Mitochondrial 'Birth-Death' coordinator: An intelligent hydrogen nanogenerator to enhance intervertebral disc regeneration.

Currently, mitochondrial dysfunction caused by oxidative stress is a growing concern in degenerative diseases, notably intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Dysregulation of the balance of mitochondrial quality control (MQC) has been considered the key contributor, while it's still challenging to effectively harmonize different MQC components in a simple and biologically safe way. Hydrogen gas (H2) is a promising mitochondrial therapeutic molecule due to its bio-reductivity and diffusibility across cellular membranes, yet its relationship with MQC regulation remains unknown. Herein, we propose a mitochondrial 'Birth-Death' coordinator achieved by an intelligent hydrogen nanogenerator (Fe@HP-OD), which can sustainably release H2 in response to the unique microenvironment in degenerated IVDs. Both in vitro and in vivo results prove alleviation of cellular oxidative stress and restoration of nucleus pulposus cells function, thereby facilitating successful IVD regeneration. Significantly, this study for the first time proposes the mitochondrial 'Birth-Death' coordination mechanism: 1) attenuation of overactivated mitochondrial 'Death' process (UPRmt and unselective mitophagy); and 2) activation of Adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway for mitochondrial 'Birth-Death' balance (mitochondrial biogenesis and controlled mitophagy). These pioneering findings can fill in the gaps in molecular mechanisms for H2 regulation on MQC homeostasis, and pave the way for future strategies towards restoring equilibrium of MQC system against degenerative diseases.

A splice-switch oligonucleotide loaded self-cleavable DNA nanogel.

A self-cleavable DNA nanogel loaded with splice-switch oligonucleotide (SSO) has been developed. Under acidic conditions (pH 5.0), cleavage of the acid-labile chemical linker and generation of the i-motif structure led to the disintegration of the DNA nanogel and efficient release of SSO in its unaltered native state.

Micro/nanofabrication of heat management materials for energy-efficient building facades.

Advanced building facades, which include windows, walls, and roofs, hold great promise for reducing building energy consumption. In recent decades, the management of heat transfer via electromagnetic radiation between buildings and outdoor environments has emerged as a critical research field aimed at regulating solar irradiation and thermal emission properties. Rapid advancements have led to the widespread utilization of advanced micro/nanofabrication techniques. This review provides the first comprehensive summary of fabrication methods for heat management materials with potential applications in energy-efficient building facades, with a particular emphasis on recent developments in fabrication processing and material property design. These methods include coating, vapor deposition, nanolithography, printing, etching, and electrospinning. Furthermore, we present our perspectives regarding their advantages and disadvantages and our opinions on the opportunities and challenges in this field. This review is expected to expedite future research by providing information on the selection, design, improvement, and development of relevant fabrication techniques for advanced materials with energy-efficient heat management capabilities.

Oligo-Adenine Derived Secondary Nucleic Acid Frameworks: From Structural Characteristics to Applications.

Oligo-adenine (polyA) is primarily known for its critical role in mRNA stability, translational status, and gene regulation. Beyond its biological functions, extensive research has unveiled the diverse applications of polyA. In response to environmental stimuli, single polyA strands undergo distinctive structural transitions into diverse secondary configurations, which are reversible upon the introduction of appropriate counter-triggers. In this review, we systematically summarize recent advances of noncanonical structures derived from polyA, including A-motif duplex, A-cyanuric acid triplex, A-coralyne-A duplex, and T·A-T triplex. The structural characteristics and mechanisms underlying these conformations under specific external stimuli are addressed, followed by examples of their applications in stimuli-responsive DNA hydrogels, supramolecular fibre assembly, molecular electronics and switches, biosensing and bioengineering, payloads encapsulation and release, and others. A detailed comparison of these polyA-derived noncanonical structures is provided, highlighting their distinctive features. Furthermore, by integrating their stimuli-responsiveness and conformational characteristics, advanced material development, such as pH-cascaded DNA hydrogels and supramolecular fibres exhibiting dynamic structural transitions adapting environmental cues, are introduced. An outlook for future developments is also discussed. These polyA derived, stimuli-responsive, noncanonical structures enrich the arsenal of DNA "toolbox", offering dynamic DNA frameworks for diverse future applications.

