Substantial increase in P release following conversion of coastal wetlands to aquaculture ponds from altered kinetic exchange and resupply capacity.

The reclamation of wetlands and its subsequent conversion to aquaculture may alter regional nutrient (im)mobilization and cycling, although direct assessments of phosphorus (P) cycling and its budget balance following wetland conversion are currently scarce. Here, parallel field experiments were conducted to investigate and compare the availability and mobilization mechanisms of P from natural coastal wetlands and the adjacent converted aquaculture ponds based on high-resolution diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) and dialysis (HR-Peeper) techniques and the DGT-induced fluxes in sediments (DIFS) model. The study found that the conversion of wetland to pond strongly reduced the sediment P pool by changing its forms and distribution. High-resolution data showed that concentrations of labile P and soluble reactive P across the sediment-water profiles were markedly enhanced by the converted aquaculture pond, although they exhibited large spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Moreover, the synchronous distribution of labile P, iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) across profiles in coastal wetlands indicated that the dissolution of Fe (III) oxyhydroxide-phosphate complexes coupled with sulfate reduction were the main mechanisms regulating sediment P mobilization in coastal areas. However, the converted aquaculture pond weakened or even reversed this dependence by decoupling the Fe-S-P reactions by changing the sediment structure and nutrient balance. Substantial increases in labile P, Fe and S fluxes in the pond suggested the conversion of wetland to aquaculture facilitated the internal release of P, Fe and S from sediment into water. The high resupply parameter (R) and desorption rate (k-1) combined with low response time (Tc) in the pond, as fitted by DIFS model, indicated the strong resupply capacity and fast kinetic exchange of sediment P across the sediment-water interface, which is consistent with the high P diffusion fluxes recorded in the pond. It was concluded that converted aquaculture ponds act as an important source of P release in coastal areas, potentially exacerbating water quality degradation and eutrophication. Specific initiatives and actions are therefore urgently needed to alleviate the internal P-loading during aquaculture.

Biogeochemical behavior of P in the soil and porewater of a low-salinity estuarine wetland: Availability, diffusion kinetics, and mobilization mechanism.

Estuarine wetlands, which typically store large amounts of phosphorus (P), are experiencing increased salinity as well as changed environmental factors caused by rising sea levels. In this study, the seasonal dynamics of P speciation, availability, and biogeochemical couplings with iron (Fe)-sulfur (S) in soil and porewater were measured in a low-salinity estuarine wetland using in situ high-resolution diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and dialysis (HR-Peeper) techniques. The diffusion kinetics and resupply capacity of P from the soil phase to solution were simulated using a DGT-induced fluxes in soils (DIFS) model. The transition from freshwater to brackish wetlands reduced soil P pools and shifted to more recalcitrant speciation. The concentration of DGT-labile P across the soil-water profiles ranged from 0.002 to 0.039 (mean: 0.015) mg L-1, which increased with increasing salinity in both the field and mesocosm experiments. The distributions of labile and soluble P showed high heterogeneity across the profiles, and there were some sharp peak values below the soil-water interface (SWI), which significantly increased the concentration and lability of P. The strong coupling between labile P and Fe (S) provided direct evidence for the coexistence of iron reduction (IR) and sulfate reduction (SR) in the estuary, while IR might predominate in P mobilization in the brackish environment because of higher labile Fe concentrations and stronger Fe-P couplings. The diffusion fluxes of P were positive at both sites, demonstrating that the kinetics of P were from the soils to the overlying water. Higher R and k-1 values fitted in the DIFS model implied that a stronger resupply capacity and desorption rate and thus faster remobilization kinetics of P occurred with increasing salinity. Our findings indicated that increased salinity (even at low levels) can alter the desorption rate and resupply capacity of soil P in estuarine wetlands and accelerate P remobilization and release by regulating the IR and SR processes, thereby leading to the deterioration of water quality.

Ferroptosis as a novel form of regulated cell death: Implications in the pathogenesis, oncometabolism and treatment of human cancer.

The treatment of cancer mainly involves surgical excision supplemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs act by interfering with tumor growth and inducing the death of cancer cells. Anti-tumor drugs were developed to induce apoptosis, but some patient's show apoptosis escape and chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, other forms of cell death that can overcome the resistance of tumor cells are important in the context of cancer treatment. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered iron-dependent, non-apoptotic type of cell death that is highly negatively correlated with cancer development. Ferroptosis is mainly caused by the abnormal increase in iron-dependent lipid reactive oxygen species and the imbalance of redox homeostasis. This review summarizes the progression and regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis in cancer and discusses its possible clinical applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Effects of negative air ions treatment on the quality of fresh shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) during storage.

