Soil Contact Research Articles

Validation of a new road and contact model for vehicle–soft soil terrain interaction through an elaborate modelling of the FED-Alpha vehicle

Employing multibody dynamic simulations with semi-empirical tyre models is widely recognised as a cost-effective approach. A recent development introduces a novel road and tyre–soil contact model that is not only swift and memory-efficient but also addresses limitations in classical semi-empirical models. This study conducts a thorough validation of the new road and contact model by creating a detailed multibody model of the four-wheeled vehicle, Fuel Efficiency Demonstrator – Alpha, integral to NATO’s Next-Generation reference mobility model. The comprehensive model encompasses the chassis, suspension, tyres, engine, transmission and various other components. Through simulations of various driving scenarios, accounting for complex terrain geometries, spatially varying soil properties and multi-pass phenomena, the model’s performance is evaluated. The simulation results are compared with physical measurements, providing a detailed assessment of the tyre–soil model’s predictive accuracy for wheeled vehicle mobility on deformable terrains.

Design and experiment of bionic skateboard for rice direct seeding machine based on loach body surface

Aiming at the problem of heavy adhesion and large resistance of the rice direct seeding machine slide in the disturbed saturated paddy field environment, the non-smooth surface of the loach body was observed by microscopic observation; the simulation analysis was carried out using Fluent software, revealing the principle of reducing adhesion and drag of the non-smooth surface; the Box-Behnken response surface method was used to design the experiment, and the regression equation of the total resistance of the groove non-smooth surface FBand the groove width w, groove depth hand incoming flow velocity was obtained. vThe optimization analysis results show that when wis 4 mm、v1.25 m/s, 4.5 mm、hthe maximum drag reduction rate reaches 10.052%; based on the optimal parameters, the rice direct seeding machine bionic slide was trial-produced, and the indoor paddy field soil trough test was carried out, and the final drag reduction rate reached 10.23%. This study can provide new ideas for the development of adhesion and drag reduction technology for paddy field soil contact parts.

Constitutive relationship of soil in contact with mortar under continuous loading

Mortars will remain critical in future land wars due to their flexibility and versatility. When mortars are fired continuously, the contact soil is gradually compacted by the mortar base plate, and dynamic research into this process is the basis for innovative mortar design. However, the discontinuity and nonlinearity of soil contact absolutely necessitate the constitutive relationship of soil contact, which is difficult to study. Therefore, this study conducted experimental research and theoretical derivation to establish an accurate dynamic model of the mortar system. First, based on the nonlinear elastic–plastic theory and the stress–strain relationship of soil under cyclic loading, a theoretical analysis method for the constitutive relationship of contact soil under continuous loading was proposed. Second, an experimental and testing system was designed to simulate launch loads, and the stress–strain response of soil under continuous impact loads was obtained experimentally. Subsequently, based on theoretical analysis and experimental data, the stress–strain relationship during the gradual compaction of soil was established using the least squares method. Finally, a constitutive relationship model of the contact soil in the mortar system was established in ABAQUS using the VUMAT subroutine interface, and the calculated results were compared and analyzed with traditional calculation results. The results indicated that studying the constitutive relationship of mortar in contact with soil during continuous firing using this method can improve the accuracy of dynamically modeling mortar systems. Moreover, this study has practical value in the engineering design of mortar systems.

