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Understanding changes of soil organic carbon (SOC) in top layers of croplands and their driving factors is a vital prerequisite in decision-making for maintaining sustainable agriculture. However, high-precision estimation of SOC of croplands at regional scale is still an issue to be solved. Based on soil samples, synthetic image of bare soil and geographical data, this paper predicted SOC density of croplands using Random Forest model in the Black Soil Region of Jilin Province, China in 2005 and 2020, and analyzed its influencing factors. Results showed that random forest model that integrates bare soil composite images improve the accuracy and robustness of SOC density prediction. From 2005 to 2020, the total SOC storage in croplands decreased from 89.96 to 82.79 Tg C with an annual decrease of 0.48 Tg C yr−1. The mean value of SOC density of croplands decreased from 3.42 to 3.32 kg/m2, and high values are distributed in middle parts. Changes of SOC represented significant heterogeneity spatially. 62.14% of croplands with SOC density greater than 4.0 kg/m2 decreased significantly, and 38.60% of croplands with SOC density between 2.5 and 3.0 kg/m2 significantly increased. Climatic factors made great contributions to SOC density, however, their relative importance (RI) to SOC density decreased from 44.65% to 37.26% during the study period. Synthetic images of bare soil constituted 23.54% and 26.29% of RI in the SOC density prediction, respectively, and the contribution of each band was quite different. The RIs of topographic and vegetation factors were low but increased significantly from 2005 to 2020. This study can aid local land managers and governmental agencies in assessing carbon sequestration potential and carbon credits, thus contributing to the protection and sustainable use of black soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and stable positioning is significant for vehicle navigation systems, especially in complex urban environments. However, urban canyons and dynamic interference make vehicle sensors prone to disturbance, leading to vehicle positioning errors and even failures. To address these issues, an adaptive loosely coupled IMU/GNSS/LiDAR integrated navigation system based on factor graph optimization with sensor weight optimization and fault detection is proposed. First, the factor nodes and system framework are constructed based on error models of sensors, and the optimization method principle is derived. Second, the interactive multiple-model algorithm based on factor graph optimization (IMMFGO) is utilized to calculate and adjust sensor weights for global optimization, which will reduce the impact of disturbed sensors. Finally, a multi-stage fault detection, isolation, and recovery (MSFDIR) strategy is implemented based on the IMMFGO results and IMU pre-integration measurements, which can detect significant sensor faults and optimize the system structure. Vehicle experiments show that our IMMFGO method generally obtains better performance in positioning accuracy by 23.7% compared to adaptive factor graph optimization (AFGO) methods, and the MSFDIR strategy possesses the capability of fault sensor detection, which provides an essential reference for multi-source vehicle navigation systems in urban canyons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas are undergoing significant changes with the rise of smart cities, with technology transforming how cities develop through enhanced connectivity and data-driven services. However, these advancements also bring new challenges, especially in dealing with urban emergencies that can disrupt city life and infrastructure. The emergency management systems have become crucial elements for enabling cities to better handle urban emergencies, although ensuring the reliability and detectability of such system remains critical. This article introduces a new method to perform reliability and detectability assessments. By using Fault Tree Markov chain models, this article evaluates their performance under extreme conditions, providing valuable insights for designing and operating urban emergency systems. These analyses fill a gap in the existing research, offering a comprehensive understanding of emergency management systems functionality in complex urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban artificial surfaces and structures induce modifications in land–atmosphere interactions, affecting the exchange of energy, momentum, and substances. These modifications stimulate urban climate formation by altering the values and dynamics of atmospheric parameters, including cloud-related features. This study evaluates the presence and quantifies the extent of such changes over Sofia, Bulgaria. The findings reveal that estimations of low-level cloud base height (CBH) derived from lifting condensation level (LCL) calculations may produce unexpected outcomes due to microclimate influence. Ceilometer data indicate that the CBH of low-level clouds over urban areas exceeds that of surrounding regions by approximately 200 m during warm months and afternoon hours. Moreover, urban clouds exhibit reduced persistence relative to rural counterparts, particularly pronounced in May, June, and July afternoons. Reanalysis-derived low-level cloud cover (LCC) shows no significant disparities between urban and rural areas, although increased LCC is observed above the western and northern city boundaries. Satellite-derived cloud products reveal that the optically thinnest low-level clouds over urban areas exhibit slightly higher cloud tops, but the optically thickest clouds are more prevalent during warm months. These findings suggest an influence of urbanization on cloudiness, albeit nuanced and potentially influenced by the city size and surrounding physical and geographical features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use/land cover (LULC) changes significantly impact spatiotemporal groundwater levels, posing a challenge for sustainable water resource management. This study investigates the long-term (2000–2022) influence of LULC dynamics, particularly urbanization, on groundwater depletion in Kabul, Afghanistan, using geospatial techniques. A time series of Landsat imagery (Landsat 5, 7 ETM+, and 8 OLI/TIRS) was employed to generate LULC maps for five key years (2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2022) using a supervised classification algorithm based on Support Vector Machines (SVMs). Our analysis revealed a significant expansion of urban areas (70%) across Kabul City between 2000 and 2022, particularly concentrated in