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Background: In this study, we investigated the effects of alpine meadow in different phenological periods on ruminal fermentation, serum biochemical indices, and gastrointestinal tract microbes in grazing yak on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A total of eighteen female freely grazing yaks with an average age of 3 years old and a body weight of 130 ± 19 kg were selected. According to the plant phenological periods, yaks were randomly allocated to one of three treatments: (1) regreen periods group (RP, n = 6); (2) grassy periods group (GP, n = 6); and (3) hay periods group (HP, n = 6). At the end of the experiment, the blood, rumen fluids, and rectal contents were collected to perform further analysis. Results: The concentrations of total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), acetate, glucose (GLU), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were higher in the GP group than in the HP group (P < 0.05). However, compared with the RP and GP groups, the HP group had higher concentrations of isobutyrate, isovalerate, valerate, and creatinine (CREA) (P < 0.05). The abundance of Prevotella in the rumen, and the abundances of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group, and Prevotellaceae_UCG-004 in the gut were higher in the GP group compared with the HP group (P < 0.05). The HP had higher abundance of Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group in the rumen as well as the abundances of Romboutsia and Arthrobacter in the gut compared with the RP and GP groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results of rumen fermentation, serum biochemical, differential biomarkers, and function prediction, the carbohydrate digestion of grazing yak would be higher with the alpine meadow regreen and grassy due to the gastrointestinal tract microbes. However, the risk of microbe disorders and host inflammation in grazing yak were higher with the alpine meadow wither. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. The liver and lungs are the most common sites for infection. Infection of the intradural spine is rare. Case presentation: A 45-year-old woman of Han ethnicity presented with a chronic history of recurrent lumbar pain. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine revealed the classical characteristic of multiple cystic lesions of variable sizes, manifesting a "bunch of grapes" appearance, localized within the spinal canal at the L4–L5 vertebral level. In the meanwhile, metagenomic next-generation sequencing identified Echinococcosis granulosa. The patient underwent surgery to remove the cyst entirely and subsequently took albendazole 400 mg orally twice daily for 6 months. Conclusion: Spinal CE should be suspected in patients with multiple spinal cystic lesions and zoonotic exposure. metagenomic next-generation sequencing serves as a robust diagnostic tool for atypical pathogens, particularly when conventional tests are inconclusive. Prompt and aggressive treatment for spinal cystic echinococcosis is imperative, and further research is warranted for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) can successfully suppress human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral replication and reconstruct immune function reconstruction in HIV-1-infected patients. However, about 15-30% of HIV-1-infected patients still fail to recover their CD4+ T cell counts after HAART treatment, which means immune reconstruction failure. Pyroptosis plays an important role in the death of CD4+ T cells in HIV-1- infected patients. The study aims to explore the association between the expression of pyroptosis in peripheral blood and immune function reconstruction in HIV-1- infected patients.Methods: One hundred thirty-five HIV-1-infected patients including immunological non-responders (INR) group, immunological responders (IR) group and normal immune function control (NC) group were analyzed. The expression of GSDMD and Caspase-1 in peripheral blood of HIV-1-infected patients were measured by qPCR. The concentrations of GSDMD, Caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 in the peripheral serum were quantified by ELISA. The associations between the expression of pyroptosis in peripheral blood and immune function reconstruction were analyzed using multivariate logistic models.Results: The relative expression of GSDMD mRNA and caspase-1 mRNA in peripheral blood, as well as the expression of IL-18 cytokine in the INR, were significantly higher than those in the IR and NC (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of IL-1β cytokine (P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the patients with baseline CD4+ T cell counts less than 100 cells/μL (aOR 7.051, 95% CI 1.115-44.592, P = 0.038), high level of expression of Caspase-1mRNA (aOR 2.803, 95% CI 1.065-7.377, P = 0.037) and IL-18 cytokine (aOR 10.131, 95% CI 1.616-63.505, P = 0.013) had significant poor CD4+ T cell recovery.Conclusions: The baseline CD4+ T cell counts less than 100 cells/μL, high relative expression of Caspase-1 mRNA, and high expression of IL-18 cytokine are associated factors that affect the reconstruction of immune function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large amounts of lignin, hemicellulose, organic matter and inorganic salts are present in pulping and papermaking wastewater. Therefore, the treatment and discharge of pulping wastewater are important issues. We have designed and developed the world's first zero liquid discharge (ZLD) system for it based on pretreatment-membrane-evaporative crystallization integrated technologies. However, for the treatment of high salt reverse osmosis (RO) brine, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. In this work, the feasibility of using a membrane distillation crystallization (MDC) process to treat high saline RO brine was investigated. Two different coating materials, Hyflon AD 40H and perfluoropolyether (PFPE), were applied to improve the membrane surface hydrophobicity for stable and efficient performance. After modification, the water contact angle was up to 138.4o and 157.7o for Hyflon/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and PFPE/PVDF composite membranes, respectively. Moreover, the PFPE/PVDF membrane showed a higher repellency toward RO brine, which is better for the following MDC treatment. During the MDC progress using composite PFPE/PVDF membranes, the salt crystals precipitated and gradually accumulated. More importantly, the final NaCl purity can be up to 94%. Therefore, it is hopeful to improve