Search

Coal gasification fine ash (CGFA) is a large amount of solid waste produced by the coal chemical industry and has a broad prospect of recycling in building materials. This paper aims to investigate the effect of CGFA on the flowability, rheological behavior, hydration properties, and sustainability of blended cement. CGFA contains mineral components similar to fly ash (FA) and has morphological and physical filling effects that promote the flow of cement pastes. However, water absorption by the residual carbon component in CGFA resulted in severe deterioration of the rheological properties and flowability of the paste. As levels of CGFA replacement increase, the blended cement shows a pattern of decreasing early hydration rate, reducing flowability, and a significant increase in dynamic yield stress. The characteristic hydration reaction peak indicating the transformation of ettringite (AFt) to kuzelite (AFm) was little observed in the mixed samples of CGFA and cement. This phenomenon is attributed to the low content of reactive minerals (mainly aluminates) in CGFA. The residual carbon in CGFA almost did not participate in the hydration reaction of the blended cement system. It also limited the accumulation of hydration products, significantly reducing the strength of the mortar. Considering multiple factors such as cost, carbon emission, embodied energy, and cement consumption, the combined sustainability assessment of the (15%CGFA + 15%FA) combination replacing cement is 14.5% higher than that of pure cement mortar. This study can provide theoretical and technical support for the sustainable development of the coal chemical industry and the construction industry. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to realize the resource utilization of coal gasification fine ash (CGFA) in cement fields, a key is to solve the problem of low activity of CGFA. This paper studied the performance of CGFA as supplementary cementitious materials in cement. Furthermore, to enhance the activity of CGFA, targeted chemical activators were employed, with triethanolamine (TEA) and simulated high salinity wastewater (SHSW) chosen as representatives of organic and inorganic agents, respectively. It was found that CGFA had a synergistic effect with cement at a low dosage, while the inhibition effect on cement hydration was dominant at a high dosage. TEA promotes the strength development of the CGFA-cement system by promoting early hydration of cement and dissolution of active minerals in CGFA. However, the promoting effect of TEA on cement hydration will change to an inhibiting effect with the development of time, which will have an adverse effect on the development of strength. In general, the optimal dosage of TEA is 0.03 %, which can increase the 28-day activity index of CGFA from 69.1 % to 75.6 %. SHSW accelerates the strength development of the CGFA-cement system by promoting the hydration of cement and facilitating the dissolution and hydration of active minerals in CGFA. In addition, X-ray diffraction results show that a new hydration product, Friedel's salt, is formed under the excitation of SHSW. But this new hydration product will gradually dissolve as the pH decreases. The 28-day activity index of CGFA can be increased to a maximum of 83.3 % under the excitation of 2 % SHSW. [Display omitted] • The direct use of CGFA has adverse effects on the properties of cement. • Activity index of CGFA can be increased to a maximum of 83.3 % by chemical activators. • Activators promote the dissolution and hydration of active minerals in CGFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroaluminate cement (FAC), a low-carbon binder with high corrosion resistance, is not commonly utilized because of its high cost. It is more affordable to partially replace FAC with supplementary cementitious material (SCM) such as granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS). However, there have been few studies on the properties of GBFS-FAC binary binder systems, in order to make a good understanding of the properties of FAC blended with GBFS, the effect of GBFS on the hydration and hardened properties of FAC was investigated from hydration heat, compressive strength, chloride penetration resistance, hydration products, pore structure, etc., and the simulated pore solutions of FAC and OPC were prepared and characterized to explore the hydration mechanism of GBFS in FAC environment. The results indicated that GBFS incorporation slowed down the hydration rate and significantly altered the hydration process of FAC such as delaying the formation of ettringite. When the GBFS content was more than 20%, the amount of hydration exotherm peaks of FAC blended with GBFS decreased due to the disappearance of the third exothermic peak. Adding GBFS did not affect the phase assemblage, but reduced the amount of hydration products and increased the porosity of the samples, resulting in the deterioration of the compressive strength and chloride penetration resistance (with the GBFS content increasing from 0% to 30%, the 28d compressive strength decreased from 44.25 MPa to 31.86 MPa). The hydration activity of GBFS in FAC pore solution was lower compared to that in OPC pore solution, due to the lower Ca and S concentrations, lower pH, and lower conductivity of FAC pore solutions. [Display omitted] • GBFS content strongly influences the hydration process of the GBFS-FAC binary system. • Low hydration activity of GBFS in FAC leads to a decrease in hardened properties. • Reason for the low hydration reactivity of GBFS in FAC environment is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provided a new alkali activator for steel slag cementitious material - layered sodium disilicate (LSD), and focused on its dissolution-precipitation mechanism based on ion exchange capacity of LSD. The results showed that LSD could act as an effective activator for steel slag and the higher compressive strength of pastes (S3(14.9 MPa) and S10(22.3 MPa) increased by 222% and 332% respectively) were achieved and a matrix with much denser pore structure was formed. The pore solution analysis indicated LSD could play a role as ions transporter to facilitate the dissolution of steel slag (mainly C 2 S and C 3 S). Analysis of the hydration products showed that the addition of LSD increased the formation of C-S-H gels, CaCO 3 and Mg(OH) 2 , but reduced the content of hydrotalcite-like phase. In addition, TEM and FTIR analysis indicated that the laminar C-S-H gel generated from LSD-activated steel slag had a higher SiO 2 and Al content and a higher degree of silicate chain polymerization. [Display omitted] • LSD plays a role as ions transporter to facilitate the dissolution of steel slag. • LSD can promote the formation of C-S-H gels, CaCO 3 and Mg(OH) 2 by ion exchange. • LSD resulted in a higher SiO 2 content and polymerization degree of C-S-H gels. • The dissolution-precipitation mechanism of steel slag-LSD system was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the reliance on cement clinker, employing ultrafine powders as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is gradually gaining importance. This study investigated the effect of an ultrafine composite powder (UCP) having a specific surface area of approximately 730 m²/kg, produced by industrial ball milling ordinary blast furnace slag and fly ash at a 1:1 ratio, on cement hydration and its durability. The ultrafine composite powder was characterized by