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Abstract Resource nationalism has a complex economic, political, and cultural history and reality. The evolution of the supply and demand structure of the global mineral metal market influences it. It is closely linked to the “economic-political” system within resource-rich countries. We analyze the ‘economic-political’ logic of resource nationalist behavior using the two-tier game theory. We examine 261 cases of resource nationalism since 1990 and test the theoretical hypotheses using quantitative techniques. The results show that rising mineral prices are the main trigger for contemporary resource nationalism. However, ideology, institutional quality, social climate, and economic dependence within resource countries play a non-negligible role. Resource wealth dependence in host countries makes it difficult for policymakers to escape national resource interventions. We argue that (1) The global economic trading system imbalance is the root of resource nationalism. (2) Resource nationalism is an endeavor by resource-rich countries to seek entitlements from mineral resource endowments. (3) Resource nationalism is not a zero-sum competition in the national economic trading system. In the face of the potential risks posed by resource nationalism to the global supply of minerals, the relevant interest groups should have sufficient strategic reserves to cope with the possible game of interests.

The response of preferential flow to the soil − root − rock fragment systems is essential for understanding the eco-hydrological processes in karst rocky desertification (KRD) areas. In this study, we investigated the soil properties, root, and rock fragment distribution characteristics and preferential flow in this system. Results show that there are differences in the development of preferential flow under five grades of rocky desertification: light rocky desertification (LRD) > potential rocky desertification (PRD) > non-rocky desertification (NRD) > moderate rocky desertification (MRD) > severe rocky desertification (SRD). Different degrees of rocky desertification have facilitating or inhibiting effects on preferential flow. LRD and PRD promote preferential flow with ratio of 6.6 %–9.6 %, while MRD and SRD inhibit preferential flow with ratio of 4.2 %–6.7 %. The preferential flow is simultaneously influenced by the components of soil − root − rock fragment systems. Root system indicators (i.e., root biomass, root bulk density, and root length density) generally decrease as grades of rocky desertification increase. The surface outcrops density, rock fragment density, and volume fraction tend to increase with grades of rocky desertification. A principal components analysis found that preferential flow of MRD and SRD is highly influenced by rock fragments, while LRD is more driven by root systems and soil properties. PRD is averagely influenced by the combination. These findings suggest that appropriate plant and rock fragment ratios can effectively avoid water loss in the form of preferential flow and more attention should be paid to the ecological problems of LRD and PRD areas.

Background: Human breast milk is a valuable source of potential probiotic candidates. The bacteria isolated from human breast milk play an important role in the development of the infant gut microbiota, exhibiting diverse biological functions. Methods: In this study, Limosilactobacillus reuteri MBHC 10138 isolated from breast milk was characterized in terms of its probiotic safety characteristics and potential efficacy in hyperuricemia, obesity, lipid liver, and dental caries, conditions which Korean consumers seek to manage using probiotics. Results: Strain MBHC 10138 demonstrated a lack of D-lactate and biogenic amine production as well as a lack of bile salt deconjugation and hemolytic activity. It also exhibited susceptibility to common antibiotics, tolerance to simulated oral–gastric–intestinal conditions, and superior biological activity compared to three L. reuteri reference strains, including KACC 11452 and MJ-1, isolated from feces, and a commercial strain isolated from human breast milk. Notably, L. reuteri MBHC 10138 showed high capabilities in assimilating guanosine (69.48%), inosine (81.92%), and adenosine (95.8%), strongly inhibited 92.74% of biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans, and reduced lipid accumulation by 32% in HepG2 cells. Conclusions: These findings suggest that strain MBHC 10138, isolated from human breast milk, has potential to be developed as a probiotic for managing hyperuricemia, obesity, and dental caries after appropriate in vivo studies.

Abstract Background Numerous circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recently identified in porcine tissues and cell types. Nevertheless, their significance in porcine spleen development is yet unelucidated. Herein, we reported an extensive overlook of circRNA expression profile during spleen development in Meishan pigs. Results Overall, 39,641 circRNAs were identified from 6,914 host genes. Among them, many circRNAs are up- or down-regulated at different time points of pig spleen development. Using WGCNA analysis, we revealed two essential modules for protein-coding genes and circRNAs. Subsequent correlation analysis revealed 67 circRNAs/co-expressed genes that participated in immnue-associated networks. Furthermore, a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis of circRNAs revealed that 12 circRNAs modulated CD226, MBD2, SAMD3, SIT1, SRP14, SYTL3 gene expressions via acting as miRNA sponges. Moreover, the circRNA_21767/miR-202-3p axis regulated SIT1 expression in a ceRNA manner, which is critical for the immune-based regulation of spleen development in Meishan pigs. Conclusions Overall, our results demonstrated that the circRNAs were differentially expressed during different stages of porcine spleen development, meanwhile the circRNAs interacted with immune-related genes in a ceRNA-based fashion. Moreover, we presented biomedical researchers with RNAseqTools, a user-friendly and powerful software for the visualization of transcriptome profile data.