Exploring soil nitrogen and sulfur dynamics: implications for greenhouse gas emissions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and disturbances caused by human activity. To better understand the interactions between soil nitrogen and sulfur cycles and human activities on the plateau, the distribution characteristics of soil nitrogen and sulfur density and their influencing factors for three soil layers in Machin County at depths of 0-20 cm, 0-100 cm, and 0-180 cm are discussed in this paper. The results indicated that at depths of 0-180 cm, soil nitrogen density in Machin County varied between 1.36 and 16.85 kg/m2, while sulfur density ranged from 0.37 to 4.61 kg/m2. The effects of three factors-geological background, land use status, and soil type-on soil nitrogen and sulfur density were all highly significant (p < 0.01). Specifically, natural factors such as soil type and geological background, along with anthropogenic factors including land use practices and grazing intensity, were identified as decisive in causing spatial variations in soil nitrogen and sulfur density. Machin County on the Tibetan Plateau exhibits natural nitrogen and sulfur sinks; However, it is crucial to monitor the emissions of N2O and SO2 into the atmosphere from areas with high external nitrogen and sulfur inputs and low fertility retention capacities, such as bare land. On this basis, changes in the spatial and temporal scales of the nitrogen and sulfur cycles in soils and their source-sink relationships remain the focus of future research.

HLA-B*35:01-mediated activation of emodin-specific T cells contributes to Polygonum multiflorum thunb. -induced liver injury in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: HLA-B*35:01 has been identified as a risk allele for Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.-induced liver injury (PMLI). However, the immune mechanism underlying HLA-B*35:01-mediated PMLI remains unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: To characterize the immune mechanism of HLA-B*35:01-mediated PMLI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Components of P. multiflorum (PM) bound to the HLA-B*35:01 molecule was screened by immunoaffinity chromatography. Both wild-type mice and HLA-B*35:01 transgenic (TG) mice were treated with emodin. The levels of transaminases, histological changes and T-cell response were assessed. Splenocytes from emodin-treated mice were isolated and cultured in vitro. Phenotypes and functions of T cells were characterized upon drug restimulation using flow cytometry or ELISA. Emodin-pulsed antigen-presenting cells (APCs) or glutaraldehyde-fixed APCs were co-cultured with splenocytes from emodin-treated transgenic mice to detect their effect on T-cell activation. RESULTS: Emodin, the main component of PM, could non-covalently bind to the HLA-B*35:01-peptide complexes. TG mice were more sensitive to emodin-induced immune hepatic injury, as manifested by elevated aminotransferase levels, infiltration of inflammatory cells, increased percentage of CD8+T cells and release of effector molecules in the liver. However, these effects were not observed in wild-type mice. An increase in percentage of T cells and the levels of interferon-γ, granzyme B, and perforin was detected in emodin-restimulated splenocytes from TG mice. Anti-HLA-I antibodies inhibited the secretion of these effector molecules induced by emodin. Mechanistically, emodin-pulsed APCs failed to stimulate T cells, while fixed APCs in the presence of emodin could elicit the secretion of T cell effector molecules. CONCLUSION: The HLA-B*35:01-mediated CD8+ T cell reaction to emodin through the P-I mechanism may contribute to P. multiflorum-induced liver injury.

Distribution and dynamic changes of Huanglongbing pathogen in its insect vector Diaphorina citri.

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is the leading vector of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the causative agent of citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease. The distribution and dynamics of CLas within ACP are critical to understanding how the transmission, spread and infection of CLas occurs within its host vector in nature. In this study, the distribution and titer changes of CLas in various tissues of ACP 5th instar nymphs and adults were examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) techniques. Results demonstrated that 100% of ACP 5th instar nymphs and adults were infected with CLas following feeding on infected plants, and that CLas had widespread distribution in most of the tissues of ACP. The titers of CLas within the midgut, salivary glands and hemolymph tissues were the highest in both 5th instar nymphs and adults. When compared with adults, the titers of CLas in these three tissues of 5th instar nymphs were significantly higher, while in the mycetome, ovary and testes they were significantly lower than those of adults. FISH visualization further confirmed these findings. Dynamic analysis of CLas demonstrated that it was present across all the developmental ages of ACP adults. There was a discernible upward trend in the presence of CLas with advancing age in most tissues of ACP adults, including the midgut, hemolymph, salivary glands, foot, head, cuticula and muscle. Our findings have significant implications for the comprehensive understanding of the transmission, dissemination and infestation of CLas, which is of much importance for developing novel strategies to halt the spread of CLas, and therefore contribute to the efficient prevention and control of HLB.

