Search Results (397)

The vertical structure of fen vegetation has received little attention, despite its obvious relevance to interactions between herbaceous plants and bryophytes. The main objective of this study was to determine relationships among the vertical herbaceous-rich-fen vegetation structure and the overall cover and species diversity of bryophytes. The study was conducted in eight fens in Lithuania and covered 210 subplots (0.5 m × 0.5 m). Within each subplot, the total and individual percentages of bryophyte and vascular plant cover, and of each visually distinct vertical vegetation layer, were estimated. In vertical vegetation structure, five distinct structural groups were identified, ranging from a simple two-layer group to a four-layer group. Vertical structural differences in herb cover were primarily associated with water level and microrelief. Our results revealed that an open structure is favourable for entire bryophyte cover; shading does not necessarily lead to a decline in total bryophyte cover but rather drives a structural rearrangement of the bryophyte community. The abundant development of higher vegetation layers in highly hummocky areas negatively affects the bryophyte cover. Monitoring visually distinct vertical structures can help predict negative trends in plant community structure, including shifts in bryophyte diversity and cover. Full article

Efficient lawn full coverage path planning is essential for improving coverage efficiency and path quality in automated lawn maintenance tasks. However, conventional coverage methods may produce redundant traversal and frequent turns in lawn environments with complex obstacle distributions. To address these limitations, this study proposes an improved Deep Q-Network (DQN)-based method for lawn full coverage path planning. A multi-component reward function is incorporated into the proposed algorithm to comprehensively consider coverage efficiency, motion smoothness, and boundary-aware exploration. In addition, Double DQN, prioritized experience replay, Noisy Networks, and Distributional DQN are integrated into a unified learning framework to improve value estimation stability, sample utilization efficiency, exploration capability, and action-value representation. The proposed method was validated using simulation experiments. The results show that the proposed method achieves stable convergence and generates more compact and smoother coverage paths. Ablation experiments verify the contribution of each improved module, while reward function validation confirms that the proposed reward design effectively reduces path length and unnecessary turns. Comparative experiments further demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms other coverage algorithms in terms of repetition rate, number of turns, and overall coverage quality. Full article

The relationship between urban waterfront spaces and health is widely recognized. However, the relative importance and nonlinear associations of specific attributes with residents’ physical health remain unclear. Drawing on survey data from 375 users across seven waterfront parks in Changchun, this study uses a Gradient Boosting Decision Tree model to examine how 37 perceived attributes of waterfront recreation spaces contribute to self-assessments of physical health, focusing on their relative contributions and nonlinear associations. The aim is to provide exploratory evidence for the empirical accumulation of the relationship between waterfront spaces and health. The results show that waterfront walkways and plaza lighting had high relative importance in the prediction model, at 8.8% and 8.2%, respectively. These findings suggest that spatial connectivity and around-the-clock accessibility may play a fundamental role in creating health-supportive environments. Plant landscapes, seating, pet-friendly facilities, waterside platforms, and open lawns for public access constitute secondary dimensions, with relative contributions ranging from 3.1% to 5.4%. The partial dependence plots of most attributes exhibit nonlinear associations. The pet-friendly facilities are presented in a two-step pattern in the partial dependence plot. This study proposes a conceptual reference framework for planning and offers exploratory proposals for waterfront recreation spaces. Full article

