Search Results (62)

Urban parks are an important component of public urban spaces, which directly impact the living experiences of residents and the urban image. High-quality urban parks are crucial for enhancing the well-being of residents. This study selected Fukuoka, Japan, as the study site. Five urban parks were chosen to evaluate landscape visual quality by using the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) method. The Semantic Differential (SD) method was used to get sample subjective landscape features. Meanwhile, sample objective landscape features were obtained by using semantic segmentation techniques in deep learning and combined with spatial analysis to understand their distribution. A regression model was established, which used the SBE values as the dependent variable and subjective landscape features as the independent variables to analyze the relationship between urban park landscape visual quality and subjective landscape features. The regression analysis revealed that sense of layering, harmony, interestingness, sense of order, and vitality were the core factors influencing visual quality. All five features had a significant positive impact on landscape visual quality. The sense of order was the most influential factor, which would be the key to enhancing the landscape perception experience. Moreover, the XGBoost model and SHAP value from machine learning were used to reveal the nonlinear relationships and significant threshold effects between urban park visual quality and five objective landscape features: openness, greenness, enclosure, vegetation diversity, and Shannon–Wiener diversity index. This study showed that when openness exceeded 0.27, the positive effect was significant. The optimal threshold for the greenness was 0.38. Vegetation diversity and enclosure had to be below 0.82 and 0.58, respectively, to have a positive impact. Meanwhile, the positive influence of the Shannon–Wiener diversity index reached its maximum at a value of 1.37. This study not only establishes a systematic method for diagnosing landscape problems and evaluating landscape visual quality but also provides both theoretical support and practical guidance for urban park landscape optimization. Full article

Flowering street trees are important carriers of urban landscapes and ecological functions, as well as a significant boost to the construction of “Shanghai Flower City”. Most existing studies focus on the ornamental value or single ecological benefits, and there are insufficient systematic evaluations of the landscape–ecology synergistic effect, especially as there are few quantitative studies on the landscape value during the flowering period and long-term ecological benefits. Scientific assessment of multiple benefits is of great significance for optimizing tree species allocation and enhancing the sustainability of road landscapes. Taking flowering street trees in Shanghai’s central urban area as a case study, this paper verifies the feasibility of using digital technology to evaluate their landscape and ecological benefits and explores ways to enhance these aspects. Landscape, ecological, and comprehensive benefits were quantitatively assessed using digital images, the i-Tree model, and the entropy-weighted method. Influencing factors for each aspect were also analyzed. The results showed the following: (1) Eleven species or cultivars of flowering street trees from six families and ten genera were identified, with the majority flowering in spring, fewer in summer and autumn, and none in winter. (2) The landscape benefits model was: Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) = −0.99 + 0.133 × Flowering branches+ 0.183 × Degree of flower display + 0.064 × Plant growth + 0.032 × Artistic conception + 0.091 × Visual harmony with surrounding elements. Melia azedarach L., Prunus × yedoensis ‘Somei-yoshino’, and Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. ranked highest in landscape benefits. (3) Catalpa bungei C. A. Mey., Koelreuteria bipinnata Franch., and Koelreuteria bipinnata ‘integrifoliola’ (Merr.) T.Chen had the highest plant height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and crown width among the studied trees, and ranked top in ecological benefits. (4) Koelreuteria bipinnata, Catalpa bungei, and Melia azedarach showed the best overall performance. The comprehensive benefits model was: Comprehensive Benefits = 0.6889 × Ecological benefits + 0.3111 × Landscape benefits. This study constructs a digital evaluation framework for flowering street trees, quantifies their landscape and ecological benefits, and provides optimization strategies for the selection and application of flowering trees in urban streets. Full article

