Cascading Effects Research Articles

Energy-based coupling risk assessment (CRA) model for urban underground utility tunnels

As a kind of highly integrated urban critical infrastructure, the urban underground utility tunnel hosts various pipelines to facilitate the city life. But the integration of hazardous pipelines like natural gas pipelines and electric cables inside a confined infrastructure also brings emerging risks due to coupling effect, which have not been systematically analysed by the existing method. So, there is an essential need for a coupling risk assessment (CRA) model to tackle coupling effects and corresponding coupling accidents in utility tunnels quantitatively. A clear definition and classification of coupling effect, synergistic effect, and cascading effect are proposed in this work. By introducing the energy transfer and out-of-control theory, it is feasible to identify interacted hazards systematically and coupling accidents in utility tunnels. Natural gas explosion, cable fire, and rain-triggered ponding are identified as typical coupling accidents to perform CRA. The results indicate that the risks of the 3 coupling accidents are considerable, and fatality is possible in the case of gas explosion and ponding. It can be concluded that the current firefighting systems and drainage systems are not sufficient for risk mitigation of utility tunnels with coupling effect.

Thermal-flow-force-electrical coupling characteristics of microchannel cooling systems in high heat flux chips

To address the challenges faced by designers of multi-field coupled cooling systems for high heat flux chips, this paper proposes a “near-source” microchannel cooling strategy and establishes a thermal–flow-force electrically coupled model for chips. The effects of chip Joule heat and cooling water flow rate on the cooling performance with respect to multi-field coupling effects were studied. The impact of multi-field coupling effects was revealed, and a method for enhancing microchannel cooling performance in light of multi-field coupling effects is proposed. The results indicated that considering multi-field coupling effects in the microchannel cooling process leads to a deterioration in the thermal performance of chips, accompanied by a significant increase in electrical fluctuations and thermal deformation amplitude. Compared to chips upstream of the cooling water, chips downstream subjected to thermal cascade effects were more sensitive to multi-field coupling effects. Moreover, the temperature variance index, output current, and strain energy density of high heat flux chips were positively correlated with Joule heat but inversely proportional to the Reynolds number of the cooling water for cases in respect of multi-field coupling effects. Additionally, serpentine microchannels maximized the operational performance of high heat flux chips by reducing temperature of chip by up to 55.1%, decreasing strain energy density by 96.7%, and increasing input potential by 120%.

Warming alters cascading effects of a dominant arthropod predator on fungal community composition in the Arctic.

The Arctic contains nearly half of the global pool of soil organic carbon and is one of the fastest warming regions on the planet. Accelerated decomposition of soil organic carbon due to warming could cause positive feedbacks to climate change through increased greenhouse gas emissions; thus, changes in ecological dynamics in this region are of global relevance. Microbial structure is an important driver of decomposition and is affected by both abiotic and biotic conditions. Yet how activities of soil-dwelling organisms in higher trophic levels influence microbial structure and function is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that predicted changes in abundances of a dominant predator and warming interactively affect the structure of litter-dwelling fungal communities in the Arctic. These findings suggest predators may have widespread, indirect cascading effects on microbial communities, which could influence ecosystem responses to future climate change.

Ethnic-Racial Identity and Attitude Change: Assessments of Outgroup and Diversity Attitudes among Adolescents in Sweden

