Search Results (2,268)

The sustainable development of valley-type historic towns is increasingly challenged by tourism growth, infrastructure modernization, and community change. Effective responses require a systematic understanding of how spatial morphology mediates the trade-offs between heritage conservation and socio-economic vitality. However, existing studies rarely connect configurational analysis with actionable sustainability strategies in topographically constrained settings. This study addresses this gap by developing a multi-level comparative framework that integrates GIS-based environmental assessment, space syntax configurational modelling, and building-fabric fieldwork. The framework is applied to three historic towns in the upper Yellow River Basin—Qingcheng, Hekou, and Hongcheng—which share similar valley constraints but diverged in historical functions (commercial, defensive, and mixed). Four dimensions are examined, mountain–water patterns, street networks, building fabric, and public-space systems, using indicators including elevation, slope, distance to water, axial integration, intelligibility, shop-front proportion, street aspect ratio, and public-node service radius. The results reveal two complementary layers of spatial logic. At the environmental level, all three towns exhibit shared valley-adaptive traits—near-water locations on relatively gentle terrain, low-slope terrace occupation, axial elongation, and concentrated public spaces. Flood risk was not directly assessed in this study. At the functional level, marked differentiation emerges. Hekou shows the highest network intelligibility (R² = 0.900) and commercial frontage (35% shop-front proportion), which may be interpreted in relation to its commercial and transportation history; however, socio-economic vitality was not directly measured. Hongcheng displays lower intelligibility (R² = 0.556) and thicker defensive walls (0.6–0.8 m), which may be interpreted in relation to its defensive history; however, cultural resilience and economic adaptability were not directly measured. Qingcheng presents a mixed pattern with a single high-integration axis and diverse public nodes, which may be interpreted as functional layering; this interpretation is theoretical and was not directly tested. Rather than offering a universal model, this study provides an evidence-based framework for diagnosing the sustainability implications of spatial form in valley-type historic towns. The findings translate morphological indicators into differentiated management strategies—prioritising commercial corridor continuity in Hekou, preserving defensive spatial sequences in Hongcheng, and balancing functional layering along the historic axis in Qingcheng. This framework contributes to sustainable heritage management by demonstrating how spatial analysis can inform context-sensitive planning that reconciles conservation with development in environmentally constrained settings. Full article

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is an annual edible plant that is widely distributed and has a long history of use as both food and medicinal plant. It has attracted interest as a source of alpha-linolenic acid, vitamins, minerals, and phenolic compounds, and as an underutilized plant for food applications. This review summarizes the reported compositional diversity of purslane, with particular attention to materials described as wild or cultivated. The available studies differ in cultivar, provenance, plant part, developmental and harvest stage, growth conditions, processing, analytical method, and reporting basis. Consequently, reported differences between wild and cultivated materials should not be interpreted as controlled effects of cultivation status or domestication. Experimental studies nevertheless show that particular nutrient regimes, salinity and light conditions, water treatments, harvest stages, plant parts, and processing methods can modify measured compositional or quality traits. Human intervention studies have used seeds or specific extracts, generally in modest samples and for short periods; their findings should not be generalized to fresh purslane or to purslane as a whole. Replicated common-environment and factorial studies using genetically characterized materials, standardized sampling, and common analytical procedures are needed to estimate plant-material, environmental, and interaction effects. These distinctions are essential for evaluating the nutritional, functional, safety, food-use, and agricultural potential of purslane. Full article

