Search Results (40)

Grassland degradation severely undermines the functions of grassland ecosystems. Inconsistencies in defining grassland degradation have spawned various estimation methods, leading to ongoing controversies. We argue that grassland degradation is a process-oriented phenomenon and should thus be detected by identifying specific stages and statuses within this process. Based on this assumption, we quantified the grassland changes and mapped the grassland degradation in the Three-River Source Region (TRSR) by incorporating three-dimensional indicators: greenness, spatial heterogeneity, and temporal stability. We found that most grasslands exhibited a greening trend (78.59%), while the remaining 21.41% showed a browning trend. Meanwhile, a decreasing trend in spatial heterogeneity was observed in 56.93% of the grasslands, whereas 43.07% displayed the opposite trend. By combining the above two indicators, potential preliminary stages of grassland degradation were identified. The results indicate that 52.50% of the total grasslands are experiencing indicator-based signals consistent with improving conditions, while 47.50% remain in a potential deteriorating state. After incorporating stability, we found that 52.54% of the improving grasslands are in an unstable state, whereas 55.86% of the deteriorating grasslands are in a stable state. Although the observed greening trends coincide temporally with the implementation of ecological restoration projects in the TRSR, and this temporal overlap is consistent with the interpretation that these initiatives may have supported the observed improvement, the remotely sensed stable deteriorating trends hidden beneath unstable improvements require ongoing, targeted attention. Full article

Studies on the association between green spaces and childhood allergic diseases are limited and have yielded inconsistent results across different regions. Furthermore, this relationship remains underexplored in Chengdu, China. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between the residential greening rate, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), proportion of allergenic plants (proportion of allergenic woody plants, proportion of allergenic herbaceous plants), the closeness-to-nature characteristics of children’s playgrounds, and childhood allergic diseases in Chengdu. Seven representative neighborhoods were selected based on a 2018 database of pediatric patients from West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Through questionnaires in 2025, data on allergic diseases (e.g., atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis) were collected for 210 children aged 0–6 years. Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the data. The results indicate that in the overall sample, residential greening rate, NDVI, proportion of allergenic plants and closeness-to-nature characteristics of children’s playgrounds showed no significant association with allergic diseases. However, subgroup analyses revealed that greening rate was positively associated with allergy risk among children aged 0–3 years, whereas the proportion of allergenic woody plants was negatively associated with allergy risk in this age group; residential NDVI was significantly negatively associated with allergy risk in low-to-medium-housing-price neighborhoods (<19,000 CNY/m²), but positively associated in high-housing-price neighborhoods (≥19,000 CNY/m²); the proportion of allergenic herbaceous plants was significantly negatively associated with allergy risk in children only in high-housing-price neighborhoods. The presence of children’s playgrounds, accessibility of natural elements, integration of sites and facilities into the landscape, and use of natural materials in playgrounds and facilities showed a negative trend with allergy risk in low-to-medium-housing-price neighborhoods; the integration of sites and facilities into the landscape was significantly positively associated with allergy risk in high-rise neighborhoods. Collectively, these associations vary based on individual and neighborhood characteristics. Targeted green space planning and design interventions should be context-specific, synergistically optimizing vegetation coverage and plant composition, while enhancing the closeness-to-nature characteristics of children’s playgrounds within neighborhoods. Our results provide empirical evidence that may offer insights into the development of healthy and child-friendly cities. Full article

In the current context, where sustainability has become a global imperative, emerging markets have increasingly incorporated green finance as a strategic pillar to foster long-term growth and stability. This study examines the evolution, trends, and key challenges of sustainable investment in emerging economies, with a particular focus on the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. A systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus and Web of Science, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, based on a sample of 399 articles published over the past decade. The findings reveal a significant expansion in academic output on ESG investments in emerging markets, with an average annual growth rate of 14.06% and an international co-authorship rate of 37.34%. China, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the United States emerge as leading contributors, particularly since 2020. However, critical gaps persist, including inconsistencies in ESG ratings and the limited adaptation of ESG frameworks to local socioeconomic and institutional conditions. Future research should focus on strengthening public policy frameworks, designing effective fiscal incentives, assessing the distributive implications of green finance, and leveraging technologies such as fintech, blockchain, and artificial intelligence to enhance ESG rating consistency, transparency, risk measurement, and the overall efficiency of sustainable investments. Full article