Outgroup and diversity attitudes are important components of intercultural understanding and well-being. Despite the potential of ethnic-racial identity development as a means to foster positive outgroup and diversity attitudes, little is known about its effectiveness in rapidly diversifying contexts such as Sweden. This pre-registered study filled this gap by examining if adolescents taking part in an intervention focused on ethnic-racial identity exploration, the Identity Project, also reported change in outgroup and diversity attitudes, and whether migration background, education type, and ethnic-racial identity development predicted such change. Twenty-three tenth-grade classes in Sweden (N = 509; Mage = 16.28; SDage = 0.80; 66% female; 51% migration background) participated in the intervention and were assessed in four waves over a period of 26 weeks. Whereas ethnic-racial identity exploration and resolution increased for the intervention group, the adolescents reported no change in outgroup and diversity attitudes when compared to a control group. Increases in ethnic-racial identity exploration and resolution co-varied with increases in attitudes, but only at Time 3. The results do not provide support for the link between ethnic-racial identity development and positive outgroup and diversity attitudes, and challenge the notion of attitude change as a cascading effect of the Identity Project intervention in non-US sociocultural contexts. All aspects of the study were pre-registered on the Open Science Framework platform (https://osf.io/f5896).

Exploring tungsten-oxygen vacancy synergy: Impact on leakage characteristics in Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 ferroelectric thin films

The recent discovery of ferroelectric properties in HfO2 has sparked significant interest in the fields of nonvolatile memory and neuromorphic computing. Yet, as device scaling approaches sub-nanometer dimensions, leakage currents present a formidable challenge. While tungsten (W) electrodes are favored over traditional TiN electrodes for their superior strain and interface engineering capabilities, they are significantly hampered by leakage issues. In this study, we elucidate a positive feedback mechanism attributable to W electrodes that exacerbates oxygen vacancy defects, as evidenced by density functional theory computations. Specifically, intrinsic oxygen vacancies facilitate the diffusion of W, which, in turn, lowers the formation energy of additional oxygen vacancies. This cascade effect introduces extra defect energy levels, thereby compromising the leakage characteristics of the device. We introduce a pre-annealing method to impede W diffusion, diminishing oxygen vacancy concentration by 5%. This reduction significantly curtails leakage currents by an order of magnitude. Our findings provide a foundational understanding for developing effective leakage suppression strategies in ferroelectric devices.

Field agrochemical exposure impacts locomotor activity in wild bumblebees.

Agricultural intensification has been identified as one of the key causes of global insect biodiversity losses. These losses have been further linked to the widespread use of agrochemicals associated with modern agricultural practices. Many of these chemicals are known to have negative sublethal effects on commercial pollinators, such as managed honeybees and bumblebees, but less is known about the impacts on wild bees. Laboratory-based studies with commercial pollinators have consistently shown that pesticide exposure can impact bee behavior, with cascading effects on foraging performance, reproductive success, and pollination services. However, these studies typically assess only one chemical, neglecting the complexity of real-world exposure to multiple agrochemicals and other stressors. In the summer of 2020, we collected wild-foraging workers of the common eastern bumblebee, Bombus impatiens, from five squash (Cucurbita) agricultural sites (organic and conventional farms), selected to represent a range of agrochemical, including neonicotinoid insecticide, use. For each bee, we measured two behaviors relevant to foraging success and previously shown to be impacted by pesticide exposure: sucrose responsiveness and locomotor activity. Following behavioral testing, we used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) chemical analysis to detect and quantify the presence of 92 agrochemicals in each bumblebee. Bees collected from our sites did not vary in pesticide exposure as expected. While we found a limited occurrence of neonicotinoids, two fungicides (azoxystrobin and difenoconazole) were detected at all sites, and the pesticide synergist piperonyl butoxide (PBO) was present in all 123 bees. We found that bumblebees that contained higher levels of PBO were less active, and this effect was stronger for larger bumblebee workers. While PBO is unlikely to be the direct cause of the reduction in bee activity, it could be an indicator of exposure to pyrethroids and/or other insecticides that we were unable to directly quantify, but which PBO is frequently tank-mixed with during pesticide applications on crops. We did not find a relationship between agrochemical exposure and bumblebee sucrose responsiveness. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of a sublethal behavioral impact of agrochemical exposure on wild-foraging bees.

