Search Results (41,961)

In river-connected lake regions, both land use and hydrological regime changes may affect the ecosystem services; however, few studies have attempted to elucidate their complex influences. In this study, the spatiotemporal dynamics of eight ecosystem services (crop production, aquatic production, water yield, soil retention, flood regulation, water purification, net primary productivity, and habitat quality) were investigated through remote-sensing images and the InVEST model in the Dongting Lake Region during 2000–2020. Results revealed that crop and aquatic production increased significantly from 2000 to 2020, particularly in the northwestern and central regions, while soil retention and net primary productivity also improved. However, flood regulation, water purification, and habitat quality decreased, with the fastest decline in habitat quality occurring at the periphery of the Dongting Lake. Land-use types accounted for 63.3%, 53.8%, and 40.3% of spatial heterogeneity in habitat quality, flood regulation, and water purification, respectively. Land-use changes, particularly the expansion of construction land and the conversion of water bodies to cropland, led to a sharp decline in soil retention, flood regulation, water purification, net primary productivity, and habitat quality. In addition, crop production and aquatic production were higher in cultivated land and residential land, while the accompanying degradation of flood regulation, water purification, and habitat quality formed a “production-pollution-degradation” spatial coupling pattern. Furthermore, hydrological fluctuations further complicated these dynamics; wet years amplified agricultural outputs but intensified ecological degradation through spatial spillover effects. These findings underscore the need for integrated land-use and hydrological management strategies that balance human livelihoods with ecosystem resilience. Full article

Brown algae such as Ascophyllum nodosum (AN) and Fucus vesiculosus (FV) are gaining considerable attention as functional feed additives due to their health-beneficial properties. This study evaluated the antioxidant potential of AN and FV extracts in intestinal epithelial cells and the in vivo model Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Aqueous AN and FV extracts were characterized for total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (TEAC, FRAP), and phlorotannin composition using LC-HRMS/MS. Antioxidant effects were assessed in vitro, measuring AAPH-induced ROS production in Caco-2 and IPEC-J2 cells via H₂DCF-DA, and in vivo, evaluating the effects of paraquat-induced oxidative stress and AN or FV treatment on worm motility, GST-4::GFP reporter expression, and gene expression in C. elegans. FV exhibited higher total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity (TEAC, FRAP), and a broader phlorotannin profile (degree of polymerization [DP] 2–9) than AN (DP 2–7), as determined by LC-HRMS/MS. Both extracts attenuated AAPH-induced oxidative stress in epithelial cells, with FV showing greater efficacy. In C. elegans, pre-treatment with AN and FV significantly mitigated a paraquat-induced motility decline by 22% and 11%, respectively, compared to PQ-stressed controls. Under unstressed conditions, both extracts enhanced nematode healthspan, with significant effects observed at 400 µg/g for AN and starting at 100 µg/g for FV. Gene expression analysis indicated that both extracts modulated antioxidant pathways in unstressed worms. Under oxidative stress, pre-treatment with AN and FV significantly reduced GST-4::GFP expression. In the nematode, AN was more protective under acute stress, whereas FV better supported physiological function in the absence of stressors. These findings demonstrate that AN and FV counteract oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells and in C. elegans, highlighting their potential as stress-reducing agents in animal feed. Full article

The health of crops is a major challenge for productivity growth in agriculture, with plant diseases playing a key role in limiting crop yield. Identifying and understanding these diseases is crucial to preventing their spread. In particular, greenhouse pepper leaves are susceptible to diseases such as mildew, mites, caterpillars, aphids, and blight, which leave distinctive marks that can be used for disease classification. The study proposes a seven-class classifier for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of pepper diseases, with a primary focus on pre-processing techniques to enhance colour differentiation between green and yellow shades, thereby facilitating easier classification among the classes. A novel algorithm is introduced to improve image vibrancy, contrast, and colour properties. The diagnosis is performed using a modified VGG16Net model, which includes three additional layers for fine-tuning. After initialising on the ImageNet dataset, some layers are frozen to prevent redundant learning. The classification is additionally accelerated by introducing flattened, dense, and dropout layers. The proposed model is tested on a private dataset collected specifically for this study. Notably, this work is the first to focus on diagnosing aphid and caterpillar diseases in peppers. The model achieves an average accuracy of 92.00%, showing promising potential for seven-class deep learning-based disease diagnostics. Misclassifications in the aphid class are primarily due to the limited number of samples available. Full article

