Search Results (378)

The integration of satellite and terrestrial networks within the same spectrum is a key enabler for extending mobile connectivity in future communication systems. In this context, the Direct Connectivity between Mobile Satellite Service and International Mobile Telecommunications user equipment (DC-MSS-IMT) paradigm, currently under study within the International Telecommunication Union foresees the use of terrestrial IMT frequency bands by satellite systems to directly serve conventional mobile devices. This paper presents an experimental study to assess the coexistence between a terrestrial 5G-NR receiver and a co-channel interfering signal representative of a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite downlink. A controlled laboratory setup in a conducted configuration was implemented to ensure repeatability and accurate control of interference conditions. Measurements were performed over four carrier frequencies representative of IMT bands (763 MHz, 1482 MHz, 2150 MHz, and 2635 MHz), considering different traffic load conditions (100% and 50%) and Doppler shifts associated with satellite motion. The interference impact was evaluated in terms of receiver desensitization, defined as the increase in the total received power relative to the baseline noise level. The results show that a 1 dB desensitization threshold is consistently reached when the interfering signal power is approximately 5–6 dB below the receiver noise floor, corresponding to an interference-to-noise ratio (I/N) of about −6 dB. This behavior is observed across all tested frequency bands, traffic conditions, and Doppler scenarios, indicating limited sensitivity to frequency offsets within the considered range. The findings confirm the validity of commonly adopted coexistence criteria and provide experimentally derived reference values to support ongoing regulatory and technical studies on spectrum sharing between satellite and terrestrial IMT systems. Full article

The efficiency with which solanaceous crops are pollinated is determined by pollinator behavioral preferences. Although Bombus terrestris typically outperforms Apis mellifera in this respect, the chemo-ecological mechanisms underlying their divergent olfactory responses remain insufficiently determined. We combined behavioral assays, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and electroantennogram recordings to compare the responses of these bee species to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by tomato, pepper, and eggplant flowers. Whereas B. terrestris showed a strong foraging preference for all three crop plants, A. mellifera displayed distinct avoidance. Chemical analyses identified 82, 63, and 60 VOCs in tomato, pepper, and eggplant flowers, respectively. Among the 14 VOCs commonly emitted by all three crops, linalool, nerol, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, 2-hexenal, tridecanal, and (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal elicited significantly different electrophysiological responses in the two bee species, and are, thus, considered key compounds mediating their behavioral differences. Moreover, in behavioral assays, A. mellifera and B. terrestris showed significantly different responses to four concentration levels of linalool, nerol, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, and tridecanal. This study elucidates the plant–pollinator olfactory interactions that contribute to determining the different foraging behaviors of two bee species in pollinating solanaceous crops, thereby providing a theoretical basis for optimizing pollinator attraction strategies. Full article

