Search Results (2,953)

The southeastern flank of Mt. Etna is affected by the presence of active faults capable of adapting to deformation through both seismic slip and aseismic creep, posing challenges for seismic microzonation and for land-use planning. Structural surveys in the urban area of San Gregorio di Catania revealed a ~1 km long, N–S trending secondary fracture zone with an extensional component, inducing progressive damage to buildings and infrastructure. To characterize this scarcely visible structure, passive seismic single-station surveys processed with Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) tecnique were integrated with Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW). The HVSR data enabled the mapping of the spatial distribution of resonance frequencies, tracking an anomalous trend in the seismic bedrock geometry and depth directly correlatable with the presence of the secondary fracture zone. Directional analyses exhibit systematic preferential orientations of resonance peaks near the fracture corridor, confirming a rigorous structural control and a tectonic origin for the recorded anomalies. Furthermore, reconstructed 2D impedance contrast sections show distinct discontinuities and a local westward dislocation of the main seismo-stratigraphic interface across the deformation zone. The lack of correlated instrumental seismicity supports the interpretation that the displacement is primary accommodated via aseismic fault creep. Methodologically, these findings demonstrate that the passive seismic method provides a highly effective, non-invasive approach for identifying hard-to-detect tectonic structures that remain unobliterated by dense urbanization. Ultimately, these results offer critical, actionable constraints for seismic microzonation and urban land-use setback zoning. Full article

Suburban areas increasingly shape contemporary urbanisation, yet public-space dynamics in these environments are weakly represented by conventional urban indicators. This study examines suburban public-space use as a behavioural dimension of urban metabolism, understood here as the observable patterns of human movement, activity, and co-presence occurring within suburban public spaces. It addresses the limited ability of density- or infrastructure-based measures to capture everyday spatial practices in dispersed, car-oriented settings. While urban metabolism research has expanded beyond material and energy flows, empirical evidence linking configurational accessibility with directly observed public-space behaviour in suburban contexts remains limited. To address this gap, we integrate district-scale space syntax analysis with site-scale UAV-based observation across five public spaces in and around Gdańsk, Poland. Based on a dataset comprising 30 standard observation sessions conducted in September and October 2024, spatial syntax indicators (integration and choice) were used to characterise configurational accessibility and support location selection, while UAV monitoring captured traffic intensity, stationary presence, diversity of activities, and temporal rhythms of use. The results reveal distinct behavioural metabolic profiles shaped by interactions between spatial configuration, functional programming, and temporal dynamics. These profiles vary depending on the function of public spaces and dominant modes of movement (pedestrian or vehicular). The study demonstrates that suburban urban metabolism cannot be interpreted through configurational accessibility or residential density alone. By linking space syntax measures with a repeatable UAV observation protocol, the proposed framework supports comparative assessment of suburban public-space performance and informs planning interventions aimed at suburban transformation and improved accessibility. Full article

The present contribution provides a systematic review of the international scientific literature on the relationship between contaminated sites and real estate market dynamics. The objective is to investigate whether and to what extent the presence of environmental risk sources—both active or decommissioned—affects the value of surrounding residential properties. In particular, the review is focused on an examination of the methods commonly used in relevant studies to measure, interpret, and represent this impact across different geographical contexts, identifying the main magnitude ranges found in the selected contributions. Several studies consistently confirm a statistically significant negative relationship between proximity to polluting sites and real estate values, although the relevance of this effect varies considerably across case studies. Other records highlight non-notable impacts or even positive effects following remediation and redevelopment interventions. The evidence suggests that this relationship is complex and influenced by factors such as site type, contamination severity, specificities of the local urban context and community perception. Moreover, the findings underscore regional variations in the extent and nature of price impacts, reflecting diverse regulatory frameworks and remediation efforts. The outcomes of the literature review provide a robust foundation for developing more effective evaluation tools able to support decision-making processes, enabling policymakers, planners, and investors to promote sustainable urban regeneration, improve environmental justice, and reduce spatial inequalities. Ultimately, this study highlights the critical need for integrating environmental, social, and economic dimensions to fully capture the multifaceted effects of contaminated sites on property markets, thereby orienting more informed and equitable urban development strategies worldwide. Full article

