Electricity Generation from Heatwaves

We chose a definition of heatwaves (HWs) that has ~4-year recurrence frequency at world hot spots. We first examined the 1940-2022 HWs climatology and trends in lifespan, severity, spatial extent, and recurrence frequency. HWs are becoming more frequent and more severe for extratropical mid- and low-latitudes. To euphemize HWs, we here propose a novel clean energy-tapping concept that utilizes the available nano-technology, micro-meteorology knowledge of temperature distribution within/without buildings, and radiative properties of earth atmosphere. The key points for a practical electricity generation scheme from HWs are defogging, insulation, and minimizing the absorption of infrared downward radiation at the cold legs of the thermoelectric generators. One sample realization is presented which, through relay with existing photovoltaic devices, provides all-day electricity supply sufficient for providing air conditioning requirement for a residence (~2000-watt throughput). The provision of power to air conditioning systems, usually imposes a significant stress on traditional city power grids during heatwaves.

TUG-891 inhibits neuronal endoplasmic reticulum stress and pyroptosis activation and protects neurons in a mouse model of intraventricular hemorrhage

Pyroptosis plays an important role in hemorrhagic stroke.Excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress can cause endoplasmic reticulum dysfunction and cellular pyroptosis by regulating the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain and leucine-rich repeat pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3)pathway.However,the relationship between pyroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress after intraventricular hemorrhage is unclear.In this study,we established a mouse model of intraventricular hemorrhage and found pyroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress in brain tissue.Intraperitoneal injection of the selective GPR120 agonist TUG-891 inhibited endoplasmic reticulum stress,pyroptosis,and inflammation and protected neurons.The neuroprotective effect of TUG-891 appears related to inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress and pyroptosis activation.

Effect of Fermented Plant Products on Alkaline-Saline Soil and the Growth of Alfalfa Seedlings

A pot experiment was conducted by putting ameliorants,the products of plants fermented by lactobacillus,and sandy soil into alkaline-saline soil. After such blending,the soil physicochemical properties and the growth index of Alfalfa seedlings were measured in order to explore the influence of the blending on alkaline-saline soil and the growth of alfalfa seedlings. The results showed that soil p H decreased significantly after adding ameliorant; mixing ameliorant and sandy soil into alkaline-saline soil reduced soil evaporation and increased the germination rate of alfalfa seeds and their chlorophyll content as well as the seedling height,root length of alfalfa seedlings,but it had no significant effect on alfalfa seedlings' biomass and leaf number; besides,excessive ameliorant would inhibit the growth of alfalfa seedlings.

Effects of different plantation types on soil properties after vegetation restoration in an alpine sandy land on the Tibetan Plateau, China

Large areas of Artemisia ordosica Krasch., Caragana korshinskii Kom., and Caragana intermedia Kuang and H. C. Fu plantations were established on moving sand dunes in the Gonghe Basin （northeastern Tibetan Plateau） for vegetation restoration. Elevating our understanding of the changes in soil characteristics after the establishment of different plantation types can be useful in the context of combating deserdfication. To assess the effects of these plantation types on the restoration of sandy land, we measured soil physical-chemical properties at four depths （0-5, 5-10, 10-20, and 20-50 cm） in each of the three plantation types and also in non-vegetated moving sand dunes （as control sites）. Generally, the establishment of A. ordosica, C korshinskii and C intermedia plantations on sand dunes has greatly ameliorated soil quality in the Gonghe Basin. Specifically, relative to the moving sand dunes, shrub plantation has increased the silt and clay contents, total porosity and water holding capacity, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium contents. The calculated soil quality index suggested that in the Gonghe Basin, C. intermedia is the best choice for soil amelioration. In all the three plantation types, soil amelioration mainly occurred in the shallow depths.

Role of the different planting age of seabuckthorn forests to soil amelioration in coal mining subsidence land

To investigate the effects of seabuckthorn(Hippophae rhamnoides)on soil amelioration,using the space replacement method,soil physical and chemical indexes as well as the microorganism quantity and soil enzyme activities were analyzed.The results showed that:the soil bulk density of surface soil decreased and soil porosity and field capacity increased after afforestation with seabuckthorn.The plant was found to effectively reduce the soil pH,increase the soil conductivity,soil organic matters and available nutrients.Soil microorganism quantity,soil enzyme activities were both higher in 0-20 cm layer than in 20-40 cm layer.With the increase years of remediation with seabuckthorn,the quantity of soil microorganism and enzyme activities were increasing to a higher level 5 to 8 years later.Our study indicates that seabuckthorn can effectively improve soil physical and chemical properties,increase the quantity of soil microorganisms and enzyme activities,which is of great significance for the ecosystem restoration in mining areas.

