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Objectives: To investigate the effect of multiple seasons of play on serum S100B concentration in male professional rugby players, while also assessing the acute effects following a season of play and concussion., Methods: A prospective study of professional male rugby players over three seasons (2016/17 to 2018/19) was conducted. Serum sampling was carried out during pre-season, post-season and following a concussion; sustained during match play at a home game (between 2-24hrs), during each season. Serum S100B concentrations were determined by ELISA assay., Results: Fourteen players sustained 24 concussions over three seasons, of which 13 samples (54%) were collected. Pre- and post-season serum S100B remained stable across multiple seasons. S100B concentration increased significantly following concussion compared with pre-season ( p  = 0.002) and post-season ( p  = 0.009), reflective in a 3.23-fold-change post-concussion, with no difference found between pre- and post-season values. S100B concentration measured at post-season was not significantly different for players who had a concussion during a season and players who did not., Conclusion: S100B remains stable across multiple seasons of play in professional rugby players. As concussion results in a temporary increase in S100B concentration, returning to pre-season values by post-season, S100B may be a useful diagnostic marker for improving existing management protocols for sports-related concussions.

Background: Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based influenza vaccines have the potential to improve upon limitations of current vaccine approaches to seasonal influenza., Methods: Here we report findings on the primary and secondary objectives of the safety, reactogenicity, and humoral immunogenicity of the quadrivalent mRNA vaccine, mRNA-1010, versus licensed standard-dose and high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccines from a three-part, phase 3 clinical trial in adults aged ≥18 years (Part A), 18-64 years (Part B), and ≥ 65 years (Part C) (NCT05827978)., Results: A single 50-μg dose of mRNA-1010 elicited hemagglutination inhibition titers against vaccine-matched strains that were statistically noninferior and superior to licensed standard-dose and high-dose egg-based quadrivalent vaccine comparators. Solicited adverse reactions were more frequent with receipt of mRNA-1010; adverse reactions were lower in frequency and severity among adults aged ≥65 years than younger adults. No safety concerns were identified., Conclusions: These findings support the potential benefit of mRNA-1010 as a seasonal influenza vaccine., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Mieke Soens reports financial support was provided by Moderna Inc. Jintanat Ananworanich, Bryony Hicks, Kathryn Jean Lucas, Jose Cardona, Lawrence Sher, Greg Livermore, Kristi Schaefers, Carole Henry, Angela Choi, Andrei Avanesov, Ren Chen, Evelyn Du, Alicia Pucci, Rituparna Das, Jacqueline Miller, Raffael Nachbagauer reports financial support was provided by Moderna Inc. Mieke Soens, Bryony Hicks, Greg Livermore, Kristi Schaefers, Carole Henry, Angela Choi, Andrei Avanesov, Ren Chen, Evelyn Du, Alicia Pucci, Rituparna Das, Jacqueline Miller, Raffael Nachbagauer reports a relationship with Moderna Inc that includes: employment and equity or stocks. Kathryn Jean Lucas reports a relationship with Moderna Inc that includes: consulting or advisory. Lawrence Sher reports a relationship with Moderna Inc that includes: non-financial support. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper, (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Increasing extreme precipitation and drought events along changes in their seasonal patterns due to climate change are expected to have profound consequences for carbon cycling. However, how these climate extremes impact ecosystem respiration (R eco ) and whether these impacts differ between seasons remain unclear. Here, we reveal the responses of R eco and its components to extreme precipitation and drought in spring and summer by conducting a five-year manipulative experiment in a temperate meadow steppe. Based on a 5-year average, the seasonal mean values (±SE) of R eco , R h , R root , R abg and R plant significantly increased (p < 0.01) under both extreme precipitation treatments: wet spring (WSP) and wet summer (WSU), and significantly decreased (p < 0.01) under both extreme drought treatments: dry spring (DSP) and dry summer (DSU), except in R abg under DSU, which remained comparable to the control. The sensitivity of R eco , R h , R root and R plant to extreme precipitation was significantly higher in spring than in summer. On average, R plant was the primary contributor of R eco , accounting for 37.18% and 38.31% of the total across all its components under WSP and WSU, respectively during the growing season over the five study years. Moreover, linear models revealed R plant explained 87% of the variance in R eco . Our findings indicate that future changes in precipitation events, particularly extreme precipitation may lead to increased carbon release from ecosystems, largely driven by enhanced plant respiration rather than microbial respiration. However, due to this study focused solely on respiration and did not measure photosynthesis, the findings represent only the carbon release processes and do not account for potential carbon uptake by plants during the same conditions. These emergent identified contribution to ecosystem respiration provide valuable insights for improving model benchmarks to better predict ecosystem respiration responses to extreme climate in specified season., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Three French harbours connected to different water masses of the English Channel were chosen to investigate the hydrological parameters, chemical contaminants, and biofouling characteristics for 15 months. The biofouling development on two kinds of coatings, an anticorrosion coating (Epoxy) and a foul-release coating (FRC), was studied to compare micro- and macro-biofouling in harbour environments. Biofouling was investigated by considering wet biofouling biomass and composition, microalgae concentration, and bacterial abundance. The three harbours shared similar characteristics, however, some differed across seasons and in general. Only St Vaast harbour showed eutrophication with the highest nitrogen compound and phosphate concentrations. Of the 308 organic contaminants investigated, PAHs and herbicides were the most frequently measured. Between 7 and 9 metals were common to all harbours. However, these results indicated good quality of the habour waters according to the French Seaport Surveillance Network. Biofouling composition was similar between the three harbours for both soft (e.g. Ulva sp. and Botrylloides sp.) and hard (Spirobis sp. and Austrominius modestus) fouling. A highly significant effect of the coatings on the biofouling biomass was noticed, with the FRC coating being colonised by a few organisms. The FRC coating was, however, not completely efficient at preventing the settlement of bacteria and microalgae that were present only at lower abundance compared to the Epoxy coating. These results provide data useful for scientists and industries to develop a new antifouling coating generation and manage the biofouling threat in the English Channel., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Christelle CAPLAT reports financial support was provided by Normandy Region. Herve GUEUNE reports financial support was provided by Naval Group. Herve GUEUNE reports financial support was provided by EDF Energy. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The concentration, character, and distribution of microplastics in coastal marine environments remain poorly understood, with most research focusing on the abundance of microplastics at the sea surface. To address this gap, we conducted one of the first comprehensive assessments of microplastic distribution through the marine water column and benthic sediment during the wet and dry season in the coastal waters of the San Pedro Bay Southern California, USA. Microplastic concentrations in the water column did not vary significantly across season but were significantly higher in nearshore environments and at the surface of the water column. Sediment samples contained significantly more microplastics in the wet season and in offshore environments. Black particles were the most dominant color, while fibers were the most abundant morphology, accounting for over 50% of both water column and sediment microplastics. Polyethylene and polypropylene were identified as the most abundant polymers in the water column regardless of morphology type. Tire and road wear particles were found through the study domain. Average microplastic concentrations in the San Pedro Bay were estimated to be 8.65 × 10 5 ± 7.60 × 10 5 particles/km 2 and 3.19 ± 2.96 particles/m³. This study highlights the complexity of microplastic concentration, character, and distribution in marine environments and demonstrates that surface only sampling strategies significantly underestimate microplastic concentrations. Our findings underscore the need for continued and expanded research into microplastic distribution and transport dynamics across the marine environment to aid in understanding, managing, and mitigating plastic pollution in coastal marine systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Andrew Gray reports financial support was provided by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Andrew Gray reports financial support was provided by USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). Samiksha Singh reports financial support was provided by US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Fulbright Program. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The coexistence of different microbial communities is fundamental to the sustainability of many ecosystems, yet our understanding of the relationships among microbial communities in plateau cold-region lakes affected by seasonal ice cover remains limited. This research involved investigating three lakes in the Inner Mongolia segment of the Yellow River basin during frozen and unfrozen periods in two habitats: water bodies and sediments. The research examined the composition and function of bacteria, archaea, and fungi across different times and habitats within the basin, their response to environmental variables in water and sediment, and inter-domain interactions between bacteria-archaea and bacteria-fungi were compared using interdomain ecological network (IDEN). The findings indicate significant variations in the structures of bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities across different periods and habitats, with the pH of the water body being a crucial environmental variable affecting microbial community composition. In the frozen period, the functionality of microbial communities, especially in terms of energy metabolism, was significantly impacted, with water bodies experiencing more pronounced effects than sediments. Archaea and fungi significantly contribute to the stability of bacterial communities across various habitats, especially in ice-covered conditions, where stronger associations between bacterial communities, archaea, and fungi promote the microbial communities' adaptability to cold stress. Furthermore, our results indicate that the primary environmental variable influencing the structure of IDENs is the nutrient salt content in both water bodies and sediments. This study broadens our understanding of the responses and feedback mechanisms of inter-domain microbial interactions in lakes influenced by seasonal ice cover., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Reservoirs