Search Results (15,534)

The pyrite bioretention system has been increasingly used to control dissolved nutrients in stormwater runoff. However, its low electron supply rate cannot adapt to the demand for denitrification under high nitrogen-loading conditions. To address this limitation, we constructed a mixed biochar–pyrite bioretention system (BP) by optimizing the structural composition of the fill media. Under simulated complex rainfall conditions, the nitrogen removal efficiency, by-product generation, and filler physicochemical properties of system were evaluated. Results demonstrated that the BP system significantly enhanced denitrification performance, achieving average NO_x⁻-N and TN removal rates of 63.3% and 67.8%, respectively. This represented improvements of 79.1% and 45.9% over the conventional pyrite bioretention system. Moreover, the composite system exhibited a sustained and effective denitrification even under low C/N ratio conditions. This enhancement is attributed to biochar’s dual role as an electron shuttle and an electron reservoir, which facilitated microbial nitrate reduction. XPS analysis further confirmed that biochar addition effectively reduced the oxidation degree of pyrite, thereby protecting it from rapid oxidative degradation. Microbial analysis revealed that biochar supplementation in the BP system increased microbial diversity in the saturated zone, which contributed to improved ecosystem function and stability, including the promotion for key denitrification processes. Full article

This study presents a CO₂ injectivity analysis for the depleted gas field Z offshore Malaysia using nodal analysis and sensitivity analysis. Reservoir permeability was estimated from the appraisal well DST report, which recorded an absolute open flow (AOF) of 253 MMscfd, and sensitivity analyses were conducted for injection pressure, tubing diameter, reservoir pressure, permeability, and thickness. The base-case nodal analysis resulted in an optimal CO₂ injection rate of 52.3 MMscfd. Injection pressure, permeability, and thickness were linearly proportional to injection rate, whereas reservoir pressure showed an inverse relationship. The analysis of injection rate per tubing diameter indicated that 4.548-inch tubing, with 15.11 MMscfd per inch, provided the highest efficiency. A total CO₂ injection volume of 5 Tcf was distributed among five wells, and four injection period scenarios (20, 15, 10, 5 years) were designed based on flow efficiency. In the 5-year scenario, the bottomhole pressure of all wells exceeded the formation parting pressure at a reservoir pressure of approximately 1000 psia, indicating that the target injection rate of 2739 MMscfd could not be achieved. Tubing injectivity index (TII) analysis showed that higher TII values represented greater injection efficiency from a vertical flow perspective. Full article

Diagnosing water-phase damage remains challenging because routine petrophysical parameters do not capture capillary hysteresis and pressure-transmission effects. In this study, a standardized, auditable workflow was established to link laboratory descriptors to field-relevant cleanup. Full-curve mercury injection capillary pressure data were acquired and converted using consistent Washburn parameters, from which withdrawal efficiency was computed on the withdrawal branch. A pressure-transmission coefficient was evaluated under unified boundary conditions to complement permeability and porosity. After preprocessing and partial least-squares regression (PLSR) screening, MICP descriptors were clustered by k-means (k = 5) to obtain reservoir Types I–V. Regressions relating WE to permeability and flowback behavior were then used to assess engineering relevance. The results indicate that WE capture hysteretic trapping/back-pressure not contained in permeability or porosity and, when interpreted jointly with PTC, differentiates reservoir types by cleanup propensity. This framework provides a reproducible bridge from laboratory MICP hysteresis to field-scale flowback interpretation. Practical implications include prioritization of gas–wet wettability modification, low-surface-tension systems, and minimized early liquid loading for clusters exhibiting higher WE and lower PTC. Full article

Serpentinite soils represent extreme environments characterized by deficiencies in essential nutrients (Ca, K, P, N), an unfavorable Ca/Mg ratio, low water retention, and elevated concentrations of several geogenic potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In particular, the study site, located in Sassello (Liguria, Italy) within the serpentinites of the High-Pressure–Low-Temperature (HP–LT) metaophiolites of the Voltri Massif, exhibited concentrations of chromium, nickel and cobalt exceeding Italian legal thresholds by up to one order of magnitude. This study aimed to assess fungal diversity and to isolate culturable strains naturally adapted to these challenging conditions for potential use in bioremediation. Culturable-dependent analyses allowed for the isolation of viable fungal strains, with Penicillium (52%), Umbelopsis (17.9%), and Aspergillus (11.6%) found as dominant genera. Additionally, metabarcoding analyses provided a broader view of fungal community composition, revealing the presence and distribution of both culturable and non-culturable taxa. The combined approach highlighted the richness of the serpentinite soil mycobiota and its role as a reservoir of PTE-resistant organisms. These findings offer new insights into the ecology of metal-rich soils and identify promising candidates for sustainable remediation strategies in PTE-contaminated environments. Full article