X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analyzer, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effects of ultrafine composite powder on the macroscopic properties of cement-based materials were assessed through flowability tests, setting time tests, and mechanical properties tests. Then, the hydration heat release, hydration products and microstructures of the pastes were characterized using isothermal calorimetry, XRD, thermogravimetric (TG), SEM and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Finally, the effects of ultrafine composite powder on the durability of cement-based materials were evaluated by electrical flux, chloride diffusion coefficient, and mechanical properties tests. The results showed that ultrafine composite powder enhanced the flowability of cement paste under the synergistic effect of superplasticizer. However, the setting time was prolonged due to the dilution of cement by ultrafine composite powder. The ultrafine composite powder significantly improved the early mechanical properties of the mortar, and the mechanical properties after 28-days was equivalent to that of the control. The ultrafine composite powder could significantly decrease the cumulative heat release of cement paste. Due to the high SO 3 content, an additional exothermic peak representing ettringite formation was observed. As the hydration time extends, the hydration products in the paste changed, especially the transformation from ettringite to kuzite, and the formation of hemicarbonate and monocarbonate. As the ultrafine composite powder content increases, the proportion of gel micro-pores increased, whereas the proportion of middle and large capillary pores decreased. Consequently, the total pores in the paste also decreased. The addition of ultrafine composite powder enhanced the durability of the cement-based materials, making it an ideal choice for use in coastal engineering projects. ● UCP was beneficial for enhancing the flowability of cement mortar. ● UCP could enhance the early mechanical properties of cement mortar. ● UCP could make the microstructure of cement paste more compact. ● UCP improved the durability of cement mortar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) have emerged as promising targets for anticancer therapy. In this study, we synthesized and evaluated the biological activity of 66 pyrazolo[3,4- d ]pyridazinone derivatives. Kinase inhibition, cell proliferation, and whole blood stability assays were used to evaluate their activity on FGFR, allowing us to explore structure−activity relationships and thus to gain understanding of the structural requirements to modulate covalent inhibitors' selectivity and reactivity. Among them, compound 10h exhibited potent enzymatic activity against FGFR and remarkably inhibited proliferation of various cancer cells associated with FGFR dysregulation, and suppressed FGFR signaling pathway in cancer cells by the immunoblot analysis. Moreover, 10h displayed highly potent antitumor efficacy (TGI = 91.6%, at a dose of 50 mg/kg) in the FGFR1-amplified NCI-H1581 xenograft model. A series of pyrazolo[3,4- d ]pyridazinone derivatives were synthesized. Kinase inhibition, cell proliferation, and whole blood stability assays were performed, allowing us to explore structure−activity relationship and to gain understanding of the structural requirements to modulate covalent inhibitors' selectivity and reactivity. Compound 10h displayed highly potent antitumor efficacy in the NCI-H1581 xenograft model. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal gasification technology is the core of clean and efficient utilization of coal, while coal gasification fine ash (CGFA) is the solid waste inevitably produced in the coal gasification process. Due to the high residual carbon content and water retention of CGFA, the solubility of its silica-aluminium-calcium-containing minerals is poor, which affects its potential cementing properties in construction materials. In this paper, the basic physicochemical properties were investigated, and it was found that small particles of CGFA (CGFA-S) had more active mineral components, lower residual carbon content (17.17%) and weaker water retention (6.91%), which facilitated the removal of impurities and water. In addition, the best effects were achieved at a heat treatment temperature of 650 °C, which exposed the minerals and increased the solution solubility, and the leaching concentrations of Si4+, Al3+, and Ca2+ increased by 21.2%, 44.6%, and 97.8%, respectively. However, when the temperature was too high (815 °C), the minerals recrystallized, leading to structural instability and dissolution difficulties, and the concentrations of the three major ions were reduced by 84.4%, 82.0%, and 42.2%, respectively, compared with the control.Finally, the optimal heat treatment temperature was 650 °C, with the highest exothermic hydration rate (11.92 mW/g) and the highest cumulative exothermic heat (199.81 J/g). The hydration products were tightly bound, and the cement mortar specimens had the highest compressive strength, with a 28d strength of 45.4 MPa. • The physicochemical properties of CGFA were analyzed based on particle size. • The extraction effect and microstructure of ash in CGFA were tested. • The hydration activity of thermally modified CGFA was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The differences between natural and artificial hydraulic lime mortars were revealed. • NHL mortar have preferable fluidity compared to the artificial lime mortars. • The mechanical properties of artificial lime mortar have advantages over NHL mortar. • A part of artificial lime mortars is nearby to NHL mortar in environmental resistance. • Three kinds of lime mortars have big difference in hydration and carbonation reaction. Abstract To evaluate the differences of properties between natural and artificial hydraulic lime mortars, the macro and micro properties of natural hydraulic lime (NHL2 and NHL5) mortars, white Portland cement-aerial lime-based (CL15 and CL25) mortars and slag-aerial lime-based (SL20 and SL40) mortars were studied through the examination of their physical and mechanical properties, environmental resistance properties, hardening mechanism and microstructure of lime mortars or pastes. The results show that the NHL mortars have preferable fluidity compared to the artificial CL and SL mortars, while the mechanical properties of artificial CL and SL mortars are advantageous compared to those of NHL mortar. In terms of environmental resistance, the water resistance of SL mortar is best, closely followed by the CL mortar, and the NHL mortar is relatively weak; moreover, CL mortar shows the best sulphate resistance, and SL mortar has the best alkali resistance. The hydration reaction (or pozzolanic reaction) and carbonization reaction could occur in the three kinds of hydraulic lime pastes, and the hydration reaction of the NHL and CL pastes mainly occur in the early stage of paste hardening (before 28 days), while the pozzolanic reaction of the SL paste reach a high degree at early hardening stage (28 days) and still maintains a certain reaction rate in the later period. The carbonation reaction process of the three kinds of lime pastes continues to the later period of the hardening, and the carbonation rate of SL pastes in the later stage would be obviously enhanced; furthermore, the carbonation degree of NHL paste is obviously higher than that of the CL and SL pastes. The different hydration-hardening process and mechanism of the three lime pastes lead to differences in