The ability to predict the soil mechanical parameters swiftly is critical for off-road vehicle mobility. This paper introduces a novel interpretation methodology for determining critical soil mechanical parameters by impact penetration tests, enabling rapid and remote assessment of terramechanics properties. Initially, the method employs the Mohr-Coulomb constitutive model and the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) finite element method to generate a dataset of soil impact penetration resistance and acceleration responses. Subsequently, a Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network is employed as a surrogate model and integrated with the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) to accurately interpret parameters such as density, cohesion, internal friction angle, elastic modulus, and Poisson's ratio. Experimental validation using sand and silty clay from Yangbaijing, Tibet, confirmed the accuracy and robustness of the method. The results indicate that the mean absolute percentage error for interpreted values was below 25%, with relative errors for some key parameters even below 10%. Furthermore, each single-condition calculation was completed on a standard computer in less than one minute. Comparative analyses with other algorithms, including MIGA and POS, demonstrated the superior performance of NSGA-II in avoiding local optima. The proposed interpretation framework offers a rapid, reliable, and remote solution for identifying the soil mechanical properties. Its potential applications range from disaster mitigation and emergency response operations to extraterrestrial soil exploration and other scenarios where in-situ investigations are challenging.

Cemented sand-gravel (CSG) is an innovative material for dam construction with a wide range of applications. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic properties of CSG is lacking. A series of cyclic triaxial dynamic shear tests were carried out on CSG materials to investigate their complex dynamic mechanical properties, leading to the establishment of a dynamic constitutive model considering damage. The findings indicate that both the application of confining pressure and the addition of cementitious material have a noticeable influence on the morphology of the hysteresis curve. Further research scrutiny reveals that augmenting confining pressure and gel content leads to an increase in the dynamic shear modulus and a decrease in damping ratio. Furthermore, a constitutive dynamic damage constitutive model was constructed by linking a damage element to the generalized Kelvin model and defining the damage variable D based on energy interaction principles. The theoretical formulas for dynamic shear modulus and damping ratio were adjusted accordingly. In addition, the stiffness matrix of the dynamic damage constitutive model was derived, which demonstrated its strong fitting effects in dynamic triaxial shear tests on CSG. Finally, the dynamic response and damage distribution in the dam body under dynamic loading were analyzed using a selected CSG dam in China.

Bihar, an Indian state located in seismic zones III, IV, and V, has experienced severe earthquakes in the past. Due to the presence of alluvium soil deposits over the bedrock in the Bihar region, seismic waves near the ground surface can amplify and cause catastrophic damage to existing structures. Therefore, to ensure the safety of the structures, it is imperative to assess the amplification level of seismic waves near the surface. This study presents a new empirical correlation for the site classes C, D, and E of the Bihar region, which estimates the spectral acceleration (Sa) at the required time period. These site classes of the Bihar region refer to the classification of soil and geological conditions based on their behaviour during seismic events, specifically their impact on seismic wave amplification, ground shaking, and overall earthquake hazard, as per NEHRP classification. The results of this investigation can be applied to enhance the seismic design of structures and, hence, mitigate the seismic risk. Moreover, the developed empirical correlation for Sa can be used to estimate the design spectrum acceleration at the surface level for site classes C, D, and E of the Bihar region.

Soil salinization, an overwhelming problem exacerbated by climate change and anthropogenic activities, poses a significant threat to global food security by impairing plant growth, development, and crop productivity. Salinity stress induces osmotic, ionic, and oxidative stresses, disrupting physiological and biochemical processes in plants. Anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids, have emerged as key players in mitigating salt stress through their antioxidant properties, ROS scavenging, and regulation of stress-responsive pathways. During salt stress, ROS act as damaging agents and signaling molecules, upregulating anthocyanin-related genes to mitigate oxidative stress and maintain cellular homeostasis. Anthocyanins mitigate salt stress by regulating osmotic balance, ion homeostasis, and antioxidant defenses. Their biosynthesis is regulated by a network of structural and regulatory genes, including MYB, bHLH, and WD40 transcription factors, influenced by epigenetic modifications and hormonal signaling pathways such as ABA, JA, and SA. Advances in genetic engineering, including CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, have enabled the development of anthocyanin-rich transgenic plants with enhanced salt tolerance. For instance, transgenic plants overexpressing anthocyanin biosynthesis genes like DFR and ANS have demonstrated enhanced salt tolerance in crops such as tomatoes and rice. However, challenges such as variability in anthocyanin accumulation and stability under environmental stressors remain. This review highlights the translational potential of anthocyanins in crop improvement, emphasizing the need for integrated multi-omics approaches and field trials to validate their efficacy. By elucidating the molecular mechanisms of salt stress and anthocyanin-mediated stress alleviation, this work provides a foundation for developing resilient crops to address the growing challenges of soil salinization.

