Search Results (58,098)

Negative air ions (NAIs) are key ecological indicators of atmospheric cleanliness and forest ecosystem service functions, particularly in the context of forest wellness and ecotourism. However, long-term, high-frequency observations of NAIs across broad spatial scales remain scarce, limiting our understanding of its regional spatiotemporal dynamics and environmental controls. Here, we present a six-year (2018–2023) continuous, hourly monitoring dataset of NAI concentrations from 60 fixed forest sites across Zhejiang Province, a typical subtropical humid region in southeastern China. The provincial mean NAI concentration over the study period was 1672 ions·cm⁻³, with a pronounced “high around the periphery, low in the center” spatial pattern, with the mountainous southwestern areas consistently showing the highest concentrations and the central Jinqu Basin the lowest. On diurnal scales, NAIs exhibited a bimodal pattern with primary peaks at 7:00 and secondary peaks at 16:00, rather than a simple daytime–nighttime dichotomy. Seasonal dynamics showed significantly higher NAI in summer than in autumn and winter; however, the summer–winter difference was only ~25%, much smaller than the ratios reported for temperate regions. Interannually, NAI concentrations increased from 2018 to 2023 (average annual increase of 158 ions·cm⁻³), peaking during the 2020–2022 period, when anthropogenic emissions were substantially reduced. Using linear mixed-effects models, we identified relative humidity as the dominant positive driver of NAI variability, followed by wind speed as a negative modulator, and precipitation playing a minor role. These findings reveal the multi-scale spatiotemporal dynamics of NAIs in subtropical forests and underscore the overriding control of humidity over ion persistence. Our study provides a robust regional benchmark for background NAI levels in humid subtropical climates and offers direct scientific support for forest-based health resource planning and air quality assessment. Full article

Social interaction plays an increasingly important role in facilitating consumption, and many e-commerce platforms have incorporated peer information into product interface design. Given the limited attention paid to action-based information cues, this study proposes repeat purchase action as an information cue and examines its impact on user purchase intention. Drawing on social learning theory, we developed a research model and conducted two online experiments on Credamo, a professional online survey platform in China. The research model was empirically tested using bootstrapping-based mediation analysis. The results showed that both purchase action and repeat purchase action significantly increased user purchase intention. In addition, the impact of repeat purchase action on purchase intention was mediated by trust expectation, whereas purchase action did not elicit users’ trust expectation. These findings add to the literature on information cues in e-commerce and extend the theoretical explanatory power of social learning theory. This study also provides managerial implications for e-commerce platforms and sellers in implementing effective product interface information design and selection strategies. Full article

Cultivating postgraduates’ innovation capability is essential for universities to fulfill their function as a social service in this innovation-driven era. Graduate student associations serve as vital carriers for this purpose, yet their potential remains underexplored. This study explores how excellent teachers, particularly graduate supervisors with strong research innovation and resource integration capabilities, contribute to association branding and the cultivation of student innovation capability. We construct a mechanism model based on a dual-leader system with high-level supervisors as key leaders, association branding as the primary approach, and innovation capability cultivation as the core objective. The model’s effectiveness is validated through iterative practice at Northeast Electric Power University’s Management and Research Association, one of China’s 100 model graduate associations. The results demonstrate that influential associations enhance cohesion, facilitate resource pooling through “association + business” integration, and significantly improve postgraduates’ capability for scientific innovation. This work contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) through conceptual and applied alignment by promoting sustainable higher education management mechanisms that enhance long-term educational effectiveness and institutional capacity to cultivate innovation. Full article

Canopy base height (CBH) is a key descriptor of forest vertical structure and an essential input for fire behavior modeling and ecosystem assessments, yet it remains difficult to retrieve reliably from satellite observations. Spaceborne waveform LiDAR from the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission provides detailed information on vertical vegetation structure through relative height (RH) metrics, but existing CBH studies have largely relied on empirically selected percentiles or indirect calibration approaches. Here, we present a physically informed framework for CBH estimation that interprets the full GEDI RH profile as a continuous representation of vertical energy distribution and identifies CBH as a structural transition within this profile. Three RH-based approaches—the first-derivative, clustering-threshold, and crown-length methods—were evaluated against independent UAV LiDAR observations. Among them, the clustering-threshold approach achieved the best agreement with UAV-derived CBH (R² = 0.71, RMSE = 1.27 m) and was selected for regional-scale mapping. Sparse GEDI-derived CBH samples were further integrated with Sentinel-2 optical data using a gradient boosting regression model to generate wall-to-wall CBH maps for the Jiagedaqi District, northeastern China, achieving an RMSE of 1.01 m against independent validation data. The results demonstrate that CBH can be retrieved directly from GEDI RH metrics without requiring region-specific airborne LiDAR calibration of the GEDI-based CBH retrieval itself, while UAV LiDAR is used only for independent validation. By advancing the interpretation of spaceborne waveform LiDAR for structural boundary detection, this study expands the utility of GEDI data for large-scale mapping of fire-relevant forest structural attributes. Full article