The carried-out microfield model research was aimed at identifying patterns in the dynamics of soil CO₂ effluxes depending on the locally occurring hydrothermal regimes of regenerated lawn ecosystems on peat–sand substrates with different peat contents. Monitoring was carried out every ten days from 21 April 2019 to 30 October 2019 and included measurements of soil and air temperature, soil moisture, and CO₂ efflux every 3 h during the day. The weather conditions of the 2019 growing season in Moscow, with air temperature close to the annual average and increased precipitation, made it possible to clarify quantitative patterns of the temperature influence on CO₂ efflux from lawn soils in case of their pronounced dynamics without real soil moisture deficit. To study relationships between CO₂ efflux and soil and air temperatures, three empirical CO₂ efflux models (Exponential, Raich–Hashimoto and Lloyd–Taylor) were used with comparative assessment of their results. The conducted investigation showed that both peat content, local hydrothermal regime, and type of vegetation cover play a significant role in efflux modulation, with the temperature factor dominating on both seasonal (72% impact) and intraday (51–94% impact) scales. The lawn substrate factor accounts for up to 10% of CO₂ efflux variability on the intraday scale. The lawn vegetation cover (with the lower and higher diversity) significantly affects the soil hydrothermal regime depending on the peat content (a higher impact with a lower peat content due to the soil pH difference). The denser vegetation reduces the soil temperature, providing better protection, and at the same time reduces soil moisture by transpiration, which provides the combined effect on the CO₂ efflux reduction (up to 1 g CO₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ reduction for the lower-pH soils). Full article

This study evaluates the multi-year taxonomic diversity and functional structure of beetle assemblages (Coleoptera) within Sub Arini Park, a historic urban green space in Sibiu, Romania. Following a preliminary baseline and methodological calibration phase in 2023, systematic monitoring was conducted during the 2024 and 2025 seasonal cycles utilizing standardized pitfall trapping across diverse park zones. We explicitly tested two hypotheses: (H1) that long-standing historic park management preserves a resilient and functional insect community structure, and (H2) that local spatial heterogeneity and microhabitat variations significantly drive species distribution. A total of 14,843 individuals belonging to 39 species were analyzed. While total abundance exhibited a slight decrease from 2024 (N = 7112) to 2025 (N = 6551), true diversity metrics (Hill numbers) revealed a significant increase in raw species richness (q = 0) from 30 to 39 species, alongside an enhanced equity of frequent species (Shannon diversity, q = 1, increased from 4.26 to 5.12). Functional guild analysis and multivariate PCA demonstrated a highly structured biocenotic distribution; specialist and hygrophilous species (e.g., Carabus variolosus Fabricius, 1787) were strictly constrained to high-humidity riparian corridors, whereas thermophilous generalists dominated open lawns under high anthropogenic stress. Our spatial analysis identified critical degradation within these heavily managed zones, specifically driven by intensive mowing, soil compaction, and organic debris removal. These findings confirm both hypotheses, revealing that the park operates as a heterogeneous mosaic of ecological refugia rather than a uniform habitat block. Crucially, this study provides a concrete, quantitative basis—derived from empirical thresholds of species richness, abundance shifts, and mapped microhabitat preferences—for implementing nature-based management strategies (such as establishing buffer zones with reduced mowing frequencies, limiting trampling, and retaining coarse woody debris) aimed at mitigating urban biodiversity loss and maintaining vital biological pest control services in Central–Eastern Europe. Full article

Based on their domain organisation, four proteins from the protist Dictyostelium discoideum have been assigned to the IQGAP family of scaffold proteins. Although these proteins are shorter than animal IQGAPs, their involvement in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton in cell motility, macroendocytosis, cytokinesis, and adhesion appears to be broadly conserved between these evolutionarily distant organisms. In this article, we show that the putative three-dimensional structure of Dictyostelium IQGAP-related proteins, as predicted by AlphaFold 3, closely corresponds to the C-terminal half of human IQGAP1, thus supporting their common origin. IqgD is the largest IQGAP-related protein in Dictyostelium, with an overall domain organisation similar to human IQGAPs. IqgD is localised in the cell cortex, interacts with F-actin and Rac1 GTPases, and primarily supports cell adhesion to the underlying surface and cell growth on bacterial lawns. DGAP1 and GAPA are truncated proteins that have retained a 700-residue-long C-terminal region of homology compared to their animal relatives. They play important, yet opposite, roles in regulating contractile cortical assemblies comprising F-actin, myosin II, and the actin-bundling proteins cortexillins, which are especially important for cytokinesis and epithelial morphogenesis. Finally, IqgC, although structurally resembling other IQGAPs, turns out to be more closely related to GAP1 proteins from fungi. This multifaceted protein carries RasGAP activity, interacts with several other small GTPases, and positively regulates macroendocytosis and cell–substratum adhesion. Full article