Among various abiotic stresses, secondary soil salinization poses a significant threat to plant productivity and survival. Cultivated chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium), widely grown as ornamental crops, are highly susceptible to salt stress, and their complex polyploid genome complicates the identification of stress resistance genes. In contrast, C. indicum, a native diploid species with robust stress tolerance, serves as a valuable genetic resource for uncovering stress-responsive genes and improving the resilience of ornamental chrysanthemum cultivars. In this study, we cloned, overexpressed (OE-CiHY5), and silenced (RNAi-CiHY5) the CiHY5 gene in C. indicum. OE-CiHY5 plants exhibited larger leaves, sturdier stalks, and higher chlorophyll content compared to wild-type plants, while RNAi-CiHY5 plants displayed weaker growth. Under salt stress, OE-CiHY5 plants demonstrated significantly improved growth, enhanced osmotic adjustment, and effective ROS scavenging. In contrast, RNAi-CiHY5 plants were more sensitive to salinity, showing higher electrolyte leakage and impaired osmotic regulation. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that CiHY5 regulates key hormonal pathways such as zeatin (one of cytokinins), abscisic acid and jasmonic acid, as well as metabolic pathways, including photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, which collectively contribute to the enhanced stress resilience of OE-CiHY5 plants. Promoter-binding assays further confirmed that CiHY5 directly interacts with the CiABF3 promoter, highlighting its critical role in ABA signaling. Evolutionary analyses showed that HY5 is conserved across plant lineages, from early algae to advanced angiosperms, with consistent responsiveness to salt and other abiotic stresses in multiple Chrysanthemum species. These findings establish CiHY5 as a key regulator of salt tolerance in C. indicum, orchestrating a complex network of hormonal and metabolic pathways to mitigate salinity-induced damage. Given the conserved nature of HY5 and its responsiveness to various stresses, HY5 gene provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying stress adaptation and represents a promising genetic target for enhancing salt stress resilience in chrysanthemums.

This study evaluates DNA damage and multi-element exposure in populations from La Mojana, a region of North Colombia heavily impacted by artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). DNA damage markers from the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN-Cyt) assay, including micronucleated binucleated cells (MNBN), nuclear buds (NBUDs) and nucleoplasmic bridges (NPB), were assessed in 71 exposed individuals and 37 unexposed participants. Exposed individuals had significantly higher MNBN frequencies (PR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02-1.57, p = 0.039). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified the Soil-Derived Mining-Associated Elements (PC1), including V, Fe, Al, Co, Ba, Se and Mn, as being strongly associated with high MNBN frequencies in the exposed population (PR = 10.45, 95% CI: 9.75-12.18, p < 0.001). GAMLSS modeling revealed non-linear effects of PC1, with greater increases in MNBN at higher concentrations, especially in exposed individuals. These results highlight the dual role of essential and toxic elements, with low concentrations being potentially protective but higher concentrations increasing genotoxicity. Women consistently exhibited higher MNBN frequencies than men, suggesting sex-specific susceptibilities. This study highlights the compounded risks of chronic metal exposure in mining-impacted regions and underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate genotoxic risks in vulnerable populations.

Thermal conductivity of frozen soil is a crucial property that influences heat transfer rate and freezing depth during the freezing process. However, accurately evaluating frozen soil's thermal conductivity is challenging due to its complex compositions and structures. To address this challenge, this study proposed the frozen soil quartet structure generation set (FSQSGS) to generate reasonable representative volume elements (RVEs) of frozen soil. The FSQSGS incorporates the ice phase and accounts for the freezing process, with clear physical meanings of input parameters. Then, the soil thermal conductivity of RVEs is calculated by the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). This proposed calculation method is validated by experimental and analytical results of soil samples with various textures. The verification shows the broad applicability of the proposed model, especially for soils with fine grains or high saturation. Further, the influence of soil components and pore-scale geometry on the soil thermal conductivity is analyzed, with direct visualization of heat transfer. Results show that despite the soil skeleton geometry, i.e., the granular size and anisotropy, soil components have important effects on the soil thermal conductivity. Contents and thermal conductivity of soil particles are the main factors, while water and ice filling soil pores provide pathways for heat conduction, thereby improving thermal conductivity.

