Search Results (2,988)

Underwater object detection is critical for marine resource utilization, ecological monitoring, and maritime security, yet it remains constrained by optical degradation, high energy consumption, and vulnerability to adversarial perturbations. To address these challenges, this study proposes an Adaptive Vision Transformer (A-ViT)-based detection framework. At the hardware level, a systematic power-modeling and endurance-estimation scheme ensures feasibility across shallow- and deep-water missions. Through the super-resolution reconstruction based on the Hybrid Attention Transformer (HAT) and the staged enhancement with the Deep Initialization and Deep Inception and Channel-wise Attention Module (DICAM), the image quality was significantly improved. Specifically, the Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) increased by 74.8%, and the Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) improved by 375.8%. Furthermore, the Underwater Image Quality Measure (UIQM) rose from 3.00 to 3.85, while the Underwater Color Image Quality Evaluation (UCIQE) increased from 0.550 to 0.673, demonstrating substantial enhancement in both visual fidelity and color consistency. Detection accuracy is further enhanced by an improved YOLOv11-Coordinate Attention–High-order Spatial Feature Pyramid Network (YOLOv11-CA_HSFPN), which attains a mean Average Precision at Intersection over Union 0.5 (mAP@0.5) of 56.2%, exceeding the baseline YOLOv11 by 1.5 percentage points while maintaining 10.5 ms latency. The proposed A-ViT + ROI reduces inference latency by 27.3% and memory usage by 74.6% when integrated with YOLOv11-CA_HSFPN and achieves up to 48.9% latency reduction and 80.0% VRAM savings in other detectors. An additional Image-stage Attack QuickCheck (IAQ) defense module reduces adversarial-attack-induced latency growth by 33–40%, effectively preventing computational overload. Full article

Improper irrigation and fertilization can easily lead to soil nutrient imbalance, inhibit microbial reproduction, and thereby reduce soil quality and crop yield. This study conducted winter wheat planting experiments in 2023–2025, setting three muddy water (sediment-laden irrigation water) treatments of different sediment concentrations (3, 6 and 9 kg·m⁻³), irrigation levels (0.50–0.65, 0.65–0.80 and 0.80–0.95 FC), and nitrogen application rates (100, 160 and 220 kg·ha⁻¹). An L9(3³) orthogonal experimental design was applied to evaluate the influence of water and nitrogen regulation on soil properties, microbial community structure, and wheat productivity. The results showed the following: Among these treatments, the T5 treatment (6 kg·m⁻³, 0.65–0.80 FC, 160 kg·ha⁻¹) significantly improved the root zone environment, and the total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), and soil organic carbon (SOC) content also increased significantly. T5 also enhanced the diversity and network complexity of bacterial and fungal communities. Notably, genera such as Lysobacter, Lasiobolidium, and Ascobolus became central to nitrogen transformation and nutrient cycling. Structural equation modeling revealed the interdependent mechanism between soil quality, microorganisms, and wheat yield: NO₃⁻-N and SOC drive improvements in soil quality, while microbial community structure and network complexity are key to yield increases, with fungal communities making the largest direct contribution to yield (R² = 0.93). The T5 treatment increased two-year yields by 21.34–24.96% compared to conventional irrigation and fertilization (CK2), improved irrigation water use efficiency by 56.40–57.51% and peak nitrogen agronomic efficiency. The synergistic effect of “soil quality optimization–enhanced microbial activity–efficient utilization of water and nitrogen–high wheat yield” has been achieved, providing a theoretical basis and practical reference for scientific water and nitrogen management and sustainable yield increase in winter wheat in the Yellow River Basin and similar areas. Full article