Computing the pressure of agricultural tractors on soil and mapping its compaction

Manufacturers of agricultural machines, when designing, pay a little attention to its impact on soil, thus producing models with high compression loads on the soil or with a small contact area between the tyres/tracks and the soil surface. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the negative impact of both wheeled and tracked agricultural tractors on the soil, in terms of soil compaction, and its causes (i. e. design features of tractor tyres/tracks), during the last six decades (i. e. from 1961 to 2021). Soil compaction is caused by the pressure applied by agricultural machines on the soil through the contact area of their tyres/tracks with the soil surface. So, the main indicator of the negative impact on the soil by the tractors manufactured during the last 60 years, i. e. the average pressure applied by the tyres or tracks of tractors manufactured in EU and in the post-Soviet cuntries from 1961 to 2021 to the soil, was computed. A general decrease of the average pressure of the tyres/tracks on the soil can be observed in 1980s and 1990s, followed by its general increase since 2000, above all for the tractors having power higher than 140 kW. Thus, there is an urgent need to assess spatial and temporal changes in soil vulnerability to compaction, that depends on weather conditions and soil properties, as well as agricultural management practices, and can only be fully assessed by means of a combination of traditional techniques (i. e. use of soil cone penetrometer followed by 2D mapping using GIS or 3D mapping through geostatistics) and mechanical approaches (i. e. computation of agricultural machine parameters – soil contact area). The results show that tractor manufacturers did not take care of reducing soil compaction during the considered period.

基于 EDEM 离散元方法的盐碱土壤参数标定与测试

In this study, saline soil parameters were calibrated based on EDEM discrete element method, soil density, soil elastic modulus, soil shear modulus, soil particle size distribution and Poisson's ratio were determined. The Hertz-Mindlin with Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) model was used to simulate the characteristics of soil stress and strain of particles under external forces. The JKR contact parameter between saline soil particles was used as a test factor, and the soil accumulation angle was used as a test index to carry out the saline soil contact parameter calibration test. It was finally determined that an elastic recovery coefficient of 0.262, a static friction coefficient of 0.263, a dynamic friction coefficient of 0.234, and a JRK surface energy of 10.084 were the optimal combinations of contact parameters for saline soils.

BLOOD LEAD CONCENTRATION ANALYSIS BETWEEN REHABILITATION FACILITY AND PERI-URBAN ENVIRONMENT VIRGINIA OPOSSUMS (DIDELPHIS VIRGINIANA) OF ILLINOIS.

The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the only marsupial in North America with a natural range north of Mexico. Its range is widespread throughout the United States, including Illinois. Virginia opossums are opportunistic omnivores that will eat a variety of fruits, grains, insects, and even carrion. They are a ground-foraging species, with frequent soil contact allowing for potential exposure to heavy metal contaminants in terrestrial environments. They are also opportunists that thrive in human-altered ecosystems, including peri-urban environments. Lead is a naturally occurring element and highly toxic metal that is abundant in the soil, primarily due to anthropogenic factors such as fossil fuel use, paint, industrial production waste, and battery recycling. Furthermore, carrion and offal piles containing lead bullet fragments remaining from hunting result in environmental contamination of this heavy metal. Few studies exist on lead exposure in the Virginia opossum. This pilot study evaluates the blood lead burden of 16 free-ranging Virginia opossums presented to a wildlife rehabilitation facility, compared with 16 wild-caught Virginia opossums trapped in grassland, maintained forest, or mixed ecotones. In other species, lead toxicosis has been associated with cognitive dysfunction that may increase the likelihood of trauma or injury in a free-ranging setting. In addition, a high incidence of Virginia opossums presenting for wildlife rehabilitation do so as result of human-animal conflict. Therefore, it was anticipated that individuals presenting for wildlife rehabilitation would have significantly higher blood lead concentrations than their free-roaming counterparts. In this study, every Virginia opossum had measurable blood lead concentrations and the average blood lead concentration of the rehabilitated group was 2.7 times higher than that measured in wild-caught Virginia opossums. These results suggest that Virginia opossums are exposed and susceptible to lead toxicosis due to their diet and foraging behaviors, making them more prone to subsequent injury and presentation to wildlife rehabilitation centers.

Unde venis? Bacterial resistance from environmental reservoirs to lettuce: tracking microbiome and resistome over a growth period.

