Search Results (322)

Background/Objectives: Previous studies have suggested that lifestyle intervention (LSI) therapies involving diet and exercise can modulate DNA methylation; however, whether this occurs in severely obese hypogonadal men undergoing weight loss from diet and exercise remains unclear. Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of weight loss from diet and exercise on global DNA methylation as well as on the mRNA expression of specific demethylation enzymes, DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B—in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and DNA methylation markers in DNA of severely obese hypogonadal men. This is a secondary analysis of samples of severely obese (body mass index of ≥35 kg/m²) hypogonadal men undergoing weight loss from diet and exercise in addition to an aromatase inhibitor (anastrozole) or placebo for a total of 12 months. Results: LSI therapy significantly reduced global DNA methylation and 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) levels, decreased DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B (p < 0.05) mRNA levels and markedly decreased CEBPα, FTO, and PPARγ mRNA expression. The reduction in global methylation was independent of aromatase inhibitor use. Conclusions: In summary, our findings suggest that LSI induces epigenetic modifications in leukocytes, possibly through the regulation of DNMT gene expression. Future studies are warranted to clarify the mechanistic pathways linking lifestyle-induced epigenetic alterations to metabolic health outcomes. Full article

Against the backdrop of global warming and the urgent demand for sustainable development, blue–green spaces (BGSs) play a vital role in carbon reduction and sequestration, yet the multi-scale spatial mechanisms by which blue–green space patterns (BGSPs) regulate carbon storage (CS) remain unclear. Taking the Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area as the study area, this research clarifies the BGSP-CS correlations at both class and landscape levels and quantifies their spatial interaction mechanisms, providing scientific support for integrated BGS planning that aligns with sustainable development objectives. Using the InVEST model coupled with regional carbon density correction, the total CS of the area is estimated at 1112.27 × 10⁶ t. Spearman’s correlation analysis shows that at the class level, area–edge and shape complexity indicators (e.g., Landscape Shape Index, LSI: r = −0.427) are negatively correlated with CS, while connectivity indicators exert no significant effect. At the landscape level, Shannon’s Diversity Index (SHDI: r = −0.635) and area–edge indicators inhibit CS, whereas Shannon’s Evenness Index (SHEI: r = 0.602), Largest Patch Index (LPI: r = 0.618) and shape complexity indicators exert positive effects. A comparative analysis of three regression models reveals that the multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model outperforms the ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models, with R² values of 0.505 (class level) and 0.484 (landscape level). It effectively captures the “west–strong and east–weak” spatial heterogeneity of BGSP impacts on CS. This study identifies key BGSP indicators regulating CS and their spatial mechanisms, providing scientific support for integrated BGS planning, regional carbon sink enhancement, the achievement of “dual carbon” goals, and the promotion of sustainable development in metropolitan areas. Future research may optimize model parameters through field surveys and explore the coupling mechanism between BGSPs, land surface temperature and CS to better align BGS management with sustainable development agendas. Full article

Background and Objectives: Throughout the return-to-play process after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), clearance criteria and limb symmetry indices (LSI) play an important role in clinical decision-making by helping evaluate patient readiness and informing safe activity progressions, with the goal of reducing re-injury risk. How clearance criteria are implemented in research studies to evaluate patient readiness, specifically in force plate jumping studies, is currently unknown. This scoping review was a focused examination of clearance criteria and limb symmetry indices in studies performing force plate-based jumping assessments with ACLR patients. The research questions guiding this scoping review were as follows: (1) What clearance criteria are reported in studies involving primary ACLR patients who participate in jumping assessments on force plates? (2) What LSI are reported in force plate studies, and what level of symmetry is deemed acceptable to allow for safe participation of ACLR patients who participate in jumping assessments of force plates? Materials and Methods: Nine databases were searched on 7 or 8 September 2024 for three concepts: ACLR, force plates, and movement properties. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) primary ACLR patients at least 6 months post-surgery; (b) performing a countermovement or drop jump; (c) collecting at least one kinetic parameter using a force plate. Clearance criteria was operationally defined as a time from surgery boundary, functional or performance-based testing criteria, medical evaluation, or completion/participation in a rehabilitation program. Results: Thirty-five studies were included. Time from surgery was the most frequently reported clearance criteria (26/35; 74.3%), followed by medical evaluation (18/35; 51.4%), and completion of rehabilitation (10/35; 28.6%). Use of LSI as clearance criteria was limited (5/35; 14.3%). Minimum required LSI ranged from 85 to 90% in quadriceps strength and hop testing. Conclusions: Clearance criteria varied by jump type and post-surgical time frame when the participant was tested. Standardized rehabilitation was common prior to 2 years post-surgery, whereas medical clearance was common after 2 years post-surgery. Single leg jumps typically required 2–3 clearance criteria, whereas double leg jumps required 1–2 clearance criteria. Limb symmetry indices were used in combination with two other clearance criteria in studies with single-leg countermovement or drop jumps. Improvements in clearance criteria and adverse event reporting may help improve patient safety and interpretation of findings across studies. Full article

