Search Results (4,225)

This study assessed the impact of pandemic-related changes in treated wastewater on surface water quality and ecological status of the Raba River within the Natura 2000 site. Particular attention to the reliability of the Kasinka Mała wastewater treatment plant operating in this protected area during the two study periods—pre-pandemic (PP) and COVID-19 (CP)—was given. For this purpose, current standard monitoring methods (ecological status of a small flysch stream, existing and potential threats to the Natura 2000 site) and extended monitoring methods (river’s utility values, technological reliability of the treatment plant operating with SBR technology, reliability rating of the river as a sewage receiver) were used. The results indicated that biodegradable carbon compounds (as dissolved and suspended forms) and ammonium nitrogen were the dominant factors determining water quality. Their presence reduced the Raba River’s utility value—determined by what is required of surface water treatment—by at least one class. During the CP, the reliability analysis showed that the river remained in a reduced class for 145 days due to elevated BOD₅ and nearly one-third of the year due to elevated TSS levels. For approximately half of the year, ammonium nitrogen concentrations exceeded the threshold of 1.8 mg·dm⁻³, thereby further reducing the class of water quality. Technological reliability of the WWTP during PP for BOD₅, COD, TSS, NH₄⁺–N, and PO₄⁻³–P was 43%, 100%, 30%, 86%, and 100%, respectively. This means that permitted values of COD and PO₄⁻³–P were maintained. The exceedances of limits concerned BOD₅ (25 mg O₂·dm⁻³ for 208 days), TSS (35 mg O₂·dm⁻³ for 256 days), and NH₄⁺–N (15 mg O₂·dm⁻³ for 51 days). During CP, the technological reliability of the WWTP decreased rapidly for the following pollutants to 5%, 18%, 18%, 30%, and 89%, respectively. This means that permissible concentrations of BOD₅ (25 mg O₂·dm⁻³ for 347 days), COD (125 mg O₂·dm⁻³ for 241 days), TSS (35 mg O₂·dm⁻³ for 299 days), NH₄⁺–N (15 mg O₂·dm⁻³ for 256 days), and PO₄⁻³–P (2 mg O₂·dm⁻³ for 40 days) were exceeded. A two-year monitoring campaign has shown that small flysch rivers receiving treated wastewater may experience prolonged changes in water quality under conditions of increased anthropopressure. Effective ecosystem protection should, therefore, include extended monitoring and stricter management of BOD₅, TSS, and NH₄⁺–N in SBR systems in protected areas. Full article

Riverine systems in tropical deltaic environments are increasingly exposed to hydrological variability driven by climate change, sea level rise, and extreme precipitation. In Nigeria’s Niger Delta, recurrent flooding and environmental degradation are intensifying pressures on freshwater ecosystems and dependent communities. This study examines hydrological stressors in riverine settlements of Bayelsa State and explores associated socio-ecological responses. Using an exploratory qualitative design, data were collected from 51 women residing in highly vulnerable riverine communities through 24 in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions. Thematic analysis identified prolonged flooding, riverbank erosion, salinity intrusion, water quality deterioration, and oil pollution, as key drivers of declining fisheries, reduced agricultural productivity, and household water insecurity. These stressors have prompted relocation, livelihood diversification, and reliance on indigenous adaptation practices. The study recommends: (1) installation of community-based flood early warning systems; (2) routine monitoring of surface water quality and salinity; (3) enforcement of oil spill remediation and pollution control measures; (4) rehabilitation of wetlands and natural drainage channels; and (5) targeted support for climate-resilient livelihoods such as aquaculture and elevated farming systems. These measures are critical for sustaining freshwater ecosystems and strengthening resilience in vulnerable deltaic communities. Full article

