Search Results (889)

Livestock manure amendment improves soil fertility and promotes carbon sequestration, but long-term application leads to heavy metal (HM) accumulation with unknown ecological consequences. Based on a 13-year field experiment in a continuous maize cropping system, we compared chemical fertilizer (NPK) with four organic amendments (cattle, pig, chicken manure, and compost) applied on an isocarbon basis. Organic amendments significantly increased total organic carbon (TOC) by 15.8–24.3% and available phosphorus (AP) by 1.9- to 6-fold relative to NPK. Compost achieved the highest maize yield. However, pig and chicken manure led to substantial accumulation of Cu and Zn due to high background levels. Despite this, grain HM concentrations remained below safety thresholds, indicating no immediate food chain risk. Metagenomic analysis revealed that HM stress acted as a deterministic filter on the soil microbiome. Cattle manure fostered the most complex co-occurrence network (average degree: 2.70), while pig manure reduced network complexity and increased modularity (>0.92), reflecting a shift toward fragmented, survival-oriented interactions. This structural reorganization was coupled with functional shifts, including enrichment of stress-tolerant taxa (Chitinophagales, Nitrosotalea) and detoxification pathways. We recommend prioritizing cattle manure or compost over raw pig and poultry manure to balance fertility, productivity, and ecological safety in black soil regions. Full article

Accurate source apportionment of soil heavy metals (HMs) is critical for targeted pollution mitigation and ecological remediation. This review systematically synthesizes and compares five mainstream source apportionment approaches—receptor models (positive matrix factorization, PMF; absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression, APCS-MLR; UNMIX model), stable isotope tracing, and random forest (RF)-based machine learning—to provide researchers with a comprehensive methodological framework. The methodology includes a systematic literature review, comparative analysis of methodological principles, and synthesis of representative case studies from diverse geographical contexts. The core principles, evolutionary paths, typical use cases (e.g., industrial zones, agricultural fields, regional surveys), and inherent limitations are synthesized for each method. A practical decision framework linking research contexts (study objectives, spatial scales, data availability) to optimal method selection, along with guidelines for multi-method integration, is proposed. This review provides actionable guidance for researchers and practitioners in selecting appropriate methods for specific pollution scenarios, ultimately supporting more effective environmental management and policy development. Full article

This study focuses on the Dabie Mountain Comprehensive Station in Anhui Province, constructing a multi-scale analytical framework and integrating remote sensing and socio-economic data to systematically assess the spatiotemporal evolution of ecosystem service bundles (ESBs) and landscape ecological risks using SOFM, XGBoost, and SHAP models. The research categorizes ecosystem service functions into four types: water conservation core areas, carbon storage–habitat optimization areas, carbon storage–water production composite areas, and multifunctional synergy areas. From 2013 to 2023, the proportion of multifunctional synergy areas increased from 39.85% to 42.86%, while carbon storage-habitat optimization areas and water conservation core areas decreased by 28,035.47 hm² and 2118.8 hm², respectively, indicating significant spatial restructuring of regional ecosystem service functions. The landscape ecological risk exhibits a pattern of “medium risk dominance with high-low polarization,” where high-risk areas overlap with urban expansion zones, and low-risk areas are concentrated in ecological conservation zones. Quantitative analysis reveals that climatic factors (e.g., annual precipitation) dominate the risk patterns in water conservation core areas and ecological conservation zones, topographic factors (e.g., elevation) influence regional spatial differentiation, and socio-economic factors (e.g., nighttime light index) significantly affect agricultural production core areas. The findings elucidate the evolutionary patterns of ecosystem service functions and the mechanisms of risk formation in the Dabie Mountain region, providing a scientific basis and technical support for regional land use optimization, ecosystem function enhancement, and ecological security assurance. Full article

