Search Results (239)

Urban river restoration provides significant ecological and social benefits, yet its market valuation remains underexamined in rapidly urbanizing inland cities. This study estimates the economic value of integrated blue–green spaces generated by the Bai River Ecological Restoration Project in Nanyang, China, using a spatially explicit hedonic pricing framework that links geocoded resale transactions with NDVI-based vegetation measures. Properties located within blue–green zones—areas jointly characterized by restored waterways and enhanced riparian greening—command an average price premium of 17.9% (CNY 1509/m²). Visual accessibility further increases housing values, although interaction effects indicate diminishing marginal premiums where multiple amenities co-occur. Quantile regressions show stronger capitalization effects in lower- and middle-priced segments, suggesting that ecological improvements may yield broad-based rather than elite-focused benefits. Spatial dependence diagnostics confirm significant autocorrelation, and Spatial Error Model estimates remain consistent with the baseline results. Overall, the findings provide robust evidence of supra-additive blue–green synergies and demonstrate the utility of combining NDVI with spatial econometric hedonic modeling. The study offers a transferable framework for supporting nature-based urban planning and informing cost–benefit evaluations of integrated ecological restoration initiatives. Full article

Freshwater planarians are an emerging model for toxicology and neuroscience because of their amenability to rapid behavioral screening and remarkable ability to regenerate a cephalized nervous system. As invertebrates, planarians can help reduce the use of vertebrates in research; however, laboratories typically maintain planarians on diets of homogenized organic beef or chicken liver, raising ethical concerns with feeding a vertebrate diet. Organic liver is difficult to obtain, and preparation methods vary, introducing intra- and interlaboratory variability. Here, we show that Dugesia japonica planarians can be maintained for over a year on commercially available red midge larvae (RML), a natural prey of freshwater planarians. We found only minor effects on reproduction and gene expression. To explore dietary effects on behavior and chemical sensitivity, we compared the results of a chemical screen using dimethyl sulfoxide, diazinon, and fluoxetine on adult and regenerating D. japonica. We found that differences in potency and bioactivity for planarians on liver and RML diets were on par with inter-experiment variability of planarians fed the same diet. We also show that RNA interference is feasible with RML. Because RML requires no preparation and sustains planarian populations long-term, this invertebrate diet can substitute liver and help reduce the use of vertebrates in research. Full article

With the growing focus on sustainable development, light rail transit (LRT) systems are increasingly viewed as key drivers of low-carbon mobility and spatial equity. However, as urban spatial structures become more stable, it remains unclear whether LRT systems can still enhance quality of life, property values and contribute to inclusive urban regeneration. This study explores Manchester, Sheffield, and Nottingham, three UK cities with recent LRT development experience, as case studies. Using LRT constructed or expanded between 1995 and 2019 as a quasi-natural experiment, a difference-in-differences (DID) model is applied to estimate the causal impact of LRT expansion on property prices. The results indicate that LRT construction can lead to a 4.44% to 8.29% increase in nearby property values, with a lagged effect observed after implementation. The impact is more pronounced in areas with well-developed bus networks and in lower-income areas. Further mechanism analysis suggests that the effect is indirectly driven by improved accessibility and enhanced convenience of access to local amenities. Full article

