To study the commercial specifications and grading standards for Piperis Fructus, 40 samples of Piperis Fructus collected from the herbal markets were analyzed. Based on the literature review and market investigation, the appearance traits of Piperis Fructus were selected. Descriptive statistics,analysis of variance, confidence intervals of the means, practical production conditions, and market operability were employed to determine the grading indicators of Piperis Fructus. In addition, piperine content was used as a quality indicator to analyze differences among different grades and to examine the correlation between appearance traits and piperine content. The literature review and market investigation revealed that Piperis Fructus with larger plump and stronger aroma has traditionally been considered superior, and is classified into two categories: white pepper and black pepper. Data analysis showed that was significantly different in grain number of 50 g, using the grain number of 50 g as a classification index of Piperis Fructus. In accordance with the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopeia and practical production considerations, two specifications (white pepper and black pepper) and two grades (selected and standard) were defined. Multiple comparisons indicated that the piperine content in selected white pepper was significantly higher than that in selected black pepper. Correlation analysis showed that piperine content in both white and black pepper was significantly negatively correlated with the number of grains per 50 g, but did not significantly correlate with diameter or damage rate. This study establishes commercial specifications and grading standards for Piperis Fructus based on appearance traits, which align with current market conditions and could serve as a reference for standardizing market transactions and circulation.

Polygonum orientale L. has an anti-myocardial ischemia effect, and the metabolic processes of its active constituents exhibits considerable differences under physiological and pathological conditions. Considering the role of transporters in the pathological process of myocardial ischemia and the metabolism of xenobiotics, this study aims to investigate the effects of the active constituents in Polygonum orientale L. on the expressions of liver transporters in rats under physiological and pathological conditions.Network pharmacology was used to screen myocardial ischemia-related targets, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Based on a literature review, hepatic transporters and pathways related to myocardial ischemia were identified. Morever, molecular docking was used to predict the binding affinity between the active constituents of Polygonum orientale L. and regulatory proteins of transporters. A rat model of myocardial ischemia was established, and the effects of Polygonum orientale L. extract on the expressions of hepatic transporters were detected using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Results revealed that network pharmacology analysis identified 428 common target genes associated with myocardial ischemia and transport proteins. PPI analysis yielded 36 key nodes, and GO and KEGG analyses revealed substantial enrichment of these targets in inflammatory responses, ABC transporters, PPAR signaling pathway, among others. Based on the literature review, seven hepatic transporters, including BCRP, MRP, and P-gp, were observed to be associated with myocardial ischemia. Molecular docking suggested high binding affinity between active constituents of Polygonum orientale L. and upstream regulatory proteins of transporters. Furthermore, animal experiments revealed that Polygonum orientale L. extract upregulated the expressions of MRP1, MRP2, OATP2, OCT1, OCT2, and P-gp in normal rats, and downregulated the protein expressions of BCRP, MRP2, OATP2, OCT1, OCT2, and P-gp in rats with myocardial ischemia. These results indicate that the active constituents of Polygonum orientale L. can regulate hepatic transporters under physiological and pathological conditions, and their mechanism may be related to their binding to upstream regulatory proteins of hepatic transporters.

This study investigates the pharmacological effects of protocatechuic acid on mice with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia and its potential multi-target mechanisms of action. A BALB/c mouse model of RSV infection was established to observe behavioral changes, assess lung tissue pathology, organ indices, and levels of inflammatory cytokines. Proteomics was employed to identify differential proteins involved in the treatment of RSV pneumonia by protocatechuic acid, followed by Gene Ontology functional annotation, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment, and protein-protein interaction network analysis. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to validate the binding stability of protocatechuic acid with core targets. Protocatechuic acid significantly ameliorated RSV-induced weight loss, pulmonary histopathology, and excessive inflammatory cytokine release in mice. A total of 8 357 proteins were identified through proteomics, with 142 proteins differentially expressed and primarily enriched in the interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathways, retinol metabolism, and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathways. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinity between protocatechuic acid and key targets such as mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 and insulin-like growth factor 1. Molecular dynamics simulations further indicated robust stability of the complex system. Protocatechuic acid may exert its anti-RSV effects by regulating IL-17- and TNF-related signaling pathways, thereby suppressing excessive inflammatory responses. This mechanism involves synergistic regulation across multiple targets and pathways, providing theoretical support for developing antiviral drugs from active components of traditional Chinese medicine.

