Search Results (2,159)

Soil erosion in arid watersheds poses a significant threat to land productivity, water resources, and long-term sustainability, necessitating spatially explicit and data-driven prioritization frameworks for targeted conservation. This study developed an integrated GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework to assess soil erosion susceptibility and prioritize twelve sub-basins (SB) of the Wadi Numan basin (683 km²), Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia. Morphometric analysis was conducted using sixteen parameters derived from a 10 m Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) data were obtained from the Esri Sentinel-2 10 m dataset. Four MCDM techniques—additive ratio assessment (ARAS), complex proportional assessment (COPRAS), multi-objective optimization by ratio analysis (MOORA), and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS)—were applied under the criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation (CRITIC) objective weighting, and their consistency was evaluated using the Spearman correlation coefficient test (SCCT) and the Kendall Tau correlation coefficient test (KTCCT). MOORA achieved the highest consistency for morphometric analysis (SCCT: 0.982; KTCCT: 0.958), while TOPSIS performed best for LULC analysis (SCCT: 0.800; KTCCT: 0.731). The final combined prioritization used MOORA for morphometric analysis and TOPSIS for LULC analysis, with proportional weighting of 72.7% and 27.3%, respectively. The scheme categorized the sub-basins into five levels of soil erosion priority. The composite ranking classified SB-9 and SB-1 under very high priority (25.94%); SB-2 and SB-3 under high priority (6.40%); SB-5, SB-6, and SB-10 under medium priority (36.37%); SB-4 and SB-8 under low priority (18.11%); and SB-11, SB-12, and SB-7 under very low priority (13.18%). This integrated method provides a practical decision-support tool for identifying and managing sub-basins susceptible to soil erosion, thereby promoting the long-term sustainability of land and water resources. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cancer is a multifactorial disease in which drug resistance and limited selectivity remain major therapeutic challenges, highlighting the need for novel anticancer agents. As a privileged scaffold for multitarget anticancer drug discovery, quinazolin-4(3H)-one was selected for the design, synthesis, and evaluation of new derivatives as potential anticancer agents, together with investigation of their mechanisms of action and molecular targets. Methods: Fifteen new quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives were synthesized and screened using the NCI-60 human cancer cell line panel. The mechanism of action of the most active compound was investigated through cell cycle, apoptosis, and RT-qPCR analyses. A potential molecular target was identified from transcriptomic data in the Human Protein Atlas, focusing on highly expressed cancer-implicated genes in the most responsive cell lines, followed by molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and in vitro kinase studies. Safety and pharmacokinetic properties were evaluated using an MTT cytotoxicity assay in normal WI-38 fibroblasts and in silico ADME analyses. Results: Compound 3e emerged as the most active and tumor-selective derivative, exhibiting GI₅₀ values ranging from 2.63 to 17.12 µM across 31 cancer cell lines. In A549 cells, selected as a representative responsive model, 3e (GI₅₀ = 10.8 µM, 72 h) induced G2/M cell-cycle arrest (59.58% vs. 26.96% in control), increased early apoptosis (43.94% vs. 0.11% in control), reduced viable cells (49.71% vs. 98.66%), elevated the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (7.91), and upregulated the expression of caspase-9 and caspase-3 by 2.5- and 4.6-fold, respectively. Integrated target identification studies and an in vitro kinase assay (IC₅₀ = 21.34 nM) suggested TGF-βRI (ALK5) as a plausible molecular target. Compound 3e also showed low cytotoxicity toward WI-38 fibroblasts (IC₅₀ = 88.3 µM) and favorable predicted pharmacokinetic properties; nevertheless, high plasma protein binding and potential CYP2C9 inhibition are anticipated. Conclusions: Compound 3e is a promising tumor-selective anticancer lead with potential TGF-βRI inhibitory activity. Its antiproliferative effects in A549 cells appear to be mediated through G2/M cell-cycle arrest and activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, supporting further development and pharmacokinetic optimization of this scaffold for anticancer therapy. Full article

