Search Results (1,424)

Accurate above-ground biomass (AGB) quantification is confounded by signal saturation and data fusion challenges, particularly in structurally complex ecosystems like bamboo forests. To address these gaps, this study developed a two-stage framework to map the AGB of Dendrocalamus giganteus in a subtropical mountain environment. This study first employed Empirical Bayesian Kriging Regression Prediction (EBKRP) to spatialize sparse GEDI and ICESat-2 LiDAR metrics using Sentinel-2 and topographic covariates. Subsequently, a stacked ensemble model, integrating four machine learning algorithms, predicted AGB from the full suite of continuous variables. The stacking model achieved high predictive accuracy (R² = 0.84, RMSE = 11.07 Mg ha⁻¹) and substantially mitigated the common bias of underestimating high AGB, improving the predicted observed regression slope from a base model average of 0.63 to 0.81. Furthermore, SHAP analysis provided mechanistic insights, identifying the canopy photon rate as the dominant predictor and quantifying the ecological thresholds governing AGB distribution. The mean AGB density was 71.8 ± 21.9 Mg ha⁻¹, with its spatial pattern influenced by elevation and human settlements. This research provides a robust framework for synergizing multi-source remote sensing data to improve AGB estimation, offering a refined methodological pathway for large-scale carbon stock assessments. Full article

The Mayanghe National Nature Reserve, a key habitat for the endangered François’ langur (Trachypithecus francoisi), faces significant anthropogenic disturbances, including extensive distribution of croplands, roads, and settlements. These human-modified features are predominantly concentrated at elevations between 500 and 800 m and on slopes of 10–20°, which notably overlap with the core elevation range utilized by François’ langur. Spatial analysis revealed that langurs primarily occupy areas within the 500–800 m elevation band, which comprises only 33% of the reserve but hosts a high density of human infrastructure—including approximately 4468 residential buildings and the majority of cropland and road networks. Despite slopes >60° representing just 18.52% of the area, langur habitat utilization peaked in these steep regions (exceeding 85.71%), indicating a strong preference for rugged karst terrain, likely due to reduced human interference. Habitat type analysis showed a clear preference for evergreen broadleaf forests (covering 37.19% of utilized areas), followed by shrublands. Landscape pattern metrics revealed high habitat fragmentation, with 457 discrete habitat patches and broadleaf forests displaying the highest edge density and total edge length. Connectivity analyses indicated that distribution areas exhibit a more continuous and aggregated habitat configuration than control areas. These results underscore François’ langur’s reliance on steep, forested karst habitats and highlight the urgent need to mitigate human-induced fragmentation in key elevation and slope zones to ensure the species’ long-term survival. Full article

Recent archaeological discoveries across the Aegean, Cyprus, and western Anatolia have renewed interest in pre-Neolithic seafaring and early island colonization. However, the environmental contexts that support such early coastal occupations remain poorly understood, largely due to the submergence of Pleistocene shorelines following post-glacial sea-level rise. This study addresses this gap through an integrated geoarchaeological investigation of the pre-Neolithic site of Ouriakos on Lemnos Island, northeastern Aegean (Greece), dated to the mid-11th millennium BCE. By reconstructing both the terrestrial and submerged paleolandscapes of the site, we examine ecological conditions, resource availability, and sedimentary processes that shaped human activity and site preservation. Employing a multiscale methodological approach—combining bathymetric survey, geomorphological mapping, soil micromorphology, geochemical analysis, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating—we present a comprehensive framework for identifying and interpreting early coastal settlements. Stratigraphic evidence reveals phases of fluvial, aeolian, and colluvial deposition associated with an alternating coastline. The core findings reveal that Ouriakos was established during a phase of environmental stability marked by paleosol development, indicating sustained human presence. By bridging terrestrial and marine data, this research contributes significantly to the understanding of human coastal mobility during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. Full article

