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The problem of surface deformation caused by coal mining is acute and usually lasts for a long time. During coal mining, the movement of the overlying strata has a broad range of influences, which may cause surface deformation, surface cracking, and damage to structures (buildings). However, continuous deformation monitoring data are often scarce in practice, making it challenging to predict the surface deformation caused by coal mining. In this context, this paper takes Sichuan’s Guanshan coalfield as the research object and proposes a comprehensive method integrating interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technology, the FLAC3D finite difference software, and the probability integral method to predict the surface deformation caused by mining a thin seam of coal. The results show that the trend of surface deformation estimated by the numerical simulation agrees well with the results of InSAR data and the probability integral model when using InSAR historical deformation data to invert the parameters of rock mechanics in the numerical simulation, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of the simulation results. The calculations of the probability integral method are close to the predictions of the FLAC3D numerical simulation, and a settlement deformation of 0.68 ​m is expected to occur in the Guanshan coalfield area. The comprehensive prediction method proposed in this paper effectively enhances the accuracy of surface deformation prediction under the action of mining and can provide a reference for predicting the surface subsidence of similar coal mines.

Study region: Purple soil sloping cropland, a representative landscape in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and is the main distributed agricultural basis of the Sichuan Basin, Southwest China. Study focus: This study investigated the responses of runoff P loss to several rainfall categories, the combined application of manure and chemical fertilizers, and contour cultivation by analyzing 120 rainfall events that transpired between 2008 and 2022 on a representative purple soil sloping cropland. There were five treatment combinations utilized in this study: no fertilizer application with downslope cultivation (CK), chemical fertilizer application with downslope cultivation (T1), manure and chemical fertilizer application with downslope cultivation (T2), 1.5-fold chemical fertilizer application with downslope cultivation (T3), and chemical fertilizer application with contour cultivation (T4). New hydrological insight of the region: The runoff depth during large rainstorms was significantly higher (21.5–252.4 %) than that of other rainfall categories (p < 0.05). Dissolved phosphorus (DP) loss was highest during rainstorms, whereas the highest particulate phosphorus (PP) loss was observed during large rainstorms. The runoff depth and sediment yield were significantly higher in CK than those in other treatments (p < 0.05). There were significant linear relationships between runoff depth and PP loss, DP concentration (p < 0.05). The results of this study have great significance in improving our understanding of the characteristics associated with runoff P loss in sloping croplands in Southwest China.

With the proposal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Chinese medicine extraction technology has been innovatively improved to prioritize low energy consumption, sustainability, and minimized organic solvent utilization. Forsythia suspensa (FS) possesses favorable pharmacological properties and is extensively utilized in traditional Chinese medicine. However, due to the limitations of the composition and extraction methods, its potential has not been fully developed. Thus, a combination of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), and β-cyclodextrin extraction (β-CDE) was employed to isolate and purify rutin, phillyrin, and forsythoside A from FS. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of extracting enzymatic and ultrasound assisted β-cyclodextrin extraction (EUA-β-CDE) was highly influenced by the temperature and duration of hydrolysis, as well as the duration of the extraction process. According to the results of the single-factor experiment, Box-Behnken design (BBD) in Response surface method (RSM) was used to optimize the experimental parameters to achieve the maximum comprehensive evaluation value (CEV) value. The EUA-β-CDE compared with other extraction methods, has good extraction effect and low energy consumption by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), calculation of power consumption and CO2 emission The EUA-β-CDE compared with other extraction methods, has good extraction effect and low energy consumption by HPLC, SEM, calculation of power consumption and CO2 emission. Then, the structural characteristics of EUA-β-CDE of FS extract had significant interaction with β-CD by Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition, EUA-β-CDE extract has good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The establishment of EUA-β-CDE of FS provides a new idea for the development and application of other sustainable extraction methods of traditional Chinese medicine.

