Search Results (14)

This study presents the scientific and methodological foundation of Spain’s first national framework for the ethical management of community cat populations: the Action Plan for the Management of Community Cat Colonies (PACF), launched in 2025 under the mandate of Law 7/2023. This pioneering legislation introduces a standardized, nationwide obligation for trap–neuter–return (TNR)-based management of free-roaming cats, defined as animals living freely, territorially attached, and with limited socialization toward humans. The PACF aims to support municipalities in implementing this mandate through evidence-based strategies that integrate animal welfare, biodiversity protection, and public health objectives. Using standardized data submitted by 1128 municipalities (13.9% of Spain’s total), we estimated a baseline population of 1.81 million community cats distributed across 125,000 colonies. These data were stratified by municipal population size and applied to national census figures to generate a model-ready demographic structure. We then implemented a stochastic simulation using Vortex software to project long-term population dynamics over a 25-year horizon. The model integrated eight demographic–environmental scenarios defined by a combination of urban–rural classification and ecological reproductive potential based on photoperiod and winter temperature. Parameters included reproductive output, mortality, sterilization coverage, abandonment and adoption rates, stochastic catastrophic events, and territorial carrying capacity. Under current sterilization rates (~20%), our projections indicate that Spain’s community cat population could surpass 5 million individuals by 2050, saturating ecological and social thresholds within a decade. In contrast, a differentiated sterilization strategy aligned with territorial reproductive intensity (50% in most areas, 60–70% in high-pressure zones) achieves population stabilization by 2030 at approximately 1.5 million cats, followed by a gradual long-term decline. This scenario prioritizes feasibility while substantially reducing reproductive output, particularly in rural and high-intensity contexts. The PACF combines stratified demographic modeling with spatial sensitivity, offering a flexible framework adaptable to local conditions. It incorporates One Health principles and introduces tools for adaptive management, including digital monitoring platforms and standardized welfare protocols. While ecological impacts were not directly assessed, the proposed demographic stabilization is designed to mitigate population-driven risks to biodiversity and public health without relying on lethal control. By integrating legal mandates, stratified modeling, and realistic intervention goals, this study outlines a replicable and scalable framework for coordinated action across administrative levels. It exemplifies how national policy can be operationalized through data-driven, territorially sensitive planning tools. The findings support the strategic deployment of TNR-based programs across diverse municipal contexts, providing a model for other countries seeking to align animal welfare policy with ecological planning under a multi-level governance perspective. Full article

As a global focus of animal husbandry, pigs provide essential meat resources for humans. Therefore, analyzing the genetic basis of adaptability, domestication, and artificial selection in pigs will contribute to further breeding. This study performed a genome-wide selection sweep analysis to identify candidate genes related to domestication and adaptive selection via data from 2413 public genotypes. Two complementary statistical analyses, F_ST (fixation index) and XP–EHH (cross–population extended haplotype homozygosity) were applied. The results revealed that numerous candidate genes were associated with high-altitude adaptability (e.g., SIRPA, FRS2, and GRIN2B) and habitat temperature adaptability (e.g., MITF, PI3KC2A, and FRS2). In addition, candidate genes related to the domestic genetic imprint of indigenous pigs (e.g., TNR, NOCT, and SPATA5) and strong artificial selection pressure in commercial breeds (e.g., ITPR2, HSD17B12, and UGP2) were identified in this study. Specifically, some MHC–related genes (e.g., ZRTB12, TRIM26, and C7H6orf15) were also under selection during domestication and artificial selection. Additionally, a phylogenetic comparative analysis revealed that the genetic divergence between populations does not fully follow the geographical distribution and management history in the major histocompatibility complex region/major histocompatibility complex II haplotypes, unlike that of the genome-wide genotypes. Furthermore, the higher heterozygosity and haplotype alleles of MHC reduce the differences between populations. Briefly, this study not only helps promote the relative theoretical understanding of environmental adaptive selection and domestication but also provides a theoretical reference for disease-resistant breeding in pigs. Full article

