Intraspecific plasticity and co-variation of leaf traits facilitate Ficus tinctoria to acclimate hemiepiphytic and terrestrial habitats.

Despite intensive studies on plant functional traits, the intraspecific variation and their co-variation at the multi-scale remains poorly studied, which holds the potential to unveil plant responses to changing environmental conditions. In this study, intraspecific variations of 16 leaf functional traits of a common fig species, Ficus tinctoria G. Frost., were investigated in relation to different scales: habitat types (hemiepiphytic and terrestrial), growth stages (small, medium and large) and tree crown positions (upper, middle and lower) in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. Remarkable intraspecific variation was observed in leaf functional traits, which was mainly influenced by tree crown position, growth stage and their interaction. Stable nitrogen isotope (δ15N) and leaf area (LA) showed large variations, while stable carbon isotope (δ13C), stomata width and leaf water content showed relatively small variations, suggesting that light- and nitrogen-use strategies of F. tinctoria were plastic, while the water-use strategies have relatively low plasticity. The crown layers are formed with the growth of figs, and leaves in the lower crown increase their chlorophyll concentration and LA to improve the light energy conversion efficiency and the ability to capture weak light. Meanwhile, leaves in the upper crown increase the water-use efficiency to maintain their carbon assimilation. Moreover, hemiepiphytic medium (transitional stage) and large (free-standing stage) figs exhibited more significant trait differentiation (chlorophyll concentration, δ13C, stomata density, etc.) within the crown positions, and stronger trait co-variation compared with their terrestrial counterparts. This pattern demonstrates their acclimation to the changing microhabitats formed by their hemiepiphytic life history. Our study emphasizes the importance of multi-scaled intraspecific variation and co-variation in trait-based strategies of hemiepiphyte and terrestrial F. tinctoria, which facilitate them to cope with different environmental conditions.

Optimization of hydrolysis conditions of crop straw and its effect in Chlorella sorokiniana culture.

Taking straws of corn, wheat, and millet as raw materials, we pretreated them with alkaline hydrogen peroxide, and then hydrolyzed by cellulase and xylanase. We selected the total sugar content in the hydrolysate as the indicator to evaluate the hydrolysis of the straws from three crop species, and further optimized the conditions. Then, the hydrolysates of three types of crop straws were used as carbon source for Chlorella sorokiniana culture to assess their effects on microalgal cultivation. The results showed that the optimal hydrolysis conditions for the three crop straws were identified as solid-liquid ratio of 1:15, temperature of 30 ℃, and treatment time of 12 h. Under such optimal condition, the total sugar contents increased up to 1.677, 1.412, and 1.211 g·L-1 in the corn, millet and wheat straw hydrolysate, respectively. The hydrolysates from the three crop straw could significantly increase both algal biomass and lipid content of C. sorokiniana. Corn straw hydrolysate had the best effect, with high levels of algal biomass (1.801 g·L-1) and lipid content (30.1%). Therefore, we concluded that crop straw hydrolysates as carbon source could significantly promote microalgal biomass and lipid enrichment. The results could lay the foundation for the efficient conversion and utilization of straw lignocellulose raw materials, provide new knowledge for the resource utilization of agricultural wastes, as well as the theoretical basis for the efficient cultivation of microalgae using crop straw hydrolysates.

[Symbiotic bacteria facilitate algal growth and oil biosynthesis in Scenedesmus obliquus]. / å ±ç”ŸèŒä¿ƒè¿›æ–œç”Ÿæ 藻生长和油脂合成.

