Search Results (32,664)

In this work, natural fibers extracted from the medicinal aromatic plant Deverra tortuosa, with different sizes (S1 = 2 mm and S2 = 500 μm), were incorporated into recycled low density polyethylene (rLDPE) to produce sustainable biocomposites. Compounding was performed with different fiber concentrations (0 to 30% wt.) via twin-screw extrusion followed by injection molding. Based on the samples obtained, a comprehensive series of characterization was conducted, encompassing morphological and mechanical (flexural, tensile, hardness, and impact) properties. Additionally, thermal properties were assessed via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to elucidate potential chemical interactions and changes with processing. Across the range of conditions investigated, substantial improvements were observed in the rLDPE properties, in particular for the tensile modulus (23% for S1 and 104% for S2), flexural modulus (47% for S1 and 61% for S2), and flexural strength (31% for S1 and 65% for S2). Nevertheless, the tensile strength decreased (15% for S1 and 46% for S2) due to poor fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion. These preliminary results can be used for further development in sustainable packaging materials. Full article

As street imagery and big data techniques evolve, opportunities for refined urban governance emerge. This study delves into effective methods for urban perception evaluation and street refinement governance by using street view data and deep learning. Employing DeepLabV3+ and VGGNet models, we analyzed street view images from Nanshan District, Shenzhen, identifying critical factors that shape residents’ spatial perceptions, such as urban greenery, road quality, and infrastructure. The findings indicate that robust vegetation, well-maintained roads, and well-designed buildings significantly enhance positive perceptions, whereas detractors like fences reduce quality. Furthermore, Moran’s I statistical analysis and multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models highlight spatial heterogeneity and the clustering of perceptions, underscoring the need for location-specific planning. The study also points out that complex street networks in accessible areas enhance living convenience and environmental satisfaction. This research shows that integrating street view data with deep learning provides valuable tools for urban planners and policymakers, aiding in the development of more precise and effective urban governance strategies to foster more livable, resilient, and responsive urban environments. Full article

Ordos drought impacts are complex; the Geodetector model is able to explore the interaction between impact factors. Based on the drought severity index (DSI), this study explored the spatio-temporal dynamics and changing trends of drought, and analyzed the driving factors of DSI spatial differentiation by using the Geodetector model. The results show that: the evapotranspiration (ET) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in Ordos showed a significant increasing trend (p < 0.05). The increasing rates were ET (4.291 mm yr⁻¹) and NDVI (0.004 yr⁻¹). In addition, the interannual variation of the DSI also showed a significant increase, with a trend change rate of 0.089. The spatial pattern of ET and the NDVI was low in the southwest and high in the northeast, and the spatial pattern of potential evapotranspiration (PET) was high in the southwest and low in the northeast, while the distribution of the DSI was dry in the west and wet in the east. The spatial differentiation of the DSI was mainly affected by five factors: air temperature, precipitation, land use type, soil type, and the digital elevation model (DEM), with q exceeding 0.15, which were the main driving factors of drought in the Loess Plateau. Under the interaction of multiple factors, the four combinations of temperature and the DEM, precipitation and the DEM, sunshine duration and the DEM, and relative humidity and the DEM jointly drive drought, in which precipitation (0.156) ∩ DEM (0.248) has the strongest influence on drought occurrence, and q reaches 0.389. This study directly informs specific drought management strategies or ecological conservation efforts in the region. Full article

