Search Results (356)

The persistent expansion in the intensity and scope of human disturbance has become a key driver of global biodiversity loss, affecting wildlife behavior and population stability across multiple dimensions. As a characteristic symbiotic assemblage in the subalpine forest ecosystems of Sichuan, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), red panda (Ailurus fulgens), and forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) exhibit significant research value in their responses to human disturbance. However, existing studies lack systematic analysis of multiple disturbances within the same protected area. This study was conducted in the Sichuan Liziping National Nature Reserve, where infrared camera traps were deployed using a kilometer-grid layout. By integrating spatiotemporal pattern analysis and Generalized Additive Models (GAM), we investigated the characteristics of human disturbance and the response strategies of the three species within their habitats. The results show that: (1) A total of seven types of human disturbance were identified in the reserve, with the top three by frequency being cattle disturbance, goat disturbance, and walking disturbance; (2) Temporally, summer and winter were high-occurrence seasons for disturbance, with peaks around 12:00–14:00, while the giant panda exhibited a bimodal diurnal activity pattern (10:00–12:00, 14:00–16:00), the red panda peaked mainly at 8:00–10:00, and the forest musk deer preferred crepuscular and nocturnal activity—all three species displayed activity rhythms that temporally avoided peak disturbance periods; (3) Spatially, giant pandas were sparsely distributed, red pandas showed aggregated distribution, and forest musk deer exhibited a multi-core distribution, with the core distribution areas of each species spatially segregated from high-disturbance zones; (4) GAM analysis revealed that the red panda responded most significantly to disturbance, the giant panda showed marginal significance, and the forest musk deer showed no significant response. This study systematically elucidates the spatiotemporal differences in responses to multiple human disturbances among three sympatric species within the same landscape, providing a scientific basis for the management of human activities, habitat optimization, and synergistic biodiversity conservation in protected areas. It holds practical significance for promoting harmonious coexistence between human and wildlife. Full article

The Potocki family of the Pilawa coat of arms was among the most powerful noble lineages of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and its history is closely intertwined with that of Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine. In the late seventeenth century, Feliks Kazimierz Potocki (1630–1702) founded the town of Krystynopol (now Chervonohrad), named in honor of his wife, Krystyna Lubomirska. The residence, passed down through successive generations of the Potocki family, was transformed in the mid-eighteenth century into an impressive Baroque palace-and-garden complex designed by Pierre Ricaudde Tirregaille, becoming a model example of the magnate cultural landscape on the border of present-day Poland and Ukraine. In the centuries that followed, the estate changed owners multiple times, suffered devastation during the world wars, and in the Soviet period housed the Museum of Atheism. Today, the partially restored palace accommodates a small regional museum. Although in the eighteenth century the palace was surrounded by an extensive Italian-French style garden with water canals, ponds, and fountains, the area has since been built over with public-utility buildings. This study presents a concept for the development of the surviving elements of the historical palace park. The project is based on historical analyses, field research, site inspections, interviews with museum staff and town residents, as well as a detailed dendrological inventory including an assessment of tree health. The study area covers 4.71 ha, and the current tree stand is composed mainly of Salix alba, Populus nigra, Populus alba, Betula pendula, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Ulmus laevis, Acer negundo, and Acer pseudoplatanus. Archival sources allowed for the reconstruction of the original layout of the palace-park complex. The aim of the project is therefore to introduce new representative, educational, recreational, social, ecological, and touristic functions to the currently neglected area while respecting its historical heritage. Full article

With the trend toward integrated development in electric vehicles, thermal management components are becoming more compact and highly integrated. This evolution, however, leads to complex spatial layouts of high- and low-temperature fluid circuits, causing localized heat accumulation and unintended heat transfer between channels, which compromises cooling efficiency. Concurrently, these compact components must possess sufficient mechanical strength to withstand operational loads such as vibration. Therefore, designing structures that simultaneously suppress heat transfer and ensure mechanical intensity presents a critical challenge. This study introduces Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) and Body-Centered Cubic (BCC) lattice structures as multifunctional solutions to address the undesired heat transfer and mechanical support requirements. Their thermal and mechanical performances are analyzed, and a feedforward neural network model is developed based on CFD simulations to map key structural parameters to thermal and mechanical outputs. A dual-objective optimization approach is then applied to identify optimal structural parameters that balance thermal and mechanical requirements. Validation via CFD confirms that the neural network-based optimization effectively achieves a trade-off between heat transfer suppression and structural strength, providing a reliable design methodology for integrated thermal management systems. Full article