As a cultural corridor connecting the Central Plains and Northeast China, the Liaoxi Corridor has a special position in the transmission of traditional Chinese culture. Traditional villages in the region have preserved rich intangible cultural heritage and traditional architectural features, which highlight the historical heritage of multicultural intermingling. This study fills the gap in the spatial distribution of traditional villages in the Liaoxi Corridor and reveals their spatial distribution pattern, which is of great theoretical significance. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis and quantitative geography, this study analyzes the spatial pattern of traditional villages and the influencing factors. The results show that traditional villages in the Liaoxi Corridor are clustered, forming high-density settlement areas in Chaoyang County and Beizhen City. Most villages are located in hilly and mountainous areas and river valleys and are affected by the natural geographic environment (topography and water sources) and historical and human factors (immigration and settlement, border defense, ethnic integration, etc.). In conclusion, this study provides a scientific basis and practical reference for rural revitalization, cultural heritage protection, and regional coordinated development, aiming at revealing the geographical and cultural mechanisms behind the spatial distribution of traditional villages. Full article

As an integral component of humanity’s cultural heritage, traditional villages universally confront challenges such as population loss and cultural discontinuity amid rapid urbanization. Cluster-based protection models have increasingly become the international consensus for addressing the survival crisis of such settlements. This study selects the Central Yunnan region of Southwest China—characterized by its complex geography and multi-ethnic habitation—as the research area. Employing ArcGIS spatial analysis techniques alongside clustering algorithms, we examine the spatial distribution characteristics and clustering patterns of 251 traditional villages within this region. The findings are as follows. In terms of spatial distribution, traditional villages in Central Yunnan are unevenly dispersed, predominantly aggregating on mid-elevation gentle slopes; their locations are chiefly influenced by rivers and historical courier routes, albeit with only indirect dependence on waterways. Regarding single-cluster attributes, the spatial and geomorphological features exhibit a composite “band-and-group” pattern shaped by river valleys; culturally, two dominant modes emerge—“ancient-route-dependent” and “ethnic-symbiosis”—reflecting an economy-driven cultural mechanism alongside latent marginalization risks. Concerning construction characteristics, the “Qionglong-Ganlan” and Han-style “One-seal” residential features stand out, illustrating both adaptation to mountainous environments and the cumulative effects of historical culture. Based on these insights, we propose a three-tiered clustering classification framework—“comprehensive-element coordination”, “feature-led”, and “potential-cultivation”—to inform the development of contiguous and typological protection strategies for traditional villages in highland, multi-ethnic regions. Full article

Housing sustainability is a cornerstone element of sustainable economic and social development. This is particularly true for China, where high-rise residential buildings are the primary form of housing. In recent years, China has experienced frequent housing-related accidents, resulting in a significant loss of life and property damage. This study aims to identify the key factors influencing housing sustainability and provide a basis for the prevention and control of housing-related safety risks. This study has developed a housing sustainability evaluation indicator system comprising three primary indicators and 16 secondary indicators. This system is based on an analysis of the causes of over 500 typical housing accidents that occurred in China over the past 10 years, employing research methods such as literature reviews and expert consultations, and drawing on the analytical frameworks of risk management theory and system safety theory. Subsequently, the NK-SNA model, which significantly outperforms traditional models in terms of adaptive learning and optimization, as well as the explicit modeling of complex nonlinear relationships, was used to identify the key risk factors affecting housing sustainability. The empirical results indicate that the risk coupling value is correlated with the number of risk coupling factors; the greater the number of risk coupling factors, the larger the coupling value. Human misconduct is prone to forming two-factor risk coupling with housing, and the physical risk factors are prone to coupling with other factors. The environmental factors easily trigger ‘physical–environmental’ two-factor risk coupling. The key factors influencing housing sustainability are poor supervision, building facilities, the main structure, the housing height, foundation settlement, and natural disasters. On this basis, recommendations are made to make full use of modern information technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence to strengthen the supervision of housing safety and avoid multi-factor coupling, and to improve upon early warnings of natural disasters and the design of emergency response programs to control the coupling between physical and environmental factors. Full article

The impact of soundscapes in religious architecture on public psychology has garnered increasing attention in both research and policy domains. However, the mechanisms by which temple soundscapes influence public emotions remain scientifically unclear. This paper aims to explore how soundscapes in temple architectures designated as World Natural and Cultural Heritage sites affect visitors’ experiences. Considering visitors with diverse social and demographic backgrounds, the research design includes subjective soundscape evaluations and EEG measurements from 193 visitors at two World Heritage temples. The results indicate that visitors’ religious beliefs primarily affect their soundscape perception, while their soundscape preferences show specific correlations with chanting and human voices. Furthermore, compared to males, females exhibit greater sensitivity to emotional variations induced by soundscape experiences. Urban architects can enhance visitors’ positive emotional experiences by integrating soundscape design into the planning of future religious architectures, thereby creating pleasant acoustic environments. Full article

The Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) is an important ecological barrier and cultural intermingling zone in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and its traditional villages carry unique information about natural changes and civilisational development, but face the challenges of conservation and development under the impact of modernisation and ecological pressure. This study takes 112 traditional villages in the TGRA that have been included in the protection list as the research objects, aiming to construct a cultural landscape identification framework for the traditional villages in the TGRA. Through field surveys, landscape feature assessments, GIS spatial analysis, and multi-source data analysis, we systematically analyse their cultural landscape type systems and spatial differentiation characteristics, and then reveal their cultural landscape types and spatial differentiation patterns. (1) The results of the study show that the spatial distribution of traditional villages exhibits significant altitude gradient differentiation—the low-altitude area is dominated by traffic and trade villages, the middle-altitude area is dominated by patriarchal manor villages and mountain farming villages, and the high-altitude area is dominated by ethno-cultural and ecologically dependent villages. (2) Slope and direction analyses further reveal that the gently sloping areas are conducive to the development of commercial and agricultural settlements, while the steeply sloping areas strengthen the function of ethnic and cultural defence. The results indicate that topographic conditions drive the synergistic evolution of the human–land system in traditional villages through the mechanisms of agricultural optimisation, trade networks, cultural defence, and ecological adaptation. The study provides a paradigm of “nature–humanities” interaction analysis for the conservation and development of traditional villages in mountainous areas, which is of practical value in coordinating the construction of ecological barriers and the revitalisation of villages in the reservoir area. Full article

This paper examines interpretations of depopulation in Norse Greenland between the 14th and 15th centuries CE. Using in-depth interviews with 13 experts working on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of settlement and depopulation in Norse Greenland, we examine the different interpretations of decline by experts using the same data. Our analysis reveals a geographical and disciplinary pattern of interpretation that reflects the institutional and disciplinary cultures, successive paradigms, and placed ideas about human–environment interaction. We examine the interplay between data and interpretation to uncover key developments in knowledge of the past and ideas about both the role of climate, ecology and social, economic and political processes in the end of the Norse settlement in Greenland, as well as their wider persistence in the North Atlantic region. In particular, we emphasise the importance of active reflection on disciplinary training, schools of thought, and national narratives in both the interpretation and perceived relevance of the past. Full article

Background/Objectives: Breast milk donation is increasingly recognized as a vital public health resource, providing optimal nutrition for infants who cannot be breastfed by their biological mothers. Human milk banks play a crucial role in supporting infant health, particularly for preterm and medically vulnerable infants. Despite its recognized benefits, the practice of breast milk donation and utilization remains influenced by a complex interplay of individual, social, and cultural factors. Methods: This study systematically examines how demographic and sociocultural variables are associated with attitudes and behaviors related to breast milk donation. Data were collected from 1223 Israeli mothers via questionnaires distributed through WhatsApp groups between April and May 2025. By analyzing the questionnaire results, the research identified key predictors of willingness to donate and use donated milk, as well as patterns of awareness and perceived support within different population groups. Results: Higher education (χ² = 12.87, p = 0.0016) and settlement type (χ² = 83.096, p = 0.000) were significantly associated with greater willingness to donate breast milk. Income level had no effect on donation behavior, though higher-income participants were more open to its use (χ² = 86.838, p = 0.000). Lifestyle also influenced perceptions of social support (F(2, 1220) = 259.4036, p < 0.001) and cultural support (F(2, 1220) = 601.2383, p < 0.001) of milk donation and use. Significant correlation was found between perceived cultural and social support (t = 5.140, p = 0.000), emphasizing their interrelated influence on milk donation attitudes. Conclusions: The findings assist in guiding the development of public health policies, as well as targeted awareness campaigns, to promote equitable access to donor milk services across varied communities. From the public health perspective, the findings of this study can orientate campaigns that encourage both donation and use of breast milk focusing on segments of the population in which the level of awareness is relatively low. Full article

