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During the pandemic of 2019-nCoV, large public hospitals are facing great challenges. Multi-hospital development will be the main mode of hospital administrative management in China in the future. West China Hospital of Sichuan University implemented multi-hospital integrated management, in which the branch district established the administrative multi-department collaboration mode. As an important part of the operation of branch district, how to effectively organize transportation of staffs and patients and to prevent and control the pandemic of 2019-nCoV simultaneously between different hospitals have been the key and difficult points, which should be solved urgently in the management of the branch district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative splicing (AS) is a critical mechanism for the aberrant biogenesis of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). Although the role of Wnt signaling in AS has been implicated, it remains unclear how it mediates lncRNA splicing during cancer progression. Herein, we identify that Wnt3a induces a splicing switch of lncRNA-DGCR5 to generate a short variant (DGCR5-S) that correlates with poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Upon Wnt3a stimulation, active nuclear β-catenin acts as a co-factor of FUS to facilitate the spliceosome assembly and the generation of DGCR5-S. DGCR5-S inhibits TTP's anti-inflammatory activity by protecting it from PP2A-mediated dephosphorylation, thus fostering tumor-promoting inflammation. Importantly, synthetic splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) disrupt the splicing switch of DGCR5 and potently suppress ESCC tumor growth. These findings uncover the mechanism for Wnt signaling in lncRNA splicing and suggest that the DGCR5 splicing switch may be a targetable vulnerability in ESCC. [Display omitted] • Wnt/β-catenin signaling induces alternative splicing of lncRNA-DGCR5 in ESCC • Active β-catenin promotes FUS-mediated assembly of the spliceosome on DGCR5 RNA • The short DGCR5 drives tumor-promoting inflammation via inhibition of TTP • Splice-switching oligonucleotides targeting DGCR5 suppress ESCC tumor growth Li et al. find that, in Wnt-activated ESCC cells, nuclear β-catenin induces a splicing switch of lncRNA-DGCR5 to inhibit TTP activity, leading to cytokine mRNA stabilization, production, and tumor-promoting inflammation, suggesting that targeting DGCR5 splicing switch is a promising therapeutic strategy against ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change over the past several decades has resulted in shifting rainfall pattern and modifying rainfall intensity, which has exacerbated hydrological processes and added the uncertainty and instability to these processes. This study ascertained impacts of potential future rainfall change on hydrological processes at the Jianfengling (JFL) tropical mountain rainforest watershed in Hainan Island, China using the BASINS (Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources)-HSPF (Hydrological Simulation Program-FORTRAN)-CAT (Climate Assessment Tool) modeling system. The HSPF model was calibrated and validated with available measured data prior to its applications. Three simulation scenarios were then performed to gain a better understanding of the impacts of different rainfall rates and storm intensities on stream discharge, surface water runoff from forest land, and water outflow from the JFL watershed outlet. Results showed that a 10% increase in rainfall rate could result in 1.3 times increase in stream discharge, surface runoff, and water outflow. A potential future wet climate could have profound impacts on hydrological processes at the JFL watershed, whereas a potential future dry climate could result less impacts on stream discharge, surface runoff, and water outflow at the same watershed. Our simulation further revealed that climate change driven by extreme rain storms had greater impacts on annual surface runoff than on annual stream discharge. The coupled CAT-HSPF model is a useful tool to modify historical rainfall data for projecting future rainfall variation impacts on forest hydrological processes due to climate change. This approach would be able to extend to other regions around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalypts have been identified as one of the best feedstocks for bioenergy production due to their fast-growth rate and coppicing ability. However, their water use efficiency along with the adverse environmental impacts is still a controversial issue. In this study, a system dynamic model was developed to estimate the hydrological processes and water use in a eucalyptus urophylla plantation using the STELLA (Structural Thinking and Experiential Learning Laboratory with Animation) software. This model was both calibrated and validated with very good agreements between model predictions and field measurements obtained from our experiment. Two simulation scenarios were employed in this study, one was to quantify the hydrological processes in a eucalypt plantation (40 m × 40 m) under a normal (a base scenario) sandy soil condition, while the other was to estimate the potential impacts of the wet and dry sandy