Search Results (5,649)

Mangrove forests in northern Mozambique were impacted by human and natural pressures, causing channel blockage, permanent flooding, and tree die back. To address the issue, hydrological restoration was carried out in August 2024, excavating 6.88 km of channels, with impact in 38 ha of degraded mangrove. The intervention area was divided into three zones, upper, middle, and lower, based on ecological and environmental characteristics. This study reports on the monitoring carried out 4 and 10 months later. Site salinity approached optimal levels for mangrove growth, dropping by 56% in high-salinity zones, and increasing above 100% in freshwater-invaded zones. The intervention also homogenized the previously distinct upper, middle, and lower zones to more statistically similar groups (Dunn post hoc: p > 0.05). Moreover, seedling density increased from 57.1 ± 44.1 to 4864 ± 1778.6 seedlings/ha; additionally, regenerating species increased in numbers (1 to 3 mangrove species in middle zone; and 0 to 3 mangrove species in lower zone). The study also reports the dieback of competing species, Juncus kraussii and Cyperus articulates. These changes result from the improved tidal flow and general habitat conditions in the restored site. This restoration offers a model for scaling up restoration efforts across the region, where ecological restoration remains underrepresented in many mangrove restoration initiatives. Full article

Reuse of human excreta and derivatives is becoming a common practice in areas with agricultural predominance. While in situ treated faeces through ecological sanitation (Ecosan), known as “faecal by-products” are being used to sustain soil nutrients and improve on-site sanitation, the concern remains about the health risks related to the survival of pathogens in these by-products in the community of farmers. This study assessed the survival of faecal pathogens and estimated microbial risks associated with the use of Ecosan faecal by-products in agriculture. The quantitative microbial risks assessment (QMRA) framework was used to estimate the risks posed by each faecal pathogen in solid and semi-solid faecal by-products under the probabilistic model of Monte Carlo simulation. Ascaris lumbricoides (6.5 eggs/gr), Taenia species (0.3 egg/gr), Schistosoma species (9.3 cercariae/gr), Entamoeba species (4.4 cysts/gr), and Escherichia coli (451 Cfu/gr) were detected in semi-solid faecal products. Exposure scenarios were observed throughout four critical points: vault faecal by-products removal/unloading, transport, collection, and application of faecal by-products in the gardens. Due to the presence of eggs and cysts, an estimated annual risk of infections was found in semi-solid faecal by-products with Schistosoma species (88%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (90%). Both concentrations were above World Health organisation (WHO) standards of associated infective risks of 0–10% of helminths in faecal sludge applied in the gardens. The users of faecal by-products, particularly farmers are exposed not only to high concentrations of helminth eggs but also to protozoa and bacteria with infective risks of Entamoeba species (99%) and E. coli species (62%). A stepwise implementation of faecal pathogens die-off during treatment of faecal by-products in compliance with the WHO’s 2018 guidelines can prevent the use of unsanitary faecal by-products. According to these findings, the proper control of intestinal protozoa and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) should be enforced through personal protective measures in Burera district, Rwanda. Full article

Sauce-aroma Baijiu is produced through a one-year cyclic process involving multiple fermentations and distillations. However, the dynamic changes and correlations among fermented grains (FG), distilled fermented grains (DG), heart liquor (HL) and tail liquor (TL) remain unclear. In this study, the physicochemical indicators and volatile compounds (VCs) from the 3rd to 6th distillation rounds were systematically analyzed. Across successive rounds, FG and DG exhibited similar trends in key physicochemical indicators, as did HL and TL. Headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) identified 76, 73, 80 and 93 VCs in FG, DG, HL and TL, respectively. Multivariate statistical analyses revealed significant inter-round differences in volatile profiles, and further indicated that total acids and water contents in FG were positively correlated with the majority of VCs in liquor. These results clarify the dynamic change of physicochemical and flavor components during Baijiu production and provide a basis for quality evaluation. Full article