Background/Objectives: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the current gold standard in patients with acute cholecystitis. Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) remains an option for those who are not surgical candidates but is associated with adverse effects. We studied technical success and patient satisfaction for endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) after initially receiving a PC drain. Methods: A multi-center study was conducted at 4 institutions involving patients who initially received a PC. These patients were given the option to transition to receive EUS-GBD. A 5-point Likert scale was used to assess patient satisfaction comparing PC vs. EUS-GBD. Demographic data, including age, sex, reason for PC, complications, and patient satisfaction scores, were collected. Result: All seven patients who underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy rated their experience as 1 (very dissatisfied), whereas the same patients rated EUS-guided gallbladder drainage with a mean satisfaction score of 4.7 (very satisfied). Conclusions: EUS-GBD is effective and offers higher satisfaction scores in patients who are not surgical candidates. Full article

The increasing impacts of climate change and drought have made water-efficient management of urban green spaces a critical issue in semi-arid cities. This study evaluates the water-saving potential of xeriscape landscape design principles in two major recreational areas in Ankara, Türkiye: Batıkent and Bademlidere. In the first stage, existing planting designs were inventoried, and annual crop water consumption was calculated using the Penman–Monteith method and species-specific crop coefficients (Kc). In the second stage, xeriscape-based alternatives composed of lower-water-use species were developed and compared with the existing designs. The results showed that total annual water consumption was 90,591 m³ for Bademlidere and 185,566 m³ for Batıkent. For Batıkent, the proposed xeriscape design reduced annual demand to 82,835 m³, corresponding to a saving of 102,731 m³ (55.4%), or approximately the annual domestic water use of 600 households. Notably, clover groundcover, which is often promoted as a lawn alternative, was calculated to consume more water per square meter (1.31 m³ m⁻² yr⁻¹) than turfgrass (1.14 m³ m⁻² yr⁻¹) when a green appearance was maintained. These findings show that xeriscaping can substantially reduce irrigation demand in semi-arid urban landscapes; however, the water-saving performance of turf alternatives depends strongly on species composition, planting density, and site-specific management. Full article

Urbanisation has led to dramatic alterations in pre-existing natural environments, resulting in several subsequent phenomena, such as the disappearance of habitats suitable for many plant and animal species and the concurrent arrival of generalist and non-native species, contributing to environmental homogenisation. Towns and cities serve as crossroads for transport, people, and animals, making them susceptible to colonisation by many types of plant species, dispersed either intentionally or unintentionally by these biotic vectors. Abiotic vectors, such as wind and water, also influence the composition of vegetation assemblages. Urban spontaneous vegetation occurs in (1) undisturbed areas, including brownfield sites, commons, and marginal lots, and (2) disturbed sites, such as green areas, parks, lawns (not subject to weeding), ancient monuments and walls, peripheral and industrial areas, and railways. When disturbance occurs, vegetation remains at early successional stages. Within this framework, with the aim of comparing existing contradictions and identifying knowledge gaps, we reviewed the literature on the characteristics of spontaneous plants and vegetation in urban areas, the different habitats in which they grow, the ecosystem services they provide, and management strategies, considering human perception. Our results highlight that studies on spontaneous plants are well-developed in terms of botany and ecology; however, some gaps remain, particularly regarding their integration into urban design and maintenance practices. Concerning public perception and acceptance, cultural and geographical differences emerged that deserve further investigation. In conclusion, spontaneous plants can represent a valuable heritage for cities, helping to address the challenges posed by the climate crisis. Full article