Monacha cartusiana (O. F. Müller, 1774), native to the Mediterranean region and Europe, is a terrestrial gastropod recognized as a highly destructive agricultural pest that causes significant damage to crop plants, fruit trees, vegetables, ornamentals, and natural ecosystems. Despite its broad geographic distribution, the evolutionary history and phylogeographic relationships of M. cartusiana populations remain globally unexplored. This study reports the first molecularly confirmed record of M. cartusiana in Pakistan and investigates its genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure within a global context using mitochondrial markers. After morphological identification, genomic DNA was extracted from collected specimens using the CTAB method, followed by amplification and sequencing of the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes. The resulting sequences were subsequently analyzed using DnaSP and PopART software to estimate genetic diversity, perform neutrality tests, and construct haplotype networks. Published sequences of M. cartusiana retrieved from GenBank were incorporated to provide a global comparative framework. The COI dataset (555 bp) revealed 52 haplotypes, whereas the 16S rRNA dataset (269 bp) identified 14 haplotypes across global populations. High haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.946 for COI; Hd = 0.831 for 16S rRNA) and moderate nucleotide diversity (π = 0.010 for COI; π = 0.01253 for 16S rRNA) indicated substantial genetic variability within the species. Neutrality tests produced negative and insignificant values for Tajima’s D for COI and significant values for 16S rRNA (−1.428 for COI; −0.20586 for 16S rRNA) and Fu’s Fs (−29.776 for COI; −1.263 for 16S rRNA), suggesting historical population expansion. Phylogenetic reconstruction and haplotype network analyses identified two major clades (Clade A and Clade B), reflecting genetic relationships among populations from different geographic regions. AMOVA based on COI and 16S rRNA sequences revealed significant population structuring, with 29.98–51.30% of the total genetic variation occurring among populations and high fixation indices (FST = 0.299–0.51398, p = 0.001), indicating pronounced genetic differentiation and restricted gene flow. Pairwise FST analyses indicated that the Pakistani population is most closely related to populations from Italy and Central Europe, suggesting a closer genetic affinity with Southern or Central European populations. However, FST alone does not allow definitive inference of introduction directionality, and additional analyses would be required to robustly identify the source population. Overall, this study provides the first comprehensive molecular and phylogeographic assessment of the M. cartusiana species from Pakistan within a global context. These findings contribute important baseline data for understanding the evolutionary dynamics, dispersal history, and population connectivity of this economically important pest species. The pronounced genetic differentiation among populations and the suggested genetic affinity of the Pakistani population with European lineages have direct implications for biosecurity monitoring, invasion pathway tracing, and targeted pest management strategies. Future research integrating nuclear markers with the mitochondrial data presented here will be essential for a more complete understanding of gene flow and local adaptation in this species. Full article

The upper late Triassic Xujiahe Formation (T3x) is the most important terrigenous stratum gas province, with accumulated gas production over 3TCF, technical recoverable resources at 18TCF (500BCM) and geological reserve close to 50TCF (1TCM), in the Sichuan Basin (SCB). In the Southern Plateaus of SCB (SP-SCB), Upper Yangtze Region also has the matching T3x, i.e., Baiguowan/T3b, often located in the folded smaller basins, i.e., Xichang Basin in this paper, which has not been explored as much. Past study of source rocks in T3x already found extracts to have non-terrestrial-humic biomarker values, and this work further adds the gas composition and isotope data from the T3x formations already producing and the T3b formation in two exploratory wells in the SPSCB, i.e., the Xichang basin/Zhaojue sub-basin, where oil stains and bubbled oil and bitumen are found in cores. Based on the geochemical analysis results of gas isotopes and biomarkers T3x/T3b (in SP-SCB) formations, this paper discusses the sedimentary environment and thermal evolution of source rocks of T3x & T3b, and possible transformation of the oil and gas generated, and the potential to find oil and gas in the T3x and T3b formations. We use latest isotope-maturity–wetness–Gas to Oil Ratio (GOR) templates for gas isotope data interpretation, and show the difference between T3x and T3b, and discuss the possibility of finding liquid in T3x and T3b. The conclusion is that T3b in Xichang basin should have oil and gas, and estimated Gas to Oil ratio is about 3~5:1 on a barrel of equivalent (BOE) basis. Full article

