Search Results (936)

Crabronid wasps (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) are ecologically important predators that provide various ecological services by regulating the arthropod populations, enhancing soil processes through nesting, serving as sensitive indicators of habitat condition, and providing pollen transfer for plants. However, as other invertebrates face biodiversity threats, these wasps might be under threat from environmental changes, and we need to assess the biodiversity patterns of these wasps in Yunnan Province. Unfortunately, no information is currently available about the pattern and factors responsible for the assemblages of these wasps within our study region. This study provides the first province-level assessment of habitat suitability, species richness, assemblage structure, and environmental determinants for Crabronidae in Yunnan by integrating species distribution modeling (SDM), multivariate clustering, and ordination analyses. More than 50 species were studied to assess habitat suitability in Yunnan using MaxEnt. Model performance was robust (AUC > 0.7). Suitability patterns varied distinctly among regions. Species richness peaked in southern Yunnan, particularly in the counties of Jinghong, Mengla, Menghai, and Jiangcheng Hani & Yi. Land use/land cover (LULC) variables were the dominant predictors for 90% of species, whereas precipitation-related variables contributed most strongly to the remaining 10%. Ward’s hierarchical clustering grouped the 125 counties into three community assemblage zones, with Zone III comprising the most significant area. A unique species composition was found within a particular zone, and clear separation among zones based on environmental variation was supported by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), which explained more than 70% variability among zones. Furthermore, Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) indicated that both LULC and climatic factors shaped community structure assemblages, with axes 1 and 2 explaining 70% of variance (p = 0.001). The most relevant key factors in each zone were precipitation variables (bio12, bio14, bio17), which were dominant in Zone I; for Zone II, temperature and vegetation variables were most important; and urban, wetland, and water variables were most important in Zone III. Full article

Background: Intentional occlusion of the internal iliac artery (IIA) during endovascular repair of aorto-iliac aneurysms may predispose patients to pelvic ischemic complications such as gluteal claudication, erectile dysfunction, and bowel ischemia. Iliac branch devices (IBDs) have been developed to preserve hypogastric perfusion. E-Liac (Artivion/Jotec) is one of the latest modular IBDs yet reports on mid-term performance are limited to small single-center cohorts with short follow-up. The CAMpania PugliA bRanch IliaC (CAMPARI) study is a multicenter investigation of E-Liac outcomes. Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted across five Italian vascular centers. All consecutive patients undergoing E-Liac implantation for aorto-iliac or isolated iliac aneurysms between January 2015 and December 2024 were identified from prospectively maintained registries. Inclusion criteria comprised elective or urgent endovascular repair of aorto-iliac aneurysms in which an adequate distal sealing zone was not available without covering the IIA and suitability for the E-Liac device according to its instructions for use (IFU). Patients with a life expectancy < 1 year or hostile anatomy incompatible with the IFU were excluded. The primary end point was freedom from branch instability (occlusion/stenosis, kinking, or detachment of the bridging stent). Secondary end points included freedom from any endoleak, freedom from device-related reintervention, freedom from gluteal claudication, aneurysm-related and all-cause mortality, acute renal failure, and sac regression > 5 mm. Results: A total of 69 consecutive patients (68 male, 1 female, median age 72.0 years) received 74 E-Liac devices, including 5 bilateral implantations. The mean infrarenal aortic diameter was 45 mm and the mean CIA diameter 34 mm; 14 patients (20.0%) had a concomitant IIA aneurysm (>20 mm). Concomitant fenestrated or branched aortic repair was performed in 23% of procedures. Two patients received a standalone IBD without implantation of a proximal aortic endograft. Technical success was achieved in 71/74 cases (96.0%); three failures occurred due to inability to catheterize the IIA. Distal landing was in the main IIA trunk in 58 cases and in the posterior branch in 13 cases. Over a median follow-up of 18 (6; 36) months, there were four branch instability events (5.4%): three occlusions and one bridging stent detachment. Seven patients (9.5%) developed endoleaks (one type Ib, two type II, two type IIIa, and two type IIIc). Five patients (6.8%) required reintervention, and five (6.8%) reported gluteal claudication. There were seven all-cause deaths (10%), none within 30 days or related to aneurysm rupture; causes included COVID-19 pneumonia, acute coronary syndrome, melanoma, gastric cancer, and stroke. No acute renal or respiratory failure occurred. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed 92% (95% CI 77–100) freedom from branch instability in the main-trunk group and 89% (60–100) in the posterior-branch group (log-rank p = 0.69). Freedom from any endoleak at 48 months was 87% (95% CI 75–95), and freedom from reintervention was 93% (95% CI 83–98). Conclusions: In this multicenter cohort, the E-Liac branched endograft demonstrated high technical success and favorable early–mid-term outcomes. Preservation of hypogastric perfusion using E-Liac was associated with low rates of branch instability, endoleak, and reintervention, with no 30-day mortality or aneurysm-related deaths. These findings support the safety and efficacy of E-Liac for aorto-iliac aneurysm management, although larger prospective studies with longer follow-up are needed. Full article

