Search Results (1,137)

Understanding the dynamic changes in the quality of the ecological environment and its potential driving forces is essential for protecting regional ecosystems and promoting sustainable development. In this study, we developed an improved remote sensing ecological index (IRSEI) by integrating the kernel normalized difference vegetation index (kNDVI) with an abundance index (AI) and conducted a comprehensive analysis of the spatiotemporal evolution of the quality of the ecological environment in the North China Plain (NCP) from 2000 to 2020. A multistep driving analysis framework was established to identify key climatic factors via the XGBoost algorithm and to quantify the effects of climate change and human activities through partial correlation analysis and a multiple regression residual model. The results indicate the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the ecological quality of the NCP significantly improved, with the average IRSEI increasing from 0.41 to 0.45. The proportion of areas with “good” or “excellent” ecological quality increased, revealing a south–north gradient, with higher values in the southern part and lower values in the northern part of the NCP. (2) Among the key climatic variables, surface temperature was significantly negatively correlated with the IRSEI, whereas atmospheric pressure and evapotranspiration were significantly positively correlated. (3) Approximately 51.97% of the ecological quality changes were jointly driven by climate change and human activities, with the contribution of human activities (28.80%) exceeding that of climate change (19.23%). These findings provide a scientific basis for understanding the driving mechanisms behind ecological environment changes and support ecological restoration and coordinated human–environment development in the context of climate change. Full article

The article is devoted to the theoretical development of the mechanisms of molecular refrigeration, the area combining molecular magnetism and material science with promise for low-temperature physics and quantum computing, where conventional principles of refrigeration become inefficient. Given this general trend, we propose the concept of the magnetothermal effect in magnetically anisotropic complexes of 3d metal ions, caused by fast magnetic field quenching. Within this concept, the most topical case of an axially magnetically anisotropic system isolated from the environment by adiabatic envelope is analyzed. We evaluate the temperature change as a function of the initial temperature and magnetic field and also its dependence on the sign and the magnitude of the axial zero-field splitting parameter and the Debye temperature. Correlations are revealed between the sign of the magnetic anisotropy (dictated by the sign of the axial zero field splitting parameter) and the sign of the thermal effect (heating versus cooling) caused by field quenching. The temperature change is shown to be negative (cooling) in the case of complexes exhibiting easy-axis-type magnetic anisotropy, while for the case of easy-plane-type anisotropy, it proves to be positive (heating). The thermal effects are shown to have an efficient control by varying the initially applied field. These findings allow us to propose complexes exhibiting easy-axis-type magnetic anisotropy as candidates for achieving a low-temperature refrigeration effect caused by fast field quenching and also to employ the established magnetothermal correlations to the analysis of magnetic anisotropy. Full article

In temperate regions, early sowing of high nutritive genotypes could support maize production sustainability by avoiding warming-related unfavorable environment conditions during flowering. Seven standard maize (SM) lines and their nine quality protein maize (QPM) counterparts were evaluated for cold tolerance during germination. Cold stress (13°/6 °C) was applied for five days, after a 48 h imbibition period under optimal temperature (25°/22 °C). Germination, physiological parameters, and some primary and secondary metabolites in the seeds were analyzed. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in cold tolerance between SM and QPM. Cold stress significantly reduced germination energy (SM-p < 0.05, QPM-p < 0.001) and physiological traits (p < 0.001), with shoot traits being most severely affected. The potentially high impact of gallic (p < 0.001), protocatechuic (p < 0.05), and p-coumaric (p < 0.001) acids on germination under stress and negative effect of lutein + zeaxhantin and β-cryptoxhantin (p < 0.05) on root length was revealed. Among all lines, L3QPM excelled under stress, with unchanged germination energy and the lowest fold change in vigor indices (0.35 for VI1, 0.45 for VI2). Also, β + γ-tocopherol and gallic and caffeic acids were significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to its SM original. Lines L1QPM2, L3QPM, and L7QPM, combining improved nutritional quality with high cold tolerance, will be incorporated in further early sowing research and breeding programs. Full article

