Search Results (441)

Post-fire rehabilitation structures are widely used in Mediterranean burned landscapes to reduce runoff and sediment transfer, yet their ecological associations with early vegetation recovery remain insufficiently documented. This observational study assessed vascular plant composition, species richness, vegetation cover, plant density, aboveground biomass, and soil properties across log barriers, wattles, and log dams in the burned landscape of Ancient Olympia, western Greece. The study area belongs to the humid climatic class of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) aridity framework based on the Thornthwaite aridity index, providing a comparatively wetter Mediterranean post-fire context. Paired depositional and eroded microsites in operationally restored post-fire areas were monitored in 2022 and 2023. The sampling design comprised nine plots and 18 microsites (n = 9 plots, 18 microsites). Generalized estimating equations (GEE), change-score models, principal component analysis (PCA) and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) were performed to examine associations of monitoring year, microsite condition and rehabilitation structure type with soil and vegetation patterns. A total of 27 vascular plant species belonging to 16 families were recorded. The average vegetation cover increased from 39.17 ± 21.44% in 2022 to 75.11 ± 12.90% in 2023. Model-based marginal estimates with 95% confidence intervals indicated a large positive increase in vegetation cover over this period. Further, rapid early recovery was indicated by large increases in species richness, plant density and biomass. Depositional microsites were associated with stronger recovery signals than eroded ones, characterized by a larger increase in vegetation cover, density, biomass and species richness. Among rehabilitation structures, log dams showed the highest cumulative floristic richness and a broader observed floristic spectrum, although the species-level contingency analysis provided only marginal evidence for structure-associated differences in floristic composition. Changes in selected soil properties including total nitrogen (total N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K), were detected between 2022 and 2023; the multivariate soil pattern was driven primarily by mineral nitrogen, pH, and EC. These findings suggest that, under operational post-fire restoration conditions, rehabilitation structures are associated not only with erosion-control functions but also with microsite differentiation that may shape early plant establishment and biodiversity recovery in Mediterranean burned landscapes. Full article

Optimization of nitrogen (N) management is critical for enhancing maize (Zea mays L.) productivity while maintaining soil health. The present study investigated the impact of split-application fertilization strategies on soil chemical properties and grain yield across three distinct soil types (calcaric fluvisol, luvic phaeozem, and stagnic phaeozem) in Mureș County, Romania, over three cropping seasons (2022–2024). Three fertilization variants were evaluated: the first treatment, designated V1, involved the application of 300 kg/ha NPK 20-20-0 + 300 kg/ha urea, the second treatment V2 utilized 300 kg/ha NPK 20-20-0 + 300 kg/ha NAC 27 N-calcium ammonium nitrate, and the third treatment V3 served as the baseline control, receiving (300 kg/ha NPK 20-20-0). Results indicated that significant differences were observed among the three experimental sites representing contrasting soil types for soil chemical properties and maize productivity. Calcaric fluvisol exhibited the highest production potential, attaining a mean yield of 11,702.78 kg/ha. The impact of N supplementation on soil N levels and maize yield was found to be significant. The variant receiving urea supplementation (V1) achieved the highest median yield of 9560 kg/ha in comparison to the 7420 kg/ha obtained in the control. A strong positive correlation was observed between N index and yield across all soil types (ρ = 0.93 to 0.97, p < 0.001). Fertilization significantly influenced soil pH, CaCO₃ content, nitrogen index, phosphorus availability, and maize yield, whereas humus content remained relatively stable among treatments. These findings indicate that a split-fertilization regime combining NPK with urea provides a favorable balance between productivity and cost-effectiveness and maize output in the Transylvanian Plateau. Full article

The present study addresses the fabrication of porous gyroid architectures by additive manufacturing from preceramic polymer feedstocks. Photocurable emulsions were engineered by combining a silicone powder with acrylate monomers and dispersing an emulsified secondary phase of calcium nitrate. The formulations showed light-curing behaviour compatible with digital light processing vat photopolymerization (DLP-VPP), enabling high-fidelity replication of triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) gyroids (designed porosity: 85 vol.%). After pyrolysis in nitrogen at 700 °C, the lattices converted into CaO–SiO₂-derived amorphous matrices embedding an in situ turbostratic/pyrolytic carbon fraction, as suggested by the photothermal response and preliminary impedance behaviour, although the latter was measured in liquid electrolyte and therefore does not isolate electronic transport. To improve robustness during polymer-to-ceramic conversion, pharmaceutical borosilicate waste glass (BASG) was added as a passive filler (30–70 wt.%). The waste-glass phase acts as a passive filler that improves processing robustness and can mitigate shrinkage-induced damage during pyrolysis, while remaining electrically insulating (dielectric) and therefore not directly contributing to electronic conduction. The resulting structures combine high surface-to-volume ratio, controlled open porosity, and structural integrity with electrochemical responsiveness under the adopted test conditions, making them promising architected platforms for electrochemical components where interconnected porosity is advantageous. Full article

