Search Results (5,589)

Parks serve as vital components of green infrastructure within urban ecosystems, providing recreational opportunities that not only enhance human well-being but also support bird diversity. However, the shared use of park spaces by both humans and birds inevitably leads to spatial overlap and natural competition between the two groups. Consequently, addressing the diverse needs of both groups and balancing the ecosystem services provided to each has become an urgent and critical issue. In this study, we conducted bird and social surveys in an urban park and employed the SolVES and MaxEnt models to investigate the spatial patterns of cultural ecosystem services (CES), supporting ecosystem services (SES), and bird plumage color CES in the park. We then analyzed the trade-offs and synergies between different ecosystem service relationship pairs, as well as the factors influencing them, using bivariate spatial autocorrelation and geographical detectors analyses. Our results indicated a synergistic relationship between the recreational value of park CES and both park SES and bird plumage color CES. High-coverage vegetation areas along main roads promoted synergy, benefiting visitors’ appreciation of cultural services, bird roosting, and the supply of plumage color CES. Meanwhile, trade-offs were observed between the aesthetic value of park CES, park SES, and bird plumage color CES, primarily in fitness plazas where noise levels exceeded 70 dB. In contrast, visitors reacted more strongly to disturbances than birds. Furthermore, the colonization of colorful insectivorous birds enhanced the visual aesthetic value while simultaneously increasing the number of bird-feeding guilds and strengthening ecosystem stability. Our study suggests that planting tall trees, especially along park boundaries, expanding the perimeter green separation zone, and incorporating micro-water landscapes will help improve both avian CES and provide a more pleasant environment for visitors in parks. Full article

To identify SSR markers associated with both quantitative and qualitative traits in Perilla, we analyzed a total of 68 individuals from an F₂ population derived from a cross between WPC06-339 (weedy var. crispa) and WPF17-049 (weedy var. frutescens) using 40 SSR primer sets. The genetic diversity of these markers ranged from 0.464 to 0.676, with a mean value of 0.607. Correlation analysis of 13 morphological traits (4 qualitative, 9 quantitative) revealed significant positive correlations among three leaf-related traits and two inflorescence-related traits. Association analysis involving 40 SSR markers and the 13 morphological traits identified 39 significant marker–trait associations, comprising 18 SSR markers associated with 11 morphological traits. Among these SSR markers, 12 were associated with two to five quantitative or qualitative traits. Additionally, 10 SSR markers were significantly associated with three qualitative traits, while 15 SSR markers were associated with eight quantitative traits. Notably, GBPFM179, KNUPF59, and KNUPF167 were significantly associated with multiple quantitative or qualitative traits. GBPFM179 and KNUPF182 exhibited the highest R² values, of 0.38, for stem color and days to maturity, respectively. These SSR markers demonstrate the potential for use in marker-assisted selection in Perilla breeding programs aimed at enhancing leaf or seed productivity through the selection of both quantitative and qualitative traits. Full article

The purpose of this study was to evaluate normal values of healthy human bone marrow (n = 56) and identify gender- and age-related variations using cell lineage markers and maturational curves. Using 10-color quantitative flow cytometry, various cell types were identified, including B cells, T cells, NK cells, granulocytes, monocytes, erythroblasts, plasma cells, basophils, mast cells, and dendritic cells. Results revealed significant age-related declines in the absolute counts of nucleated cells (p = 0.001), including CD34+ immature B cells (p = 0.006) and CD34- immature B cells (p = 0.004). Declines were also observed for T cells (p = 0.002), cytotoxic T cells (p < 0.001), double-negative T cells (p = 0.0001), NK cells (p = 0.007), CD16- NK cells (p < 0.001), metamyelocytes (p = 0.002), neutrophils (p = 0.001), basophils (p = 0.009), promonocytes (p = 0.001), mature monocytes (p = 0.007), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (p = 0.001). Gender differences showed males had more intermediate monocytes (p = 0.009) compared to females. In summary, this study provides normal values for hematopoietic cells, highlighting age- and gender-related disparities critical for understanding hematopoietic dynamics. Full article