优化能源结构对我国能耗水平的影响分析

优化能源结构对我国能耗水平的影响分析王端旭，石瑛一、引言十多年来，我国节能工作取得了很大的成绩，对国民经济持续高速发展起到了重要作用。但是与国际先进水平相比，我国的能耗水平仍然很高。造成这一差距的原因应该说是多方面的，有技术水平、产业结构、能源管理水...

SOIL SALINITY CONTROL REGARDING SUBSURFACE WATER REGULATION IN NORTH CHINA PLAIN

The North China Plain (NCP) lying along the eastern coastal area withgeogriaphical coordinates 100°to 120°and 30° to 40°W, is one of the mostimportan agncultural ngons in China. A problem in soil salmization has beenfound in vast areas along the lower reaches of the Yellow hiver and north of it. After30 years of work on saline soil amelioration, 2.0 million ha has been improved,accounting for over 60 percen of the total ongnal saline soil area. Ths achievetnenthas ban obtained in close relation to water conservancy work. The author analyzessalthezation amelioration by using measures concerning subsuffoce water regulation.Ih addition to water conservancy measures, thes paper also descnbes acomprehensive way to ameliorate salthezation in northem NCP. Finally, the authorstresses the necessity of combining all measures together into a whole system forsolving salinization problems in northem NCP.

中国能源需求函数的研究

中国能源需求函数的研究虞镇国一、引言能源需求和国内生产总值之间的函数关系的研究是长期能源需求预测的基础研究之一。而长期能源预测是能源基础设施建设必不可少的前期研究。能源需求与国内生产总值在统计上具有很强的正相关性。对１９８０年到１９９１年我国年商品能...

Effect of EM Bokashi application on control of secondary soil salinization

In order to ameliorate saline-alkaline soil, EM Bokashi has been applied to rice production in conjunction with subdrainage in Ningxia Autonomous Region and Zhejiang Province. The preliminary results can be summarized as follows： EM Bokashi can increase soil organic matter content, improve soil porosity and permeability, and raise the soil＇s levels of available nutrients; and EM Bokashi combined with subdrainage treatment is more effective in controlling secondary soil salinization and raising the grain yield and quality than other treatments. The results suggest that EM Bokashi can reduce the necessary amount of chemical fertilizer application, thereby improving the agricultural environment, and that the introduction of EM Bokashi into systems of secondary soil salinization control systems has resulted in significant benefits.

Bio-amelioration of alkali soils through agroforestry systems in central Indo-Gangetic plains of India

A long-term field study was initiated during 1995 at Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Lucknow （26047＇58＂ N and 80°46＇24＂ E） to analyze the effect of agroforestry systems on amelioration of alkali soils. Three agroforestry systems （pas- toral, silvipastoral and silvicultural） were compared with the control where no agroforestry system was introduced. Tree-based silvicultural and silvipastoral systems were characterized by tree species Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica along with grass species Leptochloafusca, Panicum maximum, Trifolium alexandrium and Chloris gayana. Growth of ten-year-old Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica planted in combi- nation with grasses was significantly higher over the silviculture system with the same species. Tree biomass yields of P. juliflora （77.20 t·ha-1） and A. nilotica （63.20 t·ha-1） planted under silvipastoral system were significantly higher than the sole plantation of （64.50 t·ha-1 and 52.75 t·ha-1）. Fodder yield under the pastoral system was significantly higher than the silvipastoral system during initial years but it was at par with that of silvipastoral systems after eight years of plantation. The microbial biomass carbon in the soils of silvipastoral systems was significantly higher than in soils under sole plantation of trees and control systems. The Prosopis-based silvipastoral system proved more effective in reduc- ing soil pH, displacing Na＋ from the exchange complex, increasing or- ganic carbon and available N, P and K. Improvement in soil physical properties such as bulk density, porosity, soil moisture and infiltration rate was higher in the Prosopis-based silvipastoral system than in the silviculture system or control On the basis of biomass production and improvement in soil health due to tree ＋ grass systems, silvipastoral agroforestry system could be adopted for sustainable reclamation ofhighly alkali soils.

Effect of berberine on hyperglycaemia and gut microbiota composition in type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats

BACKGROUND A recent investigation showed that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is 12.8%among individuals of Han ethnicity.Gut microbiota has been reported to play a central role in T2DM.Goto-Kakizaki(GK)rats show differences in gut microbiota compared to non-diabetic rats.Previous studies have indicated that berberine could be successfully used to manage T2DM.We sought to understand its hypoglycaemic effect and role in the regulation of the gut microbiota.AIM To determine whether berberine can regulate glucose metabolism in GK rats via the gut microbiota.METHODS GK rats were acclimatized for 1 wk.The GK rats were randomly divided into three groups and administered saline(Mo),metformin(Me),or berberine(Be).The observation time was 8 wk,and weight,fasting blood glucose(FBG),insulin,and glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1)were measured.Pancreatic tissue was observed for pathological changes.Additionally,we sequenced the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region of the gut microbiota and analysed the structure.RESULTS Compared with the Mo group,the Me and Be groups displayed significant differences in FBG(P<0.01)and GLP-1(P<0.05).A significant decrease in weight and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance was noted in the Be group compared with those in the Me group(P<0.01).The pancreatic islets of the Me-and Be-treated rats showed improvement in number,shape,and necrosis compared with those of Mo-treated rats.A total of 580 operational taxonomic units were obtained in the three groups.Compared to the Mo group,the Me and Be groups showed a shift in the structure of the gut microbiota.Correlation analysis indicated that FBG was strongly positively correlated with Clostridia_UCG-014(P<0.01)and negatively correlated with Allobaculum(P<0.01).Body weight showed a positive correlation with Desulfovibrionaceae(P<0.01)and a negative correlation with Akkermansia(P<0.01).Importantly,our results demonstrated that Me and Be could significantly decrease Bacteroidetes(P<0.01)and the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio(P<0.01).Furthermore,Muribaculaceae(P<0.01;P<0.05)was significantly decreased in the Me and Be groups,and Allobaculum(P<0.01)was significantly increased.CONCLUSION Berberine has a substantial effect in improving metabolic parameters and modulating the gut microbiota composition in T2DM rats.

Use of Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking to Investigate the Mechanism by Which Ginseng Ameliorates Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a common pathological process in various clinical diseases and is characterized by abnormal changes in metabolism, function, and morphological structure of tissues resulting from insufficient oxygen supply or oxygen barriers in tissues. In particular, hypoxia in vital organs such as the brain and heart is an important cause of death;. The prevention of tissue hypoxia and the

Protective effect of Eleteria cardamomum(L.) Maton against Pan masala induced damage in lung of male Swiss mice

Objective:To study the potential ameliorating properties of cardamom Elettaria cardamomum (E.cardamomum) L.Maton against pan masala induced damage in lung of male Swiss mice. Methods:The experimental animals were divided into 3 groups(control,pan masala treated group and pan masala with cardamom treated group) to evaluate pan masala toxicity.The observations were substantiated with profound changes in the lung tissue as revealed in the histologic and transmission electron microscopic examinations.Results:Lung of pan masala treated group showed adenocarcinoma,edema,and inflammation with increased activity of acid phosphatase,alkaline phosphatase,and lactate dehydrogenase.The deleterious effects were seen to be less in cardamom treated group and the enzymatic activity also decreased significantly (P【0.05)\ in the ameliorating group.Conclusions:Thus,the present experiment exciting results are observed when cardamom is supplemented with pan masala,or when given alone.

Osteocyte viability and bone density in cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis ameliorated with Pilostigma thonningii stem bark-extracted D-3-O-methy-chiroinositol

Background : This study examined the ameliorative effect of D-3-O-methylchiroinositol, isolated from the stem bark of Piliostigma thonningii, on cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis in male Wistar rats. Methods : Thirty-six rats were assigned to three treatment groups(n = 12). Group A(2 mL distilled water), group B:(2.5 mg/kg b.w. CdCl_2) and group C:(2.5 mg/kg b.w. CdCl_2 and D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol 2 mg/kg b.w.). Bone ash, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, and zinc content, as well as bone histological changes were determined at the end of months 1, 2, and 3. Results : There were significant differences( P ≤ 0.05) in the weight of the cervical, tibia, and femoral bones in all groups. The serum concentration of CdCl_2 was significantly different across the three groups with time. There was significant variation( P < 0.005) in the mean bone ash across groups. The concentration of OH-proline was significantly different( P < 0.0001) across groups. There were significant differences( P < 0.0001) in bone calcium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus concentrations. Histology revealed high levels of bone mineralisation in the CdCl_2-treated group, indicative of osteoporosis with hypertrophied osteocytes, while the femur of Wistar rats treated with D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol showed bone trabeculae and viable osteocytes. Conclusion : The study concluded that D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol extract from Piliostigma thionningii stem bark ameliorated cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis in male Wistar rats.

Pterostilbene Ameliorates Glycemic Control,Dyslipidemia and Liver Injury in Type 2 Diabetes Rats

Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is typified by the increment of chronic blood glucose levels that is caused by an absolute and/or a relative deficiency of insulin,accounts for 90%of diabetes and causes a range of complications[1].