To systematically investigate the causal relationship between lipids and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), this study used a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach and summary data from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to infer causal associations between 179 lipids and T2DM. Single nucleotide polymorphisms significantly associated with lipid levels were selected as instrumental variables. Analyses including inverse variance weighting and MR-Egger regression were performed, together with sensitivity analyses to verify the robustness of the findings. The results indicated that 12 lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine (O-18:0_20:4) (OR=1.075, 95% CI: 1.011~1.143, P=0.022), were positively associated with T2DM risk, suggesting their potential role in promoting disease development. In addition, 19 lipids, including phosphatidylcholine (15:0_18:2) (OR=0.960, 95% CI: 0.933~0.988, P=0.005), exhibited protective effects and may reduce the risk of T2DM. Sensitivity analyses revealed no significant horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity, indicating the robustness and high reliability of the findings. From a genetic perspective, this study confirms the causal roles of specific lipid molecules in the development of T2DM, providing new evidence for elucidating its underlying pathological mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic targets.

To clarify how B418 alleviates the limitations imposed by continuous-cropping obstacle soils on rape production, a plot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of exogenously applied B418 on the emergence, survival, and yield of rape, as well as on nitrogen transformation-related genes and carbon-fixation genes in the rhizosphere soil of continuously cropped rape (Brassica chinensis L.). Correlations between functional gene abundance and yield were also analyzed to provide a scientific basis for increasing the yield of continuously cropped vegetables. The results showed that in mildly secondary salinized obstacle soil I (pH 4.3, EC 1 361 μS/cm) and severely secondary salinized obstacle soil II (pH 4.6, EC 2 200 μS/cm), B418 significantly increased the emergence rate, survival rate, and yield of rape and increased the absolute abundance of the carbon-fixation gene cbbL in rhizosphere soil. In soil I, B418 treatment increased the abundance of the nitrogenase gene nifH and the ammonia monooxygenase gene amoA, but decreased the abundance of the nitrous oxide reductase gene nosZ. In soil II, B418 treatment increased the abundance of nifH while decreasing the abundance of amoA, the nitrite reductase genes nirK and nirS, and nosZ, with significant differences between treatments. These results indicate that exogenously added B418 can inhibit rhizosphere nitrification and denitrification in continuously cropped rape. Correlation analysis showed that yield was positively correlated with the abundance of cbbL and nifH, negatively correlated with nirK, and significantly negatively correlated with the abundance of amoA, nirS, and nosZ. The abundance of amoA was extremely significantly positively correlated with that of nosZ, indicating that yield improvement in continuously cropped rape is closely related to rhizosphere microbial carbon-fixation and nitrogen-cycling capacities, as well as to the inhibition of nitrification and denitrification.

Abacterial strain capable of producing exopolysaccharides (EPS) was isolated from soil and identified as Bacillus proteolyticus strain based on morphological characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The strain was designated as LY0. Experimental results showed that LY0 secreted various extracellular products, including extracellular enzymes and EPS. Antimicrobial activity, assessed by inhibition zone assays, showed that LY0 inhibited the growth of several bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Viscosity measurements of LY0 liquid cultures revealed a peak at 24 h. Different carbon sources were added to the fermentation medium, and EPS yield was determined using the phenol-sulfuric acid method following purification with dialysis and trichloroacetic acid. The results showed that, compared with other carbon sources, sucrose yielded the highest EPS production (32.2 mg/L), suggesting that sucrose is the optimal carbon source for EPS production by LY0. The Bacillus proteolyticus strain obtained in this study can be used for microbial EPS production and holds broad application prospects.

To address the susceptibility of natural rubber (NR) to oxidative aging arising from highly reactive sites such as double bonds and α-hydrogens in its molecular structure, this study designs and prepares a supported long-term sustained-release antioxidant system (4010NA@DE) with a three-level “load-coat-graft” functional architecture based on diatomite (DE). The antioxidant N-isopropyl-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (4010NA) is first loaded onto diatomite, followed by surface coating with polydopamine, and subsequent grafting of flexible oleylamine chains. This hierarchical design effectively suppresses migration of small-molecule antioxidants within the natural rubber matrix while improving interfacial compatibility, thereby mitigating issues of blooming and rapid depletion associated with conventional antioxidants. Experimental results show that NR composites incorporating 4010NA@DE exhibit excellent anti-aging performance. After 672 h of thermo-oxidative aging at 100 ℃, the tensile strength remains above 20 MPa and the elongation at break exceeds 450%, with no observable surface blooming. The retention rates of tensile strength and elongation at break reach 81% and 68%, respectively, with an aging coefficient of 0.56. This work provides a viable strategy for designing durable, migration-resistant antioxidant systems for long-term protection of rubber materials.

