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Because of their high electrocatalytic activity, sensitivity, selectivity, and long-term stability in electrochemical sensors and biosensors, numerous nanomaterials are being used as suitable electrode materials thanks to developments in nanotechnology. Electrochemical sensors and biosensors are two areas where two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) are finding increasing utility due to their unusual structure and physicochemical features. Nanosensors, by their unprecedented sensitivity and minute scale, can probe deeper into the structural integrity of piles, capturing intricacies that traditional tools overlook. These advanced devices detect anomalies, voids, and minute defects in the pile structure with unparalleled granularity. Their effectiveness lies in detection and their capacity to provide real-time feedback on pile health, heralding a shift from reactive to proactive maintenance methodologies. Harvesting data from these nanosensors, data was incorporated into a probabilistic model, executing the reliability index calculations through Monte Carlo simulations. Preliminary outcomes show a commendable enhancement in the predictability of vertical bearing capacity, with the coefficient of variation dwindling by up to 12%. The introduction of nanosensors facilitates instantaneous monitoring and fortifies the long-term stability of pile foundations. This study accentuates the transformative potential of nanosensors in geotechnical engineering. • Nanosensors detect pile defects with unprecedented sensitivity. • Real-time pile health monitoring shifts to proactive maintenance. • Data from nanosensors enhance vertical bearing capacity predictability. • Monte Carlo simulations used to calculate reliability indices. • Study shows up to 12% improvement in bearing capacity accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cerambycid beetle, Pharsalia antennata Gahan, 1894 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is a wood-boring pest that spends most of its life cycle in the trunks or under the bark of trees. These distinctive biological characteristics make it likely that this beetle will encounter a number of plant defensive compounds, coupled with a broad range of host plants, possibly resulting in the overexpression or expansion of uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glycosyltransferase (UGT) genes. Here, we identified and characterized the UGT gene family in P. antennata through transcriptome data, sequence and phylogenetic analyses, and PCR and homology modeling approaches. In total, 59 transcripts encoding UGTs were identified, 34 of which harbored full-length sequences and shared high conservation with the UGTs of Anoplophora glabripennis. Of the 34 PantUGTs, only 31.78% amino acid identity was observed on average, but catalytic and sugar binding residues were highly conserved. Phylogenetic analyses revealed four Cerambycidae-specific clades, including 30 members from P. antennata. Combining the transcriptome and PCR data showed that PantUGTs had a wide tissue expression, and the majority of the genes were presented mainly in antennae or abdomens, suggesting their putative roles in olfaction and detoxification. This study provides, for the first time, information on the molecular and genetic basis of P. antennata, greatly enhancing our knowledge of the detoxification-related UGT gene family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Previously, the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) was confirmed to play a key role in the pathophysiology of postcardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). Recently, we demonstrated that limb ischemic postconditioning (LIpostC) alleviated cardiac and cerebral injuries after cardiac arrest and resuscitation. In this study, we investigated whether LIpostC would alleviate the severity of PCAS through inhibiting mPTP opening. Methods. Twenty-four male domestic pigs weighing 37 ± 2 kg were randomly divided into three groups: control, LIpostC, and LIpostC+atractyloside (Atr, the mPTP opener). Atr (10 mg/kg) was intravenously injected 30 mins prior to the induction of cardiac arrest. The animals were subjected to 10 mins of untreated ventricular fibrillation and 5 mins of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Coincident with the beginning of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, LIpostC was induced by four cycles of 5 mins of limb ischemia and then 5 mins of reperfusion. The resuscitated animals were monitored for 4 hrs and observed for an additional 68 hrs. Results. After resuscitation, systemic inflammation and multiple organ injuries were observed in all resuscitated animals. However, postresuscitation systemic inflammation was significantly milder in the LIpostC group than in the control group. Myocardial, lung, and brain injuries after resuscitation were significantly improved in the LIpostC group compared to the control group. Nevertheless, pretreatment with Atr abolished all the protective effects induced by LIpostC. Conclusion. LIpostC significantly alleviated the severity of PCAS, in which the protective mechanism was associated with the inhibition of mPTP opening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine roots of plants play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems. There is a close association between the anatomical characteristics and physiological and ecological functions of plants, but we still have a very limited knowledge of anatomical traits. For example, (1) we do not know if herbs and grasses have anatomical patterns similar to those of woody plants, and (2) the variation among different woody plants in the same ecosystem is unclear. In the present study, we analysed the anatomical structures of the fine root systems of various groups of vascular plants (ferns, eudicot herbs, monocots and woody plants) from the same ecosystem (a natural secondary forest on Mao'er Mountain, Heilongjiang, China) to answer the following questions: (1) How does the anatomy of the fine roots change with root order in various plant groups in the same ecosystem? (2) What is the pattern of variation within group? The results show that anatomical traits can be divided into 3 categories: traits that indicate the root capacity to transport resource along the root (stele diameter, xylem cell diameter and xylem cell area); traits that indicate absorptive capacity cortical thickness, (the number of cortical cell layers and the diameter of cortical cells); and traits that are integrated indicators (diameter and the stele to root diameter ratio). The traits indicate the root capacity to transport resource along the root order is generally similar among groups, but absorptive capacity is very different. The shift in function is the main factor influencing the fine root anatomy. Some traits show large variation within groups, but the variations in other traits are small. The traits indicate that the lower-order roots (absorbing roots) in distinct groups are of the first one or two root order in ferns, the first two or three orders in eudicot herbs, the first (only two root orders) or first two orders (more than three root orders) in monocots and the first four or five root orders in woody plants and the other roots are higher-order roots (transport roots). The result will helpful to understand the similarities and differences among groups and the physiological and ecological functions of plant roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integrity of steel is affected by the adhesion of macrofouling organisms, which is an obstacle to their marine industry application. Corrosion of the fouled steel surface covered by oysters and ascidians was investigated, the results showed that the electrochemical processes, oxygen diffusion, ion transport paths, and secretion state differences caused differentiated corrosion forms with fouled steel. Manifested as localized corrosion at oyster/steel interface, while uniform corrosion at ascidian/steel interface from the state of the entire covering interface. A micro-reaction mechanism was finally proposed concerning the effects of Cl-, anaerobic