Limited dependence on soil nitrogen fixation as subtropical forests develop.

Soil nitrogen (N) fixation, driven by microbial reactions, is critical to support the entrance of nitrogen in nutrient poor and pioneer ecosystems. However, how and why N fixation and soil diazotrophs evolve as forests develop remain poorly understood. Here, we used a 60-year forest rewilding chronosequence and found that soil N fixation activity gradually decreased with increasing forest age, experiencing dramatic drops of 64.8% in intermediate stages and 93.0% in the oldest forests. Further analyses revealed loses in diazotrophic diversity and a significant reduction in the abundance of important diazotrophs (e.g., Desulfovibrio and Pseudomonas) as forest develops. This reduction in N fixation, and associated shifts in soil microbes, was driven by acidification and increases in N content during forest succession. Our results provide new insights on the life history of one of the most important groups of soil organisms in terrestrial ecosystems, with consequences for understanding the buildup of nutrients as forest soil develops.

Targeting the chromatin structural changes of antitumor immunity.

Epigenomic imbalance drives abnormal transcriptional processes, promoting the onset and progression of cancer. Although defective gene regulation generally affects carcinogenesis and tumor suppression networks, tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumor responses may also be affected by epigenomic changes, which may have significant implications for the development and application of epigenetic therapy, cancer immunotherapy, and their combinations. Herein, we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on tumor immune cell function and the role of key abnormal epigenetic processes, DNA methylation, histone post-translational modification, and chromatin structure in tumor immunogenicity, and introduce these epigenetic research methods. We emphasize the value of small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modulators in enhancing antitumor immune responses and discuss the challenges of developing treatment plans that combine epigenetic therapy and immunotherapy through the complex interaction between cancer epigenetics and cancer immunology.

CBX7 reprograms metabolic flux to protect against meningioma progression by modulating the USP44/c-MYC/LDHA axis.

Meningioma is one of the most common primary neoplasms in the central nervous system, whereas there is still no specific molecularly targeted therapy that has been approved for the clinical treatment of aggressive meningiomas. There is therefore an urgent demand to decrypt the biological and molecular landscape of malignant meningioma. Here, through the in-silica prescreening and 10-year follow-up of 445 meningioma patients, we uncovered that CBX7 is progressively decreased with malignancy grade and neoplasia stage in meningioma and a high CBX7 expression level predicts a favorable prognosis in meningioma patients. CBX7 restoration significantly induces cell cycle arrest and inhibits meningioma cell proliferation. iTRAQ-based proteomics analysis indicated that CBX7 restoration triggers the metabolic shift from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. The mechanistic study demonstrated that CBX7 promotes the proteasome-dependent degradation of c-MYC proteins by transcriptionally inhibiting the expression of a c-MYC deubiquitinase, USP44, which attenuates c-MYC-mediated transactivation of LDHA transcripts and further inhibits glycolysis and subsequent cellular proliferation. More importantly, the functional role of CBX7 was further confirmed in both subcutaneous and orthotopic meningioma xenografts mouse models and human meningioma patients. Together, our results shed light on the critical role of CBX7 during meningioma malignancy progression and identified the CBX7/USP44/c-MYC/LDHA axis as a promising therapeutic target against meningioma progression.

Preparation a High-Performance of Gangue-Based Geopolymer Backfill Material: Recipes Optimization Using the Taguchi Method.

The strip filling method in underground reservoir needs high strength to achieve the requirements of water storage. In order to address the challenges associated with costly and weak filling materials, this study aimed to develop an economically efficient and high-strength gangue-based geopolymer backfill material (GBGBM). To achieve this, the Taguchi method was employed to design a series of 25 experiments, each consisting of four factors and five levels. This study focused on investigating the effects of different gangue gradation levels, sand ratios, water binder ratios (w/b), and aggregate binder ratios (a/b) on the working characteristics and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the GBGBM. The optimal combination of the GBGBM was determined by employing a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N)-based extreme difference and variance analysis. The results revealed that the w/b ratio exerted the most substantial influence on both the slump and UCS. Specifically, when employing a gradation of 50%, a sand ratio of 55%, an a/b ratio of 2.5, and a w/b ratio of 0.64, the slump measured 251.2 mm, the UCS at 3d reached 5.27 MPa, and the UCS at 28d amounted to 17.65 MPa. These findings indicated a remarkable improvement in early UCS by 131.14% and the late UCS by 49.45% compared to gangue-based cement backfill material (GBCBM). Additionally, this study examined the hydration products and microstructures of both GBGBM and GBCBM using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) analyses. Significantly, the GBGBM exhibited notable advantages over the GBCBM, including a 78.16% reduction in CO2 emissions, a 73.45% decrease in energy consumption, and a 24.82% reduction in cost. These findings underscore the potential of GBGBM as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to GBCBM.