The development of highly sensitive and reliable strategies for microcystin-LR (MC-LR) monitoring remains critical for environmental safety and public health protection. Herein, we report a metallene-enabled electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensing platform based on ultrathin PdMoCu trimetallic metallenes for femtogram-level MC-LR detection. The two-dimensional PdMoCu metallenes provide abundant active sites and accelerated interfacial charge-transfer kinetics through synergistic electronic modulation among Pd, Mo, and Cu atoms, significantly enhancing the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/TPrA ECL efficiency. By integrating a programmable H1–aptamer duplex interface, electrostatic enrichment of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ was achieved, enabling target-responsive luminophore release via aptamer-triggered structural switching. This cooperative amplification mechanism, combining catalytic acceleration and DNA-mediated signal modulation, results in a sensitive signal-off detection mode. Under optimized conditions, the biosensor exhibited a wide linear response from 0.1 pg mL⁻¹ to 50 ng mL⁻¹ with a detection limit as low as 37 fg mL⁻¹. The platform demonstrated excellent selectivity against structural analogues, high reproducibility, and satisfactory recovery (99.3–102.0%) in real tap water samples. This work not only highlights the catalytic potential of trimetallic metallenes in ECL systems but also establishes a generalizable interfacial engineering strategy for ultrasensitive detection of trace environmental contaminants. Full article

The extensive use of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in agriculture has led to water contamination and associated health risks, highlighting the need for eco-friendly detection strategies. Herein, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were green-synthesized for the first time using an aqueous extract of Rumex nervosus (R. nervosus) as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent and successfully employed for the electrochemical sensing of 2,4-D, representing the first reported application of R. nervosus-mediated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for this purpose. The phytochemical composition of the extract and synthesized R-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were systematically characterized. The R-Fe₃O₄-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was evaluated for charge transfer properties using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) showed no redox peak for 2,4-D at the bare GCE, whereas R-Fe₃O₄/GCE exhibited a distinct reduction peak at ~−1.5 V in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7), attributed to reductive dechlorination. Square-wave voltammetry (SWV) exhibited a linear response over the concentration range of 50–325 µM with a detection limit of 3.35 µM for 2,4-D. Although this performance is slightly above the guideline limits recommended by the World Health Organization (~0.14 µM) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (~0.32 µM), it is suitable for the routine monitoring of elevated 2,4-D levels in environmental samples. The sensor demonstrated high selectivity with negligible interference and satisfactory recoveries of 96.6–98.3% in real water samples. Full article

Viticulture is highly vulnerable to weather variability and climate change. Growers increasingly face risks associated with extreme weather events, water scarcity, and emerging pests and diseases. To address these challenges, this study presents the development and implementation of the first operational digital decision support platform (DSP) tailored to Montenegrin vineyards within the MONTEVITIS project. The platform integrates IoT sensor data, national meteorological records and high-resolution global climate datasets to provide real-time monitoring and climate projections for vineyard management. The system was piloted in four vineyards representing diverse microclimatic and soil conditions of Montenegro. Key functionalities include phenology, irrigation and disease alerts supported by a user-friendly dashboard, map-based visualisation tools and data export functions. The pilot deployment demonstrated that combining heterogeneous data streams increases the reliability of outputs and enables timely, site-specific recommendations. Challenges identified during implementation include connectivity limitations, gaps in data and variable levels of digital expertise among growers; however, lessons learned point to the importance of continuous stakeholder engagement and institutional support for sustained use. The MONTEVITIS experience demonstrates how digital agriculture tools can bridge tradition and innovation in viticulture. By fostering collaboration between growers, researchers and policy makers, the platform enables adaptive strategies for climate resilience and sustainable vineyard management. Although the platform has been successfully deployed and tested under pilot conditions, a comprehensive long-term validation of its performance and impact on vineyard decision-making remains part of ongoing future work. Full article

Coastal aquifers are essential freshwater sources for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use, particularly in regions where surface water is limited. However, these systems face growing stress from saltwater intrusion, climate-driven reductions in recharge, sea level rise, and intensified groundwater extraction. This review synthesizes recent research on coastal aquifer responses to these pressures, highlighting the interplay between natural hydrogeologic conditions and human-induced demand. Across deltaic and sedimentary systems, studies consistently show declining groundwater levels, the landward migration of saline interfaces, and reduced aquifer buffering capacity, especially in areas with high evaporation and limited recharge. The review also evaluates emerging strategies to preserve coastal groundwater security. Integrated hydrological models, managed aquifer recharge (MAR), optimized abstraction schemes, and remote sensing-based monitoring are advancing adaptive management capabilities. In parallel, policy and nature-based interventions—such as aquifer protection zoning, wetland rehabilitation, and dune system restoration—support long-term resilience by enhancing natural recharge and reducing vulnerability. The overall findings reveal the need for climate-informed and locally tailored groundwater management. Future efforts should prioritize coupling high-resolution climate projections with aquifer system models, evaluating MAR viability in saline-prone environments, and strengthening collaborative governance frameworks to ensure sustainable and equitable use of coastal aquifers. Full article