Background/Objectives: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that play a key role in the disruption of blood–brain barrier integrity and neuroinflammatory processes. The objective of this study is to elucidate the contribution of Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) rs1799750 (−1607 1G/2G), Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) [rs243865 (−1306 C > T), rs2285053 (−735 C > T)], and Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) rs3025058 (−1171 5A/6A) genetic variants to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), and to evaluate their potential as genetic markers of neurodegeneration in conjunction with clinical and environmental factors. Methods: The study included 100 MS patients and 100 healthy controls. Genotype distributions of MMP1, MMP2, and MMP3 genetic variants were determined using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) methods. Participants’ demographic data and clinical histories were recorded. The relevant MMP loci were genotyped, and genotype–allele frequencies as well as haplotype combinations were evaluated. Their associations with clinical parameters were analyzed using Chi-square tests, Odds Ratios (ORs), and One-Way Analysis of Variance (One-Way ANOVA). Results: The rates of heart disease history (13% vs. 4%, p = 0.031), alcohol consumption (29% vs. 14%, p = 0.011), and smoking (35% vs. 21%, p = 0.029) were significantly higher in MS patients compared to the control group. The MMP2 rs243865 (−1306) TT genotype showed a strong positive association with MS, exhibiting approximately 10-fold higher odds of the disease (p < 0.001). Similarly, the MMP3 rs3025058 5A/6A genotype was associated with 2.45-fold higher odds of MS (p < 0.003). Higher odds of the disease were particularly evident with the MMP2 rs243865 (−1306) TT and MMP3 rs3025058 6A/6A combination (OR: 6.769, p < 0.001), followed by the MMP2 rs243865 (−1306) TT and MMP2 rs2285053 (−735) CT combination (OR: 7.169, p < 0.001). No statistically significant association was found between the examined genotypes or haplotypes and clinical parameters, including attack frequency and disease duration (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our study indicates that MMP2 and MMP3 genetic variants are significantly associated with MS susceptibility, though these variants do not appear to directly influence disease severity parameters such as attack frequency and disease duration. These findings further support the potential involvement of MMPs, particularly in the immunopathological phase of the disease. Consequently, addressing modifiable lifestyle factors in individuals carrying susceptibility-associated genetic profiles and considering early interventions targeting MMP pathways may offer valuable strategic insights for personalized MS management. The data obtained suggest that MMP variations have a potential to be not merely disease markers, but also early-stage therapeutic markers that may be addressed before the first clinical attack occurs. The present study also emphasizes the necessity of transitioning from a reactive approach to a proactive, genetically based personalized medicine paradigm in MS management. Full article

Urbanization drastically alters bird communities, creating an urgent need for practical indicators to monitor species colonization and decline. We investigated whether the boldness of pigeon species—measured by Alert Distance (AD), Flight Initiation Distance (FID), and escape tactics (escape mode and site)—as well as abundance, are related to urban colonization history and ecological opportunities, with the aim of using them in monitoring programs for the colonization or disappearance of birds in cities. In the high-altitude Neotropical city of La Paz, Bolivia, we assessed five pigeon species in 15 urban green spaces, quantifying abundance and escape behaviors and relating them to several environmental metrics. The invasive Rock Pigeon (Columba livia ) exhibited the greatest abundance and boldness, escaping primarily by walking along the ground and preferring impermeable areas. The Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) showed intermediate abundance and boldness but a wider habitat uses than the Rock Pigeon. The recently urbanized Spot-winged Pigeon (Patagioenas maculosa) showed the lowest abundance and boldness, predominantly escaping by flying to elevated perches, demonstrating a strong dependence on tree cover. The Bare-faced Ground Dove (Metriopelia ceciliae) was only present in one green area, and the Picui Ground Dove (Columbina picui)was totally absent from our counts, likely indicating a process of decline within the city. Generalized linear mixed models show that body mass did not align with boldness, as suggested by theory; rather, boldness was more related to the timing and ecological opportunities for urban colonization in relation to environmental factors. Combining behavioral metrics (AD, FID and escape mode) with population censuses offers a low-cost, highly sensitive tool for monitoring urban wildlife dynamics and guiding biodiversity-friendly urban planning. Full article

This article examines how Philippe Thomassin’s Last Judgment (1606) engraving traveled from Rome to the colonial Spanish Americas, acting as a powerful tool for reshaping both local belief systems and the physical environment. Moving beyond simple artistic analysis, I show how this image promoted a worldview that prioritized human salvation over the survival of the natural world. I connect this historical visual culture to the modern destruction of the Amazon rainforest by apocalypticist religious groups, who view clearing the forest not as an environmental disaster but as the preparation of a divine paradise. By linking early modern prints to today’s climate crisis, I argue that art history must address the active role of eschatological images such as Thomassin’s: they do not just depict the end of the world but can actively help bring it about. This case study reveals how colonial visuality continues to shape the precarious future of the Amazonian biosphere. Full article