Pimelea is one of the highly toxic plants in Australia, particularly affecting cattle. It contains simplexin, a potent toxin that can cause Pimelea poisoning (St. George Disease) in livestock. A survey was conducted to assess the current impact of Pimelea on livestock production, pasture systems, and financial losses among agricultural producers. In addition, information was also sought about the environmental conditions that facilitate its growth and the effectiveness of existing management strategies. The survey responses were obtained from producers affected by Pimelea across nine different Local Government Areas, through three States, viz., Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. Pimelea was reported to significantly affect animal production, with 97% of producers surveyed acknowledging its detrimental effects. Among livestock, cattle were the most severely affected (94%), when compared to sheep (13%), goats (3%), and horses (3%). The presence of Pimelea was mostly observed in spring (65%) and winter (48%), although 29% of respondents indicated that it could be present all year-round under favorable rainfall conditions. Germination was associated with light to moderate rainfall (52%), while only 24% linked it to heavy rainfall. Pimelea simplex F. Muell. was the most frequently encountered species (71%), followed by Pimelea trichostachya Lindl. (26%). Infestations were reported to occur annually by 47% of producers, with 41% noting occurrences every 2 to 5 years. Financially, producers estimated average annual losses of AUD 67,000, with 50% reporting an average of 26 cattle deaths per year, reaching up to 105 deaths in severe years. Some producers were spending up to AUD 2100 per annum to manage Pimelea. While chemical and physical controls were commonly employed, integrating competitive pastures and alternative livestock, such as sheep and goats, was considered as a potential management strategy. This study reiterates the need for further research on sustainable pasture management practices to reduce Pimelea-related risks to livestock and agricultural production systems. Full article

In this paper, we introduce Kluitenberg’s formulation of non-equilibrium thermodynamics with internal variables in the context of a Riemannian space, as required by Einstein’s general relativity. Using the formulation of the second law of thermodynamics in general coordinates with a pseudo-Euclidean metric, we derive a Levi-Civita-like energy tensor and propose a generalization of the second law within a Riemannian space, in agreement with Tolman’s approach. In addition, we determine the expression for the entropy density in a general Riemannian space and identify the new variables upon which it depends. This allows us to deduce, within this framework, the equilibrium inelastic and viscous stress tensors as well as the entropy production. These expressions are consistent with the principle of general covariance and Einstein’s equivalence principle. Full article

Sodium chloride is a chemical compound that has been encountered by people for thousands of years, and plays a significant role in their lives. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of table salt from the perspective of health, food technology, and cultural heritage. The article discusses salt extraction and production, its composition and consumption, and its effects on the human body. The authors draw attention to new trends, such as the use of micronized salt, microencapsulated salt, and salt with colors and shapes that differ from those of typical table salt. Scientific studies on the presence of undesirable substances and the use of salt additives were reviewed. The role of salt in dairy, meat, and bakery technology was illustrated. Gaps in research on salt were highlighted. In the last part, all types of salt with geographical indications are shown. The paper suggests that producers with a long tradition in the salt sector should apply for the European geographical indications to enhance their national and cultural heritage and promote their region. The review highlights the need for further research on all aspects discussed. Full article

Seed oil represents a key trait in soybeans, which holds substantial economic significance, contributing to roughly 60% of global oilseed production. This research employed genome-wide association mapping to identify genetic loci associated with oil content in soybean seeds. A panel comprising 341 soybean accessions, primarily sourced from Northeast China, was assessed for seed oil content at Heilongjiang Province in three replications over two growing seasons (2021 and 2023) and underwent genotyping via whole-genome resequencing, resulting in 1,048,576 high-quality SNP markers. Phenotypic analysis indicated notable variation in oil content, ranging from 11.00% to 21.77%, with an average increase of 1.73% to 2.28% across all growing regions between 2021 and 2023. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis revealed 119 significant single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci associated with oil content, with a prominent cluster of 77 SNPs located on chromosome 8. Candidate gene analysis identified four key genes potentially implicated in oil content regulation, selected based on proximity to significant SNPs (≤10 kb) and functional annotation related to lipid metabolism and signal transduction. Notably, Glyma.08G123500, encoding a receptor-like kinase involved in signal transduction, contained multiple significant SNPs with PROVEAN scores ranging from deleterious (−1.633) to neutral (0.933), indicating complex functional impacts on protein function. Additional candidate genes include Glyma.08G110000 (hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA transferase), Glyma.08G117400 (PPR repeat protein), and Glyma.08G117600 (WD40 repeat protein), each showing distinct expression patterns and functional roles. Some SNP clusters were associated with increased oil content, while others correlated with decreased oil content, indicating complex genetic regulation of this trait. The findings provide molecular markers with potential for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in breeding programs aimed at increasing soybean oil content and enhancing our understanding of the genetic architecture governing this critical agricultural trait. Full article