The high-precision, continuous monitoring of the surface water level is of great importance for water resource management and the conservation of ecological systems. This study proposes a GNSS-IR-based water-level estimation method using NMEA observations collected from low-cost GNSS receivers. First, the NMEA-recorded satellite elevation angle, azimuth angle, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are processed using time-series characteristics for improving the resolution and applicability of these GNSS observations. Then, the multi-frequency GNSS signal-based reflector height inversion models are developed by making use of the Lomb–Scargle periodogram method. Finally, the Velocity Pausing Particle Swarm Optimization (VPPSO) algorithm is employed to calculate the reflector height estimation and thus the water level. Two experimental data sets collected in two different environments were used to test the proposed method. The experimental results show that the root mean square error (RMSE) of the water-level estimation error is less than 6 cm for the proposed method when the in situ ones are in the range of 196.4 cm to 296.1 cm. This study provides a theoretical and technical foundation for the development of the low-cost GNSS-IR water-level measuring instrument. Full article

Groundwater contamination by dissolved metals and metalloids in the Chiang Mai Basin is an important drinking-water concern, yet the coupled depth patterns, hydrogeochemical controls, composite contamination status, and screening-level health implications have not previously been assessed in an integrated basin-scale framework. This study evaluated 120 groundwater samples from alluvial wells classified by depth as shallow (≤30 m, n = 40), intermediate (31–60 m, n = 35), and deep (>60 m, n = 45). Samples were analyzed for nine dissolved metals and metalloids (Fe, Mn, As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn, Hg, and Se) together with pH, Eh, and total dissolved solids (TDS). The highest exceedance frequencies were observed for Fe (72.5% of samples, >0.3 mg/L acceptability threshold), Mn (65.0%, >0.08 mg/L), and As (45.8%, >10 μg/L). Fe and Mn increased significantly with depth, whereas As was enriched in deep wells but showed no statistically significant depth dependence. Pearson correlation and principal component analysis consistently identified a dominant redox-associated component in which Fe, Mn, and As covaried negatively with Eh, supporting redox-sensitive co-enrichment in deeper groundwater. Contamination factors calculated relative to selected global groundwater background values were >6 for all seven evaluated metals (Fe, Mn, As, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Zn), and the overall pollution load index (PLI) was 9.11, with the highest depth-specific PLI in deep wells (10.42). These indices are interpreted here as background-relative screening tools rather than stand-alone regulatory measures. A screening-level ingestion risk assessment identified arsenic as the dominant toxicological driver, with hazard quotients (HQ) of 1.97 for adults and 4.60 for children, and an estimated lifetime cancer risk (LCR) of 8.87 × 10^–4. The results support targeted monitoring of deeper wells, routine screening for As and Mn, and treatment strategies that can address the co-occurring Fe–Mn–As assemblage in alluvial groundwater. Full article

We developed an explainable machine learning framework combining 22 years (2003–2024) of multi-sensor satellite data (MODIS Aqua, CMEMS, C3S) with zone-specific SHAP attribution to quantify chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) mechanisms in the East China Sea. A geography-free XGBoost model achieved $R^2=0.802$ on 1.4 million pixel-month observations, and counterfactual experiments confirmed its superior environmental sensitivity over location-dependent models. Multi-strategy threshold detection identified two critical salinity boundaries—11.62 psu marking the turbidity-to-productivity transition (Cohen’s $d=-2.92$) and 34.03 psu at the Kuroshio Front ($d=-1.04$)—neither of which coincides with traditional physical definitions. Zone-specific SHAP analysis revealed that sea surface salinity (SSS) dominates Chl-a attribution across all zones but through fundamentally different mechanisms. We propose an “SSS Triple-Role Framework” in which salinity serves as turbidity proxy in estuarine waters, nutrient proxy in transitional waters, and dilution signal offshore, resolving the apparent contradiction of simultaneous positive and negative salinity effects. Non-additive interactions—including SSS × SST coupling (61% modulation) and SST × sea level amplification during Kuroshio intrusions—further demonstrate hierarchical controls missed by additive models. These findings provide quantitative benchmarks for ecosystem monitoring in river-dominated marginal seas. Full article

