Rocky Slopes Research Articles

Assessment of rock slopes stability using stereographic projection along Wadi Shorshirin in Zurbatiya region/ east of Iraq

Wadi Shorsirin is located in the Wasit governorate east of Iraq, it is considered a promising tourist site for the people who live close to this area. The research aims to study the rocky slopes and assess their stability, along the two banks of Wadi Shorhirine, by choosing five stations distributed where the failure occurs and to determine the expected rock failure along this valley. In addition, determine the factors that affect stability, such as discontinuities, rock resistance, and weathering to take them into account when establishing engineering projects such as roads, and tourist complexes. The stereoscopic projection technique was used to analyze the stability of these rocky slopes and showed there are two types of slopes which are oblique lateral and orthogonal slopes. Toppling and rockfall were found within the study area, in addition to the rolling. Differential eroded in the foot slope was the main reason for the failure, moreover, the existence of joint sets. The rocks of the slopes were evaluated based on the unconfined compressive strength deduced from the point load test into the moderately strong and strong.

Rainfall water collection and irrigation via stone bud and karren on karst rocky desertification slopes: Application and benefit analysis

Lack of surface water is a key factor leading to agricultural drought in karst regions and exacerbates the karst rocky desertification, which is characterized by high rate of exposed bedrock. With the characteristics of impermeability, runoff collection, and wide distribution, stone bud and karren (SBK), a unique karst landscape type composed of exposed bedrock and gullies, has a great potential to solve water shortage in agricultural irrigation, especially in the rain-rich karst regions of Guizhou Province, China. Using unmanned aerial vehicle images to identify SBK and measured rainfall–runoff data for validation, we applied SBK as a basic unit to harvest rainfall water on rocky desertification slopes and analyzed the benefits of rainfall water collection and irrigation via SBK. The results showed the following: (1) Karrens on rocky desertification slopes could be identified using a method coupling terrain opening difference and depression filling, and the simulated runoff on SBK could achieved the average NSE and R2 of 0.82 and 0.86, with RMSE and RSR less than 0.03 m3 and 0.51, respectively. (2) The exposed bedrock utilization rate and rainfall water collection coefficient of SBK were 0.62 and 0.55, respectively, such that the area ratio of exposed bedrock to the cultivated land meeting irrigation water demand reached 1:3.1, 1:3.7 and 1:7.0 under 90 %, 80 % and 50 % possibilities of irrigation. (3) Implementing SBK for rainfall water harvesting and irrigation could efficiently avoid crop failure in the karst regions where crops faced drought within only one week after rainfall, and was at an affordable cost to local farmers with limited environmental damage. The use of SBK to harvest rainfall water could also alleviate surface water shortages in karst regions caused by problems such as uneven temporal distribution of rainfall and engineering water shortages. Consequently, SBK demonstrate a strong application potential to alleviate agricultural drought in karst rocky desertification regions.

A snow-dwelling tropical butterfly? An unprecedented discovery of a new genus of the Pedaliodes clade in an extreme, high-altitude Andean environment (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

Abstract A new genus of satyrine butterflies, Nivaliodes gen. nov., is described for three species, all new: Nivaliodes negrobueno sp. nov., Nivaliodes viracocha sp. nov., and Nivaliodes puriq sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), with the support of molecular data and adult morphology. A target enrichment-based phylogeny indicates that Nivaliodes gen. nov. is sister to the genus Pherepedaliodes within an extremely diverse Pedaliodes clade of the predominantly Andean subtribe Pronophilina. Although an overwhelming majority of species of this group occur in tropical montane forests, N. negrobueno sp. nov. was discovered in a central Peruvian desert puna at some 4600–4800 m a.s.l., the highest elevation reported for any species of the Pronophilina. Individuals were observed overflying rocky slopes and resting directly on snow-covered surfaces, which is an exceptionally unusual behaviour among butterflies. The other two species of the new genus were found at lower elevations, some 3300–4200 m a.s.l., at the timberline and in puna grassland.

