Search Results (2,509)

The construction of green mines is a core strategy for promoting ecological civilization in China’s mining sector, yet its long-term ecological effects require quantitative assessment. Using a cement-grade limestone mine operated by Linyi Zhonglian Cement Co., Ltd. in Shandong Province as an illustrative case, we employed Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS imagery acquired in 2015, 2020, and 2025 to develop a five-indicator framework for assessing ecological environment quality. The selected indicators comprised greenness (NDVI), wetness, dryness (NDBSI), land surface temperature (LST), and dust concentration (MECDI). These five indicators were subsequently integrated via principal component analysis to generate the Mine Ecological Quality Index (Mine-EQI). Using this index, we applied the Theil–Sen median slope estimator alongside zonal statistics to examine ecological change trajectories across the full study area and three functional zones—the industrial square, haul roads, and active mining area—over the 2015–2025 period. The ecological outcomes attributable to the green mine policy were then quantified. The results show that (1) the mean Mine-EQI of the study area decreased from 0.3713 in 2015 to 0.3460 in 2025, exhibiting a slight overall decline. However, the rate of decline decreased from −6.1% during 2015–2020 to −0.7% during 2020–2025, yielding a Temporal Change Intensity index (TCI) of +88.5%, indicating that the ecological degradation trend has been effectively curbed. (2) Significant spatial heterogeneity was observed. The industrial square showed substantial improvement (Theil–Sen slope = +0.0726), while the haul roads (slope = −0.0705) and mining area (slope = −0.0408) continued to exhibit degradation trends. The improved areas (9.7% of the study area) were spatially coincident with green mine engineering projects. (3) The dust indicator (MECDI) decreased by 24.7% during 2020–2025, and the vegetation index (NDVI) increased by 19.5% over the decade, representing the dominant contributors to ecological improvement. This study reveals that China’s green mine policy has yielded remarkable ecological improvements in relatively stable functional zones such as industrial squares. In contrast, ecological restoration within persistently disturbed areas, including haul roads and mining pits, demands long-term sustained investment and governance. By integrating remote sensing techniques with policy analysis, this research establishes a replicable framework for evaluating progress toward sustainable mining practices. The findings directly support the monitoring of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), providing a quantitative pathway to balance mineral resource extraction with ecological protection—a core sustainability challenge for resource-dependent regions. Full article

Traditional urban landscape evaluations have primarily relied on either objective spatial metrics, such as the Green View Index (GVI), or subjective human surveys, often failing to capture the complex mechanisms of human environmental perception. This study proposes a novel Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) framework that integrates objective physical configuration with subjective cognitive assessment to predict human landscape preference. Utilizing 159 urban landscape images, we extracted physical features via semantic segmentation (SegFormer) and psychological perceptions via a zero-shot vision-language model (CLIP). Our hybrid Random Forest model successfully bridged these dimensions, achieving moderate yet promising predictive performance (Rsquare = 0.442). SHAP (Shapley Additive exPlanations) analysis revealed that psychological perceptions—specifically Safety (0.104), Fascination (0.096), and Tranquility (0.080)—outperformed traditional objective metrics like GVI (0.067) in determining overall preference, while sub-model interpretation linked these psychological responses to specific physical elements such as buildings, sky openness, low vegetation, and water bodies. The findings suggest that urban green space design should move beyond maximizing greenery quantity and instead prioritize spatial compositions that induce psychological security, visual interest, and restoration. The proposed framework offers a scalable and interpretable tool for human-centered landscape assessment, while acknowledging limitations related to sample size, cultural generalizability, pretrained model bias, and reliance on static two-dimensional imagery. Full article

Plant diversity is a key indicator of ecosystem structure, function, and restoration status, yet its rapid assessment remains challenging in sandy ecosystems where vegetation is sparse, spatially heterogeneous, and strongly affected by exposed soil backgrounds. In such environments, conventional greenness-based spectral indices may not adequately capture species-level variation because plant communities are controlled not only by photosynthetic biomass but also by soil moisture, micro-topography, and dune-related habitat heterogeneity. This study evaluated the potential of Sentinel-2-derived spectral indices for estimating plant α-diversity in the Hunshandak Sandland, northern China. Based on field observations from 888 plots collected during 2017–2024, four α-diversity metrics—species richness, Shannon–Wiener index, Simpson index, and Pielou evenness index—were calculated and compared with 21 spectral indices using correlation analysis, partial least squares regression (PLSR), and random forest (RF) models. The results showed that model performance varied substantially among diversity metrics. Species richness was estimated with the highest accuracy, whereas Shannon–Wiener, Simpson, and Pielou indices showed weaker predictability, indicating that remotely sensed spectral indices were more sensitive to species number than to abundance distribution and evenness. Moisture- and soil-background-sensitive indices, including the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), Bare Soil Index (BSI/BRI), and Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index (CARI), showed relatively stable relationships with plant diversity across different vegetation gradients. Although the overall explanatory power was moderate rather than high, the results demonstrate the practical value of Sentinel-2 spectral indices for regional screening of plant diversity patterns in sandy ecosystems. This study provides empirical evidence for biodiversity monitoring and ecological restoration assessment in semi-arid sandy landscapes and highlights the need to integrate environmental covariates, multi-source remote sensing, and phenological information in future studies. Full article

