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21 pages, 1379 KiB  
Article
Stream Temperature, Density Dependence, Catchment Size, and Physical Habitat: Understanding Salmonid Size Variation Across Small Streams
by Kyle D. Martens and Warren D. Devine
Fishes 2025, 10(8), 368; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10080368 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 252
Abstract
The average body size (fork length) of juvenile salmonids in small streams varies across landscapes and can be influenced by stream temperature, density dependence, catchment size, and physical habitat. In this study, we compared sets of 16 mixed-effects linear models representing these four [...] Read more.
The average body size (fork length) of juvenile salmonids in small streams varies across landscapes and can be influenced by stream temperature, density dependence, catchment size, and physical habitat. In this study, we compared sets of 16 mixed-effects linear models representing these four potentially influencing indicators for three species/age classes to assess the relative importance of their influences on body size. The global model containing all indicators was the most parsimonious model for juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch; R2m = 0.4581, R2c = 0.5859), age-0 trout (R2m = 0.4117, R2c = 0.5968), and age-1 or older coastal cutthroat trout (O. clarkii; R2m = 0.2407, R2c = 0.5188). Contrary to expectations, salmonid density, catchment size, and physical habitat metrics contributed more to the top models for both coho salmon and age-1 or older cutthroat trout than stream temperature metrics. However, a stream temperature metric, accumulated degree days, had the only significant relationship (positive) of the indicators with body size in age-0 trout (95% CI 1.58 to 23.04). Our analysis identifies complex relationships between salmonid body size and environmental influences, such as the importance of physical habitat such as pool size and boulders. However, management or restoration actions aimed at improving or preventing anticipated declines in physical habitat such as adding instream wood or actions that may lead to increasing pool area have potential to ensure a natural range of salmonid body sizes across watersheds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Habitat as a Template for Life Histories of Fish)
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19 pages, 2336 KiB  
Case Report
Infectious Proctitis Mimicking Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Case Report and Update on the Differential Diagnosis of Rectal Ulcerations
by Anca Maria Pop, Roman Zimmermann, Szilveszter Pekardi, Michela Cipriani, Angelika Izabela Gajur, Diana Moser, Eva Markert and Alexander Kueres-Wiese
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(15), 5254; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155254 - 24 Jul 2025
Viewed by 403
Abstract
Background: Infectious proctitis remains an underrecognized entity, although sexually transmitted diseases, especially bacterial infections, exhibit a marked increase in their incidence. Methods: Here, we report a case of a 44-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with lower abdominal and [...] Read more.
Background: Infectious proctitis remains an underrecognized entity, although sexually transmitted diseases, especially bacterial infections, exhibit a marked increase in their incidence. Methods: Here, we report a case of a 44-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with lower abdominal and rectal pain, tenesmus, fever and night sweats for the past 6 days. Results: The computed tomography initially revealed a high suspicion of metastatic rectal cancer. The endoscopic findings showed a 5 cm rectal mass, suggestive of malignancy. The histologic examination showed, however, no signs of malignancy and lacked the classical features of an inflammatory bowel disease, so an infectious proctitis was further suspected. The patient reported to have had unprotected receptive anal intercourse, was tested positive for Treponema pallidum serology and received three doses of intramuscular benzathine penicillin G. A control rectosigmoidoscopy, imaging at 3 months and histological evaluation after antibiotic treatment showed a complete resolution of inflammation. Conclusions: Syphilitic proctitis may mimic various conditions such as rectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease and requires a high degree of suspicion. Clinicians need to be aware of infectious proctitis in high-risk populations, while an appropriate thorough medical history may guide the initial diagnostic steps. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Gastroenterology & Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine)
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10 pages, 357 KiB  
Article
Analysis and Characterization of Factors Affecting the Consistency of Tl-201 Myocardial Perfusion Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography and Coronary Angiography Results in Patients with Suspected Coronary Artery Disease
by Fu-Ren Tsai, Hung-Pin Chan, Chun-Hao Yin, Jin-Shuen Chen, Yao-Shen Chen and Daniel Hueng-Yuan Shen
Diagnostics 2025, 15(12), 1551; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15121551 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 416