Accurately predicting the peak height of the F2 layer (hmF₂) is crucial for radio communications, satellite navigation, and space weather studies, yet traditional empirical models often lack precision. To address this, we developed a global hmF₂ prediction model using a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) neural network, based on COSMIC radio occultation observations from 2007 to 2023. Evaluated on independent test sets from 2014 and 2019, the MLP model achieved correlation coefficients of 0.877 and 0.853 with root mean square errors of 22.3 km and 19.1 km, respectively, significantly outperforming the machine learning approaches like XGBoost and Transformer. The model also demonstrated strong generalization on an independent validation set constructed from 2014 and 2019 GIRO data, with a correlation of 0.785 and RMSE of 26.1 km, surpassing NPHM, and XGBoost. SHAP interpretability analysis identified geographic latitude, cosine of latitude, solar F10.7 index, and annual/daily harmonic terms as the most influential physical features. Error analysis showed a mean prediction error of −3.2 km and a standard deviation of 21.8 km, with stable performance during quiet periods and larger errors primarily during disturbed conditions. This study provides a reliable tool for high-accuracy hmF₂ prediction and enhances the understanding of the physical mechanisms controlling its variability. Full article

Background/Objectives: Early-onset high myopia (eoHM), defined as high myopia manifesting before 10 years of age, is largely attributed to genetic defects. This study aimed to investigate the genetic underpinnings of eoHM in a cohort of Chinese patients. Methods: We recruited 64 Chinese patients with eoHM. Comprehensive clinical evaluations were performed, and whole exome sequencing (WES) was conducted to identify potential pathogenic variants. The genetic findings were analyzed and correlated with the clinical phenotypes. Results: A total of 64 unrelated Chinese patients with suspected early-onset high myopia were initially recruited. Following whole exome sequencing (WES) and variant annotation, final 37 patients with variants in known myopia-associated genes were included in the analytical cohort. The mean age of onset for the cohort was 5 years (IQR, 4–7), with a mean spherical equivalent refraction of −7 D (IQR, (−8)–(−6)). Genetic analysis revealed variants in 28 known myopia-associated genes. We identified pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in 11 of the 37 patients (29.7%, 95%CI: 0.1737–0.4590), while the overall diagnostic yield was 17.2% (11/64, 95%CI: 0.0970–0.2839) in initial 64 recruited patients. These genes included seven well-established eoHM-related genes, such as ARR3, CACNA1F, P4HA2, TRPM1, COL11A1, COL2A1, and PAX6. Additionally, variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in seven other candidate genes were detected in patients with eoHM. Conclusions: Our findings expand the genetic spectrum of eoHM and reinforce the critical role of genetic testing in its etiological diagnosis and clinical management. Observed patterns of genotype–phenotype associations are descriptive and should be considered hypothesis-generating, requiring validation in larger cohorts. Additionally, we identify several candidate genes that may serve as prospective biomarkers, though these findings require validation in larger cohorts and functional studies. Full article

This study investigated the enhancement mechanisms and optimal mix proportion of basalt fiber (BF) in concrete for ship lock galleries. It focused on improving crack resistance, freeze–thaw resistance, impermeability, and abrasion–erosion resistance under complex hydraulic environments. Single-factor tests first determined the reasonable parameter ranges, which were subsequently used in a three-factor, four-level orthogonal experiment to analyze the effects of the water-to-binder ratio, fiber content, and fiber length on concrete’s mechanical properties. Range analysis of the orthogonal experiment indicated that the water-to-binder ratio was the most dominant factor (R = 57.4), followed by fiber content. Based on this, further durability tests were conducted, including ring restraint cracking, impermeability, freeze–thaw resistance, and abrasion–erosion resistance. Multi-objective optimization was performed using full factorial experiments and a comprehensive performance evaluation system. The final optimal mix proportion was determined as: a water-to-binder ratio of 0.35, a fiber content of 0.2%, and a fiber length of 12 mm. With this mix, the concrete’s ring cracking time was extended by 69.9%, the relative dynamic elastic modulus retention reached 73.0% after 100 freeze–thaw cycles, the relative permeability coefficient was 1.04 × 10⁻⁶ cm/h, and the abrasion–erosion resistance strength increased to 7.05 h·m²/kg, which achieved an optimal synergy among the mechanical properties, key durability indicators, and their workability. Mechanism analysis revealed that BF formed a three-dimensional, randomly distributed fiber network that comprehensively enhanced concrete performance through multi-scale mechanisms, including bridging, pore refinement, and energy dissipation. This research has provided systematic experimental evidence and mix proportion support for the durability design and engineering application of BF concrete in ship lock galleries. Full article

