On December 18, 2023, a magnitude MS6.2 earthquake struck Jishishan County, Gansu Province, triggering over 40 seismic subsidence sites within a seismic intensity VI zone, 32 km from the epicenter.The earthquake caused tens of millions in economic losses to mountain photovoltaic power stations. Extensive geological surveys and comparisons with similar landslides (such as soil loosening, widespread cracks, and stepped displacements) triggered by the 1920 Haiyuan MS8.5 earthquake and the 1995 Yongdeng MS5.8 earthquake, this study preliminarily identifies one subsidence sites as a seismic-collapsed loess landslide. To investigate its disaster-causing mechanism: the dynamic triaxial test was conducted to assess the seismic subsidence potential of the loess at the site, and the maximum subsidence amount under different seismic loads were calculated by combining actual data from nearby bedrock stations with site amplification data from the active source; simulation of the destabilization evolution of seismic-collapsed loess landslides by large-scale shaking table tests; and a three-dimensional slope model was developed using finite element method to study the complex seismic conditions responsible for site damage. The research findings provide a theoretical foundation for further investigations into the disaster mechanisms of seismic-collapsed loess landslides.

Small organic compounds (SOCs) are widespread environmental pollutants that pose a significant threat to ecosystem health and human well-being. In this study, the FrmA gene from Escherichia coli was overexpressed alone or in combination with FrmB in Arabidopsis thaliana and their resistance to multiple SOCs was investigated. The transgenic plants exhibited varying degrees of increased tolerance to methanol, formic acid, toluene, and phenol, extending beyond the known role of FrmA in formaldehyde metabolism. Biochemical and histochemical analyses showed reduced oxidative damage, especially in the FrmA/BOE lines, as evidenced by lower malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2 and O-2(center dot-) levels, indicating improved scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). SOC treatment led to significantly higher levels of glutathione (GSH) and, to a lesser extent, ascorbic acid (AsA) in the transgenic plants than in the wild-types. After methanol exposure, GSH levels increased by 95 % and 72 % in the FrmA/BOE and FrmAOE plants, respectively, while showing no significant increase in the wild-type plants. The transgenic plants also maintained higher GSH:GSSG and AsA:DHA ratios, exhibited upregulated glutathione reductase (GR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activities, and correspondingly increased gene expression. In addition, the photosynthetic parameters of the transgenic plants were less affected by SOC stress, which represents a significant photosynthetic advantage. These results emphasize the potential of genetically engineered plants for phytoremediation and crop improvement, as they exhibit increased tolerance to multiple hazardous SOCs. This research lays the foundation for sustainable approaches to combat pollution and improve plant resilience in the face of escalating environmental problems.

Ginger is a significant ethnobotanical and pharmacological crop consisting of potential bioactive constituents responsible for their nutraceutical value, they can have anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, antidiabetic, antinausea, antimicrobial, pain alleviation, antitumor, antioxidant and protective effects on respiratory disease, and agerelated disease. Ginger possesses a substantial value, but its production and general quality are greatly harmed by various biotic and abiotic stressors, to which it is highly susceptible. Fungi are the most damaging disease-causing agents, one of the devastating fungal pathogens in ginger is Fusarium spp., a soil and seed-borne pathogen resulting in poor production, poor quality, and decreased economic returns to the farmers. It infects ginger in every stage of development and each plant part even during post-harvest storage. This review emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of the nutraceutical value of ginger compounds, and Fusarium disease in ginger with its pathogenicity. Moreover, this review elaborates on an improvement of ginger yield by the management of the Fusarium pathogen through the biological and biotechnological approach.

The flexible joints and segmental lining serve as effective seismic measures for tunnel in high-intensity seismic area. However, the tunnel axial deformation at flexible joints has not been fully incorporated into analytical models. This study presents a novel mechanical model for flexible joints that considers tension (compression)shear-rotation deformations, replacing the traditional shear-rotation springs model. An improved semi-analytical solution has been developed for the longitudinal response of a tunnel featuring a three-way flexible joint mechanical model subjected to fault movement. The nonlinear elastic-plastic foundation spring, the soil-lining tangential interaction, and the axial force of tunnel lining have been considered to improve the applicability and precision of proposed method. The proposed solution is compared with existing models, such as short beams connected by shear and rotation springs, by examining the predictions against numerical simulations. The results indicate that the predictions of the proposed model align much more closely with the outcomes of the numerical simulations than those of the existing models. For the working conditions selected in 4, neglecting the tension-compression deformation at flexible joints an 81.8% error in the peak axial force of the tunnel and a 20.2% error in the peak bending moment. The reason is that ignoring the axial deformation of these joints results in a larger calculated axial force on the lining, which subsequently leads to increased bending moment and shear force. Finally, a parameter sensitivity analysis is conducted to investigate the effect of various factors, including flexible joint stiffness, segmental lining length, and the length of the tunnel fortification zone.

