Search Results (390)

Pollution and freshwater scarcity, coupled with the energy sector’s continued dependence on fossil fuels, constitute a dual challenge to sustainable development. A promising response is biosystems that jointly address wastewater treatment and the production of renewable products. This review centers on a managed consortium of aquatic macrophytes and microalgae, in which the spatial architecture of plant communities, rhizosphere processes, and the photosynthetic activity of microalgae act in concert. This configuration simultaneously expands the spectrum of removable pollutants and yields biomass suitable for biorefinery, thereby linking remediation to the production of energy carriers and bioproducts within a circular bioeconomy. The scientific novelty lies in treating the integrated platform as a coherent technological unit, and in using the biomass “metabolic passport” to align cultivation conditions with optimal valorization trajectories. The work offers a practical framework for designing and scaling such consortia that can reduce the toxicological load on aquatic ecosystems, return macronutrients to circulation, and produce low-carbon energy carriers. Full article

The Altai Republic remains a geographic region with an uncovered microbial diversity hiding yet undescribed potential species. Here, we describe the strain al37.1^T from the Altai soil. It showed genomic similarity with the Bacillus mycoides strain DSM 2048^T. However, the in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) was 61.6%, which satisfies the accepted threshold for delineating species. The isolate formed circular, smooth colonies, in contrast to the rhizoidal morphology typical of B. mycoides. The strain showed optimal growth under the following conditions: pH 6.5, NaCl concentration 0.5% w/v, and +30 °C. The major fraction of fatty acids was composed of C_16:0 (34.77%), C_18:1 (15.20%), C_14:0 (9.06%), and C_18:0 (7.88%), which were sufficiently lower in DSM 2048^T (C_16:0–15.6%, C_14:0–3.7%). In contrast to DSM 2048^T, al37.1^T utilized glycerol, D-mannose, and D-galactose, while being unable to assimilate D-sorbitol, D-melibiose, and D-raffinose. The strain contains biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) associated with the production of fengycin, bacillibactin, petrobactin, and paeninodin, as well as loci coding for insecticidal factors, such as Spp1Aa, chitinases, Bmp1, and InhA1/InhA2. The comparative analysis with the 300 closest genomes demonstrated that these BGCs and Spp1Aa could be considered core for the whole group. Most of the strains, coupled with al37.1^T, contained full nheABC and hblABC operons orchestrating the synthesis of enteric toxins. We observed a cytotoxic effect (≈19 and 22% reduction in viability) of the strain on the PANC-1 cell line. Given the unique morphological features and genome-derived data, we propose a new species, B. altaicus, represented by the type strain al37.1^T. Full article

High-purity quartz is a key material for photovoltaics, semiconductors, and optical fibers. The raw material for high-purity quartz mainly comes from natural crystal and pegmatite. It is an attractive research field to excavate alternative feedstocks for traditional materials. Quartz conglomerate is a coarse-grained, clastic sedimentary rock that is cemented by a secondary silica or siliceous matrix. Economically, quartz conglomerate is gaining attention as a strategic alternative to depleting high-grade quartz veins and pegmatites. In this study, high-purity quartz was prepared by purifying quartz conglomerate from Jimunai, Altay, Xinjiang. The method combined high-temperature roasting, water quenching, and ultrasonic-assisted acid leaching. The effects of process parameters on purification efficiency were systematically investigated with the aid of XRD, SEM-EDS, and ICP-OES quantitative element detection. Many cracks formed on the quartz during roasting and quenching. These cracks exposed gap-filling impurities. Gas–liquid inclusions were removed, improving acid leaching. Under optimal ultrasonic-assisted acid leaching conditions (80 °C, 4 h, 10% oxalic acid + 12% hydrochloric acid, 180 W), the Fe content decreased to 6.95 mg/kg, with an 85.6% removal rate. The total impurity content decreased to 210.43 mg/kg. The SiO₂ grade increased from 99.77% to 99.98%. Compared to traditional acid leaching, ultrasonic-assisted acid leaching improved Fe removal and reduced environmental pollution. Full article