This article presents a method for calibration of dynamic vehicle weighing systems (WIM—Weigh-In-Motion) involving the calibration of all WIM stations operating within a given road network segment as a single process. A key assumption of the method is the presence of at least one scale with significantly higher accuracy than the calibrated systems in this part of road network. This reference scale function may be played by a static scale, slow-pass scale (LS-WIM—Low-Speed WIM) for measurement of vehicle axle load or by a selected WIM system with heightened accuracy. Both the reference scale and all systems undergoing calibration must be equipped with a system for the automatic recognition of vehicle registration number plates. The reference scale makes it possible to determine axle load values considered as benchmark values. Then, for each vehicle weighed on the reference scale and subsequently on any WIM system operating within the analysed area, the relative difference between the reference result and the WIM system measurement is calculated with respect to the reference value. This difference forms the basis for the operation of the algorithm estimating the coefficients of the static characteristic of the calibrated WIM system (so-called calibration coefficients), which are then used to determine corrected weighing results. The estimation of the coefficients is updated after each identified vehicle that has previously been weighed on the reference scale is considered. The article presents both the results of simulations and experimental studies concerning the proposed spatial method of calibration. The results obtained allow for an assessment of the effectiveness of the proposed solution. As can be seen from the analyses conducted, this method leads to a significant reduction in systematic error of vehicle weight measurement. Unfortunately, it does not eliminate random errors. The spatial calibration approach described in this paper has certain limitations. The main ones include the impact of ANPR system errors on calibration effectiveness, cases where a vehicle is unloaded or loaded between WIM stations, and the propagation of systematic errors from the reference systems to the other WIM systems. A significant advantage of the proposed spatial calibration method is that it can operate effectively using weighing data from a single reference WIM system and does not require heavy traffic volumes. Full article

Introduction: Understanding population structure is essential for effective fishery management, and otolith shape analysis provides a robust framework for detecting spatial variation in marine fish populations. The bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), a commercially important and widely distributed species along the southeastern and southern Brazilian coast, may exhibit subtle population structuring that is still not fully resolved. Methodology: Otolith contour variation was analyzed using two complementary approaches: Elliptical Fourier Descriptors (EFD) and Wavelet Transformed Descriptors (WTD). A total of 75 individuals (25/site) were sampled from Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina, with total lengths ranging from 33.2 to 45.5 cm. Multivariate analyses included Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA), pairwise Hotelling’s t-tests (HT²), Flexible Discriminant Analysis (FDA), and jackknife reclassification matrices (JKC). Results: For the EFD approach, PERMANOVA showed no significant differences among localities, while FDA revealed partial overlap among groups and a JKC overall reclassification accuracy of 46%. In contrast, the WTD approach detected significant spatial differences, with PERMANOVA indicating overall variation among localities and HT² identifying significant differences between Santa Catarina and the other regions. FDA improved visual separation of Rio de Janeiro samples, although the JCK accuracy decreased to 35%. Conclusion: The combined results suggest the presence of weak to moderate spatial structuring in P. saltatrix along the studied coastline. However, inconsistencies among analytical approaches and relatively low reclassification success rate to the original site indicate that the observed differentiation is insufficient to conclusively define distinct population units, remaining compatible with either a single stock exhibiting spatial heterogeneity or weakly differentiated subpopulations. Full article