Preliminary Study on the Preparation of Conductive Nanosized Calcium Carbonate Utilizing Biogas Slurry by a Synchronous Double Decomposition Coating Method.

Nanosized calcium carbonate (NCC) plays a vital role in the rubber and plastic fields as a filler, but it cannot resolve the electrostatic problem. Humic-acid-based NCC (HA-NCC) was accidentally discovered in the reaction between biogas slurry and calcium chloride (CaCl2), based on nutrient recovery and gradient treatment technology to solve the biogas slurry problem. A preliminary study on the preparation of conductive nanosized calcium carbonate (CNCC) from the HA-NCC was implemented. Meanwhile, a synchronous double decomposition coating method was proposed to properly explain the formation of HA-NCC in the biogas slurry. The CNCC was further obtained through drying and carbonizing the HA-NCC sample. The morphology of CNCC was a square shape with aggregation, and its crystals were calcite. The C content of CNCC was 5% higher than that of the normal CaCO3, implying a synchronous coating effect of soluble HA in biogas slurry on NCC. The weight loss of CNCC was about 2.5% at 630 °C, explaining why the HA-NCC remained black at 550 °C for 4 h. The CNCC was partly ordered and graphitized. The resistivity of the CNCC reached 2.62 × 106 Ω·cm. It could be used as a conductive powder. In view of the favorable characteristics described above, CNCC would be expected to be a filler and antistatic agent for plastics and rubbers to enhance the tensile and bending resistance of polymer materials, while eliminating electrostatic hazards. The results are also of great significance for developing high-end products to realize resource utilization of biogas slurry.

Subcritical low temperature extraction of bioactive ingredients from foods and food by-products and its applications in the agro-food industry.

Bioactive ingredients are part of the food chain and are responsible for numerous health benefits. Subcritical low temperature extraction has been employed to acquire bioactive ingredients because of its excellent properties, such as energy conservation, low temperature, elimination of residual solvent, and high extraction yield and quality. This review aims to provide a clear picture of the basics of subcritical-temperature extraction, its bioactive ingredient extraction efficiency, and possible applications in the agro-food industry. This review suggested that the extraction temperature, time, co-solvents, solid-fluid ratio, and pressure impacted the extraction efficiency of bioactive ingredients from foods and food by-products. Subcritical solvents are appropriate for extracting low polar ingredients, while the inclusion of co-solvents could extract medium and high polar substances. Bioactive ingredients from foods and food by-products can be used as antioxidants, colorants, and nutritional supplements. Additionally, this technology could remove pesticide residues in tea, concentrate edible proteins, and reduce cigarette tar. A new trend toward using subcritical low temperature extraction in extracting bioactive ingredients will acquire momentum.

Effect of milling intensity on the properties of chitin, chitosan and chitosan films obtained from grasshopper.

To obtain high-quality insect products, milling was used as a modification tool and its effect on grasshopper chitin, chitosan and chitosan films was investigated. Three grasshopper powders were obtained and classified into coarse-milled powder (CMP, D90 = 956 µm), medium-milled powder (MMP, D90 = 492 µm), and ultrafine-milled powder (UMP, D90 = 79.1 µm). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy illustrated that no drastic change due to milling was observed, but the crystallinity (X-ray diffraction) and thermal stability (Thermogravimetric analysis) of the chitin, chitosan and chitosan films reduced with increasing milling intensity. Besides, the purity of the chitin and the yield of chitosan obtained from UMP were improved. Chitosan prepared from UMP was also characterized by high degree of deacetylation (65.6 %) and solubility and rather low molecular weight (11.5 kDa), viscosity and water/fat binding capacity. The finer the powder used as the extraction material, the thinner the chitosan films and the more compact the structure. On the whole, the chitosan films prepared from the MMP had higher mechanical properties and better moisture-keeping ability on strawberries compared with CMP and UMP films. This study establishes the role milling intensity played in the modification of grasshopper products and provides a reference for practical applications.

