Search

Nature-based solutions (NbS) is the concept advocated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), based on China’s unique ecological protection and restoration traditions, natural geospatial patterns, and natural resource features. The development of Chinese NbS solutions will contribute to the implementation of the concept of NbS in China. China has a tradition of afforestation and grassland protection, and the successful experiences are the embodiment of NbS. Therefore, the research on the highlights of ecological restoration of “forest” and “grass” has important inspiration and reference significance for the ecological restoration of seagrass beds. Through the comparison of domestic and foreign research results and case study data, the logical system diagram of countermeasures and suggestions is drawn to improve the correlation and rationality of each recommendation. This paper summarizes the highlights of mangrove and grassland ecological restoration, and points out that there are disadvantages in domestic seagrass bed ecological restoration in terms of policy and public participation, capital investment and technical means, but there are also advantages in the utilization of subtidal space resources and carbon sink under the condition of the seagrass fast growth rate and no change in the nature of tidal flats. The paper puts forward 15 suggestions for promoting the ecological restoration of seagrass beds in China: carry out seagrass bed online monitoring and survey of suitable seagrass places, strengthen the publicity of NbS and seagrass beds, strengthen supervision and law enforcement and coordination, establish reasonable reward and subsidy policies, establish Chinese seagrass professional societies and non-governmental organizations, facilitate public participation, try experiment of climate change adaptation, etc.

The incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) rises rapidly with the increase of age. With the advent of global aging, the number of patients with PD is rising along with the elderly population, especially in China. Previously, we found that Yishen chuchan decoction (YCD), prescribed based on clinical experience, has the potential of alleviating symptoms, delaying the progression, and controlling the development of PD. Nonetheless, the underlying mechanistic role is yet to be explored. Aim: This research examined the possible therapeutic effects of YCD in alleviating PD via a systematic approach with network pharmacology and experimental validation, aiming at providing a new understanding of traditional Chinese medicine management regarding PD. Methods: The chemical structure and properties of YCD were adopted from Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database (TCMSP), SwissADME, PubChem, and PubMed. The potential targets for YCD and PD were identified using Swiss Target Prediction, GeneCard, PubChem, and UniProt. The herbal-component-target network was created via the Cytoscape software. Moreover, by using the STRING database, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was screened. Gene function GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed via the Metascape database. YCD-medicated Rat Serum from Sprague-Dawley (SD) Rats was prepared, and SH-SY5Y cells were preconditioned with rotenone to develop the PD model. To examine the impact of YCD on these cells and explore the mechanistic role of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, the cells were pretreated with either serum or a p38 MAPK pathway inhibitor. This study employed the Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 assay and Hoechst 33,342 staining to evaluate the viability and morphological changes induced by the YCD-medicated rat serum on rotenone-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Apoptosis was assessed by Flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence staining assessed the microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) level. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to quantify the concentrations of inflammatory mediators interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Also, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were determined. Western Blotting measured the expression of total and phospho-p38 MAPK (p-p38). Results: This study identified 65 active components in YCD, which were found to target 801 specific genes. By screening, 63 potential core targets were identified from a pool of 172 overlapping targets between PD and YCD. These targets were examined by GO and KEGG analyses revealing their substantial correlation to MAPK, PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, positively controlling protein phosphorylation, and pathways of neurodegenerative diseases. SH-SY5Y cells were treated with 2 μM rotenone for 48 h, which reduced cell viability to 50 %, and reduced MAP2 expression, increased the rate of apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and p-p38 expressions. YCD-medicated rat serum significantly improved the viability, reduced the apoptosis rate, and increased the MAP2 expression. YCD-medicated serum increased SOD, reduced ROS and suppressed IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α levels, thus inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation in rotenone-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, YCD-medicated serum substantially lowered the p-p38 expression induced by rotenone. SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, could also inhibit the p-p38 expression, apoptosis, and restore morphological damage of cells, also improve inflammation and oxidative stress. Conclusion: YCD enhanced cell viability and reduced apoptosis rate, inflammation, and oxidative stress in vitro. These beneficial effects could potentially involve the suppression of p38 pathway and suppressed the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.

W−Re alloys were prepared by powder metallurgy. The effect of annealing temperature on the microstructure and properties of the W−Re alloys were investigated by tensile mechanical properties testing, hardness testing, and optical microscope analysis. The results show that, the room temperature tensile strength of the forged W−Re alloys is 1620 MPa, the elongation after fracture is 20%, and the Vickers hardness is HV30 540. Local recrystallization occurs at 1500 ℃ and the grain growth occurs at 1700 ℃. The room temperature tensile strength and hardness of the W−Re alloys decrease with the increase of annealing temperature, and the elongation after fracture first increases and then decreases with the increase of annealing temperature.

AbstractContext Previously, we found Alisma orientalis beverage (AOB), a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulation, had the potential effect of treating atherosclerosis (AS). The underlying mechanism was still unclear.Objective As an extention of our previous work, to investigate the underlying mechanism of action of AOB in the treatment for AS.Materials and methods Network pharmacology was conducted using SwissTargetPrediction, GeneCards, DrugBank, Metascape, etc., to construct component-target-pathway networks. In vivo, AS models were induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 consecutive weeks in APOE−/− mice. After the administration of AOB (3.8 g/kg, i.g.) for 8 weeks, we assessed the aortic plaque, four indicators of blood lipids, and expression of the PI3K/AKT/SREBP-1 pathway in liver.Results Network pharmacology showed that PI3K/AKT/SREBP-1 played a role in AOB’s treatment for AS (PI3K: degree = 18; AKT: degree = 17). Moreover, we found that the arterial plaque area and four indicators of blood lipids were all significantly reversed by AOB treatment in APOE−/− mice fed with HFD (plaque area reduced by about 37.75%). In addition, phosphorylated expression of PI3K/AKT and expression of SREBP-1 were obviously increased in APOE−/− mice fed with HFD, which were all improved by AOB (PI3K: 51.6%; AKT: 23.6%; SREBP-1: 40.0%).Conclusions AOB had therapeutic effects for AS by improving blood lipids and inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/SERBP-1 pathway in the liver. This study provides new ideas for the treatment of AS, as well as new evidence for the clinical application of AOB.

From the perspective of the application of headspace solid-phase microextraction-mass spectrometry coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （HS-SPME-GC-MS） technology in the detection of volatile substances in fruit products, this paper discusses its important position and significance in fruit flavor detection. This paper briefly outlines the principles and characteristics of headspace solid-phase microextraction-mass spectrometry coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and highlights the progress of its research on volatile substances in different kinds of fruit raw materials, stored and preserved fruits as well as fruit processed products such as fruit juice, fruit wine, and fruit tea, and also provides an outlook on the research direction of headspace solid-phase microextraction-mass spectrometry coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in fruit flavor detection.