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This study conducts a series of large-scale pullout tests to explore the pullout behavior of the biaxial geogrid-calcareous sand interface. It investigates the effects of normal stress, relative density, and embedded length on the interface pullout behavior of geogrid reinforcement in calcareous sand. In addition, this research examines changes in interface shear strength and the interface friction coefficient. The interface interaction mechanism of geogrid reinforcement in calcareous sand and the evolution of pullout force-clamp displacement curves are determined. The results indicated that the pullout force-clamp displacement curve primarily exhibits softening and hardening behaviors. The passive resistance of the geogrid mesh significantly influences the softening behavior, while shear friction predominantly affects the hardening behavior. The interface friction coefficient ranged from 0.28 to 0.88 for embedded lengths of 300 − 460 mm. The effects of relative density and embedded length on interface cohesion are more pronounced than those on the interface friction angle. When the embedded length increased from 300 to 460 mm, the rise in interface cohesion ranged from 42.0% to 47.7%, whereas the increase in internal friction angle ranged from 9.5% to 14.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically assessed the inactivation mechanism on Staphylococcus aureus biofilms by a N2 atmospheric-pressure plasma jet and the effect on the biofilm regeneration capacity from the bacteria which survived, and their progenies. The total bacterial populations were 7.18 ± 0.34 log10 CFU ml−1 in biofilms and these were effectively inactivated (>5.5-log10 CFU ml−1) within 30 min of exposure. Meanwhile, >80% of the S. aureus biofilm cells lost their metabolic capacity. In comparison, ∼20% of the plasma-treated bacteria entered a viable but non-culturable state. Moreover, the percentage of membrane-intact bacteria declined to ∼30%. Scanning electron microscope images demonstrated cell shrinkage and deformation post-treatment. The total amount of intracellular reactive oxygen species was observed to have significantly increased in membrane-intact bacterial cells with increasing plasma dose. Notably, the N2 plasma treatment could effectively inhibit the biofilm regeneration ability of the bacteria which survived, leading to a long-term phenotypic response and dose-dependent inactivation effect on S. aureus biofilms, in addition to the direct rapid bactericidal effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of solution conditions (such as contact time, solution pH, ionic strength, reaction temperature, solid-liquid ratio and humic acid (HA)) on U(VI) immobilization on montmorillonite from Huangshan, China in environment was investigated by batch technique. U(VI) adsorption on montmorillonite is fairly affected by the solution pH and the ionic strength. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔG°) suggest that U(VI) adsorption on montmorillonite shows a spontaneous and endothermic process. The coexisted HA in solution could promote the U(VI) adsorption on montmorillonite. Notably, Huangshan montmorillonite has the potential in enrichment and solidification of U(VI) ions under environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]