Forest Soil pH and Dissolved Organic Matter Aromaticity Are Distinct Drivers for Soil Microbial Community and Carbon Metabolism Potential.

The ecological niche separation of microbial interactions in forest ecosystems is critical to maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity and has yet to be comprehensively explored in microbial ecology. This study investigated the impacts of soil properties on microbial interactions and carbon metabolism potential in forest soils across 67 sites in China. Using redundancy analysis and random forest models, we identified soil pH and dissolved organic matter (DOM) aromaticity as the primary drivers of microbial interactions, representing abiotic conditions and resource niches, respectively.

Contribution of Coal Tar Sources to Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds and Associated Ecological Risk in Lake Ontario Sediments: Inference from a Novel Marker.

Coal tar-related products as a source of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) are particularly concerning due to high PAC concentrations and inadequate source management. Benzo[b]carbazole, a benzocarbazole isomer exclusively found in coal tar-derived products, acts as an ideal marker to distinguish coal tar sources from others, enabling more robust quantification of coal tar contributions to PACs. To evaluate the historical and recent contributions of coal tar-related sources to the levels of PACs in Lake Ontario and associated ecological risk, we analyzed 31 PACs and 3 BCBz isomers in surface sediments and a sediment core.

PCR-based diagnosis and clinical insights into parasitic keratitis.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to investigate demographic characteristics, predisposing factors, and clinical outcomes in patients with parasitic keratitis.

Methods: Medical records of patients with molecularly confirmed Acanthamoeba or microsporidia, identified through corneal scraping specimens (collected between September 21, 2017, and June 27, 2023), were reviewed. Demographic data, clinical profiles, such as symptom duration before confirmed diagnosis, antiviral treatment pre-diagnosis, contact lens use, tap water and soil contamination, ocular trauma, and treatment regimens, were analyzed.

A solar-powered electrocoagulation process with a novel CNT/silver nanowire coated basalt fabric cathode for effective oil/water separation: From fundamentals to application.

Electrocoagulation (EC) has proven its high efficiency and environmental sustainability for treating several types of wastewaters. However, the primary drawbacks of the conventional EC process are the suitable electrode materials and the relatively high cost due to the requirement for electric energy. To overcome these practical challenges, this study investigated effective oil/water separation by a solar-powered electrocoagulation (SPEC) process using a novel highly conductive basalt fabric (BF) cathode.

Spatio-temporal pollution assessment of Kulfo River using CCME-WQI and pollution tolerance index by benthic macroinvertebrates, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.

In developing nations, the biggest threat to public health is the quality of the water. The Kulfo River provides the majority demand of the domestic water and irrigation along its course; however, it is observed that wastes from anthropogenic and natural activities enter the river. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the pollution status by integrating conventional methods with benthic macroinvertebrates.

Waste marble sludge and calcined clay brick powders in conventional cement farina production for cleaner built environment.

In the manufacturing of some sectors, such as marble and brick, certain byproducts, such as sludge, powder, and pieces containing valuable chemical compounds, emerge. Some concrete plants utilize these byproducts as mineralogical additives in Turkey. The objective of the experimental study is to ascertain whether the incorporation of waste from the marble and brick industries, in powder form, into cement manufacturing as a mineralogical additive or substitute is a viable option.

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic periphyton responses to warming, nutrient enrichment and small omnivorous fish: a shallow lake mesocosms experiment.

Global change stressors, including climate warming, eutrophication, and small-sized omnivorous fish, may exert interactive effects on the food webs and functioning of shallow lakes. Periphyton plays a central role in the primary production and nutrient cycling of shallow lakes but constitutes a complex community composed of eukaryotes and prokaryotes that may exhibit different responses to multiple environmental stressors with implications for the projections of the effects of global change on shallow lakes. We analyzed the effects of warming, nutrient enrichment, small omnivorous fish and their interactions on eukaryotic and prokaryotic periphyton structures in shallow lake mesocosms.

Microplastics influencing aquatic environment and human health: A review of source, determination, distribution, removal, degradation, management strategy and future perspective.

