Search Results (492)

We studied Galápagos barn owls on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos Archipelago. We collected and analyzed pellets to determine diet composition. Barn-owl diet consisted—in terms of biomass—of ~89% rodents and ~10% insects. Bird remains occurred in 1% of the pellets. Foraging was studied with data loggers, a method not previously applied to the study of Galápagos barn owls. Owls rested during the day in natural and human-built roosts such as lava holes, trees, or huts. Night-time foraging was characterized by periods during which the bird moved and periods during which the bird stayed within one place, with the latter amounting to ~56% of the time away from the day roost. Birds began foraging shortly after sunset and returned to their day roost before sunrise. The duration of foraging was approximately 11 h per night. Foraging areas were small (median value: 0.28 km²). Although our data demonstrate a continued presence of the subspecies, we regard the situation for this subspecies as labile, as multiple threats, such as road kills, poisoning, and intentional killing by farmers, have increased recently, and suggest the development of a management plan to improve its conservation. Full article

Global climate change is causing increasing fluctuations in winter temperatures, including episodes of warm conditions above 9 °C. Such events disrupt cold acclimation in plants and can induce deacclimation, reducing frost tolerance and altering, among other things, hormonal regulation. This study investigated hormonal and molecular changes associated with cold acclimation and deacclimation in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivars Kuga and Thure. Plants were grown under different conditions: non-acclimated (17 °C for three weeks), cold-acclimated (4 °C for three weeks), and deacclimated (16/9 °C day/night for one week). Detailed hormone analysis included auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, stress-related hormones, and the expression of hormone-related genes (BnABF2, BnAOS, BnARF1, BnARR6, BnICS1, BnRGA, and BnWRKY57). Hormone concentrations in leaves changed dynamically in response to deacclimation with increased amounts of growth-promoting hormones and decreased amounts of stress hormones. Additionally, alterations in gene expression during deacclimation, such as in BnABF2 and BnICS1, may function as protective mechanisms to help maintain or regain frost tolerance during reacclimation when temperatures decline again after the warm period. These findings improve the understanding of hormonal and molecular responses involved in the deacclimation of oilseed rape. Full article

Global warming and rapid urbanization have increased population exposure to heatwaves, with compound day- and night-time heatwaves (CDNH) posing greater health risks than individual heatwave events. Although air conditioning (AC) adaptation effectively mitigates heat-related impacts, its role in reducing CDNH exposure under climate change remains unknown. Using meteorological and socioeconomic data, this study quantified population exposure to CDNHs and the impacts that could be avoided through AC adaptation across China and its regional variations. Results show that CDNH exposure risks were particularly high in the middle–lower Yangtze–Huaihe Basin and south China, with an increasing trend observed over the period of 2001–2022. AC adaptation has reduced the exposure risk and its upward trend by 5.85% and 37.87%, respectively, with higher mitigating effects in urban areas. By breaking down the total exposure changes into climatic, demographic, and AC-driven changes, this study reveals that increased AC contributes 10.16% to exposure reduction, less than the effect of climate warming (59.80%) on the exposure increases. These findings demonstrate that expanding AC adaptation alone is insufficient to offset climate-driven increases in exposure, highlighting the urgent need for more effective adaptation measures to address climate change and thereby alleviate its adverse impacts on human beings. Full article

Legume crops are sensitive to shifting environmental conditions, as they depend on a narrow range of climatic stability for growth and nitrogen fixation. This research sought to assess the sustainability of Faba Asturiana (FA) cultivation under current and future climatic scenarios by establishing generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs). Specifically, it aimed to (1) investigate the effects of significant climatic stressors, including higher nighttime temperatures and extended drought periods, on crop viability, (2) analyze future scenarios based on Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5), and (3) recommend adaptive measures to mitigate threats. Six spatial GLMMs were developed, incorporating variables such as extreme temperatures, precipitation, and the drought duration. Under present-day conditions (1971–2000), all the models exhibited strong predictive performances (AUC: 0.840–0.887), with warm nights (tasminNa20) consistently showing a negative effect on suitability (coefficients: −0.58 to −1.16). Suitability projections under future climate scenarios revealed considerable variation among the developed models. Under RCP 4.5, Far Future, Model 1 projected a 7.9% increase in the mean suitability, while under RCP 8.5, Far Future, the same model showed a 78% decline. Models using extreme cold, drought, or precipitation as climatic stressors (e.g., Models 2–4) revealed the most significant suitability losses under RCP 8.5, with the reductions exceeding 90%. In contrast, comprising variables less affected by severe fluctuations, Model 6 showed relative stability in most of the developed scenarios. The model also produced the highest mean suitability (0.130 ± 0.207) in an extreme projective scenario. The results highlight that high night temperatures and prolonged drought periods are the most limiting factors for FA cultivation. ecological niche models (ENMs) performed well, with a mean AUC value of 0.991 (SD = 0.006) and a mean TSS of 0.963 (SD = 0.024). According to the modeling results, among the variables affecting the current distribution of Protected Geographical Indication-registered AF, prspellb1 (max consecutive dry days) had the highest effect of 28.3%. Applying advanced statistical analyses, this study provides important insights for policymakers and farmers, contributing to the long-term sustainability of PGI agroecosystems in a warming world. Full article