Soil microbial communities play a central role in terrestrial biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem functioning, and their dynamics are closely linked to soil physicochemical properties, thereby contributing to ecosystem functional stability. However, the extent to which stand age regulates soil microbial community structure and soil physicochemical properties remains insufficiently understood. In this study, black poplar (Populus nigra) plantations located in the hilly region of Jiangsu Province, China, were selected as a chronosequence and classified into three stand age categories: young stands (HY), middle-aged stands (HH), and late-middle-aged stands (HN). Soil samples were systematically collected from the 0–15 cm layer. Soil physicochemical properties were measured, soil DNA was extracted, and high-throughput sequencing was performed to characterize age-related changes in microbial community structure. The results showed that mineral-associated total carbon reached its highest level in middle-aged stands, whereas dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and soil organic carbon (SOC) were highest in late-middle-aged stands. Co-occurrence network analysis further indicated that microbial interspecific associations were most complex during the middle-aged stage. Overall, stand age induced pronounced shifts in both soil carbon fractions and microbial community organization. These findings provide new insights into the coupling relationships among stand development, soil carbon dynamics, and microbial community succession in black poplar plantations. Full article

To address escalating natural and market risks in agriculture, integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLS) are increasingly recognized as a production mode combining resilience and sustainability. Using survey data from 372 farm households in Inner Mongolia, China, this study first constructs a directional income volatility indicator and applies the Kruskal–Wallis test together with robust tests for equality of variances to compare the short-term risk-buffering performance of specialized cropping, specialized livestock production, and ICLS. The analysis then focuses on 190 ICLS households and employs Hansen’s threshold model to identify nonlinear constraints on achieving higher income and examine potential equipment misallocation. The results show a stronger short-term risk-buffering advantage of ICLS over the two specialized modes. Livestock inventory scale exhibits a threshold effect: at a lower livestock inventory scale, livestock expansion is significantly associated with lower income, whereas beyond this threshold the marginal effect becomes significantly positive. Crop–livestock structural matching, measured by the livestock–land ratio, constrains the income effect of livestock expansion: once the ratio reaches a certain level, livestock expansion no longer shows a significant negative association with income. In addition, mismatches between machinery investment and production orientation weaken the income performance. These results imply that policy should promote ICLS in a context-specific and moderate manner, guide farmers toward better crop–livestock alignment, and expand agricultural service provision to reduce risks associated with misaligned mechanization. Full article

Urban renewal increasingly adopts Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) to address environmental challenges and enhance social well-being. However, it remains unclear whether and to what extent NBSs contribute to cultural ecosystem services (CESs), which reflect people’s perceptions, values, and experiences of urban nature. This study develops an integrated framework combining text and image mining of social media data to evaluate the CES outcomes of NBS in regenerated urban districts in Chengdu, China. The comment data were analyzed for CES using Jieba word segmentation and dictionary matching, while images were categorized into NBS types by manual classification. By integrating these multimodal data, the framework effectively clarifies the relationship between NBSs and CESs from the perspective of public perception. Results indicate that recreation and leisure, inspiration, and spiritual values are the most prominent aspects of public perception, with linear green infrastructure and pocket parks being the most frequently identified NBS types. Correspondence analysis further reveals significant associations between specific NBS interventions and CES categories. By integrating textual and visual data, this study offers a practical and real-time approach for capturing public perceptions of CESs and provides actionable insights for the design and management of NBS-driven urban regeneration. Full article

Promoting the transition toward green and low-carbon lifestyles is essential for advancing sustainable consumption and environmental sustainability. Based on 6903 valid survey responses from 19 digital household pilot regions in China, this study examines the relationship between household digitalization and green and low-carbon lifestyles. A household digitalization level (HDL) index is constructed using the entropy method across five dimensions: digital network services, digital infrastructure, digital literacy, digital skills, and digital applications. The empirical results show that higher HDL is positively associated with the adoption of green and low-carbon lifestyles, and this association remains robust across a series of sensitivity analyses. Exploratory mechanism analysis indicates that HDL is linked to green and low-carbon lifestyles through improved satisfaction with digital smart technologies and enhanced environmental awareness. Heterogeneity analysis shows that this association is stronger among larger households, urban and suburban households, and households with development-oriented consumption, but weaker among smaller, rural, and subsistence-oriented households. These findings provide micro-level evidence supporting the exploration of the linkage between household digitalization and sustainable household consumption and the coordinated development of digitalization and environmental sustainability. Full article

