Search Results (1,919)

In recent decades, the integrity and security of the ecosystem in the Sanjiang Plain have faced severe challenges due to land reclamation. Understanding the impact of paddy field expansion on regional ecosystem services (ESs), as well as revealing the trade-offs and synergies (TOS) between these services to achieve optimal resource allocation, has become an urgent issue to address. This study employs the InVEST model to map the spatial and temporal dynamics of five key ESs, while the Optimal Parameter Geodetector (OPGD) identifies primary drivers of these changes. Correlation analysis and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) reveal intricate TOS among ESs at multiple scales. Additionally, the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) elucidates the direct impacts of paddy field expansion on ESs. The main findings include the following: (1) The paddy field area in the Sanjiang Plain increased from 5775 km² to 18,773.41 km² from 1990 to 2020, an increase of 12,998.41 km² in 40 years. And the area of other land use types has generally decreased. (2) Overall, ESs showed a recovery trend, with carbon storage (CS) and habitat quality (HQ) initially decreasing but later improving, and consistent increases were observed in soil conservation, water yield (WY), and food production (FP). Paddy fields, drylands, forests, and wetlands were the main ES providers, with soil type, topography, and NDVI emerging as the main influencing factors. (3) Distinct correlations among ESs, where CS shows synergies with HQ and SC, while trade-offs are noted between CS and both WY and FP. These TOS demonstrate significant spatial heterogeneity and scale effects across subregions. (4) Paddy field expansion enhances regional SC, WY, and FP, but negatively affects CS and HQ. These insights offer a scientific basis for harmonizing agricultural development with ecological conservation, enriching our understanding of ES interrelationships, and guiding sustainable ecosystem management and policymaking. Full article

In the ongoing shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) primarily utilizing lithium-ion battery technology, a significant population of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) remains operational, which are reliant on established NiMH battery systems. Over the last twenty years, these HEVs have generated a substantial number of NiMH batteries that are either inoperable, experiencing performance degradation, or approaching the end of their service life. This situation results in a twofold challenge: (i) a growing volume of environmentally hazardous waste due to the difficulty of NiMH battery reclamation and (ii) escalating maintenance costs for HEV owners necessitated by replacement battery purchases. To overcome this scenario, patent WO2015092107A1, published in 2015, proposed a ‘Method for regenerating NiMH batteries.’ This method claimed the ability to restore NiMH batteries to their original functionality based on a non-intrusive approach. However, a comprehensive review of the relevant scientific literature fails to identify any empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of this regeneration technique. Within this context, this study provides a detailed analysis and evaluation of the regeneration process based on an unsupervised and non-intrusive prototype. The proposed prototype can be used not only to implement and evaluate the previous patent, but also to test any other process or methodology based on controlled charging/discharging periods under certain current conditions. NiMH battery cells from a Toyota Prius were included in this work as a real case study. The experimental results from this prototype demonstrate the reduced potential for battery regeneration using the proposed method. Future contributions should offer a promising solution for mitigating the challenges associated with NiMH battery disposal, maintenance within the HEV domain, and other second-life alternative options. Full article