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) harbors extreme environmental conditions (e.g., low temperature, intense UV radiation, and hypoxia), presenting unique challenges for biological adaptation. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying the adaptation of macrofungi to high-altitude environments on the QTP remain poorly understood. In this study, we de novo sequenced and assembled the genomes of three Laccaria species collected from the QTP, aiming to unravel the genomic basis of their adaptation to high altitudes. The genomic data indicates that the genome of high-altitude species is slightly larger than that of their low-altitude relatives, particularly due to LTR retrotransposons, which also show a negative correlation with altitude. The expanded and positively selected gene families in high-altitude species were enriched in pathways related to DNA damage repair, maintenance of cell membrane stability, signal transduction, enzyme activity, stress response, and reproduction. In contrast, contracted gene families in high-altitude species were primarily associated with disease and immune responses, likely due to the reduced pathogen pressure in extreme high-altitude environments. Additionally, species-specific genes of high-altitude Laccaria were enriched in functions related to enzyme activity, membrane stability, and signal transduction, further supporting their adaptive roles. Analysis of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) showed distinct gene family distributions between high- and low-altitude species, with several families absent in the low-altitude species, suggesting their potential involvement in environmental adaptation. Overall, our findings indicate that genome size expansion driven by LTR retrotransposons, coordinated evolution of gene families, positive selection, and divergence in CAZymes collectively may contribute to the adaptation of Laccaria to extreme high-altitude environments. This study provides basic data into the genetic mechanisms of fungal adaptation to harsh plateau environments and lays a foundation for further research on extremophilic fungi. Full article

Algal blooms pose a serious threat not only to the lake ecosystem of Lake Bosten but also by negatively impacting its rapidly developing fisheries and tourism industries. This study focuses on Lake Bosten as the research area and utilizes multi-source remote sensing imagery from Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI. The Adjusted Floating Algae Index (AFAI) was employed to extract algal blooms in Lake Bosten from 2004 to 2023, analyze their spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and driving factors, and construct a Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) network model to predict the spatial distribution of algal-bloom frequency. The stability of the model was assessed through temporal segmentation of historical data combined with temporal cross-validation. The results indicate that (1) during the study period, algal blooms in Lake Bosten were predominantly of low-risk level, with low-risk bloom coverage accounting for over 8% in both 2004 and 2005. The intensity of algal blooms in summer and autumn was significantly higher than in spring. The coverage of medium- and high-risk blooms reached 2.74% in the summer of 2004 and 3.03% in the autumn of 2005, while remaining below 1% in spring. (2) High-frequency algal bloom areas were mainly located in the western and northwestern parts of the lake, and the central region experienced significantly more frequent blooms during 2004–2013 compared to 2014–2023, particularly in spring and summer. (3) The LSTM model achieved an R² of 0.86, indicating relatively stable performance. The prediction results suggest a continued low frequency of algal blooms in the future, reflecting certain achievements in sustainable water-resource management. (4) The interactions among meteorological factors exhibited significant influence on bloom formation, with the q values of temperature and precipitation interactions both exceeding 0.5, making them the most prominent meteorological driving factors. Monitoring of sewage discharge and analysis of agricultural and industrial expansion revealed that human activities have a more direct impact on the water quality of Lake Bosten. In addition, changes in lake area and water environment were mainly influenced by anthropogenic factors, ultimately making human activities the primary driving force behind the spatiotemporal variations of algal blooms. This study improved the timeliness of algal-bloom monitoring through the integration of multi-source remote sensing and successfully predicted the future spatial distribution of bloom frequency, providing a scientific basis and decision-making support for the sustainable management of water resources in Lake Bosten. Full article

Rapid urbanization and climate change have exacerbated urban heat stress, underscoring the importance of research on human thermal comfort for sustainable urban development. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal variation and driving factors of apparent temperature in the Chang–Zhu–Tan urban agglomeration, China. The Humidex index, representing apparent temperature, was derived from multi-source remote sensing data (Landsat 8, MODIS) and meteorological variables (ERA5-Land reanalysis), employing atmospheric correction, random forest modeling, and path analysis. The results indicate pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity: apparent temperature reached its maximum in urban centers during summer (mean 52.9 °C) and its minimum in winter (mean 5.99 °C), following a decreasing gradient from urban core to periphery. Land cover emerged as a key driver, with vegetation (NDVI, r = −0.938) showing a strong negative correlation and built-up areas (NDBI, r = +0.8) a positive correlation with apparent temperature. Uniquely, in the Chang–Zhu–Tan region’s persistently high humidity, water bodies (MNDWI, r = +0.616) exhibited a positive correlation with apparent temperature, likely due to humidity-enhanced thermal perception in summer and relatively warmer water temperature in winter. Path analysis revealed that air temperature exerts the strongest direct positive influence on apparent temperature, while relative humidity and NDVI primarily act through indirect pathways. These findings provide scientific evidence to guide climate-adaptive urban planning and enhance human living conditions in humid environments. Full article