Assessing the risks associated with waste disposal is essential for environmental protection and sustainable development, especially given concerns about the impact of industrial activities on the environment. This study analyses soil contamination in the Defor Petrila tailings-dump area caused by the deposition of waste material resulting from coal exploitation. To characterise the heavy-metal contamination in detail, we applied a comprehensive methodology that includes the calculation of the geo-accumulation index (I_geo), contamination factor (Cf), and potential ecological risk index (PERI), along with an analysis of the heavy-metal concentration isolines and a statistical analysis using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The results reveal varying levels of heavy-metal concentrations, as indicated by the calculated indices. The findings underscore the need for remediation and ongoing monitoring to mitigate the environmental impacts. This study provides a scientific basis for decision making in environmental management and highlights the importance of assessing mining-waste disposal near human settlements using various contamination-assessment methods. Full article

Cities are the growth engines responsible for shaping the global economy, major contributors to climate change, and are significantly affected by it. However, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to make these cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Yet, the rapid and unplanned urban expansion exacerbates various environmental challenges and reduces green cover in urban areas. To address these issues and meet the SDGs, stakeholders need to emphasise and optimise urban spaces. This study investigates the borough-level analysis of green spaces and human exposure to green spaces across London using satellite-derived datasets on vegetation and socio-economic factors to examine the variations in urban vegetation cover and urban population exposure to vegetation cover between 2017 and 2024. This study highlights the spatial disparity in green space coverage and exposure to green space between the inner and outer boroughs of London. The methodology used here suggests an average loss of approximately 11 and 9 percent in green space coverage and green space exposure to population, respectively, between 2017 and 2024 across London boroughs. Full article

The Shenduntou Site, a significant Zhou Dynasty settlement in Anhui Province, provides rare insights into early Chinese woodcraft. This study examines exceptionally preserved wooden structures from Well J1, dating to the Western Zhou period (9th–8th c. BCE). Anatomical analysis identified the timber as Firmiana simplex (L.), indicating ancient selection of this locally available species for its water resistance and mechanical suitability in well construction. Comprehensive degradation assessment revealed severe structural deterioration: maximum water content (1100% ± 85% vs. modern 120% ± 8%) demonstrated extreme porosity from hydrolysis; X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed a 69.5% reduction in cellulose crystallinity (16.1% vs. modern 52.8%); Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed near-total hemicellulose degradation, partial cellulose loss, and lignin enrichment due to chemical recalcitrance; Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging documented multiscale damage including vessel thinning, pit membrane loss, and cell wall delamination from hydrolytic, microbial, and mineral degradation. These findings reflect Western Zhou inhabitants’ pragmatic resource utilisation while highlighting advanced material deterioration that poses significant conservation challenges, providing critical insights into Zhou-era woodcraft and human–environment interactions in the lower Yangtze region. Full article

Given the increasing challenges posed by frequent extreme climatic events, understanding the climate–human connection between the climate system and the transitions of ancient civilizations is crucial for addressing future climatic challenges, especially when examining the relationship between the abrupt events of the Holocene and the Neolithic culture development. Compared with the globally recognized “4.2 ka collapse” of ancient cultures, the initial start time and the cultural significance of the 5.5 ka climatic fluctuation are more complex and ambiguous. The Hongshan culture (6.5–5.0 ka) is characterized by a complicated society evident in its grand public architecture and elaborate high-status tombs. However, the driving mechanisms behind cultural changes remain complex and subject to ongoing debate. This paper delves into the role of climatic change in Hongshan cultural shifts, presenting an integrated dataset that combines climatic proxy records with archaeological data from the Hongshan culture period. Based on synthesized aeolian, fluvial-lacustrine, loess, and stalagmite deposits, the study indicates a relatively cold and dry climatic fluctuation occurred during ~6.0–5.5 ka, which is widespread in the Horqin dune field and adjacent areas. Combining spatial analysis with ArcGis 10.8 on archaeological sites, we propose that the climatic fluctuation between ~6.0–5.5 ka likely triggered the migration of the Hongshan settlements and adjustment of survival strategies. Full article