Cultural heritage assets in seismic metropolitan regions are increasingly exposed to interacting natural hazards, yet disaster risk assessments for historic buildings often remain limited to single-hazard interpretations. This study addresses this gap by developing a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based multi-hazard risk assessment for Ferhatpaşa Mosque, a sixteenth-century Ottoman heritage asset located in Çatalca, Istanbul. Eight spatial parameters were evaluated at the neighborhood scale: slope, elevation, aspect, precipitation, distance to fault lines, distance to hydrological features, land use, and soil capability. The model was developed through Weighted Overlay analysis and interdisciplinary expert-based weighting. Distance to fault lines and precipitation received the highest weights, each accounting for 17.22% of the model, followed by distance to hydrological features and soil capability, each weighted at 13.89%. The final risk map classified 71.99% of the study area as medium risk, 28% as low risk, and 0.02% as high risk. Ferhatpaşa Mosque was located within the medium-risk zone, approximately 29,600 m from active fault lines, 250 m from the nearest dry streambed, 800 m from the nearest stream, and 320 m from the nearest high-risk zone. These findings demonstrate that the mosque’s risk profile is shaped not by seismic proximity alone, but by the cumulative interaction of topography, precipitation, hydrology, soil conditions, and land-use characteristics. The proposed model provides a spatial decision-support framework for integrating cultural heritage conservation into sustainable disaster risk reduction and local risk mitigation planning. Full article

Resistant starch type 3 (RS3) exhibits physiological benefits in regulating post-meal blood sugar levels and enhancing gut microbiota balance. In this study, mung bean starch was isolated and modified through debranching, annealing (ANN) and heat-moisture treatment (HMT). The multi-scale structures investigated by SEM, FT-IR, and XRD unveiled the formation of short-range ordered, helix, and crystalline structures. Notably, RS3 formed through debranching and HMT exhibited both a remarkably high RS content of 54.71% and a low estimated glycemic index (eGI) of 51.78. Statistical evaluation through correlation and stepwise regression analyses suggested that short-range molecular order was the primary factor associated with the resistance of RS3 to enzymatic hydrolysis, while the chain length of B-chains exerted secondary yet notable influences. This work provided novel insights into the interplay between processing methodologies, ordered molecular structures, and starch digestibility resistance. Full article

Taking 563 national key rural tourism villages across 12 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in western China as the research object, this study integrates multi-source data on physical geography, transportation location, socioeconomic conditions, and historical culture based on the ArcGIS platform. It comprehensively applies kernel density analysis, spatial autocorrelation analysis, buffer analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, Geodetector, and the relative enrichment index to examine the spatial distribution characteristics of these villages and their associated spatial factors. The results show that key rural tourism villages in western China exhibit an overall clustered and uneven distribution, forming a spatial pattern characterized by “high concentration in core areas, extension along secondary corridors, and sparse distribution across vast hinterlands.” The core agglomeration areas are mainly located in the Sichuan Basin, the Chongqing metropolitan area, and the Guanzhong Plain. In terms of physical geography, the distribution of key villages shows certain spatial associations with major river basins, low-slope areas, and low-relief terrain. In terms of human factors, population density and road network density are important associated factors, and the combined population–transportation conditions have strong explanatory power for the spatial differentiation of key village density. With regard to historical culture, folk-custom inheritance villages and red-culture heritage villages account for relatively high proportions, while different cultural types show certain regional agglomeration or corridor-like distribution characteristics. The findings can provide references for zoned optimization, transportation connectivity, cultural resource integration, and coordinated regional development of key rural tourism villages in western China. Full article