Abstract Periodontitis is an infectious inflammation in the gums characterized by loss of periodontal ligaments and alveolar bone. Its persistent inflammation could result in tooth loss and other health issues. Ixeris dentata (IXD) and Lactobacillus gasseri media (LGM) demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, which may prevent oxidative and inflammatory periodontitis. Here, IXD and LGM extracts were investigated for antioxidative activity against oral discomfort and evaluated for their synergistic effect against oxidative and inflammatory periodontitis in a mouse model. IXD/LGM suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Additionally, it reduced pro-inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide, iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase), and COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) and enhanced AKT, Nrf2, and HO-1 activation. Similarly, IXD/LGM treatment elevated osteogenic proteins and mRNAs; alkaline phosphatase, collagen type 1 (COL1), osteopontin (OPN), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining and micro-CT analysis confirm the positive impact of IXD/LGM on the periodontal structure and its associated inflammation. These findings demonstrate that IXD/LGM inhibits oxidative stress, periodontal inflammation, and its resultant alveolar bone loss in which Akt (also known as protein kinase B)-nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-hemoxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling is involved. Thus, IXD/LGM is a potential candidate against oxidative/inflammatory stress-associated periodontitis.

Introduction: The uncertainty associated with PM2.5 pollution hinders the economic high-quality development and threatens public health. Industrial agglomeration stands as a critical factor in regional economic and environmental governance, and the current studies about its impact on PM2.5 pollution are mostly limited to a specific industry or unidirectional influence.Methods: Our study constructed spatial econometric models to analyze the effect of three major industrial agglomerations on PM2.5 pollution, based on evidence from 110 prefecture-level cities of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in 2005–2019.Results: The results show that: 1) The three major industrial agglomerations and PM2.5 pollution present different spatiotemporal characteristics and show prominent positive spatial autocorrelation and agglomeration effect. 2) The primary industrial agglomeration contributes to a decrease in PM2.5 pollution and exhibits negative spatial spillover effects. A nonlinear relationship is observed between the secondary industrial agglomeration and PM2.5 pollution. The tertiary industrial agglomeration results in an increase in PM2.5 pollution. 3) The effects of secondary industrial agglomeration on PM2.5 pollution exhibit varying degrees of ‘inverted U-shape’ curves in the upstream, midstream, and downstream cities. The midstream cities are the first to reach the inflection point of agglomeration. 4) Industrial agglomeration affects PM2.5 pollution through three mechanisms, including scale expansion effect, technological spillover effect, and population scale effect.Discussion: Based on the empirical findings, this study provides scientific support and decision-making reference to improve the positive impacts of industrial agglomerations on PM2.5 pollution.

ABSTRACTStreptococcus mutans is known as a contributor to dental caries. In this work, Lactobacillus pentosus MJM60383 was selected for its strong antagonistic activity against S. mutans and was characterized by good oral probiotic properties including lysozyme tolerance, adhesive ability to oral cells, good aggregation (auto-aggregation, co-aggregation) ability, hydrogen peroxide production and inhibition of biofilm formation of S. mutans. L. pentosus MJM60383 also exhibited safety as a probiotic characterized by no hemolytic activity, no D-lactate production, no biogenic amine production, and susceptibility to antibiotics. Furthermore, the biofilm formation of S. mutans was also significantly inhibited by the supernatant of L. pentosus MJM60383. An anti-biofilm mechanism study revealed that sucrose decomposition and the production of water-insoluble exopolysaccharides by S. mutans were inhibited by the treatment with L. pentosus MJM60383 supernatant. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that the supernatant of L. pentosus MJM60383 significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of S. mutans glycosyltransferases, which synthesize glucan to construct biofilm architecture and mediate bacterial adherence. Our study demonstrated L. pentosus MJM60383 as a potential oral probiotic and revealed its anti-biofilm mechanism.

Land-use change may significantly influence streamflow. The semi-empirical model PhosFate was used to analyze the impact of land use and climate change on streamflow by choosing the Guishui watershed as a pilot site and then expanding, applying it to all of North China. The Guishui watershed (North Beijing, China) has experienced a dramatic decline in its streamflow in recent decades. Parallel to this, significant land-use change has happened in this area; afforestation programs have increased forest cover from 41% (1980) to 59% (2013) and a similar increase in forest cover can also be observed in North China. Managing flow decline requires separating climatic and direct human-influenced effects. The results showed the following: (1) Afforestation is a major factor that decreased total flow in the Guishui watershed from 1996 to 2014; total flow increased by around 24% more than the actual dataset in the constant scenario (no afforestation) and decreased by 5% more than the actual dataset in the forest scenario (all agriculture land use transferred to forests). (2) When forest coverage increases, the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau are the most sensitive areas regarding total flow in North China; the total flow change rate increased by up to 25% in these two areas when land use shifted from sparse vegetation to mixed forests. After analyzing the contributions of these two factors, we formulated recommendations on future afforestation practices for North China. In the central–north and northwest districts, the annual precipitation is under 520 mm and 790 mm, respectively, and the practice of afforestation should be more carefully planned to prevent severe damage to streams. This research also proved that the PhosFate model can be used in North China, which would be a practical tool for watershed management.