Fresh produce is suggested to contribute highly to shaping the gut resistome. We investigated the impact of pig manure and irrigation water quality on microbiome and resistome of field-grown lettuce over an entire growth period. Lettuce was grown under four regimes, combining soil amendment with manure (with/without) with sprinkler irrigation using river water with an upstream wastewater input, disinfected by UV (with/without). Lettuce leaves, soil, and water samples were collected weekly and analysed by bacterial cultivation, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and shotgun metagenomics from total community DNA. Cultivation yielded only few clinically relevant antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), but numbers of ARB on lettuce increased over time, while no treatment-dependent changes were observed. Microbiome analysis confirmed a temporal trend. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) unique to lettuce and water included multidrug and β-lactam ARGs, whereas lettuce and soil uniquely shared mainly glycopeptide and tetracycline ARGs. Surface water carried clinically relevant ARB (e.g. ESBL-producing Escherichia coli or Serratia fonticola) without affecting the overall lettuce resistome significantly. Resistance markers including biocide and metal resistance were increased in lettuce grown with manure, especially young lettuce (increased soil contact). Overall, while all investigated environments had their share as sources of the lettuce resistome, manure was the main source especially on young plants. We therefore suggest minimizing soil-vegetable contact to minimize resistance markers on fresh produce.

Non-Zoonotic Transmission of Sporotrichosis: A Translational Study of Forty-Three Cases in a Zoonotic Hyperendemic Area.

Over the past two decades, zoonotic sporotrichosis transmitted by naturally infected cats has become hyperendemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sporothrix brasiliensis is the main agent involved. However, there are other forms of transmission of sporotrichosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate and associate the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic data and the susceptibility of Sporothrix spp. to antifungal drugs in 43 non-zoonotic sporotrichosis cases. Forty-three clinical strains of Sporothrix were identified by partial sequencing of the calmodulin gene. An antifungal susceptibility test of amphotericin B, terbinafine, itraconazole, posaconazole and isavuconazole was performed according to the broth microdilution method. Most patients were male (55.8%). Regarding the source of infection, 21 patients (48.8%) reported trauma involving plants and/or contact with soil. Sporothrix brasiliensis was the predominant species (n = 39), followed by S. globosa (n = 3) and S. schenckii (n = 1). Sporothrix brasiliensis was associated with all the sources of infection, reinforcing previous data showing the presence of this species in environmental sources, as well as with all the clinical forms, including severe cases. One clinical strain of Sporothrix brasiliensis was classified as a non-wild-type strain for amphotericin B and another for itraconazole. S. schenckii was classified as non-WT for all the antifungals tested. In this context, it is important to emphasize that non-zoonotic sporotrichosis still occurs in the state of Rio de Janeiro, with S. brasiliensis as the main etiological agent, primarily associated with infections acquired after traumatic inoculation with plants and/or soil contact, followed by S. globosa and S. schenckii. In addition, non-WT strains were found, indicating the need to monitor the antifungal susceptibility profile of these species. It is crucial to investigate other natural sources of S. brasiliensis to better understand this fungal pathogen and its environment and host cycle.

Impacts of bulk density and water content on the tire-soil contact area of agricultural field vehicles

We tested the hypothesis that the increase in soil stiffness, induced by variations in bulk density and water content at the tire-soil contact interface, causes a reduction in the contact area. For this, we examined the contact area from different tire-ground contact scenarios and compared the measurements and simulations using a contact area description model. Front and rear tractor tires were used for the measurement of the contact area under tilled soil, sugarcane field, unpaved road, and paved ground scenarios, which induced different bulk densities and water content levels. The results revealed that soil stiffness reduced the tire-soil contact area. The tire-soil contact area increased as the water content increased and the bulk density was reduced. For the front tractor tire, the theoretical contact area was similar to the values found for tilled soil, but there was a large difference between the measurements (2,200 cm2, for the tilled soil) and the theoretical estimates (3,100 cm2) for the rear tractor tire (likely induced by tire dimensions). Our results suggest that increases in soil stiffness reduce the tire-soil contact area. The higher the soil bulk density and the lower the soil moisture, the lower the contact area. The results also revealed that the tire tractor tread might reduce the contact at the hard surface, making the shape of the contact area more geometrically irregular and different from those predicted by models using regular geometry (e.g., cycles, ellipses, or rectangles). This study suggests that two-body (soil and tire) contact models for deformable surfaces should be used in future tire-soil contact models of agricultural field vehicles.