Single-tree segmentation on multispectral UAV images shows significant potential for effective forest management such as automating forest inventories or detecting damage and diseases when using an additional classifier. We propose an automated workflow for segmentation on high-resolution data and provide our trained models in a Toolbox for ArcGIS Pro on our GitHub repository for other researchers. The database used for this study consists of multispectral UAV data (RGB, NIR and red edge bands) of a forest area in Germany consisting of a mix of tree species consisting of five deciduous trees and three conifer tree species in the matured closed canopy stage at approximately 90 years. Information of NIR and Red Edge bands are evaluated for tree segmentation using different vegetation indices (VIs) in comparison to only using RGB information. We trained Faster R-CNN, Mask R-CNN, TensorMask and SAM in several experiments and evaluated model performance on different data combinations. All models with the exception of SAM show good performance on our test data with the Faster R-CNN model trained on the red and green bands and the Normalized Difference Red Edge Index (NDRE) achieving best results with an F1-Score of 83.5% and an Intersection over Union of 65.3% on highly detailed labels. All models are provided in our TreeSeg toolbox and allow the user to apply the pre-trained models on new data. Full article

In this current research, various amino acids (lysine, betaine, and cysteine) and peptides (oxidised or reduced glutathione) were considered as potential environmentally friendly alternatives to wool bleaching. A greener methodology was also applied to dyeing. Different agro-wastes (red cabbage, peppercorns, and red and yellow onion peels) served as raw pigment materials. The process’s efficiency was characterised by the whiteness degree, colour strength, and fastness to accelerated washing and perspiration. A higher whiteness index value was observed in the cysteine-based formulations. The onion peel exhibited significant tinctorial properties due to the presence of some natural mordants. All the proposed treatments were designed with a primary focus on environmental sustainability. These treatments offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional bleaching and dyeing methods for wool. They reduce costs and energy consumption while creating added value by valorising waste. Full article

In order to address the issue of time-consuming, labor-intensive traditional industrial tomato sorting, this paper proposes a high-precision tomato recognition strategy and fast automatic grasping system. Firstly, the Swin Transformer module is integrated into YOLOv10 to reduce the resolution of each layer by half and double the number of channels, improving recognition accuracy. Then, the Simple Attention Module (SimAM) and the Efficient Multi-Scale Attention (EMA) attention mechanisms are added to achieve complete integration of features, and the Bi-level Routing Attention (BiFormer) is introduced for dynamic sparse attention and resource allocation. Finally, a lightweight detection head is added to YOLOv10 to improve the accuracy of tiny target detection. To complement the recognition system, a single-vertex and multi-crease (SVMC) origami soft gripper is employed for rapid adaptive grasping of identified objects through bistable deformation. This innovative system enables quick and accurate tomato grasping post-identification, showcasing significant potential for application in fruit and vegetable sorting operations. Full article

The chestnut tree (Castanea sativa Mill.) is gaining importance in the mountainous regions of southern Europe due to the high value of its fruits. It is essential to establish effective cultivation protocols, considering that this species is still relatively understudied. In this study, we present the outcomes of the initial establishment of a chestnut orchard conducted through a nutrient omission trial for four years. The treatments included a fertilization plan with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and boron (NPKB), the control, and four other treatments corresponding to the omission of each nutrient (-NPKB, N-PKB, NP-KB, NPK-B). The -NPKB and NP-KB treatments showed significantly lower trunk circumferences and canopy volumes compared to the other treatments. The NPK-B treatment resulted in the lowest fruit production, with a total accumulated yield (2020–2022) of 0.56 kg tree^–1, a value significantly lower than that of NPKB (1.12 kg tree^–1) and N-PKB (1.19 kg tree^–1). The assessment of nutrient concentrations in the leaves revealed plants with deficient levels of B and K in treatments that did not receive these nutrients. Conversely, N levels in the leaves in the -NPKB treatment fell within the sufficiency range (20 to 28 g kg^–1). This suggests that the sufficiency range should be adjusted to higher values, given the treatment’s effect on tree growth. It was also observed that the -NPKB treatment led to lower soil organic matter compared to the other treatments, likely due to reduced herbaceous vegetation development under the canopy, leading to decreased organic substrate deposition in the soil. The main findings of this study are that N and K were crucial elements for the optimal growth of chestnut trees, while B played a significant role in fruit production. Full article

