Search Results (196)

The experiments aimed at the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with various reducers like plant extracts and glucose and the evaluation of their antimicrobial efficiency versus their nanotoxicity. Precursor silver ions were reduced with extracts of Coffea arabica leaves, Thuja orientalis cones, and Cirsium arvense roots as well as with glucose. The AgNP microstructural properties were analyzed with transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering that highlighted fine granulation (23 to 28 nm) and electrical stability (Zeta potential of −15 to −25 mV) while optical and spectral investigations like dark-field microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and FTIR proved specific surface properties. Since cytotoxicity is related to the fate of AgNPs in the environment after their uses, we highlighted the presence of chromosomal alterations in the meristematic tissues of maize roots, such as delayed and expelled chromosomes, chromosome bridges, multi-polar anaphases, C-metaphases and others. Silver nanoparticle use in biomedical applications and antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens was evidenced by the agar diffusion test, which suggested their usefulness in the case of possible antibiotic-resistant microbial strains with available natural ingredients and at low cost. Full article

In this study, three types of industrial solid waste—granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), fly ash, and desulfurization gypsum (DG)—are utilized to collaboratively prepare low-carbon cementitious materials. The effects of steam curing temperature, constant temperature time, and fly ash content on the mechanical properties of multi-source solid waste cementitious materials are systematically investigated, and the optimal mix proportion ratio for low-carbon cementitious materials is determined. The results indicate that as steam curing temperature and constant temperature time increase, the compressive strength of the ternary cementitious material generally shows an upward trend, while the fly ash content exhibits a negative correlation. When the steam curing temperature is 70 °C, the constant temperature time is 10 h, the fly ash content is 20%, and the strength can reach 24 MPa, with both its engineering performance and economic benefits meeting the requirements of practical applications. Meanwhile, the steam curing temperature shows a tendency of first decreasing and then increasing shrinkage rate after 28 d, with the lowest shrinkage rate at 70 °C. Extending the constant temperature time can slightly reduce shrinkage, and the addition of 20–30% fly ash can optimize shrinkage performance. Moreover, the TG/DTG and SEM-EDS microscopic testing demonstrates that the ternary system achieves synergistic activation by accelerated mineral dissolution, ion release and enhanced alkalinity under steam curing, which jointly promotes the formation of AFt and C-A-S-H gel to refine microstructure and improve compactness. This study can not only reduce the consumption of cement, but also facilitate the recycling of industrial waste, providing theoretical support for the application of multi-source solid waste low-carbon materials in practical engineering. Full article

This study aims to explore the preparation process and properties of unburned lightweight aggregate using red mud synergistically with fly ash, granulated blast-furnace slag, and other multi-source solid wastes. Curing regimes and alkali-activated systems were controlled. Their effects on physical properties and environmental safety of lightweight aggregate were systematically evaluated. Results show that curing temperature and alkali activator exert significant synergistic effects on physical properties of lightweight aggregates. Steam curing performs better than standard curing. Performance improves with increasing steam temperature. Sodium silicate solution with a modulus of 1.0 is determined as the optimal activator. Under 90 °C steam curing, Sample D2 achieves the best overall performance. Its cylinder compressive strength reaches 6.92 MPa. 1 h water absorption is 14.8%. Softening coefficient is 0.93. Porosity is as low as 31.07%. Microscopic analysis reveals that higher curing temperature significantly accelerates the hydration reaction of the RMLWA system. It promotes the formation of abundant cementitious products such as C-S-H gel. These products fully fill internal pores and microcracks of the aggregate. A dense three-dimensional network skeleton structure is finally formed. For environmental safety, heavy metal leaching concentrations of steam-cured samples are generally lower than those of standard-cured samples. This study realizes high-value resource utilization of industrial solid wastes. It also provides a new technical route for the development of green building lightweight aggregate. Full article