Beneficiary Ownership in Financial Services Sector Conglomerates in Indonesia

This research aims to explore the implications of beneficiary ownership in financial services sector conglomerates in Indonesia on financial system stability. Because financial services sector conglomerates can obscure the true beneficiaries within the conglomerate in Indonesia. This can pose risks to the financial system. If one financial institution within the conglomerate fails, it can have cascading effects on other institutions within the conglomerate. This can lead to systemic crises, which can harm the overall economy. Therefore, the problem lies in how to uncover the true beneficiaries within a financial services sector conglomerate in Indonesia. This is a normative legal research, prescriptive in nature, employing a legislative and legal comparison approach. Secondary data used includes legislation such as the Limited Liability Company Law, Banking Law, Financial Sector Development and Strengthening Law, as well as the Financial Services Authority Regulation on Financial Conglomerates. Additionally, international journals and legal dictionaries are used as references, supported by empirical data in the form of interviews with the Financial Services Authority. Data is analyzed qualitatively, with conclusions drawn using deductive-inductive reasoning. An individual or legal entity as a primary entity that can control changes in the Articles of Association, Share Ownership Structure, replacement of directors, board of commissioners, control the company's finances, but the individual/legal entity is not listed in the company's articles, then can be categorized as a beneficial owner of a limited liability company. Similarly, in a financial services sector conglomerate existing in Indonesia, it can be proven by finding out who controls the conglomerate.

Modeling individual growth reveals decreasing gray whale body length and correlations with ocean climate indices at multiple scales

AbstractChanges in body size have been documented across taxa in response to human activities and climate change. Body size influences many aspects of an individual's physiology, behavior, and ecology, ultimately affecting life history performance and resilience to stressors. In this study, we developed an analytical approach to model individual growth patterns using aerial imagery collected via drones, which can be used to investigate shifts in body size in a population and the associated drivers. We applied the method to a large morphological dataset of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) using a distinct foraging ground along the NE Pacific coast, and found that the asymptotic length of these whales has declined since around the year 2000 at an average rate of 0.05–0.12 m/y. The decline has been stronger in females, which are estimated to be now comparable in size to males, minimizing sexual dimorphism. We show that the decline in asymptotic length is correlated with two oceanographic metrics acting as proxies of habitat quality at different scales: the mean Pacific Decadal Oscillation index, and the mean ratio between upwelling intensity in a season and the number of relaxation events. These results suggest that the decline in gray whale body size may represent a plastic response to changing environmental conditions. Decreasing body size could have cascading effects on the population's demography, ability to adjust to environmental changes, and ecological influence on the structure of their community. This finding adds to the mounting evidence that body size is shrinking in several marine populations in association with climate change and other anthropogenic stressors. Our modeling approach is broadly applicable across multiple systems where morphological data on megafauna are collected using drones.

Research to Confront Climate Change Complexity: Intersectionality, Integration, and Innovative Governance.

Climate impacts increasingly unfold in interlinked systems of people, nature, and infrastructure. The cascading consequences are revealing sometimes surprising connections across sectors and regions, and prospects for climate responses also depend on complex, difficult-to-understand interactions. In this commentary, we build on the innovations of the United States Fifth National Climate Assessment to suggest a framework for understanding and responding to complex climate challenges. This approach involves: (a) integration of disciplines and expertise to understand how intersectionality shapes complex climate impacts and the wide-ranging effects of climate responses, (b) collaborations among diverse knowledge holders to improve responses and better encompass intersectionality, and (c) sustained experimentation with and learning about governance approaches capable of handling the complexity of climate change. Together, these three pillars underscore that usability of climate-relevant knowledge requires transdisciplinary coordination of research and practice. We outline actionable steps for climate research to incorporate intersectionality, integration, and innovative governance, as is increasingly necessary for confronting climate complexity and sustaining equitable, ideally vibrant climate futures.

Research on cascading effect analysis of civil aircraft electrical power system failures

Abstract Cascade effect analysis is a qualitative analytical method recommended by SAE ARP 4761A [1] for evaluating complex integrated civil aircraft systems. The Electrical Power System (EPS) is one of the critical onboard systems. It can provide electrical power to the avionics system, flight control system, and other critical systems on the aircraft, and it has a wide range of failure effects. The consequences of EPS failure effects are difficult to determine. This paper applies the cascading effect analysis method to carry out the qualitative safety assessment of the EPS on the aircraft and finally confirms that the architectural design of the EPS met the safety design requirements. It also gives the engineering method (such as test, MBSA) suggestion to further check and verify the correctness and completeness of the theoretical analysis of CEA.

Primary Production and Respiration in the Norwegian Sea Estimated From Biogeochemical Argo Floats

AbstractBiogeochemical (BGC) Argo floats were used in this study to investigate phytoplankton blooms. We assessed the seasonal and annual rates of net primary and community production, along with respiration in the Norwegian Sea. The years 2020 and 2021 were contrasted to illuminate similarities and differences. In both years the onset of the bloom occurred at the beginning of February, coinciding with a deep winter mixed layer. However, during spring and summer the biological production appeared to develop differently. In 2020 the mixed layer depth shoaled quickly in April due to surface heating, triggering a strong spring bloom event. In contrast, a significant surface cooling in April 2021 triggered a substantial vertical mixing, that delayed the mixed layer's shoaling. This delay initiated cascading effects impacting nitrate consumption and bloom development that resulted in increased respiration in 2021 compared to 2020. In both years, vertical nitrate mixing from deeper layers to the surface emerged as a pivotal factor determining primary production. Using a mixed layer model in combination with Argo observations, we found that the upward nutrient fluxes due to mixing doubled net community production. These findings underscore the capability of BGC‐Argo floats, operating at a 5‐day resolution, to unveil the intricate interplay between hydrography, physical drivers, and biogeochemical processes in shaping phytoplankton dynamics and overall ecosystem productivity in the Norwegian Sea.

Functional traits of predators and decomposer prey determine context dependency in trophic control over ecosystems.

Research Highlight: Piccoli, G. C. d. O., Antiqueira, P. A. P., Srivastava, D. S., & Romero, G. Q. (2024). Trophic cascades within and across ecosystems: The role of anti-predatory defences, predator type and detritus quality. Journal of Animal Ecology, 00, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.14063. Ecosystem functioning is controlled by the interplay between bottom-up supply of limiting nutrients and top-down animal feedback effects. However, the degree of animal versus nutrient control is context-dependent. A key challenge lies in characterizing this context dependency which is hypothesized to depend on differences in animal functional traits. Reporting on an important experiment, Piccoli etal. (2014) evaluate how interactions among functionally different predators and decomposer prey create context dependency in top-down control of a model system-tropical bromeliad tank ecosystems. Bromeliad plants hold water in their tanks supporting microcosm ecosystems containing terrestrial and aquatic insect larvae and arachnids. The ecosystems are supported by nutrients in plant litter that rains down from forest canopies into the tanks. Nutrients are released after litter is decomposed by a functionally diverse community of larval insect decomposers that differ in feeding mode and antipredator defence strategy. This decomposer community is preyed upon by an exclusively narrowly ranging aquatic insect larval predator and widely ranging spider predator that crosses between the aquatic and surrounding terrestrial ecosystems. Experimental manipulation of the animal community to test for the degree of control by predators mediated by the functionally diverse prey community included four treatments: (i) a control with the detritivores composing different function groups but without predators, (ii) the cross-ecosystem spider predator added, (iii) the purely aquatic damselfly larvae predator added and (iv) both predator types added to capture their interacting effect on ecosystem function (decomposition, nutrient release, and plant growth). Notably, the study resolved the causal pathways and strengths of direct and indirect control using structural equation modelling. These findings reveal how context dependency arises due to different capacities of the predators alone and together to overcome prey defences and control their abundances, with attendant cascading effects that diminished as well as enhanced decomposition and nutrient release to support bromeliad plant production. The study reveals that predators have a decided, albeit qualitatively and quantitatively different, hand in shaping the degree of bottom-up control through feedback effect on the release of limiting nutrients. This ground-breaking study provides a way forward in understanding the mechanisms determining context dependency in the control over ecosystem functioning.