Microplastics (MPs) are produced from various primary and secondary sources and pose multifaceted environmental problems. They are of non-biodegradable nature and may stay in aquatic environments for a long time period. The present review has covered novel aspects pertaining to MPs that were not covered in earlier studies.

Phytoplankton-environment dynamics in a tropical estuary of the northeastern Arabian Sea: a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) approach.

Phytoplankton are diverse photosynthetic organisms in estuarine ecosystems and sensitive indicators of environmental changes. This study employed Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to explore the impact of environmental variables on the abundance of six dominant phytoplankton species in the tropical Karanja estuary, India. Data were collected from five sampling stations between January 2022 and March 2023.

Impact of Glaciers on Trophic Dynamics and Polyunsaturated Fat Accumulation in Southern Greenland Fjord Ecosystems.

The primary production of fjords across the Arctic and Subarctic is undergoing significant transformations due to the climatically driven retreat of glaciers and ice sheets. However, the implications of these changes for upper trophic levels remain largely unknown. In this study, we employ both bulk and compound-specific stable isotope analyses to investigate how shifts at the base of fjord food webs impact the carbon and energy sources of consumers.

Effectiveness of three machine learning models for prediction of daily streamflow and uncertainty assessment.

This study evaluates three Machine Learning (ML) models-Temporal Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (TKAN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Temporal Convolutional Networks (TCN)-focusing on their capabilities to improve prediction accuracy and efficiency in streamflow forecasting. We adopt a data-centric approach, utilizing large, validated datasets to train the models, and apply SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to enhance the interpretability and reliability of the ML models. The results show that TKAN outperforms LSTM but slightly lags behind TCN in streamflow forecasting.

Revealing Elasmobranch Distributions in Turbid Coastal Waters: Insights From Environmental DNA and Particle Tracking.

Many sharks, rays and skates are highly threatened and vulnerable to overexploitation, as such reliable monitoring of elasmobranchs is key to effective management and conservation. The mobile and elusive nature of these species makes monitoring challenging, particularly in temperate waters with low visibility. Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods present an opportunity to study these species in the absence of visual identification or invasive techniques.

Efficacy of Bacillus clausii UBBC-07 and Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2 in Mitigating Pulmonary Parameters in Patients With Moderate COVID-19 Symptoms.

Probiotics have shown efficacy in preventing and reducing infections caused by common viruses, including rotavirus, norovirus, hepatitis, human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-arm parallel-group study was conducted on 56 patients with moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: standard treatment combined with UBBC-07, standard treatment combined with Unique IS-2, or standard treatment with a placebo.

Morphometric analysis revealed two different Mediterranean horse mackerel () stocks in the Adriatic Sea.

Phenotypical differentiation among individuals of Mediterranean horse mackerel in the Adriatic Sea was investigated through the analysis of several morphometric characters. Overall, 426 individuals of Mediterranean horse mackerels were sampled from the northern, central and southern Adriatic Sea during the summers of 2012 and 2013. Forty-six morphometric characters were measured for each individual and then compared using multivariate techniques (linear discriminant analysis).

Revisiting water resources management in the Mandara Mountains.

This article evaluates the prospects for rainwater harvesting (RWH) as a means of optimizing water management in the Mandara Mountains. RWH is a small-scale water conservation approach for locally intercepting and storing rainfall before it enters the usual hydrologic cycle. This ancient practice has recently sustained lives in semiarid areas of the world (e.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of perineural dextrose injection in peripheral compression neuropathies of the upper limbs.

Background: Entrapment neuropathies, marked by nerve compression at various anatomical sites, can be effectively managed using conservative approaches like injections. Dextrose 5 % water injection has emerged as a potential therapy by reducing inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration. We aimed to evaluate dextrose injection's efficacy in treating entrapment neuropathies in upper extremities.

Dynamic Brush Surface Inducing Mobile Crystallization for Sustainable Spray Cooling Using Saline.

Spray cooling, which dissipates heat through droplet evaporation, is an efficient cooling method. Using seawater instead of freshwater in spraying is appealing given the intensifying global water crisis. However, seawater-based cooling suffers from salt accumulation on hot surfaces.

Organic manure and fertilizer N management strategies improve soil health at different growth stages of pearl millet under pearl millet-wheat sequence.

