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This study was conducted with two soybean cultivars, Liaodou 13 (L13, phosphorus (P)-efficient) and Tiefeng 3 (T3, P-inefficient), to investigate the effects of biochar on soybean yield and photosynthetic physiological parameters, at four biochar application rates (0, 1, 5, and 10%, w/w), and two fertilization treatments (0 and 150 kg ha−1). Grain yield, plant biomass, P accumulation, leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll index (Chl), nitrogen balance index (NBI), sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), and sucrose synthase (SS) activities, soluble sugar, sucrose and starch contents, and leaf area duration (LAD) were measured. Biochar had positive effects on Pn, Chl, NBI, SPS, and SS activities, and leaf soluble sugar, sucrose, and starch contents of both genotypes, these effects increased with biochar application rate. L13 benefited more efficiently from biochar than T3 did, as the grain yield of L13 significantly increased by 31.0 and 51.0%, at 5 and 10% biochar, respectively, while that of T3 increased by 40.4 at 10% biochar application rate, as compared with controls. The combined application of biochar and fertilizer boosted the positive effects described, but no difference was found for grain yield in L13 among biochar application rates, while grain yield of T3 continually increased with biochar rate, among which, 1% biochar combined with 150 kg ha−1 fertilizer resulted in T3 yield increment of more than 23%, compared with the application of 150 kg ha−1 fertilizer alone. Altogether, our results indicated that the application of biochar enhanced carbon assimilation in soybean, resulting in increased biomass accumulation and yield. Differences in genotypic responses to biochar highlight the need to consider specific cultivars and biochar rate, when evaluating the potential responses of crops to biochar.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most fatal types of cancer worldwide due to its high rates of recurrence and metastasis. The molecular processes involved in HCC progression require further investigation to identify biomarkers for use in diagnosis and treatment. In the present study, the significance and prognostic value of matrix metallopeptidase 12 (MMP12) expression in human HCC was investigated. MMP12 mRNA expression was investigated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of 42 pairs of tumor and non-tumor liver tissues obtained from patients with HCC following surgical treatment. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect MMP12 and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) expression in 158 paraffin-embedded HCC tissues. The prognostic value of MMP12 expression was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model. MMP12 mRNA levels were significantly higher in liver tumor tissues compared with matched non-tumor liver tissues. MMP12 expression and FOXP3+ regulatory T cell (Treg) infiltration was positively correlated (r=0.302; P<0.001). MMP12 protein overexpression was positively correlated with tumor size (P=0.018), high serum alpha-fetoprotein levels (P=0.005) and poor overall survival time (P=0.012) in patients with HCC. Furthermore, MMP12 protein level was an independent predictive factor for overall survival time of patients with HCC who underwent curative resection. In conclusion, these results suggest that MMP12 may increase FOXP3+ Treg infiltration into tumor tissues, and promote tumor progression and immune evasion of HCC. The overexpression of MMP12 protein is, therefore, a valuable prognostic indicator in patients with HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical significance of the sodium‑potassium ATPase regulator FXYD domain‑containing ion transport regulator 3 (FXYD3) has been demonstrated in a number of types of cancer. However, the role of this protein in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be elucidated. In the present study, 217 HCC tissue samples were analyzed to evaluate the expression and prognostic significance of FXYD3 in HCC. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the mRNA expression of FXYD3 in 80 primary HCC specimens and paired non‑cancerous liver tissue samples, while western blotting was used to analyze the protein expression level of FXYD3 in another 24 pairs. These analyses demonstrated that the expression level of FXYD3 was significantly increasedb at the mRNA and protein levels in HCC tumor tissues compared with adjacent non‑cancerous tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis of 137 paraffin‑embedded HCC tissue samples indicated that the expression of FXYD3 was associated with HCC clinicopathological characteristics. Kaplan‑Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with high FXYD3 protein expression (n=60) experienced significantly poorer overall survival time compared with patients with low FXYD3 protein expression (n=77) (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that FYXD3 protein expression level (hazard ratio, 2.137; 95% confidence interval, 1.224‑3.732; P=0.008) was an independent prognostic factor in patients with HCC. Overall, the results indicated that FXYD3 expression levels were higher in HCC tumor tissues than in adjacent non‑cancerous tissues, and that the FXYD3 protein may serve as a prognostic marker for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative study on macrobenthos was carried out in 8 transects along intertidal zone of Rushan Bay in May, 2011. In total, 116 macrobenthic species were identified, among which 58 were polychaetes, 15 were mollusks, 27 were crustaceans, 3 were echinoderms and 13 were other groups. The average abundance and biomass of macrobenthos were 872.6 ind · m-2 and 9. 