Search Results (10,822)

The evolution of landscape ecological risk in ecologically fragile areas constitutes a critical foundation for optimizing territorial spatial planning and ensuring ecological security. This study takes Zichang City as the research object and integrates the dynamic analysis of land use, landscape ecological risk assessment, and spatial simulation into a single framework. By analyzing the laws of land use change in Zichang City from 1980 to 2020, the CLUE-S model was used to predict land use change and ecological risks under multiple scenarios in 2035. Statistical and spatial analysis methods were comprehensively applied to verify the robustness and spatial differentiation characteristics of the risk assessment. Key findings indicate the following: (1) From 1980 to 2020, forest land, water bodies, and construction land in Zichang City continued to increase, while cultivated land and grassland tended to decrease. Multi-scenario simulations showed that under the business-as-usual scenario, grassland and forest land expanded; under the economic development scenario, urban land increased significantly; under the ecological protection scenario, grassland grew substantially, while cultivated land contracted noticeably. (2) The overall LERI from 1980 to 2020 first declined and then slightly rebounded, reflecting an “initial improvement followed by fluctuation” in ecological security, with a spatial pattern of “high in the central area, low in the periphery.” By 2035, high-risk levels remain predominant across scenarios, although the proportion of high-risk areas is limited. Monte Carlo simulation confirmed the robustness of the assessment (mean CV = 0.038). (3) Spatially, from 2020 to 2035, the clustering characteristics of LERI varied among scenarios; however, high–high and low–low clustering patterns remained predominant, indicating that spatial aggregation of ecological risk is relatively stable across scenarios. This study demonstrates that integrating landscape ecological risk assessment with land use scenario modeling provides robust scientific support for optimizing spatial planning and ecological security in ecologically fragile regions. The proposed framework offers methodological guidance and practical reference for identifying key risk areas and designing differentiated land use and risk management strategies in similar hilly–gully landscapes. Full article

To identify the main controlling factors of well shutdowns in different production stages of coalbed methane (CBM) horizontal wells, this study investigated the production parameters and pump inspection records of 25 horizontal wells in Huabei Oilfield. This paper first summarizes the types, causes, and impact degrees of well shutdown faults. Then, it conducts an analysis focusing on the four core production stages—water drainage, production increase, stable production, and production reduction—and clarifies that the key fault difference across stages lies in the variation in main fault types. The following results show that: (1) a total of 15 types of shutdown faults occurred during production, which are classified into four categories: coal–sand mixture-related faults, gas intrusion-related faults, supporting equipment faults, and other faults. Coal–sand mixture are the core inducement (accounting for 52%), followed by gas intrusion (accounting for 22%). (2) The impact of faults varies significantly: wellbore blockage, pump sticking, and flexible shaft breakage caused by coal–sand mixture and high current due to gas intrusion have a significant impact on production; environmental protection issues only occur in the water drainage stage and do not affect production; supporting equipment faults have a short handling cycle and minimal impact. (3) Shutdown faults exhibit obvious stage characteristics: In the water drainage stage, faults are mainly caused by environmental protection, power outage, and other factors, while high current due to pump sticking is the core downhole fault; in the production increase and stable production stages, pump sticking and flexible shaft breakage induced by coal–sand mixture are dominant; in the production decline stage, gas intrusion problems intensify, and the proportion of coal–sand mixture -related faults decreases but remains the main inducement. Full article

In order to minimize problems associated with the operation of surface water intakes, passive wedge-wire screens are increasingly being used. Deflectors of special design are placed inside the intake heads to reduce local maximum inlet velocities and to ensure a uniform velocity distribution over their surface. The use of computer software based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods enabled simulations and optimization of the intake head design. Subsequently, a series of laboratory tests was conducted. Several scenarios were considered, varying the flow rates in the hydraulic flume and taking into account both the presence and absence of the deflector. Velocities around the intake head were measured, and the amount of particles in the water attracted to the head surface under the analyzed conditions was assessed. The results confirm the clear effect of the deflector on the velocity distribution. Its use originates reduced velocities near the head surface, as well as a smaller amount of debris deposited on the screen, while maintaining efficiency. At the same time, lower inlet velocities close to the head surface reduce the risk of entrainment and potential injury or mortality of young fish, fry, and eggs. Full article