Agricultural land represents a fundamental production resource and one of the key factors of ecological and economic stability in rural and peri-urban areas. In the municipality of Grocka, the impacts of urbanization, demographic decline, and changes in the agrarian production structure have led to spatial degradation and reduced economic sustainability. To assess the current state and potential of agriculture at the settlement level, a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was applied. The analysis encompassed demographic, production, environmental, and spatial indicators, normalized using the min–max scaling method and aggregated through a weighted sum. Criteria weights were defined based on a combination of literature review and expert judgment. The results reveal spatial variations in the level of sustainability and enable the identification of priority zones for agro-economic improvement, areas of moderate stability, and spaces suitable for developing sustainable agricultural models. Sensitivity testing (±20% variation in weights) confirmed the robustness of the results. The identified zones and proposed measures aim to revitalize degraded areas, preserve permanent crops, and strengthen production and institutional capacities. The applied methodological framework can serve as a tool for planning and policymaking in sustainable agricultural development, particularly in peri-urban contexts. Full article

Climate change and increasing groundwater demand underscore the urgency of sustainable water resource planning. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) represents a promising strategy, yet its implementation depends on accurately identifying locations suited for specific MAR techniques. This study presents a GIS-based methodology developed under the DEEPWATER-CE project for identifying suitable locations for six MAR techniques in Central Europe. The methodology integrates environmental, hydrological, and land use criteria in a two-stage approach: an initial screening to delineate potentially suitable areas, followed by a detailed classification of those areas into high, moderate, and low suitability categories. The approach was tested in the Polish part of the Dunajec River catchment (4835 km²), revealing that river or lake bank filtration, infiltration ditches, and underground dams are the most viable MAR options, suitable for 12.6%, 13%, and 15.6% of the catchment area, respectively. A focused analysis within the Tarnów agglomeration, identified as highly vulnerable to climate change and with intensive groundwater use, demonstrated that 83–87% of the area is moderately suitable for infiltration ditches and riverbank filtration techniques. This decision-support tool can inform water managers and planners regarding the best locations for implementing MAR to enhance aquifer resilience, ensure water availability, and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. The methodology is transferable to other regions facing similar hydroclimatic challenges. Full article

