Cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil threatens global food production and human health. This study investigated zinc (Zn) addition as a potential strategy to mitigate Cd stress using two barley genotypes, Dong-17 (Cd-sensitive) and WSBZ (Cd-tolerant). Hydroponically grown seedlings were treated with different Cd (0, 1.0, 10 mu M) and Zn (0, 5, 50 mu M) levels. Results showed that Zn addition effectively alleviated Cd induced growth inhibition, improving SPAD values, photosynthetic parameters, fluorescence efficiency (Fv/Fm), and biomass. Zn reduced Cd contents in roots and shoots, inhibited Cd translocation, and ameliorated Cd induced ultrastructural damage to organelles. Transcriptomic analysis revealed distinct gene expression patterns between genotypes, with WSBZ showing enhanced expression of metal transporters, antioxidant defense, and stress signaling genes. Significantly, cell wall related pathways were upregulated in WSBZ, particularly lignin biosynthesis genes (PAL, C4H, 4CL, COMT, CAD/SAD), suggesting cell wall reinforcement as a key Cd tolerance mechanism. Zn induced upregulation of ZIP family transporters and downregulation of Cd transporters (HvHMA) aligned with reduced Cd accumulation. These findings provide comprehensive insights into molecular mechanisms of Zn mediated alleviation of Cd toxicity in barley, supporting improved agronomic practices for Cd contaminated soils.

Purpose of ReviewForest roads, which are important for accessing and managing forest areas, are particularly vulnerable to damaging impacts of severe climatic events. Understanding how weather changes affect forest roads is important for their efficient management and to ensure their reliability in supporting forest products supply chains. This paper reviews research conducted on the impact of climate factors on forest roads over the past two decades. The aim of our study was to develop a conceptual framework to support adaptation and mitigation strategies in forest road network management, ensuring sustainable wood flow despite a changing climate.Recent FindingsThrough a review of scientific articles and their results, we provided insights and recommendations to increase the resiliency of forest road infrastructures against the effects of climate change. Framed within the principles of climate-smart forestry, this study also offers practical suggestions to maintain the efficiency and safety of wood transportation networks under changing weather conditions, supporting sustainable forest operations and climate adaptation.SummaryThis review highlights how changes in precipitation and temperature patterns caused by climate change can impact forest road infrastructure and wood transportation. Based on the analysis of the reviewed articles, we identified key consequences such as increased erosion, road deformation, and reduced frozen periods. The research provides dedicated actions to ensure sustainability of forest resources and their infrastructure. This review is a key step towards more resilient and adaptive forest road management practices, helping to reduce the impacts of climate change on forest transportation and ecological systems.

Biomass residues from the agricultural industry, logging and wood processing activities have become a valuable fuel source. If processed under pyrolysis combustion, several products are generated. Bio-oil and gases are essential alternatives to fossil coal-based fuels for energy and electricity production, whose need is constantly growing. Biochar, the porous carbon-based lightweight product, often ends up as a soil fertilizer. However, it can be applied in other industrial sectors, e.g., in plastics production or in modifying cementitious materials intended for construction needs. This work dealt with the application of small amounts of softwood-based biochar up to 2.0 wt.% on hydration kinetics and a wide range of physical and mechanical properties, such as water transport characteristics and flexural and compressive strengths of modified cement pastes. In the comparison with reference specimens, the biochar incorporation into cement pastes brought benefits like the reduction of open porosity, improvement of strength properties, and decreased capillary water absorption of 7-day and 28-day-cured cement pastes. Moreover, biochar-dosed cement pastes showed an increase in heat evolution during the hydration process, accompanied by higher consumption of clinker minerals. Considering all examined characteristics, the optimal dosage of softwood-derived biochar of 1.0 wt.% of Portland cement can be recommended.

Root mechanical traits, including load for failure in tension (Fr), tensile strength (Tr), tensile strain (epsilon r), modulus of elasticity (Er), and tensile toughness (Wr), are critical for plant anchorage and soil stability. These traits are shaped by root morphology, type (absorptive and transport roots), and mycorrhizal associations (arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi). This study investigates the relationships among these traits. We examined mechanical traits across eight woody species with different mycorrhizal associations, categorizing roots into absorptive and transport types. Root morphological traits - root diameter (RD), specific root length (SRL), root tissue density (RTD), and root biomass (RB) - were measured. Tensile tests were conducted to assess mechanical properties. Statistical analyses, including regression and principal component analysis (PCA), were used to elucidate trait relationships. Transport roots exhibited superior mechanical properties compared to absorptive roots, with RD and RB showing significant positive correlations with mechanical traits. AM roots demonstrated higher tensile strength, strain, and toughness than EM roots. PCA highlighted RD and SRL as dominant factors influencing root mechanical performance, while RB contributed significantly to transport roots' structural stability. This study underscores the critical role of root morphological traits and mycorrhizal associations in determining mechanical performance. These findings highlight the ecological trade-offs between mechanical stability and resource acquisition, offering novel insights into root functional strategies and their implications for ecosystem stability.

