In order to investigate the frost-heaving characteristics of wintering foundation pits in the seasonal frozen ground area, an outdoor in-situ test of wintering foundation pits was carried out to study the changing rules of horizontal frost heave forces, vertical frost heave forces, vertical displacement, and horizontal displacement of the tops of the supporting piles under the effect of groundwater and natural winterization. Based on the monitoring condition data of the in-situ test and the data, a coupled numerical model integrating hydrothermal and mechanical interactions of the foundation pit, considering the groundwater level and phase change, was established and verified by numerical simulation. The research results show that in the silty clay-sandy soil strata with water replenishment conditions and the all-silty clay strata without water replenishment conditions, the horizontal frost heave force presents a distribution feature of being larger in the middle and smaller on both sides in the early stage of overwintering. With the extension of freezing time, the horizontal frost heave force distribution of silty clay-sand strata gradually changes from the initial form to the Z shape, while the all-silty clay strata maintain the original distribution characteristics unchanged. Meanwhile, the peak point of the horizontal frost heave force in the all-silty clay stratum will gradually shift downward during the overwintering process. This phenomenon corresponds to the stage when the horizontal displacement of the pile top enters a stable and fluctuating phase. Based on the monitoring conditions of the in-situ test, a numerical model of the hydro-thermo-mechanical coupling in the overwintering foundation pit was established, considering the effects of the groundwater level and ice-water phase change. The accuracy and reliability of the model were verified by comparison with the monitoring data of the in-situ test using FLAC3D finite element analysis software. The evolution of the horizontal frost heaving force of the overwintering foundation pit and the change rule of its distribution pattern under different groundwater level conditions are revealed. This research can provide a reference for the prevention of frost heave damage and safety design of foundation pit engineering in seasonal frozen soil areas.

Soil erosion can be effectively controlled through vegetation restoration. Specifically, roots combine with soil to form a root-soil complex, which can effectively enhance soil shear strength and play a crucial role in soil reinforcement. However, the relationship between root mechanical traits and chemical compositions and shear performance and reinforcing capacity of soil is still inadequate. In this study, we determined the root chemical properties, performed root tensile tests and root-soil composite triaxial tests using two plants-one with a fibrous root system (ryegrass, Lolium perenne L.) and the other with a tap root system (alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.)-and calculated the factor of safety (FOS). The results revealed that the relationship between root diameter and tensile strength differed among different root characters. Holocellulose content and cellulose content were the main factors controlling the root tensile strength of ryegrass and alfalfa, respectively. The shear properties of the root-soil complex (cohesion (c) and internal friction angle (phi)) are correlated with soil water content (SWC) and root mass density (RMD). Root traits had a more substantial effect on c than phi, with significant differences in c between ryegrass and alfalfa at 7 % and 11 % SWC. The root-soil complex had an optimum RMD, and the maximum increase rates of c were 80.57 % and 34.4 %, respectively. Along slopes, sliding first occurs at the foot of the slope, thus demanding emphasis on protection and reinforcement. On steep gradients with low SWC, ryegrass strongly contributes to soil reinforcement, whereas alfalfa is more effective on gentle gradients with high SWC. The results provide scientific references for species selection for vegetation restoration in the Loess Plateau and a deeper understanding of the mechanical mechanism of soil reinforcement by roots.