bacteria, enclosed space, and secretions to reasonably explain this phenomenon. [Display omitted] • Oysters and ascidians are potentially environmental hazardous organisms in marine engineering safety service. • Covered oyster and ascidian caused differentiated corrosion forms with fouled steel. • Electrochemical processes, oxygen diffusion, ion transport paths, and secretion state differences were considered. • Cl- were enriched, and mackinawite were generated at macrofouling/steel interface. • Corrosion mechanism of the macrofouling/steel interface was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhered oysters can cause complex corrosion of fouled steel structures, with localized crevice corrosion being the most severe. A crevice corrosion model of steel caused by oysters is proposed, showing that oyster secretions can penetrate into the oyster/steel interface and act as a stabilizer of the rust layer, enabling tight attachment and thereby slowing the metal corrosion rate. In contrast, oxygen concentration cells, enriched Cl-, anaerobic bacteria, the presence of organic free radicals and oxidative cross-linking during the curing process of oyster secretions act as localized corrosion accelerators facilitating the crevice corrosion process in the oyster/steel gap. [Display omitted] • Adhered oysters could cause severe localized crevice corrosion of fouled steel structures. • Oyster secretions could act as a stabilizer of the rust layer. • Synergistic effects of fouling and inorganic factors acted as localized corrosion accelerators. • The proliferation of anaerobic bacteria enhanced the corrosion in the crevice. • Oyster influenced marine corrosion model was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway regulates specific immunological responses and controls a wide range of physiological processes. NF-κB inhibitor alpha (IKBA) is an NF-κB inhibitory mediator in the cytoplasm that modulates the nuclear translocation and DNA binding activities of NF-κB proteins. However, whether the upstream cascade of the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway has physiological roles independent of IKBA-mediated transcriptional activation remains unclear. Herein we investigated the function of IKBA in mature sperm in which transcriptional and translational events do not occur. IKBA was highly expressed in human sperm. The repression of IKBA phosphorylation by its inhibitor Bay117082 markedly enhanced sperm motility. On the contrary, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IKBA phosphorylation significantly decreased sperm motility. Nevertheless, Bay117082 treatment did not affect the motility of IKBA-knockout sperm. Further, untargeted metabolomic analysis and pharmacological blocking assays revealed that the Bay117082-induced increase in sperm motility was attributable to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) enhancement. In addition, we found that IKBA phosphorylation inhibition resulted in a significant reduction of acetyl-CoA carboxylase levels in the FAO metabolic pathway. Our findings indicate that IKBA-mediated signaling orchestrates sperm motility program and improves our understanding of transcription-independent NF-κB signaling pathway in cells. NF-κB inhibitor alpha (IKBA) signaling in mature sperm drives sperm motility and controls fatty acid b-oxidation metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root respiration is closely related to root morphology, yet it is unclear precisely how to distinguish respiration-related root physiological functions within the branching fine root system. Root respiration and tissue N concentration were examined for different N fertilization treatments, sampling dates, branch orders and temperatures of larch (Larix gmelinii L.) and ash (Fraxinus mandshurica L.) using the excised roots method. The results showed that N fertilization enhanced both root respiration and tissue N concentration for all five branch orders. The greatest increases in average root respiration for N fertilization treatment were 13.30% in larch and 18.25% in ash at 6 °C. However, N fertilization did not change the seasonal dynamics of root respiration. Both root respiration and root tissue N concentration decreased with increase in root branch order. First-order (finest) roots exhibited the highest respiration rates and tissue N concentrations out of the five root branch orders examined. There was a highly significant linear relationship between fine root N concentration and root respiration rate. Root N concentration explained >60% of the variation in respiration rate at any given combination of root order and temperature. Root respiration showed a classical exponential relationship with temperature, with the Q10 for root respiration in roots of different branching orders ranging from 1.62 to 2.20. The variation in root respiration by order illustrates that first-order roots are more metabolically active, suggesting that roots at different branch order positions have different physiological functions. The highly significant relationship between root respiration at different branch orders and root tissue N concentration suggests that root tissue N concentration may be used as a surrogate for root respiration, simplifying future research into the C dynamics of rooting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Our previous findings regarding the biological activities of small peptides revealed that a di-peptide, Trp-His (WH), could play a role in the prevention of vascular lesions, including cell proliferation and atherosclerosis. Its vasoprotective effects could be associated with suppression of the vasocontraction signaling cascade, but the underlying mechanism(s) remains obscure. In this study, we attempted to elucidate the vasoprotective mechanism of WH, in opposing the proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In VSMCs from 8 week-old male Wistar rat thoracic aortae, WH evoked a significant dose-dependent anti-proliferation effect, without cytotoxicity. In mitogen-stimulated cell experiments, 300μM WH inhibited cytosolic Ca2+ elevation in VSMCs induced by 10μM angiotensin II (Ang II). Furthermore, WH suppressed extracellular Ca2+ entry into CaCl2-stimulated VSMCs. The biological capacity of WH as an intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) suppressor was also proven when 50μM Bay K8644 was used to enhance Ca2+ entry via a voltage-dependent l-type Ca2+ channel (VDCC) and 300μM WH elicited a 23% reduction in [Ca2+]i. The absence of a reduction of the [Ca2+]i by the mixture of tryptophan and histidine revealed the importance of the peptide backbone in the [Ca2+]i reduction effect. Furthermore, the WH-induced [Ca2+]i reduction was abolished by verapamil, but not by nifedipine, indicating that WH likely binds to an extracellular site of the VDCC at a site similar to that of the dihydropyridine type-Ca2+ channel blockers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have limited understanding of architecture and morphology of fine root systems in large woody trees. This study investigated architecture, morphology, and biomass of different fine root branch orders of two temperate tree species from Northeastern China— Larix gmelinii Rupr and Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr —by sampling up to five fine root branch orders three times during the 2003 growing season from two soil depths (i.e., 0–10 and.10–20 cm). Branching ratio ( R b) differed with the level of branching: R b values from the fifth to the second order of branching were approximately three in both species, but markedly higher for the first two orders of branching, reaching a value of 10.4 for L. gmelinii and 18.6 for F. mandshurica. Fine root diameter, length, SRL and root length density not only had systematic changes with root order, but also varied significantly with season and soil depth. Total biomass per order did not change systematically with branch order. Compared to the second, third and/or fourth order, the first order roots exhibited higher biomass throughout the growing season and soil depths, a pattern related to consistently higher R b values for the first two orders of branching than the other levels of