Sustainable public access to rock art caves requires an evaluation of how visitor presence alters cave microclimates. This study analyzed the response of Santián Cave (Cantabria, northern Spain) to controlled experimental visits conducted during the seasonal phase of reduced cave ventilation and elevated background CO₂. Visitor impact showed a strong spatial contrast: Sector I exhibited only minor thermal anomalies (0.01–0.02 °C), whereas the inner decorated sector recorded mean increases of 0.11 °C in Conjunto I and 0.28 °C in Conjunto II, with a maximum of 0.37 °C. CO₂ showed the clearest cumulative behavior, with daily increases of 268–368 ppm in Conjunto I and 327–376 ppm in Conjunto II, incomplete overnight recovery, and delayed propagation into connected sectors. Suspended particles also increased with visit intensity, from values below 300 particles L⁻¹ for spaced groups of five visitors to a maximum of 686 particles L⁻¹ and recovery times of 13.6 h for consecutive groups of 6–8 visitors. The results show that the most stable cave areas are highly sensitive to visits, cumulative effects become significant without adequate recovery time, and CO₂ serves as the best short-term indicator for access management. The proposed thresholds should be considered preliminary and seasonally dependent. Full article

Introduction: The tub gurnard (Trigla lyra) is a demersal species of commercial interest whose long-term distributional dynamics remain poorly understood. Understanding spatial and temporal changes is essential for fisheries management and for assessing biogeographic shifts. Objective: To characterise the spatio-temporal distribution and persistence of T. lyra across Galician and Cantabrian Sea waters over a 33-year period (1993–2025) and to identify environmental and fishing drivers associated with observed changes. Methodology: We analysed data from the DEMERSALES bottom trawl survey series (1993–2025), for which the sampling design remained consistent throughout. Species distribution was modelled using a delta–GAM framework (presence–absence and positive values), complemented by a presence-only GAM fitted to Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data; because these data were only available for 2009–2023, this model was restricted to that period for biological coherence. Environmental predictors included bathymetry, slope, sediment composition (organic matter, mud, fine and coarse sand), bottom temperature, and salinity. Spatial structure was assessed using aggregation curves, occupied area, centre of gravity, a Space Selectivity Index, and an Index of Persistence. Results: The occupied area increased from 45 to 963 km² (+2040%), accompanied by a sustained decline in the Space Selectivity Index and a westward shift of the distributional centroid (~20 km), indicating progressive range broadening. The frequency of occurrence rose from 4.5% in 1993 to 87.7% in 2025, reflecting a marked increase in spatial occupancy and encounter probability. Abundance increased sharply after 2015 (+47%), consistent with strong positive year effects in the GAM. Higher occurrence and densities were associated with muddy substrates, intermediate to high organic content, and depths of 100–300 m, matching the stable aggregation cores found along the shelf break. A reduction in trawling effort (−38% in mean intensity, −17% in swept area over 14 years) likely facilitated these trends. Conclusions: T. lyra expanded its distribution and shifted westward between 1993 and 2025, with persistent aggregation cores on the shelf break. No significant effect of temperature was found, suggesting that climate warming is not the primary driver; the expansion appears most plausibly to have been favoured by the decline in fishing pressure. Full article

The Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei Steindachner, 1864) is a potamodromous species that displays migratory movements, with adults moving upstream during spring to spawn, followed by downstream migration in autumn by both adults and juveniles to feed and inhabit more productive river stretches. Increasing river fragmentation due to dam construction and operation causes a loss of connectivity and suitable habitat, which can affect this natural behaviour. In a tributary of River Douro, River Tua, a 108 m high dam, was recently built (i.e., Foz Tua dam in 2017) at only 1.1 km from the river mouth, leaving the upstream spawning area inaccessible. To evaluate the species behavioural response to this impact, a passive acoustic telemetry array was deployed in the study area, and between 2018 and 2023, 120 tagged fish had their movements tracked. The results showed two different behavioural profiles in the same population with migratory (42.5%) and resident (54.0%) individuals. During this period, a specific experimental study was developed to evaluate the response of a subset of 90 fish, captured upstream of the Foz Tua dam and translocated to an alternative downstream Douro tributary (River Pinhão, ~20 km downstream from River Tua). From these, 66.7% remained at the release site, whilst 23.3% returned to the river of origin, i.e., River Tua. From the returned fraction, 28.6% of the tagged fish maintained this migratory behaviour between both rivers in the following years. Generalized Additive Models were used for each of the two behavioural profiles observed in this study, to identify which environmental variables were associated with the presence of the tagged barbels downstream the Foz Tua dam. Ecological flow, temperature and day-period were some of the predictors explaining the use of this river stretch downstream of Foz Tua dam. This study substantially updates the available information regarding this species’ movement patterns at large spatial and temporal scales, contributing to enhancement of management and conservation programs for potamodromous species, in highly impounded and fragmented rivers. Full article