This study integrates a dynamic plant growth model with a three-dimensional (3D) radiative transfer model (RTM) for maize traits retrieval using high spatial-spectral resolution airborne data. The research combines the Discrete Anisotropic Radiative Transfer (DART) model with the Dynamic L-System-based Architectural maize (DLAmaize) growth model to simulate field reflectance. Comparison with the 1D RTM SAIL revealed limitations in representing row structure effects, field slope, and complex light-canopy interactions. Novel Global Sensitivity Analyses (GSA) were carried out using dependence-based methods to overcome limitations traditional variance-based approaches, enabling better characterization of hyperspectral sensitivity to changes in leaf biochemistry, canopy architecture, and soil moisture. GSA provided complementary results to assess estimation uncertainties of the proposed traits retrieval method across growth stages. A hybrid inversion framework combining DART simulations with an active learning strategy using Kernel Ridge Regression was implemented for traits estimation. The approach was validated using ground data and HyPlant-DUAL airborne hyperspectral images from two field campaigns in 2018 and achieved high retrieval accuracy of key maize traits: leaf area index (LAI, R2=0.91, RMSE=0.42 m2/m2), leaf chlorophyll content (LCC, R2=0.61, RMSE=3.89 mu g/cm2), leaf nitrogen content (LNC, R2=0.86, RMSE=1.13 x 10-2 mg/cm2), leaf dry matter content (LMA, R2=0.84, RMSE=0.15 mg/cm2), and leaf water content (LWC, R2=0.78, RMSE=0.88 mg/cm2). The validated models were used to generate two-date 10 m resolution maps, showing good spatial consistency and traits dynamics. The findings demonstrate that integrating 3D RTMs with dynamic growth models is suited for maize trait mapping from hyperspectral data in varying growing conditions.

Atrazine (ATR) is a widely utilized herbicide that has been demonstrated to exert a multitude of deleterious effects on the environment, particularly with regard to water and soil contamination. Moreover, its disruption of endocrine function and implications for antibiotic resistance underscore the urgent need to prioritize alternative solutions for both ecosystems and human health. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate a range of neurotoxic effects associated with atrazine-induced damage in the prefrontal lobe of mice. The results of this study indicate that treatment with ATR in C57BL/6 J mice resulted in cognitive-related behavioral deficits, including anxiety and depression, as well as motor impairments. In vivo analyses demonstrated that ATR exposure resulted in a reduction in neuronal synapse density at the microstructural level, while also compromising prefrontal morphological integrity, nociceptor count, and overall neuronal health within the brain. These findings collectively suggest that synaptic deficits are implicated in ATR-induced behavioral abnormalities observed in these mice. Furthermore, our findings revealed that ATR exposure resulted in elevated TDP-43 expression levels that were ectopically localized within the cytoplasm. This alteration led to impaired functionality of mRNP granules and contributed to the development of abnormal synaptic defects. Conversely, TDP43 has the potential to localize ectopically to mitochondria, where it activates the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), which ultimately results in mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings collectively indicate a strong correlation between TDP-43 dysregulation and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Further investigation into the potential neurotoxicity of atrazine may foster heightened awareness, leading to more stringent regulatory measures, research into safer alternatives, and the adoption of sustainable practices, which are essential for safeguarding environmental integrity alongside human health.

