Objectives: miR-199a can regulate autophagy, its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of miR-199a involved in regulating autophagy in a 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP⁺)-induced in vitro model of PD. Methods: PC12 cells were incubated in MPP⁺, and the expression levels of miR-199a were bidirectionally regulated via either transfection of an miR-199a mimic or incubation in miR-199a inhibitors. The experimental manipulations were divided into four groups, including the control group, MPP⁺ group, MPP⁺ + miR-199a mimic group, and MPP⁺ + miR-199a inhibitor group. MTT, CCK-8, qRT-PCR, Western blotting and linear correlation analysis were performed to evaluate various experimental indicators. Results: At increasing MPP⁺ concentrations, the following results were found: the expression levels of miR-199a, phosphorylated AKT and mTOR proteins expression decreased; the expression levels of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), GSK3β, Beclin1, and LC3II increased; PC12 autophagy increased; and cellular viability and survival rates decreased. Transfection of an miR-199a mimic increased miR-199a expression and induced all of the following: the expression levels of PTEN, GSK3β, Beclin1, and LC3II decreased; the expression levels of phosphorylated AKT and mTOR proteins expression increased; PC12 autophagy decreased; and cellular viability and survival rates increased. Discussion: In this in vitro study, we found that increasing miR-199a expression in PC12 cells reduced protein levels of Beclin1 and LC3II, decreased autophagy, enhanced cellular viability, increased survival rate, and ameliorated MPP⁺-induced parkinsonian-like cellular pathologies by targeting pro-autophagic pathways and GSK3β to activate PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling.

Drunken horse grass [Achnatherum inebrians(Hance) Keng] is a perennial poisonous weed in western China. A comprehensive understanding of the ecological response ofA. inebriansgermination to environmental factors would facilitate the formulation of better management strategies for this weed. Experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions to assess the effects of various abiotic factors, including temperature, light, water, pH, and burial depth, on the germination and seedling emergence ofA. inebrians. The seeds germinated at constant temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 C and in alternating-temperature regimes of 15/5, 20/10, 25/15, 30/20, 35/25, and 40/30 C, and the germination percentages under constant and alternating temperatures ranged from 51% to 94% and 15% to 93%, respectively. Maximum germination occurred at a constant temperature of 25 C, and germination was prevented at 45/35 C. Light did not appear to affect germination. The germination percentage of seeds was more than 75% in the pH range of 5 to 10, with the highest germination percentage at pH 6. The seeds germinated at osmotic potentials of 0 MPa to −1.0 MPa, but decreasing osmotic potential inhibited germination, with no germination at −1.2MPa. After 21 d of low osmotic stress, the seeds that did not germinate after rehydration had not lost their vitality. The seedling emergence percentage was highest (90%) when seeds were buried at 1 cm, but declined with increasing burial depth, with no emergence at 9 cm. Deep tillage may be effective in limiting the germination and emergence of this species. The results of this study provide useful information on the conditions necessary forA. inebriansgermination and provide a theoretical basis for science-based prediction, prevention, and control of this species.

This study evaluated the effects of no-till seeding and fertilization on the restoration of degraded grazing grasslands in Bayinbuluke. Poaceae species were selected for no-till replanting, with Elymus dahuricus, Puccinellia distans, and Festuca ovina mixed in a 2:1:1 ratio. Four sowing rates were applied: 0 g/m² (A0), 2 g/m² (A1), 4 g/m² (A2), and 6 g/m² (A3). Diammonium phosphate (N 18%, P₂O₅ 46%) was used as fertilizer, with four fertilization rates: 0 g/m² (B0), 7.5 g/m² (B1), 15 g/m² (B2), and 22.5 g/m² (B3). A total of 16 treatments were applied. The study assessed the changes in grassland productivity, species diversity, and soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that no-till replanting significantly increased the aboveground biomass by 81%, species richness by 55.8%, and the Shannon–Wiener diversity index by 64.2%. Fertilization significantly increased productivity, with dry hay yield rising by 60.9% to 81%. When 22.5 g/m² of fertilizer was applied, the contents of total phosphorus, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and organic matter in the soil increased by 43.4%, 50.6%, 66%, and 31.2%, respectively. Fertilization also improved the stability of soil aggregates, with the proportion of large aggregates increasing by 18.2%. The findings suggest that no-till seeding and fertilization significantly promote grassland restoration, with soil moisture and nutrient availability being key drivers of vegetation growth and community diversity.

Seriphidium transiliense is a key species in the arid and semi‐arid desert grasslands of Northwest China, playing crucial roles in maintaining ecological balance, stabilizing soil, and supporting biodiversity. However, the combined effects of global climate change and human activities are leading to a dramatic reduction in suitable habitat area, intensified habitat fragmentation, and ecosystem degradation. This study utilizes the MaxEnt model, along with field investigation data and online recorded data, selecting 159 effective occurrence points and integrating 20 environmental variables such as bioclimatic, soil, topographic, solar radiation, and human footprint factors, to evaluate the distribution patterns and dynamic changes of suitable habitats for S. transiliense under current climatic conditions and six future climate scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, SSP585). The results indicate that the total suitable habitat area for S. transiliense under current conditions is 86.20 × 10 ⁴ km ² , mainly concentrated in northern Xinjiang. Human activities have drastically reduced the suitable habitat area, with the total area shrinking to 75.78 × 10 ⁴ km ² , and the highly suitable habitat area decreasing from 5.72 × 10 ⁴ km ² to 2.00 × 10 ⁴ km ² . Climate change in the future might expand its distribution range, but human activities continue to threaten its habitat, especially in areas of highly suitable habitat. The distribution center tends to migrate southeastward or northwestward under different climate scenarios, along with shifts in elevation. This research provides a scientific basis for the monitoring, protection, and ecological restoration of S. transiliense and underscores the necessity of scientific management and reseeding restoration amid escalating human activities.

Grassland soil carbon stocks contain substantial amounts of organic carbon and play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. Grazing is one of the most primary land use types in grasslands. However, few studies have focused on the impact of three grazing behaviors (mowing (M), trampling (T), and dung and urine addition (D)) on the soil organic carbon (SOC) of mountain meadows. In this experiment, we simulated three grazing behaviors to explore the impacts of grazing behaviors on plant characteristics with plant growth, soil physicochemical properties, soil aggregate, and analyzed the main factors influencing the changes in SOC. After six years of treatment, the experimental results showed that M significantly decreased plant height, density, and aboveground biomass and significantly decreased soil organic carbon (SOC) (no M vs. M, −3.64%). T significantly increased soil bulk density, the proportion of macroaggregates, the organic carbon of microaggregates, and silt and clay aggregates and significantly increasing SOC (no T vs. T, +3.17%). D significantly increased plant density, soil total nitrogen and the organic carbon of macroaggregates, significantly increasing SOC (no D vs. D, +9.74%). Correlation and principal component analyses indicated that SOC was significantly negatively correlated with soil bulk density and plant coverage and significantly positively correlated with soil total nitrogen, soil C/N, microaggregate proportion, and the organic carbon of macroaggregates. Redundancy analysis indicated that the proportion of microaggregates and the organic carbon of macroaggregates were the main factors influencing SOC. The following conclusions were drawn: SOC responds differently to three types of grazing behaviors, D primarily increases the organic carbon in macroaggregates, while T mainly enhances the organic carbon in microaggregates and silt and clay aggregates, thereby affecting the SOC in mountain meadows.

The soil seed bank, as a potential source of ground vegetation renewal, plays an important role in the natural recovery and succession of vegetation as well as in the construction of ecosystems. To clarify the characteristics of the soil seed ...