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Tl-201 myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) is a minimally invasive test for patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). While its predictive and prognostic values are well established, diagnostic performance varies. A recent meta-analysis reported that the sensitivity and specificity [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Tl-201 myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) is a minimally invasive test for patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). While its predictive and prognostic values are well established, diagnostic performance varies. A recent meta-analysis reported that the sensitivity and specificity of MPS range from 48.8 to 100% and 46.7 to 94.7%, respectively, reflecting discordance between CAG. Little is known, however, about the influence of patients’ characteristics and CAD risk factors on the diagnostic performance of MPS. This study aims to evaluate these factors in relation to MPS performance. Methods: We screened 4817 consecutive patients referred to our Nuclear Medicine Department in 2015 for Tl-201 MPS. Patients with clinically suspected ischemic heart disease who underwent CAG within 60 days post-MPS were included in the present analysis. The percentage of agreement/disagreement between the MPS-abnormal/normal and CAG-positive/negative groups was evaluated. Additionally, patient characteristics, CAD risk factors, co-morbidities, and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image-derived parameters were compared among the patients. Results: Among 635 patients with abnormal MPS, 583 had coronary stenosis. For the 52 without stenosis, causes included non-obstructive CAD (34.6%), prior infarction with scarring (32.7%), and imaging artifacts (32.7%). Significant stenosis was associated with older age, male sex, diabetes, dyslipidemia, CKD, and prior PCI, while hypertension and higher BMI were more common in insignificant CAD. Among 104 patients with normal MPS, 79 had stenosis, mainly in the LAD. Clinical risk factors were more prevalent in patients with any degree of stenosis. Conclusions: In patients with an abnormal MPS, the incorporation of visual interpretation, parameters, and CAD risk factors increases specificity and helps differentiate obstructive from non-obstructive CAD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging and Theranostics)
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19 pages, 313 KiB  
Article
Clinical Features and Outcomes of Patients with Full Spectrum of COVID-19 Severity and Concomitant Herpesvirus Reactivation
by Paolo Ravanini, Maria Grazia Crobu, Claudia Martello, Giulia Faolotto, Luigi Mario Castello, Antonia Palumbo, Luigi Maria Fenoglio, Clotilde Impaloni, Melissa Briasco, Christian Di Domenico, Paola Macaluso, Alessio Mercandino, Miriam Riggi, Mario Pirisi, Stefano Andreoni and Carlo Smirne
Microorganisms 2025, 13(6), 1221; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061221 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 457
Abstract
Some studies suggested a high incidence of human herpesvirus (HHV) reactivation in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. To evaluate the prevalence of HHV reactivations in a population with various severity degrees of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we analyzed 102 individuals [...] Read more.
Some studies suggested a high incidence of human herpesvirus (HHV) reactivation in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. To evaluate the prevalence of HHV reactivations in a population with various severity degrees of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we analyzed 102 individuals and compared them with 51 SARS-CoV-2-negative subjects admitted in the same period (January–July 2022) for acute respiratory failure. Positivity was found in 76% of subjects for at least one HHV, and in 46% for ≥2 HHV. These proportions were more prevalent in SARS-CoV-2-positive than in negative patients (83% vs. 61%; 56% vs. 27%, respectively). The most common HHV was HHV-7 both in the whole population (51%) and in SARS-CoV-2-positive and -negative subjects (57% and 39%, respectively); human cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus-1, Epstein–Barr virus, and HHV-6 were more represented in SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals. No single or combined HHV reactivation was associated with the 60-day mortality rate. However, cytomegalovirus reactivation was an independent predictor of COVID-19 severity and longer hospitalizations, while the occurrence of ≥3 any HHV reactivations was independently associated with the aforementioned outcomes and ventilatory support need. Taken together, our data suggest that in patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19, the diagnosis of HHV coinfections can add useful prognostic information. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Advances in SARS-CoV-2 Infection)
14 pages, 5467 KiB  
Article
A tetra-ortho-Chlorinated Azobenzene Molecule for Visible-Light Photon Energy Conversion and Storage
by Shuxin Tang, Yating Zhang, Jun Xia, Jing Qi, Fan Tang, Fei Zhai and Liqi Dong
Molecules 2025, 30(11), 2333; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112333 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 591
Abstract
The development of photoactive molecules for photothermal energy storage is a focus of research in solar energy utilization technology. Azobenzene photoswitch has emerged as a promising candidate for solar energy conversion and storage due to its unique photoisomerization characteristics. Nonetheless, a majority of [...] Read more.