Eungyosan (EGS) is a traditional multi-herbal formulation widely used for the treatment of respiratory diseases; however, its quality control remains challenging due to its complex chemical composition. This study aimed to develop and validate a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection (HPLC–PDA) method for simultaneous determination of 11 representative marker compounds in EGS and to apply the method to the comparative quality evaluation of laboratory-prepared and commercial EGS formulations. Chromatographic conditions were optimized, and the marker compounds were selected based on their herbal origin, phytochemical relevance, and chromatographic detectability. The method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity (limits of detection and quantification), precision, accuracy, and stability. All analytes exhibited excellent linearity (coefficient of determination > 0.9999), along with satisfactory precision (relative standard deviation < 2%) and recovery (95.64–105.69%). The validated method was successfully applied to a laboratory-prepared extract and three commercial granule formulations. Considerable differences in the levels of marker compounds were observed among the samples; several marker compounds were either not detected or could not be quantified because of UV spectral mismatch in certain commercial products. These findings demonstrate variability in the chemical composition of the tested EGS formulations and highlight the usefulness of the validated HPLC–PDA method for comparative quality evaluation of multi-herbal formulations. Full article

Flavor profile and water dissolvability serve as core evaluation benchmarks for the quality of food and medicinal plant-derived instant granules. Currently, studies integrating flavor and dissolvability analysis to comprehensively characterize the overall performance of such granules remain scarce, and the existing literature lacks systematic comparative research on commercial products across multiple sources and batches. This study investigated 90 batches of four categories of plant extract instant granules and established a dynamic-static joint evaluation system coupled with multiple indicators and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The three primary indicators were dissolving extent, dissolving rate, and taste, with equal weights assigned to each; the secondary indicators were classified and integrated based on the results of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and correlation matrix. Quantitative analysis revealed that the comprehensive evaluation scores of all 90 batches of samples fluctuated between 0.5406 and 0.9503, and obvious disparities existed among different granule varieties. This multi-index evaluation framework effectively avoids the subjective bias inherent in conventional evaluation approaches, and lays a solid scientific foundation for quality supervision, formula optimization research and development, as well as market popularization of plant-based instant granules. Full article

In this study, citric acid-esterified ginger starches with different esterification degrees (EGSC10, EGSC20, and EGSC30) were prepared via a dry-heat method by adjusting the dosage of citric acid (10%, 20%, 30%, w/w). Their multi-scale structures were systematically characterized, and Pickering high internal phase emulsions (Pickering HIPEs) synergistically stabilized by EGSC30 and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were constructed. The results showed that esterification modification reduced the relative crystallinity and short-range order of starch but significantly increased the content of resistant starch (RS) and thermal processing stability, indicating that the ordered regions of starch molecules were reconstructed to form a structural system with better anti-digestion properties. With the increase in the degree of esterification substitution, the surface of starch granules gradually became rough, the particle size increased, the solubility and swelling power decreased, and the contact angle increased. EGSC30 could synergistically stabilize Pickering HIPEs with β-CD. As the total concentration of composite particles increased and the β-CD/EGSC30 mass ratio was optimized to 3:1, the droplet size of Pickering emulsions decreased, the gel strength and storage modulus increased significantly, and the system exhibited typical elastic-dominant gel properties and shear-thinning behavior, with the most compact and stable network structure. The obtained results can promote the deep processing of ginger and provide a reference for the construction of novel food-grade Pickering emulsions. Full article

Tiger nuts are rich in various nutrients, with starch being a key component that holds potential for applications in foods with lower digestibility. However, the varietal dependence of their functional properties has not yet been comprehensively characterized. In this study, starches from different tiger nut varieties—Yunnan Large-seeded Tiger Nut (YLL), Yunnan Small-seeded Tiger Nut (YSL), and Zhongyousha No.1 (ZYS)—were systematically analyzed to investigate differences in their multi-scale structures, functional properties, and digestibility. The results revealed significant varietal differences in amylose content (22.82–26.99%), granule size (D₅₀ 8.66–10.23 μm), and short-range molecular order. All starches exhibited A-type crystalline structures, though their relative crystallinity (25.40–30.60%) differed significantly. In vitro digestion profiles demonstrated a two-phase hydrolysis pattern across all varieties, a rapid digestion phase (0–30 min) followed by a slow digestion phase (30–120 min), with resistant starch content ranging from 33.55% to 38.31%. Among the three varieties, higher amylose content and crystallinity were generally associated with enhanced digestive resistance and lower peak viscosity, while gelatinization temperature appeared to be more closely related to granule size than to crystallinity. Peak gelatinization temperature (T_P) ranged from 67.40 to 68.16 °C and peak viscosity (PV) from 7030.0 to 7749.5 mPa·s, with YSL, which had a relatively broad granule size distribution and the lowest crystallinity, exhibiting the highest T_P and PV. This study provides a reference for understanding the structure–property relationships of tiger nut starches across different varieties and their potential application in functional foods. Full article

