Search Results (26,753)

Water scarcity continues to challenge arid regions such as Egypt, where growing population demands, climate change impacts, and increasing agricultural pressures intensify the need for sustainable water management. Treated wastewater has emerged as a viable alternative resource, provided that the effluent meets stringent quality standards for safe reuse. The purpose of this study was to develop a comprehensive model of the Khorshed Wastewater Treatment Plant (KWWTP) to depict the processes used for biological nutrient removal. Operational data was gathered and examined over a period of 18 months to describe the quality of wastewater discharged by the Advanced Sequencing Batch Reactor (ASBR) of the plant, using specific physicochemical parameters like TSS, COD, BOD₅, and N-NO₃⁻. A process flow diagram integrating the Activated Sludge Model No. 1 (ASM1) for biological nutrient removal was created using the GPS-X. The study determined the parameters influencing the nutrient removal efficiency by analyzing the responsiveness of kinetic and stoichiometric parameters. Variables related to denitrification, autotrophic growth, and yield for heterotrophic biomass were the main focus of the calibration modifications. The results showed that the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) for the dynamic-state was COD (0.02), BOD₅ (0.07), N-NO₃⁻ (0.75), and TSS (0.82), and for the steady state was COD (0.04), BOD₅ (0.11), N-NO₃⁻ (0.67), and TSS (0.10). Since the model’s accuracy was deemed acceptable, it provides a validated foundation for future scenario analysis and operational decision support that produces a trustworthy model for predicting effluent data for the concentrations of TSS, COD, BOD₅, and N-NO₃⁻ in steady state conditions. Dynamic validation further confirmed model reliability, despite modest discrepancies in TSS and nitrate predictions; addressing this issue necessitates further research. Full article

Extensive coal mining activities can exert substantial negative impacts on surface ecosystems. Vegetation indices are widely recognized as effective indicators of land ecological conditions and provide valuable insights into long-term ecological changes in mining areas. In this study, the Zhaogu mining area of the Jiaozuo Coalfield was selected as the study site. Using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, the Kernel Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (kNDVI) was constructed to generate a vegetation dataset covering the period from 2010 to 2024. The temporal dynamics and future trends of vegetation coverage were analyzed using Theil–Sen median trend analysis, the Mann–Kendall test, the Hurst index, and residual analysis. Furthermore, the relative contributions of climatic factors and human activities to vegetation changes were quantitatively assessed. The results indicate that: (1) vegetation coverage in the Zhaogu mining area exhibits an overall improving trend, affecting approximately 77.1% of the study area, while slight degradation is mainly concentrated in the southeastern region, accounting for about 15.2%; (2) vegetation dynamics are predominantly characterized by low and relatively low fluctuations, covering approximately 78.5% of the region, whereas areas with high fluctuations are limited and mainly distributed in zones with intensive mining activities; although the current vegetation trend is generally increasing, future projections suggest a potential decline in approximately 55.8% of the area; and (3) vegetation changes in the Zhaogu mining area are jointly influenced by climatic factors and human activities, with climatic factors promoting vegetation growth in approximately 70.6% of the study area, while human activities exert inhibitory effects in about 24.2%, particularly in regions affected by mining operations and urban expansion. Full article

The Dead Sea (DS) region has experienced a sharp increase in sinkhole formation in recent years, posing environmental and infrastructure risks. The Geological Survey of Israel (GSI) employs Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to monitor sinkhole activity and manually map land subsidence along the western shore of the DS. This process is both time-consuming and prone to human error. Automating detection with Deep Learning (DL) offers a transformative opportunity to enhance monitoring precision, scalability, and real-time decision-making. DL segmentation architectures such as UNet, Attention UNet, SAM, TransUNet, and SegFormer have shown effectiveness in learning geospatial deformation patterns in InSAR and related remote sensing data. This study provides a first comprehensive evaluation of a DL segmentation model applied to InSAR data for detecting land subsidence areas that occur as part of the sinkhole-formation process along the western shores of the DS. Unlike image-based tasks, our new model learns interferometric phase patterns that capture subtle ground deformations rather than direct visual features. As the ground truth in the supervised learning process, we use subsidence areas delineated on the phase maps by the GSI team over the years as part of the operational subsidence surveillance and monitoring activities. This unique data poses challenges for annotation, learning, and interpretability, making the dataset both non-trivial and valuable for advancing research in applied remote sensing and its application in the DS. We train the model across three partition schemes, each representing a different type and level of generalization, and introduce object-level metrics to assess its detection ability. Our results show that the model effectively identifies and generalizes subsidence areas in InSAR data across different setups and temporal conditions and shows promising potential for geographical generalization in previously unseen areas. Finally, large-scale subsidence trends are inferred by reconstructing smaller-scale patches and evaluated for different confidence thresholds. Full article