Geochemical characteristics, source analysis, influencing factors, and reserves of soil Selenium in Wuming, Guangxi, China.

Although selenium (Se) reserves are crucial for the development and exploitation of Se-rich resources in karst soil areas, research on these reserves is still limited. A comprehensive study was conducted in a typical karst region known for its Se richness. A total of 12,547 surface soil samples, 134 deep soil samples, and 60 soil profiles from various locations were systematically collected. The findings showed that the Se content in the surface soil ranged from 0.073 to 9.04 mg/kg, with a baseline level of 0.84 mg/kg. This underscores the high background level and moderate variability in the region. Surface soil Se exhibited a notable positive correlation with deep soil Se, and an inverse correlation with pH (p < 0.01). One-way analysis of variance indicated that land formations and soil structure were the primary determinants affecting the concentration of Se in the topsoil (p = 0.000), with parent rock type and land-use type following closely (p = 0.003). In addition, the study included an investigation of soil Se variations with depth using 60 soil profiles. Through this analysis, it was revealed that Se content exhibited an exponential change with depth. Multiple integrations were employed to derive formulas for calculating Se reserves in the 0-200 cm depth range. Following these calculations, the estimations of Se stockpile across diverse types of source materials, varieties of soils, and land management methods were determined, highlighting the findings using a passive construction. This paper lays the groundwork for advancing the extraction and application of Se.

Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) to volatiles of nymphal Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae).

Huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating citrus disease caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, is efficiently vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae). Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) plays a crucial role as an ectoparasitoid, preying on D. citri nymphs. By collecting and identifying headspace volatiles from fifth instar nymphs of D. citri using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), we obtained a collection of 9 volatile compounds. These compounds were subsequently chosen to investigate the electrophysiological and behavioral responses of female T. radiata. At a concentration of 10 µg/µl, 9 compounds were compared with cis-3-hexen-1-ol (control), resulting in trans-2-nonenal inducing the highest relative electroantennogram (EAG) value, followed by hexanal, heptanal, n-heptadecane, tetradecanal, n-tetradecane, n-pentadecane, 1-tetradecanol, and 1-dodecanol. The top 5 EAG responses of female T. radiata to these compounds were further investigated through EAG dose-response experiments. The results showed positive dose-responses as concentrations increased from 0.01 to 10 µg/µl. In Y-tube olfactometer bioassays, female T. radiata exhibited a preference for specific compounds. They were significantly attracted to tetradecanal at a concentration of 10 µg/µl and trans-2-nonenal at 0.01 µg/µl, while no significant attraction was observed toward hexanal, heptanal, or n-heptadecane. Our report is the first to demonstrate that volatiles produced by D. citri nymphs attract T. radiata, which suggests that this parasitoid may utilize nymph volatiles to locate its host.

Oligo-Adenine and Cyanuric Acid Supramolecular DNA-Based Hydrogels Exhibiting Acid-Resistance and Physiological pH-Responsiveness.

Expanding the functions and applications of DNA by integrating noncanonical bases and structures into biopolymers is a continuous scientific effort. An adenine-rich strand (A-strand) is introduced as functional scaffold revealing, in the presence of the low-molecular-weight cofactor cyanuric acid (CA, pKa 6.9), supramolecular hydrogel-forming efficacies demonstrating multiple pH-responsiveness. At pH 1.2, the A-strand transforms into a parallel A-motif duplex hydrogel cross-linked by AH+-H+A units due to the protonation of adenine (pKa 3.5). At pH 5.2, and in the presence of coadded CA, a helicene-like configuration is formed between adenine and protonated CA, generating a parallel A-CA triplex cross-linked hydrogel. At pH 8.0, the hydrogel undergoes transition into a liquid state by deprotonation of CA cofactor units and disassembly of A-CA triplex into its constituent components. Density functional theory calculations and molecular dynamics simulations, supporting the structural reconfigurations of A-strand in the presence of CA, are performed. The sequential pH-stimulated hydrogel states are rheometrically characterized. The hydrogel framework is loaded with fluorescein-labeled insulin, and the pH-stimulated release of insulin from the hydrogel across the pH barriers present in the gastrointestinal tract is demonstrated. The results provide principles for future application of the hydrogel for oral insulin administration for diabetes.

