Search Results (117)

Soil erosion on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau (YGP) has a significant impact on the water sources and ecological safety of Southeast Asia and South China. With the influence of climate change, this erosion has been altered, which will create uncertainty regarding soil erosion management and social development in China and Southeast Asia. However, existing research still lacks simulations of soil erosion in large-scale regions, as well as a systematic understanding of the spatiotemporal characteristics of future soil erosion under climate change. Therefore, a coupled model of the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) at the regional scale of the YGP is proposed in this study. By analyzing the erosion patterns in the YGP, this research determines the optimal future scenario and corresponding mitigation strategies, thereby offering a localized practical reference for soil erosion control in the YGP and its alignment with the UN SDGs. The results show the following: (i) Temporally, soil erosion on the YGP will improve in the future. The overall soil erosion moduli of the YGP decrease by 196.86, 367.03, and 391.72 t/(km²·a) under the scenarios of SSPs1-1.9, SSPs2-4.5, and SPPs5-8.5, respectively. (ii) Spatially, soil erosion in the southwestern and central-northern parts of the YGP will be significantly improved in the future. The soil erosion moduli of the karstic and non-karstic areas gradually become close to each other, with the difference in soil erosion moduli between them in SSPs1-1.9, SSPs2-4.5, and SSPs5-8.5 being reduced from 671.65 t/(km²·a) to 623.79, 592.21, and 611.92 t/(km²·a), respectively. (iii) Among the different SSP scenarios, the SSPs2-4.5 scenario aligns most closely with the principles of sustainable development, making it the most desirable pathway. To ensure the long-term effectiveness of soil erosion control under changing climate and socioeconomic conditions, future strategies should take the SSPs2-4.5 scenario as a core reference and implement resilient portfolios of mitigation measures. Full article

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are trace-level chemical and biological compounds detected in the environment, particularly in water, including personal care products, microplastics, nanoplastics, antibiotic resistance genes, etc., which have the potential to endanger ecosystems and human health. Forensic techniques, which are used to detect and trace the sources of ECs with specificity and accuracy, like gas and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, isotope ratio mass spectrometry, remote sensing, geographical information systems, and statistical and machine learning approaches are discussed in this study. The present analysis also outlines the types of emerging contaminants, along with their possible sources, including domestic and municipal wastewater, wastewater from healthcare institutions, urban runoff and stormwater, industrial and commercial discharges, effluents from agricultural and animal husbandry, and pollution from recreational activities in water. The review concludes by emphasizing the future need for real-time detection systems, integrated data analysis, and stronger regulatory frameworks to manage ECs more effectively. Full article

Avicennia germinans, a representative of the marine coastal mangrove ecosystem, vital in the Colombian Caribbean, harbors a unique microbial diversity that could contain microorganisms with the potential to promote plant growth of agricultural species such as maize. The objective of this research was to evaluate A. germinans endophytes at different sampling sites and in diverse plant organs in order to identify the growth-promoting role of the most sodium chloride-tolerant endophyte found. These were then inoculated in maize seeds under drought stress conditions simulated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) in vitro. To this end, samples of adult A. germinans plants were collected from four mangrove ecosystems in the Colombian Caribbean. Several isolates were able to tolerate up to 15% NaCl (w/v), produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), show proteolytic activity, and inhibit phytopathogenic fungi. The best-performing strain, C1T-KM1901-B, was genomically identified as Bacillus paralicheniformis and evaluated as a bioinoculant in maize seeds under PEG-induced drought stress. Inoculation with B. paralicheniformis significantly increased germination potential and germination index of drought-resistant seeds compared to non-inoculated controls under severe drought stress conditions (40% PEG). In addition, inoculated seedlings exhibited significantly higher roots and shoot fresh and dry biomass at moderate to severe drought stress levels (15% and 20% PEG). These results are position B. paralicheniformis C1T-KM1901-B, isolated from Avicennia germinans, as a promising bioinoculant to enhance maize establishment under drought conditions. Full article