A double-cavity vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) can effectively suppress high-order transverse modes and achieve a high side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR). However, the double cavity also results in increased fundamental mode loss, reducing output power. In this study, both p-type and n-type oxide layers were simultaneously incorporated into a double-cavity VCSEL and the structure was numerically simulated using Pics3D (2024) software. The simulation results indicate that this approach can significantly enhance the output power, strengthen the single-transverse-mode characteristic, and thus improve the side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR). Generally, as the number of oxide layers increases, their ability to confine the optical field also enhances, trapping more high-order transverse modes within the oxide aperture, leading to a decrease in SMSR. However, in this study, the introduction of an n-type layer resulted in an abnormal increase in the SMSR, because the n-type oxide layer is situated between the active region and the second cavity. When the optical field oscillates between these two regions, some high-order transverse modes are blocked by the n-type oxide holes and cannot participate in mode competition, thereby increasing the SMSR. Full article

As an important component of waters constituent that affects ocean color and the underwater ecological environment, the accurate assessment of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) is crucial for observing the continuous changes in the marine ecosystem. However, remote sensing estimation of CDOM remains challenging for both coastal and oceanic waters due to its weak optical signals and complex optical conditions. Therefore, the development of efficient, practical, and robust models for estimating the CDOM absorption coefficient in both coastal and oceanic waters remains an active research focus. This study presents a novel algorithm (denoted as DQAAG) that incorporates ultraviolet bands into the inversion model. The design leverages the distinct spectral absorption characteristics of phytoplankton versus detrital particles in the ultraviolet (UV) region, enabling improved discrimination of water color parameters. Furthermore, the algorithm replaces empirical formulas commonly used in semi-analytical approaches with an artificial intelligence model (deep learning) to achieve enhanced inversion accuracy. Using IOCCG hyperspectral simulation data and NOMAD dataset to evaluates Shanmugam (2011) (S2011), Aurin et al. (2018) (A2018), Zhu et al. (2011) (QAA-CDOM), DQAAG, the results indicate that the a_g(443) derived from the DQAAG exhibit good agreement with the validation data, with root mean square deviation (RMSD) < 0.3 m⁻¹, mean absolute relative difference (MARD) < 0.30, mean bias (bias) < 0.028 m⁻¹, coefficient of determination (R²) > 0.78. The DQAAG algorithm was applied to SeaWiFS remote sensing data, and validation was performed through match-up analysis with the NOMAD dataset. The results show the RMSD = 0.14 m⁻¹, MARD = 0.39, and R² = 0.62. Through a sensitivity analysis of the algorithm, the study reveals that R_rs(670) and R_rs(380) exhibit more significant characteristics. These results demonstrate that UV bands play a crucial role in enhancing the retrieval accuracy of ocean color parameters. In addition, DQAAG, which integrates semi-analytical algorithms with artificial intelligence, presents an encouraging approach for processing ocean color imagery to retrieve a_g(443). Full article

The vulnerability of reservoirs in Mediterranean regions to eutrophication is attributable to two key factors: strong seasonal hydrological variability and intensive agricultural activity. The present study evaluated the trophic state of 47 reservoirs in the Ebro Basin in Spain using two complementary approaches: the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) classification system and the criteria set out in Royal Decree (RD) 47/2022. Chlorophyll-a, total phosphorus and transparency data were monitored from 2023 to 2024. While most of reservoirs were classified as oligotrophic to mesotrophic under the OECD thresholds, the RD 47/2022 identified 87% as being at risk of eutrophication. A significant variation in transparency was observed among the different reservoir types (p < 0.05), with high-altitude systems showing higher levels of water transparency. However, chlorophyll-a and total phosphorus had a significant spatial variability, exhibiting only modest correlations. Chlorophyll-a was weakly but significantly correlated to transparency (r = −0.21), while total phosphorus was not significantly associated with either variable, suggesting a decoupling between nutrient availability and phytoplankton biomass. The observed discrepancy between the two classification frameworks is indicative of divergent conceptual approaches (ecological condition versus management risk). It underscores the requirement for integrated monitoring that incorporates chemical, biological and catchment-scale indicators. These findings offer new insight into the trophic dynamics of Mediterranean reservoirs and highlights the importance of adapting regulatory assessment methods to region-specific climatic and hydrological contexts. Full article