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) is a key enzyme for the repair of stalled topoisomerase 1 (TOP1)-DNA complexes. Previously, we obtained HEK293A cells with homozygous knockout of the TDP1 gene by the CRISPR/Cas9 method and used them as a cell model to study the mechanisms of anticancer therapy and to investigate the effect of TDP1 gene knockout on gene expression changes in the human HEK293A cell line by transcriptome analysis. In this study, we investigated the effect of a TDP1 inhibitor ((R,E)-2-acetyl-6-(2-(2-(4-bromobenzyliden) hydrazinyl) thiazol-4-yl)-3,7,9-trihydroxy-8,9b-dimethyldibenzo[b,d] furan-1(9bH)-one, OL9-119, an usnic acid derivative), capable of potentiating the antitumor effect of topotecan, as well as its combination with topotecan, on the transcriptome of wild-type and TDP1 knockout HEK293A cells. OL9-119 was found to be able to reduce cell motility by decreasing the expression of a number of genes, which may explain the antimetastatic effect of this compound. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to electron transport, mitochondrial function, and protein folding were also identified under TDP1 inhibitor treatment. Full article

The governance of artificial intelligence (AI) in education requires theoretical grounding that extends beyond system compliance toward outcome-focused accountability. The EU AI Act classifies AI-based learning outcome assessment (AIB-LOA) as a high-risk application (Annex III, point 3b), underscoring the importance of algorithmic decision-making in student evaluation. Current regulatory frameworks such as GDPR and ALTAI focus primarily on ex-ante and system-focused approaches. ALTAI applications in education concentrate on compliance and vulnerability analysis while often failing to integrate governance principles with established educational evaluation practices. While explainable AI research demonstrates methodological sophistication (e.g., LIME, SHAP), it often fails to deliver pedagogically meaningful transparency. This study develops the XAI-ED Consequential Assessment Framework (XAI-ED CAF) as a sector-specific, outcome-focused governance model for AIB-LOA. The framework reinterprets ALTAI’s seven requirements (human agency, robustness, privacy, transparency, fairness, societal well-being, and accountability) through three evaluation theories: Messick’s consequential validity, Kirkpatrick’s four-level model, and Stufflebeam’s CIPP framework. Through this theoretical integration, the study identifies indicators and potential evidence types for institutional self-assessment. The analysis indicates that trustworthy AI in education extends beyond technical transparency or legal compliance. Governance must address student autonomy, pedagogical validity, interpretability, fairness, institutional culture, and accountability. The XAI-ED CAF reconfigures ALTAI as a pedagogically grounded accountability model, establishing structured evaluative criteria that align with both regulatory and educational standards. The framework contributes to AI governance in education by connecting regulatory obligations with pedagogical evaluation theory. It supports policymakers, institutions, and researchers in developing outcome-focused self-assessment practices. Future research should test and refine the framework through Delphi studies and institutional applications across various contexts. Full article

This paper presents the results of the current present species composition of the genus Allium L. (Amaryllidaceae) of the western part of the Kyrgyz Alatau. The phylogeny, ploidy, and chorological data are presented, and a checklist of species of the genus Allium in the study area is compiled. The large subgenera of Allium, including Melanocrommyum, have been identified, reflecting their prevalence in the mountainous regions of Central Asia. Ploidy of some species (A. artrosanguineum and A. turkestanicum) of the genus Allium growing in the western part of the Kyrgyz Alatau were studied for the first time using flow cytometry methods. The nrITS sequencing was used to construct a phylogenetic tree including sequences from the NCBI database. The phylogenetic tree of species of the genus Allium of the Kyrgyz Alatau was compiled taking into account previously published data. The list of studied Allium species in the Kyrgyz Alatau is represented by 25 species, which include seven subgenera and 17 sections. Also, the nomenclature of onion species is brought to the modern understanding of some species names. Based on specimens of the genus Allium collected in the western part of the Kyrgyz Alatau, an integral assessment of the current species composition using molecular–genetic, cytometric, and traditional botanical methods was carried out. Full article