Background: Incorporating organic manure improves soil properties and crop productivity. A long-term study started in October 1967 examined the effects of farmyard manure and nitrogen fertilization on the soil at key growth stages of pearl millet in a pearl millet-wheat cropping system over its 51st cycle.

Results: Applying 15 Mg of farmyard manure (FYM) per hectare in both growing seasons significantly boosted soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and key nutrients compared to one-season application.

Long-term reconstructed vegetation index dataset in China from fused MODIS and Landsat data.

The vegetation index is a key satellite-based variable used to monitor global vegetation distribution and growth. However, existing vegetation index datasets face limitations in achieving both high spatial and temporal resolution, restricting their application potential. This study revised a machine learning spatiotemporal fusion model (InENVI) to produce a high-resolution NDVI dataset with 8-day temporal and 30 m spatial resolution, covering China from 2001 to 2020.

Solid waste management and resource recovery during the 4-crew 180-day CELSS integrated experiment.

In order to explore the management and treatment methods of solid waste in the Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) of future lunar bases, during the 4-crew 180-day integrated experiment, the Solid Waste Management and Treatment System (SWMTS) was built, in which the treatment of recyclable solid waste such as inedible plant parts and human excrement was completed through a combination of biological aerobic composting and high-temperature oxidation. Basic data on the types and amounts of solid waste generated during the 4-crew 180-day experiment mission were obtained. There were six types of solid wastes, including the work support wastes, the household support wastes, the plant cultivation wastes, the plant-based wastes, and crew feces.

Transport model-based method for estimating micropollutant removal efficiency in riverbank filtration.

Riverbank filtration is a cost-effective and efficient method for drinking water production, using the natural filtration capacity of the river gravelbed. Removal efficiency for organic micropollutants (OMP) in field studies is generally calculated by comparing the concentrations measured in surface water and in the wells either on the same day or with a shift of fixed time interval, neither of which can account for the variability of surface water quality and travel time in the aquifer. The present study proposes a novel method based on travel time distribution determined by a numerical transport model with a hypothesis that it will provide more reliable estimate for OMP removal.

Comparison of cadmium pathways in a high Cd accumulating cultivar versus a low Cd accumulating cultivar of Theobroma cacao L.

Understanding cadmium (Cd) pathways in cacao trees is critical for developing Cd mitigation strategies. This study investigates whether Cd uptake and translocation mechanisms differ between a low and a high Cd-accumulating cacao cultivar. We sampled three replicate trees of each cultivar, and a grafted cultivar that shared the same scion as the low Cd accumulator but had a different rootstock.

Long-term prediction for karst spring discharge and petroleum substances concentration based on the combination of LSTM and Transformer models.

Monitoring the quantity and quality of karst springs is essential for groundwater resource management. However, it is challenging to robustly forecast the karst spring discharge and pollutant concentration due to the high complexity and heterogeneity of karst aquifers. Few researchers have addressed the long-term prediction of hourly spring quantity and quality, which is crucial for emergency management.

Immobilization of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) from field contaminated groundwater by a novel organo-clay vs. colloidal activated carbon under flow conditions.

Two novel and unique adsorptive materials, one (Fluorolock®) from clay mineral sepiolite coated with the cationic polymer polydiallyldimethylammionium chloride (pDADMAC) and the other (Intraplex®) from colloidal activated carbon were specially developed for the in situ remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the saturated zone. We evaluated the potential of both materials to immobilize PFAS in soils under flow conditions via soil column experiments using groundwater, which was contaminated with PFAS in the field. Furthermore, the potential ecotoxicological effects of both materials on aquatic organisms were assessed by exposing the soil column effluent to Daphnia magna.

Mechanistic insight into the decomposition of sulfone compounds in supercritical water.

Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) is famous for the clean utilization of organic wastes without SO emission. Investigating the decomposition mechanism of sulfone compounds, the dominant organic sulfur compounds of organic wastes, in supercritical water (SCW) is conducive to the development of SCWG technology. Herein, the comparative decomposition mechanism of phenyl vinyl sulfone (PVS), diphenyl sulfone (DS), and benzo[b]thiophene 1,1-dioxide (BD) are explored via experiments and density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations.