Effectiveness Of Stabilization Research Articles

Analysis of the effectiveness of landslide stabilization in a near-dam reservoir area

The geological conditions of the landslide area in a near-dam reservoir area of a water conservancy hub project are complicated, and the stability problem of the landslide body is prominent, which is not only directly related to the safety of the adjacent office building and highway, but also poses a threat to the normal operation of the water conservancy hub. According to the latest geological data of the landslide area, the results of the stability calculation of the landslide body are analyzed, and the reinforcement design scheme of circular chair type anti-slide piles & prestressed anchor cables is proposed for the landslide body to solve the problem of anti-slide stability of the landslide body. Numerical analysis results show that: the safety factor under each working condition after reinforcement is within the permissible range and meets the relevant normative requirements, the landslide body has good control effect on deformation after reinforcement, and the reinforcement measures can provide certain reference value for the design and construction of similar projects.

Effectiveness of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization, neurodevelopmental techniques and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on trunk and gait parameters in patients with subacute stroke: A three-arm parallel randomised clinical trial

Background Today, stroke is the principal cause of demise in both developed and developing countries. There are different techniques used to treat patients with sub-acute stroke. Trunk muscles play a key role, i.e. in keeping the spine and trunk in place. This stabilization requires moving the head and extremities freely and selectively. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS), neurodevelopmental techniques (NDT) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on trunk and gait parameters in the subacute phase of stroke. This study is intended to ascertain the efficacy of all three approaches individually and to compare the effectiveness of DNS, NDT and PNF on trunk and gait parameters. Furthermore, the findings of this study could be used to assist post-stroke survivors in their early recovery and improve their level of independence. Methods In this interventional study, participants will be divided into three groups, and in each group, 20 patients will be assigned randomly to each group using the sequentially numbered opaque sealed envelope method. Group A patients will be given DNS, Group B will be given NDT, and Group C will be given PNF. The patients will be given treatment for five days for four consecutive weeks. Outcome measures that will be used are trunk impairment scale (TIS), dynamic gait index (DGI) and gait parameters. Data will be collected before and after the 4-week treatment period. Conclusions After the study, a conclusion will be drawn regarding which treatment technique is most suitable among all the three strategies for treating stroke patients if the hypothesis of the study is found valid. Clinical Trials Registry – India (CTRI) reference no. CTRI/2022/06/043037; date of registration 22/05/2022.

Neglected Anterior Shoulder Joint Dislocation Treated with Open Reduction and Latarjet Procedure: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION:The joint dislocation is most commonly occurring in shoulder joint. There are two types of dislocation which is anterior and posterior joint dislocation. Most of the case that brings patients to the clinic was the anterior subtypes dislocation and it needs an immediate treatment. Chronic anterior shoulder joint dislocation is a rare case of anterior joint dislocation in orthopaedics where the dislocation of the joint has remained dislocated for three weeks. CASE PRESENTATION:A 49-year-old with left shoulder deformity he came to outpatient department of Orthopaedics with chief complaint pain when moving the left shoulder region for 6 months ago. He went for traditional massage treatment, but pain on shoulder still persisted and still deformed. Patient diagnosed with neglected anterior shoulder dislocation for 6 months, open reduction and Latarjet surgery was done to manage the case. Follow up the patient for 3 months as outpatient and there is no pain or recurrent dislocation. DISCUSSION:Chronic anterior shoulder joint dislocation is an unusual case for Orthopaedic surgeons to encounter. Latarjet would bring stability by ‘triple effect’ and it is more familiar for the surgeon than remplissage procedure CONCLUSION:Neglected anterior shoulder joint dislocation was one of rare case in Orthopaedics where there is no specific treatment for the dislocation but with open reduction and Latarjet surgery, there was a higher effectiveness for stability and lower recurrence rate Keywords: Neglected anterior shoulder dislocation, Latarjet procedure, open reduction

Effect of Temperature Gradients and DC Electric Field on Electrothermal Convection in a Rotating Layer of Walter's-B Fluid Saturated Porous Media

Thermal convection in fluid-saturated porous media has diverse applications across geothermal energy utilisation, thermal insulation engineering, grain storage and understanding geodynamic processes. The thermal convection's physics is crucial for optimising the thermofluid system, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing our understanding of natural phenomena. The study examines how the initiation of electrothermal convection in a rotating viscoelastic fluid layer (Walter's B) is influenced by basic temperature gradients and a uniform vertical DC electric field, considering three different types of velocity boundary conditions: free-free, rigid-rigid, and lower rigid and upper free. By applying an electric field to a fluid, studying electrothermal convection helps engineers design effective cooling systems for electronics. The eigenvalue problem is solved by using the Galerkin technique. The Galerkin method is a widely used numerical technique for solving eigenvalue problems. The DC electric field effect exhibits a more stabilising effect for free-free boundaries than rigid and rigid-rigid boundaries. Moreover, the linear temperature profile exhibits a more stabilising effect than the parabolic temperature profile. The control of electrothermal convection on the system with the impact of other physical parameters is also discussed.

