In all cases, the adsorption of phenanthrene by treated soils could be well described with linear-type model, and there was a positive correlation between adsorption coefficient (Kd) and foc Compared with the control, the Kd value of test soils after native DOM removed was increased by 7. 08% -21. 4% , and the increment (deltaKd) was positively correlated with fo,, indicating that the presence of soil native DOM impeded the phenanthrene adsorption by soil. The effects of exotic DOM on phenanthrene adsorption had a close relation with its added concentration in soil-water system. Within the range of 0-106 mg DOC x L(-1) , the K, value increased first, and then decreased with the increase of added exotic DOM concentration. Lower concentrations of added exotic DOM promoted the phenanthrene adsorption by soil, while higher concentrations ( I> or =52 mg DOC x L(-1)) of it obviously impeded this adsorption. These effects of exotic and native DOM on soil phenanthrene adsorption were considered to be related to the association of phenanthrene with DOM in solution, and the ' cumulative adsorption effect' between soil solid and aqueous phases.