the morphology and pore structure among them. There are more large-size pores in NHL5 paste (the pore volume in the range of pore diameter greater than 200 nm reaches 63.13%), while the pore size of the SL paste is relatively small (the pore volume in the range of pore diameter less than 100 nm reaches 44.15%). The porosity during the 180 days curing period was as follows: SL40 (27.32%) < CL25 (29.65%) < NHL5 (33.09%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Effects of CFA on workability and rheological properties of cement paste were studied. • PCE adsorption and flocculation structure of cement paste with CFA were investigated. • Action mechanism of CFA on the workability of fresh cement paste was proposed. Circulating fluidized bed fly ash (CFA), by-product of coal gangue power generation industry based on circulating fluidized bed combustion technology, differs from ordinary fly ash (OFA) in its physical and chemical properties. This paper aims to investigate the influences of CFA with three particle sizes on the workability and rheological properties of cement paste. The results show that untreated raw CFA (RCFA) can significantly degrade many properties of fresh cement paste. Directly using CFA as a mineral admixture in cement-based materials is not suitable in terms of workability. However, CFA through grinding methods can significantly mitigate the detrimental effect of CFA on the flowability of cement paste. When 15% ultrafine CFA (UCFA) was added, the cement paste exhibited relatively favorable workability and rheological properties. The rheological behavior of cement paste containing CFA with three particle sizes follow the shear thinning, which is in line with the modified Bingham model. Furthermore, the reasons for the impact of CFA on the microscopic level of cement workability are analyzed and discussed. The addition of CFA reduces the amount of free solution in the cement paste, leading to the formation of a flocculated structure and an increase in the thixotropic loop area. Based on the analysis of TOC, BET and TEM, it was determined that numerous polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) molecules are adsorbed onto the rough and porous surface structure of CFA particles, hence the destructive ability of PCE to the flocculation structure caused by cement hydration is weakened. Therefore, the mechanism that CFA affecting the working performance of cement paste can be determined as: the adsorption of free water and PCE molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in solid wastes from the steel industry, it is becoming increasingly important to increase the utilization of these. This study investigated the synergistic effect of granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), steel slag (SS) and steel slag mud (SSM) in P.I Portland cement (PC) to improve their utilization. GBFS was used at three different levels (70%, 60% and 50%), and SS and SSM were both used at four different levels (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%). First, the physicochemical properties and activities of raw materials were analyzed. Second, the pozzolanic activity of ternary composite powder (TCP) was evaluated by isothermal calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. Finally, TCPs were used as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), and their mechanical properties, hydration products, microstructure and environmental impacts were discussed. The results show that the addition of aluminate in SS retards the hydration of C 3 S in cement, and SSM almost does not affect the hydration of cement. In TCP system, the addition of SS and SSM promotes the formation of C-S-H and AFt at 3 d, but the C-S-H content in the specimens with high GBFS content is higher after curing for 28 d. When using TCP as SCMs, the content of GBFS should be ensured to be above 70%, a small amount of SS can improve the 3-d compressive strength of the specimens, and SSM needs to be added to avoid the aluminates in SS to delay the hydration of cement. The utilization rate of SS and SSM can be improved and the dependence on cement can be reduced to decrease CO 2 emissions through the synergistic effect between GBFS-SS-SSM without the addition of chemical additives, but the problem of heavy metal leaching remains to be resolved. • The 3-d strength of GBFS-cement-based materials is improved with the addition of SS and SSM. • The incorporation of TCP effectively reduces the CO 2 emissions and costs of cemented composites. • Cd and Pb in SS and SSM are efficiently immobilized in hydration products. • The combination of granulated blast furnace slag, steel slag, and steel slag mud demonstrated a synergic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converter steel slag is a vast amount of solid waste generated in the steelmaking process that has very low utilization rate in China and is usually deposited as waste. This paper investigates the physical and chemical characteristics of converter steel slag, as well as its comprehensive utilization of internal and external recycle. The results show that the mineral phases of converter steel slag mainly include dicalcium silicate (C 2 S), tricalcium silicate (C 3 S), RO phase and calcium ferrite (2CaO·Fe 2 O 3 ) and so on, where the proportion of silicate phase is about 50%. Various mineral phases of converter steel slag show different morphologies in grey levels and shapes, and have great differences in Vickers hardness. The resource utilization of steel slag should follow the principle of internal and external recycle, which involves several technologies on recycle, separation and preparation of useful materials such as scrap steel, iron concentrate and steel slag powder. Five technologies, which include the volume stability technology, separation and recycling technology of iron and slag, efficient preparation technology of powder, the activation technology and application technology of steel slag powder in cement and concrete, are keys to achieve the efficient and bulk utilization of steel slag and their actions were presented by the relevant experimental researches as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The hydration superposition effect of SSCP was clarified. • The microstructure of SSCP hydration products was analyzed. • The hydration mechanism of SSCP was revealed. Steel slag has great potential as a supplementary cementitious material, and often shows good effects when used in combination with granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS). In order to reveal the interaction law of steel slag and GBFS, the hydration superposition effect and mechanism were studied in this paper in terms of ion dissolution, hydration heat, hydration products, hydration degree, microstructure and mechanical properties. The results show that steel slag and GBFS have a significant hydration superposition effect, and the strength of the paste when the two are used in combination is much higher. The mechanical properties at the early and later ages are the best (16.5 MPa at 7 days and 31 MPa at 28 days) when the steel slag-to-GBFS ratio is 1:1 and 2:3, respectively. Steel slag-slag composite powder (SSCP) has three exothermic peaks, which are the dissolution peak, hydration peak of steel slag and pozzolanic ash reaction peak of GBFS (after 85 h), respectively. The fibrous and amorphous C-S-H gels and plate Ca(OH) 2 appear in the SSCP pastes at 3 days. Furthermore, the microstructure of hydration products consists of a number of fiber-like