(Invited) Design of Specific Polymer Binders for Stabilization of Si Based Anode in Lib

In recent years, intense efforts have been focused on stabilization of silicon-based anode in Li ion secondary batteries due to their remarkably high theoretical capacity. At the same time, strategy has not yet been established on how to stabilize the silicon based anode sufficiently during long cycles so that it will be feasible for practical use. In this talk, several different approaches on stabilization of silicon-based anode will be introduced both in terms of polymer binders design and active materials design. Our group synthesized several self-healing polymer binder and polymer coating material which are efficient for the use in silicon-based anode. Poly(borosiloxane) (PBS)1 was prepared by dehydrocoupling polymerization between mesitylborane and diphenylsilanediol in the presence of transition metal catalyst. PBS was found to show self-healing property at 45oC when coated onto Si electrode. When PBS coated Si electrode was employed for anodic half cell (Si/EC:DEC (1/1=v/v)/Li), it showed much improved durability when compared with PVDF coated Si based cell or bare Si based cell. We also reported a design of BIAN (bis-imino-acenaphthene) based conjugated polymer (P-BIAN) /Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) composite binder for Si based anode2,3. Due to combination of n-type imine-based conjugated polymer (H-bonding acceptor) and PAA (H-bonding donor), synergistic effect in stabilization of Si/C composite anode was observed due to both of desirable electronic structure of P-BIAN and H-bonding based self-healing properties. In this system, anodic half cell delivered specific discharging capacity of above 2000 mAhg-1 for 600 cycles. As alternative approaches, we are also working on preparation of specific Si based anodic active materials which showed extremely high durability. b-SiC/N-doped carbon4 was found to show excellent durability even in the presence of conventional binder materials due to restricted volumetric changes of b-SiC during lithiation/delithiation. We also report coating of mechanically highly robust silicon oxycarbide on micro silicon5, which was also found to be quite effective.References1) Patnaik, S. G.; Jayakumar, T. P.; Sawamura, Y. Matsumi, N. ACS Appl. Ener. Mater. 2021, 4, 2241.2) Gupta, A.; Badam, R.; Matsumi, N. ACS Appl. Ener. Mater. 2022, 5, 7977.3) Gupta, A.; Badam, R.; Nag, A.; Kaneko, T.; Matsumi, N. ACS Appl. Ener. Mater. 2021, 4, 22314) Nandan, R.; Takamori, N.; Higashimine, K.; Badam, R.; Matsumi, N. J. Mater. Chem. A. 2022, 10, 5230.5) Nandan, R.; Takamori, N.; Higashimine, K.; Badam, R.; Matsumi, N. J. Mater. Chem. A. 2022, 10, 15960.

QPWS Feature Selection and CAE Fusion of Visible/Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Data for the Identification of Salix psammophila Origin

Salix psammophila, classified under the Salicaceae family, is a deciduous, densely branched, and erect shrub. As a leading pioneer tree species in windbreak and sand stabilization, it has played a crucial role in combating desertification in northwestern China. However, different genetic sources of Salix psammophila exhibit significant variations in their effectiveness for windbreak and sand stabilization. Therefore, it is essential to establish a rapid and reliable method for identifying different Salix psammophila varieties. Visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy is currently a reliable non-destructive solution for origin traceability. This study introduced a novel feature selection strategy, called qualitative percentile weighted sampling (QPWS), based on the principle of the long tail effect for Vis-NIR spectroscopy. The core idea of QPWS combines weighted sampling and percentage wavelength selection to identify key wavelengths. By employing a multi-threaded parallel execution of multiple QPWS instances, we aimed to search for the optimal feature bands to address the instability issues that can arise during the feature selection process. To address the problem of reduced prediction performance in one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) models after feature selection, we have introduced convolutional autoencoders (CAEs) to reduce the dimensions of wavelengths that are discarded during feature selection. Subsequently, these reduced dimensions are fused with the selected wavelengths, thereby enhancing the model’s performance. With our completed model, we selected outstanding models for model fusion and established a decision system for Salix psammophila. It is worth noting that all 1D-CNN models in this study were developed using Bayesian optimization methods. In comparison with principal component analysis (PCA) and full spectrum methods, QPWS exhibits superior predictive performance in the field of machine learning. In the realm of deep learning, the fusion of data combining QPWS with CAE demonstrated even greater potential with an improvement of average accuracy of approximately 2.13% when compared to QPWS alone and a 228% increase in operational speed compared to a model with full spectra. These results indicated that the combination of CAE with QPWS can be an effective tool for identifying the origin of Salix psammophila.