Although cicadas have traditionally been considered pests of little or no importance, in recent decades, an increase in damages is being recorded in olive groves of southern Spain. New agricultural practices that affect soil management are behind it. During 2024, intensive sampling has been carried out in an organic grove with herbaceous cover (VC2), and in a second one with mixed vegetation cover (VC1, in which the crushed remains of the annual pruning are added). In both ecological groves, inventories of the vegetation have been carried out, as well as intensive sampling in the olive canopy, with the densities of oviposition injuries being recorded and compared with respect to conventional management (CONV). The objectives of this study are to compare the three managements based on the density of oviposition injuries, to determine the priority areas for cicadas’ oviposition within the trees; and to develop a sampling method to assess damage over large areas. The results show significant increases in the density of injuries in organic groves, with maximum values recorded in the olive grove with mixed cover. Oviposition injuries show an altitudinal gradient distribution, with maximum values in the lower zone of the trees. The factors involved are discussed. Full article

Increasing urbanization and the associated sealing of areas and the use of storm sewer systems for drainage not only increase the risk of flooding but also reduce water quality in streams into which stormwater is discharged. Green infrastructure (GI) measures are applied with the aim of managing this stormwater sustainably and reducing the associated risks. To this end, a quantitative–qualitative approach was developed to simulate GI—namely, rain gardens, bioretention cells, and vegetative bioswales—at the urban catchment scale. The findings highlight the potential of applying GI measures to managing stormwater more effectively in urban environments and mitigating its negative pollution-related impacts. For the housing estate analyzed, a simulated implementation of GI resulted in a reduction in pollution, measured as total nitrogen (N; 9–52%), nitrate-N (5–30%), total phosphorus (11–59%), chemical oxygen demand (8–46%), total suspended solids (13–73%), copper (12–64%), zinc (Zn; 16–87%), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16–91%), and the hydrocarbon oil index (HOI; 15–85%). Reducing the concentrations of pollutants minimizes the risk to human health determined via the HOI from a low-risk level to zero risk and reduces the ecological risk in terms of Zn pollution from a significant risk to a low risk of adverse effects. The modeling conducted clearly shows that the GI solutions implemented facilitated a quantitative reduction and a qualitative improvement in stormwater, which is crucial from an environmental perspective and ensures a sustainable approach to stormwater management. Lowering the levels of stormwater pollution through the implementation of GI will consequently lower the environmental burden of pollutants in urban areas. Full article

Although efforts have been undertaken to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with various monomers, the low yield of PHAs because of complex metabolic pathways and inhibitory substrates remains a major hurdle in their analyses and applications. Therefore, we investigated the feasibility of mass production of PHAs containing 5-hydroxyvalerate (5HV) using δ-valerolactone (DVL) without any pretreatment along with the addition of plant oil to achieve enough biomass. We identified that PhaC_BP-M-CPF4, a PHA synthase, was capable of incorporating 5HV monomers and that C. necator PHB⁻⁴ harboring phaC_BP-M-CPF4 synthesized poly(3HB-co-3HHx-co-5HV) in the presence of bean oil and DVL. In fed-batch fermentation, the supply of bean oil resulted in the synthesis of 49 g/L of poly(3HB-co-3.7 mol% 3HHx-co-5.3 mol%5HV) from 66 g/L of biomass. Thermophysical studies showed that 3HHx was effective in increasing the elongation, whereas 5HV was effective in decreasing the melting point. The contact angles of poly(3HB-co-3HHx-co-5HV) and poly(3HB-co-3HHx) were 109 and 98°, respectively. In addition, the analysis of microbial degradation confirmed that poly(3HB-co-3HHx-co-5HV) degraded more slowly (82% over 7 days) compared to poly(3HB-co-3HHx) (100% over 5 days). Overall, the oil-based fermentation strategy helped produce more PHA, and the mass production of novel PHAs could provide more opportunities to study polymer properties. Full article

