Research on urban flood risk has highlighted the need for more comprehensive flood risk assessments in low-income and vulnerable communities. This study aims to examine the causes, impacts and existing flood risk management measures in the Somali region of Ethiopia. The study used a mixed research methodology, including a cross-sectional survey, to collect original qualitative and quantitative data.. In addition to flood risk and vulnerability assessment, the study evaluated urban flood risk management measures through soil protection service curve number, production distribution network and supply chain risk management methods.The results suggest that flooding in Dolo-Ado is increasing due to heavy rainfall and flooding, as well as inadequate flood control measures and geographical location. Soil Conservation Service Curve Number analysis shows that the arid landscape of Dolo-ado is predominantly shrub and barren with significant differences in land cover types. The low infiltration capacity, high runoff potential and frequent heavy rainfall are the main factors contributing to the area's high soil vulnerability to flash floodsConsequently, qualitative results also confirm that this has resulted in extensive infrastructure damage, displacement, loss of livelihoods, ecosystem disruption and disruption to community life, as well as water and health problems. In addition, flood risks are more severe for vulnerable urban communities, impacting services, the economy and the environment. Therefore, inadequate preventive measures for effective supply chain management are urgent and crucial for resilience. This study implies that urban planning and policies should be changed and prioritize the integration of production distribution networks and flood risk management in the supply chain to effectively mitigate floods. Climate change-responsive and integrated urban planning, improved drainage systems, early warning, emergency planning and community engagement are critical for flood preparedness, adaptation and resilience and require further research and modeling techniques.

Application of organic mulches has repeatedly been shown to reduce infestation with Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), the Colorado potato beetle (CPB). In order to determine if the nutritional status of potatoes as affected by mulch could explain the mulch effects in potatoes against CPB, we determined potato leaf nutrient composition in unmulched control plots and plots mulched with grass-clover or triticale-vetch and assessed mulch effects on CPB damage and development in the field during 3 years and under controlled conditions. In mulched plots, foliar Mo, Cl, and K contents were consistently higher than those without mulch, and leaf damage by CPB was reduced significantly. In addition, increased B contents were associated with undamaged plant material, while higher Zn contents were associated with leaves damaged by CPB. Under controlled conditions, CPB fitness was not affected by mulch application. Overall, reduced CPB damage could not be clearly attributed to altered foliar nutrient contents due to mulching. It is thus more likely that CPB reductions in mulched systems are due to mechanisms other than an altered nutrient balance.

This study investigated the failure phenomenon of steel plate-reinforced concrete shaft structures situated in soil under medium-field explosions. Through model experiments and finite element numerical simulations, we analyzed the process of plastic hinge line formation and the deformation characteristics of the structure, and the dimensionless circumferential relative displacement alpha 1 was proposed as an index to measure the structural deformation. According to the damage characteristics, the structural failure modes were divided into standard failure mode and three extension failure mode. The empirical formula of the characteristic size of plastic hinge line is derived from the numerical simulation data. Based on the numerical simulation data and the law of conservation of energy, the empirical formula of the characteristic size of the plastic hinge line was obtained by fitting, the motion field of each plate in the plastic hinge line was analyzed, and the calculation method of the rigid plastic deformation of the shaft structure was established. We compared the discrepancies between the finite element calculation model and the theoretical algorithm and examined the impacts of concrete strength, concrete thickness to radius ratio, steel plate thickness to radius ratio, and charge mass on steel plate displacement. The results showed that increasing concrete strength and the thicknesses of both concrete and steel plates improved the structure's blast resistance and reduced deformation. And at the same scaled explosive distance, a higher charge mass increased the distance to the structure, leading to greater external work and structural deformation. In cases where concrete thickness to radius ratio greater than 13%, the relative error between theoretical calculations and numerical simulations was below 20%, indicating the computational method's accuracy in predicting the deformation of steel plate-reinforced concrete shaft under medium-field explosions.

