scholarly journals Forest in Karst Mountain Sinkhole of Southeastern China Provides Refugium for the Preservation of Bryophyte Diversity

2020 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaofang Li ◽  
Zhaohui Zhang ◽  
Zhihui Wang ◽  
Kuangzheng Shi
Keyword(s):  
Diversity Index ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Karst Rocky Desertification ◽  
Southeastern China ◽  
Rocky Desertification ◽  
Total Potassium

The negative landform of sinkholes provides belowground level refugia for a high diversity of forest species compared to the forests on the surface of surrounding karst plateaus in southeastern China. Bryophyte diversity in sinkhole forests is also likely to be high. In this study, bryophytes of an underground forest sinkhole (UFS), and two forests (Forest Karst Mountain 1; FKM1) and (Forest Karst Mountain 2; FKM2) on the surface of the karst plateau were compared to understand the role of the sinkhole forest in the conservation of bryophyte diversity and the relationships between bryophyte diversity, environmental factors, and soil nutrients. Significantly more bryophyte taxa were recorded from the sinkhole forest (71 taxa, 36 genera, 23 families) than those in the forest on the plateau surface, which was the closest to the sinkhole (FKM1; 29 bryophyte taxa, 16 genera, 12 families), and even fewer bryophytes were found in the forest more distant to the sinkhole (FKM2; 22 taxa, 17 genera, eight families). Twenty-four liverwort taxa were collected from the sinkhole forest, two from the closest surface forest (FKM1) and none from the furthest surface forest (FKM2). Ninety-three percent of the bryophytes in karst mountain sinkhole were not found on surface forest. The diversity index trend was as follows: UFS > FKM1 > FKM2, and the evenness index trend was in the opposite direction as follows: UFS < FKM1 < FKM2. The beta diversity showed that the Jaccard index among the three forests was 0–0.25, reflecting a huge difference between the sinkhole forest and the two surface forests. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that light was the most important factor affecting the distribution of bryophytes in the sinkhole forest, while temperature and humidity were key factors for the distribution of bryophytes in the two surface forests. Further, soil parameters, namely, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, and available phosphorus changed gradually from UFS to FKM1 and to FKM2. The sinkhole forest, located in a landform with the unique negative topography enclosed by cliffs, and with a complex microenvironment, provides a natural refuge for bryophyte species in areas where forests have been negatively impacted by karst rocky desertification.

The Relationship between Soil Characteristics and Community Structure in Different Vegetation Restoration in Guangxi Karst Region

2013 ◽  
Vol 726-731 ◽  
pp. 4172-4176
Author(s):  
Sheng Li ◽  
Hua Dong Ren ◽  
Liang Xue ◽  
Xiao Hua Yao
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Karst Region ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Herb Layer ◽  
Closing Time ◽  
Karst Rocky Desertification ◽  
Rocky Desertification ◽  
Shrub Layer ◽  
Tree Layer

The space instead of time method was used to determine the species diversity and soil property in different succession stages in Karst rocky desertification area, in China. The species diversity of herb layer was digressive and that of tree layer, shrub layer and the whole community were increased first and then decreased, the peak value appeared in the rattan thorn scrub stage, the lowest appeared in the grass stages. At the beginning of succession, the species diversity of herb layer was higher than that of shrub layer. With the closing time increased, the diversity of the shrub layer increased more than that of herb layer. There had the same change trend in velocity nitrogen, organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus. There was significantly linear positive correlation between the total nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, pH, available phosphorus and the species diversity and richness of the herb layer.

PTTG has a Dual Role of Promotion-Inhibition in the Development of Pituitary Adenomas

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 800-818
Author(s):  
Zujian Xiong ◽  
Xuejun Li ◽  
Qi Yang
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Pituitary Adenoma ◽  
Pituitary Adenomas ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Cycle Progression ◽  
Sister Chromatids ◽  
Regulation Of Cell Cycle ◽  
Late Stages

Pituitary Tumor Transforming Gene (PTTG) of human is known as a checkpoint gene in the middle and late stages of mitosis, and is also a proto-oncogene that promotes cell cycle progression. In the nucleus, PTTG works as securin in controlling the mid-term segregation of sister chromatids. Overexpression of PTTG, entering the nucleus with the help of PBF in pituitary adenomas, participates in the regulation of cell cycle, interferes with DNA repair, induces genetic instability, transactivates FGF-2 and VEGF and promotes angiogenesis and tumor invasion. Simultaneously, overexpression of PTTG induces tumor cell senescence through the DNA damage pathway, making pituitary adenoma possessing the potential self-limiting ability. To elucidate the mechanism of PTTG in the regulation of pituitary adenomas, we focus on both the positive and negative function of PTTG and find out key factors interacted with PTTG in pituitary adenomas. Furthermore, we discuss other possible mechanisms correlate with PTTG in pituitary adenoma initiation and development and the potential value of PTTG in clinical treatment.

scholarly journals Land Uses, Altitude and Texture Effects on Soil Parameters. A Comparative Study in Two Districts of Nagaland, Northeast India

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Gaurav Mishra ◽  
Rosa Francaviglia
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Available N ◽  
P Content ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Soc Stocks

Northeast (NE) India is a typical tropical ecosystem with a luxuriant forest vegetation cover, but nowadays forests are under stress due to exploitation and land use changes, which are known to affect soil health and productivity. However, due to a scarcity of data, the influence of land uses and altitude on soil properties of this peculiar ecosystem is poorly quantified. This study presents the changes in soil properties in two districts of Nagaland (Mon and Zunheboto) in relation to land uses (forest, plantation, jhum and fallow jhum), altitude (<500 m, 500–1000 m, >1000 m) and soil texture (coarse, medium, fine). For this, a random soil sampling was performed in both the districts. Results indicated that soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and available potassium (K) were significantly influenced by land uses in the Mon district, while in Zunheboto a significant difference was observed in available phosphorus (P) content. SOC stocks showed an increasing trend with elevation in both districts. The influence of altitude on P was significant and the maximum concentration was at lower elevations (<500 m). In Mon, soil texture significantly affected SOC stocks and the available N and P content. The variability in soil properties due to land uses, altitudinal gradients and textural classes can be better managed with the help of management options, which are still needed for this ecosystem.