Compared to the façades of student multi-story dormitories, flat horizontal roofs offer greater freedom in shaping the layout, orientation, horizontal inclination, and geometry of photovoltaic installations (PVI). The large number of parameters defining the geometric and physical characteristics of PVI necessitates the development of a method to support the optimization of energy renovation processes. To facilitate this innovative method, several automation and optimization procedures were implemented into a specialized computer application developed within the Rhino/Grasshopper graphical programming environment. The method’s algorithm allows for the definition of an initial parametric qualitative model of each rooftop installation. This model is configured through multiple iterative computer simulations aimed at identifying various discrete optimal qualitative models. The implemented optimizing condition concerns the amount of energy produced and relates to the variability of energy prices as well as the costs of purchasing and mounting the PVI. The optimizing procedure involves replacing a specific portion of grid energy with electricity produced by the PVI. The parameters describing variability include the geometric and physical properties, as well as the orientation of the PVI. In the second step, the algorithm optimizes the desired payback period and investment costs. The obtained results fill a gap in the field of multi-parameter optimizing methods for the energy renovation of student dormitories. Full article

Water diversion projects are a crucial measure for addressing eutrophication in shallow lakes worldwide. However, the impacts of different water diversion operation schemes on lake hydrodynamics and water quality can vary significantly, necessitating targeted, refined simulation assessments. This study focuses on Chaohu Lake, one of China’s most eutrophic lakes, and uses a mesoscale meteorological model coupled with a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model to conduct detailed numerical simulations. The study evaluates the effects of three water diversion operation scenarios and three subsurface flow guide dam scenarios during the ecological water replenishment period in Chaohu Lake from September to November. The simulation results indicate that all three water diversion operation scenarios improve the hydrodynamic conditions of Chaohu Lake, but there are significant differences in their effects on pollutant reduction in the lake. The retention of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the water ranges from −36,812.1 to 472.8 tons, total nitrogen (TN) retention ranges from −22,637.2 to 3 tons, total phosphorus (TP) retention ranges from −4974 to 10.7 tons, and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) retention ranges from −310.8 to −3.3 tons. Among the three subsurface flow guide dam schemes, all can promote the outflow of pollutants from Chaohu Lake. The combined subsurface flow guide dam scheme is the most effective, enabling an approximately 7.4% increase in pollutant export. The study demonstrates that diverting Huaihe River water through Paihe into Chaohu Lake, along with adding a combined subsurface flow guide dam in the West Lake area, can significantly improve the hydrodynamics and water quality in the West Lake area. This research provides essential technical support for the future operation of the Yangtze-to-Huaihe River Water Diversion Project and the layout of subsurface flow guide dams in Chaohu Lake, offering valuable insights for the ecological management of other shallow lakes. Full article

This study investigates the spatial patterns and driving mechanisms of China’s industrial heritage using nationwide provincial-level geospatial data. It combines multiple spatial analysis techniques to identify distribution characteristics and applies a multi-model framework integrating Multi-Scale Geographically Weighted Regression and machine learning to assess the impacts of demographic, economic, climatic, and topographic factors. Results reveal a pronounced clustered pattern and marked spatial differentiation, with core concentrations in the southeastern coastal and central regions. Industrial layouts across historical periods show a shift from coastal to inland areas, reflecting security-oriented spatial strategies. Economic development has a significant positive influence, whereas temperature and the number of industrial enterprises exert negative effects. Natural environmental conditions—such as slope, vegetation coverage, and water systems—serve as both spatial supports and constraints. At the macro level, the spatial configuration of industrial heritage emerges from the structured interplay of historical path dependence, national strategic regulation, and geographic environmental constraints, rather than short-term interactions among isolated variables. The study elucidates the evolutionary logic of industrial civilization and highlights the synergistic mechanisms linking economic, social, and environmental dimensions. It concludes by advocating a hierarchical and multi-factor balanced framework for spatial governance. Full article