Four-Octyl itaconate ameliorates periodontal destruction via Nrf2-dependent antioxidant system

Periodontitis is a widespread oral disease characterized by continuous inflammation of the periodontal tissue and an irreversible alveolar bone loss, which eventually leads to tooth loss. Four-octyl itaconate(4-OI) is a cell-permeable itaconate derivative and has been recognized as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Here, we explored, for the first time,the protective effect of 4-OI on inhibiting periodontal destruction, ameliorating local inflammation, and the underlying mechanism in periodontitis. Here we showed that 4-OI treatment ameliorates inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide in the periodontal microenvironment. 4-OI can also significantly alleviate inflammation and alveolar bone loss via Nrf2 activation as observed on samples from experimental periodontitis in the C57BL/6 mice. This was further confirmed as silencing Nrf2 blocked the antioxidant effect of 4-OI by downregulating the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes. Additionally, molecular docking simulation indicated the possible mechanism under Nrf2 activation. Also, in Nrf2-/-mice, 4-OI treatment did not protect against alveolar bone dysfunction due to induced periodontitis, which underlined the importance of the Nrf2 in 4-OI mediated periodontitis treatment.Our results indicated that 4-OI attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress via disassociation of KEAP1-Nrf2 and activation of Nrf2 signaling cascade. Taken together, local administration of 4-OI offers clinical potential to inhibit periodontal destruction,ameliorate local inflammation for more predictable periodontitis.

Rosiglitazone ameliorates diffuse axonal injury by reducing loss of tau and up-regulating caveolin-1 expression

Rosiglitazone up-regulates caveolin-1 levels and has neuroprotective effects in both chronic and acute brain injury. Therefore, we postulated that rosiglitazone may ameliorate diffuse axonal injury via its ability to up-regulate caveolin-1, inhibit expression of amyloid-beta precursor protein, and reduce the loss and abnormal phosphorylation of tau. In the present study, intraperitoneal injection of rosiglitazone significantly reduced the levels of amyloid-beta precursor protein and hyperphosphorylated tau（phosphorylated at Ser^（404）（p-tau（S^（404）））, and it increased the expression of total tau and caveolin-1 in the rat cortex. Our results show that rosiglitazone inhibits the expression of amyloid-beta precursor protein and lowers p-tau（S^（404）） levels, and it reduces the loss of total tau, possibly by up-regulating caveolin-1. These actions of rosiglitazone may underlie its neuroprotective effects in the treatment of diffuse axonal injury.

Amelioration of Saline Soil by the Application of Gypsum, Calcium Chloride, Rice Husk and Cow Dung

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of cow dung, rice husks, calcium chloride and gypsum on soil reclamation and compare the effect of organic and inorganic amendments on soil reclamation during the period of 5th March to 20th April, 2017. The experiment was laid to fit a completely randomized design (CRD) with seven treatments [Reference soil (T0), Cow dung (T1), Rice husk (T2), Gypsum (T3), Calcium chloride (T4), Cow dung + Rice husk (T5) and Gypsum + Calcium chloride (T6)] each having three replications for this experiment. After incubation (45 days), the laboratory investigation was carried out in the Soil, Water and Environment Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh. Results indicate that the individual or combined effect of gypsum (T3) was more effective in changing EC and SAR. Gypsum application in combination with calcium chloride (T6) improved the soil chemical properties by reducing the EC. Among the treatment, calcium chloride (T4) had a remarkable effect in reducing sodium adsorption ratio and gypsum had a remarkable effect in reducing pH. Cow dung (T1), rice husk (T2), combination of cow dung and rice husk (T5) were less effective to reduce EC, pH and SAR. It’s measured for soils of different soil amendments varied significantly

Dynamic Changes of Tobacco-growing Soil Nutrients and Enzymes After Application of Amelioration Materials

[Objectives]This study was conducted to clarify the improvement effects of different soil amelioration materials such as lime,green manure and bio-organic fertilizer on acidic tobacco-planting soil.[Methods]The dynamic changes of soil pH,soil nutrients and enzyme activity were studied by applying lime,lime+green fertilizer,and lime+green fertilizer+biological organic fertilizer.[Results]①After the application of amelioration materials,the soil pH and available phosphorus content of tobacco-growing soil showed a stepwise change of first increasing and then decreasing,and became stable at 60 d after tobacco transplanting;the soil organic matter,alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen and available potassium content showed a gradual change trend of"high-low-high";and the soil invertase and urease activity showed a gradual change trend of"low-high-low".②To 90 d after tobacco transplanting,the application of amelioration materials increased soil pH by 1.29-1.62 units,and increased organic matter content by 15.21%-20.86%,alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen content by 6.83%-18.17%,available phosphorus content by 54.15%-217.85%,rapidly available potassium content by 11.42%-30.86%,soil invertase activity by 70.09%-18.93%,and soil urease activity by 64.07%-130.47%.③The combination of lime+green manure+alkaline microbial organic fertilizer had the best effect on the improvement of acidic tobacco-growing soil,and the effect of lime+green manure+acid microbial organic fertilizer on acidic soil was the second.[Conclusions]When applying lime,green fertilizer and alkaline bio-organic fertilizer should be applied to achieve sustainable improvement of strongly acidic soil.