Search Results (558)

Rapid accumulation of soil lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), and fluorine (F) caused by bastnasite mining development has increasingly become a concern worldwide in the past decades. However, the effects of the different chemical forms of these elements on the composition and diversity of soil dominant, moderate, and rare microorganisms are unclear. In this study, Planctomycetota was changed from dominant to moderate, caused by exchangeable and carbonate-bound forms of La and Ce. Both organic bound La (La_ORG) and water-soluble F (F_WS) were the crucial factors driving variations in the relative abundance of Patescibacteria and Bacteroidota from moderate to dominant, while the fungal phylum Chytridiomycota was changed from moderate to dominant, promoted by F_WS. La_ORG, the ferrum-manganese bound form of Ce, and F_WS displayed a negative correlation with the three rare bacterial phyla, i.e., Abditibacteriota, GAL15, and Deinococcota respectively. F_WS caused the disappearance of the rare fungal phylum Monoblepharomycota and the appearance of the rare bacterial phylum Fibrobacterota. Organic bound forms of both Ce and F showed a negative correlation with the bacterial Sobs and fungal Phylogenetic diversity indices, respectively. To summarize, the different chemical forms of La, Ce, and F showed varied effects on the composition and diversity of soil microbial communities. Full article

The present research investigated the effects of two pork back-fat concentrations (30% fat, FAT30, and 40% fat, FAT40), two sodium chloride levels (2.4% and 2.6%), and two starter culture combinations (Lactobacillus curvatus/Staphylococcus xylosus; LAB6, and Lactobacillus sakei/Staphylococcus xylosus; LAB8) on ripened ostrich salami. Salami samples were formulated without nitrite and nitrate, which aligns with consumer demands for healthier, cleaner-label meat products. It is specified that the present experiment is structured with a single-batch-per-treatment combination: this was due to structural processing limitations in the production facility, which was an artisanal laboratory and not an industry plant. After 10 weeks of ripening, FAT30 salami showed higher values of pH, salt content, water-phase salt (WPS), α-tocopherol, free fatty acids (FFA), and secondary lipid oxidation products (TBARS) compared with FAT40 salami. Conversely, FAT40 salami exhibited higher water activity (a_w), moisture-to-protein ratio (M:P), conjugated dienes (CD; primary lipid oxidation products), and non-protein nitrogen (NPN) than FAT30 salami. Both NaCl concentration and starter culture type influenced several of the measured variables. Specifically, salami containing 2.4% salt exhibited higher FFA and CD values than the formulation containing 2.6% salt. Likewise, the LAB8 starter culture resulted in higher CD and NPN levels compared with LAB6. Fat inclusion level significantly affected sensory characteristics. FAT40 salami exhibited greater intensities of gamy, metallic, fatty, and moldy flavors, as well as higher overall off-flavor intensity, tenderness, and juiciness. In contrast, FAT30 salami was characterized by greater cohesiveness and a more pronounced ripening flavor. The 2.6% sodium chloride treatment resulted in greater color homogeneity, higher odor intensity, and stronger rancid notes, while reducing the perception of metallic, fatty, and moldy flavors compared with the 2.4% treatment. Salami inoculated with LAB6 exhibited a higher intensity of off-flavors than the formulation produced with LAB8. Moreover, several significant interactions among the three experimental factors were observed. After 20 weeks of ripening, the effects observed after 10 weeks for most physicochemical parameters were largely maintained. However, FFA and CD concentrations (both below the limit of quantification) no longer differed between the two fat inclusion levels. Sensory evaluation revealed that the differences between FAT30 and FAT40 in undesirable flavor attributes disappeared over time, whereas the perception of ripening and maturity became even more pronounced in FAT30 salami. Regarding FA composition, FAT30 salami contained higher proportions of saturated FA and polyunsaturated FA, whereas FAT40 salami was characterized by a higher monounsaturated FA content and more favorable lipid quality indices. Full article

