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Platycodon grandiflorus has long been used for its medicinal, culinary and ornamental properties. With increasing market demand and the depletion of wild resources, understanding the distribution and factors affecting its habitat suitability is crucial for its conservation and sustainable utilization. This study aims to predict the suitable habitat for P. grandiflorus in China considering current and future climate scenarios. The MaxEnt model, with an AUC value of 0.846, demonstrated good predictive ability for the current and future distribution of P. grandiflorus. It also identified the central, eastern, and southern regions as suitable habitats, with the critical environmental factors being precipitation, temperature, and elevation. Future scenarios under both SSP126 and SSP585 projections indicate an increase in suitable habitats, particularly in northeastern and central China, albeit with a shift in the distribution center towards the northeast by 2041–2060 and 2081–2100 under different scenarios. P. grandiflorus' distribution is significantly influenced by environmental factors, with precipitation and temperature being pivotal. Taken together, our study predicts an expansion of suitable habitats under future climate scenarios and the northward shift in the distribution center underlines the impact of global warming on the distribution of P. grandiflorus. The findings are crucial for the conservation, effective utilization, and strategic planning for the cultivation of P. grandiflorus in the face of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyrotaxanes (PRs) have attracted significant research attention due to their unique topological structures and high degrees of conformational freedom. Herein, we take advantage of an oligo[2]rotaxane to construct a novel class of dynamically cross‐linked rotaxane network (DCRN) mediated by metal‐coordination. The oligo[2]rotaxane skeleton offers several distinct advantages: In addition to retaining the merits of traditional polymer backbones, the ordered intramolecular motion of the [2]rotaxane motifs introduced dangling chains into the network, thereby enhancing the stretchability of the DCRN. Additionally, the dissociation of host–guest recognition and subsequent sliding motion, along with the breakage of metal‐coordination interactions, represented an integrated energy dissipation pathway to enhance mechanical properties. Moreover, the resulting DCRN demonstrated responsiveness to multiple stimuli and displayed exceptional self‐healing capabilities in a gel state. Upon exposure to PPh3, which induced network deconstruction by breaking the coordinated cross‐linking points, the oligo[2]rotaxane could be recovered, showcasing good recyclability. These findings demonstrate the untapped potential of the oligo[2]rotaxane as a polymer skeleton to develop DCRN and open the door to extend their advanced applications in intelligent mechanically interlocked materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasingly severe situation of obesity and population aging, there is growing concern about sarcopenia obesity (SO). SO refers to the coexistence of obesity and sarcopenia, which imposes a heavier burden on individuals and society compared to obesity or sarcopenia alone. Therefore, comprehending the pathogenesis of SO and implementing effective clinical interventions are vital for its prevention and treatment. This review uses a comprehensive literature search and analysis of PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI databases, with search terms including "Sarcopenic obesity", "exercise", "cytokines", "inflammation", "mitochondrial quality control", and "microRNA", covering relevant studies published up to July 2024. The results indicate that the pathogenesis of SO is complex, involving mechanisms like age-related changes in body composition, hormonal alterations, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and genetic and epigenetic factors. Regarding exercise interventions for SO, aerobic exercise can reduce fat mass, resistance exercise can increase skeletal muscle mass and strength, and combined exercise can achieve both, making it the optimal intervention for SO. The potential mechanisms by which exercise may prevent and treat SO include regulating cytokine secretion, inhibiting inflammatory pathways, improving mitochondrial quality, and mediating microRNA expression. This review emphasizes the effectiveness of exercise interventions in mitigating sarcopenic obesity through comprehensive analysis of its multifactorial pathogenesis and the mechanistic insights into exercise's therapeutic effects. Understanding these mechanisms informs targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at alleviating the societal and individual burdens associated with SO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphogypsum is a waste from the phosphorus chemical industry which has certain environmental hazards. Using it as a substitute for building materials was thought to alleviate the problems of phosphogypsum pollution and natural mineral consumption. This study tried to develop an environmentally friendly phosphogypsum-based composite filler (PCF) that can be used as a filler in the SMA-13 asphalt mixture. The SMA-13 asphalt mixture was first designed, following which PCF containing phosphogypsum and steel slag powder was prepared. PCF's composition and harmless treatment were determined based on the characterization of the overflowed concentration of fluoride ions, and the pH value of the PCF's leaching solution was evaluated by ion chromatography and a pH meter. The effect of replacing the PCF content in the SMA-13 asphalt mixture was investigated according to high-temperature performance, moisture resistance, and low-temperature performance. Long-term overflowed harmful ion concentrations of PCF-based SMA-13 asphalt mixtures were also included. The results indicate that the steel slag powder content can reduce the overflowed fluoride ion concentration in phosphogypsum. The optimal composition of PCF was 65% phosphogypsum and 35% steel slag powder. The addition of PCF can enhance the SMA-13 asphalt mixture's Marshall stability and dynamic stability when its content is over 20%. SMA-13 asphalt mixtures