Introduction: Freshwater habitats underpin global biodiversity and provide an array of essential ecosystem services to humans. However, threat hotspots like the Iberian Peninsula combine severe anthropogenic impacts (habitat degradation, climate change, and biological invasions, among others) with a high number of endemic range-restricted freshwater species. Despite the urgency, current conservation actions fall short of providing adequate protection. The irreplaceability index has been proposed as a useful assessment tool to focus limited efforts on areas that provide the highest benefit for threatened species. However, the transboundary nature of many rivers in the Iberian Peninsula can be a source of inefficiencies in protection if prioritisation efforts are conducted at a national rather than a peninsular scale. Objective: The aim of this study is to identify priority conservation basins for threatened native freshwater fish in the Iberian Peninsula and to evaluate the impact of national versus transboundary management strategies on the spatial protection afforded to these species. Methodology: The irreplaceability index was calculated for each basin by integrating basin richness, species rarity and their IUCN Red List conservation status. First, we modelled the species’ probability of presence using field observations recorded since 2000. Rarity was then calculated as the ratio between the modelled probability and the total number of basins within the species’ theoretical natural distribution. We then weighted each species’ rarity by its IUCN Red List conservation status, with higher weights to threatened species. We then calculated the basin irreplaceability index as the sum across all the species present in the basin of their conservation status-weighted rarity and ranked them according to this index. We replicated this approach considering Spain and Portugal independently, and both countries as one conservation planning unit. Results and Conclusions: The most irreplaceable basins were those harbouring a high density of threatened, narrow-range endemics. The priorities in each country differ depending on whether management strategies adopt a national or a broader geographical approach. Therefore, effective conservation requires transboundary planification to safeguard the shared biodiversity across countries. Full article

This preliminary study characterises type I collagen in the digestive system of the greater weever (Trachinus draco L.) by integrating histochemical and biochemical techniques. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first baseline mapping of type I collagen within the gastrointestinal tract of this species. Mallory staining and indirect immunofluorescence confirmed collagen presence across the oesophagus, stomach, and intestine. The histochemical quantification of the fluorescent area (100 measurements per organ across 15 fish specimens) showed no significant differences (p = 0.1315), indicating a uniform spatial distribution. However, biochemical analysis via hydroxyproline assay and a two-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in collagen content among organs (p = 0.0308). The stomach yielded the highest concentration (4.199 µg/mg), significantly exceeding that of the intestine (1.713 µg/mg; Šídák’s post hoc, p = 0.0300). This discrepancy suggests that the higher gastric content is due to greater fibre density rather than distribution area. SDS-PAGE and Western blot confirmed protein molecular weights of 100–130 kDa, corresponding to α1 and α2 chains typical of type I collagen. The combination of these histochemical and biochemical methods effectively detects and characterises collagen in fish gastrointestinal by-products. By introducing T. draco as a novel subject in this context, these findings provide essential baseline anatomical and histological data and offer a clear scientific justification for the biotechnological valorisation of unutilised commercial fishing by-products, fully aligning with sustainable marine circular economy principles. Full article