Background/Objectives: Overcoming resistance to diuretics is extremely important in decompensated chronic heart failure (HF). The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oral acetazolamide, in addition to standard therapy, in HF patients admitted to the hospital with decompensation requiring intravenous loop diuretic therapy. Methods: In this open-label, prospective, multicenter, randomized trial, we included 416 patients hospitalized with decompensated HF. The patients were randomized into two groups: (1) standard therapy, and (2) standard therapy + acetazolamide orally 250 mg 3 times a day in the first 3 days of hospitalization. At randomization, oral thiazide/thiazide-like and loop diuretics were stopped, and intravenous furosemide was initiated. Results: Successful decongestion within 72 h of randomization was observed in 82 patients (39.6%) in the acetazolamide group and in 83 patients (39.7%) in the standard therapy group (p = 0.983). There was a significant difference in the increase in diuresis in the first 72 h (p = 0.028) and in natriuresis on the 2nd day (p = 0.04). There were no differences between the groups in duration of stay in the intensive care unit, duration of index hospitalization, 6 min walk test distance, and clinical assessment scale scores. Death from any cause occurred in three (1.4%) patients in the acetazolamide group, and in the same number of patients in the standard therapy group (p = 0.996). Death from cardiovascular cause and due to decompensated HF also did not differ between the groups during follow-up. Conclusions: The addition of acetazolamide to standard therapy in decompensated chronic HF resulted in a higher cumulative urine output during the first 72 h and natriuresis on the 2nd day after randomization. Full article

The diversity and distribution of fish in the water bodies of the Black Irtysh basin was studied in connection with six abiotic environmental parameters (surface flow velocity, width and depth of rivers, connection with the main river, and bottom and maximum temperature). The current species diversity of fish consists of 29 native and 11 alien species. The diversity of right and left tributaries varies greatly as a result of differences in abiotic parameters. The presence of a hydrological connection of reservoirs by itself does not guarantee the distribution of species throughout the basin. Rare indigenous Siberian Taimen Hucho taimen and Markakol Lenok Brachymystax savinovi were regularly found in the right tributaries of the Irtysh River and Lake Markakol, respectively. New fish species to the Kazakh section of the Black Irtysh River have been discovered: Tibetan stone loach Triplophysa stolickai, Severtsov’s loach Triplophysa sewerzowi and alien fish species as asp Leuciscus aspius, Chinese false gudgeon Abbottina rivularis, sunbleak Leucaspius delinetaus, and Misgurnus sp. Full article

This study investigated interspecific and intraspecific polymorphism in Rheum (Polygonaceae) from Kazakhstan using the inter-primer binding site (iPBS) retrotransposon marker system. The results revealed considerable variation in the level and nature of genetic polymorphism both within and among Rheum species and ecopopulations across different regions of Kazakhstan. Rh. compactum and the ecopopulation Rh. tataricum from the Zhambyl Region (ZH) exhibited the lowest levels of polymorphism, supporting their designation as conservation priorities. Genetic differentiation analysis among species and ecopopulations identified clear distinctions, resulting in the formation of well-defined clusters with high bootstrap support. Minimal genetic distances were observed between the two ecopopulations of Rh. tataricum, along with a high degree of intraspecific genetic homogeneity in Rh. compactum and Rh. nanum. A distinct genetic divergence between Rh. compactum and the other taxa was detected, reinforcing its status as a separate species rather than a synonym of Rh. altaicum. The iPBS markers proved effective for investigating genetic variation in Rheum, offering valuable insights for future studies aimed at understanding the evolutionary history of the genus. Full article

Climate change has a profound impact on the spatio-temporal patterns and successional dynamics of forest ecosystems, particularly at forest edges. The Altay Mountains are located at the junction of China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, and the southern edge of the boreal forest in interior Eurasia. It is highly necessary to compare the differences in the responses of forest ecosystems in large transnational mountain ranges to climate change under the background of climate change. This study analyzed 558 tree cores collected from 20 sample sites dominated by Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) in the high-elevation of Altay Mountains. Using tree-ring width data and meteorological observations from Altay Mountains both in China and Russia, we investigated how climate influences the radial growth of L. sibirica across these regions. The results indicate that temperature is the primary factor driving radial growth, with early summer temperatures acting as the main growth-limiting factor on both China and Russia. Notably, the radial growth-climate response is stronger in Russia than China. Despite ongoing climate change, the dominant climatic drivers of radial growth in the Altay Mountains have remained stable, with temperature continuing to exert a significant and consistent influence on L. sibirica growth in the high-elevation of Altay Mountains. This study enhances our understanding of the climate change impacts on boreal forest ecosystems and highlights potential risks to forest health in the Altay Mountains. Full article