Addressing the environmental challenges posed by the massive stockpiling of phosphogypsum (PG) has become a global concern, highlighting the urgency of developing large-scale, low-cost and resource-efficient utilization approaches for PG. This study was conducted in the rocky desertification areas of southwestern China, where land and water resources are scarce. Two land creation techniques—layered reconstruction (GA) and integrated construction (GB)—were adopted with modified PG to systematically investigate their impacts on soil properties and potato growth, yield and quality. The results showed that both techniques significantly improved soil conditions and enhanced potato yield and quality, with each presenting distinct characteristics in soil improvement. Specifically, the GA technique showed relatively better performance in soil nutrient enrichment, while the GB technique was more conducive to enhancing soil enzyme activity. Compared with the local red soil control, both techniques reduced heavy metal accumulation in potato tubers; however, Pb and Cd contents still exceeded national food safety limits, indicating potential food safety risks. In summary, land creation using modified PG can effectively increase arable land area, improve soil quality in rocky desertification regions, and simultaneously promote potato yield and quality. Nevertheless, as the current results are based on a single-season field trial, they cannot reflect the long-term patterns of heavy metal migration and accumulation. Therefore, for large-scale application, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of heavy metal levels in imported soil and long-term regional environmental impacts so as to ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products from reclaimed land. Full article

The objective of this study was to assess and model the condition and resilience of the Cunas River using integrated indices and multivariate statistics in order to determine the impact of anthropogenic pressure and enhance water security in the Peruvian Andes. Stations in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the river were monitored during the rainy and dry seasons, applying quality indices (NSF-WQI, WA-WQI, CCME-WQI, and I-WQI), principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and Spearman’s rank correlation (ρ) to assess the intensity and direction of associations between physical–chemical parameters. The results reveal severe degradation in the lower section of the river, with critical hypoxia and extreme coliform levels during the dry season, drastically exceeding the levels in the upper reach. The I-WQI demonstrated superior performance (322.24; Unfit) by being more sensitive than the NSF-WQI (53.15–59.87). PCA confirmed that low flow explains the greatest variance in pollution (PC1 71.55%), while HCA identified maximum synergy (rescaling distance < 1) between biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) and total phosphorus, indicating the collapse of self-purification capacity. The HCA identified a maximum synergy between BOD₅ and total phosphorus during the low-flow season, while the PCA confirmed that low discharge intensifies pollutant concentrations. These findings support the need for resilience-based governance that prioritizes the protection of natural infrastructure. Full article

This work presents a loop-shaped (hairpin) resonator incorporating a defective ground structure (DGS) to enhance sensitivity for monitoring water–glucose solutions. The proposed sensor exhibits two resonant frequencies at 2.61 GHz and 4.07 GHz, with reflection coefficients of −46.60 dB and −23.00 dB, respectively. A set of measurements was conducted to compare the performance of the resonator with and without the DGS under two sample-placement configurations: one with water and water–glucose solutions positioned over the feed lines and metallic resonant elements, and another with the water–glucose solutions placed directly over the ground plane. Among the evaluated cases, the ground-plane configuration proved to be the most advantageous, as it produced no frequency shift while yielding distinct magnitude responses of −41.91 dB, −45.62 dB, −47.74 dB, and −49.69 dB for glucose concentrations of 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg/dL, respectively. Overall, the resonator with the defective ground structure consistently demonstrated higher sensitivity and a more stable response pattern, indicating its strong potential for glucose-level monitoring applications. Full article