Globally, more than 60,000 abandoned open-pit mines have been identified. Most of these sites lack effective management or ecological restoration measures. As a result, they pose substantial environmental and socioeconomic challenges. Against this backdrop, the reuse of quarry wastelands has emerged as a critical strategy for improving resource efficiency and promoting sustainable development in mining regions. Current domestic research mainly concentrates on ecological restoration techniques for abandoned quarry sites. However, systematic methods for prioritizing and ranking alternative reuse models remain limited. This study investigated four quarry reuse models: agricultural production, ecological protection, recreation-based education, and new energy development. The analysis integrated site suitability (${\mathrm{U}}_1$) with residents’ demands (${\mathrm{U}}_2$). Four representative quarry sites in Jiawang District, Xuzhou City, were selected as case studies. Based on coupled matching analysis, a priority identification method for quarry site reuse models was developed. Results indicated divergent prioritization between site suitability and resident demand. Site suitability composite values ranged from 3.9548 to 6.3094. Qishan and Kanshan sites demonstrated high suitability for recreation-based education and agricultural production, while the Dongshan site showed the highest ecological protection suitability. Suitability for emerging energy applications was generally low across all sites. Resident demand composite values showed significant variation across the four models. Recreation-based education demand (${\mathrm{U}}_2$ ranging from 0.3273 to 0.3778) substantially exceeded the other three land use types, with residents generally harbouring a degree of reluctance towards new energy development models. After coupling these factors, the original site suitability rankings were restructured: Qishan and Dongshan were selected for the recreation-based education model; Kanshan for agricultural production; and Changshan for ecological protection. This study offers insights for the diversified utilization of abandoned quarries in rural areas and provides a reference for ecological restoration and transformative development in mining regions. Full article

Objectives: This study evaluated the anatomical suitability of two single-branched thoracic stent grafts—the Castor (Endovastec, China) and the Thoracic Branch Endoprosthesis (TBE, Gore, USA)—for proximal landing in aortic arch zone 2, including the left subclavian artery (LSA), in patients with acute type B aortic dissection (TBAD). While the TBE is currently available as an off-the-shelf device (26 main bodies, 8 branch configurations), the study also aimed to define the minimal number of configurations needed to treat most patients. The same approach was applied to the Castor stent graft, currently only available as a custom-made device (CMD), to assess its potential for off-the-shelf adaptation. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on computed tomographic angiographies of TBAD patients treated between 2004 and 2023. Exclusion criteria included type A or non-A-non-B dissections, isolated abdominal dissections, intramural hematomas, and lack of consent. Morphometric measurements were conducted using centerline analysis software. Suitability was defined per manufacturers’ criteria and reported with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Among 100 TBAD cases, 82% (95% CI: 73.3–88.3%) were suitable for the Castor CMD with 74 configurations. Main causes of exclusion were short landing zones and atypical arch anatomies. With adjunctive procedures, 13 Castor configurations covered all morphologies; 34% could be treated off-the-shelf, and 48% required additional interventions. For the TBE, off-the-shelf suitability was 22%, increasing to 78% with adjunctive procedures (six main bodies, five branches). Conclusions: Both stent grafts are promising for proximal extension in TBAD. Reduced configuration availability necessitates more adjunctive procedures, impacting efficiency and cost. Full article

Lavender is a perennial Mediterranean plant that has been cultivated throughout history for medicinal, aromatic, and cosmetic purposes. Due to its high economic and commercial value, it has become an important agricultural product worldwide. The low production cost, adaptability to environmental conditions, and demand for its versatile use in the global market make it a significant potential source of income for developing Mediterranean countries. This study aims to identify commercially suitable cultivation sites for Lavandula angustifolia Mill. using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) technologies to support rural development. Within this scope, suitable cultivation habitat parameters for the species in open fields and natural conditions were determined; these parameters were weighted according to their importance using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), and thematic maps were created for each parameter. The created maps were combined using weighted overlay analysis, and a final map was generated according to the suitability class. The results indicate that within the study area, 75,679.45 ha is mostly suitable, 388,832.71 ha is moderately suitable, 24,068.43 ha is marginally suitable, and 229,327.20 ha is not suitable. As a result, it has been observed that Lavandula angustifolia Mill., which is currently cultivated on approximately 4045 ha of land and contributes 429 tons of product to the regional economy, covers only a relatively small portion of the suitable cultivation sites identified in the study and is not utilized to its full potential. It is understood that the expansion of lavender cultivation in determined suitable sites has significant potential to substantially develop the region and its rural population in terms of both yield and production volume, and to involve women and youth entrepreneurs in agricultural employment. Full article