To investigate the group behavioral characteristics of Schizothorax wangchiachii during the spawning period, we used acoustic telemetry to track 10 mature individuals (4 females, 12 males) in a semi-controlled stream section (28.1 m × 5.8 m) simulating natural spawning microhabitats from 23 to 26 January 2024. By integrating trajectory similarity analysis and wavelet transform, we examined the aggregation patterns and activity rhythms during natural spawning events. The population formed two relatively stable subgroups, with significantly shorter inter-individual distances during the day (1.69 ± 0.72 m) than at night (2.54 ± 0.85 m, p < 0.01). Aggregation behavior exhibited a dominant ultradian rhythm of 16.5 h, with stable clustering between 09:00 and 16:00 (spawning window: 13:40–14:20) and dispersal from 19:00 to 00:00. Group activity followed a decreasing-then-increasing trend, with higher nighttime activity. Males were more active than females (F = 51.89, p < 0.01); female activity peaked on the spawning day and was influenced by reproductive progression, while male activity was mainly driven by diel rhythms (p < 0.01). A weak positive correlation was found between active time and inter-individual distance in both sexes (r = 0.32, p < 0.05), indicating reduced activity when aggregated. These findings provide insight into the temporal coordination and spatial regulation of reproductive behavior under semi-controlled conditions. However, due to the short monitoring period and experimental setup, caution is warranted when generalizing to the full reproductive season or fully natural habitats. Full article

The worldwide air pollution situation reveals significant environmental challenges. In addition to being a major contributor to the deterioration of air quality, particulate matter (PM) is also an important factor affecting the performance of solar energy systems given its ability to decrease light transmission to solar panels. As part of our research, the present investigation involves monitoring concentrations of PM using a high-performance optical instrument, the in situ calibration protocol of which is described in detail. For the city of Rabat, observations revealed significant variations in concentrations between day and night, with peaks observed around 8 p.m. correlating with high relative humidity and low wind speeds, and the highest levels recorded in February with a monthly average value reaching 75 µm/m³. In addition, an experimental protocol was set up for an analysis of the elemental composition of particles in the same city using SEM/EDS, providing a better understanding of their morphology. To assess the impact of meteorological variables on PM concentrations in two distinct climatic environments, a database from the city of Marrakech for the year 2024 was utilized. Overall, the distribution of PM values during this period did not fluctuate significantly, with a monthly average value not exceeding 45 µm/m³. The random forest method identified the most influential variables on these concentrations, highlighting the strong influence of the type of environment. The findings provide crucial information for the modeling of solar installations’ soiling and for improving understanding of local air quality. Full article

This study presents the design and techno-economic comparison of two standalone photovoltaic (PV) systems, each supplying a 1 kW critical load with 100% reliability under Cairo’s climatic conditions. These systems are modeled for both the constant and the night load scenarios, accounting for the worst-case weather conditions involving 3.5 consecutive cloudy days. The primary comparison focuses on traditional lead-acid battery storage versus green hydrogen storage via electrolysis, compression, and fuel cell reconversion. Both the configurations are simulated using a Python-based tool that calculates hourly energy balance, component sizing, and economic performance over a 21-year project lifetime. The results show that the PV/H₂ system significantly outperforms the PV/lead-acid battery system in both the cost and the reliability. For the constant load, the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) drops from 0.52 USD/kWh to 0.23 USD/kWh (a 56% reduction), and the payback period is shortened from 16 to 7 years. For the night load, the LCOE improves from 0.67 to 0.36 USD/kWh (a 46% reduction). A supplementary cost analysis using lithium-ion batteries was also conducted. While Li-ion improves the economics compared to lead-acid (LCOE of 0.41 USD/kWh for the constant load and 0.49 USD/kWh for the night load), this represents a 21% and a 27% reduction, respectively. However, the green hydrogen system remains the most cost-effective and scalable storage solution for achieving 100% reliability in critical off-grid applications. These findings highlight the potential of green hydrogen as a sustainable and economically viable energy storage pathway, capable of reducing energy costs while ensuring long-term resilience. Full article