Satellite-observed greening in arid regions is often interpreted as ecological restoration success, yet this assessment may conflate natural recovery with agricultural expansion. We developed an Arid Remote Sensing Ecological Index (ARSEI) incorporating a Comprehensive Salinity Index (CSI) to address systematic biases in the traditional RSEI when applied to irrigated drylands. ARSEI scores were validated against MODIS Net Primary Production (NPP) ($R^2>0.75$ at the regional scale), confirming its reliability in capturing ecosystem productivity, while CSI effectively maps the upper-bound of surface salinization potential dictated by intrinsic soil properties. Applied to China’s Mu Us Sandy Land (2000–2024), the ARSEI reveals that 2327 km² of sandy land—54% of current cropland—was converted to agriculture, creating “assessment-induced false greening” signals. While the traditional RSEI increased monotonically (+135%), the ARSEI shows a nuanced pattern with plateau (2010–2015) and decline (2015–2020) phases, reflecting salinization risks masked by high crop NDVI. Optimal Parameters-Based Geographical Detector analysis demonstrates that Land Cover × Precipitation interactions (q = 0.28) drive spatial heterogeneity through irrigation-mediated water redistribution. The ARSEI provides a dialectical evaluation framework: acknowledging agricultural greening’s economic benefits while monitoring subsurface degradation risks. This study offers a critical methodological advance for sustainable land assessment in global drylands undergoing agricultural intensification. Full article

The Petaquilla gold mine in Panama was abruptly closed without restoring the site. The objective of this study is to assess mine soils from a geochemical perspective, identify potential contaminants, and conduct a human health risk assessment (HHRA). Soil samples were analysed to determine pH, EC, OM, texture, hydrocarbons (TPHs), enzymatic activity (DHA), and the following potentially toxic elements (PTEs): As, Ba, Cd, Cu, Hg, Sb, Pb and Zn. The Igeo, PLI and HHRA indexes were evaluated. The Igeo indicates that the processing zone has atypical values of Cu (1.47), indicating moderate pollution (1 < Igeo ≤ 2), Zn (3.80), indicating strong pollution (3 < Igeo ≤ 4), and Pb (7.62), indicating extreme pollution (Igeo > 5), with enrichment due to mining activity. The PLI map shows that the affected areas are surrounding the Molejon River (1.62) and the processing zone (1.21), which are slightly contaminated (1 ≤ PLI < 2), and one site in the processing zone with moderate to considerable contamination (PLI ≥ 3) at the warehouse (6.07). Regarding TPHs, the processing area in front of transformer (54,844.47 mg kg⁻¹) and the workshop entrance (2045.26 mg kg⁻¹) have values above industrial use (620 mg kg⁻¹) due to visible hydrocarbon spills. In terms of HHRA, the non-carcinogenic risk associated with exposure to PTEs exceeds the reference threshold for both children and adults under a residential exposure scenario, whereas the non-carcinogenic risk for TPHs remains below the acceptable limit. Regarding carcinogenic risk, exposure to Pb and As remains within acceptable limits for both receptors. With a view to restoring the mine’s soil, the processing area and the workshop entrance are the first areas that need to be addressed. Full article