of the existing ZLD system by MDC operation. [Display omitted] • Membrane crystallizer was proposed to achieve zero liquid discharge in the papermaking industry. • (Super)hydrophobic composite membrane was prepared by coating PFPE and Hyflon. • Composite PFPE/PVDF membrane showed the best anti-fouling and anti-wetting properties. • The PFPE/PVDF membrane showed the potential to extract salts and pure water from real pulping brine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Yak meat had higher content of n-3 PUFA in the grassy periods. • Yak meat had higher content of flavor amino acids in the grassy periods. • Prevotella spp. was positively correlated with PUFAs in yak meat. • Pediococcus spp. was positively correlated with biological peptides in yak meat. Yak meat is more popular among consumers because of its high nutritional value, but little attention has been paid to its meat quality, which is affected by different phenology periods grass. We hypothesized that seasonal variations in grass composition influenced the ruminal bacteria community, and eventually affected the meat quality of yaks. This study aims to investigate the relationship of meat quality in grazing yak as well as the key rumen bacteria using targeted and untargeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA during different phenology periods. The main three altered metabolic pathways in grazing yak, including amino acids biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, and fatty acids biosynthesis, were found in the grass period (GP) group compared to the regreen period (RP) and hay period (HP) groups. The GP group had higher concentrations of flavor amino acids (FAA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and a lower ratio of n-6/n-3 compared with the RP group. Correlation analysis results showed that Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group was positively correlated with fatty acids and lipid metabolites, which might be involved in lipid metabolism. Pediococcus had a positive correlation with biological peptides, which could be involved in the metabolism of bioactive compounds. In conclusion, grass in different phenology periods was associated with modified amino acids and fatty acids composition of yak meat as well as altered regulation of biological pathways, which was correlated with changes in rumen bacterial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil water storage (SWS) is a crucial parameter for vegetation restoration and a variety of hydrological processes in semi-arid regions. Its dynamics reflect the integrated influence of different factors operating at various intensities and scales. In this study, we investigated the scale-specific correlations between SWS and six selected environmental factors along a 1340-m long sampling transect in a semi-arid catchment using multivariate empirical mode decomposition (MEMD). The six factors were bulk density, elevation, clay, silt, sand, and soil organic carbon content. The multivariate data series of the SWS and factors of interest were separated into seven intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and residue. IMF1, IMF3, and IMF5 were identified as the primary scales according to the percentage of total variance (about 50%) in SWS under different soil moisture conditions. The scale-specific correlations between SWS and the corresponding factors varied with scale but were irrelevant to soil moisture condition. SWS at each IMF and residue could be estimated using the associated scale-specific environmental factors at the same IMF or residue. SWS at the measurement scale was satisfactorily estimated by summarizing all the predicted IMFs and residue, which outperformed measurement-scale SWS estimation based on multivariate stepwise linear regression between SWS and the associated factors. Soil moisture condition could affect the relative importance of the environmental factors in overall SWS estimation. In general, soil properties were the dominant predictor of SWS under different soil moisture conditions. MEMD provides a useful opportunity to deal with scale-specific correlations between various variables. • MEMD can separate SWS and factors into various IMFs and residue. • IMF1, IMF3, and IMF5 were identified as the primary scales under different soil moisture conditions. • Soil moisture condition affected the relative importance of factors in SWS prediction. • Overall SWS prediction by MEMD outperformed those based on multivariate stepwise linear regression method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Conversion of farmland to grassland reduced microbial residue carbon content especially fungal residue carbon content. • Conversion of farmland to shrub forest increased microbial residue carbon content especially bacterial residue carbon content. • Microbial residue carbon accounted for a significant proportion of soil organic carbon. • Microbial residue carbon contribution to soil organic carbon increased after returning farmland to shrub forest and grassland. Microbial residue carbon (C) serves as a significant source of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the contribution of microbial residue C to SOC accumulation after the restoration of farmland vegetation remains unclear, making it challenging to comprehend the role of microorganisms in the accumulation and transformation of SOC after vegetation restoration on farmland. Based on field investigations in Guinan County, Qinghai Province, our study focused on the microbial residue C content and its contribution to SOC in farmland, grassland, and shrub forest, employing the analysis of biomarkers. The results indicated that the microbial residue C content increased with the rise of SOC, soil total nitrogen (STN), and enzyme activities. Compared to farmland, grassland displayed significantly lower levels of SOC and STN, leading to reduced microbial residue C content, notably impacting the C content of fungal residues. Despite slightly lower levels of SOC and STN compared to farmland, shrub forest exhibited higher soil microbial residue C content, notably within bacterial residue C, due to elevated soil enzyme activities. The contribution of microbial residue C to SOC decreased as SOC content increased. In farmland boasting higher SOC content, the contribution of microbial residue C to SOC was notably lower compared to shrub forest and grassland with lower SOC content. In conclusion, compared to farmland, both shrub forest and grassland exhibited higher contributions of microbial residue C to SOC, which is favorable for the sequestration of stable SOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We identified sedimentary history of soil magnetic susceptibility (MS) in karst depression. • The vertical distribution of soil MS is significantly affected by tillage practice. • Total phosphorus is a good predictor of soil MS in undisturbed sediment cores. • Soil MS decreases with the increase of sediment deposition rates. Tillage practices can greatly influence the temporal variation in soil erosion, deposition, and redistribution, and thus soil magnetic susceptibility (MS). In-depth investigation of the distribution characteristics of soil magnetic susceptibility (MS) is helpful to understand the dynamic process of soil redistribution and environmental changes. With the aid of the 137Cs and 210Pb ex deposition chronologies, the objective of this study is to investigate the historical changing pattern of MS in a karst depression, and to further evaluate the effects of soil properties, tillage practice, and soil erosion on the temporal variation in soil MS. With collecting representative soil profile samples from cropland and undisturbed bamboo forest land in the karst depression, the MS, soil particle distribution, nutrients, radionuclides and heavy metals were measured. The results showed that mass-specific low-frequency MS (χ lf) was positively correlated with percentage frequency-dependent MS (χ fd %) (P < 0.001), and the corrected χ fd % was close to the saturation value (11 %) after removing the influence of the initial aeolian signal. The relationship between MS and soil properties is different under cropland and bamboo forest land. For undisturbed forestland, χ lf and χ fd % were both positively related to nutrients concentration (P < 0.001), but negatively related to heavy metal concentrations (P < 0.001). For the cropland with frequent tillage practices, χ lf was positively related to total phosphorus (TP) and heavy metals concentration. Based on the identified MS deposition history, from 1949 to 2015, χ lf and χ fd % showed a significant increase at first and then tended to be stable, and were negatively related to sediment deposition rate (P < 0.001). This study emphasizes the pronounced influence of tillage practices and soil erosion on the temporal variation of soil MS, is helpful for targeted land management strategies in these environmentally vulnerable karst regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rainfall and runoff explained 70–85% of sediment yield variability in two karst watersheds. • Specific rainfall and runoff variables affecting sediment yield the most were identified. • The PLSR model provides a convenient way of solving variable collinearity. As one of the largest and most typical continuous karst distribution belts in the world, Southwest China is vulnerable to soil erosion and rocky desertification because of its unique geological conditions and heterogeneous landscapes. Understanding the rainfall-runoff-sediment transport relationships is critical to effectively controlling soil erosion in karst watersheds. This study aims to evaluate the sediment yield variability at different temporal scales (daily, monthly/seasonal, and annual) from 2014 to 2019 and to further identify the rainfall and runoff variables most associated with sediment yield in the selected Mahuangtian (2.26 km2) and Muzhaihe (0.09 km2) karst watersheds. Since rainfall and runoff variables were highly codependent, the partial least squares regression (PLSR) model was used to quantify the relative importance of rainfall and runoff variables to sediment yield. The variable importance of the projection (VIP) scores>1 was considered to be the most influential predictor of the PLSR model. Results showed that sediment yield was greatly influenced by rainfall and runoff, which can explain 70% and 85% of the variation of sediment yield in the Mahuangtian and Muzhaihe watersheds, respectively. For rainfall variables, three-day antecedent precipitation (VIP = 1.41) and five-day antecedent precipitation (VIP = 1.28) were the main first-order factors controlling sediment yield in the Mahuangtian watershed. In contrast, the rainfall amount (VIP = 1.35) was the dominant factor influencing sediment yield in the Muzhaihe watershed. For runoff variables, runoff amount, runoff coefficient, and maximum discharge were the primary variables controlling the sediment yield in these two karst watersheds. By partially eliminating the co-dependency of the variables, the PLSR approach can conveniently determine the dominant factors controlling sediment yield in heterogeneous karst watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane distillation (MD) is receiving growing interest because of its >99.9% salt rejection even with low-grade waste heat as the energy supply. However, MD membranes are prone to be wetted and usually require complicated modification strategies to gain sufficient hydrophobicity. In this work, we report a new type of MD membranes with hydrophobic films carrying pores in the ultrafiltration range as the separation layers. Such membranes are prepared by coating an A-B-A triblock copolymer polystyrene- block -polydimethylsiloxane- block -polystyrene (PS- b -PDMS- b -PS, further abbreviated as SDS) on the macroporous PVDF substrate, followed by soaking in alkanes to cavitate the SDS coating layers following the mechanism of selective swelling. The PDMS microdomains in the SDS layers are converted to interconnected nanopores, and the PDMS blocks are enriched along the pore walls and membrane surface, endowing the membranes with intrinsic hydrophobicity. Thus-prepared SDS membranes exhibit stable rejection to NaCl (>99.99%) and high permeate flux up to 32.8 kg m−2 h−1, better than most MD membranes with large pores in the microfiltration range. Moreover, the SDS membranes display excellent wetting resistance, good heat resistance, and long-term stability. This work provides a new strategy to prepare MD membranes enabled by selective swelling of hydrophobic block copolymers, and demonstrates the great potential of hydrophobic ultrafiltration membranes in the long-term use in membrane distillation. [Display omitted] • Porous SDS films with a >50% porosity and adjustable pore sizes are prepared by selective swelling at room temperature. • SDS composite membranes are prepared with hydrophobic films carrying pores in the ultrafiltration range as separation layers. • SDS composite membranes exhibit a >99.99% rejection to NaCl and high LEP values in membrane distillation. • The hydrophobic coating layers can reach as thin as hundreds of nanometers, which consume fewer materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of temporal variations in sediment sources is necessary to identify the principal sources of sediment for effective implementation of soil conservation measures and to improve the calibration and validation of process-based soil erosion models. Quantitative information on sediment provenance is often limited in karst regions because of their complex surfaces and underground three-dimensional erosion systems. Peak-cluster depressions are typical landforms in karst areas and can well intercept most sediment from hillsides such as dams or reservoirs. Thus, peak-cluster depressions are suitable areas for sediment source identification. The objective of this study was to quantify the contribution of sediment sources in a typical karst watershed and to identify temporal variations in sediment sources in the watershed in the past 60 years. We collected 194 soil samples from three sediment profiles in a karst depression and 58 source samples from cropland, fissure soil, and forestland. We used a composite fingerprinting method based on 45 geochemical properties and an IsoSource multivariate mixed model in a typical karst watershed. The results indicate that cropland was the principal sediment source (89.2 %) in the last 60 years, followed by fissure soil (9.6 %) and forestland (1.2 %). Importantly, compared with the period from 1949 to 1999, the contribution of sediment from fissure soil reached a maximum value of approximately 20 % from 1999 to 2015. This result implies that the "Grain for Green" program, which was implemented in 1999, clearly reduced the amount of soil erosion from cropland. Therefore, the program may greatly affect sediment deposition in karst depressions. Using metal ratios as fingerprint factors, the IsoSource mixed model can be effectively used to study the source of sediments in karst watersheds quantitatively. This study can aid the existing understanding of soil erosion processes and contributes to the sustainable development of agro-ecology in karst watersheds. [Display omitted] • Karst depression deposits were used to identify sediment sources in small watershed. • The ratio of geochemical element can adequately fingerprint sediment sources in karst watershed. • The IsoSource method can be used to estimate the contribution rates of different sediment sources. • Cropland is the main source of sediment in karst depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We identified hysteresis patterns in karst watersheds. • The monthly sediment–discharge relationship was mainly clockwise hysteresis loops. • An improved differential hysteresis index (HI K) quantified degree of hysteresis. • The effects of climate factors and extent of vegetation on HI K were decoupled. Hysteresis loop models are one of the most common and effective tools for quantifying time-scale dynamics of sediment-discharge relationships. These models can successfully characterize sediment dynamics in watersheds and facilitate developing effective measures to manage sediment-discharge resources. Considering the characteristics of a proportional hysteresis index, an improved differential hysteresis index was developed. The improved model was used to quantify typical patterns of monthly sediment-discharge relationships in six karst watersheds in southwest China during 2003–2019. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was conducted to decouple the effects of climatic factors and vegetation extent on the hysteresis index. The results indicate that clockwise hysteresis accounted for 74 % of the total hysteresis occurring in the watersheds, whereas counterclockwise and 8-shaped hysteresis accounted for only 22 % and 3.9 %, respectively. The improved hysteresis index varied from −10 to 10, effectively reflecting the degree of hysteresis occurring in the watersheds. Partial least squares structural equation modeling shows that climatic factors (e.g., temperature and precipitation) and vegetation extent in the Hongshui, Yujiang, Liujiang and Wujiang watersheds explained 50 %∼75 % of the hysteresis between sediment concentration and water discharge. The combined effect of temperature and precipitation on the hysteresis index was larger than that of vegetation extent. The improved differential hysteresis index proposed in this study effectively extended the applicability of differential hysteresis indices and facilitated comparing the degree of hysteresis among watersheds with different sediment concentrations. This study can improve the understanding of sediment sources and transport pathways and provide valuable information for decision making on soil erosion control in karst watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We examined the environmental control of evapotranspiration (ET) over a wetland. • Available energy (net radiation, R n) mainly controlled ET at a daily scale. • Seasonally, R n , air temperature (T a) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) controlled ET. • Interannual variation in ET was mainly controlled by T a and precipitation (P). • ET used most of P leads to decreasing runoff and streams drying up in Jiuzhaigou valley. Dynamics in long-term evapotranspiration (ET) and its controlling variables are essential for understanding how a high-altitude wetlands ecosystem responds to climate change. The rising temperature is expected to agitate the regional hydrological cycle and water balance, particularly in the subalpine wetland valley of Jiuzhaigou, located in the transition zone between the northeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin, Southwest China. Here, we used growing season multi-year (2013–2021) Bowen ratio data to assess the variability in ET and its key controlling parameters at different timescales in Jiuzhaigou valley. This study also explored the ratio of ET to precipitation (P). The wetland daily mean ET varied from 0.06 to 6.77 mm d−1, with a mean value of 2.64 mm d−1 for the nine years. Fluctuations in daily ET were primarily driven by available energy (net radiation, R n), explaining 86 % of the variation. Seasonal patterns in ET were largely similar to environmental parameters, i.e., R n , air temperature (T a), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), peaking in August with an interannual monthly mean value of 3.48 mm d−1. Interannual monthly mean ET had a strong positive linear relationship with R n , T a , and VPD , while there was no significant correlation with P on a growing season basis. Furthermore, monthly ET was shown to be regulated by T a largely in high-temperature months and