Injectable dECM-enhanced hyaluronic microgels with spatiotemporal release of cartilage-specific molecules to improve osteoarthritic chondrocyte’s function

The interior environment of articular cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA) presents substantial hurdles, leading to the malfunction of chondrocytes and the breakdown of collagen II-enriched hyaline cartilage matrix. Despite this, most clinical treatments primarily provide temporary relief from OA discomfort without arresting OA progression. This study aimed to alleviate OA by developing intra-articular injectable dECM-enhanced hyaluronic (HE) microgels. The HE hydrogel was engineered and shaped into uniformly sized microgels using microfluidics and photopolymerization techniques. These microgels provided a spatiotemporal cascade effect, facilitating the rapid release of growth factors and a slower release of ECM macromolecules and proteins. This process assisted in the recovery of OA chondrocytes’ function, promoting cell proliferation, matrix synthesis, and cartilage-specific gene expression in vitro. It also effectively aided repair of the collagen II-enriched hyaline cartilage and significantly reduced the severity of OA, as demonstrated by radiological observation, gross appearance, histological/immunohistochemical staining, and analysis in an OA rat model in vivo. Collectively, the HE injectable microgels with spatiotemporal release of cartilage-specific molecules have shown promise as a potential candidate for a cell-free OA therapy approach.Graphical

Closing the Loop in the Process of Manufacturing Noise Barriers and Floating Trash Barrier - Case Study

The circular economy embodies a contemporary approach centered on sustainability and waste reduction, gradually integrating into production and consumption practices. Nonetheless, it has often remained a theoretical or abstract concept across various economic sectors. This paper focuses on the potential implementation of circularity principles, using the production process of noise barriers, manufactured by the production company based in Prešov, Slovak Republic, as an illustrative example. Through a comprehensive case study, it was determined that reintegrating generated waste into the production cycle is feasible. Moreover, there is potential for a cascading effect, where original waste could be utilized across multiple production processes. This underscores how the circular economy fosters economic efficiency, innovation, and creativity in diverse areas such as design, product diversification, input sourcing, and production planning. The paper's significance lies in its thorough examination of the production process, quantifying various types of waste to uncover innovative methods of converting waste into new input materials. Additionally, it offers insights and actionable guidance towards embracing multicircularity (via a circularity spiral), along with strategies for identifying opportunities to incorporate circularity elements into production schemes. This approach promises extensive economic, environmental, and social benefits, considering product nature and usage.

Multifaceted consequences of visual distraction during natural behaviour

Visual distraction is a ubiquitous aspect of everyday life. Studying the consequences of distraction during temporally extended tasks, however, is not tractable with traditional methods. Here we developed a virtual reality approach that segments complex behaviour into cognitive subcomponents, including encoding, visual search, working memory usage, and decision-making. Participants copied a model display by selecting objects from a resource pool and placing them into a workspace. By manipulating the distractibility of objects in the resource pool, we discovered interfering effects of distraction across the different cognitive subcomponents. We successfully traced the consequences of distraction all the way from overall task performance to the decision-making processes that gate memory usage. Distraction slowed down behaviour and increased costly body movements. Critically, distraction increased encoding demands, slowed visual search, and decreased reliance on working memory. Our findings illustrate that the effects of visual distraction during natural behaviour can be rather focal but nevertheless have cascading consequences.

A STUDY ON HOW MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IS AFFECTED BY GOODS AND SERVICES TAX.