The study assesses water-filled subsidence basins in the Karviná region using ecological and faunistic characteristics, with freshwater molluscs as bioindicators. Two sites—subsidence lake Kozinec and Doubrava basins—differing in size, salinity, and vegetation, were examined. A malacological survey identified 16 mollusc species, with invasive species dominating Kozinec due to high salinity from mine water discharge, while native species prevailed in Doubrava basins. The study analysed the impact of shoreline zones on mollusc communities, measured physicochemical water parameters (e.g., salinity, pH, nitrites), and evaluated anthropogenic influences. Proposed measures include raising the dam to prevent salinisation of Kozinec’s isolated section, supporting ecological succession, and protecting littoral zones, highlighting the potential for revitalising post-mining sites. Full article

The Ulansuhai Basin stands as the most crucial ecological and economic zone in northern China. Resource and environmental planning serves as a core strategy, aimed at mitigating the consumption of environmental resources induced by economic expansion within the Ulansuhai Basin and facilitating the synergistic development of the economy and the environment. In this paper, by taking the data of the economy, resource and water environment of the Ulansuhai Basin during the period from 2010 to 2022 as the research basis, a fuzzy multi-objective programming model for the resource–environment and socio-economic system was constructed. The results showed that within the planting industry, giving priority to the cultivation of sunflowers and corn will enable the model results to remain in an optimal state. In the field of animal husbandry, the quantity ratio of cows to pigs should be maintained at 1.5:1, and the quantity ratio of sheep to cows should be controlled at approximately 20:1; these ratio settings were conducive to ensuring the model remains in an optimal state. When the ratio of planting industry to animal husbandry was set at 13.16:1 (with the unit of “head” for livestock quantity and “hm²” for planting area), the model arrived at the optimal solution. This study, by virtue of its analysis of the coordination mechanism of economic development with environmental protection in typical watersheds, can provide meaningful policy references for realizing the synergistic enhancement of ecological quality and economic benefits in arid and semi-arid basins, fragile ecological carrying capacity, and the balance between agricultural production expansion and environmental pollution control in these regions. Full article

When it rains or snows over a city, water droplets capture airborne pollutants and transport them to the ground. Prolonged precipitation over the same area can remove a larger amount of pollution; however, rainfall systems vary in duration and tend to move rapidly across regions. Wet deposition sprinklers replicate this natural scavenging process. They can operate for extended periods as needed and can be installed at specific locations where pollution mitigation is most necessary. Despite encouraging experimental results and the widespread use of similar technologies in industrial sectors—such as mining, the construction industry, and waste management—very limited scientific research has focused on their application in urban environments. In particular, their use as an emergency measure during severe pollution episodes as a protective intervention for sensitive subjects, while awaiting the effects of long-term structural solutions, remain largely unexplored. In the present work, we systematically discuss the key elements required to design and implement a network of anti-smog cannons (ASC) to protect sensitive receptors from severe air pollution events in large cities. Based on this analysis, we established a generalized framework that can be applied to any urban context worldwide. We also examine the potential application of the proposed method to the city of Turin (≈850,000 inhabitants, north-western Italy), which is considered a representative case study for other cities in Western Europe. Our findings indicate that such a network is both technically feasible and economically sustainable for local government authorities. Full article