Fresh shiitake (Lentinus edodes) is prone to brown, pileus-opening and flavor-loss during storage. Therefore, it is important to find an effective preservation method for fresh shiitake. Negative air ions (NAI) are negatively-charged molecules or atoms in the air, and can affect the physiological metabolism of live cells and be conveniently used with low cost. In this study, NAI treatment was performed at different times and the physico-chemical characteristics, microstructure, membrane potential and energy metabolism of shiitake were determined during storage. Results showed that NAI treatment for 40 min could reduce 29% of browning index and maintain the hardness of shiitake. NAI treatment groups had higher content of sweetness amino acids, umami amino acids, 5'-IMP, eight-carbon alcohols compounds and cyclic sulfides compounds than the control, and comprehensive quality of the group being treated for 40 min was the best. The mitochondria of shiitake swelled and the membrane potential decreased after being treated by NAI. However, NAI treatment for 40 min could improve the contents of ATP and ADP, maintain a relatively stable energy charge level, and promote energy utilization of shiitake during storage. The results demonstrated that NAI treatment had the potential to improve the quality shiitake during storage.

Effects of salicylic acid treatment on fruit quality and wax composition of blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum Ait).

The cuticular wax layer in fruit is a hydrophobic barrier which protects fruit from biotic and abiotic stress. The cuticular wax also affect fruit quality. This paper investigated the effects of salicylic acid on fruit quality and the cuticular wax in blueberry fruit during storage at room temperature (25 °C). 'Powderblue' blueberries (Vaccinium virgatum Ait) were treated with 1.0 mmol L-1 salicylic acid. The composition of cuticular wax layer and structure of epicuticular wax layer were analyzed at 4 d intervals during storage. Salicylic acid could efficiently delay the reduction of total wax content and affected the proportions of its constituents, including triterpenoids, esters, sterols, fatty acids, alcohols and alkanes. Our results also showed that there was no significant difference on the structure of epicuticular wax in salicylic acid treated fruits compared with that of the control. Salicylic acid delayed deterioration of blueberry fruit and enhanced its resistance to disease during storage.

Application and Prospect Analysis of Preparation Technology in Improving Antibacterial Activity of Traditional Chinese Medicine / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Pathogenic bacterial infection is one of the main clinical symptoms. Antibiotics are widely used in clinical practice to inhibit or kill the bacteria， fungi and other pathogenic microorganisms. However， with the massive use of antibiotics， drug-resistant strains continue to appear that make the antibacterial situation is becoming increasingly severe. Due to the advantages of multiple targets， multiple pathways and multiple components， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） have gradually attracted more attention and were used in antibacterial treatment. However， some antimicrobial TCM have problems such as low solubility， poor stability， and low bioavailability. Improving and enhancing the antibacterial activity of TCM through preparation technology is one of the effective solutions. Based on this， two aspects of unilateral antibacterial TCM preparation technology and combination antibacterial preparation technology are introduced， including inclusion technology， nanotechnology， electrospinning， 3D printing and others. Distinctive features and specific application effects of these preparation technologies are explained firstly， and then their advantages and disadvantages are compared and analyzed. The review can be a useful reference for improving the antibacterial activity of TCM.

Phototherapy and optical waveguides for the treatment of infection.

With rapid emergence of multi-drug resistant microbes, it is imperative to seek alternative means for infection control. Optical waveguides are an auspicious delivery method for precise administration of phototherapy. Studies have shown that phototherapy is promising in fighting against a myriad of infectious pathogens (i.e. viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa) including biofilm-forming species and drug-resistant strains while evading treatment resistance. When administered via optical waveguides, phototherapy can treat both superficial and deep-tissue infections while minimizing off-site effects that afflict conventional phototherapy and pharmacotherapy. Despite great therapeutic potential, exact mechanisms, materials, and fabrication designs to optimize this promising treatment option are underexplored. This review outlines principles and applications of phototherapy and optical waveguides for infection control. Research advances, challenges, and outlook regarding this delivery system are rigorously discussed in a hope to inspire future developments of optical waveguide-mediated phototherapy for the management of infection and beyond.

Density Functional Theory and Experimental Determination of Band Gaps and Lattice Parameters in Kesterite Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1-x)4.