Investigation of planar sliding deformation and analysis of the damage mechanism of a rocky landslide in Yaoping triggered by highway excavation in Hubei, China

During projects to build roads in China's mountainous areas, which are often characterized by the poor stability of rocky slopes, cases of deformation damage occur frequently. Because of the wide distribution of rocky landslides in the smooth layer, the unavoidable perturbation caused by engineering construction and the seriousness of landslide disasters, the destruction of this type of landslide and the research into prevention of the mechanism cannot be ignored. On 6 February 2023, a rock slide occurred in Yaoping village, Hubei Province, China. Using field investigations, Google satellite images, unmanned aerial vehicle photography, indoor testing and numerical simulations, we analysed the geological situation, deformation characteristics, damage process and triggering mechanism. The results show that the Yaoping landslide is a typical downward plane-sliding rock slide induced by the excavation of a highway. When strain softening occurs, the shear strength and friction coefficient of the slip zone soil are significantly reduced. Excavation caused the factor of safety of the slope to decrease substantially, with a maximum decrease rate of 60.7%. Excavation is considered to be the extrinsic factor that triggered the occurrence of the Yaoping landslide, while the reduction of landslide resistance caused by strain softening of the soil in the slip zone is the intrinsic direct factor that led to the occurrence of this type of landslide. The Yaoping landslide has obvious traction landslide characteristics. The landslide from deformation to destruction has four stages: creep at the leading edge of the landslide; traction deformation in the middle and back of the landslide; slip belt softening; and integral sliding. The prevention and control of this type of landslide requires a larger scope and depth of investigation, in order to identify in advance the possible soft surface in the rock layer, to speculate on the possible formation of landslide destruction mode, and to determine the support scheme and scope according to the geological conditions of the slopes on both sides of the highway. The slip zone soil of the Yaoping landslide was used to obtain the strength index of slip zone soil, which provides data support for the overall deformation characterization of the landslide. The results can provide a reference for the risk management and prevention of rock slides caused by human engineering activities during the excavation of roads.

Geomechanics and Geology of Marine Terraces of the Crotone Basin, Calabria (Italy)

This study investigates the geomechanical behavior of five terrace orders in the Crotone Basin. The purpose is to understand the physical–mechanical parameters of these terraces to determine whether rock or soil mechanics principles should be applied for stability analysis. Samples were collected from each terrace following an extensive field survey. Laboratory analyses were conducted to measure pulse velocities, uniaxial unconfined compressive strength, and compressive strength with truncated conical platens. The findings revealed key physical–mechanical parameters of the rocks, which are crucial for stability assessments. The Crotone Basin, known for its mineral resources such as hydrocarbons and rock salts, has been studied geologically since before the 1950s, but there is a lack of geomechanical data in existing literature. Therefore, the results presented here are novel and provide a basis for future studies on the instability of rocky slopes composed of similar soft rock types. These results will aid in accurate geological–geotechnical model reconstructions. While the findings can be applied to similar cases, it is important to note that each analysis site, despite showing similar phenomena, is unique and requires individual investigation.

Multifactor-coupled study on freeze-thaw forces of rocks in cold regions

This study delves into the mechanical properties of steep and rocky slopes subjected to long-term freeze-thaw actions. Considering the unique climatic conditions in cold regions, especially the significant impact of seasonal and diurnal temperature variations on slope excavation, the research focuses on a high-cold region iron ore mine. Four types of rocks commonly found in the mining area are thoroughly examined, taking into account the hydrogeological conditions of the mining area. The study systematically analyzes the mechanisms of various factors such as weathering, freeze-thaw cycles, and ice-water phase changes on the stability of cold region fractured rock masses. The research reveals that under prolonged freeze-thaw actions, crack water within the rock continuously undergoes ice-water phase changes, generating substantial freeze expansion forces that result in structural damage to the rock mass. This damage is evident not only in the development of existing microcracks but also leads to the generation of new fractures, ultimately causing deterioration in the rock mass structure. The study of the evolution patterns of freeze-thaw forces contributes to a better understanding of slope stability issues in cold region mineral resource extraction, offering crucial insights for the design, construction, and operation of related engineering projects.