Modernizing municipal roads requires rehabilitation strategies that ensure adequate structural performance while reducing environmental and economic burdens. Although cold in-place recycling with foamed bitumen (CIR-FB) has been widely investigated, integrated assessments combining mechanistic–empirical modeling with LCA and LCCA remain limited—particularly for municipal roads in Central and Eastern Europe, where reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) quality, climatic conditions and budget constraints differ from commonly studied regions. This study compares two reconstruction variants for a 1 km road section: a conventional design using virgin materials (V₁-N) and a recycling-based alternative (V2-Rc) incorporating RAP from the existing wearing and binder layers and reclaimed aggregate (RA) from the existing base. CIR-FB mixture testing (stiffness ≈ 5.25 GPa; foamed bitumen = 2.5%, cement = 2.0%) was integrated into mechanistic–empirical fatigue analysis, material-flow quantification, LCA and LCCA. The V₂-Rc variant achieved a 3–21-fold increase in fatigue life compared to V₁-N at equal thickness. Material demand decreased by approximately 27%, demolition waste by approximately 39%, and approximately 92% of the existing pavement was reused in situ. Transport work was reduced five-fold (veh-km) and more than six-fold (t-km). LCA showed a 15.9% reduction in CO₂-eq emissions, while LCCA indicated approximately 19% lower construction cost, with advantages remaining robust under ±20% sensitivity. The results demonstrate that CIR-FB, when supported by proper RAP/RA characterization, can substantially improve structural, environmental and economic performance in municipal road rehabilitation. Full article

Large-scale climatic oscillations (COs) modulate extreme climate events (ECEs) globally and can trigger the Indian summer monsoons and associated ECEs. In this study, we introduced a Time-dependent Intrinsic Correlation (TDIC) analysis to quantify teleconnections between five major COs—the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)—and multiple extreme climate indices (ECIs) over the southern Indian Peninsula. Complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) was employed to decompose COs and ECIs into intrinsic mode functions across varying timescales, enabling a dynamic TDIC assessment. The results revealed statistically significant correlations between COs and ECIs, with the strongest influences in low-frequency modes (>10 years). Distinct COs predominantly modulate specific ECIs (e.g., ENSO with monsoon rainfall extremes; AMO and PDO with temperature extremes). These findings advance the understanding of Indian climate system dynamics and support the development of improved ECE forecasting models. Full article

Background: Precise localization of acupuncture points (acupoints) is crucial for the clinical success of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM). Traditional methods that rely on visual inspection and palpation are subjective and prone to inter- and intra-observer differences, making standardization challenging. The progress of data-driven localization techniques is also limited by the scarcity of annotated datasets and inconsistent labeling quality. Objective: This study presents MetaAcuPoint, a synthetic dataset created to overcome these limitations by providing high-fidelity, anatomically consistent hand images for acupoint localization. Methods: MetaAcuPoint was generated using MetaHuman avatars within Unreal Engine, resulting in 900 RGB hand images. Anatomically aligned, bone-attached sockets were implemented for five diagnostically relevant hand acupoints, ensuring millimeter-level precision and spatial consistency across various hand poses. Dataset validity was assessed by training a high-resolution network (HRNet-W48) within the MMPose framework and testing its performance on real-world forearm images. Results: The synthetic-trained model achieved a mean distance error (MDE) of 5.67 ± 3.13 pixels, closely aligning with the real-data baseline at 4.81 ± 2.85 pixels. Adding synthetic samples to real data further enhanced performance (MDE: 4.95 pixels). In contrast, manually annotated synthetic images yielded poorer results (MDE: 12.76 pixels), emphasizing the advantages of automated anatomical annotation. Generalization tests across four external datasets confirmed that the synthetic data-trained model outperformed the real-data-trained model, maintaining higher accuracy (MDE: 5.84–6.45 mm vs. 10.63–15.80 mm). Conclusions: MetaAcuPoint demonstrates the first example of synthetic-to-real generalization for hand acupoint localization. By combining photorealistic rendering with anatomically grounded annotation, the dataset offers a reliable resource to promote standardized, data-driven approaches in acupuncture research and practice. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of traditional Korean medicine services (TKMS) on subsequent knee surgery and opioid use in patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: This retrospective cohort study used National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claims data from 2015 to 2017 to identify patients treated for KOA (M17) in 2016. Patients with at least two Korean medicine (KM) clinic visits within 6 weeks of the initial diagnosis formed the TKMS group, while those without visits to KM clinics formed the n group. Propensity score matching (PSM) (1:1) was applied and the incidence of knee surgery and opioid use was followed up for one year. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models estimated time-to-event outcomes and hazard ratios (HRs). Sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the results across varied treatment windows of 4, 8, and 10 weeks. Results: After PSM, 247,168 patients were included in the analysis for each group. The TKMS group exhibited significantly lower HRs for knee surgery (HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.66–0.72), opioid use (HR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.65–0.66), and their compound events (HR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.65–0.67) compared with the Non-TKMS group. The results remained consistent across sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: Among patients with KOA, the utilization of TKMS may significantly reduce the incidence of knee surgery and opioid use. Thus, the utilization of TKMS may be associated with a reduced need for unnecessary surgical interventions and with lower reliance on high-risk medications. Full article