soil conditions upon the eucalyptus water use. A characteristic monthly variation pattern was found for soil evaporation, leaf transpiration, and root uptake, with increasing from winter to summer and decreasing from summer to the following winter. Overall, the rates of evaporation, transpiration, evapotranspiration (ET), and uptake were in the following order: ET > root uptake > leaf transpiration > soil evaporation. The maximum rate of leaf transpiration was about five times greater than that of soil evaporation. The cumulative annual water use by the eucalypts was 690,000 L/plot (or 3200 L/tree). Although no differences in ET rate and water use were found between the base and wet soil conditions, the discernable discrepancies in ET rate and water use were observed between the wet and dry soil conditions when the soil water content was below 0.17 cm 3 /cm 3 . This study suggests that the system dynamic model developed with STELLA is a useful tool to estimate soil hydrological processes and water use in a eucalypt plantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) is a promising technique for removal of excess nutrients and certain pollutants from wastewaters. The aim of this study was to develop a STELLA (structural thinking, experiential learning laboratory with animation) model for estimating phosphorus (P) removal in an artificial VFCW (i.e., a substrate column with six zones) grown with umbrella papyrus ( Cyperus alternifolius ) species under a wetting-to-drying cycle. Simulations showed that rate of soluble P (SP) leaching was highest at the top zone (i.e., Zone 1) and decreased gradually with increasing zone number due to the adsorption, clogging, and plant uptake when the SP flowed through the zones. Our simulations further revealed that the best time for an optimal removal of SP from the wastewater was within the first week because the adsorption capacity of the substrate in the VFCW was highest at this time period. In general, the cumulative amounts of total P (TP) were in the following order: adsorption (53.3%) > leaching (13.5%) > uptake (0.49%). Adsorption of P was a major mechanism for P removal from the VFCW system. This study suggested that the STELLA model developed is a useful tool for estimating P removal from wastewater in VFCWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface water quality in the Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB) and the adjacent Gulf of Mexico has degraded over the past several decades primarily due to deforestation to agricultural lands and the loss of wetlands. This study investigated the benefits of reforestation upon nitrate–nitrogen ( NO 3 − N ) and orthophosphate ( PO 4 3 − ) load reductions in the Lower Yazoo River Watershed (LYRW) within the LMRB using the BASINS-HSPF model. The model was calibrated and validated with available experimental data prior to its applications. Two simulation scenarios were then performed: one was chosen to predict the NO 3 − N and PO 4 3 − loads without reforestation and the other was selected to estimate the impacts of reforestation upon NO 3 − N and PO 4 3 − load reductions following the conversion of 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the agricultural lands (with most lands near or in the batture of the streams) into forests. In general, an increase in forests reduced NO 3 − N and PO 4 3 − loads and occurred because forest soils enriched in organic matter absorb water and nutrients and reduce the surface water runoff. Overall, a two-fold increase in forest land would result in approximately two-fold decrease in annual average NO 3 − N and PO 4 3 − loads. On average, over a 10-year simulation, the specific NO 3 − N and PO 4 3 − load reductions were, respectively, 0.06 and 0.004 ton/ha/y. Although the annual average NO 3 − N and PO 4 3 − loads always decreased with increasing forest land conversion, the optimal specific NO 3 − N and PO 4 3 − load reductions were found at a 75% reduction of agricultural land for the simulation conditions used in this study. Additionally, the annual average NO 3 − N load was about 16 times higher than that of PO 4 3 − in the LYRW. This study suggests that reforestation in or around the batture of streams is a beneficial practice for NO 3 − N and PO 4 3 − load reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Among the world's largest coastal and river basins, the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley (LMRAV) is one of the most disturbed by human activities. This study ascertained the impacts of reforestation on water outflow attenuation (i.e., water flow out of the watershed outlet) and sediment load reduction in the Lower Yazoo River Watershed (LYRW) within the LMRAV using the US-EPA's BASINS-HSPF model. The model was calibrated and validated with available experimental data prior to its application. Two simulation scenarios were then performed: one was chosen to predict the water outflow and sediment load without reforestation and the other was selected to project the potential impacts of reforestation upon water outflow attenuation and sediment load reduction following the conversion of 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the agricultural lands with most lands near or in the batture of the