Abstract Angelica dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth.et Hook.f.var.formosana (Boiss.) Shan et Yuan (A. dahurica) is a well-known medicinal plant that has a wide range of applications in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, and other industries. However, the issue of early bolting has emerged as a major hindrance to its production. This problem not only reduces the yield of A. dahurica, but also has an impact on its active ingredients. To date, the molecular factors that contribute to early bolting and its impact on the growth of A. dahurica have not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, we conducted a transcriptome study using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 on two developmental types: early-bolting and non-bolting (normal) roots of A. dahurica. We obtained 2,185 up-regulated and 1,414 down-regulated genes in total. Many of the identified transcripts were related to genes involved in early bolting. The gene ontology analysis revealed several differentially expressed genes that are crucial in various pathways, primarily associated with cellular, molecular, and biological processes. Additionally, the morphological characteristics and coumarin content in the early bolting roots of A. dahurica were significantly altered. This study provides insight into the transcriptomic regulation of early bolting in A. dahurica, which can potentially be utilized to enhance its medicinal properties.

Impacts of wheat flour substituted with varying levels of vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata) powder (from 0% to 5%) on the sensory quality, texture properties, internal structure and antioxidant properties of bread were investigated. Compared with white bread, the chewiness and springness of bread with 1% berry tea did not change significantly (P>0.05), and its quality was great. However, the quality of berry tea bread decreased significantly as the proportion of vine tea powder increased. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results indicated that the internal structure of bread was intact and the edge of pores was smooth when the addition amount was 1%, but with the increase of the addition amount, the internal structure of vine tea bread was destroyed and the quality of bread decreased. The antioxidant results showed that the contents of polyphenols, flavonoids, dihydromyricetin (DHM), myricitrin, myricetin and antioxidant properties of bread increased significantly (P

The industrial landscape constitutes a crucial aspect of a region’s historical and cultural identity, serving as a valuable asset in the development of industrial tourism. Exploring the industrial landscape supports initiatives in industrial tourism, acts as a catalyst for community revitalization, and contributes to sustainable urban progress. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the spatial distribution characteristics and underlying determinants of China’s industrial landscape (CIL) to inform urban planning, cultural heritage preservation, and sustainable development initiatives. This study utilized analytical tools, such as the nearest neighbor index, geographic concentration index, and hot spot analysis, to comprehensively examine the spatial distribution of CIL. Additionally, Geodetector was employed to explore the correlating factors behind this distribution. The findings reveal the following: (1) CIL exhibited a pronounced agglomerative spatial pattern characterized by a high degree of concentration, significant disparities, and substantial spatial autocorrelation. (2) Over time, the agglomeration of CIL varied, intensifying initially and then diminishing, with the center of gravity of its distribution shifting eastward before subsequently moving westward in a directional trend resembling “northeast–southwest”. (3) There was a diverse array of industrial landscape types within China, with notable disparities in the prevalence of different categories. The manufacturing and transportation sectors boasted the highest number of heritage sites. (4) The distribution pattern of CIL was shaped by factors such as the level of economic development, socio-demographic conditions, transportation infrastructure, and cultural milieu. The interplay between these factors had a substantial impact on this distribution pattern.

The depth and plane position of the goaf control the deformation characteristics of the mining slope with gently inclined layered structure and directly affect the overall stability of the mining slope. In recent years, scholars have carried out a large number of studies on the deformation of the overlying rock mass caused by underground coal mining, but the influence of goaf characteristics on the key positions of slopes has not been revealed deeply enough. The Jianshanying deformation body in the Faer Coal Mine in Guizhou Province is a typical gently-inclined layered mining slope, which has the steep upward and gentle downward, and hard upward and soft downward characteristics. The Jianshanying Deformation Body is chosen as the subject of the study in this paper. The effects of multi-layer mining and single-layer mining at different depths on the slope deformation are studied by qualitative analyses of the geological process mechanism and numerical simulation method. The width, depth and depth ratio of goaf have an important influence on the slope deformation characteristics. The results show that the multi-layer mining leads to the destruction of the slope toe and the overall collapse, which will cause the slope to produce a significant horizontal displacement, resulting in the vertical displacement of the multi-layer mining being much greater than the total thickness of the coal seam mining. The goaf crossing the slope toe, which makes the depth-to-thickness ratio decrease sharply and the mining cracks are more likely to extend to the surface, is an important factor for the destruction of the rock mass near the slope toe. When the width of the goaf increases or the multi-layer mining operation is carried out, the slope deformation increases significantly. When the depth of the goaf increases, the slope deformation value decreases, but the deformation range increases. It is beneficial to slope stability by optimizing the layout of the working face to prevent the sharp decrease of the depth-to-thickness ratio, controlling the width of the goaf, avoiding repeated mining and increasing the depth of mining, when mining in the strong terrain areas.