The genus Allium is highly diverse and ecologically significant in Eastern Kazakhstan, with several rare and endemic species belonging to the section Schoenoprasum. This study provides a comparative analysis of the seed morphology of four species from this section: A. ledebourianum, A. ivasczenkoae, A. schoenoprasum, and A. ubinicum. Seeds were collected from their natural habitats and analyzed through morphometric measurements, surface structure assessments, and environmental correlation. Distinct differences in seed length, width, thickness, and weight were identified, with A. ubinicum displaying the most pronounced divergence in size and mass. Qualitative traits, including surface texture, micropyle visibility, and chalaza structure, were also recorded. Principal component and cluster analyses revealed clear separation between the species, notably distinguishing A. ubinicum from A. schoenoprasum, challenging their previously assumed synonymy. Environmental variables such as light, moisture, and soil chemistry showed significant correlations with seed dimensions, suggesting that environmental conditions contribute to morphological differentiation. Although the micromorphological features observed under scanning electron microscopy were generally similar, the macromorphological traits proved to be taxonomically informative. The larger and heavier seeds of A. ubinicum suggest regional divergence or adaptive evolution, reinforcing its classification as a separate taxon. These findings contribute to the refinement of the species delimitation process within Schoenoprasum and underscore the role of seed traits in both taxonomic research and conservation strategies in floristically rich but understudied regions like Eastern Kazakhstan. Full article

Fractured rock masses in cold regions are subject to long-term seasonal freeze–thaw cycles. To investigate the fatigue damage characteristics of sandstone with different fracture inclinations under freeze–thaw cycling conditions, samples containing fractures of varying inclinations were prepared using sandstone from Altay, Xinjiang. After vacuum saturation and freeze–thaw cycling treatment (−30 °C to 30 °C), uniaxial cyclic loading tests were conducted to analyze strain, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and damage variables. The results showed that under cyclic loading, the strain of the sandstone exhibited a “stepwise accumulation” characteristic, with peak and residual strain increasing with the progression of the cycle. Among them, the specimen with a fracture angle of 45° exhibited the fastest strain increase before failure. The peak elastic modulus showed a “continuous decrease within each stage and an initial increase followed by a decrease between stages,” while the residual elastic modulus continued to decrease, with both experiencing a sudden, sharp drop at the end of the cycle. The peak Poisson’s ratio decreases with the number of cycles in the early stage, then transitions to logarithmic growth in the later stage, rapidly increases near failure, and finally, the residual Poisson’s ratio in the final cycle exceeds the peak Poisson’s ratio; the evolution of damage variables exhibits an S-shaped three-stage characteristic, with the initial stage showing an irreversible deformation growth rate exceeding 10% due to compaction. In the middle stage, it grows steadily due to microcrack propagation, and in the final stage, it approaches 1. Samples with steep inclination angles exhibit earlier damage initiation and faster growth rates. The study reveals that crack inclination angle influences the evolution rhythm by regulating the proportion of compaction and shear damage, providing a theoretical basis for assessing the engineering stability of fractured rocks in cold regions. Full article