This research investigates the development of a biophilic conceptual design proposal tailored to dementia care environments in South Korea, responding to the country’s rapidly aging population and the projected rise in dementia prevalence. The study integrates spatial and aesthetic strategies grounded in established biophilic design principles, including visual and non-visual connections with nature, thermal and airflow variability, dynamic and diffuse lighting, and the presence of water. Drawing on comparative case study analysis, the research emphasizes the therapeutic potential of nature-oriented environments in reducing stress, enhancing mood, improving physical health, and supporting cognitive function among residents with dementia. Emphasizing a human-centric perspective, the study also considers the experimental and behavioral needs of elderly users within the design process. In addition, it critically examines the challenges and limitations associated with implementing biophilic design strategies in architectural practice. Full article

The Gebel Shalman-Wadi Biarn (GSh-WB) area in Egypt’s South Eastern Desert hosts NYF-type rare-metal pegmatites with significant U, Th, Nb-Ta, and REEs mineralization. This study integrates field observations, petrography, mineralogy, whole-rock geochemistry, and gamma-ray spectrometry to characterize these pegmatites and evaluate their economic potential. The pegmatites occur as veins, dykes, and zoned pockets hosted entirely within syenogranites. Petrography, pegmatites, and syenogranites are primarily composed of K-feldspar, albite, and quartz with trace amounts of biotite and muscovite. The environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) revealed the presence of the following minerals: autunite, kasolite, thorite, monazite-(Ce), parisite, xenotime-(Y), ferrocolumbite, hydroxyplumbobrtafite, aeschynite-(Y), and zircon, which are the major U-Th, Nb-Ta, and REE-bearing minerals. Additionally, gold, cassiterite, wolframite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and brass alloy were identified as sources of precious and base metals. Both groups’ chondrite-normalized REE patterns, which display slightly elevated LREE patterns and negative Eu anomalies, point to fractional crystallization involving plagioclase fractionation. Consequently, pegmatite and syenogranites are believed to have mostly formed from the partial melting of a reconstituted juvenile crust and its weathered sediments associated with Neoproterozoic magmatism. The marginally positive Ce anomaly in the (GSh-WB) pegmatites (1.02–0.98) may be associated with monazite crystallization resulting from enhanced fractionation. The Th and U levels range from 101 to 28.6 ppm and from 51 to 5.8 ppm, respectively. The magnitude of the tetrad effect in the rare earth elements of the analyzed rocks exceeds one (T1 = 1.12–1.02, T3 = 0.92–1.08, and T1,3 = 1.01–1.05), suggesting an M-type tetrad effect. The presence of this tetrad effect is indicative of granite that has been significantly altered by hydrothermal processes and is extensively fractionated. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the pegmatites (average ΣREE = 439 ppm) and their host syenogranites (average ΣREE = 192 ppm) show similar trends characterized by enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREEs) relative to heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) and pronounced negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.09–0.22). These features, together with negative Sr and Ba anomalies, likely reflect extensive fractional crystallization of feldspars and feature anorogenic rocks. Spectrometric analysis reveals eU values of 2.0–288 ppm and eTh values of 7.0–455 ppm in pegmatite samples, with eU/eTh ratios (0.49–0.39) exceeding the typical continental crust value of 0.25, indicating uranium enrichment. Both magmatic and hydrothermal processes contributed to the observed radioactivity. The spatial distribution of uranium shows lithological and structural controls. The GSh-WB pegmatites represent a potential target for uranium exploration. Full article