Self-incompatibility (SI) is a key reproductive mechanism in angiosperms that prevents self-fertilization and promotes genetic diversity while limiting breeding efficiency. Akebia trifoliata is a recently domesticated economic crop native to East Asia with medicinal, edible, and oil-producing value. However, its late-acting self-incompatibility (LSI) severely limits genetic improvement and commercial development. To investigate the molecular basis of LSI, we conducted comparative transcriptomic analyses of pistils at 48, 96, 144, 192, and 240 h after self- and cross-pollination, identifying 1552, 2954, 1302, 814, and 1978 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. DEGs were consistently enriched in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, plant hormone signal transduction, and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathways, with clear transcriptional differences before and after 96 h. Compared with cross-pollinated pistils, self-pollinated pistils showed restricted pollen tube spread, and genes related to pollen recognition and tube development showed differential expression at 48 and 96 h, indicating that LSI probably occurs within the pollen tube. Collectively, these results indicate that pistils of A. trifoliata exhibit distinct early responses to self- and cross-pollination, and that DEG-enriched pathways are similar to those involved in S-RNase-mediated SI. These results provide new insights into the molecular basis of LSI and suggest potential targets for overcoming the SI barrier. Full article

In the context of accelerating worldwide urbanization and ecosystem decline, deciphering the interactions between landscape patterns and habitat quality is essential for biodiversity preservation, particularly within ecologically sensitive zones like the Yellow River Basin. This research investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics, spatial linkages, and nonlinear relationships connecting landscape patterns and habitat quality across the basin. Utilizing land use datasets spanning 1980–2023, we combined the InVEST model, landscape pattern indices, spatial autocorrelation analysis, the XGBoost algorithm, and SHAP interpretability methods. The results show that: (1) Landscape patterns underwent a clear transition around 1995, shifting from regularization and connectivity toward fragmentation and heterogeneity, evidenced by increases in PD, LSI, and SHEI, alongside decreases in LPI and CONTAG. (2) Mean habitat quality progressively declined, exhibited a spatial distribution characterized by “higher in the west, lower in the east.” Low-quality habitat areas expanded from 2.12% to 3.76%, whereas high-quality areas decreased from 23.12% to 22.45%, with better habitats largely maintained in western headwaters and the Qinling Mountains. (3) Significant spatial correlations were observed: LPI positively correlated with habitat quality, while PD, LSI, SHEI, and CONTAG showed negative correlations. Two dominant spatial aggregations emerged—namely “high connectivity–high quality” in the west and “high fragmentation–low quality” in the east. (4) CONTAG was identified as the dominant factor influencing habitat quality, with all landscape indices exhibiting distinct threshold effects. The proposed framework, which integrates spatial statistics, machine learning, and interpretability methods, offers a novel approach for deciphering complex ecological processes. Moreover, the identified thresholds and zonal management strategies offer a scientific foundation for ecological conservation and spatial planning in the Yellow River Basin and other vulnerable river systems worldwide. Full article