minimally in low-temperature months. The growing season ET varied interannually, and the ET to P ratio (i.e., ET/P) ranged between 0.52 and 1.16. Interannual variation in annual ET was controlled by T a and P , which individually explained 73 and 61 % of the variation, respectively. The multiple regression model indicated that T a and P together elucidated 92 % of the variation in annual ET. The increased sensitivity (e.g., regression slopes) of ET to P over 2014–2021 indicates that ET consumed most of P , which leads to decreasing runoff and streams drying up. This study clarifies the temporal dynamics in ET for wetlands and its environmental controls at multiple timescales. It is demonstrated that the proportion of ET could increase in response to increasing temperature without an associated increase in P , affecting local water balance. These results could potentially contribute to sustainable water management in high-altitude wetlands and environmental planning under future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variation in monthly sediment load is greatly influenced by climate and vegetation changes which are generally coupled and interconnected. However, few studies have quantified the relative magnitudes of the direct and indirect influences of climate variability and vegetation dynamics on monthly sediment load. The objective of this study was to decouple the impacts of climate and vegetation changes on the monthly sediment load in a karst watershed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Monthly sediment load, runoff, climatic factors (temperature and precipitation), and vegetation data (NDVI, EVI, and LAI) were collected from 2003 to 2017. Results indicated that climatic factors and vegetation dynamics explained 73% of the variation in monthly runoff, while climatic factors, vegetation dynamics, and runoff accounted for 62% of the monthly sediment load changes. Climate change can not only directly alter vegetation and hydrological characteristics, but also indirectly affect hydrological characteristics by changing vegetation dynamics, thus affecting the cooperative processes of runoff and sediment load. Specifically, runoff (direct effect = 0.84) and precipitation (indirect effect = 0.67) had a positive impact on monthly sediment load, while antecedent temperature (indirect effect = −0.02), temperature (indirect effect = −0.03), antecedent precipitation (indirect effect = −0.01), and vegetation dynamics (direct effect = −0.12; indirect effect = 0.07) had a negative impact. Compared with traditional methods, PLS-SEM can more completely describe the relationship among the observed variables and other potential influencing variables and may provide relevant references for eco-hydrological management and land resource optimization in karst watersheds. [Display omitted] • Vegetation, climate, and runoff accounted for 62% of monthly sediment load (MSL) changes. • Runoff and precipitation had the most direct and indirect effects on MSL, respectively. • The direct and indirect influence of vegetation on MSL were both relatively limited. • PLS-SEM can accurately decouple the climate and vegetation changes for MSL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We determined the parameters of monthly sediment rating curve (SRC) in karst watersheds. • The SRC parameters of karst watersheds are compared with those of other watersheds in China. • PLS-SEM can decouple the direct and indirect effects of factors on SRC parameters. • Lithology and dam construction complicated the effect of climate and vegetation on SRC parameters. One of the largest contiguous karst areas in the world is southwest China, where special geological conditions, shallow soil layers, the frequency of precipitation extremes, unreasonable land use, and dam construction have rendered the relationship between water discharge and sediment load increasingly complex. Few studies have been devoted to this region to clarify the potential influencing factors of the water–sediment relationship on a monthly basis. Correspondingly, the present study evaluated the temporal variations in sediment rating curves (SRCs: Qs = a Q b , where Q s is the sediment concentration or load, Q is the water discharge, the coefficient a and index b are fitted parameters) and decoupled the effects of climate change and vegetation dynamics on SRC parameters using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). To these ends, 2003 to 2017 data on the monthly water discharge, sediment load, climatic and vegetation factors of six karst watersheds were collected and analyzed. No significant trends in interannual variations of SRC parameters occurred. The PLS-SEM showed that the combined effects of climate and vegetation explained 18% to 43% and 8% to 57% of the variations in coefficient a and index b , respectively. In most cases, however, no significant relationship was found among climate, vegetation-related factors, and the SRC parameters. Special hydrogeological conditions and dam construction in the area increasingly complicated the sediment transport process, thus potentially weakening the influence of climate and vegetation on the SRC parameters. This study can serve as guidance for regional ecological management and the sustainable development of soil and water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions play an important role in regulating the Earth surface temperature. GHG emissions from soils are sensitive to climate change and land management practices. According to general circulation model (GCM) predictions, the Earth will experience a combination of increased temperature and altered precipitation regimes which may result in an increase or a decrease of GHG exchange. The effect of climate change on GHG emissions can be examined through both experiments and by applying process-based models, which have become more popular. The performance of those models can be improved significantly by appropriate calibration procedures. The objectives of this study are to: (i) calibrate the DAYCENT model using advance parameter estimation (PEST) software and to (ii) examine simulated GHG dynamics at daily and seasonal time-scales under a climate change scenario of increased temperature (2°C) and a precipitation regime change where 40% of precipitation during the dry season was redistributed to the wet season. The algorithmic calibration improved the model performance by reducing the sum of weighted squared residual differences by up to 223% (decreased from 1635 to 505g N2O-Nha−1 d−1) for N2O and 22% (decreased from 623 to 507% WFPS) for water filled