It is of great interest to utilize saline fields to promote rice production in China. It has still not been established how salinity stress affects grain-filling characteristics and the relationships with yield formation of rice in a saline field. This experiment was conducted with Ningjing 7 (salinity-tolerant rice variety) and Wuyunjing 30 (salinity-susceptible rice variety) in a non-saline field and a high-saline field in 2021 and 2022. The grain yields of Ningjing 7 and Wuyunjing 30 in a high-saline field were 37.7% and 49.8% lower (p < 0.05) than in a non-saline field across two years. Ningjing 7 exhibited a higher (p < 0.05) grain yield than Wuyunjing 30 in a high-saline field. The reductions in filled-grain percentage and grain weight in inferior grains were greater than in superior grains of Ningjing 7 and Wuyunjing 30. For Ningjing 7 and Wuyunjing 30, the total starch contents in superior and inferior grains at 15, 30, and 45 days after heading were reduced (p < 0.05) in a high-saline field compared to a non-saline field. The ADP–glucose pyrophosphorylase, granule-bound starch synthase, and starch synthase activities after heading in superior and inferior grains in a high-saline field were lower (p < 0.05) than those in a non-saline field, and the reductions were more pronounced for Wuyunjing 30. The maximum grain-filling rate and mean grain-filling rate were decreased, while the time to achieve the maximum grain-filling rate was increased in a high-saline field compared to a non-saline field, especially for Wuyunjing 30. The mean grain-filling rate and grain-filling amount in superior and inferior grains during the early, middle, and late stages were lower in a high-saline field than in a non-saline field. For Ningjing 7 and Wuyunjing 30, the reductions in the grain-filling amount in the inferior grains during the early, middle, and late stages in a high-saline field were greater than those in superior grains. Our results suggest that salinity stress inhibited the grain-filling rate, reduced the total starch content and affected key enzyme activities, which led to the poor sink-filling efficiency and yield performance of rice in a saline field, especially for the salinity-susceptible variety. Full article

Due to the hydraulic sorting effect in the hydraulic filling process, a fine-grained aggregate layer dominated by silty fine sand with uneven distribution is easily formed in reclamation projects, which triggers issues with the bearing capacity and nonuniform settlement of calcareous sand foundations. In this study, a series of one-dimensional compression tests were conducted to investigate the effect of different fines contents (f_c) on the compression behavior of calcareous sand. The results show that at the same relative density (medium-density, D_r = 50%), the addition of fine particles leads to a reduction in the initial void ratio (for f_c ≤ 40%). Furthermore, while the compressibility of the soil samples increases with the rising of fines content, it begins to decrease with further addition of fine particles beyond a threshold value of fines content (f_c-th). Additionally, particle crushing contributes to the compressive deformation of calcareous sand, and the particle relative breakage of calcareous sand increases at the initial stage of adding fine particles. Moreover, a comparison of the compression test results between calcareous silty sand (f_c = 10%) and clean sand reveals that the addition of fine particles accentuates the compressibility differences among calcareous sands with different relative densities. These findings provide valuable insights for addressing the challenges posed by fine-grained layers in calcareous sand foundations. Full article

Monitoring reclaimed landfills is essential for ensuring their stability and monitoring the regularity of facility settlement. Insufficient recognition of the magnitude and directions of these changes can lead to serious damage to the body of the landfill (landslides, sinkholes) and, consequently, threaten the environment and the life and health of people near landfills. This study focuses on using UAV photogrammetry to monitor geometric changes in reclaimed landfills. This approach highlights the advantages of UAVs in expanding the monitoring and providing precise information critical for decision-making in the reclamation process. This study presents the result of annual photogrammetry measurements at the Słabomierz–Krzyżówka reclaimed landfill, located in the central part of Poland. The Multiscale Model to Model Cloud Comparison (M3C2) algorithm was used to determine deformation at the landfill. The results were simultaneously compared with the landfill’s reference (angular–linear) measurements. The mean vertical displacement error determined by the photogrammetric method was ±2.3 cm. The results showed that, with an appropriate measurement methodology, it is possible to decide on changes in geometry reliably. The collected 3D data also gives the possibility to improve the decision-making process related to repairing damage or determining the reclamation direction of the landfill, as well as preparing further development plans. Full article