Changes in Spectrum of Respiratory Pathogen Infections and Disease Severity Among Children in Hohhot, China: Impact of COVID-19 Prevention Measures.

BACKGROUND This retrospective study evaluated the effects of specific COVID-19 preventive measures, including the use of medical masks, nucleic acid testing, and patient isolation, on respiratory infections, disease severity, and seasonal patterns among children in Hohhot, located in northern China. Understanding these alterations is pivotal in developing effective strategies to handle pediatric respiratory infections within the context of continuous public health initiatives. MATERIAL AND METHODS At the First Hospital of Hohhot, throat swabs were collected from 605 children with community-acquired respiratory between January 2022 and March 2023 for pathogen infection spectrum detection using microarray testing. RESULTS Among the patients, 56.03% were male, and their average age was 3.45 years. SARS-CoV-2 infections were highest between October 2022 and January 2023. Influenza A peaked in March 2023, and other pathogens such as respiratory syncytial virus and influenza B virus disappeared after December 2022. The proportion of mixed infections was 41.94% among SARS-CoV-2 patients, while other pathogens had mixed infection rates exceeding 57.14%. Before December 2022, the mean WBC count for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae was 8.83×109/L, CRP was 18.36 mg/L, and PCT was 1.11 ng/ml. After December 2022, these values decreased significantly. Coughing, difficulty breathing, running nose, and lower respiratory tract infection diagnoses decreased in December 2022, except for SARS-CoV-2 infections. CONCLUSIONS SARS-CoV-2 peaked around November 2022, influenza A peaked in March 2023, and other pathogens like respiratory syncytial virus and influenza B virus were greatly reduced after December 2022. Inflammatory markers and respiratory symptoms decreased after December 2022, except for SARS-CoV-2.

Programming the Assembly of Oligo-Adenine with Coralyne into a pH-Responsive DNA Hydrogel.

External stimuli-responsive DNA hydrogels present interesting platforms for drug loading and triggered release. Typically, drug molecules are encapsulated within three-dimensionally hybridized DNA networks. However, the utilization of drug molecules as cofactors to facilitate the directed assembly of DNA strands into hydrogel frameworks and their subsequent controlled release remains to be explored. Herein, we introduce the guided assembly of oligo-adenine (A-strand) into an acidic pH-responsive DNA hydrogel using an anticancer drug, coralyne (COR), as a low-molecular-weight cofactor. At pH 7, COR orchestrates the assembly of A-strand into an antiparallel duplex configuration cross-linked by A-COR-A units at a stoichiometric ratio of one COR cofactor per four adenine bases, resulting in a DNA hydrogel characterized by A-COR-A duplex bridges. At pH 4-5, the instability of A-COR-A units results in the disintegration of the duplex into its constituent components, leading to the release of COR and simultaneous dissociation of the DNA hydrogel matrix. This study introduces a method by which drug molecules, exemplified here by COR, facilitate the direct formation of a supramolecular cofactor-DNA complex, subsequently leading to the creation of a stimuli-responsive DNA hydrogel. This approach may inspire future investigations into DNA hydrogels tailored for controlled drug encapsulation and release applications.

Accurate Spatio-Temporal Delivery of Nitric Oxide Facilitates the Programmable Repair of Avascular Dense Connective Tissues Injury.