Background: Oral colon-targeted delivery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) faces significant challenges, including limited gastrointestinal stability, premature drug release, and insufficient mucosal retention. Methods: To address these limitations, a mucoadhesive polysaccharide-based composite hydrogel incorporating prednisolone-loaded polymeric micelles was developed to enhance colonic delivery and promote mucosal repair. Amphiphilic oxidized dextran–oleylamine (ODEX-OA) copolymers were synthesized to self-assemble into prednisolone-loaded micelles. These micelles were subsequently embedded within a thiolated chitosan (CSSH) hydrogel through a Schiff base reaction, yielding the ODEX-OA-Pred-CSSH composite. The resulting system was comprehensively characterized for particle size, mucoadhesion, degradation, and pH/ROS dual-responsive drug release. Its colon-targeting capability and therapeutic efficacy were subsequently assessed in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Results: In vitro, the composite hydrogel demonstrated nanoscale micellar size, enhanced drug release kinetics under simulated inflammatory colonic conditions, and prolonged colonic retention for up to 24 h following oral administration. In vivo, studies confirmed that ODEX-OA-Pred-CSSH significantly alleviated colitis, evidenced by a reduced disease activity index, diminished pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, restored colon length, decreased spleen index, and improved histological mucosal repair. Conclusions: These findings collectively suggest that this mucoadhesive micelle–hydrogel composite represents a promising and effective oral colon-targeted platform for the treatment of IBD. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dental implants are a predictable treatment modality for missing teeth, and the crown emergence angle may affect peri-implant tissue health. This study evaluated the influence of crown emergence angle on marginal bone loss (MBL) and the corticalization index (CI) at 3-month and 5-year follow-ups, considering restoration type and implant location. Methods: Records from 155 patients treated with MIS implants were analyzed retrospectively. The primary outcome was marginal bone loss (MBL) at 60 months after loading; secondary/exploratory outcomes included MBL at 3 months and the Corticalization Index (CI) at 3 and 60 months. Three prosthodontic restorations were included: single crowns, splinted crowns, and bridges. Intraoral radiographs were used to measure crown emergence angle, MBL, and CI. Results: Recorded emergence profile was 32° ± 10°. Marginal bone loss increased over time but did not differ significantly among restoration groups. No significant relationship was found between emergence angle and MBL for single crowns (p = 0.369) or splinted crowns (p = 0.176). For bridges, a weak but statistically significant relationship was observed (p = 0.042). CI increased over time in all groups, without significant differences by restoration type. Restoration type was significantly associated with anterior/posterior implant location (p = 0.0004): single crowns predominated anteriorly, whereas splinted crowns and bridges were more frequent posteriorly. No significant association was found for maxilla versus mandible (p = 0.077). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this retrospective radiographic analysis, no clinically meaningful association was observed between emergence angle and MBL for single or splinted crowns. For bridges, the observed association was statistically significant but weak and should be interpreted cautiously. Other biological, biomechanical, and systemic factors may play a greater role in peri-implant tissue stability than emergence angle alone. Full article

Whey proteins readily form complexes with polyphenols, the structure and functionality of which are influenced by factors such as polyphenol concentration and heat treatment. However, previous studies have largely examined these factors independently, and limited information is available regarding how the sequence of heat application (pre- vs. post-complexation) interacts with varying polyphenol concentrations to modulate the structure–function relationship of whey protein-polyphenol systems. This study investigated the effects of different heating conditions and gallic acid (GA) concentration on structural and functional properties of whey protein isolate–gallic acid (WPI-GA) complexes at pH 7.0. The treatments included native whey protein isolate (WPI), preheated WPI, native WPI-GA complexes, and WPI-GA complexes at two ratios (1:0.5 and 1:1 w/w) and heated either before or after complexation. GA addition and heat treatment increased turbidity and particle size, indicating enhanced complexation. The zeta potential showed minimal change, suggesting limited involvement of electrostatic interactions. Fluorescence quenching increased with GA concentration, confirming interactions between GA and WPI. Heat treatments increased fluorescence intensity and surface hydrophobicity, likely due to protein unfolding and exposure of hydrophobic regions. Higher GA concentration enhanced antioxidant activity, reduced foaming capacity, and did not affect emulsifying properties. Preheating also decreased the foaming capacity of the complexes, whereas post-heating restored it. Both heat treatments reduced the emulsifying activity index (EAI) but increased the emulsion stability index (ESI) compared with native WPI. Overall, this study provides insight into how GA concentration and heating sequence influence the complexation and functionality of WPI, contributing to a better understanding of protein–polyphenol interactions in bioactive-enriched dairy systems. Full article