In this paper, I explore a specific class of bi-parameter pseudo-differential operators characterized by symbols σ(x1,x2,ξ1,ξ2) falling within the product-type Hörmander class Sρ,δm. This classification imposes constraints on the behavior of partial derivatives of σ with respect to both spatial and frequency variables. Specifically, I demonstrate that for each multi-index α,β, the inequality |∂ξα∂xβσ(x1,x2,ξ1,ξ2)|≤Cα,β(1+|ξ|)m∏i=12(1+|ξi|)−ρ|αi|+δ|βi| is satisfied. My investigation culminates in a rigorous analysis of the Lp-boundedness of such pseudo-differential operators, thereby extending the seminal findings of C. Fefferman from 1973 concerning pseudo-differential operators within the Hörmander class.

This paper explores the properties of multipliers associated with discrete analogues of fractional integrals, revealing intriguing connections with Dirichlet characters, Euler’s identity, and Dedekind zeta functions of quadratic imaginary fields. Employing Fourier transform techniques, the Hardy–Littlewood circle method, and a discrete analogue of the Stein–Weiss inequality on product space through implication methods, we establish ℓp→ℓq bounds for these operators. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between number theory and harmonic analysis in discrete domains, offering insights into the convergence behavior of these operators.

Under the new development model, the digital economy has become a new engine to promote the green development of the economy and realize the goal of “double carbon”. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2020, this paper empirically investigates the impact of the development of the digital economy on energy and carbon emissions using a series of econometric models such as baseline regression, a mechanism test, and the spatial Durbin model, etc. Common prosperity plays an intermediary role between digital economy development and carbon emissions; digital economic development optimizes resource allocation, effectively solves the problem of uneven resource distribution, and reduces energy and carbon emissions while achieving common prosperity. In addition, green innovation, industrial structure, urbanization level, R&D intensity, and the degree of marketization also have different degrees of influence on energy and carbon emissions. Therefore, the government should accelerate the construction of new digital infrastructure and implement the digital economy development strategy according to local conditions, so as to promote the digital economy to produce a more significant carbon emission reduction effect.

Abstract Overland flow parameters play a pivotal role in soil erosion, which are affected by litter cover in forests. In this study, the litter layer of Pinus massoniana (Masson pine) was divided into non-decomposed and semi-decomposed layers. Seven litter coverage mass gradients, two slopes (5° and 10°), and two rainfall intensities (60 and 120 mm·h−1) were used for a systematic study of the effects of litter layer changes on overland flow dynamic characteristics. The objectives of this study were to explore the soil erosion process in litter different decomposition stages; to explore various relationships between hydraulic variables and litter characteristics. In the process of litter decomposition, overland flow patterns changed from transitional flow to laminar flow and from rapid flow to slow flow. The semi-decomposed layer’s Reynold’s number (Re), resistance coefficient (f), and soil separation rate ( $${D}_{r}$$ D r ) were lower than that of the non-decomposed layer under the same conditions. Litter coverage, runoff and the diameter of the litter were major parameters that affected the Re, f, Fr, and Dr. Shrubs with wide leaves should be selected for understory vegetation replanting. The results of this study are helpful to understand the mechanisms of litter influencing erosion processes in different decomposition stages.

Tuberculosis is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The outbreak of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis has become a major challenge to prevent this disease worldwide. ClpC1 is a Clp ATPase protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, functioning as a chaperon when combined with the Clp complex. ClpC1 has emerged as a new target to discover anti-tuberculosis drugs. This study aimed to explore the ClpC1 inhibitors from actinomycetes, which have been known to provide abundant sources of antibiotics. Two cyclic peptides, including nocardamin (1), halolitoralin A (3), and a lactone pleurone (2), were isolated from the culture of Streptomyces aureus (VTCC43181). The structures of these compounds were determined based on the detailed analysis of their spectral data and comparison with references. This is the first time these compounds have been isolated from S. aureus. Compounds 1–3 were evaluated for their affection of ATPase activity of the recombinant ClpC1 protein. Of these compounds, halolitoralin A (1), a macrocyclic peptide, was effective for the ATPase hydrolysis of the ClpC1 protein.