Eco-anxiety, commonly known as distress relating to perceived climate and ecological crises, is increasingly reported among young people, particularly in high-income and highly climate-exposed contexts such as Australia and other OECD countries. While empirical research on eco-anxiety has expanded rapidly, the underlying conceptual and theoretical frameworks remain fragmented, with limited consensus on definitions, mechanisms, and normative implications. This systematic conceptual review synthesises and critically evaluates the theoretical and conceptual models used to study eco-anxiety and related constructs among young adults in Australia and across OECD nations. By conducting a systematic search of multidisciplinary databases, the paper explores English-language studies published up to March 2026 that explicitly applied, developed, or implied conceptual frameworks of eco-anxiety or climate change anxiety in young adult samples. A broad array of models are grouped into a typology of seven families: (1) clinical and psychopathology-oriented models, (2) environmental attitudes and concern models, (3) risk perception and appraisal models, (4) existential and phenomenological frameworks, (5) socio-ecological and political-economy models, (6) coping and resilience frameworks, and (7) integrative and emergent eco-anxiety-specific frameworks. Across these families, eco-anxiety is variously conceptualised as a maladaptive symptom, a rational moral emotion, a driver of climate engagement, or a sociopolitical affect rooted in structural injustice. Major gaps include conflicting definitions, limited attention to developmental specificity in young adulthood, sparse cross-cultural and Indigenous perspectives in the Australian context, and insufficient theorisation of digital media, colonial histories, and policy in shaping eco-anxiety. The paper proposes a novel conceptual typology that locates eco-anxiety at the intersection of emotional, cognitive, relational, and sociopolitical processes. A future research trajectory underpinned by pragmatic theoretical bases that prioritise pluralistic, context-sensitive models and mixed-methods designs is suggested. Implications for measurement, intervention, and climate and mental health policy are discussed, with particular attention to young adults in Australia and OECD settings. Full article

Curing and conditioning are processing variables in geopolymer and alkali-activated materials. Reaction kinetics, phase assemblage, pore development, and later mechanical and durability responses all depend on the environmental history of the binder. Published procedures, however, are often compressed into labels that do not allow the thermal, moisture, and timing paths to be reconstructed. This critical review examines recurring problems in the reporting and interpretation of curing terminology, thermal regimes, moisture and humidity control, pre- and post-curing timing, transfer of curing practices between chemically distinct binder families, and attribution of property changes to curing. Studies on fly ash, slag, metakaolin, red mud, volcanic ash, one-part binders, and phosphate-activated systems show that similar curing labels can conceal important differences in sealing, water availability, heating history, pressure, relative humidity, and specimen state. These differences may alter reaction development and microstructure enough to compromise reproducibility, cross-study comparison, and mechanistic interpretation. Curing is therefore considered here as a processing path that should be reconstructable from the reported procedure. A tiered framework is proposed for minimum, recommended, and comprehensive reporting. Clearer definition of curing paths should improve structure–property interpretation and provide the methodological basis for future comparisons of the resource intensity of thermal and moisture conditioning. Full article

Benthic communities are a fundamental component of coastal marine ecosystems, regulating energy flow, mediating trophic transfer, and supporting a wide range of ecological functions closely linked to habitat characteristics. In Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), integrative approaches that simultaneously address trophic and functional dimensions are essential to assess ecosystem functioning and resilience to environmental disturbances. This study aimed to characterize and compare the trophic structure and functional diversity of benthic communities in sub-Antarctic fjords and channels of the Magellan region (southern Chile), all of which are located within MPAs and represent contrasting environmental settings characterized by either proglacial influence or a documented history of recurrent harmful algal bloom (HAB) occurrence and paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) exposure. We hypothesized that benthic communities under these contrasting environmental stressors would differ in carbon assimilation pathways, community isotopic niche breadth, and functional organization. Trophic structure was evaluated using stable isotope analysis (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N), Bayesian mixing models to estimate basal carbon source contributions, and community-level isotopic metrics. Functional diversity was quantified using biological and ecological traits to calculate community- and species-level functional indices. Our results revealed marked differences in trophic organization among localities, whereas global functional diversity indices were consistently low and similar across environmental settings. Communities from localities characterized by recurrent HAB/PST exposure showed limited trophic reliance on pelagic-derived organic matter, maintaining benthic-based energy pathways, whereas proglacial localities exhibited higher allochthonous subsidies and broader isotopic niches. Functional uniqueness and specialization metrics indicated strong functional redundancy and a high dependence on a small set of functionally distinctive species. These findings establish a baseline for remote MPAs and demonstrate the value of integrating trophic and functional metrics in long-term monitoring and adaptive management frameworks. Full article