The goal of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which went into effect in India on July 1, 2017, was to simplify the tax structure by combining several indirect taxes into one cohesive tax system. The effect of GST on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) is evaluated in this study. By relieving MSMEs of the hassle of managing several federal and state taxes, the GST system improved their operational efficiency and made tax compliance simpler. Administrative difficulties were decreased via the GSTN interface, which made tax registration and return filing easier. A number of benefits of GST for MSMEs are highlighted by the report, such as the removal of the tax cascade effect, an increase in the threshold exemption for tax registration, better supply chain efficiency, and increased competitiveness. In addition, there have been notable advantages from the formalization of enterprises and the use of technology for tax compliance. But the report also lists difficulties like higher costs associated with GST compliance, more burdensome compliance requirements, problems with cash flow, and difficulties with interstate transactions. This research offers valuable insights into the ways in which MSMEs perceive the impact of GST on their operations, finances, and growth prospects. It employs both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, such as surveys and literature studies. The results imply that, despite the benefits that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has brought about, MSMEs still face a number of obstacles that require government assistance in the form of streamlined compliance processes and educational materials. All things considered, MSMEs have experienced a mixed response to the implementation of GST, with both noteworthy advantages and difficulties. Maximizing the benefits of this tax reform will need ongoing efforts to improve small business understanding and ease GST compliance.

Cascading Effects of the Family Check-Up on Mothers' and Fathers' Observed and Self-Reported Parenting and Young Adult Antisocial Behavior: a 12-Year Longitudinal Intervention Trial.

Over a 12-year period, this study examined the effects of the Family Check-Up preventive intervention model on both observed and self-reported parenting behaviors of mothers and fathers as well as how those parenting behaviors were associated with young adult antisocial behavior. Teachers identified 641 early adolescent youth from school settings to be at elevated risk for the development of externalizing behavior and/or substance use. These youth and their families were randomly assigned to the Family Check-Up intervention model (consisting of an adaptive, multi-tiered model of support, including a school-based family resource room, the Family Check-Up, and targeted follow-up services) or a control condition. Using an intent-to-treat approach, the Family Check-Up intervention model positively impacted mothers' observed parenting approximately 5years later in middle adolescence but was not associated with changes in fathers' observed or self-reported parenting. Mothers' observed adaptive parenting and fathers' self-reported adaptive parenting in middle adolescence were associated with lower risk for young adult antisocial behavior. The cascading effects of brief, family-focused interventions are discussed along with implications for the measurement of parenting in mothers and fathers in the context of preventive intervention trials.

Thermal stratification characteristics and cooling water shortage risks for pumped storage reservoir–green data centers under extreme climates

Utilizing the thermal stratification of reservoirs to obtain cold water for cooling green data centers (GDCs) is a new mode of energy conservation and emission reduction. However, global warming is expected to alter this phenomenon in deep reservoirs and thus may affect the digitalization process. While the frequency and intensity of extreme climate (EC) events are increasing under a changing climate, the impacts of these highly destructive events on thermal stratification and the related cascading effects on GDC cold-water supplies are still unclear. A two-lateral-dimensional thermohydrodynamic model was established to determine the characteristics of reservoir thermal stratification changes and its potential water environment impacts based on the heat extreme experienced by the Jinshuitan Reservoir, a large, pumped storage power station (PSPS) with a GDC in southeastern China. Fourteen different PSPS inlet/outlet schemes under 2 climate scenarios were designed, and two new indexes, namely, the risk index of cold-water shortage and the index of thermal stratification, were proposed to explore the impact of extreme climates on GDC water extraction. The results showed that compared to the present climate conditions, the reservoir experienced stronger thermal stratification with a 20.6 % average increase in thermal stability, a longer thermal stratification duration with a transitional trend from seasonal to permanent stratification, and a thinner cold-water layer with a 15-m average decrease. Changes in the thermal stratification of reservoirs under EC conditions will benefit some species, such as diatoms (except for early July and the period from mid-August to early October), green algae and cyanobacteria and the migration of warm-water fish, but adversely impact dissolved oxygen, diatoms and cold-water fish. Furthermore, the risk of cold-water shortages under EC conditions was consistently greater than that under average climate (AC) conditions (traditional assessment) when the elevation of pumped storage intake/outlet was less than 145 m. According to the traditional assessment method, the intake/outlet elevation of pumped storage reservoirs resulted in a 60.27 % increase in the risk of cold-water shortages during climate extremes. Furthermore, the demand for green cold-water withdrawal and optimal pumped storage power generation benefits were met when the PSPS intake/outlet elevation was 145 m. Beyond solving this specific case, this study elucidates the importance of linking the thermal stratification and data center of cold-water withdrawal to ECs. These findings provide new insights for increasing climate change resilience.

