Shallow cut-and-cover underground structures, such as subway stations, are traditionally designed as rigid boxes (moment-resisting connections between the main structural members), seeking internal hyperstaticity and high lateral (transverse) stiffness to achieve important seismic capacity. However, since seismic ground motions impose racking drifts, this proved rather prejudicial, with great structural damage and little resilience. Therefore, two previous papers proposed an opposite strategy seeking low lateral (transverse) stiffness by connecting the structural elements flexibly (hinging and sliding). Under severe seismic inputs, these structures would accommodate racking without significant damage; this behaviour is highly resilient. The seismic resilience of this solution was numerically demonstrated in the well-known Daikai station (Kobe, Japan) and a station located in Chengdu (China). This paper is a continuation of these studies; it aims to extend, deepen, and ground this conclusion by performing a numerical parametric study on these two stations in a wide and representative set of situations characterised by the soil type, overburden depth, engineering bedrock position, and high- and lowlateral-stiffness of the stations. The performance indices are the racking displacement and the structural damage (quantified through concrete damage variables). The findings of this study validate the previous remarks and provide new insights.

With changing climate and increased frequency of wet weather extremes, increased attention is being directed towards understanding the resilience of agroecosystems and the goods and services they deliver. The world's most instrumented and monitored farm (the North Wyke Fam Platform - a UK National Bioscience Research Infrastructure) has been used to explore the resilience of sediment loss regulation delivered by lowland grazing livestock and arable systems under conventional best management. The robustness of water quality regulation was explored using exceedance of modern background (i.e. pre-World War II) net soil loss rates (i.e., sediment delivery) during both typical (2012-13, 2015-16) and the most extreme (2013-14, 2019-20, 2023-24) winters (December - February, inclusive), in terms of seasonal rainfall totals, over the past similar to decade. Exceedances of maximum modern background sediment loss rates from pasture were as high as 2.4X when scheduled ploughing and reseeding for sward improvement occurred immediately prior to the winters in question. Exceedances of maximum modern background sediment loss rates in the arable system (winter wheat and spring oats) were as high as 21.7X. Over the five monitored winters, the environmental damage costs for cumulative sediment loss from the permanent pasture system ranged from pound 163-203 and pound 197-245 ha(-1) to pound 321-421 and pound 386-507 ha(-1). Over the same five winters, environmental damage costs for cumulative sediment loss from catchments subjected to reseeding and, more latterly, arable conversion, ranged between pound 382-584 and pound 461-703 ha(-1) to pound 1978-2334 and pound 2384-2812 ha(-1). Our data provide valuable quantitative insight into the impacts of winter rainfall and land use on the resilience of sediment loss regulation.

The pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) is a major tree species in Europe, but it has faced recent growth decline and dieback events in some areas resulting in economic and ecosystem losses. In the southeastern edge of its natural distribution in eastern Romania, rising temperatures since the 1980s, when a shift towards warmer and more arid conditions occurred, increased evaporative demand and triggered growth decline. We analyzed the adaptive potential of six oak stands (333 individual trees) with ages ranging between 97 and 233 years, located in three wet and three dry sites. Results showed unstable climate-growth correlations with a breakpoint after 1985 when climate warming intensified. Wet soil conditions from early spring to summer enhanced growth; on the contrary, a high evaporative demand linked to warmer conditions and greater potential evapotranspiration reduced growth, particularly in wet sites. After 1985, drought stress induced a reduction in latewood width in dry sites. The relationship between growth and summer-autumn drought intensified during the last decades in all sites. Warmer spring conditions negatively affected oak growth, particularly latewood production. Wet sites had lower resilience indices, and we also noted a post-1985 progressive reduction of growth resilience. Slow-growing trees from dry sites showed growth decline, which could be an early-warning signal of impending dieback and tree death. In contrast, fast-growing trees from wet sites showed sustained relative growth improvement, which was attributed to tree age and size effects. After 1985, the pedunculate oak is more vulnerable to drought damage in dry sites near the southeastern distribution limit in response to hotter winter-spring droughts.

This study explores the perspectives and adaptive strategies of forest stakeholders across five regions of Europe, North to South-Finland, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, and Greece-regarding climate change challenges in forestry. 129 stakeholders were surveyed, including forest owners, professionals, environmental NGOs, government representatives, and recreationists, who pointed at soil quality, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and timber production as the main concerns. Regional threats varied, with storms and pests prevailing in Finland, illegal logging in Lithuania, Romania and Serbia, and fires and unsustainable grazing in Greece. Proposed solutions emphasise active forest management, stakeholder engagement and policy reforms. While Finland and Serbia are optimistic about future forest resilience, Lithuania and Romania are neutral. Greece shows mixed reactions, mainly due to concerns about the political will to implement effective forest policy. The study highlights nuanced regional responses to climate-related forest challenges and the need for region-specific approaches to forest management and policy, with broader implications for environmental governance strategies.