Aridification and hotter droughts are triggering forest die-off events characterized by high mortality rates and declines in forest productivity. The western Mediterranean Basin is a climate change hotspot where many of these die-off events have affected several tree and shrub species in recent decades. Yet, the responses of canopy greenness and cover, radial growth, and gross primary productivity (GPP) to climate in these die-off sites remain poorly understood across species and biomes. Here, we examined 44 sites across Spain, covering humid, dry sub-humid, and semi-arid biomes, and including nine tree and one shrub species. We obtained and correlated monthly climate data, satellite-derived vegetation indices (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Enhanced Vegetation Index), tree-ring metrics (basal area increment, ring-width indices), and GPP. We assessed climate trends and relationships between climate, vegetation indices, growth, GPP, and resilience after five extreme drought years in the period 1984–2023. Climate warming impacted all sites, increasing vapor pressure deficit and reducing soil moisture availability, with semi-arid sites warming the most. Vegetation indices and growth showed the largest declines during extreme droughts in dry sub-humid and semi-arid sites. Correlations with climate variables highlighted strong sensitivity to drought stress, particularly regarding growth metrics. During die-off events, GPP significantly declined in the growing season, but no legacy effects were observed afterwards. Vegetation indices and growth partially recovered one year after drought, with resilience peaking for GPP in semi-arid sites. Hotter droughts constrain GPP and growth, especially in dry sub-humid and semi-arid forests. Forests and shrublands experiencing die-off are diagnostic monitors of drought-induced thresholds in ecosystem productivity. Full article

Background: Chronic kidney disease presents a significant health challenge among the elderly, with recent data indicating a 13.9% prevalence for early stages (1–3) and a lower 0.6% prevalence for advanced stages. Notably, many geriatric patients die from cardiovascular complications before reaching end-stage kidney disease, highlighting the critical interplay between renal and cardiovascular health. Central to this connection is endothelial dysfunction, considered the initial trigger for cardiovascular mortality. We aimed to investigate the correlation between different measurement methods demonstrating endothelial dysfunction and sVE-cadherin levels. Another objective was to examine the relationship between decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and sVE-cadherin levels. We hypothesized an inverse relationship between impaired renal function, endothelial dysfunction, and sVE-cadherin. Methods: The study included geriatric patients with CKD who were not receiving RRT. Non-geriatric patients, those with cardiovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, active immunosuppressive use, active infection, history of active malignancy, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and renal transplantation patients were excluded. Demographic data of the patients, nailfold capillary measurements, carotid intima-media thickness, flow-mediated dilatation, sVE-cadherin, and serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels were measured. Results: We analyzed 96 patients. Key findings revealed a significant inverse correlation between serum sVE-cadherin levels and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), suggesting that, as kidney function declines, endothelial integrity is compromised. Interestingly, patients treated with sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors had notably lower sVE-cadherin levels, indicating the possible modulatory effect of these drugs on endothelial function. Additional correlations were observed: fibroblast growth factor 23 levels were positively related to capillary diameter, and carotid intima-media thickness was associated with mean platelet volume. Declining GFR corresponded to reductions in capillary count, while use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors was linked to higher capillary density. Over a 2.3-year follow-up, survivors had higher lymphocyte counts (p = 0.088, not statistically significant) and baseline sVE-cadherin levels tended to be higher in those who died, although this was not statistically significant. Conclusions: These findings suggest that uremic toxins may worsen endothelial injury by disrupting intercellular connections, highlighting the complex pathogenic environment in CKD. Given these insights, the need for standardized diagnostic thresholds for endothelial dysfunction in geriatric CKD patients is clear. Serum sVE-cadherin emerges as a promising novel biomarker for assessing endothelial health, offering potential for earlier intervention and improved cardiovascular outcomes. It may be a potent indicator of endothelial dysfunction and should be featured in future studies of elderly CKD patients. Full article

With the expansion of modern protected agriculture, the amount of post-harvest tomato biomass has increased sharply. Conventional unmanaged disposal practices disrupt carbon flows and cause substantial environmental emissions. Tomato plant residues (TPRs), which are rich in lignocellulose and selected high-value secondary metabolites, have considerable potential as feedstocks for green industrial materials. However, their complex biophysical properties, high physiological moisture content, and recalcitrant cell-wall barriers hinder large-scale processing. This review systematically examines the mechanisms and process architectures for converting TPRs into macromolecular products. First, it analyzes cross-scale anatomical heterogeneity and dynamic rheological properties of TPRs, defining their physicochemical boundaries as industrial precursors. Second, it summarizes the development of physical field-coupled equipment, ranging from anti-tangling harvest-shredding to die-roller densification. Furthermore, it examines the core mechanisms of multi-field-coupled pretreatment technologies, including steam explosion, deep eutectic solvents (DES), and mechanochemistry, in deconstructing vascular skeletons and reducing multiphase mass-transfer resistance. Finally, this review discusses reconstruction pathways for TPR-derived components in advanced polymer materials, including biodegradable nanocellulose films, bio-based composites, aerogels, and lignin-based polyurethane networks. Overall, it links microscopic reaction kinetics with macroscopic equipment engineering, proposes a closed-loop material conversion system from in-field volume reduction to cascaded biorefinery, and provides an engineering framework for future multi-machine intelligent collaboration and continuous production across the industrial chain. Full article