Uncontrolled bleeding, coagulation disorders, and infection-related complications still present substantial challenges in emergency medicine and trauma care. Developing multifunctional hemostatic materials represent an effective strategy for addressing clinical hemostasis problems. In this study, Galla chinensis polyphenols, the effective extract of Galla chinensis, were loaded onto calcium alginate-mesoporous silica granules (CMS-GC). The CMS granules were prepared by in situ liquid-phase technology and GC was loaded by impregnation methods. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that CMS-GC not only activate the endogenous coagulation pathway via GC, but also the multi-level interconnected pores of CMS granules can promote the cross-linking of GC with plasma proteins and formation of a three-dimensional network structure, which further enhances the coagulation effect and shortens the blood clotting time to less than 80 s. In rat liver and femoral artery hemorrhage models, CMS-GC significantly shortened hemostasis time and reduced blood loss, demonstrating superior hemostatic performance. Moreover, within the moist environment sustained by alginate, GC mitigates inflammatory responses via its antibacterial and free-radical clearance properties, and synergistically facilitates wound healing. This CMS-GC multifunctional granule provides an efficient new strategy for traumatic bleeding and subsequent repair. Full article

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, playing a critical role in the pathogenesis of various cardiomyopathies, including hypertrophic, dilated, diabetic, ischemic, doxorubicin-induced, and septic cardiomyopathy, as well as myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury. This article provides a comprehensive narrative review of the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis—centered on dysregulation of the GPX4/System Xc⁻ axis, iron metabolism, and lipid metabolism—and its role in cardiovascular diseases, with a specific focus on the cardioprotective effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Through a systematic analysis of recent literature, we highlight active components (e.g., baicalin, ginsenoside Rg3, resveratrol, tanshinone IIA), compound formulations (e.g., Qishen Granule, Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu Capsule), and electroacupuncture therapy, which exert effects via multi-target regulation of ferroptosis-related pathways such as Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4, p53/SLC7A11, and PI3K/AKT. Evidence indicates that TCM interventions effectively alleviate cardiomyocyte ferroptosis by activating the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway to upregulate GPX4/SLC7A11, modulating iron metabolism to reduce labile iron pools, and inhibiting ACSL4/ALOX15-mediated lipid peroxidation, with these effects validated in diverse cardiovascular disease models showing improved cardiac function. Targeting ferroptosis offers a novel therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular diseases, and TCM—with its synergistic multi-component, multi-target, multi-pathway advantages—holds significant potential in this context. Future research should prioritize elucidating complex network mechanisms and advancing clinical translation via high-quality studies to provide new theoretical foundations and drug candidates for cardiovascular disease management. Full article

Phosphogypsum (PG) is an industrial solid waste whose use in cementitious materials is limited by strength reduction at high dosages. This study evaluated a clinker-free multi-solid-waste binder containing 40 wt.% PG for cemented paste backfill using steel slag powder (SSP) and granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) as co-binders, with phosphate mine tailings and slime as aggregates. Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance were combined with image-based pore-structure sensitivity analysis to examine the relationships among hydration products, pore evolution, and strength development. The results showed that AFt and C–S–H-like gels were associated with pore refinement and strength gain. All mixtures reached UCS values above 0.5 MPa at 7 days and 1.0 MPa at 28 days. The A2 mixture achieved the highest 7-day UCS of 0.8 MPa, whereas A1 showed the highest 28-day UCS of 1.6 MPa. Porosity, pore probability entropy, and fractal dimension were negatively correlated with UCS, with pore probability entropy showing the highest sensitivity to 7-day strength. These findings support the use of high-PG clinker-free binders for targeted phosphate-mine backfill. Full article