The development of photoactive molecules for photothermal energy storage is a focus of research in solar energy utilization technology. Azobenzene photoswitch has emerged as a promising candidate for solar energy conversion and storage due to its unique photoisomerization characteristics. Nonetheless, a majority of azobenzene-based molecular photothermal systems have a significant drawback: they depend on ultraviolet light for E-to-Z isomerization to store photon energy rather than visible light, which seriously hinders the development of azobenzene photoswitch in practical solar energy utilization applications. In this study, an azobenzene photothermal molecule that can effectively store visible-light photon energy was design and synthesized, which includes a tetra-ortho-chlorinated azo structure as the “head” part and an alkyl chain at para-position as the “tail” part. The ultraviolet–visible and 1H NMR spectrum indicated that the obtained tetra-ortho-chlorinated azobenzene photothermal molecule could effectively absorb and store photon energy under 550 nm irradiation and release the stored energy upon 430 nm light irradiation. The storage energy density of the charged azobenzene photothermal molecule was determined to be 13.50 kJ/mol through differential scanning calorimetry and 28.21 kJ/mol via density functional theory theoretical calculations. This discrepancy was ascribed to the 64% Z-isomer yield harvesting during the charging process. Furthermore, the obtained tetra-ortho-chlorinated azobenzene exhibited long-term energy storage (approximately 11 days of half-life) and cyclic stability (100 cycles). Notably, the E-isomer of tetra-ortho-chlorinated azobenzene exhibited a high degree of supercooling, which may be advantageous for use in extremely low-temperature environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Photochemistry)
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18 pages, 18559 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Restoration of Collapsed Anammox Biofilm Systems: Integrating Process Optimization, Microbial Community Succession, and Machine Learning-Based Prediction
by Li Wang, Yongxing Chen, Junfeng Yang, Jiayi Li, Yu Zhang and Xiaojun Wang
Processes 2025, 13(6), 1672; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13061672 - 26 May 2025
Viewed by 464
Abstract
The majority of extant studies concentrate on the reactivation of dormant Anammox biomass or the recovery of activity under specific storage conditions. Research on rehabilitation strategies for anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) systems is limited, with the exception of research on inhibitory factors. The [...] Read more.
The majority of extant studies concentrate on the reactivation of dormant Anammox biomass or the recovery of activity under specific storage conditions. Research on rehabilitation strategies for anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) systems is limited, with the exception of research on inhibitory factors. The recovery characteristics of biofilm systems after collapse induced by varying degrees of ammonia-nitrogen and small-molecular organic compound composite shocks have not been thoroughly elucidated. This study addresses the collapse of Anammox biofilm systems caused by sodium acetate inhibition through multi-phase rehabilitation strategies, stoichiometric analysis, and microbial community succession dynamics. Two regression algorithms—Support Vector Regression (SVR) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost)—were employed to construct predictive models for Total Nitrogen Removal Efficiency (TNRE) and Total Nitrogen Removal Rate (TNRR) in the CANON system, with model performance evaluated via coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE). Results demonstrated that after terminating moderate-to-high sodium acetate dosing (300 mg/L and 500 mg/L), reactors R300 and R500 achieved TNRE recovery to 57.98% and 58.86%, respectively, and TNRR of 0.281 and 0.275 kgN/m3·d within 60–100 days, indicating the reversibility of high-concentration sodium acetate inhibition but a positive correlation between recovery duration and inhibition intensity. Microbial community analysis revealed that Planctomycetota (including Candidatus_Kuenenia) rebounded to 46–49% relative abundance in R100, synchronized with TNRE improvement. In contrast, R300 and R500 exhibited ecological niche replacement of denitrifiers (Denitratisoma) and partial TNRE restoration despite enhanced performance. Model comparisons showed SVR outperformed XGBoost in TNRE prediction, whereas XGBoost demonstrated superior TNRR prediction accuracy with R2 approaching 1 and RMSE nearing 0, significantly surpassing SVR. This work provides critical insights into recovery mechanisms under organic inhibition stress and establishes a robust predictive framework for optimizing nitrogen removal performance in CANON systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Microorganisms in Wastewater Treatment Processes)
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13 pages, 5905 KiB  
Article
Development of Mobile Robot-Based Precision 3D Position Measurement System
by Pilgong Choi, Jeng-O Kim, Myeongjun Kim and Kyunghan Kim
Sensors 2025, 25(11), 3261; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25113261 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 511
Abstract
This study presents an automated docking block placement system developed for regular and emergency repairs of large ships and naval vessels. Traditional methods involve manually arranging heavy concrete docking blocks using cranes or forklifts, which can take several days and pose significant safety [...] Read more.