Accurate shade matching is essential in restorative and prosthetic dentistry yet remains difficult due to subjectivity in visual assessments. We develop and evaluate a deep learning approach for the simultaneous segmentation of natural teeth and shade guides in intraoral photographs using four fine-tuned variants of Segment Anything Model 2 (SAM2: tiny, small, base plus, and large) and a UNet baseline trained under the same protocol. The spatial performance was assessed using the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC), the Intersection over the Union (IoU), and the 95th-percentile Hausdorff distance normalized by the ground-truth equivalent diameter (HD95). The color consistency within masks was quantified by the coefficient of variation (CV) of the CIELAB components (L*, a*, b*). The perceptual color difference was measured using CIEDE2000 (ΔE00). On a held-out test set, all SAM2 variants achieved a high overlap accuracy; SAM2-large performed best (DSC: 0.987 ± 0.006; IoU: 0.975 ± 0.012; HD95: 1.25 ± 1.80%), followed by SAM2-small (0.987 ± 0.008; 0.974 ± 0.014; 2.96 ± 11.03%), SAM2-base plus (0.985 ± 0.011; 0.971 ± 0.021; 1.71 ± 3.28%), and SAM2-tiny (0.979 ± 0.015; 0.959 ± 0.028; 6.16 ± 11.17%). UNet reached a DSC = 0.972 ± 0.020, an IoU = 0.947 ± 0.035, and an HD95 = 6.54 ± 16.35%. The CV distributions for all of the prediction models closely matched the ground truth (e.g., GT L*: 0.164 ± 0.040; UNet: 0.144 ± 0.028; SAM2-small: 0.164 ± 0.038; SAM2-base plus: 0.162 ± 0.039). The full-mask ΔE00 was low across models, with the summary statistics reported as the median (mean ± SD): UNet: 0.325 (0.487 ± 0.364); SAM2-tiny: 0.162 (0.410 ± 0.665); SAM2-small: 0.078 (0.126 ± 0.166); SAM2-base plus: 0.072 (0.198 ± 0.417); SAM2-large: 0.065 (0.167 ± 0.257). These ΔE00 values lie well below the ≈1 just noticeable difference threshold on average, indicating close chromatic agreement between the predictions and annotations. Within a single dataset and training protocol, fine-tuned SAM2, especially its larger variants, provides robust spatial accuracy, boundary reliability, and color fidelity suitable for clinical shade-matching workflows, while UNet offers a competitive convolutional baseline. These results indicate technical feasibility rather than clinical validation; broader baselines and external, multi-center evaluations are needed to determine its suitability for routine shade-matching workflows. Full article

The transformation of natural ecosystems into agroecosystems due to changes in land use/land cover (LULC) has been shown to significantly affect soil characterization and classification. The impact of LULC on soil taxonomy was assessed in a primary forest located in central–eastern Honduras, which had been deforested approximately forty years prior to the study. Morphological, physical, and physicochemical analyses were performed by describing 10 representative profiles, applying the Soil Taxonomy (ST) and World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) nomenclatures. LULC resulted in physical degradation in agricultural areas, as evidenced by lighter-colored horizons (P02), reduced granular structure (P01, P02, P05), higher bulk densities (≤1.73 Mg m⁻³), and surface crusting (P02, P05); this phenomenon was also observed in pastures (P06–P09). SOC loss was 62% in croplands, 47–53% in agroforestry systems (P03) and fruit tree plantations (P04), and 25% in pastures. All profiles exhibited pH values between 6.5 and 8.4 and complete base saturation (BS), except for P08 and P09, which had pH values below 5.5, high levels of Al³⁺, and reduced BS (50–60%). Mollic epipedons and variability in the endopedons were also observed. According to the ST of the System of Soil Classification (SSC), the soils were classified as Mollisols, Entisols, Vertisols, and Alfisols; and as Phaeozems, Fluvisols, Gleysols, Anthrosols, Gypsisols, and Plinthosols by the WRB. We advocate for the inclusion of Anthropogenic Soils as a distinct Order within Soil Taxonomy (ST). The implementation of sustainable agricultural practices, in conjunction with the formulation of regulatory frameworks governing land use based on capacity and suitability, is imperative, particularly within the context of fragile tropical systems. Full article

Industrial solid waste fly ash has been widely applied in various fields as a resource for waste repurposing. The use of fly ash can significantly reduce production costs and at the same time reduce environmental pollution to achieve sustainability. This study explores the feasibility of using fly ash as a raw material to formulate high-temperature ceramic glazes, examining the composition, surface phases, and texture patterns of the resultant glazes. This study systematically assesses the impact of formulation modifications on glazing qualities by XRF, XRD, and SEM testing methods. The results show that 1. in high-temperature glazes, the element that determines the degree of transparency in the surface phase is the Ti content; 2. Zinc and Ferrum are important factors that can fine-tune the color shade and crystal mention; and 3. controlling the fly ash content in the glaze can change its color and texture. The novelty of this paper lies in utilizing fly ash to create high-performance, high-value-added ceramic products that feature unique aesthetics and artistic effects. In the future, we can investigate the influence of fly ash on glaze coloration, and the formation of different texture effects, as well as achieve specific color mixing. Full article