37 g · m-2, respectively. By IRI index, Mediomastus sp., Helice sheni, Nemertinea and Neanthes sp. were ranked as the top 4 dominant species in the study area. Average Margalef' s species richness diversity (d) , Shannon diversity (H) and Pielou's evenness index ( J) of macrobenthos were 2.119, 2.384 and 0.608, respectively, indicating slight pollution in the study area. Based on 30% similarity level, 8 transects could be grouped into 3 different communities. Compared with other intertidal zones in similar latitude, macrobenthos of Rushan Bay intertidal zone were characterized by higher species number, smaller body size and higher abundance. Besides the macrobenthic community structure and diversities, more exhaustive studies were needed to reveal the possible influence of shellfish culture on intertidal macrobenthic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative study on macrobenthos was carried out in 8 transects along intertidal zone of Rushan Bay in May, 2011. In total, 116 macrobenthic species were identified, among which 58 were polychaetes, 15 were mollusks, 27 were crustaceans, 3 were echinoderms and 13 were other groups. The average abundance and biomass of macrobenthos were 872.6 ind · m(-2) and 9.37 g · M(-2), respectively. By IRI index, Mediomastus sp., Helice sheni, Nemertinea and Neanthes sp. were ranked as the top 4 dominant species in the study area. Average Margalef's species richness diversity (d), Shannon diversity (H) and Pielou's evenness index (J) of macrobenthos were 2.119, 2.384 and 0.608, respectively, indicating slight pollution in the study area. Based on 30% similarity level, 8 transects could be grouped into 3 different communities. Compared with other intertidal zones in similar latitude, macrobenthos of Rushan Bay intertidal zone were characterized by higher species number, smaller body size and higher abundance. Besides the macrobenthic community structure and diversities, more exhaustive studies were needed to reveal the possible influence of shellfish culture on intertidal macrobenthic community.

An investigation was made on the standing crop, spatial distribution, sediment environment of meiofauna at 33 stations (including 22 stations in cold water mass area and 9 stations in Enteromorpha prolifera bloom area) in the Yellow Sea at the late stage of E. prolifera bloom in summer 2008. In this southern Yellow Sea area which was seriously impacted by the green algal bloom, the silt and clay contents in the sediments in 2008 had an obvious increase, compared with those in 2007, and the sediment chlorophyll-a and phaeophytin a contents in 2008 did not show obvious changes in cold water mass area but distinctly decreased in southern Jiangsu inshore area and Yangtze River estuary. Within the total 16 meiofaunal groups sorted, no marked variation was observed in their vertical distribution and in the contribution of each group to the total meiofauna. In 2008, the average abundance of meiofauna was (1375 +/- 793) ind x 10 cm(-2), and the biomass was (1203 +/- 707) micro x 10 cm(-2), both of which were decreased by about 1/3, compared with those in 2007. The meiofaunal standing crop was decreased more obviously in the stations heavily affected by the E. prolifera bloom, while that in the Yellow Sea cold water mass area was slightly increased, resulting in an unusual trend of meiofaunal standing crop decreasing from the central area of cold water mass to the inshore area in the southern Yellow Sea. By contrast, and as usual, the meiofaunal standing crop was increased from the cold water mass area to the inshore area in the northern Yellow Sea. Statistical analyses suggested that only the meiofaunal abundance had positive correlation with the salinity in the stations heavily affected by the green algal bloom. Our study indicated that macroalgal bloom obviously inhibited the standing crop of meiofauna in the inshore area. The decrease was not due to the deficiency of food concentration, but likely caused by the deposition and degradation of the E. prolifera bloom.

From September 2003 to September 2004, seven cruises bimonthly survey was conducted on the macrobenthos at five research stations in the Jiaozhou Bay, and the abundance, biomass, secondary productivity, and P/B value of the macrobenthos were studied by using Brey' s empirical formula. The results showed that the secondary productivity of the macrobenthos was averagely 47.34 g x m(-2) x a(-1), and the mean P/B value was 0.58. Correlation analysis indicated that Chl-a was the important environmental factor affecting the secondary productivity. A comparative study on the southern Yellow Sea, Bohai Bay and other areas also proved that on local scale, Chl-a was the important factor affecting the secondary productivity of the benthic community, but on regional scale, water depth was more determinative, i.e., this productivity was decreased with increasing water depth. The greatest contributor to the secondary productivity of macrobenthos in studied areas was Ruditapes philippinarum, the most important economic bivalve in the Jiaozhou Bay, and its population was dominated by the individuals with the ages of less than one year, one year, and two years.