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Background: Dendrobium officinalis six nostrum (DOS) can be prepared by adding Dendrobium officinalis into Simiao Wan in accordance with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory and other previous findings. Our previous study has shown that DOS treatment can lead to a marked decrease in serum UA (SUA) level. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of DOS on intestinal UA excretion in hyperuricemia and its underlying mechanisms. Methods: DOS was administered intragastrically to hyperuricemic rats induced by oral administration of HX and PO for 7 weeks. The SUA level, fecal UA and XOD activity were detected. The expressions of UA transporters (ABCG2, GLUT9, and PDZK1), CNT2, and tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and claudin-1) in the intestine were assayed by IHC staining. The serum LPS and DAO levels were detected by ELISA kits. The intestinal histological changes were assessed using H&E staining. Results: DOS treatment decreased the SUA level while markedly increased the fecal UA level by 28.85%~35.72%. Moreover, DOS effectively up-regulated the expression of ABCG2 and PDZK1 and down-regulated the expression of GLUT9 in the intestine. DOS markedly decreased the serum LPS level by 21.4%~32.1% and DAO activity by 12.3%~19.7%, which in turn ameliorate the intestinal pathology. As a result, it could protect intestinal barrier function, as indicated by the increase of villus height (V), the reduction of the crypt depth (C), and the elevation of V/C ratio. It also increased the expression of ZO-1 and claudin-1. In addition, DOS significantly down-regulated the expression of CNT2, which reduced purine nucleoside transportation from the intestine into the blood, and inhibited XOD activity, leading to the decrease of UA production. Conclusion: DOS had anti-hyperuricemic effects via regulation of intestinal urate transporters and could protect intestinal barrier function by restoring the expressions of ZO-1 and claudin-1.

Controlling Bernal (AB) to rhombohedral (ABC) stacking-transitions has recently become an important goal towards manipulation of the electronic properties of highly- oriented-pyrolytic-graphite (HOPG) and graphene. In this letter we report a novel investigation of AB to ABC stacking transitions in exfoliated-HOPG-lamellae with variable thickness. The samples were produced by employing I) an edge-tape-exfoliation-method to extrude lamellae of ∼ 80-140 μm thickness and 2) a manual-exfoliation-method, which yielded samples of ∼ 300-450 μm thickness. Characterization was carried out by employing Raman-point/mapping-spectroscopy in certain selected defective-regions of the samples. We demonstrate an abrupt enhancement of the rhombohedral-phase-content within dense- and thick-staircase-sublattices, indicative of a possible crucial role of the sublattice-defect-thickness in preventing ABC to AB post-exfoliation stacking-relaxation. Relaxation of the produced ABC stacks was then found after approximately four weeks from exfoliation (in thick lamellae).

Photocatalytic pavements materials are being developed to purify toxic automobile exhaust gas, especially in tunnels where the pollution concentrations are high. This study investigated the...

To clarify the current situation regarding nano layered silicate-modified asphalt, the latest research progress is reviewed in this study. The raw materials and preparation parameters of layered si...

This article aims to elucidate the long-term water stability of a steel slag asphalt mixture. Both chemical composition and physical morphology of the steel slag were characterized by X-ray diffrac...

In this study, we evaluate the flame-retardant properties of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)/layered double hydroxide (LDH-) –modified asphalt. We performed physical tests, dynamic shear rh...

The objective of this paper is to investigate the effect and mechanism of three types of fibers—basalt fiber (BF), polyester fiber (PF), and lignin fiber (LF)—on the pavement performances o...