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous combustion-derived contaminants that represent a significant cross-cutting threat to human, animal, and environmental health. Viewed through an explicit One Health lens, this review shows how the shared combustion sources, evolutionarily conserved toxicological mechanisms, and food-web linkages connecting environmental contamination to wildlife and human exposure justify an integrated, cross-domain approach to PAH risk assessment and management. PAHs are generated predominantly through incomplete combustion of organic materials and are globally distributed through atmospheric transport, aquatic runoff, and food-web transfer, persisting in soils and sediments for decades. The present review synthesizes current knowledge on PAHs through an explicit One Health lens, examining shared sources, environmental fate, and convergent health effects across species and health domains, while also highlighting the need to move beyond the classical US EPA priority PAHs to include high-molecular-weight PAHs (>302 Da), alkylated homologues, and transformation products such as oxy- and nitro-PAHs. Common pathways such as dietary intake of grilled and smoked foods, inhalation of contaminated air, and occupational exposure create parallel toxicological burdens in both human and wildlife populations, particularly through genotoxic mechanisms mediated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation and CYP1A1/CYP1B1-catalyzed bioactivation to reactive diol epoxides. The resulting DNA adduct formation links environmental PAH exposure to carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, immunosuppression, and developmental impairment across vertebrate species with remarkable mechanistic consistency. Wildlife, especially fish, marine mammals, and seabirds, serve as critical sentinels for environmental PAH contamination, while simultaneously facing direct health impacts on immune function, reproduction, and population viability. Vulnerable human populations, including children, subsistence communities, occupational workers, and residents near combustion-intensive industries, bear disproportionate burdens reflecting underlying environmental justice concerns. Integrated intervention strategies encompassing source control, dietary exposure reduction, site remediation, and coordinated biomonitoring are urgently needed. By incorporating emerging PAH classes with distinct persistence, trophic behavior, and toxicological potency, the One Health paradigm provides a more comprehensive conceptual framework for modern environmental surveillance, food safety, and integrated risk assessment, recognizing that the health of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is inseparable from that of the animals and humans within them. Full article

Bamboo plantations are increasingly recognized as significant terrestrial carbon sinks, yet accurate estimation of biomass and carbon stocks requires species-specific, regionally validated allometric models. Bambusa emeiensis L.C.Chia & H.L.Fung (ci bamboo) is among the most ecologically and economically important clump-forming bamboo species in southwestern China, but robust multi-regional allometric models are lacking. Using destructive sampling data from 127 culms across two major production areas—Sichuan Province (n = 82) and Guizhou Province (n = 45)—we developed additive biomass and carbon storage model systems enforcing mathematical additivity via nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression (NSUR). Allometric equations used diameter at breast height (D), culm height (H), and compound variables (DH, D²H) as predictors. Regional models achieved R_a² of 0.0879–0.8320 total relative error (TRE): −0.99% to 0.04% for biomass and R_a² of 0.0923–0.8282 (TRE: −1.01% to 0.03%) for carbon storage; culm and total aboveground models attained R_a² ≥ 0.52. Organ-level carbon content (40.79%–44.46%) was significantly lower than the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) default of 50% (one-sample t-test, p < 0.01 for all organs), with Sichuan values exceeding Guizhou values (independent-samples t-test, p < 0.01), indicating that use of the default would overestimate carbon stocks by 12%–22%. Cross-regional validation revealed prediction biases of up to ±19.24% when applying single-region models outside their training area, whereas the combined model held errors within ±11.36% for biomass and ±8.49% for carbon storage. External validation using 32 independent culms from Hunan, Yunnan, and Chongqing confirmed the robustness of the combined model (TRE: −6.30% to 4.27%). A key limitation is that belowground biomass was not measured. The established models provide scientifically rigorous and practically applicable tools for regional carbon accounting of B. emeiensis plantations under China’s national greenhouse gas inventory framework and for informing sustainable bamboo management planning, and demonstrate that species- and region-specific carbon fractions are essential for accurate carbon stock assessments. Full article

Hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase, a key acyltransferase in the phenylpropanoid pathway and a canonical member of the BAHD acyltransferase family (BAHD), catalyzes the formation of pivotal intermediates in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as lignin, chlorogenic acid, and flavonoids. These compounds serve indispensable protective functions in terrestrial plants, underpinning their adaptive responses to abiotic stresses such as drought, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and oxidative damage. Although the role of HCT/HQT in the core phenylpropanoid pathway has been extensively characterized, its precise functional contributions to the flavonoid biosynthetic branch—particularly with respect to substrate selectivity, kinetic regulation, and metabolic channeling—remain incompletely understood. This review systematically analyzes the structural features, spatial conformation, catalytic mechanism, and substrate promiscuity of HCT/HQT to clarify its molecular determinants of activity and specificity. Furthermore, it highlights regulatory factors influencing HCT/HQT gene expression, such as transcription factors (MYB, bHLH, WRKY), phytohormones (GA₃, Eth, MeJA, 6-BA, MT), and abiotic/biotic stressors (temperature, blue light, nitric oxide, nano-selenium). Collectively, these insights illuminate how plants dynamically fine-tune phenylpropanoid metabolism in coordination with developmental programs and environmental challenges. This work provides a foundation for further research on HCT/HQT and supports efforts to develop improved crop varieties through targeted regulation of this central metabolic node. Full article

