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Background This study aims to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness and safety profile of Mahuang Fuzi and Shenzhuo Decoction (MFSD) in the management of primary membranous nephropathy (PMN), within the context of a prospective clinical investigation.Methods A multicenter, open-label clinical trial was executed on patients diagnosed with PMN. These individuals were subjected to MFSD therapy for a duration of at least 24 months, with primary outcome of clinical remission rates. The Cox regression analysis was employed to discern the pertinent risk factors exerting influence on the efficacy of MFSD treatment, with scrupulous monitoring of any adverse events.Results The study comprised 198 participants in total. Following 24 months of treatment, the remission rate was 58.6% (116/198). Among the subgroup of 130 participants subjected to a 36-month follow-up, the remission rate reached 70% (91/130). Subgroup analysis revealed that neither a history of immunosuppressive therapy (HIST) nor an age threshold of ≥60 years exhibited a statistically significant impact on the remission rate at the 24-month mark (p > .05). Multivariate Cox regression analyses elucidated HIST, nephrotic syndrome, or mass proteinuria, and a high-risk classification as noteworthy risk factors in the context of MFSD treatment. Remarkably, no fatalities resulting from side effects were documented throughout the study’s duration.Conclusions This trial establishes the efficacy of MFSD as a treatment modality for membranous nephropathy. MFSD demonstrates a favorable side effect profile, and remission rates are consistent across patients, irrespective of HIST and age categories.

Abstract The amount of actively cultivated land in China is increasingly threatened by rapid urbanization and rural population aging. Quantifying the extent and changes of active cropland and cropping intensity is crucial to global food security. However, national-scale datasets for smallholder agriculture are limited in spatiotemporal continuity, resolution, and precision. In this paper, we present updated annual Cropland Use Intensity maps in China (China-CUI10m) with descriptions of the extent of fallow/abandoned, actively cropped fields and cropping intensity at a 10-m resolution in recent six years (2018–2023). The dataset is produced by robust algorithms with no requirements for regional adjustments or intensive training samples, which take full advantage of the Sentinel-1 (S1) SAR and Sentinel-2 (S2) MSI time series. The China-CUI10m maps have achieved high accuracy when compared to ground truth data (Overall accuracy = 90.88%) and statistical data (R2 > 0.94). This paper provides the recent trends in cropland abandonment and agricultural intensification in China, which contributes to facilitating geographic-targeted cropland use control policies towards sustainable intensification of smallholder agricultural systems in developing countries.

Besides the intensity and wavelength, the ability to analyze the optical polarization of detected light can provide a new degree of freedom for numerous applications, such as object recognition, biomedical applications, environmental monitoring, and remote sensing imaging. However, conventional filter-integrated polarimetric sensing systems require complex optical components and a complicated fabrication process, severely limiting their on-chip miniaturization and functionalities. Herein, the reconfigurable polarimetric photodetection with photovoltaic mode is developed based on a few-layer MoS2/PdSe2 heterostructure channel and a charge-trap structure composed of Al2O3/HfO2/Al2O3 (AHA)-stacked dielectrics. Because of the remarkable charge-trapping ability of carriers in the AHA stack, the MoS2/PdSe2 channel exhibits a high program/erase current ratio of 105 and a memory window exceeding 20 V. Moreover, the photovoltaic mode of the MoS2/PdSe2 Schottky diode can be operated and manipulable, resulting in high and distinct responsivities in the visible broadband. Interestingly, the linear polarization of the device can be modulated under program/erase states, enabling the reconfigurable capability of linearly polarized photodetection. This study demonstrates a new prototype heterostructure-based photodetector with the capability of both tunable responsivity and linear polarization, demonstrating great potential application toward reconfigurable photosensing and polarization-resolved imaging applications.