pore space (WFPS) simulation results. In the altered climate scenario, total N2O and CO2 fluxes decreased by 9% (from 2.31 to 2.10kg N2O-Nha−1 yr−1) and 38% (from 1134.08 to 699.56kg CO2 ha−1 yr−1) respectively, whereas CH4 fluxes increased by 10% (from 1.62 to 1.80kg CH4 ha−1 yr−1). Our results show a larger impact of altered climate on CO2 as compared to N2O and CH4 emissions. The main difference in all GHG emissions was observed in summer period due to drought conditions created by reduced precipitation and increased temperatures. However, the GHG dynamics can also be attributed to no-till practices which play an important role in changing the soil moisture conditions for aerobic and anaerobic microsites. These results are based on a process-based model, therefore, we suggest performing experimental studies to examine the GHG emissions under increased temperature and especially under altered precipitation regimes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Four methods were used to decomposed the effects of climate change and human activities effects on sediment discharge (SD). • Human activities had the larger influence on SD , especially dam construction. • Sediment identify factor analysis indicated that sediment concentration greatly influenced SD , accounting for 100% to 154%. • The four quantitative methods were compared and their relative merits were summarized. Quantifying the relative contributions of climate change and human activities to changes in sediment discharge is closely related to regional water resources, soil management, and healthy ecosystem function. However, few studies have used different methods to decompose influences of climatic variability and human activities on changes to sediment discharge, especially in karst regions of southwest China which are experiencing severe soil erosion. This study systematically reviewed four methods (simple linear regression, double mass curve, sediment identify factor analysis, and elastic coefficient method) to separate the contribution of climate change and human activities to sediment discharge variation in four karst watersheds of southwest China during 1955 to 2015. The trend and abrupt change year of sediment discharge in the four watersheds were obtained using a nonparametric Mann-Kendall trend test and sequential test method, respectively. Result showed that the sediment discharge in all four watersheds all decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and the abrupt change years were 2003 or 2004 for these watersheds. The simple linear regression method, double mass curve method, and elastic coefficient method all indicated that the sediment discharge was mainly influenced by human activities, which contributed more than 73% of the observed change. For the sediment identify factor analysis method, sediment concentration was the principal factor influencing sediment discharge variation. The results provide a reference for evaluating the influence of climate and human activities on sediment discharge, and can aid in preparing regional soil conservation policy in karst watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sediment load from January to December all showed downward trends during 2003–2017. • Monthly sediment load dynamics was dominated by 3-, 5- and 12-months oscillations. • Relationships between monthly sediment loads and pertinent factors differed with timescale. • MEMD method can well handle non-stationary and nonlinear hydrological processes. At different time scales, the potential factors influencing changes in sediment transport vary. Because the processes of each impact factor overlaps on different time scales, it is challenging to evaluate the complex multi-scale relationships between monthly sediment load and its potential impact factors. The objective of this study was to investigate the scale-specific main factors influencing monthly sediment loads using the multivariate empirical mode decomposition (MEMD) method. Monthly sediment loads and five potential influencing factors (runoff, precipitation, air temperature, potential evapotranspiration, and enhanced vegetation index) during 2003–2017 were collected in the Wujiang karst watershed of southwest China. The MEMD method was used to decompose the temporal series of monthly sediment load into seven intrinsic mode functions (IMF) and residuals using a Hilbert transform. The sum of variance contribution rates of IMF1 (3.2 months), IMF2 (5.5 months) and IMF3 (12.1 months) was more than 90%. Although temperature and potential evapotranspiration significantly affect monthly sediment loads at the observation scale, no significant relationships were observed between them at some specific scales after MEMD. The accuracy of the prediction model after MEMD was better than that of the prediction model using original data. Runoff and precipitation were important predictors in the prediction model. This study shows the advantages of the MEMD method for analyzing non-stationary and nonlinear hydrological processes, and this useful tool is recommended for application in other karst watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escalating climate extreme events disrupt hydrological processes by affecting both water availability and sediment dynamics. However, the interconnection between hydrological variability and climatic extremes remains underexplored, particularly in cold regions under a changing climate. Here, we develop a yield-based dichotomy framework to examine the impact of shifted climatic extreme patterns on hydrological regimes in the Ishikari River Basin (IRB), Hokkaido, Japan, which is a crucial area for local agriculture and urban development. Utilizing a modified Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) integrated with downscaled CMIP6-GCM climate projections under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) scenarios, we identified significant annual variability in water and sediment yields associated with extreme climate events. Hot-dry conditions correlate with lower water and sediment yields, whereas increased cold extremes may result in higher sediment yields across the IRB. Our findings also indicate that hotter and drier patterns interact with hydrological processes, potentially establishing new hydrologic regimes and shifting climatic extremes-induced thresholds for yield classification within the IRB. Notably, under SSP585, both water availability and sediment transport are projected to intensify, increasing flood risks and exacerbating sedimentation challenges. Our study highlights the urgent need for adaptive water