The wheat powdery mildew (WPM) is one of the most severe crop diseases worldwide, affecting wheat growth and causing yield losses. The WPM was a bottom-up disease that caused the loss of cell integrity, leaf wilting, and canopy structure damage with these symptoms altering the crop's functional traits (CFT) and canopy spectra. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based hyperspectral analysis became a mainstream method for WPM detection. However, the CFT changes experienced by infected wheats, the relationship between CFT and canopy spectra, and their role in WPM detection remained unclear, which might blur the understanding for the WPM infection. Therefore, this study aimed to propose a new method that considered the role of CFT for detecting WPM and estimating disease severity. The UAV hyperspectral data used in this study were collected from the Plant Protection Institute's research demonstration base, Xinxiang city, China, covering a broad range of WPM severity (0-85 %) from 2022 to 2024. The potential of eight CFT [leaf structure parameter (N), leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll a + b content (Cab), carotenoids (Car), Car/Cab, anthocyanins (Ant), canopy chlorophyll content (CCC) and average leaf angle (Deg)] obtained from a hybrid method combining a radiative transfer model and random forest (RF) and fifty-five narrow-band hyperspectral indices (NHI) was explored in WPM detection. Results indicated that N, Cab, Ant, Car, LAI, and CCC showed a decreasing trend with increasing disease severity, while Deg and Car/Cab exhibited the opposite pattern. There were marked differences between healthy samples and the two higher infection levels (moderate and severe infection) for Cab, Car, LAI, Deg, CCC, and Car/Cab. N and Ant only showed significant differences between the healthy samples and the highest infection level (severe infection). As Cab, Car, and Ant decreased, the spectral reflectance in the visible light region increased. The decrease in N and LAI was accompanied by a reduction in reflectance across the entire spectral range and the near-infrared area, which was exactly the opposite of Deg. The introduction of CFT greatly improved the accuracy of the WPM severity estimation model with R2 of 0.92. Features related to photosynthesis, pigment content, and canopy structure played a decisive role in estimating WPM severity. Also, results found that the feature importance showed a remarkable interchange as increasing disease levels. Using features that described canopy structure changes, such as optimized soil adjusted vegetation index, LAI, visible atmospherically resistant indices, and CCC, the mild infection stage of this disease was most easily distinguished from healthy samples. In contrast, most severe impacts of WPM were best characterized by features related to photosynthesis (e.g., photochemical reflectance index 515) and pigment content (e.g., normalized phaeophytinization index). This study help deepen the understanding of symptoms and spectral responses caused by WPM infection.

The solidification of dredged marine sediments with high water content is important for maintenance dredging and reclamations. To reduce the carbon emission of solidification, low-carbon recycled wastes such as incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) and ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS) have been recently adopted as binding materials to replace conventional Portland cement. For soil slurry with ultra-high water content, using the consolidationsolidification combined method is an effective way to reduce the volume and improve the final mechanical properties. However, it is unclear how the consolidation interacts with solidification using the binding materials. In this study, a series of laboratory tests were conducted on dredged Hong Kong marine deposit slurry mixed with ISSA and GGBS with alkali activation by lime. The elemental consolidation tests controlled with different constant rates of strain and multistage loadings demonstrate that the rate of consolidation has significant effects on volume reduction and yielding stress development during consolidation-solidification treatment. Consolidationsolidification achieves higher volume reduction and yielding stress than pure solidification. As the rate of consolidation decreases, there is a smaller volume reduction at the same effective stress and less yielding stress enhancement at the same curing time. A scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectrometer was used to investigate hydration products and soil fabric after treatment. The slower rate of consolidation causes the looser structure and finer needleshaped products with the same curing period, which can explain the mechanical properties observed from the element tests.

Clayey sand soils require improvement in civil engineering projects due to their low density, high porosity, and inadequate shear behavior. On the other hand, the extensive use of cement in soil stabilization is associated with environmental concerns such as high COQ emissions. In this study, the effect of partial replacement of cement with zeolite (up to 50 %) and the addition of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers (up to 0.8 wt%) on improving the mechanical, microstructural and environmental properties of clayey sand soil was investigated. Samples were prepared with different cement contents (3 and 6 %) and, after 7 and 28 days of curing, were subjected to compaction, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), indirect tensile strength (ITS), ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) tests. The compaction test results showed that maximum dry density (MDD) decreases and optimum moisture content (OMC) increases with increasing zeolite content. The performance of different mixtures showed that the optimum mixture consisted of 6 % cement, 20 % zeolite, and 0.8 % fibers, which increased UCS, ITS, and UPV by 320 %, 194 %, and 35 %, respectively, compared to unstabilized soil. Micro-structural analyses showed the formation of CSH and CAH gels and improved interfacial transition zone bonds. Also, TCLP results showed that zeolite reduced heavy metal leaching. This study, with an innovative approach, investigated the simultaneous effectiveness of zeolite, cement, and fibers and introduced the potential of the UPV method as a non-destructive method for evaluating the mechanical performance of stabilized soil.