Abstract Metasurfaces are 2D artificial nanostructures that exhibit fascinating optical phenomena and flexible capabilities. Multi-optical-parameter metasurfaces have advantages over single-function or single-dimensional metasurfaces, especially in practical applications like holography, sub-diffraction imaging, and vectorial fields. However, achieving multi-optical-parameter control is challenging due to a lack of design strategy, limited manipulation channels, and signal-to-noise ratio problems. Exceptional points (EPs) possess inherent polarization decoupling properties and allow for amplitude and wavelength modulation, opening up research prospects for multi-optical-parameter electromagnetic field modulation and developing compact integrated devices. Leveraging deep learning, we observe topological charge conservation and utilize the topologically protected optical parameter distribution around scattered EPs. Based on these, we introduce amplitude-phase multiplexing and wavelength division multiplexing devices. Our work allows rapid and precise discovery of EPs topology, offers a powerful tool for digging related physics, and provides a paradigm for multi-optical parametric manipulation with high performance and less crosstalk, which is critical for imaging, encryption, and information storage applications.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) occurs predominantly in middle-aged and elderly individuals and ranks among the most prevalent etiologies of elderly nephrotic syndrome. As an autoimmune glomerular disorder characterized by glomerular basement membrane thickening and immune complex deposition, conventional MN animal models, including the Heymann nephritis rat model and the c-BSA mouse model, have laid a foundation for MN pathogenesis research. However, differences in target antigens between rodents and humans have impeded this work. In recent years, researchers have created antigen-specific MN animal models, primarily centered on PLA2R1 and THSD7A, employing diverse techniques that provide innovative in vivo research platforms for MN. Furthermore, significant advancements have been made in the development of in vitro podocyte models relevant to MN. This review compiles recent antigen-specific MN animal models and podocyte models, elucidates their immune responses and pathological characteristics, and offers insights into the future of MN experimental model development. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive resource for research into the pathogenesis of MN and the development of targeted therapies for older patients with MN to prolong lifespan and improve quality of life.

In recent years, the discovery of IL-12 family cytokines, which includes IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, IL-35, and IL-39, whose biological functions directly or indirectly affect various autoimmune diseases. In autoimmune diseases, IL-12 family cytokines are aberrantly expressed to varying degrees. These cytokines utilize shared subunits to influence T-cell activation and differentiation, thereby regulating the balance of T-cell subsets, which profoundly impacts the onset and progression of autoimmune diseases. In such conditions, IL-12 family members are aberrantly expressed to varying degrees. By exploring their immunomodulatory functions, researchers have identified varying therapeutic potentials for each member. This review examines the physiological functions of the major IL-12 family members and their interactions, discusses their roles in several autoimmune diseases, and summarizes the progress of clinical studies involving monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-12 and IL-23 subunits currently available for treatment.

This paper shows that desertification combating practices decline incomes of farmers and herders, and China needs to adapt its ecological programmes to address the impacts of climate change and create positive synergies to combat desertification.

Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN), is an autoimmune glomerular disease and the main reason of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Studies have confirmed that the incidence of PMN increases yearly and is related to fine air pollutants particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure. These imply that PM2.5 may be associated with exposure to PMN-specific autoantigens, such as the M-type receptor for secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2R1). Emerging evidence indicates that Th17/Treg turns to imbalance under PM2.5 exposure, but the molecular mechanism of this process in PMN has not been elucidated. As an important indicator of immune activity in multiple diseases, Th17/Treg immune balance is sensitive to antigens and cellular microenvironment changes. These immune pathways play an essential role in the disease progression of PMN. Also, microRNAs (miRNAs) are susceptible to external environmental stimulation and play link role between the environment and immunity. The contribution of PM2.5 to PMN may induce Th17/Treg imbalance through miRNAs and then produce epigenetic affection. We summarize the pathways by which PM2.5 interferes with Th17/Treg immune balance and attempt to explore the intermediary roles of miRNAs, with a particular focus on the changes in PMN. Meanwhile, the mechanism of PM2.5 promoting PLA2R1 exposure is discussed. This review aims to clarify the potential mechanism of PM2.5 on the pathogenesis and progression of PMN and provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of the disease.

ObjectiveAs a member of interleukin-12 family, interleukin-35 (IL-35) plays an important regulatory role in immune response. The relationship between IL-35 and idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is still unclear, and the purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between IL-35 and disease activity and remission of IMN.MethodsThis study was a single-center, retrospective study in which all patients were diagnosed with IMN by renal biopsy or aPLA2R titer and treated with Mahuang Fuzi and Shenzhuo Decoction (MFSD). A follow-up was conducted with the endpoint of clinical complete or partial remission (CR+PR). Levels of serum IL-35 were measured and its relationship with IMN remission were analyzed. The regulatory T cell (Treg) and inducible IL-35 producing Tregs (iTR35) in peripheral blood of IMN patients were detected by flow cytometry.ResultsA total of 76 IMN patients (age 51.95 ± 13.29) were followed-up for 18 (12, 24) months. The level of serum IL-35 in all patients increased after treatment, but the degree of increase in remission group was significantly higher than that in no remission (NR) group (117.6% vs 83.7%, P 203.05 pg/ml) (12mon vs. 24mon, P