The Australian megafires of 2019–2020 were considered catastrophic for flora and fauna, yet little is known about their impacts on reptiles. We investigated the impacts of the 2019–2020 megafires on reptiles in Morton National Park, New South Wales, in eastern Australia. To understand how fire severity affects reptile species richness and occupancy, we surveyed 28 replicate plots across unburnt areas and areas affected by high and low fire severity. We estimated reptile species richness and occupancy by performing systematic searches for reptiles during five sampling occasions in 2023, three years after the megafires. We measured vegetation structure and quantified the thermal environment in shelter sites used by reptiles. Vegetation structure varied significantly between burn severity groups. High-severity plots had the least canopy cover and the thinnest leaf litter depth but had a taller understorey with more stems. The thermal quality within reptile retreat sites did not differ between fire severity classes. Despite strong differences in post-fire vegetation structure, there was no evidence that fire severity affected reptile species richness or occupancy of the delicate skink, Lampropholis delicata. These results highlight the complexity of reptile responses to fires and contribute to increasing our understanding of the impacts of megafires on reptile communities. Full article

Background: Apigenin is one of the natural flavonoids found mainly in natural plants, as well as some fruits and vegetables, with celery in particular being the most abundant. Apigenin has antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. In this research, we attempted to further investigate the effects of apigenin on the mechanism of repairing oxidative cell damage. The present study hopes to provide a potential candidate for abnormal skin pigmentation disorders. Methods: We used 0.4 mM H₂O₂ to treat B16F10 cells for 12 h to establish a model of oxidative stress in melanocytes, and then we gave apigenin (0.1~5 μM) to B16F10 cells for 48 h, and detected the expression levels of melanin synthesis-related proteins, dendritic regulation-related proteins, antioxidant signaling pathway- and Nrf2 signaling pathway-related proteins, autophagy, and autophagy-regulated pathways by immunoblotting using Western blotting. The expression levels of PI3K/Akt/mTOR proteins were measured by β-galactosidase staining and Western blotting for cellular decay, JC-1 staining for mitochondrial membrane potential, and Western blotting for mitochondrial fusion- and mitochondrial autophagy-related proteins. Results: Apigenin exerts antioxidant effects by activating the Nrf2 pathway, and apigenin up-regulates the expression of melanin synthesis-related proteins Tyr, TRP1, TRP2, and gp100, which are reduced in melanocytes under oxidative stress. By inhibiting the expression of senescence-related proteins p53 and p21, and delaying cellular senescence, we detected the mitochondrial membrane potential using JC-1, and found that apigenin improved the reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential in melanocytes under oxidative stress, and maintained the normal function of mitochondria. In addition, we further detected the key regulatory proteins of mitochondrial fusion and division, MFF, p-DRP1 (S637), and p-DRP1 (S616), and found that apigenin inhibited the down-regulation of fusion-associated protein, p-DRP1 (S637), and the up-regulation of division-associated proteins, MFF and p-DRP1 (S616), due to oxidative stress in melanocytes, and promoted the mitochondrial fusion and ameliorated the imbalance between mitochondrial division and fusion. We further detected the expression of fusion-related proteins OPA1 and Mitofusion-1, and found that apigenin restored the expression of the above fusion proteins under oxidative stress, which further indicated that apigenin promoted mitochondrial fusion, improved the imbalance between mitochondrial division and fusion, and delayed the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Apigenin promotes the expression of melanocyte autophagy-related proteins and the key mitochondrial autophagy proteins BNIP3L/Nix under oxidative stress, and activates the PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway by up-regulating the expression of autophagy-related proteins, as well as the expression of PINK1 and Parkin proteins, to promote melanocyte autophagy and mitochondrial autophagy. Conclusions: Apigenin exerts anti-melanocyte premature aging and detachment effects by promoting melanin synthesis, autophagy, and mitochondrial autophagy in melanocytes, and inhibiting oxidative cell damage and senescence. Full article