Historical cropland reconstruction is crucial for modeling long-term agricultural dynamics and assessing their climatic and ecosystem impacts, while also providing critical regional benchmarks for improving global land-use datasets. This study presents a millennium-long reconstruction of cropland area at the provincial level for the Korean Peninsula by integrating multi-source historical cropland records, land surveys, and modern statistical and remote-sensing-based data. Then, a land suitability model for cultivation and a spatial allocation model were developed by incorporating topographic, climatic, and soil variables to generate 10 km resolution gridded cropland data over the past millennium. Our analysis revealed a long-term increasing trend in cropland area at the provincial level over the past millennium, with significant spatial and temporal variations. Spatially, cropland was primarily distributed in western coastal areas, with historical southward expansion. After the peninsula’s division, trends diverged, with continued growth in the north Korea but a decrease in the south Korea by 2000. The spatial allocation model validation results show strong spatial and quantitative agreement between the reconstructed historical cropland and the remote-sensing-based data, with 72.12% of grids differing by less than ±20%. This high consistency confirms the feasibility of the applied reconstruction method. Full article

While there is currently a significant opportunity for the construction of photovoltaic solar farms in the Southeastern United States, there is also a need for proper spatial planning that has not been adequately addressed by the existing literature. The objective of this study is to examine the adaptability of geographic information system-based multiple criteria decision analysis models developed for foreign contexts to the United States. This was accomplished through the application of a model developed originally for Thailand to the study area of Bibb County, Georgia, United States. Model results were analyzed to identify trends and provide concrete recommendations for future work. Using a six-rank classification scheme, 93% of Bibb County was found to have moderate suitability, while 5% and 2% had moderate-to-low and moderate-to-high suitability, respectively. Of the 11 model criteria, land usage and power line distance were found to have the largest impact on the area’s suitability. Statistical analysis identified positive trends indicating that these criteria explained 21% and 10% of the variance in the model’s output, respectively. Empirical verification proved the model structure to be viable for application in the Southeastern United States; however, additional examination of the model’s results found that there is room to improve the model for the local context. These improvements could potentially be realized through the reweighting of criteria and the re-establishment of evaluation benchmarks, allowing for the development of a truly robust model for the region. Full article

Western North Carolina (WNC), part of the Appalachian landscape, hosts a robust forest product industry but faces increasing challenges like land marginalization, warming temperatures and raw material shortages. This study evaluates the site suitability and cost-effectiveness of cultivating Populus species for high-value veneer–plywood (VP) production in WNC using the Veneer-Poplar Productivity and Economic Assessment Model (VP-PEAM). The model integrates site-specific variables (elevation, soil characteristics, landform and land-use history) to optimize site-species management strategies across diverse landscapes. Twelve scenarios are analyzed to assess how biophysical and land-use factors influence VP growth and profitability. The results show that VP productivity and profitability decline with increasing elevation, past land-use intensity, soil compaction and decreasing soil depth. All land-use types studied support profitable VP production. Yet, flood plain sites with medium-textured soils and moderate water table depths (0.61–1.83 m) offer optimal conditions. Even under suboptimal conditions, extended rotations maintain profitability, except on sites with persistent waterlogging or shallow water tables (<0.31 m). VPs generate higher annual equivalent opportunity benefits (USD 1568–USD 2763 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 15- to 18-year rotations) compared to non-forest land uses, suggesting their potential to enhance regional wood supply and land-use efficiency. These findings contribute to site-informed forest management and offer a modeling approach for assessing forest resilience and cost-effectiveness in Appalachian landscapes. Full article