and particle-like C-S-H gels with widths ranging from 15 nm to 20 nm and lengths ranging from 50 nm to hundreds of nanometers. The C-S-H gels wrap the unhydrated mineral phase (UMP) to form a nucleus(UMP) - membrane (C-S-H) structure. The early hydration of steel slag would increase the pH and conductivity of the pore solution, promoting the dissolution of aluminosilicate glass in GBFS and pozzolanic ash reaction, at the same time, the consumption of Ca(OH) 2 by the pozzolanic ash reaction would promote the further hydration of steel slag. The synergistic hydration effect of SSCP would promote hydration and generate more hydration products to fill the pore structure, resulting in good hardening properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) is a well-validated drug target and its inhibitors are potential drugs for treating leukotriene-related disorders. Our previous work on structural optimization of the hit compound 2 from our in-house collection identified two lead compounds, 3a and 3b, exhibiting a potent inhibitory profile against 5-LOX with IC 50 values less than 1 µmol/L in cell-based assays. Here, we further optimized these compounds to prepare a class of novel pyrazole derivatives by opening the fused-ring system. Several new compounds exhibited more potent inhibitory activity than the lead compounds against 5-LOX. In particular, compound 4e not only suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in brain inflammatory cells and protected neurons from oxidative toxicity, but also significantly decreased infarct damage in a mouse model of cerebral ischemia. Molecular docking analysis further confirmed the consistency of our theoretical results and experimental data. In conclusion, the excellent in vitro and in vivo inhibitory activities of these compounds against 5-LOX suggested that these novel chemical structures have a promising therapeutic potential to treat leukotriene-related disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To characterize roles of mechanical grinding on the physical and chemical characteristics of circulating fluidized bed fly ash (CFB-FA), the differences between CFB-FA and ordinary fly ash (OFA) were revealed and the effects of mechanical grinding action on the physical and chemical characteristics of CFB-FA were studied from grinding kinetics, particle size distribution, bulk density, morphology, pore size distribution, amorphous substance content, anionic polymerization degree and hydration property and so on. The results indicate that there are some differences in chemical and mineral composition, particle morphology and self-hardening property between untreated CFB-FA and OFA. The particle size distribution of CFB-FA is optimized by mechanical grinding and the optimization role is best at 50 min grinding time. Mechanical grinding action can also reduce the interconnected pores, average pore radius, total cumulative pore volume and the pores content in range of greater than 3 nm radius of CFB-FA. Meanwhile, the amorphous substance dissolution amount of CFB-FA is increased and the polymerization degrees of [SiO 4 ] and [AlO 6 ] are reduced by mechanical grinding. All the 3d, 7d and 28d strengths of ground CFB-FA paste are improved significantly, and 3d and 28d activity index of the CFB-FA are also improved by more than 5% and 14%, respectively. Furthermore, organic grinding aids can further improve the mechanical grinding roles on CFB-FA and the role of ethylene glycol is the most excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic materials are investigated extensively because of their excellent surface properties, such as self-cleaning, oil-water separation, corrosion resistance, anti-icing, and anti-fogging. Recently, there has also been a lot of interest in hydrophobic or superhydrophobic modifications of cement-based materials. It provides an innovative way to improve the resistance of cement-based materials to external environmental erosion during service. This paper reviews the progress of hydrophobic or superhydrophobic modification of cement-based materials. This work analyses the mechanisms of hydrophobic modification of material surfaces and discusses three hydrophobic modification methods for cement-based materials: templating, external coating, and internal mixing. We also point out the problems of hydrophobic coatings on cement-based materials in mechanical stability and acid-alkali resistance. Further, the comprehensive performance of cement-based materials after hydrophobic modification in terms of hydration and hardening process, waterproofing and impermeability, resistance to aggressive media, and freeze-thaw damage are summarized. And the applications such as self-cleaning, anti-icing of pavements, corrosion protection of coastal structures, and waterproofing of buildings are also listed. Finally, we briefly discuss some problems in the current research and development trends in the future on hydrophobic modification of cement-based materials. • Hydrophobic modification methods & mechanism of cement-based materials are discussed. • Mechanical stability and acid-alkali resistance of hydrophobic coatings are analyzed. • Performance of cement-based materials after hydrophobic modification are reviewed. • Applications of hydrophobic modification for cement-based materials are summarized. • Some problems and research directions on hydrophobic modification are pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The hydration process of ferroaluminate cement is tested and analyzed. • Gas permeability and chloride diffusion coefficient of FAC is much lower than OPC. • Pores with size of 10–100 nm have dominant effect on permeability and diffusivity. This study investigated the hydration process and durability properties of ferroaluminate cement (FAC). Hydration heat, hydration products, compressive strength, gas permeability and chloride diffusion coefficient were investigated experimentally for FAC mortar samples with different water-to-cement ratio (0.5, 0.45 and 0.4) and were compared with OPC mortar samples with the same mixing proportion. The mechanism of the difference in the durability of two cements was revealed from the perspective of pore size distribution and hydration products. The results show that FAC has a relatively fast hydration rate and the compressive strength at early age is larger than OPC. The gas permeability and chloride diffusion coefficient of FAC mortar samples are approximately 3–4 times lower than that of OPC mortar samples. The permeability and diffusivity of both FAC and OPC decrease significantly when the w/c decreases from 0.5 to 0.4. The main hydration products of FAC are ettringite, ferric hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide gel, large amounts of ettringite make FAC to form a dense structure, the proportion of the pores with pore size of 10–100 nm in FAC sample decreases greatly with compare to the OPC sample, which endows FAC superior impermeability properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ladle furnace slag has high amorphous mineral contents after rapid air cooling. • Two main hydration heat release peaks appear in the blended cement. • Rapid air cooling improves the volume stability of ladle furnace slag. • Modified ladle furnace slag can be used as an admixture to promote cement setting. Ladle furnace slag (LFS) exhibits excellent early hydration activity due to its special mineral component C 12 A 7. The mineral phase of LFS was optimized and modified by rapid air cooling, which