Soil‐vegetation interplay in a Holocene toposequence at Torres del Paine National Park, southern Andes, Chile

AbstractChile's Torres del Paine National Park (TPNP) is one of the most impressive landscapes in southern Patagonia, with unique natural elements on the edge of the southern ice field, where knowledge of soils and ecological relationships is nonexistent. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the chemical, physical, mineralogical, and micromorphological characteristics of Holocene soils along a local toposequence representing the main vegetation types of the TPNP. The morphological, chemical, physical, and mineralogical properties of 12 soil profiles were studied and classified according to Soil Taxonomy. Coevolution of vegetation and soil taxa is clearly evident since glaciation, with podsolization under austral Nothofagus pumilio forests leading to the development of spodosols, while paludization in local depressions with Nothofagus forests allowed the formation of histosols. Slopes covered with loess and tephra led to the formation of Andisols with shrub vegetation. Predominant parent materials include till from Late Quaternary advances of southern Andean ice, Pleistocene loess, and volcanic ash from surrounding Chilean volcanoes. The parent materials were strongly influenced by Late Quaternary climatic and landscape changes following the retreat of the Last Glacial Maximum in southern Patagonia, resulting in erosional and depositional conditions (windblown loess, fluvial glacial deposits, and moraines). Stable landforms show the influence of allochthonous volcanic ash shaping Andean features, combined with the accumulation of organic matter in hydromorphic soils. Three main groups of soils have been identified: loess‐rich soils, organic‐rich soils, and poorly developed soils. The latter show low fertility related to recent landforms on different substrates ranging from till, rocky slopes, talus, or glacial deposits. In high mountain regions under periglacial conditions, cryoturbation features indicate seasonal frost–thaw cycles without current permafrost. The diversity of soil orders in the mountains of southern Patagonia is comparable to similar environmental conditions and latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the andic properties due to volcanic ejecta inputs, as well as organic‐rich soils at low altitudes of bottom valleys, are typical features of the soils at TNTP.

Garnotia (Poaceae: Garnotieae): A new generic record for the Flora of Himachal Pradesh, India

Garnotia tenella a grass of moist rocky slopes of medium to high altitudes, has been documented for the first time from Himachal Pradesh, India. The genus Garnotia Brongn is also a new record for the flora of Himachal Pradesh. This communication provides detailed description, illustration, colour photograph, geo-coordinates map, phenology, habitat and the distribution of the genus.

Application of New Polymer Soil Amendment in Ecological Restoration of High-Steep Rocky Slope in Seasonally Frozen Soil Areas.

In seasonally frozen soil areas, high-steep rocky slopes resulting from open-pit mining and slope cutting during road construction undergo slow natural restoration, making ecological restoration generally challenging. In order to improve the problems of external soil attachment and long-term vegetation growth in the ecological restoration of high-steep rocky slopes in seasonally frozen areas, this study conducted a series of experiments through the combined application of polyacrylamide (PAM) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to assess the effects of soil amendments on soil shear strength, water stability, freeze-thaw resistance, erosion resistance, and vegetation growth. This study showed that the addition of PAM-CMC significantly increased the shear resistance and cohesion of the soil, as well as improving the water stability, freeze-thaw resistance, and erosion resistance, but the internal friction angle of the soil was not significantly increased after reaching a certain content. Moderate amounts of PAM-CMC can extend the survival of vegetation, but overuse may cause soil hardening and inhibit vegetation growth by limiting air permeability. It was observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) that the gel membrane formed by PAM-CMC helped to "bridge" and bind the soil particles. After discussion and analysis, the optimum application rate of PAM-CMC was 3%, which not only improved the soil structure but also ensured the growth of vegetation in the later stage under the optimum application rate. Field application studies have shown that 3% PAM-CMC-amended soil stably attaches to high-steep rocky slopes, with stable vegetation growth, and continues to grow after five months of freeze-thaw action, with no need for manual maintenance after one year.