The Use of Antimicrobial Washes to Inactivate Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli from In-Shell Pecans and Wash Water Contaminated by Different Inoculation Routes

In-shell pecans are typically harvested after falling from trees to the ground, presenting a potential route of contamination of foodborne pathogens from soil contact. In-shell pecans are often subjected to various processing or washing steps prior to being shelled. This study determined Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) reductions after treatment with antimicrobial washes on direct and soil-inoculated in-shell pecans and evaluated the cross-contamination potential of the spent pecan washes after treatment. Pecans were directly and soil-inoculated with an STEC cocktail (O157:H7, O157:NM, O121, O26). Direct inoculation was achieved by spraying the STEC cocktail on the pecans. For soil-inoculation pecans, autoclaved soil was sprayed with the STEC cocktail, homogenized for 2 min, and used to coat in-shell pecans. Inoculated pecans were washed in treatments of 2% lactic acid (LA), 1,000 ppm free chlorine (sodium hypochlorite; NaClO), hot water (HW; 85 ± 2 °C), or ambient water (C [control]; 18 ± 2 °C) for 2, 5, and 10 min and diluted to enumerate STEC populations. After treatments, 100 mL of the spent wash was vacuum filtered through a 0.45-µm membrane and plated on selective agar. HW significantly reduced STEC populations from pecans with and without soil regardless of treatment time (p < 0.05), NaClO reduced STEC populations more than the ambient control wash on directly inoculated pecans, but there were no significant differences between STEC reductions from ambient water (C), LA, and NaClO treatments on soil-inoculated pecans (p > 0.05). Larger STEC populations were enumerated from ambient water wash compared to the antimicrobial washes (p < 0.05). The HW, LA, and NaClO treatments were effective at maintaining the quality of the wash water, with STEC levels being generally at or below the detection limit (<1 CFU/100 mL), while HW was the most effective at reducing STEC from in-shell pecans with and without a soil coating (>5-log CFU/mL reductions).

Study on seismic response of liquefiable soil-pile group considering pile cap and soil contact

In this paper, based on the centrifuge test of liquefied soil-pile foundation system, a numerical model of liquefied soil-pile foundation-structure system is modelled by using OpenSees platform. In the simulation model, the friction effect between liquefied ground and low pile cap is considered, and the method of establishing virtual nodes is used to deal with the non-linear contact between liquefiable soil and low pile cap. The rationality and effectiveness of the numerical simulation method adopted in this paper has been verified and evaluated by comparing with the results of centrifuge experiments. A typical liquefaction soil-pile integrated finite element model is modelled using validated numerical simulation methods. The law of seismic response of the pile foundation system with different embedding depths of pile cap, different contact modes between the pile cap and saturated sand, and the thickness of the overlying saturated loose sand layer are discussed. The results show that the pile cap and pile foundation in the high pile cap system show higher seismic response characteristics than the other three low pile cap system conditions; Under the condition of different contact modes between the pile cap and the surrounding saturated sand, the peak bending moment and residual displacement of the pile foundation calculated by the bond contact are larger than calculated by the friction contact, and the deformation of pile is more significant. By comparing the working conditions of different thicknesses of overlying saturated loose sand layer, it is found that the degree of liquefaction in shallow soils is less affected by thickness of the saturated loose sand. As the thickness of saturated loose sand layer increases, the peak bending moment and residual displacement at the top of the pile also gradually increase. The change of peak bending moment at the soil interface is more obvious.

