Search Results (568)

Rhus typhina L. is widely recognized as a landscape ornamental plant and its extracts have demonstrated biological activity against multiple weed types. This makes it a promising candidate in sustainable agriculture as a bioherbicide by offering a solution to mitigate the growing problem of herbicide resistance. Therefore, this study was designed in agar culture to analyze the effect of powders of the branch, fallen leaf, and pericarp from Rhus typhina L. against seed germination of Portulaca oleracea L. and evaluate its inhibitory mechanisms based on anatomical structure and the activities of antioxidative enzymes, α-amylase, and β-amylase. The main allelopathic compounds were also identified based on high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and their bioherbicidal effects were evaluated. Brassica napus L. was used as the object for biosafety evaluation. The results showed that the seed germination of Portulaca oleracea L. under treatment with powder extract from Rhus typhina was inhibited by exhhibting swelling and deformation in endosperm cells and chaotically scattered starch granules in seed embryos with a shorter radicle length than the control. During the period of treatment, antioxidative enzymes were quickly activated to scavenge the suddenly surging reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a measure of boosted malonaldehyde (MDA) content. Antioxidative enzyme (POD, SOD, and CAT) activities were also activated to mitigate the oxidative damage. In contrast, both α-amylase and β-amylase activities were significantly suppressed. A total of 16 allelochemicals were identified in the branch, fallen leaf, and pericarp of Rhus typhina L. Among these, gallic acid, methyl gallate, and tyrosol were identified as exhibiting the most significant inhibitory effect during the whole germination process of Portulaca oleracea L., resulting in browned seedlings and stunted radicle length compared with the control, while far weaker inhibitory effects were found against Brassica napus L. In summary, extracts from Rhus typhina L. targeted α-amylase and β-amylase activities rather than antioxidative enzyme activities to inhibit the germination of Portulaca oleracea L. Gallic acid, methyl gallate, and tyrosol were the key compounds that inhibited its germination. Full article

With the continuous increase in horizontal displacement during unconventional oil and gas drilling, drilling operations are commonly plagued by high frictional resistance, severe pipe sticking issues and difficulties in directional drilling. Conventional single-component water-based drilling fluid lubricants fail to satisfy multifunctional demands, including high-temperature resistance, salt tolerance and long-term lubrication. In this work, a novel microsphere lubricant, RB-Si, with high-temperature and high-salinity resistance was developed by combining the merits of solid and liquid lubricants. The product was synthesized using myristic acid and triethanolamine as raw materials via co-reaction with boric acid and nano-silica. Laboratory tests reveal that after aging at 180 °C, the lubrication coefficient reduction rates of based mud, saturated salinity-based mud and a high-density (2.0 g/cm³) drilling fluid gel system containing 1.0 wt% RB-Si reached 90.1%, 83.3% and 62.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, RB-Si can effectively plug the micropores in the filter cake, reduce fluid loss, inhibit shale hydration and swelling, and exhibit excellent compatibility with drilling fluids. RB-Si rapidly adsorbs onto the surfaces of metallic drill strings and formation rocks to construct a durable and high-strength lubricating film, accompanied by the rolling friction of the incorporated microspheres, thereby reducing frictional drag between the drill string/casing and the drill string/borehole wall. This lubricant effectively mitigates high frictional resistance under prolonged friction conditions, and is expected to provide technical support for long-horizontal-well drilling. Full article