Introduction: Species Distribution Models (SDMs) are widely used to infer environmental drivers of freshwater fish distributions and to project biodiversity responses to climate and land-use change. However, freshwater ecosystems present specific conceptual and methodological challenges, including dendritic network structure, strong spatial autocorrelation, dispersal constraints, and scale mismatches between biological processes and environmental predictors that remain insufficiently addressed. At the same time, emerging data sources such as environmental DNA (eDNA) and high-resolution remote sensing offer new opportunities to improve data coverage and ecological realism in SDMs. Methodology: Focusing on Iberian systems as illustrative case studies, here, we synthesize the following recent advances and challenges in SDM applications to freshwater fishes: (i) the implications of using presence–absence versus abundance data; (ii) the integration of hydrological and connectivity metrics as predictors; (iii) approaches to explicitly account for spatial structure and biotic interactions; and (iv) the contribution of novel datasets, including eDNA and remote sensing. Furthermore, we examine the performance and transferability of correlative models under analogue and non-analogue climate conditions. Results: Our synthesis highlights the importance of incorporating network topology, seasonality, dispersal constraints, and novel data sources to improve ecological realism and predictive performance. The integration of emerging biodiversity and environmental data can substantially reduce data gaps and improve model calibration and validation, particularly in poorly sampled systems. Nonetheless, model transferability remains a challenge, particularly for endemic and range-restricted species. Advancing freshwater SDMs through the integration of hydrologically explicit frameworks and novel data sources will strengthen their capacity to support evidence-based management of freshwater fish assemblages facing accelerating environmental changes. Full article

The rapid transition toward renewable energy requires transparent and spatially explicit methods for identifying suitable photovoltaic (PV) development areas. This study develops a geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) decision-support framework for PV site suitability assessment in Rajasthan, India. Eleven harmonized predictors were used: global horizontal irradiance (GHI), photovoltaic power output (PVOUT), temperature, wind speed, aerosol optical depth (AOD), elevation, slope, albedo, land use/land cover (LULC), distance to roads, and distance to power lines. Reference labels were generated from an explicit rule-derived suitability index, class thresholds, and exclusion logic; therefore, the machine-learning task was to reproduce a transparent suitability framework rather than to predict observed PV yield or project-level performance. Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) was compared with simpler baseline models, evaluated using random and spatial-block validation, and interpreted using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). Independent overlays with known solar-installation records, presence-background robustness testing, and uncertainty/sensitivity analysis were used to examine spatial plausibility, spatial autocorrelation, deterministic label effects, and parameter uncertainty. The resulting outputs include pixel-level suitability zones, contiguous candidate polygons, district-level capacity-oriented summaries, and planning-priority classes. The framework is intended as a risk-aware regional screening tool: high model agreement indicates consistency with the constructed suitability labels, while final project decisions require parcel-scale land, grid, environmental, social, and economic assessment. Full article

This study examines why ice covers on the Churchill River in Labrador crack during winter and how weather, river flow, freezing conditions, and riverbed features contribute to these events. Using data from 2010 to 2025 and satellite imagery, the study shows that cracks most often occur in December to February when heavy snow, rapid flow changes, or long cold periods place stress on the ice. Cracking also frequently starts near sandbars where the ice is weaker. The results highlight that no single factor causes cracking. Instead, a combination of snow load, temperature, flow variability, and local river conditions determines when and where cracks form. There is also a disconnect from flow regulation since cracks also formed in 2012 before the construction of the dam began in 2015. A field survey was also carried out employing a combination of borehole jack (BHJ) testing and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys to quantify spatial variations in ice strength and thickness across a portion of the lower Churchill River across two sandbars. In situ BHJ measurements were conducted at multiple sites to determine confined compressive ice strength under both floating and grounded conditions, revealing substantial local variability linked to differences in ice support and the presence of white versus black ice. Complementary GPR transects using 500 MHz and 1000 MHz systems provided high-resolution profiles of ice thickness and internal structure, enabling identification of transitions between grounded and floating ice. The integrated BHJ–GPR approach allowed direct comparison between point-scale strength measurements and spatially continuous thickness and grounding patterns, demonstrating that grounded ice and ice containing higher proportions of white ice exhibited more complex stress states and greater variability in mechanical response. Together, these measurements highlight the importance of combining geophysical surveying with in situ mechanical testing to better understand how environmental conditions control ice integrity and potentially influence ice-jam lodgement propensity along regulated subarctic rivers. Full article