Air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution, has a great negative impact on human production and normal life. It is a hot issue of global concern, and it is also a huge test for China’s high-quality socioeconomic development. Environmental absorption capacity (EAC) is the guarantee of the structure and function of a healthy atmospheric environmental system. It plays an important role in the automatic accommodation, absorption, and digestion of air pollutants produced by humans in the process of industrialization and civilization. Understanding the absorption capacity of environmental elements on PM2.5, and exploring the impact of EAC on PM2.5 concentration are of great significance to the development of new ideas for air pollution control. This paper constructed an index system to calculate the EAC index from two dimensions (natural resource endowment and impact of human activities), analyzed and discussed the impact of EAC on PM2.5 concentration and its heterogeneity effect through panel regression model, generalized panel quantile regression based on MCMC optimization and scenario analysis, by using the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2004 to 2017. The results suggested that: (i) The overall level of national EAC was low, and the regional differences were large. EAC was influenced by natural resource endowment and human activities, while natural endowment was the main factor affecting EAC, and human activities were the main factor causing the fluctuation and the regional difference of EAC. (ii) As the result of full sample regression demonstrated, the enhancement of EAC had a significant negative influence on the reduction of PM2.5 concentration. In areas with high PM2.5 concentration, the effect of EAC was more obvious, but the effect did not necessarily increase with the increase of PM2.5 concentration. Also, in extreme cases, the effect did not pass the significance test. (iii) According to the results of heterogeneity effect analysis, the effect of EAC on PM2.5 concentration was significantly negative in sustainable scenario and emergency scenario, while the effect was not significant in Soylent Green scenario. The conclusion provides important implications for the prevention and control of air pollution and the improvement of atmospheric environmental quality.

Copper is an important mineral and fluctuations in copper prices can affect the stable functioning of some countries' economies. Policy makers, futures traders and individual investors are very concerned about copper prices. In a recent paper, we use an artificial intelligence model long short-term memory (LSTM) to predict copper prices. To improve the efficiency of long short-term memory (LSTM) model, we introduced a simulated annealing (SA) algorithm to find the best combination of hyperparameters. The feature engineering problem of the AI model is then solved by correlation analysis. Three economic indicators, West Texas Intermediate Oil Price, Gold Price and Silver Price, which are highly correlated with copper prices, were selected as inputs to be used in the training and forecasting model. Three different copper price time periods, namely 485, 363 and 242 days, were chosen for the model forecasts. The forecast errors are 0.00195, 0.0019 and 0.00097, respectively. Compared with the existing literature, the prediction results of this paper are more accurate and less error. The research in this paper provides a reliable reference for analyzing future copper price changes.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of single or mixed fibers (arabinoxylan, β-glucan, xyloglucan, and inulin) on the metabolome of cecum content in mice with obesity caused by a high-fat diet. Twenty-eight six-week-old male mice were divided randomly into seven groups (n = 4/group), including a normal-diet group (CON), a high-fat-diet group (HFD), and groups with the same high-fat diet but supplemented with arabinoxylan (HFAX), arabinoxylan + β-glucan (HFAβ), arabinoxylan + xyloglucan (HFAG), xyloglucan (HFXG), and xyloglucan + inulin (HFXI). A total of 66 molecules were identified and quantified in cecum content by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR). The metabolomic profiles combined with statistical analysis revealed compounds distinguishing the control group from those supplemented with fibers. In detail, a high-fat diet could significantly elevate the concentrations of acetone and methionine (p < 0.05) while decreasing the levels of methanol, arabinose, acetate, and 3-hydroxyphenylacetate (p < 0.05) in the cecum contents of mice. Compared to HFD, the supplementation caused higher levels of fumarate and hypoxanthine (p < 0.05) and lower levels of phenylacetate, acetate, fucose, formate, proline, betaine, and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) (p < 0.05). An enrichment analysis highlighted that the pathways mainly altered were amino sugar metabolism, aspartate metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism. In conclusion, non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) supplementation could change the metabolomic profiles of cecum contents in obese mice as a result of a high-fat diet. Moreover, mixed NSPs exhibited more beneficial effects than singular form on gut metabolism.

To achieve China’s CO2 emissions targets, all Chinese provinces need to ensure that their CO2 emissions are maintained at a reasonable level to avoid the shortboard effect. This paper proposed an integrated method, the LSTM-STIRPAT, to predict the CO2 emissions in 30 provinces, and assess the drivers of a different region. We divide 30 provinces according to the prediction result into provinces with peak value(PWP) and provinces without peak value(PWTP) and found that (i) Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi, Shandong, Hainan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Qinghai, Xinjiang are failed to reach their CO2 emissions peak by 2030, but almost all provinces experienced a small peak in their carbon emissions from 2008 to 2013; (ii) The ranking of CO2 emissions influencing factors in the PWTP is energy intensity (+) > population density (+) > energy consumption (+) > urbanization rate (−) > GDP per capita (+) > ratio of secondary industry (+); the ranking of CO2 emissions influencing factors in the PWP is energy intensity (+) > ratio of secondary industry (+) > urbanization rate (−) > population density (+) > energy consumption (+) > GDP per capita (−); (iii) PWTP's CO2 emissions show a significant lag effect, of which the ratio of secondary industry accounts for the most significant impact. According to the research results, we put forward relevant targeted measures to achieve China's carbon emissions peak commitments in 2030: (1) PWTP should give priority to encouraging the development of technology and strengthening the utilization of new energy and renewable energy; (2) PWP should give priority to reducing energy intensity, optimizing the industrial structure and accelerating the process of urbanization; (3) CO2 emission reduction in PWTP is a long-term task, it is necessary to adhere to the optimization and adjustment of the industrial structure.