Extreme environments are a largely unexplored reservoir of microbial diversity, with a remarkable potential to be exploited in agriculture. One hundred and seventeen yeast isolates, derived from different ecosystems in Italy, Sweden, Algeria, and France, were molecularly identified, and the most represented genus was Aureobasidium (57%). A phylogenetic analysis based on a multi-locus sequence typing (ITS, ELO, EF-1alpha) was conducted to characterize the black yeasts’ population. To investigate A. pullulans extremophilic and extremotolerant behaviour, different temperatures and pH, together with the enzymatic production, were evaluated. The strains were tested by in vitro and in vivo assays against the postharvest fungal pathogen Monilinia fructicola as potential biocontrol agents (BCAs). Results displayed a great ecological variability concerning strains’ growth and cell production depending on different culture conditions. However, a remarkable thermotolerance aptitude was detected in almost all the strains. In particular, the strains belonging to Group 2 (Algerian Desert) and 3 (Alto Adige Region) showed, respectively, higher thermotolerance and biocontrol ability. These findings showed how some extreme environments could represent a promising source for new potential BCAs. However, further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms of action of these putative BCAs for application during the postharvest phase. Full article

Deeply buried carbonate successions in China’s Tarim Basin host substantial hydrocarbons. In the southern Tahe Oilfield, Middle–Lower Ordovician limestones show little evidence of subaerial weathering because the Upper Ordovician strata protected them; nevertheless, the genesis and evolution of these carbonate reservoirs remain debated. Using cores, conventional and image logs, 3D seismic interpretation, and geochemical data, this study characterizes Paleozoic faulting and diagenetic fluids in the area. Four principal fluid types are identified—meteoric water, formation water, hydrothermal fluids, and mixed fluids. Two episodes of NNW- and NNE-trending strike-slip faulting during the Middle Caledonian and Early Hercynian periods facilitated fluid migration and dissolution. Later, Late Hercynian faults acted as primary pathways for hydrothermal flow, promoting the development of hydrothermal dissolution pores and caverns. The work clarifies how the interplay between strike-slip faulting and distinct diagenetic fluids governs reservoir development, providing theoretical guidance for predicting deep carbonate reservoirs and for hydrocarbon exploration and production. Full article

Identifying the key drivers behind the spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystem service functions is essential for clarifying how ecosystems respond to environmental changes. Such insights deepen our understanding of the evolution of complex ecological processes and service functions, and provide critical references for ecological governance, policy-making, and the pursuit of high-quality development pathways. In this study, the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) was first constructed for the upstream basin of the Danjiangkou Reservoir using satellite imagery (2015 and 2024). We then employed the InVEST model to quantify six ecosystem service functions and their corresponding services: water purification (total nitrogen and total phosphorus), soil retention (soil erosion), water yield, carbon storage, and habitat provision (habitat quality). Finally, this study analyzes the driving mechanisms as well as the coupling coordination degree between the RSEI and six ecosystem service functions. From 2015 to 2024, the area classified as “excellent” in RSEI significantly expanded from 263.34 km² (3.22%) to 2566.21 km² (31.38%), reflecting a substantial enhancement in ecological quality throughout the upstream basin. There is no serious imbalance in the coupling and coordination relationship between RSEI and the value of various ecosystem service functions. Although improvements in ecosystem quality generally enhanced overall ecosystem service functions, competition among certain services was still evident in localized areas. Future ecological management should, therefore, prioritize not only the protection of ecosystem quality but also the scientific allocation of service supply and demand, the optimization of human–land relationships, and the promotion of a virtuous ecosystem cycle. Full article

Landslide disasters pose severe threats to mountainous regions, where accurate monitoring and scientific prediction are crucial for early warning and risk mitigation. This study addresses this challenge by focusing on the Outang Landslide, a representative large-scale bank slope in the Three Gorges Reservoir area known for its significant deformation responses to rainfall and reservoir-level fluctuations. The landslide’s behavior, characterized by notable hysteresis and nonlinear trends, poses a significant challenge to accurate prediction. To address this, we derived high-precision time-series deformation data by applying atmosphere-corrected Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SBAS-InSAR) to Sentinel-1A imagery, with validation from GNSS measurements. A systematic analysis was then conducted to uncover the correlation, hysteresis, and spatial heterogeneity between landslide deformation and key influencing variables (rainfall, water level, temperature). Furthermore, we proposed a Spatio-Temporal Enhanced Convolutional Neural Network (STE-CNN), which innovatively converts influencing variables into grayscale images to enhance spatial feature extraction, thereby improving prediction accuracy. The results indicate that: (1) From June 2022 to March 2024, the landslide showed an overall downward displacement trend, with maximum settlement and uplift rates of −49.34 mm/a and 21.77 mm/a, respectively; (2) Deformation exhibited significant correlation, hysteresis, and spatial variability with environmental factors, with dominant variables shifting across seasons—leading to intensified movement in flood seasons and relative stability in dry seasons; (3) The improved STE-CNN outperforms typical prediction models in forecasting landslide deformation.This study presents an integrated methodology that combines InSAR monitoring, multi-factor mechanistic analysis, and deep learning, offering a reliable solution for landslide early warning and risk management. Full article