Districts 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, and 22. Urbanization likely contributes to groundwater depletion through increased population growth, reduced infiltration of precipitation, and potential overexploitation of groundwater resources. The CA-Markov model further predicts continued expansion in built-up areas over the next two decades (2030s and 2040s), potentially leading to water scarcity, land subsidence, and environmental degradation in Kabul City. The periodic assessment of urbanization dynamics and prediction of future trends are considered the novelty of this study. The accuracy of the generated LULC maps was assessed for each year (2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2022), achieving overall accuracy values of 95%, 93.8%, 85%, 95.6%, and 93%, respectively. These findings provide a valuable foundation for the development of sustainable management strategies for Kabul's surface water and groundwater resources, while also guiding future research efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Semi-variable Coefficient Spatial Lag Model (SVC-SLM) not only addresses the "dimension disaster" associated with the Varying Coefficient Spatial Lag Model(VC-SLM), but also overcomes the non-linear problem of the variable coefficient, and fully explores the hidden information of the model. In this paper, INLA is firstly used to estimate the parameters of (SVC-SLM) by using B-spline to deal with the non-parametric terms, and the comparative experimental results show that the INLA algorithm is much better than MCMCINLA in terms of both time efficiency and estimation accuracy. For the problem of identifying the constant coefficient terms in the SVC-SLM, the bootstrap test is given based on the residuals. Taking the PM2.5 data of 31 provinces in mainland China from 2015 to 2020 as an empirical example, parametric, non-parametric, and semi-parametric perspectives establish three models of Spatial Lag Model (SLM), VC-SLM, SVC-SLM, which explore the relationship between the covariate factors and the level of urbanization as well as their impacts on the concentration of PM2.5 in the context of increasing urbanization; among the three models, the SVC-SLM has the smallest values of DIC and WAIC, indicating that the SVC-SLM is optimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a novel architecture that aims to create a template for the implementation of an IT platform, supporting the deployment and integration of the different digital twin subsystems that compose a complex urban intelligence system. In more detail, the proposed Smart City IT architecture has the following main purposes: (i) facilitating the deployment of the subsystems in a cloud environment; (ii) effectively storing, integrating, managing, and sharing the huge amount of heterogeneous data acquired and produced by each subsystem, using a data lake; (iii) supporting data exchange and sharing; (iv) managing and executing workflows, to automatically coordinate and run processes; and (v) to provide and visualize the required information. A prototype of the proposed IT solution was implemented leveraging open-source frameworks and technologies, to test its functionalities and performance. The results of the tests performed in real-world settings confirmed that the proposed architecture could efficiently and easily support the deployment and integration of heterogeneous subsystems, allowing them to share and integrate their data and to select, extract, and visualize the information required by a user, as well as promoting the integration with other external systems, and defining and executing workflows to orchestrate the various subsystems involved in complex analyses and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of urban hierarchy and scale distribution are crucial in urban research, as they examine the laws of urban development and the functional layout of urban spatial systems. However, previous studies have focused on the macro-spatial distribution of the economy, businesses, and population at the regional level, whereas systematic research on the scale distribution of retail formats in central urban areas is lacking. Therefore, this study investigated the hierarchical scale distribution of retail formats in the top ten cities in China by GDP, using the Public Service Facilities Index Method to define central district boundaries, using scale as an epistemological framework of order and analyzing the spatial distribution patterns of retail formats. The results revealed that the spatial hierarchical scale follows a power law within a certain range; the spatial distribution exhibits stage characteristics, providing a quantitative method for defining retail centres; and the dominant functions, development directions, and morphological characteristics of central districts influence the hierarchical scale distribution of retail formats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a highly urbanized country, Japan is facing the phenomenon of a continuous migration of young people from rural areas to cities, leading to an aging and decreasing population in rural communities. Influenced by the pandemic, people began to reconsider the issue of population concentration in large cities, causing urban residents to become interested in returning to rural areas. The focus of this study is on the perceptions and relocation intentions of Japanese youth towards rural areas, particularly in Hanyu-shi, Saitama Prefecture. Through semi-structured interviews with 26 urban university students who live in urban areas, this study explores the factors that attract or hinder them from having rural lives. The survey results show that childhood experiences and current lifestyle preferences have influenced their views on rural areas. The main hindering factors include backwards infrastructure, communication difficulties, and limited job prospects. This study reveals a significant cognitive gap in urban youth's attitudes towards rural life in Japan. The study emphasizes the need to eliminate these hindrances and enhance the attractiveness of rural areas to promote reverse urban migration. This study provides important insights for policymakers and urban planners, highlighting the necessity of formulating development strategies that meet the needs of urban youth residents, which is crucial for the sustainable revitalization of rural Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several cities worldwide are studying the replacement of their trolleybus systems with diesel buses or battery electric buses, due to their flexibility and lower operational costs. Diesel buses are considered