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different additives on the microbial composition, fermentation quality, and bacterial community structure of big-bale Leymus chinensis silage. An experiment was set up with four treatment groups: a control (C) group, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L) group, molasses (M) group, and L. rhamnosus + molasses (LM) group, with three replications per group, and L. chinensis silages were fermented for 20 and 40 days. The lactic acid, acetic acid, 1,2-propanediol, and propionic acid contents increased, and pH, butyric acid, 1-propanol, and ethanol contents decreased in the L, M, and LM groups compared to the C group. In the LM group, the number of lactic acid bacteria was the highest, while the pH was the lowest. Enterobacter and Paucibacter were the main dominant genera in the C group. The addition of L. rhamnosus and molasses increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Weissella, and Enterococcus. Lactobacillus abundance correlated positively (p < 0.01) with Lactococcus, Enterococcus, and Weissella and correlated negatively with Enterobacter and Paucibacter. Conversely, Enterobacter and Paucibacter showed a strong positive correlation (p < 0.01, R = 0.55) during fermentation. Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Weissella were positively associated (p < 0.01) with acetic and lactic acid levels, while Enterobacter abundance was correlated positively (p < 0.05, R = 0.43) with 1,2-propanediol content. In summary, the addition of both L. rhamnosus and molasses improved the fermentation quality and bacterial community structure of big-bale L. chinensis silage. In addition to inhibiting harmful microorganisms, this combination improved the fermentation products of big-bale L. chinensis silage through microbial regulation. Full article

Using waste biomass as a raw material for the combined production of electricity and heat offers corresponding energy, economic, environmental and resource efficiency benefits. The study examines both the performance of a system for combined energy production based on the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) utilizing wood biomass and the market interest in its deployment within Bulgaria. Its objective is to propose a technically and economically viable solution for the recovery of waste biomass through the combined production of electricity and heat while simultaneously assessing the readiness of industrial and municipal sectors to adopt such systems. The cogeneration plant incorporates an ORC module enhanced with three additional economizers that capture residual heat from flue gases. Operating on 2 t/h of biomass, the system delivers 1156 kW of electric power and 3660 kW of thermal energy, recovering an additional 2664 kW of heat. The overall energy efficiency reaches 85%, with projected annual revenues exceeding EUR 600,000 and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of over 5800 t/yr. These indicators can be achieved through optimal installation and operation. When operating at a reduced load, however, the specific fuel consumption increases and the overall efficiency of the installation decreases. The marketing survey results indicate that 75% of respondents express interest in adopting such technologies, contingent upon the availability of financial incentives. The strongest demand is observed for systems with capacities up to 1000 kW. However, significant barriers remain, including high initial investment costs and uneven access to raw materials. The findings confirm that the developed system offers a technologically robust, environmentally efficient and market-relevant solution, aligned with the goals of energy independence, sustainability and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat, with wild birds increasingly recognized as potential reservoirs of resistant pathogens and as sentinels of environmental AMR. This study investigated the occurrence and AMR profiles of Gram-negative bacteria isolated from wild birds that died at the Wildlife Rescue Center in Vanzago, Lombardy, in 2024. Cloacal swabs were collected from 112 birds representing various ecological categories. A total of 157 Gram-negative bacteria were isolated and identified, including clinically relevant genera and species, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed resistance to first-line and critically important antimicrobials, including those exclusively authorized for human use. Notably, a phenotype compatible with Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) production was detected in four out of ten (40%) K. pneumoniae isolates. In addition, 20 out of the 157 (12.7%) isolated bacteria phenotypically exhibited a resistance profile indicative of AmpC beta-lactamase (AmpC) production, including Enterobacter spp. and P. aeruginosa. Resistance patterns were particularly interesting in birds with carnivorous, scavenging, or migratory-associated behaviors. These findings highlight the role of wild birds in the ecology and dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and highlight the need for wildlife-based AMR monitoring programs as part of a One Health approach. Full article

A brief review of various existing mathematical formulations of the uncertainty relations in quantum mechanics, containing variances of two or more non-commuting operators, is given. In particular, inequalities for the products of higher-order moments of a coordinate and a momentum are considered, as well as inequalities making the uncertainty relations more accurate when additional information about a quantum system is available (for example, the correlation coefficient or the degree of mixing of a quantum state characterized by the trace of the squared statistical operator). The special cases of two, three, and four operators are discussed in detail. Full article

Nano- and microplastic pollution, together with the ongoing rise in global temperatures driven by climate change, represent increasingly critical environmental challenges. Although these stressors often co-occur in the environment, their combined effects on plant systems remain largely unexplored. To test the hypothesis that their interaction may exacerbate the effects observed under each stressor individually, we investigated the response of seedlings of Triticum turgidum to treatments with fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics under optimal (25 °C) and elevated (35 °C) temperature conditions. We evaluated seedling growth, photosynthetic pigment content, and oxidative stress markers using both biochemical and histochemical techniques. In addition, we assessed enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant responses. The use of fluorescently labeled nanoplastics enabled the visualization of their uptake and translocation within plant tissues. Elevated temperatures negatively affect plant growth, increasing the production of proline, a key protective molecule, and weakly activating secondary defense mechanisms. Nanoplastics disturbed wheat seedling physiology, with these effects being amplified under high temperature conditions. Combined stress enhances nanoplastic uptake in roots, increases oxidative damage, and alters antioxidant responses, reducing defense capacity in leaves while triggering compensatory mechanisms in roots. These findings underscore a concerning interaction between plastic pollution and climate warming in crop plants. Full article

