In unsaturated soil mechanics, the liquid bridge force is a significant source of soil cohesion and tensile strength. However, the classical Young-Laplace equation, which neglects the stratified nature of water at the nanoscale, fails to accurately capture the physical and mechanical behaviour of nanoscale liquid bridges. This study utilizes molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the wetting behaviour and mechanical mechanisms of liquid bridges between particles at the nanoscale. The study proposes dividing the liquid bridge force into three components: surface tension, matric suction, and adsorption force, to explain the mechanics of nanoscale liquid bridges more comprehensively. The results demonstrate that water layers within liquid bridges exhibit discrete stratified structures at the nanoscale. Moreover, the mechanical behaviour of liquid bridges is highly dependent on pore water volume and pore spacing. Specifically, the contact angle is positively correlated with the pore spacing, while the liquid bridge force increases with the pore water volume and is inversely proportional to the pore spacing. As the separation distance increases, the liquid bridge force gradually diminishes until rupture occurs. This research expands the applicability of the classical Young-Laplace equation and offers new insights into the mechanical properties of unsaturated soils, particularly clays.

In the northwestern saline soils and coastal areas, cement soil (CS) materials are inevitably subjected to various factors including salt erosion, dry-wet cycle (DWC), temperature fluctuations and dynamic loading during its service life, which the coupling effect of these unfavourable factors seriously threatened the durability and engineering reliability of CS materials. Additionally, combined with the substantially extensive application prospects of rubber cementitious material, as a resource-efficient civil engineering material and fibre-reinforced composites, consequently, in order to address aforementioned issues, this investigation proposed to consider the incorporation of rubber particles composite basalt fiber (BF) to CS materials as an innovative engineering solution to effectively enhance the mechanical and durability properties of CS materials for prolonging its service life. In this study, sulphate ions were utilized to simulate external erosive environment and basalt fibre rubber cement soil (BFRCS) specimens were subjected to various DWC numbers (0, 1, 4, 7, 11 and 15) in diverse concentrations (0 g/L, 6 g/L and 18 g/L) of Na2SO4 solution, and specimens that had completed the corresponding DWC number were then conducted both unconfined and dynamic compressive strength tests simultaneously to analyze static and dynamic stress-strain curves, static and dynamic compressive strength, apparent morphological deterioration characteristics and energy absorption properties of BFRCS specimens. Furthermore, further qualitative and quantitative damage assessments of pore distribution and microscopic morphology of BFRCS specimens under various DWC sulphate erosion environments were carried out from the fine and microscopic perspectives through pore structure test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) test, respectively. The test results indicated that the static, dynamic compressive strength and specific energy absorption (SEA) of BFRCS specimens exhibited a slight increase followed by a progressive decline as DWC number increased. Additionally, compared to 4 mm BFRCS specimens, those with 0.106 mm rubber particle size demonstrated more favorable resistance to DWC sulphate erosion. The air content, bubble spacing coefficient and average bubble chord length of BFRCS specimens all progressively grew as DWC number increased, while the specific surface area of pores gradually decreased. The effective combination of BF with CS matrix significantly diminished pores and weak areas within specimen, and its synergistic interaction with rubber particles efficiently mitigated the stresses associated with expansive, contraction, crystallization and osmosis subjected by specimen. Simultaneously, more ettringite (AFt) had been observed within BFRCS specimens in 18 g/L sulphate erosive environments. These findings will facilitate the design and construction of CS subgrade engineering in northwestern saline soils and coastal regions, promoting sustainable and durable solutions while reducing the detrimental environmental impact of waste rubber.

The discharge of heavy metals (HMS) from industrial production has severely damaged the natural environment and human health. To address the challenges posed by heavy metals, a novel almond shell biochar (FeSCTS@nBC) modified with FeS and chitosan (CTS) was prepared. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy observations revealed a uniform distribution of FeS particles on the biochar. Adsorption thermodynamics experiments showed that the maximum adsorbed amounts of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr (VI) and Cr (III)) in FeS-CTS@nBC were 85.6, 89.63, 94.2, and 75.62 mg/g, respectively. Results of soil incubation experiments indicated that FeS-CTS@nBC had a desirable immobilization effect on heavy metals, decreasing the bioavailability of Cd, Pb, Cr (VI), and Cr (III) by 29.43%, 23.93%, 5.75% and 5.23 %, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, revealed that the oxygen-containing functional groups on the biochar exhibited stronger adsorption capacities for heavy metals. Plant potting experiments indicated that the paddy grew well in the soil remediated with FeS-CTS@nBC. The Cd content in the roots and leaves of the paddy after nBCS2 repair was reduced by 28.01 % and 55.73 %, respectively. Overall, this work provides a promising low-cost method with a simple production process for mitigation of heavy metals from water and soil.