Given the urgent need to regulate oxidative stress microenvironments in chronic wound healing, hydrogel dressings that simultaneously integrate antioxidant, antibacterial, mechanically adaptive, and biocompatible properties are highly desirable. In this study, a natural polymer-based composite hydrogel dressing loaded with zinc-quercetin nanozyme (Zn-Q) was designed. The gel skeleton was constructed via a dual network of photocrosslinked methacrylated silk fibroin (SilMA) and mercaptolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH) via thiol-ene click chemistry, with the catalase (CAT)-like Zn-Q nanozyme encapsulated in situ within the network, thereby achieving synergy between chemical crosslinking and dynamic metal-polyphenol coordination. Systematic characterization revealed that Zn-Q nanozyme adopted a stable octahedral coordination configuration, and its continuous porous structure exposed abundant catalytically active sites. The composite hydrogels exhibited a highly interconnected, three-dimensional (3D) porous morphology, with swelling ratios that increased significantly with Zn-Q nanozyme content (up to around 1082%). Rheological and mechanical tests demonstrated that although incorporating the nanozyme reduced the storage modulus, the reversible physical crosslinks formed via hydrogen bonding and coordination interactions endowed the material with excellent tensile toughness and energy-dissipation capacity, exhibiting typical Mullins softening behavior. Functional evaluation showed that Zn-Q nanozyme conferred superior free radical scavenging capability to the hydrogels and exerted dose-dependent inhibition against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the hydrogels exhibited favorable adhesion to various wet organs and heterogeneous material surfaces, with hemolysis rates below 5% and cell viability exceeding 100% after 3 days of culturing with fibroblasts, confirming their excellent hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility. This study provides an experimental basis for developing a new type of wound repair materials that integrate antioxidant, anti-infective, and mechanically adaptive properties, holding significant application potential in oxidative stress-related tissue repair fields. Full article

Pichia manshurica (P. manshurica), a gas-producing spoilage yeast prevalent in fermented foods, causes package swelling, off-flavor formation, and quality deterioration, thereby shortening shelf life and reducing commercial value. Carvacrol, a natural phenolic compound from plant essential oils, has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, but its mechanism for inhibiting P. manshurica’s gas production is unclear. In this study, in vitro and in situ experiments confirmed that carvacrol significantly inhibits gas production by P. manshurica in a concentration-dependent manner. Transcriptomic analysis identified 374 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were mainly enriched in biological processes such as nitrogen compound metabolism, lipid metabolism, and organic substance biosynthesis, as well as cellular components including the cell membrane, mitochondrion, and endoplasmic reticulum. Metabolomic analysis screened a total of 440 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), primarily involving carboxylic acids, phospholipids, fatty acids, and amino acids. Integrated transcriptome–metabolome analysis revealed that carvacrol disrupts cell membrane integrity, blocks the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, and interferes with energy, lipid, and amino acid metabolism in P. manshurica, thereby suppressing its gas production. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism by which carvacrol inhibits gas production by P. manshurica, providing a theoretical basis for the development and application of carvacrol as a natural preservative in fermented foods. Full article