A review: strategies to reduce infection in tantalum and its derivative applied to implants.

Implant-associated infection is the main reasons for implant failure. Titanium and titanium alloy are currently the most widely used implant materials. However, they have limited antibacterial performance. Therefore, enhancing the antibacterial ability of implants by surface modification technology has become a trend of research. Tantalum is a potential implant coating material with good biological properties. With the development of surface modification technology, tantalum coating becomes more functional through improvement. In addition to improving osseointegration, its antibacterial performance has also become the focus of attention. In this review, we provide an overview of the latest strategies to improve tantalum antibacterial properties. We demonstrate the potential of the clinical application of tantalum in reducing implant infections by stressing its advantageous properties.

Effect of the crosslinking and drying method on the oxidative stability of lipid microcapsules obtained by complex coacervation.

The crosslinking and drying method of microcapsules prepared by complex coacervation has been investigated in order to achieve a better control of the oxidative stability of the final powder product. Methyl oleate was microencapsulated with gelatin and gum arabic as wall materials. For improving the oxidative stability of microcapsules, the crosslinking and drying method was optimized in order to obtain a product with a stable and dense wall layer structure. The wall layer crosslinked by transglutaminase was found to be more thermostable than other food-grade crosslinking agents. Combined uses of different crosslinking agents had been carried out for microcapsules obtained by freeze drying, and the product crosslinked in turn by transglutaminase and tannic acid exhibited the relatively best oxidative stability measured by oxidation induction time. However, a new method of organic solvent replacement drying was found to be more suitable for drying microcapsules, since this method could achieve better oxidative stability than freeze or spray drying even by using transglutaminase or tannic acid alone as the crosslinking agent. The SEM graphs showed that this new drying method could avoid ice crystal formation and reduce the external force during the drying process, thus effectively reducing the occurrence of micro-holes in the wall layer and inhibiting the adhesion between the microcapsules. From the analysis of the secondary structure measurement, this new drying method could convert irregular structures into α-helical structures, hence enhancing the compactness of the wall layer structure. The organic solvent replacement drying method is an economical and environmental method with promising application prospects.

Coupling Lipid Labeling and Click Chemistry Enables Isolation of Extracellular Vesicles for Noninvasive Detection of Oncogenic Gene Alterations.

Well-preserved molecular cargo in circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) offers an ideal material for detecting oncogenic gene alterations in cancer patients, providing a noninvasive diagnostic solution for detection of disease status and monitoring treatment response. Therefore, technologies that conveniently isolate EVs with sufficient efficiency are desperately needed. Here, a lipid labeling and click chemistry-based EV capture platform ("Click Beads"), which is ideal for EV message ribonucleic acid (mRNA) assays due to its efficient, convenient, and rapid purification of EVs, enabling downstream molecular quantification using reverse transcription digital polymerase chain reaction (RT-dPCR) is described and demonstrated. Ewing sarcoma protein (EWS) gene rearrangements and kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) gene mutation status are detected and quantified using EVs isolated by Click Beads and matched with those identified in biopsy specimens from Ewing sarcoma or pancreatic cancer patients. Moreover, the quantification of gene alterations can be used for monitoring treatment responses and disease progression.

The Efficacy and Safety of Sacubitril/Valsartan in Heart Failure Patients: A Review.

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Sacubitril/valsartan, an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor, has been approved for the treatment of HF. At present, there have been few systematic and detailed reviews discussing the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan in HF. In this review, we first introduced the pharmacological mechanisms of sacubitril/valsartan, including the reduction in the degradation of natriuretic peptides in the natriuretic peptide system and inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system. Then, we summarized the efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) including the reduction in risks of mortality and hospitalization, reversal of cardiac remodeling, regulation of biomarkers of HF, improvement of the quality of life, antiarrhythmia, improving renal dysfunction and regulation of metabolism. Finally, we discussed the safety and tolerability of sacubitril/valsartan in the treatment of HFrEF or HFpEF. Compared with ACEIs/ARBs or placebo, sacubitril/valsartan showed good safety and tolerability, although the risk of hypotension might be high. In conclusion, the overwhelming majority of studies show that sacubitril/valsartan is effective and safe in the treatment of HFrEF patients but that it has little benefit in HFpEF patients. Sacubitril/valsartan will probably be a promising anti-HF drug in the near future.