represent a critical component of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet the intricacies of how biotic and abiotic factors influence GHG dynamics within reservoirs remain largely unexplored. Herein, we investigated the spatiotemporal patterns of CO 2 and N 2 O emissions and the underlying factors in the Danjiangkou Reservoir, Asia's largest artificial freshwater reservoir. We found that this reservoir was a significant source of GHGs to the atmosphere, with peak CO 2 emissions observed in autumn (1544.39 ± 652.53 μatm) and N 2 O emissions in winter (32.57 ± 8.87 μmol/L). Moreover, we identified crucial bacterial biomarkers that regulate GHG dynamics, and these GHG biomarkers exhibited consistent seasonal patterns with the corresponding GHGs, concerning their abundance and niche breadth. Notably, GHG biomarkers displayed larger effects on the variations of N 2 O than CO 2 emissions, while physiochemical variables were more critical for CO 2 dynamics, highlighting the need to consider both biotic and abiotic factors when evaluating GHG emissions from reservoirs. Overall, this study advanced our knowledge of GHG emissions and their driving mechanisms in artificial reservoirs, emphasizing the importance of functional microbes in estimating and managing CO 2 and N 2 O emissions from artificial reservoirs worldwide., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Algal blooms are a major environmental issue in many freshwater environments. While traditional in-situ measurements remain indispensable to monitor algal dynamics, they offer only limited spatiotemporal coverage, especially when dealing with large water bodies. Satellite remote sensing can help overcome this limitation. Here, a semi-empirical model for retrieving surface water Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations, a proxy of phytoplankton biomass, was developed for the western basin of Lake Ontario, one of the Laurentian Great Lakes. ACOLITE-corrected Landsat 8 and 9 imagery between 2013 and 2023 was calibrated and verified with local in-situ Chl-a measurements. The nearshore areas of Western Lake Ontario, including the semi-enclosed Hamilton Harbour, are prone to algal blooms, while oligotrophic conditions prevail in the offshore areas. Three bloom indicators-intensity, extent, and severity-were used to characterize the variability and seasonality of algal blooms in different areas of the lake. Time-series analyses revealed contrasting temporal trends in Chl-a concentrations of the nearshore and offshore waters over the eleven-year period of observation. Analysis of external factors impacting algal blooms in Western Lake Ontario and Hamilton Harbour revealed temperature, wind speed, and cloud cover as the most influential, with around 80 % of blooms occurring under moderate conditions (temperature 4-26 °C and wind speed 2.5-5. m s -1 ). Overall, our research underlines the great potential for cost-effective monitoring of algal dynamics in large lakes, utilizing publicly available satellite imagery, in order to support eutrophication management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Philippe Van Cappellen reports financial support was provided by Global Water Futures (GWF). If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Artificial snowing is a process that allows ski operators adapt to snow scarcity due to climate change while raising environmental and public health concerns about the role it plays in environmental dissemination of pollutants, but studies addressing this question are still scarce. This study aimed to fill this gap in understanding the role of artificial snowmaking in dissemination of antibiotics, bacterial contaminants, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and genetic determinants (ARGs) thereof. Technical snow and water used for its production were examined from 11 ski stations located in four river catchments, varying in anthropopressure and the presence/absence of storage reservoirs where water is collected before snowmaking. Culturable E. coli were found in all water intakes with clear reduction/elimination during snowmaking. Fourteen antimicrobial agents were detected using UHPLC/MS/MS. Concentration and prevalence of antimicrobials differed between the catchments; the sites located downstream of long-term stay health centers were most severely contaminated. Two antibiotics of restricted use (vancomycin and linezolid) were detected downstream of hospitals. Antimicrobial resistance of 158 E. coli strains was tested using disk diffusion method. The resistance to penicillins (e.g. ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid) was most frequent and in general followed the pattern of antibiotic consumption rather than antibiotic concentration in water. Extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) genes were detected using PCR tests: 66.46 % (105 out of 158) strains possessed at least one ARG among which blaTEM was most frequent, followed by blaCTX-M and blaSHV. Our study indicates that the major sources of aquatic environment and technical snow contamination with antimicrobial agents are effluents from long-term stay medical centers, while bacterial contamination (including ARB and ARGs) stems from municipal WWTPs, i.e. the main hubs of antimicrobial resistance transfer to the environment. The storage reservoir construction may aid in reducing the transfer rate of pollutants and micropollutants from contaminated water to technical snow., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tropical coastlines featuring mangrove, seagrass, and coral habitats are of immense ecological and socio-economic importance, supporting biodiversity, carbon storage, coastal protection, fisheries, and tourism. However, climate change, coastal development, and low water quality increasingly threaten these interconnected coastal ecosystems, particularly in semi-enclosed bays where the impacts of these stressors are often amplified. Yet, physicochemical conditions are rarely assessed at sufficient temporal resolution (i.e., diel and seasonal variation) and time-integrated pollution monitoring is rarely performed. Here, we used a multi-disciplinary approach to assess >20 abiotic parameters characterizing two mangrove- and seagrass-dominated inland bays and two nearby coral reefs in Curaçao (southern Caribbean) during the cool, dry season and warm, wet season. This was combined with time-integrated pollution monitoring using bioindicators to assess nutrients and trace metal pollution (inland bays only), and passive samplers and bioassays to assess organic chemical pollution (all four sites) during the wet season. This approach revealed a previously undocumented extent of strong diel and seasonal environmental variability in Curaçao's inland bays, with temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen frequently reaching values predicted under moderate-to-severe future climate scenarios as outlined by the IPCC (2021). In addition, the inland bays had greater nutrient concentrations (especially ammonium) and potential ecotoxicological risks than the nearby reefs during the wet season due to run-off and anthropogenic activities. These findings emphasize the importance of high-resolution monitoring to understand risks across appropriate temporal scales and establish an environmental baseline against which future monitoring can be benchmarked. Moreover, our study provides a robust water quality assessment framework that can be used by natural resource managers to monitor reef-associated habitats and conserve their high ecological and socio-economic value. Overall, our work highlights the urgent need to improve monitoring, water quality, and protection of these valuable reef-associated habitats., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hyperuricemia is a well-established risk factor for renal and cardiovascular diseases, as well as a key contributor to gout, and its levels are influenced by meteorological conditions., Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), uric acid (UA) levels, and the risk of hyperuricemia., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 211,327 participants who underwent health examinations at Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang Province from 2019 to 2023. The analysis primarily examined the associations between UTCI, UA levels, and hyperuricemia prevalence., Results: A total of 209,826 participants were included in the study, with a hyperuricemia prevalence of 18.4 %. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was significantly higher in males (31.5 %) compared to females (3.4 %). The mean UA level in males was 387.5 ± 82.6 μmol/L, significantly higher than in females (287.2 ± 64.7 μmol/L). UA levels in males showed a gradual decline with age, reaching their lowest point in individuals aged over 65 years (351.9 ± 87.3 μmol/L). Conversely, UA levels in females increased with age, peaking in those aged over 65 years old (312.9 ± 75.0 μmol/L). Month and season had a significant influence on UA levels (P < 0.001), with the highest levels observed in August and summer, and the lowest levels in January and winter. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a positive correlation between increasing UTCI classes and elevated UA levels and hyperuricemia risk. At UTCI class 9, the risk of hyperuricemia increased by 1.722-fold in males (P = 0.001) and 1.997-fold in females (P = 0.002)., Conclusion: The UTCI classes are strongly associated with UA levels and hyperuricemia risk. As a comprehensive biometeorological indicator, UTCI demonstrates substantial potential for predicting UA fluctuations. These findings provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of hyperuricemia, aiding in the development of personalized prevention and management strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are potentially persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic emerging pollutants. However, their occurrence in outdoor PM 2.5 and related human exposure risks remain unknown. In this study, 32 composite samples were analyzed, which were prepared from daily PM 2.5 samples collected throughout the year 2021 -2022 in Beijing, China. In total, fifty-six of 78 LCMs were presented at a median concentration of 66.0 pg/m 3 (range: 13.3-375.6 pg/m 3 ), with fluorinated LCMs (FBAs) predominating and accounting for 90.7 % of the total LCMs. This concentration surpasses that of halogenated persistent organic pollutants (e.g., polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans) in ambient PM 2.5 . Higher concentrations of LCMs were found in spring and summer compared to autumn and winter, which could be explained by correlations of concentrations with temperature (p < 0.05). Trans,trans-3,4-Difluoro-4'-(4'-pentylbicyclohexyl-4-yl)biphenyl, trans,trans-3,4-Difluoro-4'-(4'-propylbicyclohexyl-4-yl)biphenyl, and trans,trans-3,4,5-Trifluoro-4'-(4'-propylbicyclohexyl-4-yl)biphenyl were identified for the first time as dominant compounds in ambient samples. Based on predicted biological toxicities, 48 LCMs were categorized as high priority due to their high potential for human absorption, including several compounds previously overlooked. The non-carcinogenic risks of LCMs through inhalation and dermal were negligible for children and adults. This study firstly established a priority list of LCMs in PM 2.5 , highlighting the need for heightened awareness of their health risks., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Oxidative potential (OP) of particulate matter (PM) is an important indicator of its health effects. However, the relationship between OP and its key influencing factors remains unclear. In this study, size-segregated PM samples were collected in Qingdao, China, with major components and OP of PM thoroughly examined. The