Global forest ecosystems face escalating threats from intensive anthropogenic disturbances. Plants inhabiting forests with contrasting disturbance histories often evolve divergent life history strategies, as reflected in functional trait differences across heterogeneous environments. However, most previous studies have inadequately controlled for the confounding effect of species identity, as anthropogenic disturbances markedly alter community composition; such compositional turnover obscures the precise attribution of trait variation to environmental drivers. In this study, we comprehensively assessed 11 morphological traits and 24 ecological stoichiometry traits across 23 overlapping plant species distributed in both anthropogenically disturbed and well-conserved subtropical forests in eastern China. We systematically evaluated trait characteristics and their implications for life history strategies in disturbed versus conserved forests. Our results revealed that plants in disturbed forests exhibited significantly greater leaf thickness, higher dry matter content and tissue density in twigs, bark, and stems, and elevated leaf dry matter content, accompanied by reduced leaf area and specific leaf area, as well as lower nitrogen concentrations in leaves and twigs and lower phosphorus concentrations in bark and stems. Collectively, these traits reflect a resource-conservative strategy. In contrast, plants in conserved forests displayed opposing trait syndromes, indicative of a resource-acquisitive strategy. Notably, when analyses were restricted to overlapping species, no evidence of reduced functional trait variability was observed in disturbed forests. This study elucidates how anthropogenic disturbances drive divergent plant functional adaptations and enhances regional and global trait databases. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as emerging contaminants, making a systematic understanding of the co-occurrence patterns between MPs and conventional heavy metals (HMs) essential for addressing composite environmental risks. This study investigated MP abundance, morphology, and polymer composition, together with HM concentrations and chemical speciation in greenhouse farmlands across the Anning Valley, China, spanning different cultivation histories (1–8 years) and soil depths (0–40 cm). The results revealed that longer cultivation histories were accompanied by a marked accumulation of MPs, characterized by pronounced topsoil enrichment. MPs abundance increased from 758.53 n/kg in newly cultivated plots to 3373.19 n/kg in long-term plots, with topsoil level being 2.6 times higher than those in deeper layers (2462.25 vs. 951.25 n/kg). Under long-term cultivation, heavy metal contamination escalated, and contamination hotspots shifted from deeper soil to the MP-rich topsoil. In topsoil, HM also exhibited a higher proportion of potentially mobile fractions, reflecting greater potential mobility and bioavailability. Statistical associations between MPs and HMs co-varied with soil pH, organic matter, and coarse soil fractions, indicating complex inter-relationships influenced by shared agricultural management practices. This association weakened with soil depth and varied among elements, with Cd showing the strongest relationship with MPs and becoming the dominant contributor to HM risks. These findings demonstrate that farmland MP–HM co-contamination is spatially heterogeneous and metal-specific, providing field-scale evidence for improving ecological risk assessment and soil quality management under long-term plastic use. Full article

Wetlands support biodiversity and hydrological regulation; bird communities are sensitive indicators of environmental change. However, evidence linking bird-community patterns to restoration remains limited in the lower Yangtze floodplain wetlands. We aimed to characterize bird-community composition and spatiotemporal diversity in Longpao Yangtze Wetland and examine their association with restoration history. We conducted monthly surveys from November 2024 to September 2025 using line transects, point observations, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) monitoring. Combined records described species composition, standardized field records provided diversity indices, and historical records showed interannual patterns. We recorded 197 species in the combined inventory, including 5 Class I and 30 Class II nationally protected species; standardized surveys recorded 144 species. Winter migrants and Palearctic species were the largest residency and zoogeographical groups, respectively. Diversity was highest in spring and lowest in autumn, although autumn included one survey. Heterogeneous transects YX6 and YX3 had higher diversity. Recorded richness increased from 59 species (2019) to 197 (2025), coinciding with restoration. Longpao Wetland supports diverse birds of conservation concern, emphasizing the value of heterogeneous habitats. Unequal seasonal effort and inconsistent historical methods preclude causal inference. Future research should use standardized long-term monitoring and quantitative habitat analyses to guide hydrological management, habitat enhancement, and community co-management. Full article

Studying the causes of forest dieback in Norway spruce (Pícea ábies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands is crucial for predicting their occurrence, promoting sustainable forest management and reforestation, and investigating the properties of forest products derived from fallen wood. This research presents structured data on identified forest dieback hotspots in various regions, establishing that spruce dieback is a part of the overall boreal forest dieback currently observed in Russia, Europe, and North America. A structured review of the main factors influencing the drying out of forest stands showed that the first group includes biotic causes (infection of forest stands by root rot, bacteria, etc.), and the second group includes abiotic causes (waterlogging, swamping, poor soils, windfall, forestry activities, fires, consequences of land reclamation, recreational load). One of the main biotic causes of tree wilting is bacterial infection. Bacteriosis, as the primary agent, manifests itself as a concurrent infection with diseases such as various types of root fungus, Dutch elm disease, and oak tracheomycosis. Bacterial growth is driven by climate change and a number of abiotic factors specific to a given region. Active use of data and predictive modeling based on soil, climate, fire and logging history, species composition, and remote sensing data allows for forecasting the distribution and intensity of key types of decay (especially rot) at the forest stand level, enabling informed planning of management activities and optimization of logistics for the active processing of fallen timber. Monitoring dangerous pathogens and regulating the volume of deadwood to economically and environmentally acceptable levels represents a shift from fighting to managing decay. Sustainable forestry recognizes the environmental value of fallen timber as a component of deadwood and a raw material in the production of advanced chemical processing products based on responsible biorefining, particularly cellulose for various purposes and fuel pellets. Full article