Campus streetscapes are a key part of universities’ everyday public realm, yet the same scene may be perceived positively in one dimension while negatively in another. To diagnose such multi-dimensional perceptual differences and translate them into actionable design evidence, this study develops an interpretable vision analytics framework for adaptive campus design. Using 72,733 Baidu Street View images collected from 41 campuses in mainland China, the study integrates ResNet-50-based perception prediction, spatial element extraction, XGBoost–SHAP-based mechanism interpretation, Kruskal–Wallis H testing, and GIS-based scene mapping. Supported by supplementary in situ validation, six types of multi-dimensional perceptual differences were identified. Sky, buildings, vegetation, hardscape, and terrain were found to be the five most important spatial elements overall, among which sky, buildings, and vegetation repeatedly emerged as the dominant core elements distinguishing different perceptual types. These elements do not act independently or linearly, but jointly shape different types of multi-dimensional perceptual differences through nonlinear threshold effects and interactions. These perceptual difference types were further found to cluster in recognizable campus scenes, including main roads, plazas, lawns, forest belts, and lakeside spaces. Based on these findings, scene-specific piecemeal optimization strategies were derived to support the coordinated enhancement of perceived safety, liveliness, and beauty. Overall, the study shows that campus perception is shaped by holistic spatial configurations rather than the simple accumulation of isolated elements, and provides a quantitative basis for iterative, feedback-oriented adaptive campus design. Full article

Global aging is accelerating, with the proportion of the population aged 60 and above projected to reach 22% by 2050. In cold-region communities, the visual landscape environment is closely associated with the health of older adults, particularly showing associations with blood pressure (BP) and emotion states. However, associations between these factors across different landscape spaces and potential gender differences remain underexplored. This study utilized eye-tracking experiments to collect visual attention data from older adults in three types of cold-region community spaces: inter-building spaces, walkways and squares. The ground, buildings, trees, lawn, and the sky were identified as the primary Areas of Interest (AOIs). The Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale was used to assess emotion during walking experiments, revealing suggestive gender–environment interaction characteristics. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse pressure (PP) were measured, and a Mann–Whitney U test indicated that DBP in community squares exhibited significant environmental dependency (U = 114.5, p = 0.004, r = 0.44). Hierarchical Linear Models (HLMs) revealed that, after controlling for individual differences, the number of fixation points on ground was independently associated (i.e., independent of measured individual characteristics) with elevated SBP ($\gamma =0.31, p=0.011$), while fixation on trees was associated with reduced SBP ($\gamma =-0.24, p=0.018$). Furthermore, gender moderation effects were observed: the association between ground fixation and SBP was stronger in females ($\gamma =0.18, p=0.022$), whereas the association between sports facilities and DBP was stronger in males ($\gamma =0.29, p=0.009$). Based on these findings, evidence-based design strategies are proposed, including the optimization of ground safety, gender-differentiated planting configurations, and targeted layouts for sports facilities. These results provide empirical support for age-friendly community design in cold regions. Full article

Scientists estimate that humanity has exceeded seven of nine planetary boundaries, threatening the entire planet with potentially catastrophic consequences for all species. We therefore have a moral imperative for future generations and other species to return to the safe side of those boundaries. Threats to these boundaries take the form of social dilemmas, defined as situations in which individuals acting in their own interest undermine collective welfare, which can only be solved through cooperation. Western economic theory has conditioned us to believe that humans are inherently selfish. This assumption has led economists, scientists, and policymakers to increasingly pursue market-based solutions to conservation approaches, which have yielded limited success. In contrast, this article argues that humans are inherently cooperative. We employ Multi-Level Selection Theory (MLS) to depict the evolutionary advantages of cooperation and to define morality as putting the group ahead of the individual. We examine two examples of MLS in action: Territories of Life (TOL) and Ubuntu. The paper provides guidance for pathways of Ecozoic governance, planning, and restoration. Applied in a Western context in Burlington, Vermont, the philosophies hold true, showing that social norms and group identity already shape ecological behavior in Burlington residents’ lawn care practices. Ultimately, providing an alternative economic model built on these ethical foundations, we introduce the Neighbor’s Goodwill that reframes social dilemmas in a game theory context. The Neighbor’s Goodwill demonstrates how loyalty, reciprocity, and social belonging alter payoff structures. This research is founded on the fact that humans are inherently social and tend to make decisions in the interest of the whole group over their own. Full article