Gels are transversal materials with key applications in multiple scientific and technological sectors, including the preservation of Cultural Heritage that is a fundamental drive for socioeconomic resilience. Recently, the new class of twin-chain (TC) polymer gel networks was developed, using freeze-thaw (FT) cycles on solutions of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with two different hydrolysis degree and molar mass. Taking advantage of polymerpolymer phase separation in the pre-gel solutions, a sponge-like, interconnected porosity is templated in the hydrogels during FT, which concurs to boost the cleaning capability of the gels versus soil and aged coatings that jeopardize paintings and other iconic artworks. This review covers the latest developments in this new class of gels, and their use in the conservation of works of art. The TC gels allowed time-effective restoration of masterpieces (paintings by Picasso, Pollock, Lichtenstein), which would have been risky and time-consuming with conventional restoration materials in wet cleaning. The review discusses gelation mechanisms, the partial replacement or decoration of PVA with non-toxic synthetic or bio-based polymers, the counterintuitive role of gels' tortuosity in the cleaning process, and the upload of these gels with nanostructured cleaning fluids (microemulsions, micelles). Overall, the TC PVA hydrogels constitute an advanced tool to preserve Cultural Heritage and transfer it to future generations; moreover, they represent a class of sustainable soft matter materials with potential impact in several fields, spanning from detergency to the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries, tissue engineering, and others.

Extreme weather events are increasing the frequency and intensity of forest fires, generating serious environmental and socio-economic impacts. These fires cause soil loss through erosion, organic matter depletion, increased surface runoff and the release of greenhouse gases, intensifying climate change. They also affect biodiversity, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and soil quality. The assessment of forest fires by remote sensing, such as the use of the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), allows rapid analysis of damaged areas, monitoring of vegetation changes and the design of restoration strategies. On the other hand, models such as RUSLE are key tools for calculating soil erosion and planning conservation measures. A study of the impacts on soils and vegetation in the south of Salamanca, where one of the worst fires in the province took place in 2022, has been carried out using RUSLE and NDVI models, respectively. The study confirms that fires significantly affect soil properties, increase erosion and hinder vegetation recovery, highlighting the need for effective restoration strategies. It was observed that erosion intensifies after fires (the maximum rate of soil loss before is 1551.85 t/ha/year, while after it is 4899.42 t/ha/year) especially in areas with steeper slopes, which increases soil vulnerability, according to the RUSLE model. The NDVI showed a decrease in vegetation recovery in the most affected areas (with a maximum value of 0.3085 after the event and 0.4677 before), indicating a slow regeneration process. The generation of detailed cartographies is essential to identify critical areas and prioritise conservation actions. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of implementing restoration measures, designing sustainable agricultural strategies and developing environmental policies focused on the mitigation of land degradation and the recovery of fire-affected ecosystems.

Uncertainties in carbon storage estimates for disturbance-prone dryland ecosystems hinder accurate assessments of their contribution to the global carbon budget. This study examines the effects of land-use change on carbon storage in an African savanna landscape, focusing on two major land-use change pathways: agricultural intensification and wildlife conservation, both of which alter disturbance regimes. By adapting tree inventory and soil sampling methods for dryland conditions, we quantified aboveground and belowground carbon in woody vegetation (AGC and BGC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) across these pathways in two vegetation types (scrub savanna and woodland savanna). We used Generalized Additive Mixed Models to assess the effects of multiple environmental drivers on AGC and whole-ecosystem carbon storage (C-total). Our findings revealed a pronounced variation in the vulnerability of carbon reservoirs to disturbance, depending on land-use change pathway and vegetation type. In scrub savanna vegetation, shrub AGC emerged as the most vulnerable carbon reservoir, declining on average by 56% along the conservation pathway and 90% along the intensification pathway compared to low-disturbance sites. In woodland savanna, tree AGC was most affected, decreasing on average by 95% along the intensification pathway. Unexpectedly, SOC stocks were often higher at greater disturbance levels, particularly under agricultural intensification, likely due to the preferential conversion of naturally carbon-richer soils for agriculture and the redistribution of AGC to SOC through megaherbivore browsing. Strong unimodal relationships between disturbance agents, such as megaherbivore browsing and woodcutting, and both AGC and C-total suggest that intermediate disturbance levels can enhance ecosystem-level carbon storage in disturbance-prone dryland ecosystems. These findings underline the importance of locally tailored management strategies-such as in carbon certification schemes-that reconcile disturbance regimes in drylands with carbon sequestration goals. Moreover, potential trade-offs between land-use objectives and carbon storage goals must be considered.

