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Food security is closely related to the development of human society, and the root of food production lies in cultivated land, with water conservancy as its lifeline. This study estimates the ecological water consumption of located in the arid region of Northwest China (the Karamay region and Muzat River basin) from 1990 to 2020 based on the optimized Land Surface Energy Balance Algorithm. The verification accuracy of SEBAL energy balance model is greatly improved after optimization. It was showed an increasing trend in the Karamay region and Muzat River basin, increasing at the rates of 2.84 mm/year and 2.86 mm/year respectively. The suitability of cultivated land was evaluated by combining four periods of 30 m spatial resolution land use/land cover data from 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, as well as the Hydrological Statistical Yearbook and Xinjiang Statistical Yearbook. Through the analysis of spatial optimization for cultivated land, it can be inferred that the primary limiting factors affecting cultivated land suitability in the Karamay region are irrigation guarantee rate (54.03%) and soil salinity (11.98%). Muzat River region are irrigation guarantee rate (32.19%) and soil salinity (18.62%). By comparing the scenarios of setting ecological priority and cultivated land priority, it is concluded that under the conditions of water resource constraints and 50%, 75% and 90% design irrigation assurance rates, Karamay still has cultivated land expansion potential, which can be used as the main preparatory reclamation area. In addition to the traditional agriculture irrigation area, the Muzat River basin still has development potential under the condition of ecological priority and no more than 75% irrigation design assurance rate. The study on the cultivated land suitability under the condition of water resource constraints can provide new ideas for food security.

Actual evapotranspiration (ETa) is an important component of the surface water cycle. The geeSEBAL model is increasingly being used to estimate ETa using high-resolution remote-sensing data (Landsat 4/5/7/8). However, due to surface heterogeneity, there is significant uncertainty. By optimizing the quantile values of the reverse-modelling automatic calibration algorithm (CIMEC) endpoint-component selection algorithm under extreme conditions through 212 global flux sites, we obtained the optimized quantile values of 11 vegetation types of cold- and hot-pixel endpoint components (Ts and NDVI). Based on the observation data of the global FLUXNET tower, the sensitivity of 20 parameters in the improved geeSEBAL model was determined through Sobol's sensitivity analysis. Among them, the parameters dT and SAVI,hot were confirmed as the most sensitive parameters of the algorithm. Subsequently, we used the differential evolution Markov chain (DE-MC) method to analyse the uncertainty of the parameters in the geeSEBAL model used the posterior distribution of the parameters to modify the sensitive parameter values or ranges in the improved geeSEBAL model and to simulate the daily ETa. The results indicate that by analysing the end element components of the geeSEBAL model (Ts and NDVI), quantile numerical optimization and parameter optimization can be performed. Compared with the original algorithm, the improved geeSEBAL model has significantly improved simulation performance, as shown by higher R2 values, higher NSE values, smaller bias values, and lower RMSE values. The most suitable values of the predefined parameter Zoh were determined, and the reanalysis of meteorological data inputs (relative humidity (RH), temperature (T), wind speed (WS), and net radiation (Rn)) was also found to be an important source of uncertainty for the accurate estimation of ETa. This study indicates that optimizing the quantiles and key parameters of the model end component has certain potential for further improving the accuracy of the geeSEBAL model based on high-resolution remote-sensing data in estimating the ETa for various vegetation types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation create a perpetual cycle in the elderly, where impaired immune function amplifies susceptibility to oxidative damage, and oxidative stress further weakens the immune response. This cycle is particularly detrimental to the respiratory system of the elderly, which is an easy target for constant exogenous harmful attacks during cold/flu season or under heavy air pollution. Herbal medicines that protect respiratory function are seen as safer alternatives to conventional therapies; however, there is limited availability of scientifically validated, safe, and effective natural supplements for these conditions. In this study, we evaluated a standardized bioflavonoid composition, UP446, that contains bioactives from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis and the heartwoods of Acacia catechu as a natural and nutritional supplement for its antioxidative and immunoregulatory effects in oxidative stress-accelerated aging and chemically induced immune suppression mouse models. Immunosenescence was induced through the repeated subcutaneous inoculation of D-galactose (D-Gal) at a dose of 500 mg/kg/day in CD-1 mice. UP446 was administered orally at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg starting in the fifth week of immunosenescence induction. This study lasted a total of ten weeks. All mice