PM composition and sources contributing to OP were determined by hierarchical cluster analysis and positive matrix factorization model, and deposition of size-segregated and source-specific PM in respiratory tract and its resulting OP were assessed by multiple path particle dosimetry model. Dithiothreitol (DTT) activity decreased with increase of particle size in winter, while larger particles (4.2-10.2 μm) also contributed significantly to OP in summer. WSOC strongly correlated with OP in different particle sizes, while water-soluble iron, zinc, lead, and manganese had strong correlations with DTT activity for fine particles, reflecting the co-effects of particle composition and size on OP. Coarse and fine particles were more likely to be deposited in head and pulmonary region, respectively, with traffic and industrial sources contributing significantly to the deposited OP, especially in deeper regions of respiratory tract. This study highlights that the combined effects of different factors on PM OP need to be considered in health-oriented pollution abatement., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Nile River, known as the "giver of life," serves as Egypt's main source of fresh water. A total of 28 sites along the Nile River were selected during the winter and summer of 2022 to illustrate spatial-temporal variation and indicate potential sources of pollution. The study showed that all chemical and physical parameters are within permissible limits. Based on the abiotic parameters, discriminant analysis (DA) classified the collected Nile sites into three groups (A, B, and C). Group A included the southern sites characterized by high transparency and low levels of electrical conductivity (EC), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Group B included the middle sites and was characterized by the relatively high means of EC, total dissolved solid (TDS), pH, DO, BOD, and COD. Group C included the northern sites, which are characterized by low transparency and the highest value of nutrients and EC. A total of 113 phytoplankton species belonging to seven phyla were recorded, while a total of 52 zooplankton species were recorded. The lowest abundance and diversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton were detected at the southern sites, which increased gradually to attain the highest density and diversity in the northern sites. The submerged macrophyte species were recorded in the study area with low species diversity, and Myriophyllum spicatum was the dominant one. 98 epiphytic diatoms and 30 species of macroinvertebrates attached to macrophytes were recorded. The blood parameters of Oreochromis niloticus were within normal limits except for those collected from the Greater Cairo governorate sites in the north. The study showed an improvement in Nile water quality due to increased water levels and water discharged into the Nile., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Consent to participate: All authors voluntarily agree to participate in this research study. Consent to publish: All authors voluntarily approved the publication of this research study., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Background: Understanding the factors that influence school travel mode choice is essential for promoting active travel among adolescents. Currently, there is a lack of research that effectively investigates the interactions between demographic and environmental factors on travel behavior. We aimed to investigate the associations between various demographic and environmental characteristics and the choice of school travel modes-walking, cycling, or motorized transport-among adolescents, across the winter and summer seasons., Methods: Data from 1409 Norwegian adolescents, aged 14-15 years, who participated in the School In Motion project were analyzed. Self-reported travel modes and demographic characteristics were collected via questionnaires, while environmental characteristics were determined using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A decision tree analysis was conducted utilizing the chi-squared automatic interaction detection algorithm to discern patterns in the data. The present study has a cross-sectional design., Results: During summer, the predominant travel modes were cycling (39%), walking (37%), and motorized transport (24%). Gender was associated with travel mode choices over short distances (< 1.6 km), with girls favoring walking and boys favoring cycling. For longer commutes, steep inclines were associated with reduced walking and cycling, while higher traffic exposure was associated with increased cycling. During winter, walking (50%) was the most common mode, followed by motorized travel (36%) and cycling (14%). Living near peers was associated with increased walking and cycling among girls. For commutes exceeding 2 km, factors such as available bus transit, more streetlights, the absence of steep hills, and higher urban centrality were linked to increased walking and cycling., Conclusions: The findings indicated a complex pattern of demographic and environmental factors influencing active travel, with environmental factors becoming increasingly important as commuting distances increased. These findings highlight the importance of considering the interactions of various factors to effectively promote active travel, especially for adolescents undertaking longer commutes., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov ID no: NCT03817047. Registered on: January 25, 2019 (retrospectively registered)., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The research group sent an application for ethics approval to the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REC). However, approval was waived as the study was not considered to qualify as health research. Additionally, the Norwegian Centre for Research Data (project no.: 49094) reviewed the project and determined that the processing of personal data complies with § 7–27 of the Personal Data Regulations. All participants and their parents were provided with written information outlining the project’s objectives and methods, and the parents gave consent by signing a consent form. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

The present study assesses the seasonal and diurnal variability of PM 2.5 concentrations across different locations in Delhi, emphasizing the role of wind speed and direction. PM 2.5 concentrations were analyzed using descriptive and statistical techniques, including ANOVA, Mann-Kendall trend, and correlation analysis. Data from the CPCB CAAQMS network at five distinct locations-Industrial, Commercial, Residential, Traffic, and Green areas-were examined from 2018-2022. Seasonal variability analysis revealed that PM 2.5 concentrations peaked at 300-350 µg/m 3 during the post-monsoon and winter seasons, while lower levels (< 100 µg/m 3 ) were observed during the monsoon. Diurnal patterns exhibited a bimodal distribution, with peaks occurring during the morning (0800-1000 hour) and night (2000 to 2400 hour) time, driven by vehicular emissions, road dust, and wind-blown particles during the day and a stable boundary layer with reduced mixing height at night. Regions with significant industrial and traffic activities experienced 15-25% higher PM 2.5 concentrations than commercial and green areas. The study identified a decreasing trend of approximately 15% in PM 2.5 concentrations from the pre- to post-COVID period. Using correlational and t-test analysis along with the wind rose visualizations, it was revealed that meteorological parameters (wind speed and direction) significantly influence PM 2.5 dispersion. A time lag of 2-4 hour was observed for pollutant transport, depending on the wind speed. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant inverse correlation between wind speed and PM 2.5 concentrations (p < 0.0001), highlighting the role of meteorological factors in pollutant dispersion. These findings provide actionable insights into air quality management and mitigation strategies for Delhi's diverse urban environments., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The objective was to evaluate the response of New Zealand Holstein cows to concentrate supplementation at contrasting times of the day on herbage intake and ingestive behavior. Two experiments were conducted in winter and spring-summer in a grazing dairy production system of Medicago sativa L. with Dactylis glomerata L. pastures. Three moments of supplying 5.0 kg DM concentrate cow -1 d -1 were used: AM after morning milking, PM after afternoon milking, and the AM-PM control equally dividing that amount after both milkings. The experimental units were groups of six cows in winter (a total of 18 cows) and five cows in spring-summer (a total of 15 cows), additionally their respective grazed areas were also considered as experimental units. The design used was a three × three (treatments × periods) cross-over; the allotment of groups to the treatments was consecutive and randomized. The management criterion of rotational grazing was 8 cm of residual forage height for all treatments. Each time the target height of residual herbage was reached, the portable electric fence was manually moved forward allowing on average 36 m 2 fresh pasture. In winter, intake was not different (P < 0.5) between treatments; however, during spring-summer it was 8% lower (P < 0.005) with AM supplementation. There was no effect (P > 0.5) of treatments on total grazing time, rumination and other activities. In conclusion, AM supplementation in spring-summer resulted in dominant evening grazing, and herbage was utilized at its time of highest nutrient concentration., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no conflict-of-interest associated with this manuscript. Animal rights statement: The study was conducted in accordance with guidelines of the Research Ethics Committee of the EU Directive 2010/63/EU for animal experiments., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: A strong risk factor for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is elevated arterial blood pressure, which is known to vary by season, with highest values in winter months. The objective was to assess seasonal trends of ICH incidence, clinical severity, and case fatality according to demographic and clinical characteristics., Methods: This study was conducted on adult patients hospitalized for ICH between 2003 and 2022. Cases were identified from a stroke inpatient quality assurance registry covering the entire Federal State of Hesse, Germany. Population data were derived from the Hessian Bureau of Statistics. Incidence rates (IRs) per 100 000 person-years of ICH, recorded with 4-digit International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, German Modification ( ICD-10-GM ) I61.x codes, were estimated by season, calendar month, and bleeding location. Seasonal variations and subgroup analyses were tested using Poisson distribution and the Wald test., Results: A total of 33 444 patients were included (mean age, 72.4±13.6 years, 52% men). ICH IR correlated with the season of occurrence, demonstrating a peak in winter (IR winter, 34.6 [95% CI, 33.9-35.4], IR summer, 29.4 [95% CI, 28.7-30.1]; P <0.01). Seasonal variation was equally present in men and women but was more pronounced in older compared with younger patients (peak at age 60-90 years; P <0.01). IR showed seasonal variation both for cortical and subcortical bleeding locations ( P <0.01). Clinical severity and case fatality did not vary between seasons (mean, 24.3±0.8%)., Conclusions: This large cohort study demonstrates a seasonal incidence peak of ICH in winter. Whether ICH can be prevented by better control of arterial blood pressure in seasons with expected incidence peaks will require further studies.

