Cadmium (Cd) is a pervasive phytotoxic metal which deteriorates soil quality, affecting crops and creating adverse effects on the environment, food safety, and human health. Cd in soil poses negative effects on plants at the physiological, structural, and molecular level. Application of silicon (Si) can reduce Cd accumulation by suppressing Cd uptake in plants, while spermidine (Spd) alleviates Cd toxicity through improved antioxidant capacity. However, their combined effects on antioxidant system and endogenous polyamines (PAs) level in Cd-stressed plants and the underlying antioxidative defense mechanism are poorly understood. Salix matsudana Koidz. is a fast-growing tree species with high Cd tolerance, making it potentially suitable for phytoremediation. Here, the S. matsudana seedings were subjected to 50 mu M Cd stress with or without addition of 1.5 mM sodium silicate and 0.1 mM Spd. Following that, the non-enzymatic/enzymatic antioxidants, stressed-related genes and endogenous PAs levels were determined. The results showed that Cd stress suppressed the growth traits of S. matsudana while increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in the leaves, which also showed heightened Cd levels. However, exogenous application of Si and Spd increased activities of antioxidative enzymes and ameliorated the Cd-induced oxidative damage. Moreover, combined treatment with Si and Spd showed higher glutathione (GSH) and GSH/GSSH (oxidized glutathione) ratio compared to their individual applications. The results provided sufficient evidence regarding the synergistic effect of Si and Spd in the amelioration of Cd-induced oxidative stress in S. matsudana seedlings.

Two earthquakes, Mw = 7.8 Kahramanmaras,-Pazarcik, and Mw = 7.6 Elbistan, occurred on February 6, 2023, approximately 9 h apart. These earthquakes caused devastating effects in a total of 11 nearby cities on the east side of T & uuml;rkiye (Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Elazig, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras,, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and S,anliurfa) and the north side of Syria. These earthquakes provided an outstanding prospect to observe the effects of liquefaction in silty sand and liquefaction-like behavior in clays (cyclic softening) on the stability of structures. This paper specifically presents the post-earthquake reconnaissance at three sites and evaluations of four buildings within these sites in Adiyaman Province, Golbas, i District. First, important role of post-earthquake piezocone penetration test (CPTu) in characterizing the subsurface conditions was presented. Then, the effect of soil liquefaction and cyclic softening on the performance of four buildings during the earthquakes was evaluated. These structures represent the typical new reinforced concrete buildings in T & uuml;rkiye with 3 to 6-story, situated on shallow (raft) foundations, and demonstrated diverse structural performances from full resilience to moderate and extensive damage during the aforementioned earthquakes. Based on the interim findings from these sites, the potential factors that caused moderate to severe damage to buildings were inspected, and preliminary-immediate insights were presented on the relationship between structural design, soil properties, and the performance of buildings with shallow foundations.

Aluminum (Al) is the third, most abundant element in the Earth's crust. When soil pH drops below 5.5, Al is released from minerals, which threatens plant growth. The roots are particularly vulnerable to Al stress because Al ions can penetrate them, causing growth reduction by inhibiting the cell cycle and decreasing root cell elongation. Al has the ability to bind to cell structures, including cell walls, cytoskeleton, or DNA, which disturb their functions. Plants have developed various response strategies, such as the exclusion of organic acids into the rhizosphere or the detoxification of Al in the vacuole. STOP1 (Sensitive To Proton Rhizotoxicity 1) is the critical regulator of the expression of tolerance-related genes and is present in both mono- and dicots plants. The activity of STOP1 can be regulated on post-transcription and post-translation levels. This review paper presents an overview of the latest literature, aiming to accurately present the problem of Al toxicity and its effect on plant functioning. Moreover, the well-studied mechanisms of plant response and future prospects, like the use of polyamines, miRNAs, or DDR (DNA Damage Response) pathway, will be presented, which are opportunities to develop new plant varieties that are tolerant to Al stress.