This study presents an automated docking block placement system developed for regular and emergency repairs of large ships and naval vessels. Traditional methods involve manually arranging heavy concrete docking blocks using cranes or forklifts, which can take several days and pose significant safety risks because of the heavy materials involved. The proposed system integrates an unmanned crane with a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) robotic platform and a mobile robot-based 3D precision positioning system to automate block relocation. The use of a 3D laser tracker mounted on the mobile robot is the key to the system, which, when combined with environmental sensors such as LiDAR and RTK-GPS, provides millimeter-level positional feedback. To address the lack of clear reference points in conventional docking blocks, a precisely machined aluminum target block was attached to each block. An algorithm employing Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN), KD-Tree, and Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) techniques was used to detect and classify the vertex of the target block from the 3D point cloud data. The experimental results demonstrated a positional measurement error within 0.5 mm at an 8 m distance. This novel system reduces the setup time, enhances worker safety, and increases the overall efficiency and capacity of dry dock maintenance operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sensors and Robotics)
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18 pages, 2131 KiB  
Article
Phenological Development, Thermal Requirement, and Quality of ‘BRS Núbia’ (Vitis vinifera L. x Vitis labrusca L.) Grapes on Different Rootstocks
by Harleson Sidney Almeida Monteiro, Marco Antonio Tecchio, Sinara de Nazaré Santana Brito, Francisco José Domingues Neto, Camilo André Pereira Contreras Sánchez, Juan Carlos Alonso, Daví Eduardo Furno Feliciano, Carolina Ragoni Maniero, Pedro Henrique Hortolani Cunha and Marcelo de Souza Silva
Horticulturae 2025, 11(5), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11050466 - 26 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 649
Abstract
The cultivation of table grapes in Brazil is economically significant, with production influenced by edaphoclimatic factors and rootstock selection. The cultivar ‘BRS Núbia’ (Vitis vinifera L. x Vitis labrusca L.) is a promising alternative; however, its phenological behavior, thermal requirements, and compatibility [...] Read more.
The cultivation of table grapes in Brazil is economically significant, with production influenced by edaphoclimatic factors and rootstock selection. The cultivar ‘BRS Núbia’ (Vitis vinifera L. x Vitis labrusca L.) is a promising alternative; however, its phenological behavior, thermal requirements, and compatibility with different rootstocks under subtropical conditions require further evaluation. This study aimed to assess the duration of phenological stages, thermal requirement, and ripening dynamics of ‘BRS Núbia’ grapevines grafted onto the rootstocks ‘IAC 572 Jales’, ‘IAC 766 Campinas’, and ‘Paulsen 1103’. The experiment was conducted in São Manuel, São Paulo, Brazil during the 2021 and 2022 production cycles using a split-plot experimental design (3 × 2). Evaluations included the duration of phenological stages from pruning to budburst, flowering, fruit set, onset of ripening, and harvest, as well as the ripening curve and thermal accumulation from pruning to harvest. Rootstocks did not significantly affect (p > 0.05) the duration of phenological stages; however, differences were observed between production cycles. The 2022 cycle was longer (167.7 days) compared to 2021 (142.6 days), with greater thermal accumulation (1871.7 GDDs vs. 1743.4 GDDs). The analysis of phenological stages revealed that, across both production cycles evaluated, the ‘BRS Núbia’ cultivar required an average accumulation of 1807.5 growing degree days from pruning to harvest. Soluble solids content ranged from 17.43 to 18.50°Brix, and titratable acidity decreased throughout maturation. The maturation index was highest in vines grafted onto ‘Paulsen 1103’, indicating its positive influence on fruit quality. The ‘BRS Núbia’ grapevine exhibited a mean thermal requirement of 1807.5 growing degree days (GDDs) to complete its phenological cycle, which lasted approximately 150 days under subtropical conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orchard Management Under Climate Change: 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 6835 KiB  
Article
Response of Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) of the Desert Steppe Ecosystem in the Northern Foothills of Yinshan Mountain to Extreme Climate
by Shuixia Zhao, Mengmeng Zhang, Yingjie Wu, Enliang Guo, Yongfang Wang, Shengjie Cui and Tomasz Kolerski
Land 2025, 14(4), 884; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040884 - 16 Apr 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 576
Abstract
The desert steppe ecosystem at the Northern Foothills of the Yinshan Mountains (NFYS) is characterized by its fragility and heightened sensitivity to global climate change. Understanding the response and lag effects of Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) to climate change is imperative for advancing [...] Read more.