Evaluation of the prevalence of giardiasis and associated factors in Wardak province, center of Afghanistan

Introduction: Giardia intestinalis is a causative agent of gastrointestinal infections worldwide. Contaminated food, feces, drinking water (orofecal route), and factors like economic conditions, culture, and behavioral factors contribute to its transmission. Wardak province is located in the central region of Afghanistan, divided into eight districts, with a population of 656,720. Methods: A total of 274 patients with diarrhea referred to Wardak Hospital were studied, and among them, 17 individuals (10 males (58.8%) and 7 females (41.2%) tested positive for Giardia spp. by microscopy during 2023. In this cross-sectional study, socioeconomic, cultural, and symptomatology information were collected. The association between risk factors and intestinal parasitic infections was analyzed using Chi-Square and Fisher's exact tests with SPSS 26 and GraphPad Prism 8 software at a significance level of P ≤ 0.05. Results: More than half of the patients were under 30 years old. Most cases of the disease were observed in hot seasons (spring and summer). A significant correlation was found between the prevalence of giardiasis and factors such as close contact with animals, the use of unfiltered water, soil contact, and warmer seasons. No significant correlation was observed between economic status and travel history. 85% of patients had watery diarrhea, and 15% had bloody diarrhea. Conclusion: This is the first epidemiological study conducted in Wardak province, central Afghanistan. The findings reveal the prevalence of giardiasis and its interaction with multiple risk factors. This study suggests that giardiasis is an important causative factor for gastrointestinal diseases in the study region.

Multifunctional particle additives for simultaneous enhancement of toughness and biodegradation of poly(lactic acid)

A multifunctional biodegradable additive powder has been created for simultaneous enhancement of toughness and compostability of the biopolymer poly(lactic acid) (PLA). PLA has promising strength and stiffness compared to commodity plastics, but the neat polymer is not a direct replacement for petroleum-based plastics in consumer products due to its brittle fracture and low ductility. Although officially certified as biodegradable, PLA suffers from a slow composting rate and is not considered compostable outside of specialized environments such as those found in industrial composters (where temperatures approaching 60 °C are used). A powder-based additive has been developed that increases both the elongation at break and the composting rate of PLA to enhance the attractiveness of PLA over current commodity plastics. In this study, various amounts of the additive are compounded into PLA using a single screw extruder. Test specimens are prepared using the additive manufacturing method of fused filament fabrication. The PLA-based composites show a minimal loss of strength and stiffness as compared to plasticized PLA resins, and the additives provide tunable properties to the material in the ability to control elongation versus strength and stiffness. Direct tensile testing of 3.75 mm filament for additive manufacturing to compare material properties is also investigated. The composting behavior is investigated using specimens made by extrusion as part of an additive manufacturing model system. Composting studies show an increase in composting rate under elevated temperature of 58 °C and 50 % relative humidity under modified ASTM D5338 soil contact testing. Microbial analysis indicates that the additive particles support the growth of specific degraders and shifts the composition of the microbial population of bacteria and fungi and has potential for enhancing the compostability in home compost.

Application and demonstration of meso-activity exposure factors to advance estimates of incidental soil ingestion among agricultural workers.

Soil is an understudied and underregulated pathway of chemical exposure, particularly for agricultural workers who cultivate food in soils. Little is known about how agricultural workers spend their time and how they may contact soil while growing food. Exposure factors are behavioral and environmental variables used in exposure estimation. Our study aimed to derive exposure factors describing how growers engage in different tasks and use those factors to advance the use of time-activity data to estimate soil ingestion exposures among agricultural workers. We administered a meso-activity-based, season-specific soil contact activity questionnaire to 38 fruit and vegetable growers. We asked growers to estimate the frequency and duration of six meso-activities and describe how they completed them. We used questionnaire data to derive exposure factors and estimate empirical and simulated exposures to a hypothetical contaminant in soil via incidental ingestion using daily, hourly, and hourly-task-specific ingestion rates. We generated exposure factors characterizing the frequency and duration of six meso-activities by season, and self-reported soil contact, glove use, and handwashing practices by meso-activity and season. Seasonal average daily doses (ADDs) were similar across all three forms of ingestion rates. No consistent patterns regarding task-specific contributions to seasonal or annual ADDs were observed.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, risk factors and knowledge about toxoplasmosis in undergraduate students from Lima, Peru

Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease of worldwide distribution. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of T. gondii in undergraduate students from Lima, Peru, and to identify the risk factors linked to the infection. For this, serum samples of 100 undergraduate students of the Faculty of Biological Sciences were tested for T. gondii antibodies with a commercially available ELISA. The seroprevalence of T. gondii in these subjects was 7 %. Only the age of students showed a statistical association with T. gondii seropositivity. The level of awareness regarding toxoplasmosis was also investigated. In the sample, 71 % of the students are aware of toxoplasmosis and 64 % that a parasite is the cause of the infection. Most know it is transmitted through undercooked meat (57 %), but are unaware of contaminated vegetables (40 %), organ transplants (17 %), blood transfusions (32 %), and soil contact (39 %). In the epidemiological context it will be valuable to verify toxoplasmosis awareness in other population groups and other regions in Peru.

Study of frictional wear and desorption of nanoparticle‐rubber blend modified UHMWPE composites

AbstractTo address the issues of abrasive wear, impact wear, and soil adhesion that can lead to wear failure and excessive operational resistance in agricultural soil touching parts during farming. This study focuses on UHMWPE composites, modified by filling Nano‐SiC as a hard phase filler and XNBR as an elastic filler. These fillers were dispersed into the UHMWPE matrix through melt blending technology to create a high‐performance composite material for the surface protective material of soil touching parts. The study discovered that by adding hard and elastic fillers to the UHMWPE matrix, the density, hardness, flexural modulus and thermal stability of the materials were all increased. Specifically, the density increased by 5.67% and the flexural modulus increased by 107%. In the block on ring wear test the volumetric wear rate decreased by 98%, while in the mortar wear test the mass wear rate decreased by 64.64%. Additionally, the contact angle on the surface of the specimen after mortar erosion and wear increased to 102.76°, 18% higher than that of pure UHMWPE. These results demonstrate that the modified fillers can improve the abrasion and plastic deformation resistance and hydrophobic desorption of UHMWPE. UHMWPE composite material, serving as the surface protection for soil touching parts, resolves the issues of abrasion of soil abrasive particles and excessive soil adhesion resistance on these parts. This significantly prolongs the service life of soil touching parts of agricultural machinery and improves the operational efficiency and economy.Highlights Research on nanoparticles and elastomer‐modified composite materials. Research has shown the enhancement of UHMWPE composite materials by Nano‐SiC. XNBR improves the plastic deformation resistance of UHMWPE composites. Effects of Nano‐SiC and XNBR on the desorption behavior of composite materials. UHMWPE composites reduce soil contact wear and soil adhesion.

Urban indoor gardening enhances immune regulation and diversifies skin microbiota — A placebo-controlled double-blinded intervention study