The brick walls of ancient buildings have got a lot of tiny and closely connected pores inside, so they can soak up water really well. This can easily cause problems like getting powdery and having efflorescence. To stop water from spoiling the grey bricks, this paper focuses on the brick walls of historical buildings in Kaifeng City. Based on our investigation, we study the distribution features of the problems. This paper tells about using the method of negative pressure infiltration to change the grey bricks. We measure all kinds of basic indicators and analyze how different ratios of modifiers affect the water properties and dry-wet cycle tests of the grey bricks. We look at the changes in the inside shape through SEM to show how it changes the grey bricks of ancient buildings. Second, we improve the wet walls by using a way that combines blocking and drainage. The main things we studied and the conclusions are like this: We use sodium methyl silicate and acrylamide polymer as modifiers to soak the historical grey bricks under negative pressure. We figure out the best ratio through orthogonal experiments. We analyze things like the water vapor permeability, how long it takes for a water drop to go through, the compressive strength, the water absorption rate, and the height of water absorption of the modified bricks. The results show that the crosslinking agent and acrylamide monomer have a big influence on how high the capillary water goes up in the modified bricks. The air permeability of the modified grey bricks with acrylamide polymer goes down a bit, but it's still okay. The surface of the modified grey bricks is very hydrophobic and there are fewer pores inside. The mechanical properties of the modified grey bricks get better in different degrees. The water absorption rate and the height of capillary water absorption go down. The modified grey bricks can really cut down the erosion of water on the wall when used in real life. They can reduce salt crystallization and efflorescence caused by rising water, and so make the brick walls of historical buildings last longer. This is super important for protecting historical buildings in Kaifeng City and taking care of other similar structures. Also, by using a way that combines blocking and drainage, and putting polymer infiltration reinforcement and the ventilation of the moisture drainage pipe together, the results show that this combination can really lower the height that capillary water goes up in the brick wall. So we get a way to control how wet the wall is.

The significant rise in soil salinity has had detrimental effects on global agricultural production, negatively impacting overall plant health and leading to a decline in productivity. As a protective response, plants have developed diverse regulatory mechanisms to counteract these adverse conditions. The mechanisms help mitigate damage caused by both osmotic and ionic stress resulting from high salinity. Given the severe threat this poses to global food security and the well-being of the world's population, scientists have dedicated decades of research to understanding how to manage salt stress. Numerous mechanisms have been identified and studied to enhance plant salt tolerance and alleviate the damage caused by salt stress. This review examines recent advancements in molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying plant salt, including salt uptake and transport, salt sensing and signalling, hormonal regulation, epigenetic modifications, genetic adaptation, and posttranslational modifications. Although current knowledge has advanced our understanding, critical gaps and controversies remain, such as the stability of epigenetic memory, the trade-off between stress tolerance and growth, hormonal crosstalk, and novel genes with uncharacterised roles in salt tolerance. To resolve these questions, further research employing techniques like GWAS, transcriptomics, transgenic and genome-editing technologies, as well as studies on energy allocation and hormonal regulation, is essential. A deeper exploration of these complex, synergistic mechanisms will pave the way for enhancing plant resilience and ensuring adaptation to increasingly challenging environmental conditions.

Biodegradable mulch film is considered a promising alternative to traditional plastic mulch film. However, biodegradable mulch film-derived microplastics (BMPs) in the environment have been reported as carriers for herbicides. Particularly in agricultural settings, limited attention has been given to the abiotic and biological aging processes of BMPs, as well as the herbicides adsorption mechanisms and associated health risks of BMPs. This study investigated the adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of mesotrione on both virgin and aged polylactic acid (PLA)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) BMPs, and further evaluated their bioaccessibilities in gastrointestinal fluids. A variety of physical and chemical methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), revealed increased roughness, generation of oxygen-containing functional groups, and higher O/C ratios of PLA/ PBAT BMPs after ultraviolet (UV) and microbial aging processes. Both UV aging and microbial aging significantly enhanced the adsorption levels of mesotrione on PLA and PBAT BMPs by approximately two-fold, driven by pore filling, hydrogen bonding, and it-it conjugation. The adsorption capacity of mesotrione on BMPs decreased with the pH from 3.0 to 11.0, which was involved by electrostatic interactions. In addition, salt ionic strength (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe3+) generally inhibited the adsorption due to ions competition for adsorption sites. Notably, mesotrione exhibited high bioaccessibility when adsorbed onto BMPs, with aged BMPs exhibiting greater desorption quantities in gastrointestinal fluids compared to virgin BMPs. These findings provide effective insights into the potential health threats posed by BMPs carrying herbicides in the environment and offer applicable guidance for managing and remediating composite pollution involving BMPs and adsorbed contaminants.