In this study, we pioneered the synthesis of nanoflower-shaped TiO₂-supported Au photocatalysts and investigated their properties. Au nanoflowers (Au NFs) were prepared by a Na-citrate and hydroquinone-based preparation method, followed by wet impregnation of the derived Au NFs on the surface of TiO₂ nanorods (TNR). A uniform and homogeneous distribution of Au NFs was observed in the TNR + NF(0.7) sample (lower Na-citrate concentration), while their distribution was heterogeneous in the TNR + NF(1.4) sample (higher Na-citrate concentration). The UV-Vis DR spectra revealed the size- and shape-dependent optical properties of the Au NFs, with the LSPR effect observed in the visible region. The solid-state EPR spectra showed the presence of Ti³⁺, oxygen vacancies and electron interactions with organic compounds on the catalyst surface. In the case of the TNR + NF(0.7) sample, high photocatalytic activity was observed in the H₂-assisted reduction of NO₂ to N₂ at room temperature under visible-light illumination. In contrast, the TNR + NF(1.4) catalyst as well as the heat-treated samples showed no ability to reduce NO₂ under visible light, indicating the presence of deformed Au NFs limiting the LSPR effect. These results emphasized the importance of the choice of synthesis method, as this could strongly influence the photocatalytic activity of the Au NFs. Full article

High strain with low hysteresis is crucial for commercial applications in high precision actuators. However, the clear conflict between the high strain and low hysteresis in BNT-based ceramics has long been an obstacle to actual precise actuating or positioning applications. To obtain piezoceramics with high strain and low hysteresis, it is necessary to enhance the electrostrictive effect and develop an ergodic relaxor (ER) and nonergodic relaxor (NR) phase boundary under ambient conditions. In this work, (Co_0.5Nb_0.5)⁴⁺ doped 76Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃-24SrTiO₃ (BNST24) relaxors were fabricated using the conventional solid state reaction route. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the B-site substitution in BNST24 ceramics. By adjusting the (Co_0.5Nb_0.5)⁴⁺ doping in BNST24, we effectively tuned the T_NR-ER and T_d close to ambient temperature, which contributed to the development of the ergodic relaxor phase and enhanced the electrostrictive effect at ambient temperature. The I-P-E loops and bipolar strain curves verified the gradual evolution from NR to ER states, while the enhanced electrostrictive effect was verified by the nearly linear S-P² curves and improved electrostrictive coefficient of the BNST24-xCN relaxors. An enhanced strain of 0.34% (d^*₃₃ = 483 pm/V) with low hysteresis of 8.9% was simultaneously achieved in the BNST24-0.02CN relaxors. The enhanced strain was mainly attributed to the proximity effect at the ER and NR phase boundary of BNST24-0.02CN, while the improved electrostrictive effect contributed to the reduced strain hysteresis. Our work demonstrates an effective strategy for balancing the paradox of high strain and low hysteresis in piezoceramics. Full article

Algal bloom has become a serious environmental problem caused by the overgrowth of plankton in many waterbodies, and effective remote sensing methods for monitoring it are urgently needed. Global navigation satellite system-reflectometry (GNSS-R) has been developed rapidly in recent years, which offers a new perspective on algal bloom detection. When algal bloom emerges, the water surface will turn smoother, which can be detected by GNSS-R. In addition, meteorological parameters, such as temperature, wind speed and solar radiation, are generally regarded as the key factors in the formation of algal bloom. In this article, a new algal bloom detection method aided by machine learning and auxiliary meteorological data is established. This work employs the Cyclone GNSS (CYGNSS) data and the fifth generation European Reanalysis (ERA-5) data with the application of the random under sampling boost (RUSBoost) algorithm. Experiments were carried out for Taihu Lake, China, over the period of August 2018 to May 2022. During the evaluation stage, the test true positive rate (TPR) of 81.9%, true negative rate (TNR) of 82.9%, overall accuracy (OA) of 82.9% and the area under (receiver operating characteristic) curve (AUC) of 0.88 were achieved, with all the GNSS-R observables and meteorological factors being involved. Meanwhile, the contribution of each meteorological factor and the error sources were assessed, and the results indicate that temperature and solar radiation play a prominent role among other meteorological factors in this research. This work demonstrates the capability of CYGNSS as an effective tool for algal bloom detection and the inclusion of meteorological data for further enhanced performance. Full article