This study represents the first evaluation of the effects of zinc–carbon dot nano-fertilizers (Nano-ZCDs) on the growth of Bok choy (Brassica chinensis L.) and soil health under multi-batch consecutive foliar spraying during three successive cultivation cycles. The results showed that relative to CK, Nano-ZCDs significantly elevated the fresh weight of Bok choy cultivation across three consecutive harvests, by 75.5 ± 1.8%, 75.1 ± 0.2%, and 74.6 ± 0.4%, respectively. Meanwhile, the nutritional value, including amino acids, vitamin C, soluble sugars, proteins, and Zn accumulation, was markedly enhanced by Nano-ZCDs. Additionally, Nano-ZCDs significantly improved soil water content, Eh, soil organic carbon, available potassium, and available phosphorus in the rhizosphere soil. It also enhanced the complexity, stability, and species richness of the bacterial community. Based on the Cornell Soil Health Assessment system, the soil health index of the Nano-ZCDs group was significantly 8.1% higher than that of the CK group. Therefore, multi-batch consecutive applying of Nano-ZCDs promoted Bok choy cultivation growth and improved its quality, without impairing soil health. This study suggests that Nano-ZCDs can be applied in agricultural production processes to promote the sustainable development of agricultural systems. Full article

Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) underpins semolina value chains in water-limited regions, yet Peru remains import-dependent due to constrained local adaptation. We evaluated eleven elite lines plus the commercial variety ‘INIA 412 Atahualpa’ across three contrasting semi-arid sites in Arequipa (Santa Elena, San Francisco de Paula, Santa Rita) during 2023–2024 to identify genotypes maximizing performance and stability. Grain yield, thousand-kernel weight (TKW), hectoliter weight, and plant height were analyzed with combined analysis of variance (ANOVA), the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and genotype and genotype-by-environment (GGE) biplots, complemented by AMMI stability value (ASV) and weighted average of absolute scores and best yield index (WAASBY). Grain yield and hectoliter weight showed significant genotype × environment (G × E) interaction, while plant height was driven mainly by genotype and environment with limited interaction. For grain yield, AMMI (PC1: 55.2%) and GGE (PC1 + PC2: 90.2%) revealed crossover responses and three practical mega-environments: TD-053 “won” at San Francisco de Paula, TD-037 at Santa Elena, and TD-033 at Santa Rita. Additionally, WAASBY-integrated rankings favored TD-033 (93.7%) and TD-014 (84.72%), followed by TD-026/TD-020 (>57%), whereas TD-062 (9.1%) and TD-043/TD-061 underperformed. Quality traits highlighted TD-044 and TD-014 for high hectoliter weight and TD-014/TD-062 for high TKW with contrasting stability. Overall, TD-033 and TD-014 were adaptable across environments, providing selection guidance to strengthen Peru’s durum breeding pipeline under climate variability. Full article

With the development of global maritime trade, ship emissions pose an increasing threat to the global atmospheric environment, especially in international navigation waters and important port areas, where their impact on coastal air quality and ecosystems is becoming increasingly significant. This study proposes a high-throughput gridding algorithm (H-Grid) based on spatial hashing to rapidly generate ship emission inventories, which overcomes the inefficiency of traditional methods caused by complex index building and maintenance. The H-Grid algorithm achieves a constant processing time per data point and possesses inherent parallelism. Based on the H-Grid algorithm, taking the Yellow Sea area between China and Republic of Korea as a case study, the emissions of atmospheric pollutants from ships in 2024 were calculated, and their spatiotemporal distribution characteristics were analyzed. In our empirical study, the algorithm’s computational efficiency for processing millions of AIS records was improved by over 10 times compared to traditional geometric calculations, and by more than 4 times when compared to mainstream database spatial queries. Our findings provide an efficient tool for large-scale maritime emission analysis, strongly supporting the green development of global shipping. Full article

