Markéta Harazim, Lubomír Piálek, Hana Bandouchova
et al.
Hibernation profoundly alters host–pathogen dynamics by suppressing metabolism and immune function, posing unique challenges for infection control. In this study, we examined how genomic variation modulates infection and physiological traits in temperate bats during hibernation. We combined infection screening, haematology, blood biochemistry, and whole-genome sequencing across five vespertilionid species, identifying over 170,000 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and assessing their associations with 23 health-related variables. Using the phylogenetically informed treeWAS framework, we detected 515 significant SNVs linked to traits including fungal, protozoan and bacterial infections, acid–base balance, and blood cell indices. These SNVs mapped to 137 unique genes, which were enriched for functional domains related to cytoskeletal dynamics, membrane trafficking, and intracellular signalling (e.g., SH3, C2, BAR, semaphorin). Notably, canonical immune effector genes were underrepresented, and several trait-associated SNVs appeared in blocks across multiple scaffolds, pointing to regulatory loci as key modulators of hibernator health. Our findings support the hypothesis that bats rely on infection tolerance rather than resistance during hibernation, with genomic variation in regulatory and signalling pathways shaping their physiological responses to infection under energy-limited conditions.
Muhammad Shazib Hameed, Shahbaz Ali, Qin Xin
et al.
This study presents a novel approach for enhancing air quality monitoring (AQM) in smart cities by employing q-rung orthopair fuzzy Z-numbers (q-ROFZNs) within a robust multi-criteria decision-making framework. The proposed methodology addresses the challenges of uncertainty and imprecision in environmental data through the integration of q-ROFFZN aggregation operators. In particular, we develop and apply the aggregated operation weighted averaging and ordered weighted averaging operators under the proposed set, enabling more flexible and accurate data fusion. By leveraging Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), the model demonstrates superior assessment accuracy and resilience compared to existing techniques. The hybrid computational strategy effectively supports dynamic decision-making by incorporating real-time traffic and industrial data, leading to optimized environmental control and public health protection. The findings highlight the potential of advanced fuzzy set theories in developing sustainable and intelligent solutions for urban air pollution management.
Abstract Assessing ecological geological vulnerability is crucial for the protection and restoration of regional ecological environments. Considering the strategic ecological importance of Northern Shanxi Province in China, this study undertakes a thorough regional ecological geological vulnerability assessment, aiming to devise specific countermeasures and generate insightful research contributions. This methodology guides ecological environment evaluations and restorations in Northern Shanxi Province and similar Northwestern Chinese regions. Centering on Northern Shanxi Province, the study utilizes the Sensitivity–Resilience–Pressure (SRP) model to meticulously select 11 indicators, encompassing slope, soil erosion intensity, and the Enhanced Vegetation Indicator (EVI). The study establishes the ecological geological vulnerability index (EGVI) and the ecological geological vulnerability comprehensive index (EGVCI) for the first time, employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), to perform the ecological geological vulnerability assessment. The study results show that the EGVCI index for Northern Shanxi Province is approximately 3.96, which represents the ecological geological vulnerability of Northern Shanxi Province residing at a mild level. Regions with the moderate to extreme vulnerability represent about 23.7% of the total area, mainly distributed in the basin-mountain transition zones and the western low-mountain areas, with the primary ecological geological issues of environmental problems caused by open-pit mining activities, soil erosion, and land salinization. The driving factors of the vulnerability are soil erosion intensity, mineral exploitation intensity, water conservation capacity, land use type, slope, and EVI.
BackgroundPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of persistent organic pollutants widely used in various products, leading to population exposure and long-term accumulation. At present, there is a lack of research on the relationships between pre-pregnancy PFAS and menstrual characteristics among women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) in China. ObjectiveTo explore the relationships between pre-pregnancy PFAS exposure among women undergoing ART and menstrual characteristics prior to assisted reproductive treatment. MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional research design, recruiting women undergoing ART treatment at the Reproductive Clinic of the International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, from 2017 to 2020 as study participants. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect 42 types of PFAS in pre-pregnancy serum samples. Questionnaires were administered to collect information on demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and menstrual characteristics (average menstrual cycle length, average menstrual period length, menstrual irregularities, and menstrual bleeding volume) of women undergoing ART. Multiple linear regression, binary logistic regression, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationships between individual PFAS exposure before pregnancy and menstrual characteristics among ART women. Additionally, weighted quantile sum (WQS) model was applied to analyze the association between PFAS mixtures and menstrual characteristics. ResultsIn the pre-pregnancy serum samples of the study population, 15 PFAS were detected in more than 60% of the samples, including perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA), 8:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (8:2 Cl-PFESA), perfluoro-2-propoxypropanoic acid (HFPO-DA), perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic acid (PFMOAA), and perfluoro-(3,5,7,9,11-pentaoxadodecanoic) acid (PFO5DoDA). Among them, PFOA had the highest median concentration of 9.160 ng·mL−1. The single PFAS exposure analysis revealed a positive correlation between PFAS and irregular menstrual cycles. Specifically, for every natural-log unit (e) increase in PFOA, PFBS, or PFHxS level, the incidence of irregular menstrual cycles increased by 57%, 42%, or 39%, respectively. Most PFAS were positively correlated with the average number of menstrual cycle days, such as PFHpA (b=1.08, 95%CI: 0.11, 2.05), PFOA (b=1.69, 95%CI: 0.39, 3.00), PFBS (b=1.23, 95%CI: 0.25, 2.22), PFHxS (b=1.47, 95%CI: 0.61, 2.32), PFHpS (b=1.48, 95%CI: 0.35, 2.61), and 6:2 Cl-PFESA (b=0.90, 95%CI: 0.08, 1.72). Furthermore, levels of PFHpA (OR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.82), PFOA (OR=1.58, 95%CI: 1.09, 2.30), PFBS (OR=1.37, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.80), PFHxS (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.05, 1.71), PFHpS (OR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.10, 2.14), and 6:2 Cl-PFESA (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.70) were positively correlated with low menstrual blood volume, while PFOA (OR=0.40, 95%CI: 0.23, 0.71), PFHpS (OR=0.45, 95%CI: 0.29, 0.71), and HFPO-DA (OR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.48, 0.97) were negatively correlated with high menstrual blood volume. The mixed exposure model showed that PFAS mixtures were positively correlated with the average number of menstrual cycle days (b=1.60, 95%CI: 0.49, 2.71), irregular menstrual cycles (OR=1.77, 95%CI: 1.19, 2.63), and low menstrual blood volume (OR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.08, 2.35), but negatively correlated with high menstrual blood volume (OR=0.40, 95%CI: 0.22, 0.73). ConclusionWomen undergoing ART in Shanghai are widely exposed to PFAS prior to conception. Exposure to PFAS before pregnancy may be related to menstrual characteristics among women seeking ART before undergoing fertility treatments, but additional data from larger populations are required to validate the findings of this study.
As of 2022, the Republic of Korea accounted for 0.8% of global chicken meat production and 0.9% of global egg production. The country achieved self-sufficiency rates of 83.1% for chicken meat and 99.4% for eggs, demonstrating significant quantitative and qualitative growth to meet domestic demand. Although the industry is trending towards expansion and specialization, it faces several challenges in achieving sustainable poultry production. Key challenges in Korea include highly pathogenic avian influenza and pest issues, climate change and the push for carbon neutrality, reliance on imported breeding stock, insufficient preparedness for expanding cage space per laying hen, post-settlement payment systems for egg sales and an oversupply of chicken meat, and the aging poultry farming population and the closure of farms unable to secure successors. Following strategies are proposed to overcome or mitigate challenges mentioned above: (1) enhancing farm biosecurity and implementing vaccination policies for disease control, (2) modernizing facilities and promoting carbon-neutral practices to adapt to climate change, (3) diversifying breeding stocks across multiple locations and developing domestic strains, (4) implementing policies and supporting farms based on a comprehensive readiness assessment of all farms regarding expanded cage space requirements, (5) improving market transparency for the egg industry and regulating supply and demand in the broiler industry, and (6) offering incentives for farm succession, attracting labor, and promoting coexistence between corporations, rural communities, and small farms. In conclusion, the sustainable development of Korea's poultry industry is not a simple task. It requires a comprehensive approach considering economic efficiency, animal welfare, environmental protection, food security, and the symbiosis with rural communities. This approach necessitates efficient cooperation among all stakeholders, including the government, farmers, integrators, retailers, and research institutions, along with a comprehensive, phased strategy for both short- and long-term goals.