Human cognitive performance is influenced by external factors, including indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Understanding how these factors affect stress, attention, and relaxation is essential in environments such as workplaces and educational institutions, where cognitive function directly impacts performance. This study examines the effects of IEQ on students’ attention and relaxation levels during various lecture periods, focusing on design major students. Three key IEQ parameters (air temperature, relative humidity, and natural lighting) were evaluated for their effects on cognitive states using electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements in a controlled setting. Participants wore non-invasive, portable EEG devices to monitor neurophysiological activity across two sessions, each involving four scenarios: (i) baseline, (ii) increased natural light exposure, (iii) elevated relative humidity, and (iv) increased air temperature. EEG-derived metrics of attention and relaxation were analyzed alongside environmental data, including temperature, humidity, lighting conditions, carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), and particulate matter (PM), to identify potential correlations. Results showed that natural light exposure improved relaxation but reduced attention, suggesting a restorative effect on stress that may also introduce distractions. Attention peaked under moderately warm, dry conditions (25–26 °C and 16–19% relative humidity), correlating positively with temperature (Pearson correlation coefficient, $r$ = 0.32) and negatively with humidity ($r$ = −0.50). Conversely, relaxation was highest under cooler, more humid conditions (23–24 °C and 24–26% relative humidity). Attention was negatively correlated with CO₂ ($r$ = −0.47) and PM_2.5 ($r$ = −0.46), suggesting that poor air quality impairs alertness. Relaxation showed weaker but positive correlations with PM_2.5 ($r$ = 0.38), PM_1.0 ($r$ = 0.35), and CO₂ ($r$ = 0.32). Ultrafine particles (PM_0.3, PM_0.5) and TVOC had minimal association with cognitive states. Overall, this study underscores the importance of optimizing indoor environments in educational settings to enhance academic performance and supports the development of evidence-based design standards to foster healthy, effective learning environments. Full article

The Xiaobaihegou fluorite deposit is located in the southwest of the Altyn-Tagh Orogen, NW China. However, the provenance, thermodynamic properties, and enrichment mechanisms of the ore-forming fluids in this deposit remain unclear. Fluorite mineralization primarily occurs in the vicinity of the contact zone between the granite and the wall rocks. The zircon U-Pb age of the alkali-feldspar granite in the Xiaobaihegou fluorite deposit is 482.3 ± 4.1 Ma. The ore-hosting lithologies are mainly calcareous rock series of the Altyn Group. The ore bodies are controlled by NE-trending faults and consist primarily of veined, brecciated, massive, and banded ores. The ore mineral assemblage is primarily composed of calcite and fluorite. The rare earth element (REE) patterns of fluorite and calcite in the Xiaobaihegou deposit exhibit right-dipping LREE enrichment with distinct negative Eu anomalies, which closely resemble those of the alkali-feldspar granite. This similarity suggests that the REE distribution patterns of fluorite and calcite were likely inherited from the pluton. The ore-forming process can be divided into an early stage and a late stage. The massive ores formed in the early stage contain mainly gas-rich two-phase fluid inclusions and CO₂-bearing three-phase inclusions, with homogenization temperatures ranging from 235 °C to 426 °C and salinities from 28.59% to 42.40% NaCl equivalent. In the late stage, brecciated and stockwork ores were formed. They host liquid-rich two-phase and gas-rich two-phase fluid inclusions, with homogenization temperatures ranging from 129 °C to 350 °C and salinities from 0.88% to 21.61% NaCl equivalent. The results of hydrogen and oxygen isotope studies indicate that the ore-forming fluids were derived from a mixture of magmatic–hydrothermal and meteoric water. Fluorite precipitation in the early stage was mainly due to the mixing of magmatic–hydrothermal solution and meteoric water, as well as a water–rock reaction. In the late stage, fluid mixing further occurred, resulting in a decrease in temperature and the formation of brecciated and stockwork ores. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios of fluorite from the deposit range from 0.71033 to 0.71272 and 0.511946 to 0.512073, respectively, indicating that the ore-forming material originates from the crust. Based on the ore-forming characteristics, it is proposed that Ca may be primarily leached from the strata formation, while F may predominantly originate from magmatic–hydrothermal solutions. The formation of fluorite deposits is closely related to the transition of the Central Altyn-Tagh Block and Qaidam Block from a compressional orogenic environment to an extensional tectonic environment. Full article