Background: A subset of patients with chronic dyspepsia exhibits palpable upper abdominal hardness and systemic symptoms like headache, chest discomfort, neck/shoulder stiffness, fatigue, and depression. In traditional Korean medicine (TKM), this symptom complex is referred to as Damjeok syndrome (痰积症候群, DJS). Although DJS is frequently observed in TKM practice, it lacks a clear case definition and biological mechanism, limiting its integration in gastroenterology research and evidence-based practice. Clarifying its clinical and biological features is essential to understand its pathophysiology and clinical significance. Methods: This case–control study aimed to characterize DJS by comparing 16 female patients diagnosed with DJS and 15 age-matched healthy females as controls. A female-only cohort was selected to reflect the higher prevalence of chronic dyspepsia in women and reduce biological variability. Clinical characteristics and potential DJS-specific biomarkers were evaluated through complete blood count (CBC), serum biochemical tests, heart rate variability (HRV) for autonomic function, and plasma 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), a serotonin metabolite linked to gastrointestinal motility and autonomic regulation. Results: The DJS group had a mean disease duration of 58.0 ± 46.2 months, with epigastric fullness and underlying abdominal hardness as primary complaints. Postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) was the most common (43.8%) dyspepsia subtype, often combined with epigastric pain syndrome (EPS). Extra-gastrointestinal symptoms such as headache/fatigue (87.5%) and anxiety/depression (81.3%) were highly prevalent. Neutrophil counts were significantly lower in the DJS group (p = 0.01), while other hematological or biochemical markers showed no differences (p > 0.1). HRV analysis revealed decreased parasympathetic activity (RMSSD and HF, p < 0.1), and plasma 5-HIAA levels were significantly elevated compared to healthy controls (p = 0.01). Conclusions: DJS aligns with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), sharing psychosomatic symptoms and reduced parasympathetic activity, suggesting gut–brain axis dysregulation. However, distinct features like palpable upper abdominal hardness and elevated plasma 5-HIAA levels indicate that DJS may represent a unique subtype within the category of FGIDs. These findings highlight the need for larger, well-designed studies to further elucidate the pathophysiology of DJS. Full article