Background/Objectives: Persistent strength deficits and psychological impairments may compromise return to sport (RTS) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). We investigate the relationship between thigh muscle isokinetic strength recovery at six months after ACLR and long-term psychological outcomes related to RTS in competitive male soccer players. Methods: Sixty male soccer players who underwent primary ACLR with bone–patellar tendon–bone autograft were retrospectively analyzed. Isokinetic testing of quadriceps and hamstrings was performed one week before surgery and six months post-surgery at 90°/s and 180°/s. Limb symmetry index (LSI) was calculated both pre- and post-operatively. At long-term follow-up (mean ≈ 4 years after RTS), athletes completed questionnaires assessing RTS status, ACL re-injuries, sport-related perceptions, and kinesiophobia using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK). Statistical analyses were conducted to explore associations between post-operative LSI and TSK scores and to compare psychological and neuromuscular outcomes between athletes with and without ACL re-injury. Results: Absolute quadriceps and hamstring peak torque values significantly increased from pre- to post-surgery, with quadriceps strength deficits persisting only in the operated limb. However, quadriceps LSI significantly decreased post-operatively, while hamstring LSI remained stable. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a weak positive association between post-operative quadriceps LSI at 90°/s and TSK scores (r = 0.34). Overall, RTS rate was 91.7%, but a second ACL injury occurred in 18.2% of athletes. No significant differences were observed between re-injured and non-re-injured athletes in TSK scores or post-operative LSI values at either angular velocity (all p > 0.29). High kinesiophobia (TSK ≥ 37) was present in 56.7% of the cohort at long-term follow-up. Conclusions: Despite significant strength gains, quadriceps limb symmetry worsened six months after ACLR, with deficits confined to the operated limb, suggesting persistent neuromuscular inhibition. These physical deficits coexist with long-term kinesiophobia despite high RTS rates. The weak associations between strength symmetry and psychological outcomes highlight the multifactorial nature of RTS and support the need for an integrated physical, psychological, and neuro-cognitive approach to rehabilitation and RTS decision-making. Full article

Heteroatom functionalization of graphene is an effective strategy for designing more sustainable lithium-ion battery electrodes, as it can tune both interfacial adhesion and the electronic features of the carbon lattice. In this work, we investigated the interfacial compatibility between three graphene sheets—pristine graphene, graphene doped with one nitrogen atom (Graphene–N), and graphene doped with one sulfur atom (Graphene–S)—and three lignocellulosic binders (carboxymethylcellulose (CMC); coniferyl alcohol (LcnA); and sinapyl alcohol (LsiA)) using density functional theory (DFT). Geometries were optimized using CAM-B3LYP and M06-2X in combination with the LANL2DZ basis set, while ωB97X-D/LANL2DZ was employed for dispersion-consistent single-point refinements. The computed adsorption energies indicate that all binder–surface combinations are thermodynamically favorable within the present finite-model framework (ΔE_int ≈ −22.6 to −31.1 kcal·mol⁻¹), with LSiA consistently showing the strongest stabilization across surfaces. Nitrogen doping produces a modest but systematic strengthening of adsorption relative to pristine graphene for all binders and is accompanied by electronic signatures consistent with localized donor/basic sites while preserving the delocalized π framework. In contrast, sulfur doping yields a more binder-dependent response: it maintains strong stabilization for LSiA but weakens LCnA relative to pristine/N-doped sheets, consistent with an S-induced local distortion/polarizability pattern that can alter optimal π–π registry depending on the adsorption geometry. A combined interpretation of adsorption energies, electronic descriptors (including ΔE_gap as a model-dependent HOMO–LUMO separation), and topological analyses (AIM, ELF, LOL, and MEP) supports that Graphene–N provides the best overall balance between electronic continuity and chemically active interfacial sites, whereas Graphene–S can enhance localized anchoring but introduces more heterogeneous, lone-pair–dominated domains that may partially perturb electronic connectivity. Full article