While livestock presence in national parks is often recognized, its environmental impact is usually treated as a separate issue, and it is commonly assumed that livestock numbers decline as tourism develops. However, this study examines the case of Mongolia, where livestock numbers have actually increased alongside tourism growth, leading to negative environmental consequences. This study introduces and explores the phenomenon termed “tourism-induced livestock concentration”, referring to the rise in livestock numbers driven by unsustainable tourism development and the subsequent settlement of herders in the protected areas. This study is the first in Mongolia to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock in specially protected areas, providing a focused analysis of the ecological footprint of tourism through GHG emissions. The findings confirm that tourism contributes to increased GHG emissions in these protected areas. Specifically, in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, the number of tourists staying in the area increased by 2.7 times, while livestock numbers rose by 3.3 times during the study period. The results indicate that the growth in livestock populations, driven by tourism, has led to higher GHG emissions and intensified grazing pressure, negatively impacting the habitats and sustainability of rare plant and animal species within the park. Full article

The long-term sustainability of conservation efforts in critical reforestation regions requires timely, spatiotemporal assessments of ecological quality. In alignment with China’s environmental initiatives, this study integrates Google Earth Engine (GEE) and MODIS data to construct an enhanced Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) for two decades of ecological monitoring. Hotspot analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*) revealed concentrated high-quality zones, particularly in Xinjiang’s Altay Prefecture, with ‘Good’ and ‘Excellent’ areas increasing from 21.64% in 2000 to 31.30% in 2020. To uncover driving forces, partial correlation and geographic detector analyses identified a transition in the Three-North Shelter Forest Program (TNSFP) from climate–topography constraints to land use–climate synergy, with land use emerging as the dominant factor. Socioeconomic influences, shaped by policy interventions, also played an important but fluctuating role. This progression—from natural constraints to active human regulation—underscores the need for climate-adaptive land use, balanced ecological–economic development, and region-specific governance. These findings validate the effectiveness of current conservation strategies and provide guidance for sustaining ecological progress and optimizing future development in the TNSFP. Full article

Space layout design has been recognized as a key technical challenge in achieving low-energy and low-carbon rural houses. Adjustment of room location can influence building energy performance and is subject to both meteorological and design parameters. To elucidate the impact of these parameters on the energy saving potential of room relocation (ESR), this study investigated rural houses in Northwest China using dynamic simulations to compare the relative energy saving rates (RES) associated with three types of single heated room location changes: from the west side to the middle (WM), from the east side to the middle (EM), and from the west side to the east side (WE). Simulations were conducted across different climate regions (Lhasa, Xi’an, Tuotuohe, and Altay) and design parameters, including exterior wall U-value, building orientation (BO), building height (BH), and window-to-wall ratio (WWR). Additionally, the maximum differences in energy consumption (MD) among six layouts with multiple heated rooms were assessed. The results demonstrated that ESR varied significantly with room relocation. The ranges of RES_WM, RES_EM, and RES_WE were −7.89% to 13.20%, −7.82% to 10.25%, and −2.29% to 3.36%, respectively. The MD values ranged from 2.42% to 15.01%. For single heated rooms, including direct normal irradiance (I_dn), the difference between east and west solar-air temperature (△T_sa), outdoor dry bulb temperature (T_e), exterior wall heat transfer coefficient (U), and WWR significantly influenced RES_WM and RES_EM. The ranking of the factor contributions was U > △T_sa > I_dn > T_e > WWR for RES_WM and U > I_dn > △T_sa > T_e > WWR for RES_EM. In the case of RES_WE, I_dn, △T_sa, T_e, exterior wall U value, and BO had significant effects, ranking I_dn > △T_sa > T_e > BO > U. For MD, the key influencing factors were I_dn, △T_sa, T_e, exterior wall U value, and WWR, which were ranked as I_dn > △T_sa > U > T_e > WWR. The effects of design parameters on ESR varied under different climatic conditions. In high-temperature regions, the exterior wall U-value had a stronger influence on the ESR of WE. In regions with larger |△T_sa|, BO exerted a more pronounced effect on the ESR of WE. In regions characterized by high temperatures and radiation, WWR and BH significantly influenced the ESR of WM and EM. Similarly, in these regions, WWR and BH exhibited a greater impact on MD. Finally, among the meteorological parameters, I_dn and △T_sa were significantly correlated with ESR (p < 0.01). These findings provide a valuable reference for the energy-efficient layout design of rural houses in Northwest China and cold regions and support the future development of intelligent and automated rural residential spatial layout design. Full article