Naja naja atra

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease and effective therapy for this pathology is currently unavailable. We previously reported that oral administration of Naja naja atra venom (NNAV) had anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory actions. We speculated that NNAV may have therapeutic effects in MRL/lpr SLE mice. Twelve-week-old MRL/lpr mice received oral administration of NNAV (20, 40, and 80 μg/kg) or Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium (10 mg/kg) daily for 16 weeks. The effects of NNAV on SLE manifestations, including skin erythema, proteinuria, and anxiety-like behaviors, were assessed with visual inspection and Multistix 8 SG strips and open field test, respectively. The pathology of spleen and kidney was examined with H&E staining. The changes in autoimmune antibodies and cytokines were determined with ELISA kits. The results showed that NNAV protected against the manifestation of SLE, including skin erythema and proteinuria. In addition, although no apparent histological change was found in liver and heart in MRL/lpr SLE mice, NNAV reduced the levels of glutamate pyruvate transaminase and creatine kinase. Furthermore, NNAV increased serum C3 and reduced concentrations of circulating globulin, anti-dsDNA antibody, and inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. NNAV also reduced lymphadenopathy and renal injury. These results suggest that NNAV may have therapeutic values in the treatment of SLE by inhibiting autoimmune responses

Influence characteristics of regional micrometeorology on macroscopic scale of external dump

To study the relationship of external dump of opencast coal mine impacting on surrounding micrometeorological factors, and then provide the foundation acknowledge for the ecological restoration in mining area, the airflow movement and water distribution around the mine area were regarded as the influencing factors to furtherly explore the ecological effects of the scale and form of the external dump. Taking Hongshaquan open-pit coal mine as an example, using Fluent fluid simulation software, adopting large eddy simulation and component transfer model, the external dump models with different heights and angles were established for simulation. The monthly temperature and dew point data of the area in 2020 were obtained through the regional meteorological station where Hongshaquan open-pit coal mine located, thereby reaching the monthly condensation height of the area. By analyzing the cloud diagrams of air velocity and moisture mass fraction under different conditions, the influence law of different sizes of external dump on the surrounding air flow movement and water distribution was obtained, and compared with the condensation height in the area. The numerical simulation results showed that: with the increasing dump height, the air climbing speed increased slowly, while the maximum climbing height increased, as well as the moisture mass fraction on the windward slope and the dump top ascended. More and more obvious Karman vortex street phenomenon was formed along the leeward slope. The number of vortices increased and the influence range became larger. Both of the airflow velocity and moisture mass fraction in the vortex area increased and reached their maximum values. The increase in the angle of the external dump presented a significant impact on the maximum climb height of the airflow, but showed little impact on the surrounding micrometeorological factors. Under the condition of 360 m limit height, when the external dump Angle reached the critical value of 26°, the maximum airflow climbing height would reach the summer condensation height in this area. Alternatively, under the condition of 22° limit Angle of the outer dump, when the height of the outer dump reached the critical value of 380 m, the maximum climbing height of airflow would reach the summer condensation height of the region, thereby promoting the precipitation around the mining are

Soil respiration in cucumber field under crop rotation in solar greenhouse

Crop residues are the primary source of carbon input in the soil carbon pool. Crop rotation can impact the plant biomass returned to the soil, and influence soil respiration. To study the effect of previous crops on soil respiration in cucumber (Cucumis statirus L.) fields in solar greenhouses, soil respiration, plant height, leaf area and yield were measured during the growing season (from the end of Sept to the beginning of Jun the following year) from 2007 to 2010. The cucumber was grown following fallow (CK), kidney bean (KB), cowpea (CP), maize for green manure (MGM), black bean for green manure (BGM), tomato (TM), bok choy (BC). As compared with CK, KB, CP, MGM and BGM may increase soil respiration, while TM and BC may decrease soil respiration at full fruit stage in cucumber fields. Thus attention to the previous crop arrangement is a possible way of mitigating soil respiration in vegetable fields. Plant height, leaf area and yield had similar variation trends under seven previous crop treatments. The ratio of yield to soil respiration revealed that MGM is the crop of choice previous to cucumber when compared with CK, KB, CP, BGM, TM and BC

Assessment of the Soil Organic Carbon Sink in a Project for the Conversion of Farmland to Forestland: A Case Study in Zichang County, Shaanxi, China

<div><p>The conversion of farmland to forestland not only changes the ecological environment but also enriches the soil with organic matter and affects the global carbon cycle. This paper reviews the influence of land use changes on the soil organic carbon sink to determine whether the Chinese “Grain-for-Green” (conversion of farmland to forestland) project increased the rate of SOC content during its implementation between 1999 and 2010 in the hilly and gully areas of the Loess Plateau in north-central China. The carbon sink was quantified, and the effects of the main species were assessed. The carbon sink increased from 2.26×10⁶ kg in 1999 to 8.32×10⁶ kg in 2010 with the sustainable growth of the converted areas. The black locust (<i>Robinia pseudoacacia L.</i>) and alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa L.</i>) soil increased SOC content in the top soil (0–100 cm) in the initial 7-yr period, while the sequestration occurred later (>7 yr) in the 100–120 cm layer after the “Grain-for-Green” project was implemented. The carbon sink function measured for the afforested land provides evidence that the Grain-for-Green project has successfully excavated the carbon sink potential of the Shaanxi province and served as an important milestone for establishing an effective organic carbon management program.</p></div

Relationship between the SOC and depths of the alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa L</i>) and the black locust (<i>Robinia pseduoacacia L</i>) under 3, 7 and 12 years old following afforestation.

<p>Relationship between the SOC and depths of the alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa L</i>) and the black locust (<i>Robinia pseduoacacia L</i>) under 3, 7 and 12 years old following afforestation.</p

The area of the cultivated slope land classification of the ZiChang county.

a<p>The slopes of greater than 25°were cultivated for agriculture occupied 39.5%.</p

The areas of land cover change (farmland to forestland) and the carbon storage from 1998 to 2010.

<p>The areas of land cover change (farmland to forestland) and the carbon storage from 1998 to 2010.</p

The difference of SOC between alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa L</i>) and black locust (<i>Robinia pseudoacacia L</i>) at the same depths under the different ages at the 0–120 cm depths under the 3,7 and 12 ages after the conversion of farmland to forestland.

<p>The difference of SOC between alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa L</i>) and black locust (<i>Robinia pseudoacacia L</i>) at the same depths under the different ages at the 0–120 cm depths under the 3,7 and 12 ages after the conversion of farmland to forestland.</p

Contribution of different factors to the variation of SOC content (variance components, n = 45).

<p>Contribution of different factors to the variation of SOC content (variance components, n = 45).</p

SOC^a at the different depth of the alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa L</i>) and black locust (<i>Robinia pseudoacacia L</i>) following the afforestation.

a<p>Data in the column are mean values (n = 3 for alfalfa and black locust), which are compared among different depths within each ages and are not different at the</p><p>5% level of significance if followed by the same letter.</p