Temporary floodplain ponds (TFPs) are short-lived water bodies forming in microtopographic depressions after flood recession and represent an important but poorly quantified component of floodplain hydrology. This study investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of TFPs and their relationship with vegetation patterns in the natural floodplain of the Biebrza River, Poland. High-resolution TerraSAR-X data and Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery were combined with field-based vegetation surveys and statistical modeling. Threshold-based SAR classification showed that TFPs occupied more than 32% of the floodplain surface shortly after spring flood recession and stored, on average, over 250 L m⁻² of surface water, but disappeared within one month. Random Forest classification demonstrated that combining SAR and multispectral data improved overall vegetation mapping accuracy from 64.5% to 81.7% (Kappa from 0.574 to 0.780). A global chi-square test revealed a strong association between vegetation patterns and TFP occurrence (χ² = 224.9, p < 0.001, Cramér’s V = 0.40). Multinomial logistic regression identified TFP depth as the strongest predictor of plant community distribution. Rorippo-Agrostietum, Caricetum gracilis and Glycerietum maximae increased with TFP depth, whereas Alopecuretum pratensis and Phalaridetum arundinaceae declined. These results show that TFPs act as a fine-scale hydrological filter structuring floodplain vegetation mosaics and that SAR–optical data fusion is effective for detecting these transient habitat patterns. Full article

Clay–cement slurry, as a widely used anti-seepage material, is prone to calcium leaching and deterioration when exposed to environmental water. The influence of microstructural and mineralogical evolution on the transport properties of clay–cement samples under leaching conditions remains to be investigated. In this paper, accelerated calcium leaching tests were conducted on clay–cement pastes. A variety of techniques, including XRD, SEM, and NMR, were used to characterize the microstructural and mineralogical changes in the leached samples. The effect of accelerated leaching on transport behavior was studied by measuring changes in the water permeability and calculating diffusivity. XRD and SEM analyses show that after 28 days, the characteristic peaks of portlandite and ettringite almost disappear, while C-S-H gel undergoes decalcification and decomposition, leading to an increase in pore number and a notable rise in pore size (up to 1.90 μm). NMR results indicate that total porosity and peak pore size increase significantly, with the proportion of gel pores decreasing and that of small capillary pores (10–50 nm) rising from 10% to 22.1%. Moreover, the surface layer porosity (0–5 mm) increases from 31.33% to 50.65%, while the middle and lower layers show less degradation, indicating a progressive deterioration pattern. Regarding transport properties, the hydraulic conductivity increases from 4.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm/s to 2.14 × 10⁻⁸ cm/s (a two-order-of-magnitude increase), and the diffusion coefficient rises from 1.6 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/s to 8.6 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/s (a 5.3-fold increase). Both the diffusion coefficient and its increase factor gradually decrease from the surface to the interior, consistent with the evolution of porosity. Full article

CO₂ is a promising fracturing fluid for tight reservoirs because it avoids water-phase damage and offers low viscosity, high diffusivity, and strong penetration into fine pore throats, but its pore-scale flow in pore-fracture systems remains difficult to evaluate because thermodynamic state, fractures, and mass transfer act together. In this study, a radial microfluidic model containing randomly distributed microfractures was used with a temperature- and pressure-controlled visualization platform to compare CO₂–oil and water–oil flow. Image segmentation and areal-fraction statistics quantified swept area and final fluid distribution. Gaseous CO₂ at ambient pressure and compressed-liquid CO₂ below the critical temperature differ substantially in density and viscosity, but both retain a discernible CO₂–oil interface and exhibit pressure-driven preferential-path flow. The gaseous case shows strong fracture guidance and fingering, whereas the compressed-liquid velocity series demonstrates increasingly rapid advancement and stronger channeling at excessive velocity. Under near-critical supercritical conditions (35 °C, 8 MPa), progressive oil-color fading ahead of the displacement front shows that dissolution participates while flow expands through matrix pores. Under higher-temperature supercritical conditions, disappearance of the sharp interface and continuous color attenuation identify dissolution-assisted diffusion as a significant transport mechanism and produce diffuse redistribution across the pore space. Water undergoes immiscible channelized displacement and remains capillary-trapped in small throats and low-permeability regions. The results identify three flow regimes: distinct-interface pressure-driven displacement, near-critical convection–dissolution coupling, and higher-temperature supercritical dissolution-assisted diffuse redistribution. Full article