The incorporation of bioactive compounds from plant-based by-products into staple foods represents a sustainable strategy to enhance both nutritional quality and health benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of buckwheat husk addition (1.5%, 3.0%, 4.5%) on the antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC) and its profile, color parameters, and sensory attributes of wheat and wholemeal breads. Increasing the husk content significantly (p ≤ 0.05) enhanced antioxidant activity, especially in the lipid-soluble fraction, with the highest values observed at 4.5% addition. In terms of TPC, wheat bread showed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase (16.5%) only at 3.0% husk addition, while wholemeal breads exhibited consistent TPC growth at all levels, reaching a 35.2% increase at 4.5% enrichment. Phenolic profiling revealed syringic acid as the dominant compound, constituting up to 64.4% of total phenolic acids in wholemeal bread with 4.5% husk. Flavonoids content increased with husk addition, with rutin, catechin, and orientin most prominent. Color analysis indicated a reduction in lightness and hue angle, an increase in browning index and total color difference with higher husk addition. Addition of husk modified aroma, color, and mouthfeel. Wholemeal breads with 1.5% and 4.5% buckwheat husk had the highest acceptability, enhancing nutritional and functional quality without affecting preference. Buckwheat husk effectively enhances bread’s nutritional and functional quality. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate how acidic and alkaline staining solutions affect the optical properties (mean color change, ΔE*), geometric characteristics (surface roughness, Ra), and bacterial adhesion of zirconia Ceramill Zolid PS computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) material after 21 days of immersion. Ninety-six zirconia CAD/CAM Ceramill Zolid multilayer PS specimens were prepared and allocated to eight groups based on the pH values of the immersion solutions; the acidic solutions included Mirinda Citrus, CodeRed, yerba mate tea, Saudi coffee, and Nescafe (A–E), and the alkaline solutions included artificial saliva, DZRT (tobacco-free nicotine pouches), and smokeless tobacco (F–H). The specimens were immersed for 21 days at 37 °C, with the solutions replaced every 12 h to ensure consistency. Color changes were measured using a VITA Easyshade V spectrophotometer, and Ra was evaluated via white-light interferometric microscopy. The bacterial adhesion of Streptococcus mutans was quantified by counting colony-forming units (CFUs, CFU/mm²). Statistical analyses included the Shapiro–Wilk test for normality, one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s HSD post hoc test for group comparisons, and paired t-tests, with significance set at <0.05. The recorded pH values of the staining materials ranged from acidic (Mirinda Citrus: 3.23) to alkaline (smokeless tobacco: 8.54). Smokeless tobacco caused the most unacceptable mean color change (ΔE* = 6.84), followed by DZRT (ΔE* = 6.46), whereas artificial saliva produced the least discoloration (ΔE* = 2.15), with statistically significant differences among the solutions (p < 0.001). The Ra measurements varied significantly (p < 0.001), with Nescafe demonstrating the lowest value (0.486 µm) and DZRT the highest (0.748 µm). S. mutans adhesion was the highest for CodeRed (546.75 CFU) and the lowest for smokeless tobacco (283.92 CFU), demonstrating significant variation across groups (ANOVA, p < 0.001). The acidic and alkaline solutions significantly altered the optical properties, Ra, and bacterial adhesion of zirconia Ceramill Zolid PS CAD/CAM, with acidic solutions leading to higher bacterial adhesion. Full article

Fresh cheeses are dairy products that are highly valued by consumers, and they are frequently added with ingredients with functional properties. For the first time, this study aimed to characterize fresh cheeses added with guabiroba pulp (5, 10, 15%) by evaluating their physical–chemical properties, concentration of bioactive compounds, and in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Based on our previous studies, adding 10–15% guabiroba pulp to dairy products is enough to enhance their prebiotic activity, in addition to increasing the levels of bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and promoting an evident and natural orange color to the dairy product. Adding guabiroba pulp decreased the water activity, pH value, luminosity, and the products’ texture properties (firmness, elasticity, cohesiveness, and gumminess). At the same time, it increased the concentration of bioactive compounds (carotenoids, amino acids, phenolic compounds, and fatty acids), organic acids, sugars (sucrose and fructose), and antioxidant activity. Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was observed for fresh cheese samples with guabiroba pulp addition. In conclusion, fresh cheeses with guabiroba pulp presented an improved concentration of bioactive compounds and functional properties, demonstrating that they are innovative products for the dairy industry. Full article