Contemporary English speakers often make a distinction between things that are artificial and those that are deemed natural. On the one hand are places, things, and situations that humans have altered, and on the other those that are free (or relatively free) of human influence. This concept of “nature” is an important, if problematic, one: it influences much of the modern environmental movement, where nature often has positive connotations while the artificial is valued negatively. In this paper I will be focusing on an idea found in Tibetan anti-meat literature: that there is a moral difference between eating the meat of animals that “die as a result of their karma” and animals that are slaughtered. This idea, I argue, parallels the distinction between the natural and artificial found in many English language discussions about the environment. As such, my suggestion is that this idea could, with some development, help support dialogue over environmental issues between Western and Buddhist philosophers and communities. Full article

The German author Hans Erich Nossack (1901–1977) wrote the novel “On Call: A Report on the Epidemic” four years before his death. This fascinating novel has yet to be translated into English. It depicts a bleak future in which a mysterious global epidemic erupts. The focus is on an unnamed first-person narrator, a chemist in a so-called on-call unit. His task is to recover the numerous bodies left behind by the epidemic. In a matter-of-fact, almost emotionless tone, he reconstructs the course of the catastrophe in retrospect. The disease is an anomaly: it is a kind of ‘suicide epidemic’ in which people apparently die or take their own lives for no apparent reason. The reasons for this remain unclear, intensifying uncertainty and a sense of helplessness within society. The novel describes in great detail fundamental changes in individual psychology and global society, revealing striking parallels nearly 50 years later during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. This paper seeks to compare the suicide pandemic described in the novel with today’s COVID-19 pandemic. To the best of my knowledge, this association has not been previously described. Similarities between the novel and the pandemic will be analysed. Nevertheless, there are also fundamental differences between the novel’s plot and the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, some basic information about the author Nossack (a rather complex personality), likely not well-known to non-German-speaking readers, will be provided. The goal of this contribution is to familiarise non-German-speaking readers with this novel and its author. Finally, I will briefly mention Aaron Antonovsky’s concept of salutogenesis, which focuses on building resilience, resources, and supportive environments to manage disease. Nossack’s “Bereitschaftsdienst” anticipates key questions in salutogenesis—particularly the importance of finding meaning, comprehensibility, and coping strategies in the face of existential threats—but explores them within a far darker and more sceptical framework. Full article

As a typical Cr-Mo-V series hot work die steel, H13 steel is widely used in hot extrusion dies under harsh service conditions. Tempering is a vital post-quenching process for regulating microstructural evolution and comprehensive mechanical properties. Since relevant systematic comparative studies remain insufficient, industrial-grade H13 steel was adopted in this work. Specimens were quenched at 1000 °C, followed by single tempering at 520 °C and double tempering at 580 °C. Their microstructure, microhardness, and wear resistance at 25 °C and 580 °C were characterized, and the underlying mechanisms were analyzed. The results show that single tempering at 520 °C produces tempered martensite and finely dispersed carbides with secondary hardening behavior. Its microhardness reaches 590.83 HV, resulting in the best wear resistance at both room and high temperatures. Double tempering at 580 °C causes carbide coarsening, and the microhardness slightly declines to 580.60 HV. Although toughness is enhanced and residual stress is fully released, wear resistance deteriorates. This study optimizes the tempering parameters for H13 steel, provides technical support for die production, and offers theoretical guidance for the technical upgrading of the hot work die steel industry. Full article

Background: Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), particularly when involving the bowel, significantly impairs health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and gastrointestinal function. This study aimed to evaluate the short- and mid-term impact of minimally invasive excision on these parameters in a large multicenter cohort. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 837 patients treated for endometriosis in two tertiary referral centers between 2018 and 2024. All patients underwent laparoscopic or robotic-assisted excision. Quality of life was assessed preoperatively and at 6 months (VAS: n = 69; SF-36: n = 100; GIQLI: n = 98) and 12 months (VAS: n = 30; SF-36: n = 46; GIQLI: n = 44) postoperatively, using validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, the Short Form-36 (SF-36) survey, and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). Results: The study population presented with predominantly advanced disease (Stage III–IV in 83.4% of cases), with 39.7% of patients undergoing segmental bowel resection. Postoperatively, a statistically significant reduction was observed in dysmenorrhea (VAS 7.6 vs. 5.0, p < 0.001) and chronic pelvic pain. The SF-36 scores improved significantly across all eight domains at 6 months, with the most dramatic recovery seen in Role Physical (p < 0.001) and Bodily Pain (p < 0.001). Regarding digestive function, the mean GIQLI score showed a progressive increase, reaching statistical significance at 12 months compared to baseline (112.6 vs. 106.6, p = 0.027), indicating superior long-term functional outcomes. Conclusions: Multidisciplinary minimally invasive surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis was associated with significant and sustained improvements in quality of life among patients with available follow-up. Gastrointestinal quality of life, as measured by GIQLI, improved significantly at 12 months postoperatively, including in patients who underwent segmental bowel resection. Systematic use of PROMs is essential for accurate patient counseling and outcome monitoring. Full article