branching. Moreover, the differences in architecture and morphology across order, season, and soil depth between the two species were consistent with the morphological disparity between gymnosperms and angiosperms reported previously. The results of this study suggest that root architecture and morphology, especially those of the first order roots, should be important for understanding the complexity and multi-functionality of tree fine roots with respect to root nutrient and water uptake, and fine root dynamics in forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of ecology is based on over 100 a of research and investigation, all centered on aboveground pat- terns and processes. However, as contemporary ecologists are increasingly acknowledging, belowground structures, functions, and processes are some of the most poorly understood areas in ecology. This lack of understanding of belowground ecological processes seriously restricts the advance of global change research. The interdisciplinary field of belowground ecology began to flourish in the 1990s, along with the expansion of global change research, and quickly gained momentum. Belowground ecology aims to investigate belowground structures, functions, and processes, as well as their relationships with corresponding aboveground features, emphasizing the responses of belowground systems under global change conditions. Key research areas include root ecology, belowground animals, and soil microorganisms. This review summarizes and analyzes the relationships between above- and belowground ecosystems, root ecology, root biogeography, belowground biodiversity, as well as research areas with particular challenges and progress. This commentary emphasizes certain theoretical issues concerning the responses of belowground processes to global change, and concludes that belowground ecology is a critical research priority in the 11st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Rapid disinfection of water containing E. coli is obtained by a pilot-scale ARHCR. • The ARHCR can cause serious cleavage and surface damages to E. coli. • Proposed disinfection mechanism includes hydrodynamical and sonochemical effects. Hydrodynamic cavitation is a promising technique for water disinfection. In the present paper, the disinfection characteristics of an advanced hydrodynamic cavitation reactor (ARHCR) in pilot scale were studied. The effects of various flow rates (1.4–2.6 m3/h) and rotational speeds (2600–4200 rpm) on the removal of Escherichia coli (E. coli) were revealed and analyzed. The variation regularities of the log reduction and reaction rate constant at various cavitation numbers were established. A disinfection rate of 100% was achieved in only 4 min for 15 L of simulated effluent under 4200 rpm and 1.4 m3/h, with energy efficiency at 0.0499 kWh/L. A comprehensive comparison with previously introduced HCRs demonstrates the superior performance of the presented ARHCR system. The morphological changes in E. coli were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that the ARHCR can lead to serious cleavage and surface damages to E. coli , which cannot be obtained by conventional HCRs. Finally, a possible damage mechanism of the ARHCR, including both the hydrodynamical and sonochemical effects, was proposed. The findings of the present study can provide strong support to the fundamental understanding and applications of ARHCRs for water disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determines the accuracy of estimating the live proportion of fine roots and if estimates are consistent among different species and growth forms. Tendency for the light methods to overestimate accuracy in nonwoody species and to underestimate in woody species; Minirhizotron technique.

Schematic model of corrosion causes and failure mechanisms on the inner wall of the product oil pipeline. • The inner corrosion behavior of high strength product oil pipelines was studied, and some new ideas were put forward. • The three pipeline steels have the same corrosion mechanism. • X80 pipeline steel has better adaptability under the condition of corrosion in the product oil pipeline. • It is more practical to accelerate the development of X80 pipeline steel to make it more applicable to the construction of the product oil pipelines. Pipeline transportation is one of the five major modes of transportation. Inner corrosion problems in product oil pipelines are widespread but have not received attention, and high strength product oil pipelines are rarely used in China. In this paper, morphology and composition analysis and electrochemical methods were used to study the corrosion behaviors and characteristics of API 5L X65, X70 and X80 steel product oil pipelines. The feasibility of using high strength product oil pipelines in the transportation environment of product oil under the condition of inner corrosion is discussed, and the support for the safe operation of product oil pipelines is provided. The research results show that X80 pipeline steel has advantages over X65 and X70 pipeline steel. In the simulated liquid system of sediments in product oil pipeline, as the immersion time increases, the corrosion rate of X65, X70 and X80 pipeline steels shows a trend from high to low. Morphological analysis and electrochemical analysis showed that X80 pipeline steel showed better performance and adaptability to the environment, and its aerobic corrosion reaction was slower than that of X65 and X70 pipeline steel. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that the three pipeline steels have the same corrosion mechanism, and all of them form Fe 2 O 3 , FeOOH, FeCO 3 , and FeS. The corrosion process is similar but the speed is different. This is attributed to the more corrosion-resistant trace elements in the X80 pipeline steel composition and the structure more compact. The application of high strength API 5L X80 steel in the product oil pipeline is still in its infancy, and it will be more practical to accelerate the development of API 5L X80 steel to make it more applicable to the construction of product oil pipelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combustion process of a dual‐fuel engine was calculated by characteristic timescale model (CTM), eddy breakup model (EBM), and coherent flamelet model (CFM) to verify the accuracy of the combustion models. The results show that the peak pressure calculated by EBM is 2.78 % higher than the experimental value, and the peak pressure calculated by CFM is closest to the experimental value. The EBM is the most accurate for CO2 emissions. The deviation of CO emissions from the experimental values calculated by CTM is the smallest (< 1 %). The NOx emission calculated by CTM is good agreement with the experimental value at low speed, and EBM is in best agreement with the experimental value at high speed. The hydrocarbon emission calculated by CFM is the most accurate, with a deviation of less than 0.6 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cultured Takifugu obscurus is a delicious food. • The content of furans and others flavor substances were higher in MRPs. • The kokumi and umami taste of MRPs were much enhanced. • MRPs from Takifugu obscurus would be a high-quality flavoring agent. Takifugu obscurus is famous for its delicious taste. In this study, three peptide fractions from Takifugu obscurus muscle hydrolysates were used to evaluate and compare physicochemical and sensory characteristics after Maillard reaction. Maillard reaction products (MRPs) were analyzed by detecting the changes of browning intensity, free amino acids, volatile compounds and taste profile. Results showed that intermediate flavor products in three fractions of MRPs from different molecular weight peptides were much stronger than in control groups. The free amino acids of MRPs from 0.3 to 3.0 kDa and whole fraction showed a similar trend. The contents of volatile compounds (furans, phenols, pyrazines and so on) also increased in the three MRP fractions. The taste characteristics of three fractions showed stronger kokumi effect and umami taste compared to their control groups. To sum up, this investigation lays the groundwork for the