Soil liquefaction caused by earthquakes is a devastating occurrence that can compromise the foundations of buildings and other structures, leading to considerable economic losses. Among the new remedies against liquefaction, Induced Partial Saturation (IPS) is regarded as one of the most promising technologies. In order to improve liquefaction resistance and the fluid phase's compressibility, gas or air bubbles are introduced into the pore water of sandy soils. This article deals with the general laboratory evaluation of a sand under partially saturated conditions and under cyclic loading to assess if this technology is applicable for a ground improvement of the examined soil. The use of the Axis Translation Technique for sample desaturation and diffusion-stable butyl membranes significantly influences the laboratory results. Additionally, it is found that the trapped air bubbles of the partially saturated samples act like a damping mechanism, which are reflected in the stress paths of the deviator stress q over the mean pressure p with an inclination of 1 : 3. Zum Verfl & uuml;ssigungsverhalten von teilges & auml;ttigtem SandDie durch Erdbeben verursachte Bodenverfl & uuml;ssigung ist ein verheerendes Ereignis, das die Fundamente von Geb & auml;uden und anderen Bauwerken gef & auml;hrden und zu erheblichen wirtschaftlichen Verlusten f & uuml;hren kann. Die induzierte partielle S & auml;ttigung (Induced Partial Saturation, IPS) gilt als eine der vielversprechendsten Technologien unter den neuartigen Baugrundverbesserungen gegen Verfl & uuml;ssigung. Um den Verfl & uuml;ssigungswiderstand und die Kompressibilit & auml;t der fl & uuml;ssigen Phase zu verbessern, werden dabei Gas- oder Luftblasen in das Porenwasser sandiger B & ouml;den eingebracht. Dieser Beitrag besch & auml;ftigt sich mit der generellen labortechnischen Evaluierung eines Sandes unter teilges & auml;ttigten Verh & auml;ltnissen und unter zyklischer Beanspruchung zur Beurteilung, inwiefern sich diese Baugrundverbesserung f & uuml;r den untersuchten Boden eignet. Die Verwendung der Axis Translation Technique zur Probenentw & auml;sserung und die Verwendung von diffusionsstabilen Butylmembranen haben einen erheblichen Einfluss auf die Laborergebnisse. Au ss erdem ist festzustellen, dass die eingeschlossenen Luftblasen der teilges & auml;ttigten Proben wie eine D & auml;mpfung wirken und sich in den Spannungspfaden der Deviatorspannung q & uuml;ber dem mittleren Druck p mit einer Neigung 1 : 3 widerspiegeln.

A new type of asphalt pavement disease, known as arch expansion, has appeared in the saline soil regions of Northwest China. The emergence, as well as the evolution of the disease, is strongly related to the distribution of sulfate. However, the decay of Cement-stabilized gravel (CSG) mechanical properties is closely related to the onset and development of arch expansion. The relationship between CSG mechanical strength and salinity in the arch expansion area is analyzed based on field investigations to systematically study the mechanical property degradation law and mechanism of CSG. The mechanical strength and deterioration patterns of CSG with different coupling conditions were investigated. The mineral composition and micromorphology of the erosion products were analyzed. The results show that the mechanical properties of CSG in the area of the arch deteriorate more than those in the regular section. The mechanical strength of the specimens initially containing salt and partially immersed in salt solution decayed most severely. In terms of the deterioration mechanism of mechanical strength of CSG, the water-heat-salt erosion process is also divided into two parts, including the formation stage of gypsum and ettringite, the stage of C-S-H decomposition and thaumasite formation, respectively. The degradation mechanism of CSG is a combination of physical and chemical erosion.

The optimization of geotextile mechanical properties is crucial for enhancing their performance in civil engineering applications such as soil reinforcement and stabilization. This study focuses on the influence of manufacturing parameters on the static puncture (CBR) properties of polyester geotextiles. Polyester geotextile samples were manufactured using various parameters, including needle-punching density, penetration depth, calendering temperature, and speed. The mechanical properties of the samples, specifically strength and elongation, were evaluated using the CBR test according to EN ISO 12236. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance, followed by statistical analysis to determine the influence of the manufacturing parameters on the mechanical properties. Furthermore, the relationship between these parameters and the mechanical properties was modeled using artificial neural networks (ANN) and regression analysis. The results indicated that all manufacturing parameters significantly impacted the strength and elongation of the geotextiles. The ANN models, employing two hidden layers, predicted the strength and elongation with errors of 1.43% and 1.26%, respectively.