In this study, we compare two contrasting years within the 2020–2025 period—one characterized by extreme heat and drought, and another by unusually high precipitation. We used five years of climatic data provided by the Hungarian Meteorological Service (OMSZ), along with vegetation activity indices (NDVI—Normalized Difference Vegetation Index; NDWI—Normalized Difference Water Index) derived from Sentinel-2A satellite imagery. In parallel, during three years of the study period (2020, 2022, and 2025), we collected five phytosociological relevés in each of the five vegetation types subjected to different management regimes. For data analysis, we applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA), and the Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model. Vegetation index patterns were compared with the relative water requirements of the constituent plant species. In the ungrazed dry sandy site, climatic fluctuations did not significantly affect vegetation composition and the habitat remained a stable open sandy grassland. Among the four grazed sites, grazing intensity remained unchanged during the study in three cases (N1, N2, and SZ). Thus, vegetation changes observed in these areas can be attributed to climatic factors. Vegetation composition shifted in N1 and N2, whereas no significant change was detected in the drier SZ site. This indicates higher resistance to grazing in SZ, which can therefore be sustainably used as pasture, while the N1–N2 sites responded sensitively to precipitation variability under identical grazing pressure and are better suited for use as meadows. The most pronounced changes occurred at the P site, which had previously functioned as an animal resting area and began regenerating after abandonment in 2022. Vegetation composition shifted markedly within two years, demonstrating that land-use practices exert a stronger influence on sandy grassland vegetation than climatic fluctuations. Overall, the drier habitats were more resilient to both grazing pressure and climatic variability and are suitable for grazing, whereas the moister vegetation types were more sensitive and should preferably be managed as hay meadows. Full article

Urban helicopter activity is intermittent and route-focused, yet most strategic mapping tools were developed for fixed-wing traffic and long-term averages, leaving urban rotorcraft noise under-represented. In the EU, the Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EC) and its CNOSSOS-EU methods require Member States to measure, map, and report aviation noise at major airports (using indicators such as Lden and Lnight), covering helicopter operations as part of overall aviation noise; yet current practice and tooling remain largely fixed-wing oriented. To the authors’ knowledge, no peer-reviewed real-case applications of NORAH2 to urban helicopter operations have yet been published. Therefore, this study demonstrates an end-to-end NORAH2 workflow using Cannes, France, as an urban case study, modelling 556 helicopter operations recorded between 12 and 25 May 2025 over an 8.3 km × 2.5 km analysis grid, and utilising openly available ADS-B/Mode-S trajectories to generate noise-related maps that can be used to support policy-making. Radar trajectories were conditioned to retain sampling while ensuring kinematic plausibility; environmental layers (terrain, land cover, basic meteorology) and rotorcraft representations were configured in NORAH2. Standard indicators were produced on a uniform grid, Lden (day–evening–night) and LAeq, 16 h, alongside event-count metrics (N60/N65/N70) and single-event LAmax footprints. Over a two-week window, outputs exhibited coherent corridor-level structure and event footprints consistent with observed operations, indicating that ADS-B-derived trajectories, after light conditioning, are suitable inputs for urban NORAH2 mapping. The period analysed is short; results are demonstrative for that window and not intended as statutory exposure assessments. The contribution is twofold: (i) the first published demonstration that connects open radar-like data to NORAH2 outputs in a dense urban setting, and (ii) evidence that NORAH2 can provide both energy-average and frequency-of-occurrence views useful for city noise management. Full article