Dry riverbeds can transport mining waste during torrential rain events, disseminating pollutants from mining areas to natural ecosystems. This study evaluates the impact of these mine wastes on soils, sediments, and runoff/pore water in the La Carrasquilla dry riverbed (southeastern Spain). An integrated approach utilizing geochemical and mineralogical techniques was employed, analyzing water, soil, and sediment samples from both the headwater and mouth of the riverbed. Soil profiles and pore water were collected at 30 cm, 60 cm, and 90 cm deep, alongside sediment and runoff water samples. The assessment of metal(loid) contamination focused on arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, manganese, zinc, and lead, utilizing sequential extraction to evaluate metal partitioning across soil phases. Various pollution indices, including the contamination factor (Cf), pollution load index (PLI), potential ecological risk index (RI), and metal(loid) evaluation index (MEI), were employed to classify contamination levels. The highest level of contamination was reported in the headwater, which suggested anthropogenic activities linked to the presence of mining residues as the major source of metal(loid)s. However, an active deposition of As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn was reported in the topsoil at the mouth. In the headwater, a quartz and muscovite-rich zone exhibited the highest Cf for Pb (1022), primarily bound to the soil residual fraction (62.8%). At the headwater and mouth, pore water showed higher concentrations of sulfate, Ca, Na, Cl, Mg, and Mn and higher salinity than acceptable limits for drinking water or irrigation established by the World Health Organization. Runoff-water metal concentrations surpassed established guidelines, with MEI values indicating significant contamination by cadmium (36.1) and manganese (19.0). These findings highlight the considerable ecological risk of Pb and underscore the need for targeted remediation strategies to mitigate environmental impacts in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon. Full article

Indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy consumption (Q) are well-known building estimators, but they are used separately. Energy consumption is used during the design stage, while IAQ is used during operation. The novelty of our approach is that we propose using both estimators simultaneously during building operations. The purpose of this study was to find an adaptive ventilation strategy that maintained good indoor air quality with minimal energy consumption. The second novelty of our approach consists of IAQ estimation. While the operation of ventilation systems depends only on the indoor carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration at present, our novel approach uses a more global IAQ index that includes four different air pollutants. Physical models are used for the hourly prediction of the two indices: global IAQ and Q. This study presents a comparative analysis of several ventilation operations strategies: fixed versus adaptive. The main findings show that a decrease in the ventilation rate, n_a, from 3.5 h⁻¹ to 2.0 h⁻¹ leads to a diminishment in energy consumption of 42.9%, maintaining the global IAQ index under the limited health risk value (VRL). Moreover, an adaptive ventilation strategy of n_a, maintaining the global IAQ index value under VRL, achieves a further reduction in energy consumption of 72.9%, highlighting its efficiency. Full article

The aim of this research was to analyze the potential of e micro-dictum preparation containing compositions of beneficial microorganisms using this product in surface water reclamation. The experiments were carried out in 2016. The scope of this research included the analysis of the physical and chemical properties of a solid preparation; tests of the microbiological parameters of micro-dictum; an analysis of the spread of microorganisms in the aquatic environment; a study of water quality with the solid preparation; and tests of the formulation in real conditions and its potential in the reclamation of surface waters. Tests on the produced formulation were carried out in the laboratory in containers and under real conditions. Laboratory tests have shown that the analyzed preparation may introduce certain amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus into the water. However, they are not important in the case of water reclamation. Analyses of the micro-dictum preparation showed that the content of lactic acid bacteria in the center of the ball is lower compared to the outer layers. The results describing an increase in the number of lactic acid bacteria correlate with a decrease in pH and oxygen dissolved in the water with the preparation. The tests showed no negative impact on changes in the physical and chemical properties of water at the site of application. Changes in physical parameters were recorded, in particular dissolved oxygen and pH at the bottom, where the greatest microbiological activity occurred. Full article

Reclamation and management of saline soil in arid regions fundamentally require more consideration to attain sustainable agriculture. Experiments were conducted at Abo-Kalam Farm, South Sinai, Egypt. Split-split-plot design experiments were carried out to study the effect of treatments on saline soil hydrophysical properties, sorghum, and cv. ‘Dorado’ plants during the summer season. Pea cv. ‘Entsar 3’ plants were cultivated during the winter season for the residual effect of treatments. Organo–mineral amendment (rice straw compost + mineral sulfur at different rates) was assigned as the main factor, natural rock or artificial fertilizers were assigned as subfactors, and humic acid at different rates was the sub-subfactor. Results showed that organo–mineral amendments improved the hydrophysical properties of the soil, plant nutrient uptake, crop yield, and crop water productivity; however, it diminished by 10 tons/fed (4200 m²) of compost plus 700 kg/fed of mineral sulfur. Therefore, it is recommended that economically using the combination of applying organic–mineral amendments of 4 tons/fed of compost plus 400 kg/fed of mineral sulfur and 5 kg/fed of humic acid plus natural rock fertilizer is the best safe management for reclamation and improvement of saline soils using partially treated saline irrigation water and natural resources. Full article