Recrystallization kinetics and two critical temperatures—the non-recrystallization temperature T_NR and the static recrystallization critical temperature T_SRCT—of five Nb, Ti, and V microalloyed steel grades are evaluated. The experimental examination is realized by employing isothermal double-hit compression tests and continuous hot torsion tests, both performed on a Gleeble^® 3800 thermo-mechanical simulator. The experimental results are used for the critical assessment of predicted T_NR using four empirical equations from the literature, and for the validation of simulated T_NR and T_SRCT. The thermokinetic computer simulations are realized using the mean-field microstructure modeling software MatCalc. Analysis shows that higher microalloying contents increase both critical temperatures, T_NR and T_SRCT, whereby the effect of recrystallization retardation of Nb is more pronounced than that of Ti or V. The most accurate reproduction of the experimental recrystallization behavior of the five examined steel grades is realized by the employed physics-based simulation approach. Full article

Studying the hydrogeochemical characteristics of hot springs provides essential geochemical information for monitoring earthquake precursors and understanding the relationship between fluids, fractures, and earthquakes. This paper investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics of hot springs along the Tingri–Nyima Rift (TNR) in southern Tibet, a seismically active zone at the collision front of the Indian and Asian-European plates. The major elements, hydrogen, and oxygen isotopes of seven thermal springs were analyzed from July 2019 to September 2021. The findings indicate that Mount Everest’s meteoric water, which has a recharge elevation of roughly 7.5–8.4 km, is the main source of recharge for the hot springs. The water samples have two main hydrochemical types: HCO₃-Na and Cl-Na. The temperature of the geothermal reservoir is between 46.5 and 225.4 °C, while the circulation depth is between 1.2 and 5.0 km based on silica-enthalpy mixing models and traditional geothermometers. Furthermore, continuous measurements of major anions and cations at the Yundong Spring (T06) near Mount Everest reveal short-term (8 days) seismic precursor anomalies of hydrochemical compositions before an M_L4.7 earthquake 64.36 km away from T06. Our study suggests that seismicity in the northern section of the TNR is controlled by both hydrothermal activity and tectonic activity, while seismicity in the southern section is mainly influenced by tectonic activity. In addition to magnitude and distance from the epicenter, geological forces from deep, large fissures also affect how hot springs react to seismic occurrences. A fluid circulation model is established in order to explain the process of groundwater circulation migration. The continuous hydrochemical monitoring of hot springs near Everest is critical for studying the coupling between hot springs, fractures, and earthquakes, as well as monitoring information on earthquake precursory anomalies near Everest. Full article

Wind erosion is one of the most widespread and severe natural hazards in arid, semiarid, and semihumid regions worldwide. The Three-North region (TNR) (Northeast China, North China, and Northwest China) of China includes 90% of the wind erosion area in China. In response to the harsh environmental conditions in the TNR, China initiated a series of ecological programs, including the Three-North Afforestation Program and Grain for Green. However, little is known about the effect of these ecological programs on wind erosion. Therefore, within our study, we estimated the spatiotemporal variations in wind erosion in the TNR between 1981–2020 with a revised wind erosion model and analyzed its driving mechanism. Then, the ecological programs’ effects on wind erosion changes was identified. The results showed the following. (1) From 1981 to 2020, wind erosion showed a clear downward trend of 99.02 t km⁻² a⁻¹, with a slope. On average, the areas of mild, moderate, severe, more severe, and very severe wind erosion accounted for 28.76%, 7.17%, 3.92%, 3.72%, and 13.29% of the total in the TNR, respectively. (2) Wind erosion variation was inconsistent in different parts of the TNR. The wind erosion expressed a long-term decreasing trend in Northeast China and the Loess Plateau, a nonsignificant change in North Central China, and an increasing trend in Northwest China. (3) On average, ecological programs were very limited in reducing erosion at the regional scale, with a contribution of approximately 5.93% in the TNR because of the relatively small scope of ecological programs’ implementation. Climate change played a key role in adjusting wind erosion; wind speed, temperature, and precipitation affected 57.58% of the TNR. Human interference (proportion of cropland and grassland areas in a 1 km ×1 km grid) affected 8.78% of the TNR. Thus, the persistent complement of ecological programs, reasonable human activities, and timely observation is a method to alleviate wind erosion in the TNR. Full article