Natural gas venting will have a significant impact on the gas sources and users, and great safety risks may exist in engineering practice. Therefore, gas venting is one of the important tasks in the maintenance and construction of the gas pipeline. Determining the key parameters of venting with scientific tools based on the actual conditions of gas pipelines and requirements of the related standards and codes is critical to ensure the safety and economy of venting. Definitely, the initial pressure of venting was determined, a feasible venting method was selected, the venting time was calculated and its impact on the environment was evaluated through in-depth analysis of the China Myanmar Natural Gas Pipeline. Additionally, the practice of venting the China Myanmar main pipeline was discussed to provide important practical basis and technical support for reasonably organizing the maintenance and construction of gas pipelines and improving the decision-making level of gas production scheduling.

The increased incidence of membranous nephropathy (MN) has made it the most common pathological type of primary nephrotic syndrome in adults in China. According to the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Mahuang Fuzi (Chinese ephedra and Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata) and Shenzhuo Decoction (MFSD) could be used to treat such diseases. We treated patients of MN with MFSD, and observed comparable efficacy to glucocorticoid and/or immunosuppressants. In this study, we observed the therapeutic effect of MFSD on the rat model of passive Heymann nephritis (PHN), a classical MN model. Our results showed that MFSD treatment significantly reduced urinary protein level and podocyte injury in PHN rats, and correspondingly improved renal pathology, with the improvement effect on MN comparable to that of Cyclosporine A (CsA) alone. To explore the potential therapeutical mechanism of MFSD, the main chemical components of MFSD were determined by High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). There were about 30 active components of MFSD. Next, based on network pharmacology methods, we screened related targets of MSFD on MN, which provided a preliminary understanding of the MFSD bioactive compounds. The clustering analysis showed that its active site might be in the autophagy-related protein and Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which was related to podocyte injury. Finally, we observed an improvement in renal autophagy and a down-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway after MSFD treatment in a PHN rat model. According to this study, autophagy and Wnt/β-catenin pathway may be potential targets for MFSD in the treatment of MN.

Background: Both membranous nephropathy (MN) and lupus nephritis (LN) are autoimmune kidney disease. In recent years, with the deepening of research, some similarities have been found in the pathogenesis of these two diseases. However, the mechanism of their interrelationship is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in molecular mechanisms and key biomarkers between MN and LN.Method: The expression profiles of GSE99325, GSE99339, GSE104948 and GSE104954 were downloaded from GEO database, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of MN and LN samples were obtained. We used Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) for enrichment analysis of DEGs. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was constructed using Metascape. We filtered DEGs with NetworkAnalyst. Finally, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to identify the most significant DEGs for MN and LN.Result: Compared with LN in the glomerulus, 14 DEGs were up-regulated and 77 DEGs were down-regulated in MN. Compared with LN in renal tubules, 21 DEGs were down-regulated, but no up-regulated genes were found in MN. According to the result of GO and KEGG enrichment, PPI network and Networkanalyst, we screened out six genes (IFI6, MX1, XAF1, HERC6, IFI44L, IFI44). Interestingly, among PLA2R, THSD7A and NELL1, which are the target antigens of podocyte in MN, the expression level of NELL1 in MN glomerulus is significantly higher than that of LN, while there is no significant difference in the expression level of PLA2R and THSD7A.Conclusion: Our study provides new insights into the pathogenesis of MN and LN by analyzing the differences in gene expression levels between MN and LN kidney samples, and is expected to be used to prepare an animal model of MN that is more similar to human.