development of a flavoring agent from Takifugu obscurus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dioryctria abietella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a destructive forest pest that feeds on the shoots and cones of Pinaceae plants. The reception of host volatiles and toxic compounds can be mediated via odorant binding proteins (OBPs) expressed in olfactory organs. Here, a number of DabiOBPs may be involved in reproduction, as indicated by the expression profiles. Further, DabiOBP5 and DabiOBP14 enriched in adult antennae could strongly interact with two plant volatiles and four insecticides. Of these, β-ionone derived from plant flowers possibly served as an feeding attractant of female moths, while a pear ester ethyl-(2E,4Z)-decadienoate identified as a non-host volatile may repel D. abietella. In addition, two DabiOBPs were possibly associated with insecticide resistance. Molecular simulations identified several key residues involved in ligand-binding, revealing different binding mechanisms of DabiOBP5 and/or DabiOBP14 with the best ligands. These findings provide potentially active compounds for the control of D. abietella and characterize the interaction mechanisms of two antennal DabiOBPs with plant odorants and insecticides. The management of forest pests has become a significant challenge, particularly for wood borers, because they spend most of the time in the trunks or cones. The coneworm, Dioryctria abietella, is a representative of cone borers as its larvae feed on the cones of Pinaceae plants. The molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between this species and host plants or habitats can assist in developing strategies for pest control. In this study, we extended the expression profiles of 32 odorant binding proteins (OBPs) in the reproductive tissues of D. abietella, revealing the detectable transcription of 29 genes. Using two DabiOBPs highly expressed in antennae (DabiOBP5 and DabiOBP14) as targets, six compounds with high affinities (dissociation constants < 13 μM) were identified through a reverse chemical ecology strategy, including insecticides widely used for the control of lepidopteran pests. Of these compounds, a floral volatile β-ionone and a pear-produced ester ethyl-(2E,4Z)-decadienoate may serve as behaviorally active compounds in D. abietella. The strong binding of DabiOBPs to insecticides suggested their involvement in insecticide resistance, reflecting sophisticated detoxification mechanisms of this moth. In the molecular simulations, DabiOBP14 possessed stronger interactions with the six ligands compared to DabiOBP5, in which a few key residues within the binding pockets were involved in the formation of hydrogen bonds. This study provides some valuable reference active compounds for the development of lures or repellents in D. abietella and unravels the putative roles of two antenna-dominant DabiOBPs in the perception of plant-derived odorants and insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to load fish oil for potential encapsulation of fat-soluble functional active substances, fish oil-loaded multicore submillimeter-sized capsules were prepared with a combination method of three strategies (monoaxial electrospraying, chitosan-tripolyphosphate ionotropic gelation, and Tween blending). The chitosan-tripolyphosphate/Tween (20, 40, 60, and 80) capsules had smaller and evener fish oil cores than the chitosan-tripolyphosphate capsules, which resulted from that Tween addition induced smaller and evener fish oil droplets in the emulsions. Tween addition decreased the water contents from 56.6 % to 35.0 %–43.4 %, increased the loading capacities from 10.4 % to 12.7 %–17.2 %, and increased encapsulation efficiencies from 97.4 % to 97.8 %–99.1 %. In addition, Tween addition also decreased the highest peroxide values from 417 meq/kg oil to 173–262 meq/kg oil. These properties' changes might result from the structural differences between the chitosan-tripolyphosphate and chitosan-tripolyphosphate/Tween capsules. All the results suggested that the obtained chitosan-tripolyphosphate/Tween capsules are promising carriers for fish oil encapsulation. This work also provided useful knowledge to understand the preparation, structural, and physicochemical properties of the chitosan-tripolyphosphate capsules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hybrids of graphene oxide and ZnO quantum dots (GO@ZnO QDs) are synthesized. • Waterborne epoxy coatings loaded with silane grafted GO@ZnO QDs are prepared. • Nanocomposite coatings show advanced corrosion resistance in NaCl solution. • Nanocomposite coatings show both anti-fouling and anti-bacterial properties. • Nanocomposite coatings have high adhesion strength and water contact angle. In this research, the amino-silane functionalized ZnO quantum dots (F-ZnO QDs), graphene oxide (F-GO), and their nanohybrids (F-GO@ZnO QDs) are used as effective nanofillers to improve the anti-corrosion and anti-fouling properties of waterborne epoxy coatings. The synthesized nanomaterials before and after silane functionalization are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Then, the nanocomposite waterborne epoxy coatings loaded with 0.1 wt% F-ZnO QDs, F-GO, and F-GO@ZnO QDs are prepared through solution mixing method. The effects of different nanofillers on the surface roughness, water contact angle, pull-off adhesion strength, fracture surface, and corrosion resistance of the nanocomposite coatings are considered. The results reveal that the uniformly dispersed F-GO@ZnO QDs in the fracture surface of the coating could provide the highest barrier and corrosion resistance on the steel substrates. Meanwhile, the nanocomposite coatings have higher water contact angle and higher adhesion strength to the substrates. The anti-bacterial and anti-fouling properties of the nanocomposite coatings have also been confirmed. The multifunctional performance of the epoxy/F-GO@ZnO QDs is assigned to the synergy effect between the GO, ZnO QDs, and amino-silane; exhibiting the importance of the nanohybrids to combine the advantages of different nanomaterials in one coating system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effect of vapor phase corrosion inhibitor (VCI) imidazoline, quinoline and urea on E36 ship steel in simulated marine atmospheric environment. Design/methodology/approach: The inhibitive effect was investigated by weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance and Raman spectroscopy. Findings: The corrosion process was inhibited by adsorption of the three VCIs on the surface of ship steel. The corrosion inhibition mechanism is the adsorption film type. The corrosion inhibitor adsorbs on the metal surface to prevent Cl- from reaching the surface of the substrate, so as to achieve the corrosion inhibition effect. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, the work described was original research that has not been published previously and not under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present study, we primarily attempted to identify di- and tri-peptides showing potent vasodilation in 1.0μM phenylephrine-contracted thoracic aortas of Sprague-Dawley rats. Synthetic 15 Trp-His (WH) skeleton analogues were used for rat aorta ring''s force measurements, since WH was found to be a vasoactive di-peptide so far. Among the synthesized peptides consisted of both His and Trp amino acid residues, His-Arg-Trp (HRW) was found to evoke the most potent vasodilation with an EC50 value of 1.2±0.08mM in an endothelium-independent manner, while no effect was evoked by a mixture of individual amino acids. In addition to the structure of tri-peptides-activity relationship, chemically modified HRW analogues, i.e., 1- or 3-methyl-His-Arg-Trp and His-citrulline-Trp demonstrated the structural importance of tri-peptide to evoke the vasoactivity as following factors: (1) Neutral imidazole and indole groups from His and Trp residues at N- and C-terminals, respectively and (2) basic amino acids at the middle position. In mitogen (10μM angiotensin II or 50μM Bay K8644)-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells, vasoactive HRW (100μM) caused significant [Ca2+] i