Since the characteristics of plug seedlings affect the effectiveness of automatic transplanting, this study aimed to explore the effect of the addition of biochar into substrates on the growth of plug seedlings before and after transplanting. The physicochemical properties of substrates with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% biochar addition all met the requirements of seedling cultivation. The growth trend, root systems, and mechanical properties of seedlings before transplanting and the leaf gas exchange parameters of seedlings after transplanting were measured in this study. The results indicated that the seedlings cultivated with 10% biochar added to the substrate achieved the best growth trend and physiological indices, and the root systems under this treatment were also stronger than those of other treatments, while the seedlings cultivated with 25% biochar treatment were the worst, with less than 22.23% of the growth seen in the 10% biochar treatment, and even less than 1.5% of the growth of the seedlings cultivated without biochar treatment. Since the strong root systems could enhance the mechanical properties of seedling pots, the seedling pots cultivated with 10% biochar added into the substrate possessed the best compression resistance properties, with the maximum value of 49.52 N, and could maintain maximum completeness after free-fall impacting, wherein the loss of root and substrate was only 8.22%. The analysis results of seedlings cultivated after impacting proposed that the seedlings with better growth trends and root systems before transplanting could obtain better leaf gas exchange parameters during the flower stage after transplanting, so the seedlings cultivated with 5%~10% biochar added into the substrate grew better after impacting and then transplanting. It was noticed that the seedlings cultivated with appropriate biochar added into the substrate were able to achieve the optimal growth parameters and mechanical properties before and after transplanting, which were better able to meet the requirements of automatic transplanting. Thus, this study can promote the development of automatic transplanting technology to some extent. Full article

Coastal changes in China, notably in the Zhoushan Islands, have primarily been driven by coastal reclamation since the establishment of New China. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Zhoushan Archipelago shoreline spanning four decades, employing remote sensing, aerial photographs, and shoreline data since 1984, along with GIS (Geographic Information System) technology. We assessed shoreline changes using the shoreline change index and shoreline artificialization index, as well as examined the influence of the Yangtze River’s suspended sediment and impoldering activities on Zhoushan’s shoreline. Furthermore, the correlation between local economic development and shoreline development was explored. The results revealed the following key findings: (1) From 1984 to 2018, the Zhoushan Archipelago shoreline decreased by 7.05 km. Temporally, the shoreline change index was −0.08%, with the most significant reduction occurring between 2008 and 2018. Spatially, differences among island groups were not pronounced. (2) The shoreline diversity index consistently increased, indicating greater diversity and complexity in shoreline use over the four decades. (3) The shoreline artificiality index steadily rose, particularly after 2000. It was highest in the south, followed by the center, and lowest in the north. (4) The intensity index of coastal land use continuously increased, with the southern island group having a higher index compared to the Zhoushan Islands. (5) The Yangtze River contributed significantly to sand inflow, influencing shoreline changes and beach shaping in Zhejiang. However, reclamation projects were identified as the primary and direct factor. (6) A positive correlation existed between Zhoushan City’s economic development and the intensity of coastal land use. This study emphasized the need for improving the control over reclamation projects and the better management of coastal protection and use. These measures could optimize resource allocation and establish a more scientific and rational coastal zone pattern. Full article