streams. Comparison of the two simulation scenarios (i.e., with and without reforestation) showed that a conversion of agricultural land into forests attenuated water outflow and reduced sediment load. In general, a two-fold increase in forest land area resulted in approximately a two-fold reduction in annual water outflow volume and sediment load mass, which occurred because forests absorb water and reduce surface water runoff and prevent soil erosion. On average, over a 10-year simulation, the specific water outflow attenuation and sediment load reduction were, respectively, 250m3/ha/y and 4.02metric ton/ha/y. Seasonal variations of water outflow attenuation and sediment load reduction occurred with the maximum attenuation/reduction in winter and the minimum attenuation/reduction in summer. Our load duration curve analysis further confirmed that an increase in forest land area reduced the likelihood of a given sediment load out of the watershed outlet. This study suggests that reforestation in or around the batture of streams is a useful practice for water outflow attenuation and sediment load reduction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Homocysteic acid (HCA) induces neurotoxicity in dose- and time-dependent manners. [•] HCA decreases the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, but in a Caspase-3-independent way. [•] HCA induces oxidative stress and decreased the levels of the Nrf2 and HO-1. [•] The toxicity of HCA is attenuated by SP600125. [•] HCA increases the levels of p-c-Jun and p-JNK. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Baffled subsurface-flow constructed wetland (CW) is a new type CW. [•] Very significant correlation exists between the activity of urease and the rate of N removal in this CW. [•] Activity of urease in the CW is an important indicator for N removal from wastewaters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pollution of rivers with excess nutrients due to groundwater discharge, storm water runoff, surface loading, and atmospheric deposition is an increasing environmental concern worldwide. While the storm water runoff and surface loading of nutrients into many rivers have been explored in great detailed, the groundwater discharge of nutrients into the rivers has not yet been thoroughly quantified. This study ascertained the shallow groundwater discharges and nutrient loads into the Lower St. Johns River (LSJR), FL, USA. The groundwater discharges were obtained using Darcy''s law along with field measured hydrological parameters, whereas the groundwater nutrient loads were calculated based on the groundwater discharges and the field measured nutrient concentrations. The average rate of groundwater discharge per unit cross-section area over the four selected sites along the LSJR was about 1.2×10−2 m3 m−2 d−1. The average loads of groundwater nutrients into the adjacent LSJR were 10.6 and 5.6mgm−2 d−1, respectively, for nitrate- and nitrite-nitrogen (NO x -N) and total phosphorus (TP). In general, seasonal variations of the groundwater levels were larger than the river stages, whereas site variations of groundwater nutrient concentrations were larger than seasonal variations of groundwater nutrient concentrations. Results from this study are useful for estimation of groundwater contamination and river eutrophication. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Constructed wetlands are becoming increasingly popular worldwide for removing contaminants from domestic wastewater. This study investigated the removal efficiency of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from wastewater with the simulated vertical-flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) under three different substrates (i.e., BFAS or blast furnace artificial slag, CBAS or coal burn artificial slag, and MSAS or midsized sand artificial slag), hydraulic loading rates (i.e., 7, 14, and 21cmd−1), and wetland operational periods (0.5, 1, and 2 years) as well as with and without planting Canna indica L. The wastewater was collected from the campus of South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China. Results show that the percent removal of total P (TP) and ammonium N (NH4 +-N) by the substrates was BFAS>CBAS>MSAS due to the high contents of Ca and Al in substrate BFAS. In contrast, the percent removal of total N (TN) by the substrates was CBAS>MSAS>BFAS due to the complicated nitrification/denitrification processes. The percent removal of nutrients by all of the substrates was TP>NH4 +-N>TN. About 10% more TN was removed from the wastewater after planting Canna indica L. A lower hydraulic loading rate or longer hydraulic retention time (HRT) resulted in a higher removal of TP, NH4 +-N, and TN because of more contacts and interactions among nutrients, substrates, and roots under the longer HRT. Removal of NO3 −N from the simulated VFCWs is a complex process. A high concentration of NO3 −N in the effluent was observed under the high hydraulic loading rate because more NH4 +-N and oxygen were available for nitrification and a shorter HRT was unfavorable for denitrification. In general, a longer operational period had a highest removal rate for nutrients in the VFCWs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The