We isolated bacteria from the phycosphere of Scenedesmus obliques and sequenced 16S rDNAs to establish algae-bacterial co-culture systems. Further, we examined effects of the bacteria on algal growth, and parameters associated with physio-biochemical and oil-producing characteristics of S. obliquus. Seven bacterial strains were isolated, including Micrococcus (strains 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3), Pseudomonas sp. (strains 2-1 and 2-2), Exiguobacterium (strain-3) and Staphylococcus sp. (strain-4). Among them, two bacteria (strain 1-2 and strain 2-1) were characterized as the dominant growth-promoting bacterial strains, which significantly increased algal growth, pigment production, and oil enrichment. After eight days cultivation under microalgal-bacterial (strain 1-2) symbiotic systemat at an initial ratio of 1:10, biomass of S. obliquus was 4.27 g·L-1, about 46.0% higher than that of the control. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids were increased by 12.1%, 16.7% and 25.0%, respectively. Oil content was increased by 14.0% and reached to 25.7%, and the oleic acid content was significantly higher than that of the control and up to 16.4%. When co-cultured with Pseudomonas sp. (strain 2-1) for eight days at an initial ratio of 1:5, algal biomass, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids contents were higher than that of the control by 47.9%, 16.0%, 17.5% and 19.9%, respectively. The total oil (27.1%) and oleic acid (18.2%) contents were increased by 20.4% and 64.0%, respectively. We concluded that Micrococcus (strain 1-2) and Pseudomonas sp. (strain 2-1) could significantly promote algal growth and increase oil production by their beneficial interaction with S. obliques, which could be potentially used in commercial production of S. obliques.

Efficacy of chitosan and sodium alginate scaffolds for repair of spinal cord injury in rats.

Spinal cord injury results in the loss of motor and sensory pathways and spontaneous regeneration of adult mammalian spinal cord neurons is limited. Chitosan and sodium alginate have good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and are suitable to assist the recovery of damaged tissues, such as skin, bone and nerve. Chitosan scaffolds, sodium alginate scaffolds and chitosan-sodium alginate scaffolds were separately transplanted into rats with spinal cord hemisection. Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale scores and electrophysiological results showed that chitosan scaffolds promoted recovery of locomotor capacity and nerve transduction of the experimental rats. Sixty days after surgery, chitosan scaffolds retained the original shape of the spinal cord. Compared with sodium alginate scaffolds- and chitosan-sodium alginate scaffolds-transplanted rats, more neurofilament-H-immunoreactive cells (regenerating nerve fibers) and less glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive cells (astrocytic scar tissue) were observed at the injury site of experimental rats in chitosan scaffold-transplanted rats. Due to the fast degradation rate of sodium alginate, sodium alginate scaffolds and composite material scaffolds did not have a supporting and bridging effect on the damaged tissue. Above all, compared with sodium alginate and composite material scaffolds, chitosan had better biocompatibility, could promote the regeneration of nerve fibers and prevent the formation of scar tissue, and as such, is more suitable to help the repair of spinal cord injury.

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by a de novo Gly716Arg mutation of the ß-myosin heavy chain.

The present study was performed to identify the genotype of a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy family and investigate the clinicopathogenic characteristics and prognostic features of relevant genetic abnormalities. Target sequence capture sequencing was performed to screen for pathogenic alleles in a 32-year-old female patient (proband). Sanger sequencing was carried out to verify the results. Sanger sequencing was also performed on other family members to identify allele carriers. A survival analysis was carried out using published literature and our findings. We found that the proband and her son harboured a Gly716Arg sequence variant of the ß-myosin heavy chain. Neither the proband's father nor the mother were carriers of this sequence variant; thus, the mutation was classified as "de novo". Further survival analysis revealed that female patients appear to have a longer life expectancy compared with males. Our study may provide an effective approach for the genetic diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Curcuminoids Target Decreasing Serum Adipocyte-fatty Acid Binding Protein Levels in Their Glucose-lowering Effect in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Whether supplementation of curcuminoids decreases serum adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) level and whether this decrease benefits glucose control is unclear. One-hundred participants (n=50 administered curcuminoids, n=50 administered placebo) from our previous report on the effect of curcuminoids on type 2 diabetes in a 3-month intervention were assessed for levels of serum A-FABP, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers. Curcuminoids supplementation led to significant decreases in serum A-FABP, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 levels. Curcuminoids supplementation also significantly increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The change in serum A-FABP levels showed positive correlations with changes in levels of glucose, free fatty acids (FFAs), and CRP in subjects supplemented with curcuminoids. Further stepwise regression analysis showed that A-FABP was an independent predictor for levels of FFAs, SOD, and CRP. These results suggest that curcuminoids may exert anti-diabetic effects, at least in part, by reductions in serum A-FABP level. A-FABP reduction is associated with improved metabolic parameters in human type 2 diabetes.