Coal mining in ecologically fragile areas results in the failure of aquiclude layers and the loss of surface water bodies. Herein, research was conducted on the microbial solidification of cracked soils and the corresponding response of the ecological water table. A simulation of mining-induced cracked soils was performed via microbial solidification. The mechanical and hydrological properties of cracked soil samples repaired with different filling materials were compared via unconfined compressive strength and falling head permeability tests. Hydraulic-electric similarity modeling techniques were employed to evaluate the effectiveness of microbial solidification in the aquiclude layers. After low-temperature acclimation, Bacillus megaterium adapted to the geological environment of the study area, exhibiting a high viable cell density. When the cracked soil was filled with a 1:1 ratio of aeolian sand to clay particles, the microbially remediated soil demonstrated optimal mechanical and hydraulic properties. Hydraulic-electric similarity numerical simulations revealed that the ecological water table at the coalface remained within a reasonable range following microbial solidification, suggesting that microbial solidification achieved water-preserving coal mining. These findings provide a reference for restoring aquiclude layers damaged by coal mining.

The recurrent crystallization and subsequent volumetric expansion of soluble salts pose significant risks to earthen sites, particularly those with archaeological remains on their surfaces. Therefore, timing interventions based on salt content is crucial. This study focuses on the effects of soluble salt content on the earthen site within the burial pits of the Qin Mausoleum, with a particular emphasis on defining safe salinity levels. A mixture of Na2SO4/NaCl salts in a 1:1 mass ratio was added to remodelled soil cakes, which were then aged in a climate chamber for several months. The area of salt expansion on the soil cakes' surfaces was measured using a deep-focus microscope to assess damage. The results indicate a sudden increase in salt expansion when salinity exceeded 0.1%. Additionally, re-evaluations of these soil cakes years later allowed for the exploration of mechanisms and the feasibility of assessing soil surface expansion and friability at different stages of the earthen site's lifecycle, including excavation and display. These findings provide preliminary scientific bases and novel methodologies for the further preventive conservation of heritage earthen sites.

Investigating the natural propensity for land use is essential, especially in areas subject to intense human action. Using soil without considering its productive capacity can lead to underutilization or overutilization, resulting in inefficiency or severe damage. This study aimed to determine the land use capability at the Center for Agricultural Sciences (CCA) of the Federal University of S & atilde;o Carlos (UFSCar). By evaluating the morphological, physical, and chemical attributes of the soils, the land use capability was determined using the Land Use Capability System, which classifies soils according to their greatest limitation. It was found that the entire area falls into Group A, suitable for uses ranging from the preservation of fauna and flora to annual crops. However, there are differences in soil conservation needs observed among the classes. On the campus, class III predominates (94.14% of the total area), indicating areas with complex conservation and/or improvement problems; class II, with simpler issues, covers 2.31%, while 3.54% present serious soil conservation problems. In addition to the 23.78% of the area occupied by Permanent Preservation Area (APP) and Legal Reserve (RL), 67.59% of the area is being used appropriately, 3.54% above capacity, and 5.09% below. For overutilized areas, less intensive management or conservation designation, along with the implementation of recovery and erosion control practices, are recommended. Underutilized areas can be exploited to their full potential, while for adequately used areas, maintaining conservation practices is essential to ensure resource sustainability.

The thickness estimation of landslides is crucial for better landslide evaluation. Traditional non-contact mass conservation methods using 3D deformation may be unsuitable due to observation limitations. This study proposes a more feasible approach based on 2D deformation from two-track Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) observations, applied to the Xiongba landslide. The comparison with geological and drilling measurements confirms the reliability of this method. The mapped InSAR LOS deformation rate fields reveal two regions: a significantly deformed frontal zone and a relatively stable zone. Analysis suggests that surface uplift at the Xiongba-H2 landslide's front edge results from rock-soil mass pushing in high-deformation areas. The estimated thickness ranges from 10 to 100 m, with an active volume of 6.17 x 10(7) m(3). A thicker region is identified at the front edge along the Jinsha River, posing the potential for further failure. This low-cost, easily implemented approach enhances InSAR's applicability for landslide analysis and hazard assessment.