Purpose: This study explores the nonlinear influences of three organizational capabilities, including Cultural Adaptability (CA), Service Efficiency (SE), and Brand Commitment (BC), on Perceived Fairness (PF) and their subsequent effects on Customer Retention (CR) and Purchase Decision (PD). It also analyses the moderating effect of Perceived Social Norms (PSN) in this context. Design/Methodology/Approach: A two-wave time-lagged design was used to increase temporal precedence and reduce common-method bias, and 500 consumers in China and Pakistan were sampled. The hypothesized curvilinear associations were tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Findings: CA, SE, and BC have a positive influence on PF, though their relationships follow an inverted U-shaped pattern. PF shows positive correlations with CR and PD, and PSN enhances the relationship between PF and customer outcomes. Originality: The research adds value to Social Exchange Theory and Commitment–Trust Theory by demonstrating that organizational capabilities may yield diminishing returns of fairness and thus disproves the more-is-better linear relationships in customer relationship management. Full article

Rice bakanae disease (RBD) occurs at all growth stages of rice, leading to yield loss and rice seed contamination. We sampled plants with bakanae symptoms and aerial adventitious roots from early-season rice fields, and obtained a total of 152 Fusarium isolates. Based on a combination of sequences from a region of the tef1 gene and morphological features, Fusarium isolates were identified as F. fujikuroi (142 isolates, 93.4%), F. proliferatum (8 isolates, 5.3%), and F. oxysporum (2 isolates, 1.3%). We found that 30 °C was suitable for the sporulation of all three Fusarium species. However, for mycelial growth, the temperature suitable for F. oxysporum was higher than that for F. fujikuroi and F. proliferatum. On a susceptible rice, F. fujikuroi caused foolish seedlings (excessive growth rate ranging from 29.87% to 116.57%); F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum led to stunted symptoms. Quantification of gibberellic acid (GA₃) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that only F. fujikuroi isolates produced large amounts of GA₃, explaining why only F. fujikuroi isolates caused bakanae symptoms. The infected rice seedlings were continuously cultivated in the greenhouse. All three Fusarium species caused crown rot in rice plants. Additionally, F. fujikuroi caused root rot and grain sterility, whereas F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum caused heading failure. Collectively, our study indicated that three Fusarium species were associated with RBD in early-season rice in Zhejiang, China, and they caused distinct symptoms in rice. Full article

Surfactant adsorption onto reservoir rocks remains a critical challenge in chemical enhanced oil recovery (cEOR), as it directly impacts flooding efficiency and chemical costs. This study presents a comprehensive scientometric analysis of research on surfactant adsorption for EOR applications over the period 2005–2025. Based on the Scopus database, 877 publications accounting for more than 22,100 citations were retrieved and analyzed to map the intellectual and conceptual structure of this research field. VOSviewer 1.6.20 software was employed to generate keyword co-occurrence networks, author bibliographic coupling, and country-level contributions. The results reveal a strong growth in scientific output after 2016, with annual publications increasing from fewer than 30 papers per year before 2010 to more than 100 papers per year after 2021. “Enhanced Oil Recovery” (165 occurrences), “Adsorption” (101 occurrences), and “Surfactant” (88 occurrences) emerged as the most frequent and highly interconnected keywords. At the geographical level, China (29.4%), the United States (22.3%), and Iran (9.6%) were identified as the leading contributors, together accounting for more than 60% of the global research output. Bibliographic coupling analysis highlighted a core group of highly influential authors shaping the field through strong collaborative networks. Emerging themes such as nanoparticle-assisted EOR, wettability alteration, and low-salinity surfactant systems were identified as rapidly growing research frontiers. This scientometric analysis provides the first quantitative mapping dedicated specifically to adsorption phenomena in cEOR, while highlighting future opportunities for optimizing adsorption control strategies and improving reservoir performance. Full article