Objectives:The use of risky and persistent organochlorine pesticides was prohibited, but is still detected in many agricultural lands. In this study, Phanerochaete chrysosporium Y-2 (KCCM-10725P) and Streptomyces sp. MJM14747 (KACC 81078BP), which were finally selected among various candidate microorganisms, were applied to field soil and estimated the endosulfan removal rate. Methods:The field testing sites were set to an area of 3 m × 3 m, respectively. A 35% endosulfan emulsion was sprayed on both sites so that the final concentration was about 20 µg/g. Thereafter, 12 kg of original sawdust and 12 kg of sawdust loaded with microbial consortia were mixed at each of the two sites. During the test period for a total of 100 days, samples were taken every 30 days. Soil samples were extracted according to the QuEChERS AOAC method and analyzed by gas chromatography. Results and Discussion:The concentrations immediately after endosulfan emulsion treatment at both sites were detected as 21.2 µg/g and 21.9 µg/g, respectively. The removal rate of endosulfan at the site without microbial consortia treatment (Control) was about 21.9% until the 30th day, and 54.4% on the 100th day. On the other hand, the endosulfan removal rate on the 100th day of the site treated with microbial consortia was 89.5%, which was 1.6 times higher than that of the control site. On the 30th day, the removal rate was 56.8%, and the rate of degradation of endosulfan increased thereafter. Among the major components of endosulfan, the removal rate of α-endosulfan was higher than that of β-endosulfan. After 100 days, the removal rates of α-endosulfan and β-endosulfan were 98.0% and 83.5%, respectively. Conclusions:Streptomyces sp. MJM14747 showed good degradation ability in the presence of endosulfan at a high concentration of around 100 µg/g. Moreover, Phanerochaete chrysosporium Y-2 has a good performance in the removal of β-endosulfan, which is slow degrading components of endosulfan. Microbial consortia are expected to be applied not only to domestic and foreign agricultural land but also to overall bioremediation projects.

Abstract Background Cold stress is one of the primary environmental factors that affect plant growth and productivity, especially for crops like Brassica napus that live through cold seasons. Till recently, although a number of genes and pathways involved in B. napus cold response have been revealed by independent studies, a genome-wide identification of the key regulators and the regulatory networks is still lack. In this study, we investigated the transcriptomes of cold stressed semi-winter and winter type rapeseeds in short day condition, mainly with the purpose to systematically identify the functional conserved transcription factors (TFs) in cold response of B. napus. Results Global modulation of gene expression was observed in both the semi-winter type line (158A) and the winter type line (SGDH284) rapeseeds, in response to a seven-day chilling stress in short-day condition. Function analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed enhanced stresses response mechanisms and inhibited photosynthesis in both lines, as well as a more extensive inhibition of some primary biological processes in the semi-winter type line. Over 400 TFs were differentially expressed in response to cold stress, including 56 of them showed high similarity to the known cold response TFs and were consistently regulated in 158A and SGDH284, as well as 25 TFs which targets were over-represented in the total DEGs. A further investigation based on their interactions indicated the critical roles of several TFs in cold response of B. napus. Conclusion In summary, our results revealed the alteration of gene expression in cold stressed semi-winter and winter ecotype B. napus lines and provided a valuable collection of candidate key regulators involved in B. napus response to cold stress, which could expand our understanding of plant stress response and benefit the future improvement of the breed of rapeseeds.

This paper found the optimization direction of ecological compensation project from the perspective of farmers’ well-being. Based on the data of 2016 China Labor Force Dynamic Survey (CLDS2016), this paper uses the ordered Probit model to investigate the impact of the Grain for Green Program on farmers’ subjective well-being. The study found that the Grain for Green Program significantly reduced farmers’ subjective well-being. Further research found that the Grain for Green Program ultimately inhibited the subjective well-being of farmers by reducing the subjective perception of air, soil and noise pollution, intensifying the subjective perception of water pollution and reducing the per capita income of households. In the new round of the Grain for Green Program in the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, it is advisable to increase the intensity of income compensation, strengthen supervision to ensure the payment of compensation to households, and control the scale of the project based on ecological foundation, so as to improve the well-being of farmers.