Coastal zones are facing rising exposure to climate-related hazards alongside intensifying human pressures, which highlights the need for robust tools to assess vulnerability. This study uses a GIS-based Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) to quantify and map relative vulnerability along ~13 km of shoreline in Al Hoceima Bay (northern Morocco). The proposed CVI integrates eight geological and physical indicators, including geomorphology, shoreline erosion and accretion rates, coastal slope, elevation, natural habitats, relative sea-level rise, significant wave height, and tidal range. Spatial analyses were performed using remote sensing data, historical records, field measurements, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The analysis reveals that 37% of the shoreline is categorized as high vulnerability, 44% is moderate, and 19% is low. Highly vulnerable sectors are primarily associated with low elevations, gentle coastal slopes, sandy beach systems, limited natural habitat protection, and proximity to river mouths. These findings demonstrate that the applied CVI provides a rapid and cost-effective framework for identifying priority areas for coastal management and climate adaptation. The proposed approach offers valuable decision-support insights for sustainable coastal planning in Al Hoceima Bay and other Mediterranean coastal environments characterized by limited data availability. Full article

Background: Portal hypertension can lead to complications such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, esophageal varices, and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, all of which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Variceal bleeding is the most severe complication, with an estimated mortality of up to 30%. In children, evidence-based guidelines for the management of GI bleeding secondary to portal hypertension are lacking. In this con-text, octreotide, a synthetic somatostatin analog approved for other indications, has been increasingly used off-label and represents a paradigmatic example of drug re-purposing in pediatrics. Methods: Following the 2020 PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of octreotide for the treatment of portal hyperten-sion-related GI bleeding in children. A comprehensive search of six sources, including five bibliographic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EBSCOhost) and the ClinicalTrials.gov registry, was conducted to identify studies in-cluding pediatric patients with GI bleeding secondary to portal hypertension. Results: Three non-randomized observational studies were included, assessing bleeding recurrence, packed red blood cell requirements, and adverse events following octreotide admin-istration. Overall, 33 patients were analyzed, with a mean age of 6.3 years. One study reported a reduction in rebleeding episodes and transfusion requirements after oc-treotide treatment. Across all included studies, no serious adverse events were ob-served; mild and reversible hyperglycemia was the only reported drug-related effect. Quantitative synthesis was not feasible due to substantial heterogeneity, missing data, and a serious risk of bias, resulting in very low certainty of evidence. Conclusions: Octreotide may represent a feasible therapeutic option for portal hypertension-related GI bleeding in children; however, further prospective and standardized studies are needed to establish its long-term safety and efficacy. Full article

Non-fried whole-wheat instant noodles feature high dietary fiber and balanced nutrition but suffer from poor rehydration, texture, and flavor. This study aims to improve the quality of these noodles through mixed fermentation of yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The rehydration characteristics, textural profile, sensory quality, microstructure, volatile flavor compounds, and in vitro digestibility of non-fried instant whole-wheat noodles were evaluated. Yeast primarily reduced rehydration time and improved mouthfeel, whereas LAB mainly contributed to the formation of a continuous and uniform gluten network as well as the enhancement of noodle flavor. Moderate addition of the mixed culture (1% yeast + 0.05% LAB) promoted the construction of a homogeneous gluten network in non-fried whole-wheat instant noodles, effectively reducing starch digestibility and estimated glycemic index (eGI). However, excessive addition caused opposite effects on these noodles. This study provides an effective processing strategy for the production of high-quality, low-eGI whole-wheat instant noodles, which are suitable for people pursuing healthy diets and controlling blood sugar levels. Full article