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of Mahuang Fuzi and Shenzhuo Decoction on idiopathic membranous nephropathy.Methods: This study is a multicenter, nonrandomized, single-arm clinical trial carried out as per the objective performance criteria, with the target being set at 35.0%. 184 cases of patients suffering from idiopathic membranous nephropathy with Shaoyin Taiyin syndrome were collected. These patients were treated with Mahuang Fuzi and Shenzhuo Decoction with a follow-up period of 3 years. The 24-hour urine protein and blood albumin were observed, and the remission rates of the patients were compared with the target.Results: The mean follow-up time was 18 (12.5, 30) months, and the remission rate was 61.4%, which is a statistically significant difference from the target group of 35%. The remission rates for patients who had and had not used immunosuppressive therapy were 59.6 and 65.5%, respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.254). However, the albumin before the treatment and the course of treatment of the patients was significantly correlated with the disease remission (p < 0.05). However, the albumin before the treatment and the course of treatment of the patients was significantly correlated with the disease remission (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in renal function before and after treatment, and no severe adverse events occurred during treatment.Conclusion: Mahuang Fuzi and Shenzhuo Decoction have significant effects on idiopathic membranous nephropathy, and has the same effect on patients with membranous nephropathy who are newly treated as well as those who have been treated with immunosuppressive therapy without remission. In addition, the efficacy of this regimen is related to the albumin and the duration of the therapy, but not to 24-hour urine protein or other factors.

Crop genetics: CRISPR editing of multiple genes in cabbage Researchers in China have shown that the gene-editing system CRISPR/Cas9 can be used to efficiently mutate genes of interest in cabbage. Cabbage plants normally do not self-pollinate, making the use of traditional mutagens difficult. Hongyuan Song of Southwest University therefore turned to CRISPR/Cas9, a system which can introduce precise mutations into specific genes. Song’s team targeted three genes: one related to coloration, another to self-incompatibility, and a third involved in pollen development. They began by mutating each gene separately to test the system’s efficiency. Next, they built a CRISPR/Cas9 construct that would simultaneously mutate the pollen gene and the self-incompatibility gene. One-third of the plants produced using the construct had mutations in both of the target genes. These findings demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9 is a valuable tool for trait improvement and genetic research in cabbage.

Background: Treatment for adult patients with refractory idiopathic membranous nephropathy (RIMN) by conventional immunosuppressive regimens is not satisfactory. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine, Shulifenxiao formula, as a promising regimen.Methods: A total of 31 RIMN patients resistant to corticosteroid or immunosuppressive agents were retrospectively analyzed. Shulifenxiao treatment lasted a minimum of 12°months in all patients and extended to 24°months in 11 patients. The primary outcomes [the complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR)] and secondary outcomes (the serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels) were measured at 6, 12, 18, and 24°months.Results: The data provided an average follow-up of 21 ± 9.16°months from baseline. The remission was attained in 25/31 patients (80.7%: CR 29.0% and PR 51.6%) at 12°months and in 10/11 patients (90.9%: CR 54.6% and PR 36.4%) at 24°months, respectively. Proteinuria reduced from 6.02 g/d at baseline to 0.98 g/d at 12°months (p < 0.001) and to 0.27 g/d at 24°months (p = 0.003); serum albumin increased from 28 g/L to 37.2 g/L at 12°months (p < 0.001) and to 41.3 g/L at 24°months (p = 0.003); eGFR improved from 100.25 ml/min/1.73 m2 to 118.39 ml/min/1.73 m2 at 6°months (p < 0.001) and finally to 111.62 ml/min/1.73 m2at 24°months (p = 0.008). Only two patients developed subsequent relapse.Conclusion: Shulifenxiao formula as a clinical cocktail therapy serves as an alternative therapeutic option for steroid and immunosuppressant-resistant RIMN patients, with a favourable safety profile, though further studies are warranted.Clinical Trial registration:http://www.chictr.org.cn, Chinese Clinical Trials Registry [ChiCTR1800019351].

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces an antibody response to its own antigens due to impaired immune tolerance. Although antibodies are derived from plasma cells differentiated by B cells, the T-B cells also contribute a lot to the immune system. In particular, the subsets of helper T (Th) cells, including the dominant subsets such as Th2, Th17, and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and the inferior subsets such as regulatory T (Treg) cells, shape the immune imbalance of IMN and promote the incidence and development of autoimmune responses. After reviewing the physiological knowledge of various subpopulations of Th cells and combining the existing studies on Th cells in IMN, the role model of Th cells in IMN was explained in this review. Finally, the existing clinical treatment regimens for IMN were reviewed, and the importance of the therapy for Th cells was highlighted.