The Danjiangkou Reservoir (DJKR) serves as the water source for the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MR-SNWDP), yet comprehensive understanding of its ecosystem structure and function remains limited. This study addressed this knowledge limitation by developing an Ecopath model with 22 functional groups, parameterized using field survey data from 2022 to 2023. Our findings revealed a trophic structure spanning levels 1 to 3.59, with the highest level occupied by piscivorous mandarin fish (Siniperca spp.). Energy flowed through two dominant pathways, with the grazing food chain demonstrating higher transfer efficiency compared to the detrital pathway. Mixed trophic impact analysis identified the introduced icefish (Neosalanx taihuensis) as exerting substantial negative impacts on most functional groups. Key ecosystem indices, including the total primary production to total respiration ratio (TPP/TR, 1.99), connectance index (CI, 0.248), and system omnivory index (SOI, 0.113), collectively indicated an ecosystem of moderate maturity and stability. Persistent challenges include the proliferation of N. taihuensis, suboptimal energy transfer between trophic levels III and IV, and inefficient utilization of primary productivity. To enhance ecosystem resilience and maintain water quality, we recommend the targeted removal of icefish and strategic management of zooplanktivorous fish populations. Full article

To resolve issues in the traditional agricultural production of the Ningxia irrigated area, where the sole pursuit of yield through extensive application of chemical nitrogen fertilizers has resulted in a deteriorated soil structure, reduced quality of anthropogenic-alluvial soil, and limited improvement in crop yield per unit area, a fixed-site experiment on substituting organic fertilizers for chemical nitrogen fertilizers was performed at the comprehensive experimental base of the NingXia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences during 2021–2024. Using conventional fertilization (N, P₂O₅, and K₂O application amounts of 450, 150, and 60 kg·ha⁻¹, respectively) as the control (CK), treatments of substituting organic fertilizers for 15% (T1), 30% (T2), 45% (T3), and 100% (T4) of chemical nitrogen fertilizers were used to analyze their effects on soil physical and chemical properties, as well as the maize yield in anthropogenic-alluvial soil. Substituting organic fertilizers for chemical nitrogen fertilizers increased the content of water-stable macroaggregates and the mean weight diameter (MWD) stability parameter in the soil. In 2024, the treatments of substituting organic fertilizers for chemical nitrogen fertilizers significantly increased MWD by 24.18–30.22% compared to the CK treatment. The soil’s available nitrogen content significantly decreased under the T4 treatment by 8.25–20.50% compared to CK treatment during 2021–2024. The organic matter (OM) content showed an increasing trend with the proportion of substitution of organic fertilizers for chemical nitrogen fertilizers; in 2024, the T3 and T4 treatments significantly increased OM by 5.98% and 6.60%, respectively, compared to CK. Furthermore, the available phosphorus and potassium contents also exhibited an increasing trend with the proportion of substitution of organic fertilizers for chemical nitrogen fertilizers. Based on the full dataset method, it was calculated that the T1 treatment consistently improved the soil quality index (SQI) during 2021–2024, with an increase of 9.31–18.29% compared to CK. The T1 treatment increased maize yield by 9.90% and 16.93% in 2023 and 2024, respectively, compared to CK. A random forest model identified the available nitrogen as the most critical physical and chemical indicator affecting SQI, followed by the available potassium. Linear fitting between the SQI and yield showed a highly significant positive correlation (R² = 0.6288, p < 0.01). Moreover, polynomial fitting of the proportion of substitution of organic fertilizers for chemical nitrogen fertilizers showed that SQI reached a maximum for a substitution proportion of 31.46%, while the maximum maize yield reached a proportion of 28.74%. Comprehensive analysis combining information and weight suggested an optimal proportion of substitution of organic fertilizers for chemical nitrogen fertilizers of 29.52%, achieving both an increase in SQI and maize yield in the anthropogenic-alluvial soil of the Ningxia irrigated area, while also achieving a rational utilization of organic fertilizer. Full article