This study examines the adsorption and interaction mechanisms of Congo red (CR) immobilized onto maize stalk (MS) to form MS-CR material, used for the removal of Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, and Mn²⁺ (Mⁿ⁺) from aqueous media. Initially, the MS was functionalized with CR, achieving adsorption capacities between 41.4 and 48.0 mg/g across pH 2–10, confirming the formation of hydrogen bonding and aromatic interactions, as indicated by the shift of the OH band from 3338.91 to 3335.54 cm⁻¹ and the appearance of characteristic azo–aromatic peaks (1601–1506 cm⁻¹) in the FTIR spectra. Stability tests showed that CR remains anchored to the lignocellulosic matrix even under 2 M HCl/NaOH. Subsequently, adsorption experiments revealed a strong pH dependence: at pH 10, removal efficiencies reached 93% for Mn²⁺, 89% for Fe³⁺, and 72% for Cr³⁺ at 2 mg/L, driven by surface deprotonation and enhanced electrostatic attraction. Increasing the initial metal concentration (1–10 mg/L) led to maximum adsorption capacities of 2.00 mg/g for Fe³⁺, 1.64 mg/g for Cr³⁺, and 1.46 mg/g for Mn²⁺. Desorption experiments identified 0.5 M HCl as the optimal regenerating agent, achieving 90–97% metal release. FTIR analysis of MS-CR–Mn²⁺ showed the disappearance of the 1243 cm⁻¹ carboxyl band and the emergence of a metal–oxygen vibration at 559.37 cm⁻¹, confirming adsorption via coordination to deprotonated carboxyl and phenolic groups. TG/DSC/DTG analysis demonstrated improved stability of MS-CR compared to native MS. SEM/EDX confirmed the presence of S, Na, and Mⁿ⁺. The combined spectroscopic, microscopic, and thermal evidence demonstrates that MS-CR operates as a robust, multifunctional adsorbent capable of Mⁿ⁺ retention, offering a sustainable solution for water treatment. Full article

“Interbedded water in thin coal seams” is characterized by its high degree of concealment and complex hydraulic connections. However, due to the confined space of underground mine tunnels and severe electromagnetic interference from metal structures, traditional geophysical methods struggle to accurately delineate the boundaries of water accumulation, making this a major and challenging water hazard in coal mines. Taking the Qinhua Coal Mine in Xinjiang, China, as the engineering context, this paper investigates the detection of water accumulation in interbedded coal seams within goaf areas using the cross-hole resistivity method. It proposes a cross-hole resistivity tomography scanning approach characterized by “progressive depth penetration and layer-by-layer traversal,” and employs an inversion method based on inequality constraints to obtain relatively detailed and reliable imaging results. Through resistivity imaging analysis, low-resistivity water accumulation anomalies were successfully delineated, and water accumulation dead zones were identified. Based on the detection results, effective drainage was carried out beneath the water-filled zones. Subsequent follow-up surveys confirmed the disappearance of the low-resistivity anomalies, thereby validating the reliability and engineering practicality of the cross-hole resistivity tomography method for precisely detecting water body boundaries under complex geological conditions in coal seams. Full article

Chicken feet, an abundant and low-cost poultry by-product rich in collagen, were used to extract gelatin, which was then formulated into active biodegradable films containing food-grade clove essential oil (CEO), glycerol, sorbitol, and Tween 20. Gelatin extraction involved 0.5 M NaOH pretreatment followed by 5% acetic acid extraction at 66 °C, yielding 11.22% gelatin. Eight gelatin–CEO films were prepared by varying the CEO concentration and plasticizer composition. The supplier-declared CEO composition was eugenol-dominant, and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Kluyvera sp., and Enterobacter cloacae was assessed by agar disk diffusion, MIC, and MBC assays, each performed in triplicate. CEO inhibition zones of 22, 14, and 19 mm were recorded against E. coli, Kluyvera sp., and E. cloacae, respectively; the blank 6 mm control disks without oil produced no inhibition halo beyond the disk edge. MIC/MBC values were 5/6, 3/4, and 4/5 mg/mL for the same three strains. All films were continuous, smooth, and peelable; sorbitol-containing formulations were clearer and more flexible than sorbitol-free variants. Water solubility ranged from 37.67% to 48.78%, opacity from 5.26 × 10⁻³ to 9.20 × 10⁻³ A500 mm⁻¹, and thickness from 11.75 to 23.75 µm. Water vapor transfer was undetectable under the gravimetric screening protocol for all formulations. All films showed complete visual disappearance in soil within 6–10 days. In the cherry tomato trial, the best-performing coatings extended acceptable storage from about 5 days (uncoated control) to 10 days at 17–20 °C. Full article

