An internal explosion may cause severe damage to an underground and surface ground structures. The intensity of the blast plays a substantial role in the damage to the structures, the configuration of the structure, material properties, and geometry of materials. There are several ways for a structure to be protect against blast loads. A tunnel could be protected employing the protective layer, directly located on the top of the structure. The influence of utilizing a protective layer, made of geofoam could appease the adverse effects of an internal explosion and decline vibrations when it comes to the surface ground. The modeling procedure used the coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian in Abaqus/Explicit. Lagrangian elements have been used for modeling soil and reinforced tunnel and trinitrotoluene as Eulerian elements. Drucker-Prager plasticity, Holmquist-Johnson and Johnson-Cook plasticity models were simulated for the stress-strain response of soil, concrete, and reinforcement, respectively. In addition, Jones-Wilkins-Lee equation of state used for the pressure-volume relation of TNT. As the results show, while explosion waves scatter inside tunnel and penetrate among top layers of soil, soil and lining without a protective layer experienced severe deformation and blast waves influenced surface ground structures negatively. Indeed, the more charge weight, the more deformation on tunnel lining and structures. It is observed that increasing geofoam thickness worked up to a certain thickness and semi-circular geofoam on top of the structure fulfilled expectations.

Candida albicans is considered as an opportunistic yeast fungus that is considered as the principal reason of dangerous invasive infections with high death rates. In this research, we were the first to mycosynthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the rhizospheric fungus Penicillium griseofulvum (PG) cell-free filtrate (CFF) and examined their antifungal effectiveness alone or in combination with the antifungal Amphotericin B (PG-AgNPs/AMB) against C. albicans. A total of 155 fungal isolates, which were recovered from the rhizosphere soil of Reseda pentagyna, belonged to fifteen species represented by five different genera. PG-AgNPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), zeta potential, Xray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The disc diffusion assay presented the anti-candidal activity of PG-AgNPs against C. albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 16 mu g/mL. Additionally, PG-AgNPs/AMB (16/32 mu g/mL) exhibited a potent synergistic antifungal activity with an inhibition zone of 27 mm. PGAgNPs/AMB (16/32 mu g/mL) completely inhibited morphogenesis and repressed the adherence and biofilm establishment of C. albicans by 91% and 87%, respectively. Interestingly, PGAgNPs/AMB suppressed the antioxidant-related enzymes in C. albicans by more than 80%. PGAgNPs/AMB displayed cytoplasm degeneration and damage of cell wall as examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Remarkably, PG-AgNPs did not show any signs of cytotoxicity on either primary mesenchymal stem cells or human gingival fibroblast cell line HGF1. In conclusion, we identified PG-AgNPs/AMB as an innovative therapeutic candidate for the treatment of candidiasis.

The 2021 Cyclone Seroja was a category 3 storm that made landfall on Lembata Island, causing extensive damage. This study aims to identify key interpretations of sediment transport related to tropical cyclones (TC) Seroja and past floods using a geopedological approach, estimate the return period through frequency analysis, and determine the rainfall threshold for flooding using HEC-RAS software. Extreme rainfall data from global precipitation model (GPM) (2000-2023) in Wei Laing watershed were analysed alongside LiDAR terrain data, physical and chemical properties of soil, and land cover data. Based on geopedological analysis, the result shows that the erosional-transfer zone of Wei Laing Watershed has thin, loamy, and slightly sandy soils due to erosion and limited pedogenesis. The depositional zone contains flood deposits with abrupt vertical texture changes, reflecting transported coarse grains and finer in-situ sediments. The modern flood deposit (TC Seroja flood deposit) was identified by texture, CaCO3 content, organic matter, and coarse organic material. The fine-grained flood deposits (<_ 4 cm) are classified as slackwater deposits, consist of silty clay loam and silt loam textures, reflecting deposition under slow-flowing conditions. TC Seroja corresponds to a 50-year return period. Hydrological modelling indicates a 60 mm/day rainfall threshold for flooding, with 77 flood events recorded between 2000-2023. The model is confirmed by thick past flood deposits enriched with coarse organic materials. These findings provide insight into flood dynamics and sedimentary responses, supporting future flood risk mitigation efforts.