Despoina Kossyvaki, Matteo Bustreo, Marco Contardi
et al.
Herein, the ability of highly porous colorimetric indicators to sense volatile and biogenic amine vapors in real time is presented. Curcumin-loaded polycaprolactone porous fiber mats are exposed to various concentrations of off-flavor compounds such as the volatile amine trimethylamine, and the biogenic amines cadaverine, putrescine, spermidine, and histamine, in order to investigate their colorimetric response. CIELAB color space analysis demonstrates that the porous fiber mats can detect the amine vapors, showing a distinct color change in the presence of down to 2.1 ppm of trimethylamine and ca. 11.0 ppm of biogenic amines, surpassing the limit of visual perception in just a few seconds. Moreover, the color changes are reversible either spontaneously, in the case of the volatile amines, or in an assisted way, through interactions with an acidic environment, in the case of the biogenic amines, enabling the use of the same indicator several times. Finally, yet importantly, the strong antioxidant activity of the curcumin-loaded fibers is successfully demonstrated through DPPH<sup>●</sup> and ABTS<sup>●</sup> radical scavenging assays. Through such a detailed study, we prove that the developed porous mats can be successfully established as a reusable smart system in applications where the rapid detection of alkaline vapors and/or the antioxidant activity are essential, such as food packaging, biomedicine, and environmental protection.
Introduction
Nonprofit sports organisations are valuable sports providers in most European countries. In 2017, there were over 60 million European active sports club members (Nagel et al., 2020). Through the consumption behaviour of this great number of people practicing sports, sport might have a negative impact on the environment (McCullough et al., 2020). Therefore, national sports federations (NSFs), overarching the sports clubs and engaging in sports policy issues, could be crucial when it comes to taking measures concerning the environmental sustainability of sports. Indeed, several NSFs have already launched programmes for environmental sustainability (e.g. Swiss Hang- and Paragliding Association [SHV]). This might be somehow surprising, since the nonprofit organised sport is traditionally primarily committed to the interests of its members and the sport as its core business (Thiel & Mayer, 2009). Thus, the following study addresses the questions, to what extend policies of environmental sustainability appear on the agendas of NSFs and which driving factors are relevant for its agenda setting, formulation and subsequent decision making. Knowledge about those processes is especially important since they are prerequisites for the implementation of environmental policies.
Literature review and theoretical background
Concerning nonprofit sports organisations and sustainable development, especially the field of social sustainability (e.g. Nagel et al., 2020) has been widely researched. Environmental sustainability however has only limitedly been analysed in this context. Describing the current state of commitment of NSFs to environmental sustainability, it has been found that Belgian NSFs show a rather low commitment, whereas low-intensity initiatives (e.g. recycling of sport equipment) constitute the majority of the identified actions (Hugaerts et al., 2022). The same pattern could be shown in Scandinavia. Sandvik and Seippel (2022) explain this partly with the absence of NSFs’ perceived urgence of environmental problems with direct consequences for the associations’ activities and the lack of institutional pressures. However, so far, there is hardly any knowledge about which factors are relevant for environmental policies being set on NSFs’ agendas, formulated, and decided upon, even though those processes are important as they precede the actual implementation of policies.
Considering agenda setting, policy formulation and decision making processes, this study is based on the Multiple Streams Approach with two coupling phases (MSA) of Herweg et al. (2015). For “an ideas’ time to come”, the approach identifies the coupling of three different processes as important. Policies arise, when issues are perceived as problematic (problem stream; e.g. image issues) and depend on the political context of the policy and agenda (political stream, e.g. composition of board). The policy stream contains existing ideas and enables the survival of certain ideas (e.g. idea of developing a climate strategy). Finally, policy entrepreneurs’ agency is necessary to couple the streams and create agenda windows, which allow items to rise onto the decision agenda. In a following second phase, the re-coupling of the same streams and engagement of policy entrepreneurs enables policies to be formulated, decided upon, and eventually be implemented.