Land use planning in the Black Soil Region of Northeast China must be sustainable, taking into account food security, water use, GHG emissions, and economic returns. Current crop suitability mapping and single-objective optimization studies tend to analyze crop occurrence, crop structure, and spatial allocation independently, which is of little value in spatial planning. In this study, a three-stage integrated approach is proposed, involving deep learning crop occurrence mapping, multi-objective crop structure optimization, and suitability-guided spatial allocation. During Stage I, a lightweight U-Net semantic segmentation model, BlackSoilCropNet, is developed to provide per-pixel occurrence probabilities of rice, maize, soybean, and other types of crops based on Sentinel-2 time series and auxiliary environmental predictors. In stage II, NSGA II will optimize the area structure of the crops and reduce water consumption and GHG emissions with the maximum profit under the constraints of the cropland, water, and production. Selected Pareto optimal solutions are transformed to crop allocation maps and transition hotspot outputs in Stage III. The framework resulted in three viable planning options. The economic priority scenario resulted in the highest profit (USD 27.9 billion), with higher water consumption and emissions. The environmental-priority scenario resulted in a reduction in water use to 118.2 × 10⁹ m³ and emissions to 50.9 MtCO₂e, but at the cost of lower production and profits. There was a balance between economic stability and an improved environment in the balanced scenario. The framework provides a reproducible, geospatial decision support approach for sustainable farming planning and black soil conservation overall. Full article

The epidemiology of the nematode Eustrongylides sp. remains poorly understood in natural fish populations, especially under alpine conditions. This study investigated its infection dynamics in Triplophysa strauchii, an endemic fish in an alpine wetland in northwestern China. A total of 720 fish were sampled monthly from April to November 2025. Parasitic larvae were identified using ribosomal ITS sequences. Hurdle models were employed to assess infection risk and intensity, incorporating host length, sex, and month as predictors. The overall prevalence was 21.8%, with a mean intensity of 4.36 ± 6.83 worms per infected fish. Infection dynamics showed two seasonal peaks: a spring peak with high intensity and a late-summer peak with moderate prevalence but low intensity. Host length was the most stable predictor for both infection risk (OR = 1.916 per cm, 95% CI: 1.232–2.977) and intensity, with significant length × month interactions (length × May: IRR = 4.847, p = 0.005; length × November: OR = 0.418, p = 0.005), indicating seasonal modulation of the length effect. These findings provide foundational insights into parasite transmission in alpine wetlands and highlight public health concerns regarding fish consumption. Full article

Background/Objectives: University students commonly experience psychological distress driven by academic demands, social transitions, and financial pressures. Mindfulness-based interventions have emerged as scalable approaches to improve mental health. However, evidence comparing their effectiveness across delivery formats remains limited. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression and to compare outcomes across in-person, digital, and hybrid modalities. Methods: This review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2020 and December 2025 on mindfulness-based interventions among university students aged 18 years and older. Intervention duration ranged from 3 days to 12 weeks, with most lasting 4 to 8 weeks, and outcomes included validated measures of stress, anxiety, or depression. Literature research was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science, and two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Results: A total of 24 RCTs were included, with the highest representation from the United States and China (n = 4 each), followed by the United Kingdom and Canada. Mindfulness-based interventions demonstrated consistent reductions in depression and generally positive effects on anxiety, while effects on stress were more variable. Digital interventions demonstrated effectiveness comparable to in-person programs, though outcomes varied by intervention structure and level of guidance. Conclusions: Mindfulness-based interventions are effective in improving mental health among university students, particularly for depression and anxiety. Multi-week programs and guided digital delivery appear to enhance effectiveness and scalability. Full article

As a typical human–nature coupled region, the coordination between the agricultural resource–environment system and regional development in the Fujian-Taiwan region is crucial for sustainable development. However, the underlying mechanisms and scale heterogeneity of this relationship remain unclear. This study employed a comprehensive evaluation approach to assess Agricultural Resource and Environmental Carrying Capacity (ARECC) and Regional Development Level (RDL) in the Fujian-Taiwan region in 2010, 2015, and 2019. A Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model was used to quantify the coordination relationship, while a geographical detector was applied to identify influencing factors at multiple scales. The main findings are as follows: (1) ARECC in Fujian increased gradually (average value: 0.046 → 0.052 → 0.075), whereas Taiwan exhibited a decline followed by recovery (average value: 0.449 → 0.408 → 0.491), with overall levels remaining higher than those of Fujian. RDL in Fujian was generally higher than that in Taiwan (average value: 0.260 > 0.212), and the average growth rate of Taiwan’s counties and cities was lower than that of Fujian (10.42% < 16.62%). (2) Overall, Fujian maintained a comparatively balanced relationship between ARECC and RDL, with maladjustment occurring only in Nanping City. In contrast, Taiwan experienced a substantially higher degree of maladjustment, with 40.90% of its counties and cities falling into maladjusted categories. Spatially, CCD in Fujian displayed a gradient decline from Fuzhou toward the southern, northern, and western regions, while high- and low-value areas in Taiwan were interspersed. (3) The coupling coordination mechanism exhibited significant scale heterogeneity, and corresponding differentiated regulation strategies were proposed. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the coordination mechanisms between ARECC and RDL in the Fujian–Taiwan region and provide references for promoting cross-regional agricultural collaboration and sustainable development. Full article