The structures and band gaps of copper-zinc-tin selenosulfides (CZTSSe) are investigated for a range of anion compositions through experimental analysis and complementary first-principles simulations. The band gap was found to be extremely sensitive to the Sn-anion bond length, with an almost linear correlation with the average Sn-anion bond length in the mixed anion phase Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1-x)4. Therefore, an accurate prediction of band gaps using first-principles methods requires the accurate reproduction of the experimental bond lengths. This is challenging for many widely used approaches that are suitable for large supercells. The HSE06 functional was found to predict the structure and band gap in good agreement with the experiment but is computationally expensive for large supercells. It was shown that a geometry optimization with the MS2 meta-GGA functional followed by a single point calculation of electronic properties using HSE06 is a reasonable compromise for modeling larger supercells that are often unavoidable in the study of point and extended defects.

Cytotoxicity and Preliminary Analysis of the Pro-apoptotic and Cell Cycle Arrest Effects of Lantana ukambensis Against Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Lantana ukambensis (Vatke) Verdc. (Verbenaceae) is a seasonal herb widely spread in the West African region. The whole plant is used for the treatment of wounds, infections, and inflammatory pathologies. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the cytotoxicity and to analyze the probable pro-apototic, and cell cycle arrest effects of L. ukambensis methylene chloride extract and its fractions against HCT-116 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cells using preliminary tests in order to highlight the interest of this plant in the search of new anticancer molecules. The dried powder of the whole plant was extracted by methylene chloride maceration for 24 hours and the extract was divided into five fractions. The cytotoxicity of the crude extract and fractions were evaluated by the MTS assay. The most active fractions were subjected to some preliminary assays including crystal violet, Hoechst staining, cell cycle arrest, and annexin V/PI assays on the cancer cells to highlight the probable mechanism of action of these fractions. The methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and 1-butanol fractions of L. ukambensis crude extract demonstrated significant antiproliferative effects on HCT-116 and HT-29 cell growth with IC50 values ranging between 2 to 15 µg/mL. 1-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions decreased the G1 phase by 20.53% and 28.47% and increased the G2/M by 23.47% and 25.90% respectively on HCT-116. Moreover, 1-butanol fraction increased the cumulative value of apoptotic cells by 49.77% on HCT-116 and ethyl acetate fraction increased this value by 53.37% at 15 µg/mL after 48 hours of exposure. The outcome of this study suggests the potential of 1-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions for the isolation of anticancer molecules against colorectal cancer.

[Qualitative and quantitative analysis of Rhodobryum giganteum by using nonlinear oscillating chemical fingerprint technique].

A new method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of Rhodobryum giganteum by using the nonlinear oscillating chemical was established for improving the quality control standard of R. giganteum. Its potential(E)/time(t) curve was recorded by electrochemical workstation in the oscillation reaction system of BrO~-_3-Ce(SO_4)_2-H_2SO_4-malonic acid/tartaric acid. The nonlinear oscillating chemical fingerprints were investigated for repeatability, and it was found that the RSD values of the four characteristic parameters of R. giganteum were less than 4.1%, indicating a good repeatability and high precision of this experiment. After optimizing the experimental parameters such as particle size, rotation speed and temperature, a new method based on nonlinear oscillating chemical was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of R. giganteum. The results showed that there was a good linear relationship between the induction time/the period of oscillation and the dosage of herbs(0.1-1.1 g), with the relative coefficients of 0.978 and 0.975, respectively. Besides, the highest potential showed a nonlinear relationship with the dosage of herbs, with the relative coefficient of 0.999. This method was also used to discriminate the R. giganteum and R. roseum. They were similar in appearance, but their fingerprints were quite different. Independent sample t test results showed that there were significant differences in the oscillation time, the maximum amplitude and the induction time, providing a basis for the identification of the basic sources of Herba Rhodobryi Rasei.

Higher fluxes of C, N and P in plant/soil cycles associated with plant invasion in a subtropical estuarine wetland in China.

Invasion of plants in wetland ecosystems is often associated with changes in litter decomposition and in nutrient use, uptake and cycling between invasive and native plants. We studied litter decomposition rates, N and P release and elemental composition and stoichiometry during the invasion of Phragmites australis and Spartina alterniflora into native Cyperus malaccensis wetlands in the Minjiang River estuary (China). Aboveground litter in mono-specific stands decomposed faster for Cyperus malaccensis than for Spartina alterniflora and for Phragmites australis. Cyperus malaccensis litter decomposed slower under the stands of both invasive species. In contrast, the litter of both invasive species decomposed faster under Cyperus malaccesis stands. We observed that the invasion of these species was associated with an increased rate of aboveground litter decomposition and large absolute amounts of C, N and P released from the litter when litter from invasive species was mixed with that of native species. Our results suggest that the large nutrient release from litter during early stages of the invasion favored invasive species with larger size and higher nutrient-uptake capacity than the native species.