Methods
To observe those processes, we decided to conduct an in-depth qualitative case study with a NSF, that has recently discussed, formulated, and decided upon environmental policies. Since the hang- and paragliding sport is depending on a natural environment affected by climate change, the SHV seemed to be an interesting case for our study, where such processes might already have taken place. The association is committed to the interests and sustainable practice of free flight. It has 112 club and 20,000 individual members, maintains an office with 14 employees and is headed by a board of directors, currently with seven members.
Document- and archive entries allowed us a first overview of existing measures of environmental sustainability and the appearance of the topic on the NSF’s agenda. We conducted semi-structured expert interviews with six decision makers of the SHV and with a representative of the umbrella organisation of the Swiss sports system to gain a deeper understanding of the agenda setting, formulation and decision making of environmental policies in the SHV. We then applied causation coding (Miles et al., 2020) to analyse the data, considering a data-led as well as a theory-based coding process along the concept of the MSA.
Findings
The SHV's commitment to environmental sustainability is based primarily on two pillars: the protection of biodiversity and access to nature on one hand and climate commitment on the other. Whereas voluntary agreements about wildlife rest areas have been made since 1995, climate protection policies are broadly discussed as a part of the strategy and implemented on an operative basis in different departments since the creation of the position of an environmental officer in 2017.
If not forced by external political pressure (e.g. flight restrictions), the agenda setting of environmental sustainability (e.g. climate commitment) in the SHV seems to be pushed primarily by the engagement of individual policy entrepreneurs. Policy entrepreneurs thereby mainly highlight the importance of addressing the issue to ensure the long-term survival of the sport and the association (problem stream). The perceived member interests seem to be able to facilitate or impede the agenda setting of the topic (political stream). Nevertheless, members do not appear to be the central entrepreneurs when it comes to actively promoting policies of environmental sustainability onto the agenda. The ideas for such policies rather seem to be found in the practice of similar other NSFs (policy stream).
The board of management seems to be less crucial for this process of agenda setting. When it comes to formulation and decision making however, the importance of the board of management is structurally implied. Even though the General Assembly approves amendments and the management of the board, the latter issues directives. Since members of the board do not yet seem to have the necessary knowledge about environmental sustainability to feel competent enough to make the required decisions, thorough information provided by the environmental officers appears to be important. Actors of the association describe policy formulation as a long process, where, in order to make the members of the board feel comfortable enough to make decisions, policies of environmental sustainability “must become a topic first over time”. When it comes to decision making about environmental policies, the (political) background of the members of the board are crucial and can promote or hinder certain decisions. Nevertheless, after getting enough information, suggestions from the administrative office are mostly accepted.
Discussion
Therefore, engaged policy entrepreneurs seem to be crucial for agenda setting, formulation and, through the impact of their suggestions, decision making processes of environmental policies in the SHV. Policy entrepreneurs do show engagement for their favoured policies even if they are not responsible for that specific topic in the association, but the structural implication of positions in connection with sport- and socio-political developments can additionally promote environmental policies. Even though the agenda setting of such policies does not seem to be a bottom-up process, consistent with the understanding of NSFs as interest-oriented organisations, perceived member interests are central in all three processes. Thereby functional objectives (e.g. enabling sport) are predominant to normative reasons (e.g. environmental responsibility). Furthermore, there seem to be processes that might be explained by the concept of mimetic isomorphism (DiMaggio & Powell, 1983), i.e. the orientation towards practices of similar NSFs in order to gain legitimacy.
This pilot study allows an in-depth investigation and enables a first review of the used theoretical and methodological approach. It identifies crucial factors when promoting the agenda setting, formulation and decision making for environmental sustainability in NSFs and utilising the potential of the nonprofit organised sports setting and its leverage in society. It is presented as part of a broader follow-up multiple case study with eight NSFs and a cross-case comparison. Further research must be conducted to allow statements about other types of NSFs (e.g. other types of professionalisation, indoor sports) and further stages of the policy cycle, i.e. the implementation of the policies.