The desert steppe ecosystem at the Northern Foothills of the Yinshan Mountains (NFYS) is characterized by its fragility and heightened sensitivity to global climate change. Understanding the response and lag effects of Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) to climate change is imperative for advancing ecological management and fostering sustainable development. The spatiotemporal dynamics of chlorophyll fluorescence-based GPP data and its responses to precipitation, temperature, and extreme climate from 2001 to 2023 were analyzed. The random forest model and the partial least squares regression model were employed to further elucidate the response mechanisms of GPP to extreme climate, with a specific focus on the lag effect. The findings revealed that the GPP in the NFYS exhibited distinct regional characteristics, demonstrating a predominantly increasing trend over the past 23 years. The region has experienced a warming and drying trend, marked by a decrease in the intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation events, and an increase in extremely high temperatures and consecutive hot days, except a slight, albeit insignificant, increase in precipitation in the northeastern part. GPP exhibits varying degrees of lag, ranging from one to three months, in response to both normal and extreme climatic conditions, with a more immediate response to extreme temperatures than to precipitation. The influence of different climatic conditions on the lag effects of GPP can amplify the negative effects of extreme temperatures and the positive impact of extreme precipitation. The anticipated trend towards a warmer and more humid climate is projected to foster an increase in GPP. This research is of great theoretical and practical significance for deeply understanding the adaptation mechanisms of ecosystems under the context of climate change, optimizing desertification control strategies, and enhancing regional ecological resilience. Full article
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8 pages, 854 KiB  
Article
Co-Colonization of Non-difficile Clostridial Species in Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea Caused by Clostridioides difficile
by Daniel Salas-Treviño, Samantha Flores-Treviño, Carlos Cisneros-Rendón, Cristian Valdemar Domínguez-Rivera and Adrián Camacho-Ortiz
Antibiotics 2025, 14(4), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14040397 - 11 Apr 2025
Viewed by 820
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a public health problem that develops in the hospital setting. The most common causative agent of AAD is Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), although other non-difficile Clostridia (NDC) might also be present. NDC include members of the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a public health problem that develops in the hospital setting. The most common causative agent of AAD is Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), although other non-difficile Clostridia (NDC) might also be present. NDC include members of the RIC group such as Clostridium ramosum [T. ramosa], Clostridium innocuum and Clostridium clostridioforme [E. clostridioformis]. The co-colonization of NDC and CDI in patients with AAD has not been fully analyzed. Methods: We compared clinical and laboratory data of patients with C. difficile infection (CDI) plus NDC against patients with only CDI. This study was a retrospective, case–control study. Hospitalized confirmed CDI cases were analyzed. CDI detection was performed using a 2-step diagnostic algorithm, including glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) with toxin A/toxin B assays and molecular detection of the tpi gene. Stool samples were cultured and colonies morphologically compatible with any Clostridia were identified with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Fisher’s exact test and odds ratio (OR) were calculated to determine the degree of correlation between the variables and the study groups. Results: In the CDI + NDC group (n = 7), positive culture was observed for C. ramosum [T. ramosa] (n = 3), C. innocuum (n = 3), and C. butyricum (n = 1). According to our results, CDI + NDC patients received more days of antibiotic therapy, took more days to reduce diarrhea, had a significant increase in the number of days to suppress diarrhea, and previous hospitalizations were more frequently reported. Conclusions: In conclusion, the positive culture of NDC species such as C. innocuum or C. ramosum in patients with AAD caused by CDI correlates with treatment extension and/or failure. Full article
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20 pages, 8529 KiB  
Article
Altitudinal Differences in Decreasing Heat Deficit at the End of the Growing Season of Alpine Grassland on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau from 1982 to 2022
by Yusi Zhang, Gang Bao, Yuhai Bao, Zhihui Yuan, Wendu Rina and Siqin Tong
Land 2025, 14(4), 758; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040758 - 1 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 405
Abstract
As a measure of the accumulated heat deficit during the growing season transition, cooling degree days (CDDs) play a crucial role in regulating vegetation phenology and ecosystem dynamics. However, systematic analyses of CDD trends and their driving mechanisms remain limited, particularly in high-altitude [...] Read more.