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) has been a prominent food and cash crop for most farmers in the yam production areas of Ghana, with the sales of yam in both domestic and international markets contributing significantly to the economy of the country. However, yam production by smallholder farmers is constrained by several challenges, including postharvest loss resulting from yam nematodes. This study conducted field surveys across seven districts across Ghana to collect data from randomly selected 150 yam farmers to investigate the status of nematode infestation, management practices and other socio-economic factors contributing to yam production in the country. The most common farm size for yam production from 2019 to 2022 was between 0.4 and 0.8 hectares. The majority of the farmers (56%) have been farming for over 15 years, with 6-10 years of experience in yam production, and preferred to use their own planting materials every year. Although most farmers (97.99%) experienced pests and diseases, most of them (77.33%) had no knowledge about nematode infestations in their farm causing damage to the tubers. Although yam farmers experienced yield losses, farmers were unable to manage nematode infestations in their farms. Twelve (12) genera of nematodes were identified in soils of yam rhizosphere across the seven districts. Tylenchus spp. (35.5%) and Scutellonema spp. (92.8%) were the most abundant nematode in soil samples and tuber peels, respectively while the second highest nematode in tuber peels was Meloidogyne spp. (4.0%). The presence of these parasitic nematodes in yam farms across Ghana suggests serious threats to the growth and yield of yams, although their presence is either not known or is usually neglected. Our result also confirmed the correlation between farmer storage practices and the management of nematodes, suggesting some storage practices such as barns may be effective in controlling nematodes. On the other hand, we find no association between pest occurrence in the field and nematode management. The lack of an association could be an indication that pest management in the field and nematode management in storage are separate activities and this underlines the importance of providing tailored postharvest training for smallholder farmers in effectively managing nematodes. It was therefore necessary to undertake this study and establish knowledge on the species as well as their prevalence in the farms across Ghana, contributing towards enhanced farmers' understanding on nematode management and effective storage of yams to prevent losses caused by nematode infestation.

The extensive use of non-biodegradable and petroleum derived polymers in industry exacerbates environmental problems associated with plastic waste accumulation and fossil resource depletion. The most promising solution to overcome this issue is the replacement of these polymers with biodegradable and bio-based polymers. In this paper, novel biocomposites were prepared from bio-based polyamide 5.6 (PA56) with the addition of olive stone powder (OSP) at varying weight concentrations by melt compounding method. The degradability of the prepared biocomposites is investigated through soil burial test, and assessed by reduction in their mechanical properties. The biodegradability of bio-based polyamide 5.6 is shown to be improved by addition of olive stone powder, and its effects on the properties of polymer matrix are elucidated. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum of the biocomposites indicate the successful incorporation of OSP into PA56 polymer matrix. After six-month soil burial test, scanning electron microscopy and FTIR show the degradation of PA56 through morphological and structural changes, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry reveals the changes in the transition temperatures of the polymer matrix and an increase in crystallinity. Thermogravimetric analysis is used on the biocomposite to determine the fraction of its components, polymer and biofiller, and the results show that 2.67% (w/w) of the polyamide 5.6 is biodegraded at the end of the six-month soil burial.

Yam is an important medicinal and edible dual-purpose plant with high economic value. However, nematode damage severely affects its yield and quality. One of the major effects of nematode infestations is the secondary infection of pathogenic bacteria or fungi through entry wounds made by the nematodes. Understanding the response of the symbiotic microbial community of yam plants to nematodes is crucial for controlling such a disease. In this study, we investigated the rhizosphere and how endophytic microbiomes shift after nematode infection during the tuber expansion stage in the Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cultivar Tiegun. Our results revealed that soil depth affected the abundance of nematodes, and the relative number of Meloidogyne incognita was higher in the diseased soil at a depth of 16 to 40 cm than those at a depth of 0 to 15 and 41 to 70 cm. The abundance of and interactions among soil microbiota members were significantly correlated with root-knot nematode (RKN) parasitism at various soil depths. However, the comparison of the microbial alpha-diversity and composition between healthy and diseased rhizosphere soil showed no difference. Compared with healthy soils, the co-occurrence networks of M. incognita-infested soils included a higher ratio of positive correlations linked to plant health. In addition, we detected a higher abundance of certain taxonomic groups belonging to Chitinophagaceae and Xanthobacteraceae in the rhizosphere of RKN-infested plants. The nematodes, besides causing direct damage to plants, also possess the ability to act synergistically with other pathogens, especially Ramicandelaber and Fusarium, leading to the development of disease complexes. In contrast to soil samples, RKN parasitism specifically had a significant effect on the composition and assembly of the root endophytic microbiota. The RKN colonization impacted a wide variety of endophytic microbiomes, including Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Rhizobium, Neocosmospora, and Fusarium. This study revealed the relationship between RKN disease and changes in the rhizosphere and endophytic microbial community, which may provide novel insights that help improve biological management of yam RKNs.