Chinese Herbal Medicine and Its Regulatory Effects on Tumor Related T Cells.

Traditional Chinese medicine is an accepted and integral part of clinical cancer management alongside Western medicine in China. However, historically TCM physicians were unaware of the chemical constituents of their formulations, and the specific biological targets in the body. Through HPLC, flow cytometry, and other processes, researchers now have a much clearer picture of how herbal medicine works in conjunction with the immune system in cancer therapy. Among them, the regulation of tumor-related T cells plays the most important role in modulating tumor immunity by traditional Chinese medicine. Encouraging results have been well-documented, including an increase in T cell production along with their associated cytokines, enhanced regulation of Tregs and important T cell ratios, the formation and function of Tregs in tumor microenvironments, and the promotion of the number and function of normal T Cells to reduce conventional cancer therapy side effects. Chinese herbal medicine represents a rich field of research from which to draw further inspiration for future studies. While promising agents have already been identified, the vast majority of Chinese herbal mechanisms remain undiscovered. In this review, we summarize the effects and mechanisms of specific Chinese herbs and herbal decoctions on tumor related T cells.

Production and uptake of dissolved carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in overlying water of aquaculture shrimp ponds in subtropical estuaries, China.

Water quality deterioration can adversely affect the long-term sustainability of aquaculture industry. Understanding the processes of nutrient regeneration and uptake is important for improving water quality and the overall ecosystem health of aquaculture system. In spite of the importance of dissolved nutrients (DOC, DIC, N-NOx-, N-NH4+, and P-PO43-) in governing water quality and ecosystem functioning, the spatiotemporal variations in the production and uptake of dissolved nutrients in aquaculture ponds is still poorly understood. In this study, the nutrient production and uptake rates in the overlying water were quantified among different shrimp growth stages in the aquaculture ponds in the Min River Estuary (MRE) and Jiulong River Estuary (JRE), southeast China. Significant differences in the nutrient production and uptake rates in the overlying water were observed among the three growth stages and two estuaries. The temporal variations of DOC and DIC production rates in both estuarine ponds closely followed the seasonal cycle of temperature, while the difference in DOC and DIC production rates between the two estuaries was likely caused by differences in water salinity. The changes in the production and uptake rates of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N-NOx- and N-NH4+) and P-PO43- in the water column over time were partly related to the interactions between thermal conditions and phytoplankton biomass (e.g., chlorophyll a concentrations) in the ponds. Our results demonstrate the complex dynamics and environmental risk of dissolved nutrients in subtropical shrimp ponds, and call for a more effective management of nutrient-laden wastewater in safeguarding the long-term sustainability of aquaculture production.

The response of stocks of C, N, and P to plant invasion in the coastal wetlands of China.

The increasing success of invasive plant species in wetland areas can threaten their capacity to store carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (C, N, and P). Here, we have investigated the relationships between the different stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC), and total C, N, and P pools in the plant-soil system from eight different wetland areas across the South-East coast of China, where the invasive tallgrass Spartina alterniflora has replaced the native tall grasses Phragmites australis and the mangrove communities, originally dominated by the native species Kandelia obovata and Avicennia marina. The invasive success of Spartina alterniflora replacing Phragmites australis did not greatly influence soil traits, biomass accumulation or plant-soil C and N storing capacity. However, the resulting higher ability to store P in both soil and standing plant biomass (approximately more than 70 and 15 kg P by ha, respectively) in the invasive than in the native tall grass communities suggesting the possibility of a decrease in the ecosystem N:P ratio with future consequences to below- and aboveground trophic chains. The results also showed that a future advance in the native mangrove replacement by Spartina alterniflora could constitute a serious environmental problem. This includes enrichment of sand in the soil, with the consequent loss of nutrient retention capacity, as well as a sharp decrease in the stocks of C (2.6 and 2.2 t C ha-1 in soil and stand biomass, respectively), N, and P in the plant-soil system. This should be associated with a worsening of the water quality by aggravating potential eutrophication processes. Moreover, the loss of carbon and nutrient decreases the potential overall fertility of the system, strongly hampering the reestablishment of woody mangrove communities in the future.