References
DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (1983). The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields. American Sociological Review, 48(2), 147–160.
Herweg, N., Huss, C., & Zohlnhöfer, R. (2015). Straightening the three streams: Theorising extensions of the multiple streams framework. European Journal of Political Research, 54(3), 435–449. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.12089
Hugaerts, I., Scheerder, J., Zeimers, G., Corthouts, J., van de Sype, C., & Könecke, T. (2022). Are sport organisations environmentally sustainable? A website analysis of sport federations in Belgium. European Sport Management Quarterly. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2022.2093391
McCullough, B. P., Orr, M., & Watanabe, N. M. (2020). Measuring externalities: The imperative next step to sustainability assessment in sport. Journal of Sport Management, 34(5), 393–402. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2019-0254
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2020). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (4th ed.). SAGE.
Nagel, S., Elmose-Østerlund, K., Ibsen, B., & Scheerder, J. (Eds.). (2020). Functions of Sports Clubs in European Societies: A Cross-National Comparative Study. Springer.
Sandvik, M. R., & Seippel, Ø. (2022). Framing of environmental issues in voluntary sport organizations. Environmental Politics. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2022.2075152
Thiel, A., & Mayer, J. (2009). Characteristics of voluntary sports clubs management: A sociological perspective. European Sport Management Quarterly, 9(1), 81-98. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184740802461744
Wael M. Khamis, Ahmed A. Heflish, Sarah El-Messeiry
et al.
In this study, we investigated the antifungal properties of an acetone extract derived from the leaves of <i>Swietenia mahagoni</i> (SMAL) against two isolated fungi, <i>Fusarium equiseti</i> (OQ820153) and <i>Rhizoctonia solani</i> (OQ820152), from rice sheath. The extract was effective in inhibiting the growth of both fungi at the highest concentration tested, 3000 μg·mL<sup>−1</sup>. Laboratory tests on the LC<sub>20</sub> of SMAL extract (49.86 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>) versus pyriproxyfen 10% EC (1.96 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>) were accomplished on <i>Aphis gossypii</i> Glover. The extract potently reduced the survival of the nymphs (49.58%) more than the other treatments. The longevity of nymphs treated with the extract had the highest prolongation at 9.67 days. The olfactory choice test exhibited the lowest aphid attraction percentage (23.33%). The HPLC of SMAL extract contained various phenolic compounds, and the most abundant found were catechin (752.64 µg·g<sup>−1</sup>), gallic acid, and chlorogenic acid, as well as flavonoids such as rutin (585.24 µg·g<sup>−1</sup>) and naringenin. A GC–MS analysis revealed <i>n</i>-hexadecanoic acid (37.1%) as the major compound, followed by oleic acid. These results suggest that SMAL extract has the potential to help plants fight against fungal and insect infections, making it a promising natural and renewable solution for long-term plant pest regulation.
Over the last several decades, eastern Siberia has experienced some of the largest temperature increases worldwide. We use the RCP8.5 simulation of the Community Climate System Model version 4 to examine how projected monthly changes in temperature and hydro-climatic variables in eastern Siberia depend on latitude and elevation. Temperature increases are largest at the highest latitudes in winter and late fall and are smaller at higher elevations. For precipitation and snowfall, there is a latitudinal dependence in autumn and spring, with precipitation, snowfall, and snow depth mostly increasing between 60 and 70° N. Although snow cover extent (SCE) decreases almost everywhere, the largest changes occur during the transition seasons which we define as spring and autumn, and the timing of the changes depends on latitude, elevation, and the specific month within seasons. The decreases in SCE are larger at lower latitudes and lower elevations in April and November and larger at higher elevations and higher latitudes in June and September. For the highest latitudes, snow depth actually increases, and increases more at higher elevations. These projections are generally consistent with those of four other climate models. For precipitation, all models project increases in non-summer seasons, but they are not consistent with respect to the direction of the elevation dependence of precipitation. We discuss the complex interactions among the projected changes in all the variables.
