This study explores an ethanol/ammonium sulfate aqueous two-phase system as a greener extraction strategy for a four-herb mixture designed for acne-prone skin. The ATPS method effectively enriched phenolic and flavonoid compounds and enhanced antioxidant activity, with the N12 fraction showing the strongest chemical performance. However, zebrafish assays indicated that the crude extract had a better safety profile and stronger biological suitability. Based on these findings, the crude extract was incorporated into prototype cleanser and spot gel serum formulations, among which the cleanser showed promising antibacterial and antibiofilm effects against acne-related microorganisms.

Spikelet production efficiency (SPE) – the number of spikelets produced per unit of vegetative organ dry weight at the spikelet differentiation stage – can boost rice grain yield and harvest index without compromising grain filling or grain weight, particularly under high-yielding population conditions.

Zhonghua 11 and Taichung 65 exhibit distinct physiological and molecular responses to brassinosteroids despite their close japonica relationship.

A near-isogenic line, d61-zh11, was developed to transfer the classical brassinosteroid (BR)-insensitive mutation into a modern functional genomics background.

d61-zh11 provides a standardized reference mutant for the reproducible and system-level dissection of BR signaling in rice.

Researchers systematically evaluated the rationality of eight traditional inert powders to suppress accumulated nano-aluminum dust layers generated by additive manufacturing, revealing severe hidden fire risks of conventional inerting methods and offering theoretical guidance for dust explosion prevention in 3D printing metal processing. The study, published in Defence Technology, tested ignition sensitivity and flame spread characteristics of nano-aluminum dust mixed with three categories of inertants, and clarified distinct combustion-promoting mechanisms at low-to-medium mass fractions.

A physics- and spatially informed diffusion model was developed to achieve rapid Monte Carlo–consistent dose prediction for CyberKnife radiotherapy. The model integrates finite-size pencil beam dose distributions, planning CT images, and signed distance maps to incorporate physical, anatomical, and spatial prior information. PSIDMViT improved agreement with Monte Carlo reference doses across head-and-neck, lung, and liver cancer cases. The model reduced the time required for Monte Carlo–consistent dose estimation from approximately one hour to about 18 minutes, supporting more efficient high-precision radiotherapy planning and verification.

This study develops a novel “Hydrology–Environment–Ecology” framework that integrates aquatic ecological risk (AER) with landscape ecological risk (LER) across lake basin boundaries. Using Chaohu Lake—one of China's largest freshwater lakes—as a case study, the research reveals that both aquatic and terrestrial ecological risks increased significantly from 2000 to 2019, with habitat quality identified as the dominant driver of aquatic risk. The framework identifies an 8-km riparian buffer zone as the critical threshold for integrated conservation, and uncovers human activity as the dominant factor elevating landscape ecological risk through both direct and indirect pathways. The study provides a transferable paradigm for cross-scale lake ecosystem management.