The eco-revetment structure on river bank slopes plays a positive role in regulating nearshore water flow characteristics, enhancing bank slope stability, and providing a stable living environment for aquatic organisms. This study proposes an innovative eco-revetment structure—the square platform hollow eco-revetment structure. Ecological feasibility study through numerical simulation, analyzing the characteristic hydraulic movement patterns and flow movement mechanisms near the eco-revetment structure under different research parameters. The following conclusion can be drawn: the special design of openings on the side walls of the revetment structure increases the fluidity between water bodies, leading to complex water flow conditions near the revetment structure. Therefore, in the absence of plants, there are two large eddies inside the structure, as well as a “flow zone” opposite to the direction of external water flow. In the presence of plants, large-scale vortex structures are broken down into small-sized vortex structures, and the “flow zone” disappears. The distribution of flow characteristics is related to the research parameters. In the region where y/H ≤ 1, the velocity distribution is positively correlated with the inflow. There is a negative correlation between water flow velocity and porosity. The maximum values of turbulence intensity and Reynolds stress both occur at the top of the eco-revetment structure, and their distribution is positively correlated with the size of the side-wall openings and the inflow rate. The presence of plants leads to an increase in turbulence intensity and Reynolds stress, which diffuses into the interior of the structure. The impact of revetment structures on water flow determines the efficiency of material information and energy transmission and affects the stability of water flow ecosystems. Turbulent water currents can stimulate grass carp reproduction and increase the fertilization rate of fish eggs. The ratio of mixed-layer thickness to momentum thickness (t_ml/θ) is correlated with water flow velocity, and the presence of plants leads to an increase in t_ml/θ. This study provides ideas and methods for designing eco-revetment structures and constructing ecological rivers in the future. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent aquatic contaminants whose strong C–F bonds make conventional water treatment ineffective. This review critically synthesizes recent progress in aqueous PFAS degradation through four mechanistic routes: oxidation-driven, biodegradation, reduction-driven, and nonradical processes. Rather than evaluating technologies by parent-compound disappearance alone, we compare their defluorination and mineralization capacities, matrix tolerance, byproduct risks, energy demand, operational stability, and technology readiness. Oxidative and reductive systems can promote rapid degradation or defluorination, but their performance is often constrained by radical/electron quenching, incomplete mineralization, and sensitivity to PFAS structure and water chemistry. Biodegradation and enzymatic approaches offer mild transformation pathways but remain limited by slow kinetics, narrow substrate specificity, and uncertain toxicity evolution. Nonradical and thermochemical processes show stronger potential for deep destruction, particularly in concentrated PFAS streams. Overall, electrochemical oxidation, plasma treatment, and thermal/supercritical oxidation appear closer to practical implementation for spent adsorbents, regenerants, industrial concentrates, and other high-strength wastes, whereas many photocatalytic, biological, and microdroplet systems remain laboratory-stage. Future research should prioritize integrated separation–destruction treatment trains and standardized metrics including total organic fluorine removal, fluoride release, final residual PFAS concentrations relative to regulatory thresholds, transformation-product toxicity, energy consumption, and life-cycle impacts. Full article