This study aims to develop a methodology for implementing solar photovoltaic systems (SSFV) in Caribbean hotels. It begins with an analysis of building characteristics to design and size the SSFV, considering panel support structures, system layout, and grid integration. The methodology also evaluates economic and environmental impacts at both company and national levels. Machine learning analysis identified the variables (Degree Days (DG) and Hotel Days Occupied (HDO)) $HDO\times DG$ as key determinants of energy consumption, with a high coefficient of determination ($R^2$ = 0.97). Implementing a target energy-saving line achieved a 5.3% reduction (1028 kWh) relative to the baseline. Using a genetic algorithm to optimize the SSFV azimuth angle increased photovoltaic energy production by 14.75%, enhancing efficiency and installation area use. Economic assessments showed a challenging scenario for hotels, with a negative internal rate of return of −10%, a 17 year payback period, and a net present value of USD 20,000. However, on a national scale, significant annual savings of USD 225,990.8 from reduced fuel imports were projected. Additionally, carbon emissions reductions of 18,751.4 tons ($tC{O}_2$) were estimated. The findings highlight the feasibility and benefits of SSFV implementation, emphasizing its potential to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance sustainability in the Caribbean hotel sector. Full article

This paper presents the results of an empirical study examining residents’ perceptions of contemporary dwellings in Serbia, with a focus on spatial organization, comfort, and everyday usability. An online survey conducted in October 2025 was structured into four thematic sections: demographic characteristics, dwelling attributes, housing quality assessment, and subjective spatial experience. The study is based on the hypothesis that apartments built during the socialist period are perceived as spatially and functionally superior to recently constructed housing. The results indicate a pronounced user preference for dwellings built between 1975 and 1990, particularly in terms of functional layout, kitchen daylighting, storage capacity, and spatial adaptability, despite their technical obsolescence and lower energy performance. By highlighting the relationship between spatial characteristics and user satisfaction, the findings contribute to a better understanding of everyday housing experience and provide a basis for informing architectural design and housing policy grounded in user needs rather than exclusively market- or norm-driven criteria. Full article

In arid regions, rainfall is scarce, summer-concentrated, and prone to extreme events, while evaporation exceeds precipitation, creating fragile ecosystems that need scientific stormwater management for flood resilience. Sponge cities, through the implementation of green infrastructure, can alleviate urban flooding, improve rainwater utilization, and enhance the urban ecological environment. Under the “dual carbon” target, sponge city construction has gained new developmental significance. It must not only ensure core functions and minimize construction costs but also fully leverage its carbon reduction potential, thereby serving as a crucial pathway for promoting urban green and low-carbon development. Therefore, this study focused on Xining, a typical arid city in Northwest China, and couples the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-III (NSGA-III) with the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) to construct a multi-objective optimization model for Low Impact Development (LID) facilities. The layout optimization design of LID facilities is conducted from three dimensions: life cycle cost (LCC), rainwater utilization rate (K), and carbon emission intensity (CI). Hydrological simulations and scheme optimizations were performed under different design rainfall events. Subsequently, the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method was utilized to evaluate and compare these optimized schemes. It is shown by the results that: (1) The optimized LID schemes achieved a K of 76.2–80.43%, an LCC of 2.413–3.019 billion yuan, and a CI of −2.8 to 0.19 kg/m²; (2) Compared with the no-LID scenario, the optimized scheme significantly enhanced hydrological regulation, flood mitigation, and pollutant removal. Under different rainfall return periods, the annual runoff control rate increased from 64.97% to 80.66–82.23%, with total runoff reduction rates reaching 46.41–49.26% and peak flow reductions of 45–47.62%. Under the rainfall event with a 10-year return period, the total number of waterlogging nodes decreased from 108 to 82, and the number of nodes with a ponding duration exceeding 1 h was reduced by 62.5%. The removal efficiency of total suspended solids (TSS) under the optimized scheme remained stable above 60%. The optimized scheme is highly adaptable to the rainwater management needs of arid areas by prioritizing “infiltration and retention”. Vegetative swales emerge as the primary facility due to their low cost and high carbon sink capacity. This study provides a feasible pathway and decision-making support for the low-carbon layout of LID facilities in arid regions. Full article

