Shallow cut-and-cover underground structures, such as subway stations, are traditionally designed as rigid boxes (moment-resisting connections between the main structural members), seeking internal hyperstaticity and high lateral (transverse) stiffness to achieve important seismic capacity. However, since seismic ground motions impose racking drifts, this proved rather prejudicial, with great structural damage and little resilience. Therefore, two previous papers proposed an opposite strategy seeking low lateral (transverse) stiffness by connecting the structural elements flexibly (hinging and sliding). Under severe seismic inputs, these structures would accommodate racking without significant damage; this behaviour is highly resilient. The seismic resilience of this solution was numerically demonstrated in the well-known Daikai station (Kobe, Japan) and a station located in Chengdu (China). This paper is a continuation of these studies; it aims to extend, deepen, and ground this conclusion by performing a numerical parametric study on these two stations in a wide and representative set of situations characterised by the soil type, overburden depth, engineering bedrock position, and high- and lowlateral-stiffness of the stations. The performance indices are the racking displacement and the structural damage (quantified through concrete damage variables). The findings of this study validate the previous remarks and provide new insights.

Soil organisms are key to plant growth and ecosystem functions. Earthworms (EWs) enhance soil and indirectly affect plant growth, while their cutaneous excreta (CEx) contain bioactive compounds capable of eliciting plant responses. However, their role in plant immunity is still not well understood. We hypothesized that EWs and their CEx enhance plant defense against foliar pathogens by activating induced resistance. To test this, we evaluated the effect of Eisenia fetida and their CEx on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), focusing on growth, physiology, and defense response against Botrytis cinerea. Plants were exposed to EWs, CEx, or water (control), followed by B. cinerea infection after two weeks. Gene expression of defense markers was assessed at 24 and 48 h post-inoculation (hpi), while physiological parameters and disease severity were evaluated at 72 hpi. EWs increased shoot biomass compared to CEx, while both treatments reduced root dry weight, suggesting a possible shift in resource allocation. CEx significantly reduced B. cinerea-induced leaf damage and showed a trend for flavonoid accumulation, a known marker of induced resistance. Both treatments, EWs and CEx, activated the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway, with CEx specifically upregulating genes involved in fungal pathogen defense, sustaining their expression over time. The present study offers, for the first time, clear evidence that EW derived CEx can induce resistance by stimulating plant defense responses. Further biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses are needed to confirm indirect results, along with field validation. Nonetheless, the findings underscore the crucial role of soil biodiversity in enhancing crop resilience.

Forest management and tree felling in the stand change the structural characteristics, which causes changes in the microclimate conditions. The microclimate is a key in sustainable forest management because soil temperature and moisture regimes regulate nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. The aim of this research was to determine the changes in air and soil temperatures in pedunculate oak forest stands in different stages of shelterwood that stimulate natural regeneration. The research was conducted in pedunculated oak forests in Spa & ccaron;va area. The microclimatic parameters were measured in a mature old forest stand without shelterwood cutting and in stands with preparatory cut, seed cut, and final cut. The intensity of shelterwood had an impact on the amplitudes and values of air and soil temperatures. The highest average air temperature was in the stand with a preparatory cut. Extreme values of air and soil temperatures were measured in the stands with a final cut. The highest air and soil temperature amplitudes were in the stand with a final cut, with the exception of most of the winter, when the highest soil temperature amplitude was in the stand with a seed cut. The highest number of icy, cold, and hot days was in the stand with a final cut. SARIMA models establish that the difference between microclimatic parameters is not accidental.

Earthquakes and rainfall both cause soil damage and strength degradation of cutting slopes, resulting in increased slope instability. However, few studies have been conducted on the failure mechanisms of cutting slopes under earthquakes and rainfall. In this study, field electrical measurements were conducted to evaluate the damage to a cutting slope hit by the Yangbi Earthquake (MS = 6.4) in Yunnan Province, China. After material segmentation using the resistivity probability density statistical method, we observed several damaged areas running along the slope depth direction, forming several potential sliding surfaces. Furthermore, considering the slope damage after the earthquake, a discrete element model of the slope was developed, and the dynamic process of the gravel-soil landslide under rainfall was analyzed. Compared with low cutting slope with thin overburden sliding along one sliding surface, the results indicate that the high cutting slope with thick overburden slides along several sliding surfaces that formed by the earthquake-step sliding mods. Slope sliding can be divided into four stages: First, the slope body at the bottom area slid and accelerated firstly, while several cracks appear on the top area due to tension (initial stage and acceleration stage). Thereafter, the upper slope body gradually slides along its respective sliding surface. The body at the bottom area of the slope was pushed by that at the upper area and slid at a high velocity along the sliding surfaces due to secondary acceleration (secondary acceleration stage). Finally, the sliding velocity of the slope gradually decreases, and an accumulation is formed, entering a stable stage (deceleration stage).