In the context of global warming, understanding the impact of thaw slump on soil hydrothermal processes and its responses to climate is essential for protecting engineering facilities in cold regions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of thaw slump development on active layer soil. We considered the early thaw slump development in the Tibetan Plateau as research object and conducted long-term monitoring of soil hydrothermal activity in the active layer of various parts of the landslide and the regional meteorology. The results showed that thaw slump development shortened the freezing and thawing time of the active layer, increased the freezing and thawing rates of the shallow soil (10-20 cm), and enhanced the heat exchange between the active layer soil and the atmosphere and the heat transfer between the soils. The heat-exchange efficiency of the active layer, from largest to smallest, was headwall > collapsed area > unaffected area (bottom of the slope) > unaffected area (top of the slope). Furthermore, thaw slump development lowered the water storage of the active layer prof ile and weakened the dynamic response of soil water to precipitation. The events of soil water responses and soil water increments were smaller in the landslide area than in the unaffected area. During a co-precipitation event, the overall soil water storage increment (SWSI) of the profile was significantly smaller in the landslide area than in the unaffected area (P < 0.05), with an SWSI of 2.04 mm in the headwall and 1.77 mm in the collapsed area. In addition, thaw slump development altered the mechanism of soil water transport driven by soil temperature changes, which affected soil water redistribution of profile. The study gives ecohydrology-related research in cold climates a scientific foundation, thereby guiding the construction and maintenance of infrastructure projects.

As a prevalent problematic soil in geotechnical engineering, organic-rich soil exhibits inferior engineering characteristics that necessitate stabilization treatment in practical applications. Among various soil improvement techniques, chemical stabilization using Portland cement (PC) has gained widespread adoption due to its operational convenience. However, conventional PC involves not only environmental burdens associated with resource- and energy-intensive production processes and carbon emissions but also substantial interference from organic matter (OM) during its hydration process, inhibiting the formation of cementitious bonds. To address these challenges, this study proposes an innovative green stabilization approach using reactive MgO carbonation technology. A comprehensive investigation was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical evolution, mechanical behavior, and microstructural characteristics of organic soils under varying OM contents and carbonation durations. Key findings revealed that unconfined compressive strength demonstrated a linear inverse relationship with OM content while exhibiting time-dependent enhancement during carbonation. Strength development correlated positively with mass gain and dry density but inversely with water content. Microanalytical results indicated OM-dependent phase transformations, showing decreased nesquehonite crystallization and increased dypingite/hydromagnesite formation with ascending OM content. Mechanism analysis suggested that OM content regulated carbonation product speciation and aggregate morphology, thereby governing the coupled processes of particle cementation, pore structure refinement, and mechanical strengthening. This research demonstrates the technical viability of MgO carbonation for organic soil stabilization while contributing to sustainable geotechnical practices through carbon sequestration.

As soil acidification occurs due to industrial and agricultural production processes, it can induce the release of rhizotoxic aluminium ions (Al3+) into the soil, ultimately causing aluminium (Al) stress. Excessive Al content in soil exhibits significant phytotoxicity, inhibiting the growth of roots and stems. In this study, we conducted an investigation into the Al stress tolerance of two apple rootstocks, namely 'YZ3' and 'YZ6', and discovered that 'YZ3' exhibited a superior ability to alleviate the inhibitory effects of Al stress on plant growth. By comparing the transcriptomes of two rootstocks, a differentially expressed gene, MdDUF506, containing an unknown functional (DUF) domain, was identified. Overexpression of MdDUF506 in apple and calli enhances the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), subsequently mitigating the oxidative damage induced by Al stress on plant growth and development. Furthermore, MdDUF506 regulates Al stress tolerance by modulating the expression of genes related to Al stress (MdSTOP1, MdRSL1, MdRSL4, MdGL2, and MdRAE1). MdDUF506 interacts with MdCNR8, positively regulating Al stress tolerance. Taken together, these discoveries offer crucial candidate genes for targeted breeding as well as fresh insights into resistance to Al stress.

