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Mangrove plantation is a fundamental approach for the sustainable management of tropical and subtropical coasts to capture and store atmospheric carbon. However, it is unknown whether the carbon accumulation potential of planted mangroves is as much as that of natural mangroves. Moreover, the effects of tree species, forest age, and hydrodynamic conditions on carbon storage are still unclear. This study investigated the carbon storage potential and influencing factors for planted mangroves in Kaozhouyang, Huidong County, Guangdong Province. The Vegetation carbon stock was calculated by community parameters collected from field investigation, and ecosystem carbon stock was calculated by the sum of vegetation and sediment. The results showed that mangrove plantation significantly increased the carbon stock of the vegetation and soil (vegetation carbon stock = 9.9645.06 t C/ha; soil carbon stock = 70.37-110.64 t C/ha) compared with the nonvegetation mudflat (63.73 t C/ha). However, the ecosystem carbon stock of the planting sites was still lower than that of natural Avicennia marina (282.86 t C/ha), with the significant difference mainly reflected on the soil carbon stock (p < 0.05). Further results revealed that carbon accumulation was affected by forest age, tree species, and tidal level. The vegetation biomass/carbon stock gradually increased with forest age (p < 0.05), but the difference was not significant for soil carbon stock, which indicated that the carbon accumulation was mainly concentrated on the vegetation at the early stage of mangrove restoration. In addition, suitable habitat conditions (landward) and fast-growing species (Sonneratia apetala) are more beneficial to carbon accumulation. Our results suggest that mangrove plantations can achieve carbon storage and sequestration in vegetation and soil for increasing carbon sinks with suitable species selection and management.

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

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

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

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

Molybdenum alloy bars with the different ZrO2 mass fraction were prepared by powder metallurgy process. The effects of ZrO2 mass fraction on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the molybdenum alloys were studied by tensile mechanical properties test, hardness test, and optical microscope analysis. The results show that, the grain size of the molybdenum alloys is refined by the addition of ZrO2. With the increase of the ZrO2 mass fraction, the hardness and tensile strength at room temperature of molybdenum zirconia alloys increase gradually. When the mass fraction of ZrO2 is 2.5%, the hardness reaches the highest value as HV10 240, and the tensile strength reaches the maximum value as 820 MPa.

HfC particles with the mass fraction of 0, 0.25%, 0.50% and 1.00% were added into the titanium zirconium molybdenum (TZM) alloy powders, respectively. The composite reinforced molybdenum alloys were prepared by the powder metallurgy combined with the rolling deformation. The effects of the HfC particles on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the TZM alloys were studied by the metallographic analysis, the scanning electron microscopy, the energy spectrum analysis, and the mechanical properties tests. The results show that, the addition of HfC particles can inhibit the growth of TZM grains during the sintering process, however, when the mass fraction of HfC particles exceeds 0.50%, the inhibitory effect is weakened. When the mass fraction of HfC particles is 0.25%, the TZM alloys show the strongest tensile strength at room temperature and high temperature, the highest Vickers hardness, and the best plasticity.

Tungsten rhenium alloy is widely used in aerospace, weapon electronics, and other high-temperature fields. W25Re alloy bars were prepared by powder metallurgy combined with the rolling deformation process. The mechanical properties of W25Re alloy were studied. The results show that rolled W25Re alloy bars have excellent mechanical properties. The tensile strength at room temperature is up to 1650 MPa and the elongation is 15%. As temperature increases, the tensile strength of W25Re alloy decreases rapidly, and the elongation first increases and then decreases. However, at 2000 °C, the tensile strength of more than 200 MPa and elongation of 16% can still be maintained. The fracture morphology shows that the dimples disappear and dynamic recrystallization occurs at 1600 °C and that the grain grows further at 2000 °C. The analysis shows that with increasing temperature, the increasing grain size and decreasing grain adhesion lead to decreasing strength and plasticity at 2000 °C.

In this research, we have developed an approach by incorporating quantum dots (QDs) with red emission into mesoporous silica microspheres through a non-chemical process and obtained luminescent microspheres (LMS). Owing to the lattice structure of LMS, QDs were effectively protected from intrinsic aggregation in matrix and surface deterioration by encapsulant, oxygen and moisture. The LMS composite has therefore maintained large extent luminescent properties of QDs, espe-cially for the high quantum efficiency. Moreover, the fabricated white light emitting diode (WLED) utilizing LMS and YAG:Ce yellow phosphor has demonstrated excellent light performance with color coordinates around (x = 0.33, y = 0.33), correlated color temperature between 5100 and 5500 K and color rendering index of Ra = 90, R9 = 95. The luminous efficiency of the WLED has reached up to a new record of 142.5 lm/W at 20 mA. LMS provide a promising way to practically apply QDs in lightings and displays with high efficiency as well as high stability.

In order to study the evolution law of mechanical properties of asphalt pavement mixture in cold regions under long-term load, the rotary accelerated loading equipment was used to carry out a total of 500,000 accelerated loading tests on the full-scale pavement, and the dynamic modulus test of the mixture before and after wheel load was carried out respectively. The master curve of dynamic modulus and dynamic modulus ratio (dynamic modulus value after wheel load / dynamic modulus value before wheel load) of the mixture at -20ºC were established to predict the long-term mechanical response of the mixture at low temperature. The results show that: low-frequency (or high temperature) has a more significant effect on the viscoelastic properties of the asphalt mixture. In the conversion frequency range of 1.6×10–3~1.6×102 Hz, the dynamic modulus ratio decreases with the increase of frequency, and the maximum ratio is 0.62 when the frequency is 1.6×10–3 Hz, which indicates that the high frequency (low temperature) has little effect on the performance of asphalt mixture. This study can be used as a theoretical reference for the structural design and performance optimization of asphalt pavement in cold regions.