A comprehensive framework for targeting the disturbance propagation path and debottleneck strategy of chemical process considering the topology and cascading effects

For the chemical processes, multiple fluctuations exist, and elucidating the system's dynamic changes is essential in improving its adaptability. With changes in reactor and separator operating conditions and cascading effects related to the system's topological structure considered, a comprehensive framework is established to target the disturbance propagation path and determine cost-effective debottlenecking strategies. Relations among distillation column parameters and the seasonal change in ambient temperature are deduced considering meteorological data, and the utility demand or column pressure under various conditions can be determined. All independent subsystems of the heat exchanger network and their heat surplus/deficit are identified based on the improved information flow diagram and output difference analysis, and the disturbance propagation path is determined. Correlations are deduced to clarify the heat transfer capacity requirement under fluctuating states, and the bottlenecks and cost-effective debottlenecking strategy without topology modification are identified at different stages. The proposed method is intuitive and efficient and can be applied in chemical processes' enhancement, retrofitting, and fault diagnosis. A benzene alkylation process is studied, with the total annual cost decreased by 3.4 %.

Sponge iron-coupled biochar solution can achieve the synergistic augmentation of carbon sequestration, carbon sink capacity, and denitrification in ecological ditches

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a more powerful greenhouse gas due to its enhanced instantaneous radiative forcing. Since agricultural ecological ditches (eco-ditches) controlling agricultural non-point source pollution are potential CO2 hotspots, carbon capture technologies must be deployed immediately to sequester carbon and combat climate change. Zero-waste biochar, a negative-carbon technology, remains contentious regarding C sequestration. Iron (Fe) enhances long-term organic carbon (OC) preservation, but the cascading effects of Fe-biochar interactions on the promotion of C accumulation are unclear in eco-ditches. In this paper, we fill these research gaps and employ sponge iron (s-ZVI) and biochar coupling (Fe-C) to enhance the iron gate C protection in eco-ditches. The results reveal that Myriophyllum aquaticum(M.A.)-derived biochar prepared by low-temperature pyrolysis (Biochar_M.A.) enjoys the highest FI, the lowest SUVA254 and SUVA280 and moderate dissolution stability. The coupling of s-ZVI and environmentally compatible Biochar_M.A. achieve a triple benefit situation of C sequestration, C sink, and pollutant removal. Overall carbon gain is jointly determined by abiotic controls and biotic controls. The carbon burial effects of biochar-amended eco-ditches are mainly controlled by the trade-offs between Fe-bound OC mineralization via the biochar-induced prime effect and preservation of OC derived from microbial biomass. The unique Fe-C boosts the rusty sink and yields a negative priming as a result of the dominance of Fe-OC. The upregulated β-glucosidase activity and new-formed Fe-OC indirectly and directly contribute to overall C gain in Fe-C-filled eco-ditches, respectively. These findings provide novel insights into the coupled biotic-abiotic contribution mechanisms underlying the iron gate and reverse enzyme latch phenomenon and advance more robust and prospective theoretical knowledge of C dynamics that are not restricted to eco-ditches, soil, constructed wetlands C storage.