Expanding China's protected areas network to enhance resilience of climate connectivity.

Expanding the network of connected and resilient protected areas (PAs) for climate change adaptation can help species track suitable climate conditions and safeguard biodiversity. This is often overlooked when expanding PAs and quantifying their benefits, resulting in an underestimate of the benefits of expanding PAs. We expanded PAs through terrestrial mammalian species distribution hotspots, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), and wilderness areas. Then, we constructed climate connectivity networks using a resistance-based approach and further quantified the network resilience to propose resilient climate response strategies in China. The results showed that existing PAs suffered from location biases with important biodiversity areas. The existing PAs represented about half of the KBAs and wilderness areas, yet only 12.08% of terrestrial mammalian species distribution hotspots were located within existing PAs. Compared with the existing PA network, the network efficiency and resilience of the expanded PAs' climate connectivity increased to 1.80 times and 1.78 times, respectively. With 56% of the nodes remaining, the network efficiency of the expanded PAs was equivalent to that of the existing PAs with all nodes. The network resilience of preferentially protecting and restoring low human footprint patches was approximately 1.5-2 times that of the random scenario. These findings highlighted that confronted with the unoptimistic situation of global warming, nature conservation based on existing PAs was no longer optimal. It was critical to construct a connected and resilient conservation network relying on both important biodiversity areas and low human footprint patches.

Exploring Cognitive Behavioral Aspects in Educational Psychology: A Rigorous Analysis of Reliability and Validity Measures.

The purpose of this study is to verify the reliability and effectiveness of an educational psychology scale, which is explored by using the methods of literature, interview, questionnaire survey and mathematical statistics. The research object is the education psychology data of undergraduate students in local undergraduate colleges and universities.The data are collected and analyzed through the scale. The results show that the educational psychology scale contains six dimensions, including self-efficacy, learning motivation, hope trait, psychological resilience, physical self-esteem and emotional management, with a total of 27 items. The kmo sampling appropriateness of the scale is 0.800. The load of six dimensions in the total amount table is between 0.58 and 0.73. The fitting coefficient of each item of the structural model is between 0.45-0.73, and the correlation between each dimension and the total table is between 0.24-0.52. Scale cronbach's α The coefficient was 0.83 and the test-retest reliability was 0.90. The content validity of the scale ranged from 0.554 to 0.775. The scale has good reliability and validity, and can be used to evaluate undergraduate students' educational psychology.

Plasma Membrane (PM) H+-ATPase Mediates Rhizosphere Acidification and Regulates Herbicide Imazethapyr Toxicity in Wheat.

The plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase is crucial for a plant defense system. However, there is currently no consensus on whether the PM H+-ATPase plays a role in alleviating the toxic effects of herbicides on nontarget plants. We found that under the herbicide imazethapyr (IM) exposure, PM H+-ATPase activity in wheat roots increased by approximately 69.53%, leading to rhizosphere acidification. When PM H+-ATPase activity is inhibited, the toxicity of IM significantly increases: When exposed to IM alone, the total Fe content of wheat roots decreased by 29.07%, the relative Fe2+ content increased by 27.75%, and the ROS content increased by 27.74%. When the PM H+-ATPase activity was inhibited, the corresponding data under IM exposure were 37.36%, 215%, and 57.68%, respectively. This work delves into the role of PM H+-ATPase in mediating the detoxification mechanism in plants exposed to herbicides, offering new insights into enhancing crop resistance against herbicides.

Reducing transmission of high-risk antibiotic resistance genes in whole-crop corn silage through lactic acid bacteria inoculation and increasing ensiling temperature.

The microbial hosts of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) found epiphytically on plant materials could grow and flourish during silage fermentation. This study employed metagenomic analysis and elucidated the occurrence and transmission mechanisms of ARGs and their microbial hosts in whole-crop corn silage inoculated with homofermentative strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum or heterofermentative strain Lentilactobacillus buchneri ensiled under different temperature (20 and 30 °C). The results revealed that the corn silage was dominated by Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Lentilactobacillus, and Latilactobacillus. Both the ensiling temperature and inoculation had greatly modified the silage microbiota. However, regardless of the ensiling temperature, L. buchneri had significantly higher ARGs, while it only exhibited significantly higher mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in low temperature treatments. The microbial community of the corn silage hosted highly diverse form of ARGs, which were primarily MacB, RanA, bcrA, msbA, TetA (58), and TetT and mainly corresponded to macrolides and tetracyclines drug classes. Plasmids were identified as the most abundant MGEs with significant correlation with some high-risk ARGs (tetM, TolC, mdtH, and NorA), and their abundances have been reduced by ensiling process. Furthermore, higher temperature and L. buchneri reduced abundances of high-risk ARGs by modifying their hosts and reduced their transmission in the silage. Therefore, ensiling, L. buchneri inoculation and higher storage temperature could improve the biosafety of corn silage.