This study evaluated the performance and energy and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens fed corn-soybean meal-based diets supplemented with a naturally fermented enzyme complex containing xylanase and phytase. This was evaluated using 300 one-day-old male Cobb broiler chicks in a randomized complete block design with five dietary treatments replicated 10 times with 6 chicks per replicate. The treatments consisted of a positive control (PC) group containing commercially recommended energy and nutrient levels, a negative control (NC) group with reduced metabolizable energy, calcium, and available phosphorus, and three levels of exogenous enzyme supplementation to the NC diet at 150, 200, 250 mg/kg, respectively. At the end of the trial, ileal digesta and excreta were collected for nutrient and energy digestibility and utilization determination, while tibia bones were collected for bone ash determination. The data was analyzed using Proc GLM of SAS 9.4 v 4. Enzyme supplementation quadratically increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency during days 9–21. There was also a linear increase (p < 0.01) between enzyme level and ADFI during days 0–21. Compared with birds fed the PC diet, chickens fed the NC diet had lower (p < 0.01) utilization of DM, N, Ca, P, and energy, as well as lower (p < 0.01) apparent ileal digestibility of essential and non-essential amino acids (AA). Enzyme supplementation level showed a quadratic relation (p < 0.01) with the utilization of DM, N, Ca, P, and AMEn, as well as with the apparent ileal digestibility of essential and non-essential AA. A quadratic relationship was also observed for apparent ileal digestibility of DM, N, P, and digestible energy, except for Ca, where the relationship was linear (p < 0.001). Bone breaking strength and bone ash quadratically correlated (p < 0.05) with the level of enzyme supplementation. The results from this study indicated that the supplementation of exogenous enzyme to a corn–soybean meal-based diet resulted in benefits to performance, nutrient digestibility and utilization, and bone mineralization of broiler chicks compared to birds on the NC diet. Full article

The construction of post-industrial landscapes is increasingly regarded as an important pathway for promoting urban sustainability. However, limited attention has been given to the interconnections between post-industrial landscapes and local villagers in rural contexts. From the perspective of environmental justice, the ecological and cultural-tourism goals of post-industrial landscapes may be mismatched with villagers’ place-based needs. This study examines a typical rural post-industrial waterfront area in China to analyze villagers’ environmental justice. Representative project photographs were collected, and villagers’ perceptions were obtained through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, yielding 98 valid responses (95% response rate). Quantitative measurements of landscape characteristics were combined with pairwise preference evaluations, and the analysis applied the framework of recognition, participatory, and distributive justice. A discrete choice model (DCM) and spatial analysis were then employed to explore the relationships. Quantitative analysis showed that natural vegetation, plazas, industrial heritage, and pedestrian paths had negative effects on villagers’ recognition (β = −0.36 to −0.18), whereas hardscape had a strong positive effect (β = 0.94). Moreover, spatial analysis indicated localized patterns of environmental injustice, highlighting uneven distribution of landscape benefits across the site. Semi-structured interviews revealed villagers’ priorities across landscape design, amenities, local livelihoods, and project implementation, highlighting the importance of safer, more functional, and well-managed spaces. Collectively, these findings underscore the importance of inclusive planning and design strategies that integrate ecological, cultural, and recreational considerations, thereby supporting the sustainable renewal of rural post-industrial waterfronts. Full article

Photosynthesis is the foundation of the vast majority of life systems, and is therefore the most important bioenergetic process on earth. The greatest diversity of photosynthetic systems is found in microorganisms. However, our understanding of the biophysical and biochemical processes that transduce light into chemical energy is derived from a relatively small subset of proteins from microbes that are amenable to cultivation, in contrast to the huge number of predicted proteins that catalyze the initial photochemical reactions deposited in databases, such as from metagenomics. We describe the use of a Rhodobacter sphaeroides laboratory strain for the expression of heterologous photosynthesis genes to demonstrate the feasibility of mining this resource, focusing on hot spring Chloroflexota gene sequences. Using a synthetic operon of genes, we produced a photochemically active complex of reaction center proteins in our biological system. We also present bioinformatic analyses of anoxygenic type II reaction center sequences from metagenomic samples collected from hot (42–90 °C) springs available through the JGI IMG database, to generate a resource of diverse sequences that are potentially adapted to photosynthesis at such temperatures. These data provide a view into the natural diversity of anoxygenic photosynthesis, through a lens focused on high-temperature environments. The approach we took to express such genes can be applied for potential biotechnology purposes as well as for studies of fundamental catalytic properties of these heretofore inaccessible protein complexes. Full article