In coal-dependent urban economies, the dichotomy between resource exploitation and ecological conservation presents a pronounced challenge. Traditional remote sensing ecological assessments often overlook the interplay between mining activities and urban environmental dynamics. To address this gap, researchers developed an innovative Resource-Based City Ecological Index (RCEI), anchored in a Pressure–State–Response (PSR) framework and synthesized from six discrete ecological indicators. Utilizing geodetic remote sensing data, the RCEI facilitated a comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis of Jincheng City’s ecological quality from 1990 to 2022. The findings corroborated the RCEI’s efficacy in providing a nuanced portrayal of the ecological state within mining regions. (1) Jincheng City’s ecological quality predominantly sustained a mudhopper-tier status, exhibiting an overarching trend of amelioration throughout the study period. (2) Disparities in ecological landscape quality were pronounced at the county level, with Moran’s Index exceeding 0.9, signifying a clustered ecological quality pattern. High–high (H–H) zones were prevalent in areas of elevated altitude and dense vegetation, whereas low–low (L–L) zones were prevalent in urban and mining sectors. (3) Further, a buffer zone analysis of two coal mines, differing in their mining chronology, geographical positioning, and operational status, elucidated the ecological impact exerted over a 32-year trajectory. These insights furnish a robust scientific and technical foundation for resource-centric cities to fortify ecological safeguarding and to advance sustainable development stratagems. Full article

De-icing salt used for safe winter driving can have negative impacts on local water quality, vegetation, and soils. This study aimed to evaluate the salt tolerance of reeds (Phragmites australis) against calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and the biofiltration effect of combining it with topsoil biofilters for desalination in roadside ditches. Two experiments were conducted in a controlled environmental greenhouse over a period of 150 days. For the first experiment, the salt tolerance of P. australis was examined after treating reeds with five different concentrations of de-icing salt: 0, 1, 2, 5, and 10 g·L⁻¹. In a second experiment, the effect of combining two topsoil filters (expanded clay and activated carbon), each planted with and without reeds, was investigated under a high CaCl₂ concentration of 10 g·L⁻¹. As the CaCl₂ concentration increased, the electrical conductivity (EC) of soil leachate and the level of salt exchangeable cations (K⁺, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, and Mg²⁺) significantly increased whereas the acidity (pH) significantly decreased (all p ≤ 0.05). No statistical difference was observed in leaf length or width, while plant height, number of leaves, and both fresh and dry weights were significantly increased with increasing CaCl₂ concentrations (p ≤ 0.05). Treatments using topsoil filters, particularly those with activated carbon and reeds, showed the greatest reduction in leachate EC and total exchange cations values. These results suggest that combining P. australis with topsoil filters can assist biofiltration effectively, demonstrating its applicability even in roadside soils subject to extreme levels of de-icing salts. Full article

In the context of the “ecological priority and green development” strategy, examining the co-evolution between the tourism economy and the efficiency of urban green development can offer both theoretical insights and quantitative foundations to support ecological preservation and high-quality development in China’s Yellow River Basin. This research utilized approaches such as the Haken model and the geographically and temporally weighted regression model to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns, synergistic characteristics, and driving factors of the tourism economy and urban green development efficiency within the Yellow River Basin. The findings reveal the following: (1) Regional disparities in the tourism economy are progressively widening, whereas the efficiency of green development tends to decline. Furthermore, both the tourism economy and urban green development efficiency display “high-high clustering” and “low-low clustering” spatially. (2) The synergistic evolution of the two systems displays spatial characteristics of transitioning from polarization to trickle-down effects. (3) Natural factors such as topography and vegetation coverage, as well as human economic factors like industrial structure and the degree of openness, positively promote the synergy. However, elements such as temperature, precipitation, economic development level, and openness to innovation have a certain inhibitory effect on the synergistic evolution. Full article