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is a pathological pattern of glomerular damage caused by an autoimmune response. Immune complex deposition, thickness of glomerular basement membrane, and changes in the podocyte morphology are responsible for the development of proteinuria, which is caused by the targeted binding of auto-antibodies to podocytes. Several auto-antigens have recently been identified in IMN, including M-type receptor for secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2R1), thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A), and neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein (NELL-1). The measurement of peripheral circulating antibodies has become an important clinical reference index. However, some clinical features of IMN remain elusive and need to be further investigated, such as the autoimmunity initiation, IgG4 predominance, spontaneous remission, and the unique glomerular lesion. As these unresolved issues are closely related to clinical practice, we have proposed a hypothetical pathogenesis model of IMN. Induced by environmental stimuli or other causes, the PLA2R1 antigen and/or THSD7A antigen exposed to extrarenal tissues, such as lungs, then produce the auto-antibodies that target and cause damage to the podocytes in circulation. In this review, we highlighted the potential association between environmental stimuli, immune activity, and glomerular lesions, the underlying basis for spontaneous immune and proteinuria remission.

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) has made increasing progress in mechanism and treatment research. Herbal medicine is gradually being accepted as an alternative therapy in treating IMN. However, the intervention mechanism of herbal medicine in the treatment of membranous nephropathy is still unclear. In this review, we summarize some achievements of herb medicine in treating IMN and discuss the research direction of herb in IMN. Finally, we propose the dilemma about the study on the treatment of IMN with herb medicine. We hope that this article can bring some thoughts for clinical and scientific researchers on the treatment of IMN with herb medicine.

Regulatory B cells (Breg) are widely regarded as immunomodulatory cells which play an immunosuppressive role. Breg inhibits pathological autoimmune response by secreting interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and adenosine and through other ways to prevent T cells and other immune cells from expanding. Recent studies have shown that different inflammatory environments induce different types of Breg cells, and these different Breg cells have different functions. For example, Br1 cells can secrete IgG4 to block autoantigens. Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is an autoimmune disease in which the humoral immune response is dominant and the cellular immune response is impaired. However, only a handful of studies have been done on the role of Bregs in this regard. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the types and functions of Breg found in human body, as well as the abnormal pathological and immunological phenomena in IMN, and propose the hypothesis that Breg is activated in IMN patients and the proportion of Br1 can be increased. Our review aims at highlighting the correlation between Breg and IMN and proposes potential mechanisms, which can provide a new direction for the discovery of the pathogenesis of IMN, thus providing a new strategy for the prevention and early treatment of IMN.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the major cause of nephrotic syndrome with special pathological features, caused by the formation of immune complexes in the space between podocytes and the glomerular basement membrane. In idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) the immune complexes are formed by circulating antibodies binding mainly to one of two naturally-expressed podocyte antigens: the M-type receptor for secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2R1) and the Thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A). Formation of antibodies against PLA2R1 is much more common, accounting for 70–80% of IMN. However, the mechanism of anti-podocyte antibody production in IMN is still unclear. In this review, we emphasize that the exposure of PLA2R1 is critical for triggering the pathogenesis of PLA2R1-associated MN, and propose the potential association between inflammation, pollution and PLA2R1. Our review aims to clarify the current research of these precipitating factors in a way that may suggest future directions for discovering the pathogenesis of MN, leading to additional therapeutic targets and strategies for the prevention and early treatment of MN.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a stratified random sampling method was used for collecting samples in the Tibet Autonomous Region. A total of 10,000 individuals were selected from October 2016 to June 2017. A previously-published, validated questionnaire including six items related to the symptoms of GERD was used for evaluating GERD. In addition, basic demographic data, lifestyle, dietary habits, medical history and family history of GERD were investigated to identify risk factors of GERD. Results A total of 5,680 completed questionnaires were collected and analyzed. The prevalence of GERD in this area was 10.8%. Age (30–40 years vs. under 18 years, odds ratio (OR): 3.025; 40–50 years vs. under 18 years, OR: 4.484), education level (high school vs. primary, OR: 0.698; university vs. primary, OR: 2.804), ethnic group (Han vs. Tibetan, OR: 0.230; others vs. Tibetan, OR: 0.304), altitude of residence (4.0–4.5 km vs. 2.5–3.0 km, OR: 2.469), length of residence (