vertical-flow constructed wetland (VFCW) is a promising engineering technique for removal of excess nutrients and certain pollutants from wastewaters. This study investigated the uptake and removal of total nitrogen (TN) by Cyperus alternifolius from domestic wastewaters in simulated VFCWs. A total of eight simulated VFCW treatments, including two different substrates, two different wet-to-dry ratios, and with and without C. alternifolius species (2×2×2=8), were employed for an operation period of 2 years in this study. Results show that more TN was removed from the influent with the presence of C. alternifolius compared to without this plant species. A linear correlation existed between the aboveground biomass and its TN content. An increase in total biomass by 100g resulted in an increase in TN accumulation in the aboveground biomass by 2.4g. Large amounts of TN were removed by the aboveground biomass compared to those by substrate adsorption. Results suggest that C. alternifolius played a discernable role in removal of TN from wastewaters in the simulated VFCWs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Knowledge of water vapor and carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes in agricultural lands is crucial to estimate carbon and water cycles as well as to investigate global warming potentials. In this study, the continuous wavelet transform technique along with cross-wavelet and wavelet coherence methods was applied to characterize half-hourly CO2 flux (Fc) and water vapor (LE) flux data obtained with the eddy covariance technique in a summer maize field located in the North China Plain. Our motivation was to highlight the multiple time scale properties and to exam the possible connections between the flux exchanges and the concurrent micro- meteorological variations. Results show that both Fc and LE could be characterized by the wavelet coefficients for the time scale ranged from 60–110 days. Peaks of CO2 exchange were corresponded to the in-phase trough points of water vapor flux exchange rates on the 110 day, 64 day and 32 day time scales. Intra-seasonal oscillations in both water and CO2 flux exchanges were associated with the patterns of photosynthetically active radiation, air temperature, vapor pressure deficient, and precipitation. Our study also showed that wavelet transforms had prospect in making a physical explanation of the temporal structure of the flux exchanges between the crop biosphere and atmosphere in response to ambient variables. This study suggests that cross-wavelet analysis and wavelet coherence could be powerful methods for probing the dynamical relationship between the flux exchange and the dominant modes of climate variability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel method, the pressured hydrothermal treatment was proposed to activate phosphorus species to stabilize framework Al of ZSM-5 based upon the nature of the endothermic equilibrium reaction between H 2 O and phosphorus species. As well as low temperature, the introduction of steam or pressured steam could effectively shift the reaction from larger condensed polyphosphate species toward smaller monomer or oligomeric phosphorus species, which were small enough to penetrate channels of ZSM-5 for consecutive stabilization on framework Al. The interaction between phosphorus species and Al was favored at elevated temperature, however too high hydrothermal treatment temperature could lead to further dealumination. It was found that the innovative pressured hydrothermal treatment could improve the distribution of phosphorus species and enhances the interaction between P and Al to enhance hydrothermal stability of ZSM-5 with more acid sites preserved, which showed higher conversion than the conventional phosphorus-impregnated samples, as well as higher yields of propylene and butenes. [Display omitted] • H 2 O favored the formation of smaller phosphorus species to stabilize TFAL. • Pressured hydrothermal treatment improved interaction between P and TFAL. • Pressured hydrothermal treatment preserved more acid sites of ZSM-5 for cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the uptake and transport of soil organic contaminants by plants is crucial to a successful application of phytoremediation technique. This study investigated the removal of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from a contaminated sandy soil by a poplar tree (Populus fastigiata) through the examinations of temporal variations of xylem water potential, leaf water transpiration, and root water and TNT uptake. A dynamic model for Uptake and Translocation of Contaminants from a Soil–Plant ecosystem (UTCSP), developed using the STELLA software package, was modified for the purpose of this study. The model was calibrated using laboratory measurements prior to its application. Simulation results showed that about 25% of TNT was removed from the soil by the poplar tree in 90 days. Simulations further revealed that the rates of water and TNT up taken by roots had a typical diurnal variation pattern: increasing during the day and decreasing during the night, resulting from daily variations of xylem water potentials that were caused by leaf water transpiration. In general, the storage