Avascular dense connective tissues (e.g., the annulus fibrosus (AF) rupture, the meniscus tear, and tendons and ligaments injury) repair remains a challenge due to the "biological barrier" that hinders traditional drug permeation and limits self-healing of the injured tissue. Here, accurate delivery of nitric oxide (NO) to penetrate the "AF biological barrier" is achieved thereby enabling programmable AF repair. NO-loaded BioMOFs are synthesized and mixed in a modified polyvinyl alcohol and PCL-composited electrospun fiber membrane with excellent reactive oxygen species-responsive capability (LN@PM). The results show that LN@PM could respond to the high oxidative stress environment at the injured tissue and realize continuous and substantial NO release. Based on low molecular weight and lipophilicity, NO could penetrate through the "biological barrier" for accurate AF drug delivery. Moreover, the dynamic characteristics of the LN@PM reaction can be matched with the pathological microenvironment to initiate programmable tissue repair including sequential remodeling microenvironment, reprogramming the immune environment, and finally promoting tissue regeneration. This tailored programmable treatment strategy that matches the pathological repair process significantly repairs AF, ultimately alleviating intervertebral disc degeneration. This study highlights a promising approach for avascular dense connective tissue treatment through intelligent NO release, effectively overcoming "AF biological barriers" and programmable treatment.

Form perception is a cognitive correlate of the relation between subitizing ability and math performance.

"Subitizing" defines a phenomenon whereby approximately four items can be quickly and accurately processed. Studies have shown the close association between subitizing and math performance, however, the mechanism for the association remains unclear. The present study was conducted to investigate whether form perception assessed on a serial figure matching task is a potential non-numerical mechanism between subitizing ability and math performance. Three-hundred and seventy-three Chinese primary school students completed four kinds of dot comparison tasks, serial figure matching task, math performance tasks (including three arithmetic computation tasks and math word problem task), and other cognitive tasks as their general cognitive abilities were observed as covariates. A series of hierarchical regression analyses showed that after controlling for age, gender, nonverbal matrix reasoning, and visual tracking, subitizing comparison (subitizing vs. subitizing, subitizing vs. estimation) still contributed to simple addition or simple subtraction but not to complex subtraction ability or math word problem. After taking form perception as an additional control variable, the predictive power of different dot comparison conditions disappeared. A path model also showed that form perception fully mediates the relation between numerosity comparison (within and beyond the subitizing range) and arithmetic performance. These findings support the claim that form perception is a non-numerical cognitive correlate of the relation between subitizing ability and math performance (especially arithmetic computation).

2,3,5,4'- tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-ß-D- glucopyranoside (TSG)-Driven immune response in the hepatotoxicity of Polygonum multiflorum.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (TSG) as the primary constituent of Polygonum multiflorum Thumb. (PM) possesses anti-oxidative, antihypercholesterolemic, anti-tumor and many more biological activities. The root of PM has been used as a tonic medicine for thousands of years. However, cases of PM-induced liver injury are occasionally reported, and considered to be related to the host immune status. AIM OF THE STUDY: The primary toxic elements and specific mechanisms PM causing liver damage are still not thoroughly clear. Our study aimed to investigate the influences of TSG on the immune response in idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity of PM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The male C57BL/6 mice were treated with different doses of TSG and the alterations in liver histology, serum liver enzyme levels, proportions of T cells and cytokines secretion were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE), RNA sequencing, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Flow cytometry (FCM), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Then, primary spleen cells from drug-naive mice were isolated and cultured with TSG in vitro. T cell subsets proliferation and cytokines secretion after treated with TSG were assessed by CCK8, FCM and ELISA. In addition, mice were pre-treated with anti-CD25 for depleting regulatory T cells (Tregs), and then administered with TSG. Liver functions and immunological alterations were analyzed to evaluate liver injury. RESULTS: Data showed that TSG induced liver damage, and immune cells infiltration in the liver tissues. FCM results showed that TSG could activate CD4+T and CD8+T in the liver. Results further confirmed that TSG notably up-regulated the levels of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-18, perforin and granzyme B in the liver tissues. Furthermore, based on transcriptomics profiles, some immune system-related pathways including leukocyte activation involved in inflammatory response, leukocyte cell-cell adhesion, regulation of interleukin-1 beta production, mononuclear cell migration, antigen processing and presentation were altered in TSG treated mice. CD8+T/CD4+T cells were also stimulated by TSG in vitro. Interestingly, increased proportion of Tregs was observed after TSG treatment in vitro and in vivo. Foxp3 and TGF-ß1 mRNA expressions were up-regulated in the liver tissues. Depletion of Tregs moderately enhanced TSG induced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in serum. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that TSG could trigger CD4+T and CD8+T cells proliferation, promote cytokines secretion, which revealed that adaptive immune response associated with the mild liver injury cause by TSG administration. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) mainly sustain immunological tolerance, and in this study, the progression of TSG induced liver injury was limited by Tregs. The results of our investigations allow us to preliminarily understand the mechanisms of PM related idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity.