Climate change is predicted to intensify lake algal blooms globally and result in regime shifts. However, observed increases in algal biomass do not consistently correlate with air temperature or precipitation, and evidence is lacking for a causal effect of climate or the nonlinear dynamics needed to demonstrate regime shifts. We modeled the causal effects of climate on annual lake chlorophyll (a measure of algal biomass) over 34 y for 24,452 lakes across broad ecoclimatic zones of the United States and evaluated the potential for regime shifts. We found that algal biomass was causally related to climate in 34% of lakes. In these cases, 71% exhibited abrupt but mostly temporary shifts as opposed to persistent changes, 13% had the potential for regime shifts. Climate was causally related to algal biomass in lakes experiencing all levels of human disturbance, but with different likelihood. Climate causality was most likely to be observed in lakes with minimal human disturbance and cooler summer temperatures that have increased over the 34 y studied. Climate causality was variable in lakes with low to moderate human disturbance, and least likely in lakes with high human disturbance, which may mask climate causality. Our results explain some of the previously observed heterogeneous climate responses of lake algal biomass globally and they can be used to predict future climate effects on lakes., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

Many insect migrants rely on favorable seasonal winds to carry out long-range latitudinal migrations. In East China, the annual advance and retreat of the East Asian summer monsoon produces ideal conditions for seasonal range expansion and contraction of many migratory crop pests. However, climate-induced changes in the strength, timing, and location of the monsoon are impacting wind systems which may, in turn, affect migration patterns. We investigated these questions in the rice leafroller (RLR) moth, a severe pest of rice that annually invades the Lower Yangtze River Valley (LYRV) of China from winter-breeding areas further south. Using a 24-y dataset of RLR population dynamics from 31 monitoring stations across Southeast China, we investigated the impact of changes in monsoon wind regimes on fall migration patterns of the pest. Historically, RLR emigrated from the LYRV to South China on the favorably directed winds produced by the retreat of the monsoon at the end of the outbreak season (from mid-August onward). We show that in the recent 12-y period, prevailing late-season winds remain northward for longer than previously, preventing locally produced moths from emigrating southward. Additionally, winds now facilitate mass late-season immigrations into the LYRV, creating an ecological trap, as immigrants do not have time to produce another generation. As a consequence of the changing wind patterns, pest pressure is declining, and climate-induced changes to the East Asian summer monsoon result in seasonal migration becoming a riskier strategy. Such changes in insect migration patterns have severe implications for the population dynamics of windborne migrants, ecosystem functioning, and pest management strategies., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

Although much has been learned about the entry mechanism of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), many details of the entry mechanisms of seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs) remain less well understood. In the present study, we used 293T cell lines stably expressing angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2), aminopeptidase N (APN), or transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), which support high-level transduction of lentiviral pseudoviruses bearing spike proteins of seasonal HCoVs, HCoV-NL63, -229E, or -HKU1, respectively, to compare spike processing and virus entry pathways among these viruses. Our results showed that the entry of HCoV-NL63, -229E, and -HKU1 pseudoviruses into cells is sensitive to endosomal acidification inhibitors (chloroquine and NH 4 Cl), indicating entry via the endocytosis route. Although TMPRSS2 expression on target cell surface was required for HCoV-HKU1 spike-mediated entry and cell-cell fusion, we found that only the serine protease domain of TMPRSS2 and not the serine protease activity of TMPRSS2 was required for viral entry via endocytic route. However, the serine protease activity of TMPRSS2 and a furin processing site (RKRR) at the S1/S2 junction were essential for efficient HCoV-HKU1 spike-mediated cell-cell fusion. Additionally, we show that dibasic and monobasic arginine residues at the S1/S2 junctions of spike proteins of HCoV-NL63 and -229E are essential for virus entry, but multi-basic furin processing site at the S1/S2 junction was dispensable for HCoV-HKU1 viral entry. Our findings highlight features of the entry mechanisms of seasonal HCoVs that may support the development of novel treatment strategies. IMPORTANCE Details of the entry mechanisms of seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs) remain to be fully explored. To investigate spike-mediated virus entry of HCoV-NL63, -229E, and -HKU1 CoVs, we employed 293T cells that stably express angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2), aminopeptidase N (APN), or transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) to study entry mechanisms of pseudoviruses bearing spike proteins of HCoV-NL63, -229E, and -HKU1, respectively. We found that HCoV-NL63, -229E, and -HKU1 pseudoviruses entered cells via the endocytic route independently of cellular serine protease activity and therefore likely depended on endosomal cathepsin activity. Furthermore, we showed that arginine amino acids in S1/S2 junctions of HCoV-NL63 and -229E spikes were essential for entry but not essential for HCoV-HKU1 entry. Our results provide new insights into the S1/S2 junctional residues, cellular receptors, and protease requirements for seasonal HCoV pseudovirus entry into cells that may support the development of novel inhibitors., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Evidence on risk factors for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in low-resource settings is limited. In Mozambican children <2 y of age with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), we explored risk factors for RSV, described its seasonal variation and assessed associations between RSV and a life-threatening condition., Methods: We retrospectively included participants presenting in 2017-2018 in two hospitals in Maputo. RSV was detected and subtyped using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swabs. We used logistic regression and χ2 tests to assess associations and Spearman's correlation coefficient to assess the correlation between weather measurement and RSV positivity., Results: RSV was detected in 23.1% (n=109) of 472 included children and in 50.0% (20/40) of those <3 months old. Being <3 months (vs >1 y) was associated with RSV (adjusted odds ratio 4.3 [95% confidence interval 2.1-8.5]). RSV status was not associated with experiencing a life-threatening condition. RSV A and B co-circulated during the study period, but one type predominated in each year. In 2017, the RSV positivity rate was correlated with monthly average temperature (r=0.793, p=0.002) and precipitation (r=0.596, p=0.041)., Conclusions: In Mozambican children with SARI, RSV was prevalent, especially in neonates. However, RSV was not associated with a life-threatening condition., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)

Despite the considerable efforts made to address the issue of brucellosis worldwide, its prevalence in dairy products continues to be difficult to estimate and represents a significant public health concern globally. The aim of the present study was to gain a better understanding of the epidemiology of this disease in mainland China. We set out to investigate the annual spatial distribution and potential hotspots of the disease. Data on the incidence rate of brucellosis from 2012 to 2018 was obtained from the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System (CDCIS). ArcGIS 10.6 software was employed to perform kriging interpolation analysis and to create a predictive distribution map for brucellosis. Additionally, SaTScan software was utilized to conduct spatial-temporal scanning analysis to identify potential spatial-temporal changes in the incidence rate of brucellosis in China. There is a seasonal trend in the incidence of brucellosis in China, with higher rates observed during the warm season, particularly peaking in May. The results of the exploratory analysis of kriging data indicate that the average incidence map, generated using the second-order Gaussian semi-variance model with log-kriging interpolation, demonstrates the highest accuracy. Spatial and temporal clustering analyses reveal a primary clustering area centered in Heilongjiang, along with three secondary clustering areas located in Tibet, Shanxi, and Hubei. Additionally, the predictive distribution map for brucellosis in China, along with the analysis of the scanning statistic, indicates that the high-incidence area is situated in the northwest region of mainland China, although there is a noticeable trend of shifting towards the south. There are distinct spatial patterns of brucellosis in China. In high-incidence areas, it is essential to allocate additional resources for prevention and control to effectively contain the spread of brucellosis epidemics. In low-incidence areas, it is vital to promptly identify favorable factors that can help mitigate the occurrence of brucellosis., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Color is an important index for human visual evaluation of landscape, and it is also a key factor affecting people's recognition and experience of heritage landscape. In this study, five important sites of the Yangzhou Grand Canal were selected for the color quantification analysis by using the Deep Learning(DL) scene parsing algorithm. The color characteristics of the winter and summer landscape of the five sites were evaluated as well as the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) value. Furthermore, the correlation analysis between the color characteristics and the SBE value was established in order to study the relationship between color characteristics and the landscape beauty. The main results are as follows: ①.The dominant color of the five sites is blue and green, the building color is mainly orange and yellow in both winter and summer. The dominant plant color in five sites is green in summer, whereas in winter, changes to yellow(Site5:YZJGD) or cyan(Site1:DGGD, Site3:GZGD); ②.The overall color saturation is low in winter with the percentages of Very Low Saturation in almost each site(except site5:YZJGD)reach 80-98%. Summer has Medium Saturation colors, the percentage of Mid Saturation of sky in Site 2(GMS) in summer is 44.87%. ③. The landscapes have low brightness in winter and higher brightness in summer in all sites, sky is the only category whose High Brightness value exceeds 50% in both seasons.And in winter, landscapes are most prevalent in Low Brightness and Medium Brightness. In summer, the percentages of Medium Brightness and High Brightness increase.