Nano- and microplastic pollution, together with the ongoing rise in global temperatures driven by climate change, represent increasingly critical environmental challenges. Although these stressors often co-occur in the environment, their combined effects on plant systems remain largely unexplored. To test the hypothesis that their interaction may exacerbate the effects observed under each stressor individually, we investigated the response of seedlings of Triticum turgidum to treatments with fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics under optimal (25 °C) and elevated (35 °C) temperature conditions. We evaluated seedling growth, photosynthetic pigment content, and oxidative stress markers using both biochemical and histochemical techniques. In addition, we assessed enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant responses. The use of fluorescently labeled nanoplastics enabled the visualization of their uptake and translocation within plant tissues. Elevated temperatures negatively affect plant growth, increasing the production of proline, a key protective molecule, and weakly activating secondary defense mechanisms. Nanoplastics disturbed wheat seedling physiology, with these effects being amplified under high temperature conditions. Combined stress enhances nanoplastic uptake in roots, increases oxidative damage, and alters antioxidant responses, reducing defense capacity in leaves while triggering compensatory mechanisms in roots. These findings underscore a concerning interaction between plastic pollution and climate warming in crop plants. Full article

In this study, particles of ground grape seeds were utilized to adsorb phosphate ions from a prepared solution, aiming to reduce phosphate concentration. Through a series of adsorption experiments, the effects of the adsorbent concentration, initial phosphate ion concentration, temperature, and pH on the phosphate ion uptake were studied. The removal efficiency of the phosphate ion decreased from 77 to 61% as a 25 to 45 °C increment in temperature was observed, which indicated the exothermicity in the adsorption process. The phosphate ion movement onto the adsorbent surface that exhibited the highest uptake value favored a neutral reaction environment with a pH value of seven. The experimental results, when compared using different adsorption isotherms, showed that the best fit was exhibited by the Jovanovic isotherm, which was further confirmed owing to its high 0.974 R² value. Intraparticle diffusion and pseudo second order models describe the kinetics of phosphate adsorption onto grape seeds, with reaction constants of 8.8 × 10⁻³ (mg/g min) and 0.412 (mg/g·min^0.5), respectively. The adsorption was physiosorptive, spontaneous, exothermic, and favorable. Furthermore, the negative entropy with a value of −0.0887 kJ/mol·K revealed reduced randomness in the adsorption process system. Full article

This study investigates the seasonal dynamics of energy balance, evapotranspiration (ET), and Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) in the Dengkou desert ecosystem of Inner Mongolia, China. Using eddy covariance and meteorological data from 2019 to 2022, the research focuses on understanding how these processes interact in one of the world’s most water-limited environments. This arid research area received an average of 109.35 mm per annum precipitation over the studied period, classifying the region as a typical arid ecosystem. Seasonal patterns were observed in daily air temperature, with extremes ranging from −20.6 °C to 29.6 °C. Temporal variations in sensible heat flux (H), latent heat flux (LE), and net radiation (Rn) peaked during summer season. The average ground heat flux (G) was mostly positive throughout the observation period, indicating heat transmission from atmosphere to soil, but showed negative values during the winter season. The energy balance ratio for the studied period was in the range of 0.61 to 0.80, indicating challenges in achieving energy closure and ecological shifts. ET exhibited two annual peaks influenced by vegetation growth and climate change, with annual ET exceeding annual precipitation, except in 2021. Net ecosystem production (NEP) from 2019 to 2020 revealed that the Dengkou desert were a net source of carbon, indicating the carbon loss from the ecosystem. In 2021, the Dengkou ecosystem shifted to become a net carbon sink, effectively sequestrating carbon. However, this was sharply reversed in 2022, resulting in a significant net release of carbon. The study findings highlight the complex interactions between energy balance components, ET, and NEP in desert ecosystems, providing insights into sustainable water management and carbon neutrality strategies in arid regions under climate change effect. Full article