Plants frequently encounter overlapping, sequential, and recurrent stresses, but the cellular mechanisms that organize responses to these complex conditions remain incompletely understood. Biomolecular condensates are membrane-less assemblies formed through phase separation and multivalent molecular interactions, and they can regulate RNA metabolism, protein sequestration, signaling specificity, transcriptional control, and stress recovery. This review evaluates the hypothesis that plant condensates may contribute to the organization of combined and recurrent stress responses by modulating molecular accessibility, transcript fate, proteostasis, and regulatory crosstalk. We synthesize current knowledge on stress granules, processing bodies, nuclear condensates, plastid-associated condensate-like assemblies, and other stress-responsive compartments, with emphasis on their possible roles in signal filtering, RNA triage, and recovery-associated reprogramming. We also distinguish established evidence from emerging hypotheses, particularly regarding condensate-mediated signal prioritization and stress memory. Current data support condensates as rapid stress-responsive organizers, but direct evidence for their persistence after recovery or their causal roles under simultaneous multi-stress conditions remains limited. By integrating phase separation biology with plant multi-stress physiology, this review proposes a testable conceptual framework and identifies methodological priorities for future studies in plant stress resilience and crop improvement. Full article

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) matrix faces critical challenges of high carbon footprint and significant autogenous shrinkage. Supersulfated cement (SSC), a potentially lower-carbon binder comprising ground granulated blast-furnace slag and gypsum, offers a promising alternative. This study systematically investigated the effect of gypsum type—phosphogypsum (PG), dihydrate gypsum (DH), and anhydrite (AH)—on the early hydration and shrinkage behavior of UHPC matrix incorporating 30% SSC as Portland cement replacement. A multi-technique approach, including mechanical testing, isothermal calorimetry, XRD, TG-DSC, SEM, LF-NMR, and autogenous shrinkage measurements, was employed. Results demonstrate that gypsum type critically governs sulfate dissolution kinetics, thereby dictating phase assemblage and microstructural evolution. DH provides relatively rapid sulfate dissolution, promoting earlier AFt and gel formation, which is associated with the highest early strengths and a marked reduction in autogenous shrinkage. AH shows a slower but sustained sulfate supply, resulting in comparable 28-day strength with moderate shrinkage reduction. PG yielded the lowest autogenous shrinkage (374 μm/m at 7 d), but it also suffered from severe early-age retardation due to soluble phosphate impurities, as evidenced by the delayed hydration peak and lowest 3 d strength. This behavior is mainly related to strong early-age retardation, delayed hydration, delayed setting, and a prolonged low-stiffness state. These findings suggest that appropriate gypsum selection in SSC enables tailored early-age performance and improved volume stability in the UHPC matrix, offering guidance for utilizing industrial by-products such as phosphogypsum in sustainable high-performance concrete design. Full article

