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Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) is a key factor in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis (OP) primarily characterized by excessive osteoclast activity. Active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Rogers (AFPR) exerts antioxidant effects and possesses extensive promising therapeutic effects in various conditions, however, its function in osteoclastogenesis and OP is unknown. The aim of this study is to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of AFPR in OP. CCK8 assay was used to evaluate the cell viability under AFPR treatment. TRAcP staining, podosome belts staining and bone resorption were used to test the effect of AFPR on osteoclastogenesis. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the effect of AFPR on ROS production. si-RNA transfection, coimmunoprecipitation and Western-blot were used to clarify the underlying mechanisms. Further, an ovariectomy (OVX) -induced OP mice model was used to identify the effect of AFPR on bone loss using Micro-CT scanning and histological examination. In the present study, AFPR inhibited osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption induced by nuclear factor-κB receptor activator (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL) in dose-/ time-dependent with no cytotoxicity. Meanwhile, AFPR decreased RANKL-mediated ROS levels and enhanced ROS scavenging enzymes. Mechanistically, AFPR promoted proteasomal degradation of TRAF6 by significantly upregulating its K48-linked ubiquitination, subsequently inhibiting NFATc1 activity. We further observed that tripartite motif protein 38 (TRIM38) could mediate the ubiquitination of TRAF6 in response to RANKL. Moreover, TRIM38 could negatively regulate the RANKL pathway by binding to TRAF6 and promoting K48-linked polyubiquitination. In addition, TRIM38 deficiency rescued the inhibition of AFPR on ROS and NFATc1 activity and osteoclastogenesis. In line with these results, AFPR reduced OP caused by OVX through ameliorating osteoclastogenesis. AFPR alleviates ovariectomized-induced bone loss via suppressing ROS and NFATc1 by targeting Trim38 mediated proteasomal degradation of TRAF6. The research offers innovative perspectives on AFPR's suppressive impact in vivo OVX mouse model and in vitro , and clarifies the fundamental mechanism. Polyrhachis vicina is a species of ant insects (also called black ant) (Wei et al., 2023 ; Zhang et al., 2022). AFPR is the components of active fraction of Polyrchachis vicina Rogers. As shown in the figure, AFPR alleviates ovariectomized-induced bone loss via suppressing ROS and NFATc1 by targeting Trim38 mediated proteasomal degradation of TRAF6. AFPR reduced RANKL-mediated ROS level by down-regulating TRAF6/NOX1 signaling cascade and enhancing Nrf2-mediated ROS scavenging enzymes (HO-1, Nqo1), followed by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK pathways, leading to the suppression of NFATc1 activity and the expression of osteoclast-related genes, such as Ctsk and Atp6v0d2. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxidative species (ROS) generation triggers pyroptosis and induces development of inflammatory osteolysis. Hecogenin (HG) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative property, but its effects on inflammatory osteolysis remains unclear. In our study, we investigated the mechanism of HG on pyroptosis and its effect on inflammatory osteolysis in vitro and in vivo. The impact of HG on osteoclastogenesis was evaluated using cytotoxicity, TRAcP staining and bone resorption assays. The RNA-sequencing was employed to identify potential signaling pathways, and then RT-qPCR, western blot, immunofluorescence, and ELISA were used to verify. To determine the protective effect of HG in vivo , Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced animal models were utilized, along with micro-CT and histological examination. HG suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, bone resorption, NFATc1 activity and downstream factors. RNA-sequencing results showed that HG inhibited osteoclastogenesis by modulating the inflammatory response and macrophage polarization. Furthermore, HG inhibited the NF-κB pathway, and deactivated the NLRP3 inflammasome. HG activated the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) to eliminate ROS generation. Importantly, the inhibitory effect of HG on NLRP3 inflammasome could be reversed by treatment with the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385. In viv o, HG prevented the mice against LPS-induced osteolysis by suppressing osteoclastogenesis and inflammatory factors. In conclusion, HG could activate Nrf2 to eliminate ROS generation, inactivate NLRP3 inflammasome and inhibit pyroptosis, thereby suppressing osteoclastogenesis in vitro and alleviating inflammatory osteolysis in vivo, which indicating that HG might be a promising candidate to treat inflammatory osteolysis. [Display omitted] • HG suppressed osteoclast formation and resorption function. • HG modulated the inflammatory response and macrophage polarization. • HG restrained pyroptosis by inactivating NLRP3 inflammasome. • HG suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome involved Nrf2 activation • HG exhibited protective effects against LPS-induced osteolysis in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoclast plays an important role in maintaining the balance