Water quality deterioration is a key challenge for sustainability in river basins under high anthropogenic pressures. This study evaluates the evolution of the Water Quality Index (WQI) in the Biobío River Basin (Chile) between 1994 and 2023 in relation to major environmental regulatory milestones, including Law No. 19,300, Decreto Supremo No. 90, the establishment of the Environmental Superintendency (SMA), and the implementation of the Secondary Environmental Quality Standard (NSCA). A temporal analysis of the WQI was conducted using data from stations along the main river course and its tributaries, complemented by a causal loop conceptual model to explore the interactions between regulation, compliance, and water quality. The results indicate initial improvements in WQI values following regulatory milestones, followed in some cases by stabilization or decline associated with reduced enforcement. Case studies, such as the closure of the Inforsa pulp mill in 2013, illustrate differentiated responses to regulatory change. The conceptual model reveals feedback loops linking enforcement perception and compliance behavior. These findings underscore the importance of sustained implementation and institutional capacity to achieve long-term improvements in water quality. Full article

Freshwater scarcity and saline groundwater are major constraints for maintaining green roofs in coastal areas. This study evaluated the response of Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula, (Sicilian silver ragwort) a drought-tolerant coastal ornamental plant, to tap water and seawater irrigation under Mediterranean summer conditions. Plants were grown in 10 cm-deep green-roof modules and subjected to six irrigation regimes: tap water, seawater, or alternating tap water and seawater, each applied at 4- or 8-day intervals, with irrigation volumes equal to 60% of cumulative reference evapotranspiration (ET_o). Growth, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll index (SPAD), and leachate electrical conductivity were monitored to assess plant performance and salinity responses. Seawater irrigation caused rapid substrate salinization, leaf dehydration, and plant death within one month, while alternating seawater with tap water also failed to sustain survival. In contrast, tap water–irrigated plants maintained high RWC, chlorophyll content, and stable visual quality throughout the experimental period, even with deficit irrigation at 60% ET_o every eight days. These findings demonstrate that J. maritima subsp. sicula is well suited for freshwater-irrigated extensive green roofs in semi-arid regions, providing reliable performance under infrequent irrigation and limited water supply. However, seawater or high-salinity irrigation should be avoided. Future research should explore mixed freshwater–seawater irrigation regimes with a higher freshwater proportion, aiming to reduce total freshwater consumption while sustaining plant survival and esthetic performance. Full article

Moss in container seedling nurseries competes with seedlings for water and nutrients while blocking light, thereby inhibiting growth. This study aimed to address this issue by evaluating the moss control efficacy of 11 chemical compounds, including terpinyl acetate (TA), limonene, and Hinoki essential oil (HEO). The plate experiment results led to the selection of 6 substances (TA, limonene, HEO, pine leaf extract, baking soda, pelargonic acid) that stably controlled both Polytrichum commune Hedw. and Marchantia. Polymorpha L. When TA, limonene, and HEO were combined with surfactants, moss control rates increased and showed stable performance. In the container seedling experiment, TA, limonene, and HEO demonstrated high moss control effects while exhibiting low growth inhibition. When these three substances were combined with surfactants, the electrolyte leakage index (ELI) decreased, indicating minimal cell membrane damage. Additionally, TA treatment maintained stable soil physicochemical properties with no significant changes in pH or nutrient levels. Microscopic analysis of moss cells showed cell wall deformation and expansion of intercellular spaces in the three substance treatment groups. Future verification of long-term effectiveness, expansion of application targets, and assessment of economic feasibility could lead to the development of eco-friendly moss removal agents for improving container seedling quality. Full article

Dams play a vital role in hydropower generation and water management, yet growing environmental and societal demands increasingly require reoperation to balance multiple purposes. Despite this shift, few studies have quantitatively evaluated how converting an existing hydropower dam to multipurpose operation affects downstream hydrology and water quality. This study examines the Hwacheon Dam in South Korea, which was converted to multipurpose use, to assess the effects of this operational change. The analysis focused on changes in the number and frequency of non-release days, downstream flow regime variation, and water quality responses evaluated using the national water quality standards and the real-time water quality index (RTWQI). After the transition, non-release days decreased sharply and the dam maintained continuous releases of 22.2 cubic meters per second (CMS), ensuring stable water supply and consistent downstream flow. Results show that flood, high, and normal flows decreased by 51.4% (from 1037.0 CMS to 503.5 CMS), 21.7% (from 54.4 CMS to 42.6 CMS), and 13.0% (from 23.9 CMS to 20.8 CMS), respectively. In contrast, the low flow increased by 7.4 times (from 2.4 CMS to 20.2 CMS) after the transition to multipurpose operation, while the drought flow increased from 0 CMS to 17.8 CMS. Water quality also improved across all downstream stations, with both national water quality standards and RTWQI scores indicating excellent and stable conditions. The multipurpose operation of the Hwacheon Dam stabilized hydrologic and water quality conditions, demonstrating the potential of dam reoperation for sustainable water and ecosystem management. Full article

