Retrieving soil moisture using cosmic-ray neutron technology based on COSMIC model in the desert-oasis region.

Cosmic-ray neutron technology could estimate average soil moisture on scale of hectometers by monitoring the neutron intensity near the ground, which has been successfully applied in forest, grassland, farmland, and other ecosystems. To verify the reliability of Cosmic-ray Soil Moisture Interaction Code (COSMIC) model for retrieving mesoscale soil moisture in arid regions, we carried out soil moisture observation experiment by using the cosmic-ray neutron rover in the desert-oasis region of the middle reaches of Heihe River. The results showed that the fast neutron intensity in the desert-oasis region were 350-715 counts·(30 s), and the calibrated high energy neutron intensity () were (38.

Transposon-based identification of genes involved in the rimocidin biosynthesis in Streptomyces rimosus M527.

The transposon mutagenesis strategy has been employed to generate random insertion mutants and analyze the correlation between genes and secondary metabolites in the genus Streptomyces. In this study, our primary objective was to identify an unknown gene involved in rimocidin biosynthesis and elucidate its role in rimocidin production in Streptomyces rimosus M527. To achieve this, we established a random mutant library of S.

Silencing the ADAM9 Gene through CRISPR/Cas9 Protects Mice from Alcohol-Induced Acute Liver Injury.

Alcoholic liver injury is a major global public health concern at present. The ADAM9 gene plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of various liver diseases, but its role in acute alcoholic liver injury remains ambiguous. In this study, a chimeric single-guide RNA targeting the genomic regions of mouse ADAM9 was designed using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) technology.

Functional traits of Fagaceae plants in shady and sunny slopes in karst degraded tiankeng.

In the negative terrain habitat of the karst degraded tiankeng, the shady and sunny slopes are dramatically different, which results in substantial variations in plant communities. With the degraded tiankeng Shenxiantang in Zhanyi, Yunnan as an example, we explored the functional traits of Fagaceae plants in the shady and sunny slopes, which would help reveal the value of tiankeng as species diversity conservation pool. The results showed that soil nutrients in the shady slope were more than those in the sunny slope.

[Vertical distribution characteristics of plant community in shady slope of degraded tiankeng talus: A case study of Zhanyi Shenxiantang in Yunnan, China].

We investigated the characteristics of plant species diversity in tree and shurb layers and the main influencing factors in different slope positions of a shady slope of degraded tiankeng talus. The results showed that there were 21 species in 17 genera and 13 families in the tree layer, and 20 species in 20 genera and 14 families in shrub layer in the south side of the Shenxiantang. Plant communities were subtropical moist coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest.

[Niche characteristics of understory dominant species of talus slope in degraded tiankeng].

We carried out niche monitoring and analysis of plant populations under the forest community in the talus slope ecotone of a typical moderate-degraded Bajiaxiantang tiankeng to provide scientific references for biodiversity conservation and vegetation restoration in degraded tiankeng area. The results showed that soil ammonium, available potassium, and available phosphorus signifi-cantly affected species distribution, which explained 37.4%, 32.

Potential Drug Targets Against Hepatitis B Virus Based on Both Virus and Host Factors.

Background: Hepatitis B is a very harmful and epidemic disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). Although an effective anti-HBV vaccine is available, chronic infection poses still a huge health burden in the whole world. The present anti-HBV drugs including nucleoside analogues and interferonalpha have their limitations without exception.

[Chemical constituents from roots of Viburnum setigerum].

This experiment was to study the constituents of the roots of Viburnum setigerum through various column chromatographic techniques. Thirteen compounds were obtained and their structures were identified using chemical and spectroscopic methods as (7αH, 8'αH)-4, 4', 8α-trihydroxy-3, 3', 9-trimethoxy-7, 9'-epoxylignan (1), (7αH, 8'αH)-4, 4', 8α, 9-tetrahydroxy-3, 3'-dimethoxy-7, 9'-epoxylignan (2), alashinol G (3), alashinol F (4), (-)-secoisolariciresinol (5), (7R, 7'R, 8R, 8'S)-3, 3'-dimethoxy-7, 7'-epoxylignane -4, 4', 9, 9'-tetraol (6), (7αH, 8αH, 8'βH)-4, 4', 7'α, 9-tetrahydroxy-3, 3'-dimethoxy-7, 9'-epoxylignan (7), loganin (8), dihydroquercetin (9), protocatechuic acid (10), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzoic acid (11), adoxoside (12), and catechin (13). Compound 1 was a new compound.