between bone anabolism and bone catabolism. The abnormality of osteoclast is closely related to osteolytic bone diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and tumor bone metastasis. We aim to search for natural compound that may suppress osteoclast formation and function. In this study, we assessed the impact of Dauricine (Dau) on the formation and function of osteoclasts in vitro , as well as its potential in preventing bone loss in an ovariectomy mouse model in vivo. Multiple in vitro experiments were carried out, including osteoclastogenesis, podosomal belt formation, bone resorption assay, RNA-sequencing, real-time quantitative PCR, ROS level detection, surface plasmon resonance assay, luciferase assay and western blot. To verify the effect in vivo , an ovariectomized mouse model (OVX model) was constructed, and bone parameters were measured using micro-CT and histology. Furthermore, metabolomics analysis was performed on blood serum samples from the OVX model. In vitro experiments demonstrated that Dau inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, podosomal belt formation, and bone resorption function. RNA-sequencing results revealed that Dau significantly suppresses genes related to osteoclast. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that Dau's inhibition of osteoclasts may be associated with NF-κB signaling pathway and reactive oxygen metabolism pathway. Molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance assay and western blot analysis further confirm ed that Dau inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by modulating the ROS/NF-κB/NFATc1 pathway. Moreover, administration of Dau to OVX-induced mice validated its efficacy in treating bone loss disease. Dau prevents OVX-induced bone loss by inhibiting osteoclast activity and bone resorption, potentially offering a new approach for preventing and treating metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis. This study provides innovative insights into the inhibitory effects of Dau in an in vivo OVX model and elucidates the underlying mechanism. Dau primarily inhibits osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, thus preventing ovariectomy-induced bone loss. The mechanism underlying this inhibition involves Dau binding to NF-κB and preventing P65 from entering the nucleus, thereby reducing NFATc1 transcription. Additionally, Dau reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by RANKL. Our study results indicate that Dau effectively suppresses osteoclast formation and bone resorption by attenuating NF-κB signaling pathway and intracellular ROS level. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) play an essential role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis mainly characterized by excessive osteoclasts (OCs) activity. OCs are rich in mitochondria for energy support, which is a major source of total ROS. Tussilagone (TSG), a natural Sesquiterpenes from the flower of Tussilago farfara , has plentiful beneficial pharmacological characteristics with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activity, but its effects and mechanism in osteopathology are still unclear. In our study, we investigated the regulation of ROS generated from the mitochondria in OCs. We found that TSG inhibited OCs differentiation and bone resorption without any cytotoxicity. Mechanistically, TSG reduced RANKL-mediated total ROS level by down-regulating intracellular ROS production and mitochondrial function, leading to the suppression of NFATc1 transcription. We also found that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) could enhance ROS scavenging enzymes in response to RANKL-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, TSG up-regulated the expression of Nrf2 by inhibiting its proteosomal degradation. Interestingly, Nrf2 deficiency reversed the suppressive effect of TSG on mitochondrial activity and ROS signaling in OCs. Consistent with this finding, TSG attenuated post-ovariectomy (OVX)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced bone loss by ameliorating osteoclastogenesis. Taken together, TSG has an anti-bone resorptive effect by modulating mitochondrial function and ROS production involved Nrf2 activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of vascular dementia (VaD) has rapidly increased over the past few decades. Although officially approved medications for VaD remain limited, cerebrolysin (CBL) had preventive and treatment effects on VaD in some clinical trials. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been determined. The aim of this study was to determine whether CBL protects against cognitive deficits in a rat model of VaD induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion by increasing the levels of plasticity-related proteins and decreasing the levels of apoptosis-related proteins. In our study, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) surgery. The animals were randomly divided into four groups after the operation: Sham, Vehicle, L-CBL (2.5 ml/kg), and H-CBL (5 ml/kg). CBL was administered after the operation daily for 28 days. The CBL treatment significantly decreased the escape latency and increased the percentage of time the rat spent in the target quadrant of the Morris water maze (MWM) task. Pathological changes in the hippocampus, such as reduced cell count numbers and obvious pyknosis, were observed using haematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining. Furthermore, CBL