Industrial wastewater contains complex pollutants, including toxic dyes, necessitating effective and sustainable remediation strategies. Conventional treatment methods often struggle to remove multiple dyes simultaneously, underscoring the need for innovative adsorbents. This study investigated a clay/carbon composite (SBE/C (500 °C)) derived from spent bleaching earth (SBE) via pyrolysis for the simultaneous removal of methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG) dyes. The pyrolysis process significantly enhanced the specific surface area of SBE, improving its adsorption capacity. Using the Box–Behnken design (BBD) and response surface methodology (RSM), we optimized key parameters (pH, contact time, and dosage) at 45 °C and an initial dye concentration of 20 mg/L. The developed quadratic model demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with experimental results closely aligning with predictions (R² = 0.9983 for MB, 0.9955 for MG), along with strong adjusted (R² = 0.9962 for MB, 0.9896 for MG) and predicted (R² = 0.9811 for MB, 0.9275 for MG) values. Under optimal conditions, the maximum adsorption capacities reached 27.77 mg/g for MB and 27.38 mg/g for MG. These findings highlight the potential of SBE/C (500 °C) as a sustainable and cost-effective adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of MB and MG from wastewater, offering a promising solution for environmental remediation. Full article

The industrial production of palm oil generates substantial amounts of Spent Bleaching Earth (SBE), a waste byproduct from the bleaching process. In Malaysia and Indonesia, SBE is typically landfilled, causing environmental risks such as greenhouse gas emissions and contamination. Wastewater from the rubber industry also contains harmful pollutants that require effective treatment. This study proposes a sustainable solution by converting SBE into carbon composites (CCs) for treating rubber industry wastewater. Characterization of CCs using XRD, BET, FESEM, and FTIR revealed its porous structure, high surface area, and functional groups, contributing to excellent adsorption properties. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) optimized treatment conditions, determining 90.56 min of contact time and 0.75 g of adsorbent weight as optimal for maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity removal. Quadratic models showed R² values of 0.8828 for COD removal and 0.8336 for turbidity reduction, with numerical optimization achieving 90.30% COD reduction and 49.02% turbidity removal. Verification experiments confirmed model reliability with minimal deviation (0.37%). These findings demonstrate the potential of SBE-derived CCs as an eco-friendly solution for environmental challenges in the palm oil and rubber industries. Full article

To meet the 2050 targets about climate change and decarbonization, accomplishing thermal comfort, Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems are key enabling technologies to move the Built Environment (BE) towards Smart Built Environment (SBE). The first contributions of this paper conceptualise SBE from its dynamic and adaptative perspectives, considering the human habitat, and enunciate SBE as a multidimensional approach through six ways of inhabiting: defensive, projective, scientific, thermodynamic, subjective, and complex. From these premises, to analyse the performance indicators that characterise these multidisciplinary ways of inhabiting, an IoT-driven methodology is proposed: to deploy a sensor infrastructure to acquire experimental measurements; analyse data to convert them into context-aware information; and make knowledge-based decisions. Thus, this work tackles the inefficiency and high energy consumption of public buildings with the challenge of balancing energy efficiency and user comfort in dynamic scenarios. As current systems lack real-time adaptability, this work integrates an IoT-driven approach to enhance energy management and reduce discrepancies between measured temperatures and normative thresholds. Following the energy efficiency directives, the obtained results contribute to the following: understanding the complexity of the SBE by analysing its thermal performance, quantifying the potential of energy saving, and estimating its economic impact. The derived conclusions show that IoT-driven solutions allow the generation of real-data-based models on which to enhance SBE knowledge, by increasing energy efficiency and guaranteeing user comfort while minimising environmental effects and economic impact. Full article

The optimization of pumping station inlet channels is a key research area for improving the operation efficiency, reducing the energy consumption, and enhancing the operation reliability of pumping stations. For the elbow inlet channel of the Majinggang Pumping Station project, based on the Stress-Blended Eddy Simulation (SBES) turbulence model and entropy generation theory, an optimization design plan is proposed by altering the inclination angle of the flow channel base plate, the length of the transitional arc segment, and the length of the curved segment. Various schemes were analyzed and comprehensively compared in terms of the hydraulic loss, the velocity-weighted average angle, and the axial-velocity distribution uniformity of the channel. The results indicate that optimal hydraulic performance is achieved when the inclination angle of the base plate is between 8° and 10°. In a reasonable range of values, appropriately increasing the length of the transitional arc and reducing the section width (throat width) can improve the hydraulic performance of the inlet channel. The optimal model obtained achieved an impressive velocity-weighted average angle of 89.25°, along with an axial-velocity distribution uniformity of 97.5%. Its excellent hydraulic performance not only meets the design requirements of the pumping station in terms of functionality but also takes into account economic efficiency, and it serves as a valuable reference for similar projects, contributing to the more refined and intelligent development of the optimization of pumping station inlet flow channels. Full article