Background: The original Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST) is a simple assessment tool but does not account for individual differences in hand starting position and fails to provide information on limb asymmetries. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the test–retest reliability of a new single-arm CKCUEST as well as the reliability of the limb symmetry index (LSI). This version normalizes the test based on the participant’s arm length and allows for the assessment of limb symmetry since it is performed one arm at a time. Methods: Twelve healthy young adults provided both verbal and written consent to participate. Participants were excluded if they had sustained an injury in the past three months requiring medical attention and/or resulting in decreased activity for more than three days. Testing was conducted in the push-up position with participants’ thumbs placed parallel and at a distance equal to the length of their dominant arm (measured from the acromion to the tip of the middle finger), and feet positioned shoulder-width apart. Participants were instructed to keep the testing hand stable on the floor while the opposite hand reached across the body to touch the stationary hand and then return to the starting position marked with athletic tape. The goal was to complete as many touches as possible in 15 s, with each touch counted only if the participant touched the stationary hand, returned to the starting position, and maintained the shoulder-width stance. The average number of touches from the three trials was used for analysis. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC_(3,1)) were computed to determine test–retest reliability. Results: Test–retest reliability of the single-arm CKCUEST individual tests was good to excellent. The ICC_(3,1) was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.74–0.95) for all tests, 0.89 (95% CI: 0.66–0.96) for the dominant arm, and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.78–0.98) for the non-dominant arm. In contrast, the reliability of the Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) was questionable, showing substantial variability with an ICC_(3,1) of 0.53 (95% CI: −0.03–0.83) between Day 1 and Day 2, despite similar mean values (Day 1: 93.6 ± 8.46; Day 2: 94.8 ± 5.77). The Kappa coefficient suggested a substantial level of agreement for the direction of the asymmetry (preferred limb) (Kappa coefficient = 0.62). Conclusions: The new single-arm CKCUEST, which personalizes the hand starting position and measures limb symmetry, demonstrates high reliability among healthy young adults. Full article

Accurate prediction of the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI), an indicator of water’s scaling and corrosive potential, is vital for water treatment and infrastructure maintenance. In this study, five machine learning models (Ridge Regression, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, Deep Neural Network, and XGBoost) were applied to predict the LSI from physicochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Morava River basin (Serbia). Rigorous data preprocessing (outlier removal, missing data handling, z-score normalization) and feature selection were performed to ensure robust model training. Models were optimized via 10-fold cross-validation on a 70/30 train–test split. All models achieved high predictive accuracy, with ensemble methods outperforming others. XGBoost yielded the best performance (R² = 0.98; RMSE = 0.06), followed closely by Random Forest (R² = 0.95). The linear Ridge model showed the lowest (yet still strong) performance (R² = 0.90) and larger errors at extreme LSI values. Feature importance analysis consistently identified pH as the most influential predictor of the LSI, followed by alkalinity and calcium. Partial dependence plots confirmed that the models captured established nonlinear LSI behavior. The LSI rises steeply with increasing pH and moderately with mineral content. Overall, this comparative study demonstrates that modern machine learning models can predict the LSI accurately, providing interpretable insights through feature importance and dependence plots. These results underscore the potential of data-driven approaches to complement traditional water stability indices for proactive water quality management. Full article

Drastic cropland expansion and its internal structural changes have had an obvious impact on agricultural landscapes and ecosystem services. However, a prolonged investigation of this effect is still lacking in China’s grain-producing bases, such as Sanjiang Plain. To address this issue, half a century of study on the ‘land trajectory migration–landscape evolution–ecological effect,’ covering the period 1970–2020, was elucidated using the synergistic methodology of spatial analysis technology, the reclamation rate algorithm, the landscape indicator, and the newly established ecosystem service improvement model. Satellite observation results indicate that the cropland area exhibited a substantial expansion trend from 23,672.69 km² to 42,856.17 km² from 1970 to 2020, representing a net change of +19,183.48 km² and a huge growth rate of 81.04%, which led to an obvious improvement in the level of agricultural cultivation. Concurrently, the internal structure of the cropland underwent dramatic restructuring, with rice fields increasing from 6.46% to 53.54%, while upland fields decreased from 93.54% to 46.46%. In different regions, spatially heterogeneous improvements of 2.64–52.47% in agricultural cultivation levels across all cities were observed. From 1970 to 2020, the tracked cropland center of gravity trajectories exhibited a distinct biphasic pattern, initially shifting westward and then followed by a southward transition, accumulating a displacement of 19.39 km². As for the evolved agricultural landscapes, their integrity has improved (SHDI = −0.08%), accompanied by increased connectivity (CON = +8.82%) and patch edge integrity (LSI = −15.71%) but also by reduced fragmentation (PD = −48.14%). Another important discovery was that the evaluated ecosystem services continuously decreased from 2337.84 × 10⁸ CNY in 1970 to 1654.01 × 10⁸ CNY in 2020, a net loss of −683.84 × 10⁸ CNY and a huge loss rate of 33.65%, accompanied by a center–periphery gradient pattern whereby degradation propagated from the low-value central croplands to the high-value surrounding natural covers. These discoveries will play a significant role in guiding farmland structure reformation, landscape optimization, and ecosystem service improvement. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the human body; it is frequently ruptured during sports and other dynamic physical activities. The purpose of this study was to compare recovery patterns over time between injuries to the dominant (DMT) and non-dominant (NDMT) limbs, and to examine differences in the limb symmetry index (LSI) for the uninjured side. Methods: This study includes a retrospective analysis of individuals who completed a standard rehabilitation program for 12 months and had regular checkups every three months. The study sample comprised 17 patients with DMT injuries and 17 patients with NDMT injuries, all active male recreational participants who underwent surgical repair of an Achilles tendon rupture. Outcome measures included dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), calf circumference, plantarflexion strength, hop test performance, and the Y-Balance Test (YBT). Results: Both groups demonstrated continuous, progressive improvement in ROM, plantarflexion strength, hop test distance, and YBT scores, showing a significant main effect of time (p < 0.05). Although DMT showed greater strength than NDMT at 6 and 9 months, this difference was no longer significant at 12 months (p > 0.05). In all three YBT directions, the DMT group achieved greater reach distances than the NDMT group at 12 months (p < 0.05). At the final follow-up, both groups exceeded 90% LSI in ROM, calf circumference, plantarflexion strength, and hop performance (p < 0.05). However, in the YBT, only the DMT group surpassed 90% LSI, whereas the NDMT group showed poorer recovery. Conclusions: ROM, calf circumference, and muscle strength ultimately showed no significant differences between groups, but dynamic balance recovery was superior in the DMT group. These findings suggest that clinicians and rehabilitation specialists should consider leg dominance when designing rehabilitation programs. Full article