Pesticides pose risks to human health and the environment. Monitoring schemes often exclude small sites with fluctuating water levels, inhabited by many species, including amphibians. We sampled for pesticides and their metabolites in 68 amphibian spawning waters in Austria. We analyzed the number of pesticides and concentrations in relation to the surrounding land use. We tested for 165 pesticides and metabolites and found 54; 46% were herbicides. The median total pesticide concentration per site was 0.097 µg/L (range: 0–20.419 µg/L). Pesticides found were generally of lower toxicity. We calculated the pesticide toxicity for aquatic invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals, as proxies for amphibians and the overall ecosystems. Arable land was associated with pesticide number, concentration and toxicity according to the Boruta model selection. However, due to highly variable concentrations (and therefore also variable toxicity) only pesticide number showed significances in a generalized linear model. In this model arable land was positively associated with the number of pesticides detected, while the proportion of grassland, scrubs, artificial surfaces and tree cover had negative effects according to the linear model. Our results highlight (i) a widespread contamination of small temporary water bodies, (ii) the presence of multiple pesticide residues (cocktails), commonly more harmful than single pesticides, at amphibian spawning waters. These results provide a basis for future studies investigating the effects of common pesticide combinations in controlled settings using realistic scenarios and enable better assessment of the potential risks to wildlife. Full article

Diabetic chronic wounds (particularly diabetic foot ulcers) are difficult to heal due to factors such as high glucose levels, infection, and inflammatory imbalance. In severe cases, they can lead to tissue necrosis and amputation. Hydrogel materials, as moist wound dressings, possess high water content, biocompatibility, and tunability, making them an important platform for promoting diabetic wound healing. In recent years, novel smart hydrogels have been developed to integrate multiple functions. They respond to abnormal stimuli in the wound microenvironment—such as acidic pH, high glucose levels, or excessive reactive oxygen species—to trigger the release of drugs, delivering on-demand antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Simultaneously, they modulate immune responses (promoting macrophage polarization toward the M2 type) and stimulate angiogenesis, creating a microenvironment conducive to tissue regeneration. Some hydrogels incorporate antimicrobial agents, anti-biofilm components, or photothermal/photodynamic agents to effectively eliminate drug-resistant pathogens and control infections. Others serve as carriers for delivering stem cells and their exosomes, enhancing cell survival rates and releasing growth factors to accelerate wound healing. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in hydrogel strategies for diabetic wound treatment, focusing on stimulus-responsive hydrogels, antimicrobial and immune modulation mechanisms, pro-angiogenic and oxygen-supplying therapies, smart dressings and monitoring technologies, integration of stem cells and exosomes, as well as hydrogel injection, self-healing, and adhesion properties. Based on this, we analyze challenges and prospects for clinical translation of these strategies. Collectively, functionalized hydrogels hold promise as multifunctional therapeutic platforms for diabetic non-healing wounds. They offer a multi-pronged approach to disrupt the vicious cycle of “infection–inflammation–tissue destruction” thereby achieving more efficient wound healing. Full article

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-Like 5 (CDKL5) Deficient Disorder (CDD) is a rare X-linked developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by early-onset refractory epilepsy, severe neurodevelopmental impairment, and lifelong disability. Although more than thirty anti-seizure medications are available, most CDD patients remain pharmaco-resistant. Gene-based therapies are emerging, but therapeutic development is hindered by marked clinical heterogeneity, small patient populations, and the lack of robust, translatable brain-based biomarkers for clinical trials. Genetically engineered Cdkl5 mouse models recapitulate many cognitive, behavioral, and molecular features of CDD, yet their utility is limited by the absence of overt seizures, precluding seizure-based outcome measures. Here, we establish high-definition brain network (HDBN) biomarkers using advanced diffusion MRI tractography combined with graph-theoretical analysis to quantify whole-brain network organization in Cdkl5 knockout mice. Diffusion MRI enables non-invasive mapping of axonal connectivity by leveraging anisotropic water diffusion, while high-angular-resolution acquisition overcomes key limitations of conventional diffusion tensor imaging in regions with complex fiber architecture. We demonstrate that Cdkl5 knockout mice exhibit reproducible and region-specific disruptions in brain network organization, prominently affecting the somatosensory and somatomotor cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and superior colliculus—regions implicated in cognition, learning and memory, homeostasis, anxiety, and visual–motor function. In contrast, networks within the entorhinal cortex remain largely preserved. These findings identify HDBN metrics as sensitive, non-invasive biomarkers that capture clinically relevant circuit-level abnormalities in CDD. Because diffusion MRI–based network analyses are directly translatable across species, HDBN biomarkers provide a unified framework for therapeutic evaluation in mouse models, large animals, and human clinical trials, enabling longitudinal monitoring of disease progression and treatment response. Full article