Bio-fertilization of arid lands by terrestrial snails-targeting the wider physiological, geomorphological and agricultural perspectives

Surveys in arid regions worldwide reveal the widespread presence of naturally found Terrestrial Snails (TSs) in extreme arid and semi-arid regions and poor soil conditions such as eroded loess plains. A significant beneficial connection between TS and their impact on ecosystem functioning is suggested including their use as bio-fertilizers. The study was conducted from 2017 to 2023 in Northern Negev, Israel, at the PWA farm and Sayeret-Shaked LTER. The study aimed to determine the influence of TSs on soil fertility and explore its potential contribution to sustainable and profitable agriculture. The findings indicate that the local TSs contributed to a 2% increase in organic matter content, a significant 60% increase in Calcite-Magnetite, and up to six times higher levels of soluble Calcium and Magnesium compared to unaffected soil. An increase with a potential for CO2 inorganic sequestration. It is also indicated that successful agricultural utilization of TS relies on unmanaged rocky slopes for reproduction, designated migration paths for farmland access, and a unique cultivation approach to enhance decomposition. The finding may enable policymakers, and regional or government agencies to further invest in local ecosystems, and effective management tools for enhancing the reproduction of bio-fertilizers such as TS are also raised.

Research on the geological process of river action on the toppling deformation of rocky bank slopes in V-shaped gorge reservoirs

The toppling deformation in bank slope of V-shaped Gorge reservoirs in Southwest China is very common. After the impoundment of the reservoir, geological disasters such as collapse and landslide may occur in toppling bank slope, which poses a threat to the normal operation of hydropower projects and personnel safety. Therefore, it is of great engineering significance to study its genetic mechanism and development law. The trenching of river valley is one of the main factors of bank slope toppling deformation. In the process of river action, the free face is formed on the slope, and the rock mass is unloaded to the free face, resulting in toppling. Taking the bank slope of a reservoir in the V-shaped Gorge area on the edge of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau in Southwest China as an example, this paper studies the relationship between river action and the development of toppling. According to the seven terraces formed on both banks of the river, the trenching of the river valley is divided into seven stages. The toppling development characteristics of each stage are analyzed by discrete element method. According to the development characteristics of toppling deformation category, the toppling deformation is divided into five stages, they are initial toppling deformation stage, toppling development stage, intensified toppling deformation stage, temporary stability stage and failure stage. The research results can help to determine the development type and stage of bank slope toppling deformation in V-shaped Gorge area, so as to predict its further development deformation characteristics.

The golden butterfly: a new species of Pampasatyrus Hayward, extending northwards the range of the genus in the Andes (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

Abstract A remarkable new species, Pampasatyrus karri sp.n. is described from the upper valley of the river Pampas on the border of the departments of Apurímac and Ayacucho in the central Andes of Peru. It occurs in grassland puna on rocky slopes around 3500 m a.s.l. It is characterized by bright golden wing uppersides, a colour unique among the Satyrinae. It is only the third known Andean representatives of this, otherwise predominantly low to mid elevation genus associated with Brazilian and Argentinian pampa, and is most closely related, as indicated by COI data and male genitalia, to P. gorkyi found 200 km south-eastwards in Cuzco. Its discovery extends the northern range limit of the genus Pampasatyrus in the Andes.

Catalogue of Bombus wurflenii Radoszkowski, 1860 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