Urban destinations increasingly incorporate green–blue infrastructure, sensory-balanced public spaces, and microclimate-responsive design to mitigate visitor fatigue and support sustainable tourism experiences. To understand how insights from broader tourism environments, particularly nature-based contexts, can inform emerging urban well-being strategies, this study conducts a global bibliometric review (2005–2025) on psychological restoration, stress relief, and visitor well-being. Using Scopus and a Boolean search combining mental health constructs, tourism setting, and analytical approaches, 825 records were identified, and 149 articles were retained after applying eligibility criteria. Science mapping and performance analyses reveal accelerated post-2018 growth and three dominant knowledge clusters centered on restoration pathways, environmental determinants, and behavioral/hospitality components. Based on these patterns, this study introduces the RESTOR-URBAN model, integrating environmental moderators, psychological mechanisms, and behavioral interactions that jointly shape stress reduction and emotional well-being across urban tourism systems. The results show increasing relevance of micro-restorative experiences, thermal comfort management, and stress-aware service design, while highlighting persistent methodological heterogeneity and limited integration of environmental co-data (Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), and Discomfort Index (DI)). The findings suggest that restoration-based evidence from nature-based tourism can inform sustainable urban tourism planning, hospitality practice, and visitor experience design, and propose a research agenda emphasizing standardized well-being indicators, longitudinal and structural equation modeling (SEM)-based approaches, and environmental quality variables for resilient, health-oriented urban destinations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most common surgeries among people over 60. Joint line restoration plays an important role in knee biomechanics, with joint line elevation or depression after TKA being associated with poorer postoperative outcomes, although there is no consensus regarding the threshold at which these variations become clinically relevant. The objectives of this study were to evaluate whether a joint line variation greater than 4 mm after primary TKA affects postoperative outcomes, and to assess the concordance between different radiographic methods used to measure joint line height. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted including patients over 60 who underwent primary TKA for knee osteoarthritis. Joint line height variations were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively using three radiographic measurements: lateral femoral epicondyle–fibular head (LEFH) distance, adductor tubercle–joint line (ATJL) distance, and Blackburne–Peel index. Quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire, and functionality using the Knee Society Score (KSS). Statistical analysis was carried out using R software. Results: Seventy-three patients were included. No statistically significant associations were found between joint line displacement and functional outcomes (KSS), quality of life (SF-12), or postoperative complications. Concordance analysis between radiographic methods showed a significant but weak correlation between the LEFH and ATJL measurements (ρ = 0.419; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Joint line displacement after primary TKA was not associated with poorer postoperative outcomes in this cohort. These findings suggest that its clinical impact may depend more on its magnitude than on its mere presence and may also be influenced by additional factors. The weak concordance observed between radiographic measurement methods highlights the need for standardized criteria. Full article

Transparent and comparable evaluation of ecological restoration outcomes is essential for advancing performance-based environmental governance and ESG-aligned ecological compensation. However, existing grassland monitoring approaches in semi-arid regions often rely on single vegetation indices, which fail to capture ecosystem structure, functional recovery, and temporal dynamics. To address these limitations, this study proposes a process-oriented Restoration Index (RI) based on multi-source remote sensing data. By integrating spectral, textural, and phenological indicators, together with topographic and climatic factors, derived from Sentinel-2 and Landsat time-series imagery, the framework characterizes vegetation productivity, community structure, and seasonal ecological processes within a unified analytical framework. A case study in the Xilingol grassland of Inner Mongolia shows that different management strategies, including grazing exclusion, reseeding, and rotational grazing, are associated with distinct restoration trajectories and recovery performance. The results indicate that the RI captures both spatial heterogeneity and temporal evolution of ecosystem recovery, while the normalization procedure improves the relative comparability of restoration assessment results within the adopted framework. Quantitative evaluation shows positive agreement with field observations, providing preliminary support for the applicability of the approach within the study area. Overall, the RI framework provides a scalable and policy-relevant basis for ecological restoration assessment and may support ecological compensation evaluation, environmental auditing, and more transparent restoration governance. Full article

This study explored the regulatory role of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in aerobic exercise improving oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in mice with insulin resistance (IR) induced by a high-fat diet. We established an IR mouse model through a high-fat diet, then subjected the IR mice to aerobic exercise, intraperitoneal injection of luteolin, or a combined intervention. After 6 weeks of intervention, we measured serum lipid and glucose profiles; evaluated skeletal muscle morphology by H&E staining; quantified mRNA expression levels of Nrf2 and its downstream targets in the skeletal muscle by RT-qPCR; and determined protein abundance, localization, and expression patterns of Nrf2 and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In the skeletal muscle of IR mice, Nrf2 and its downstream targets were significantly down-regulated, whereas NLRP3 inflammasome was markedly up-regulated (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). IR mice subjected to aerobic exercise exhibited reduced serum glucose and lipid levels together with a lower insulin-resistance index (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01); morphologically, inter-myofibrillar spaces were narrowed, intrafiber vacuoles diminished, and cellular integrity restored. Concomitantly, Nrf2 and its downstream targets were up-regulated, whereas NLRP3 inflammasome components were down-regulated in the skeletal muscle (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Intraperitoneal administration of luteolin during exercise, however, partially attenuated or reversed these exercise-induced improvements by inhibiting the activation of Nrf2 (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). These results indicate that aerobic exercise confers protective effects against IR by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, thereby attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation; these benefits are markedly attenuated when Nrf2 activity is pharmacologically inhibited. Full article

