Rethinking lawns as prevalent elements of urban green spaces

The lawn is one of the most visible elements of urban green spaces and Western landscape styles. China has seen a dramatic increase in planted lawn areas. However, there is an urgent need for sustainable lawn alternatives (SLTs) in China due to serious threats to the urban environment from intensive lawn maintenance and cultural inadequacy of lawns. This thesis attempts to examine the reasons behind the historical context and current situation of lawns in China and offers suggestions for SLTs via a case study of Xi’an using transdisciplinary research framework from social-cultural and ecological perspectives. A historical study was performed on reasons of lawn development in Chinese cities and modern European and Chinese examples of lawn alternatives by reviewing literature and through field observation. Face-to-face interviews, questionnaires and observations were conducted to evaluate how stakeholders and park visitors perceive lawns and how this affects their decisions in designing, managing and using lawns and lawn alternatives. To identify how the design and management shape plant and pollinator diversity, biodiversity inventories were conducted. Finally, results from the three studies were analysed following a framework based on theories in landscape sustainability and ecosystem services. The results suggested that the Chinese people’s paradigm of lawns is influenced by westernisation and globalisation after the 1840s. Lawns evolve from changes in the relation-ship between humans and the environment. In classical Chinese gardens, groundcover species were used according to their ecological characteristics and suitability to site conditions. Lawns in Xi’an have the same core grass species as lawns used in geographically distant regions, contributing to lawn plant species homogenisation worldwide. Intensive maintenance negatively affected plant species diversity and native plant species, while in more planned green spaces, older and larger lawns harbour diverse plant species and native plant species. The aesthetic value and regulating services of lawns are mostly recognised by park visitors and stakeholders although lawns impair the provision of some regulating services for the intensive maintenance. Lawns fail to provide some culture services because of their limited accessibility and symbolism of Western culture. Pollination services can be provided if certain spontaneous native plant species are allowed to flower. Concrete suggestions for SLTs in China were proposed, although challenges that impinge the transition to SLTs were identified. Meanwhile, current social-cultural, environmental and economic conditions in China encourage their implementation. The thesis contributes to knowledge that addresses the mismatch between perceived and actual ecosystem services provided by lawns. The results can be used as references for design and management of SLTs in practice

Genomic and enzymatic evidence of acetogenesis by anaerobic methanotrophic archaea

Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) mediated by anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) is the primary process that provides energy to cold seep ecosystems by converting methane into inorganic carbon. Notably, cold seep ecosystems are dominated by highly divergent heterotrophic microorganisms. The role of the AOM process in supporting heterotrophic population remains unknown. We investigate the acetogenic capacity of ANME-2a in a simulated cold seep ecosystem using high-pressure biotechnology, where both AOM activity and acetate production are detected. The production of acetate from methane is confirmed by isotope-labeling experiments. A complete archaeal acetogenesis pathway is identified in the ANME-2a genome, and apparent acetogenic activity of the key enzymes ADP-forming acetate-CoA ligase and acetyl-CoA synthetase is demonstrated. Here, we propose a modified model of carbon cycling in cold seeps: during AOM process, methane can be converted into organic carbon, such as acetate, which further fuels the heterotrophic community in the ecosystem. Ocean cold seeps are poorly understood relative to related systems like hydrothermal vents. Here the authors use high pressure bioreactors and microbial communities from a cold seep mud volcano and find a previously missing step of methane conversion to acetate that likely fuels heterotrophic communities

Species diversity of oysters (Mollusca, Bivalvia) in the intertidal zone of Hainan Island revealed by DNA barcoding analysis