Cable-skidding operations in mountainous selective logging pose significant risks to residual stands due to the extraction of heavy and long stems/logs along steep skid trails. While the influence of trail design variables such as traffic intensity and slope gradient has been extensively studied, the impact of management practices, specifically operational layout and the expertise of forest workers, on residual stand damage remains less understood. This study examined the effects of management practices and skid trail design variables on the severity and healing of wounds inflicted on residual trees over a five-year period. Three decommissioned harvest units with similar characteristics but differing in trail variables and management practices were analyzed: university-managed operations (short-length logs handled by professional operators), mill-managed operations (long-length logs handled by semi-professional operators), and privately-managed operations (mixed-length logs handled by less-experienced operators). A two-stage inventory was conducted, beginning in 2016 with an assessment of mechanical injuries caused by a cut-to-length harvesting system involving multiple log lengths, followed by postharvest wound healing evaluation in 2021. Results revealed that damages rates ranged from 37% in university-managed blocks to 49% in mill-managed blocks. Gentle slopes accounted for 43% of the damage, while steep slopes contributed 53%. Traffic intensity further played a role, with damage rates of 40% in low-traffic areas, 46% in medium-traffic areas, and 51% in high-traffic areas. Over the five-year postharvest period, healing rates varied significantly: stands managed under university supervision showed a healing rate of 56%, compared to a lower rate of 35% for mill-management stands. Treatments on gentle slopes and in low-traffic areas showed an annual healing rate of 12% higher than those on steep slopes and in high traffic areas. These findings highlight the importance of management practices, particularly the use of short-length harvesting methods in mountainous mixedwood stands and the effective supervision of harvesting crews. Implementing such practices not only reduce the severity of damage to residual stands but also enhance more efficient wound healing over time.

The cutter head, a pivotal component of the tunnel boring machine (TBM), endures high-risk working conditions involving high temperature, pressure, and hardness. The intricacy and variability of working conditions give rise to high torque, substantial thrust, and stochastic impact loads, ultimately leading to the damage and failure of the cutter head. In this paper, the mechanical and fatigue properties of the 8 -meter-class spoke-web composite cutter head have been investigated through the finite element method (FEM) more academically. Specifically, this article explores the typical working conditions (full load, eccentric load, and extreme condition) and different geologies (soft soil, composite formation, and hard rock) that the cutter head encounters. The findings demonstrate that under extreme working conditions, the cutter head experiences a maximum equivalent stress of 250.76 MPa. Additionally, the maximum displacement of 4.83 mm occurs on the outer ring when subjected to a one-half eccentric load. Concisely, the FEA validates the cutter head's structural rationality in stiffness and strength. Furthermore, a fatigue durability analysis of the cutter head structure was conducted using nCode DesignLife based on the stress method, determining its fatigue life range to be between 6.857E+4 and 1.253E+7 cycles, with an error not exceeding 20% compared to the theoretical fatigue life. This research provides valuable insights for the structural design and fatigue life studies of cutter heads for TBMs.

Structural damage and foundation leakage are major concerns for earthen dams. To minimize seepage, cutoff walls are typically installed beneath the dam core to act as impermeable barriers. While concrete cutoff walls are widely used, their limited ductility and strength incompatibility with foundation soil present design challenges. Plastic concrete, a modified form of conventional concrete incorporating bentonite and pond ash, offers improved ductility and reduced brittleness, making it a suitable alternative. This study investigates the use of pond ash-based flowable fill as a replacement for normal concrete in plastic concrete cutoff walls. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of plastic concrete mixes was analyzed using four advanced regression machine learning algorithms: multivariate adaptive regression splines, extreme neural network (ENN), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and gradient boosting machine (GBM). Several performance indices were used to evaluate model accuracy. The MARS model achieved the highest accuracy, with R2 = 0.990 for training and R2 = 0.963 for testing, followed by XGBoost, GBM, and ENN. SHAP analysis revealed that curing period has the most significant positive effect on UCS, followed by water and cement contents, while bentonite showed the least impact. Key properties were evaluated to determine an optimal mix design. This research enhances the understanding of CLSM-based plastic concrete and supports its application in cutoff walls by developing accurate UCS prediction models, contributing to the improved suitability and sustainability of dam foundation systems.