A bioengineered version of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, i.e., tenecteplase (TNK-tPA), was designed to have a longer half-life, resistance to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and fibrin-targeted plasminogen activation. By comparison to tPA, clinical trials suggest that TNK-tPA may be less susceptible to the effects of alpha2-antiplasmin (α2AP), the primary inhibitor of thrombus dissolution. However, preclinical studies are limited, and whether α2AP affects TNK-tPA’s fibrinolytic activity or efficacy in experimental ischemic stroke is unknown. We examined the effects of TNK-tPA and α2AP on the dissolution of human plasma clots (in vitro) and experimental ischemic brain injury from stroke induced by transient middle cerebral artery ischemia. TNK-tPA induced a dose-dependent increase in plasma clot dissolution; inhibition of α2AP with a specific monoclonal antibody caused a synergistic increase in TNK-tPA-mediated clot dissolution. In experimental ischemic stroke with ischemia and reperfusion, TNK-tPA treatment of α2AP^−/− mice significantly reduced ischemic infarct volume, brain swelling, brain hemorrhage, and neurobehavioral disability vs. TNK-tPA-treated α2AP^+/+ (C57BL/6 background) mice with normal α2AP levels (p < 0.05 to p < 0.0001). α2AP impairs the dissolution of human clots in vitro by TNK-tPA and significantly exacerbates ischemic brain injury, swelling, hemorrhage, and neurobehavioral disability after experimental stroke, even with reperfusion. Targeting α2AP may improve the efficacy of TNK-tPA and reduce hemorrhagic complications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic wounds remain difficult to manage because persistent inflammation, microbial colonization, and excess exudate require dressings that combine structural integrity, bioactivity, antimicrobial performance, and cytocompatibility. This study aimed to develop electrospun nanofibrous mats based on gelatin, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), with and without Brazilian red propolis extract (BRPE), and to evaluate how extract incorporation affects solution properties, fiber morphology, fluid interaction, antimicrobial activity, and cytocompatibility. Methods: BRPE was characterized in terms of solid content, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and HPLC-DAD marker profile. Polymeric solutions were evaluated for electrical conductivity and rheological behavior and then processed by electrospinning under fixed conditions. The resulting mats were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, surface porosity, FTIR, and HPLC-DAD. Their performance was further assessed by swelling-associated degradation in simulated wound fluids, agar diffusion antimicrobial assays, and MTT cytocompatibility assays using HaCaT cells. Results: BRPE showed a solid content of 3.88%, a total phenolic content of 8.79 ± 0.21 mg pyrogallol equivalents g⁻¹ extract, and an antioxidant activity of 75.32 ± 9.80 mg Trolox equivalents g⁻¹ extract. HPLC-DAD confirmed preservation of the BRPE chromatographic fingerprint after electrospinning, with high retention of marker peaks associated with liquiritigenin and a formononetin-related signal. Solution conductivity varied with polymer composition and BRPE incorporation; for example, the PVA:gelatin:PCL formulation A4/A4.1 at 70:20:10 decreased from 919.6 to 539.6 µS cm⁻¹ after BRPE loading. Electrospinning produced continuous, defect-free fibers with mean diameters ranging from 94 to 224 nm and surface porosity between 9.8 and 10.6%. Most hydrophilic systems showed rapid fluid interaction but limited wet-state structural stability; among the quantified formulations, A5 showed the lowest mass loss, indicating better structural preservation under simulated wound conditions. BRPE-loaded mats showed microorganism-dependent antimicrobial activity, with the strongest inhibition against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Klebsiella pneumoniae and no activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Free BRPE showed marked cytotoxicity, whereas selected electrospun formulations, especially A1.1 and A3.1, improved HaCaT cell viability. Conclusions: Electrospinning was an effective strategy for incorporating BRPE into polymeric nanofibers and modulating the physicochemical and biological performance of the resulting mats. These findings support the potential of these materials as multifunctional wound-dressing platforms, although further optimization is needed to improve wet-state structural stability, mechanical performance, and bioactive release. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gouty arthritis (GA) is an inflammatory disease caused by increased purine metabolism. The limitations of current anti-GA therapies remain a major challenge. Astilbin, the main flavonoid in Smilax glabra Roxb., was found to exert potential anti-GA effects in our previous study. Methods: In this study, a mouse model of monosodium urate (MSU)-induced arthritis and an inflammatory model using mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were established. Results: Our data showed that astilbin reduced MSU-induced joint swelling and inflammatory infiltration in mice, restored lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/MSU-induced reductions in cell viability, and inhibited the expression levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Further studies showed that astilbin significantly reduced MSU-induced increases in NLRP3 and P-p65 protein levels, as well as the expression of ASC, P-IKKα, P-IκBα, and cleaved-caspase-1. Conclusions: This study suggests that astilbin may be a promising natural product for the treatment of GA by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB signaling pathway. Full article

