[Comprehensive effects of combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizer on yield, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil nutrient in double-cropping rice systems]. / æœ‰æœºæ— æœºè‚¥é æ–½å¯¹åŒå­£ç¨»è½®ä½œç³»ç»Ÿäº§é‡ã€æ¸©å®¤æ°”ä½“æŽ’æ”¾å’ŒåœŸå£¤å »åˆ†çš„ç»¼åˆæ•ˆåº”.

We carried out a 3-year field experiment with three treatments: 1) no fertilizer application (CK), 2) chemical fertilizer application (F), and 3) combined organic and chemical fertilizer (FM) in which the total nitrogen inputs were equal with F (organic fertilizer applied in the early rice season). We evaluated the variations of crop yield, CH4 and N2O emission, and soil nutrient. The results showed that fertilizer application could increase rice yield in both early and late rice seasons. Compared with F treatment, FM treatment increased rice yield by 5.6% and 7.2% for early and late rice, respectively. The enhancement of yield was positively correlated with years. Compared with F treatment, CH4 emission in early rice season, late rice season and whole year in the field in FM treatment was increased by 8.2%, 4.8% and 6.7%, respectively, while the N2O emission was deceased by 31.4%, 5.0% and 18.8%, respectively. Organic fertilizer application reduced the greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) by 6.8% and 8.5%, but there was no significant differences in global warming potential (GWP) across treatments in 2018 and 2019. Compared with F treatment, the content of organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium were increased by 9.7%, 4.1%, 30.9% and 2.5%, respectively. Overall, our results suggested FM application in early rice season is an effective measure to increase crop yield, improve soil nutrient, and reduce GHGI.

[Current status of fertilizer application and utilization efficiency of winter wheat in Anhui Province, China]. / 安徽省冬小麦施肥现状与肥料利用效率.

Winter wheat is an important crop in Anhui Province. Rational use of fertilizers is crucial for the achievement of successful yield. It is urgently needed to reveal the status of fertilizer application and existing problems in winter wheat planting in Anhui for better fertilization. We conducted a survey on 1591 farmers in the main winter wheat producing areas of Anhui Province. The contents of survey included fertilizer type, fertilizer dosage, fertilization method, planting area and yield level. Based on the survey results, we analyzed the current fertilization status of winter wheat growing areas in Anhui Province. Referred to the average wheat yield and fertilizer usage in Anhui, the relationship between wheat yield and fertilizers, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5) and potassium (K2O), was evaluated by Cate-Nelson method (cross-over method) to explore the ways to increase yield and fertilizer utilization efficiency of winter wheat. The results showed that the average yield of winter wheat in Anhui Province was 5185 kg·hm-2, and the average application rates of N, P2O and K2O fertilizers were 206, 80 and 78 kg·hm-2, respectively. Compared with wheat following rice, the N, P2O and K2O fertilization rates of dry stubble wheat was higher by 14, 16 and 3 kg·hm-2, respectively. Overall, the average amount of chemical fertilizer in winter wheat cultivation in Anhui Province was rational, but there were still some problems in fertilization methods, nutrient management and fertilizer types. The results of Cate-Nelson method showed that 23.8%, 21.2% and 25.7% (for N, P2O5 and K2O fertilizers respectively) of winter wheat were below the average level that achieved high yield, reaching highest partial productivity of N, P2O5 and K2O fertilizers. There were 26.3%, 19.3% and 22.5% (for N, P2O5 and K2O fertilizers respectively) of winter wheat were below the average use level which did not achieve high yield. There were 26.2%, 29.6% and 25.0% (for N, P2O5 and K2O fertilizers respectively) of winter wheat realized high yield, but the fertilization rate was high and the partial productivity of N, P2O and K2O fertilizers was relatively low. Our results suggest that the yield and efficiency of winter wheat in Anhui Pro-vince should be improved. The percentage of mechanical fertilization in winter wheat was 62.7% for base fertilizer and 10.0% for topdressing fertilizer, respectively. Though nitrogen fertilizer was applied at different stages, the proportion of base fertilizer that accounted for 69.0% of the total should be decreased appropriately. It's a problem that farmers preferred to use chemical fertilizers but not organic substitution.