Urban renewal has driven historic conservation districts to experience a series of changes characterized by gentrification. In the 21st century, internet traffic can be fully monetized. The intervention of the internet has made the gentrification process more diversified. Using color and item detection, points of interests (POIs), and word cloud analysis, this study takes a typical historic conservation district as an example to explore how it changed spatially, economically, and socially during the gentrification process. The results show that the internet celebrity economy possesses both promoting and dissolving effects. The promoting effects include the following: (1) the internet celebrity economy breaks the elites’ monopoly on spatial aesthetic discourse; (2) emotional value has promoted the integration of different groups’ consumption; and (3) gentrification occurs locally so spatial exclusion is not significant. The dissolving effects include the following: (1) the low-cost and rapid renovation of space reduces spatial quality; and (2) the fast-moving consumer model may possibly lead to unsustainable development. This study proposes that the intervention of the internet celebrity economy can alleviate the isolation drawbacks of traditional gentrification and promote social equity, and the promoting effects outweigh the negative effects. Full article

Waste glass recycling generates waste streams such as fine glass fraction, waste ceramics containing fine glass, and waste polyethylene plastics. All of the aforementioned streams contain contaminants of organic and inorganic origin that are difficult to remove. This research was conducted to determine technological processes aimed at achieving a circular economy (CE) in the recycling of waste glass. Foam glass was made from the fine-grained, multicolored fraction of contaminated glass, an effective method for recycling glass waste at a low cost. A frothing system based on manganese oxide (MnO₂) and silicon carbide (SiC) was proposed, and an optimum weight ratio of MnO₂/SiC equal to 1.0 was determined. The possibility of controlling the process to achieve the desired foam glass densities was demonstrated. Statistical analysis was used to determine the effect of the MnO₂/SiC ratio and MnO₂ content on the density of the resulting foam glass products. Waste ceramics contaminated with different-colored glass were transformed into ceramic–glass granules. The characteristic temperature curve of the technological process was determined. The metal content in water extracts from ceramic–glass granules and pH value indicate their potential use for alkalizing areas degraded by industry and agriculture. Waste polyethylene-based plastics were converted into polyethylene waxes by thermal treatment carried out in two temperature ranges: low temperature (155–175 °C) and high temperature (optimum in 395 °C). The melting temperature range of the obtained waxes (95–105 °C) and their FTIR spectral characteristics indicate the potential application of these materials in the plastics and rubber industries. The integrated management of all material streams generated in the glass recycling process allowed for the development of a CE model for the glass recycling plant. Full article

This paper aims to review and summarize the performance assessment of PV/T modules with optical filtration layers and different materials designed to achieve full spectral utilization of sunlight through absorptive, refractive, reflective, and diffractive approaches. Different categories of optical filtration layers, including nanofluids, nano-enhanced phase change materials, the luminescent down-shifting technique, the radiative cooling technique, the colored optical technique, nanowires, and polymer materials, are examined and compared. Additionally, the cost-effectiveness of PV/T modules with optical filtration layers is evaluated by using the net present values, price-performance factor, least cost of energy, and life-cycle cost method in practical applications. This paper also discusses current challenges, future perspectives, recommendations, and potential applications aimed at overcoming the limitations for real-world implementation. Results conclude that the overall energy performance of the PV/T system with optical filtration layers can be enhanced by 85–90%, while the system payback period is reduced to less than 6 years compared to conventional PV/T modules. Full article

Chlorophyll is crucial for crop photosynthesis and useful for monitoring crop growth and predicting yield. Its content can be indicated by SPAD meter readings. However, SPAD-based monitoring of rice is time- and labor-intensive, whereas remote sensing offers non-destructive, rapid, real-time solutions. Compared with mainstream unmanned aerial vehicle, emerging phenotyping robots can carry multiple sensors and acquire higher-resolution data. Nevertheless, the feasibility of estimating rice SPAD using multi-sensor data obtained by phenotyping robots remains unknown, and whether the integration of machine learning algorithms can improve the accuracy of rice SPAD monitoring also requires investigation. This study utilizes phenotyping robots to acquire multispectral and RGB images of rice across multiple growth stages, while simultaneously collecting SPAD values. Subsequently, four machine learning algorithms—random forest, partial least squares regression, extreme gradient boosting, and boosted regression trees—are employed to construct SPAD monitoring models with different features. The random forest model combining vegetation indices, color indices, and texture features achieved the highest accuracy (R² = 0.83, RMSE = 1.593). In summary, integrating phenotyping robot-derived multi-sensor data with machine learning enables high-precision, efficient, and non-destructive rice SPAD estimation, providing technical and theoretical support for rice phenotyping and precision cultivation. Full article