As a measure of the accumulated heat deficit during the growing season transition, cooling degree days (CDDs) play a crucial role in regulating vegetation phenology and ecosystem dynamics. However, systematic analyses of CDD trends and their driving mechanisms remain limited, particularly in high-altitude regions where climate variability is pronounced. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variability in CDDs from 1982 to 2022 in alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (TP) and quantified the contributions of key climatic factors. The results indicate that lower CDD values (<350 °C-days) were predominantly found in warm, arid regions, whereas higher CDD values (>600 °C-days) were concentrated in colder, wetter areas. Temporally, area-averaged CDDs exhibited a significant decline, decreasing from 490.9 °C-days in 1982 to 495.8 °C-days in 2022 at a rate of 3.8 °C-days per year. Elevation plays a critical role in shaping CDD patterns, displaying a nonlinear relationship: CDDs decrease as elevation increases up to 4300 m, beyond which they increase, suggesting a transition from global climate-driven warming at lower elevations to local environmental controls at higher elevations, where snow–albedo feedback, topographic effects, and atmospheric circulation patterns regulate temperature dynamics. Tmax was identified as the dominant climatic driver of CDD variation, particularly above 4300 m, while radiation showed a consistent positive influence across elevations. In contrast, precipitation had a limited and spatially inconsistent effect. These findings emphasize the complex interactions between elevation, temperature, radiation, and precipitation in regulating CDD trends. By providing a long-term perspective on CDD variations and their climatic drivers, this study enhances our understanding of vegetation–climate interactions in alpine ecosystems. The results offer a scientific basis for modeling late-season phenological changes, ecosystem resilience, and land-use planning under ongoing climate change. Full article
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25 pages, 3752 KiB  
Article
Driving Factors of Final Energy Consumption in the European Union: A Comprehensive Analysis
by Viorela Iacovoiu, Mirela Panait, Adrian Stancu and Ștefan Iacob
Energies 2025, 18(7), 1703; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071703 - 28 Mar 2025
Viewed by 589
Abstract
The global efforts to combat climate change, decarbonize the economies, and move towards a more sustainable future are focused on improving energy efficiency and reconfiguring the energy mix. Considering the impact on the environment and economic activity of energy production and consumption, this [...] Read more.
The global efforts to combat climate change, decarbonize the economies, and move towards a more sustainable future are focused on improving energy efficiency and reconfiguring the energy mix. Considering the impact on the environment and economic activity of energy production and consumption, this paper focuses on identifying the driving factors of final energy consumption in the European Union countries, which are undisputed leaders in the transition to a low-carbon economy. The goals of the paper are (1) to establish a model pattern that shows the relationships between the variation in final energy consumption and its driving forces and (2) to perform a comparative analysis to better understand the differences between the European Union (EU) economies in terms of energy efficiency improvement and decarbonization opportunities. Taking into consideration the objective of the research, comparative and correlation analyses were performed, and a decomposition technique (factorial analysis) was used in order to analyze the dynamic relationships between energy-related indicators for the EU as a whole and the 27 EU countries in 2023 compared to 2015. The research question is as follows: what are the main factors that generate final energy consumption in the EU? The hypothesis of this paper (H1) is that the variation in final energy consumption is determined by economic activity, lifestyle and consumer behavior, climate effect, and energy savings. This study’s main conclusions are that the variation in final energy consumption between 2015 and 2023 in EU countries was mostly due to key factors linked to economic activity, lifestyle and consumer behavior, climate effect, and energy savings. Thus, transport contributed the most to the variation in energy consumption, followed by services and manufacturing. The results indicate a shift to less energy-intensive sectors that positively impacted final energy consumption reduction, leading to energy savings. Concerning lifestyle and consumer behavior, household energy consumption had the highest contribution to the variation in energy consumption, followed by the number of passenger cars and the average annual net earnings. The climate effect was mostly due to the change in the cooling degree days that explained over 34.4% of the variation in the final energy consumption in households per capita. As for the energy savings effect, the results show that an increase in investments in the energy sector targeting efficiency improvements contributed to a reduction in energy consumption, leading to energy savings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Sustainability in Industrial and Tertiary Sectors)
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32 pages, 22462 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Marine Heatwaves and Ocean Acidification Affecting Coral Environments in the Philippines
by Rose Angeli Tabanao Macagga and Po-Chun Hsu
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(6), 1048; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17061048 - 17 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1785
Abstract
The coral reefs in the Philippines are facing an unprecedented crisis. This study, based on a comprehensive analysis of marine heatwaves (MHWs), degree heating weeks (DHWs), and ocean acidification (OA) indices derived from satellite observations and reanalysis data, reveals how thermal stress and [...] Read more.