Synergistic effect from combined use of scrap-recycling slag and hydrated lime to stabilize Pb and Zn in highly contaminated soil.

For the soil in an area which has been repeatedly chosen as one of the 10 most polluted places in the world, stabilization of Pb and Zn was assessed in batch, incubation, and column experiments. Single and combined amendment of scrap-recycling slag (Slag-R), charcoal, coal ash, hydrated lime, and basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag were applied for the stabilization. Notably, the combined amendment of Slag-R and hydrated lime exhibited superior stabilization efficiencies than the individual use of all stabilizing agents and combined use of charcoal and hydrated lime. The combined amendment of Slag-R and hydrated lime decreased Pb levels by 92-99% and Zn levels by 63-88% in the incubation experiments and by 75% and 89-93%, respectively, in the column experiments. In particular, the combined amendment showed a synergistic effect for Pb stabilization because a higher pH enhanced sorption onto the slag and because sorption onto Fe (hydr)oxides of the sorbent possibly helped to remove Pb. Zinc had a relatively lower sorption tendency, so it was mainly controlled by the pH increase from hydrated lime. Although the addition of hydrated lime was very effective in stabilizing high concentrations of Pb and Zn, the dosage should be controlled carefully because excessively high pH redissolves Pb and Zn as anions.

Evaluation of dispersive nature of soil in the piping affected regions of Kerala

The soil piping erosion has been closely related to the soil composition and its dispersive nature. The phenomenon of dispersivity is explained by the property by virtue of which the soil breaks down into their component particles upon exposure to water. Dispersive soils are highly prone to erosion. If the soil at top is hard and soft dispersive clays present at bottom, in presence of seepage water, there are chances for piping erosion to occur. These kinds of process are very common in lateritic terrains. In appearance the normal erosion resistant clays are similar to dispersive clays, they are, in fact, prone to significant erosion and are susceptible to severe damage. Exchangeable sodium present in the soil is the primary cause of dispersivity. Special methods are required to distinguish between dispersive and non-dispersive soils, common soil classification tests are not sufficient. The recommended tests to identify the dispersive clay soils are Crumb test, Double hydrometer test, Pin hole erosion test, and some chemical tests.This paper reports the problems associated with dispersive soils and discuss the results of double hydrometer tests carried out in various piping regions of Kerala along with the stabilization of dispersive soils with lime. Double hydrometer test as per British standards have been used in the present study. Comparative study of the dispersion ratios obtained for various samples shows that the Idukki samples are having more dispersion ratio than other regions. And as the piping was present in those areas the dispersion ratio was expected to be higher than 30%, the lower values obtained can be due to the erosion of dispersive clays in those regions. Effectiveness of stabilization with lime is checked and it was found that the ideal proportion of lime for minimizing dispersion potential is 1%.

Investigating tritrophic interactions using bioenergetic demographic models.

A central debate in ecology has been the long-running discussion on the role of apex predators in affecting the abundance and dynamics of their prey. In terrestrial systems, research has primarily relied on correlational approaches, due to the challenge of implementing robust experiments with replication and appropriate controls. A consequence of this is that we largely suffer from a lack of mechanistic understanding of the population dynamics of interacting species, which can be surprisingly complex. Mechanistic models offer an opportunity to examine the causes and consequences of some of this complexity. We present a bioenergetic mechanistic model of a tritrophic system where the primary vegetation resource follows a seasonal growth function, and the herbivore and carnivore species are modeled using two integral projection models (IPMs) with body mass as the phenotypic trait. Within each IPM, the demographic functions are structured according to bioenergetic principles, describing how animals acquire and transform resources into body mass, energy reserves, and breeding potential. We parameterize this model to reproduce the population dynamics of grass, elk, and wolves in northern Yellowstone National Park (USA) and investigate the impact of wolf reintroduction on the system. Our model generated predictions that closely matched the observed population sizes of elk and wolf in Yellowstone prior to and following wolf reintroduction. The introduction of wolves into our basal grass-elk bioenergetic model resulted in a population of 99 wolves and a reduction in elk numbers by 61% (from 14,948 to 5823) at equilibrium. In turn, vegetation biomass increased by approximately 25% in the growing season and more than threefold in the nongrowing season. The addition of wolves to the model caused the elk population to switch from being food-limited to being predator-limited and had a stabilizing effect on elk numbers across different years. Wolf predation also led to a shift in the phenotypic composition of the elk population via a small increase in elk average body mass. Our model represents a novel approach to the study of predator-prey interactions, and demonstrates that explicitly considering and linking bioenergetics, population demography and body mass phenotypes can provide novel insights into the mechanisms behind complex ecosystem processes.