Climate change is increasingly reshaping species habitat suitability worldwide. Primula L., the largest genus in Primulaceae, comprises 404 species in China (including 296 endemic species) and is characterized by high endemism and numerous rare and endangered taxa. However, global warming has intensified habitat fragmentation and loss, while its distribution patterns and key environmental drivers remain insufficiently understood. We compiled 7647 occurrence records of 404 wild Primula species in China and integrated 60 environmental variables (climatic, topographic, and soil factors). Using the MaxEnt model combined with ArcGIS spatial analysis, we assessed current and future habitat suitability, identified dominant environmental drivers, and quantified conservation gaps under multiple climate scenarios. Species richness is highly concentrated in Sichuan (186 species), Yunnan (177 species), and Xizang (165 species), with the Hengduan Mountains and eastern Himalayas representing the core distribution area and showing clear peripheral differentiation. The optimized MaxEnt model performed well (AUC = 0.858), identifying temperature seasonality (bio4, 39.8%) and elevation (27.1%) as the main limiting factors. The total suitable habitat area is 268.52 × 10⁴ km², with high-suitability areas mainly distributed in the Hengduan Mountains, southeastern Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, and the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan. Under three shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585), suitable habitat shows a persistent decline, most pronounced under SSP585 in the 2090s (−20.73%), accompanied by a 25.86% reduction in low-suitability areas. Localized expansion of high-suitability habitats suggests that the Hengduan Mountains and southeastern Qinghai–Xizang Plateau may act as potential climatic refugia. Habitat loss consistently exceeds habitat gain, while the distribution centroid shifts westward and northwestward, with migration distances increasing under higher-emission scenarios. Conservation gap analysis indicates that 90.01% of high-suitability habitats lie outside the current protected area network, revealing a strong mismatch between biodiversity hotspots and conservation coverage. These findings highlight the urgent need to expand protected areas and establish micro-reserves in key gap regions (southwestern Sichuan, northwestern Yunnan, southeastern Xizang, and southern Gansu), and to integrate climate-driven migration corridors into conservation planning to support long-term alpine plant persistence under climate change. Full article

Seawater intrusion presents a significant risk to coastal aquifers, particularly in low-lying locations where groundwater resources are intensively exploited. This study assesses the vulnerability of the Keta Strip aquifer in Southeastern Ghana to seawater intrusion using the GALDIT model; a widely applied index-based approach that evaluates seawater intrusion risk based on six key hydrogeological indicators: groundwater occurrence (G), aquifer hydraulic conductivity (A), groundwater level above sea level (L), distance from the shoreline (D), impact of existing intrusion (I), and aquifer thickness (T). These parameters were analyzed using data from 105 monitoring wells within a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. The resulting vulnerability index was spatially grouped into four categories: low, moderate, high, and very high vulnerability. Results indicate that very high and high vulnerability regions are predominantly clustered along the coastal margins and central portions of the study area, driven mainly by low hydraulic gradients, proximity to the shoreline, and high hydraulic conductivity. Moderate vulnerability zones dominate inland areas, while low vulnerability zones are limited and confined to northern sections. Sensitivity analysis reveals that hydraulic head (L) and distance from shoreline (D) are the most influential parameters, whereas TDS exhibits relatively low contribution to overall vulnerability. The findings highlight the critical role of hydrogeological controls and anthropogenic pressures in shaping seawater intrusion risk and provide a scientific basis for sustainable groundwater management in the Keta Strip and similar coastal environments. Full article

Climate-induced natural hazards can result in disruptions and failures of railway routes which are associated with high economic costs. Hence, the mechanisms of climate impacts posing a threat to rail transport must be identified, analysed and localised in railway networks. This study aims at assessing heavy rainfall hazards on the railway network of the federal state Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) in Germany and presents a GIS-based flooding indicator. A rule-based classification and aggregation approach with a hazard matrix was developed using potential flooding depths and flow velocities, resulting in five hazard classes. The approach was applied to the railway network in NRW for two heavy rainfall scenarios (N₁₀₀, N_ext). The results show that the clear majority of route kilometres are classified as at least moderate hazard in both precipitation scenarios considered (N_ext 81%, N₁₀₀ 72%). On railway routes in low mountain range regions, more sections are assigned higher hazard classes than in flat landscapes. The plausibility of the indicator was explored through scenario, structural and conceptual parameter analyses, which support robustness of the results. The maps can serve as a tool for making qualitative statements on the potential impact on the German railway network and localising these impacts spatially. Full article

