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Background: Increasing evidence demonstrated the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the onset and development of neuropathic pain (NP). Exploring the molecular mechanism underlying NP and identifying key molecules could provide potential targets for the therapy of NP. The function and mechanism of miR‐125b‐5p in regulating NP have been studied, aiming to find a potential therapeutic target for NP. Methods: NP rat models were established by the chronic constriction injury (CCI) method. The paw withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal latency were assessed to evaluate the establishment and recovery of rats. Highly aggressive proliferating immortalized (HAPI) micoglia cell, a rat microglia cell line, was treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The M1/M2 polarization and inflammation were evaluated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. Results: Decreasing miR‐125b‐5p and increasing SOX11 were observed in CCI rats and LPS‐induced HAPI cells. Overexpressing miR‐125b‐5p alleviated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia and suppressed inflammation in CCI rats. LPS induced M1 polarization and inflammation of HAPI cells, which was attenuated by miR‐125b‐5p overexpression. miR‐125‐5p negatively regulated the expression of SOX11 in CCI rats and LPS‐induced HAPI cells. Overexpressing SOX11 reversed the protective effects of miR‐125b‐5p on mechanical pain in CCI rats and the polarization and inflammation in HAPI cells, which was considered the mechanism underlying miR‐125b‐5p. Conclusion: miR‐125b‐5p showed a protective effect on NP by regulating inflammation and polarization of microglia via negatively modulating SOX11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐scale photovoltaic (PV) plants are growing rapidly in drylands because of the rich solar radiation and vast unutilized land. The transformation of landscapes in dryland has threatened local fragile vegetation. Existing studies have investigated the issue by field observations and satellite data, yet the spatial differences in vegetation changes due to dryland PV plants deployment and underlying driving mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, Landsat Normalized Difference Vegetation Index data were used to assess the vegetation changes disturbed by PV plants in China's drylands. We further identified environmental factors affecting vegetation changes based on random forest regression model. Our findings reveal the spatial heterogeneity in the impact of PV plants on vegetation dynamics—PV plant deployment promoted the growth of vegetation in the vast majority of arid and hyper‐arid drylands, while it tends to cause vegetation decline in the sub‐humid and semi‐arid drylands. The impact of PV plants on vegetation dynamics depends on local environmental conditions. We found that deploying PV plants in areas with sparse vegetation, low humidity, and long sunshine duration is more likely to promote vegetation restoration. The findings and data maps with highly detailed information can help guide solar energy operators in siting and ecological restoration to enhance techno–ecological synergies in the future. Plain Language Summary: In drylands, large‐scale photovoltaic (PV) plants are rapidly expanding. However, the spatial differences in vegetation changes caused by the PV plants deployment and underlying driving mechanisms remains understudied. Here, we used satellite remote sensing imagery to monitor the impact of PV plant deployment on vegetation dynamics in drylands. We employed machine learning models and multi‐source data sets to explore the environmental factors influencing the vegetation effects of PV plants. Our study findings indicate that the PV plants deployment has varying impacts on vegetation dynamics in different regions. In areas with sparse vegetation, low humidity, and long sunlight duration, PV plant deployment is more conducive to promoting vegetation restoration. These findings deepen our understanding of the ecological impacts of PV plants in drylands and emphasize the techno‐ecological synergistic benefits of PV plants in dryland ecosystems. Key Points: Existing PV plants exhibit spatially varied impacts on vegetation dynamicsThe impact of PV plants on vegetation dynamics depends on local environmental conditionsPV deployment helps enhance techno‐ecological synergies in most drylands of China [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global drylands are experiencing booming development of centralized photovoltaics (PV), which aims to address the dual challenges posed by climate change and energy transformation. In dryland areas with large‐scale deployment of solar PV infrastructure, vegetation was reported to experience drastic changes. However, the long‐term dynamic changes and driving mechanisms have not been thoroughly studied yet. Quantitatively distinguishing the disturbances of climate change and PV plant deployment on vegetation change is the key to understanding the environmental impact of clean energy development and formulating adaptive ecological recovery measures. To understand this, we selected the Gonghe solar power project in northern China, one of the largest dryland PV plants in the world, as a case study. Specifically, satellite‐derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and meteorological data from ground stations were used to analyze the changing patterns of vegetation growth and climatic factors. The relative contributions of climatic factors and PV plant deployment to NDVI change were quantified by multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that vegetation has increased gradually since 2000, with the rate of vegetation recovery doubled during the PV expansion period. From 2013 to 2020, climate change was the main driver of increased vegetation (56%), followed by the expansion of solar PV infrastructures (44%). Vegetation inside PV arrays increased 1.4 times faster than outside, mainly because the PV panels improve the efficiency of rainwater utilization in summer and reduce the negative impact of excessive sunlight in the growing season. In addition, vegetation management practices like grazing can further enhance carbon sequestration and create sustainable livelihood opportunities, achieving sustainable economic, social, and ecological development. The