The extensive utilization of agricultural machinery in China has made it a prominent contributor to particulate matter (PM). However, there still exist significant knowledge gaps in understanding optical characteristics and molecular composition of chromophores of brown carbon (BrC) in PM emitted from agricultural machinery. Therefore, BrC in PM from six typical agricultural machines in China were measured to investigate the light absorption, chromophore characteristics, and influencing factors. Results showed that the average emission factors of methanol-soluble organic carbon (MSOC) and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) were 0.96 and 0.21 g (kg fuel)-1, respectively, exhibiting clear decreasing trends with increasing engine power and improving emission standards. Despite the light absorption coefficient of methanol-extracted BrC (Abs365,M) being approximately 2.2 times higher than that of water (Abs365,W), mass absorption efficiency of water-extracted BrC (MAE365,W) exhibited significantly greater values than MAE365,M. Among the detected chromophores, nitro-aromatic compounds (NACs) exhibited the highest contribution to light absorption that was about 14.5 times more than to total light absorption compared to their mass contributions to MSOC (0.04%), followed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and oxygenated PAHs (OPAHs). Besides, the average integrated simple forcing efficiency values were estimated to be 1.5 W g-1 for MSOC and 3.7 W g-1 for WSOC, indicating significant radiative forcing absorption of agricultural machinery. The findings in this study not only provide fundamental data for climate impact estimation of but also propose effective strategies to mitigate BrC emissions, such as enhancing emission standards and promoting the adoption of high-power agricultural machinery.

Local ecological materials in construction represent a fundamental step toward creating living environments that combine environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and occupant comfort. It is part of an organizational context that encourages the adoption of these methods and processes. This study aims to improve the use of locally available materials, particularly soil and agricultural residues, in the Errachidia region (southeastern Morocco). In particular, date palm waste fiber, a widely available agrarian by-product, was incorporated into the soil to develop six different types of stabilized earth bricks with fiber contents of 0 %, 1 %, 2 %, 3 %, 4 %, and 5 %. The aim was to evaluate their thermophysical, mechanical, and capillary water absorption properties. Thermal properties were determined using the highly insulated house method (PHYWE), a specific methodology for assessing thermal properties in a controlled, highly insulated environment. In addition, mechanical measurements were carried out to assess compressive and flexural strength. The results obtained showed that the addition of date palm waste fibers to brick based on soil improves the thermal resistance of the bricks. Flexural and compressive strength increased up to 3 % of fiber content, while a reduction was observed above this value. The 3 % fiber content is optimal for the stabilization of brick based on soil. Then, the increase of fiber content in bricks resulted in an increase in water absorption with a decrease in the density of the bricks. Physical and chemical characterization (XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDX) of the soil and date palm waste fibers was carried out with geotechnical soil tests. The results obtained showed that the soil studied satisfies the minimum requirements for the production of bricks stabilized by fibers. These bricks can be considered an alternative to conventional bricks in ecological construction.

Using local materials with low environmental impact is essential in building living spaces, combining energy efficiency, environmental respect, and user well-being. However, despite advances in using natural materials, few studies have focused on integrating spathe fibers into earth bricks to optimize their thermal, mechanical, and hydric performance. The study aims to develop an innovative approach to using spathe fibers as natural reinforcement in manufacturing soil bricks while analyzing their impact on thermal, mechanical, and hydric properties. Several soil bricks reinforced with spathe fibers at different concentrations (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%) were developed. Thermal performance was assessed using the hot disk method, while mechanical strength was measured in compression and flexure with capillary absorption tests. Based on fiber content, the brick density ranged from 1719.75 to 1247.6 kg/m3. The thermal conductivity of the materials ranges from 0.621 to 0.327 W/m. K, indicating good insulating performance. Maximum capillary water absorption values range from 170 to 287%, revealing a difference in water permeability depending on fiber content. Compressive strengths range from 1.4 to 3.6 MPa, and flexural strengths range from 1.6 to 1.91 MPa, suggesting potential for structural applications. Physico-chemical and geotechnical analyses confirm the suitability of the soil for the production of spathe fiber-stabilized bricks. This study offers an alternative to conventional bricks, contributing to the promotion of ecological and sustainable building materials suitable for arid and semi-arid climates.

Activated coke waste (ACW), a byproduct of industrial desulfurization and denitrification, consists of fine particles ( Na+ > Cl-. Isothermal adsorption analysis revealed that Na+ and Cl- adsorption aligned with the Langmuir model, whereas SO42- adsorption adhered to the Freundlich model. Application of SACW (>= 10 g kg(-1)) effectively improved saline-alkali soil properties by lowering pH and salinity, enhancing soil aggregate stability, and promoting nutrient utilization efficiency. Notably, SACW-treated soils supported maize plants with significantly increased height and biomass (13.94% and 159.28% higher, respectively; P <= 0.05) compared to untreated controls. These benefits stemmed from improved nutrient availability and reduced salt stress-induced plasma membrane damage. These findings validate SACW as a sustainable, functional amendment for reclaiming saline-alkali ecosystems and boosting crop productivity.