Watershed weathering provides a critical pathway for understanding the feedback mechanisms between continental rock chemical weathering and global climate change. As the longest tributary of the Yangtze River, the Han River plays a crucial role, where samples were collected from the mainstem and tributaries in spring, summer, and autumn to analyze major ion compositions and calculate chemical weathering rates using graphical methods and a forward model. Results show carbonate weathering dominated solute sources (75.7%), followed by silicates (14.8%), with minimal atmospheric and anthropogenic inputs. Spatially, carbonate weathering rate (CWR) and CO₂ consumption rate (ΦCO_2car) increase downstream with lithological variations, while silicate weathering rate (SWR) and CO₂ consumption rate (ΦCO_2sil) exhibit the opposite trend. Basin-wide averages were 9.4 ± 1.2 t/km²/yr (CWR) and 1.3 ± 0.3 t/km²/yr (SWR), with CO₂ consumption rates of 262.6 × 10³ and 55.5 × 10³ mol/km²/yr for carbonates and silicates, respectively. Seasonally, CWR and ΦCO_2car peaked in summer, while SWR and ΦCO_2sil were lower in summer than in spring and autumn. This seasonal pattern suggests that cooler temperatures limit weathering in spring and autumn, while increased summer runoff favors carbonate dissolution. The findings highlight the need for seasonal sampling to accurately assess weathering rates and CO₂ drawdown. Full article

This study analyzes the lacustrine hydrocarbon source rocks of the Lower Cretaceous in the Erdengsumu sag of the Erlian Basin, evaluating their characteristics and identifying areas with oil resource potential, while also investigating the ancient lake environment, material source input, and controlling factors, ultimately developing a sedimentary model for lacustrine hydrocarbon source rocks. The findings suggest the following: (1) The lower Tengger Member (K₁bt₁) and the Aershan Formation (K₁ba) are the primary oil-producing strata, with an effective hydrocarbon source rock exhibiting a lower limit of total organic carbon (TOC) at 0.95%. The Ro value typically remains below 0.8%, indicating that high-maturity oil production has not yet been attained. (2) The oil generation threshold depths for the Dalestai and Sayinhutuge sub-sags are 1500 m and 1214 m, respectively. The thickness of the effective hydrocarbon source rock surpasses 200 m, covering areas of 42.48 km² and 88.71 km², respectively. The cumulative hydrocarbon generation intensity of wells Y1 and Y2 is 486 × 10⁴ t/km² and 26 × 10⁴ t/km², respectively, suggesting that the Dalestai sub-sag possesses considerable petroleum potential. The Aershan Formation in the Chagantala sub-sag has a maximum burial depth of merely 1800 m, insufficient to attain the oil generation threshold depth. (3) The research area’s productive hydrocarbon source rocks consist of organic matter types I and II₁. The Pr/Ph range is extensive (0.33–2.07), signifying a reducing to slightly oxidizing sedimentary environment. This aligns with the attributes of small fault lake basins, characterized by shallow water and robust hydrodynamics. (4) The low ratio of ∑nC₂₁₋/∑nC₂₂₊ (0.36–0.81), high CPI values (>1.49), and high C₂₉ sterane concentration suggest a substantial terrestrial contribution, with negligible input from aquatic algae–bacterial organic matter. Moreover, as sedimentation duration extends, the contribution from higher plants progressively increases. (5) The ratio of the width of the deep depression zone to the width of the depression in the Erdengsumu sag is less than 0.25. The boundary fault scale is small, its activity is low, and there is not much input from the ground. Most of the source rocks are in the reducing sedimentary environment of the near-lying gently sloping zone. Full article

Ground-level ozone (O₃) pollution is a problem when managing air quality in China, and biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are key precursors of O₃ formation. Vegetation type and temperature influence BVOC emissions, yet the differences in emissions across vegetation types and their temperature responses still exhibit significant uncertainties. This study was focused on the Sichuan Basin in China. It used the G95 model to develop a high-resolution BVOC emission inventory, allowing the analysis of emission characteristics for different vegetation types. The study also used a temperature sensitivity algorithm to assess how temperature changes affect BVOC emissions. The impact of these emissions on regional O₃ formation potential (OFP) was then quantified using the OFP method. The results show significant differences in BVOC emissions across vegetation types. Forests at the basin edges (mixed, broad-leaved, and coniferous) have much higher emission intensity (10.5 t/km²) than agricultural areas in the center of the basin (0.15 t/km²). In terms of composition, monoterpenes (MON) mainly dominate mixed and coniferous forests (42.28% and 58.37%, respectively), while isoprene (ISOP) dominates broad-leaved forests (64.02%). The study found that temperature generally increases BVOC emissions, which vary by vegetation type. Broad-leaved forests have the highest temperature sensitivity (3.94%), much higher than agricultural vegetation (0.03%). BVOC emissions exhibit a seasonal pattern of “high in summer, low in winter” and a spatial pattern of “high at the edges, low at the center”. Temperature also influences emission intensity and composition, thus driving variations in the potential for O₃ formation. Seasonally, different vegetation types show structural changes in OFP contribution. Broad-leaved forests, dominated by ISOP, show a significant increase in summer contribution (+8.0%), becoming the main source of O₃ precursors. In contrast, mixed forests, dominated by MON, show a clear decrease in summer contribution (−6.3%). Full article