④.The color diversity of the sites in winter varies significantly, whereas the color diversity of the sites in summer varies slightly.The highest color diversity of plants is found in DGGD(Diversity > 1.5). ⑤.In winter, the highest SBE value is found in Site2:GMS(0.5956), and the lowest SBE value is found in Site5:YZJGD(- 0.8216),which is a large gap(1.4172).The highest average SBE value is in Site2:GMS(0.5062), followed by Site3:GZGD (0.2091), which both have average values greater than zero. ⑥.Correlation analysis revealed that there is no significant correlation between the saturation and SBE values(p > 0.05).However, the Pearson correlation coefficients which are - 0.625(winter) and 0.689(summer) indicate strong correlation.Meanwhile, there is no significant correlation between the color diversity and SBE values(p > 0.05). However, the Pearson correlation coefficients are 0.807(winter) and - 0.747(summer), indicating strong correlation.This study provides an in-depth examination of the Canal landscape color, it is hoped to promote the systematic and scientific study of landscape colors and provide a theoretical basis for the scientific design of heritage landscape color., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval and consent to participate: Ethics clearance for the study was obtained from Ethics Review Committee (ERC) of Nanjing Forestry University. All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations of the ERC. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects and/or their legal guardian(s)., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Honey bee gut microbiota play specific roles in promoting host growth and physiology by regulating the immune system, behavior, metabolism, and neurological processes. While the gut microbiota of honey bee queens, workers, and larvae has been extensively studied, less is known about the composition of gut microbiota in the winter worker bees. This study investigates the dynamics of the gut microbiota in overwintering adult worker bees, focusing on two commercial bee strains: Bolton™ bees and Mann Lake™ bees. These Apis mellifera strains were investigated under different storage conditions (indoor storage at 6 °C and outdoor storage in natural conditions) during the winter months (October, November, and December). Utilizing 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we characterized the microbial composition of the whole gut. We observed the Lactobacilli dominated in all the overwintering honey bee guts with a significantly higher abundance of unclassified Lactobacillus species in November, while Lactobacillus apis showed significantly higher abundance in October. Bolton bees exhibited significantly higher abundance levels of Bartonella (denoted as uncultured) and Bifidobacterium, along with an unexpected presence of Wolbachia. In contrast, Mann Lake bees demonstrated an increased abundance of Commensalibacter. Our results suggest that Shannon diversity is influenced by the month rather than by the bee strain or storage conditions. We also found significant differences in Bray Curtis diversity index by month. Overall, taxonomical abundance was not affected by whether the hives were stored outside or in constant temperature indoor storage. However, various bacterial species showed differences in abundance across different months, with slight variations observed between bee strains. Given the potential benefits of the honey bee gut microbiome for health and nutrition, our data suggests that the genus Lactobacillus may play a significant role in bee health during winter and overwintering storage., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Upon approval, we give full consent for publication., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Background: Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira, is an important public health concern globally. Leptospirosis has been notifiable under statute in China since 1955, and its epidemiological characteristics have evolved during near 70 years. This study aimed to describe the spatial and temporal patterns and demographic characteristics of leptospirosis from 1955 to 2022 in China, and explore the possible factors that influence leptospirosis transmission risk., Methods: Wavelet time series analysis, global Moran's I coefficients, space-time scanning statistics, and so on were used to analyze temporal, seasonal, geographic, and demographic trends in leptospirosis using reported national surveillance data from Chinese mainland from 1955 to 2022. Additionally, a Bayesian spatiotemporal model was used in a preliminary analysis to explore potential factors associated with leptospirosis occurrence., Results: Between 1955 and 2022, China reported 25,236,601 leptospirosis cases, with 91% occurring from July to October. The annual incidence rate peaked at 38.28/100,000 during outbreaks in the 1960s-1980s but stabilized at a low level (0.07/100,000) between 2005 and 2022, with over 99% of cases in southern China. Clustering increased over time, being greatest during the period 2015-2022 (Moran's I = 0.41, P < 0.01). Space-time cluster analysis indicated that the most likely clusters were in northern provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) from 1955 to 1984, in southern PLADs from 1985 to 2022. The main identified risk factors of leptospirosis occurrence were annual average precipitation (3.68, 95% CI: 2.50 to 5.12), GDP per capita (-3.70, 95% CI: - 5.97 to - 1.41), and the total power of agricultural machinery (- 2.51, 95% CI: - 3.85 to - 1.17)., Conclusions: Over past 70 years, leptospirosis in China has occurred as significant outbreaks but has ultimately declined to stable, low levels of occurrence. However, a clear north-south disparity persists, with tropical and subtropical regions in southern China remaining high-risk areas. The nearly 70-year dataset underscores the complex interplay of climate and socioeconomic factors influencing the disease's occurrence. Targeted prevention and control measures are critical to prevent outbreaks, especially in regions prone to extreme climatic events like heavy rainfall and floods, which may signal the resurgence of leptospirosis., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of crown closure seasonal changes in broad-leaved forests on the thermal comfort and the human responses. The participants were a total of 146 male and female university students. The participants sat in a chair and rested in forests with a high and low crown closure, and then closed their eyes and rested for 5 min. The thermal comfort (predicted mean vote, predicted percentage of dissatisfaction) and the physiological (forehead temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, heart rate variability, heart rate) and psychological (thermal sensation vote, comfort sensation vote) responses were measured. The comparisons of thermal comfort and the physiological and psychological responses in forests with high and low crown closure were performed in each season. As a result, forests with high crown closure had higher thermal comfort than forests with low crown closure in summer, fall, and winter, and results related to physiological and psychological responses were more relaxed in all seasons. In conclusion, this study found that forests with high crown closure is more effective to enhance thermal comfort and relax human responses according to season., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Objective: To compare the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) hospitalization burden among 29-34 weeks gestational age (wGA) preterm infants between seasons with and without routine palivizumab prophylaxis, by utilizing the 2021 off-season RSV surge., Methods: This multi-center retrospective study was conducted in 11 medical centers across Israel. We included infants > 1 year-old, with wGA data, hospitalized with RSV infection from November 2017-August 2021. National palivizumab compliance data were collected separately. We compared two periods: in-season (November-March) with routine palivizumab prophylaxis as the reference, and off-season (April-October) without prophylaxis as the primary risk factor. The primary outcome was the proportion of RSV hospitalizations in 29-34 wGA infants relative to total RSV admissions, calculated separately for each period. Secondary outcomes included clinical severity parameters., Results: A total of 3296 infants were admitted during the RSV in-season, and 1044 during the off-season. National palivizumab compliance among eligible infants during the in-season study years was 91%-95%. The proportion of 29-34 wGA infants was significantly higher during the off-season compared to the in-season period (7% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.001). In a multivariable logistic regression model, the odds of hospitalization for 29-34 wGA preemies were 2.6 times higher during the off-season compared to the in-season (95% CI: 1.8-3.9, p < 0.001), independent of demographic covariates. Clinical severity was similar between the two periods., Conclusions: Our results revealed a significantly higher proportion of 29-34 wGA infants hospitalized during seasons without palivizumab prophylaxis compared to seasons with palivizumab prophylaxis. These findings highlight the importance of including 29-34 wGA infants into future RSV immunoprophylaxis recommendations., (© 2025 The Author(s). Pediatric Pulmonology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Though freshwater harmful algal blooms have been described and studied for decades, several important dynamics remain uncertain, including the relationships among nutrient concentrations, phytoplankton growth, and cyanotoxin production. To identify when and where nutrients limit phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, and cyanotoxins, we conducted in situ bioassay studies. We added nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or N + P across various seasons in water collected from three locations across Utah Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the western U.S. This shallow, hypereutrophic lake provides a powerful testbed for quantifying nutrient-growth-toxin interactions. We assessed a range of parameters over time, including photopigment concentrations, phytoplankton abundance (cell counts), cyanotoxins, and nutrient concentrations. Despite high background nutrient concentrations in lake water, phytoplankton abundance and composition were strongly affected by nutrient addition. Phosphorus limitation was more common in the spring, with N limitation and N + P limitation becoming more common in the fall. Nutrient additions were positively associated with cyanobacteria (Microcystis, Aphanocapsa, Dolichospermum, Merismopedia, Aphanizomenon spp.), eukaryotes (Aulacoseira, Desmodesmus spp.), and two taxonomical categories of phytoplankton (i.e., unicellular and colonial green algae). When detected, anatoxin-a was positively associated with Aphanizomenon and negatively associated with Microcystis spp. However, overall cyanotoxin concentrations were not associated with cyanobacterial cell density but varied seasonally. These findings highlight the importance of considering seasonal nutrient availability dynamics and provide insights into specific nutrient targets, species, and cyanotoxins that play a significant role in the health and management of similar eutrophic lake environments around the world., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Short-time cycles of the water column can reflect undetectable changes in seasonal cycles, providing a high temporal resolution for quantifying seston availability. Here, trends in seston quantity and quality were investigated through intensive temporal cycle assessments at an IMTA site and a nearby fish farm facility (control site) during two different periods of the year (July 2021 and March 2022).Chlorophyll-a values (max 10.28 μg L -1 ) showed no significant differences between sites, while lipid values (max 394.87 μg L -1 ) were significantly lower at the IMTA site than at the control site during most sampling times, suggesting that the bioremediating organisms at the IMTA site may help mitigate the impact of fish farming. The IMTA site structured a marine animal forest capable of increasing the abundance of zooplankton, reaching 109,021 ind m -3 . The short-time cycle appeared useful for detecting changes that occur at high temporal resolution, underlying the effects of mitigation measures behind the high variability of marine coastal systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Adriana Giangrande reports financial support was provided by LIFE programme. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ticks and tick-borne haemopathogens are major obstacles to cattle production causing significant economic losses in Ethiopia., Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiology of ticks and tick-borne haemopathogens in cattle in Northwest Ethiopia., Methods: Cross-sectional studies were conducted in dry and short rainy seasons. A stratified random sampling technique was employed. Accordingly, a total of 392 cattle were examined. During sampling parameters like; sex, age, breed, body condition score, district and production system were recorded for each animal. Ticks were collected from each animal and examined under stereomicroscope for species identification. The blood sample was taken from the ear vein by pricking with a lancet and then thin smear was made with a frosted microscopic slide and stained with Giemsa for the detection of haemopathogen infections with 100× oil immersion magnification., Results: Of the 392 cattle examined, 87.8% and 17.1% were positive for tick infestation and tick-borne haemopathogens, respectively. The prevalence of tick and tick-borne haemopathogens was 93.9% and 27% in the short rainy season and 81.6% and 7.1% in the dry season, respectively. Amblyomma, Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) genera, and A. variegatum, A. lepidum, Rh. evertsi, Hy. rufipes and Rh. (B.) decoloratus species were identified. Rhipicephalus (B.) decoloratus was the most prevalent (66.1%) and abundant (38%) tick species. Season, district, age and sex showed significant (p < 0.05) associations with tick infestations. Babesia bigemina (10%), Anaplasma marginale (5.4%), Theileria species (3.1%) and Anaplasma centrale (1.3%) haemopopathogens were detected. Except, for Anaplasma central, they had a significant (p < 0.05) association with season., Conclusion: Ticks and tick-borne haemopathogens were found to be prevalent and had seasonal dynamics. Therefore, strategic and integrated control approaches against the vector and the parasite should be designed., (© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This study investigates the monthly and interannual variations in chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations in the Oman and Somalia upwelling zones using satellite data from 2003 to 2020. Bivariate Wavelet Coherence (BWC) and Multiple Wavelet Coherence (MWC) analyses were applied to identify the key factors influencing Chl-a concentration changes. The results show that Ekman pumping and Ekman transport induced by the southwest monsoon are crucial for phytoplankton blooms along the coast and offshore in both upwelling zones. BWC analysis revealed that the mixed layer depth (MLD) is the best single oceanic factor explaining the interannual fluctuations in Chl-a concentrations in the Oman upwelling zone, while sea surface temperature (SST) is the best factor in the Somalia upwelling zone. MWC analysis showed that the combinations of MLD-EPV (Ekman pumping velocity), MLD-SLA (sea level anomaly), MLD-Niño 3.4, and MLD-SST are most strongly associated with Chl-a variations in the Oman upwelling zone., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) is a neuroinflammatory disease that is suspected to be immune-mediated. Vaccination and season inconsistently have been reported as risk factors for development of MUO in dogs, but limited prospectively collected data is available to evaluate these potential risk factors., Objective: Prospectively evaluate the association between vaccination and season and the development of MUO in dogs., Animals: A total of 172 client-owned dogs diagnosed with MUO., Methods: Dogs were enrolled prospectively from August 2021 through July 2023. Signalment, body weight, vaccination history, and season of onset of neurologic signs were recorded. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of MUO within various post-vaccination windows was statistically compared to a referent window of 451-560 days post-vaccination. The incidence rate (IR) of MUO in each season was compared statistically., Results: Of dogs vaccinated within the previous 450 days, MUO IRR was highest in the first 0-45 days (IRR = 9.14; confidence interval [CI] = 4.04-20.71), followed by 46-90 days (IRR = 4.86; CI = 2.01-11.71) and 91-180 days (IRR = 4.86; CI = 2.15-10.96) post-vaccination compared to the 451-560 day post-vaccination referent window. The MUO IR was slightly more common in the spring (28.5%) and least common in the summer (19.8%). No significant difference in IR between seasons was identified., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: In dogs with potential vaccine-associated MUO, the highest risk to develop MUO may be in the first 45 days post-vaccination. A slowly developing immune response to vaccination over 3-6 months may occur in some dogs. There is no apparent association between season and the development of MUO., (© 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Cyanobacteria blooms (cHABs) comprised of the potentially toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis, are increasing in waterbodies worldwide. CHABs in estuaries often originate from upstream locations with longer hydraulic residence times (e.g., reservoirs, static channels). These locations also accumulate higher concentrations of benthic overwintering cells that serve as inoculum for subsequent year's blooms. We investigated overwintering Microcystis seed stock in the hydrologically complex upper San Francisco Estuary also known as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to quantify total Microcystis in the sediments that was available to inoculate summertime blooms. To study bloom origin and succession, DNA from discrete water and sediment samples was PCR amplified using cyanobacteria-specific 16S-23S ITS rDNA primers. Results confirmed the hypothesis that static peripheral areas have the highest seed stock and generally the highest Microcystis concentrations in surface water. We also confirmed high genetic diversity of the Microcystis population in the Delta with 36 unique genotypes detected in the sediment and water column. This study demonstrates that overwintering cells should be considered when investigating Microcystis dynamics across large estuarine systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Ellen Preece reports financial support was provided by Delta Regional Monitoring Program. Timothy Otten reports financial support was provided by Delta Regional Monitoring Program. Timothy Otten reports financial support was provided by California State Water Resources Control Board. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Migration enables animals to access seasonally and spatially varying resources, resulting in greater abundance compared to analogous non-migratory wildlife. Both Western science and Indigenous knowledge recognize the critical role of migration in sustaining wildlife; yet these movements are increasingly disrupted by human activity worldwide. Despite their importance, long-term changes in migratory patterns for large mammals remain challenging to quantify. Therefore, to address this gap, we analyzed 35 years (1987-2022) of telemetry data for southern mountain caribou (n = 2967 animal-years), a threatened population that typically exhibits two main types of annual migration. The first type is a single horizontal migration between summer and winter ranges, while the second is a twice-per-year vertical migration between high and low elevations. We studied the extent and type of migration, changes through time, and determined if these changes correlated with landscape disturbance or shifts in weather. Our results show that caribou reduced their migratory duration (2-3 days/decade), distance (6-8 km/decade or 15%-25%) and elevation change (120-150 m/decade or 7%-23% for elevational migrants). The subpopulations of caribou adapted to extreme snow depths conducted a unique elevational migration twice a year, which is globally distinctive among ungulates. However, this elevational migration is diminishing in distance and elevation. The changes in elevational and horizontal migration correlated with increased human disturbance, especially of low-elevation winter ranges. Changes in weather did not appear to be a major driver of the migratory declines. Declines in migratory behaviour occurred concomitantly with population declines and increases in disturbance, and these processes are likely intertwined. The rapid loss of these unique migrations is a significant conservation concern that could have irreversible consequences for the social transmission of fitness-maximizing behaviors., (Global Change Biology© 2025 The Author(s). Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Airborne microplastics (AMPs) present significant health risks indoors due to prolonged exposure. This study evaluates AMP concentration, types, and health impacts in residential, office, and commercial settings in Ahvaz, Iran, during winter and summer. The annual inhaled AMP dose was calculated based on typical occupancy patterns. AMP particles were collected from 30 locations using active sampling at 5 L/min for 8 h. Raman spectroscopy identified polymers, and SEM-EDX analysis examined surface morphology and elemental composition. The inhaled dose was estimated using MP concentrations and typical indoor exposure times. The highest AMP concentrations were in offices during winter (up to 48 MPs/m 3 ), moderate in residential areas, and lowest in commercial settings. Predominant AMPs were spherules (67.2% in winter, 69.3% in summer), with black/gray particles being most common. Smaller particles (< 250 µm) were more frequent in summer. Identified polymers included polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The estimated annual inhaled AMP dose was 2,952 MPs/kg/year, mainly from residential, followed by offices and commercial spaces. Results underscore the need for policies to reduce indoor AMP pollution, improve ventilation, and manage exposure risks, especially in high-occupancy areas like offices. Future research should focus on advanced chemical analyses and size-specific dose assessments to better evaluate health risks from inhaled microplastics., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval: This study received ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (IR.AJUMS.REC.1402.042). Consent to participate: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Consent