The coral reefs in the Philippines are facing an unprecedented crisis. This study, based on a comprehensive analysis of marine heatwaves (MHWs), degree heating weeks (DHWs), and ocean acidification (OA) indices derived from satellite observations and reanalysis data, reveals how thermal stress and OA have progressively eroded coral ecosystems from 1985 to 2022. This study analyzed 12 critical coral habitats adjacent to the Philippines. The monthly average sea surface temperature (SST) in the study area ranged from 26.6 °C to 29.3 °C. The coast of Lingayen Gulf was identified as the most vulnerable coral reef site in the Philippines, followed by Davao Oriental and Polillo Island. The coast of Lingayen Gulf recorded the highest total MHW days in 2022, amounting to 293 days. The coast of Lingayen Gulf also reached the highest DHW values in July and August 2022, with 8.94 °C weeks, while Davao Oriental experienced the most extended average duration of MHWs in 2020, lasting 90.5 days per event. Large-scale climate features such as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) significantly influenced the study area’s SST anomalies and MHW events. High-risk coral bleaching periods, such as 1988–1989, 1998–1999, 2007–2008, and 2009–2010, were characterized by transitions from El Niño and positive PDO phases, to La Niña and negative PDO phases. However, since 2015, global warming has led to high cumulative heat stress without specific climate background patterns. We propose a Coral Marine Environmental Vulnerability Index (CoralVI) to integrate the spatiotemporal dynamics of warming and acidification and their impacts on coral habitats. The data show a rapid increase in the marine environmental vulnerability of coral habitats in the Philippines in recent years, extending to almost the entire coastline, posing significant threats to coral survival. Full article
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12 pages, 223 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Students’ Physical Activity at Different Times and Establishment of a Regression Model for Smart Fitness Trackers
by Xiangrong Cheng, Jingmin Liu, Ye Wang, Yue Wang, Zhengyan Tang and Hao Wang
Sensors 2025, 25(6), 1726; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25061726 - 11 Mar 2025
Viewed by 992
Abstract
Under the strategy of Healthy China, students’ physical health status not only affects their future life and studies but also influences social progress and development. By monitoring and measuring the daily PA levels of Chinese students over a week, this study aimed to [...] Read more.
Under the strategy of Healthy China, students’ physical health status not only affects their future life and studies but also influences social progress and development. By monitoring and measuring the daily PA levels of Chinese students over a week, this study aimed to fully understand the current PA status of students at different times, providing data support for improving students’ PA levels and physical health. (1) Wearable fitness trackers have advantages such as low cost, portable wearability, and intuitive test data. By exploring the differences between wearable devices and PA testing instruments, this study provides reference data to improve the accuracy of wearable devices and promote the use of fitness trackers instead of triaxial accelerometers, thereby advancing scientific research on PA and the development of mass fitness. A total of 261 students (147 males; 114 females) were randomly selected and wore both the Actigraph GT3X+ triaxial accelerometer and Huawei smart fitness trackers simultaneously to monitor their daily PA levels, energy metabolism, sedentary behavior, and step counts from the trackers over a week. The students’ PA status and living habits were also understood through literature reviews and questionnaire surveys. The validity of the smart fitness trackers was quantitatively analyzed using ActiLife software 6 Data Analysis Software and traditional analysis methods such as MedCal. Paired sample Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and mean absolute error ratio tests were used to assess the validity of the smart fitness trackers relative to the Actigraph GT3X+ triaxial accelerometer. A linear regression model was established to predict the step counts of the Actigraph GT3X+ triaxial accelerometer based on the step counts from the smart fitness trackers, aiming to improve the accuracy of human motion measurement by smart fitness trackers. There were significant differences in moderate-to-high-intensity PA time, energy expenditure, metabolic equivalents, and step counts between males and females (p < 0.01), with females having higher values than males in both moderate-to-high-intensity PA time and step counts. Sedentary behavior showed significant differences only on weekdays between males and females (p < 0.05), with females engaging in less sedentary behavior than males. (2) There