Ginsenoside 24-hydroxy-ginsengdiol (24-OH-PD), extracted from red ginseng, is a novel diol-type ginsenoside, strongly inhibits the growth of human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) CCRF-CEM cells. Our research aimed at investigating the mechanism underlying this inhibition. Cell viability was determined using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and NOD/SCID mice bearing CCRF-CEM cells were used to verify the therapeutic effect of 24-OH-PD on T-ALL in vivo. We equally analysed pathways related to 24-OH-PD in CCRF-CEM cells using RNA-Seq analysis. Cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) levels were detected by flow cytometry. The activity of caspase3 and caspase9 was detected by enzyme activity detection kits. The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins and mRNA were determined through western blotting and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR assays (qRT-PCR). CCK-8 assay and animal xenograft experiments confirmed that 24-OH-PD significantly inhibited T-ALL in a dose-dependent manner, both in vivo and in vitro. RNA-Seq results suggest that mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway plays an important role in this process. Furthermore, intracellular ROS levels increased, mPTP opened, and ΔΨm decreased following 24-OH-PD treatment. Pretreatment with the antioxidant, NAC, reversed the effects of 24-OH-PD on apoptosis and ROS generation. Moreover, 24-OH-PD treatment increased the expression of Bax and caspase family members, thereby releasing cytochrome c (Cytc) and inducing apoptosis. Our findings showed that, 24-OH-PD induces apoptosis in CCRF-CEM cells by activating the mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis pathway through ROS accumulation. This inhibitory effect implies that 24-OH-PD could be further developed as treatment of T-ALL.

Curcuma longa, known as the ‘golden spice’ and ‘life spice’, is one of the most commonly utilized spices in the world and also has medicinal, cosmetic, dye and flavoring values. Herein, we present the chromosomal-level genome for turmeric to explore the differences between tubers and rhizomes in the regulation of curcumin biosynthesis and the mechanism of tuber formation. We assembled the turmeric genome into 21 pseudochromosomes using Pacbio long reads complemented with Hi-C technologies, which has a total length of 1.11 Gb with scaffold N50 of 50.12 Mb and contains 49,612 protein−coding genes. Genomic evolutionary analysis indicated that turmeric and ginger have shared a recent WGD event. Contraction analysis of gene families showed possible roles for transcription factors, phytohormone signaling, and plant-pathogen interactions associated genes in adaptation to harsh environments. Transcriptomic data from tubers at different developmental stages indicated that candidate genes related to phytohormone signaling and carbohydrate metabolic responses may be associated with the induction of tuber formation. The difference in curcumin content between rhizomes and tubers reflected the remodeling of secondary metabolites under environmental stress, which was associated with plant defense in response to abiotic stresses. Overall, the availability of the C. longa genome provides insight into tuber formation and curcumin biosynthesis in turmeric as well as facilitating the understanding of other Curcuma species.