of TNT mass in the roots decreased with time and occurred partially because of the low availability of soil TNT as time elapsed and partially because of the biodegradation of TNT in the plant tissues. This study suggests that the UTCSP model could be a useful tool for estimating phytoremediation of soil TNT by a plant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Computational model, measurement infrastructure, and information technology are currently used to analyze and predict the characteristics and behaviors of complex systems. Most of the computational models used to date, however, only allow data inputs that are fixed when the simulations are launched. These simulation and measurement approaches are serialized and static but not synchronized and cooperative. The lack of capability to simultaneously inject measured data into simulation models limits the dynamic requirements for simulations in response to the real-time changing conditions and therefore is unable to catch the instantaneous reactions and occurrences in nature. Dynamic data driven application system (DDDAS) is a new paradigm in which simulations, measurements, and applications are dynamically integrated, creating new capabilities for a wide range of science and engineering applications. It is a symbiotic feedback control system, which can dynamically employ simulations to guide experimental measurements and to determine when, where, and how to gather additional data, and in reverse, can dynamically steer the simulations based on the experimental measurements, and thereby promising more accurate and precise analyses and predictions. This study presents an overview on recent development and future perspective of the DDDAS. The basic concept and examples of the DDDAS applied to general science, natural sciences, and engineering are given. Suggested areas on implementations of the DDDAS and its limitations are discussed. Synthesis of literature reveals that the DDDAS has great application potentials in many aspects of environmental, agricultural, and ecological practices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Acid rain is a problem of increasing agricultural, environmental, and ecological concerns worldwide. This study investigated impacts of simulated acid rain (SAR) on cation leaching from the Latosol in south China. Latosol is an acidic red soil and occurs in the tropical rainforest biome. Laboratory experiments were performed by leaching the soil columns with the SAR at a pH range from 2. 5 to 7. 0 over a 21-day period. A linear increase in effluent K+ concentration was found at the SAR pH ⩽3. 0, whereas an exponential decrease in effluent Na+ concentration was observed at all levels of the SAR pH. In general, leaching of Ca2+ and Mg2+ from the Latosol increased as the SAR pH decreased. There was a very good nonlinear correlation between the removal of soil K+ and the SAR pH (R 2 =0. 91), a good nonlinear correlation between the removal of soil Mg+2 and the SAR pH (R 2 =0. 83), a fairly good nonlinear correlation between the removal of soil Ca+2 and the SAR pH (R 2 =0. 56), and no correlation between the removal of soil Na+ and the SAR pH (R 2 =0. 06). Our study further revealed that the removal of soil cations such as K+, Ca+2, and Mg+2 can be quantified by the quadratic polynomial equations. In addition, impacts of the SAR on cation leaching depended not only on the SAR pH but also on the original soil pH. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Compact layer in a soil profile may decrease crop yields. One of the major problems is the poor aeration condition within and below the compact layer, resulting in low concentrations of oxygen (O2) that is needed for root growth. A one-dimensional mathematical model was employed to simulate effects of a compact layer on soil O2 diffusion within and below this layer under varying soil water and temperature regimes. Changes in physical conditions in the soil were imposed by daily cycles of incident radiation and periods of rainfall. Resulting rates of water infiltration, redistribution, and evaporation as well as concentrations of O2 as a function of time were obtained. Simulations show that O2 was depleted much faster in the soil with the compact layer than without this layer. The influence of soil water content near the root tip was also examined. High water content in the compact layer may have a detrimental effect on rhizosphere O2 concentration and thereby on root growth through the compact layer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The development of a surface water monitoring network is a critical element in the assessment, restoration, and protection of stream water quality. This study applied principal component analysis (PCA) and principal factor analysis (PFA) techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of the surface water quality-monitoring network in a river where the evaluated variables are monitoring stations. The objective was to identify monitoring stations that are important in assessing annual variations of river water quality. Twenty-two stations used for monitoring physical, chemical, and biological parameters, located at the main stem of the lower St. Johns River in Florida, USA, were selected for the