received a quadrivalent influenza vaccine 2 weeks before termination. Whole blood, serum, spleen homogenate, and thymus tissues were processed for analysis. Cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced immunosuppression was triggered by three consecutive injections of cyclophosphamide at 80 mg/kg/day, followed by the oral administration of UP446 for 18 days at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg. Blood was collected from each animal at necropsy, and serum was isolated for IgA and IgG ELISA analysis. UP446 was found to improve immune response, as evidenced by the stimulation of innate (NK cells) and adaptive immune responses (T cells and cytotoxic T cells), an increase in antioxidant capacity (glutathione peroxidase), the preservation of vital immune organs (the thymus), and a reduction in NFκB. UP446 also increased serum levels of IgA and IgG. The findings presented in this report demonstrate the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and immune-regulatory activities of UP446, suggesting its potential use in respiratory conditions involving immune stress due to aging, oxidative stress, and/or pathogenic challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bleached bamboo pulp, as a kind of natural cellulose, has received significant attention in the field of biomass materials due to its advantages of environmental protection and the abundance of raw materials. Low-temperature alkali/urea aqueous system is a green dissolution technology for cellulose, which has promising application prospects in the field of regenerated cellulose materials. However, bleached bamboo pulp, with high viscosity average molecular weight (Mη) and high crystallinity, is difficult to dissolve in an alkaline urea solvent system, restraining its practical application in the textile field. Herein, based on commercial bleached bamboo pulp with high Mη, a series of dissolvable bamboo pulps with suitable Mη was prepared using a method of adjusting the ratio of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide in the pulping process. Due to the hydroxyl radicals being able to react with hydroxyls of cellulose, molecular chains are cut down. Moreover, several regenerated cellulose hydrogels and films were fabricated in an ethanol coagulation bath or a citric acid coagulation bath, and the relationship between the properties of the regenerated materials and the Mη of the bamboo cellulose was systematically studied. The results showed that hydrogel/film had good mechanical properties, as the Mη is 8.3 × 104 and the tensile strength of a regenerated film and the film have values up to 101 MPa and 3.19 MPa, respectively. In this contribution, a simple method of a one-step oxidation of hydroxyl radicals to prepare bamboo cellulose with diversified Mη is presented, providing an avenue for a preparation of dissolving pulp with different Mη in an alkali/urea dissolution system and expanding the practical applications of bamboo pulp in biomass-based materials, textiles, and biomedical materials.

BACKGROUND The main types of copper deposits are porphyry and skarn types. Dacite porphyry is a rock type commonly developed in the porphyry Cu-Mo-Au system. The rock can be used as a marker clue for ore prospecting and ore-forming rock when there is well-developed hydrothermal alteration. The Dabaoshan deposit is currently the largest copper polymetallic deposit in the South China Block. Previous studies have shown that the dacite porphyry of the mining area is not only the ore-forming parent rock, but also a favorable ore-bearing wall rock. However, there are some debates about the relationship between dacite porphyry and mineralization in this mining area. With the breakthrough of prospecting for medium and large dacite porphyry ore bodies in recent years, the relationship between dacite porphyry and mineralization has once again become a concern. OBJECTIVES To understand the relationship between dacite porphyry alteration and mineralization of the Dabaoshan deposit. METHODS Based on field work and indoor analysis, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were used to determine copper, tungsten, silicon, aluminum and calcium in Dabaoshan dacite porphyry samples. The isotope composition, metal element contents and alteration characteristics of the dacite porphyry in the mining area were used to discuss the relationship between alteration and prospecting direction. RESULTS The copper content ranged from 107 to 6909μg/g, which was consistent with the copper ore grade of 0.3%-0.5% in the mining area. The LOI and other geochemical indicators that can represent the degree of alteration were positively correlated with copper. Hydrothermal alteration was widely developed in dacite porphyry, including potassium, prophyliticition and quartz-sericitization from early to late stage. Among different stages of alterations, the copper content of quartz-sericitization was 2 to 5 times higher than other alteration types, indicating that quartz-sericitization was closely related to copper mineralization and was an important prospecting marker clue. CONCLUSIONS The deep alteration intensity of the dacite porphyry (below the 270m elevation) has not been weakened, suggesting a great prospecting potential. In addition, the contact zone between dacite porphyry and the Jurassic strata, and the xenoliths in the dacite porphyry are also important prospecting directions, which may host skarn-type copper-rich deposits.