Members of the genus Brucella are bacterial pathogens of global importance, and their increasing detection in marine mammals has raised concerns for wildlife conservation and public health. In this study, we evaluated the biological and pathogenic characteristics of two Brucella sp. sequence type 27 (ST27) isolates obtained from a dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima). We compared them with terrestrial and marine Brucella reference strains. We assessed resistance to polymyxin B and human serum complement, intracellular infection dynamics in HeLa epithelial cells, persistence in a murine model, and associated hematological and histopathological changes, and analyzed lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profiles. The Kogia isolates exhibited resistance to polymyxin B and serum complement, comparable to that of B. abortus 2308W and marine mammal Brucella strains. In HeLa cells, the isolates displayed distinct, strain-specific intracellular infection dynamics. In the murine model, both isolates persisted in the spleen and induced granulomatous lesions. However, splenic bacterial loads and histopathological scores were generally lower than those observed with B. abortus 2308W, which exhibited the highest virulence among the strains evaluated. Hematological alterations associated with Kogia isolates were also less pronounced than those induced by B. abortus 2308W, indicating an intermediate and strain-dependent virulence phenotype without evidence of enhanced virulence relative to the terrestrial reference strain. Western blot analyses showed that Brucella sp. ST27 isolates were not recognized by anti-B. abortus or anti-O-antigen monoclonal antibodies, while exhibiting a distinct recognition pattern with anti-B. canis serum, indicating differences in surface antigen composition. Comparative whole-genome analysis identified a limited number of isolate-specific variants affecting coding and intergenic regions. Collectively, these findings highlight phenotypic and genetic features of Brucella sp. ST27 from Kogia sima, which distinguishes it from other marine and terrestrial Brucella strains and supports further investigation into its biological behavior and potential public health relevance. Full article

The integration of vertical greenery systems (VGSs) into existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings raises questions regarding interface kinematics and the permanent displacement of soil-retaining elements under seismic excitation. This study experimentally investigates the residual displacement of façade-mounted living walls and rooftop planter pods anchored to a deficient RC frame under shake table excitation. A 1:3 scale reinforced concrete frame was tested in two distinct phases: initially as a deficient, unretrofitted structure (Phase A), and subsequently as a retrofitted system integrated with vertical greenery elements (Phase B). High-precision terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was employed before and after successive seismic excitation stages to generate dense three-dimensional point clouds. Cloud-to-cloud comparison techniques were used to quantify global structural displacement and local kinematic behavior of greenery components, while results were validated against conventional displacement sensors. The RC frame exhibited millimeter-scale permanent displacements consistent with draw-wire measurements. In contrast, planter pods demonstrated configuration-dependent behavior, including up to 8 cm translational sliding and rotational responses reaching 13° under repeated excitation, whereas living wall panels remained stable. Notably, a 95% reduction in point cloud density reproduced global deformation patterns with an RMSE of 3.03 mm and quantified peak displacements with only ~2% deviation from full-resolution results. The findings demonstrate the capability of TLS-based monitoring to detect differential kinematic behavior of integrated VGSs, while highlighting the variability in performance of friction-based rooftop anchorage utilizing different robust planter pod fixing systems. Full article