The genus Aeromonas is widely distributed in aquatic environments, where it is a frequent fish pathogen. It has also been described in association with human infections, with most cases caused by A. caviae, A. veronii biovar sobria, and A. hydrophila. More recently, A. dhakensis has emerged as an increasingly important human pathogen. Transmission occurs primarily through ingestion or contacts with aquatic sources, or by consuming contaminated food, particularly from aquatic origins. Growing resistance in Aeromonas has been reported for penicillins (including their combinations with classical β-lactamase inhibitors), cephalosporins, and carbapenems. Among the β-lactam antibiotics, only fourth-generation cephalosporins remain almost uniformly active. Furthermore, the co-occurrence of resistance genes for third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems within the same isolates is increasing. Recently, the presence of mobile genes conferring colistin resistance has also been documented, with resistance rates sometimes exceeding 30%. This evolution of colistin resistance is likely linked to its use in aquaculture, and together with the rise in β-lactam resistance, may be transforming Aeromonas into a significant reservoir of resistance genes that could potentially be transferred to species more commonly associated with human infections, such as the Enterobacterales. Full article

Background/Objectives: Moderate aortic stenosis (AS) with preserved ejection fraction (EF) is common, yet risk stratification remains challenging. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and myocardial mechanics analysis may identify subclinical dysfunction and impaired functional capacity. To evaluate the relationship between functional capacity (by % predicted peak VO₂), ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO₂ slope), and myocardial mechanics (speckle tracking echocardiography—STE), and myocardial work (MW) indices) in moderate AS with preserved EF. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 107 patients with moderate AS (AVA 1.0–1.5 cm²; mean gradient 20–40 mmHg; EF ≥ 50%). Functional capacity was classified as preserved (≥83% predicted VO₂) or reduced (<83%). Ventilatory efficiency was defined as good (<30) or poor (≥30) VE/VCO₂ slope. STE assessed left ventricular (LV), left atrial (LA), and right ventricular (RV) strain, as well as myocardial work indices. Results: Patients with reduced % predicted VO₂ had higher LV end-systolic volume (p = 0.035), lower stroke volume index (p = 0.020), and smaller indexed aortic valve area (p = 0.025), with trends toward lower GLS and myocardial work. In contrast, patients with poor ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO₂ ≥ 30) showed significant impairments in global longitudinal strain (GLS, p = 0.002), LA reservoir strain (PALS, p = 0.019) and LA conduit strain (LA Scd, p < 0.001), RV free wall strain (RW FWS, p = 0.029), and myocardial work indices (lower GWI and GCW, higher GWW, reduced GWE; all p < 0.05). LA Scd emerged as the strongest predictor of poor ventilatory efficiency. (receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) 0.723, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.623–0.823, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In moderate AS with preserved EF, impaired ventilatory efficiency is more strongly associated with subclinical LV, LA, and RV dysfunction than reduced % predicted VO₂, highlighting the key role of RV impairment. Integrating CPET and STE improves phenotyping, identifying high-risk patients who may benefit from closer surveillance or early intervention. These findings are exploratory and hypothesis-generating; longitudinal data are needed to confirm prognostic implications. Full article

Predicting slope deformation is pivotal for reservoir safety management; however, quantitative attribution to hydrologic–temporal factors with interpretable and hyperparameter-robust models under multi-point temporal dependence is still rare. Hence, we develop an interpretable hybrid framework that couples a Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) with a Newton–Raphson-based optimizer (NRBO) for hyperparameter tuning. Unsupervised clustering is first employed to capture intrinsic temporal associations among multiple monitoring points. Subsequently, the NRBO–LightGBM framework is proposed to enhance prediction accuracy and model robustness in slope deformation prediction. Finally, SHAP analysis is integrated to quantify the contribution of influencing factors, thereby strengthening the physical interpretability and credibility of the model. The proposed framework is validated using long-term deformation monitoring data from the Lijiaxia Hydropower Station. Comparative experiments indicate that the NRBO–LightGBM model achieves a 22.8% reduction in RMSE and an 11.4% increase in R² relative to conventional statistical models, improving prediction accuracy with a 21.5% lower RMSE and a 15.5% higher R² compared with the baseline LightGBM. Furthermore, SHAP interpretability analysis elucidates the internal predictive mechanism, revealing that deformation evolution is primarily governed by temporal accumulation and seasonal variations represented by the time variable t and periodic components. Overall, the NRBO–LightGBM model provides high-precision and interpretable deformation prediction for reservoir slopes, effectively bridging predictive performance with mechanistic understanding and offering actionable insights for landslide early warning and risk management. Full article