Traditional wooden granaries in rural Türkiye are disappearing at an accelerating rate due to agricultural abandonment, rural depopulation, and the absence of systematic documentation and conservation frameworks. In the Sındırgı district of Balıkesir, one of the richest concentrations of vernacular granary architecture in the Marmara Region, these structures remain largely unprotected and unstudied within a sustainable design framework, constituting an urgent conservation challenge. This study aims to assess the current preservation status of Sındırgı granaries, classify their typological diversity, and evaluate their sustainability performance against a defined set of ecological design criteria. A mixed methods approach was employed, combining a systematic literature review with extensive fieldwork across 33 neighborhoods. In total, 1411 granaries were identified and grouped into five typologies: evli, Simav, kabak, sandık, and üstü örtülü sandık. These typologies were systematically compared to five parameters: spatial distribution across neighborhoods, plan and section geometry, construction system and structural elements, material selection and condition, and preservation status. This comparison revealed that typological variation is not incidental but directly reflects differences in land ownership, agricultural production capacity, topography, and distance from the district center. Representative examples from each typology were documented through onsite measurements, photogrammetry, technical drawings, and interviews with local craftsmen. The sustainability performance of the granaries was then assessed across seven ecological design criteria: spatial organization, building form design, structural element design, material use and conservation, design with nature, urban design area planning, and nature interaction. The findings demonstrate that the long-term durability of these structures depends on an interrelated system of climate-responsive design decisions rather than any single factor. The study concludes by proposing a holistic conservation model comprising typology-based inventory, roof water moisture-focused intervention, periodic monitoring, and transmission of vernacular building knowledge, a framework applicable to comparable rural granary heritage across the region. Full article

Background and Objectives: New Caledonia, an archipelago in the South Pacific, experienced an unprecedented conjunction of prolonged border closure during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 to 2022) and marked influence of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This context provided a unique opportunity to explore how environmental drivers, island isolation, and socio-demographic factors interact to shape infectious disease dynamics. This study aimed to assess the respective and combined effects of climatic variability, travel restrictions, and socio-demographic factors on the dynamics of four priority infectious diseases. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from 2017 to 2023 on four infectious diseases: leptospirosis, dengue, influenza, and hepatitis A (HAV). Satellite precipitation data and the Multivariate El Niño/Southern Oscillation Index (MEI) were used. Socio-demographic and economic variables were gathered. Statistical analyses employed descriptive analysis and Generalized Additive Mixed Models to evaluate the associations between climatic events, travel restrictions, and disease circulation using the communal level as a random effect and time (daily) as a spline effect. Results: We analysed 878 cases of leptospirosis, 165 of HAV, 6607 of influenza, and 7377 dengue cases. Influenza was associated with rainfall before lockdown (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.7, Confidence interval 95%, (CI95%), (0.6–0.8)) and disappeared during lockdown but resurged post-reopening losing its meteorological association. Dengue epidemics declined, coinciding with the Wolbachia program and border closure, and were associated with lower MEI (OR 0.78, CI95% (0.6–1) during the 2017 to 2020 period. HAV cases were correlated with the MEI (OR: 1.8, CI95% (1–3.3)). Leptospirosis cases were associated with cumulative rainfall (OR 1.12 (1.1–1.2)) and lower education (OR 1.04, CI95% (1–1.1)) and decreased with water supply (OR 0.7, CI95% (0.5–0.8)). Conclusions: Our findings highlight how climatic conditions, mobility restrictions, and socio-environmental inequities differentially shape infectious disease risks in island ecosystems. These results reinforce the need for integrated One Health surveillance that jointly addresses environmental change, social vulnerability, and infectious disease prevention. Full article

Urbanisation has led to dramatic alterations in pre-existing natural environments, resulting in several subsequent phenomena, such as the disappearance of habitats suitable for many plant and animal species and the concurrent arrival of generalist and non-native species, contributing to environmental homogenisation. Towns and cities serve as crossroads for transport, people, and animals, making them susceptible to colonisation by many types of plant species, dispersed either intentionally or unintentionally by these biotic vectors. Abiotic vectors, such as wind and water, also influence the composition of vegetation assemblages. Urban spontaneous vegetation occurs in (1) undisturbed areas, including brownfield sites, commons, and marginal lots, and (2) disturbed sites, such as green areas, parks, lawns (not subject to weeding), ancient monuments and walls, peripheral and industrial areas, and railways. When disturbance occurs, vegetation remains at early successional stages. Within this framework, with the aim of comparing existing contradictions and identifying knowledge gaps, we reviewed the literature on the characteristics of spontaneous plants and vegetation in urban areas, the different habitats in which they grow, the ecosystem services they provide, and management strategies, considering human perception. Our results highlight that studies on spontaneous plants are well-developed in terms of botany and ecology; however, some gaps remain, particularly regarding their integration into urban design and maintenance practices. Concerning public perception and acceptance, cultural and geographical differences emerged that deserve further investigation. In conclusion, spontaneous plants can represent a valuable heritage for cities, helping to address the challenges posed by the climate crisis. Full article