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), that is associated with a significantly increased risk of colon cancer. As a classic traditional Chinese medicine, Ganluyin (GLY) has a long history as an anti-inflammatory medication, but its impacts on UC has not been established.This study aims to evaluate the protective effect and mechanism of GLY on a pathway involving enteric-origin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), toll-like receptor (TLR)4, and NF-κB in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC.After three weeks of intragastric administration of GLY, a UC model was induced in mice by administration of 4% DSS in drinking water for one week. The disease activity index (DAI) was measured, and histological staining was used to detect histopathological changes of colon. LPS content of the serum was measured by ELISA, and the expression of tight junction proteins and proteins related to TLR4/NF-κB pathway in colon were analyzed by immunohistochemistry or Western Blotting. The intestinal flora was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing.GLY improved the histological pathological changes of DSS-induced UC, as assessed by DAI, colonic mucosal damage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and goblet cell and mucus reduction. GLY also protected the intestinal mucosal barrier by increasing the expression of the tight junction proteins, occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1 and by reducing the serum LPS content and decreasing the expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α proteins in colon. Analyses of the intestinal flora showed that GLY restored the homeostasis of the intestinal flora through increases in the abundance of Firmicutes and decreases in the abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, which is associated with the production of LPS.GLY might exert an anti-UC effect by improving the colonic mucosal barrier and inhibiting the enteric-origin LPS/TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway, and restoring the homeostasis of the intestinal flora in UC mice. These discoveries lay a strong foundation for GLY as a UC treatment.

This study aims to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of brick-concrete recycled aggregate (BCRA) using pozzolan slurry combined with sodium silicate and silicon-based additives. To investigate the modification mechanism, the particle shape characteristics, pore structure, and microstructure of BCRA were studied before and after the compound modification treatment. The research results showed that the apparent density of BCRA after compound modification treatment can be increased by 2.6%, and the water absorption and crushing index can be reduced by 42.4% and 28.5%, respectively. Specifically, the modification treatment of pozzolan slurry combined with sodium silicate has advantages in improving the apparent density and mechanical strength of BCRA, while the modification treatment of pozzolan slurry combined with silicon-based additives is more effective in reducing the water absorption of BCRA. Macro, meso, and microstructure changes were observed in the treated BCRA, where surface homogeneity, low porosity, and increased compactability were observed. The dynamic water absorption characteristics were also tested to evaluate the hydrophilic and hydrophobic behaviors of the untreated and treated BCRAs. Finally, a compound modification mechanism model for the BCRA was established.

We report a novel investigation of the electronic and magnetic properties of exfoliated lamellae of highly-oriented-pyrolytic-graphite (HOPG) doped with great excess of sulfur. The sulfur-doping process was achieved through annealing at T ~ 250 °C, ~500 °C and ~990 °C. The obtained lamellae were investigated by employing transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman point/map spectroscopy and temperature dependent electron paramagnetic resonance (T-EPR). HRTEM analyses of samples doped at T ~ 990 °C revealed an unusual amorphization-effect arising within hexagonal moire superlattices as a consequence of the sulfur-doping. Complete amorphization was found at T ~ 500 °C. Raman-spectroscopy point/mapping analyses highlighted a dominant carbon-sulfur-band, appearing at Raman-Shifts of 1450 cm−1. T-EPR of heavily doped samples revealed presence of shifts in the position of the π-electron differential absorption feature together with an anomalous signal broadening at Tdoping ~ 500 °C (from g ~ 1.99 to g ~ 2.10), while zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled FC superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry from 2 K to 300 K revealed a critical percolative ferromagnetic temperature at T ~ 25 K and the absence of superconductive transitions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations applied to a Bernal (AB stacked) bilayer-graphene-system in presence of sulfur-bonding revealed a significant variation of the system-metallicity. We highlight the appearance of insulating states (E-gap of 0.325 eV) at sulfur concentrations of ~1%, which then vanish at ~5.5% of sulfur-doping, due to an enhanced degree of system-metallicity and a modification of the π-bonding- and antibonding-signals.

To investigate the performance and mechanism of flame retardance and smoke suppression of organic montmorillonite (OMMT) modified asphalt, limiting oxygen index (LOI) and dynamic flame-retardant performance tests were performed. The pyrolysis characteristics of modified asphalt were analyzed using thermalgravimetric-Fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR) analysis. The results show that the OMMT particle size has little effect on modified-asphalt performance. OMMT increases the ignition time and ignition temperature, and it reduces heat release during combustion. OMMT also significantly inhibits smoke emission during pyrolysis and combustion of modified asphalt. Finally, a flame-retardant and smoke-suppression mechanism model of OMMT-modified asphalt was established.