CTD profilers are used as reference instruments to qualify temperature and salinity data. Their metrological specifications can be controlled in a calibration bath, and calibration coefficients can be applied to correct the linearity of sensors and the trueness of measured data with a given uncertainty. However, in ocean areas with thermal gradients, the uncertainty of the measured data is questionable due to the thermal inertia of sensors and the movements of the CTD in relation to the roll or pitch of the boat. In order to evaluate these measurement uncertainties and in order to be able to use the upcast profiles, a double C–T sensor SBE 9 profiler was fixed under a carousel water sampler, the second C–T couple being at the top of the carousel frame. This configuration allows the evaluation of the temperature measurement deviations of recorded profiles. In order to quantify the different sources of instrumental uncertainties, the temperature signal has been modelled accounting for the movements induced by the boat. The result allows one to quantify what can be called the representativeness of CTD’s temperature measurements. This notion is very useful in the data assimilation process. A table quantifying the various sources of uncertainty has been created from profiles obtained during four offshore campaigns. In the future, it could be used to find the representativeness of similar profiles obtained with a single pair of sensors. Ship-based CTD profiles are generally considered as perfect or without uncertainty in data assimilation and in the qualification per comparison of other instruments (XBT, Argo profiles, etc.). Our findings imply that this hypothesis will have to be reconsidered. Full article

Accurate pressure measurement is crucial for understanding ocean dynamics in marine research. However, pressure sensors based on strain measurement principles are significantly affected by temperature variations, impacting the accuracy of depth measurements. This study investigates the SBE37-SM sensor and presents an improved calibration method based on a constant-pressure, variable-temperature scheme that effectively addresses temperature-induced deviations in pressure measurement. Experiments were conducted across a pressure range of 2000 dbar to 6000 dbar and a temperature range of 2 °C to 35 °C, establishing a comprehensive pressure–temperature calibration grid. The results show that, at a pressure of 6000 dbar, temperature-induced variations in readings for brand new SBE37-SM sensors can reach up to 9 dbar, while, for used sensors, they exceed 12 dbar, following a U-shaped trend. After applying a polynomial regression model for calibration, these variations were reduced to within ±0.5 dbar, significantly reducing the measurement uncertainty of the sensors in complex marine environments. This method underscores the necessity of further optimizing the CTD system’s temperature compensation mechanism during calibration and highlights the importance of regular calibration to minimize measurement uncertainty. Full article

This technical note aims to present a method for developing a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of the coastal zone based on topobathymetric data from remote sensors. This research was conducted in the waterbody adjacent to the Vistula Śmiała River mouth in Gdańsk, which is characterised by dynamic changes in its seabed topography. Bathymetric and topographic measurements were conducted using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and two hydrographic methods (a Single-Beam Echo Sounder (SBES) and a manual survey using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) receiver). The result of this research was the development of a topobathymetric chart based on data recorded by the above-mentioned sensors. It should be emphasised that bathymetric data for the shallow waterbody (less than 1 m deep) were obtained based on high-resolution photos taken by a UAV. They were processed using the “Depth Prediction” plug-in based on the Support Vector Regression (SVR) algorithm, which was implemented in the QGIS software as part of the INNOBAT project. This plug-in allowed us to generate a dense cloud of depth points for a shallow waterbody. Research has shown that the developed DTM of the coastal zone based on topobathymetric data from remote sensors is characterised by high accuracy of 0.248 m (p = 0.95) and high coverage of the seabed with measurements. Based on the research conducted, it should be concluded that the proposed method for developing a DTM of the coastal zone based on topobathymetric data from remote sensors allows the accuracy requirements provided in the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Special Order (depth error ≤ 0.25 m (p = 0.95)) to be met in shallow waterbodies. Full article