As an important option for energy storage projects, pumping stations can also generate electricity when the upstream has surplus water and the pump system operates as a turbine (PAT mode). When it switches from pump mode to PAT mode, the pump operation state changes significantly. This study adopts a numerical simulation to investigate the flow characteristics, time-frequency domain performance and chaotic features of pressure pulsation in a vertical mixed-flow pump device when it operates in different PAT modes. The results show that, when the pump operates in PAT mode, the flow in the straight passage remains smooth, but it deteriorates in the elbow-shaped draft tube, such as developing a spiral stream in the straight section, a disordered stream in the elbow section, and vortexes and flow separation at the beginning of the diffuser section, but it gradually becomes smooth after passing through the diffuser section. Under low-head PAT conditions, circumferential circulation cross flow occurs at the impeller inlet, reducing energy conversion efficiency. Under all PAT conditions, the flow on the blade surface near the hub is stable, but obvious vortexes happen near the shroud. As the head increases, the small-scale vortexes disappear on the mid-blade surface, and the flow becomes smoother on the blade surface near the shroud of the impeller. Except at the impeller outlet, pressure pulsation of the monitoring probes exhibits clear periodicity, with dominant frequencies corresponding to the rotational frequency, and its amplitudes decreasing from shroud to hub. Pressure pulsation under all PAT conditions is chaotic, and phase trajectories exhibit ring-shaped structures consisting of the ring circle and the ring surface. Differences in the circle spacing, size, and spatial position of the ring circle phase locus and ring surface phase locus are observed, and these variations are closely related to the PAT conditions. A correlative relationship exists between the chaotic correlation dimension and flow performance, which is of great significance for the condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of pump units. These findings not only enrich the theoretical research on the PAT mode of pumps, but also provide a reference for similar engineering applications and offer new insights into condition monitoring of hydraulic machinery. Full article

Rain-on-snow (ROS) is a hydrometeorological phenomenon in which liquid precipitation falls onto an existing snowpack, augmenting runoff through the combined effects of rainfall and accelerated snowmelt. Anthropogenic climate change is progressively shifting the rain-to-snow partitioning of precipitation and altering land-surface conditions across mid- to high-latitude mountainous regions, thereby heightening flood potential. Most previous work, however, has addressed ROS at regional scales and over historical periods; hemispheric-scale assessments of future ROS dynamics and their implications for flood hazard and societal exposure remain scarce. Here we apply 10 bias-corrected CMIP6 models together with ERA5-Land reanalysis data to project changes in ROS days across the Northern Hemisphere under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios. ROS days are coupled with flood frequency analysis to quantify changes in ROS flood occurrence, and gridded population and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data are integrated to evaluate future population-socioeconomic exposure. Under low-to-medium emission scenarios, ROS days increase substantially over historical hotspots, whereas under high-emission scenarios they decline at mid- to high latitudes yet expand into previously unaffected high-latitude and inland cold regions. ROS flood days respond nonlinearly to ROS frequency because progressive snow water equivalent loss limits runoff generation, causing ROS floods to decrease in some mountainous areas even as ROS events become more frequent. Population-socioeconomic exposure exhibits a corresponding polarization: it declines in mid-latitude regions where snow cover is disappearing but rises sharply at high latitudes, with high-emission pathways accelerating the northward migration of disaster risk. These findings bridge critical gaps in large-scale ROS climatology and shed light on future changes in ROS-induced hydrological extremes. Besides, the findings facilitate the creation of regionally focused adaptation strategies and provide useful references for integrating climate model projections with remote sensing observations to improve future monitoring and risk assessment of ROS-related floods. Full article