Genetic diversity of potato genotypes estimated by starch physicochemical properties and microsatellite markers.

Genetic diversity of 29 potato genotypes was estimated by their starch physicochemical properties and microsatellite markers. The apparent amylose content (AAC) of potato starches averaged 25.3%, ranging from 18.9 to 29.4%. Significance differences were observed in pasting and gel texture properties among potato accessions. Wide genetic diversity was also found in the gelatinization temperatures (To, Tp, Tc), enthalpies of gelatinization, enthalpies of retrogradation and retrogradation percentage, which had ranges of 62.2-67.6 °C, 66.1-71.1 °C, 73.5-77.4 °C, 17.5-21.0 J/g, 1.95-4.41 J/g, and 10.6-21.4%, respectively. AAC had significant correlation with pasting viscosities and gel hardness, but had no correlation with thermal and retrogradation properties. The grouping of the potato genotypes using 30 microsatellite markers did not correspond to that drawn using the starch physicochemical properties. Molecular analysis revealed that genotypes with interesting starch properties were distributed among three clusters. Potato starches exhibited interesting physiochemical properties could be applied in food and industrial applications.

A new strategy for choosing "Q-markers" via network pharmacology, application to the quality control of a Chinese medical preparation.

Due to its chemical complexity, proper quality control for a Chinese medical preparation (CMP) has been a great challenge. Choosing the appropriate quality markers (Q-markers) for quality control of CMP is an important work. Best of all, the chosen Q-markers are the main chemical compounds from the herbals as well as the active constituents of this CMP. Only in this way the established quality control system can really achieve the purpose of controlling the quality of CMP and ensuring the safely and effectively use of CMP. To achieve the purpose, network pharmacology combined with the contents of chemical compounds in the CMP has been used in this research. We took an anti-arrhythmic CMP, Shenxian-Shengmai oral liquid (SSOL), as an example. Firstly, UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS method was used to analyze the main components of SSOL. A total of 64 compounds were unambiguously or tentatively identified and 32 of them were further validated by reference compounds. Secondly, the network was constructed based on the identified compounds to predict the effective compounds related to cardiac arrhythmias. Based on the existing database and the operation method of topology, a method of double network analysis (DNAA) was proposed, from which 10 important targets in the pathway of arrhythmia were screened out, and 26 compounds had good antiarrhythmic activity. Based on the prediction results of network pharmacology along with the contents of the compounds in this CMP, ten representative compounds were chosen as the Q-markers for the quality control of SSOL. We find that five of these ten compounds, including danshensu, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid A, epimedin A and icariin, have antiarrhythmic activity. Then, the UPLC-DAD method was established as the control method for SSOL.

A thermoresponsive, citrate-based macromolecule for bone regenerative engineering.

There is a need in orthopaedic and craniomaxillofacial surgeries for materials that are easy to handle and apply to a surgical site, can fill and fully conform to the bone defect, and can promote the formation of new bone tissue. Thermoresponsive polymers that undergo liquid to gel transition at physiological temperature can potentially be used to meet these handling and shape-conforming requirements. However, there are no reports on their capacity to induce in vivo bone formation. The objective of this research was to investigate whether the functionalization of the thermoresponsive, antioxidant macromolecule poly(poly-ethyleneglycol citrate-co-N-isopropylacrylamide) (PPCN), with strontium, phosphate, and/or the cyclic RGD peptide would render it a hydrogel with osteoinductive properties. We show that all formulations of functionalized PPCN retain thermoresponsive properties and can induce osteodifferentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells without the need for exogenous osteogenic supplements. PPCN-Sr was the most osteoinductive formulation in vitro and produced robust localized mineralization and osteogenesis in subcutaneous and intramuscular tissue in a mouse model. Strontium was not detected in any of the major organs. Our results support the use of functionalized PPCN as a valuable tool for the recruitment, survival, and differentiation of cells critical to the development of new bone and the induction of bone formation in vivo. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1743-1752, 2018.

Analysis of Lysophospholipid Content in Low Phytate Rice Mutants.