Bombus wurflenii Radoszkowski, 1860 belongs to the subgenus Alpigenobombus and is one of the 40 bumblebee species that occur in Ukraine. This Boreal-Alpine species has a disjunctive range and is confined to the mountains and hills of Europe. It occurs in Scandinavia, in central and southern Europe (the Cantabrian Mountains, the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines, the Balkans, the Carpathians). It is also known from the far east of Europe (the Ural Mountains), and from the north-eastern Turkey and the Caucasus (Rasmont, Iserbyt, 2010-2012; Rasmont et al., 2015). All scenarios of future distribution of Bombus wurflenii project a moderate reduction of suitable areas by 2050. By 2100 the climatic niche space of the species would be even more restricted. With low dispersal capability and since Bombus wurflenii is a specialized species linked to cold boreal and alpine-subalpine conditions, it would suffer substantially from global warming (Rasmont et al., 2015). Bombus wurflenii is a medium sized bumblebee. It is highly adapted for “nectar robbing”, i. e. perforating holes at the base of long flower corollas to reach the nectar. To do this, it uses its modified mandibles, each with six denticles on outer margin . In Ukraine the species is represented by the subspecies B. wurflenii mastrucatus Gerst. and occurs in the Ukrainian Carpathians only. It inhabits mountain forests from a height of 500 m a. s. l. to the subalpine zone inclusive. The highest number of population of the species is observed within the altitude range of 800-1100 m above sea level (Konovalova, 2010). B. wurflenii is nesting underground, using the abandoned nests of rodents in beech, beech-spruce and spruce forests, in polonynas, meadows and also on rocky slopes in the subalpine. The emergence of queens from hibernation happens in late spring and early summer. The development of small colonies lasts until July-August, culminating in the emergence of new reproductive generation. In the Carpathian highlands B. wurflenii is considered a common one. However, during last decades, the destruction of both nesting sites and forage flora of this species due to excessive recreational pressure, is a serious factor threatening the persistence of its population. For this reason, B. wurflenii has been included into the Red Book of the Ukrainian Carpathians as vulnerable one, also taking into account a relatively limited area inhabited by populations of the species. The species plays a significant role in the pollination of high mountain flora. A feeding diet of this bumblebee in the Ukrainian Carpathians includes at least 23 plant species belonging to 16 families (unpublished data of the author). Among its favourite forage plants are: Centaurea phrygia subsp. carpatica (Porcius) Dostál, Cirsium waldsteinii Rouy, Gentiana asclepiadea L., Rhododendron kotschyi Simonk., Vaccinium spp., Aconitum spp. In the entomological collection of the State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 42 specimens of B. wurflenii have been deposited. Only one specimen belongs to an old historical collection. It was collected from the Tatry Mts. in Poland on 30.07.1905 and identified by J. Snieżek. From the present territory of Ukraine B. wurflenii was recorded for the first time in 1939 in Chornohora mountain range, at an altitude of 1500 m a.s.l. (Fudakowski et al., 1939). The recent part of the collection includes specimens, found from 2000 to 2006 in mountain regions of Ivano-Frankivska and Zakarpatska provinces of Ukraine (fig. 1). The recent collection of B. wurflenii represents all three castes of the species: 1 queen, 32 workers and 8 males. Bumblebees were collected during June, July and August within altitudes of 800-1700 m a.s.l. in the following physiographic regions: UC: PlChr: Chornohora massif; UC: PlChr: Svydovets massif; UC: OCVV: Gg: Outer Gorgany range. The vast majority of specimens have been collected in protected territories: Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (Chornohora protected massif, Svydovets protected massif) and Carpathian National Nature Park.

Correction: Vanneschi et al. Hazard Assessment of Rocky Slopes: An Integrated Photogrammetry–GIS Approach Including Fracture Density and Probability of Failure Data. Remote Sens. 2022, 14, 1438

In the published publication [...]