After a series of successful reintroductions, the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is expanding its range throughout Europe. Timely monitoring of beaver activity contributes to early detection of environmental impacts and aids in mitigating human–wildlife conflicts and other threats. However, the signs of beaver presence are difficult to detect in some environments, e.g., densely vegetated river banks or in areas with considerable water level variability. In these cases, new technologies can offer opportunities for easier and faster monitoring. In the current study, we provide a characterisation of the wood-gnawing activity of a newly established beaver population in Northern Bulgaria, using a traditional transect method. In addition, we test the application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to detect and map the signs of beaver activity. The overall gnawing-activity characteristics of newly established Castor fiber populations in Bulgaria follow the pattern documented in earlier studies: the affected trees were mainly willow and poplar, located at less than 10 m from the riverbank, with a diameter mostly under 30 cm. However, there were considerable differences in the tree size and distance from the water between the two studied habitats—the Danube River and its tributaries. No dams were recorded, probably due to the rivers’ sizes. We found no significant difference in the detection rates of the UAV with and without canopy cover. Overall, the UAV-based transects were reliable for the detection of the species’ presence, but not for quantification of its activity patterns, due to the low detection rates, in comparison with ground-level transects. We believe that the method is promising because it is cost- and time-saving but could be improved using cameras with better resolution and by involving machine learning algorithms. The drone detection method could help identify the areas with the densest populations of the species, where Natura 2000 protected zones could then be established. Full article

Cold-water fish, particularly stenothermal species, are increasingly affected by rising temperatures driven by global warming. To explore the hepatic metabolism mode of Amur grayling under warming, Thymallus grubii was selected as the experimental model. Here, we measured the oxygen consumption rate (MO₂), energy metabolism enzymes, and transcription profiling in Thymallus grubii that was exposed to increased temperatures (9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 °C) with the same flow velocity (34 cm/s). In this study, MO₂ initially increased and then decreased with rising temperature, with peak sensitivity between 12 and 15 °C (Q₁₀ = 5.30). Hemoglobin increased significantly at 12–18 °C but decreased in the 18–24 °C group (p < 0.05). Additionally, hepatic glycogen content (the amount of stored sugar in the liver, which serves as an energy reserve) also first increased and then decreased markedly (p < 0.05). Lactic acid in plasma and muscle contents increased, but creatine phosphate and glucose levels significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The result of transcriptome analysis showed that individuals in the 15 °C group could supply energy through glucose and amino acid metabolism. In contrast, individuals under 21 °C exposure could mainly supply energy through the lipid metabolism pathway. Our study underscores the vulnerability of Amur grayling to environmental temperature and identifies the instantaneous metabolic limit range, providing numerical limits (e.g., maximum river temperature) that managers can use to protect wild populations. Full article

Our research aims to provide a comparative analysis of water governance components by presenting the complexity of water-covered land use by the extractive industry in terms of legal, economic, and environmental protection aspects in Poland and Malaysia, along with the corresponding regulations and their implications. This paper discusses the legal forms of land ownership and use, as well as the currently applied principles for calculating fees for using state-owned water covered land that contains mineral deposits. We also present a comparison of selected technologies for the extraction of sand and gravel aggregates under water with their environmental impact. This research highlights the need for specialized valuation frameworks tailored to the geological and regulatory landscape of Poland and Malaysia. We suggest that the market value of land located above a mineral deposit, calculated individually for each deposit-property, should serve as the basis for calculating the lease fee. This discussion should encompass not only the principles and methodology involved in estimating the magnitudes of lease rents on mining industry and its profitability, but also the identification and criteria for assessing the risks associated with ongoing or planned mining ventures and concerns about the protection of river ecosystems. Our research contributes in providing data to stakeholders on extractive industry that operates within flowing and standing inland waters. The key finding of our research is that, in our opinion, the water governance frameworks in Poland and Malaysia are inadequate for protecting public finances and for internalizing the environmental externalities inherent in the economics of mining. Full article

Water hardness, an important factor influencing both human health and aquatic ecosystems, is controlled by natural processes and human activities. This study examined spatiotemporal variations in water hardness in Jinshu Port (JP) and Yuyang Mountain (YM) water sources in Suzhou from 2011 to 2023. The JP source exhibited a higher total hardness (92–182 mg/L) than the YM source (87–179 mg/L), and both sites showed clear seasonal patterns. Long-term trends diverged: the JP source remained stable, while the YM source declined significantly. Carbonate hardness increased, whereas non-carbonate hardness decreased in both sites. These changes were associated with the acid rain frequency, which correlated positively with non-carbonate hardness but negatively with carbonate hardness. Land use also strongly affected hardness: farmland-dominated rivers in Huxi (90–210 mg/L) had higher levels than forest-dominated rivers in Zhexi (76–164 mg/L). Water-soluble calcium and magnesium in farmland soils were about 4.5 times higher than those in forest soils and roughly doubled with fertilization. Overall, human activities—including land use, fertilizer application, and acid rain—strongly influenced hardness patterns. Over the past decade, the hardness in both regions has generally remained stable with a slight decrease, suggesting that the strict environmental protection in the Taihu Lake Basin effectively mitigated anthropogenic impacts on water sources. Full article