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with multispectral sensors are transforming precision viticulture by enabling detailed monitoring of vineyard variability. Vegetation indices such as NDVI, NDRE, GNDVI, and SAVI are widely applied to estimate vine vigor, canopy structure, and water status. Beyond agronomic traits, UAV-derived indices can inform grape composition, including sugar content (°Brix), total phenolics, anthocyanins, titratable acidity, berry weight, and yield variables measurable in the field or laboratory to validate spectral predictions. Strengths of UAV approaches include high spatial resolution, rapid data acquisition, and flexibility across vineyard blocks, while limitations involve index saturation in dense canopies (e.g., Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon), environmental sensitivity, and calibration requirements across varieties and phenological cycles. Integrating UAV data with ground-based measurements (leaf sampling, yield mapping, proximal or thermal sensors) improves model accuracy and stress detection. Abiotic stresses (water deficit, nutrient deficiency) can be distinguished from biotic factors (pest and fungal infections), supporting timely interventions. Compared to manned aircraft or satellite platforms, UAVs offer cost-effective, high-resolution imagery for precision vineyard management. Future directions include combining UAV indices with machine learning and data fusion to predict grape maturity and wine quality, enhancing decision-making in sustainable viticulture and precision enology. Full article

Urban greenway trails serve as a vital link between urban populations and the natural environment, playing a key role in enhancing quality of life and promoting physical and mental well-being. We propose an interpretable machine learning framework applied to 424 geotagged footprint images from the Bada Shanren Meihu Scenic Area in China. Our main findings are as follows: (1) The key factors influencing trail landscape preferences include the Water Visibility Index (WVI), Building Landscape Index (BVI), Freedom Index, and Greenery Visibility Index (GVI). (2) For WVI, SHAP values significantly increase around the 0.05 threshold. BVI has a critical threshold of 0.17, with a strong influence below it and a reduced effect above it. The Freedom variable shows an inverse relationship, with minimal contribution below 0.21 and a sharp increase above this threshold. GVI maintains high SHAP values at lower levels (GVI ≤ 0.66), but its predictive utility decreases at higher values. (3) Landscape preferences are significantly positively correlated with naturalness, wildness, WVI, and openness, with water landscapes being the strongest driver. In contrast, artificial factors, V_Low, and H_Purple significantly suppress preferences. This suggests that human intervention and certain color tones may reduce the attractiveness of the landscape. Full article