could effectively improve the volume stability and the content of active substances in the amorphous phase of the LFS. To study the performance advantages of LFS after modification by rapid air cooling (CLFS), the hydration processes, physical and mechanical properties, and volume stability of the LFS-OPC (ordinary Portland cement) system before and after modification were compared and analyzed from a macroscopic perspective. The microstructures, compositions, and pore structures of the CLFS-OPC hardened pastes at different ages were studied. The results showed that both CLFS and LFS can accelerate the hydration and setting of cement significantly. With the increase in the LFS content, the second hydration exothermic peak of cement gradually became divided into two main exothermic peaks, which were mainly due to aluminate hydration and silicate hydration. Compared with the LFS-OPC, the CLFS-OPC exhibited a faster hydration rate and shorter setting time. In addition, the mechanical properties and volume stability of the CLFS-OPC were better than those of the original system due to the existence of more active β-C 2 S crystal forms and smaller f-MgO particles in the CLFS, which provides a good foundation for the use of CLFS to promote the setting of cement-based cementitious materials. CLFS is recommended to be used as mineral component regulator with a dosage of 5% ∼ 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The chloride binding properties of geopolymer and Portland cement were compared. • The physical adsorption and chemical binding mechanism of geopolymer were revealed. • The evaluation of resistance to chloride ion diffusion of geopolymer was discussed. In this work, the chloride binding capacities and chloride diffusion resistance of alkali-activated fly ash and slag powder geopolymer systems prepared with seawater and coral sand are investigated. Through the macro tests (e.g., chloride ion binding ratio, electric flux, etc.), stripping C-S-H, C/N-A-S-H from anhydrous particles and a variety of microscopic tests (e.g., MIP, XRD, SEM-EDS), the chloride binding mechanism of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and geopolymer are analyzed and compared. The result shows that the chloride binding capacity of geopolymer samples under standard curing is better than that of OPC samples under the same condition (for instance, the 28-day chloride binding coefficient of geopolymer (FS1): 83.372%, OPC (R1): 73.223%). And the binding of chloride ion can be improved to a certain extent by increasing the initial chloride concentration. Geopolymer bounds the chloride ions through physical absorption or chemical reaction with cement compositions. The porous structure of C/N-(A)-S-H gel and high content of Al element promote the chloride binding capacity. The additional porous coral sand can reduce the chloride resistance capacity of specimens. But with slag proportion increasing, the geopolymer shows better chloride resistance capacity (for example the chloride diffusion coefficient decreases by 98% from 152.61 m2/s to 2.86 m2/s when slag proportion increased from 10% to 90%). The chloride diffusivity of geopolymers measured by the electric flux method has a large deviation, which is not suitable for direct evaluating of resistance to chloride penetration of geopolymer system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional cement production wastes a large amount of natural resources and energy, and causes environmental pollution, which cannot meet the green and sustainable development needs of modern building materials. Geopolymer is an environmentally friendly materials that can utilize industrial solid wastes and have low environmental load and energy consumption, which is expected to become a substitute for OPC. However, geopolymers also have shortcomings in some properties that need to be improved. This paper reviews the recent research progress on the performance improvement, potential new applicationw and sustainability assessment of geopolymer materials. Discussion from this paper showed that the properties of geopolymer materials, including rheology, hardening properties, toughness, etc., can be significantly improved by some methods such as chemical additives, mineral admixtures, nanoparticles, fibers, etc. Furthermore, this paper proves that geopolymers have great application potential as porous thermal insulation materials and 3D printing building materials, and points out some performance optimization methods for geopolymer-based porous materials and 3D printing materials. In this work, it was also concluded that geopolymer shows significant advantages over OPC in sustainable analysis index such as E-energy and E-CO 2 (Energy and CO 2 emission) based on LCA method. Finally, a few potential opportunities and development directions have been suggested for future research on geopolymer materials. [Display omitted] • Some effective methods to improve properties of geopolymer materials are reviewed. • Two potential applications of geopolymers as special building materials are discussed. • Sustainability assessment of geopolymer materials based on LCA method is analyzed. • Several future research and development directions of geopolymers are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Slag powder and silica fume have positive effect on the mechanical property of NHL based mortar. • Pozzolanic materials can improve the environmental resistance of NHL based mortar effectively. • The hydration reaction of NHL based mortars can be promoted by both slag powder and silica fume. • The hardened products and their existential forms of NHL, S-NHL and F-NHL mortars are different. To evaluate the influence of pozzolanic materials (slag powder and silica fume) on the properties of natural hydraulic lime (NHL) based mortars, the properties of NHL mortar, slag powder-NHL based mortars (S-NHL) and silica fume-NHL based mortars (F-NHL) were studied deeply from the aspect of physical and mechanical properties, environmental resistance properties, hardening reaction process and micro morphology in this paper, among which S-NHL are prepared with 10% and 20% slag powder to substitute NHL and F-NHL are prepared with 10% and 20% silica fume to substitute NHL, respectively. The results indicate that the NHL mortars have preferable fluidity compared to the S-NHL and F-NHL mortars. In terms of mechanical properties, the compressive strength of S-NHL and F-NHL mortars have been significantly improved, among which the compressive strength of S20-NHL and F20-NHL mortars reached 7.73 MPa and 7.99 MPa at 28 days, respectively. The environmental erosion resistance of S-NHL and F-NHL mortars have been improved by a proportion of NHL is replaced by pozzolanic materials; moreover, the addition of slag powder has a more significant improvement on the sulfate resistance of mortars, and the acid resistance of mortars are improved obviously by the addition of silica fume. The pozzolanic materials and Ca(OH) 2 occur pozzolanic reaction with water and produce more calcium silicate (aluminate) hydrate (C-S(A)-H), and CaCO 3 crystals are formed by carbonization reaction in mortar and interweave with hydration products to fill in the air pores of mortar, thereby the micro-structure of mortars have ameliorated, the performance of S-NHL and F-NHL mortars are improved finally. The pozzolanic index P show that the pozzolanic effect of silica fume is higher than slag powder at the early stage (before 28 days) of NHL based mortar hardening, and