Passive acoustic monitoring is a key tool for studying underwater soundscapes and assessing anthropogenic impacts, yet the high cost of hydrophones limits large-scale deployment and citizen science participation. We present the design, construction, and field evaluation of a low-cost hydrophone unit integrated into an acoustic toolkit. The hydrophone, built from off-the-shelf components at a cost of ~20 €, was paired with a commercially available handheld recorder, resulting in a complete system priced at ~50 €. Four field experiments in Greek coastal waters validated hydrophone performance across a marine-protected area, commercial port, aquaculture site, and coastal reef. Recordings were compared with those from a calibrated scientific hydrophone (SNAP, Loggerhead Instruments). Results showed that the low-cost hydrophones were mechanically robust and consistently detected most anthropogenic sounds also identified by the reference instrument, though their performance was poor at low frequencies (<200 Hz) and susceptible to mid-frequency (3 kHz) resonance issues. Despite these constraints, the toolkit demonstrates potential for large-scale, low-budget passive acoustic monitoring and outreach applications, offering a scalable solution for citizen scientists, educational programs, and research groups with limited resources. Full article

Coral life cycle dynamics are poorly understood in most reefs, especially at the large geographic scales commensurate with ocean transport, genetic flow, and other synoptic scale processes. We present a spatially explicit, large-scale, and multi-temporal study of coral settlement along a 30 km long reef system in the Southwest portion of Hawaiʻi Island. Here, we focused on interannual variability in coral recruitment from 2021 to 2024, a period without a major marine heatwave. We used stratified random site selection to place 320 coral settlement tiles at 32 sites (10 tiles per site) at 10 ± 3 m water depth annually to monitor recruitment of the three most common coral genera found in the region (Montipora, Pocillopora, Porites). Site-level interannual variability in coral recruitment was high yet the overall geographic distribution of recruits was consistent through time. This occurred despite a decrease in benthic temperature and recruitment rates during the study period. Persistent geographic patterns in coral recruitment strengthen our understanding of mechanisms and conditions that drive reef resilience. They also strongly suggest a need to protect areas of high recruitment while studying drivers of low recruitment in contrasting habitats. This approach will further increase support of coral production in an era of climate- and coastal pollution-driven declines in coral reefs. Full article

The germination rate of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seeds is a key indicator of their vitality, which is complexly regulated by genetic and environmental factors. This study aims to elucidate the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the differences in germination rates among different pepper germplasm resources and identify the key genes regulating this trait. Three representative pepper materials (‘22HL6’, ‘22HL14’, ‘22HL2’) with significantly different germination rates were selected for this study. Key physiological and biochemical parameters during their germination process were systematically evaluated, including germination rate, vigor index, water absorption characteristics, amylase activity, antioxidant enzyme activity, and soluble sugar and protein content. Based on this, candidate genes related to germination rate were screened through transcriptome sequencing, and core candidate genes were preliminarily functionally validated using the Arabidopsis thaliana heterologous overexpression system. Materials with fast germination rates (‘22HL6’, ‘22HL14’) exhibited higher water absorption efficiency, amylase activity, antioxidant protection (such as lower MDA content and higher POD activity), and more active material metabolism (soluble sugar and protein) during the critical 72-h period. Transcriptome analysis successfully identified seven candidate genes closely related to germination rate. Among them, gene Capann_59V1aChr03g048850 had extremely high expression levels in fast-germinating materials but was almost not expressed in slow-germinating materials, and was identified as a core candidate gene. Heterologous overexpression of Capann_59V1aChr03g048850 in A. thaliana significantly promoted seed germination, with transgenic lines exhibiting earlier germination initiation, more developed taproot and lateral root systems, larger rosette diameter, and earlier bolting and flowering compared to wild-type plants. This study reveals the basis for the differences in germination rates of pepper seeds from the physiological and biochemical to molecular mechanism levels, and for the first time links the function of Capann_59V1aChr03g048850 gene to promoting seed germination and early seedling development. This gene provides valuable genetic resources for improving the germination uniformity and seedling vitality of pepper and even other crops through molecular breeding in the future. Full article