The aim of the study is to analyze the challenges and opportunities of conversions and adaptations of Polish modernist hotel buildings to new functions. Preliminary research shows that hotels constitute a significant group among unused buildings from that period. This issue remains unexplored, while the market situation shows that investors will increasingly face an economic, social, and environmental dilemma as to demolish existing facilities and replace them with new structures or thoroughly rebuild and reuse. The study was conducted based on an analysis of groups of criteria in terms of the potential and difficulties associated with investments utilizing the existing hotel fabric, taking into account environmental, formal, structural, functional, and socio-cultural aspects. The results of the study show that the conversion or adaptation of modernist hotels in Poland to a new function is primarily determined by technical issues, i.e., the original structural layout and technical condition of the building, and such investments require decisive action, primarily in terms of replacing external partitions and adapting internal communication systems. However, it has been proven that, in many cases, such investments are possible, and they bring a number of environmental and social benefits, so they are at least desirable from the perspective of sustainable development. Full article

Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization and an increase in extreme rainfall, the impermeable expansion caused by land use changes is significantly altering the urban property convergence process and intensifying the risk of waterlogging. To reveal the impact of land use change on the urban flooding processes, this study takes the main urban area of Wuhan (MUAW) as an example. Based on land use data from 2006 and 2020, it designs rainfall events with return periods of 5, 50, and 100 years. The NewFlood two-dimensional hydrodynamic model is employed to simulate flood evolution, with results validated against flood-prone locations. Flow velocity changes at typical flood-prone points are grouped and statistically analyzed according to land use conversion types. The results showed the following: (1) Between 2006 and 2020, land use transfer in MUAW is primarily influenced by urban sprawl and cropland reduction. (2) Urban expansion led to an increase in the area and depth of rainwater accumulation during rainstorms, which was highly aligned with the direction of urban sprawl, thereby increasing the risk of urban flooding during rainstorms. (3) Land use transfer has a limited impact on the maximum water depth and flow direction in MUAW. However, it can increase peak flow velocity or shift the peak time earlier, reducing the city’s available emergency response time and increasing the difficulty of emergency response. The contribution of this paper lies in quantifying the waterlogging effect of land use change from dynamic dimensions such as “flow velocity—peak occurrence time”, providing process evidence for the assessment of urban early warning advance, the allocation of drainage capacity and land use control, and offering a reference for prioritizing the layout of nature-based solutions and green infrastructure in low-lying catchment areas and key catchment channels to reduce flood risks. Full article

Urban vitality is an important evaluation indicator for enhancing urban spatial efficiency and promoting sustainable development. However, few studies have systematically integrated steady-state and dynamic vitality perspectives. To address this gap, we integrate steady-state vitality and dynamic vitality indicators, and use geographically weighted regression (GWR) and geographically weighted logistic regression (GWLR) to quantify how the built environment, natural elements, and travel purposes influence urban vitality. The results reveal that: (1) From the steady-state perspective, urban vitality exhibits a distinct polycentric structure, with transportation POI and catering facilities serving as core driving factors; (2) From the dynamic perspective, areas where citizens are always highly concentrated are mainly influenced by floor area ratio and transportation POI. Green space coverage and building density significantly correspond to patterns of persistently low vitality, while periodic population fluctuations are associated with subway accessibility and proximity to waterfronts. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the stable spatial distribution and dynamic changes in population aggregation, offering a theoretical and empirical basis for optimizing urban spatial layout and meeting citizens’ activity needs. Full article