Study of Mechanical Properties and Durability of Alkali-Activated Coal Gangue-Slag Concrete.

Herein, a new geopolymer is recognized as a potential alternative cementing material of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), which is used for reducing carbon emissions and efficiently recycling the waste. Therefore this paper mainly studied the alkali-activated coal gangue-slag concrete (ACSC) was prepared by using the coal gangue-slag and Na2SiO3 and NaOH complex activator. The ratio of coal gangue (calcined and uncalcined) coarse aggregate replacing the gravel was 0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%. The water and salt freeze-thaw resistance, compressive strength, chloride permeation, microstructure, performance mechanism, inner freeze-thaw damage distribution, and mechanics models of ACSC were investigated. Results show that ACSC displayed excellent early age compressive strength, and the compact degree and uniformity of structure were better compared with the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) when the coal gangue replacement rate was less than 50%. The ACSC demonstrated the best chloride penetration resistance under 30% uncalcined coal gangue content, which was less than 27.75% lower than that of using OPC. At the same number cycles, especially in the salt freezing, the calcined coal gangue had lowered advantages of improving resistance freeze-thaw damage resistance. Water and salt accumulative freeze-thaw damage mechanics models of ACSC were established by using the relative dynamic elasticity modulus. The exponential function model was superior to the power function model with better precision and relativity, and the models accurately reflected the freeze-thaw damage effect.

Treatment of Low C/N Ratio Wastewater by a Carbon Cloth Bipolar Plate Multicompartment Electroenhanced Bioreactor (CBM-EEB).

The traditional biological denitrification process has the problems of low removal rates and lack of a carbon source when treating wastewater with high ammonia nitrogen concentration and a low carbon-nitrogen ratio. Based on a bio-electrochemical system (BES), a novel carbon cloth bipolar plate multicompartment electroenhanced bioreactor (CBM-EEB) system was constructed. In this study, nitrogen removal efficiency and enrichment of functional bacteria using CBM-EEB under different voltage conditions were investigated. The results from next-generation sequencing indicated that the CBM-EEB included heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification (HNAD) and was dominated by heterotrophic nitrification aerobic denitrifying bacteria (HNADB). The applied voltage was confirmed as having the ability to regulate the microbial community structure and abundance of functional genes, thereby further enhancing the nitrogen removal efficiency of the system. The total nitrogen removal efficiency was 77.70 ± 1.14, 87.10 ± 0.56, 86.40 ± 0.59, and 89.30 ± 0.53% under applied voltages of 0.4, 0.7, 1.0, and 1.3 V, respectively. All values were significantly higher than the control group (62.86 ± 2.06%). HNADB had the highest abundance among the 17 detected genera related to nitrogen metabolism. Facultative denitrifying bacteria, Pseudoxanthomonas, along with key bacteria of HNADB, such as Flavobacterium, constructed a shortcut simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) process. Poisson analysis and redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the applied voltage improved the denitrification efficiency by changing the microbial community structure, reducing the abundance of heterotrophic bacteria, and increasing the unit abundance of key functional genes so that less organics were required for the denitrification process. The increased nitrogen removal efficiency in the experimental group was mainly related to simultaneous nitrification-denitrification process and cooperation of microbial communities in the anode and the cathode. This study highlighted the feasibility of CBM-EEB to enhance the HNAD reaction and the response of wastewater with a low C/N ratio to enhance the abundance of microbial bacteria and their functional gene abundance.