This study examines pedestrian perceptions of streetscapes in Isfahan’s cultural heritage site by integrating deep learning–based image segmentation with urban morphological analysis. It addresses the opportunity to develop a scalable and context-sensitive method for assessing pedestrian-oriented heritage streetscapes, particularly where conventional street-view datasets are unavailable. Using a U-Net model applied to First-Person Pedestrian View (FPPV) images, five perceptual indices, imageability, enclosure, human scale, greenness, and walking index, were quantified to examine their associations with pedestrian experience. Street width was incorporated as a morphological variable to explore its relationship with perceptual qualities using Spearman correlation and visual trend analysis. The results indicate exploratory associations between visual composition and perceptual outcomes within the analysed heritage streetscape context, particularly between imageability, enclosure, and vegetation structure. In contrast, variables such as human scale and walking index showed weak or negligible associations with street width, indicating that pedestrian activity patterns within the analysed heritage streetscape may be influenced by additional spatial, landscape, and socio-functional factors beyond dimensional characteristics alone. Segmentation-based analysis achieved an accuracy of 83% in classifying dominant streetscape elements, offering a reproducible alternative to traditional survey-based methods. This study contributes a data-driven framework for assessing pedestrian streetscapes, emphasising morphological continuity, human-scale design, and green infrastructure as important dimensions of walkability assessment. It also identifies key challenges, including fragmented spatial morphology and inconsistent urban furniture placement, which may affect pedestrian comfort and use of space. These findings offer evidence-informed design considerations for historic streetscape assessment, with implications for balancing heritage conservation and contemporary pedestrian needs. Future research may refine perceptual metrics, incorporate behavioural or longitudinal validation, and extend the approach across diverse urban contexts. Full article

Satellite-derived bathymetry holds significant value for acquiring nearshore bathymetric data. However, in coastal waters, bathymetry is affected by in-water particle scattering and seafloor substrate variability, leading to spatial inconsistency between the logarithmic green band profile derived from multispectral satellite imagery and the actual water depth profile. According to the position information of interpolated points and the inverse distance square relationship with the surrounding 16 points from low-reference bathymetric data (such as the bathymetric map from GEBCO, NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts), this model adopts a third-order inverse distance square bicubic convolution interpolation method to resample a high-resolution bathymetric map with the size of the satellite image. Normalized underwater topography trend data (derived from the low-resolution reference bathymetric map) were combined with normalized green band data to compute an averaged dataset. In this way, a linear bathymetric model was constructed. We invert this model’s parameters and calculate the water depth by using the average data and reference points from reference bathymetric data. Validation tests were conducted across three test areas using independent validation bathymetric data: Weizhou Island, China (Case II waters); Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, USA (Case I waters); and Molokai Island, Hawaii, USA (Case I waters). Each test area was studied using five error analysis methods (i.e., scatterplot, error histogram, regional bathymetric error, three check lines, and seven check points). Compared to four classic bathymetric models (i.e., single-band model, log-ratio model, ratio-log model, and multi-band model), the proposed model achieved lower root mean square errors (RMSE) of 2.08 m, 1.40 m, and 2.01 m in the three test areas, representing reductions of 35%, 43%, 45%, and 20% and overall averages of 48%, 62%, 64%, and 43%, respectively. Its goodness of fit (R²) reached 0.87, 0.97, and 0.97, showing improvements of at least 5%, 5%, 9%, and 9% and overall averages of 17%, 77%, 84%, and 12%, respectively. The results demonstrate that the proposed model significantly improves bathymetry accuracy while maintaining algorithmic simplicity, providing a new model for acquiring nearshore foundational bathymetric maps. Full article