Geosynthetic materials are a sustainable solution for pavement applications, but this depends on the materials and their application. Geosynthetics are artificial materials used in pavement construction to improve soil stability, drainage, filtration, separation, and other functions. Geosynthetics in pavement foundations can reduce the need for natural resources such as aggregates, sand, and gravel, allowing conventional construction materials to be used more sustainably. Furthermore, geosynthetics have a longer life span and a lower carbon footprint during production, transportation, and installation when compared to traditional materials. The effectiveness of the geosynthetic material used depends on various factors, including the materials used, the manufacturing process, the application, and the end-of-life disposal. The article seeks to present an overview of geosynthetic products like geogrid and geofoam, as well as their interactions with different pavement foundation soils. This paper delves deeper into the load transfer mechanism in geogrid, and arching effect in the geofoam, and the optimal placement of these materials to improve load-carrying capacity and reduce surface deformations by increasing soil shear strength. Furthermore, the benefit of using geofoam as a replacement material for soil to promote sustainability by conserving natural resources and effectively reusing renewable and recyclable materials was studied. An in-depth evaluation of geofoam response under cyclic loading was also studied.

Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) and correlation analyses were employed to investigate the winter and spring snow depth in Eurasia and its relationship with Eastern China precipitation based on the observed and reanalyzed data from 1980 to 2016. The results show that the winter and spring snow cover in Eurasia not only highlights a decreasing trend due to global warming (the first EOF mode, its variance accounted for 24.4% and 22.6% of the total variance) but also exhibits notable interdecadal variation (the second EOF mode, its variance accounted for 10.2% and 11.5% of the total variance). The second EOF mode of winter snow depth in Eurasia is characterized by a west-east dipole pattern. It was observed that the spatial correlation pattern between the EOF2 of Eurasian snow depth and summer precipitation in China closely resembles the meridional quadrupole structure of the third EOF mode of summer precipitation in China. This pattern is characterized by excessive rainfall in Northeast China and the lower-middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and less rainfall over the Yellow River basin and southern China. The EOF mode of spring snow depth not only reflects the declining trend but also regulates precipitation in Eastern China. The possible mechanisms by which snow depth causes changes in soil moisture and subsequently affects atmospheric circulation are then explored from the perspective of the hydrological effects of snow cover. Decreased (Increased) snow depth in Eurasia during the winter and spring directly leads to diminished (increased) soil moisture while increasing (decreasing) net radiation and sensible heat flux at the surface. The meridional distribution of surface temperature also exhibits a dipole pattern, leading to enhanced subtropical westerly jet in the upper troposphere. The Eurasian snow cover anomalies pattern triggered an anomalous mid-latitude Eurasian wave train, which strengthened significantly in the Western Siberian Plain. It then splits into two branches, one continuing to propagate eastward at high latitudes and the other shifting towards East Asia, thereby impacting precipitation in Eastern China. This work indicates that the second EOF mode of Eurasian snow cover can impact the precipitation variability in Eastern China during the same period and in summer on an interdecadal scale.

The cyclic swell-shrink behavior of expansive soils poses formidable challenges to both rigid and flexible structures within pavement engineering, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. This research explores the utilization of waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads, a byproduct of hand-crushed EPS blocks, to construct recycled geofoam granules columns (GGC) in expansive soil. The objective is to assess the potential of GGC in mitigating swell-shrink phenomena through rigorous cyclic wetting-drying tests. A series of cyclic swelling-shrinkage experiments were conducted in a purpose-built swell-shrink apparatus, maintaining precise laboratory conditions. Remolded soil samples, incorporating GGC with two distinct diameters (40 mm and 75 mm) and a GGC density of 15 kg/m3, underwent cyclic wetting-drying cycles. The experimental data reveals a consistent reduction in the swell-shrink pattern with an increasing number of applied wet-dry cycles. Notably, the largest diameter GGC exhibited a pronounced decrease in the swell-shrink pattern compared to plain soil. Quantitatively, the findings demonstrate a remarkable 28% and 46% reduction in full swelling for 40D and 75D GGC, respectively, showcasing the efficacy of GGC in countering expansive soil tendencies. Equilibrium conditions were rapidly achieved by the 4th and 5th cycles, leading to a substantial 42% and 53% reduction in time requirements for 40D and 75D GGC. These quantitative assessments underscore the promising application of GGC in pavement engineering, offering a sustainable and technically sound solution to the cyclic swell-shrink challenges. The discussion delves into the mechanisms underlying GGC's influence on controlling swell-shrink behavior, emphasizing the pivotal role of soil-geofoam interaction.