Goose astrovirus (GoAstV) is a newly identified virus affecting geese, leading to goose gout, which is marked by urate deposits in organs and joints. This research investigates the role of autophagy in renal damage caused by GoAstV in goslings. The findings indicated that GoAstV infection in goslings resulted in characteristic clinical manifestations, with renal tissues displaying tubular swelling, inflammatory infiltration, and autophagosome formation. In vivo experiments demonstrated a significant upregulation of mRNA levels for autophagy-related factors, including AMPK, LC3A, ATG5, ATG7, P62, Beclin1, AMBRA1 and GABARAPL1, while mTOR and LC3B levels were notably decreased. At 3 dpi, the protein expression levels of ATG5, Beclin1, and LC3B II/I increased, while P62 levels decreased, suggesting autophagy activation. In vitro analyses revealed that GoAstV infection led to enhanced autophagy; however, the concurrent upregulation of LC3B II/I and P62 proteins suggested an obstruction in the autophagic flux. Upon the inhibition of autophagy with 3-methyladenine (3-MA, autophagy inhibitor), there was a significant reduction in the expression of autophagy-related factors, accompanied by a marked decrease in viral replication rates. In conclusion, GoAstV infection in gosling kidney cells initially triggers enhanced autophagy and subsequently causes a blockage in the autophagic flux. The virus exploits autophagosomes for replication, ultimately resulting in kidney damage. The application of 3-MA effectively inhibits this autophagic process and diminishes viral replication. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of crude polysaccharide extraction from Thai-cultivated oats (Avena sativa L.) utilizing hot water extraction (HW) and ultrasound-assisted water extraction (UW) methods. Optimal conditions were determined by a response surface methodology (RSM). The influence of solid-to-liquid ratio, temperature or %amplitude, and extraction time on %yield and beta glucan content was investigated. Under optimal conditions, UW produced a superior %yield (82.72 ± 2.19%) and beta glucan content (1.75 ± 0.87 g/100 g extract) compared to HW (41.32 ± 0.98% and 1.25 ± 0.27 g/100 g extract). This finding may occur from acoustic cavitation, which effectively dismantles the cellular wall structure, supported by FTIR analysis finding more distinct β-glycosidic linkage peaks. SEM analyses indicated a greater surface area dispersion and porosity in UW extract relative to HW extract. Analysis of monosaccharide composition supported the properties of both crude extracts, demonstrating glucose as the predominant component. However, the functional and bioactive characterization demonstrated a distinct trade-off between the two extraction methods. HW extract demonstrated superior swelling capacity (6.2 vs. 2.7 g/g at pH 6.5), enhanced antioxidant activity compared to both ABTS (0.67 ± 0.04 vs. 0.58 ± 0.06 μmol TE/g), DPPH (0.53 ± 0.06 vs. 0.35 ± 0.06 μmol TE/g), and FRAP (0.05 ± 0.02 vs. 0.03 ± 0.01 μmol TE/g), total phenolic content (98.33 ± 7.68 vs. 87.79 ± 3.07 mg GAE/g). The crude extracts from the two methods had selective enzyme inhibitory activity, exhibiting considerable inhibition of α-glucosidase and markedly reduced inhibition of α-amylase. UW demonstrated slightly superior inhibitory activity compared to HW for both enzymes. The findings indicate that the determination of crude polysaccharides should principally take into account the purpose of the final product. UW is preferable for optimizing %yield and beta glucan content. Nevertheless, if the emphasis is on functional attributes like water absorption and antioxidant efficacy, HW has advantages that merit a consideration. This research provides a framework for identifying optimal extraction methods aimed at extracting crude polysaccharides from Thai-cultivated oats for use as a functional ingredient in health food products. Full article

Atriplex halimus is a medicinal plant traditionally used for various therapeutic purposes. This study evaluated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, genotoxic, and anti-arthritic activities of the A. halimus aqueous extract (AHA). Anti-arthritic effects were investigated in Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritic rats treated with AHA (150 or 300 mg/kg) for 21 days. AHA significantly reduced paw swelling and arthritis severity and improved body weight, while a non-significant reduction in spleen enlargement was observed. Hematological and biochemical parameters were restored toward normal values, indicating anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective effects. The extract also reduced oxidative stress by decreasing nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increasing glutathione (GSH) content and catalase (CAT) activity. Histopathological examination confirmed reduced inflammatory infiltration and protection against bone damage. Phytochemical analysis revealed polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins, consistent with its antioxidant activity in DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and o-phenanthroline assays. AHA also showed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting bovine serum albumin denaturation. The extract induced a moderate concentration-dependent reduction in HeLa cell viability without cytotoxicity toward HaCaT cells. Comet assay results demonstrated DNA damage in HeLa cells at higher concentrations, while AHA significantly suppressed zymosan-induced IL-1β gene expression. These findings indicate that AHA is a promising natural source of bioactive compounds with diverse biological activities. Full article