This study examines the transformation of modern residential architecture in Cyprus between 1930 and 1974 through 14 representative residences selected across four historical periods. The study examines the political, social, and cultural contexts extending from the introduction of modern architecture to the island, through the post-Republican era, and the conflict between 1963 and 1974. It aims to comprehensively explore the spatial, climatic, and regional characteristics of modern Cypriot housing. The examples were selected based on criteria such as documentability, period representativeness, architectural originality, and spatial qualities. Data were tabulated based on plan structure, façade layout, use of semi-open spaces, material choices, and climatic adaptation strategies. These parameters were evaluated through comparative analysis to identify changes in modernist expressions, the emergence of regionalist trends, and how Mediterranean environmental approaches were reflected in architecture. The findings demonstrate that the spatial flexibility, interior-exterior continuity, and climatic sensitivity seen in modern housing from the 1930s onward evolved into a more pronounced Mediterranean regionalism with the contributions of local architects after 1950. The study offers a typological, spatial, and climatic analysis unique to the literature on the development of modern residential architecture in Cyprus. Full article

Printed circuit board (PCB) defect detection is essential for ensuring manufacturing quality and product reliability in electronics production. PCB designs often exhibit inherent symmetry in circuit layouts and periodic patterns, which defects disrupt by introducing asymmetries detectable in spatial and frequency domains. Contemporary methods predominantly emphasize either global context modeling or local detail preservation, yet fail to synergistically leverage their complementary characteristics. Existing approaches predominantly constrain operations to the spatial domain, neglecting complementary frequency-domain representations that encode periodic structures and spectral anomalies. We present PCB-FS, a unified frequency–spatial learning framework that augments YOLOv8 with three synergistic components: (i) Dual-Domain Convolution (DD-Conv) for adaptive spatial frequency feature extraction, (ii) Global–Local Axial Attention (GLA-Attention) for context-aware defect modeling, and (iii) Cross-Stage Partial Dynamic Shifted Large Kernel Convolution (C2f-DSLKConv) for efficient large-receptive-field fusion. Our DD-Conv module adaptively fuses spatial and frequency-domain representations, while the GLA-Attention mechanism enhances global context modeling without sacrificing local detail preservation. The C2f-DSLKConv module further enables efficient large-receptive-field spatial modeling and hierarchical feature aggregation. Our method exploits symmetry-breaking artifacts in PCB layouts to detect structural anomalies, achieving superior defect localization accuracy. A comprehensive evaluation on the enhanced PCB surface defect dataset (DsPCBSD+) demonstrates that PCB-FS achieves 86.2% mAP@50 and 52.4% mAP@50-95, establishing new state-of-the-art performance with significant margins over existing methods. Integrating frequency and spatial domain features significantly enhances PCB defect detection reliability and efficiency in practical applications. Full article

This study presents a detailed computational investigation of unsteady laminar flow around two-dimensional square cylinders arranged in multiple configurations. Simulations were performed using ANSYS Fluent 2019 at Reynolds numbers ranging from 50 to 200, with three geometric layouts as follows: two vertically aligned cylinders, three inline cylinders, and three staggered cylinders. Center-to-center spacing ratios of 1.5D, 2.5D, and 3.5D were evaluated to assess wake interference, vortex shedding behavior, and aerodynamic force fluctuations. Results reveal that a close spacing (1.5D) causes strong wake coupling and highly irregular flow behavior, especially with inline configurations, leading to amplified drag and suppressed vortex shedding with downstream cylinders. In contrast, a staggered three-cylinder arrangement at 3.5D spacing exhibits regular vortex shedding, uniform force distribution, and minimized flow-induced oscillations, indicating aerodynamic stability. The Strouhal number, computed using FFT analysis, confirms the onset of periodic shedding at higher Reynolds numbers and highlights optimal synchronization at wider spacings. The study concludes that staggered configurations with appropriate spacing outperform inline setups in terms of flow control, dynamic stability, and reduced aerodynamic interference, offering insights relevant to high-rise building clusters and industrial heat exchanger design. Full article