Interaction effects of magnetized water irrigation and wounding stress on Cd phytoremediation effect of Arabidopsis halleri.

In this study, the phytoremediation efficiency of Arabidopsis halleri L. in response to mechanical injury were compared between those irrigated with magnetized water and those irrigated with normal water. Under normal irrigation treatment, wounding stress increased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in A. halleri leaves significantly, by 46.7-86.1% and 39.4-77.4%, respectively, relative to those in the intact tissues. In addition, wounding stresses decreased the content of Cd in leaves by 26.8-52.2%, relative to the control, indicating that oxidative damage in plant tissues was induced by mechanical injury, rather than Cd accumulation. There were no significant differences in MDA and H2O2 between A. halleri irrigated with magnetized water and with normal water under wounding conditions; however, the activities of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the leaves of plants treated with magnetized water were significantly increased by 25.1-56.7%, 47.3-183.6%, and 44.2-109.4%, respectively. Notably, under the magnetic field, the phytoremediation effect of 30% wounded A. halleri nearly returned to normal levels. We find that irrigation with magnetized water is an economical pathway to improve the tolerance of A. halleri to inevitable mechanical injury and may recover its phytoremediation effect.

A Self-Immolative DNA Nanogel Vaccine toward Cancer Immunotherapy.

The development of precisely engineered vehicles for intracellular delivery and the controlled release of payloads remains a challenge. DNA-based nanomaterials offer a promising solution based on the A-T-G-C alphabet-dictated predictable assembly and high programmability. Herein, we present a self-immolative DNA nanogel vaccine, which can be tracelessly released in the intracellular compartments and activate the immune response. Three building blocks with cytosine-rich overhang domains are designed to self-assemble into a DNA nanogel framework with a controlled size. Two oligo agonists and one antigen peptide are conjugated to the building blocks via an acid-labile chemical linker. Upon internalization into acidic endosomes, the formation of i-motif configurations leads to dissociation of the DNA nanogel vaccine. The acid-labile chemical linker is cleaved, releasing the agonists and antigen in their traceless original form to activate antigen-presenting cells and an immune response. This study presents a novel strategy for constructing delivery platforms for intracellularly stimuli-triggered traceless release of therapeutics.

Ecological risk assessment and transmission of soil heavy metals in pastoral areas of the Tibetan plateau based on network environment analysis.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is distinguished by its diverse ecosystems and biodiversity, which are highly dependent on their soil. In this study, a comprehensive analysis was conducted to assess the ecological risks in Maqin County, located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, along with the local background values of soil elements, level of element enrichment, and source appointment of soil elements. The findings show that the background soil element levels in Maqin County were greater than the average soil content values in China. The soils in the study area exhibited pollution levels ranging from weak to moderate. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was employed to successfully categorized soil elements into four sources: F1 (natural sources), F2 (grazing sources), F3 (volcanic and rock fracture sources), and F4 (intrusive and deep rock source). Based on the characteristics of the ecological communities and the network environmental analysis model, ecological risks were directly introduced through vegetation and soil microorganisms, with subsequent transmission to other components of the ecosystem through the food chain. The integrated risks associated with vegetation, herbivores, soil microorganisms, and carnivores were 0.0106, 0.00193, 0.0282, and 0.00132, respectively. Notably, soil microorganisms were found to be the primary contributors to the total ecological risk in the study area. Furthermore, network environmental analysis and human health risk models revealed that F1, F2, F3, and F4 accounted for 16.85 %, 8.90 %, 21.76 %, and 52.49 % of the input risk of vegetation and soil microorganisms, respectively. Particularly, F4 emerged as the largest contributor to human health risks. This study provides valuable information for the preservation of the ecological environment in pastoral areas, contributing to the global promotion of sustainable ecological practices.