Staphylea bumalda is a rare medicine and edible shrub native to the temperate regions of Asia, possessing significant medicinal potential. In this study, the components of S. bumalda tender leaves and buds extract (SBE) were analyzed and identified by HPLC and LC/MS method, and the safety of SBE was evaluated through mouse acute toxicity models. The protective effects of SBE on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice were investigated in terms of inflammatory factor levels, oxidative stress, and gut microorganisms. Results showed that hyperoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, isorhoifolin, and rutin were the main components of the extract, and SBE demonstrated good safety in experimental mice. SBE could alleviate weight losing, disease activity index (DAI) raising, and colon shortening in mice. Pathological section results showed that the inflammatory cell infiltration decreased significantly, and the number of goblet cells increased significantly in the SBE group. After SBE treatment, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in serum were significantly decreased, and the levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide (NO) in colon tissues were significantly decreased. SBE inhibited gut inflammation by increasing Lactobacillus. In summary, SBE played a therapeutic role in UC mice by relieving colon injury, reducing inflammatory factor levels, and maintaining gut flora homeostasis. SBE is expected to become an auxiliary means to participate in the prevention and treatment of UC. Full article

Burkholderia (sensu lato) is a diverse group of β-Proteobacteria that exists worldwide in various environments. The SBE clade of this group was thought to be mutualistic with stinkbugs. Riptortus–Burkholderia was suggested as an ideal model system for studying insect–microbe symbiosis. To explore the strain-level diversity of Burkholderia at the individual and population levels of Riptortus stinkbugs (Hemiptera: Alydidae), and to uncover the factors affecting the Burkholderia community, large-scale sampling of two Riptortus species and deep sequencing data (16S amplicon) were used in the present study. Our results showed that: (1) the proportions of facultative symbiotic bacteria Burkholderia were very high, with an average proportion of 87.1% in the samples; (2) only six out of 1373 Burkholderia amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) did not belong to the SBE clade, accounting for only 0.03% of Burkholderia; (3) a relatively small number of Burkholderia ASVs had a large number of sequences, with 22, 54, and 107 ASVs accounting for more than 1.0%, 0.1%, and 0.01% of the total Burkholderia sequences, respectively; (4) multiple Burkholderia ASVs were present in most Riptortus individuals, but there was one dominant or two codominant ASVs, and codominance was more likely to occur when the genetic distance between the two codominant ASVs was small; and (5) the beta diversity of Burkholderia was significantly different between the two host species (PerMANOVA: both Jaccard and Bray–Curtis, p < 0.001) and among localities (PerMANOVA: both Jaccard and Bray–Curtis, p < 0.001). Two-way PerMANOVA also indicated that both the host (Bray–Curtis, p = 0.020; Jaccard, p = 0.001) and geographical location (Bray–Curtis, p = 0.041; Jaccard, p = 0.045) influence Burkholderia communities; furthermore, Mantel tests showed that the Burkholderia communities were significantly correlated with the geographical distance of sample locations (R = 0.056, p = 0.001). Together, our findings demonstrate the fine-scale diversity of Burkholderia symbionts and suggest a region- and host-dependent pattern of Burkholderia in Riptortus stinkbugs. Full article

This study is structured to address the problem of mapping the bottom of shallow and ultra-shallow inland water bodies using high-resolution satellite imagery. These environments, with their diverse distribution of optically relevant components, pose a challenge to traditional mapping methods. The study was conducted on several research issues, each focusing on a specific aspect of the SDB, related to the selection of spectral bands and regression models, regression models creation, evaluation of the influence of the number and spatial distribution of reference soundings, and assessment of the quality of the bathymetric surface, with a focus on microtopography. The study utilized basic empirical techniques, incorporating high-precision reference data acquired via an unmanned surface vessel (USV) integrated with a single-beam echosounder (SBES), and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver measurements. The performed investigation allowed the optimization of a methodology for bathymetry acquisition of such areas by identifying the impact of individual processing components. The first results indicated the usefulness of the proposed approach, which can be confirmed by the values of the obtained RMS errors of elaborated bathymetric surfaces in the range of up to several centimeters in some study cases. The work also points to the problematic nature of this type of study, which can contribute to further research into the application of remote sensing techniques for bathymetry, especially during acquisition in optically complex waters. Full article