According to the hygiene and biodiversity hypotheses, frequent exposure to environmental microbiota, especially through soil contact, diversifies commensal microbiota, enhances immune modulation, and ultimately lowers the risk of immune-mediated diseases. Here we test the underlying assumption of the hygiene and biodiversity hypotheses by instructing volunteers to grow edible plants indoors during the winter season when natural exposure to environmental microbiota is low. The one-month randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial consisted of two treatments: participants received either microbially diverse growing medium or visually similar but microbially poor growing medium. Skin microbiota and a panel of seven immune markers were analyzed in the beginning of the trial and after one month. The diversity of five bacterial phyla (Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia) and one class (Bacteroidia) increased on the skin of participants in the intervention group while no changes were observed in the placebo group. The number of nodes and edges in the co-occurrence networks of the skin bacteria increased on average three times more in the intervention group than in the placebo group. The plasma levels of the immunomodulatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) increased in the intervention group when compared with the placebo group. A similar trend was observed in the interleukin 17A (IL-17A) levels and in the IL-10:IL-17A ratios. Participants in both groups reported high satisfaction and adherence to the trial. The current study provides evidence in support of the core assumption of the hygiene and biodiversity hypotheses of immune-mediated diseases. Indoor urban gardening offers a meaningful and convenient approach for increasing year-round exposure to environmental microbiota, paving the way for other prophylactic practices that might help prevent immune-mediated diseases.

Nonpharmacological Treatment for Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) results from the exposure of susceptible hosts to a diverse group of environmental mycobacteria. The emphasis on nonpharmacological strategies is motivated by the widespread presence of NTM in various environments, and the inconsistent success rates of pharmacological treatments. Modifiable factors contributing to NTM-PD development include impaired airway clearance, low body mass index, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and exposure to NTM habitats. This suggests that lifestyle and environmental modifications could affect disease development and progression. The review highlights several modalities that can modify the risk factors. Airway clearance techniques, informed by the "gel-on-brush" model of the bronchial epithelium, aim to enhance mucociliary clearance, and have the potential to alleviate symptoms and improve lung function. The impact of nutritional status is also examined, with a lower body mass index linked to an increased risk and progression of NTM-PD, indicating the importance of targeted nutritional support. Additionally, the theoretical and epidemiological links between gastroesophageal reflux disease and NTM-PD advocate careful management of reflux episodes. Understanding the risk of NTM transmission through environmental exposure to contaminated water and soil is also crucial. Strategies to mitigate this risk, including effective water management and minimizing soil contact, are presented as vital preventive measures. The review supports the inclusion of nonpharmacological treatments within a comprehensive NTM-PD management strategy, alongside conventional pharmacological therapies. This integrated approach seeks to improve the overall understanding and handling of NTM-PD.

Scoping review on soil microbiome and gut health—Are soil microorganisms missing from the planetary health plate?

Abstract Evidence suggests that soil microorganisms, to which humans have been exposed throughout our evolutionary history, were essential for the evolution of the human gut microbiome and immunological resilience. In recent decades, gut microbial diversity has decreased along with urbanization and global loss of biodiversity. At the same time, the prevalence of chronic, non‐communicable inflammatory diseases has been increasing in urbanized societies. Here, we investigate whether the existing literature supports the hypothesis that ingesting soil microbiota provides immunological resilience. We focus on identifying research gaps and challenges that must be overcome to understand the effects of eating soil on immunological resilience. A scoping review of the peer‐reviewed empirical literature was carried out. The search focused on studies that exposed mammals to direct soil contact and measured the gut microbiota and host response; 12 articles, including four human, six mouse and two other mammal studies, were identified for inclusion in the review. In addition, seven articles related to human health risks associated with soil consumption were included in the review. Studies indicate that ingesting soil‐bound microorganisms supports immunological resilience. There is a lack of intervention studies that include human study subjects that test orally the effect of soil microorganisms on the gut microbiota and immunological resilience. Challenges, particularly soil heterogeneity and risks related to soil biological and chemical properties, have prevented progress to fully understand the effect of oral intake of soil‐bound microorganisms on human gut microbiota and health. The results encourage the development of technologies that allow daily exposure to soil microbiota. Future research should be aimed to precisely test the importance of oral intake of soil‐bound microorganisms in gut microbial homeostasis and immunological resilience. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Evaluating the Integrity of Slab–Soil Contact with Impulse Response Testing: Insights from Numerical Simulations

Evaluating the Integrity of Slab–Soil Contact with Impulse Response Testing: Insights from Numerical Simulations