significantly increased the expression of plasticity-related synaptic proteins, such as postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), protein kinase C subunit gamma (PKCγ), phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (p-CREB), and decreased the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the hippocampus. In summary, CBL likely protects against cognitive deficits by improving synaptic plasticity and decreasing apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Akt/CREB signalling pathway is involved in neuronal survival and protection. Autophagy is also likely to be involved in survival mechanisms. Nimodipine is an L-type calcium channel antagonist that reduces excessive calcium influx during pathological conditions (contributing to its neuroprotective properties). However, the potential role of nimodipine in autophagic and Akt/CREB signalling is not well understood. In addition, little is known about the relationship between autophagic and Akt/CREB signalling. Here, we designed a way to evaluate these issues. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to permanent bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery (2VO) and randomly divided into three groups: the Vehicle (2VO), Nimodipine10 (2VO + nimodipine 10 mg/kg), and Nimodipine20 (2VO + nimodipine 20 mg/kg) groups. A fourth group of animals served as Sham controls. Each group was investigated at 4 and 8 weeks post-operatively and assessed using the Morris water maze. Nimodipine significantly alleviated spatial learning and memory impairments and inhibited the loss of neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. These drug effects were more pronounced at 8 weeks than at 4 weeks. The activities of LC3 II p -Akt and p -CREB were examined using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Suppressing autophagy induced pyramidal cell death without affecting increased pro-survival signalling induced by nimodipine. Nimodipine protected the brain from chronic cerebral hypoperfusion by activating the Akt/CREB signalling pathway. Autophagy has a neuroprotective effect on rats after 2VO. Autophagy is likely part of an integrated survival signalling network involving the Akt/CREB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Closing the gap between current and potential yields is one means of increasing agricultural production to feed the globally increasing population. Therefore, investigation of the geographic patterns, trends and causes of crop yield gaps is essential to identifying where yields might be increased and quantifying the contributions of yield-limiting factors that may provide us potentials to enhance crop productivity. In this study, the changes in potential yields, attainable yields, potential farmers' yields, and actual farmers' yields during the past five decades in Northeast China (NEC) were investigated. Additionally the yield gaps caused by non-controllable, agronomic, and socioeconomic factors were determined. Over the period 1961 to 2010 the estimated regional area-weighted mean maize potential yield, attainable yield, and potential farmers' yield were approximately 12.3 t ha − 1 , 11.5 t ha − 1 , and 6.4 t ha − 1 which showed a decreasing tendency. The actual farmers' yield over NEC was 4.5 t ha − 1 , and showed a tendency to increase (p < 0.01) by 1.27 t ha − 1 per decade. The regional mean total yield gap (YG t ), weighted by the area in each county dedicated to maize crop, was 64% of potential yield. Moreover, 8, 40, and 16% reductions in potential yields were due to non-controllable factors (YG I ), agronomic factors (YG II ), and socioeconomic factors (YG III ), respectively. Therefore, the exploitable yield gap, considered here as the difference between the potential yield and what one can expect considering non-controllable factors (i.e. YG t –YG I ), of maize in NEC was about 56%. The regional area-weighted averages of YG t , and YG III were found to have significant decreases of 11.0, and 10.7% per decade. At the time horizon 2010, the exploitable yield gaps were estimated to equal 36% of potential yield. This led to the conclusion that the yield gap could be deeply reduced by improving local agronomic management and controlling socioeconomic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Northeast China (NEC) accounts for more than 30% of the national total maize planted area (grain yield). Adjusting the sowing dates has been considered an effective measure to adapt to climate change, but there was little evidence that how well the producers had done. In this study, we used phenology observations at 67 stations from 1981 to 2014 to detect trends in actual sowing dates, then the agricultural production systems simulator, APSIM-Maize model, was used to assess the effects of changes in observed sowing dates on maize phenology and yields. During the past 34-year period, the actual maize sowing dates show a delaying tendency, at a rate of 1–6 days per decade, but there are significant fluctuations among years. For per day delay in the sowing dates, the whole growing season was shortened by 0.1%. Delaying sowing dates reduced the solar radiation interception during the vegetative period as well as the thermal time during the reproductive period. As a result, the overall maize potential yield was negatively affected in NEC; for per day delay in the sowing dates, the potential yield was decreased by 0.6%. By