Preparation of foam concrete from solid wastes: Physical properties and foam stability

The method for preparation of foam concrete from solid wastes were proposed in this study, where soda residue (SR), calcium carbide slag (CS), grand granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA) were used as raw materials for the binder and Al powder was used as the foam agent. The effects of Al powder, stabilisers and FA content on the dry density as well as compressive strength were assessed to determine the optimal mix proportions. Moreover, to understand the foaming process, the influence of stabilisers on the zeta potential and surface tension of the fresh mixes were measured and Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR) was employed to qualitatively characterize the pore size distribution. Finally, the hydration products were analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis-Differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), Scanning electron microscope-Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The results suggested that the optimal content of Al powder was 1–2%, and the combination of S and P (SP) stabilisers showed better stabilization effect than the single use of S or P, leading to well distributed foam with smaller size. The stabilization effect was attributed to the dissolved negative complex that absorbed on the foam film to increase the repulsion between foams as well as to reduce the surface tension of the fresh mixture. The substitution of GGBS by FA generally resulted in reduced dry density and compressive strength, while the extent varied with the addition of stabilizers, and thus the optimal amount of FA depended on the selection of stabilisers. Overall, our study highlighted the potential of using industrial waste materials for producing sustainable light weight concrete with satisfactory dry density and compressive strength.

Solute Stabilization Effects of Nanoparticles Containing Boronic Acids in the Absence of Binding Pairs.

Boronic acids are widely used in materials science because of their ability to reversibly bind with diol and catechol moieties through dynamic covalent interactions in a pH- and oxidative-dependent manner. Considerably fewer studies focus on property modulation of boronic acid-based materials in the absence of a biding pair. Herein, we discuss the effects of the boronic acid-containing polymer block length on solute release kinetics from nanoparticles in a stimuli-responsive manner for on-demand delivery. In this study, ABC-type linear amphiphiles of poly(d,l-lactide) and poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) containing a middle block functionalized with 3-aminophenylboronic acid were synthesized by a combination of ring-opening and controlled free radical polymerizations. Nile red-loaded nanoparticles were self-assembled using a multi-inlet vortex mixer in a well-controlled manner. Release was evaluated at pH above and below the pKa of the boronic acid and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Our results show that release kinetics from nanoparticles incorporating a boronic acid-functionalized interlayer were slower than those without it, and the rate could be modulated according to pH and oxidative conditions. These effects can be attributed to several factors, including the hydrophobicity of the boronic acid block as well as hydrogen bonding interactions existing between locally confined boronic acids. While boronic acids are generally utilized as boronic/boronate esters, their stabilizing effects in the absence of appropriate binding pairs are relevant and should be considered in the design of boronic acid-based technologies.

Resolving altered base-pairing of RNA modifications with DNA nanoswitches.

There are>170 naturally occurring RNA chemical modifications, with both known and unknown biological functions. Analytical methods for detecting chemical modifications and for analyzing their effects are relatively limited and have had difficulty keeping pace with the demand for RNA chemical biology and biochemistry research. Some modifications can affect the ability of RNA to hybridize with its complementary sequence or change the selectivity of base pairing. Here, we investigate the use of affinity-based DNA nanoswitches to resolve energetic differences in hybridization. We found that a single m3C modification can sufficiently destabilize hybridization to abolish a detection signal, while an s4U modification can selectively hybridize with G over A. These results establish proof of concept for using DNA nanoswitches to detect certain RNA modifications and analyzing their effects in base pairing stability and specificity.

Impact of Allee and fear effects in a fractional order prey-predator system with group defense and prey refuge.