management strategies to address these anticipated changes in hydrological regimes in response to global climate change., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: POI (premature ovarian insufficiency) refers to premature and rapid decline of ovarian reserve function in women before the age of 40, which can be manifested as menstrual disorders, endocrine abnormalities and low fertility. Bu-Shen-Ning-Xin decoction (BSNXD) has been found to have therapeutic effects on POI. Nevertheless, how it exerts therapeutic effects remains elusive., Purpose: This research aims to clarify the pharmacological mechanisms of BSNXD., Methods: We applied Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) to identify the main components of BSNXD.4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide(VCD)was used to induce POI models. ELISA detected the serum level of hormones. H&E staining evaluated the morphology of ovarian tissues.CircRNA and mRNA expression profiles in the ovaries of both POI rats and those treated with BSNXD were detected. Then, dysregulated circRNAs and mRNAs that were potentially altered by BSNXD were screened. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to identify drug targets of BSNXD active ingredients. A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and an oxidative stress(OS)-related subnetwork were constructed. Expression of rno&#95;circRNA&#95;012284, rno&#95;miR-760-3p, and HBEGF(Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor) was measured by RT-PCR and their binding were verified by dual-luciferase reporter assays. ROS was measured through DCFH-DA fluorescence probes. The HBEGF target was selected for molecular docking with key active ingredients.Surface plasmon resonance(SPR) was applied to verify the binding ability and affinity between components and HBEGF., Results: UPLC analysis indicated that 6 chemical compounds including berberine, paeoniflorin, morroniside,gallic acid, loganin, baicalin were identified.Elevated FSH and LH levels, suppressed E2 and AMH levels in the serum, and inhibited follicles and corpus luteums in the ovarian tissues of VCD-induced rats were notably reversed by BSNXD.In total, 992 up- and 1135 down-regulated circRNAs, and 205 up- and 243 down-regulated mRNAs were found in POI rat ovaries following BSNXD administration. Furthermore, 198 drug targets of BSNXD were identified. An OS-related and BSNXD-targeted ceRNA subnetwork composed of rno&#95;circRNA&#95;012284/rno&#95;miR-760-3p/HBEGF was established. rno&#95;circRNA&#95;012284 and HBEGF were up-regulated and rno&#95;miR-760-3p was down-regulated in POI ovarian granulosa cells (OGCs) after BSNXD administration. rno&#95;circRNA&#95;012284 was a sponge of rno&#95;miR-760-3p to elevate HBEGF expression. Moreover, rno&#95;circRNA&#95;012284 overexpression alleviated POI-induced excessive ROS generation in ovarian granulosa cells, while rno&#95;circRNA&#95;012284 inhibition exerted the opposite effect. Finally,molecular docking speculated active ingredients of each herb acted on HBEGF to reduce the OS. SPR tests showed that Berberine,Baicalein,Quercetin,Pachymic acid,Paeoniflorin exhibited satisfying affinity with HBEGF protein., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that BSNXD ameliorates POI partly by attenuating OS in ovarian granulosa cells via rno&#95;circRNA&#95;012284/rno&#95;miR-760-3p/HBEGF axis, uncovering the pharmacological mechanisms of BSNXD in alleviating POI., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no financial and personal relationship with other people or organization that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Background: The neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR) has emerged as a promising biomarker for assessing inflammation and lipid dysregulation. Increasing evidence indicates that these metabolic disturbances play a crucial role in the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD). This study aims to investigate the association between NHR, MASLD, and liver fibrosis., Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Weighted multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between NHR and both MASLD and liver fibrosis. Smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analysis were performed to detect potential nonlinear relationships. Subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the consistency of these associations across different groups., Results: The study involved 4,761 participants. We observed a significant positive association between NHR and MASLD (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.09-1.31). However, there was no significant association between NHR and liver fibrosis (OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 0.94-1.09). The analysis of smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between NHR and MASLD, with a turning point at 5.63., Conclusion: Our findings indicate a positive correlation between elevated NHR levels and MASLD prevalence. However, we did not observe a significant association between NHR and liver fibrosis prevalence. Further prospective research is needed to validate these findings in a longitudinal setting., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Mutton is one of the most popular meats among the general public due to its high nutritional value. This study evaluated the differences in meat quality among Chaka (CK), Black Tibetan (BT) and Oula (OL) sheep and investigated the metabolic mechanisms affecting meat quality using targeted and untargeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA. The results showed that the meat quality of CK sheep was superior to that of BT and OL sheep in terms of meat color, muscle fiber characteristics and nutritional quality. Pseudobutyrivibrio , Alloprevotella, Methanobrevibacter , unidentified&#95;Christensenellaceae , and unidentified&#95;Bacteroidales were key microbes involved in regulating meat color, muscle fiber characteristics, amino acid and fatty acid content. Protein digestion/absorption, pentose phosphate metabolism, carbon metabolism, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism were important metabolic pathways involved in meat quality regulation. Our study is important for the development of sheep breeding strategy and sheep meat industry in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau., Competing Interests: The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest with this work. We declare that we do not have any commercial or associative interest that represents a conflict of interest in connection with the work