contrast, advancing sowing dates in some years led to increases in both the solar radiation interception during the vegetative period and the thermal time during the reproductive period. However, these increases showed various effects on the maize potential yield across different parts of the study region. We detected a positive effect of advancing sowing dates on maize potential yield in the high latitudes, at a rate of up to 1.6%. By contrast, in the low latitudes, the negative effect of advancing sowing dates on maize potential yield was dominant, at a rate of up to 2.7%. • The observed sowing dates mostly delayed but fluctuated greatly among years. • The potential yield was decreased by 0.6% for per day delay in sowing dates. • The potential yield at high latitude and low latitude changed result differently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential to many important energy conversion and storage systems. To achieve high-performance and low-cost OER electrocatalysts, great effort has been devoted to the development of noble-metal-free OER nanocatalysts. While nanostructured materials have been shown effective at improving the catalytic activity, the stability of the nanocatalyst has yet to be significantly improved. Furthermore, nanocatalyst syntheses are typically complex, limiting their practical application. Herein, we design a noble-metal-free nanocatalyst which has a CoFeP x core and an in situ Fe coating layer to enhance the material's catalytic activity and durability for OER. We utilize the vapor pressure difference of Fe and Co at high temperature to synthesize the CoFeP x -Fe core-shell nanoparticles via a one-step high-temperature shock technique. The high-temperature method strongly anchors the CoFeP x nanoparticles onto a carbon substrate. The thin Fe shell layer (~2 nm) coated on the CoFeP x greatly enhances the durability of the CoFeP x catalyst without hampering its activity due to the geometric effect. This nanocatalyst with an in situ Fe shell demonstrates a successful nanocoating approach for fabricating catalytically active protection layers on catalysts with improved activity and durability. Image 1 • A thin Fe shell was in situ coated on a noble-metal-free nanocatalyst to enhance the catalytic activity and durability. • A high-temperature shock method realized one-step synthesis of the core-shell nanostructure. • The thin Fe layer improved the catalytic stability without sacrificing the activity. • The in-situ nanocoating approach offered catalytically active surface protection for various nanocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satisfying human food demands without degrading natural capital under climate change comprises one of the grandest challenges in the 21st century. Crop substitution - the process of replacing one crop with another crop, is an effective measure for adapting climate change, which helps to address this issue. The objective of this research is examining the potential of crop substitution based on climate changes to improve agri-food production, environmental stewardship and regional prosperity in China. First, we harness climate, crop, agricultural inputs and cost-benefits data of 2031 counties from 1981 to 2017 and project the crop yield and land-use climate suitability based on future climate projections. Second, we develop and invoke a conceptual framework of crop substituting based on maize (a crop requiring high nitrogen amounts) and soybean (a more sustainable crop but with lower productivity), which integrate demand, impacts of climate change on yield, crop land-use climate suitability, high- or low-yield and soybean-based rotation co-benefits to adapt future climate change. Finally, we scale these findings to compute implications for national environmental impacts and economic profit. After substitution, national soybean production would reach 37.2 Mt. in 2021–2060 when maize production meet demand, avoiding 4.0 Mt. reduction in production losses associated with climate change. Nitrogen fertilizer use and net greenhouse gas emissions would reduce by 21.5–24.6 and 7.9–8.7%, respectively, increasing soybean and maize economic profit by 46.1–49.3%. Our findings will help the policy makers for safeguarding food security under future climate in China. The conceptual framework of crop substituting we developed here would help to come up with suitable crop planting area programme to adapt climate change, and increase productivity, environmental stewardship and regional prosperity. [Display omitted] • Crop substitution integrates climate change impacts and crop rotation effects. • After substitution, national soybean production will reach 37.2 Mt. in 2021–2060. • Avoiding 4.0 Mt. production losses of maize and soybean with climate change. • Nitrogen fertilizer use and greenhouse gas emissions will reduce over 21.5 and 7.9%. • Soybean and maize economic profit will increase over 46.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Improvement in both maize yield and its stability through water and nitrogen management was assessed. • The three main maize cropping regions in China were focused. • Recommended water and nitrogen input by the local agronomists can be easily adopted by the producers in the field production. • Greater contributions of water and nitrogen management to improve maize yield were found in zones with low/unstable yield. Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop grown worldwide. With the increase in human food demand but limited land and water resources, precise spatially explicit knowledge about the maize production capacity through agricultural management practices (e.g., using recommended nutrient and water inputs, RNWI, by local agronomists) is essential to guide the future policy, research, development, and investment. Here, we used a well-validated crop model (APSIM-Maize) for 1981–2010 combined with actual climatic and soil data to estimate maize yield improvements under RNWI in three main cropping regions in China (the North China Spring Maize Region, NCS; the Huanghuaihai Summer Maize region, HS; and the Southwest China Mountain Maize Region, SCM). Compared with the county-level maize actual yield in the three main cropping regions, the average maize yield could be increased by 33 % (4 Mg ha−1) through RNWI, while the improvements in the coefficients of variation (CVs) of grain yield and reliable grain production (RGP) were 0.11 and 32 % (69 million Mg), respectively. Except for RNWI, the average yield, CVs of yield, and RGP could still be increased by 28 % (3 Mg ha−1), 0.10, and 36 % (80 million Mg) through other management and technologies (OMT). Further analysis in four types of yield level-stability zones (high-stable, low-stable, high-unstable, and low-unstable zones) showed that greater contributions of using RNWI and OMT to improve maize grain yield, yield stability, and RGP were found in zones with low/unstable yield across the three regions. The findings highlighted the focus on increasing maize yield in low/unstable-yield zones could provide a greater return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An integrated winter wheat yield evaluation based on yield variability was conducted. • Winter wheat yield potential was more stable than the actual yield. • Winter wheat yield level and yield stability showed significant improvements in China. • Some vulnerable areas in need of further attention were identified. Understanding the historical variability of winter wheat yield in China can provide insights into future wheat production security and adaptation measures. In this study, two indices, i.e., yield gap percentage (YG percentage) and yield variation difference (VD), were employed to investigate the winter wheat relatively yield level and yield variability from 1980 to 2010 in 1340 counties in China using a county-level dataset and a crop model (APSIM-Wheat). The study area was classified into four types of regions with different yield patterns: relatively high-yield level and high stability (RHY-RHS), relatively high-yield level and low stability (RHY-RLS), relatively low-yield level and high stability (RLY-RHS), and relatively low-yield level and low stability (RLY-RLS). Relatively high-yield levels in terms of YG percentage were found in the eastern parts of the Northern China Plain (NC) and the Yellow and Huai River Valleys (YH), the southern area of Xinjiang (XJ), and the northern part of the Middle and Lower Yangtze Valleys (YV), as well as a small section in the middle of Southwestern China (SW). Yield potential was more stable than the actual yield in most of the study regions, with positive VD. A decreasing trend was observed in both the YG percentage and VD over the three decades. Consequently, the county percentage of RHY-RHS and RHY-RLS increased but the percentage of RLY-RHS and RLY-RLS decreased over the three decades, indicating improved winter wheat yield level and yield stability in China, which might be attributed to the development of agricultural technology and breeding. Nonetheless, there are still some vulnerable areas in need of further attention. Western NC and southern YH are regions with a potentially stable yield in the future. Given that YH accounts for a large proportion of winter wheat production in China, further investigation should be conducted to identify the underlying causes of the low-yield level and high yield variability in YH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Indirect methods can be used to establish tCO2 RI for the population in Tibet. • The tCO2 RI of residents in Tibet was significantly lower than that of plainsmen. • Labs in high-altitude areas should establish tCO2 RIs basing on their population. Hypoxia leads to different concentrations of the bicarbonate buffer system in Tibetan people. Indirect methods were used to establish the reference interval (RI) for total carbon dioxide (tCO2) based on big data from the adult population of Tibet, a high-altitude area in Western China. Anonymous tCO2 test data (n = 442,714) were collected from the People's Hospital of the Tibet Autonomous Region from January 2018, to December 2021. Multiple linear regression and variance component analyses were performed to assess the effects of sex, age, and race on tCO2 levels. Indirect methods, including Hoffmann, Bhattacharya, expectation maximization (EM), kosmic and refineR, were used to calculate the total RI and ethnicity-partitioned RI. A total of 230,821 real-world tCO2 test results were eligible. Sex, age, and race were significantly associated with the tCO2 levels. The total and ethnically-partitioned RIs estimated using the five indirect methods were comparable. The total RI of tCO2 was 14–24 mmol/L (calculated using Hoffmann and refineR) and 15–24 mmol/L (Bhattacharya, EM and kosmic). For Han nationality, the RIs were 14–25 mmol/L (calculated using Hoffmann and Bhattacharya), 16–23 mmol/L (EM), 