The growing demand for sustainable materials has led to increased interest in biodegradable polymer fibers and nonwoven mats due to their eco-friendly characteristics and potential to reduce plastic pollution. This review highlights how mechanical properties influence the performance and suitability of biodegradable polymer fibers across diverse applications. This covers synthetic polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyglycolic acid (PGA), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), as well as natural polymers including chitosan, collagen, cellulose, alginate, silk fibroin, and starch-based polymers. A range of fiber production methods is discussed, including electrospinning, centrifugal spinning, spunbonding, melt blowing, melt spinning, and wet spinning, with attention to how each technique influences tensile strength, elongation, and modulus. The review also addresses advances in composite fibers, nanoparticle incorporation, crosslinking methods, and post-processing strategies that improve mechanical behavior. In addition, mechanical testing techniques such as tensile test machine, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis are examined to show how fabrication parameters influence fiber performance. This review examines the mechanical performance of biodegradable polymer fibers and fibrous mats, emphasizing their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional materials in applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, medical implants, wound dressings, packaging, and filtration. Full article

A continuous mixing process with a twin-screw extruder was investigated for graphite-based negative electrode pastes for high-power applications. In the extrusion-based mixing process, the first kneading concentration is one of the key processing parameters for systematic optimization of relevant electrode paste properties like viscosity and particle size distribution. For different active materials at a constant electrode paste composition, a clear correlation of increasing kneading concentration with decreasing viscosity can be observed up to a certain reversal point, initiating a change in the trend and the rheological behavior, thus indicating a process limit. The fundamental effects causing this change and the associated impact on materials and battery performance were evaluated by applying further analytical methods and electrochemical characterization. It is revealed that the change in viscosity is associated with enhanced de-agglomeration of the carbon black additive and with partial particle grinding of the active material and thus a partial change in the interlayer distance of graphene layers and, correspondingly, the electrochemical behavior of the active material. Beyond this, correlations between processing parameters and product properties are presented. Furthermore, indicators are suggested with which monitoring of the machine parameters enables the detection of changes in the electrode paste characteristics. Full article

The ecological rice–eel co-culture system is not only beneficial for enhancing productivity and sustainability in agriculture but also plays a crucial role in promoting environmental health. In the present study, based on the long-term positioning trial of the rice–eel co-culture system that began in 2016 and was sampled in 2023, the effects of reduced nitrogen fertilizer application on soil physico-chemical properties and the bacterial community were investigated. Treatments included a conventional regular fertilization treatment (RT), rice–eel co-culture system regular fertilization (IT), and nitrogen-reduction 10%, 30%, and 50% fertilization treatments (IT90, IT70, and IT50). Our research demonstrated the following: (1) Compared to RT, IT significantly increased soil water-stable macroaggregates (R0.25), mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), and available phosphorus content, with the increases of 15.66%, 25.49%, 36.00%, and 18.42%, respectively. Among the nitrogen-reduction fertilization treatments, IT90 showed the most significant effect. Compared to IT, IT90 significantly increased R0.25, MWD, GMD, and available nitrogen content, with increases of 4.4%, 7.81%, 8.82%, and 28.89%, respectively. (2) Compared to RT, at the phylum level, the diversity of Chloroflexi was significantly increased under IT and IT50, and the diversity of Gemmatimonadota was significantly increased under IT90, IT70, and IT50. The diversity of Acidobacteriota was significantly higher in IT90 and IT70 compared to IT. It was shown that the rice–eel co-culture system and nitrogen fertilizer reduction could effectively improve the degradation capacity of organic matter and promote soil nitrogen cycling. In addition, redundancy analysis (RDA) identified total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and available nitrogen (p = 0.007) as the three most important environmental factors driving changes in the bacterial community. (3) The functional prediction analysis of soil microbiota showed that, compared to RT, the diversity of pathways related to biosynthesis (carbohydrate biosynthesis and cell structure biosynthesis) and metabolism (L-glutamate and L-glutamine biosynthesis) was significantly higher under IT70, IT90, IT, and IT50 (in descending order). However, the diversity of pathways associated with degradation/utilization/assimilation (secondary metabolite degradation and amine and polyamine degradation) was significantly lower under all the rice–eel co-culture treatments. In conclusion, the rice–eel co-culture system improved soil physicochemical properties and the soil microbial environment compared with conventional planting, and the best soil improvement was achieved with 10% less N fertilizer application. Full article