submitted., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Necroptosis is a programmed necrotic cell death, in which dying cells rupture and release intracellular components that trigger a proinflammatory response. The current study aimed at probing the circular RNA (circRNA)-mediated regulatory mechanisms in necroptosis in premature ovarian failure (POF)., Methods: CircRNA sequencing analysis was conducted in ovarian tissues of control and POF rats and transcriptome microarrays were acquired from the GSE33423 dataset. Differential expression analysis of circRNAs and mRNAs was executed between the POF and control data. Both a necroptosis-based circRNA-microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA network and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were established. Then, the functional annotation and immunological traits were analyzed., Results: Totally, 1266 upregulated and 1283 downregulated circRNAs as well as 1101 upregulated and 1168 downregulated mRNAs were determined in the POF rats versus the controls. The differentially expressed mRNAs predominantly correlated with necroptosis. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks of downregulated necroptosis genes (comprising rno&#95;circRNA&#95;004995-rno-miR-148b-5p-H2afy2, rno&#95;circRNA&#95;016998-rno-miR-29a-5p-Hmgb1, and rno&#95;circRNA&#95;017593-rno-miR-29a-5p-Hmgb1) and upregulated necroptosis genes (comprising rno&#95;circRNA&#95;015900-rno-miR-935-Stat1, rno&#95;circRNA&#95;007946-rno-miR-328a-3p-Stat5a, rno&#95;circRNA&#95;007947-rno-miR-328a-3p-Stat5a, rno&#95;circRNA&#95;005064-rno-miR-18a-5p-Stat1, rno&#95;circRNA&#95;005064-rno-miR-18a-5p-Stat5a, rno&#95;circRNA&#95;005115-rno-miR-22-3p-Stat1, rno&#95;circRNA&#95;009028-rno-miR-342-5p-Stat1, rno&#95;circRNA&#95;011240-rno-miR-1224-Stat5a, rno&#95;circRNA&#95;016078-rno-miR-711-Stat5a) were built. POF-specific necroptosis genes ( STAT1, STAT5A, PLA2G4A, HMG1L1, HMGB1, AGER, EGFR, HDAC7, IFNA1, IL10RB, IL27RA, PYGL, SOCS1, TRADD, CXCL10, DDX5, EZH2, FADS2, FER, H2AFY2, HIST1H2AF, IFI44L, IL27, IRGM, MX1, NFKB2, PAFAH2, PEMT, PGM2L1, PGR , PHKA2 , and PLB1 ) were selected since they displayed notable associations with most immune cells, immune checkpoints, chemokines, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules, and immune receptors., Conclusions: Altogether, we proposed the presence of widespread regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs in necroptosis and demonstrated that altered circRNA biogenesis might contribute to POF by affecting necroptosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

Background: Aedes albopictus is an invasive vector of serious Aedes-borne diseases of global concern. Habitat management remains a critical factor for establishing a cost-effective systematic strategy for sustainable vector control. However, the community-based characteristics of Ae. albopictus habitats in complex urbanization ecosystems are still not well understood., Methods: A large-scale investigation of aquatic habitats, involving 12 sites selected as representative of four land use categories at three urbanization levels, was performed in Guangzhou, China during 2015-2017. The characteristics and dynamics of these Ae. albopictus habitats were assessed using habitat-type composition, habitat preference, diversity indexes and the Route index (RI), and the temporal patterns of these indexes were evaluated by locally weighted scatterplot smoothing models. The associations of RI with urbanization levels, land use categories and climatic variables were inferred using generalized additive mixed models., Results: A total of 1994 potential habitats and 474 Ae. albopictus-positive habitats were inspected. The majority of these habitats were container-type habitats, with Ae. albopictus showing a particularly higher habitat preference for plastic containers, metal containers and ceramic vessels. Unexpectedly, some non-container-type habitats, especially ornamental ponds and surface water, were found to have fairly high Ae. albopictus positivity rates. Regarding habitats, the land use category residential and rural in Jiangpu (Conghua District, Guangzhou) had the highest number of Ae. albopictus habitats with the highest positive rates. The type diversity of total habitats (H-total) showed a quick increase from February to April and peaked in April, while the H-total of positive habitats (H-positive) and RIs peaked in May. RIs mainly increased with the monthly average daily mean temperature and monthly cumulative rainfall. We also observed the accumulation of diapause eggs in the winter and diapause termination in the following March., Conclusions: Ecological heterogeneity of habitat preferences of Ae. albopictus was demonstrated in four land use categories at three urbanization levels. The results reveal diversified habitat-type compositions and significant seasonal variations, indicating an ongoing adaptation of Ae. albopictus to the urbanization ecosystem. H-positivity and RIs were inferred as affected by climatic variables and diapause behavior of Ae. albopictus, suggesting that an effective control of overwintering diapause eggs is crucial. Our findings lay a foundation for establishing a stratified systematic management strategy of Ae. albopictus habitats in cities that is expected to complement and improve community-based interventions and sustainable vector management., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Realizing the simultaneous morphology and electrical conductivity tuning of non-noble metal nanocatalysts is urgently desired for promoting their intrinsic activity toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER), while it is still challenging. Herein, we have demonstrated that the morphology and conductivity of FeNi 3 alloy can be finely tailored via introducing the graphene carbon dots (GCDs). Benefitting from the enlarged active areas, significantly improved electrical conductivity, and strong synergistic coupling effect, the optimized FeNi 3 @GCDs-10 shows extraordinary electrocatalytic performance towards OER by delivering a current density of 10 mA cm -2 with the overpotential of 238 mV, as well as small Tafel slope of 48.7 mV dec -1 . Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Fe is the dominated active sites for boosting water dissociation. In addition, the incorporation of GCDs can also strength the adsorption of *O and lower the energy barrier for the transformation from *OH to *O, thereby optimizing the free energy of *O and greatly promoting the OER activity., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)