Jadomycin B, produced by the soil bacterium Streptomyces venezuelae ISP5230, induces cytotoxicity in human breast cancer cells in vitro and has antitumoral effects in animal models. In models of multidrugresistant, triple-negative breast cancer, jadomycin B has shown promise as it is not a substrate of ABCB1 and ABCG2 drug efflux transporters. The generation of reactive oxygen species and inhibition of topoisomerases are potential mechanisms of jadomycin B-mediated DNA damage and apoptosis. However, the mechanisms of jadomycin B's anticancer activity have not been fully elucidated. By gradually exposing MDA-MB-231 triple-negative human breast cancer cells to jadomycin B, we hypothesized that resistance could be selected to further understand jadomycin B's pharmacological mechanisms. A 3-fold increase in the jadomycin B IC50 was observed in MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to increasing jadomycin B concentrations (0-3 mu M) over 7 months, herein 231-JB cells. The 231-JB cells were cross-resistant to jadomycin F and S but not to the comparator drugs mitoxantrone, doxorubicin, and SN-38. The 231-JB cells did not have increased mRNA expression of topoisomerase-2 nor ABCB1 and ABCG2. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) increased by 25-fold, but expression of prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 did not significantly change. Cotreatment with celecoxib (15-45 mu M), a COX-2 inhibitor, resensitized the 231-JB cells to jadomycin B (IC50 1/4 1.41 +/- 0.24 to 0.75 +/- 0.31 mu M vs 2.28 +/- 0.54 with 0 mu M celecoxib). To our knowledge, this work represents the first report of the involvement of COX-2 in jadomycin B activity in vitro, proving to be an exciting new target for the exploration of jadomycin B anticancer activity. Significance Statement: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin production, is associated with procancer signaling. COX-2, ABCB1, and ABCG2 overexpression are typically correlated in cancer, contributing to chemotherapy resistance. We observed increased COX-2, but not ABCG2 or

This study focuses on the behaviour of buried gas pipelines subjected to surface loading. The study is oriented towards an experimental campaign carried out on small-scale pipelines, with three different wall thicknesses, both in monotonic and cyclic conditions. Pipes have been instrumented with strain gauges and inner displacement sensors, allowing to record deformations, stresses and ovalisation of the pipe, in addition to the load-settlement relationship at the soil surface. Results show that the presence of the pipe affects the global soil response (stiffness and bearing capacity). Analysis of the strain distribution and pipe deformed shape indicate that the pipe response is complex, with no symmetry along the horizontal axis, and a heart-shaped deformation pattern. The pipe rigidity affects the local behaviour at the pipe level (displacement pattern, evolution of stresses during cyclic loading and increasing lateral support). Classical pipeline design theory has been assessed based on the experimental observations, invalidating several underlying hypotheses.

Zinc, an important micronutrient, offers a crucial role in plant growth and development. However, its deficiency can significantly impair plant growth by disrupting essential physiological processes, leading to stunted growth and reduced reproductive capacity. Agronomic Zn biofortification offers the dual benefits of enhancing yield and improving grain Zn concentration. In this study, we evaluated various doses of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4; 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mM) for their effectiveness in improving the performance of rice cultivars (Basmati-198 and PK-386) in alkaline Zn-deficient soil. Our results showed that ZnSO4 application significantly enhanced seedlings performance where 400 mM dose outperformed other treatments. Notably, ZnSO4 application at 400 mM increased seedling Zn accumulation by 152.40% and 125.96% in Basmati-198 and PK-386, respectively, over control. This dose also improved root dry weight by 74.52%, net photosynthesis by 41%, the activities of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 79.88%, 23.80%, 58.77% and 75.72%, respectively, in Basmati-198 compared with PK-386. Moreover, ZnSO4 application (at 400 mM) alleviated oxidative damage by reducing malondialdehyde (58.12% and 56.63%), hydrogen peroxide (60.13% and 58.15%), and electrolyte leakage (31.39% and 29.06%) in Basmati-198 and PK-386, respectively, compared with the control without ZnSO4 supplementation. This study also demonstrated that ZnSO4 application increased the expression of bZIP genes, including OsbZIP08, OsbZIP16, OsbZIP21, and OsbZIP60, which are highly responsive to Zn deficiency in rice. Notably, the expression levels of these genes were highest following ZnSO4 application at 400 mM, resulting in a 7.1- and eightfold increase in OsbZIP21 expression, a 6.2- and 7.4-fold increase in OsbZIP16 expression, a 5- and 6.3-fold increase in OsbZIP08 expression, and a 4.5- and fivefold increase in OsbZIP60 expression in PK-386 and Basmati-198, respectively, compared to the control. The highest fold-change expression was observed for OsbZIP21 gene in Basmati-198, followed by OsbZIP16 and OsbZIP08, while OsbZIP60 exhibited the lowest fold change in the same cultivar. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to enhance plant nutrient uptake efficiency and deepen our understanding of the mechanisms governing Zn assimilation in plants.