A comprehensive assessment of the effect of different light spectra on the growth, development, and nutritional composition of Mentha longifolia L. cv. “Vesenniy Aromat” (mint) and Melissa officinalis L. cv. “Limonnyy Aromat” (lemon balm) grown in hydroponic conditions in closed artificial agroecosystems was conducted. The growing period was 75 days for mint and 87 days for lemon balm. The photon flux density (PFD) in the range of 400–800 nm was ~140 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, and the light period was 16 h. Five lighting options and four spectral color ratios were used in the treatments—blue (B), green (G), red (R), and far red (FR), and 3:66:27:4 (HPL (control)); 16:42:39:3 (White LED); 96:3:1:0 (Blue LED); 1:1:98:0 (Red LED) and 25:3:72:0 (Red + Blue LEDs)—in a growth chamber for cultivation with controlled environmental conditions. Under White LED, M. longifolia L. plants were compact, with a large number of leaves and high plant biomass. The effect of Red + Blue LEDs had a general trend for M. longifolia L. and M. officinalis L. in terms of improving plant morphology (leaf area, number of leaves, and plant biomass), elemental composition (contents of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus) and reducing the accumulation of nitrates in the plants. Blue spectrum lighting significantly affected the content of leaf pigments, quercetin, rosmarinic acid, and essential oils of mint and lemon balm. Red spectrum lighting significantly reduced the accumulation of nitrates in the vegetative mass of plants. Precise regulation of metabolic processes, taking into account the spectral quality of light, can contribute to improving the economic efficiency of the growth, development, and productive potential of mint and lemon balm grown under controlled conditions. Full article

Groundwater is the primary source of livestock watering across the arid pasturelands of western Kazakhstan, yet no systematic field hydrochemical assessment has been published for this region in over 40 years. This study presents the first systematic field-based hydrochemical characterisation of groundwater sources used for pasture livestock watering in the West Kazakhstan Region and Aktobe Region, filling a critical data gap that has persisted since the Soviet era. Specifically, it characterises the hydrochemistry, water quality, and infrastructure condition of groundwater sources, and evaluates the groundwater resource potential against current and projected livestock water demand. A total of 139 groundwater samples were collected along 11,182 km of field routes during May–July 2025, and analysed for 25 physicochemical parameters; hydrochemical classification was performed using AquaChem 11, and spatial analysis was conducted in ArcGIS 10.8. The groundwater chemistry distribution is bimodal: fresh bicarbonate-calcium-magnesium waters (TDS < 3.0 g/L) constitute approximately 80% of samples, while highly mineralised chloride-sulphate-sodium waters (TDS up to 9.91 g/L) occur in salt-dome-influenced discharge zones. Nitrate concentrations exceeded 50 mg/L in 23–36% of samples, with maxima of 635 mg/L, reflecting intensive anthropogenic contamination near livestock facilities. Predictive exploitable fresh groundwater resources exceed current livestock demand by a factor of 162. The principal constraint on pasture water supply is not resource scarcity but the non-operational status of 51–75% of inspected watering infrastructure, a legacy of post-Soviet institutional collapse that requires urgent rehabilitation. Full article

Soil quality is a critical determinant of crop productivity. This study assessed the soil quality of 61 barley farmlands in central and northern Hubei Province based on ten soil chemical properties: pH, soil organic matter (SOM), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), hydrolyzable nitrogen (HN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), exchangeable calcium (Exc-Ca), exchangeable magnesium (Exc-Mg), and available sulfur (AS). A total of 68.85% of the farmlands were acidic (pH < 6.5). The average levels of SOM, NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, and HN were deficient, while AP was moderate, according to the Second State Soil Survey of China (SSSSC). AK, Exc-Ca, Exc-Mg, and AS were, on average, at moderate-to-abundant levels. Differences in preceding crops led to significant differences in pH and SOM between paddy and dryland fields. A minimum data set was established using six soil properties (HN, AS, AK, Exc-Ca, Exc-Mg, and NH₄⁺-N) to calculate the soil quality index (SQI). SQI ranged from 0.27 to 0.69, with an average of 0.45, indicating overall low soil quality in the region. Both accuracy importance and R²-weighted importance revealed that HN was the most influential factor driving SQI variation among the soil properties examined. This study elucidates the status of soil nutrients, offering a diagnostic basis for developing targeted fertilization strategies for barley in this region. Full article