This study developed all-solid-waste-based curing agents using industrial solid wastes-ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS), carbide slag (CS), and sulfate solid wastes (electrolytic manganese residue (EMR), desulfurized-gypsum (DG), and phosphogypsum (PG))-to stabilize engineering sediment waste (ESW). Based on the simplex centroid design, three ternary curing agents (GGBS-EMR-CS (GEC), GGBS-DG-CS (GDC), and GGBSPG-CS (GPC)) were prepared. The optimal ratios for GEC, GDC, and GPC are 60:12:28, 70:27:3, and 70:21:9, respectively. Compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of ESW stabilized with these curing agents increased by 78 %, 178 %, and 98 %, respectively. Sulfate components synergistically activates GGBS and CS, promoting needle-like ettringite (AFt) formation, which fills pores and enhances strength. Meanwhile, COQ emissions and costs were reduced up to 99 % and 73 %, respectively. This study developed all-solid-waste-based curing agents with excellent mechanical performance, low costs, and near net-zero emissions, which provided a sustainable solution for ESW stabilization.

Heavy metals (HMs) contamination poses a significant threat to environmental matrices, particularly soil, which is essential for food security, agricultural productivity, and key ecosystem services. Understanding how crops respond to HMs is crucial for developing biomonitoring strategies to assess soil contamination and inform remediation efforts. Plants, including crops, exhibit a range of functional traits (FT) that can indicate HMs stress and contamination levels. In this study, we investigated the response strategies of Zea mays L. var. Limagrain 31455, widely cultivated throughout the region of Land of Fires, a critically polluted area of southern Italy, to different concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cr, corresponding to moderate to severe soil contamination. Functional traits related to the photosynthetic machinery, including gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and reflectance indices, were examined. Root morpho-histochemical analysis were also conducted to correlate early root alterations with any observed changes in these photosynthetic traits. Results revealed distinct response patterns: tolerance to Zn, without adverse effects on photosynthetic traits; resistance to Pb, mediated by increased RD and photoprotection through change in reflectance indices; and sensitivity to Cr highlighted by severe functional impairments of all the studied photosynthetic traits and structural root damages. Functional traits, such as chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and the photochemical reflectance index or normalized difference vegetation index, demonstrated high potential for monitoring HMs stress responses; in addition, morpho-anatomical traits of the root system provided insights into biomass allocation and the capacity of var. Limagrain 31455 to tolerate and adapt to HMs stress. These findings underscore the importance of integrating physiological, anatomical, and spectral analyses to improve the biomonitoring and management of polluted soils and detecting spatial variability in contamination via remote sensing.

Estimating the spatial distribution of hydromechanical properties in the investigated subsoil by defining an Engineering Geological Model (EGM) is crucial in urban planning, geotechnical designing and mining activities. The EGM is always affected by (i) the spatial variability of the measured properties of soils and rocks, (ii) the uncertainties related to measurement and spatial estimation, as well as (iii) the propagated uncertainty related to the analytical formulation of the transformation equation. The latter is highly impactful on the overall uncertainty when design/target variables cannot be measured directly (e.g., in the case of piezocone Cone Penetration Test-CPTu measurements). This paper focuses on assessing the Propagated Uncertainty (PU) when defining 3D EGMs of three CPTu-derived design/target variables: the undrained shear resistance (su), the friction angle ((p'), and the hydraulic conductivity (k). We applied the Sequential Gaussian Co-Simulation method (SGCS) to the measured profiles of tip (qc) and shaft resistance (fs), and the pore pressure (u2), measured through CPTus in a portion of Bologna district (Italy). First, we calculated 1000 realizations of the measured variables using SGCS; then, we used the available transformation equations to obtain the same number of realizations of su, (p', and k. The results showed that PU is larger when the transformation equation used to obtain the design/target variable is very complex and dependent on more than one input variable, such as in the case of k. Instead, linear (i.e., for su) or logarithmic (i.e., for (p') transformation functions do not contribute to the overall uncertainty of results considerably.