Variations in the chemical composition of geofluids and of gas fluxes are significant parameters for understandingmud volcanismand correctly estimate their emissions in carbon species, particularly greenhouse gas, methane. In this study, muddy water and gas samples were collected from the Anjihai, Dushanzi, Aiqigou, and Baiyanggou mud volcanoes in the southern Junggar Basin during the four seasons, around a year. This region hosts the most active mud volcanism throughout China. Gas and water were analyzed for major molecular compositions, carbon and hydrogen isotopes of the gas phase, as well as cations and anions, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of water. The emitted gases are dominated by CH4 with some C2H6, CO2, and N-2. The seasonal changes in the chemical composition and carbon isotopes of emitted gases are not significant, whereas clear variations in the amounts of cations and anions dissolved in the water are reported. These are higher in spring and summer than autumn and winter. The CH4, CO2, and C2H6 fluxes are 157.3-1108 kg/a, 1.8-390.1 kg/a, and 10.2-118.7 kg/a, respectively, and a clear seasonal trend of the gas seepage flux has been observed. In January, the macro-seepage flux of open vents is >= 65% higher than in April, whereas the micro-seepage flux significantly decreased, probably due to the frozen shallow ground and blockage of soil fractures around the vents by heavy snow and ice during January. This probably causes an extra gas pressure transferred to the major vents, resulting in higher flux of the macro-seepage in the cold season. However, the total flux of the whole mud volcano system is generally consistent around a year.

基于山西68个气象观测站1960—2018年月最大冻土深度资料，应用EOF和小波分析等方法，研究山西年最大冻土深度的时空分布特征。结果表明：（1）1960—2018年山西68站平均年最大冻土深度平均值为71 cm,极端最大值为192 cm,极端最小值为7 cm。近59 a山西68站平均年最大冻土深度呈显著减小趋势，气候倾向率为-1.394 cm·（10 a）-1,且在1986年发生一次显著的气候突变。（2）山西68站平均年最大冻土深度存在准4 a周期。（3）山西年最大冻土深度空间分布整体上南浅北深、东浅西深。（4）山西年最大冻土深度EOF分解前2个模态的累积方差贡献率达58.4%,第1模态空间型为全省一致型，第2模态空间型为南北反向型。

基于山西68个气象观测站1960—2018年月最大冻土深度资料，应用EOF和小波分析等方法，研究山西年最大冻土深度的时空分布特征。结果表明：（1）1960—2018年山西68站平均年最大冻土深度平均值为71 cm,极端最大值为192 cm,极端最小值为7 cm。近59 a山西68站平均年最大冻土深度呈显著减小趋势，气候倾向率为-1.394 cm·（10 a）-1,且在1986年发生一次显著的气候突变。（2）山西68站平均年最大冻土深度存在准4 a周期。（3）山西年最大冻土深度空间分布整体上南浅北深、东浅西深。（4）山西年最大冻土深度EOF分解前2个模态的累积方差贡献率达58.4%,第1模态空间型为全省一致型，第2模态空间型为南北反向型。

With global warming, the probability of summer compound hot and dry extreme (CHDE) days, which are higher risk compared with single-factor extreme events, increases in some regions. However, there have been few studies on the winter precursor signals of such events. In this study, we found that summer CHDEs have generally increased in the last 20 years, with the increases in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River region and Southwest China being more than double those in other regions of China. The dominant mode of summer CHDEs in China is characterized by more hot-dry days in the Yangtze-Huaihe River Basin (YHRB). Importantly, we found that there is an obvious cross-seasonal relationship between the first mode of winter snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and summer CHDEs in China. When the mode of winter snow cover in the NH is in a positive phase with a negative-phase Arctic Oscillation (AO), i.e., more snow cover in Europe, Northeast China, and the northern United States, and less snow cover in central Asia and the midlatitudes in winter, more CHDEs in China in the following summer. Compared with the signals from the AO, these signals from winter snow can be better stored and transmitted into summer through the snow, soil and ocean, inducing a northward shift of the upper-level westerly jet and strengthening of South Asia high. Through the strong dynamic forcing of negative vorticity advection with the change of westerly jet, the subsidence movement in the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) region is strengthened, resulting in the stable maintenance of the WPSH in the YHRB. Under the synergy of a remote mid- and high-latitude wave train in summer, which also relates closely to winter snow cover, more CHDEs ultimately occur in the YHRB of China.