Forests play a vital role in the global carbon cycle but face growing anthropogenic pressures, with climate change and forest fragmentation among the most critical. In West Africa, particularly in Ghana, the interaction between increasing aridity and forest fragmentation remains underexplored, despite its significance for forest biomass dynamics and carbon storage processes. This study examined how spatial variation in climatic aridity (Aridity Index, AI) affects above-ground biomass (AGB) in Ghana’s ecological zones, both directly and indirectly through forest fragmentation and biodiversity, using structural equation modeling (SEM) and generalized additive models (GAMs). Results from this study show that AGB declines along the aridity gradient, with humid zones supporting the highest biomass and semi-arid zones the lowest. The SEM analysis revealed that areas with a lower aridity index (drier conditions) had significantly lower AGB, indicating that arid conditions are associated with lower forest biomass. Fragmentation patterns align with this relationship, while biodiversity (as measured by species richness) showed weak associations, likely reflecting both ecological and data limitations. GAMs highlighted nonlinear fragmentation effects: mean patch area (AREA_MN) was the strongest predictor, showing a unimodal relationship with biomass, whereas number of patches (NP), edge density (ED), and landscape shape index (LSI) reduced AGB. Overall, these findings demonstrate that aridity and spatial configuration jointly control biomass, with fragmentation acting as a key mediator of this relationship. Dry and transitional forests emerge as particularly vulnerable, emphasizing the need for management strategies that maintain large, connected forest patches and integrate restoration into climate adaptation policies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Combat trauma involving large joints is associated with a high risk of thromboinflammatory complications. Early identification of laboratory markers for hypercoagulability is essential to optimise perioperative management. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of inflammation and haemostasis indicators in patients with combat-related joint trauma and to identify the most informative markers for preoperative risk assessment. Methods: A total of 29 patients with combat injuries to the hip, knee, elbow, or ankle joints were examined. Blood samples were taken 1–3 days prior to surgery and again on the first postoperative day. Parameters of coagulation (e.g., PT, INR, fibrinogen, D-dimer, soluble fibrin complexes, antithrombin III), fibrinolysis, and inflammation (e.g., CRP, haptoglobin, sialic acid, ESR, LSI, LII) were analysed and compared to those of 30 healthy controls. Statistical analysis included Student’s t-test and Pearson’s correlation. Results: At baseline, patients demonstrated significant increases in inflammatory markers (CRP 64.2 ± 7.3 mg/L, ↑738.9%; haptoglobin 3.25 ± 0.4 g/L, ↑164.3%; ESR 46.8 ± 5.2 mm/h, ↑313.8%) and procoagulant activity (D-dimer 1.42 ± 0.18 µg/mL, ↑136.6%; fibrinogen 6.12 ± 0.51 g/L, ↑102.4%; soluble fibrin complexes 38.7 ± 4.9 mg/L, ↑597.3%), together with a reduction in antithrombin III activity (63.5 ± 6.2%, ↓39.5%) and prolonged fibrinolysis time (increase by 197%). Postoperatively, these abnormalities intensified, indicating a sustained thromboinflammatory response. Strong correlations were found between inflammatory and haemostatic markers. Conclusions: Combat trauma of large joints is associated with preoperative thromboinflammatory dysregulation, which is exacerbated by surgery. Monitoring specific biochemical and haematological markers—such as CRP, fibrinogen, D-dimer, and soluble fibrin complexes—may support preoperative risk assessment and postoperative monitoring strategies for hypercoagulable states in this high-risk group. These findings lay the groundwork for future prospective studies aimed at developing stratified therapeutic protocols and predictive models for thromboinflammatory complications in orthopaedic trauma care. Full article