Water is an indispensable strategic resource for biological and social development. The problem of oily wastewater pollution originating from oil spillages, industrial discharge and domestic oil pollution has become an extremely serious international challenge. At present, numerous superwetting materials have been applied to effectively separate oil and water. However, most of these materials are difficult to scale and their large–scale application is limited by cost and environmental protection. Herein, a simple, environmentally friendly strategy including sol–gel, freeze–drying and surface hydrophobic modification is presented to fabricate a bamboo cellulose foam with special wetting characteristics. The bamboo cellulose foam is superhydrophobic, with a water contact angle of 160°, and it has the superoleophilic property of instantaneous oil absorption. Owing to the synergistic effect of the three–dimensional network structure of the superhydrophobic bamboo cellulose foam and its hydrophobic composition, it has an excellent oil–absorption performance of 11.5 g/g~37.5 g/g for various types of oil, as well as good recyclability, with an oil (1,2–dichloroethane) absorption capacity of up to 31.5 g/g after 10 cycles. In addition, the prepared cellulose–based foam exhibits an outstanding performance in terms of acid and alkali corrosion resistance. Importantly, owing to bamboo cellulose being a biodegradable, low–cost, natural polymer material that can be easily modified, superhydrophobic/superoleophilic bamboo cellulose foam has great application potential in the field of oily wastewater treatment.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is witnessing a surge in economic development, showcasing robust resilience in the co-agglomeration of producer services and manufacturing industries, along with the increasingly evident impact generated by such co-agglomeration. Based on the panel data collected from ten cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (excluding Zhaoqing) spanning from 2010 to 2020, we examined the formation mechanism for industrial co-agglomeration in the area from three dimensions: industrial correlation, spatial correlation, and policy guidance. Our analysis was based on a vertical correlation model and was validated using the seemingly unrelated regressions (SUR) method. The findings are as follows: (a) There currently exists no spatial correlation between the producer services and manufacturing sectors in the area, and the correlation between the two remains limited to the former providing specialized services to the latter. (b) Policy guidance has a positive impact on the location selection of industries within the area. By implementing a comprehensive range of favorable policies, local governments can provide effective and scientifically guided recommendations regarding the location of producer services and manufacturing sectors. Therefore, it is crucial to foster the collaboration between producer services and manufacturing sectors and further enhance the co-agglomeration between the two sectors. In addition, the government authorities should also strive to enhance its economic governance capacity, thereby facilitating the formation of such co-agglomeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a young but vigorous international city cluster with a complete industrial system and is taking the lead in China's economic development. This paper analyzes the economic and industrial development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and measures the industrial agglomeration index and homogeneity index among different cities in the area. After our analysis, we found that the cities in the area showed apparent differences in their economic development levels. Therefore, this paper suggests improving the competitiveness of the Greater Bay Area through systematic division and collaboration of industries, further achieving rational industrial structure and high-quality economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin resistance results in dysregulated hepatic gluconeogenesis that contributes to obesity-related hyperglycemia and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recent studies show that MAPK phosphatase-3 (MKP-3) promotes gluconeogenic gene transcription in hepatoma cells, but little is known about the physiological role of MKP-3 in vivo. Here, we have shown that expression of MKP-3 is markedly increased in the liver of diet-induced obese mice. Consistent with this, adenovirus-mediated MKP-3 overexpression in lean mice promoted gluconeogenesis and increased fasting blood glucose levels. Conversely, shRNA knockdown of MKP-3 in both lean and obese mice resulted in decreased fasting blood glucose levels. In vitro experiments identified forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) as a substrate for MKP-3. MKP-3-mediated dephosphorylation of FOXO1 at Ser256 promoted its nuclear translocation and subsequent recruitment to the promoters of key gluconeogenic genes. In addition, we showed that PPARγ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) acted downstream of FOXO1 to mediate MKP-3-induced gluconeogenesis. These data indicate that MKP-3 is an important regulator of hepatic gluconeogenesis in vivo and suggest that inhibition of MKP-3 activity may provide new therapies for T2DM., Introduction Insulin resistance is the underlying mechanism for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The effect of insulin in regulating glucose homeostasis is exerted through coordinated actions in [...]

Annual wild soybean is the ancestor of cultivated soybean. The 100-seed weight gradually increases in the long-term domestication process. Clarifying the genetic basis of this change is of great significance to the evolutionary research and variety improvement of soybean. In order to analyze the genetic basis of 100-seed weight during soybean domestication, a wild soybean chromosome segment substitution line population (SojaCSSLP5) composed of 177 whole-genome resequencing lines were used in this study. 13 QTLs/segments of 100-seed weight were detected by phenotypic evaluation in three different environments. All of 13 wild chromosome segments had the additive effect of reducing 100-seed weight, ranging from -0.49 g to -1.19 g, which was consistent with the smaller 100-seed weight of wild soybeans. These detected domesticated segments from 11 chromosomes explained 76.70% of the phenotypic variation, and the phenotypic contribution rate of a single segment ranged from 2.45% to 15.14%. The contribution rate of segments Gm03_LDB_15 and Gm12_LDB_46 exceeded 10%, which were major influence on the evolution of 100-seed weight of wild soybeans. Combined the transcriptome data and genome data of parental cultivated soybean Nannong 1138-2 and wild soybean N24852, a total of 13 candidate genes were predicted in these segments, and were involved in the pathways of plant seed size, including ubiquitin protein kinase regulatory pathway, G protein signal pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, plant hormone pathway, transcription regulator pathway, and IKU (HAIKU) pathway. Compared with previous QTLs mapping results with cultivated soybeans, 4 of the 13 QTLs/segments were newly detected in this study, indicating that 9 wild chromosome segments might be passed to cultivated soybeans during domestication, and the corresponding cultivated segments of these 4 wild segments may be unique evolutionary segments of cultivated soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]