Active vegetation restoration plays an important role in the improvement in soil organic matter (SOM), including the carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) sequestration of degraded mining ecosystems. However, there is still a lack of understanding of the key drivers of SOM pool size and dynamics in active vegetation restoration. For this study, soil was collected from five different sites (Xiaoxian, Dingyuan, Chaohu, Tongling and Dongzhi), four habitats (platforms, slopes, steps and native areas) and two soil layers (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) in limestone mines of Anhui province to quantify the spatial distribution of SOM contents and their stoichiometric characteristics and influential factors. It was found that the top soil in Chaohu had the highest significant C, N and P contents in the ranges of 14.95–17.97, 1.74–2.21 and 0.80–1.24 g/kg, respectively. Comparing the stoichiometric ratios of the different sites revealed significant differences in C:N and N:P ratios, but C:P ratios were relatively consistent. In particular, the C:N and C:P ratios in deep soil were higher than those in top soil, whereas the N:P ratio in deep soil was lower than that in top soil, suggesting that soil N is a major limiting factor in the top soil. The SOM content did not differ significantly between the three reclaimed habitats, but was significantly higher than that in the native habitat, suggesting that mine restoration has significantly enhanced SOM accumulation. Further analysis showed that nutrient availability and enzyme activity are important factors affecting soil C, N and P content in top soil, while the relationship gradually weakens in deep soil. This was attributed to active anthropogenic management and conservation measures during the early stages of reclamation. This study shows that the ecological recovery of the mining area can be enhanced by implementing differentiated vegetation planting strategies and anthropogenic management on different habitats in the mining area. Full article

The cobalt-containing products of an enterprise were selected as the object of this study. The separation effect of Cyanex 272 on Zn and Co was studied through a pilot test. The results showed that Cyanex 272 had a high extraction rate for Zn at pH 3–3.4, up to 99.8%. The extracted Zn²⁺ was enriched in the organic phase, and the Zn²⁺ in the organic phase was extracted back into the aqueous phase in the stripping stage by adding strong acid. Addition amounts of strong acid of 50 g·L⁻¹, 80 g·L⁻¹, and 100 g·L⁻¹ were set. The results showed that the addition amounts of 80 g·L⁻¹ and 100 g·L⁻¹ could significantly reduce the pH of the back-extraction solution and effectively enrich Zn²⁺ in the solution. There was a large amount of Zn²⁺ in the back-extraction solution, which could be used twice to prepare zinc carbonate products through neutralization and precipitation. By comparing the extraction effect, economic cost, and resource loss under different strong acid addition amounts, it was found that the 80 g·L⁻¹ strong acid addition amount was more suitable for the actual production process. This study provides data support and practical evidence for the selection of industrial extraction process parameters for Zn²⁺ separation in actual cobalt products. Full article

Bacterial wilt triggered by the soil-borne pathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most serious diseases in tomato plants, leading to huge economic losses worldwide. Biological control is considered an environmentally friendly and sustainable way to manage soil-borne diseases. In this study, Streptomyces sp. STD57 isolated from the rhizosphere of Adenophora stricta showed strong antibacterial activity against R. solanacearum. Pot experiments showed that strain STD57 exhibited a significant biocontrol effect (81.7%) on tomato bacterial wilt in the greenhouse environment. Furthermore, strain STD57 could inhibit the growth of weeds (Amaranthus retroflexus, Portulaca oleracea, and Echinochloa crusgalli) but promote the growth of crops (wheat, rice, and tomato). The plant growth-promoting substance was identified as indoleacetic acid (IAA) by high-pressure liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and genome analysis. Coarse separation of the fermented extracts revealed that the antibacterial and herbicidal substances were mainly in the fermentation supernatant and belonged to different products. These findings suggested that strain STD57 may be a potential biocontrol and bioherbicide agent useful in agriculture. Full article

In the present study, the possibility of recovering water in a car wash station was presented. The resistance of automotive coatings to washing water recovered at 50% and 70% from wastewater generated at car wash was tested. Wastewater treatment was carried out by ultrafiltration (UF) using tubular polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes (100 and 200 kDa) manufactured by the PCI company. The membranes retained oil contamination, suspended solids, and over 60% of surfactants. For comparison, the 0.5% Turbo Active Green solution, used at professional car washes, was also applied in paint resistance studies. The tested solutions washed the painted surfaces of samples taken from car doors for 8 days. The resistance of automotive coatings to washing solutions was assessed by measuring gloss, Log Haze, RIQ, and Rspec parameters. Scratch resistance was also assessed. The results obtained in the current study indicated that the use of water recovered from wastewater did not deteriorate the quality of the car paint coating. Full article