Conventional seed viability assessment methods are often destructive, time-consuming, and highly sensitive to environmental conditions, resulting in estimated annual global agricultural losses exceeding 12 billion USD, as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a non-destructive framework for evaluating the viability of multiple pea seed varieties—including Gancui-2, Jinwan No.6, Hongyun 211, Mawan No.1, and Wuxuwan No.2—using laser speckle imaging (LSI). A He–Ne laser combined with a CCD camera was employed to capture 512-frame dynamic speckle sequences from 3000 seeds. A weighted generalized difference (WGD) algorithm was developed to enhance feature extraction by emphasizing physiologically relevant temporal variations through frame weighting based on the global mean and standard deviation of inter-frame differences. The extracted features were classified using an improved Weighted Generalized Residual Network (ResNet-W), which integrates weighted average pooling and 1 × 1 convolution to enhance feature aggregation and classification efficiency. Experimental results demonstrated strong performance, achieving 91.32% accuracy, 90.78% precision, 92.04% recall, and a 91.38% F1-score. The proposed framework offers a cost-effective, high-accuracy, and fully non-destructive solution for seed viability assessment, with significant potential for real-time agricultural quality monitoring and intelligent seed sorting applications. Full article

Landscapes in semiarid regions are highly sensitive to climate change and anthropogenic activities, and their evolution directly influences ecosystem services and regional ecological security. Although previous research has examined land use changes, systematic quantitative analyses of long-term evolutionary trends and driving mechanisms, particularly the comprehensive relationships between key hydrological elements and landscape pattern evolution in water-scarce, semiarid watersheds, remain limited. To address the research gap in long-term, multifactor, and hydro–landscape integrated analysis, China’s Tuwei River watershed was selected as the study area in this study, and methods such as landscape pattern indices and gray relational analysis were employed to quantitatively reveal the spatiotemporal evolution of watershed landscape fragmentation from 1980 to 2020 and identify its dominant driving forces. The results revealed that (1) over the 40-year period, the land use structure of the watershed underwent significant restructuring, with developed land expanding by 1282%, cropland and bare land areas decreasing by 14.2% and 32.01%, respectively, and grassland and forestland areas increasing by 24.5% and 14.9%, respectively; (2) land-scape fragmentation continued to intensify, with the landscape fragmentation composite index (FCI) increasing by 37.6%, patch density (PD) continuously increasing, edge density (ED) and landscape shape index (LSI) increasing significantly, and landscape connectivity weakening; (3) natural and socioeconomic factors jointly drove landscape evolution, with temperature and mean annual flow contributing the most among natural factors and the urbanization rate and secondary industry output value serving as the core drivers among socioeconomic factors; and (4) the trend of landscape fragmentation was synchronized with changes in annual rainfall and runoff and exhibited a significant negative correlation with the groundwater level. In summary, through long-term, multifactor comprehensive analysis, the evolution characteristics and driving mechanisms of landscape patterns in the Tuwei River watershed were systematically revealed in this study. These findings not only deepen the understanding of landscape fragmentation processes under the dual pressures of climate change and anthropogenic activities but also provide scientific evidence for the sustainable management of landscapes and associated ecosystems in semiarid watersheds. Full article