Multilayer packaging materials are extensively used in food packaging, particularly for powdered products. In alignment with sustainable development goals, packaging design should aim to minimize material usage while maintaining the protective properties necessary to preserve food quality and safety, thereby reducing environmental impact. A key strategy is to simplify multilayer structures to enhance recyclability. This study aims to evaluate the potential of sustainable alternative packaging materials with reduced metal and plastic content and improved recyclability for pudding powder packaging, as substitutes for conventional films. Four packaging structures were tested: a conventional three-layer laminate (polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/aluminum foil (Al-foil)/low-density polyethylene (LDPE)), two two-layer structures (AlO_x-coated PET/LDPE and Al-coated PET/LDPE), and a monolayer metallized biaxially oriented polypropylene (MetBOPP). Samples were stored under accelerated conditions (38 °C and 90% relative humidity) for 180 days, and changes in moisture content, water activity, caking degree, glass transition temperature, color, and sensory attributes were monitored. The experimental data were examined for their agreement with various sorption models by creating adsorption isotherms. The acceptable storage period was estimated using the constants calculated from these models. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among the packaging types, primarily associated with their water vapor permeability, affecting moisture content, water activity, caking degree, and color stability. In terms of moisture content, water activity, and caking degree, the conventional PET/Al-foil/LDPE (Polyethylene terephthalate/Aluminum foil/Low density polyethylene) structure demonstrated the best performance, followed by PET.AlO_x/LDPE (AlO_x-coated Polyethylene terephthalate/Low density polyethylene), MPET/LDPE (Metallized polyethylene terephthalate/Low density polyethylene), and MBOPP (Metallized biaxially oriented polypropylene), respectively. The sensory analysis scores followed the same ranking; however, all samples maintained scores above the threshold value of 3 throughout the storage period, indicating that they remained acceptable. Caking degree increased moderately (from 0.61% to 0.89%) and was negatively correlated with appearance scores (R² = −0.89, p < 0.01). Despite slight darkening (Browning Index increased from 18.16 to 20.37), sensory scores for appearance, odor, and taste remained above the acceptable threshold (score > 3.0). Based on the WVTR values of the packaging materials and the application of the GAB model, the estimated shelf lives were 800.32 days for PET/Al-foil/LDPE, 577.92 days for PET.AlO_x/LDPE, 407.58 days for MPET/LDPE, and 229.26 days for MBOPP. In conclusion, the longest shelf life was achieved with PET/Al-foil/LDPE, and it was observed that as the WVTR of the packaging materials increased, the shelf life of the cocoa-based pudding powder decreased; PET.AlO_x/LDPE and MPET/LDPE could be considered for medium-term storage (up to about 1–1.5 years), while MBOPP appeared suitable only for shorter durations (6–8 months). Full article

This study examined the impact of distance from the road traffic on soil enzymatic activity, which we used as a tool to assess the relationship between soil and common nettle (Urtica dioica L.) used in herbalism and phytotherapy. A section of national road No. 10 (DK10) was selected for the study. Soil and common nettle leaf samples were collected from locations 5 m, 15 m, 25 m, and 100 m away from the road traffic and a control location (C). The activity of catalase (CAT), dehydrogenases (DEH), alkaline phosphatase (AlP), acid phosphatase (AcP), protease (PRO) and β-glucosidase (BG) was examined in the soil. Soil quality indices (RCh, RS, AlP/AcP, GMea, TEI) were calculated based on the enzyme activity results. The leaves of common nettles were tested for chlorophylls a and b (Chl a and b), carotenoids (Car), ascorbic acid (AAC), pH, relative water content (RWC), catalase (CATp) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Based on the values of Chl a+b, Car, pH, and RWC, the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) was calculated. The activity of the tested enzymes was statistically lowest in soil collected 5 m from traffic compared to the control (C), which was also confirmed by the results of the enzymatic soil quality indicators. In the case of CAT, AlP, AcP, and BG, based on the coefficient of determination (R2), it was found that over 70% of the variability of these enzymes was related to the distance from the road. It was found that the content of Ch a and b, Car, AAC, RWC, and pH was also lowest in soil 5 m away, whereas the activity of the antioxidant enzymes CATp and SOD was highest at this point. The ATPI values determined in common nettle leaf samples collected from locations 5 m, 15 m, 25 m, and 100 m from the road traffic were sensitive to pollution. The results indicate that the distance from the road strongly influenced the changes in the parameters studied. The enzymatic properties of the soil and selected biochemical parameters of common nettle leaves were similar at locations 15 m and 25 m, as well as 100 m and the control. The results of the enzymatic soil quality indicators show that soil 5 m from the road traffic is subject to degradation, and the nettles growing in this location are sensitive to road pollution. Therefore, it is not recommended to collect common nettle leaves from this location for medical or cosmetic purposes. Full article