Climate change has led to shifts in species distribution and become a crucial factor in the extinction of species. Increasing average temperatures, temperature extremes, and unpredictable weather events have all become a part of a perfect storm that is threatening ecosystems. Higher altitude habitats are disproportionately affected by climate change, and habitats for already threatened specialist species are shrinking. The Siberian ibex, Capra sibirica, is distributed across Central Asia and Southern Siberia and is the dominant ungulate in the Pamir plateau. To understand how climate change could affect the habitat of Siberian ibex in the Taxkorgan Nature Reserve (TNR), an ensemble species distribution model was built using 109 occurrence points from a four-year field survey. Fifteen environmental variables were used to simulate suitable habitat distribution under different climate change scenarios. Our results demonstrated that a stable, suitable habitat for Siberian ibex was mostly distributed in the northwest and northeast of the TNR. We found that climate change will further reduce the area of suitable habitat for this species. In the scenarios of RCP2.6 to 2070 and RCP8.5 to 2050, habitat loss would exceed 30%. In addition, suitable habitats for Siberian ibex will shift to higher latitudes under climate change. As a result, timely prediction of the distribution of endangered animals is conducive to the conservation of the biodiversity of mountain ecosystems, particularly in arid areas. Full article

Microstructural morphology is known to have a significant impact on the mechanical properties of dual-phase steels. A fine ferrite grain size and random distribution of small second phase islands are desirable to provide superior isotropic properties compared to the banded second phase distribution that is typical for this type of steel. A rapid alloy prototyping (RAP) facility has been used to investigate three different DP 800 variants by systematically varying the compositions and/or process parameters compared to the ‘standard’ DP800 composition and processing that gives a banded microstructure. For Variant 1, the heating rate during the annealing cycle after cold rolling varied between 0.65 and 30 °C/s for the 45%, 60% and 75% cold reduction samples. It was found that a cold reduction of 75% and heating rate of 15 °C/s resulted in the microstructure that can give the best combination of strength and ductility because of the fine grain size and high martensite volume fraction. For Variant 2, the effect of changing the hot rolled (HR) microstructure (ferrite–pearlite, ferrite–bainite or martensite) on the final microstructure was investigated. Both the ferrite–50% bainite and fully martensite/bainite HR materials for all cold reductions resulted in annealed microstructures with necklace martensite morphology and finer ferrite grains compared to the ferrite–pearlite HR material, which gave a typical banded ferrite–martensite microstructure with a coarser ferrite grain size. For Variant 3, the Mn content was reduced, and increased Nb was used to achieve higher pancaking during the hot rolling stage, which refined ferrite grains in the HR condition with the same hardness. After annealing with the standard parameters only the 45% cold-reduced material produced a finer ferrite grain size than the standard material, whereas the 60% and 75% cold-reduced samples required a higher heating rate to achieve finer ferrite grain sizes due to rapid recrystallisation and growth kinetics. Full article

Nanofiltration methods were used and evaluated for strontium removal from wastewater. The phase inversion method was used to create a variety of polyethersulfone (PES)/TiO₂ nanoribbons (TNRs)–multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) membranes with varied ratios of TNR-MWCNT nanocomposite. The hydrothermal technique was applied to synthesize the nanocomposite (TNRs-MWCNTs), which was then followed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The synthesized membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy, and FTIR. TNR macrovoids are employed as a support for the MWCNT growth catalyst, resulting in a TNR-MWCNT network composite. The hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, porosity, filtration efficiency of the strontium-containing samples, water flux, and fouling tendency were used to assess the performance of the synthesized membranes. The effect of feed water temperature on water flux was investigated as well as its effect on salt rejection. As the temperature increased from 30 to 90 °C, the salt rejection decreased from 96.6 to 82% for the optimized 0.7 PES/TNR-MWCNT membrane, whereas the water flux increased to ≈150 kg/m². h. Double successive filtration was evaluated for its high efficiency of 1000 ppm strontium removal, which reached 82.4%. Full article

