Bedrock-soil layer slopes (BSLSs) are widely distributed in nature. The existence of the interface between bedrock and soil layer (IBSL) affects the failure modes of the BSLSs, and the seismic action makes the failure modes more complex. In order to accurately evaluate the safety and its corresponding main failure modes of BSLSs under seismic action, a system reliability method combined with the upper bound limit analysis method and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is proposed. Four types of failure modes and their corresponding factors of safety (Fs) were calculated by MATLAB program coding and validated with case in existing literature. The results show that overburden layer soil's strength, the IBSL's strength and geometric characteristic, and seismic action have significant effects on BSLSs' system reliability, failure modes and failure ranges. In addition, as the cohesion of the inclination angle of the IBSL and the horizontal seismic action increase, the failure range of the BSLS gradually approaches the IBSL, which means that the damage range becomes larger. However, with the increase of overburden layer soil's friction angle, IBSL's depth and strength, and vertical seismic actions, the failure range gradually approaches the surface of the BSLS, which means that the failure range becomes smaller.

The reasonable value of good gradation characteristic parameters is key in designing and optimising soil-rock mixed high fill embankment materials. Firstly, the DJSZ-150 dynamic-static large-scale triaxial testing instrument was used for triaxial compression shear tests on compacted skeleton structure soil-rock mixture standard specimens. The changes in strength and deformation indicators under different gradation parameters and confining pressure were analysed. Then, based on the Janbu empirical formula, relationships between parameters K, n, and (sigma 1-sigma 3)ult and the coefficient of uniformity Cu and coefficient of curvature Cc were explored. Empirical fitting formulas for Duncan-Chang model constants a and b were proposed, establishing an improved Duncan-Chang model for soil-rock mixtures considering gradation characteristics and stress states. Finally, based on significant differences in particle spatial distribution caused by gradation changes, three generalised models of matrix-block stone motion from different particle aggregation forms were proposed. Results indicate the standard specimen's strength and deformation indicators exhibit significant gradation effects and stress-state correlations. The improved Duncan-Chang model effectively simulates the stress-strain relationship curve under different gradations and confining pressure, with its characteristics explainable based on the matrix block stone motion generalised model.

An analytical methodology was developed for the first time in this work enabling the simultaneous enantiomeric separation of the fungicide fenpropidin and its acid metabolite by Capillary Electrophoresis. A dual cyclodextrin system consisting of 4 % (w/v) captisol with 10 mM methyl-beta-cyclodextrin was employed in a 100 mM sodium acetate buffer at pH 4.0. Optimal experimental conditions (temperature 25 degrees C, separation voltage -25 kV, and hydrodynamic injection of 50 mbar x 10 s) allowed the simultaneous separation of the four enantiomers in <10.7 min with resolutions of 3.1 (fenpropidin) and 3.2 (its acid metabolite). Analytical characteristics of the method were evaluated and found adequate for the quantification of both chiral compounds with a linearity range from 0.75 to 70 mg L-1, good accuracy (trueness included 100 % recovery, precision with RSD<6 %), and limits of detection and quantification of 0.25 and 0.75 mg L-1, respectively, for the four enantiomers. No significant differences were found between the concentrations determined and labelled of fenpropidin in a commercial agrochemical formulation. The stability over time (0-42 days) of fenpropidin enantiomers using the commercial agrochemical formulation was evaluated in two sugar beet soils, revealing to be stable at any time in one sample, while in the other a decrease of 45 % was observed after 42 days. Individual and combined toxicity of fenpropidin and its metabolite was determined for the first time for marine organism Vibrio fischeri, demonstrating higher damage caused by parent compound. Synergistics and antagonists' interactions were observed at low and high effects levels of contaminants.