Outdoor access, often referred to as pop holes, is widely used to improve the production and welfare of hens. Such cage-free environments present an opportunity for precision flock management via best environmental control practices. However, outdoor access disrupts the integrity of the indoor environment, including properly planned ventilation. Moreover, complaints exist that hens do not use the holes to access the outdoor environment due to the strong incoming airflow through the outdoor access, as they behave as uncontrolled air inlets in a negative pressure ventilation system. As the egg industry transitions to cage-free systems, there is an urgent need for validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to optimize ventilation strategies that balance animal welfare, environmental control, and production efficiency. We developed and validated CFD models of a cage-free hen house with outdoor access by specifying real-world conditions, including two exhaust fans, sidewall ventilation inlets, wire-meshed pens, outdoor access, and plenum inlets. The simulations of four ventilation scenarios predict the measured air flow velocity with an error of less than 50% for three of the scenarios, and the simulations predict temperature with an error of less than 6% for all scenarios. Plenum-based systems outperformed sidewall systems by up to 136.3 air changes per hour, while positive pressure ventilation effectively mitigated disruptions to outdoor access. We expect that knowledge of improved ventilation strategy will help the egg industry improve the welfare of hens cost-effectively. Full article

Understanding the early-stage physical interactions between polymeric membranes and supersaturated salt solutions is crucial for advancing membrane-assisted crystallization (MCr) processes. In this study, we employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the short-term morphological response of an isotactic polypropylene (PP) membrane in contact with LiF solutions at different concentrations (5.8 M and 8.9 M) and temperatures (300–353 K), across multiple time points (0, 150, and 300 ns). These data were used as input for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to evaluate structural descriptors of the membrane, including tortuosity, connectivity, void fraction, anisotropy, and deviatoric anisotropy, under varying thermodynamic conditions. The results show subtle but consistent rearrangements of polymer chains upon exposure to the hypersaline environment, with a marked reduction in anisotropy and connectivity, indicating a more compact and isotropic local structure. Surface charge density analyses further suggest a temperature- and concentration-dependent modulation of chain mobility and terminal group orientation at the membrane–solution interface. Despite localized rearrangements, the membrane consistently maintains a net negative surface charge. This electrostatic feature may influence ion–membrane interactions during the crystallization process. While these non-reactive, short-timescale simulations do not capture long-term degradation or fouling mechanisms, they provide mechanistic insight into the initial physical response of PP membranes under MCr-relevant conditions. This study lays a computational foundation for future investigations bridging atomistic modeling and membrane performance in real-world applications. Full article

Biathlon activities can have negative effects on the environment due to the processes occurring during shooting, as the biathlon ammunition contains significant amounts of Pb, Cu and Sb. To determine these effects, we looked into the presence of lead-bearing particles in the vicinity of a shooting range in Rudno polje, Pokljuka, in Slovenia. Particles were collected from snow and later analysed using SEM/EDS, where we focused on the lead-bearing particles. These particles are composed of mainly lead or lead oxides/hydroxides with trace presence of Cu and Sb, both of which are commonly related to ammunition used in biathlon shooting and other shooting activities. To confirm that the particles originated from shooting, we compared them with particles taken from an indoor shooting range as dust and residue in ammunition casings. Lead-bearing particles show morphological changes that are caused by high temperatures and pressures during the shooting process. Full article

Urban heat island circulation (UHIC) determines the wind and thermal environments in urban areas. For Loess Tableland valley towns, the evolution characteristics of the UHIC over this negative terrain are not well understood, and therefore, it is important to investigate the evolution characteristics. A city-scale computational fluid dynamics (CSCFD) model is used, and simulation results are validated by the water tank experiment. The evolution process over such negative terrain can be divided into transient and quasi-steady stages, and in the transient stage, the airflow pattern evolves from thermal convection to city-scale closed circulation, while that in the quasi-steady stage is only city-scale closed circulation. In order to further reveal the characteristics of city-scale closed circulation, the sensitivities of different factors influencing the start time, outflow time, mixing height and heat island intensity are analyzed, and the most significant factors influencing these four parameters are urban heat flux, slope height, slope height, and potential temperature lapse rate, respectively. Finally, the dimensionless mixing height and heat island intensity for the valley town increase by 56.80% and 128.68%, respectively, compared to those for the flat city. This study provides guidance for the location and layout of built-up areas in the valley towns. Full article