Reservoir simulation remains a major computational bottleneck for production optimization, history matching, and uncertainty quantification, particularly as geological models become increasingly detailed and recovery processes more complex. Coarse-grid network (CGNet) models have recently emerged as an efficient, physics-grounded proxy to full-physics simulations by solving the flow equations on a coarse network whose parameters are freely calibrated to reproduce fine-scale or observed well responses. In this study, we investigate how different coarse-partitioning strategies affect the accuracy and robustness of CGNet models. Four partitioning approaches are examined: a simple cookie-cutter partition, and three partitions based on cell-wise indicators—absolute permeability, velocity magnitude, and the product of forward and backward time-of-flight. Two test cases are considered: one using a single layer of the SPE10 benchmark dataset and the other using a sector model from the Norne field. Results show that, despite substantial differences in coarse-grid topology, the four CGNet models achieve comparable convergence behavior and predictive accuracy. For the SPE10 case, all models reproduce the fine-scale responses well, and no clear superiority among the partitioning methods. In the Norne case, the time-of-flight–based partition yields the lowest misfit and slightly better well-response predictions, although overall differences remain modest. These findings demonstrate that CGNet models are robust to coarse-grid topology and that incorporating flow-based indicators in partition generation can offer marginal improvements for complex geological systems. The results highlight the potential of CGNet as a cost-effective, physically consistent surrogate for large-scale reservoir applications. Full article

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently diagnosed microsporidian parasite in humans and a recognized cause of diarrheal disease, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Its broad host range, which includes livestock, companion animals, and wildlife, highlights its zoonotic potential and warrants careful epidemiological assessment. This narrative review synthesizes available data on the occurrence and genetic diversity of E. bieneusi in European domestic ungulates (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, and water buffaloes) and pets (dogs and cats), aiming to provide an integrated perspective on animal reservoirs and their relevance for public health. Publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database were systematically screened, and country-specific results were extracted, emphasizing prevalence rates, genotype distributions, and zoonotic implications. Across Europe, cattle and pigs emerged as the most studied hosts, frequently harboring zoonotic group 1 genotypes such as I, J, BEB4, BEB6, and EbpA, while small ruminants, horses, and buffaloes remain comparatively undocumented. In pets, the dog-adapted genotype PtEb IX was predominant, but several zoonotic genotypes were also identified. Overall, the current evidence confirms the wide host range of E. bieneusi in Europe but also reveals significant data gaps compared to regions such as China, underlining the need for broader surveillance and harmonized molecular approaches within a One Health framework. Full article

Low-permeability sandstone oil reservoirs, as an important type of oil and gas resource, feature high reservoir density and low permeability. The utilization of pore throats of different scales during their development process is crucial for enhancing oil recovery. Based on nuclear magnetic resonance and CT scanning techniques, this paper systematically studies the utilization limits and energy contribution of pore larynx under different displacement methods. The results show that during the water injection development process, the main pore–throat radius used by water flooding is between 1 and 20 μm. Among them, the contribution of the small pore tends to stabilize after the pressure rises to a certain stage, the contribution of the medium pore increases with the rise in pressure, while the contribution of the large pore gradually decreases with the increase in pressure. After switching to CO₂ gas flooding, the application range of the pore throat was further expanded to a smaller scale. The contribution of the small pore and the middle pore significantly increased in a specific pressure range, while the large pore made a greater contribution at a lower pressure. This paper has certain reference significance for the study of the limit and contribution of pore–throat exploitation in low-permeability sandstone oil reservoirs. Full article

Floods, especially in urbanised areas, incur enormous economic and social losses. The structural flood management is often limited by urbanization and environmental issues. Following the catastrophic flood events of 1997 and 2010, a relatively large dry polder was constructed in Racibórz Dolny, Poland, with the highest flood retention capacity in Central Europe. During the 2024 flood in Czechia and Poland, the polder was filled to 80%, which significantly reduced the floodwave crest on the Odra River (by 1.65 m), halved the peak discharge, and delayed the floodwave passage by two days according to hydrological calculations. The operation of the polder enables multifunctional use of the river valley—ranging from agriculture and mineral extraction to environmental protection—without the need for permanent water impoundment. Aggregate extraction carried out within the basin contributed to shaping the reservoir, reducing the demand for transport and construction materials, while the overburden was reused for engineering and reclamation purposes. Mining activities between 2007 and 2023 increased the retention capacity of the polder by 13%, providing an example of rational environmental resource management combined with effective flood protection. The findings demonstrate that integrating retention functions with mineral resource management represents an efficient and sustainable approach to mitigating flood impacts in large European river valleys. Full article