GMOIT: a tool for effective screening of genetically modified crops.

BACKGROUND: Advancement in agricultural biotechnology has resulted in increasing numbers of commercial varieties of genetically modified (GM) crops worldwide. Though several databases on GM crops are available, these databases generally focus on collecting and providing information on transgenic crops rather than on screening strategies. To overcome this, we constructed a novel tool named, Genetically Modified Organisms Identification Tool (GMOIT), designed to integrate basic and genetic information on genetic modification events and detection methods. RESULTS: At present, data for each element from 118 independent genetic modification events in soybean, maize, canola, and rice were included in the database. Particularly, GMOIT allows users to customize assay ranges and thus obtain the corresponding optimized screening strategies using common elements or specific locations as the detection targets with high flexibility. Using the 118 genetic modification events currently included in GMOIT as the range and algorithm selection results, a "6 + 4" protocol (six exogenous elements and four endogenous reference genes as the detection targets) covering 108 events for the four crops was established. Plasmids pGMOIT-1 and pGMOIT-2 were constructed as positive controls or calibrators in qualitative and quantitative transgene detection. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a simple, practical tool for selecting, detecting, and screening strategies for a sustainable and efficient application of genetic modification.

Elevated liver enzymes in the first trimester are associated with gestational diabetes mellitus: A prospective cohort study.

AIMS: Previous studies have found that a single liver enzyme may predict gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but the results have been inconsistent. This study aimed to explore the associations of liver enzymes in early pregnancy with risk of GDM, as well as to independently rank risk factors. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 1295 women who underwent liver enzyme measurements during early pregnancy and completed GDM assessment in mid-pregnancy. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between liver enzymes and risk of GDM. Back-propagation artificial neural network was performed to rank independently risk factors of GDM. RESULTS: Women diagnosed with GDM exhibited significantly higher levels of liver enzymes than those without GDM (all p < 0.05). The highest quartile of liver enzymes was associated with higher risk of GDM compared with the lowest quartile, with adjusted odds ratio (ORs) ranging from 2.76 to 8.11 (all p < 0.05). Moreover, the ORs of GDM increased linearly with liver enzymes level (all P for overall association <0.001). Furthermore, Back-propagation artificial neural network identified γ-gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) as accounting for the highest proportion in the ranking of GDM risk prediction weights (up to 20.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Single or total elevations of liver enzymes in early pregnancy could predict the GDM occurrence, in which GGT, alkaline Phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase were the three most important independent risk factors.

Effects of antibiotics on secondary metabolism and oxidative stress in oilseed rape seeds.

Cruciferae brassica oilseed rape is the third largest oilseed crop in the world and the first in China, as well as a fertilizer-dependent crop. With the increased application of organic fertilizers from livestock manure in agricultural production in recent years, the resulting antibiotic pollution and its ecological health effects have attracted widespread attention. In this study, typical tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics tetracycline (TC) and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) were used to investigate the effects of antibiotics on rapeseed quality and oxidative stress at the level of secondary metabolism on the basis of examining the effects of the two drugs on the growth of soil-cultivated rapeseed seedlings. The results showed that both plant height and biomass of rapeseed seedlings were significantly suppressed and ROS were significantly induced in rapeseed by exposure to high concentrations (2.5 mg/kg) of TC and SMZ. Carotenoids, tocopherols, and SOD enzymes were involved in the oxidative stress response to scavenge free radicals in rapeseed, but phenolic acids and flavonoids contents were decreased, which reduced the quality of the seeds to some extent.

Effects of inoculation and dry matter content on microbiome dynamics and metabolome profiling of sorghum silage.