A promising direction for the creation of new biologically active derivatives of the alkaloid lupinine is the synthesis of “hybrid molecules” that combine a fragment of the alkaloid and the pharmacophore of 1,2,3-triazole in their structure. From a biological perspective, this work presents the first X-ray diffraction study of a single crystal of (1S,9aR)-1-({4-[4-(Benzyloxy)-3-methoxyphenyl]-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl}methyl)octahydro-2H-quinolizine, a new, recently synthesized 1,2,3-triazole derivative of lupinine. A comparison of theoretically predicted and experimentally observed structural parameters was carried out. The FTIR spectroscopy study and vibrational properties calculations allowed us to interpret the FTIR absorption spectrum and localize specific vibrational modes in quinolizidine, 1,2,3-triazole, and benzene rings. Such information can be fruitful for further characterization of the synthesis process and products. The molecular docking of the compound was performed. It was shown that the studied molecules are capable of interacting with the Mpro binding site via non-covalent and hydrophobic interactions with subsites S3 (Met165, Glu166, Leu167, Pro168) and S5 (Gln189, Thr190, Gln192), which ensure the stabilization of the Mpro substrate. Blocking of the active site of the enzyme in the region of the oxyanion hole does not occur, but stable stacking interactions with the π-system of one of the catalytic amino acids, His41, are observed. Full article

Innovations are the driving force of change and are essential even in traditional activities such as regional food production. This is especially important considering that locally produced food can be a healthier, more organic, and sustainable alternative to mass-produced food. In this context, the research aims to identify the characteristics of innovative producers and their implications for creating effective policies in the rural regional food sector in Poland. A survey research study using an electronic questionnaire was conducted among a group of 400 regional food producers in Poland in July 2024. Differences between the groups analyzed of regional food producers were examined using a series of non-parametric tests. The results indicate that innovative regional food producers differ significantly from non-innovative producers in many aspects. In terms of raw materials, finance, knowledge, and skills, the differences concern the greater reliance on external resources, as well as a weaker connection with family knowledge and skills, compared to non-innovative producers. The contribution of the research includes the identification of conditions that facilitate the innovativeness of regional food producers, as well as the features that enable or hinder this process. The dissemination of innovations among regional food producers in Poland requires financial and non-financial support. Support for innovation is a crucial component of an effective rural development policy in Poland. Full article

Cardiac fibrosis is a major component of heart failure (HF) and develops when reparative wound healing becomes chronic, leading to excessive extracellular matrix accumulation. Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), the main regulators of matrix remodeling, are heterogeneous in developmental origins, regional localizations, and activation states. This diversity determines whether tissue repair resolves normally or progresses into maladaptive scarring that disrupts myocardial structure and function after injuries. Recent single-cell and spatial transcriptomic studies show that CFs exist in distinct yet interrelated molecular states in murine models and human cardiac tissue with specialized roles in matrix production, angiogenesis, immune signaling, and mechanical sensing. These insights redefine cardiac fibrosis as a dynamic and context-dependent process rather than a uniform cellular response. Although CFs are promising targets for preventing HF progression and enhancing cardiac remodeling, translation into effective therapies remains limited by the unclear heterogeneity of pathological fibroblasts, the lack of distinctive CF markers, and the broad activity of fibrogenic signaling pathways. In this review, we discuss the dynamics of CF activations during the development and progression of HF and assess the underlying pathways and mechanisms contributing to cardiac dysfunction. Additionally, we highlight the potential of targeting CFs for developing therapeutic strategies. These include nonspecific suppression of fibroblast activity and targeted modulation of the signaling pathways and cell populations that sustain chronic remodeling. Furthermore, we assess regenerative approaches that can reprogram fibroblasts or modulate their paracrine functions to restore functional myocardium. Integrating antifibrotic and regenerative strategies with advances in precision drug discovery and gene delivery offers a path toward reversing established fibrosis and achieving recovery in HF. Full article