Chilling injury can limit the productivity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), especially in over-wintering greenhouse. We here explored the effect of the pre-application of chlorogenic acid (CGA) in mitigating the impact of chilling on tomato. Flowering plants subjected to either chilling (15 °C/5 °C, day/night) or pre-treatment with CGA followed by chilling for 6 days and then by a two-day control recovery period were compared to plants maintained at control conditions (25 °C/18 °C, day/night). Chilling significantly affected the expression of PSII CP43 Chlorophyll Apoprotein, NAD (P) H-Quinone Oxidoreductase Subunit 5 and ATP Synthase CF1 Beta Subunit, reduced leaf Fv/Fm and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, suggesting elevated oxidative stress. These correlated with reduced shoot biomass. All these aspects were mitigated by pretreatment with CGA. Transcriptomic and metabolomic co-analysis indicated that CGA also suppressed the shikimate pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and phenylalanine accumulation but enhanced cinnamic acid and indole acetate synthesis. Hence, the pre-chilling CGA protected the tomato plant from chilling injury by maintaining light energy utilization and reprograming secondary metabolism. This study describes the mechanism through which CGA pre-treatment can be used to maintain tomato productivity under chilling conditions. Full article

The amount of space provided to laying hens has been an animal welfare topic of concern from consumers, special interest groups, and lawmakers. The freedom to perform normal behaviors is one component of animal welfare, and, therefore, the objective of this study was to assess behavior at different stocking densities. Shaver White laying hens were housed in colony cages at five stocking densities. Video recordings of three cages/treatment were taken at 30, 46, and 62 weeks of age in the morning, afternoon, and night. At each age, a 20 min segment of video from each time of day was analyzed. Every minute was annotated to identify the behavior that hens spent the majority of their time performing. Data were averaged to calculate the percentage of hens engaged in each behavior per cage. The total count of aggressive bouts was recorded across the 20 min period. Data were analyzed with a general linear model utilizing the variables time of day, density, age, and the full factorial of interactions. Intermediate stocking densities displayed the lowest percentage of crouching (p = 0.009) and aggressive acts per hen (p < 0.0001). Hens stocked at 1341.93 cm² walked the most (p < 0.0001). Hens were seen standing and preening (p < 0.0001) more in the morning, crouching and sham dust bathing (p < 0.0001) more in the afternoon, stretching less while feeding and drinking, and being more aggressive at night (p < 0.0001). Finally, as hens aged, they began to stand and crouch more (p < 0.0001) and preen (p = 0.013), walk (p < 0.0001), and demonstrate aggressive behaviors (p = 0.007) less. In conclusion, the majority of behaviors assessed were not influenced by stocking density. However, the different amounts of aggression between the treatments could indicate higher stress and frustration, which warrants more investigation. Full article