Industrial heritage serves as a poignant testament to the historical narrative of industrial civilization. The European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) is a pan-European network that connects industrial sites and museums to enhance public awareness of the significance of the industrial heritage sector and to promote sustainable development practices in urban areas through collaboration and cooperation between these sites. The ERIH is crucial in promoting economic, cultural, and social values associated with industrial heritage and creating opportunities for tourism and education in Europe. Taking the ERIH as the research object, the nearest-neighbor index, kernel density, geographic detector, and other methods are used in this study to explore the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of European industrial heritage. The results of this study have implications for urban and regional planning endeavors aimed at advancing sustainable urban development. Furthermore, they contribute to cultivating a sense of place and identity by identifying and preserving industrial heritage institutions while fostering social cohesion and community identity practices. The results show that (1) the spatial distribution of European industrial heritage presents a cohesive distribution, and the spatial distribution is uneven; (2) the spatial distribution of European industrial heritage forms “dual cores, dual centers, one belt, three zones and multiple scattered points”—the center of gravity shows a trend of “first north and then east” and the north–south movement is relatively small; and (3) a combination of natural and social factors shape the spatial distribution of industrial heritage. Natural conditions, such as altitude, topography, and hydrological characteristics, influence the distribution patterns of industrial heritage sites. Meanwhile, human factors, including infrastructure level, cultural tourism potential, and social development, play a pivotal role in determining spatial distribution patterns. Among these factors, the socio-economic level exhibits the strongest influence, with an explanatory power of 0.763. The results of this study can contribute to the conservation and tourism practices regarding industrial heritage sites, thus promoting sustainable urban development practices.

Abstract The genuine Chinese medicinal (GCM), also known as Dao-di Herbs, is a synonym for high quality Chinese medicinal materials, which has been established in thousands of years of clinical practice and is a comprehensive standard for evaluating the quality of Chinese medicinal materials. The newest data from the Fourth National Survey of Chinese Medicinal Resources showed that Sichuan Province has 7290 types of Chinese medicine and 86 GCM, both ranking highly in China. The characteristics like diverse species, wide distribution, higher yield, and good quality are considered as advantages of geo-herbals grown in Sichuan. Resources guarantee and high-quality development of those medicine materials make a difference in local Chinese medicine quality promotion and Chinese medicine industry and technology development to serve the public's needs, assist targeted poverty alleviation, and strengthen ecological protection. This review aims to outline significant progress in the recent ten years regarding regionalization, germplasm resources, and quality evaluation around the quality assurance of GCM in Sichuan, China.

Abstract Coal‐like sampling obtained through compression molding is an important application of powder compression molding technology in mining engineering. To obtain ideal coal‐like samples for the revelation of the seepage property of low‐permeability soft coals, gas seepage studies, which utilized the Taguchi method, were performed on coal‐like materials with different particle sizes, activated carbon weight, Portland cement weight, and forming pressure. The effect of a single factor on the fluid‐solid coupling property of coal‐like materials was analyzed. The results indicate that the permeability and axial stress curves that correlated with strain in the conventional triaxial tests can be divided into three clear phases, and that layered damage appears in all tested specimens. The stress‐permeability relationship model of coal‐like materials is proposed. The influence of process parameters on the strength and permeability of coal briquettes during gas seepage tests was experimentally investigated. The Taguchi method and gray correlation analysis were integrated to determine the best combination of input factors through the key indicator of the gray relational grade, which is required to satisfy multiple quality goals in gas seepage coal‐like materials. The contribution percentage of the input factors to the outputs was determined using analysis of variance; it indicated that coal particle size was the prominent influencing parameter followed by activated carbon, forming pressure, and Portland cement.