Flooding triggered by intense precipitation is a significant natural hazard affecting Mediterranean regions, where complex terrain, rapid hydrological response and increasing urbanization can amplify flood impacts. This study assesses flood susceptibility in two representative Mediterranean River catchments: the Koiliaris in Crete, Greece, and the Pediaios in Cyprus. A compact Flood Hazard Index (FHI) was developed by integrating the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), Curve Number (CN), and R20 heavy rain frequency index, representing the principal geomorphological, hydrological and climatological controls of flood generation. Spatial datasets including EU-DEM elevation data, CORINE land cover, European soil databases, and Copernicus CERRA precipitation reanalysis were combined within a GIS-based multi-criteria framework using Analytic Hierarchy Process weighting. The resulting FHI maps identify high flood susceptibility along river corridors, low-lying accumulation zones, and urbanized areas. In the Koiliaris basin, 34% of the area fell within the high and very high susceptibility classes, mainly in downstream alluvial zones, whereas in the Pediaios basin, 29% of the area fell within the high and very high susceptibility classes, concentrated around the urbanized Nicosia corridor. The analysis of historical flood events provided a qualitative consistency assessment of the FHI patterns, acknowledging that the absence of spatially explicit flood-inundation footprints limits quantitative validation. Full article

The escalating global climate crisis has increased scholarly and practical attention to green investment as a key driver of corporate sustainability. From a systems perspective, enterprises can be viewed as complex socio-technical systems in which green resource allocation, technological innovation, and digital transformation interact dynamically. Against this background, this study examines how green investment (GI) affects corporate digital value (DV) and whether green technological innovation (GTI) serves as a transmission mechanism in this relationship. Using panel data from 15,244 firm-year observations of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2012 to 2024, this study applies panel data estimation methods to test the proposed relationships. The results show that GI significantly enhances DV, indicating that green resource allocation can strengthen firms’ digital value creation. GTI plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between GI and DV, suggesting that green investment contributes to digital value not only directly but also by stimulating technological innovation within the corporate system. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive effect of GI on DV is more pronounced among state-owned enterprises and firms located in eastern regions. These findings enrich the literature on green–digital transformation by highlighting the systemic linkage between green investment, green technological innovation, and digital value creation. They also provide practical implications for policymakers and corporate managers seeking to promote coordinated low-carbon and digital development through more effective green investment and innovation strategies. Full article

Urban flood vulnerability is increasingly shaped by the interaction between climate change, urbanization, and spatial planning practices, particularly in Mediterranean metropolitan areas. This study develops an integrated GIS–AHP framework to assess the susceptibility component of flood vulnerability in the urban area of Thessaloniki, Greece. Using open-access geospatial data, ten indicators representing soil, hydrological, and environmental conditions are derived and spatially analyzed. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), based on expert judgment, is applied to estimate the relative importance of these indicators and to support their integration into a composite flood susceptibility index. The results reveal strong spatial heterogeneity, with high susceptibility concentrated in low-lying, densely urbanized areas and zones near drainage pathways. Among the examined factors, the Topographic Wetness Index emerges as the most influential, highlighting the persistent role of terrain-driven hydrological processes even in highly built environments. The proposed framework provides a transparent and transferable methodology for identifying flood-prone areas and supports evidence-based urban planning and climate resilience strategies. The findings contribute to the broader discussion on vulnerability and resilience in urban systems by linking spatial analysis with decision-support tools in a policy-relevant context. Full article

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) embodies national memory. China has established a four-level ICH protection system covering national, provincial/autonomous regional, municipal, and county levels. The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region possesses abundant ICH resources formed by intensive cultural integration. However, existing studies have mostly focused on the national and provincial levels and paid insufficient attention to county-level ICH, which restricts detailed analysis of its spatial characteristics. Based on 1546 four-level ICH items, this study employs GIS spatial analysis and the geodetector method to investigate the spatial distribution characteristics and driving factors of ICH. The results indicate that ICH quantity is the highest in Yinchuan (372) and the lowest in Shizuishan (163). Traditional skills (763) are predominant, while Quyi (15) is the rarest. The imbalance index ($s$ = 0.1553) and the geographic concentration index ($G$ = 46.1) demonstrate that ICH is unevenly distributed and clustered at the municipal scale, showing a pattern of high density in the north and low density in the south. The Hui population ($q$ = 0.5639), cultural industry employees ($q$ = 0.4835), and annual precipitation ($q$ = 0.3809) are the main driving factors, with significant multi-factor interactions. This research provides a theoretical reference and practical paradigm for balanced ICH protection and living heritage in Ningxia. Full article