scholarly journals Influence of Land Use on Avian Diversity in North African Urban Environments

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
Hani Amir Aouissi ◽  
Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor ◽  
Mostefa Ababsa ◽  
Maria Boştenaru-Dan ◽  
Mahmoud Tourki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Ecological Group ◽  
Avian Diversity ◽  
North African ◽  
Index Method ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Land cover and use changes are important to study for their impact on ecosystem services and ultimately on sustainability. In urban environments, a particularly important research question addresses the relationship between urbanization-related changes and biodiversity, subject to controversies in the literature. Birds are an important ecological group, and useful for answering this question. The present study builds upon the hypothesis according to which avian diversity decreases with urbanization. In order to answer it, a sample of 4245 observations from 650 sites in Annaba, Algeria, obtained through the point abundance index method, were investigated by computing Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index and the species richness, mapping them, and analyzing the results statistically. The findings confirm the study hypothesis and are relevant for planning, as they stress the role of urban green spaces as biodiversity hotspots, and plead for the need of connecting them. From a planning perspective, the results emphasize the need for interconnecting the green infrastructure through avian corridors. Moreover, the results fill in an important lack of data on the biodiversity of the region, and are relevant for other similar Mediterranean areas. Future studies could use the findings to compare with data from other countries and continents.

scholarly journals Drought and Salinity in Citriculture: Optimal Practices to Alleviate Salinity and Water Stress

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1283
Author(s):  
Vasileios Ziogas ◽  
Georgia Tanou ◽  
Giasemi Morianou ◽  
Nektarios Kourgialas
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
High Water ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Fruit Tree ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Negative Effect

Among the various abiotic stresses, drought is the major factor limiting crop productivity worldwide. Citrus has been recognized as a fruit tree crop group of great importance to the global agricultural sector since there are 140 citrus-producing countries worldwide. The majority of citrus-producing areas are subjected to dry and hot summer weather, limited availability of water resources with parallel low-quality irrigation water due to increased salinity regimes. Citrus trees are generally classified as “salt-intolerant” with high water needs, especially during summer. Water scarcity negatively affects plant growth and impairs cell metabolism, affecting the overall tree growth and the quality of produced fruit. Key factors that overall attempt to sustain and withstand the negative effect of salinity and drought stress are the extensive use of rootstocks in citriculture as well as the appropriate agronomical and irrigation practices applied. This review paper emphasizes and summarizes the crucial role of the above factors in the sustainability of citriculture.

scholarly journals Microbial-Driven Stabilisation of Archaeological Iron Artefacts

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-292
Author(s):  
Sarah James ◽  
Edith Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Health And Safety ◽  
Chloride Content ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Passivation Layers ◽  
Archaeological Iron ◽  
Initial Results ◽  
Sulphur Species ◽  
Partial Success ◽  
Made In

The instability of iron artefacts is rooted in salt contamination during burial and damages associated with exposure to alternative oxygen levels and high relative humidity once excavated. While a combination of chemical and mechanical treatments is utilised to remove the harmful ions (chlorides, sulphur species) and excess bulky corrosion products, these methods can be hazardous for conservation staff’s health, have limited success, or require extensive treatment times. Bio-based treatments provide a potentially greener alternative for removing damaging corrosion and creating biogenic mineral passivation layers, thus remediating concerns over costs, duration, and health and safety. Pseudomonas putida mt-2 (KT2440) is capable of utilising iron under certain conditions and for phosphating mild steel; however, applications have not been made in the cultural heritage sector. To address the potential of using bacteria for conservation purposes, Pseudomonas was assessed for both the bioremediation of salt contaminates and the production of a passivation layer suitable for iron artefacts, with specific conservation concerns in mind. Key factors for optimisation include the role of agitation, chloride content, and oxygen content on bacterial growth and biomineralisation. The initial results indicate a growth preference, not reliance, for NaCl and agitation with partial success of bioconversion of a mineral source.

scholarly journals Targeting Erbin in B cells for therapy of lung metastasis of colorectal cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tong Shen ◽  
Jing-Lin Liu ◽  
Chu-Yi Wang ◽  
Youlutuziayi Rixiati ◽  
Shi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Lung Metastasis ◽  
Lung Metastases ◽  
Pdz Domain ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Iga Production

AbstractThe mechanisms and key factors involved in tumor environments for lung metastasis of CRC are still unclear. Here, using clinical samples from lung metastases of CRC patients, we found that intestinal immune network for IgA production was significantly dysregulated in lung metastases of CRC. Single-cell RNA sequencing discovered a subtype of B cells positive for Erbin, one member of the leucine-rich repeat and PDZ domain (LAP) family, was involved in the lung metastases. Erbin deletion in B cells suppressed lung metastasis of CRC in vivo. And, deletion of Erbin in B cells enhanced the killing effects of CD8+ T cells on tumor cells. Mechanistically, Erbin knockout attenuated TGFβ-mediated suppression of migration of CXCR5+ IgA+ cells and STAT6-mediated PD1 expression. Our study uncovered a key role of Erbin in regulating PD1+ IgA+ B cells in lung metastasis of CRC. Targeting Erbin as well as combined use of neutralizing B cells and antibodies neutralizing PD1 suppresses lung metastasis of CRC in mice, suggesting the potential option for treatment of lung metastasis of CRC.

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