novelty of the study lies in the proposed framework to quantify the impact of solar PV programs on vegetation in dryland allowing easy interpretations of vegetation dynamics under clean energy development and climate change, which provide scientific references for clean energy planning and ecological recovery in arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable information on the dynamics of hydrological changes is crucial for the social and economic stabilities and sustaining developments in arid Central Asia. However, the few long‐term hydrological records limit understanding of the relationship between meltwater runoff and climate changes, because the short‐term observations show a paradoxical runoff trend with climate warming across Central Asia. Here, we made a systematic analysis on the 10Be exposure ages of the river terraces developed in the eastern Tarim Basin and reconstructed the hydrological regime changes during the past 170 ka. These data, together with the ages of the river terraces in the water source areas, suggest that the exposure ages of river terraces in the eastern Tarim Basin reflect the depositional time of alluvial sediments. The meltwater runoff displays an inverse relation with the North Hemisphere Summer Insolation and temperature changes on both orbital and millennial time scale, indicating that low temperatures favor high runoff fluxes. The observed correlation between the hydrological regimes and temperature changes suggests that the runoff will decrease and thus climate will become drying with global warming in arid Central Asia. Plain Language Summary: Reliable information on the dynamics of hydrological changes is crucial for the social and economic stabilities and sustaining developments in arid Central Asia. However, the short‐term observations show a paradoxical runoff trend with climate warming across Central Asia. In order to understand the association of hydrological regimes with climate changes in arid Central Asia, particularly the hydrological changes on the context of global warming, this study reconstructs the hydrological changes in the eastern Tarim Basin over the past 170 ka. Our results show that the high runoff occurred during low temperature periods in the past. The inverse correlation between the hydrological regimes and temperatures in this study indicates that the runoff will decrease and climate will become drying with global warming in the future. More conservative water management policies should be taken for the sustaining development and water security in Central Asia. Key Points: 10Be exposure ages of river terraces in the eastern Tarim Basin reflect the depositional dates of alluvial sedimentsThe runoff in central Asia displays an inverse relation with global temperature changesHigh runoffs and humid climates occurred during cold periods over the past 170 ka, indicating a climate drying with global warming [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desertification and the expansion of deserts are regarded as a major threat to human livelihoods and ecosystem services, as well as achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Humans have been recognized as significant agents in the expansion of desert‐like conditions, through the agency of desertification/land degradation, and through contributions to global climate change. Yet, how desertification changes and whether human or climate change drives these processes and trends over the whole Mongolia Plateau is still not clear. Here we first use MODIS data for 2000–2019 to assess the long‐term vegetation changes across the Mongolian Plateau, both in Inner Mongolia of PR China and the Mongolian People's Republic. We then appied a General Linear Model to analyze the additional climate and human attribute data sets to explore relationships between the observed desert extent reduction and their potential drivers. Results show that from 2000–2019, desert extent declined by over 7%, comprised of an almost 11% reduction in Inner Mongolia and 5% reduction in Mongolia, and a reduction in the degree of desert conditions, as measured by vegetation cover grades, across the whole region (37.5% decline ‐ one grade in PR China, 28.75% in Mongolia). The majority of desert area reduction occurs in the northern and eastern areas of the Mongolia Plateau. We found that the main drivers of changing desert extent is not because of a reduction in human pressures on the land, but an increasing trend of both precipitation and temperature, which explains over 75% of all the observed changes. Besides, urbanization, and a reduction of population pressures on the land, contribute to most of the remaining changes. Our results suggest that although the climate has been the primary driver of changing desert area and severity, human interventions have played an important role, although the way it intervenes and the intensity varies in Inner Mongolia and Mongolia. Human's active response to land degradation in the desert contributes to more land restoration in Inner Mongolia than in Mongolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urea formaldehyde (UF) and phenol formaldehyde (PF) foam possess outstanding flame‐retardant properties, excellent insulation, and low thermal conductivity. These properties make them suitable for thermal insulation in buildings. However, the mechanical properties still need to be improved. In this study, orthogonal test was designed to optimize the level components of PF/UF composite foam first, then nano ZnO was added to the PF/UF composite foam to improve its toughness. The effects of nano ZnO on the morphology, apparent density, pulverization rate, thermal conductivity and thermal degradation property, flame retardancy, and mechanical properties of the ZnO/PF/UF nanocomposite foam were studied. The addition of nano ZnO improved the bending and compressive strength and decreased the pulverization rate of the composite foam significantly. The ZnO/PF/UF nanocomposite foam also presented better flame retardant properties than PF/UF composite foam. The largest oxygen index values of ZnO/PF/UF nanocomposite foam could reach 39.31%, while the thermal conductivity and the maximum rate of weight loss temperature were increased to 0.036 W/(m∙K) and 279°C, respectively. Moreover, ZnO/PF/UF nanocomposite foam showed low apparent density property (0.27 g/cm3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]