Background: Firefighting is a hazardous occupation, yet data online-of-duty deaths in European firefighter populations remain limited. This study aimed to characterise the mechanisms and circumstances of firefighter fatalities in Poland and to estimate exposure-based fatality rates, with particular attention to differences between career and volunteer personnel. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, line-of-duty firefighter fatalities in Poland from 1995 to 2025 were identified from a nationwide repository and cross-validated against official sources. The mechanism of death was classified from case narratives following the Utstein framework. Group comparisons used chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and Welch’s tests; multivariable probit regression assessed predictors of mechanism; and per-capita and per-deployment fatality rates were computed using national denominator data. Results: Of 112 fatalities, 73 (65.2%) involved volunteer firefighters. Sudden Cardiac Arrest of Presumed Non-Traumatic origin (SCA-PNT) was the leading mechanism (44.6%), followed by traumatic injury (37.5%). Volunteers were older than career firefighters (46.4 ± 14.0 vs. 34.6 ± 8.7 years; p < 0.001) and more likely to die of SCA-PNT (odds ratio 6.35; 95% confidence interval 2.46–16.40) and during the response phase (odds ratio 5.07; 1.89–13.55). Age was the strongest independent predictor of mechanism. The per-capita fatality rate was higher among career firefighters (incidence rate ratio 5.16), whereas the per-deployment rate was higher among volunteers (incidence rate ratio 2.25). Conclusions: Firefighter mortality in Poland differs by employment status and is strongly age-dependent. Age-stratified cardiovascular surveillance and prevention may be more effective than formation-based approaches. Full article

AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy coatings reinforced with different TiN contents (2 wt.%, 4 wt.%, and 6 wt.%) were fabricated on 304 stainless steel by laser cladding. The effects of TiN addition on the microstructure, hardness, friction behavior, and wear resistance of the coatings were investigated. Dry reciprocating sliding tests were conducted under a load of 10 N, a frequency of 5 Hz, a stroke length of 5 mm, and a duration of 20 min using GCr15 bearing steel balls as the counterpart. The results showed that the 2 wt.% TiN coating exhibited the best tribological performance within the investigated composition range, with a microhardness of 579.6 HV_0.5, a relatively low and stable friction coefficient of approximately 0.30–0.35, and a wear rate of 2.9 × 10⁻⁴ mm³/(N·m). When the TiN content increased to 4 wt.% and 6 wt.%, the wear resistance decreased, which was mainly associated with particle agglomeration, local stress concentration, and brittle spalling. These results indicate that appropriate TiN addition can improve the load-bearing capacity and wear resistance of laser-cladded AlCoCrFeNi coatings, providing a potential surface-strengthening strategy for 304 stainless steel components under dry sliding conditions. Full article

This study presents an upper bound energy-based offline digital twin framework developed for rapid forging load prediction during early-stage spur gear forging die design. The proposed framework integrates an analytically driven prediction model based on Upper Bound Energy Analysis (UBEA) with validated knowledge obtained from experimentally supported reference studies reported in the literature. Unlike sensor-based real-time digital twin systems, the proposed approach operates in an offline configuration and does not require continuous real-time data acquisition. The analytical framework was implemented within a computational environment to systematically estimate forging loads under different gear geometries and process conditions. The predicted forging loads were validated using representative experimental reference data reported for spur gear forging applications under comparable geometrical and processing conditions. The generated analytical dataset forms a structured knowledge base that enables virtual representation of forging load behavior within the proposed offline digital twin environment. The validation results demonstrated that the proposed framework successfully captures the overall magnitude and trend of forging loads, with an average relative deviation of approximately 6.5% across the investigated cases. Compared with conventional finite element simulations and experimental trials, the proposed framework provides a computationally efficient alternative for preliminary forging load estimation and iterative design evaluation while maintaining acceptable prediction accuracy. The developed offline digital twin framework provides a practical and scalable analytical decision-support tool for rapid gear forging die design and process planning. Full article