N fertilisation affects the nutrient content of grasslands, and thus animal health. The effect of fertiliser treatments with calcium ammonium nitrate at doses of 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ was investigated on grassland nutrient content in a long-term field experiment. The dilution effect due to biomass growth was analysed separately from other effects. The biomass of the grass increased 3.4-fold, up to 5.82 t ha⁻¹. N fertilisation significantly reduced the concentrations of P and Mo and increased the concentrations of N, NO₃–N, Na, Mn, and Cu in the grass. From a grazing or feeding perspective, N treatment adversely increased the NO₃–N concentration, which exceeded the risky level of 1500 mg NO₃–N kg in the 200 kg N ha year⁻¹ treatment and decreased the P concentration. The treatments favourably increased the Na, Cu and Zn concentrations, reduced the Mo concentration, and improved the tetany index and the K:Na ratio. The 100 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ N dose can be recommended under conditions similar to those in the experiment. It is important to analyse the element content of grass when using mineral fertiliser in order to minimise animal health risks. Full article

This study investigates the feasibility of incorporating wood-based waste in cementitious composites for extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) printing through the production of artificial aggregates. Because lignocellulosic residues can retard cement hydration, wood dust was chemically modified with a calcium nitrate-based accelerator and granulated into aggregates using disc granulation. The resulting aggregates were characterized for mechanical robustness, and their influence on cement hydration and microstructural development was evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC). The modified aggregates were then incorporated into 3D printable cementitious mixtures to assess fresh-state properties, printability, and mechanical performance. The accelerator affected hydration by increasing bound water content and altering the development of hydration products. The produced aggregates exhibited sufficient crushing resistance for practical handling. The incorporation of artificial aggregates resulted in reduced compressive and flexural strengths compared to the reference mixture. However, the differences between mechanical properties measured in different loading directions were reduced, indicating a more uniform structural response in printed elements. The findings demonstrate that chemically treated wood-based aggregates can be successfully integrated into 3D printable cementitious systems, offering a promising pathway toward more sustainable construction materials. Full article

Aquaculture in ponds supplied by streams or rivers requires careful evaluation of key physicochemical parameters and potential pollution threats, particularly metals and microplastics. To address these challenges, this research aims to monitor daily climatic and physicochemical parameters and quantify potentially toxic metals and microplastics in the water of 19 fishponds in the SCDP Nucet, Romania, over one winter season (i.e., December 2024 to February 2025). During this season, unique hydrochemical conditions arise, such as lower temperatures, reduced light, and decreased activity, which can affect the ecological balance and fish health. Accordingly, a total of 4650 samples were collected and analyzed in terms of physicochemical parameters (i.e., alkalinity, bicarbonate, calcium ions, magnesium ions, Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ ratio, organic matter, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, ammonium, total hardness, resistivity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, salinity, turbidity, free and total chlorine), metals, and microplastics. Statistical analysis revealed the influence of winter weather on water quality, highlighting links between air and water temperatures and physicochemical parameters. Furthermore, water analyses revealed notable levels of microplastics, including fibers and fragments of various colors, shapes, and sizes. Polypropylene, polyethene, and nylon were the most prevalent. While appreciable quantities of blue, green, black, and yellow fibers were found in size ranges (0.09–0.3 mm), irregular yellow fragments or translucent particles were found in sizes less than 0.5 mm. Metal (i.e., Cr, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) concentrations do not exceed the standard values set by national and European regulations. However, it is worth noting that microplastics can amplify or mitigate metal toxicity. The results emphasize the importance of integrated monitoring of physicochemical parameters and emerging pollutants during the cold season, thereby improving understanding of the chemical processes governing water quality in fishponds, providing scientific support for future environmental risk assessment, and promoting innovative, adaptive technologies. Full article