Intestinal obstruction caused by Ascaris lumbricoides (AL) is rare but clinically significant, particularly in endemic regions. We report an 18-year-old Afghan male who presented with a two-month history of intermittent right lower quadrant pain, worsening over the past week with anorexia, constipation, nausea, and fatigue. Examination revealed generalized abdominal tenderness, involuntary guarding, and silent bowel sounds, suggesting an acute abdomen. Initial diagnosis was complicated appendicitis. After stabilization, laparotomy revealed a small bowel obstruction caused by a mass of AL, which was relieved via enterotomy and bowel repair. An incidental appendectomy was performed. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with albendazole and mebendazole. Bowel function returned by postoperative day three, and he was discharged on day five in stable condition. At one-week follow-up, he was asymptomatic with no complications. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of parasitic infections, especially in non-endemic areas, and emphasizes the importance of early imaging, timely surgical intervention, and comprehensive management. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for parasitic causes in bowel obstruction cases, particularly in endemic populations, to ensure prompt diagnosis and optimal outcomes.

Water deficit has a negative effect on the physiological aspects of plants, such as stomatal closure and consequent decline in photosynthetic carbon assimilation. Numerous water deficit mitigation strategies have been investigated, such as the use of bioregulators to minimize the damage caused. This study aimed at assessing the effects of brassinosteroids on the physiological aspects of a & ccedil;a & iacute; seedlings in inducing drought tolerance. The experiment was conducted using two water conditions (well-watered and water-deficit plants) and three brassinosteroid concentrations (0, 0.05 and 0.10 mu M of 24-epibrassinolide-EBL), with six repetitions. At 120 days, seedlings were transplanted to pots and watered, leaving the soil near field capacity for 56 days. Next, a group of plants were well-watered, and another submitted to water deficit for 18 days. Water deficit reduced gas exchange and photosynthetic efficiency with a lower decrease at EBL concentrations of 0.05 and 0.10 mu M, while larger declines were observed in plants without EBL. Relative water content and leaf succulence were maintained in water-deficit plants, while proline content rose, mainly with 0.10 mu M of EBL. Applying EBL also improved water use efficiency and maintained the leaf chlorophyll and stem dry matter of stressed plants. It was concluded that leaf brassinosteroid application alleviate of harmful effects of water deficit in young a & ccedil;a & iacute; plants, promoting proline accumulation, which increases water use efficiency, and maintaining photosynthetic pigments and water status, contributing to improving drought tolerance in a & ccedil;a & iacute;.

A tractor-operated sugarcane single bud sett cutter planter was designed and developed at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research in Lucknow for precision and resource conservation during sugarcane plantation. This planter has a serrated circular blade for cutting complete canes into single bud setts, as well as furrow openers, fertilizer measuring device, insecticide tank, soil-covering shovels, and tamping roller. Developed planter attached to the tractor via three-point linkage and operated by the PTO shaft. Field studies conducted on silty loam soil at the IISR farm showed that the planter could produce setts averaging 98 mm in length and 50 g in weight, with a cutting efficiency of 98% and minimal bud damage 1.56%. The planter had a cutting capacity of 3,600 setts per hour, high sett quality index of 93.08%, field capacity of 0.144 ha/h, and field efficiency of 64%. The average spacing between single bud setts during field operation was 205-228 mm, with miss index of 8.2-10.2% and seed rate of 2540-2670 kg/ha. Compared with conventional methods, the operational costs were 68% cheaper, at Indian Rupee15,800 per hectare. Other performance indicators were multiple index of 16.67-20.46%, quality of feed index of 69.34-73.99%, and precision coefficient of 25.75-27.5%. Germination tests revealed that two bud setts had a minimal advantage 1-2% higher, showing that single bud setts perform similarly under ideal conditions. This planter provides a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and precise alternative for sugarcane planting, with significant benefits for resource conservation and farm output.