Sorghum forage was ensiled for 90 days at two dry matter (DM) contents (27 vs. 39%) without or with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum inoculation. On day 90 of fermentation, silages were sampled to assess the microbial community dynamics and metabolome profile. L. plantarum inoculation improved silage quality, as shown by a lower pH and greater acetic acid concentration. Loss of DM remained unaffected by L. plantarum inoculation but was greater in low- vs. high-DM sorghum silages (14.4 vs. 6.62%). The microbiome analysis revealed that Pseudomonas congelans represented the dominant species of the epiphytic microbiota in both low- and high-DM sorghum forage before ensiling. However, L. buchneri represented the dominant species at the end of ensiling. Ensiling fermentation resulted in distinct metabolic changes in silages with varying DM content. In low-DM silages, ensiling fermentation led to the accumulation of 24 metabolites and a reduction in the relative concentration of 13 metabolites. In high-DM silages, ensiling fermentation resulted in an increase in the relative concentration of 26 metabolites but a decrease in the concentration of 8 metabolites. Compared to non-inoculated silages, L. plantarum inoculation resulted in an increased concentration of 3 metabolites and a reduced concentration of 5 metabolites in low-DM silages. Similarly, in high-DM silages, there was an elevation in the relative concentration of 3 metabolites, while a decrease in 7 other metabolites. Ten metabolites with bio-functional activity were identified, including chrysoeriol, isorhamnetin, petunidin 3-glucoside, apigenin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, trans-cinnamic acid, herniarin, and 3,4-dihydroxy-trans-cinnamate. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of microbiome and metabolome profiling of sorghum forage during ensiling as a function of DM content and L. plantarum inoculation, with a particular emphasis on identifying metabolites that may possess bio-functional properties. KEY POINTS: • DM loss was not different by L. plantarum but higher in low- vs. high-DM silage. • L. buchneri dominated ensiling, regardless of DM level. • 10 metabolites with bio-functional activity were identified.

Comparative phylogenetic analysis of the mediator complex subunit in asparagus bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedialis) and its expression profile under cold stress.

BACKGROUND: The mediator complex subunits (MED) constitutes a multiprotein complex, with each subunit intricately involved in crucial aspects of plant growth, development, and responses to stress. Nevertheless, scant reports pertain to the VunMED gene within the context of asparagus bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedialis). Establishing the identification and exploring the responsiveness of VunMED to cold stress forms a robust foundation for the cultivation of cold-tolerant asparagus bean cultivars. RESULTS: Within this study, a comprehensive genome-wide identification of VunMED genes was executed in the asparagus bean cultivar 'Ningjiang3', resulting in the discovery of 36 distinct VunMED genes. A phylogenetic analysis encompassing 232 MED genes from diverse species, including Arabidopsis, tomatoes, soybeans, mung beans, cowpeas, and asparagus beans, underscored the highly conserved nature of MED gene sequences. Throughout evolutionary processes, each VunMED gene underwent purification and neutral selection, with the exception of VunMED19a. Notably, VunMED9/10b/12/13/17/23 exhibited structural variations discernible across four cowpea species. Divergent patterns of temporal and spatial expression were evident among VunMED genes, with a prominent role attributed to most genes during early fruit development. Additionally, an analysis of promoter cis-acting elements was performed, followed by qRT-PCR assessments on roots, stems, and leaves to gauge relative expression after exposure to cold stress and subsequent recovery. Both treatments induced transcriptional alterations in VunMED genes, with particularly pronounced effects observed in root-based genes following cold stress. Elucidating the interrelationships between subunits involved a preliminary understanding facilitated by correlation and principal component analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study elucidates the pivotal contribution of VunMED genes to the growth, development, and response to cold stress in asparagus beans. Furthermore, it offers a valuable point of reference regarding the individual roles of MED subunits.

Prevalence and modifiable risk factors of cognitive frailty in patients with chronic heart failure in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive frailty (CF) is currently a significant issue, and most of the associated factors discovered in current studies are not modifiable. Therefore, it is crucial to identify modifiable risk factors that can be targeted for interventions in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and modifiable risk factors of CF in CHF patients in China. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we sequentially enrolled patients diagnosed with CHF. CF served as the dependent variable, assessed through the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Scale and the FRAIL Scale. The independent variable questionnaire encompassed various components, including general demographic information, the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), the Simplified Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify independent factors contributing to CF. RESULTS: A total of 271 patients with CHF were included in the study. The overall prevalence of CF was found to be 49.4%, with 28.8% of patients exhibiting potentially reversible cognitive frailty and 20.7% showing reversible cognitive frailty. Among middle-young CHF patients, 10.7% had reversible cognitive frailty and 6.4% had potentially reversible cognitive frailty, with a prevalence of CF at 17.1%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that body mass index (OR = 0.826, 95%CI = 0.726-0.938), blood pressure level (OR = 2.323, 95%CI = 1.105-4.882), nutrition status (OR = 0.820, 95%CI = 0.671-0.979), and social support (OR = 0.745, 95%CI = 0.659-0.842) were independent factors associated with CF (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a relatively high prevalence of CF among Chinese patients diagnosed with CHF. Many factors including BMI, blood pressure level, nutrition status, and social support emerging as modifiable risk factors associated with CF. We propose conducting clinical trials to assess the impact of modifying these risk factors. The outcomes of this study offer valuable insights for healthcare professionals, guiding them in implementing effective measures to improve the CF status in CHF patients during clinical practice.