<p>We present a new high-resolution record of atmospheric
CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> from the Siple Dome ice core, Antarctica, over the early Holocene
(11.7–7.4 ka) that quantifies natural CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> variability on millennial
timescales under interglacial climate conditions. Atmospheric CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>
decreased by <span class="inline-formula">∼10</span> ppm between 11.3 and 7.3 ka. The decrease
was punctuated by local minima at 11.1, 10.1, 9.1, and 8.3 ka with an amplitude of 2–4 ppm. Although the explanations of carbon cycle mechanisms remain uncertain due to insufficient paleoclimate records and model simulations, these variations correlate with proxies for solar forcing and local climate in the southeast Atlantic polar front, eastern equatorial Pacific, and North Atlantic. Additional CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> measurements using better-quality ice cores and carbon cycle models are needed to confirm the observation.</p>
Md Lokman Hossain, Md Humayain Kabir, Mst Umme Salma Nila
et al.
Abstract Increasing frequency and intensity of climate extremes have profound impacts on grassland biodiversity functioning and stability. Using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) net primary productivity (NPP) data and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index, we assessed the response of NPP to growing‐season and annual climate extremes and time‐lag of climatic conditions across four grassland types (meadow steppe, typical steppe, steppe desert, and desert steppe) in Inner Mongolia, China from the period 2000 to 2019. Results showed that annual NPP varied significantly across four grassland types, with the highest NPP in meadow steppe and the lowest in desert steppe. Annual NPP of all grassland types increased over the past 20 years, but NPP in meadow steppe and typical steppe decreased for the period 2012–2019. Irrespective of grassland type, the 1‐ and 2‐month time‐lag of climatic conditions showed significant effects on annual NPP. Growing‐season climate was found the better predictor of annual NPP in all grassland types than the annual climate. Compared with growing‐season normal climates, annual NPP was lowest in extreme dry events in all grasslands, while highest in extreme wet events in meadow steppe and typical steppe, and in moderate wet events in steppe desert and desert steppe. Typical steppe and steppe desert are highly vulnerable to the increasing intensity of climate extremes, as we found that the losses of NPP in these grasslands in extreme dry were almost double than that of moderate dry events. Surprisingly, for meadow steppe and desert steppe, the losses of NPP for both moderate and extreme dry events were almost the same, which highlights that a low‐intensity drought may have profound impacts on the annual NPP of these grasslands. The study provides the key insight in scientific basis to improve our understanding of the effects of climate extremes on grassland NPP, which is critical to sustainable management of grassland and maintain ecosystem stability.
Bryony L. Townhill, Elena Couce, James Bell
et al.
Climate change is already affecting the distributions of marine fish, and future change is expected to have a particularly large impact on small islands that are reliant on the sea for much of their income. This study aims to develop an understanding of how climate change may affect the distribution of commercially important tuna in the waters around the United Kingdom’s Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic. The future suitable habitat of southern bluefin, albacore, bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tunas were modelled under two future climate change scenarios. Of all the tunas, the waters of Tristan da Cunha are the most suitable for southern bluefin, and overall, the environmental conditions will remain so in the future. Tristan da Cunha is not projected to become more suitable for any of the other tuna species in the future. For the other tuna species, Ascension Island and Saint Helena will become more suitable in the future, particularly so for skipjack tuna around Ascension Island, as the temperature and salinity conditions change in these areas. Large marine protected areas have been designated around the territories, with those in Ascension and Tristan da Cunha closed to tuna fishing. Although these areas are small relative to the whole Atlantic, these model projections could be useful in understanding whether this protection will benefit tuna populations into the future, particularly where there is high site fidelity.
Science, General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution
The paper presents a comparative study of the behaviour of 97% polyamide/3% elastane socks, named functional socks, and of 70% cotton/27% polyamide/3% elastane socks, called classic socks, both type used for moderate-intensity physical activity. Nowadays, the question always arises about what socks to wear: classic 100% cotton socks, cotton/polyamide/elastane socks, or polyamide/elastane socks. The wearing comfort of the socks is the determining factor in choosing the optimal variant. The functional socks are made of 100% synthetic yarns and are appreciated due to the properties of absorption and rapid transfer of moisture from the body to the environment. The classic socks are made of cotton or cotton yarns mixed with synthetic yarns, giving better wearing comfort compared to functional socks through the high moisture absorption capacity. But due to the small capacity to transfer moisture from the body to the outside environment, wearing for a long time can produce discomfort as a result of the humid environment that is created. The two types of socks were evaluated through a series of analyses as follows: weight per piece, optical microscopy, hygroscopicity, hydrophilicity, elasticity in the direction of stitches’ rows and degree of compression. The analysed data led to the conclusion that functional socks have superior elasticity and comfort properties compared to the classical ones.