The classical fiber product in algebraic geometry provides a powerful tool for studying loci where two morphisms to a base scheme, $\varphi :X\to S$ and $\psi :Y\to S$, coincide exactly. This condition of strict equality, however, is insufficient for describing many real-world applications, such as the geometric structure of semantic spaces in modern large language models whose foundational architecture is the Transformer neural network: The token spaces of these models are fundamentally approximate, and recent work has revealed complex geometric singularities, challenging the classical manifold hypothesis. This paper develops a new framework to study and quantify the nature of approximate alignment between morphisms in the context of arithmetic geometry, using the tools of étale homotopy theory. We introduce the central object of our work, the étale mismatch torsor, which is a sheaf of torsors over the product scheme $X{\times }_{S}Y$. The structure of this sheaf serves as a rich, intrinsic, and purely algebraic object amenable to both qualitative classification and quantitative analysis of the global relationship between the two morphisms. Our main results are twofold. First, we provide a complete classification of these structures, establishing a bijection between their isomorphism classes and the first étale cohomology group $H_{ét}^1(X{\times }_{S}Y,\underline{{\pi }_1^{ét}(S)})$. Second, we construct a canonical filtration on this classifying cohomology group based on the theory of infinitesimal neighborhoods. This filtration induces a new invariant, which we term the order of mismatch, providing a hierarchical, algebraic measure for the degree of approximation between the morphisms. We apply this framework to the concrete case of generalized Howe curves over finite fields, demonstrating how both the characteristic class and its order reveal subtle arithmetic properties. Full article

Urban green spaces have emerged as a key outdoor natural space supporting social interaction since the pandemic and lockdowns, and particularly benefit the health and well-being of the elderly and children amid global population aging. However, the challenges of socialization among multi-age groups and the influence of green space quality on these interactions remain insufficiently understood. To create healthy multi-age spaces, this study aimed to compare the associations between urban green space quality and social interaction among the elderly, children, and the general population. To achieve this, we adopted a UAV vision method, integrating the SOSIP protocol with a vision-based behavioral recognition model to capture outdoor social interactions across multiple age groups. Multilevel regression models were applied to analyze the hierarchical data structure and assess the contributions of different green space quality indicators, including green space size, facility, amenity, aesthetic features, maintenance and cleanliness, incivility, and overall quality. The findings indicated that overall green space quality is the most significant contributor in promoting social interaction, while maintenance and cleanliness appeared equally important to children and the general population. The presence of facilities and a larger green space size encourage informal encounters and facilitate collective activities only among the general population. However, aesthetic features and the number of amenities had limited effects on the social interactions of multi-age groups. These results suggest that how green space quality influences social interaction varies among different age groups. Accordingly, targeted green space quality enhancement strategies are proposed to support the planning of sustainable, healthy multi-age spaces that could balance the needs of both the elderly and younger populations. Full article

Three-dimensional assets have evolved into a pivotal element within the domains of electronic entertainment, medicine, and engineering. Unfortunately, 3D models comprise voluminous data, which is not readily amenable to analysis or to the application of simple algorithms. This study thoroughly analyses the usability of the classical Isolation Forest (IF) method as a novel instrument for 3D mesh analysis. Given the atypical nature of 3D model data, it was necessary to obtain the special multidimensional feature vector (FV) associated with each vertex. The FV codes information regarding the local curvature of the surface in the vicinity of the vertex. As demonstrated by experimental studies, the IF analysis is capable of detecting geometrical details, areas of dense, complex geometry, strong bends, and folds in the mesh. This finding indicates a significant steganographic potential, which prompted the authors to employ research findings in the domain of 3D mesh watermarking as a practical illustration. Thanks to IF, a new steganographic method was developed that is characterised by higher transparency, achieved by hiding data in areas of complex geometry. The study proves the high potential of IF for analysing and watermarking 3D models, representing a meaningful step toward broader applications of IF in this field. Full article