with PCF can meet the requirements of the specification, although their moisture resistance is reduced by PCF. PCF was proven to increase fracture toughness and energy in a semi-circular bending test at low temperatures, while 40% PCF showed the highest cracking resistance. Furthermore, PCF was able to reduce the long-term overflowed concentrations of fluoride ions and phosphate ions that could meet the environmental requirements. The results of this study provide academic support for the effective consumption of phosphogypsum in road engineering on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining soil productivity and sustainability remains a challenge in the face of a changing global agricultural framework, which includes the primary threat of soil degradation in many regions. Although soil erosion contributes to land degradation, how reductions in fertiliser nitrogen (N) affect erosion and soil microbial communities in sloped farmland remains unclear. In this study, effects of reductions in fertiliser N from 300 kg ha−1 (N1) to 225 kg ha−1 (N2), 150 kg ha−1 (N3), and 75 kg ha−1 (N4) on runoff, sediment yield and microbial community structure were evaluated in 12 maize farmlands with a 10° slope in Southwest China. Soil chemical properties were analyzed, and bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS1 were sequenced from extracted DNA. Runoff and sediment yield in maize were significantly lower in N1 and N2 than in N3 and N4 (p < 0.05). The microbial diversity was higher in N1 and N2 than in N3 and N4. The severe erosion associated with reductions in N input resulted in significant decreases in abundances of the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, Firmicutes, and Nitrospirae and fungal phyla Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Olpidiomycota. By contrast, abundances of the phyla Acidobacteria (bacteria) and Ascomycota and Glomeromycota (fungi) increased significantly with severe erosion. Distance‐based redundancy analysis indicated that cation exchange capacity, organic matter, and nitrate strongly influenced structure of bacterial and fungal communities. Reductions >25% in N fertiliser (N3 and N4) did not meet crop N requirements, and because of the reduction in surface coverage, soil erosion was exacerbated, and soil fertility and diversity and complexity of microbial communities decreased. The results elucidated effects of N input on soil erosion and soil microbiomes in a sloped agroecosystem with the aim to rehabilitate or restore degraded land and increase sustainable agriculture development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during semen preservation can disrupt the balance of the antioxidant system in sperm, resulting in oxidative damage to lipids and damage to their structure and function. Curcumin is a natural plant extract that neutralizes ROS and enhances the function of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. The effect of curcumin on the preservation of semen has not been reported. This study determined the effects of curcumin on refrigerated sperm (4 °C) and analyzed the effects of curcumin on sperm metabolism from a Chinese native sheep (Hu sheep). The results showed that adding curcumin significantly improved (p < 0.05) the viability of refrigerated sperm at an optimal concentration of 20 µmol/L. Plasma membrane and acrosome integrity in semen were significantly improved (p < 0.05). Adding curcumin to refrigerated semen significantly increased (p < 0.05) the levels of multiple antioxidant enzymes and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) ROS production. We identified 50 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in sperm between the negative control and curcumin-treated groups, suggesting that curcumin affects ovine sperm ROS production by regulating DEMs expression. This finding provides a new way to optimize the refrigerated preservation of sheep semen. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important factors that lead to a decline in sperm quality during semen preservation. Excessive ROS accumulation disrupts the balance of the antioxidant system in sperm and causes lipid oxidative damage, destroying its structure and function. Curcumin is a natural plant extract that neutralizes ROS and enhances the function of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. The effect of curcumin on the preservation of sheep semen has not been reported. This study aims to determine the effects of curcumin on refrigerated sperm (4 °C) and analyze the effects of curcumin on sperm metabolism from a Chinese native sheep (Hu sheep). The results showed that adding curcumin significantly improved (p < 0.05) the viability of refrigerated sperm at an optimal concentration of 20 µmol/L, and the plasma membrane and acrosome integrity in semen were significantly improved (p < 0.05). Adding curcumin to refrigerated semen significantly increased (p < 0.05) the levels of antioxidant enzymes (T-AOC, CAT, and SOD) and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) ROS production. A total of 13,796 metabolites in sperm and 20,581 metabolites in negative groups and curcumin-supplemented groups were identified using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The proportion of lipids and lipid-like molecules among all metabolites in the sperm was the highest, regardless of treatment. We identified 50 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in sperm between the negative control and curcumin-treated groups. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that DEMs were mainly enriched in the calcium signaling pathway, phospholipase D signaling pathway, sphingolipid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism, and other metabolic pathways. The findings indicate that the addition of an appropriate concentration (20 µm/L) of curcumin to sheep semen can effectively suppress reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and extend the duration of cryopreservation (4 °C) by modulating the expression of sphingosine-1-phosphate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, phytosphingosine, and other metabolites of semen. This discovery offers a novel approach to enhancing the cryogenic preservation of sheep semen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]