A 29-Year-Old Male Construction Worker from India Who Presented with Left- Sided Abdominal Pain Due to Isolated Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

BACKGROUND In corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which emerged in December 2019 and is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), most case presentations have been related to the respiratory tract. Several recent studies reveal that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which was found in the target cells of the virus, is highly expressed in the lungs, small bowel, and vasculature. CASE REPORT A 29-year-old male construction worker from India presented with left-sided colicky abdominal pain. He tested positive for infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Isolated superior mesenteric vein thrombosis was diagnosed by CT (computed tomography) scan. He was managed by anti-coagulants and clinically improved. CONCLUSIONS This case report indicates that isolated venous thrombosis of the abdominal vessels without concurrent arterial thrombosis can be a complication of the hyper-coagulability state in COVID-19 patients. Hence, early evaluation of abdominal vessels in covid-19 patients who present with any abdominal symptoms should be considered, especially when found to have an elevated D-dimer level, as early treatment of thrombosis with low-molecular-weight heparin can have a significant impact on the therapeutic outcome.

Comparison of acalabrutinib plus obinutuzumab, ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab and venetoclax plus obinutuzumab for untreated CLL: a network meta-analysis.

The optimal chemotherapy-free regimens for treatment-naive CLL still remains undefined. We searched relevant published reports. Three trials with 1017 subjects were identified. In the network meta-analysis, acalabrutinib plus obinutuzumab (Aca + Obi) improved PFS than ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab (Ibu + Obi) (HR:0.43, p = .02) and venetoclax plus obinutuzumab (Ven + Obi) (HR:0.30, p < .001) as IRC assessment. Sensitivity analysis of investigator assessment also showed improved PFS with Aca + Obi than Ibu + Obi (HR:0.46, p = .04) and Ven + Obi (HR:0.34, p = .002). Among these first-line treatments (Aca + Obi, Ibu + Obi, Ven + Obi and chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab (Chl + Obi)), Aca + Obi regimen had the highest probability of 99.1% (IRC assessment) or 98.0% (investigator assessment) to reach the longest PFS. The survival advantage with Aca + Obi was not statistically significant, compared to Ibu + Obi (HR:0.51, p = .21) and Ven + Obi (HR:0.38, p = .07). No significant difference was found in AEs analysis. Our data indicated that Aca + Obi seemed to prolong the PFS than Ibu + Obi and Ven + Obi. Considering our limits, prospective clinical trials directly comparing these regimens are warranted.

The Depth-Width Correlation for Shrinkage-Induced Cracks and Its Influence on Chloride Diffusion into Concrete.

This study examined the depth-width correlation of actual shrinkage-induced cracks and its influence on the diffusion properties of concrete. An experimental setup of restrained slabs was utilized to induce the shrinkage cracks, and the geometry characteristics were quantified with image analysis technology. The results indicated the depth-width scaling λ of shrinkage cracks increases with crack width and was almost constant when the crack width was approximately 0.3 mm or more, and the tip angle of shrinkage cracks is about 1-2 degrees. The diffusion coefficients of concretes were measured by a conductivity test method. A series-parallel composite model with λ was devised to evaluate the diffusivity of shrinking cracked concrete. It was shown that the equivalent diffusion coefficient depended greatly on the crack depth instead of the crack width, and it was found to be a nonlinear relationship versus the width combining with λ. The diffusion coefficient of the crack Dcr was correlated to both crack width and λ, and increased with crack width. When the crack width is higher than 0.2 mm Dcr becomes constant, where the value obtained was 87% of the diffusion coefficient in free solution.

A circulating tumor cell-based digital assay for the detection of EGFR T790M mutation in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Determining the status of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation is crucial for guiding further treatment intervention in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who develop acquired resistance to initial EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) which contain plentiful copies of well-preserved RNA offer an ideal source for noninvasive detection of T790M mutation in NSCLC. We developed a CTC-based digital assay which synergistically integrates NanoVelcro Chips for enriching NSCLC CTCs and reverse-transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) for quantifying T790M transcripts in the enriched CTCs. We collected 46 peripheral arterial and venous blood samples from 27 advanced NSCLC patients for testing this CTC-based digital assay. The results showed that the T790M mutational status observed by the CTC-based digital assay matched with those observed by tissue-based diagnostic methods. Furthermore, higher copy numbers of T790M transcripts were observed in peripheral arterial blood than those detected in the matched peripheral venous blood. In short, our results demonstrated the potential of the NanoVelcro CTC-digital assay for noninvasive detection of the T790M mutation in NSCLC, and suggested that peripheral arterial blood sampling may offer a more abundant CTC source than peripheral venous blood in advanced NSCLC patients.