reduction to an extent of >30%. Thus, our results suggest that HRW caused vasodilation action via an endothelium-independent mechanism which probably involves the suppression of extracellular Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated l-type Ca2+ channel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Protein nanoparticles are promising candidates for the preparation and stabilization of Pickering emulsions. The research and development of protein nanoparticles with different shapes is one of the hotspots in the field of Pickering emulsions because of their significant advantages such as natural sources, non-toxicity, easy extraction, acceptance in food industry, good surface activity, and good emulsion stabilization abilities. This paper firstly reviews the shapes of protein nanoparticles for the stabilization of Pickering emulsion. Secondly, the paper summarizes the preparation methods of protein nanoparticles for the stabilization of Pickering emulsions. Thirdly, the paper discusses the modification of protein nanoparticles with other substances at oil/water interface. Finally, this paper provides a brief summary and outlook of research and development of protein nanoparticle for Pickering emulsions. Until now, the shapes of the applied protein nanoparticles for Pickering emulsions can be classified into six types: undeformable solid spherical nanoparticles, nanofibrils, nanotubes, nanogels, nanocages, and plate-shaped nanoparticles. According the physical and chemical differences of preparation process, the preparation methods of protein nanoparticles for the stabilization of Pickering emulsions can be classified into natural self-assembly, physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods. The modification methods of protein nanoparticles with other substances at oil/water interface can be classified into physical mixing and chemical crosslinking. This work can provide basic information on the properties of protein nanoparticle and Pickering emulsions. It can also guide the research and development of protein nanoparticles for the stabilization of Pickering emulsions. • Shapes of protein nanoparticles for Pickering emulsion are reviewed. • Preparation methods of protein nanoparticles for Pickering emulsion are summarized. • Modification of protein nanoparticles at oil/water interface is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to explore the influencing factors on critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients' prognosis and to construct a nomogram model to predict the mortality risk. We retrospectively analyzed the demographic data and corresponding laboratory biomarkers of 102 critical COVID-19 patients with a residence time ≥ 24 h and divided patients into survival and death groups according to their prognosis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess risk factors for critical COVID-19 patients and a nomogram was constructed based on the screened risk factors. Logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, high peripheral white blood cell count (WBC), low lymphocyte count (L), low platelet count (PLT), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were associated with critical COVID-19 patients mortality risk (p < 0.05) and these were integrated into the nomogram model. Nomogram analysis showed that the total factor score ranged from 179 to 270 while the corresponding mortality risk ranged from 0.05 to 0.95. Findings from this study suggest advanced age, high WBC, high hs-CRP, low L, and low PLT are risk factors for death in critical COVID-19 patients. The Nomogram model is helpful for timely intervention to reduce mortality in critical COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the latest Gleason grading system in 2014 has distinguished between Gleason 3 + 4 and 4 + 3, Gleason 8 and Gleason 9–10 are remained systemically classified. Methods: A total of 261,125 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) were selected between 2005 and 2015 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. We used propensity score matching to balance clinical variables and then compared overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) between Gleason score subgroups. We further establish a new Gleason survival grading system based on the hazard ratio (HR) values of each Gleason subgroup. Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan–Meier curves were used to compare patient survival. Results: Among PCa patients with Gleason score 8 disease, patients with Gleason 5 + 3 had significantly worse OS and CSS than those with Gleason 3 + 5 (OS: HR = 1.26, p = 0.042; CSS: HR = 1.42, p = 0.005) and 4 + 4 (HR = 1.50 for OS and HR = 1.69 for CSS, p < 0.001 for all). PCa patients with Gleason 5 + 3 and Gleason 4 + 5 may have the similar OS and CSS (reference Gleason score <=6, 5 + 3: OS HR = 2.44, CSS HR = 7.63; 4 + 5: OS HR = 2.40, CSS HR = 8.92; p < 0.001 for all). The new Gleason survival grading system reclassified the grades 4 and 5 of the 2014 updated Gleason grading system into three hierarchical grades, which makes the classification of grades more detailed and accurate. Conclusion: PCa patients with Gleason 8–10 may have three different survival subgroups, Gleason 3 + 5 and 4 + 4, Gleason 5 + 3 and 4 + 5, and Gleason 5 + 4 and 5 + 5. Our results maximize risk stratification for PCa patients, provide guidance for clinicians to assess their survival and clinical management, and make a recommendation for the next Gleason grading system update. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently, the prognosis of kidney cancer depends mainly on the pathological grade or tumor stage. Clinicians have few effective tools that can personalize and adequately evaluate the prognosis of kidney cancer patients. Methods: A total of 70 481 kidney cancer patients were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, among which patients diagnosed in 2005‐2011 (n = 42 890) were used to establish nomograms for overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS), and those diagnosed in 2012‐2015 (n = 24 591) were used for external validation. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were used to determine independent prognostic factors. Concordance index (C‐index), receiver operating characteristic curve, and calibration curve were used to evaluate the predictive capacity of the nomograms. We further reduced subgroup classification and used propensity score matching to balance clinical informations, and analyzed the effect of other variables on survival. We established a new kidney cancer prognostic score system based on the effect of all available variables on survival. Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan‐Meier curves were used for survival comparison. Results: Age, gender, marital status, surgery, grade, T stage, and M stage were included as independent risk factors in the nomograms. The favorable area under the curve (AUC) value (for OS, AUC = 0.812‐0.858; and for CSS, AUC = 0.890‐0.921), internal (for OS, C‐index = 0.776; and for CSS, C‐index = 0.856), and external (for OS, C‐index = 0.814‐0.841; and for CSS, C‐index = 0.894‐0.904) validation indicated that the proposed nomograms could accurately predict 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year OS and CSS of kidney cancer patients. The Aggtrmmns prognostic scoring system based on age, gender, race, marital status, grade, TNM stage, and surgery of kidney cancer patients could stage patients more explicitly than the AJCC staging system. Conclusion: The nomogram and Aggtrmmns scoring system can predict OS and CSS in kidney cancer patients effectively, which may help clinicians personalize prognostic assessments and clinical decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Baixi sufu (BS) is a traditional Chinese spicy fermented bean curd manufactured with a natural starter. In this study, the bacterial and fungal communities during BS fermentation were determined by culture and by the culture‐independent method of high‐throughput sequencing (HTS). Correlation analyses were performed to select the microorganisms potentially contributing to this fermentation. RESULTS: During the fermentation of