The Jinjia oilfield in Shengli oilfield is a typical ultra-sensitive reservoir characterized by high crude oil viscosity, poor fluidity, high clay content, and weak cementation. During development, oil-sand mixtures readily plug pore throats. Various development methods including water flooding and thermal recovery have been implemented, yet severe problems persist: inability to inject, failure to displace, and lack of capacity to produce. To address these challenges, a functional microbial mineral-modified desensitization-chemical viscosity-reduction dual-effect agent, a self-growing gel dispersion profile control agent, and a low-damage deep acidizing system were developed. Laboratory experiments clarified the enhanced oil recovery mechanism of the bio-chemical desensitization and viscosity-reduction system. Results indicate that the desensitization and viscosity-reduction system can inhibit clay swelling, with the anti-swelling improvement rate of core permeability reaching 56%. Chemical viscosity reduction enabled heavy oil to “flow effectively,” achieving a viscosity reduction rate of 98.9% after adsorption. The profile control agent dispersed and migrated, then stably adsorbed onto particle surfaces to plug high-permeability channels, demonstrating strong anti-scouring capability and effectively suppressing channeling flow. In the composite system, bio-chemical desensitization and viscosity reduction synergistically enhanced mobility control, achieving an oil recovery factor of 56.5%, representing a 26.3% increase over post-water-flooding viscosity-reduction flooding. After two pilot well groups in the Jinjia oilfield were converted from water flooding to bio-chemical desensitization and viscosity-reduction composite flooding, single-well oil production capacity increased by 2.8-fold, water cut decreased by 12%, and both development performance and economic benefits were significantly improved—transforming the situation from “increasing water without increasing oil” to “increasing both liquid and oil production.” The research findings provide important reference value for the effective development of ultra-sensitive reservoirs. Full article

Citrus peel, a major by-product of citrus processing, is a rich source of pectin and other bioactive compounds. In this study, pectin extracted from seven citrus species was comprehensively characterized for its structural, spectral, thermal, physicochemical, techno-functional, antioxidant, and anti-amylase properties. The extracted pectin (~50% methyl esterification) contained residual cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and proteins, with Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) confirming typical galacturonic acid-based structures. Fluorescence analysis revealed emission shifts (420–500 nm) compared to standard pectin. Thermal analysis indicated multi-stage degradation, with major transitions linked to moisture loss, polysaccharide depolymerization, and lignin oxidation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a predominantly amorphous structure with minor cellulose domains. The pectin solution showed negative zeta potential, shear-thinning behavior, and high conductivity. Functionally, it exhibited strong swelling, hygroscopicity, and water/oil holding capacity, but low foaming ability. Biologically, it demonstrated moderate antioxidant activity and α-amylase inhibition. These findings highlight citrus pectin as a promising sustainable ingredient for food and pharmaceutical applications, with future work needed to enhance its solubility and bioactivity. Full article

High-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) is a non-thermal processing technology with the potential to modify the functionality of plant-derived materials. This study evaluated the effect of HIUS on the techno-functional properties, rheology, phenolic profile, aloin content, and antioxidant activity of Aloe vera gel at 11, 28, and 43 W/cm² for 2.5, 5, and 7.5 min. HIUS reduced swelling capacity from 284.92 mL/g in the untreated sample by up to ~60%, while water retention capacity increased from 45.62 g/g to values close to 90 g/g. Fat adsorption capacity reached its highest value at 28 W/cm² for 5 min (~60 g/g). Rheological analysis confirmed shear-thinning behavior and a marked viscosity reduction after sonication, with zero-shear viscosity ranging from 0.055 to 0.569 Pa·s. Total phenolic content decreased from ~6.0 mg GAE/g dm in the untreated gel to 2.6–3.3 mg GAE/g dm after HIUS. Aloin showed a non-linear response, increasing from ~43 to ~48 mg/g at 28 W/cm² when processing time increased from 2.5 to 5 min, followed by an approximately 20% decrease at 7.5 min. Antioxidant activity ranged from 31 to 47% DPPH inhibition and 75 to 150 µmol TE/g ORAC. These findings indicate that moderate HIUS conditions improve selected functional properties while limiting bioactive compound degradation. Full article