Enhancing Astaxanthin Accumulation in Haematococcus pluvialis by Coupled Light Intensity and Nitrogen Starvation in Column Photobioreactors.

Natural astaxanthin mainly derives from a microalgae producer, Haematococcus pluvialis. The induction of nitrogen starvation and high light intensity is particularly significant for boosting astaxanthin production. However, the different responses to light intensity and nitrogen starvation needed to be analyzed for biomass growth and astaxanthin accumulation. The results showed that the highest level of astaxanthin production was achieved in nitrogen starvation, and was 1.64 times higher than the control group at 11 days. With regard to the optimization of light intensity utilization, it was at 200 µmo/m²/s under nitrogen starvation that the highest astaxanthin productivity per light intensity was achieved. In addition, both high light intensity and a nitrogen source had significant effects on multiple indicators. For example, high light intensity had a greater significant effect than a nitrogen source on biomass dry weight, astaxanthin yield and astaxanthin productivity; in contrast, nitrogen starvation was more beneficial for enhancing astaxanthin content per dry weight biomass. The data indicate that high light intensity synergizes with nitrogen starvation to stimulate the biosynthesis of astaxanthin.

Quercetin protects against chronic prostatitis in rat model through NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common disease of urology, of which the pathogenesis and therapy remain to be further elucidated. Quercetin has been reported to improve the symptoms of CP/CPPS patients. We aimed to verify the therapeutic effect of quercetin on CP/CPPS and identify the mechanism responsible for it. METHODS: A novel CP/CPPS model induced with Complete Freund Adjuvant in Sprague Dawley rats was established and the prostates and blood specimens were harvested for further measurement after oral administration of quercetin for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Increased prostate index and infiltration of lymphocytes, up-regulated expression of IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17A, MCP1, and TNFα, decreased T-SOD, CAT, GSH-PX, and increased MDA, enhanced phosphorylation of NF-κB, P38, ERK1/2, and SAPK/JNK were detected in CP/CPPS rat model. Quercetin was identified to ameliorate the histo-pathologic changes, decrease the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17A, MCP1, and TNFα, improve anti-oxidant capacity, and suppress the phosphorylation of NF-κB and MAPKs. CONCLUSIONS: Quercetin has specific protective effect on CP/CPPS, which is mediated by anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and at least partly through NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Down-regulation of CD74 inhibits growth and invasion in clear cell renal cell carcinoma through HIF-1α pathway.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression and function of CD74 in normal renal tissue and clear cell-renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), as well as related renal tubule epithelial lines. We also analyzed the association between clinicopathological characteristics of ccRCCs and the expression levels of CD74. METHODS: Immunostaining of CD74 was performed in 107 patients' renal tissue and cell lines. We evaluated the association between clinicopathological characteristics of ccRCC and CD74 levels using image analysis. CD74 expression levels were also analyzed by Western blot. Lentivirus-mediated CD74 knockdown inhibited the growth and invasion, of ccRCC cell lines 786-O in vitro and in vivo. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion as well as HIF-1α pathway-related proteins, were estimated by Western blot. All experiments were repeated at least 3 times. RESULTS: Immunostaining and image analysis showed strong immunoreactions of CD74 in all patients' ccRCC tissue and malignant cell lines, while CD74 expression levels were associated with tumor grade (P = 0.013). Western blot indicated that ccRCC tissue and malignant cell lines expressed higher levels of CD74 and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) than adjacent normal renal tissue and normal cell HK-2. Vitro and vivo tests demonstrated that lentivirus-mediated CD74 knockdown inhibited the proliferation of ccRCC cell lines, induced G1/S arrest and apoptosis, and inhibited invasion. Inhibition of CD74 resulted in down-regulation of HIF-1α pathway proteins. CONCLUSIONS: CD74 was overexpressed in human ccRCCs and associated with tumor grade, and inhibition of CD74 produced ccRCC proliferation arrest, induced apoptosis, and inhibited invasion, which impinged on HIF-1α pathway-related proteins. It might represent a potential therapeutic target for ccRCC.