Rui Jorge Garcia Ramos, Eliseu Gonçalves, Gisela Lameira
et al.
Stable access to affordable quality housing is a core feature of public health principles and practices. In this report, we provide an update on the research project “<i>Mapping Public Housing: A Critical Review of the State-subsidised Residential Architecture in Portugal (1910–1974)</i>” (MdH), developed between 2016 and 2019 at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (FAUP) in Portugal. This funded research project (PTDC/CPC-HAT/1688/2014) brought together an international and multidisciplinary team composed of architects, sociologists, historians, an economist, an anthropologist, information scientists and archivists, from different academic levels (senior researchers, postdoctoral, PhD and Master’s degree students), adopting a variety of approaches and operating in a range of different contexts. The aim of the research undertaken was to investigate the reality of social and state-subsidised housing in terms of its architecture, while, at the same time, seeking to broaden our understanding of this phenomenon and of the transition to a democratic regime. Furthermore, this research project was designed to contribute towards the development of common ground for supporting decisions in the environmental, social and economic fields relating to housing management, as well as architectural heritage management and protection. This review is based on the submitted application (2015) and final report (2020).
Groundwater contamination is one of the most concerning issues from uranium mining activities. Radionuclides cannot be destroyed or degraded, unlike some organic contaminants (and similar to metals). Besides, sites, where radionuclides may be found, are mainly radioactive and mixed waste disposal areas, and therefore many other contaminants may also be present in groundwater. The state-of-the-art of environmental technology is continually changing, and thus a review on technologies application is of utmost relevance. This work gives an overview of the available remediation technologies for groundwater contaminated with radionuclides resulting mainly from uranium mining. For each technology, a theoretical background is provided; the state of development, limitations, efficiency, and potential adverse effects are also approached. Examples of application and performance monitoring of remediation progress are described, and criteria for the selection of the appropriate remediation technology are given. The most effective remediation technology will always be site-specific as a result of the multitude of geographic and operational factors that influence the effluent quality and impact the technical feasibility of treatment methods. Ion exchange, chemical precipitation, and membrane filtration have been considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) as best demonstrated available technologies for radium and uranium removal. Several factors have been demonstrated to influence the selection of a remediation technology (technological aspects and non-technical factors), but even for the technologies demonstrated or industrial proven, two important challenges remain; the (still) mobile radionuclides and the generation of secondary wastes. Besides, remediation technologies are constantly evolving, but future advancement depends on rigorously monitored, documented efficiency, and results achieved. Therefore, the technologies approached in this paper are by no means exhaustive.
Abstract Objective Design polymorphic microsatellite loci that will be useful for studies of the genetic diversity, gene-flow and reproduction in the Japanese endemic conifer Thuja standishii and test the transferability of these loci to the two other East Asian species, T. sutchuenensis and T. koraiensis. Results Fifteen loci were developed which displayed 3 to 21 alleles per locus (average = 9.2) among 97 samples from three populations of T. standishii. Observed heterozygosity for all samples varied between 0.33 and 0.75 (average = 0.54) while expected heterozygosity values were higher with an average over the 15 loci of 0.62 (0.37–0.91). Low multi-locus probability of identity values (< 0.00002) indicate that these markers will be effective for identifying individuals derived from clonal reproduction. All 15 loci amplified in 13 samples of T. sutchuenensis, the sister species of T. standishii, with 1 to 11 alleles per locus (average = 4.33) while 13 loci amplified in four samples of the more distantly related T. koraiensis with 1 to 5 alleles per locus (average = 2.15).