to publish: Not applicable., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Chlorophyll a (Chla) concentration is a key indicator of the biomass of phytoplankton such as algae in freshwater ecosystems. Understanding its response to nutrient and hydro-meteorological factors is vital for managing eutrophication in Lake Taihu, one of China's largest freshwater lakes. This study investigates Chla dynamics in relation to nutrient levels (nitrogen, phosphorus, etc.), hydro-meteorological parameters (temperature, wind, precipitation, etc.), and previous season factors (the values of the factors mentioned above in the previous season) in Lake Taihu. By using various statistical analyzing methods (such as partial least squares regression) and introducing two new indices (similarity and influence), this research witnessed an upward trend in Chla concentration over the past three decades. And the similarity index between predicted and observed results is 0.8425, if all factors are considered, while the similarity index decreases by 6.94% and 33.27% when considering only current or previous factors, respectively. This demonstrates that antecedent seasonal parameters exert some influence on the developmental trend of Chla concentrations in Lake Taihu. When temporal seasonality is abstracted from consideration, air temperature emerges as the predominant forcing factor governing Chla dynamics. Seasonal correlations indicate that, in spring and summer, to control eutrophication and algae bloom in Lake Taihu, a comprehensive approach considering multiple factors is necessary, but the most important action should be controlling biomass of phytoplankton, while in autumn, reducing phosphorus input is crucial. This study provides not only quantitative analyses of the seasonal trends in Chla concentration but also detailed and actionable insights for sustainable freshwater ecosystem management in Lake Taihu., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Projections for the US 2023-24 respiratory virus season indicated a 31% decrease to a 55% increase in hospitalizations for respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, and COVID-19 compared with 2022-23, depending on circulating variants and vaccination uptake. The projections captured the tripledemic peak but missed the multiwave seasonality of COVID-19.

In large herbivores, the timing of births often coincides with the seasonal peak of food resources availability, likely to improve juvenile survival and reduce reproduction costs. Some species, however, breed year-round, even in seasonal environments. Demographic processes, such as to what extent being born during the lean season reduces survival of juveniles and reproductive females, remain understudied in large mammals inhabiting tropical ecosystems. We investigated survival rates in plains zebras (Equus quagga) in Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe), a highly seasonal savanna ecosystem. We used capture-recapture models to analyse long-term demographic data (2008-2019). We investigated the effect of seasonality as a categorical (wet versus dry season) and continuous (duration of the dry season) variable on survival. We found little variability in early juvenile survival (φ = 0.458 ± 0.044 SE, < 6 m.o.), whereas late juvenile and yearling survivals were higher and decreased with increasing length of the dry season (from 0.850 ± 0.095 SE to 0.480 ± 0.120 SE). Female survival was high (> 0.703 ± 0.057 SE and up to 0.995 ± 0.006 SE) but decreased with exposure to the dry season in non-reproductive females. The probability of females becoming reproductive in the following year was not affected by the length of the dry season (0.423 and 0.420 for reproductive and non-reproductive females, respectively). Our results highlight the importance of individual quality in reproductive performance, as reproductive females seem to buffer the effect of environmental variability on their own survival and that of their foal., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethical approval: Ethics approval was not required for this study according to local legislation [Parks and Wildlife Act]. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Climate change is altering the timing of seasonal vegetation cycles (phenology), with cascading consequences on larger ecosystem processes. Therefore, understanding the drivers of vegetation phenology is critical to predicting ecological impacts of climate change. While numerous phenology models exist to predict the timing of the start of the growing season (SOS), there are fewer end-of-season (EOS) models, and most perform poorly in grasslands, since they were made for forests. Our objective was to develop an improved EOS grassland phenology model. We used repeat digital imagery from the PhenoCam Network to extract EOS dates for 44 diverse North American grassland sites (212 site-years) that we fit to 20 new and 3 existing EOS models. All new EOS models (RMSE = 22-33 days between observed and predicted dates) performed substantially better than existing ones (RMSE = 43-46 days). The top model predicted EOS after surpassing a threshold of either accumulated cold temperatures or dryness, but only after a certain number of days following SOS. Including SOS date improved all model fits, indicating a strong correlation between start- and end-of-season timing. Model performance was further improved by independently optimizing parameters for six distinct climate regions (RMSE = 4-19 days). While the best model varied slightly by region, most included similar drivers as the top all-sites model. Thus, across diverse grassland sites, EOS is influenced by both weather (temperature, moisture) and SOS timing. Incorporating these new EOS models into Earth System Models should improve predictions of grassland dynamics and associated ecosystem processes., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of population exposure to PM 2.5 (PEP) and its relationship with socioeconomic activity (SEA) is crucial to reduce exposure risks and health dangers. However, few studies have investigated the dynamic variations of PEP within large regions at high spatiotemporal resolution; further, the impact mechanism between PEP and SEA remains largely unclear. Therefore, we estimated highly accurate PM 2.5 concentrations in the Hunan province, China, using the Boruta and random forest (RF) algorithms and evaluated high-spatiotemporal-resolution PEP based on the estimated PM 2.5 and obtained population data. Nighttime light data were used as a proxy of SEA to analyze the relationship between PEP and SEA. The results revealed that the Boruta-RF model predicted PM 2.5 with fewer errors than the RF and stepwise multiple linear regression models, with the mean root-mean-square error reduced by 6.18% and 11.15%, respectively. The monthly PM 2.5 concentrations in 2015 showed a U-shaped curve, with the entire provincial population exposed to monthly mean concentrations > 15 μg/m 3 . Heavier PM 2.5 pollution tended to occur in densely populated areas, particularly in winter months. Using both fine-scale PM 2.5 and population data improved the reliability of monthly PEP assessments and avoided over- and under-responses. Moreover, the PEP risk exhibited a unimodal structure, with a peak in January, at which point the urban-rural difference in PEP was the greatest. Further, PEP was positively influenced by SEA, with clear spatial spillover effects. SEA had an active impact on PEP during festivals and holidays, with the greatest consistency between the two occurring in November. These findings provide crucial insights for managing PM 2.5 pollution., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: No ethical approval is required for this study. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Seasonality is an important natural feature that drives cyclic environmental changes. Seaweed holobionts, inhabiting shallow waters such as rocky shores and mud flats, are subject to seasonal changes in particular, but little is known about the influence of seasonality on their microbial communities. In this study, we conducted a three-year time series, sampling at two-month intervals, to assess the seasonality of microbial epibiota in the seaweed holobiont Gracilaria vermiculophylla. Our results reveal pronounced seasonal shifts that are both taxonomic and functional, oscillating between late winter and early summer across consecutive years. While epibiota varied taxonomically between populations, they were functionally similar, indicating that seasonal variability drives functional changes, while spatial variability is more redundant. We also identified seasonal core microbiota that consistently (re)associated with the host at specific times, alongside a permanent core that is present year-round, independent of season or geography. These findings highlight the dynamic yet resilient nature of seaweed holobionts and demonstrate that their epibiota undergo predictable changes. Therewith, this research offers important insights into the temporal dynamics of seaweed-associated microbiota and demonstrates that the relationship between seaweed host and its epibiota is not static but naturally subject to an ongoing seasonal succession process., (© 2025 The Author(s). Environmental Microbiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The effects of short-term ambient ozone (O 3 ) exposure on health outcomes have received growing concerns, but its effects on psoriasis is still unclear. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of short-term exposure to O 3 on psoriasis, and to find out potential modifiers. A hospital-based time-series study with outpatient visit data of psoriasis was performed in Chongqing, the largest metropolitan in Southeast China. General additive models combined quasi-Poisson regression were implied to reveal the association between short-term exposure to O 3 and psoriasis. Moreover, the potential modifiers were found out through subgroup analyses. Totally, 23,921 psoriasis outpatient visits were included. For the whole patient population, no significant association between exposure to O 3 and outpatient visits for psoriasis was observed. Interestingly, the stratified analyses based on concentrations showed that low concentration of O 3 (below the recommended limitation of 100 μg/m 3 by WHO and China), rather than high concentration of O 3 , was negatively associated with psoriasis outpatient visits at various lag days, and the greatest decrease was observed at lag03 (-2.05%; 95%CI: -3.55%, -0.53%). Moreover, stronger associations were observed in cool seasons, patients aged 40 or above, and males. Additionally, the negative associations of low-concentration O 3 on psoriasis outpatient visits were still robust in sensitivity analyses. Our study discovered that low-concentrations of O 3 , rather than high concentrations of O 3 , can be associated with decreased outpatient visits for psoriasis, especially for males, population aged 40 and above, and in cool seasons., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: The informed consent was not obtained since it was a retrospective study without any individual contact with patients. The protocols were approved by the Ethics Committee of Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University) and complied with Declaration of Helsinki. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to International Society of Biometeorology.)

We present a dynamic modeling approach for predicting the risk of high microcystin concentrations in Western Lake Erie. At the center of our model is an empirical model based on a basic mechanistic assumption about microcystin production in lakes (i.e., microcystin concentration is proportional to the biomass of cyanobacteria Microcystis spp.). Using the Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach, we allow the proportional constant to vary by year and season. An iterative updating algorithm was used to sequentially update the model, allowing the hierarchical model be used for short-term forecasting as new data become available. Our predictive model includes an ensemble of four alternative representations of seasonal variation. These alternatives are evaluated at each iterative step and the short-term prediction is the weighted average of these alternative predictions with weighs based on their predictive accuracy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Song Qian reports financial support was provided by NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are crucial players in atmospheric chemistry, significantly impacting the formation of tropospheric ozone (O₃). While China has made substantial strides in reducing anthropogenic VOC (AVOCs) emissions, O₃ levels persist, highlighting the complex interplay between biogenic and anthropogenic sources. A critical knowledge gap exists in understanding how BVOC emissions influence ozone formation regimes (OFRs) and how this knowledge can inform effective air quality policies. This study employs the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN) version 3.2 and the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System (CMAQ) version 5.3.3 models, combined with process analysis (PA) and the Integrated Source Apportionment Method (ISAM), to evaluate the impact of BVOC emissions on OFRs in China. The models simulate BVOC emissions and their effects on OFRs across various regions during July 2019. The findings highlight that BVOCs play a pivotal role in shifting OFRs, with significant implications for ozone mitigation strategies in China. The study suggests that effective ozone control measures must consider the dual impact of BVOCs and AVOCs, with tailored strategies for different regions and times of day. The study also proposes potential challenges in mitigating BVOC emissions and outlines future research directions for interdisciplinary collaboration to address the complexities of ozone pollution management. This research advances the understanding of BVOCs' roles in ozone formation dynamics and provides a foundation for developing more effective air quality management policies in China, especially as global greening and climate change continue to influence BVOC emissions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Temporal variability and associated driving factors of sea surface chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) in coastal waters have been extensively studied worldwide; however, the importance and spatial heterogeneity of these driving factors remain insufficiently documented. This study addressed this gap by investigating the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) from August 2002 to June 2016, using long-term remote sensing-derived data of Chl-a and potential driving factors, including total suspended solids (TSS), precipitation, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and sea surface temperature (SST); and in situ measurements of potential driving factors, including river discharge, wind speed, alongshore wind (u), cross-shore wind (v), and tidal range. A pixel-by-pixel correlation analysis was conducted to preliminarily examine the relationships between these potential driving factors and Chl-a. Subsequently, random forest regression was applied to determine the primary factors in driving the intra-annual and inter-annual variations of Chl-a. Results indicate that, at the intra-annual scale, TSS was the primary factor influencing Chl-a in the shallow (<10 m) nearshore regions and the deep (>30 m) offshore regions, while SST was most important in the intermediate zone. Additionally, in certain areas of the Lingding Bay, Chl-a was primarily affected by river discharge. At the inter-annual scale, tidal range was the primary factor in the western Lingding Bay and the western coastal waters, while Chl-a was primarily modulated by SST in the eastern Lingding Bay. In the offshore region, Chl-a was primarily modulated by river discharge, v, precipitation, and TSS. These findings are of fundamental importance for advancing our understanding of the characteristics and associated mechanisms of marine environmental variability in estuarine systems. They provide a scientific basis for informed management of estuarine environments and sustainable economic development., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Semi-arid regions, such as the Yellow River Basin in China, are highly sensitive to environmental changes due to their scarce water resources and fragile ecosystems. This study explores the response mechanisms of eukaryotic plankton community structure to environmental conditions in the Dahei River Basin, a representative semi-arid region in central-western Inner Mongolia, across different seasons (spring, summer, autumn) and regions (hills, plain, urban). Our results reveal significant temporal and spatial variability in water resources and quality factors, which in turn affect eukaryotic plankton community structure. Using distance decay relationship (DDR) modeling and random forest analysis, we demonstrate that water quality factors, especially water temperature, are the primary factors influencing community composition in urban regions, where human activities such as industrial thermal discharges and urban heat island effects elevate water temperatures. In summer, increased water volume and flow velocity enhanced river connectivity, promoting greater community structure similarity across the basin, while in autumn, reduced flow and connectivity led to spatial heterogeneity and increased growth of the pollutant-tolerant species like Desmodesmus and Stephanocyclus. The synergistic effects of low flow rates and deteriorating water quality during the dry period intensified the influence of environmental factors on phytoplankton, decreasing community stability and increasing deterministic processes in community assembly. This shift towards determinism, especially in urban regions heavily impacted by human activities, highlights the sensitivity of semi-arid aquatic ecosystems. Co-occurrence network analysis further reveals that urban regions exhibit lower network complexity and stability, underscoring the heightened ecological sensitivity in these regions. In conclusion, the study highlights the critical role of water volume and quality in shaping eukaryotic plankton communities and elucidates how environmental changes, exacerbated by human activities and climate change, disrupt ecosystem stability. These findings offer essential insights for managing and conserving aquatic ecosystems in semi-arid regions facing dual pressures of climate change and human activity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Urban forests, combining the characteristics of urban habitats and forest ecosystems, play an increasingly crucial role in enhancing urban environmental quality and maintaining ecological balance, emerging as vital areas for biodiversity. Bird monitoring effectively evaluates changes in urban habitats and serves as an important indicator for ecosystem services and biodiversity health. However, the relationship between bird community characteristics and urban forest environments across seasons is not fully understood. In this regard, we employed passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) combined with acoustic diversity index (ADI), normalized difference soundscape index (NDSI) and power spectral density (PSD), to explore how habitat features impact the acoustic activity intensity of forest bird community. Sound collection was conducted for 48 h at 30 monitoring points in spring, autumn, and winter. The results indicated that the acoustic bird community in autumn exhibited an obvious dominance. Seasonal variation significantly influenced the correlation between green space soundscapes and vegetation types. Average tree height and distance to the forest edge were identified as main factors affecting bird diversity and dominance changes. In addition, vegetation features accounted for most of the variation in the frequency band distribution of birdsong over different temporal scales. This study highlights the considerable potential urban forests hold for supporting avian diversity. The utility of acoustic monitoring method in tracking biodiversity in urban forests is demonstrated by the findings. Through this efficient monitoring approach, we conducted an in-depth evaluation of the acoustic characteristics of birds in urban forests, providing new insights into biodiversity conservation in rapidly urbanizing environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Human adenovirus F41 (HAdV-41), norovirus genogroup II (HNV-GII), rotavirus group A (RVA), and hepatitis A virus (HAV) are responsible for millions of illnesses every year in Canada. Wastewater-based epidemiology is one way to monitor the prevalence of these underreported (HAV) and non-reportable (HAdV-41, HNV-GII, RVA) food and waterborne enteric viruses. In this study, we monitored the presence of these four viruses in wastewater over 16 months from September 2022 until December 2023 using samples from two locations in southern Ontario. Viruses in 286 wastewater samples were concentrated using PEG precipitation and quantified using a multiplex RT-qPCR assay for HAdV-41, HNV-GII, and RVA, and a singleplex RT-qPCR assay for HAV. In agreement with historical clinical data, HNV-GII and RVA had seasonal peaks in wastewater in the winter (HNV-GII, up to 1.09 × 10 3 gene copies (GC)/mL) and spring (RVA, up to 1.20 × 10 2 GC/mL). The concentration of HAdV-41 in wastewater had a significant seasonal peak in the fall of 2022 (up to 4.65 × 10 4 GC/mL) that was not repeated in the fall of 2023. The detection of HAV in 24 of 127 samples was correlated with four clinical cases in one sewershed with a one-week wastewater lead time., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.)