Soil surfactants are essential tools for enhancing irrigation water efficiency and improving the quality and functionality of amenity turfgrass. They play a crucial role in sports turf management by reducing soil water repellency, which helps prevent dry spots, ensures even moisture distribution, and supports water conservation efforts. Most research on soil surfactants and amenity turfgrasses focuses on their effects on soil moisture, infiltration, and addressing localized dry spots during drought conditions, with limited studies on their impact under wet or saturated conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of soil surfactants on the quality and health of turfgrass under wet conditions. Field studies were conducted over a span of five years, beginning in the USA in 2019 and continuing in Ireland from 2020 to 2023. The research in Ireland was conducted at three locations, each featuring different rootzones: a “push-up” green with loam soil, USGA-specification sand, and natural link sand. The site in the USA was a native loam soil. The study compared a commercial soil surfactant (ProWet Evolve; PWE) and a non-treated control (NT) in a randomized complete block design with four replications, with sequential applications starting in June and continuing until mid-September each year. The rootzone volumetric water content (VWC%), turfgrass quality, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were measured bi-weekly. Environmental conditions, with above-average precipitation each year, significantly influenced results. Although there were no significant or consistent differences in VWC% between the soil surfactant and NT-treated plots, turfgrass quality was significantly enhanced in the soil surfactant-treated plots and supported by higher NDVI values. Even in prolonged wet conditions with high VWC%, improved turfgrass quality was consistently observed in soil surfactant-treated plots across multiple locations in both countries over the five-year study period. Full article

Urban green spaces of collective housing are more than a passive background: they are living records of how cities have understood the relationship between housing, nature, and society. In many parts of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly within housing estates built in the late 20th century, these green spaces were carefully planned as part of a larger ideological, spatial, and social framework. Today, however, their original functions are often obscured by decades of political change, privatization or shifting management practices. This paper explores six residential areas in Nitra, Slovakia, analyzing how their design, amenities, and open spaces reflect wider societal transformations. Special attention is given to urban green spaces and urban voids—often overlooked yet critical elements of the everyday urban experience. Using a multicriteria method, we evaluate and compare these developments considering both historical and contemporary urban challenges, including climate resilience and sustainable regeneration. Our approach combines archival research with on-site fieldwork, spatial mapping, and qualitative observation to explore how the planning of collective housing has changed and what it means for the future of urban living. The results reveal a gradual decline in the quality and function of open space in collective housing, especially in newer projects where ecological and social values are often neglected. Full article

The travel accommodation sector within the sharing economy relies heavily on user-generated reviews. Drawing on data from insideairbnb.com for the Porto district from 2016 to 2020, this study examines the influence of online reviews from the standpoint of the sentiment expressed on accommodation prices, alongside other determinants such as locational attributes. The primary objective is to assess a broad set of factors affecting listing prices, with a particular focus on the degree and nature of sentiment expressed in online reviews. The dataset, comprising more than 250,000 reviews, was enriched with spatial and geographical variables, including key amenities, accessibility to public services, host characteristics, and locational indicators. A hedonic spatial regression model was employed to account for spatial dependencies. The findings reveal that sentiments expressed in user reviews exert a stronger influence on pricing than purely quantitative review metrics. Furthermore, host and listing characteristics, as well as geographical factors, play a substantial role in determining prices. The main contribution and novelty of this study lies in the joint analysis of sentiment and geographical attributes as drivers of accommodation pricing. Another contribution of this paper lies in the analysis of a broad geographical area encompassing both a historic city that is popular among European destinations and predominantly rural regions. Full article