Chronic infected wounds are often characterized by persistent bacterial colonization, biofilm formation, excessive oxidative stress, and prolonged inflammation, which severely impair tissue regeneration. To address these challenges, a multifunctional wound dressing capable of antibacterial activity and microenvironment modulation was developed. In this study, amide-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-ADH) was used as the matrix, and a dynamic coordination network was constructed via Cu²⁺-hydrazide interactions to form an in situ HA-Cu hydrogel. Curcumin-loaded DSPE-PEG2000 micelles were further incorporated to obtain a pH-responsive composite hydrogel (HA-Cu/Cur). The prepared hydrogel exhibited a porous interconnected structure, along with favorable injectability, self-healing capability, tissue adhesiveness, moderate swelling, controllable degradability, and pH-responsive behavior under acidic conditions. In vitro antibacterial assays demonstrated that both HA-Cu and HA-Cu/Cur effectively inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial activity was associated with disruption of bacterial morphology, depletion of intracellular ATP, and induction of reactive oxygen species, while HA-Cu/Cur showed enhanced performance in antibiofilm activity and oxidative stress-related effects compared with HA-Cu. Cytocompatibility studies revealed that the hydrogel extracts exhibited negligible cytotoxicity toward L929 fibroblasts and RAW 264.7 macrophages, while promoting fibroblast migration and significantly reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, with HA-Cu/Cur showing a more pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. In summary, the HA-Cu/Cur hydrogel integrates the antibacterial and pro-healing properties of Cu²⁺ with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of curcumin. The hydrogel effectively inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of both E. coli and S. aureus, reduced the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated macrophages, and promoted fibroblast migration, demonstrating its potential as a multifunctional wound dressing for the management of infected wounds. Full article

Aiming at severe soil secondary salinization, poor water retention and insufficient salt tolerance of conventional acrylic-based modifiers in arid and semi-arid regions of China, a poly(ethylene glycol) maleate citrate (PEGMC) crosslinking monomer was synthesized through esterification, and a dual covalent–hydrogen crosslinked P(PEGMC/AA) hydrogel was fabricated via free radical copolymerization with acrylic acid (AA). The hydrogel was characterized by NMR, FTIR, SEM, TGA and elemental mapping, while its binding mechanism with saline–alkali ions was elucidated through DFT calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. Its amelioration performance was evaluated through swelling, soil water retention, desalination and pot germination experiments. The hydrogel exhibited outstanding water absorbency, salt resistance and dry–wet cycling stability, with swelling ratios of 712 g/g in deionized water and 285 g/g in 0.9% NaCl solution, and remained 200 g/g after four dry–wet cycles. It enhanced soil water retention remarkably (over 93% after 72 h). At 0.30% dosage, soil salt content declined from 7.1 g/kg to 1.3 g/kg with desalination efficiency exceeding 80%, owing to porous physical adsorption and chemical chelation toward Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, with a binding energy of −136.936 kJ/mol. Pot tests revealed that crop germination rate rose from 19% (blank) to 75% under severe saline–alkali stress. Meanwhile, the hydrogel inhibited nutrient leaching and favored soil-water conservation. This work first incorporated PEGMC monomer into agricultural hydrogels to construct a stable dual crosslinked network, clarifying its synergistic mechanisms for salt fixation and water retention macroscopically and microscopically. It provides a promising functional material and theoretical basis for green, efficient in situ amelioration of dryland saline–alkali soil. Full article