Background: Current research on healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance in traditional Korean medicine (TKM) institutions is limited. Methods: We utilized the Delphi method to evaluate the validity and feasibility of implementing an HAI surveillance system in TKM hospitals. This involved conducting a systematic literature review and focus group interviews with three infection control experts and five TKM doctors experienced in infection control within TKM hospitals. Based on these findings, we developed a Delphi questionnaire. The survey included a total of fifteen participants: ten TKM doctors and TKM-related policy researchers with infection control expertise, two infection control nurses, and three infectious disease doctors. Results: The survey results indicated strong consensus on the necessity of introducing an HAI surveillance system tailored to TKM hospitals, as well as their integration into the Korean National Healthcare-associated Infections Surveillance (KONIS) system. Since infectious diseases do not differentiate between acute care hospitals and TKM hospitals, it is reasonable for TKM hospitals to participate in infection surveillance systems. However, the feasibility of implementing HAI surveillance in TKM hospitals remains low due to a lack of awareness regarding infection surveillance, insufficient surveillance personnel, inadequate diagnostic and surveillance infrastructure, and limited policy support for infection control. Therefore, this study proposes a phased approach in which hand hygiene surveillance and safe injection practice monitoring, which received relatively higher consensus on feasibility, should be prioritized to establish the necessary surveillance infrastructure. Subsequently, a stepwise implementation of HAI surveillance can be introduced. Conclusions: Although TKM hospitals generally have a lower risk of HAIs compared to acute care facilities, they lack robust infection control systems and support. To address this gap, TKM hospitals should join the KONIS system. Appointing and training dedicated infection control personnel will enable their participation and enhance overall infection management. Full article

Xiangyang City is the core area of soil erosion in the Han River Basin, with serious problems of soil erosion and a weak soil conservation capacity. The spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of soil conservation in Xiangyang City, Han River Basin, from 2000 to 2020 were analyzed using the InVEST-SDR model and the PLUS contribution methodology. The results show the following: (1) The amount of soil conservation per unit area in Xiangyang in 2000, 2010, and 2020 was 1.84 × 10⁵ t/km², 1.59 × 10⁵ t/km², and 1.96 × 10⁵ t/km². This was concentrated in some areas, such as Baokang County, Nanzhang County, and Gucheng County. The soil conservation in Zaoyang, Xiangzhou, Yicheng, and Laohekou was relatively low, while the soil conservation capacity in the Xiangcheng and Fancheng areas was weakest. (2) The areas with the highest value of soil conservation were mainly concentrated in the forest areas in the southwest and northwest of Xiangyang, where the vegetation coverage is high and the altitude is low. The areas with low soil conservation were mainly concentrated in the eastern central part of Xiangyang, which is mainly farmland, with less vegetation and relatively flat terrain. (3) The amount of soil conservation is mainly influenced by two factors—vegetation coverage and terrain—indicating that vegetation management strategies should be tailored to local conditions. This article differs from previous watershed research areas by exploring the influencing factors of soil conservation in Xiangyang City and deeply analyzing the changes in importance and the spatiotemporal differentiation of ecosystem service functions. This conclusion can provide data support for environmental management and decision-making in the Xiangyang region, helping to achieve the sustainable development of the regional ecological environment and economic society. Full article