Koelreuteria paniculata is an amenity landscape tree whose seed extracts and cold-pressed oil are proven biopesticides and biodiesel feedstocks. However, the residual seed cake phytochemical profile has not been systematically assessed or evaluated for multifunctionality across pesticidal, fertilizing, and nutritional domains. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive chemotyping of K. paniculata seed cake and evaluate its potential for use as a biopesticide, biofertilizer, and feed additive, contributing to sustainable and circular agricultural systems. Detailed analyses of the defatted seed cake included moisture, crude protein, crude ash, crude fat, and crude fiber determination, as well as amino acid and fatty acid composition determination, supplemented with HPLC and antioxidative capacity investigation. Results delivered a comprehensive chemotyping of K. paniculata seed cake, revealing a nutrient-rich profile with moderate protein (20.01%), substantial monounsaturated fatty acids (75.8%, mainly eicosenoic and oleic), and significant phenolic content, including ellagic acid, rutin, catechin, and gallic acid. Antioxidant assays (DPPH and ABTS) confirmed moderate radical scavenging activity, indicating that bioactivity is retained after cold-press extraction. These compositional and functional traits highlight the potential of the seed cake as a raw material for natural biopesticides, biofertilizers, and value-added agro-industrial products. However, due to its unusual fatty acid profile and possible anti-nutritional factors, feed applications should proceed with caution and be preceded by targeted safety evaluations. Full article

In high-density built environments, perceived density (PD)—shaped by physical, socio-cultural, and perceptual factors—often induces sensations of crowding, stress, and spatial oppression. Although green spaces are recognised for their stress-reducing effects, the influence of built-environment characteristics on public sentiment under stringent mobility restrictions remains inadequately explored. This study takes Chongqing, a representative mountainous metropolis in China, as a case to examine how natural and built environmental elements modulate emotional valence across varying PD levels. Using housing data (n = 4865) and geotagged Weibo posts (n = 120,319) collected during the 2022 lockdown, we constructed a PD-sensitive sentiment dictionary and applied Python’s Jieba package and natural language processing (NLP) techniques to analyse emotional scores related to PD. Spatial and bivariate autocorrelation analyses revealed clustered patterns of sentiment distribution and their association with physical density. Using entropy weighting, building density and floor area ratio were integrated to classify residential built environments (RBEs) into five tiers based on natural breaks. Key factors influencing positive sentiment across PD groups were identified through Pearson correlation heatmaps and OLS regression. Three main findings emerged: (1) Although higher-PD areas yielded a greater volume of positive sentiment expressions, they exhibited lower diversity and intensity compared to low-PD areas, suggesting inferior emotional quality; (2) Environmental and socio-cultural factors showed limited effects on sentiment in low-PD areas, whereas medium- and high-PD areas benefited from a significantly enhanced cumulative effect through the integration of socio-cultural amenities and transportation facilities—however, this positive correlation reversed at the highest level (RBE 5); (3) The model explained 20.3% of the variance in positive sentiment, with spatial autocorrelation effectively controlled. These findings offer nuanced insights into the nonlinear mechanisms linking urban form and emotional well-being in high-density mountainous settings, providing theoretical and practical guidance for emotion-sensitive urban planning. Full article

Representational Theories of Mind have long dominated Cognitive Translation Studies, typically assuming that translation involves the manipulation of internal representations (symbols) that stand in for external states of affairs. In recent years, classical representationalism has given way to more nuanced, inferential, interpretive, context-sensitive, and modern representational models, some of which align naturally with probabilistic and predictive approaches. While these frameworks remain broadly compatible with one another, radical enactivism offers a more disruptive alternative: it denies representational content altogether, viewing translation instead as an affectively grounded, context-sensitive, self-evidencing activity shaped by the translator’s embodied engagement with text, context, and sociocultural norms. From an enactivist standpoint, translation emerges not from static symbolic mappings, but from situated, embodied, and affectively modulated inference processes that dynamically negotiate meaning across languages. The paper provides a theoretical synthesis, arguing that the Free Energy Principle under Predictive Processing and Active Inference provides a suitable mathematical framework amenable to representational and enactive accounts. Full article