To address the ecological and health risks associated with frequent cyanobacterial blooms, it is crucial to overcome the limitations of existing algal control technologies—such as secondary chemical pollution from chemical methods, the high cost of physical methods, and the slow response of biological approaches—by developing efficient and environmentally safe algal inhibitors. In this study, an environmentally responsive, activated carbon-based sustained-release microsphere (CM-AC@SM), encapsulating gallic acid and pyrogallic acid, was developed. The effects of temperature (15, 25, 35 ℃) and pH (5.0, 7.0, 9.0) on its release performance were systematically investigated, and its inhibitory effect on Microcystis aeruginosa as well as its regulation of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) were evaluated. The results showed that the microspheres exhibit dual responsiveness to temperature and pH: both the drug release rate and swelling ratio were significantly positively correlated with temperature, and notably increased under high-pH conditions. Under simulated algal bloom conditions (35 ℃, pH 9.0), the microspheres demonstrated excellent performance—the algae inhibition rate increased significantly by 23.7% to 41.5%, and the MC-LR release rate decreased by 62.3%, effectively mitigating environmental risk. Furthermore, they promoted intracellular accumulation of MC-LR by 38.9%, achieving enhanced control through a “retention and efficacy boosting” effect. The CM-AC@SM microspheres innovatively employ an environment-triggered sustained-release mechanism to synergistically drive a dual-path regulation strategy—namely, inhibition of intracellular toxin synthesis and blockade of extracellular leakage. This dual-path synergy effectively avoids the traditional issue with chemical algicides of “toxin release upon algal death”, ultimately achieving coordinated goals of algae inhibition and ecological toxicity reduction.

Low-carbon resource recovery technologies for solid waste are one of the key pathways for attaining China’s carbon neutrality agenda. A lifecycle carbon emission assessment model for aggregates was constructed for comparative analysis, and sensitivity and scenario analyses were conducted to identify key factors influencing carbon reduction. Results show that the lifecycle carbon emissions of clay-based aggregates and solid-waste-based porcelain aggregates are 313.70 and 291.19 kg/t, respectively, with the production stage contributing the largest proportions (84.59% and 85.08%,respectively). The carbon emission factors of transportation and raw material consumption are the main factors influencing the lifecycle carbon emissions of aggregates. In the future, the solid-waste-based porcelain aggregate industry can achieve carbon reduction through the following three measures: replacing diesel heavy trucks with electric heavy trucks, increasing the blending ratio of industrial solid wastes such as red mud, and optimizing the grid power. These integrated solutions provide a systematic framework for carbon reduction in the recycled aggregate industry while advancing circular economy objectives.

To enhance the fine-scale susceptibility assessment of landslide-collapse hazards, Paitan Town in Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, was selected as the study area. Based on the geographic information system platform, 2 579 slope units were delineated as the basic assessment units using the “catchment-area overlap method”. Eight key indicators, namely, elevation, slope gradient, slope aspect, slope shape, engineering geological rock group, geological structure, vegetation coverage, and land use type, were selected. The weights of these factors were determined by combining the information value model and the analytic hierarchy process, leading to the susceptibility zoning of geological hazards. The results indicated that the study area can be categorized into four susceptibility levels: high, medium, low, and non-susceptible, accounting for 8.59%, 41.31%, 25.52%, and 24.58% of the total area, respectively. The high-susceptibility areas were concentrated in the northern mountainous region, characterized by steep terrain, fragmented rock structure, and intensive human engineering activities, making them the priority areas for disaster prevention and control. The assessment results were validated using receiver operating characteristic curves, with an accuracy of 85%, indicating that the proposed method is highly applicable to the region and can support geological hazard prevention and territorial spatial planning.

Understanding the spatial-temporal evolution of green innovation capacity in the nine provinces along the Yellow River is of great significance for promoting ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin, as well as for implementing China’s national green and low-carbon strategies. Based on relevant data from these provinces from 2014 to 2023, this study constructs an evaluation indicator system for green innovation capacity and conducts an in-depth analysis using the super-efficiency SBM-GML model, Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition, and kernel density estimation. The results reveal several key findings: the green technological innovation capacity of the nine provinces shows a significant policy-driven effect but lacks sustainability; spatial disparities among regions exhibit gradient differentiation; the dynamic evolution demonstrates both polarization and convergence; and long-term performance is determined by the alignment of green innovation with resource endowments and industrial structures. In response, this study proposes that enhancing green technological innovation in these provinces requires breakthroughs in three dimensions: policy coordination, regional differentiation, and technological adaptability. This can be achieved by stabilizing expectations through market mechanisms, promoting collaboration through ecological compensation, optimizing spatial patterns through growth-pole diffusion, and improving resilience through the integration of industrial innovation, ultimately enabling the sustainable and balanced development of green innovation capacity across the basin.