Background: The olive stone, a primary by-product of olive oil extraction, is mainly composed of a lignified shell and inner seed. It represents a substantial portion of the olive industry's biomass waste, contributing over 40 Mt annually. While typically regarded as waste, olive stones contain a variety of nutrients and bioactive compounds like lipids, proteins, phenolic compounds, and minerals found in the seed, as well as fibers in the shell. These elements hold significant value across multiple sectors, including food, energy, and agriculture. These phenolic compounds and nutrients provide notable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, and antimicrobial effects, supporting health and disease prevention. Scope and approach: This review explores the sustainable utilization of olive stone by-products, highlighting their potential to contribute to human health and environmental sustainability. It discusses the practical applications of olive stones in various domains, from functional ingredients in food products and pharmaceuticals to renewable energy sources and soil-enhancing agricultural inputs. Key findings and conclusions: Olive stones, particularly olive seeds, are rich in dietary fiber (47.6 %), lipids (30.4 %), proteins (13.5 %), and phenolic compounds (8.10 %), especially n & uuml;zhenide, n & uuml;zhenide 11-methyl oleoside and methoxyn & uuml;zhenide, and demonstrate a range of health-promoting properties. Additionally, they are shown to benefit metabolic health by combating disorders such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and car- diovascular and neurodegenerative diseases while also protecting organ functions like those of the liver and kidneys. The review underscores the promise of olive stone by-products as a sustainable, health-benefiting resource in circular economy practices within the olive oil industry.

Transforming waste materials into valuable commodities is a promising strategy to alleviate challenges associated with managing solid waste, benefiting both the environment and human well-being. This study is focused towards harnessing the potential of waste eggshell microparticles (ESMP) (0.10, 0.15, 0.20 g/150 mL) as reinforcing biofiller and orange peel essential oil (OPEO) (14 %, 25 % and 36 %, w/w) as bioactive agent with pectin (2.80, 2.85, 2.90, and 3.00 g/150 mL) to fabricate five different biocomposite films using particle dispersion and solvent casting technique. The addition of ESMP and OPEO progressively increased film thickness and led to variations in transparency. Micromorphological analysis and vibrational spectroscopy indicated hydrophobicity and compactness, as showed by the loss of free O- H bonds, sharpening of aliphatic C- H and stretching of C = C, C- O and C- O- C bonds with increasing filler content. Noticeable improvements in thermal stability and tensile strength were observed, while the flexibility was minimized. The films displayed remarkable barrier properties against hydrological stress, as evidenced by a reduction in water activity, moisture content, water uptake capacity, and solubility. The antioxidant activity against DPPH radicals suggested efficient release of bioactive compounds. Antibacterial assessment revealed inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. During soil burial, notable weight loss along with shrinkage confirmed the film biodegradability. In conclusion, the pectin-ESMP-OPEO biocomposite films show potential characteristics as food packaging materials, warranting further performance testing on food samples.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major limiting factor for plant growth in acidic soils. Melatonin (MT) is involved in plant responses to various environmental stresses. In this study, the role of exogenous MT in alleviating Al toxicity was investigated in soybean (Glycine max L.). The results demonstrated that MT application alleviated Al-induced inhibition of root elongation, reduced Al accumulation in root tips, and mitigated oxidative damage and cell death in root tips. Under Al stress, MT treatment increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX, and POD) and the contents of antioxidants (ASA and GSH) in root tips. Furthermore, Al stress significantly enhanced citrate secretion from soybean roots, while MT application further promoted citrate efflux under Al exposure. Under Al stress, MT treatment significantly increased citric acid levels in root tips by upregulating the expression of citrate synthase gene and downregulating the expression of aconitase gene. In addition, MT application significantly increased the expression of citrate transporter genes (GmMATE13 and GmMATE47) in root tips. Taken together, these findings suggest that MT enhances soybean tolerance to Al stress by activating the antioxidant defense system and promoting citrate secretion. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the application of MT to mitigate Al toxicity in plants.