slag powder is higher than silica fume at the later stage (after 28 days), meanwhile slag powder has better effect for improving the compressive strength of mortar compared to silica fume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schematic representation of the processes for preparing PTX@FA-NLC-PEG-Ce6 and its application for tumor-targeted and light-triggered photodynamic therapy combined with chemotherapy for breast cancer. (1) PTX@FA-NLC-PEG-Ce6 accumulates in tumor site through the EPR effect. (2) PTX@FA-NLC-PEG-Ce6 is recognized by FR and then internalized into tumor cells. (3) Accompanying the disintegration of the drug-loading system in the acidic intracellular microenvironment, PTX acts on the cell cycle to exert chemotherapy and Ce6 induces the production of reactive oxygen species to exert PDT under the illumination of red light at a specific wavelength. Breast cancer remains a major threat to women's health, and the incidence of breast cancer continues to increase each year. Paclitaxel (PTX) is commonly used to treat breast cancer, but shows limited solubility and is associated with major side effects, limiting its clinical applications. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising treatment for breast cancer but is limited by the poor solubility of photosensitizers and difficulties in targeting and enriching the tumor tissue with photosensitizers. Here, we prepared a new nanocarrier system using nanostructured lipid carriers (PTX@FA-NLC-PEG-Ce6) harboring PTX, chlorin e6 (Ce6), and folic acid-targeted head to overcome the limitations of PTX and Ce6 in hydrophobicity and increase the target efficiency of chemotherapy drugs and photosensitizers at the tumor. The results showed that the drug-loading system met the requirements for intravenous injection, had tumor targeting ability, and could be easily taken up by MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, Ce6 could be dissociated from the surface of the drug-loading system and evenly distributed in cells after a period of time when the nanostructured lipid carriers had entered lysosomes through endocytosis. Additionally, reactive oxygen species were then produced to induce PDT at a specific wavelength of illumination. In vitro pharmacodynamic experiments showed that combined PDT and chemotherapy had synergistic effects (combination index: 0.647). Furthermore, pharmacodynamic experiments in nude mice showed that the drug-loading system had ideal antitumor effects without obvious side effects. Thus, PTX@FA-NLC-PEG-Ce6 may have applications as a promising drug-loading system for PDT combined with chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Cancer immunotherapy, particularly with immune checkpoint inhibitors, has revolutionized the paradigm of cancer treatment. Nevertheless, the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy remains limited in most clinical settings due to the lack of a preexisting antitumor T-cell response in tumors. Therefore, the clinical outcomes of cancer immunotherapy must be improved crucially. With increased awareness of the importance of the innate immune response in the recruitment of T cells, as well as the onset and maintenance of the T cell response, great interest has been shown in activating the cGAS-STING signaling pathway to awaken the innate immune response, thereby orchestrating both innate and adaptive immune responses to induce tumor clearance. However, tumor cells have evolved to overexpress ectonucleotide pyrophosphate phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1), which degrades the immunotransmitter 2′,3′-cGAMP and promotes the production of immune-suppressing adenosine, resulting in inhibition of the anticancer immune response in the tumor microenvironment. Clinically, ENPP1 overexpression is closely associated with poor prognosis in patients with cancer. Conversely, depleting or inhibiting ENPP1 has been verified to elevate extracellular 2′,3′-cGAMP levels and inhibit the generation of adenosine, thereby reinvigorating the anticancer immune response for tumor elimination. A variety of ENPP1 inhibitors have recently been developed and have demonstrated significant promise for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we provide an overview of ENPP1, dissect its immunosuppressive mechanisms, and discuss the development of ENPP1 inhibitors with the potential to further improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recyled aggregate (RA) prepared from construction and demolition (C&D) waste is used for concrete materials, which helps to save natural resources and solve the problem of construction waste disposal. However, the defects of RA with the loose surface, cracks, and pores limit its resource utilization in building materials. In this study, RA was reinforced by wrapping with recycled fine powders (RFP) cement paste. On the basis, the synergistic effect of RFP cement paste and carbonation on the performance of RA was studied, and its strengthening mechanism was also analyzed. The results showed that the apparent density and crush value of RA were improved to some extent after RFP cement paste treatment, but the water absorption was increased significantly. RA showed a more significant effects after the synergistic treatment of 20% RFP cement paste and carbonation: the apparent density of RA increased by 5.6% and the crushing value decreased by 44.87%, while the water absorption increased by only 11.2%. Microscopic analysis showed that the treated RA with RFP cement paste and carbonation to generate a large amount of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) gels and CaCO 3 products, which filled the pores, microcracks, and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of RA and also reinforced the loose particles on the RA surface. The parameters showed that the porosity of RA decreased by 25.1%, and the CaCO 3 content increased from 11.1% (only wrapped paste treatment) to 20.75% (synergistic treatment). Adding an appropriate amount of RFP can not only save cement and reduce cost, but also improve the strengthening effect. • The synergistic treatment of RFP cement paste and carbonation can significantly improve the performance of RA. • The synergistic product of RFP cement paste and carbonation fills the ITZ and surface structure of RA. • This paper can encourage and further improve the effective utilization of construction waste. • The present study improves the performance of RA effectively and utilizes both RFP and CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ladle furnace slag contains a large amount of C 12 A 7 with early hydration activity. • Ladle furnace slag significantly shortens cement setting time. • Cement hydration heat release is significantly affected by ladle furnace slag. • A proper amount of ladle furnace slag has a slight expansion effect on cement. Ladle furnace slag (LFS) is a potential new resource for the preparation of cementitious materials with early hydration activities. To evaluate the application performance of LFS as a supplementary cementitious material, the effects of LFS on the hydration and hardening performance of cement were studied from the aspects of the hydration process, the physical and mechanical properties, the microstructure of the hardened paste, and the volume stability. The results showed that LFS has a significant setting acceleration effect and micro-expansion effect on cement. The blended cement containing LFS and ordinary Portland cement (LFS-OPC) had a better hydration product