Current Status and Influencing Factors of Secondary Traumatic Stress in Emergency and Intensive Care nurses:A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Objective: Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is stress caused by helping or wanting to help someone who has suffered a traumatic event. STS has adverse effects on nurses and their work, such as reduced career achievement, an increased staff turnover rate, inability to complete work, avoidance of contact with patients, mental exhaustion, negative emotions which seriously affect the quality of their work and life. The study to investigate secondary traumatic stress in emergency and intensive care nurses and analyze factors that influence it. Material and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey. Convenience sampling was used to select hospital emergency and intensive care department nurses (n=434) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from August to October 2021 to participate in this study. They provided demographic data and completed measures of secondary traumatic stress, emotional intelligence, anxiety and depression. Data analysis included independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Almost one-third (30.7%) of participants were at moderate risk for Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale or above, with high average scores on measures of anxiety (GAD-7 average = 6.05 ± 4.13), and depression (PHQ-9 average = 6.35 ± 4.85). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the average daily amount of sleep in the past week, the number of night shifts in the past month, emotional intelligence, anxiety, and depression influenced secondary traumatic stress, explaining 70.8% of the variance. Conclusion: The STS of emergency and intensive care nurses in Changzhou is at a high level. Sleep time, number of night shifts and emotional intelligence are related to secondary traumatic stress and anxiety and depression significantly predicted the degree of secondary traumatic stress. Nurses need to master effective treatment methods for secondary traumatic stress, to improve their work efficiency and nursing quality and ensure nursing safety.

Mechanisms Underlying Allelopathic Disturbance of Herbicide Imazethapyr on Wheat and Its Neighboring Ryegrass (Lolium perenne).

As representatives of allelopathy, weeds consistently coexist with crops, exhibiting mutual growth inhibition. At the same time, herbicides are usually employed to control weeds. However, few studies have investigated how herbicides will affect allelopathy between crops and their neighboring weeds. Our findings suggested that allelopathic-induced phenotypic variations in ryegrass were reduced in the presence of the herbicide imazethapyr (IM), consistent with the antioxidant system analysis results. Additionally, IM affected the levels of allelochemical hydroxamic acid (Hx) in both plants. Hydroponic experiments revealed that this impact was due to the accelerated transportation of Hx from wheat to ryegrass, driven by ryegrass-secreted jasmonic acid. This study holds paramount significance for comprehending the effects of herbicides on the allelopathic interactions between nontargeted crops and neighboring weeds, contributing to an enhanced understanding of herbicides on plant species interactions.

Characteristic profiling of soluble factors in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurosyphilis.

BACKGROUND: Soluble inflammatory factors have been investigated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of neurosyphilis patients with low-throughput technology. This study aimed to illustrate the characteristics of soluble factors profiles in CSF of neurosyphilis patients. METHODS: We measured the concentrations of 45 cytokines/chemokines/growth factors in CSF from 112 untreated syphilis cases, including latent syphilis (LS), asymptomatic neurosyphilis (ANS), meningeal neurosyphilis (MNS), meningovascular neurosyphilis (MVNS), paralytic dementia (PD) and ocular syphilis (OS). RESULTS: Thirty-three differentially expressed soluble factors (DeSFs) were categorized into three clusters. DeSFs scores of cluster 1 and 2 (DeSFS1 and DeSFS2) were positively correlated with elevated neopterin and neurofilament light subunit (NF-L) concentration, respectively. DeSFs scores of cluster 3 were positively correlated with WBC, protein, NF-L and neopterin. Patients with LS, ANS, and OS exhibited an overall lower abundance of DeSFs. PD patients exhibited significantly increased levels of cluster 1 and 3, and the highest total DeSFs score, while patients with MNS and MVNS showed enhanced levels of cluster 2. ROC analysis revealed that DeSFS1 effectively discriminated PD, and DeSFS2 discriminated MNS/MVNS with high accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with neurosyphilis at different stages have distinctive patterns of soluble factors in CSF, which are correlated with immune status and neuronal damage.