Preliminary results of water quality assessment using phytoplankton and physicochemical approaches in the Huai River Basin, China.

Water pollution has been a significant issue in the Huai River Basin (HRB) of China since the late 1970s. In July and December 2013, two field investigations were carried out at 10 sites along the main streams of the basin. The monitoring indices contained both physicochemical variables and the structure and composition of phytoplankton communities.

[Regulation of biochar on matrix enzyme activities and microorganisms around cucumber roots under continuous cropping].

The effects of addition of biochar on the matrix enzymes activity, microorganisms population and microbial community structure were evaluated under cucumber continuous cropping for 6 years (11 rotations). Cucumbers were grown in pots in greenhouse with 5% or 3% of medium (by mass) substituted with biochar. The control consisted of medium alone without biochar.

[Characteristics of the preferential flow and its response to irrigation amount in oasis cropland].

Preferential flow is a physical process describing how water and solutes move aiong cer- tain pathways through soil profile. Studying the cropland preferential flow patterns and its influential factors could quantify the deep percolation, improve water and fertilizer use efficiency and reduce the risk of agrochemicals contaminating shallow groundwater in oasis cropland. The dye tracer exper- ments were carried out in field oasis cropland, using a brilliant blue FCF solution.

[Effects of nutrition medium on cucumber growth and soil microenvironment in greenhouse under continuous cropping].

An experiment of continuous cropping of cucumber in nutrition medium (composted with straw, rural soil and puffed chicken manure) or soil was conducted in greenhouse in order to study the effects of medium type on the cucumber growth and soil microenvironment, respectively. The results showed that the two treatments both displayed different levels of obstacles resulted from continuous cropping. In the same cropping season, the nutrient content, soil invertase and urease activities and B/F (bacteria/fungi) ratio in the nutrition medium were obviously higher but fungi quantity was lower than in the soil medium, suggesting the use of nutrition medium changed the bacterial population structure as to improve the cucumber growth and yield.

Evaluation of hepatocyteprotective and anti-hepatitis B virus properties of Cichoric acid from Cichorium intybus leaves in cell culture.

Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world. To date, there is still no complete cure for chronic hepatitis B. Natural caffeic acid analogues possess prominent antiviral activity, especially anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) and anti-human immunodeficiency virus effects.

Taraxacum mongolicum extract exhibits a protective effect on hepatocytes and an antiviral effect against hepatitis B virus in animal and human cells.

In order to validate the antiviral effect against hepatitis B virus (HBV) of Taraxacum mongolicum (T. mongolicum), the protective effect on hepatocytes, and antiviral properties against duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) and HBV of T. mongolicum extract (TME) were evaluated in chemically-injured neonatal rat hepatocytes, DHBV-infected duck fetal hepatocytes and HBV-transfected HepG2.

Chromosome dynamic changes in two cultured Chinese human embryonic stem cell lines: single nucleotide polymorphism, copy number variation and loss of heterozygosity.

The quality and safety of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in clinical application depend on gene stability. Two Chinese hESC lines, Zh1 and Zh21, were incubated over a long period. We observed and compared the gene stability in the passage numbers 20, 17 for Zh1 cell line and passage numbers 27, 60, 68 for Zh21 cell line.

[Studies on the chemical constituents in herb of Hedyotis diffusa].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Hedyotis diffusa.

Methods: Column chromatographic techniques were used for isolation and purification of chemical constituents of this plant and their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis.

Results: Five compounds were isolated and identified as scandoside methyl ester (I), deacetylasperulosidic acid methyl ester (II), 10-dehydrogeniposide (III), 2-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone (IV), stigmasterol (V), respectively.

[Analysis of the chemical constituents of Hedyotis diffusa].

Objective: To analyze the chemical constituents of Hedyotis diffusa.

Methods: Column chromatographies were used to isolate and purify the chemical constituents of this plant, and their structures were identified by spectral analysis and physicochemical properties.

Results And Conclusion: Seven compounds were isolated and identified as p-coumaric acid (I), methyl-p-coumarate (II), 2-formyl-5- hydroxymethylfuran (III), quercetin (IV), kaempferol (V), beta-sitosterol(VI) and daucosterol(VII), respectively, among which the compounds II and III were isolated from Hedyotis diffusa for the first time.