Faced with the increasingly severe ecological environment, China promotes the construction of ecological civilization vigorously. Therefore, it is of great significance to adopt scientific, effective and comprehensive methods to evaluate development status of ecological civilization. Based on the panel data from 2010 to 2014, this paper employs GIS and AHP methods to dynamically examine the level of ecological civilization construction in Jiangxi Province. The results indicate that: (1) The ecological civilization construction in Jiangxi Province is 13.23% higher than the national average, whereas there is an imbalance in the development of different cities within the province; (2) The ecological civilization construction in the whole province rises first and then falls; (3) The performances of the cities vary in different dimensions of the construction of ecological civilization that cities in Jiangxi province perform well in the dimension of ecological environment, but perform poorly in the dimension of social development. Finally, we put forward policy recommendations for improving ecological environment to realize harmonious development between human and nature.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD) is a disease characterized by liver steatosis. The liver is a key organ involved in the metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrate, enzyme activation, and storage of glycogen, which is closely related to the intestine by the bidirectional relation of the gut-liver axis. Abnormal intestinal microbiota composition can affect energy metabolism and lipogenesis. In this experiment, we investigated the beneficial effect of Lactobacillus reuteri MJM60668 on lipid metabolism and lipogenesis. C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and orally administrated with MJM60668. Our results showed that mice treated with MJM60668 significantly decreased liver weight and liver/body weight ratio, without affecting food intake. Serum levels of ALT, AST, TG, TCHO, and IL-1β in mice fed with MJM60668 were decreased compared to the HFD group. Investigation of gene and protein expression on the lipogenesis and lipid metabolism showed that the expression of ACC, FAS, and SREBP was decreased, and PPARα and CPT was increased. Furthermore, an increase of adiponectin in serum was shown in our experiment. Moreover, serum IL-1β level was also significantly decreased in the treated mice. These results suggested that MJM60668 can strongly inhibit lipogenesis, enhance fatty acid oxidation, and suppress inflammation. Additionally, supplementation of MJM60668 increased the proportion of Akkermansiaceae and Lachnospiracea, confirming a potential improvement of gut microbiota, which is related to mucus barrier and decrease of triglycerides levels.

To comprehensively evaluate the fate of nitrogen (N) through erosion and leakage, and to reveal the constitution of the whereabouts for fertilizer N on a sloping red soil cultivated with peanut, two treatments with three repetitions of conventional fertilization and no fertilization were set up according to the N-balance method. Lysimetric devices were adopted to observe the output of N in terms of loss, plant use, and residual N under natural rainfall in 2017 and 2018 in De’an, Poyang Lake Basin, China. The results showed that (1) leaching water was the main pathway of N output from runoff (including erosion and leakage), and the TN (total N) concentration of each surface runoff exceeded surface water Class V standard value of 2.0 mg L−1. (2) The fertilizer N use rate, the residual rate, and the apparent loss rate were 25.19–27.87%, 9.92–14.79%, and 60.02–62.21%, respectively. The apparent fertilizer N loss rate caused by soil erosion and leakage was 0.11–5.90% and 4.27–16.27%, respectively. (3) N losses from surface runoff and leakage were higher in the wet year (2017), whereas the amount of residual N in the soil profile was higher in the dry year (2018). This study provides a scientific basis for the adjustment of crop N fertilization in the study area.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary infection is often aggravated due to antibiotic resistance issues. There is a need for development of new drugs inducing both host immune responses and antimicrobial activities. This study shows that the rufomycins 4/5/6/7 (Rufomycin 4–7), which targets ClpC1 as a subunit of caseinolytic protein complex ClpC1/ClpP1/ClpP2 of mycobacteria, exhibits a dual effect in host innate defense and in vivo antimicrobial activities against a rough morphotype of Mycobacterium abscessus (Mabs-R), a clinically severe morphotype that causes hyperinflammation. Rufomycin 4–7 treatment showed antimicrobial effects against Mabs pulmonary infection in vivo and in macrophages. In addition, Rufomycin 4–7 significantly decreased inflammation, but enhanced the autophagy/lysosomal genes through upregulation of the nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB). Furthermore, Rufomycin 4–7 treatment effectively inhibited mitochondrial damage and oxidative stresses in macrophages during Mabs-R infection. Collectively, Rufomycin 4–7-mediated dual effects inducing both antimicrobial activities and host immune defense might confer an advantage to treatment against Mabs-R infection.

Ecological civilization construction (ECC) has become an essential strategy for achieving sustainable development and resolving China's severe resource and environmental issues. Therefore, to understand the current status and spatio-temporal characteristics of China's ECC, this study constructed an indicator system with 23 indicators to investigate China's ECC trends from 2000 to 2019. A cloud model was adopted to obtain the ECC evaluation results. A standard deviational ellipse model was employed to reveal the spatial ECC dynamic evolution process. A coupling coordination degree model was applied to measure the relationship between the ECC and the economy, society, and nature. It was found that: (i) China has not yet fully entered the ecological civilization stage. China’s ECC is slightly higher than the “normal” level, with East China having the highest ECC level; (ii) There is a “gradual” process in the ECC in the six regions, the ECC in 30 Chinese provinces had a generally positive trend from 2000 to 2019; however, the ECC development speed in Northeast China was relatively backward; (iii) The coupling and coordination degree of economy, society, and nature shows significant regional differentiation, with the coast being better than the inland and the south being better than the north. Finally, we put forward policy recommendations to improve the level of China’s ECC from four aspects: narrowing regional differences, strengthening regional cooperation, using scientific and technological means, and increasing ecological culture cultivation.

