Six-Year Nitrogen-Water Interaction Shifts the Frequency Distribution and Size Inequality of the First-Order Roots of Fraxinus mandschurica in a Mixed Mature Pinus koraiensis Forest.

The variation in fine root traits in terms of size inequality at the individual root level can be identified as a strategy for adapting to the drastic changes in soil water and nutrient availabilities. The Gini and Lorenz asymmetry coefficients have been applied to describe the overall degree of size inequality, which, however, are neglected when conventional statistical means are calculated. Here, we used the Gini coefficient, Lorenz asymmetry coefficient and statistical mean in an investigation of Fraxinus mandschurica roots in a mixed mature Pinus koraiensis forest on Changbai Mountain, China. We analyzed 967 individual roots to determine the responses of length, diameter and area of the first-order roots and of branching intensity to 6 years of nitrogen addition (N), rainfall reduction (W) and their combination (NW). We found that first-order roots had a significantly greater average length and area but had smaller Gini coefficients in NW plots compared to in control plots (CK). Furthermore, the relationship between first-order root length and branching intensity was negative in CK, N, and W plots but positive in NW plots. The Lorenz asymmetry coefficient was >1 for the first-order root diameter in NW and W plots as well as for branching intensity in N plots. The bimodal frequency distribution of the first-order root length in NW plots differed clearly from the unimodal one in CK, N, and W plots. These results demonstrate that not only the mean but also the variation and the distribution mode of the first-order roots of F. mandschurica respond to soil nitrogen and water availability. The changes in size inequality of the first-order root traits suggest that Gini and Lorenz asymmetry coefficients can serve as informative parameters in ecological investigations of roots to improve our ability to predict how trees will respond to a changing climate at the individual root level.

[Optimize technique of extracting alpha-mangostin from pericarp of Garcinia mangostana by supersonic wave using central composite design-response surface methodology].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the extraction technique for alpha-mangostin from pericarp of Garcinia Mangostana. METHODS: The effects of ethanol concentration, ultrasonic extraction time, the liquid to solid ratio and their interaction on extraction rate were studied by central composite design. The predictive model and reliability were developed by SAS software and response surface analysis. The optimal ultrasonic extraction conditions were achieved. RESULTS: The optimal ultrasonic extraction conditions were as follows: ethanol concentration 67.8%, ultrasonic extraction time 85.9 min, the liquid to solid ratio 24.2 mL/g. Under the optimum conditions, the extraction yield of alpha-mangostin was 5.53%. CONCLUSION: This study provides an effective method for the industrial extraction of alpha-mangostin.

[Establishing the reference range of venous blood measured by automated haematology analyzer in Chinese adults].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the reference range of venous blood measured by automated hematology analyzer in China. METHODS: Different hematoanalyzers were used to examine the white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and hemotocrit (HCT) of venous blood from 1,749 healthy people, 927 males and 822 females, aged 18 - 60, in 14 cities (Harbin, Changchun, Beijing, Tianjin, Lanzhou, Xi'an, Nanjing, Suzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Kunming, and Guangzhou) of China. The examination was completed within the period of one month under strict in-laboratory quality control. RESULTS: The range of WBC was (3.97 - 9.15) x 10(9)/L in males and (3.69 - 9.16) x 10(9)/L in females. The range of RBC was (4.09 - 5.74) x 10(12)/L in males and (3.68 - 5.13) x 10(12)/L in females. The range Hb was 131 - 172 (151) g/L in males and 113 - 151 (129) g/L in females. The range of MCH was 27.8 - 33.8 (30.8) pg in males and 26.9 - 33.3 (30.2) pg in females. The range of MCHC was 263 - 375 (335) g/L in males and 278 - 372 (325) g/L in females. The range of MCV was 83.9 - 99.1 (91.2) fl in males and 82.6 - 99.1 (91.3) fl in females. The range of HCT was 38.0% - 50.8% (44.8%) in males and 33.5% - 45.0% (38.9%) in females. The lower limits of WBC in Lanzhou and Chengdu were lower than those in other cities (P < 0.01). The concentrations of RBC and Hb in Kunming were significantly higher than those in other cities (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in other parameters among different cities. The WBC, RBC, and Hb in the females were lower than those in the males (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The reference ranges of different parameters of venous blood of Chinese have been primarily established. There is little discrepancy in those reference range in different district (except for highland). Some of the indices such as WBC, MCH and MCV measured by analyzer are quite different from those measured manually.

Study on the accuracy of automated hematology analyzers in Shanghai.

UNLABELLED: The objectives of this study were to research on the accuracy of automated hematology analyzers of various types from different manufacturers and to observe the deviation among these instruments. Fresh anticoagulated blood from healthy donors on 115 hematology analyzers in 114 different hospitals were determined. RESULTS: The maximum coefficients of variation (CVs. %) among instruments of three main manufacturers (Sysmex, Beckman Coulter and Abbott) of red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), white blood cell count (WBC) and platelet count (Plt) were 3.2%, 3.8%, 3.6%, 9.3% and 10.8%, respectively. The maximum deviations among these parameters of different instruments were 0.74%, 1.65%, 5.45%, 7.06% and 18.55%, respectively. By improving laboratory quality management, the results of hematology analyzer determination may be more reliable than manual methods. The difference among various manufacturers was very small about RBC, Hgb, Hct, WBC and Plt the results from all kinds of instruments will tend to be comparable.