There exists an east–west trending albitite (breccia) zone, approximately 400 km in length, closely related to gold mineralization, in Devonian strata in the South Qinling tectonic belt. The genesis and formation age of these albitite (breccia) are of great significance for understanding gold enrichment mechanisms and guiding future exploration. Past studies have mainly focused on the Fengxian–Taibai area in the western segment of the albitite (breccia) zone, whereas the eastern segment remains significantly understudied. In this study, a systematic field investigation, as well as petrology, geochemistry, and accessory-mineral geochronology studies were conducted on albitites and albitite breccias in the Shangnan area, the eastern segment of the albitite (breccia) zone. The results show that the albitites are interlayered with or occur as lenses within Devonian clastic rocks. The albitite breccias are mostly enclosed in albitite and Devonian strata, and the clasts within are subangular, uniform in type, and exhibit minimal displacement. Both albitites and albitite breccias exhibit similar trace-element characteristics and detrital zircon age spectra to those of Devonian clastic rocks. Abundant hydrothermal monazites with U–Pb ages ranging from 260 to 252 Ma are present in both albitites and albitite breccias but absent in Devonian clastic rocks. Collectively, these results indicate that the albitites in the Shangnan area are of hydrothermal metasomatic origin, while the albitite breccias record hydraulic fracturing and cementation, and both are products of the same fluid activity event in the Late Permian. We propose that albitite (breccia) zones in the South Qinling tectonic belt were formed under distinct tectonic settings during different evolution stages of the Late Paleozoic Mianlüe Ocean. Specifically, the albitites (breccias) in the Shangnan area are products of thorough metasomatism, local fracturing, and cementation of Devonian clastic rocks by mixed fluids, which ascended along the Fengzhen–Shanyang Fault coeval with the emplacement of magmatic rocks related to subduction of the Mianlüe Ocean. In contrast, the albitite breccias in the Fengxian–Taibai area are the result of fluid activity during the transition from regional compression to extension after the closure of the Mianlüe Ocean. Full article

Schools focus on the education of students, but it is recognised that student engagement and educational achievement are enhanced where student wellbeing is considered. Student wellbeing can be supported both in school and through connections to the school and broader community. While teachers seek to support student wellbeing, they are often ill-equipped, given workload and educational focus, limiting their capacity to address student wellbeing needs, particularly those linked to social or community issues. School social workers provide a valuable adjunct to the work of educators, enabling a greater focus on wellbeing through the provision of targeted psychosocial support and community engagement that recognises and responds to broader factors impacting education achievement. In schools without social workers, social work student placements can provide opportunities to introduce school communities to the value and benefits social workers offer. This practice paper explores examples of school-based social work student placements offered through the social work field education program at one regional Australian University, including activities, strategies undertaken, and identified benefits of social work student placements. With indicated benefits, it is argued that the inclusion of social workers in schools adds value to the educational team, supporting children’s wellbeing and thereby contributing to improved educational engagement and achievement. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: This report presents the case of a 33-year-old female with recurrent miscarriage, investigated for an adrenal cortical adenoma characterized by autonomous secretion of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP). The findings challenge the established diagnostic paradigm, which predominantly attributes elevated serum 17-OHP to congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) or non-classical CAH (NCCAH). Case Presentation: The patient was found to have elevated serum 17-OHP and a 2 cm left adrenal mass. Normal testosterone and precursor levels, along with whole-exome sequencing (WES), argued against a diagnosis of non-classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency (NC-21OHD). An ACTH stimulation test elicited a mild-to-moderate rise in 17-OHP, while adrenal venous sampling (AVS) confirmed marked lateralization of 17-OHP hypersecretion to the left side. Postoperative normalization of 17-OHP levels further supported the diagnosis of a 17-OHP-secreting tumor. Histopathological analysis identified tumor regions with non-uniformly high expression of CYP17A1 and CYP21A2. Preliminary transcriptomic profiling revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in microRNA-related and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Conclusions: This paradigm-shifting case indicates that, in addition to 21OHD, a 17-OHP-hypersecreting adrenal adenoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of elevated 17-OHP. The integration of multimodal diagnostic techniques, particularly AVS, is valuable for localizing hormonally active tumors. Preliminary mechanistic insights suggest a potential role for epigenetic dysregulation in the pathogenesis of this tumor type. Full article