Nighttime light (NTL) images have been broadly applied to extract urban built-up areas in recent years. However, the typical NTL images provided by Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Operational Linescan System (DMSP/OLS) and National Polar-Orbiting Partnership’s Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (NPP/VIIRS) have the drawbacks of low resolution and blooming effect, which bring difficulty for the application of them in urban built-up area extraction. Therefore, this paper proposes the POI (point of interest) and LST (land surface temperature) adjusted NTL urban index (PLANUI) to extract the urban built-up areas with high accuracy. PLANUI is the first urban index to integrate POI and NTL for urban built-up area extraction. In this paper, NPP/VIIRS and Luojia 1-01 images were introduced as the original NTL data and the vegetation adjusted NTL urban index (VANUI) was selected as the comparison item. The threshold method was utilized to extract urban built-up areas from these data. The results show that: (1) Based on the comparison with the reference data, the PLANUI can make up the shortcoming of low resolution and the blooming effect of NTL effectively. (2) Compared with the VANUI, the PLANUI can significantly improve the accuracy of the urban built-up areas extracted and characterize urban features. (3) According to the results based on NPP/VIIRS and Luojia 1-01 images, the PLANUI has extensive applicability, both for regions with different degrees of economic development and NTL data with different resolutions. PLANUI can enhance the features of urban built-up areas with social sensing data and natural remote sensing data, which helps to weaken the NTL blooming effect and improve the extraction accuracy. PLANUI can provide an effective approach for urban built-up area extraction, which plays a certain guiding role for the study of urban structure, urban expansion, and urban planning and governance.

Over the past four decades, large-scale ecological programs, including the ‘Great Green Wall Program’ (1978–present), ‘Grain for Green Program’ (1999–present), ‘Grassland Ecological Protection Program’ (2000–present), and ‘Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Control Project’ (2002–present), were launched to restore vegetation, to combat desertification, and to control dust storms in arid and semiarid China. The gross investments of these programs have exceeded 1700 billion RMB (∼260 billion USD, accounting for ∼1% GDP in the region) by now, however, the effects of these programs on vegetation restoration have not been settled. In this study, the vegetation indices, land-uses, and climatic factors were used to estimate the contribution of the above programs on vegetation restoration. The results showed that consistent vegetation restoration has occurred in about 45.3% of the vegetated areas in arid and semiarid China from 1982 to 2000, and the percentage decreased to 33.6% after 2000 despite more ecological programs have been launched. Changes in climatic factors (precipitation, temperature, solar radiation, and wind speed) and elevated atmospheric CO _2 concentration contributed more than 50% and 70% to vegetation restoration in periods of 1982–2000 and 2001–2015, respectively, however, the contribution rate of ecological programs kept stable at about 20%. Climate changes in the past forty years played a dominant role, although the ecological programs showed a noticeable effect on vegetation restoration. Further investment in ecological restoration practices might need to be critically evaluated on the cost-effectiveness.

The spatially continuous control of the physical properties in semiconductor materials is an important strategy in increasing electron-capturing or light-harvesting efficiencies, which is highly desirable for the application of optoelectronic devices including photodetectors, solar cells and biosensors. Unlike the multi-layer growth of chemical composition modulation, local strain offers a convenient way to continuously tune the physical properties of a single semiconductor layer, and open up new possibility for band engineering within the 2D plane. Here, we demonstrate that the gradient refractive index and bandgap can be generated in atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenide flakes due to the effect of thermal strain difference. A highly resolved confocal scanning optical microscopy is used to perform a real-space light-reflection mapping of suspended atomically thin WSe _2 flakes at the low temperature of 4.2 K, in which the parabolic light-reflection profiles have been observed on suspended monolayer and bilayer WSe _2 flakes. This finding is corroborated by our theoretical model which includes the effect of strain on both the refractive index and bandgap of nanostructures. The inhomogeneous local strain observed here will allow new device functionalities to be integrated within 2D layered materials, such as in-plane photodetectors and photovoltaic devices.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) together with glomerular hyperfiltration has been implicated in the development of diabetic microangiopathy in the initial stage of diabetic diseases. Increased amounts of urinary protein in DN may be associated with functional and morphological alterations of podocyte, mainly including podocyte hypertrophy, epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT), podocyte detachment, and podocyte apoptosis. Accumulating studies have revealed that disruption in multiple renal signaling pathways had been critical in the progression of these pathological damages, such as adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase signaling pathways (AMPK), wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, endoplasmic reticulum stress-related signaling pathways, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/autophagy pathway, and Rho GTPases. In this review, we highlight new molecular insights underlying podocyte injury in the progression of DN, which offer new therapeutic targets to develop important renoprotective treatments for DN over the next decade.