Amid increasing urbanization and escalating global mental health concerns, understanding the environmental determinants of mental illness has become a research priority. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of global research exploring the intersection of green spaces and mental illness. Drawing on 2136 peer-reviewed articles and review papers published between 1990 and 2024 from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus, this study examined publication trends, geographic and institutional contributions, research hotspots, and thematic evolution. Findings reveal a sharp increase in scholarly output since 2012, reflecting heightened interdisciplinary engagement and alignment with global frameworks, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. China, the United States, and the United Kingdom are leading contributors. Keyword co-occurrence analysis highlights major themes such as green spaces, mental health, physical activity, urban planning, and air pollution. Despite notable progress, the field faces methodological inconsistencies, limited integration of air quality data, and a lack of representation from low- and middle-income countries. This study offers a comprehensive overview of the research progress and gaps, supporting the development of nature-based strategies and sustainable urban planning to mitigate mental illness and promote psychological resilience. Full article

Remote sensing approaches to monitoring dryland ecosystem states and trends have been dominated by the binary distinction between degraded/non-degraded areas, leading to inconsistent results. We propose a different conceptual framework that better reflects the states and pressures of these ecosystems—ecological integrity—that is, the maintenance of ecosystem composition and its capacity to contribute to human needs and adapt to change. We systematically reviewed earth observation techniques for characterizing ecological integrity in trusted databases together with studies identified through expert-guided search. A total of 137 papers were included, and their metadata (i.e., location, year) and data (i.e., aspect of ecological integrity assessed, techniques employed) were analyzed. The results show that remote sensing ecological integrity is becoming an increasingly researched topic, especially in countries with extensive drylands. Vegetation was the most frequently monitored attribute and was often employed as an indicator of other attributes (i.e., soil and water quality) and as a key feature in approaches that aimed for a comprehensive ecosystem assessment. However, most of the literature employed the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) as a descriptor of vegetation characteristics (i.e., health, structure, cover), which has been shown not to be a good indicator of the litter/senescent vegetation components that tend to frequently dominate drylands. Methods to overcome this weakness have been identified, although more research is needed to demonstrate their application in ecological integrity monitoring. Specifically, knowledge gaps in the relationship between vegetation cover fractions (i.e., green, non-green, and bare soil), descriptors of ecosystem quality (e.g., soil condition or vegetation structure complexity), and management (i.e., how human intervention affects ecosystem quality) should be addressed. Notable potential has been identified in time series analysis as a means of operationalising remotely sensed vegetation fractional cover. Nevertheless, limitations in benchmarking must also be tackled for effective ecological integrity monitoring. Full article

Background/Objectives: As an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid (LA) plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of cellular membranes, modulating inflammatory responses, and mediating intracellular signaling. This review explores the structure, properties, and nutritional significance of LA and its bioactive derivatives, with particular attention to sustainable production methods and their potential applications. Methods: A comprehensive review of the recent literature was conducted, emphasizing the use of green synthesis techniques, such as enzyme-catalyzed biocatalysis and microbiological transformations, in order to obtain LA-derived nutraceuticals. Analyses were conducted on the key aspects related to food industry applications, regulatory frameworks, and emerging market trends. Results: Through green synthesis strategies, LA derivatives with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties have been developed. There is potential for these compounds to be incorporated into health-oriented food products. In spite of this, challenges remain regarding their stability and bioavailability. Furthermore, there are inconsistencies in international regulatory standards which prevent these compounds from being widely adopted. Conclusions: The development of functional and sustainable food products based on linoleic acid derivatives obtained using ecological methods offers significant potential. Research is required to optimize production processes, enhance compound stability, and clinically validate health effects. The integration of the market and the safety of consumers will be supported by addressing regulatory harmonization. Full article

The ocean is an extraordinary natural source of a wide range of bioactive compounds. These compounds, including proteins, phenolics, polysaccharides, pigments, vitamins, and fatty acids, possess unique biological properties that are increasingly being explored in the field of nanotechnology across diverse sectors. Among marine-derived nanoparticles, promising applications have emerged in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields, particularly metallic nanoparticles and polysaccharide-based drug delivery systems. This review provides a unique perspective on the integration of two research areas: the exploration of marine bioresources as bioactive compounds sources with nanotechnological methodologies to develop sustainable, safe, stable and functional marine-derived NPs. It highlights recent advancements in the green synthesis of MNPs and the formulation of drug delivery systems using marine polysaccharides. This review also describes the recent trends over the past ten years and discusses the major challenges and limitations associated with these approaches, including variability in biological sources, batch-to-batch inconsistency, mechanistic uncertainties, and difficulties in reproducibility and scalability. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for standardized protocols and the integration of life cycle assessments (LCA) to evaluate environmental and economic viability for effective translating marine-derives nanoparticles from research to clinical applications. Full article