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs), biologically active macromolecules from marine and terrestrial organisms, hold significant potential in revolutionizing cancer therapy. Characterized by their unique sulfate ester groups and structural diversity, SPs exhibit a broad spectrum of bioactivities, including immunomodulation, apoptosis induction, metastasis suppression, and angiogenesis inhibition. Prominent SPs, such as fucoidan from brown algae and carrageenan from red algae, have shown remarkable anticancer properties, either as standalone agents or in synergy with conventional therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Their mechanisms of action involve targeting critical pathways such as NF-kB, VEGF, and PI3K/Akt, disrupting cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor microenvironment dynamics. SPs also enhance immune system responses, reduce chemotherapy-induced side effects, and exhibit antioxidant properties, making them versatile candidates in cancer treatment. Innovations like SP-based nanoparticles are addressing bioavailability and drug delivery challenges, providing targeted and sustained therapeutic effects while minimizing off-target toxicity. Despite their promise, challenges such as structural complexity, scalability, and clinical validation hinder their widespread adoption. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of SPs’ therapeutic potential, mechanisms, and emerging applications in oncology. It emphasizes the need for advanced extraction, characterization techniques, and clinical research to unlock their full potential, paving the way for novel, efficient, and safer cancer therapies. Full article

The Xujiaweizi Fault Depression in the Songliao Basin is a significant area for deep natural gas exploration, and the Shahezi Formation has been recognized as the primary hydrocarbon-source rock. This research integrates core, logging, and seismic data from Well SK2, the world’s first scientific drilling well to reach a depth of 7018 m and obtain 2624 m of continuous cores from the Shahezi Formation. The study aims to redefine the stratigraphic framework, resource characteristics, and sedimentary evolution of the formation in the Cretaceous period. The Shahezi Formation, dating from 118 to 112 Ma (mid-Aptian to early Albian), is divided into five third-order sequences (SQ1–SQ5). The upper section of SQ5 and SQ2 shows the highest potential for deep gas, featuring high-maturity Type III kerogen, 35 gas anomaly layers with a total thickness of 79 m, and a 59% proportion of dark mudstone. A three-stage sedimentary evolution model, including initial faulting, intense faulting, and contraction, is proposed, establishing a link between terrestrial sedimentation and global Early Cretaceous events (e.g., OAE1b). This research provides crucial insights for deep gas exploration and global marine–terrestrial sedimentary comparisons. Full article

Aboveground biomass (AGB) is a key indicator of vegetation productivity and terrestrial carbon stocks; therefore, robust AGB estimation is critical for assessing ecosystem services and carbon cycle research. Previous studies have largely focused on forest and cropland ecosystems. In contrast, roadside vegetation along highways and other linear transport corridors remains comparatively underexplored despite its potentially important role as a carbon sink. Here, we integrate field-measured AGB samples with GF-2 high-resolution satellite imagery to evaluate the suitability of multiple remote-sensing predictors and machine-learning algorithms for estimating AGB in highway roadside vegetation. Six remote-sensing variables were used as predictors, including four vegetation indices (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Perpendicular Vegetation Index (PVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI) and two-band ratios (B342 and B12/34). Five regression models—multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least squares regression (PLSR), random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost)—were developed and systematically compared under both single-variable and multi-variable scenarios. Model performance was evaluated using five-fold cross-validation, with the coefficient of determination (R²) and the root mean square error (RMSE) as metrics of evaluation. The results indicate that the RF model under the multi-variable scenario achieved the best overall performance, with a training R² of 0.83 and a testing RMSE of 0.84 kg·m⁻², substantially outperforming the other linear and non-linear models. The optimal RF model was further applied to GF-2 imagery to produce a spatially explicit AGB map for a 32 km highway segment and a 30 m roadside buffer on both sides, yielding an estimated total aboveground biomass of 566.97 t for the corridor. These findings demonstrate that combining high-resolution remote sensing with machine-learning approaches can effectively improve AGB estimation for linear roadside vegetation systems, providing technical support for ecological monitoring, roadside greening management, and carbon accounting for transport infrastructure. Full article