Bearing plates made from plastic composites can be used as an alternative to their steel counterparts in rock bolt or soil nail applications. To achieve this goal, an existing recycled highdensity polyethylene bearing plate was investigated and later modified to improve its engineering properties. Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the failure load of the existing and modified plates, and a numerical model was developed for complementary analysis. The results of both efforts clearly showed that the existing bearing plate was not adequate in terms of strength and creep properties, as it quickly yielded with large displacements at relatively low loads. In order to enhance the strength of the plate, both geometric and material modifications are made by our research group to obtain a more efficient plate. Numerical models were used to determine the frame layout, and a series of analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of frame thickness, number and arrangement. Once the design was optimized and finalized, a mold was created to match the new geometry for manufacturing new plates through injection molding. A test setup was also established in the laboratory and numerous compression tests were performed on the manufactured new plates. The measured load-displacement behavior of plates made of polyethylene and polyamide with a variety of additives were discussed separately. It was determined that the new plastic plates reinforced with polyamide through various additives have the potential to reach a strength up to 200-240 kN, which is at least two times higher than the existing one, with distinct economic advantages.

Phenotyping yam (Dioscorea spp.) germplasm for resistance to parasitic nematodes is hampered by the lack of an efficient screening method. In this study, we developed a new method using rooted yam vine cuttings and yam plantlets generated from semi-autotrophic hydroponics (SAHs) propagation for phenotyping yam genotypes for nematode resistance. The method was evaluated using 26 genotypes of D. rotundata for their reaction to Scutellonema bradys and four root-knot nematode species, Meloidogyne arenaria, M. enterolobii, M. incognita, and M. javanica. Yam plantlets established in nursery bags filled with steam-sterilized soil were used for screening against single nematode species. Plants were inoculated four weeks after planting and assessed for nematode damage eight weeks later. A severity rating scale was used to classify genotypes as resistant, tolerant, or susceptible determine based on the nematode feeding damage on tubers and the rate of nematode multiplication in the roots of inoculated plants. The results demonstrated putative resistance and tolerance against S. bradys in 58% of the genotypes and 88%, 65%, 65%, and 58% against M. arenaria, M. javanica, M. incognita, and M. enterolobii, respectively. The method is rapid, flexible, and seasonally independent, permitting year-round screening under controlled conditions. This method increases the throughput and speed of phenotyping and improves the selection process.

The NW Himalaya has been subjected to frequent disastrous landslides of different types owing to frequent extreme rainfall events and rock mass shearing caused by structural and/or lithological contrast. Though majority of the landslides in the NW Himalaya are of complex type comprising debris and loose rock mass that may result into debris flow and/or rockfall, their potential behavior is rarely explored. The present study aims to evaluate the recurrence of one such complex landslide (0.23 Mm(2)) of Yamuna Valley, NW Himalaya that is subjected to rock mass shearing and the region accommodating this landslide receives frequent extreme rainfall events. A huge slope failure in this landslide occurred on 12 September, 2017 damaging a similar to 400 m stretches of the National Highway (NH) road. The landslide location has strategic significance, since up to 0.3-0.4 million pilgrims travel annually on the road passing through the landslide slope. To evaluate the potential behavior of landslide and to understand the factors causing this landslide (pre-failure analysis), slope stability analysis and rockfall simulation were performed. Pre-failure analyses indicated that the maximum shear strain of 0.14-0.18 and total displacement of 2-8 m likely developed parallel to the slope. The possibility of rainfall triggering is explored in view of increasing rainfall, soil moisture, and surface runoff conditions. Tectonic influences are also evaluated using joints and fracture patterns in rock mass. Post-failure analysis showed that though the maximum shear strain and the total displacement had reduced to 0.07-0.15 and 2-5 m, respectively after the failure, the slope is still unstable. Rockfall simulation revealed the potential for rockfalls having energy and velocities in the range of 900-4000 kJ and 18-75 m/s, respectively.

Accumulation of cadmium (Cd) ions in soil is an increasingly acute ecological problem in agriculture production. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) can mediate Cd tolerance in plants; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we show that the foliar application of SeNPs improved the adaptive capacity of tomato plants to decrease Cd-induced damage. SeNPs induced more Cd in roots but not in shoots despite greater accumulation of selenium and sulfur in both tissues and high selenate influx. Additionally, SeNPs significantly increased thiol compounds, including glutathione, cysteine, and phytochelatins, contributing to enhanced Cd detoxification. Importantly, SeNPs induced the expression of sulfate transporters 1:3, S-adenosylmethionine 1 and polyamine transporter 3. Then, experiments with mutants of these genes showed that SeNP-reduced Cd stress largely relies on the levels and shoot-to-root transport of selenium/sulfur and polyamines. These findings highlight the potential of SeNPs to improve crop production and phytoremediation in heavy metal-contaminated soils.