Three Novel Rhodamine 6G-Based Colorimetric and Fluorescent pH Switches.

Three rhodamine 6G derivatives (REHA, RETA and REDA) were designed and synthesized by connecting rhodamine 6G and 3-methyl-2-thiophenal with hydrazine hydrate, ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine, respectively. In CH3CN/H2O (50/50, v/v), the absorbance of REHA, RETA and REDA at 528 nm was suddenly enhanced by 3.2, 3.8 and 7.2 times within the pH range of 3.03-2.31, 3.05-2.32 and 3.06-2.34, respectively, and the solution changed from colorless to pink. Meanwhile, the maximal fluorescence intensity sharply increased by 53.9, 26.6 and 24.9 times in the pH range of 3.86-3.46, 3.88-3.47 and 3.89-3.48, respectively, and the solution changed from dark to bright yellow-green fluorescence. REHA, RETA and REDA can act as highly selective and sensitive colorimetric and fluorescent pH switches with good recyclability and anti-interference ability. The response mechanism of REHA, RETA and REDA to pH was studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy, and their application in indicating small pH changes in dyeing wastewater was investigated.

Molecular level unveils anion exchange membrane fouling induced by natural organic matter via XDLVO and molecular simulation.

Membrane fouling, critically determined by the interplay of interfacial interaction between foulant and membrane, is a critical impediment that limits application extension of electrodialysis (ED) process. In this study, the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) model and molecular simulation were performed to quantify the interaction energy barrier for revealing anion exchange membranes (AEMs) fouling mechanisms of calcium ions coexisted with natural organic matter (NOM) (sodium alginate, humic acid, and bovine serum albumin). The insight gained from DMol3 module was also utilized to interpret the adhesion process of NOM at the molecular level. The interaction energy suggested that the presence of Ca-NOM complex magnify the adhesion on the surface cavities of AEMs structures. The molecular simulation and XDLVO presented a good agreement in predicting the fouling trajectory based on the experimental findings. The short-path acid-base interaction exerted a predominant influence on exploring the fouling formation process. In addition, the sodium alginate displayed more stable adhesion behavior through calcium ions bridges stimuli than humic acid and bovine serum albumin. In particular, the molecular simulation calculations exhibited a superior level of concurrence with colloid growth of membrane fouling. Combined XDLVO theory with DMol3 model proposed a new approach to understand membrane fouling mechanisms in ED process.

A 1,8-naphthimide-based Fluorescent Probe for Analyzing DMF/H2O Composition.

A novel 1,8-naphthalimide fluorescent probe (BNAS) containing 2-thiopheneethylamine moiety was designed and synthesized for analyzing the composition of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)/deionized water (H2O) mixtures. With the increase of DMF content, the fluorescence of the system was enhanced from dark to bright yellow-green. Taking 15% (volume) DMF content as the dividing point, the fluorescence intensity of the system at 535 nm showed two good linear relationships with the DMF content 1-15% and 15-99%, based on which the composition of the DMF/H2O mixtures with a volume ratio of 1/99-99/1 could be quickly and efficiently analyzed with high selectivity and sensitivity. BNAS can be applied in real sample assay and further be loaded onto filter paper to make a portable sensor. The mechanism of BNAS response to DMF/H2O composition was also explored.

Patulin induces ROS-dependent cardiac cell toxicity by inducing DNA damage and activating endoplasmic reticulum stress apoptotic pathway.

Patulin (PAT) is one of the mycotoxins commonly found in agricultural products and fruits, and has obvious toxic effects on animals and humans. PAT has been found to cause myocardial toxicity and oxidative damage, but the mechanism of myocardial toxicity remained to be elucidated. We investigated the toxic effects and potential mechanisms of PAT on human cardiomyocytes and explored the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on them. The study showed that treatment with PAT for 24 h decreased cell viability and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and increased ROS and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. Moreover, in addition to detecting increased γ-H2AX expression and observing nuclear damage, the comet assay also showed increased DNA tail distance in the PAT-treated group, followed by an increase in phosphorylation of the p53 protein and p21 protein expression, and a decrease in CDK1 and Cyclin B1 protein expression, and G2/M phase arrest. In addition, PAT induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and induced apoptosis, as evidenced by Ca2+ increase, ER enlargement and swelling, and upregulation of ERS-related genes and proteins expression, and increased expression of three apoptotic pathway proteins under ERS, including CHOP, JNK, and caspase-12. Meanwhile, N-acetylcysteine (NAC, a ROS scavenger) reversed the negative effects of PAT treatment on cells. These results clarify that excessive ROS production by PAT-treated AC16 cells not only causes DNA damage, leading to cell cycle arrest, but also causes ERS, which triggers apoptotic pathways to cause apoptosis.