A novel electrochemical sensor, based on a Rh<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>⁻reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite modified carbon electrode, has been developed for detecting bisphenol A (BPA) in beverages. The prepared Rh<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/rGO and its precursor materials were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Under optimum conditions, the sensor presented good electrochemical performance for analyzing BPA, with a linear range of 0.6⁻40 μM, detection limit of 0.12 μM, good reproducibility, and excellent stability. The good performance can be attributed to the combination of the good catalytic properties of Rh<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and good conductivity of rGO. The sensor is directly used for detecting BPA in the residual solutions of four beverages after simple filtration, with satisfactory recoveries of 93⁻99%.
Up to now, the processes of domestication of urban landscapes have been little studied. The public green spaces in the city of Bariloche, an enclave with growing urbanization which lies within the Andino Norpatagonica Biosphere Reserve, offer an opportunity to evaluate cultural molding of the environment. We analyzed different management methods of woody species, both in situ and ex situ, in parks located in sectors with different environmental, socioeconomic, size, age and administration characteristics. Our hypotheses were: (1) Species richness will be higher for exotic plants, in accordance with global patterns of ornamental species selection. (2) Species richness and type of management practice will vary according to the kind of environment, the socioeconomic profile of the neighborhood, the age and size of the park, and type of administration (bottom-up or top-down). (3) Bottom-up park administration will lead to a different landscape than top-down administration. Thirty randomly selected parks of both local council and neighborhood administration and varying environmental and socioeconomic conditions were examined and the composition of their woody species identified. In addition, semi-structured and free interviews were carried out with those responsible for park management, both in situ (tolerance, enhancement, protection) and ex situ (sowing, use of cuttings or transplanting). In accordance with our hypothesis, the processes of domestication of the urban landscape show a tendency toward an anthropized diversity of 130 species, mainly exotic in origin (72%), and principally from the Holarctic region (67%). However, multinomial logistic analysis revealed that in parks under neighborhood administration tolerance of native species is higher (13 times) than in parks administrated by the local council. Species richness increases along an environmental and socioeconomic gradient, and with the age of parks, but does not vary with size. We conclude that urban parks are constructed cultural niches which, as in an agroforestry system, are scenarios which reveal processes of incipient domestication that reflect different cosmovisions and drivers typical of multicultural contexts.
Tomáš Václavík, Michael Beckmann, Anna F Cord
et al.
Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation is a key but under-researched environmental factor that initiates diverse responses in plants, potentially affecting their distribution. To date, only a few macroecological studies have examined adaptations of plant species to different levels of UV-B. Here, we combined herbarium specimens of Hieracium pilosella L. and Echium vulgare L. with a novel UV-B dataset to examine differences in leaf hair traits between the plants' native and alien ranges. We analysed scans of 336 herbarium specimens using standardized measurements of leaf area, hair density (both species) and hair length (H. pilosella only). While accounting for other bioclimatic variables (i.e. temperature, precipitation) and effects of herbivory, we examined whether UV-B exposure explains the variability and geographical distribution of these traits in the native (Northern Hemisphere) vs. the alien (Southern Hemisphere) range. UV-B explained the largest proportion of the variability and geographical distribution of hair length in H. pilosella (relative influence 67.1%), and hair density in E. vulgare (66.2%). Corresponding with higher UV-B, foliar hairs were 25% longer for H. pilosella and 25% denser for E. vulgare in records from the Southern as compared to those from the Northern Hemisphere. However, focusing on each hemisphere separately or controlling for its effect in a regression analysis, we found no apparent influence of UV-B radiation on hair traits. Thus, our findings did not confirm previous experimental studies which suggested that foliar hairs may respond to higher UV-B intensities, presumably offering protection against detrimental levels of radiation. We cannot rule out UV-B radiation as a possible driver because UV-B radiation was the only considered variable that differed substantially between the hemispheres, while bioclimatic conditions (e.g. temperature, precipitation) and other considered variables (herbivory damage, collection date) were at similar levels. However, given that either non-significant or inconclusive relationships were detected within hemispheres, alternative explanations of the differences in foliar hairs are more likely, including the effects of environment, genotypes or herbivory.