Current consumer trends for meat production with reduced antibiotic use constitute huge challenges in animal farming. Using indigenous raw materials such as aromatic or medicinal plants or their extracts could positively affect or retain animals’ health. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of medicinal plant extracts and essential oils on pig performance parameters, health indices and meat quality. A phytobiotic mixture (PM) consisting of oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) essential oil, rock samphire (Crithmum maritimum L.) essential oil, garlic flour (Allium sativum L.) and false flax flour (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) was used in pig diets, containing in the experimental trials two different proportions of the oregano essential oil (200 mL/t of feed vs. 400 mL/t of feed). Three groups of weaned pigs were fed either the control diet (CONT) or one of the enriched diets (PM-A or PM-B, 2 g/kg). After a 43-day feeding period, at 77 days of age, blood was taken from the jugular vein for biochemical and hematological tests, and eight pigs were humanely slaughtered. A microbiological analysis of intestinal digesta from the ileum and caecum was conducted. Additionally, meat tissue cuts (biceps femoris, external abdominal and triceps brachii) were collected for a chemical analysis, fatty acid lipid profile and oxidative stability testing. The statistical analysis revealed no differences (p > 0.05) in the body weights and growth rates among the groups. An increase (p < 0.05) in total aerobic bacteria was detected in the ileum of group PM-A, while Escherichia coli (E. coli) counts were reduced (p < 0.05) in group PM-B. In the caecum, reductions in Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillaceae counts were observed in groups PM-A and PM-B. Concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) as an indicator of lipid peroxidation were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in triceps brachii and biceps femoris for both groups PM-A and PM-B (day 0). A reduction (p < 0.05) in MDA was noticed in triceps brachii and external abdominal meat samples (day 7) for groups PM-A and PM-B. In addition, the fatty acid profile of the meat lipids (ΣPUFA, h/H and PUFA/SFA ratios) was positively modified (p < 0.05) in the ham and belly cuts. The addition of the PM significantly (p < 0.05) affected the redness of the ham and shoulder meat (a* value increased), the yellowness of only the ham (b* value decreased) and the lightness of both belly (L* value increased) and ham samples (L* value decreased). The meat proximate analysis, as well as hematological and biochemical parameters, did not identify any differences (p > 0.05) between the groups. In conclusion, the two investigated mixtures could be used in weaned pigs’ diets, with positive results in intestinal microbial modulation, oxidative stability, fatty acid profile and color characteristics of the pork meat produced. Full article

The Koldar Massif in southeastern Kazakhstan is a geologically complex area with potential for porphyry copper and rare-metal mineralization. This study applies a multi-scale remote sensing approach to delineate hydrothermal alteration zones using medium-resolution ASTER imagery and very high-resolution WorldView-3 data. Image processing techniques—including false color composites (FCCs), band ratios (BRs), and the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM)—were employed across the VNIR and SWIR bands to detect alteration minerals such as kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite, chlorite, epidote, calcite, quartz, and muscovite. These minerals correspond to argillic, propylitic, and phyllic alteration zones. While ASTER supported regional-scale mapping, WorldView-3 enabled detailed analysis at the Aidarly deposit. Validation was performed using copper occurrences, lithogeochemical anomaly contours, and ore body boundaries. The results show a strong spatial correlation between the mapped alteration zones and known mineralization patterns. Importantly, this study reports the identification of a previously undocumented hydrothermal zone north of the Aidarly deposit, detected using WorldView-3 data. This zone exhibits concentric phyllic and argillic alterations, similar to those at Aidarly, and may represent an extension of the mineralized system. Unlike earlier studies on the Aktogay deposit based on ASTER and Landsat-8, this work focuses on the Aidarly deposit and introduces higher-resolution analysis and SAM-based classification, offering improved spatial accuracy and target delineation. The proposed methodology provides a reproducible and scalable workflow for early-stage mineral exploration in underexplored regions, especially where field access is limited. These results highlight the value of high-resolution remote sensing in detecting concealed porphyry copper systems in structurally complex terrains. Full article