To gain an in-depth understanding of the formation mechanisms of tornadoes in Henan and enhance the accuracy of tornado monitoring and early warning operations, this study comparatively analyzes the synoptic background, environmental conditions, and radar characteristics of three tornado events in northeastern Henan Province using conventional meteorological observations, ERA5 reanalysis data, and Doppler radar data, and summarizes local tornado forecasting and warning indicators. The results show that: (1) All three tornadoes occurred over the plain areas of Puyang City in northeastern Henan during the period from June to July. The “22·6” and “23·7” tornadoes occurred around midday, whereas the “09·7” tornado occurred in the evening. The “09·7” and “23·7” events were accompanied by regional short-duration heavy rainfall, whereas the “22·6” tornado featured localized short-duration heavy rainfall and minor hail.(2) Although all three events developed under the influence of the Northeast China Cold Vortex, unlike the upper-level cold advection-forced “22·6” tornado, the “09·7” and “23·7” tornadoes were warm advection-forced. Surface convergence lines or mesoscale cyclones provided dynamic forcing for all events. (3) All three events exhibited low lifting condensation levels and strong low-level vertical wind shear. The “09·7” and “23·7” tornadoes featured thicker near-surface moisture layers and stronger low-level wind shear, whereas the “22·6” event showed a pronounced dry layer, a lower wet-bulb zero level, and the greatest temperature difference between 850 and 500 hPa. (4) Prior to tornadogenesis, the parent convective systems of all three events showed enhanced echo centers and evolved into bow-shaped, hook-shaped, or vortex-like structures. Velocity fields exhibited the coexistence of low-level cyclonic convergence and mid-level rotational ascent. The “22·6” event had the strongest echo intensity but weak vortex signatures and a shallow structure; the “09·7” tornado had the strongest vortex intensity and deepest rotational thickness; the “23·7” event had the weakest echo intensity and lowest tornado vortex signature value (potentially radar-limited), but a greater vertical depth. This study provides a reference for forecasting and warning services for tornadic severe weather.

To analyze the impact of the three-stage swirler structure on the temperature distributions at the outlet of a centrally staged combustion chamber, in this study, we developed a combined structure of pilot-stage and main-stage swirlers under different swirl numbers to establish a combustion chamber model with a single-head flame tube and performed numerical simulations to systematically investigate how adjusting the swirl number of each stage affects the combustion chamber outlet temperature distribution. The results show that when the pilot-stage swirler rotates in the opposite direction and both the first and second stages have a swirl number of 0.85, the temperature distribution inside the combustion chamber is more favorable. Moreover, when the swirl number of the main combustion stage swirler is 1.39, the high-temperature combustion zone becomes more uniform, the combustion process is more complete and the overall temperature distribution is good. Under this condition, both the outlet temperature distribution coefficient and the outlet radial temperature distribution coefficient are reduced to their lowest points, indicating that the non-uniformity of the combustion chamber outlet temperature field has been significantly improved and the temperature distribution has reached the optimal uniformity. This parameter combination has good engineering adaptability and contributes to improved combustion efficiency and extended service life of key downstream components such as turbine guide vanes.

New quality productive forces constitute the core driving force for high-quality development of the marine economy. Measuring the development of marine new quality productive forces is essential for evaluating the high-quality development of marine economy. This study elaborates on the theoretical connotation of marine new quality productive forces, constructs a corresponding evaluation index system, and employs the analytic hierarchy process—entropy weight combination weighting method and grey system model—to analyze and predict the development level of marine new quality productive forces in Shandong Province between 2011—2024 and the development trend between 2025—2029. The results indicate that: (1) the marine new quality productive forces in Shandong Province has undergone a three-stage evolution characterized by “steady climbing-accelerated growth-high-level adjustment”, where green productivity and innovative productivity serve as the core driving indicators, while open productivity is significantly affected by changes in the external environment; (2) compared with the other ten coastal provinces, Shandong Province ranked third in terms of average value during 2011—2024 and progressed to second place in 2024, maintaining an overall leading position. However, there is still a room for improvement in economic quality and efficiency as well as open productivity; (3) the prediction shows that the level of marine new quality productive forces in Shandong Province will continue to rise during 2025—2029, gradually shifting from medium-high-quality growth to high-quality growth. Based on these findings, policy recommenditions are proposed to promote the high-quality development of Shandong Province’s marine economy, focusing on innovation-driven development, green transformation, improvement of economic quality and efficiency, high-level opening up, shared prosperity, and improvements in public services.