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment can support sustainable crop production. This study evaluated whether ethanol supplementation improves swine wastewater (SW) treatment by Dictyosphaerium sp. and enhances algal biofertilizer production. Across the ethanol levels tested, 500 mg/L ethanol significantly promoted algal growth and enhanced liquid-phase net removal of total salts, carbonate/bicarbonate, ammonium, phosphate, and calcium. Ethanol supplementation also reduced apparent nitrogen loss, and no residual ethanol was detected at the end of the culture. In the biofertilizer production experiment, peak algal biomass, algal nitrogen, and algal phosphorus increased by 320.0–407.4%, 122.7–158.1%, and 100.0–170.0%, respectively. Metatranscriptomic analysis showed active transcription of adh, aldh/aldB, and acs in Dictyosphaerium sp. and some bacterial taxa, mainly Flavobacterium, Chryseobacterium, Comamonas, and Brevundimonas. Community and transcriptomic results indicate enhanced photosynthetic activity and taxon-specific N- and P-related transcriptional responses, consistent with altered nitrate/nitrite transformation potential and increased nitrogen retention in the algal–bacterial system. Under the tested conditions, ethanol supplementation shows promise for SW treatment and algal biofertilizer production. Full article

Plant growth inhibitors are a class of chemical substances that regulate plant growth and development; yet, their effects on the bolting, yield, and quality of asparagus lettuce remain largely unexplored. In this study, the cultivar ‘Bihongfeng’ of asparagus lettuce was used as the test material to investigate the regulatory effects of the foliar application of different concentrations of plant growth inhibitors (paclobutrazol, uniconazole, and prohexadione-calcium) on the growth yield and quality of asparagus lettuce. The results showed that the foliar application of plant growth inhibitors significantly inhibited the increase in plant height, promoted the thickening of fleshy stems, and improved the yield and quality of asparagus lettuce. The results are reported as estimated marginal means (±SE) derived from a fitted general linear model. Among them, compared with the control (CK), the foliar application of 300 mg·L⁻¹ paclobutrazol (A3), 135 mg·L⁻¹ uniconazole (B3), and 600 mg·L⁻¹ prohexadione-calcium (C4) reduced the bolting rate by 77%, 72.5%, and 69.4% and increased the yield by 24.1%, 28.6%, and 25.3%, respectively. The quality of asparagus lettuce was also significantly improved under the A3, B3, and C4 treatments. In comparison with CK, the soluble solids content increased by 84.6%, 42.3%, and 61.5%, the soluble protein content increased by 159.3%, 169.1%, and 140.6%, the nitrate content decreased by 22.4%, 18.9%, and 11.3%, and the cellulose content increased by 40.9%, 23.8%, and 31.7%, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the key indicators of asparagus lettuce under different concentrations of plant growth inhibitor treatments, and the results revealed that the 135 mg·L⁻¹ uniconazole (B3) treatment exhibited the optimal comprehensive performance. In conclusion, the foliar application of plant growth inhibitors at an appropriate concentration is an effective agronomic practice for delaying bolting and improving the yield and quality of asparagus lettuce, which provides a technical basis for the high-quality and high-yield cultivation of this crop. Full article

The integration of salt removal and structural consolidation remains a major challenge in heritage brick conservation. This research proposes a preliminary experimental setup for a dual-function microbial strategy using a single bacterium, Stutzerimonas stutzeri D1, capable of sequential denitrification (biocleaning) and ureolysis-driven microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (biocementation). After the pre-check assessment, which compared standalone, simultaneous, and sequential metabolic configurations, sequential denitrification followed by ureolysis (A→B) optimized functional compatibility, achieving 90.1% nitrate removal within 48 h and the highest precipitation rate during the biocementation phase. Application on authentic demolition waste (solid fired-clay brick specimens) demonstrated highly efficient nitrate reduction, alkalization (from pH value of 6.4 to 9.12), surface mineral deposition confirmed by visual inspection, SEM imaging, and XRD analysis. Furthermore, reduced water absorption (by 30%) and improved compressive strength (by 25%) for only 72 h of this dual treatment indicate a promising and holistic approach in the field of construction biotechnology of heritage brick conservation. These pioneer findings demonstrate that metabolic sequencing governs compatibility in dual-function bacterial systems and validate a sustainable, single-strain platform for combined biocleaning and biocementation of historic brick masonry structures. Full article