Background: The positive effects of urban green space (UGS) on public health and well-being have been confirmed. However, most previous studies on the health benefits of UGS have focused on the influencing factors, mechanisms, and different groups of people, with little attention paid to regional heterogeneity. Methods: Using provincial-level panel data from China (2007–2020), this study measures residents’ comprehensive health levels (CHLs) through factor analysis encompassing physiological, mental, and social dimensions. Fixed-effects models and panel quantile regressions are employed to analyze UGS–health associations across climatic zones and health status quantiles. Results: The CHL of residents in China has improved as a whole, but with some provinces showing a declining or unpredictable trend. The results of the effects of UGS on the health status of urban residents were inconsistent. Overall, the amount of UGS is positively related to the CHL of the inhabitants (Coef. = 0.113; p < 0.01). In addition, the health-promoting effect of UGS is significantly stronger in provinces with a higher health level than in provinces with a lower health level, and no positive effect was observed in the provinces with the lowest health level. Increasing the amount of UGS can effectively improve the CHL of residents in the mid-temperate (Coef. = 0.189; p < 0.05) and warm temperate (Coef. = 0.135; p < 0.05) regions, but no health-promoting effect was found in the subtropical regions. Conclusions: This study expands our scientific understanding of the effects of UGS on the comprehensive health status of urban residents. Full article

Population aging is an irreversible global trend, with China experiencing an aging trajectory far exceeding that of most low- and middle-income and high-income countries. Emerging evidence highlights the urban built environment (BE) as a critical determinant of older adults’ travel behavior (TB), exerting a greater effect than commuter populations. However, findings on BE-TB associations remain inconsistent. This study systematically reviewed 46 studies from 1666 articles retrieved from Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, applying CiteSpace 6.4.R1 for keyword co-occurrence and temporal clustering analysis. This review synthesizes research trends, theoretical frameworks, key determinants, and methodological approaches by integrating knowledge from multiple fields such as urban planning, transportation engineering, public health, and social policy. It provides a comprehensive perspective on how the BE influences the TBs of the aging population. This article can contribute to improving the quality of life for older adults, promoting intergenerational harmony, reducing healthcare costs, fostering economic development, and encouraging green transportation. By identifying critical gaps and future research directions, our findings offer insights to inform strategies for promoting healthy aging and sustainable urban development. Full article

The confluence of global warming, the urban heat island effect, and alterations in the nature of underlying surfaces has led to a continuous escalation in the frequency, scale, and intensity of fires within urban green spaces. Mitigating or eliminating the adverse effects of such fires on the service functions of urban ecosystems, while enhancing the resilience of urban greening systems in disaster prevention and risk reduction, has become a pivotal challenge in modern urban development and management. Academic focus has progressively broadened from isolated urban and forest domains to encompass the more intricate environments of the Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) and urban–suburban forests, with a particular emphasis on the distinctive characteristics of urban greening and in-depth research. This study employs a combination of CiteSpace bibliometric analysis and a narrative literature review to comprehensively examine three critical aspects of urban fire safety as follows: (1) the evaluation of the fire-resistant performance of landscape plants in urban green spaces; (2) the mechanisms of fire behavior in urban greening systems; and (3) the assessment and prediction of urban fire risks. Our findings indicate that landscape plants play a crucial role in controlling the spread of fires in urban green spaces by providing physical barriers and inhibiting combustion processes, thereby mitigating fire propagation. However, the diversity and non-native characteristics of urban greenery species present challenges. The existing research lacks standardized experimental indicators and often focuses on single-dimensional analyses, leading to conclusions that are limited, inconsistent, or even contradictory. Furthermore, most current fire spread models are designed primarily for forests and wildland–urban interface (WUI) regions. Empirical and semi-empirical models dominate this field, yet future advancements will likely involve coupled models that integrate climate and environmental factors. Fire risk assessment and prediction represent a global research hotspot, with machine learning- and deep learning-based approaches increasingly gaining prominence. These advanced methods have demonstrated superior accuracy compared to traditional techniques in predicting urban fire risks. This synthesis aims to elucidate the current state, trends, and deficiencies within the existing research. Future research should explore methods for screening highly resistant landscape plants, with the goal of bolstering the ecological resilience of urban greening systems and providing theoretical underpinnings for the realization of sustainable urban environmental security. Full article