Top-heavy industrial towers, which carry large, concentrated masses of equipment at upper levels and feature open lower stories, are vertically irregular by design and tend to amplify seismic displacement and acceleration demands near the tower top. Although tuned mass dampers (TMDs) have been studied extensively for buildings, bridges and chimneys, their application to this particular class of slender industrial towers—where production-equipment vibration tolerance, retrofit accessibility and limited downtime drive the design—has received little dedicated attention. This paper reports a focused numerical investigation of seismic response mitigation for a 101.2 m molten-asphalt granulation tower retrofitted with a single pendulum-type TMD. A three-dimensional coupled finite element (FE) model was constructed in ABAQUS using C3D8R solid elements for the reinforced-concrete shaft and T3D2 truss elements for the embedded reinforcement; modal analysis returned a fundamental frequency of 0.912 Hz and a torsional-to-translational period ratio of 0.65, indicating a translational-mode-dominated response. Elastic time-history analyses under the El Centro and Taft records together with a code-spectrum-compatible synthetic accelerogram show that a pendulum TMD with mass ratio μ = 2.5%, tuning frequency offset Δf = 5% and damping ratio ξ = 10%—installed at the uppermost equipment level guided by the modal-displacement criterion—reduces the peak top displacement, peak top acceleration and peak base shear by roughly 23%, 23% and 22%, respectively, in both principal directions. The controlled top acceleration falls comfortably below the 2.94 m/s² operational tolerance of the on-tower melting equipment. To address the rationality of the chosen TMD parameters, a single-variable parametric sensitivity study spanning μ ∈ [1%, 5%], ξ ∈ [5%, 15%] and Δf ∈ [0%, 10%] is performed on an equivalent reduced model that captures the qualitative parameter-response trends; the chosen baseline values lie inside a stable performance plateau and are shown to be a balanced compromise among the three response measures. The principal contribution of the work is, therefore, (i) a complete TMD retrofit framework—modal-based placement, parameter design, coupled FE assembly and multi-record verification—adapted to top-heavy industrial towers, and (ii) qualitative evidence, supported by a sensitivity scan, with a robust proposed parameter set for small-to-moderate detuning. The study is restricted to elastic time-history analyses under frequent-earthquake-level excitation, three ground-motion records and a fixed-base assumption; nonlinear response, larger record sets and soil–structure interaction effects are explicitly identified as scope limitations and are left for follow-up work. Full article

This study extends beyond traditional single-binder assessments by developing a mechanistic framework for interpreting the behavior of multi-component geopolymer systems. It systematically examines the roles of industrial by-products (granulated blast-furnace slag), agricultural residues (barley straw ash), and construction-derived materials (recycled granite powder) when integrated into a metakaolin-based matrix, with particular emphasis on their influence on gel formation pathways, microstructural refinement, and macroscopic performance. A sustainable geopolymer concrete (SGC) system was formulated using multi-binder combinations at replacement levels ranging from 5% to 30%. Comprehensive evaluations were conducted, including fresh properties, mechanical performance, durability characteristics, thermal resistance, and microstructural features. The results demonstrate that the 70Mk–30GBFS composition facilitates the development of a dense hybrid C–(A)–S–H/N–A–S–H gel network, resulting in a 26.8% enhancement in compressive strength and a 32.0% decrease in chloride ion penetration. Rather than depending on empirical relationships, the study establishes a mechanistically grounded link between precursor chemistry, interfacial transition zone (ITZ) refinement, and performance limits. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of multi-component geopolymer design and support the development of high-performance, sustainable concrete materials for structural applications. Full article

Coalbed methane (CBM) development is strongly controlled by pore structure evolution in deformed coals and its influence on hydraulic fracturing behavior. To clarify the multifractal characteristics of cross-scale pores and their control on fracturing effectiveness, this study investigated eight different deformation coals from the Ordos Basin using low-temperature CO₂/N₂ adsorption (LT-CO₂A/LT-N₂A) and high-pressure mercury intrusion porosimetry (HMIP). Micropores (<2 nm), mesopores (2–50 nm), and macropores (>50 nm) were systematically characterized, and their pore size distributions (PSDs) were quantitatively analyzed using the Coal Structure Index (CSI) and multifractal theory. The results indicate that the multifractal parameters of macropores are significantly distinct from those of mesopores and micropores, exhibiting lower H (0.824–0.893) and D₁ (0.766–0.853), and higher α₀ (1.422–1.541), ΔD (1.230–1.408), and Δα (1.459–1.642). Macropores controlled by tectonic deformation exhibit stronger heterogeneity compared to mesopores and micropores in local parts of the coal mass; PSD varies significantly with deformation rising, derived from the differential pore structure evolution during brittle–ductile transition and the multi-scale synergistic effects including maturity and composition. Combined with field fracturing curves, the results further indicate that the α₀, ΔD, and Δα of macropores are negatively correlated with breakdown pressure, with correlation coefficients of 0.51, 0.61, and 0.59, respectively, and that strong local heterogeneity of macropores favors fracture initiation and propagation and reduces breakdown pressure. Cataclastic coal is the most favorable for hydraulic fracturing, followed by undeformed coal, whereas granulated coal shows the poorest fracturing performance. Full article