was a significant difference in sedentary time between weekdays and weekends for students (p < 0.05), with sedentary time being higher on weekends than on weekdays. (3) Compared with weekends, female students had significantly different moderate-to-high-intensity PA time and sedentary time on weekdays (p < 0.01), while no significant differences were observed for male students. (4) Under free-living conditions, the average daily step count monitored by the smart fitness trackers was lower than that measured by the Actigraph GT3X+ triaxial accelerometer, with a significant difference (p < 0.01), but both showed a positive correlation (r = 0.727). (5) The linear regression equation established between the step counts monitored by the smart fitness trackers and those by the Actigraph GT3X+ triaxial accelerometer was y = 3677.3157 + 0.6069x. The equation’s R2 = 0.625, with an F-test value of p < 0.001, indicating a high degree of fit between the step counts recorded by the Huawei fitness tracker and those recorded by the triaxial accelerometer. The t-test results for the regression coefficient and constant term were t = 26.4410 and p < 0.01, suggesting that both were meaningful. The tested students were able to meet the recommended total amount of moderate-intensity PA for 150 min per week or high-intensity PA for 75 min per week according to the “Chinese Adult PA Guidelines”, as well as the recommended daily step count of more than 6000 steps per day according to the “Chinese Dietary Guidelines”. (2) Female students had significantly more moderate-to-high-intensity PA time than male students, but lower energy expenditure and metabolic equivalents, which may have been related to their lifestyle and types of exercise. On weekends, female students significantly increased their moderate-to-high-intensity PA time compared with males but also showed increased sedentary time exceeding that of males; further investigation is needed to understand the reasons behind these findings. (3) The step counts monitored by the Huawei smart fitness trackers correlated with those measured by the Actigraph GT3X+ triaxial accelerometer, but the step counts from the fitness trackers were lower, indicating that the fitness trackers underestimated PA levels. (4) There was a linear relationship between the Huawei smart fitness trackers and the Actigraph GT3X+ triaxial accelerometer. By using the step counts monitored by the Huawei fitness trackers and the regression equation, it was possible to estimate the activity counts from the Actigraph GT3X+ triaxial accelerometer. Replacing the Actigraph GT3X+ triaxial accelerometer with Huawei smart fitness trackers for step count monitoring significantly reduces testing costs while providing consumers with intuitive data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biomedical Sensors)
13 pages, 2247 KiB  
Article
Genetic Evaluation of Resilience Indicators in Holstein Cows
by Eva Kašná, Ludmila Zavadilová and Jan Vařeka
Animals 2025, 15(5), 667; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050667 - 25 Feb 2025
Viewed by 760
Abstract
The analysis of resilience indicators was based on daily milk yields recorded from 3347 lactations of 3080 Holstein cows located on 10 farms between 2022 and 2024. Six farms used an automatic milking system. A random regression function with a fourth-degree Legendre polynomial [...] Read more.
The analysis of resilience indicators was based on daily milk yields recorded from 3347 lactations of 3080 Holstein cows located on 10 farms between 2022 and 2024. Six farms used an automatic milking system. A random regression function with a fourth-degree Legendre polynomial was used to predict the lactation curve. The indicators were the natural log-transformed variance (LnVar), lag-1 autocorrelation (r-auto), and skewness (skew) of daily milk yield (DMY) deviations from the predicted lactation curve, as well as the log-transformed variance of DMY (Var). The single-step genomic prediction method (ssGBLUP) was used for genomic evaluation. A total of 9845 genotyped animals and 36,839 SNPs were included. Heritability estimates were low (0.02–0.13). The strongest genetic correlation (0.87) was found between LnVar and Var. The genetic correlation between r-auto and skew was also strong but negative (−0.73). Resilience indicators showed a negative correlation with milk yield per lactation and a positive correlation with fat and protein contents. The negative correlation between fertility and two resilience indicators may be due to the evaluation period (50th–150th day of lactation) being when cows are most often bred after calving, and a decrease in production may accompany a significant oestrus. The associations between resilience indicators and health traits (clinical mastitis, claw health) were weak but mostly favourable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Genetics and Genomics)
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