The heavy metal pollution linked to extractive activities has attracted broad public attention. To examine the current state of heavy metal pollution in river sediments around iron tailing zones, this study was carried out to evaluate the distribution features, potential sources, and environmental hazards of heavy metals (HMs, Cr, Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, As, and Hg) in the surface sediments of rivers in the Xiangshan area of Ma’anshan City. Results indicated that, except for Cr, the mean heavy metal concentrations exceeded the soil background levels in Anhui’s Huaihe River Basin. Variability in metal concentrations among the sediments was moderate, exhibiting an uneven spatial distribution. Significant positive correlations were detected between various HMs in the sediments, suggesting a common pollution source. Source analysis findings revealed that the HMs primarily originate from agricultural fertilization, mining, and smelting activities. Evaluation results from both the single-factor pollution index and the Nemerow comprehensive index indicated that the upstream section of the Caishi River is severely polluted by HMs. The potential ecological risk index evaluation results demonstrated that 85% of sediment samples from sampling points achieved a high comprehensive potential ecological risk level for HMs, with Cd, Cu, and Hg identified as the key contributors. The human health risk assessment demonstrated that both adults and children are subjected to carcinogenic risks from heavy metal exposure, with children exhibiting a higher risk level. This study offers valuable insights into managing heavy metal contamination in river sediments adjacent to iron tailings regions. Full article

Donor human milk (DHM) provided by human milk banks is considered the optimal feeding alternative to mother’s own milk for premature or medically compromised infants. Before distribution, DHM is subjected to Holder pasteurization (HoP) by milk banks to eliminate potential pathogens. In this study, FT-IR, GC and GC-MS were applied to characterize changes in the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and lipid components of human milk (HM) samples that were treated by HoP. FT-IR analysis revealed changes in specific band regions, indicating modifications to triglycerides and fatty acid (FA) organization and possible disruption of the milk fat globule membrane. There was also an increase in ester groups, suggesting that HoP increases lipid oxidation. GC analysis showed a reduction in long-chain FAs, including certain omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs). GC-MS analysis showed that HoP-treated samples contained higher levels of alkanes, aldehydes, aromatics and ketones than raw HM. Conversely, other compounds, including furans, and alkynes, were found exclusively in pasteurized HM. These results show that HoP affects the lipid and VOC components of HM, highlighting the need for research into alternative pathogen elimination strategies in human milk bank practices. Full article

Soil respiration (Rs) plays a pivotal role in carbon cycling within semi-arid ecosystems. In our millet field experiment, we measured Rs, autotrophic respiration (Ra), heterotrophic respiration (Rh), water consumption (ET), yield (Y), water use efficiency (WUE), and key soil environmental properties to examine the effects of supplemental irrigation and selenium application on Rs dynamics and to clarify the controlling factors. The experiment was conducted from 2023 to 2024 with four treatments and three replicates per treatment each year. These treatments comprised conventional rainfed (CK), supplemental irrigation (SI, 50 mm), rainfed with Se addition (CS, 67.84 g·hm⁻²), and supplemental irrigation with Se addition (SIS). SI increased CO₂ emissions in the millet field, whereas selenium application (CS) suppressed them. Ra was the dominant component of Rs and was 1.03–4.01 times greater than Rh. SI and CS significantly affected cumulative CO₂ emissions through Ra (p < 0.05), whereas their effects on Rh were minor. The CS treatment resulted in the lowest cumulative CO₂ emissions at 4233 and 4009 g·m⁻² in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Diurnal variation patterns of Rs, Ra, and Rh differed across millet growth stages. Both supplemental irrigation and selenium application improved soil water retention, soil enzyme activity, and soil organic matter (SOM), and moderated soil temperature. Classification and Regression Tree (CART) algorithm analysis revealed that Ra was primarily driven by soil temperature, with a feature weight of 86.95% determined by CART based on machine learning, whereas Rh was mainly influenced by soil enzyme activity, with a feature weight of 76.11%. The CS treatment enhanced production while promoting emission mitigation. The combined SIS treatment achieved the highest WUE and maintained a lower Rs than SI. These findings suggest an environmentally sustainable management strategy for millet production in semi-arid regions. However, due to the limited number of parcels in this study, further field-scale validation and additional experimental research involving multiple levels of supplemental irrigation and Se addition are necessary. Full article