Hyperuricemia is a metabolic disorder caused by increased uric acid (UA) synthesis or decreased UA excretion. Changes in eating habits have led to an increase in the consumption of purine-rich foods, which is closely related to hyperuricemia. Therefore, decreased purine absorption, increased UA excretion, and decreased UA synthesis are the main strategies to ameliorate hyperuricemia. This study aimed to screen the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with purine degrading ability and examine the serum UA-lowering effect in a hyperuricemia mouse model. As a result, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei MJM60396 was selected from 22 LAB isolated from fermented foods for 100% assimilation of inosine and guanosine. MJM60396 showed probiotic characteristics and safety properties. In the animal study, the serum uric acid was significantly reduced to a normal level after oral administration of MJM60396 for 3 weeks. The amount of xanthine oxidase, which catalyzes the formation of uric acid, decreased by 81%, and the transporters for excretion of urate were upregulated. Histopathological analysis showed that the damaged glomerulus, Bowman’s capsule, and tubules of the kidney caused by hyperuricemia was relieved. In addition, the impaired intestinal barrier was recovered and the expression of tight junction proteins, ZO-1 and occludin, was increased. Analysis of the microbiome showed that the relative abundance of Muribaculaceae and Lachnospiraceae bacteria, which were related to the intestinal barrier integrity, was increased in the MJM60396 group. Therefore, these results demonstrated that L. paracasei MJM60396 can prevent hyperuricemia in multiple ways by absorbing purines, decreasing UA synthesis by suppressing xanthine oxidase, and increasing UA excretion by regulating urate transporters.

This study investigated the effects of xyloglucan (XG) compounded inulin and XG compounded arabinoxylan on the hypoglycemic activity of mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD). Forty male ICR/KM mice were randomly divided into four groups, namely, control group, high-fat group, XG and 4% inulin supplemented in a HFD group (HFXI), and XG and 4% arabinoxylan supplemented in a HFD group (HFXA). Results showed that XI and XA supplementation decreased serum glucose level and intestinal disaccharidase activity. XI and XA decreased the level of total bile acid (TBA) in the serum and liver. Fecal TBA excretion was increased in the HFXI group, and XA treatment decreased colon digesta TBA excretion. XI treatment activated liver farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5). Intestinal FXR and TGR5 were activated after XA supplementation. XA increased the abundance of Verrucomicrobia, promoting Akkermansia growth, whereas XI treatment increased the abundance of gut Bifidobacterium.

This study investigated the effects of xyloglucan (XG) on gut microbiota, bile acid metabolism, and liver injury in mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD). Thirty male ICR/KM mice were randomly divided into three groups, as follows: control group (10% fat energy); high-fat group (60% fat energy); and XG group (8% XG supplemented in a high-fat diet). The mice were sacrificed after 8 weeks, and samples were collected. XG reduced the body weight, serum, and liver lipids of high-fat mice and gut-liver axis circulation bile acid level. Liver damage and gut disorders caused by HFD were relieved after XG supplementation. The intestinal bile acid metabolism farnesoid X receptor-small heterodimer partner (FXR-SHP) pathway was up-regulated by XG. XG reduced liver damage and obesity by regulating gut microbiota to up-regulate the intestinal bile acid metabolism pathways of HFD-fed mice.

Objective: Actinomycetes have been known to be the great natural sources to explore antibiotics for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). The isolation of actinomycetes from the samples in Vietnam followed by the screening of their antimycobacterial activity was performed in this study. The metabolites isolated from the most active strain were further evaluated for their antimycobacterial, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. Methods: Actinomycetes were growth in culture media, isolated and identified by colony, spore chain morphology and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Agar diffusion assay was used for the screening of the isolated strains against Mycobacterium smegmatis, a safety surrogate for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The metabolites produced from the most active strain were investigated by actinomycete fermentation, extraction and isolation from biomass and cultures. The structures of the isolated compound were elucidated by spectral data and comparison with the reported literatures. Results: 181 strains were isolated from nine regions along the north to central Vietnam. The five most active strains against Mycobacterium smegmatis were detected. Following the bioassay-guided result, the strain A121 (Streptomyces alboniger) was selected for further isolation of the bioactive metabolites. As a result, obscurolide B2β (1) and chartreusin (2) were obtained and evaluated for their antimycobacterial activity against M. smegmatis. Compound 2 displayed potential antimycobacterial activity, antimicrobial effect against the Gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus fermentum and cytotoxicity against four cancer cell lines KB, HepG-2, Lu-1 and MCF-7. Conclusions: Five strains possessing potential antimycobacterial activity were identified from the samples collected in Vietnam. Two compounds including obscurolide B2β (1) and chartreusin (2) were isolated from the most active strain A121 (Streptomyces alboniger). This is the first time these compounds have been isolated from this strain. Chartreusin (2) exhibited notable antimycobacterial, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity, making its worthy attention for further drug development, particularly for antituberculosis therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the impact of space weather on China’s electricity market. Based on data products provided by NOAA and the National Energy Administration in China, this paper uses solar wind velocity as a solar weather indicator and the disturbance storm time index as a magnetospheric weather indicator to match monthly Chinese electricity market data over 10 years. Based on a VAR model, we found that (1) space weather increases the demand for electricity in China, and solar wind speed and the geomagnetic index increase the electricity consumption of the whole of Chinese society, as space weather mainly increases the electricity consumption of the secondary and industrial sectors. (2) The geomagnetic index significantly promotes power station revenue. (3) Space weather is associated with increased energy consumption. The geomagnetic index significantly increases the coal consumption rate of fossil power plants in China, but the solar wind speed has nothing to do with the coal consumption rate of fossil power plants.