purpose of this study. Results show that 3 monitoring stations were identified as less important in explaining the annual variance of the data set, and therefore could be the non-principal stations. In addition, the PFA technique was also employed to identify important water quality parameters. Results reveal that total organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, total nitrogen, dissolved nitrate and nitrite, orthophosphate, alkalinity, salinity, Mg, and Ca were the parameters that are most important in assessing variations of water quality in the river. This study suggests that PCA and PFA techniques are useful tools for identification of important surface water quality monitoring stations and parameters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The in vitro synthesis of juvenile hormone (JH) by corpora allata (CA) from the lubber grasshopper (Romalea microptera) was stimulated by low concentrations of brain extract and this effect was reduced at higher concentrations, suggesting the presence of allatotropin (AT) and allatostatin (AST) factors in the brain. The AT activity of brain extracts caused a rapid and reversible stimulation and appeared to be a peptide(s). Reversed phase (C18) HPLC analysis of brain extracts disclosed two peaks of AT activity but no significant AST activity. Manse-AT, Schgr-NPF, and Locmi-FLRF had no effect on JH synthesis by lubber CA, indicating that the Rommi-AT factors are distinct from these peptides. High concentrations of Dippu-AST-7 and Grybi-AST-1 inhibited JH synthesis, implying that AST factors might be present in lubber grasshoppers. CA response to AT activity of brain extracts varied during the oviposition cycle (∼35 days), with the maximum response occurring on days 16–18. AT activity of brain extracts also varied during the cycle, being highest on day 25. Our data suggest that the lubber CA is largely regulated by AT activity, and that JH synthesis reflects both CA response to AT activity and the level of AT activity in the brain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley will be warmer and drier in the future. • Crops will require more irrigation water to maintain optimum growth. • We suggested mitigation strategies to improve agriculture sustainability. Abstract Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) is the largest floodplain and one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States. Irrigation is widely used in this region to improve crop production and resource use efficiency due to a mismatch between crop water requirements and precipitation timing and quantity during the growing season. In the recent decades, aquifer decline caused by groundwater withdrawals for irrigation has been recognized as a critical environmental issue threatening water security and agricultural sustainability in the LMAV. To improve agricultural water use efficiency and reduce groundwater withdrawals, it is pivotal to understand the spatiotemporal patterns of crop irrigation water requirements (IWR). In this study, we analyzed future climate changes over the LMAV cropland areas and estimated future IWR changes for major crops in the 21st century using two climate scenarios (i.e. RCP45 and RCP85) and two crop growth duration length (GDL) scenarios [i.e. Fixed GDL (GDL does not change with time) and Varied GDL (GDL changes with time)]. Results show that croplands in the LMAV would experience continuous warming, and either no significant change or a decreasing level of precipitation under the RCP45 and the RCP85. If keeping current cropland areas and cropping systems unchanged, average crop IWR by the end of the 21st century would increase by 4.2% under the RCP45 + Varied GDL scenario, 14.5% under the RCP45 + Fixed GDL scenario, 9.2% under the RCP85 + Varied GDL scenario, and 29.4% under the RCP85 + Fixed GDL scenario. The greatest increases would occur in the summer months. Aquifer levels in the LMAV, therefore, are expected to decline at an accelerated pace if no effective mitigation strategies are implemented. This study made the first attempt to reveal the spatially-explicit crop IWR and its future changes in the LMAV, which provides a scientific basis for developing management strategies that can enhance water use efficiency and improve agriculture sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garcinia mangostana L. (Mangosteen) has been used to treat various pathological conditions, including inflammation and urinary tract infections. Here, we observed that garcinone D, a natural xanthone from mangosteen, promoted the proliferation of C17.2 neural progenitor cells and also resulted in a larger percentage of cells in S phase compared with the control group. Moreover, garcinone D increased the protein levels of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) and Cyclin D1 in concentration- and time- dependent manners. Garcinone D also increased the protein levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in concentration- and time- dependent manners, and inhibiting Nrf2 activation by brusatol could partly reverse garcinone D-induced C17.2 cell proliferation. Taken together, it is the first time to show that garcinone D promotes the proliferation of C17.2 neural stem cells, which may involve