Nitrogen addition accelerates aboveground biomass sequestration in old-growth forests by stimulating ectomycorrhizal tree growth.

Examining whether nitrogen (N) enrichment promotes secondary tree growth in both young (YF) and old-growth forests (OF) is crucial. This will help determine how N addition influences plant carbon sequestration across successional phases in temperate forests. We conducted an eight-year N addition experiment (0, 25, 50, 75 kg N ha yr) in YF and OF in northeast China to investigate the effects of enhanced in situ N deposition on tree growth.

Integration of feature-based molecular networking and high-definition data-dependent acquisition for the comprehensive multicomponent characterization of Honghua Xiaoyao Tablet.

Systematically identifying the chemical constituents in complex matrices is a challenge due to the inherent characteristics of compounds. The combination of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and classical molecular networking (CLMN) is a powerful technology for annotating small molecules. However, the low coverage from inappropriate acquisition modes and the inseparability of isomeric compound nodes still hinders the comprehensive metabolite characterization.

Multi-omics and network pharmacology approaches reveal Gui-Ling-Ji alleviates oligoasthenoteratozoospermia by regulating arachidonic acid pathway.

Background: Gui-Ling-Ji (GLJ) described in the ancient medical book 'Yunji Qijian' is a traditional Chinese medicine formula used to improve male fertility. It is now available for the treatment of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). However, the active ingredients and mechanism of GLJ are not clear.

Mycorrhizal Types Regulate Tree Spatial Associations in Temperate Forests: Ectomycorrhizal Trees Might Favour Species Coexistence.

In temperate mixed forests, dominant ectomycorrhizal (EM) tree species usually coexist with diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) understorey tree species. Here, we investigated the spatial associations between AM and EM trees in two > 20 ha temperate forest mega-plots to better understand the observed 'EM-dominant versus AM-diverse' coexistence. Overall, we found that positive spatial associations (e.

Age-Related Conservation in Plant-Soil Feedback Accompanied by Ectomycorrhizal Domination in Temperate Forests in Northeast China.

This study investigates the effects of forest aging on ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal community and foraging behavior and their interactions with plant-soil attributes. We explored EcM fungal communities and hyphal exploration types via rDNA sequencing and investigated their associations with plant-soil traits by comparing younger (~120 years) and older (~250 years) temperate forest stands in Northeast China. The results revealed increases in the EcM fungal richness and abundance with forest aging, paralleled by plant-soil feedback shifting from explorative to conservative nutrient use strategies.

Angle-Multiplexed 3D Photonic Superstructures with Multi-Directional Switchable Structural Color for Information Transformation, Storage, and Encryption.

Creating photonic crystals that can integrate and switch between multiple structural color images will greatly advance their utility in dynamic information transformation, high-capacity storage, and advanced encryption, but has proven to be highly challenging. Here, it is reported that by programmably integrating newly developed 1D quasi-periodic folding structures into a 3D photonic crystal, the generated photonic superstructure exhibits distinctive optical effects that combine independently manipulatable specular and anisotropic diffuse reflections within a versatile protein-based platform, thus creating different optical channels for structural color imaging. The polymorphic transition of the protein format allows for the facile modulation of both folding patterns and photonic lattices and, therefore, the superstructure's spectral response within each channel.

Qijiao Shengbai Capsule alleviated leukopenia by interfering leukotriene pathway: Integrated network study of multi-omics.

Background: Leukopenia could be induced by chemotherapy, which leads to bone marrow suppression and even affects the therapeutic progression of cancer. Qijiao Shengbai Capsule (QSC) has been used for the treatment of leukopenia in clinic, but its bioactive components and mechanisms have not yet been elucidated clearly.

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of QSC in treating leukopenia.

UPLC-Q-TOF/MS based metabolite profiling and quality marker constituents screening of root, stem and rhizome extracts of Ilex asprella.

Objective: The root of Ilex asprella (RIA) is a popular plant resource for treating inflammation-related diseases. The purpose of this study was to identify the secondary metabolites, to compare anti-inflammatory effects and to determine the quality marker components among root, stem and rhizome sections of IA.

Methods: Chemical fingerprints of stem, root and rhizome of IA was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Air pollutants in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and pulmonary tuberculosis: A mediation analysis of gene-specific methylation.

Particulate matter (PM) exposure could alter the risk of tuberculosis, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. We enrolled 132 pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients and 30 controls. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were collected from all participants to detect organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metal elements, and DNA methylation of immunity-related genes.

Chemical components characterization and in vivo metabolites profiling of Lingbao Huxin Dan by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Lingbao Huxin Dan (LBHX) is an effective prescription for treating various cardiovascular diseases. However, its systematic chemical composition analysis and important marker components remain unclear, which hinders the development of standards or guidelines for quality evaluation. Herein, a high-resolution and efficient method was established to comprehensively investigate the chemical ingredients and metabolites of LBHX by using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Relationships between Phyllosphere Bacterial Communities and Leaf Functional Traits in a Temperate Forest.

As a vital component of biodiversity, phyllosphere bacteria in forest canopy play a critical role in maintaining plant health and influencing the global biogeochemical cycle. There is limited research on the community structure of phyllosphere bacteria in natural forests, which creates a gap in our understanding of whether and/or how phyllosphere bacteria are connected to leaf traits of their host. In this study, we investigated the bacterial diversity and composition of the canopy leaves of six dominant tree species in deciduous broad-leaved forests in northeastern China, using high-throughput sequencing.

Compound-composed Chinese medicine of Huachansu triggers apoptosis of gastric cancer cells through increase of reactive oxygen species levels and suppression of proteasome activities.

Background: Huachansu (HCS), a known Chinese patent drug extracted from the Chinese toad skin, is frequently used for the treatment of various advanced cancers, especially gastric cancer, due to the good therapeutic effect. However, it is rather difficult to clarify the active substances and molecular mechanisms involved owing to the lack of appropriate research strategies. We recently proposed the concept and research ideas of compound-composed Chinese medicine formula.

Internal Validation of Automated Visual Evaluation (AVE) on Smartphone Images for Cervical Cancer Screening in a Prospective Study in Zambia.

Objectives: Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) is a low-cost approach for cervical cancer screening used in most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) but, similar to other visual tests like histopathology, is subjective and requires sustained training and quality assurance. We developed, trained, and validated an artificial-intelligence-based "Automated Visual Evaluation" (AVE) tool that can be adapted to run on smartphones to assess smartphone-captured images of the cervix and identify precancerous lesions, helping augment performance of VIA.

Design: Prospective study.

Silk-protein-based gradient hydrogels with multimode reprogrammable shape changes for biointegrated devices.

Biocompatible and morphable hydrogels capable of multimode reprogrammable, and adaptive shape changes are potentially useful for diverse biomedical applications. However, existing morphable systems often rely on complicated structural designs involving cumbersome and energy-intensive fabrication processes. Here, we report a simple electric-field-activated protein network migration strategy to reversibly program silk-protein hydrogels with controllable and reprogrammable complex shape transformations.