15–24 mmol/L (kosmic), and 14.2–24.5 mmol/L (refineR). For the Tibetan population, the RIs were 14–24 mmol/L (calculated using Hoffmann and refineR), 15–24 mmol/L (Bhattacharya and kosmic), and 15–23 mmol/L (EM). The established RIs were significantly lower than those living at lower altitudes area (22–29 mmol/L) that was provided by the manufacturer. The tCO2 RI of the populations living on the Tibetan Plateau was significantly lower than those at the lower altitudes. The RIs established using indirect methods are suitable for clinical applications in Tibet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). The Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway is one of the most important antioxidative stress pathways. To explore whether NBP (DL-3-n-butylphthalide) could alleviate VCI induced by CCH via activating the Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway and modifying the levels of apoptosis-related proteins, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to permanent occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries (BCCAO) and treated either with vehicle or NBP (applied in two doses, 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg) while sham operated animals were treated with vehicle. Treatments were administered daily for 28 days. The obtained results indicate that both administrated doses of NBP significantly ameliorated the spatial learning and memory impairments as indicated by the Morris water maze test while Hematoxylin-Eosin staining revealed that morphological defects in the CA1 area of hippocampus were improved. Moreover, NBP reversed the BCCAO-induced downregulation of investigated oxidative stress-related proteins (p-Akt, t-Nrf2, n-Nrf2 and HO-1) along with the upregulation of pro-apoptotic molecule, Bax and reduction of the expression of anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2. According to presented results, NBP may have a protective effect against cognitive and morphological impairments induced by CCH via activation of Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibition of apoptotic cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pile foundations or energy piles serve as ground heat exchangers (GHEs) of ground source heat pump system (GSHP) in some cases. Modeling this kind of GHE is important in the system design. This paper built a new practical numerical model for the energy pile with spiral coils. This model includes a 1-D transient convection–diffusion sub-model for the fluid domain and a 1-D transient diffusion sub-model for the solid domain. The fluid model and the solid model can be solved by a sequential computing algorithm. The two sub-models were compared with analytical models respectively, and filed test data was used to verify the whole model. Results showed that this model is accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Double-cropping system (DCS) will further expand under RCP 4.5 and 8.5 Scenarios. • The increase in precipitation will not always support the DCS moving northward. • The northeast face the lowest risk of precipitation deficiency in the marginal area. • The negative effect of insufficient precipitation on potential yield is above 56 %. • Potential yield tended to be stable when annual precipitation reached 600 mm. Northern China is the major grain-production region in the country. To adapt to climate change and ensure food security with a fixed area of arable land, utilizing a multiple cropping frequency each year is regarded as an efficient method of offsetting the projected negative yield impacts on staple crops. Given that climate warming prolongs the potential growing season and benefits the expansion of multi-cropping systems, this research investigated whether changes in precipitation will keep pace with temperature in the marginal double-cropping area of northern China under two scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Our results indicated that northern China will experience consistent warming, which will cause the limits of the double-cropping system to move remarkably towards the northeast and northwest in this century. However, the increased precipitation may not be sufficient to alleviate the water deficiency in the double-crop rotation and support the realisation of double-cropping benefits due to increasing heat resources. Although the potential yield will be considerable in the marginal double-cropping area after future expansion, the instability of rain-fed yields will gradually increase with the decrease in precipitation in the marginal region unless supplemental irrigation is applied. The insufficient precipitation was projected to negatively affect the potential yield in this area by 56–67 %. Moreover, the coefficient of variation of yield was great due to the large spatial distribution difference in the cumulated precipitation. After adopting limited irrigation in key wheat growth periods, this negative effect was predicted to be alleviated by approximately 10–12 %. In the entire marginal region, the northeast faces the lowest risk of precipitation deficiency during double-cropping system expansion. It was concluded that the double-cropping system is an efficient adaptation strategy worth encouraging in the context of climate change; however, this approach should be considered only after considering the local cumulative precipitation and the condition of the water supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]