We examined neocortical pathology and interneuron degeneration in neonatal hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Piglets in two age groups (2–3 or 7–10 days old, n = 4–12/group) underwent global cerebral hypoxia–ischemia (HI) or sham treatment. Piglets (2–3 days old) had epidural electrodes for continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) and were treated with hypothermia (HT) or remained at normothermia (NT). Older piglets, all NT, had scalp EEG. Piglets at both ages had seizures and survived for 1–7 days. Cortical damage was assessed by hematoxylin & eosin staining and immunohistochemistry; calretinin (CR), parvalbumin (PV), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) interneurons (INs) were counted. Cell injury was assessed by DNA fragmentation and protein nitration. TAR DNA binding protein-43 (TDP43) and the DNA repair scaffold protein X-ray repair cross complementing-1 (XRCC1) were examined for degeneration mechanisms. Cortical layers 3 and 4 showed high vulnerability; damage emerged as isolated cells, focal and laminar, and distributed as panlaminar throughout different cortical regions that correlated with seizure burden. HT protected strongly against cortical damage. CR- and PV-INs were severely depleted in HI-NT piglets compared to sham. VIP INs appeared invulnerable. HT partially rescued the loss of INs. CR and PV formed nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions that colocalized with TDP43 and XRCC1; co-immunoprecipitation identified interactions among these proteins, and tyrosine nitration of CR. CR and PV INs accumulated DNA single- and double-strand breaks and appeared as attritional apoptosis variants with proteinopathy. This cell death is identified as aggreosis. IN loss correlated with seizure presence. Postmortem human neonatal HIE cases had a similar loss of CR and PV INs and nuclear depletion of TDP43 in the neocortex. Thus, neonatal HIE causes the loss of neocortical inhibitory IN subtypes with vulnerabilities instructed by their intrinsic calcium-binding protein signature and by mechanisms consistent with toxic sequestration and the nuclear depletion of XRCC1 and TDP43 underlying DNA damage accumulation. Early inhibitory IN deletion could drive seizure evolution in HIE; TDP43 and XRCC1 could be therapeutic targets for neonatal HIE. Full article

Salt stress poses a major environmental challenge that leads to ecological imbalance and reduced agricultural productivity globally. Sapium sebiferum, a highly valued ornamental and perennial woody oil species, shows promise for saline land utilization due to its natural salt stress adaptability. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the responses of S. sebiferum to salt stress by integrating RNA sequencing and Non-invasive Micro-test Technology (NMT). Comparative transcriptome analysis identified 693, 1061, and 1851 differentially expressed genes at 1 h, 3 h and 6 h after salt treatment, respectively. Functional analysis of DEGs revealed that genes related to ion binding, transmembrane transport, and signal transduction were significantly enriched. Notably, genes involved in calcium (Ca²⁺) and phytohormone signaling were altered, activating stress-response pathways. Furthermore, the dynamic effects of salt stress on nitrate (NO₃⁻) and ammonium (NH₄⁺) uptake were assessed. After salinity stress (150 mM NaCl), an increase in the net influx of NO₃⁻ was observed under the conditions of the assay, while the net flux of NH₄⁺ did not show a significant change. The differential expression of NRT genes suggests that NO₃⁻ may play a multifaceted role in salinity tolerance, potentially contributing to nutrition, ion homeostasis, and signaling pathways. The coordinated signaling network likely allows S. sebiferum to effectively cope with salinity stress and sustain physiological functions under challenging conditions. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular basis of salt tolerance in S. sebiferum, thereby supporting sustainable practices in saline environments. Full article

Aluminum (Al) toxicity constrains plant performance in acidic volcanic soils, yet nitrogen (N) fertilization may influence Al availability and plant responses. This study evaluated the effects of N source and rate under contrasting soil liming conditions on vegetative growth, mineral nutrition, and physiological performance of non-bearing northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. cv. Blue Ribbon^®) plants. A split–split-plot experiment was conducted in southern Chile using urea or potassium nitrate applied at 0, 20, or 40 kg N ha⁻¹ to plants grown in unlimed soil or soil amended with calcium carbonate or magnesium oxide. Vegetative growth, tissue mineral composition, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, and leaf chlorophyll were monitored during the first season. Growth responded primarily to soil liming rather than N supply, indicating low N demand and substantial soil N mineralization under the experimental conditions. Foliar N increased from 1.36 to 1.70% with increasing N rates. Urea nutrition reduced foliar Al concentration by 12% compared with nitrate. Under unlimed conditions, representing maximal soil Al availability, urea fertilization was associated with 70% higher Al retention in roots relative to nitrate. Chlorophyll content was consistently higher under urea supply, while the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II remained unaffected. These findings indicate that N form influences plant Al partitioning independently of growth responses. Although the underlying mechanisms were not directly assessed, the observed patterns suggest that urea fertilization may reduce Al translocation to shoots under conditions of high Al availability. Full article