Catalogue of Asplenium septentrionale (L.) (Tracheophyta, Polypodiopsida, Aspleniaseae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The detailed analysis of origin of the Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm. specimens, deposited in the main collection of vascular plants’ herbarium in the SMNH NASU, has been carried out. Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm. – northern spleenwort – is a perennial fern of the genus Asplenium, the family Aspleniaceae, a Holarctic petrophilous species with a disjunctive Eurasian-North American natural range (Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Western Siberia, Mongolia, Himalayas, Far East, North America). Its localities are confined to petrophilic communities, mainly on granite outcrops devoid of calcium (rock crevices, rocky slopes, landslides, boulders, shady spruce forests, etc.), and the species rises to the upper mountain belt. In Ukraine, this species occurs within the Carpathians, the Crimea, Steppe (Prydniprovska and Azov uplands, Donetsk Ridge) and Forest-Steppe (Volynska and Prydniprovska uplands) zones, Polissya (occasionally in Volynske and Zhytomyrske Polissya). Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm. has been included into the official lists of regionally rare plants in many regions of Ukraine (Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Zhytomyrska, Zaporizka, Ivano-Frankivska, Kyivska, Kirovohradska, Luhanska, Rivnenska, Chernivetska provinces and the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea). The main collection of the Herbarium of Vascular Plants in the SMNH NASU contains 26 herbarium specimens of A. septentrionale (L.) Hoffm., all being included into the electronic database "Biodiversity of Ukraine" (http://dc.smnh.org/) and digitized. The geography of the herbarium collections of A. septentrionale (L.) Hoffm., besides the modern territory of Ukraine (Dnipropetrovska (1901), Donetska (1939, 1947, 1965, 1966), Zhytomyrska (1949), Zakarpatska (1948, 1957, 1961, 1969), Ivano-Frankivska (1967), Kirovohradska (1900), Rivnenska (1948) provinces and the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea (1900)), has been represented also by the territories of Poland (1905), Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Romania (1905), Finland (1898) and the Russian Federation (North Ossetia, 1898). In descending order of the number of collected herbarium specimens with the participation of 16 collectors, the following series has been formed: Slobodian M. (3 herbarium specimens), Vainagii I. (2), Voloshchak E. (2), Hanieshyn S. (2), Lazebna A. (2), Malynovskyi K. (2), Zinger M. (2), Berko J. (1), Golde K. (1), Kotov M, Karnaukh E. (1), Markovych V. (1), Melnychuk V. (1), Rheman A. (1), Stoyko S. (1), Finn V. (1), Khrzhyzhanovskyi V., Lazebna A. (1), Shokhin V. (1). The chronology of the herbarium collections covers the period from 1898 to 1969. The earliest specimens (second half of the 19th century) were collected in Finland (V. Shokhin collection) and North Ossetia (V. Markovych collection). This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of an apolar extract from Lactuca serriola L. leaves

Lactuca serriola L. is an annual herbaceous plant species belonging to the Asteraceae family, called Prickly lettuce, Wild lettuce, and Jagged lettuce. L. serriola grows on grassy and rocky slopes in many regions in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and North, Central and South America. The plant is used as a natural pharmaceutical agent in primary health care due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, which are attributed to the compounds it contains. However, this is the first study demonstrating the antimicrobial activity of L. serriola essential oil. In this study, L. serriola essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation of plant leaves and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GS-MS); subsequently, antimicrobial properties of the essential oil were evaluated using agar dilution and broth microdilution methods. As a result of the GS-MS analysis, hexadecanoic acid, oleic acid, myristic acid, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, β-ionone, and n-tetradecyl butanoate were found as dominant components in the plant essential oil with the rate of 6.61%, 4.84%, 2.05, 1.55%, 1.3%, and 1.09% (v/v), respectively. The MIC value of L. serriola essential oil against Enterobacter aerogenes,Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Candida tropicalis was found to be 0.94 μLmL−1, and MIC values were determined as 1.87 μLmL−1 and 0.47 μLmL−1 against Klebsiella pneumonia and Candidaparapsilosis, respectively. These results have opened a new horizon regarding the usability of L. serriola essential oil as a pharmacological therapeutic antibacterial and antifungal agent.