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is well-known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions in various disease models. Here, we tested whether pre-exposure to ALA can protect the testes from cellular damage caused by scrotal heat shock (HS) in mice. Methods: Thirty-six Swiss albino mice were divided into control (CTRL, n = 6), HS (n = 10), and two ALA dose (HS + ALA 200 mg/kg, n = 10; and HS + ALA 400 mg/kg, n = 10) groups. ALA supplementation was administered orally for 30 days. Subsequently, the animals, except the controls, were subjected to an HS water bath at 43 °C for 20 min. Two days later, they were euthanized, and biometric data from gonads and accessory sexual glands, testicular samples for histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses, and sperm from the epididymis cauda were obtained for evaluation. Results: Animals submitted to HS had a lower body weight, decreased relative mass of testes and prostate, reduced seminiferous epithelium height and tubular diameter, and increased degeneration in seminiferous tubules. Additionally, sperm analysis showed a reduced linear progressive velocity (VSL) and straightness (STR), increased midpiece defects, and fewer sperm with functional membranes. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed a reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD1) staining intensity in the testes. Preventive exposure to ALA at 200 mg/kg did not normalize the relative testicular mass, but it reduced the number of giant cells, decreased midpiece defects, normalized the number of sperm with functional membranes, and partially preserved SOD1 expression. Although animals treated with ALA 400 mg/kg showed an improvement in relative testicular mass, this dose was less efficient in other parameters. Conclusions: This study showed that while 30 days of oral ingestion of ALA before the induction of acute degenerative injury did not fully protect male mouse gonads at the tissue level, some parameters related to testicular function and sperm quality showed a partial improvement. Full article

Antimicrobial function in protective and medical textiles is an essential safety feature since textiles can become breeding grounds for microorganisms. Ideally, the antimicrobial function in textiles should be non-toxic, stable, and durable. This study explores a core–shell nanofiber with a core of the cationic biopolymer ε-poly-L-lysine (PL) and shell of structurally similar and biocompatible polyamide-6 (PA). The core–shell structure is expected to have a more stable antimicrobial function than its monolithic counterpart. Further, thermal crosslinking is expected to prevent rapid diffusion of the water-soluble PL. Therefore, this study establishes a comparison between a monolithic (control), a core–shell (CS), and a thermally crosslinked core–shell (CL-CS) nanofiber of PL and PA. Morphological analysis confirmed the successful generation of the core–shell nanofibers. All the samples exhibited hydrophilic behavior and antimicrobial function. However, the control sample showcased significantly reduced zones of inhibition in antimicrobial testing with 21 days of bacterial exposure (1.027 ± 0.072 cm²), as compared to 24 h bacterial exposure (1.347 ± 0.151 cm²). On the other hand, the zones of inhibition for 24 h vs. 21 days for CS (1.265 ± 0.042 cm² vs. 1.052 ± 0.235 cm²) and CL-CS (1.128 ± 0.161 cm² vs. 1.106 ± 0.047 cm²) showed no significant differences. Therefore, the core–shell structure allowed for sustainable and durable antimicrobial action. Lastly, the CL-CS sample exhibited reusable antimicrobial function owing to the core–shell structure paired with thermal crosslinking. This study showcases a fiber system with non-toxic, durable, and reusable antimicrobial function. This study builds grounds for the development and multifaceted holistic characterization of safe, stable, and scalable antimicrobial textiles. Full article