This paper presents a novel fractional-order model of a prey-predator system that incorporates group defense and prey refuge mechanisms, along with Allee and fear effects. First, we examine the existence, uniqueness, non-negativity, and boundedness of the solution of the system. Second, a comprehensive analysis is conducted on the existence, stability, and coexistence of equilibrium states in the system, which are crucial for comprehending prey-predator system behavior. Our investigation reveals that the coexistence equilibrium undergoes a Hopf bifurcation under five key parameters. Specifically, an increased threshold for the transition between group and individual behavior, influenced by different strengths of the Allee effect, enhances the stability of both populations. This discovery sheds light on the role of group effects in shaping prey-predator interactions and ecosystem stability. Third, system discretization is employed to explore the impact of step size on stimulating stability and to investigate the Neimark-Sacker bifurcation, providing a more comprehensive understanding of system behavior. The role of step size as a constraint on stability is examined, revealing the system's progression from stability to chaos. Consequently, our results offer a more flexible mechanism for adjusting the stability and dynamics of the two species. Finally, numerical simulations are utilized to validate the reasonableness of the research findings.

Ex-post and real-time estimations of the output gap: A new assessment of fiscal procyclicality in the eurozone

The revisions implemented twice a year by the European Commission significantly change not only the forecasts but also the past values of the output gap. Consequently, many possible time series exist. Based on a new approach for estimating a real-time definition of the business cycle, we develop a comparative framework between ex-post and real-time variables using dynamic panel data models with FE, GLS and AB estimators. The real-time version of the output gap solves the important endogeneity issue between the budget balance and the output gap. Considering the period from 1995 to 2021 and the 19 Eurozone countries, our analysis deepens the cyclical nature of fiscal policy, pointing to robust procyclicality. Regardless of the specification, fiscal policy was found to be procyclical, but real-time and ex-post estimates have shown some interesting discrepancies (i.e., on a real-time basis, discretionary budgetary decisions have never been significantly expansionary, and the likely positive effects of automatic stabilisers during economic downturns have been weakened by spending reductions and/or revenue increases). Our findings may help the future reform of the Stability and Growth Pact.

Effect of nanosilica stabilisation on the bearing capacity under undrained conditions

Effect of nanosilica stabilisation on the bearing capacity under undrained conditions

Surgical stabilization of multiple rib fractures in an Asian population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

There is no consensus on the effectiveness of surgical stabilization in multiple rib fractures in Asia, especially among patients with a non-flail rib fracture pattern. We aim to synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) in an Asian population with multiple non-flail rib fractures. The MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched in this systematic literature review and meta-analysis to identify studies conducted in Asia that included patients with multiple non-flail rib fractures in at least one of their treatment groups. The intervention of interest was SSRF, and the comparator was a nonoperative treatment. The duration of mechanical ventilation (DMV) was the primary outcome. Posttreatment pain score, pneumonia, atelectasis, intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS), hospital length of stay (HLOS), need for tracheostomy, respiratory function, functional outcomes, quality of life (QoL), and mortality were identified as the secondary outcomes. A random effects model (REM) was used to pool data for outcomes reported in two or more studies. A total of 12 studies (n=2,440 patients) were included. There was a significantly shorter DMV {mean difference (MD): -5.23 [95% confidence interval (CI): -9.64 to -0.81], P=0.02}, lower 4-week post-treatment pain score [standard mean difference (SMD): -2.24 (95% CI: -3.18 to -1.31), P<0.00001], lower risk for pneumonia [risk ratio (RR): 0.46 (95% CI: 0.23 to 0.95), P=0.04], lower risk for atelectasis [RR: 0.44, (95% CI: 0.29 to 0.65), P<0.0001], shorter ICU LOS [MD: -4.00 (95% CI: -6.33 to -1.66), P=0.0008], and shorter HLOS [MD: -6.54 (95% CI: -9.28 to -3.79), P<0.00001] in favor of SSRF. Effect estimates for the need for tracheostomy [RR: 0.67 (95% CI: 0.42 to 1.08), P=0.10] and mortality [RR: 0.94 (95% CI: 0.37 to 2.41), P=0.90] were nonsignificant. In the Asian population with mainly non-flail rib fracture patterns, SSRF was associated with shorter DMV, ICU LOS, and HLOS as well as lower risks for atelectasis and pneumonia, and pain scores after 4 weeks. The risk of mortality was comparable between treatment groups.