structure, mechanical strength, and volume stability at a low dosage (≤10%) of LFS. LFS with a high content (10%–30%) had a significant acceleration setting effect on the cement system, and the C 3 AH 6 and AFm contents were high in the ultra-early stage (1 d), which were the main source of the ultra-early mechanical strength of the cement system. However, the strength and volume stability of the LFS-OPC with a high content of LFS were poor in the middle and late stages. It was also found that the hydration process of the LFS-OPC system could be divided into two distinct stages: the early hydration of aluminate minerals, such as C 12 A 7 and C 3 A, and the later hydration of silicate minerals, such as C 3 S. With the increase in the LFS content, the hydration heat release rate of first stage of the blended cement increased significantly, indicating that LFS has the hydration characteristics of aluminate minerals. As a supplementary cementitious material, LFS has an excellent early hydration reaction activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic lime is an ancient building repair material, and its good early performance is necessary to ensure a successful application. In this study, hydraulic lime (metakaolin (MK)-air lime (AL), MK-AL) were prepared by the amount of MK was used for different mixtures in AL, which provided the materials with both hydraulicity and the ability to air harden. The early-age (before 28 days) properties of natural hydraulic lime (NHL5), AL and MK-AL (MK20-AL and MK40-AL) pastes were studied through an examination of their physical and mechanical properties, hydration heat, thermal properties and microstructure. The strength growth trend of the MK-AL paste was similar to that of the NHL5 paste, and the compressive strength of the MK40-AL paste reached 21.06 MPa at 28 days. There was only a carbonation reaction in the AL paste, C-S-H formed mainly by the hydration reaction of C 2 S in the NHL5 paste, the pozzolanic reaction and carbonation reaction occurred in the MK-AL pastes, and the carbonation reaction in the MK-AL pastes was at a low level before 28 days. The MK-AL pastes had a longer hydration stage than the NHL5 paste, and there were two exothermic hydration peaks during the pozzolanic reaction for the MK-AL pastes. Laminar Ca(OH) 2 and amorphous C-S-H gel comprised the skeleton in the NHL5 paste, and the large laminar Ca(OH) 2 structures that formed the skeleton were converted into an interweaved structure of the pozzolanic reaction products and carbonated products in the MK-AL pastes. There were many large pores (>200 nm) in the AL, NHL and MK20-AL pastes, while the pore size of the MK40-AL paste was relatively small (<100 nm). The porosity of all lime pastes had the following trend: NHL (38.96%) < MK40-AL (42.89%) < MK20-AL (45.47%) < AL (51.22%). • The strength growth of MK-AL paste are fast before 7 days and are similar NHL5 paste. • MK-AL pastes have a longer hydration stages compared with NHL5 paste. • The carbonation reaction degree of MK-AL pastes locate a lower level before 7 days. • Pore structure have a high correlation with mechanical property in MK-AL pastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to improve transdermal delivery and distribution of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) in the brain, by adding borneol (BN) and iontophoresis (ITP), and using microneedles (MN), to prevent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). BN was encapsulated into sulfobutylated-β-cyclodextrin (BN-SBE-β-CD), and then dispersed together with TMP. Four delivery groups were tested: passive (with no ITP and MN), ITP, MN, and MN combined with ITP (MN-ITP). In vitro transdermal fluxes of the drugs in those groups and in that corresponding order were 79.12 ± 14.5, 395.43 ± 12.37, 319.16 ± 29.99, and 1018.07 ± 108.92 μg/cm2 (for TMP), and 39.34 ± 1.31, 202.81 ± 53.56, 715.47 ± 75.52, and 1088.60 ± 53.90 μg/cm2 (for BN), respectively, which indicated that the use of MN-ITP greatly enhanced transdermal TMP and BN delivery compared to the other groups. The AUC 0-t for the combined use of TMP and BN drugs was measured using two in vivo studies, cutaneous microdialysis and pharmacodynamic, yielding increased folds of 3.69 and 1.98 in ITP, 6.05 and 2.73 in MN, and 12.43 and 7.47 in MN-ITP groups, respectively, as compared to those in the passive group. In addition, the combined use of TMP and BN increased TMP distribution in the heart and the brain, indicated by TMP C max of 1.76- and 1.59-fold higher (p < 0.05), and TMP AUC 0-t of 1.50 times and 1.19-fold higher (p < 0.01), than with administration of TMP in absence of BN, respectively. The brain infarction area and IL-β expression in the MCAO rat were significantly decreased in the MN-ITP group, compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, combination of MN and ITP resulted in a synergistic enhancement of transdermal delivery and distribution of TMP in the brain, when in combination with BN, thereby significantly decreasing the infarct volumes and improving the neurological scores of MCAO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) can enhance the safe transdermal delivery system of drugs. Moreover, dissolving microneedles (MNs) can enhance the permeability and controlled drug release. In this study, NLCs were formulated as a suitable vehicle for aconitine (ACO) delivery to effectively inhibit the inflammation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes isolated from a rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA-FLS). To improve drug delivery, the ACO-loaded NLCs (ACO-NLCs) were embedded in polyvinylpyrrolidone-based dissolving MNs fabricated by an ultraviolet cross-linking method. The nanoparticles maintained good physical stability in the dissolving MNs. The insertion capabilities of the ACO-NLCs-MNs were determined by observing histological sections of the skin after insertion, and scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the changes in the MNs over time. In vivo microdialysis showed that the NLCs-MNs enhanced the transdermal delivery of ACO through disrupting the barrier function of the stratum corneum (SC) and releasing the drug continuously. The ACO-NLCs-MNs showed a significant inhibitory effect on the paw swelling and inflammation in AA model rats. Moreover, this dual approach involving NLCs-loaded dissolving MNs formed a drug reservoir and effectively improved the ACO-induced arrhythmia. These results indicate that NLCs-containing MNs could be promising systems for the effective transdermal delivery and controlled local administration of ACO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the evaluation of seismic fragility curves for embankments on liquefiable soils with the aim of improving the reliability of the risk assessment of transport infrastructure systems. Nonlinear dynamic analyses of embankments on liquefiable soils are carried out using the finite difference program FLAC2D with the PM4sand model. Validations of numerical modelling are performed in comparison to the dynamic centrifuge model tests reported in prior investigations. For the establishment of seismic fragility curves, ten input motions are selected and scaled to evaluate the embankment response under increasing shaking intensity levels. The seismic risk of embankments on liquefiable soil is evaluated through fragility curves with the damage states (DS s) described in terms of embankment settlement. The criteria, including correlation, efficiency, practicality, and