Avocado cultivation is expanding rapidly in East Africa, driven by growing market demand, yet planning often relies on farmers’ experience rather than systematic spatial analysis, raising risks of inefficient land and resource use. Therefore, this study applied four species distribution models (SDMs), Generalized Additive Models (GAM), Boosted Regression Trees (BRT), Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt), and Random Forest (RF), along with an ensemble model to map potential avocado suitability in Tanzania. The models were calibrated using 199 Variance Inflation Factor (VIF)-depurated occurrence records from which climatic, edaphic, and topographic predictor variables were extracted. BRT and RF had the best predictive abilities, with AUC values ranging from 0.77 ± 0.20 to 0.81 ± 0.13. The individual models identified Njombe, Iringa, Songwe, Kigoma, Rukwa, Kagera, and Morogoro as regions with high suitability, with more than 30% of each region’s total area predicted to be suitable for avocado production. Moderate suitability (15% to ≤30% of the regional area) was recorded for Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Dodoma, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Ruvuma, Tanga, and Katavi, whereas negligible suitability was forecasted for most of the remaining regions by the majority of the models. These findings suggest that heavy investments in avocado production and value chain additions should be directed primarily to regions with high suitability in order to use resources efficiently and minimize investment risks. More targeted, site-specific management should be encouraged in moderately suitable regions, with a focus on helping farmers identify and manage the best avocado sites rather than promoting broad expansion across the country. The findings generated by the ensemble model could be incorporated in the Tanzania Agriculture Climate Adaptation Technology Deployment Programme (TACATDP) to enhance sustainable crop investment, lower production risks, and strengthen the resilience of the avocado sector in the country. Full article

Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) is a nutritionally important and climate-resilient crop with high potential for enhancing food security. Despite its significance, taro remains underutilized and excluded from major agricultural policies in Rwanda, resulting in low national yields. This gap hinders evidence-based planning and limits the crop contribution to resilience amidst population growth and climate change. By taking Rwanda as an example, a worldwide top 10 taro-producing country but still facing food insecurity issues, this study conducted a nationwide land suitability assessment to identify optimal areas for taro cultivation and quantify the production gap. The Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model was integrated with GIS, where climatic, topographic, and a remotely sensed soil dataset were weighted and combined to generate a composite suitability index. Results revealed that 22.8% of Rwanda’s land is highly suitable (S1) and 55.7% is moderately suitable (S2) for taro cultivation. Within agricultural land, 30.2% is highly suitable, of which a significant portion (28.7%) remains largely underutilized, especially in the Eastern province. The national production gap was estimated at 32.4%, with over half of the districts exceeding 30%. The study highlights the importance of aligning taro cultivation with biophysical suitability and integrating spatial planning into national agricultural policies. The developed suitability map provides a critical decision-support tool for policymakers, agricultural planners, and extension services. By promoting sustainable taro production, improving farmer livelihoods and food security in Rwanda, it provides a global model for sustainable development for developing countries and advances research on orphan crops such as taro. The methodology offers a replicable framework for evaluating underutilized crops globally, contributing to sustainable agricultural diversification and food security. Full article

The mineral deposits in Namibia’s Erongo region are renowned and frequently associated with complex geological environments, including calcrete-hosted paleochannels and hydrothermal alteration zones. Mineral extraction is hindered by high operational costs, restricted accessibility and stringent environmental regulations. To address these challenges, this study proposes an integrated approach that combines satellite remote sensing and machine learning to map and identify mineralisation-indicative zones. Sentinel 2 Multispectral Instrument (MSI) and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) multispectral data were employed due to their global coverage, spectral fidelity and suitability for geological investigations. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) masking was applied to minimise vegetation interference. Spectral indices—the Clay Index, Carbonate Index, Iron Oxide Index and Ferrous Iron Index—were developed and enhanced using false-colour composites. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to reduce redundancy and extract significant spectral patterns. Supervised classification was performed using Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF) and Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC), with validation through confusion matrices and metrics such as Overall Accuracy, User’s Accuracy, Producer’s Accuracy and the Kappa coefficient. The results showed that RF achieved the highest accuracy on Landsat 8 and MLC outperformed others on Sentinel 2, while SVM showed balanced performance. Sentinel 2’s higher spatial resolution enabled improved delineation of alteration zones. This approach supports efficient and low-impact mineral prospecting in remote environments. Full article