This investigation delves into the waterfront plant landscapes of traditional villages in Western Hunan, China, aiming to bolster sustainable ecological resource management, amplify ecological culture, and ameliorate environmental standards. Furthermore, it endeavors to furnish a theoretical scaffold for the meticulous construction and assessment of these landscapes. This study has illustrated the waterfront botanical landscapes of 32 traditional hamlets within the Xiangxi region, integrating prior research on the waterfront botanical regression model based on the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) method. It established and investigated fifteen landscape factors pivotal to the aesthetic valorization of these village waterfronts. The study concocted a beauty quality evaluation model, unearthing a significant correlation (p < 0.01) across evaluations by students majoring in landscape architecture, expert landscape architects, and laypersons, thus underscoring a consensus in aesthetic judgments. A noteworthy correlation between the beauty value (Z-value) and the entropy weight value was elucidated through the equation EWM = −0.106 + 0.425ZSBE, showcasing the landscape quality’s variance among the studied villages. The formulated evaluation model accentuates the significance of seasonal variation, scale affinity, and a rich hierarchical structure. Full article

Isoamyl 4-methoxycinnamate (IMC) is widely used in various fields because of its exceptional UV-filter properties. However, due to its cytotoxicity and anti-microbial degradability, the potential eco-environmental toxicity of IMC has become a focus of attention. In this study, we propose a host–guest supramolecule approach to enhance the functionality of IMC, resulting in a more environmentally friendly and high-performance materials. Sulfobutyl-β-cyclodextrin sodium salt (SBE-β-CD) was used as the host molecule. IMC-SBE-β-CD supramolecular substances were prepared through the “saturated solution method”, and their properties and biosecurity were evaluated. Meanwhile, we conducted the AOS tree evaluation system that surpasses existing evaluation approaches based on apoptosis, oxidative stress system, and signaling pathways to investigate the toxicological mechanisms of IMC-SBE-β-CD within human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells as model organisms. The AOS tree evaluation system aims to offer the comprehensive analysis of the cytotoxic effects of IMC-SBE-β-CD. Our findings showed that IMC-SBE-β-CD had an encapsulation rate of 84.45% and optimal stability at 30 °C. Further, IMC-SBE-β-CD promoted cell growth and reproduction without compromising the integrity of mitochondria and nucleus or disrupting oxidative stress and apoptosis-related pathways. Compared to IMC, IMC-SBE-β-CD is biologically safe and has improved water solubility with the UV absorption property maintained. Our study provides the foundation for the encapsulation of hydrophobic, low-toxicity organic compounds using cyclodextrins and offers valuable insights for future research in this field. Full article

This paper conducts a scientific assessment of aesthetic quality to provide intuitive and scientific planning strategies for national park construction. Focusing on Qianjiangyuan National Park, the study used the scenic beauty evaluation (SBE) method to subjectively assess landscape photos from 16 sample sites. Objective eye movement indicators describing visual behavior were also analyzed. A national park landscape visual quality assessment model was derived through multiple linear regressions correlating subjective evaluations with objective indicators. Spatial technologies like ArcGIS were used to analyze the visual quality and its spatial distribution. Key findings include (1) subjective evaluations showed higher SBE scores for wetland landscapes, followed by recreational, village, and forest landscapes, (2) eye movement behavior varied across landscape types, with the forest landscape having the shortest first fixation time and the lowest saccade frequency, while recreational landscapes had the lowest average saccade speed, (3) strong correlations were found between SBE and indicators such as average fixation time and saccade frequency, with fixation duration ratio being the leading factor influencing visual aesthetic quality, and (4) visual aesthetic quality was highest in the north and south areas of the park, with significant differences between sample sites in these regions compared to the central area. Among different functional zones, the ecological protection area had the highest quality, while the Suzhuang management area excelled in aesthetic quality compared to the Hetian management area. Full article