Dynamic stability analysis method of anchored rocky slope considering seismic deterioration effect

The seismic deterioration effects of anchor cables and slope structural planes are often neglected in the dynamic stability analysis of anchored rocky slopes to the extent that the stability of slopes is overestimated. In this paper, a dynamic calculation method for anchored rocky slopes considering the seismic deterioration effect is established, and a stability evaluation method for anchored rocky slopes based on the Gaussian mixture model is proposed. The seismic deterioration effect on the stability of anchored rocky slopes is quantitatively analyzed with an engineering example, and the relationship between seismic intensity and the failure probability of slopes is clarified. The results show that compared with the calculation method without considering the seismic deterioration effect, the minimum safety factor and post-earthquake safety factor obtained by the proposed method in this paper are smaller. The number of seismic deteriorations of the slope is used as the number of components of the Gaussian mixture model to construct the failure probability model of the slope, which can accurately predict the failure probability of anchored rocky slopes. The research results significantly improve the accuracy of the stability calculation of anchored rocky slopes, which can be used to guide the seismic design and safety assessment of anchored rocky slopes.

Begonia abhak (section Petermannia, Begoniaceae) a new species from Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, Philippines

A new Begonia species, Begonia abhak, from section Petermannia is described and illustrated. Growing on shady, moist, rocky slopes alongside a small creek of Bujon, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur. The new species resembles Begonia panayensis in having glabrous stems, membranous, shiny leaves, oblong to oblanceolate lamina, acuminate apex and green ovary with pink wings but is distinct in having short stems, broadly ovate stipules, acute leaf base, serrated margins, and the slashed or jagged to almost entire margins of the capsule wings. Based on IUCN criteria, B. abhak is hereby proposed as Least Concern (LC).

Tıbbi Açıdan Önemli Enzimlere Karşı İnhibisyon Yeteneğinin Invitro ve Insilico Çalışmalarla Değerlendirilmesi: Endemik Centaurea cadmea subsp. pontica Bitkisinin Fenolik İçeriği

Centaurea species has great potential as a traditional medicinal herb and C. cadmea subsp. pontica collected from rocky slope crevices of Küre Mountain is endemic to the flora of Türkiye. In the present work, to reveal the plant's pharmacological importance, its potency to inhibit various medicinal enzymes was investigated, supported by molecular docking studies. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) results for studied enzymes were quantified between 0.50-86.97 µg mLˉˡ, and the extract was efficient against HMG_CoA R, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase enzymes linked to diabetes and cholesterol. Nine phenolic compounds were identified in the C. cadmea subsp. pontica extract and the interactions of the most abundant phenolic compounds with the enzymes were examined with molecular docking studies. In conclusion, findings amassed from the present study inclined to support the opinion that C. cadmea subsp. pontica may be beneficial as an effective herb for formulating novel health-promoting ingredients.

Soil Substrate Characteristics for Planting Hole Greening Technology for High, Steep, Rocky Slope Vegetation in Semi-Arid Areas

Soil substrate plays a central role in the vegetation restoration of high and steep slopes, especially in semi-arid regions. This study aims to develop an optimal soil substrate that can provide a favorable environment for the vegetation growth of the high and steep rocky slopes in semi-arid areas. Within the framework of planting hole greening technology, we developed a synthetic substrate comprising base soil, peat, water-retaining and agglomerating agents, biochar, and controlled-release compound fertilizer. We conducted pot experiments to assess the impact of compound additions on soil properties and Parthenocissus himalayana growth. Field tests on exposed, high, and steep rocky slopes in a semi-arid region validated the optimal ratio of substrate components. The results showed that the base soil-to-peat ratio significantly influenced soil density, moisture, pH, organic matter, nitrogen content, and vegetation growth (Ps < 0.05). The controlled-release compound fertilizer significantly affected soil electrical conductivity and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen content (Ps < 0.05). Meanwhile, the water-retaining agent, biochar, and agglomerating agent had inconsequential effects on soil characteristics and plant growth. The optimal substrate composition included a 7:3 ratio of base soil to peat, 1.5 g/L of water retainer, 10 mg/L of agglomerating agent, 5 g/L of biochar, and 5 g/L of controlled-release compound fertilizer. The field verification showed that the developed optimal substrate possessed desirable pore structure, moisture, and nutrients, resulting in excellent growth of Parthenocissus himalayana. This optimal soil substrate could be suitable for establishing vegetation on high, steep, rocky slopes in semi-arid areas using planting hole greening technology.