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that requires new treatment approaches beyond traditional anti-inflammatory drugs. In this study, we analyzed publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data from a DSS-induced colitis mouse model and identified pyroptosis as a key biological process linked to epithelial damage. Based on this, we screened marine-derived brominated indoles for potential pyroptosis inhibitors and identified 6-bromoindole-3-acetonitrile as a promising candidate. Our results show that this compound significantly alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice, with notable body weight recovery and a drop in Disease Activity Index (DAI) scores from about 8.5 to below 4 (p < 0.05). At the molecular level, it lowers the mRNA levels of Nlrp3, Caspase-1, and other pyroptosis-related genes, indicating suppression of the pyroptotic pathway. Moreover, treatment helps restore the intestinal barrier by supporting goblet cell regeneration and strengthening tight junctions. Molecular docking suggests that 6-bromoindole-3-acetonitrile binds stably to the active site of myeloperoxidase (MPO), with a binding energy of −18.1 kcal/mol, offering a possible structural basis for its anti-inflammatory effects. Together, these findings point to a marine-derived compound that reduces both inflammation and pyroptosis, representing a promising strategy for treating ulcerative colitis. Notably, these results come from preclinical studies and need further validation in clinical settings. Full article

Heat stress (HS) has emerged as a major environmental stressor, inducing oxidative stress and hepatic steatosis and impairing production performance and health in laying hens, with limited evidence-based nutritional interventions available. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of dietary silibinin (SIL) against chronic HS. In a 10-week trial, 252 43-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens were exposed to daily HS (32 ± 1 °C, temperature–humidity index [THI] > 73) and fed either a basal diet or one supplemented with 100 mg/kg SIL. SIL significantly increased laying rate (p < 0.05) and improved albumen height, Haugh units, and shell strength by week 8 (p < 0.05). Histological analysis showed a 48% reduction in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score, with significantly decreased hepatic triglyceride content (p < 0.05); Oil Red O staining confirmed reduced lipid droplet accumulation. SIL restored redox balance by increasing plasma, hepatic total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05), increasing hepatic catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels while decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05). Untargeted plasma metabolomics identified 11 key metabolites related to 2-oxoglutarate and purine metabolism, while hepatic transcriptomics revealed 835 differentially expressed genes primarily in the PPAR signaling and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways. SIL suppressed de novo lipogenesis via downregulation of ACACA and FASN, and enhanced β-oxidation through upregulation of CPT1A and ACSL1 (p < 0.05). Molecular docking indicated favorable binding affinities between SIL and these targets, which was further supported by corresponding changes in protein expression via Western blotting. Correlation analysis revealed a consistent alignment between the upregulation of ACSL1/CPT1A and improvement in performance and antioxidant status, suggesting a coordinated metabolic shift. These findings emphasize the potential of SIL as a sustainable animal nutrition antioxidant additive, which can alleviate HS-induced lipid disorders in the liver of laying hens. Importantly, these hepatoprotective effects were demonstrated exclusively under chronic heat stress conditions; further studies incorporating a normothermic baseline are required to distinguish stress-specific mitigation from general metabolic stimulation. Full article

The increasing use of recycled polypropylene (rPP) in technical and outdoor applications requires strategies to limit photo-oxidative degradation while maintaining adequate performance after reprocessing. In this work, the photo-oxidative stability of rPP films was investigated under accelerated weathering conditions, focusing on the effect of a commercially available additive, Nexamite^® R201 (NEX), previously shown to partially restore PP molecular weight after reprocessing. Films of rPP and rPP containing 5 wt.% NEX were produced by cast extrusion and exposed to cyclic UVA irradiation and water condensation in a QUV chamber, and the evolution of the functional and structural degradation of the materials was monitored as a function of aging time. Spectroscopical analyses showed progressive oxidation in both systems, with carbonyl growth starting after an induction period of about 200 h. A faster increase in the carbonyl index was observed for rPP containing NEX, indicating that the additive does not improve chemical oxidative resistance under the adopted conditions. However, NEX significantly enhanced the retention of mechanical properties during aging, with higher elongation and stress at break compared with unmodified rPP, thus delaying embrittlement. Overall, the results show that the investigated additive effectively mitigates the loss of mechanical integrity during photo-aging, likely as a consequence of the macromolecular restructuring induced during reprocessing. Full article