Natural grasslands are among the most endangered habitats in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe due to the agricultural intensification, land abandonment and afforestation, urban expansion, and the loss of traditional low-intensity management, on which their biodiversity depends. One way to increase the number of natural grasslands is by integrating them into urban green infrastructure as a nature-based solution to enhance ecological resilience and urban livability: diverse grassland systems support pollinators, improve soil structure and stormwater infiltration, mitigate urban heat and provide restorative, experience-rich public spaces. The aim of the study is to explore opportunities and barriers to integrating different types of grasslands into the green infrastructure of Latvian cities, with a primary focus on public perceptions and institutional aspects of urban grassland implementation and management. A mixed-methods approach was applied, combining resident surveys, interviews with municipal experts—territorial development specialists, planners and maintenance managers—and comparative policy analysis. Results show that although residents acknowledge the ecological benefits of urban grasslands, they prefer them in peripheral or underused areas rather than in city centres and residential zones, as these areas are often aesthetically perceived as “untidy” or neglected, conflicting with cultural norms that favour short, intensively mown lawns and raising concerns about insects. Acceptance increases through communication and participatory practices. Municipal approaches range from structured maintenance guidelines, including delayed mowing, biomass removal, and invasive species control, to flexible experimentation. The study contributes scientifically grounded insights into governance, perception, and management interfaces critical for mainstreaming socially accepted urban grasslands. Full article

This study addresses the critical challenge of optimizing outdoor thermal comfort for the aging population in old residential communities within China’s Hot-Summer and Cold-Winter (HSCW) climate zones. Against the backdrop of urban regeneration and rapid demographic aging, it investigates how key landscape elements—Square Reflectance, Greening Type, and Pergola Condition—influence the microclimate of community public spaces. The research employed an integrated methodology centered on numerical simulation. Using the ENVI-met 5.9.0 software and an L₉(3⁴) orthogonal experimental design, it simulated the microclimatic effects of nine combined scenarios on typical summer and winter days for a case study in Nanjing. The comprehensive thermal comfort index, Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), was used as the primary evaluation indicator to assess the thermal comfort performance for elderly occupants, with the assistance of air temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity, and the results were analyzed via range analysis and ANOVA. The key findings indicate that: (1) Greening Type and Pergola Condition are the dominant factors affecting microclimate and annual thermal comfort across seasons, while Square Reflectance has a comparatively minor influence. (2) The combination of deciduous trees with lawn achieves the optimal cross-seasonal PET gain. It provides effective shading and cooling in summer while allowing beneficial solar penetration for warming in winter, substantially outperforming evergreen-dominated configurations. (3) The presence of a pergola consistently enhances comfort by providing essential shade in summer and acting as a windbreak in winter. The combination dominated by deciduous trees + lawn and pergola yields an overall PET gain 1.097 °C higher than that of evergreen trees + shrub without pergola. This study provides evidence-based, elderly specific landscape design strategies to inform the thermal environment optimization of public spaces in old residential areas undergoing renewal. Full article

Individuals with a lived experience are increasingly being included in the design of mental health services research. Obtaining perspectives of persons with a lived experience of mental health challenges on research that is important to them is an opportunity to achieve equity in allocating resources so that policy-makers and health research funders are made aware of the issues that matter to people who are affected by research. The purpose of this study is to explore lived experience perspectives on research needed for the improvement of care and services for persons with mental health challenges in order to improve the quality of care and service delivery. This qualitative study was conducted in Australia and was informed by biographical research and interpretive phenomenological analysis [IPA]. Twenty-one participants were interviewed for the study. The theme, ‘Access to care and early detection’ included eight categories. The theme, ‘Care and treatment’, included fifteen categories. The theme, Continuity of care’, included six categories. Research questions were developed for each category and serve as a first step towards initiating research on the identified topics. Research topics identified in this study were categorized as insufficiently researched, emerging areas of interest, or well researched with insufficient translation into practice. Full article