Desertification remains a critical global issue driven by climate change, unsustainable land use, and socio-economic pressures. This bibliometric review provides an in-depth analysis of desertification research from 1974 to 2024 using the Scopus database to identify trends, key players, and methodological advances. Publications grew exponentially during this period, from 21 in 1974 to a peak of 186 in 2023, demonstrating growing academic and policy attention. The analysis found that 4178 authors contributed to 2004 peer-reviewed articles, with China emerging as a leading research hub, contributing 386 publications and leading efforts in environmental restoration projects such as the Great Green Wall. Advanced methodologies, including remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS), have facilitated large-scale monitoring, despite challenges such as data inconsistencies and limited resolution. Institutions such as Guizhou Normal University and Lanzhou University have led the global research effort, publishing 316 and 124 publications, respectively. Influential journals, including Land Degradation and Development and the Journal of Arid Environments, have played a key role in shaping the discourse. Historical analysis has highlighted the persistent threat of desertification to human societies, exemplified by the decline of civilizations such as the Sumerian and Khorezmian. Despite significant progress, regional differences in research attention persist, with Central Asia receiving limited attention despite its vulnerability. This review highlights the need for standardized methodologies, interdisciplinary approaches, and enhanced international collaboration. By leveraging advanced technologies and sustainable land management practices, the global community can mitigate the environmental and socio-economic impacts of desertification, promoting the resilience of ecosystems and communities while moving toward land degradation neutrality. Full article

As investors increasingly incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their decision-making, sustainable Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have gained prominence in both investment portfolios and financial research. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Sustainable ETF research landscape by utilizing scientometric and bibliometric methods with tools such as VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and CiteSpace. Drawing from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, the study identifies key thematic areas, influential authors, and emerging trends. The findings highlight the conceptual evolution of Green ETFs, from early definitions focused on ESG-aligned investments to more complex instruments incorporating diversified screening criteria and advanced technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence. Practical challenges such as regulatory inconsistencies, high implementation costs, and limited investor education are underscored as critical barriers to broader adoption. Future trends reveal the growing role of blockchain technology for ESG verification, crisis-specific ETF models, and the development of more inclusive screening strategies. Strategically, Green ETFs demonstrate resilience during market volatility and support sustainability-driven investment frameworks. The study provides valuable insights for investors, policymakers, and researchers, emphasizing Green ETFs’ role in driving sustainable finance and offering actionable guidance for optimizing ESG investment strategies. Full article

Urban green spaces (UGSs) are integral to urban ecosystems, providing multiple benefits to human well-being. However, previous studies mainly focus on the quantity or quality of UGSs, with less emphasis on a comprehensive analysis. This study systematically examined the spatiotemporal UGS dynamics in the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration (PRDUA) in China from the perspectives of the area, spatial configuration, and quality, using the high spatial resolution (30 m) Landsat-derived land-cover data and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data during 1985–2021. Results showed the UGS area in both the old urban districts and expanded urban areas across all nine cities in the PRDUA has experienced a dramatic reduction from 1985 to 2021, primarily due to the conversion of cropland and forest into impervious surfaces. Spatially, the fragmentation trend of UGSs initially increased and then weakened around 2010 in nine cities, but with an inconsistent fragmentation process across different urban areas. In the old urban districts, the fragmentation was mainly due to the loss of large patches; in contrast, it was caused by the division of large patches in the expanded urban areas of most cities. The area-averaged NDVI showed a general upward trend in urban areas in nearly all cities, and the greening trend in the old urban districts was more prevalent than that in the expanded urban areas, suggesting the negative impacts of urbanization on NDVI have been balanced by the positive effects of climate change, urbanization, and greening initiatives in the PRDUA. These findings indicate that urban greening does not necessarily correspond to the improvement in UGS states. We therefore recommend incorporating the three-dimensional analytical framework into urban ecological monitoring and construction efforts to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of UGS states and support effective urban green infrastructure stewardship. Full article