In the present investigation, the non-recrystallization temperature (T_NR) of niobium-microalloyed steel is determined to plan rolling schedules for obtaining the desired properties of steel. The value of T_NR is based on both alloying elements and deformation parameters. In the literature, T_NR equations have been developed and utilized. However, each equation has certain limitations which constrain its applicability. This study was completed using laboratory-grade low-carbon Nb-microalloyed steels designed to meet the API X-70 specification. Nb- microalloyed steel is processed by the melting and casting process, and the composition is found by optical emission spectroscopy (OES). Multiple-hit deformation tests were carried out on a Gleeble^® 3500 system in the standard pocket-jaw configuration to determine T_NR. Cuboidal specimens (10 (L) × 20 (W) × 20 (T) mm³) were taken for compression test (multiple-hit deformation tests) in gleeble. Microstructure evolutions were carried out by using OM (optical microscopy) and SEM (scanning electron microscopy). The value of T_NR determined for 0.1 wt.% niobium bearing microalloyed steel is ~ 951 °C. Nb- microalloyed steel rolled at T_NR produce partially recrystallized grain with ferrite nucleation. Hence, to verify the TNR value, a rolling process is applied with the finishing rolling temperature near TNR (~951 °C). The microstructure is also revealed in the pancake shape, which confirms T_NR. Full article

In the 61 years that niobium has been used in commercial steels, it has proven to be beneficial via several properties, such as strength and toughness. Over this time, numerous studies have been performed and papers published showing that both the strength and toughness can be improved with higher Nb additions. Earlier studies have verified this trend for steels containing up to about 0.04 wt.% Nb. Basic studies have shown that the addition of Nb increases the recrystallization-stop temperature, T_5% or T_nr. These same studies have shown that with up to about 0.05 wt.% of Nb, the T_5% temperature increases in the range of finish rolling, which is the basis of controlled rolling. These studies also have shown that at very high Nb levels, exceeding approximately 0.06 wt.% Nb, the recrystallization-stop temperature or T_5% can increase into the temperature range of rough rolling, and this could result in insufficient grain refinement and recrystallization during rough rolling. However, the question remains as to how much Nb can be added before the detriments outweigh the benefits. While the benefits are easily observed and discussed, the detriments are not. These detriments at high Nb levels include cost, undissolved Nb particles, weldability issues, higher mill loads and roll wear and the lessening of grain refinement that might otherwise occur during plate rough rolling. This loss of grain refinement is important, since coarse grained microstructures often result in failure in the drop weight tear testing of the plate and pipe. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the practical limits of Nb microalloying in controlled rolled low carbon linepipe steels of gauges ranging from 12 to 25 mm in thickness. Full article

The hydrological regime in arid and semi-arid regions is quite sensitive to climate and land cover changes (LCC). The Three-North region (TNR) in China experiences diverse climate conditions, from arid to humid zones. In this region, substantial LCC has occurred over the past decades due to ecological restoration programs and urban expansion. At a regional scale, the hydrological effects of LCC have been demonstrated to be less observable than the effects of climate change, but it is unclear whether or not the effects of LCC may be intensified by future climate conditions. In this study, we employed remote sensing datasets and a macro-scale hydrological modeling to identify the dependence of the future hydrological regime of the TNR on past LCC. The hydrological effects over the period from 2020–2099 were evaluated based on a Representative Concentration Pathway climate scenario. The results indicated that the forest area increased in the northwest (11,691 km²) and the north (69 km²) of China but declined in the northeast (30,042 km²) over the past three decades. Moreover, the urban area has expanded by 1.3% in the TNR. Under the future climate condition, the hydrological regime will be influenced significantly by LCC. Those changes from 1986 to 2015 may alter the future hydrological cycle mainly by promoting runoff (3.24 mm/year) and decreasing evapotranspiration (3.23 mm/year) over the whole region. The spatial distribution of the effects may be extremely uneven: the effects in humid areas would be stronger than those in other areas. Besides, with rising temperatures and precipitation from 2020 to 2099, the LCC may heighten the risk of dryland expansion and flooding more than climate change alone. Despite uncertainties in the datasets and methods, the regional-scale hydrological model provides new insights into the extended impacts of ecological restoration and urbanization on the hydrological regime of the TNR. Full article