Secondary xylem (wood) is a multifunctional tissue that reflects the evolutionary history of woody plants and shapes their ecological strategies. Variation in wood functional traits has often been interpreted through the Wood Economics Spectrum (WES), which describes trade-offs between resource acquisition and conservation and links wood traits to ecological strategies. Here, we synthesize structure–function relationships in secondary xylem across gymnosperms and angiosperms, focusing on the ecological significance of wood functional traits, including conduit size, pit membrane architecture, parenchyma abundance, and wood density. We consider their roles in water transport, biomechanical support, storage, and stress tolerance, and examine how seasonal patterns of xylogenesis relate to longer-term adaptive strategies and mechanisms that modify the expression of classical functional trade-offs, including hydraulic capacitance, parenchyma functions, reaction wood formation, and intraspecific plasticity. We propose a holistic perspective that builds on the classical WES by considering wood as a dynamic, multidimensional system shaped by interactions among anatomical traits, physiology, development, and environmental variability. Integrating seasonal xylogenesis and intraspecific plasticity with dendrochronological and microcoring approaches may provide a more comprehensive understanding of tree responses to climate change and improve forecasts of forest resilience. Full article

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a bulk industrial solid waste generated during wet-process phosphoric acid production. Its agricultural use may improve specific soil properties but may also increase the risk of agricultural non-point-source pollution. Differences in phosphate-rock source, production process, degree of washing, stockpiling history, and treatment method result in substantial variation among PG materials in mineral composition and in the concentrations, modes of occurrence, and release potential of P, F, soluble salts, potentially toxic elements, and naturally occurring radionuclides. This review combines a structured literature search with a qualitative synthesis of risk evidence and uses agricultural soils, the root zone, and field boundaries as the principal assessment domains. It examines the release, transformation, immobilization, crop uptake, leaching below the root zone, and export through runoff, erosion, and drainage of PG-associated constituents. It also evaluates the mechanisms, pollutant partitioning, agronomic effects, and non-target risks of hazard-reduction and functionalization technologies. Available evidence indicates that the agronomic effects and environmental risks of PG cannot be assessed solely on the basis of total constituent concentrations, Ca and S supply, the results of a single leaching test, or short-term crop responses. They also depend on the releasable pollutant load, cumulative application rate, soil chemical and hydrological conditions, crop exposure, and long-term stability. Washing, leaching, separation, stabilization, thermal treatment, and biological treatment can reduce the concentrations or releasability of some pollutants in the treated solid but may also transfer pollutants to wastewater, sludge, residues, or gaseous streams. Following source traceability, risk screening, and treatment where necessary, PG may be used to ameliorate sodic soils, regulate nutrient availability, or stabilize some pollutants through ion exchange, adsorption, precipitation, surface complexation, and organic–mineral binding. Its effectiveness and associated risks depend on material properties, soil conditions, target pollutants, and application methods. Accordingly, this review proposes a conceptual framework for the safe utilization of PG that integrates source traceability, material classification, selective hazard-reduction treatment, functionalization design, soil–crop matching, tiered verification, and long-term monitoring. The framework identifies assessment priorities and management considerations for specific materials and application scenarios. Full article

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Epidemiological evidence indicates that smoking is associated with reduced PD risk, potentially through oxidative stress-related pathways. PARK16 is a PD-susceptibility locus also implicated in oxidative stress regulation. This study examined gene–environment interaction involving smoking and a PARK16 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). A case–control study involving 999 Chinese subjects (497 cases, 502 controls) was conducted. PARK16 SNP rs6679073 (NC_000001.11:g.205787356C>A) was identified in a genome-wide association study in an Asian population. Logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (ORs), controlling for age, sex, family history, and comorbidities. Gene–environment interactions were assessed using both additive (RERI, AP, and S) and multiplicative models. Smoking was not significantly associated with PD risk in the cohort (adjusted OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.54–1.12, and p = 0.179). rs6679073 was significantly associated with increased PD risk under the recessive model (AA vs. CC/CA: adjusted OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.11–1.93, and p = 0.007). An additive interaction between rs6679073 and smoking was observed (RERI 0.85, 95% CI 0.21–1.50; AP 0.51, 95% CI 0.12–0.89). These findings suggest a biologically plausible interaction between PARK16 rs6679073 and cigarette smoking in modulating PD risk and warrants further investigation. Understanding gene–environment interactions may inform the design of mechanistic studies and contribute to risk stratification in susceptible populations. Full article