As the number of electric vehicles continues to grow, the demand for charging infrastructure continues to expand, and the construction of charging facilities is significantly accelerated. However, after the completion of large-scale construction, problems such as low utilization, low operating profit, and extended investment payback period have emerged, which has become a bottleneck for the development of the electric vehicle industry. Based on the actual operating data of a charging station, this article analyses the operating characteristics of the charging station from the three aspects of charging power, charging time, and utilization. According to its characteristics, this article analyses the relationship with the local economic operation trend, the reasonable length of time for charging parking spaces, and the efficiency of manual maintenance. The article proposes corresponding improvement opinions for existing operational shortcomings.

Brick waste is a major part of the solid waste generated by construction and demolition activities around the world, and its disposal consumes land and pollutes the environment. At the same time, cement is the main raw material in cement-based materials. Cement production consumes resources and produces greenhouse gases, so is also not environmentally friendly. In this context, grinding brick waste into recycled brick powder (RBP) and using it instead of cement to produce sustainable construction materials is considered a feasible method. Therefore, based on the existing research, this paper reviews the fresh, mechanical, shrinkage, durability and microstructural properties of cement-based materials when RBP partially replaces Portland cement. The literature shows that RBP is rich in SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and has pozzolanic activity. The workability, mechanical and durability properties of cement-based materials can be improved to a certain extent by adding an appropriate amount of RBP (5%-15%). It is therefore considered a potential raw material for replacing Portland cement in cement-based materials. The utilization of RBP not only saves a large amount of land occupied by piled brick waste but also reduces the dependence of the concrete industry on Portland cement. It can guarantee the sustainability of construction materials and promote prosperity worldwide.

The anti-aging properties and related mechanism of microwave-activated crumb rubber-modified asphalt (ACRMA) were evaluated in this study. Physical and rheological tests were conducted on ACRMA before and after simulated thermal aging, and several microcosmic tests were performed to analyze the aging mechanism. The stiffness, plasticity, and viscoelasticity of ACRMA were less affected by aging than crumb rubber-modified asphalt (CRMA). After aging, ACRMA exhibited better high-temperature performance and permanent deformation resistance than CRMA. The thermal aging process of ACRMA was analyzed, and the anti-aging mechanism model was established. The anti-aging performance of ACRMA was better than that of CRMA.

The rapid development of the concrete industry consumes many natural resources and has many negative impacts on the environment. Large numbers of research attempts are focused on finding alternatives to cement and sand for use in concrete mixes to improve the sustainability of concrete. Wollastonite microfibers comprise a calcium metasilicate minerals with a wide range of sources and can be used as cement substitutes in cementitious composites, which has attracted worldwide attention in recent years. This paper presents the state-of-the-art research on the properties of cementitious composites containing wollastonite microfibers as partial cement replacement from the following aspects: setting time, workability, mechanical properties, shrinkage, durability, microstructural properties, environmental and economic analysis, and future prospects. The literature review confirms the feasibility of using wollastonite microfiber as a partial substitute for cement in cementitious composites, but this research still needs to be further studied and discussed.

Waste crumb rubber (CR) can be used in asphalt pavement construction to develop eco-friendly and sustainable pavements. The objective of this study was to investigate the reaction mechanism, high-temperature properties, thermal stability, and volatiles released by CR-modified asphalt (CRMA) activated using microwaves (i.e., ACRMA). The chemical characteristics determined via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that mainly physical reactions occurred in the CRMA before and after activation; however, the swelling reaction in the ACRMA was more efficient than that in the CRMA. These results were confirmed by gel permeation chromatography and atomic force microscopy. The high-temperature performance of the ACRMA was slightly better than that of the CRMA. Additionally, according to stress creep and recovery test results, the microwave activation reduced the stress sensitivity of the rubber-modified asphalt. Thermogravimetric curves indicated that the microwave activation reduced the decomposition temperature of the rubber-modified asphalt. Moreover, the total amount of released volatiles for the base asphalt was significantly larger than that for rubber-modified asphalts, indicating that the CR suppressed the total amount of released volatile gases from the asphalt during the pyrolysis of asphalt. But the addition of CR can increase the release of some toxic gases in CRMA and increase the toxicological potential of asphalt fumes. However, in the initial pyrolysis of rubber asphalts, microwave treatment can reduce the generation of toxic gases. In the later stages of this process, the introduction of rubber particles before and after activation has little effect on the released volatiles.