Investigation behavior of gypsum soil reinforced by geosynthetics supported square footing-an experimental study

Recently, an urban expansion prompted to construction of structures on weak or unsuitable ground soils. In a sustainable view, there is a need to investigate and improve such types of soils under consideration. Gypsum soil is one of the weak soils when exposed to wetness, especially the value of bearing capacity and Collapse. The main objective of this study is to carry out several model tests for gypsum soil at a relative density of 30% for dry and wet conditions under static vertical stress. The study involved evaluating the effectiveness of soil stabilization using geosynthetics reinforced (geotextile and E-glass fiber fabric) by using single, double, and triple layers placed at different locations. Soil with a gypsum content of 47% was used. Experimental tests were carried out on soil models for the dry and saturated conditions for a relative density of 30%. The ultimate bearing capacity was calculated, as well as the ratio of improvement BCR% according to the reinforcement layers. It was found that the ultimate bearing capacity increases 100% when using E-glass fiber fabric comparing used geotextile at reinforcement triple layers (0.25B+0.5B+1B) for dry state.

Investigation of the Co-Alloy Mechanism in the Multivalent Electrolyte on Si Anode by Finite-Element Simulation

Improvement of Si stability plays a critical role of development of the next generation anode for lithium-ion battery. It has been reported that the introduction of additional metal salts containing multivalent cations such as Mg2+ is shown to improve the stability of silicon for electrochemical cycling through the modification of the solid electrolyte Interphase (SEI). This work aims to understand the mechanism of the electrolyte role and its electrochemical effects for Si stability. We have built the electrochemical framework that combines the Newman P2D model with consideration of a dynamically altered electric field at the solid material to investigate the co-alloy mechanism of Si, Li and Mg.

Drivers of plant community (in)stability along a sea–inland gradient

Abstract Global change pressures are highlighting the need to better understand the mechanisms driving the temporal stability of natural communities under different environmental conditions. There is ample evidence that species richness helps communities to withstand environmental fluctuations and stabilise over time. However, it is still debated whether richness promotes stability through the diversity of species functional traits, phylogenetic lineages and ecological strategies in the community or because of the likelihood of including stable species. Furthermore, it is unclear whether the positive effect of diversity on stability is maintained in conditions of strong environmental fluctuations (e.g. frequent disturbances and stress). To address these questions, we analysed long‐term monitoring data of 84 permanent plots in coastal dune plant communities distributed along a gradient of natural stress and disturbance, with communities closer to the sea subject to greater stress and more frequent disturbances. Specifically, we used structural equation models to disentangle the relative influence of the environmental gradient and the different diversity components (species richness, functional and phylogenetic diversity; SR, FD and PD), as well as of the dominant ecological strategy (captured by species lifespan) on community stability, through their effect on two key stability mechanisms (population stability and species asynchrony). We found that the sea–inland environmental gradient was the main driver of stability mechanisms. Stress and disturbance decreased both population stability and species asynchrony, but also reduced species richness, which thus exerted a stabilising effect only on the communities in more favourable environmental conditions. Surprisingly, we did not find an effect of FD and PD on community stability, neither directly nor via asynchrony. However, the dominance of perennial species mitigated the instability generated by stress and disturbance. Perennial species were on average more stable than annuals and displayed a wider range of species fluctuations, including compensatory dynamics among species (i.e. asynchrony). Synthesis: Overall, our results highlight the importance of accounting for the environmental context when examining mechanisms of community stability. Species richness remains a useful direct predictor of community stability. Species ecological strategies, like the acquisitive–conservative trade‐off connected to lifespan, however, should also be routinely considered as drivers of both population stability and compensatory dynamics.

Stabilisation of Soft Clay, Quick Clay and Peat by Industrial By-Products and Biochars

The stabilisation of soft soils using the traditional binders cement and quicklime are known to emit large amounts of carbon dioxide. To reduce this carbon footprint, substitutes such as industrial by-products have been thoroughly tested as viable alternatives for soil stabilisation. However, recent research has also shown that biochar from biomass pyrolysis can in some instances have a positive stabilisation effect and even result in a carbon-negative footprint. This paper presents a laboratory study to investigate the stabilisation effect of five industrial by-products and four types of biochar on three natural Norwegian soils: two clays with low and high water contents and one peat with a very high water content. The soils and binders were characterised by their mineralogical and chemical compositions. The biochars had varying stabilisation effects on the clays when combined with cement, with some negative stabilisation effects, whilst the effect was very beneficial in the peat, with a strength increase of up to 80%. The industrial by-products showed opposite results, with beneficial effects in the clays and a strength increase of up to 150%, but negative stabilisation effects in the peat. Correlating the mineralogical and chemical compositions to stabilisation effects was found to be challenging.