the STAT3/Cyclin D1 pathway and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. It would provide new inspiration to develop garcinone D as a lead compound to promote the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer, which underlies the Big Sunflower River Watershed (BSRW), is the most heavily used aquifer in Mississippi. Because the aquifer is primarily used for irrigating crops such as corn, cotton, soybean, and rice, the water levels have been declining rapidly over the past few decades. The objectives of this study are to analyze the relationship and interactions between evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge rates in the BSRW, and model the effects of various crop rotation practices on groundwater storage and recharge. The model performed well during the calibration period ( R 2 = 0.53–0.68 and NSE = 0.49–0.66) and validation period ( R 2 = 0.55–0.75 and NSE = 0.49–0.72) for daily streamflow, which was achieved by the SUFI-2 auto-calibration algorithm in the SWAT-CUP package. The model also performed well in simulating seasonal water table depth fluctuations during calibration ( R 2 = 0.76 and NSE = 0.71) and validation ( R 2 = 0.86 and NSE = 0.79). This study demonstrated a seasonal relationship between evapotranspiration and groundwater storage and recharge in the BSRW SWAT model. In general, groundwater storage decreased during the summer months while ET rates were high, and increased during the winter and spring months when ET rates were low. The crop rotation scenarios that include rice planting resulted in the lowest groundwater storage (down to −10.7%) compared to the baseline crop scenario, which is due to the high irrigation rates of the rice crop. However, the rice crop rotations resulted in the highest increases of groundwater recharge rates (up to +60.1%), likely because of the response to the deficiency of groundwater needed for irrigation as well as the limited water uptake by the rice crop. The crop rotations with corn and cotton resulted in the largest increases in groundwater storage (up to +27.2%), which is the result of the low irrigation rates as well as the short time period for irrigation applications. The results of this study are expected to aid farmers and watershed managers to conserve groundwater resources, but still maintain crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a crucial role in the immune escape mechanisms that limit the efficacy of immunotherapeutic strategies. In the tumor microenvironment, NLRP3 inflammasome-driven Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production serves to dampen antitumor immune responses, promoting tumor growth, progression, and immunosuppression. In this study, we revealed that gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with a size of 30 nm disrupted NLRP3 inflammasome, but not other inflammasomes, in bone marrow-derived macrophages through abrogating NLRP3-NEK7 interactions mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided insights into the mechanism underlying the exceptional ROS scavenging capabilities of Au NPs. Additionally, when coupled with H6, a small peptide targeting MDSCs, Au NPs demonstrated the capacity to effectively reduce IL-1β levels and diminish the MDSCs population in tumor microenvironment, leading to enhanced T cell activation and increased immunotherapeutic efficacy in mouse tumor models that are sensitive and resistant to PD-1 inhibition. Our findings unraveled a novel approach wherein peptide-modified Au NPs relieved the suppressive impact of the tumor microenvironment by inhibiting MDSCs-mediated IL-1β release, which is the first time reported the employing a nanostrategy at modulating MDSCs to reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment and may hold promise as a potential therapeutic agent for cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Samples Beta-S(X%) synthesized with crosslinked starch display larger particle size. • Samples Beta-S(X%) contain fewer external silanol groups and higher B/L acid ratio. Samples Beta-S(X%) modified by phosphorus present higher hydrothermal stability. • The modified samples present higher property in the catalytic cracking reaction. Zeolite Beta was directly synthesized by the hydrothermal method with crosslinked starch successfully. When the crosslinked starch was added, the zeolite Beta displayed a larger particle size, fewer external silanol groups, higher ratio of FAl/EFAl (tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum/octrahedral-coordinated non-framework aluminum), and higher B/L acid ratio (the ratio of Brönsted acid sites/Lewis acid sites) in comparison with the zeolite Beta-0 synthesized without crosslinked starch. And the zeolite Beta synthesized with crosslinked starch treated by phosphorus modification (P-Beta-S(X%)-SA and CAT-S) presented higher hydrothermal stability after hydrothermal treatment at 820 °C under 100% steam for 17 h. In the catalytic cracking reactions of light diesel oil and heavy oil, P-Beta-S(X%)-SA and CAT-S provided remarkably enhanced activity and higher gasoline and butene yield. The mechanism of synthesis of zeolite Beta synthesized with crosslinked starch was also shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]