Under the background of a supply gap expansion for high-quality forage grass in China and the high degree of dependence on foreign countries, it is necessary to clarify the best feeding and harvesting period for Cichorium intybus in the temperate continental monsoon climate zone of Northern China. To achieve this goal, this study systematically explored the agronomic traits and nutritional quality of Cichorium intybus during the nutritional period (June–July), flowering period (July–August), and fruiting period (August–September) in the Hohhot experimental base. We measured agronomic indexes, such as the plant height and basal stem, and nutrients, such as the dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP), and calculated the total digestible nutrients (TDN) and other feeding value indexes. The results showed that the plant height of Cichorium intybus increased from 54.60 cm in the vegetative stage to 204.10 cm in the fruiting stage, and the fresh grass yield increased from 8775.045 kg/hm² in the vegetative stage to 19,035.09 kg/hm² in the fruiting stage. The DM content of the stems and leaves was the lowest (stem: 8.73%; leaf: 14.04%), but the CP (leaf: 20.32%) and crude fat (EE, leaf: 5.02%) contents were the highest. The TDN was 66.78%, the relative feed value (RFV) was 255.61, the comprehensive membership function value was 0.54 for the stems and 0.60 for the leaves, and the feeding value was the best. WSC accumulation was significant during the flowering stage; the fiber content of the DM (stem: 20.52%; leaf: 20.31%) and the acid detergent fiber (ADF, stem: 42.43%) were the highest during this stage; and the CP decreased to 10.97%. A correlation analysis showed that the plant height and stem diameter were significantly positively correlated with the yield and fiber accumulation. This study confirmed that the nutritional period was the best harvest period for obtaining high-protein and high-digestibility forage, and the fruiting period was suitable for processing hay or silage. These results provide a scientific basis for the large-scale feed development of Cichorium intybus. Full article

This study investigated the combined effects of leaching agents and iron distribution on the migration behavior of pollutants in municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWI-BA). A column leaching experiment was designed where the control group (CK) employed deionized water with uniformly distributed iron. This baseline was systematically compared against treatment groups involving two leaching agents (Na₂CO₃, Na₂SO₄) and three iron distribution scenarios (Top, Bottom, and Removal). Compared to the CK, the introduction of Na₂CO₃ significantly intensified pollutant mobilization: the abundance of microplastics (MPs) increased by 49.33%, chloride leaching rose by 189.99%, and heavy metal (HM) concentrations (Cu, Cr, Pb, As) surged by 2.0–40.6 times. Furthermore, iron distribution played a critical regulatory role; specifically, manipulating iron placement further elevated MP abundance by 80.2% and chloride leaching by 191.03%. Morphological analysis indicated that MPs primarily existed as transparent or yellow particles, films, and fibers, characteristics that remained stable across treatments. Crucially, these findings offer engineering insights for real-world scenarios: retaining a bottom iron-rich layer during stockpiling can act as a reactive barrier to intercept pollutants, whereas carbonate-rich landfill environments require pH-buffering to mitigate MP co-migration. This study provides a theoretical basis for optimizing pretreatment processes (e.g., coordinated washing and magnetic separation) to ensure the safe resource recovery of BA. Full article