The family Ostreidae (Mollusca, Bivalvia) is an important component of marine ecosystems. The unique location and marine environment of Hainan Island provide diverse habitats for oysters. However, in recent years, oyster resources of Hainan Island have been under severe threats due to environmental pollution and habitat destruction. To better protect and utilize these biological resources, this study conducted systematic identification of naturally distributed oysters on Hainan Island using DNA barcoding technology. The results revealed the presence of 17 lineages, belonging to 14 species of oysters. The interspecies genetic distances for the COI gene sequences ranged from 10.09% to 31.72%, with notable DNA barcode gaps observed between intra- and interspecies. Additionally, the interspecies genetic distances for the 28S rRNA gene sequences varied between 0.24% and 14.03%. The DNA barcoding analysis indicated the existence of cryptic lineages within Saccostrea cuccullata (Born, 1778). Furthermore, the study highlighted that Saccostrea malabonensis (Faustino, 1932) is the most prevalent and dominant species along the Hainan Island coastline, attributed to its ability to adapt to a wide range of salinity levels. When comparing the species diversity of oysters between the western and eastern coasts of Hainan Island, it was found to be higher on the western coast. This disparity is likely influenced by geographical factors and human activities. Specifically, the western coast, situated in the Beibu Gulf, benefits from relatively stable water quality and numerous river inflows, providing abundant phytoplankton and optimal growth conditions for oyster larvae. Conversely, the eastern coast experiences frequent human activities, such as aquaculture and tourism, which may contribute to the decline in species diversity in this region. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the species diversity of oysters on Hainan Island and provides scientific evidence that is crucial for the development, protection, and sustainable utilization of these valuable oyster resources

Multi-omic analysis reveals that Bacillus licheniformis enhances pekin ducks growth performance via lipid metabolism regulation

Introduction:Bacillus licheniformis (B.licheniformis) was widely used in poultry feeds. However, it is still unclear about how B.licheniformis regulates the growth and development of Pekin ducks.Methods: The experiment was designed to clarify the effect and molecular mechanism of B. licheniformis on the lipid metabolism and developmental growth of Pekin ducks through multiomics analysis, including transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses.Results: The results showed that compared with the control group, the addition of 400 mg/kg B. licheniformis could significantly increase the body weight of Pekin ducks and the content of triglyceride (p < 0.05), at the same time, the addition of B. licheniformis could affect the lipid metabolism of liver in Pekin ducks, and the addition of 400 mg/kg B. licheniformis could significantly increase the content of lipoprotein lipase in liver of Pekin ducks. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the addition of B. licheniformis primarily impacted fatty acid and glutathione, amino acid metabolism, fatty acid degradation, as well as biosynthesis and elongation of unsaturated fatty acids. Metabolomic analysis indicated that B. licheniformis primarily affected the regulation of glycerol phospholipids, fatty acids, and glycerol metabolites. Multiomics analysis demonstrated that the addition of B. licheniformis to the diet of Pekin ducks enhanced the regulation of enzymes involved in fat synthesis via the PPAR signaling pathway, actively participating in fat synthesis and fatty acid transport.Discussion: We found that B. licheniformis effectively influences fat content and lipid metabolism by modulating lipid metabolism-associated enzymes in the liver. Ultimately, this study contributes to our understanding of how B. licheniformis can improve the growth performance of Pekin ducks, particularly in terms of fat deposition, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for its practical application.Conclusion:B. licheniformis can increase the regulation of enzymes related to fat synthesis through PPAR signal pathway, and actively participate in liver fat synthesis and fatty acid transport, thus changing the lipid metabolism of Pekin ducks, mainly in the regulation of glycerol phospholipids, fatty acids and glycerol lipid metabolites

Cortical thickness correlated with peripheral inflammatory cytokines in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

IntroductionAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare, devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in muscle atrophy, spasticity, hyperreflexia, and paralysis. Inflammation plays an important role in the development of ALS, and associated with rapid disease progression. Current observational studies indicate the thinning of cortical thickness in patients with ALS is associated with rapid disease progression and cognitive changes. However, the effects of inflammatory cytokines on cortical thickness in patients with ALS are unclear. Here, we investigated the relationship between inflammatory cytokines and cortical thickness in patients with ALS.MethodsWe evaluated 51 patients with ALS for inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-5, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, IL-10, IL-8, IL-17, and IFN-γ and analyzed the correlation between these indicators and the ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) score or disease progression rate (ΔFS score). Twenty-six patients with ALS and 26 controls were studied using whole-cortex analysis, and post-hoc analyses were performed to examine the correlation between brain cortical thickness and ALSFRS-R or ΔFS scores.ResultsIL-4, IFN-α, IL-1β, and IL-2 levels were significantly correlated with ALSFRS-R scores, and the IL-2 level was significantly correlated with ΔFS scores. After controlling for age and sex, the ALS group had thinner cortexes in multiple clusters across the brain than the control group. Further analyses revealed that cortical thickness in the right superior temporal and lingual gyrus regions was inversely correlated with ΔFS scores. There was a significant positive correlation between the clusters in the right lingual cortex and IL-2 level.ConclusionThese results suggest cortical thickness was reduced in patients with ALS in motor and non-motor cortical areas. Inflammatory factors (especially IL-2) were correlated with cortical thickness, and both were related to the disease progression rate, suggesting IL-2 plays an important role in ALS

Twelve-month specific IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain among COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors in Wuhan

To investigate the duration of humoral immune response in convalescent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, we conduct a 12-month longitudinal study through collecting a total of 1,782 plasma samples from 869 convalescent plasma donors in Wuhan, China and test specific antibody responses. The results show that positive rate of IgG antibody against receptor-binding domain of spike protein (RBD-IgG) to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors exceeded 70% for 12 months post diagnosis. The level of RBD-IgG decreases with time, with the titer stabilizing at 64.3% of the initial level by the 9th month. Moreover, male plasma donors produce more RBD-IgG than female, and age of the patients positively correlates with the RBD-IgG titer. A strong positive correlation between RBD-IgG and neutralizing antibody titers is also identified. These results facilitate our understanding of SARS-CoV-2-induced immune memory to promote vaccine and therapy development

Author Correction: Twelve-month specific IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain among COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors in Wuhan (Nature Communications, (2021), 12, 1, (4144), 10.1038/s41467-021-24230-5)

The original version of this Article contained an error in the abstract, which incorrectly read ‘The level of RBD-IgG decreases with time, with the titer stabilizing at 64.3% of the initial level by 9 month’. The correct version replaces this sentence with ‘The level of RBD-IgG decreases with time, with the titer stabilizing at 35.7% of the initial level by the 9th month’. This has been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article

Trends in admission rates of primary angle closure diseases for the urban population in China, 2011–2021

BackgroundCataract surgery and laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) are effective approaches for preventing primary angle closure diseases (PACDs), as well as acute primary angle closure (APAC). Due to the development of population screening and increases in cataract surgery rates, this study aimed to examine trends in the admission rates of PACD among the urban population in China.MethodsThis cross-sectional study examined patients who were admitted to a hospital for PACD, and who underwent cataract surgery or LPI operations. The data were obtained from the Yinzhou Regional Health Information Platform (YRHIP) from 2011 to 2021. The annual rates of PACD and APAC admissions, cataract surgery and LPI were analyzed, with the number of cases used as numerators and the annual resident population in Yinzhou district used as denominators.ResultsA total of 2,979 patients with PACD admissions, 1,023 patients with APAC admissions, 53,635 patients who underwent cataract surgery and 16,450 patients who underwent LPI were included. The number of annual admissions for PACD gradually increased from 22 cases (1.6/100000) in 2011 to 387 cases (30.8/100000) in 2016, after which it decreased to 232 cases (16.2/100000) in 2019 and then increased to 505 cases (30.6/100000) in 2021. The number of cataract surgeries gradually increased from 1728 (127.7/100000) in 2011 to 7002 (424.9/100000) in 2021. Similarly, the number of LPI gradually increased from 109 (8.0/100000) in 2011 to 3704 (224.8/100000) in 2021.ConclusionThe admission rates of PACD for the urban population in China have declined in recent years after a long increasing trend in the rates of cataract surgery and LPI. However, it increased rapidly during the COVID-19 epidemic. The national health database should be further utilized to investigate temporal trends in the prevalence of PACD