In this study, the physiological response of potted apple trees to combined drought and heat stress was evaluated. After establishing different levels of soil water availability, the trees were exposed to a five-day simulated heatwave with daily maximum temperatures of 40 degrees C. Stem water potential, leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and tree transpiration were monitored before, during and after the combined application of heat and water stress, therefore providing insights into the extent and rapidity of the recovery. Drought caused stomatal closure that limited net photosynthesis and transpiration both at leaf and at tree level, leading to structural damage through leaf loss. On drought-stressed plants, chlorophyll fluorescence was significantly reduced by heat stress, suggesting additional leaf damage although net photosynthesis was not lower than under drought stress alone. On the other hand, well-watered trees showed low midday stem water potentials and high transpiration rates during the heatwave, while net photosynthesis was not affected. Water use efficiency of well-watered trees at 33 degrees C was reduced to 60 % of that at 23 degrees C. After the heatwave, transpiration rate in well-watered trees immediately declined to pre-stress levels, underscoring the strong atmospheric control on transpiration in apple trees. In drought-stressed trees, predawn stem water potential reached pre-stress values already on the first day of recovery. Stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, and chlorophyll fluorescence, however, required a longer period to recover, indicating that drought stress induced transient hydraulic limitations. Nevertheless, all parameters fully recovered within five days after the end of the heatwave, showing that apple trees can withstand periods of combined heat and drought stress. The key role of water in modulating the response to heat stress highlights the need for improved irrigation management in apple orchards under climate change.

The seismic resilience of underground structures is one of the critical issues for the development of resilient cities. However, existing assessing methods for assessing the seismic resilience of underground structures do not comprehensively address their seismic capacity and post-earthquake recoverability. This paper developed a seismic resilience index and framework for assessing the seismic resilience of underground frame structures by considering both the damage and functionality of underground structures caused by earthquakes, as well as the processes involved in repairs. The seismic resilience index was developed by quantifying the resist resilience and recovery resilience, which can be used to describe the robustness, redundancy, and resourcefulness of the seismic resilience. Then the assessing procedure for this method is presented step by step. Additionally, a case study was conducted to assess the seismic resilience of a frame subway station, focusing on the economic losses associated with earthquakes. The study also discusses the improvements in seismic resilience achieved through the use of reinforced concrete truncated (RCT) columns. Results indicate that RCT columns can significantly enhance the seismic resilience of underground structures. The reasonability and quantifiability of the developed method were compared with existing methods, demonstrating its effectiveness. Furthermore, the developed assessing method can be extended to assess the seismic resilience of underground structures after quantifying their operational functionality.

PurposeShield tunnel is usually used as permanent underground facilities with a design service life of 100 years, and operational safety is very important. The objective of this paper is to investigate the failure mechanism and resilience evolution of double-layer lining structures of shield tunnels and to maintain the safety of structural operation.Design/methodology/approachA macro-micro model is established based on the refinement concept, considering the influences of hand-hole weakening, multi-contact interactions and reinforcement bars. The macro model describes the stress and deformation of the soil-reinforced structure using the stratum-structure method. The micro model introduces the total strain crack model, which accurately characterizes the tensile, compressive and shear behavior of concrete, calculating the millimeter-scale crack characteristics at the interface between the double-layer lining and the concrete. The mechanical response and resilience evolution of the reinforced structure are studied.FindingsThe results show that the segmental lining joint is the weakest part of the reinforced structure. The primary failure modes include the destruction of the arch vault and left-right spandrel joints, fractures in the tension zone and crack propagation and penetration at the interface. The segmental lining and secondary lining are not perfectly connected, resulting in different internal force distribution patterns, and the secondary lining exhibits a deformation mode different from the typical elliptical type. There is a significant difference between the normal and tangential displacement distributions at the interface of the double-layer lining structure, with interface failure mainly characterized by shear slip. Reinforcement of the secondary lining can significantly enhance the resilience of the segmental lining, and the resilience recovery of the structure is more pronounced with earlier reinforcement intervention.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates notable originality and value. It develops a refined model to simulate the failure and damage of a double-layer lining structure, with millimeter-scale simulations of crack propagation at the interface of the interlayer area. A framework for evaluating the structural resilience of shield tunnels reinforced with double-layer linings is established, and the evolution of performance and structural resilience throughout the loading process and subsequent lining reinforcement was thoroughly analyzed. The findings provide valuable recommendations for the reinforcement of double-layer linings in shield tunnel projects.