Background: In systemic sclerosis (SSc), endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and reduced nitric oxide levels may disrupt circadian blood pressure (BP) regulation. There are studies showing that inflammatory and certain other cells in diseases like SSc exhibit diurnal rhythms. In our study, we examined the effect of SSc on BP. In particular, the frequency of the non-dipper pattern (lack of nighttime BP reduction) in SSc patients has not been adequately investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 24 h BP profile in SSc patients and to compare the frequency of the non-dipper pattern with that of the non-scleroderma group. Additionally, the identification of disrupted circadian BP patterns in SSc patients aims to contribute to the development of personalized, time-sensitive BP monitoring strategies in the future and to support the applicability of personalized medicine in this context. Methods: A total of 31 SSc patients diagnosed according to the 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria and 30 age- and sex-matched individuals without SSc were included in this prospective study. BP changes between day and night were evaluated by measuring BP every 30 min with a 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) device. The non-dipper pattern was defined as a decrease in BP of less than 10% during the night compared to the day. To better assess BP fluctuations during the night, nighttime measurements were divided into two time periods: first, 24:00–04:00, and then 04:00–08:00. Additionally, laboratory and clinical parameters and SSc subtypes were compared between the groups. Results: The ABPM findings were compared between the groups with and without SSc. The non-dipper pattern was significantly more common in the SSc group at all time intervals. The non-dipper pattern was observed in 25.8% of the non-SSc group and 83.9% of SSc patients (p < 0.001). In the period between 24:00 and 04:00, the prevalence was 25.8% in the control group and 71.0% in SSc patients (p < 0.001), and between 04:00 and 08:00, it was 35.5% in the control group and 80.6% in SSc patients (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found in non-dipper patterns between individuals with diffuse and limited cutaneous forms of systemic sclerosis. Conclusions: The non-dipper BP pattern is significantly more common in patients with SSc, indicating the disruption of the circadian rhythm affecting BP. Analysis performed by dividing the night into specific time periods revealed that this deterioration continued throughout the night. The findings highlight the importance of circadian BP monitoring in SSc patients and may contribute to future risk stratification and treatment strategies. Circadian BP analysis in SSc may help to develop strategies that are personalized for these patients and tailored to their physiological rhythm. Full article

Patient compliance remains a significant challenge in orthodontic treatment with clear aligners, as adherence to prescribed wear time is often suboptimal. This study investigated the potential of colorimetric analysis as a method to assess compliance with NOXI 3D-printed night-time aligners. Specifically, it evaluated color variations in polyamide aligners due to thermo-oxidation, using the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color model as a non-invasive indicator. In total, 10 patients participated in this prospective study, wearing aligners for either 7 or 12 h daily over a 14-day period. Colorimetric measurements were collected via a smartphone-based application, and statistical analyses examined correlations between wear duration and color changes. The results revealed a significant association between a longer wear time and increased discoloration (p < 0.001), supporting the feasibility of RGB-based monitoring as a reliable compliance tool. However, individual variability in saliva composition, diet, and oral hygiene may have influenced the results, highlighting the need for further research into potential confounding variables. These findings underscore the promise of integrating digital monitoring technologies to improve adherence tracking and patient management in orthodontics. Future studies should refine the methodology and validate its efficacy in larger, more diverse populations. Full article

As a mammal with unique ecological habits, the Chinese pangolin, Manis pentadactyla, exhibits nocturnal behavior and has a hidden, cave-dwelling lifestyle. Severe habitat degradation and fragmentation have led to a rapid decline in its wild population. Moreover, the immature state of artificial breeding technology restricts the availability of research samples, particularly with regard to behavioral and ecological data. This makes it extremely difficult to continuously monitor the pangolin’s ecological habits and population dynamics for a long time. The comprehensive research archive is yet to be established, greatly limiting the in-depth understanding of this species’ ecological behavior. To mitigate this data shortage, this study installed GPS positioning and accelerometer technology devices on five Chinese pangolins that were rescued from Zhejiang and released into the wild. Activity rhythms and home ranges were then analyzed based on the collected data. The results showed that all the five released Chinese pangolins were active in the wild and survived throughout the tracking period (21–72 days). The pangolins were mainly active at night, with activity starting after 18:00 and being mainly concentrated between 22:00 and 4:00. The home range of the Chinese pangolins based on MCP was 777.41 ± 426.26 hm², and the core range based on KDE was 596.21 ± 265.58 hm² (50% KDE). This result confirms that high-frequency GPS positioning combined with accelerometer data can effectively determine the home range sizes, habitat utilization, and fine-scale activity rhythms of wild-released pangolins. Full article