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) severely reduce watermelon yields worldwide, despite its nutraceutical value. This study investigated the effects of rock dust (RD) and poultry manure (PM) amendments, applied singly or in combination, on RKN suppression and watermelon fruit yield enhancement. A two-trial field experiment was conducted utilizing a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The treatments included RD and PM each applied at 0, 2.5, or 5 t/ha and combined applications of RD and PM at 2.5 or 5 t/ha each. At 60-66 days post-inoculation, root galling and RKN population density were assessed alongside root-shoot weight. The results indicated that root galling in watermelons was reduced by 60-85 % and 67-89 % in the combined RD- and PMtreated plots across the 1st and 2nd trials, respectively, in contrast to the control plots. Likewise, the RKN population was suppressed by 94-99 % in treated plots in both trials, differing from the control plots. Notably, watermelon fruit yield was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in combined RD and PM treated plots, ranging from 24.7 to 33.7 t/ha and 34.6-46.5 t/ha in the 1st and 2nd trials, respectively, compared to control plots with 13.5 t/ha in the 1st trial compared to and 20.9 t/ha yield in the 2nd trial. In conclusion, our study indicates that coapplication of RD and PM effectively reduced RKN damage and enhanced watermelon fruit yield, providing a sustainable strategy for watermelon production.

Seasonal freezing and thawing significantly influence the migration and distribution of soil hydrothermal salts. Understanding the dynamics of hydrothermal salt forces in canal foundation soils is crucial for effective canal disease control and optimization. However, the impact on rectangular canals remains poorly understood. Therefore, field-scale studies on water-heat-salt-force-displacement monitoring were conducted for the canal. The study analyzed the changes and interaction mechanisms of water-heat-salt-force in the soil beneath the canal, along with the damage mechanisms and preventive measures. The results indicate that the most rapid changes in temperature, moisture, and salt occur in the subsoil on the canal side, with the greatest depth of freezing. Heat transfer efficiency provides an intuitive explanation for the sensitivity of ground temperature at the junction of the canal wall and subsoil to air temperature fluctuations, as well as the minimal moisture migration in this region under the subcooling effect. The temperature-moisture curve suggests that current waterheat-force and water-heat-salt-force models exhibit a delay in accurately predicting water migration within the subsoil. Rectangular canals are more susceptible to damage under peak freezing conditions, requiring a combined approach of freezing restraint and frost-heaving force to mitigate damage. These findings offer valuable insights for canal design, maintenance, and further research.

Forests are increasingly impacted by climate change, affecting tree growth and carbon sequestration. Tree-ring width, closely related to tree growth, is a key climate proxy, yet models describing ring width or growth often lack comprehensive environmental data. This study assesses ERA5-Land data for tree-ring width prediction compared to automatic weather station observations, emphasizing the value of extended and global climate data. We analyzed 723 site-averaged and detrended tree-ring chronologies from two broadleaved and two gymnosperm species across Europe, integrating them with ERA5-Land climate data, CO2 concentration, and a drought index (SPEI12). A subset was compared with weather station data. For modelling interannual variations of tree-ring width we used linear models to assess parameter importance. ERA5-Land and weather-station-based models performed similarly, maintaining stable correlations and consistent errors. Models based on meteorological data from weather stations highlighted SPEI12, sunshine duration, and temperature extremes, while ERA5-Land models emphasized SPEI12, dew-point temperature (humidity), and total precipitation. CO2 positively influenced the growth of gymnosperm species. ERA5-Land facilitated broader spatial analysis and incorporated additional factors like evaporation, snow cover, and soil moisture. Monthly assessments revealed the importance of parameters for each species. Our findings confirm that ERA5-Land is a reliable alternative for modeling tree growth, offering new insights into climate-vegetation interactions. The ready availability of underutilized parameters, such as air humidity, soil moisture and temperature, and runoff, enables their inclusion in future growth models. Using ERA5-Land can therefore deepen our understanding of forest responses to diverse environmental drivers on a global scale.

This paper establishes a novel full-process numerical simulation framework for analyzing the 3D seismic response of mountain tunnels induced by active faults. The framework employs a two-step approach to achieve wavefield transmission through equivalent seismic load: first, a highly efficient and accurate FMIBEM (Fast multipole indirect boundary element method) is used for large-scale 3D numerical simulations at the regional scale to generate broadband ground motions (1-5 Hz) for specific sites; subsequently, using the FEM (Finite element method), a refined simulation of the plastic deformation of surrounding rock and the elastoplastic behavior of the tunnel structure was conducted at the engineering scale. The accuracy of the framework has been validated. To further demonstrate its effectiveness, the framework is applied to analyze the impact of different fault movement mechanisms on the damage to mountain tunnels based on a scenario earthquake (Mw 6.7). By introducing tunnel structure damage classification and corresponding damage indicators, the structural damage levels of tunnels subjected to active fault movements are quantitatively evaluated. The findings demonstrate that the framework successfully simulates the entire process, from fault rupture and terrain amplification to the seismic response of tunnel structures. Furthermore, the severity of tunnel damage caused by different fault types is ranked as follows: reverse fault > normal fault > strike-slip fault.