Safe operation of aging dam infrastructure requires regular updates to design flood estimates and spillway operating rules. This paper presents a semi-automated methodology for updating design floods for return periods of 10 to 10,000 years, utilizing a suite of open-source software tools. The framework was applied to the El Caracol, Infiernillo, and Villita dams within the Balsas River hydroelectric system in Mexico. The methodology is based on the Engineering Institute of National Autonomous University of Mexico (IIUNAM) procedure, incorporating frequency analysis of daily mean flows and the generation of design hydrographs using the AX and IIHIDRODIS programs. Flood routing was subsequently performed under various operational policies using the Trate, HEC-HMS, and Traven programs to develop safe and effective strategies. Key recommendations include: for El Caracol dam, a staggered discharge policy for floods exceeding a 50-year return period (Tr); for Infiernillo dam, limiting discharges to 6000 m³/s during frequent floods (Tr < 100 years) and up to 12,000 m³/s for extreme events; and for La Villita dam, operating at 6000 m³/s, potentially increasing to 10,000 m³/s under extreme conditions while respecting downstream channel capacity. The proposed sequential automation markedly reduces processing times, in particular during the sequence involved in constructing a design flood. Previously, this task required approximately one or two days; it can now be completed in just a few minutes, demonstrating a significant advancement in the state of knowledge for studies on dam safety reassessment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Human milk (HM) is recognized as the optimal source of infant nutrition, particularly during the first six months of life. While its nutritional aspects and bioactive components are well studied, the HM metabolome remains less understood, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study utilized targeted metabolomics for HM profiling and investigated associations of the HM metabolome with maternal and infant characteristics. Methods: In total, 267 HM samples and demographic data from mothers participating in the Maternal and environmental Impact assessment on Neurodevelopment in Early childhood years (MINE) study were collected during enrolment (up to 6-months postpartum) and analyzed using the MxP^® Quant 500 targeted metabolomics kit from Biocrates. Results: A total of 440 metabolites were quantified, mostly lipids such as triglycerides (59.73%), phosphatidylcholines (14.25%), and diglycerides (8.49%), and small molecules including amino acids (26.67%), amino acid-related compounds (21.33%), hexosylceramides (17.33%), and fatty acids (14.67%). Maternal age was positively correlated with a wide range of metabolites, mainly cholesteryl esters, sphingomyelins, triglycerides, and acylcarnitines, while child age was associated with metabolites belonging to acylcarnitine, phosphatidyl-choline, ceramide, diacylglycerol, sphingomyelin, and triglyceride classes. Child’s gender was associated with metabolites, including ceramides, phosphatidylcholines, and sphingomyelins. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the metabolites were significantly enriched in valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis; arginine biosynthesis; phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; and glutathione metabolism; however, these reflect annotation-based clustering rather than evidence of active metabolic processes in HM. Conclusions: The HM metabolome varies with maternal and infant characteristics, particularly infant age, reflecting cross-sectional differences in milk composition among mother–infant dyads. Enrichment of metabolites annotated to amino acid and antioxidant-related pathways highlights coordinated representation of nutritionally relevant compounds. These findings provide new insight into the factors shaping HM composition in a low- and middle-income populations. Full article

This study evaluates, through a comparative statistical analysis, the predictive performance of empirical equations for estimating peak discharge during earthen pond failures, using a curated dataset of 78 reliable historical failure cases covering the documented period of available records, selected from an initial international database of 1893 cases. The analysis focuses on reservoirs with storage volumes below 6 hm³, a range that remains insufficiently addressed by existing breach-outflow models despite its importance for hydraulic, mining, and agricultural infrastructures. The procedure established a key comparative evaluation between equations to define the fit volume intervals. The results indicate that predictive uncertainty and error dispersion increase significantly as reservoir volume decreases, with a critical high-variability interval identified between 3.5 and 6 hm³ for both overtopping and piping failure mechanisms. A key finding is that predictive performance is strongly dependent on stored volume segmentation, as no single empirical formulation dominates the entire volume range; instead, 10 of 63 different equations achieve optimal accuracy within 5 specific storage intervals considering the RMSE, MAD and MAE error values. These findings emphasize the necessity of volume-dependent equation selection, based on comparative performance evaluation, and the development of specialized predictive models for small earthen reservoirs to ensure reliable risk assessment. Full article

Since 2022, global outbreaks of monkeypox virus (MPXV) have been repeatedly designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), underscoring the urgent need to elucidate the multidimensional mechanisms underlying viral evolution and transmission. Current understanding remains largely focused on genomic variation, while the critical role of epigenetic regulation has been considerably overlooked. To address this gap, this study integrates high-throughput evolutionary genomic analysis with whole-genome DNA methylation profiling. Using parallel Illumina and Nanopore sequencing platforms, we comprehensively characterized two clinically derived MPXV isolates collected locally. The results revealed that both isolates belonged to the C.1.1 ancestral lineage, diverging into distinct clades (E.3 and E.4, respectively, supporting the presence of at least two independent viral introduction events into the region, each followed by limited local transmission. They had accrued a considerable number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), with APOBEC3-associated substitutions constituting 84.8% and 77.6% of all observed mutations. Furthermore, both 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and N6-methyladenine (6mA) modifications were identified and found to be preferentially enriched within the inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) regions of MPXV genome in both viral strains; moreover, the E.4 lineage viral strain exhibits a markedly more intricate and compositionally diversified modification landscape, a pattern that indicates appreciable epigenetic heterogeneity among MPXV lineages. Our study furnishes a multi-omics framework that presents a systematic evolutionary feature of two clinical MPXV isolates and their genomic DNA 5hmC and 6mA modification topologies, and enhances our understanding of MPXV viral adaptation and diversification. Full article