Particulate matter (PM) is recognized as a leading health risk factor worldwide, causing adverse effects for people in living and working environments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was shown that ultrafine particles (UFP) and PM concentrations, may have played an important role in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This study aims to investigate whether the mechanical ventilation system installed as a COVID-19 mitigation measure in a university dining hall can be effectively and sustainably used to improve indoor UFP exposure levels, integrated with a continuous low-cost sensor monitoring system. Measurements of particle number concentration (PNC), average diameter (D_avg), and Lung Deposited Surface Area (LDSA) were performed over three working days divided into ten homogeneous daily time slots (from 12:00 am to 11:59 pm) using high-frequency (1 Hz) real-time devices. PM and other indoor pollutants (CO₂ and TVOC) were monitored using low-cost handheld sensors. Indoor PNC (Dp < 700 nm) increased and showed great variability related to dining activities, reaching a maximum average PNC level of 30,000 part/cm³ (st. dev. 16,900). D_avg (Dp < 300 nm) increased during lunch and dinner times, from 22 nm at night to 48 nm during post-dinner recovery activities. Plasma-based filter technology reduced average PNC (Dp < 700 nm) by up to three times, effectively mitigating UFP concentrations in indoor environments, especially during dining hall access periods. It could be successfully adopted also after the pandemic emergency, as a sustainable health and safety control measure to improve UFPs exposure levels. Full article

From the urban sustainability perspective and from the steps essential for regulating/balancing the microclimate features, the creation and maintenance of urban green spaces (UGS) are vital. The UGS include vegetation of any kind in urban areas such as parks, gardens, vertical gardens, trees, hedge plants, and roadside plants. This “urban green infrastructure” is a cost-effective and energy-saving means for ensuring sustainable development. The relationship between urban landscape patterns and microclimate needs to be sufficiently understood to make urban living ecologically, economically, and ergonomically justifiable. In this regard, information on diverse patterns of land use intensity or spatial growth is essential to delineate both beneficial and adverse impacts on the urban environment. With this background, the present study aimed to address water requirements of UGS plants and trees during the non-rainy months from Panaji city (Koppen classification: Am) situated on the west coast of India, which receives over 2750 mm of rainfall, almost exclusively during June–September. During the remaining eight months, irrigating the plants in the UGS becomes a serious necessity. In this regard, the daily water requirements (DWR) of 34 tree species, several species of hedge plants, and lawn areas were estimated using standard methods that included primary (field survey-based) and secondary (inputs from key-informant survey questionnaires) data collection to address water requirement of the UGS vegetation. Monthly evapotranspiration rates (ET_o) were derived in this study and were used for calculating the water requirement of the UGS. The day–night average ET_o was over 8 mm, which means that there appears to be an imminent water stress in most UGS of the city in particular during the January–May period. The DWR in seven gardens of Panaji city were ~25 L/tree, 6.77 L/m² hedge plants, and 4.57 L/m² groundcover (=lawns). The water requirements for the entire UGS in Panaji city were calculated. Using this information, the estimated total daily volume of water required for the entire UGS of 1.86 km² in Panaji city is 7.10 million liters. The current supply from borewells of 64,200 L vis a vis means that the ET_o-based DWR of 184,086 L is at a shortage of over 2.88 times and is far inadequate for meeting the daily demand of hedge plants and lawn/groundcover. Full article

Climate conditions in combination with the concentration of pollutants increase the human health stress and exacerbate systemic diseases. The city of Rhodes is a desirable tourist destination that is located in a sensitive climate region of the southeastern Aegean Sea in the Mediterranean region. In this work, hourly recordings from a mobile air quality monitoring system, which is located in an urban area of Rhodes city, are employed in order to measure the concentration of regulated pollutants (${\mathrm{S}\mathrm{O}}_2,{\mathrm{N}\mathrm{O}}_2,{\mathrm{O}}_3,{\mathrm{P}\mathrm{M}}_{10} \mathrm{a}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{d} {\mathrm{P}\mathrm{M}}_{2.5})$ and meteorological factors (pressure, temperature, and relative humidity). The air quality health index (AQHI) and the discomfort index (DI) are calculated to study the impact of air quality and meteorological conditions on human health. The analysis is conducted during a hot summer period, from 29 June to 14 July 2024. During the second half of the studied period, a heatwave episode occurred that affected the bioclimatic conditions over the city. The results show that despite the fact that the concentration of pollutants is lower than the pollutant thresholds (according to Directive 2008/50/EC), the AQHI and DI conditions degrade significantly over the heatwave days. In particular, the AQHI is classified in the “Moderate” class, and the DI indicates that most of the population suffers discomfort. The AQHI and DI simultaneously increase during the days of the heat episode, showing a possible negative synergy for the health risk. Finally, both the day maximum and night minimum temperature are increased (about 0.8 and 0.6 °C, respectively) during the heatwave days as compared to the whole studied period. Full article