Background Large-scale heterosis breeding depends upon stable, inherited male sterility lines. We accidentally discovered a male sterility line (SW-S) in the F1progeny of a Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge from Shandong, China (purple flowers) crossed with a S. miltiorrhiza f. alba from Sichuan, China (white flowers). We sought to provide insights into the pollen development for male sterility in S. miltiorrhiza. Methods The phenotypic and cytological features of the SW-S and fertile control SW-F were observed using scanning electron microscopy and paraffin sections to identify the key stage of male sterility. Transcriptome profiles were recorded for anthers at the tetrad stage of SW-S and SW-F using Illumina RNA-Seq. Results The paraffin sections showed that sterility mainly occurred at the tetrad stage of microspore development, during which the tapetum cells in the anther compartment completely fell off and gradually degraded in the sterile line. There was little-to-no callose deposited around the microspore cells. The tetrad microspore was shriveled and had abnormal morphology. Therefore, anthers at the tetrad stage of SW-S and fertile control SW-F were selected for comparative transcriptome analysis. In total, 266,722,270 clean reads were obtained from SW-S and SW-F, which contained 36,534 genes. There were 2,571 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in SW-S and SW-F, of which 63.5% were downregulated. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicated that the differentially expressed genes were enriched in 56 functional groups (GO terms); of these, all DEGs involved in microgametogenesis and developmental maturation were downregulated in SW-S. These results were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. The two GO terms contained 18 DEGs, among which eight DEGs (namely: GPAT3, RHF1A, phosphatidylinositol, PFAS, MYB96, MYB78, Cals5, and LAT52) were related to gamete development. There were 10 DEGs related to development and maturation, among which three genes were directly related to pollen development (namely: ACT3, RPK2, and DRP1C). Therefore, we believe that these genes are directly or indirectly involved in the pollen abortion of SW-S. Our study provides insight into key genes related to sterility traits in S. miltiorrhiza, and the results can be further exploited in functional and mechanism studies.

The HIV-1 Rev response element (RRE) is a cis-acting RNA element that facilitates the nuclear export of mRNA-containing introns by binding specifically to the Rev protein, enabling a critical step in the viral replication cycle. This study aims to determine the subtype-specific loci of HIV-1 subtype B RRE circulating in China and to analyze their effects on Rev-RRE function and HIV-1 replication. We amplified 71 HIV-1 subtype B RRE full-length sequences from the HIV patients’ blood samples collected in China, analyzed the subtype-specific loci on them by comparing them with subtype B in the United States, and predicted their RNA secondary structures. Rev-RRE activity assay was used to test the binding activity of Rev and different RREs. Infectious clones were mutated to test the effect of the subtype-specific loci on replication capacity. In this study, two sites were determined to be the subtype-specific loci of HIV-1 subtype B RRE circulating in China. Both site 186 and site 56-57insAAC can significantly increase the viral mRNA transcription and Rev-RRE activity, but only the site 186 can significantly improve viral replication ability. Collectively, the subtype-specific loci of subtype B RRE circulating in China have a significant effect on the Rev-RRE activity and viral replication. This study investigates the subtype-specific loci of RRE, which are unique to retroviruses and essential for viral replication, and will help to explore the reasons why subtype B circulating in China is more widespread and persistent than American subtype B in China at the genetic level, and will provide theoretical support for the development of more inclusive detection and treatment methods for subtype B circulating in China. At the same time, it will also provide insight into the impact of different subtype HIV-1 genetic characteristics on viral replication.

[Objective] To investigate the accumulation characteristics of Cadmium (Cd) in RHIZOMA CHUANXIONG cultivated in different producing areas. [Methods] The soil sample and paired RHIZOMA CHUANXIONG materials was randomly coHected from the main producing areas and used as experimental materials. The Soil Physi-chemial Detection Industry Standard issued by Ministry of Agriculture was used to analyze soil samples, and AAS was employed to determine the Cd content accumulated in RHIZOMA CHUANXIONG materials. Based on the physi-chemical characteristics determined above, the dynamic change of Cd content in RHIZOMA CHUANXIONG materials and of active state of Cd in typical soil samples. [Results] The results showed that there was no remarkable diference in pH value between fresh and dried soil samples; the soil accumulating higher Cd content in RHIZOMA CHUANXIONG materials had a relatively lower pH value, while that with lower Cd content had a relatively higher pH value. The proportion of active state Cd in soil with lower pH value was relatively higher. [Conclusions] The Cd content in RHIZOMA CHUANXIONG materials is negatively correlated with soil pH value at the significant level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]