The new energy industry (NEI) is key to achieving a clean and low-carbon economy. Improving its technical efficiency, a factor reflecting the ability of an enterprise or industry to produce maximum economic outputs from a given set of inputs and production technologies, is vital for the healthy development of the NEI. Nevertheless, due to the fragmentation of industry data, it is still difficult to accurately measure the technical efficiency of China’s NEI and understand the driving factors behind it. Based on the panel data derived from 17,457 observations on new energy enterprises in 29 Chinese provinces during 1998 and 2013 (latest data available), this paper uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) for the first time to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics and driving factors of the technical efficiency of China’s NEI. The results show that the technical efficiency of China’s NEI was relatively low and increased modestly from 0.44 in 1998 to 0.52 in 2013. Exploring the reasons from the perspective of spatiotemporal heterogeneity, we find that enterprise scale and technological progress are the major driving factors for increasing NEI’s technical efficiency. However, the role of economic development in improving efficiency has gradually disappeared. Moreover, the negative effect of state-owned enterprises on efficiency becomes increasingly obvious. The effect of new energy resources is negligible. Our main contribution is the technical efficiency of China’s NEI which is measured at the provincial level and its main driving factors are explored by considering spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Accordingly, we put forward some specific recommendations to improve the technical efficiency of China’s NEI.

Based on resource carrying capacity, this study used the revised theory of relative resource carrying capacity (RRCC) and introduced an innovative concept of relative fossil energy carrying capacity (RFECC), which evaluates the degree of fossil energy sustainability based on the relationship between economy, population, and environment. This study took China and the United States as the study objects, took the whole country as the reference area, and calculated the RFECC of population, economic, and environmental resources from 2000 to 2018. Therefore, based on the comparative analysis, the following conclusions were drawn: (i) there is a big difference in the RFECC between China and the United States, which is manifested in the inverted U-shaped trend in China and the U-shaped trend in the United States; (ii) the relative fossil energy carrying states in China and the United States are different, mainly reflected in the economy and environment; (iii) the gap in RFECC between China and the United States has gradually widened; in general, China’s economic RFECC is better than that of the United States, while environmental RFECC and population RFECC in the United States is better than that of China; and (iv) coal and oil should be used as a breakthrough point for the sustainable fossil energy and sustainable development for China and the United States, respectively.

This study investigates the asymmetric cointegration and causal relationships between economic growth, carbon emissions, and energy consumption in the next eleven (11) countries over the period 1972–2013. The nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) bounds testing approach and nonpragmatic Granger causality tests are employed. This research’s empirical results have entrenched vital relationships that have significant policy implications. We affirm nonlinear cointegration among the variables in Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, and Vietnam. The long-run asymmetric effect outcomes indicate a definite boom in economic growth, significantly increases carbon emission in Turkey, and a decline in Vietnam. Additionally, a positive shock to energy consumption significantly increases the carbon emission in Bangladesh, Iran, and Turkey, but a decrease in emissions in Vietnam. Findings from the Wald test reveal a long-run asymmetric effect between carbon emission and economic growth in Bangladesh, Iran, and Vietnam, and for Iran, an asymmetric short-run impact. Long-run and short-run asymmetric effects between carbon emission and energy consumption in Bangladesh and Iran. In terms of asymmetric causality results, bidirectional causality between carbon emission and economic growth was noted in Bangladesh and Turkey, and a unidirectional causality from economic growth to carbon emission in Egypt and South Korea. Energy consumption causes carbon emission in Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, South Korea, and not vice versa. We determined a bidirectional asymmetric causality relationship between carbon emission and energy consumption in Vietnam and a unidirectional causality link from carbon emissions to Turkey’s energy consumption.

Based on an empirical study of 8,869 doctoral dissertations in law submitted in mainland Chinaftom 2001 to 2019, this study finds that Chinese doctoral students are increasingly recognizing the necessity Of conducting empirical legal studies. At the beginning of this century, Chinese legal doctoral students rareb mentioned empirical methods in their writing. Currently, nearly half of the doctoral students mention the use of empirical research methods in the introductor)~ sections of their dissertations. However, this work also finds that the vast majority of dissertations that mention empirical research methods in the introductory sections do not provide specific explanations for empilical research and do not design and apply empirical methods. Based on these two factual findings and existing related research, the author believes that a superficial emphasis on empiricism is the key characteristic of empirical legal studies in mainland China now: on the one hand, empirical scholarship is increasingly recognized by the academic community (especially among doctoral students) and has become a newacademic fashion; on the other hand, the neglect of the scientific application of empirical research has led to valious methodological errors. This ambivalent attitude towards empirical research is influenced both by the global empirical tum in legal studies and by the rapidly changing contemporary Chinese legal system and the mpidly expanding contemporary Chinese legal education, which have placed substantive demands on and formalized requirements for empirical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]