Atorvastatin exerts dual effects of lesion regression and ovarian protection in the prevention and treatment of endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a frequent, chronic, estrogen-dependent and inflammatory gynecological disease leading to pain and infertility. Clinical and metabolic studies reveal that patients with endometriosis are susceptible to hyperlipemia and lipid dysfunction, putting them at ascending risk of cardiovascular diseases. Statins constitute a group of cholesterol-lowering drugs with pleiotropic effects. A plethora of researches have proved their ability to inhibit the growth of ectopic lesions in endometriosis. However, concerns exist about their possible adverse effects on ovarian function. This study aimed to investigate the possible effect of atorvastatin on the ovarian endocrine function and fertility capacity in the prevention and treatment of endometriosis. Here, 5 mg/kg atorvastatin was intraperitoneally injected to the endometriosis mice once a day for consecutive fourteen days during and after the development of endometriotic implants. The results indicated that atorvastatin not only led to regression of the ectopic lesions, but also caused no discernible harm to the ovary for both the preventive and the therapeutic models. In addition, it elicited a protective effect on the ovarian reserve and fertility possibly by reducing inflammation in the ovary. Hence, atorvastatin could be a promising drug for endometriosis prevention and treatment.

Facile preparation of Au-loaded mesoporous In2O3 nanoparticles with improved ethanol sensing performance.

The in situ monitoring of toxic volatile organic compound gases using metal oxide-based gas sensors is still challenging. Herein, mesoporous In2O3 nanoparticles, assembled using smaller nanoparticles, were synthesized via a facile solvothermal method and used to load Au nanoparticles to prepare mesoporous Au/In2O3 for ethanol detection. The obtained In2O3 and Au/In2O3 were meticulously analysed by XRD, SEM, BET, TEM and XPS techniques. It was revealed that Au nanoparticles were uniformly distributed on mesoporous In2O3 nanoparticles. Notably, the obtained mesoporous 1% Au/In2O3 is highly sensitive to ethanol gas at an optimal working temperature of 180 °C, showing a response of 55 to 50 ppm of ethanol, which is considerably higher compared to that of In2O3 nanoparticles. The significantly enhanced sensitivity results from the electronic and chemical sensitization effects of Au nanoparticles. Moreover, the mesoporous Au/In2O3 nanoparticles also showed eminent selectivity, short response/recovery time, low detection limit, good linear relationship, superb repeatability, and wonderful long-term stability, suggesting that Au/In2O3 nanoparticles have great potential application for in situ monitoring of ethanol gas.

Regarding reference state to identify priority areas for ecological restoration in a karst region.

Widespread degradation of natural ecosystems around the globe has resulted in several ecological problems. Ecological restoration is considered a global priority as an important means of mitigating ecosystem degradation and enhancing ecosystem services provision. Regarding ecosystem reference state is a prerequisite for ecological restoration. However, there were few studies focusing on how to regard reference state for ecological restoration, especially under a changing climate. Taking Guizhou Province, a typical karst region in China, as a case study area, in this study we firstly assessed ecosystem services under homogeneous climate conditions. Secondly, we defined the optimal ecosystem services as ecosystem reference state, and then evaluated restoration suitability under a comprehensive framework. Finally, ecological restoration priority areas (EPRAs), which included ecological reconstruction areas, assisted regeneration areas and conservation priority areas needing restoration, were identified by integrating restoration suitability and conservation priority areas. The results showed that the services of water conservation and habitat maintenance only increased less than 10% from 2001 to 2018. Identified ecological reconstruction areas and assisted regeneration areas covered 1078 km2 and 1159 km2 respectively. Additionally, 15 conservation priority areas with the total area of 18,507 km2 were identified as conservation priority areas needing restoration. Accounting for 11.78% of the total area, ERPAs were mostly located in the eastern part of Guizhou, including Qiandongnan, Tongren, and Zunyi. The approach proposed here for regarding ecosystem reference state after controlling climate variables and the framework for identifying ERPAs can provide a scientific reference for large-scale ecological restoration planning.