proficiency, are assessed based on the relationship between the intensity measures (IM s) and the engineering demand parameters (EDP s) for the studied embankments. The embankment responses are compared with the benchmark scenario results to distinguish the relative contribution of the considered liquefaction mitigation strategies (i.e., soil densification, gravel berm, and sheet–pile enclosure). The seismic fragility curve serves as an efficient seismic risk analysis in the selection of liquefaction remedial measures in engineering design. • The seismic fragility curves of embankments on liquefiable soils are established. • The seismic risk of embankments on liquefiable soils with various liquefaction mitigation strategies are assessed. • The IMs of the PGA and PGV are evaluated on the criteria of correlation, efficiency, practicality, and proficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-grafted lipid nanoparticles has been prepared and its in vitro association with Caco-2 cells has been studied previously. The purpose of this study was to further investigate the potential of WGA-grafted lipid nanoparticles for oral delivery of bufalin, a poorly water soluble drug, by evaluating its ex vivo bioadhesion with intestinal mucosal segments and in vivo bioavailability. A significant higher adhesion between WGA-grafted lipid nanoparticles and intestinal mucosa was found compared with that of WGA-free lipid nanoparticles (p <0.05). The in vivo pharmacodynamic studies were performed by oral administration of WGA-grafted lipid nanoparticles and suspensions to fasted rats. Compared with suspensions, WGA-grafted lipid nanoparticles showed much larger AUC and C max, and a 2.7-fold improvement in oral bioavailability. These results illustrate the potential utility of WGA-grafted lipid nanoparticles for oral delivery of a poorly water-soluble drug such as bufalin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We developed solid dispersions, using the gas anti-solvent technique (GAS), to improve the oral bioavailability of the poorly water-soluble active component oridonin. The solubility of oridonin in supercritical carbon dioxide was measured under various pressures and temperatures. To prepare oridonin solid dispersions using the GAS technique, ethanol was used as the solvent, CO2 was used as the anti-solvent and the hydrophilic polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone K17 (PVP K17) was used as the drug carrier matrix. Characterization of the obtained preparations was undertaken using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses and a drug release study. Oridonin solid dispersions were formed and oridonin was present in an amorphous form in these dispersions. Oridonin solid dispersions significantly increased the drug dissolution rate compared with that of oridonin powder, primarily through drug amorphization. Compared with the physical mixture of oridonin and PVP K17, oridonin solid dispersions gave higher values of AUC and C max, and the absorption of oridonin from solid dispersions resulted in 26.4-fold improvement in bioavailability. The present study illustrated the feasibility of applying the GAS technique to prepare oridonin solid dispersions, and of using them for the delivery of oridonin via the oral route. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A bioadhesive drug delivery system, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-grafted lipid nanoparticles, was developed for the oral delivery of bufalin (a hydrophobic active component extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Chan''su). The lipid nanoparticles associated with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by high-pressure homogenization. WGA was coupled to lipid nanoparticles by activating the hydroxyl group using glutaraldehyde, and then conjugating the nanoparticles with WGA. WGA-grafted lipid nanoparticles with a mean particle size of 164nm and zeta potential of −10.6mV were obtained with bufalin encapsulation of 68.2%. The amount of bound WGA was ∼28.9% of the amount of WGA initially added. The association study between fluorescent 6-coumarin-loaded WGA-grafted lipid nanoparticles and Caco-2 monolayers showed that WGA enhanced the cellular uptake of nanoparticles compared with WGA-free lipid nanoparticles. These results suggest that WGA-grafted lipid nanoparticles could be a promising carrier to enhance cellular uptake. They could also improve drug bioavailability through the oral route. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to optimize and characterize an oridonin self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) formulation. A central composite design (CCD) was used to investigate the influence of factors (oil percentage and surfactant to co-surfactant ratio (Sur/Co-s ratio)) on the responses including droplet size, polydispersity, equilibrium solubility and in situ intestine absorption rate. Furthermore, the desirability function approach was applied to obtain the best compromise among the multiple responses. It was found that oil percentage played a significant role on the droplet size and polydispersity. The drug equilibrium solubility was mainly contributed to oil percentage and less to Sur/Co-s ratio. The in situ intestinal absorption was influenced by both of the two factors, whereas the oil percentage played a more important role in absorption. The practical response values under the optimized formulation were in good accordance with the predicted values. Our results demonstrate CCD is of value in optimizing the SMEDDS formulation and understanding the effects of formulation compositions on SMEDDS properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Traditional Chinese medicine boasts a 440-year-long history of treating refractory ascites via combinations of herbal medicines, called formulae. Xiaozhang Tie (XT) is a proprietary herbal-compound-based formula that has been proven to be very effective in the treatment of cirrhosis-associated ascites in clinical practice, but the mechanism of action of XT remains unknown. In this study, we used a metabolomics-based systematic method to elucidate the mechanism of XT in the treatment of cirrhotic ascites. Decompensated liver cirrhosis was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of Carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4). Ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) combined with pattern recognition approaches were used to determine differentiating metabolites relevant to XT treatment. Biomarkers were further validated by a targeted quantitative method and by the results from serum and urine analyses. Pathway analysis and correlation network construction were used to reveal the therapeutic targets associated with XT treatment, and the potential mechanisms were verified by the results from biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical assays. XT synergistically mediated the abnormalities of amino acid metabolic pathways in cirrhotic rats. XT significantly elevated the arginine levels, reduced the serum nitric oxide (NO) levels and alleviated the gastrointestinal motility disorder of cirrhotic rats. This effect of XT has been confirmed by the inhibition of the activities of inducible NO synthase and neuronal NO synthase in the small intestine. These results reveal that XT promotes gastrointestinal motility by acting on multiple targets in multiple pathways, of which the L-arginine/NO pathway is most affected. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]