Accurate time and frequency acquisition is essential for deploying Orthogonal Time–Frequency Space (OTFS) modulation in non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), where severe Doppler shifts and low-SNR conditions are common. We propose a practical synchronization method that inserts an m-sequence-based pilot (illustrated using the 5G NR PSS) periodically in the delay–Doppler grid. Leveraging OTFS mapping properties, the method enables robust matched-filter detection for joint coarse time and frequency acquisition and continuous phase-drift tracking without increasing transmission redundancy. Numerical simulations show that the proposed method achieves a slightly lower PAPR and approximately a 3 dB improvement in detection threshold compared to a recent practical baseline. The algorithm is suitable for 5G/6G NTN links such as LEO constellations and operates reliably at low and negative SNR values. Full article

Mountain ecosystems, strongly affected by climate-related variability and human impact, are degrading faster than other terrestrial ecosystems. Currently, the United Nations (UN) utilizes Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land (Target 15.4 and Sub-indicators 15.4.2a and 15.4.2b), along with the System for Earth Observation Data Access, Processing and Analysis for Land Monitoring, commonly referred to as SEPAL, to track mountain degradation. This SEPAL analysis does not include soil data, which is critical to understanding mountain degradation. The present research focuses on improving the tracking and evaluation of mountain land degradation (LD) utilizing soil data in the state of Colorado (CO) in the United States of America (USA) as an example. Total anthropogenic LD affects an estimated 19% of Colorado’s territory as of 2024, driven mainly by agricultural activities (80%). Between 2001 and 2024, overall LD in CO decreased (−0.4%), but LD from development increased by 23.3%. For mountain areas in CO, the mountain green cover index (MGCI) was 96% for 2024, and it decreased (−0.4%) between 2001 and 2024. The mountain LD proportion was 2.5% as determined by the SEPAL method compared to 4.4% by LULC analysis. Incorporation of soil data into LULC analysis found that between 2001 and 2024 LD increased to 6.6%. All soil types in the mountains exhibited anthropogenic LD due to development with a total developed area of 1385.1 km². Current total mountain LD (inherent + anthropogenic) in CO may be as high as 38.9%. Future estimates of total mountain LD should include both inherent and anthropogenic LD. Full article

Reliable communications, accurate localization, and efficient safety monitoring remain critical bottlenecks for sustainable development in remote high-altitude regions. On the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, harsh topography and sparse infrastructure create a persistent “digital divide” that threatens human safety and limits field governance efficiency. This study aims to design, implement, and evaluate an integrated communication and navigation security assurance platform to bridge this gap. The specific research objectives are (i) to develop a hybrid high-precision positioning model integrating PPP-B2b, RTK, and MEMS inertial constraints; (ii) to implement an adaptive multi-link communication strategy combining BeiDou-3 short message communication (SMC), 4G LTE, and VHF; (iii) to design a lightweight SM1/SM2 security-and-compression framework optimized for bandwidth-constrained satellite messaging; and (iv) to conduct a mixed-methods field evaluation of technical performance and user-level impacts. A six-month field evaluation was conducted in Qinghai Province to validate the platform. Results show that the platform achieves sub-metre positioning accuracy across representative plateau scenarios (horizontal RMSE: 0.06–0.45 m). While terrestrial cellular links in marginal-coverage areas frequently failed (<15%), the BeiDou-3 SMC maintained stable message delivery (87.5–94.7%). Sustainability-oriented indicators suggest marked improvements in disaster resilience: the 95th-percentile emergency notification time was reduced from >180 min to <2 min, and effective route coverage increased from ~15% to ~95%. User surveys (n = 112) indicate high acceptance, with 91.1% of respondents reporting improved perceived safety, though usability gaps persist among non-professional groups. Overall, this indigenous satellite-based platform functions as a practical “social safety net,” narrowing digital exclusion and supporting UN sustainable development goals (SDG 9, 10, and 11). Full article