As a fundamental component of nucleic acids, phospholipids, and adenosine triphosphate, phosphorus (P) is critical to all life forms, however, the molecular mechanism of P translocation and distribution in rice grains are still not understood. Here, with the use of five different low phytic acid (lpa) rice mutants, the redistribution in the main P-containing compounds in rice grain, phytic acid (PA), lysophospholipid (LPL), and inorganic P (Pi), was investigated. The lpa mutants showed a significant decrease in PA and phytate-phosphorus (PA-P) concentration with a concomitant increase in Pi concentration. Moreover, defects in the OsST and OsMIK genes result in a great reduction of specific LPL components and LPL-phosphorus (LPL-P) contents in rice grain. In contrast, defective OsMRP5 and Os2-PGK genes led to a significant increase in individual LPL components. The effect of the Os2-PGK gene on the LPL accumulation was validated using breeding lines derived from a cross between KBNT-lpa (Os2-PGK mutation) and Jiahe218. This study demonstrates that these rice lpa mutants lead to the redistribution of Pi in endosperm and modify LPL biosynthesis. Increase LPLs in the endosperm in the lpa mutants may have practical applications in rice breeding to produce "healthier" rice.

Epimedin C Promotes Vascularization during BMP2-Induced Osteogenesis and Tumor-Associated Angiogenesis.

Epimedin C is one of the chemical markers and major flavonoids in Herba Epimedii (Yinyanghuo), which is traditionally used to treat bone diseases and gonadal dysfunction in China. Our previous study indicated that epimedin C could induce endothelial-like, but not osteogenic differentiation of C3H/10T1/2 cells in vitro. As vasculogenesis plays a pivotal role in bone formation, this study used the bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) induced ectopic bone formation model and mice 4T1 breast cancer cells co-implanted with luciferase labeled C3H/10T1/2 cells (4T1 [Formula: see text] C3H/10T1/2-Luc) model to examine the in vivo effects of Epimedin C on vasculogenesis. As a result, Epimedin C significantly increased the bone weight and blood perfusion of mice in the BMP2 induced ectopic osteogenesis model, and the bone in Epimedin C [Formula: see text] BMP2 group was more mature than that in BMP2 group. In addition, the tumor weight, blood perfusion and tumor-associated angiogenesis were also significantly increased in the Epimedin C treated 4T1 tumor bearing mice. The mRNA levels of endothelial markers, such as the platelet endothelial adhesive factor-1(CD31), the endothelial cell specific molecule-1(ESM-1), and the vascular von Willebrand factor (vWF) in mouse 4T1 mammary tumor tissue, were commonly found to occur alongside the luciferase (labeled in C3H/10T1/2 cells) expression and significantly increased after Epimedin C treatment. Taken together, Epimedin C can effectively promote vascularization both in the BMP2-depended bone formation model and in the 4T1 mammary tumor-bearing model by inducing an endothelial-like differentiation of C3H/10T1/2 in BALB/c nude mice.

Dynamics of dissolved nutrients in the aquaculture shrimp ponds of the Min River estuary, China: Concentrations, fluxes and environmental loads.

Dissolved inorganic nutrients (NO2--N, NO3--N, NH4+-N, and PO43--P) play a critical role in the effective management of water quality and prevention of fish and shrimp diseases in aquaculture systems. In this study, dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations in the water column and sediment porewater, and the fluxes across the sediment-water interface (SWI) were investigated in three intensive shrimp ponds with zero water exchange to examine nutrient cycling during the different growth stages of shrimps. Distinct changes in the dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations in both the water column and sediment porewater were observed among the three growth stages. Average NO2--N, NO3--N, NH4+-N, and PO43--P concentrations in the sediment porewater were 3.53, 2.81, 29.68, and 6.44 times higher, respectively, than those in the water column over the study period, indicating that the pond sediment acted as a net source of nutrients to the water column. This was further supported by the net release of nutrients from the sediments to the water column observed during the incubation experiment. Nutrient fluxes were dominated by NH4+-N, while NOx--N (NO2--N and NO3--N) and PO43--P fluxes remained low. The high rates of NH4+-N release from the sediment highlight the need of taking into account the biogeochemical role of sediments in mitigating the problem of water quality degradation in coastal shrimp ponds. Based on a total water surface area of mariculture ponds and a total mariculture production of 2.57×106ha and 2.30×109kg, respectively, we estimated conservatively that approximately 4.77×104tons of total nitrogen and 3.75×103tons of total phosphorus are being discharged annually from the mariculture ponds into the adjacent coastal zones across China. Results demonstrated the importance of aquaculture pond effluent as a major contributor of water pollution in the coastal areas of China, and called for actions to properly treat these effluents in alleviating the eutrophication problem in the Chinese coastal zones.