Air pollution is a major but often under-integrated driver of forest dynamics at the global scale. This review combines a bibliometric analysis of 258 peer-reviewed studies with a synthesis of ecological, physiological, and biogeochemical evidence to clarify how multiple air pollutants influence forest structure, function, and regeneration. Research output is dominated by Europe, East Asia, and North America, with ozone, nitrogen deposition, particulate matter, and acidic precipitation receiving the greatest attention. Across forest biomes, air pollution affects growth, wood anatomy, nutrient cycling, photosynthesis, species composition, litter decomposition, and soil chemistry through interacting pathways. Regional patterns reveal strong context dependency, with heightened sensitivity in mountain and boreal forests, pronounced ozone exposure in Mediterranean and peri-urban systems, episodic oxidative stress in tropical forests, and long-term heavy-metal accumulation in industrial regions. Beyond being impacted, forests actively modify atmospheric chemistry through pollutant filtration, aerosol interactions, and deposition processes. The novelty of this review lies in explicitly framing air pollution as a dynamic driver of forest change, with direct implications for afforestation and restoration on degraded lands. Key knowledge gaps remain regarding combined pollution–climate effects, understudied forest biomes, and the scaling of physiological responses to ecosystem and regional levels, which must be addressed to support effective forest management under global change. Full article

The combined effects of climate change and socio-economic development have intensified the risk of water supply–demand imbalance in China. To project future trends, this study develops a multi-scenario coupled prediction framework integrating climate, socio-economic, and human activity drivers, combining data-driven and physically based modeling approaches to assess terrestrial water storage imbalance in nine major river basins under six representative SSP–RCP scenarios through the end of the 21st century. Using ISIMIP multi-model runoff outputs along with GDP and population projections, agricultural, industrial, and domestic water demands were estimated. A Water Conflict Index was proposed by integrating the Water Supply–Demand Stress Index and the Standardized Hydrological Runoff Index to identify high-risk basins. Results show that under high-emission scenarios, the WCI in the Yellow River, Hai River, and Northwest Rivers remains high, peaking during 2040–2069, while low-emission scenarios significantly alleviate stress in most basins. Water allocation inequity is mainly driven by insufficient supply in arid northern regions and limited redistribution capacity in resource-rich southern basins. Targeted strategies are recommended for different risk types, including inter-basin water transfer, optimization of water use structure and pricing policies, and the development of resilient management systems, providing scenario-based quantitative support for future water security and policy-making in China. Full article

The Qinling–Bashan mountainous region and its surrounding areas in Shaanxi Province constitute a critical ecological security barrier and significant socio-economic zone within China, currently experiencing mounting ecological stress from both natural processes and anthropogenic activities. This study proposes an ecological restoration zoning framework built upon assessments of ecological vulnerability (EV) and ecosystem service value (ESV). The InVEST model was used to quantify major ecosystem services, while the Vulnerability Scoping Diagram (VSD) model evaluated ecological vulnerability. Both the ESV and EV layers were classified using the natural breaks method and aggregated at the township level to delineate restoration zones. Unlike previous studies relying on subjective judgment, this study constructs a standardized ‘vulnerability–service value’ decision matrix for the Qinling–Bashan region, providing a clear technical pathway for spatial restoration. Key findings include the following: (1) Spatial Vulnerability Pattern: The Qinling and Bashan mountain cores exhibit predominantly low vulnerability (potential and slight), while severe vulnerability is concentrated in the urbanizing Guanzhong Plain, emphasizing the need for urban ecological restoration. (2) Dominant Ecosystem Services: Carbon storage and net primary productivity (NPP) together account for 93% of the total ESV, highlighting the importance of forest conservation for national climate regulation. (3) Zoning Strategy: Four functional zones were defined, with the largest being the ecological conservation zone (44.8%), while a smaller ecological restoration zone (2.8%) in urban peripheries requires targeted intervention. Full article