The bank protection measures of waterways shall become more environmentally friendly in the future including the use of plants instead of stones. The low levels of protection provided by plants in the early phase after planting requires a process-based understanding of soil-wave-interaction. One process that is considered essential is liquefaction where the soil undergoes a phase-change from solid-like to fluid-like behaviour which could reduce the safety of the system. The aim of this publication is to analyse the results of column experiments on wave-induced soil liquefaction and to develop a numerical model which is able to describe the entire process from the pre-liquefaction phase to the following reconsolidation in order to support the analysis of liquefaction experiments. Numerical simulations of the column experiments were done using a fully coupled hydro-mechanical model implemented in the open-source software FEniCS. A permeability model derived from granular rheology allows the simulation of dilute as well as dense suspensions and sedimented soil skeletons. The results of the simulations show a good agreement with the experimental data. Theoretical limits in the liquefied state are captured without the common modelling segmentation into pre-and post-liquefaction phase. Due to the modular structure of the implementation, the constitutive setting can be adjusted to incorporate more complex formulations in order to study the influence of wall friction and non-linearity in soil behaviour.

The effective dynamic viscosity of a soil-rock mixture (S-RM) serves as a essential parameter for simulating flowlike landslides in the context of fluid kinematics. Accurate measurement of this viscosity is significant for understanding the remote sustainability and rheological properties of landslide hazards. This study presents a method for determining dynamic viscosity, incorporating experimental measurements and numerical inversion. The experiment involves monitoring the movement of S-RMs with varying water content and rock block concentration, followed by the calculation of centroid displacements and velocities using digital image processing. The power-law model, combined with computational fluid dynamics, effectively captures the flow-like behavior of the S-RM. A grid search method is then employed to determine the optimal parameters by comparing the predicted centroid displacement with experimental results. A series of flume experiments were conducted, resulting in the observation of spatial mass distribution and centroid displacement variations over time during soil-rock movement. The dynamic viscosity model of the S-RM is derived from the experimental data. This dynamic viscosity model was then employed to simulate an additional flume experiment, with the results demonstrating excellent agreement between the simulated and experimental centroid displacements. Sensitivity analysis of the dynamic viscosity model indicates a dependence on shear rate and demonstrates a high sensitivity to water content and rock block concentration, following a parabolic trend within the measured range. This research contributes to the fields of geotechnical engineering and landslide risk assessment, offering a practical and effective method of measuring the dynamic viscosity of S-RM. Future research could explore additional factors influencing rheological behavior and extend the applicability of the proposed method to different geological environments.

Background: Herbicides are chemical agents that promote plant and crop growth by killing weeds and other pests. However, unconsumed and excessively used herbicides may enter groundwater and agricultural areas, damaging water, air, and soil resources. Mesotrione (MT) is an extensively used herbicide to cultivate corn, sugarcane, and vegetables. Excessive consumption of MT residues pollutes the soil, water, and environmental systems. Methods: Henceforth, the potential electrocatalyst of the tungsten trioxide nanorods on the carbon microsphere (WO3/C) composite was synthesized for nanomolar electrocatalytic detection of MT. The electrocatalysts of WO3/C were synthesized hydrothermally, and the WO3/C composite was in-situ constructed by using the reflux method. Significant findings: Remarkably, the as-prepared WO3/C composite displayed a fantastic sensing platform for MT, characterized by an astonishingly nanomolar detection limit (10 nm), notable sensitivity (1.284 mu A mu M-1 cm-2), exceptional selectivity, and amazing stability. The actual sample test was carried out using MT added in food and environmental samples of corn, sugar cane, sewage water, and river water. The minimum MT response recovery in vegetable and water samples was determined to be approximately 97 % and 99 %, respectively. The results indicate that the WO3/C composite is an effective electrode material for real-time MT measurement in portable devices.