In the Ulan Buh Desert, which is located in a seasonally frozen region, a frozen soil layer can appear in the winter after the wind erosion of dry sand from the surface of a mobile sand dune, thus altering the wind-sand transport process. To clarify the wind-sand transport pattern after the emergence of a frozen soil layer, this study used wind tunnel experiments to study the variations in the wind erosion rate and sediment transport pattern of frozen and nonfrozen desert soil with different soil moisture contents (1-5%). The results revealed that the relationships of the wind speed, soil moisture content and wind erosion rate are in line with an exponential function, and the wind erosion rate decreases by 6-52% after the desert soil is frozen. When the soil moisture content of the nonfrozen desert and frozen desert soil is 4% and 3%, respectively, the wind erosion rate of the soil can be reduced by more than 65% compared with that of natural dry sand (soil moisture content of 0.28%), i.e., the wind erosion rate can be effectively reduced. The sediment transport rate of nonfrozen desert soil decreases with increasing height, with an average ratio of approximately 65% for saltation. The sediment transport rate of frozen desert soil first increases but then decreases with increasing height, with an average ratio of approximately 80% for saltation. When sand particles hit the source of frozen desert soil, the interaction between particles and bed surface is dominated by the process of impact and rebound, so that more particles move higher, and some sand particles move from creep to saltation. In summary, freezing has an inhibitory effect on the wind-sand activity of desert soil, and freezing makes it easier for sand to move upwards.

The Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance (NECB) is a crucial metric for understanding integrated carbon dynamics in Arctic and boreal regions, which are vital to the global carbon cycle. These areas are associated with significant uncertainties and rapid climate change, potentially leading to unpredictable alterations in carbon dynamics. This mini-review examines key components of NECB, including carbon sequestration, methane emissions, lateral carbon transport, herbivore interactions, and disturbances, while integrating insights from recent permafrost region greenhouse gas budget syntheses. We emphasize the need for a holistic approach to quantify the NECB, incorporating all components and their uncertainties. The review highlights recent methodological advances in flux measurements, including improvements in eddy covariance and automatic chamber techniques, as well as progress in modeling approaches and data assimilation. Key research priorities are identified, such as improving the representation of inland waters in process-based models, expanding monitoring networks, and enhancing integration of long-term field observations with modeling approaches. These efforts are essential for accurately quantifying current and future greenhouse gas budgets in rapidly changing northern landscapes, ultimately informing more effective climate change mitigation strategies and ecosystem management practices. The review aligns with the goals of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) and Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), providing important insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders working to understand and protect these sensitive ecosystems.

Almost all of the existing testing methods to determine elastic modulus of the soil or aggregate for pavement design involve the application of repetitive loads applied at a single point. This approach falls short of representing the conditions that are observed when the wheel of a vehicle rolls over the surface. This study presents a new methodology, in which light weight deflectometer (LWD) is used to apply three adjacent sequential loads repetitively to replicate a multipoint loading of the surface. The elastic modulus values obtained from these multipoint LWD tests were compared against the repetitive single point LWD test results. The multipoint LWD test elastic modulus values were consistently lower than the values obtained from the single point LWD tests. The single point LWD tests showed an increase in elastic modulus with increased load repetition. The multipoint LWD results did not show an increase in the elastic modulus as a function of repetitive loading. This study showed that damping ratio values provide guidance to explain differences in the elastic modulus with an increased number of load repetitions. In repetitive single point tests, the applied load caused initial compaction, and in multipoint LWD tests, it caused disturbance in the ground. With increased load cycles, the ground reached a stabilized condition in both tests. The methodology presented in this study appeared to minimize the unintended compaction of the ground during the single point LWD tests to determine the elastic modulus.