Salinity stress poses a critical threat to global crop productivity, driven by factors such as saline irrigation, low precipitation, native rock weathering, high surface evaporation, and excessive fertilizer application. This abiotic stress induces oxidative damage, osmotic imbalance, and ionic toxicity, severely affecting plant growth and leading to crop failure. Silicon (Si) has emerged as a versatile element capable of mitigating various biotic and abiotic stresses, including salinity. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of Si's multifaceted role in alleviating salinity stress, elucidating its molecular, physiological, and biochemical mechanisms in plants. It explores Si uptake, transport, and accumulation in plant tissues, emphasizing its contributions to maintaining ionic balance, enhancing water uptake, and reinforcing cell structural integrity under saline conditions. Additionally, this review addresses Si transformations in saline soils and the factors influencing its bioavailability. A significant focus is placed on silicon-solubilizing microorganisms (SSMs), which enhance Si bioavailability through mechanisms such as organic acid production, ligand exchange, mineral dissolution, and biofilm formation. By improving nutrient cycling and mitigating salinity-induced stress, SSMs offer a sustainable alternative to synthetic silicon fertilizers, promoting resilient crop production in salt-affected soils.

This article investigates the influence of climatic and geographical characteristics in south-western region of Bangladesh on the temporal dynamics of post-cyclone impacts, with a critical focus on biophysical contexts. By quantitatively assessing the environmental consequences of cyclones Amphan (2020), Yaas (2021), Mocha (2023) and Remal (2024), the study offers a nuanced understanding of flood damage extent and vegetation health, measured through advanced remote sensing and geospatial techniques. Using Sentinel-1 (GRD) and Sentinel-2 (MSI) satellite imageries from 2020 to 2024, the study has examined post-cyclone changes of vegetation health and flood damage extent using available indices such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI). The results exhibit substantial spatial disparities occurred due to the cyclone events, with NDVI variations ranging from - 0.124 to 0.546 (Amphan), - 0.033 to 0.498 (Mocha), - 0.086 to 0.458 (Yaas), and - 0.061 to 0.362 (Remal), indicating significant ecological stress. Corresponding SAVI changes ranged from - 0.001 to 0.396 (Amphan), - 0.029 to 0.338 (Mocha), - 0.002 to 0.345 (Yaas), and - 0.0524 to 0.269 (Remal). Negative indices underscore potential vegetation degradation, while positive values indicate resilience or post-cyclone recovery. Furthermore, flood damage analysis indicates to a more severe and unevenly distributed impact than previously recognized, particularly in areas with pre-existing vulnerabilities with the damage extent variations between - 35.918 to - 2.0093 (Amphan), - 35.334 to - 4.4059 (Mocha), - 34.806 to - 0.94921 (Yaas), and - 48.469 to 0.00255 (Remal). The Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), model demonstrates a robust relationship, with r2 values of 0.894, 0.889, 0.899, and 0.95, indicating that approximately 85% of the ecological changes are driven by fluctuations of vegetation due to flood. The insight from this research provides a foundation of flood damage assessment technique occurred by cyclones in a short span of time to aid immediate policy recommendations to enhance resilience in remote areas of the coastal regions of Bangladesh.

This study examines the failure mechanisms of offshore caisson-type composite breakwaters (OCCBs) under seismic loading through 1g shaking table model tests, comparing cases with and without remediation measures against seabed soil liquefaction. For this purpose, several countermeasures are implemented, comprising wraparound geogrid inclusions within the rubble mound layer, stone columns and compacted improvement zones in the seabed soil, all aimed at enhancing the seismic resilience and stability of OCCBs. Six physical model tests are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the applied remediation measures in minimizing liquefactioninduced deformations of OCCBs, including settlement, lateral movement, and tilting. Experimental findings indicate that the caisson settlement is primarily caused by the lateral flow of the foundation soil and the rubble mound layer. The combined use of stone columns and wraparound geogrid reinforcements efficiently mitigates this lateral flow. Notably, remediating just 2.8 % of the liquefiable seabed soil with stone columns decreases OCCB settlement and tilting by 45.4 % and 31 %, respectively, compared to the non-remediated model. Additionally, incorporating wraparound geogrid reinforcements within the rubble mound layer results in even further reductions of settlement and tilting by 90.6 % and 91.3 %, respectively. This research offers valuable insights for developing effective countermeasures to mitigate seismic-induced damage to OCCBs seated on liquefiable seabed soils.