Table_1_Realizing the value of grassland ecosystem services: global practice and its inspiration for the karst desertification control area.XLSX

The conflict between grassland ecosystem conservation and economic development is an important but challenging question. Realizing the value of ecosystem services (ES) is considered to be a solution for the dual sustainability of ecology and economy. However, there is a lack of systematic understanding of value realization of grassland ES, especially in the karst desertification (KDC) area, which is still at an exploratory stage. We obtained 527 studies from 48 countries in the past 20 years through the Scopus database, and systematically reviewed the current understandings and practices by the content analysis method, and enlightened the inspiration for the grassland in the KDC area. Results showed that: (i) Over the past 20 years, the literature number showed a fluctuating growth trend, and the study areas are mainly concentrated in economically developed countries with rich grassland resources; (ii) Pathways such as grassland management and payment for ecosystem services (PES) are widely used to improve grassland ES and human well-being, and most studies have shown positive effects; (iii) Their performance is significantly impacted by stakeholders, governments, as well as the attributes of ES, and a path of government-led, stakeholder participation and market-oriented operation should be explored; and (iv) There are still some knowledge gaps, such as, uneven distribution of study areas, few effective pathways for realizing the public grassland ES value, and deficient linkage mechanisms of “grassland ES-industry development-economic system feedback-ecosystem protection,” and so on. Based on our findings, we not only make recommendations for the current dilemma of realizing the value of grassland ES, but also put forward the enlightenments to the grassland in the KDC area based on experiences and lessons learned from global practices. The results can provide theoretical guidance for the ecological protection and sustainable development of grasslands in fragile areas.</p

Chemical epigenetic modifiers enhance the production of immunosuppressants from the endophytic fungus <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> isolated from <i>Cynodon dactylon</i>

Chemical epigenetic modifiers applied on a plant endophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from a healthy stem of terrestrial plant Cynodon dactylon, significantly changed of metabolic profile and resulted in the isolation of nineteen compounds, including ten alkaloids (1–10), six polyketides (11–16), and three benzene derivatives (17–19). This is the first report of 14, 18 and 19 being isolated from this fungal species. And compound 14 was known as a synthetic product and isolated as a natural product for the first time. HPLC profiles of the control and treated samples indicated that compounds 11, 16, 18 are belonged to the newly induced secondary metabolites. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analyses. The immunosuppressive and cytotoxic activities of all isolated compounds were evaluated.</p

The content and schedule of theoretical teaching.

This empirical research creates and assesses a community interaction open-source learning framework. The framework established an efficient open-source learning environment for engineering courses to develop undergraduates’ sustainability competencies. The teaching practice of the framework was designed into three stages: course preparation, theory lecture, and project practice. In the teaching practice, community interaction elements were embedded, including community/student two-way selection, systemic teaching and difficulty discussion, expert/student negotiation on teaching forms, teacher/expert coordination on teaching contents, and expert/student two-way feedback on schedules. The interaction elements between students, teachers, and experts enhanced the effectiveness of open-source learning in engineering courses. The experimental results showed that the students exhibited a positive attitude and high participation in the learning procedure and reported a sense of achievement in the project practice. The open-source learning framework significantly improved systemic thinking, conceptual understanding, interdisciplinary collaboration and professional skills. It enhanced students’ key sustainability competencies and laid the foundation for them to become expertise-based innovators and open-source community contributors.</div

Supplemental material for Investigation of a novel gradient degradable ureteral stent in a beagle dog model

Supplemental material for Investigation of a novel gradient degradable ureteral stent in a beagle dog model by Lu Jin, Lei Yao, Yan Zhou, Guangcheng Dai, Wenfang Zhang and Boxin Xue in Journal of Biomaterials Applications</p

The relationship between teaching stages, interaction elements, and possible contributions.

The relationship between teaching stages, interaction elements, and possible contributions.</p

The results of the reflection and statement examples.

The results of the reflection and statement examples.</p

The comparison of systemic thinking assessment results.

The comparison of systemic thinking assessment results.</p

S1 Data -

This empirical research creates and assesses a community interaction open-source learning framework. The framework established an efficient open-source learning environment for engineering courses to develop undergraduates’ sustainability competencies. The teaching practice of the framework was designed into three stages: course preparation, theory lecture, and project practice. In the teaching practice, community interaction elements were embedded, including community/student two-way selection, systemic teaching and difficulty discussion, expert/student negotiation on teaching forms, teacher/expert coordination on teaching contents, and expert/student two-way feedback on schedules. The interaction elements between students, teachers, and experts enhanced the effectiveness of open-source learning in engineering courses. The experimental results showed that the students exhibited a positive attitude and high participation in the learning procedure and reported a sense of achievement in the project practice. The open-source learning framework significantly improved systemic thinking, conceptual understanding, interdisciplinary collaboration and professional skills. It enhanced students’ key sustainability competencies and laid the foundation for them to become expertise-based innovators and open-source community contributors.</div

The implementation procedure of the empirical study.

The implementation procedure of the empirical study.</p

Optimized preparation of vinpocetine micelles and <i>in vivo</i> evaluation of its pharmacokinetics in rats

This study aimed to develop a novel monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D, L-lactide) (mPEG5000–PLA10 000) micelle drug delivery system to improve vinpocetine’s (VP) dissolution and sustain VP concentrations in plasma. Three micelle fabrication methods were examined to maximize VP loading, followed by structurally characterization and investigation in vitro release and in vivo pharmacokinetics in Sprague-Dawley rats. The thin-film hydration is the most appropriate method of the three methods because of its high loading content. The loaded micelles exhibited a sustained release behavior up to 48 h. Following intraperitoneal administration (9 mg/kg), VP loaded micelles provided significantly higher (335%) AUC (area under concentration-time) compared to VP injection. And also increased the mean residence time [MRT(0–t)] and elimination half-life (t1/2z). There were obviously two peaks at 2 h and 9 h in VP loaded micelles concentration-time profile. In summary, these data demonstrated that poly mPEG-PLA micelles can efficiently sustain VP concentrations in plasma for 36 h, thus apprehending polymeric micelles suitability as poor aqueous solubility drug carriers.</p