The Corrosion Probability and Flexural Strength of an RC Beam under Chloride Ingress Considering the Randomness of Temperature and Humidity.

The load capacity of reinforced concrete structure will decrease by chloride ingress in coastal region. In this paper, the corrosion probability and flexural strength of a typical reinforced concrete beam design under the influence of temperature and humidity was obtained by the Monte Carlo method. The relationship between flexural strength, temperature, relative humidity, and geometric parameters was established. The annual average temperature and relative humidity were treated as random variables together with the geometric size and concrete compressive strength. The corrosion probability and flexural strength in a wave splashing zone, coastal atmospheric zone, and offshore atmospheric zone were calculated. The results show that the corrosion probabilities of the three regions are obviously different. When the standard deviation of temperature is less than 1.5 °C, the temperature can be treated as a constant in the calculation of the concrete cracking probability in the wave splashing zone. A binary logistic regression formula was given to predict whether the randomness of temperature and humidity should be considered in the offshore atmospheric zone. When the standard deviation of the temperature is less than 1 °C, the temperature randomness has no significant effect on the flexural strength of beams in the wave splashing zone. The flexural strength distribution conforms to the normal distribution in the early stage of service and the Weibull distribution after concrete cracking.

Glutathione S-transferase A1 suppresses tumor progression and indicates better prognosis of human primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) family members play an important role in detoxification, metabolism and carcinogenesis. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Glutathione S-transferase A1 (GSTA1) on the prognosis of HCC and to understand its role in tumor progression and the possible mechanism. GSTA1 in HCC was assessed using immunohistochemical staining, and it was found that HCC patients with better pathological differentiation had higher GSTA1 abundance. Further, high GSTA1 expression was correlated with low AFP, absent PVTT, and early stage TNM for HCC patients. Higher GSTA1 indicated longer overall survival and disease-free survival, while lower GSTA1 indicated poorer prognosis. Subsequently, lentiviral vector carrying GSTA1 gene was successfully constructed and maintained high expression in 97H and SNU449 liver cancer cells. We found that high GSTA1 restrained liver cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. Western blot showed that LKB1 and p-AMPK were upregulated while p-mTOR, p-p70 S6 Kinase and MMP-9 were downregulated in high GSTA1 groups. Taken together, high GSTA1 correlated with satisfactory prognosis of HCC. Additionally, GSTA1 may act as a protective factor through suppression of tumorigenesis by targeting AMPK/mTOR in HCC.

Property Comparison of Alkali-Activated Carbon Steel Slag (CSS) and Stainless Steel Slag (SSS) and Role of Blast Furnace Slag (BFS) Chemical Composition.

In order to compare the properties of alkali-activated carbon steel slag (CSS) and stainless steel slag (SSS), the effects of sodium hydroxide/sodium silicate solution mass ratio (NH/NS), liquid/solid ratio and blast furnace slag (BFS) dosage on the compressive strength, hydration products and hydration degree of CSS and SSS were studied. Furthermore, a combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo-gravimetric analysis coupled with differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS) were used to characterize the morphology and structure of alkali-activated CSS-BFS and SSS-BFS cementitious materials. As the results revealed, the primary hydrate of alkali-activated CSS and SSS is C-(A)-S-H with Q2 [SiO4] units, which has a low Ca/Si ratio and includes inert phases like a CaO-FeO-MnO-MgO solid solution (RO) in CSS while cuspidine, magnesiochromite etc. in SSS. More active C3S and ß-C2S promote the alkali activation of CSS, whereas the less active γ-C2S hinders the depolymerization of SSS. The incorporation of BFS does not change the hydrate, whose seed effect is helpful for accelerating the depolymerization and polycondensation of CSS and SSS, especially for SSS, and makes the hydrate increase significantly. Owing to the high SiO2 and Al2O3 contents of SSS, the C-(A)-S-H chain length is increased, thus facilitating the polycondensation effect. In this study, the optimal NH/NS of CSS and SSS is NH/NS= 1:2, and the optimal liquid/solid ratio is 0.29. Compared to CSS-BFS, the C-(A)-S-H gel produced by SSS-BFS has lower Ca/Si and Al/Si ratios. Unlike CSS, pure SSS is inappropriate as an alkali-activated precursor and needs to be co-activated with BFS.