BS, 162 bacterial and 97 fungal strains were isolated and identified, and a total of 268 314 bacterial and 287 844 fungal high‐quality sequences were analyzed. In general, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), especially Enterococcus and Lactococcus, were dominant in the early stage of fermentation, and spore‐forming bacteria, especially Bacillus spp., became the predominant bacteria by the end of fermentation. Geotrichum, Mortierella, and unclassified Ascomycota, were the major fungal populations, which could not be detected in the final product. Correlation analyses indicated that Enterococcus, Bacillus, Geotrichum, and unclassified Ascomycota correlated significantly and positively with amino nitrogen. However, due to the sporulation characteristics of Bacillus, they may have little effect on BS ripening. The presence of Bifidobacterium spp. in sufu is reported for the first time, but the excessive counts of the Bacillus cereus group (>105 CFU g−1) indicate a potential hazard to consumers. CONCLUSION: The profiles obtained from this study will contribute to the development of autochthonous starter cultures to control BS fermentation, and may lead to the development of novel strategies to shorten the fermentation time of sufu products. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Absorptive and transport roots (diameter ≤ 2 mm) are closely related to soil resource uptake for plant growth, carbon budget and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems, but how and why the relative share of root biomass or root length for both root functional types changes with tree species is not well understood. Our aims were to examine the inter-specific variations of root biomass and length per unit area of absorptive and transport roots, and their relationships with stand structure and soil characteristics, root morphological and architectural traits. Methods: We measured root biomass and length per unit area, diameter, specific root length (SRL), root tissue density (RTD), and branching ratio of the first five order roots, stand and soil characteristics in seven forests consisting of different tree species at a common site. The first order roots were classified as absorptive roots and the other orders as transport roots based on our earlier work. Results: Biomass ratios of absorptive to transport roots varied from 1:5.56 to 1:1.12 among species, and length ratios ranged from 1:1.56 to 1:0.29. Root biomass was not influenced by root morphology or architecture, nor by stand or soil characteristics. Absorptive root length was significantly correlated with SRL, RTD, and branching ratio of the first to second order roots among species, whereas transport root length was significantly correlated with stem density. Conclusions: The relative share of biomass and length for absorptive and transport roots differed among tree species, which may influence belowground carbon allocation and resource competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative experiment was set up in a field site and laboratory to study the effect of barnacles (model organisms of macrofouling) on the corrosion behavior of a low-alloy high-strength steel. The results indicated that barnacle adhesion can slow the corrosion rate of steel in an immersion environment by hindering the diffusion of corrosive ions. It was found that barnacle adhesion had a significant promotion effect on localized corrosion. Due to steel's high corrosion rate, the corrosion-impeding effect was improved, and the promotion effect on localized corrosion was weakened. The study proposed a corrosion mechanism model influenced by barnacles. • A comparative experiment was set up in a field site and laboratory. • Barnacle adhesion can slow the corrosion rate of steel in an immersion environment. • Barnacle adhesion hinders the diffusion of corrosive ions to the steel surface. • Barnacle adhesion had a significant promotion effect on localized corrosion. • The accumulation of barnacle metabolites can promote the corrosion of steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Fine root morphological traits are generally changed under soil nitrogen (N) enrichment, however, the underlying mechanism and functional significance are still not well understood. Our aims were to investigate the linkage of root morphology to anatomy, and its implication for root function at elevated soil N availability.Methods: Ingrowth cores were used to sample root tips (0-20 cm soil depth) from six temperate tree species growing in monoculture plantations at a common site in northeastern China. Root morphological and anatomical traits were concurrently measured, and their relationships were determined within and among species in both control and N fertilization (10 g N m−2y−1) plots.Results: Root diameter generally increased in all six species (non-significant for Phellodendron amurense) following N fertilization, which was caused by the increased root stele radius rather than cortical thickness. Congruently, N fertilization significantly decreased the ratio of cortical thickness to stele radius, but increased the ratio of total cross-sectional area of conduits to stele area in root tips across all species.Conclusions: The observed anatomical changes of root tips contributed to the alternations of morphological root traits following N fertilization, with potentially important impacts on root physiological functions, like increased water and nutrient transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fermentation medium ofMicromonosporaY15 was optimized to enhance the production of antimicrobial metabolites with the antimicrobial activity tested againstListeria monocytogenes. First, the optimal medium components (carbon source, nitrogen source and inorganic salt) were determined by the single factor experiment. Second, the Plackett–Burman experiment was used to screen significant factors. Third, the steepest ascent experiment was undertaken to figure out the optimal region of the significant factors. Finally, the central composite experiment was conducted to optimize the final medium components. The single factor experiment results suggested that the optimal medium components were soluble starch, beef extract, peptone, NaCl, K2HPO4, MgSO4, and FeSO4, while the Plackett–Burman experiment demonstrated that beef extract, K2HPO4and soluble starch were significant factors affecting antimicrobial activity. The steepest ascent experiment results further showed the central point of three significant factors were 1.00 g/L of K2HPO4, 25.00 g/L of soluble starch and 18.00 g/L of beef extract, respectively. Response surface analysis revealed that the optimum values of the tested significant variables for the production of antimicrobial metabolites were 1.03 g/L of K2HPO4, 27.67 g/L of soluble starch and 18.30 g/L of beef extract, accordingly. Under this optimal condition, the antimicrobial activity of the fermented medium was 1236.79 ± 14.56 AU/mL, which increased 3.86 times compared with the initial medium. We thus concluded that the medium composition optimized in the study would be helpful for the production of antimicrobial metabolites byMicromonosporaY15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine root life span is a key variable influencing the belowground dynamics of forest ecosystems and is known to be associated with a complex suite of endogenous and environmental factors. We investigated how root life span is influenced by root diameter, branch order, season of birth and soil depth of birth for five temperate tree species growing in monoculture plantations at a common site in northeastern China. The minirhizotron approach was used to estimate root life span from April 2008 to October 2009. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was employed to determine the impact of those four factors on root life span of each species. There was no consistent difference in fine root life span between evergreen conifers and deciduous hardwoods. A bimodal frequency distribution of root life span was observed for all the species; the majority of roots born in summer and autumn survived to the following year, while roots born in spring mostly died in the current growing season. Root life span tended to increase with root diameter across all species, except Juglans mandshurica. The first two root branch orders within each species generally shared similar life span, with the exception of Picea koraiensis. Root life span tended to be longer at greater depths in the soil profile across all five species. Our results suggest that root life span generally depends on complex interrelations among root anatomy, soil environment and seasonal climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The variability patterns of fern root characteristics have seldom been studied. Here we explored variability in root morphology, histology and chemistry among fern species of temperate forest, and compared the observed patterns with those of seed plants. Methods: We sampled nine herbaceous fern species from temperate forest in northeastern China, and measured root morphological, histological and chemical characteristics across branch orders for each species. Results: All nine fern species had 3 or 4 root orders. With increasing root order, diameter, tissue density, cortical thickness and vascular cylinder diameter increased, while specific root length (SRL) and tissue nitrogen concentration decreased. These were similar to the variability patterns that have been reported for seed plants, except for cortex. Like seed plants, nine fern species showed close relationships among root morphological, histological and chemical characteristics in first-order roots, such as diameter and cortex, tissue density and nitrogen concentration, suggesting that the general linkage between root structure and function exists in all vascular plants. Conclusions: The observed variation within fern root systems is comparable to the reported variation in seed plants, indicating that the same functional constraints control the evolution and development of root systems in vascular plants belonging either to the fern or seed plant lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular modification has attracted many attentions in the field of gelatin science. In this work, a transglutaminase (TG) modification method was developed and applied to modify bovine bone gelatin, porcine skin gelatin, and cold-water fish skin gelatin, and then the effect of TG crosslinking on the structural, physicochemical, functional, and emulsion stabilization properties of three types of gelatins were explored and compared. The results demonstrated that TG modification increased the nanoparticle formation behaviors and change the physicochemical and functional properties of three types of gelatins. Further, TG-modified aquatic gelatin showed comparable foaming properties (147% ± 6% for foaming capability and 55% ± 4% for foam stability) and higher emulsifying properties (18 ± 1 m2/g for emulsion activity index and 142 ± 11 min for emulsion stability index) to unmodified mammalian gelatins. In addition, TG-modified gelatins decreased the droplet sizes and increased creaming stability of fish oil-loaded emulsions compared with unmodified gelatins. All these results suggested TG modification was an efficient molecular modification method for gelatins. Moreover, TG-modified aquatic gelatin could be potential mammalian gelatin replacer. This work could provide useful information to understand the relationship among animal sources, tissue sources, extraction methods, amino acid compositions, molecular modification, molecular structure, physicochemical properties, functional properties, and emulsification stability of gelatins. • Bovine bone, porcine skin, and fish skin gelatins were modified by transglutaminase. • Modification increased the molecular aggregation behaviors of gelatins. • Modification increased the surface hydrophobicity of gelatins. • Modified fish skin gelatin can be mammal gelatin replacer as foamer and emulsifier. • Modification decreased droplet sizes and increased creaming stability of emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Root browning is closely related to physiological function, but the dynamic and underlying mechanism are poorly understood. Our objective was to explore the interrelationship between root browning, in the context of root branch order, and standing biomass, root length density, and soil resources availability at the ecosystem level. Methods: We measured the standing biomass and length density of white, brown and black roots of the first three branch orders in Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.. Root anatomy, morphology, physiological activity, as well as soil total available nitrogen, moisture, and temperature were also determined. Results: White roots had longer specific root length, higher physiological activity, and intact cortex compared with brown roots. Grand means of biomass and length density in white roots were 5.6-fold and 4.4-fold higher than those in brown roots, respectively. Sampling time, soil depth, and branch order generally had significant effects on the biomass and length density of both white and brown roots. In addition, sampling time consistently had significant effects on the brown to white root ratio, whereas the ratio was only moderately correlated with soil temperature. Conclusions: Root browning has pronounced impacts on tree root resource acquisition and belowground carbon allocation in F. mandshurica at both individual root and ecosystem levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite extensive research on the seasonal dynamics of non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and nitrogen (N) concentrations, the size and relative contributions of NSC and N pools across different tree organs are not well understood. We have measured the changes in NSC and N concentrations in leaves, branches, stems and all root branch orders at monthly intervals in control and girdled trees of larch ( Larix gmelinii) and ash ( Fraxinus mandshurica). The biomass of each plant compartment was also determined to calculate the size of the NSC and N pools. In both species, 13-37 % of the NSC and N pools were mobilized at the beginning of the growing season. Among the mobilized pools, stems and non-absorptive roots (branch orders 4-9) acted as the largest NSC sources in larch and ash, respectively, while branches served as the largest N source in both species. After stem girdling, 22 and 50 % of the root NSC stores in larch and ash, respectively, were mobilized to maintain root activities during the growing season. Tree mortality was observed 1 year after girdling, at which time there was still an abundant NSC pool in the roots. We conclude that (1) different storage organs differ in their contribution to new tissue growth at the beginning of the growing season and that those storage organs holding higher fractions of the NSC or N pool are not necessarily those which mobilize more NSC or N; (2) tree growth may not be limited by carbon (C) availability; (3) C storage in non-absorptive roots plays an important role in maintaining tree survival after the termination of photosynthate flow from aboveground sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root diameter, a critical indicator of root physiological function, varies greatly among tree species, but the underlying mechanism of this high variability is unclear. Here, we sampled 50 tree species across tropical and temperate zones in China, and measured root morphological and anatomical traits along the first five branch orders in each species. Our objectives were (i) to reveal the relationships between root diameter, cortical thickness and stele diameter among tree species in tropical and temperate forests, and (ii) to investigate the relationship of both root morphological and anatomical traits with divergence time during species radiation. The results showed that root diameter was strongly affected by cortical thickness but less by stele diameter in both tropical and temperate species. Changes in cortical thickness explained over 90% of variation in root diameter for the first order, and ∼74–87% for the second and third orders. Thicker roots displayed greater cortical thickness and more cortical cell layers than thinner roots. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that root diameter, cortical thickness and number of cortical cell layers significantly correlated with divergence time at the family level, showing similar variation trends in geological time. The results also suggested that trees tend to decrease their root cortical thickness rather than stele diameter during species radiation. The close linkage of variations in root morphology and anatomy to phylogeny as demonstrated by the data from the 50 tree species should provide some insights into the mechanism of root diameter variability among tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree roots are highly heterogeneous in form and function. Previous studies revealed that fine root respiration was related to root morphology, tissue nitrogen (N) concentration and temperature, and varied with both soil depth and season. The underlying mechanisms governing the relationship between root respiration and root morphology, chemistry and anatomy along the root branch order have not been addressed. Here, we examined these relationships of the first- to fifth-order roots for near surface roots (0–10 cm) of 22-year-old larch (Larix gmelinii L.) and ash (Fraxinus mandshurica L.) plantations. Root respiration rate at 18 °C was measured by gas phase O2 electrodes across the first five branching order roots (the distal roots numbered as first order) at three times of the year. Root parameters of root diameter, specific root length (SRL), tissue N concentration, total non-structural carbohydrates (starch and soluble sugar) concentration (TNC), cortical thickness and stele diameter were also measured concurrently. With increasing root order, root diameter, TNC and the ratio of root TNC to tissue N concentration increased, while the SRL, tissue N concentration and cortical proportion decreased. Root respiration rate also monotonically decreased with increasing root order in both species. Cortical tissue (including exodermis, cortical parenchyma and endodermis) was present in the first three order roots, and cross sections of the cortex for the first-order root accounted for 68% (larch) and 86% (ash) of the total cross section of the root. Root respiration was closely related to root traits such as diameter, SRL, tissue N concentration, root TNC : tissue N ratio and stele-to-root diameter proportion among the first five orders, which explained up to 81–94% of variation in the rate of root respiration for larch and up to 83–93% for ash. These results suggest that the systematic variations of root respiration rate within tree fine root system are possibly due to the changes of tissue N concentration and anatomical structure along root branch orders in both tree species, which provide deeper understanding in the mechanism of how root traits affect root respiration in woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Determining which kinds of roots are likely to be consumed by root herbivores may improve our understanding of the mechanistic control on fine root dynamics. Here, we tested the hypothesis that root herbivores prefer to consume the distal lower order roots in their branching networks. Insecticide was applied to soil to quantify effects of root herbivores on root biomass and production in the first five orders (the distal roots numbered as first-order) in Fraxinus mandshurica and Larix gmelinii plantations from May 2008 to July 2009. Root morphology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology were measured simultaneously across branching orders. Among the first five order roots, significant consumptions by herbivores were found only for the two distal lower order roots throughout growing seasons, with 62% of biomass and 57% of production for F. mandshurica, and 71% and 79% for L. gmelinii, respectively. Our results suggest that the distal lower order roots are more palatable and attractive to root herbivores in both plantations, probably because they have higher tissue N, greater respiration rates and lower cellulose. Thus, overlooking herbivore consumption may lead to large underestimation in root biomass and production, which are critical in determining C budget and nutrient cycles in forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine root survivorship is an important aspect of root ecology and is known to be influenced by a suite of covariates. However, the relative importance of each covariate on root survivorship is not clear. Here, we used minirhizotron-based data from 18 woody species to evaluate the relative strength of influence on root survivorship by root diameter, branch order, soil depth, and season of root birth, and to examine how the relationship between each covariate and root survivorship differed across species. We extracted hazard ratio estimates for 16 species from published studies that performed Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, and from our own unpublished data for two Chinese temperate tree species. The mean change in hazard ratio (CHR) and corresponding coefficient of variation for each factor were calculated across species. On average, root diameter and season of root birth had stronger effects on root survivorship than branch order and soil depth. However, the effects of season varied with species and were stronger in temperate forests, whereas the influence of diameter and order were relatively consistent across species. These results suggest that root structures such as diameter and branch order should be carefully considered in root classification and sampling, and adding season of birth (particularly in temperate forests) as a covariate in root survivorship analysis should further enhance our ability in achieving a better understanding of root demography and more accurate estimates of root turnover in forests of different climate zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Elevated [CO 2 ] significantly modify leaf morphology, anatomy and physiology. • Absorptive roots become thicker under elevated [CO 2 ], accompanied with greater cortex. • Functional traits of leaf and root coordinately respond to elevated [CO 2 ]. • Trait-responses to elevated [CO 2 ] are more sensitive in woody than herbaceous plants. Elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentration (e[CO 2 ]) profoundly affects the growth and physiological activities of plants. However, the responses of leaf and root functional traits to e[CO 2 ] are rarely investigated together, limiting our understanding of the whole-plant adaptive strategies to climate change. In this study, 17 temperate woody (nine) and herbaceous (eight) plant species were grown under ambient [CO 2 ] (a[CO 2 ], 380 ppm) and e[CO 2 ] (720 ppm) conditions in the chamber (Percival Scientific, Perry, USA), and the responses of 16 key functional traits (anatomy, morphology, physiology) of leaves and typical absorptive roots (the 1st order root) and their relationships were studied. Averagely, we found that e[CO 2 ] increased leaf thickness (LT, +13 %), reduced specific leaf area (SLA, -14 %), increased palisade tissue thickness (PT, +23 %) and the ratio of palisade tissue to spongy tissue thickness (P/S, +14 %) across species, which were accompanied by physiological changes. For absorptive root, root diameter (RD) increased by 15 %, specific root length (SRL) decreased by 12 %, and root tissue density (RTD) decreased by 14 % across species under e[CO 2 ], indicating that plants tend to construct thicker roots with looser tissue under e[CO 2 ] compared to a[CO 2 ]. Also root cortical thickness (CT) and the ratio of cortical thickness to stele radius (C/S) increased by 20 % and 13 % under e[CO 2 ], respectively, implying an increase in root potential absorption capacity. More importantly, the corresponding functional traits of leaf and absorptive root, i.e., LT and RD, SLA and SRL, PT and CT, P/S and C/S, showed positive correlations in their magnitudes of the responses to e[CO 2 ] in both woody and herbaceous species. Our study revealed the coordinated changes of corresponding functional traits in leaf and absorptive root under e[CO 2 ] condition, which provide some insights into the whole-plant resources acquisition strategy under changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]