a major cause of gas emissions in cities, while battery electric buses employ cutting-edge technology, but there is still discussion around the topic due to their technology costs, autonomy, and the sustainability of battery packs. In this study, we evaluated the trolleybus system's potential for reducing emissions, noise pollution, and greenhouse gases (GHGs) when compared to diesel buses. Furthermore, we compared the trolleybus system with battery electric buses in terms of cost and environmental benefits. To do so, a case study was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil, the largest city in Latin America, which operates the second-highest trolleybus system on the American continent. Our results show that the trolleybus system is a feasible alternative to diesel buses when considering environmental aspects. It can be seen as a complementary service for urban transport systems in the city's transition to clean energy. Finally, the study implications indicate the need for further investigation of the benefits of in-motion-charge technology to generate flexibility in trolleybus systems, and the involvement of stakeholders in the transition matrix energy process in urban bus systems beyond the direct costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An invasive orb-weaving spider from east Asia is now spreading through the southeastern United States; Trichonephila clavata (the "jorō spider") makes large, imposing webs seemingly everywhere, including in urban landscapes, and even next to busy roads. However, areas near roads come with frequent disturbances, including auditory and vibrational, which for many animals, leads to physiological or behavioral changes. Here we tested if varying levels of road traffic affect the prey–capture behavior of jorō spiders in northeast Georgia. We visited roadsides that ranged in traffic density and exposed nearby jorō spiders to a simulated prey (a tuning fork at 128 hz frequency, touched to the web), and recorded whether or not the spider attacked it. Out of 357 total trials across 20 different roads, jorō spiders attacked the simulated prey 59% of the time, but at the local scale, there was high variability in this rate; at some roadsides, over 80% of the spiders attacked, while at others, less than 30% did. When all roads were considered collectively, there was a small but significant (negative) correlation between daily road traffic and spider attack rates. Put another way, spiders near moderate- to heavy-traffic roads were slightly less likely to attack than those near low-traffic roads (51% vs. 65%). Jorō spiders appear to be able to live near roads, but this does come with a cost in terms of prey capture. However, spiders near busier roads did not weigh less than those in other sites, suggesting they may be able to compensate for the disturbance. These findings add to the accumulating evidence around this species that points to its ability to exist in human-dominated landscapes, which will likely aid its spread in the introduced range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global climate change, lightning disasters have emerged as a serious environmental factor that restricts the sustainable development of megacities. This paper provides a review of the research on the impact of urbanization on thunderstorm processes and lightning activity, exploring various aspects, such as aerosols, urban thermal effects, urban dynamic effects, and building morphology. Despite numerous significant achievements in the study of the impact of air pollutants on lightning activity, there is no consensus on whether aerosols serve to enhance or inhibit lightning activity. The temperature difference between the urban underlying surface and the natural underlying surface could sustain and promote the occurrence and development of convective systems, thus enhancing lightning activity. In terms of urban dynamics, the barrier effect has led to the maximum center of lightning appearing at the edge of a built-up area, which might be associated with factors, such as urban heat island (UHI) intensity, wind speed, synoptic background, and city size. Additionally, the size of a city and the height of the buildings was also an influencing factor on lightning activity. In summary, scholars have made progress in understanding the characteristics and drivers of urban lightning activity in recent years, but there are still some urgent problems that need to be solved: (1) How to analyze, comprehensively, the spatiotemporal patterns of urban lightning activity under different thunderstorm intensity backgrounds? (2) How to conduct analysis to investigate the influence of alterations in the boundary layer structure, water–heat energy balance, and water vapor circulation processes on urban lightning activity in the context of urbanization? (3) How to couple numerical models of different scales to enhance the understanding of the impact of complex underlying surfaces on urban lightning activity? Future studies could investigate the relationship between urbanization and thunderstorm/lightning activity using a combination of observational data, numerical modeling, and laboratory experiments, which holds promise for providing valuable theoretical insights and technical support to enhance the prediction, nowcasting, early warning, and risk assessment of thunderstorms and lightning in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environment changes, water scarcity, soil depletion, and urbanisation are making it harder to produce food using traditional methods in various regions and countries. Aquaponics is emerging as a sustainable food production system that produces fish and plants in a closed-loop system. Aquaponics is not dependent on soil or external environmental factors. It uses fish waste to fertilise plants and can save up to 90–95% water. Aquaponics is an innovative system for growing food and is expected to be very promising, but it has its challenges. It is a complex ecosystem that requires multidisciplinary knowledge, proper monitoring of all crucial parameters, and high maintenance and initial investment costs to build the system. Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are key technologies that can overcome these challenges. Numerous recent studies focus on the use of AI and the IoT to automate the process, improve efficiency and reliability, provide better management, and reduce operating costs. However, these studies often focus on limited aspects of the system, each considering different domains and parameters of the aquaponics system. This paper aims to consolidate the existing work, identify the state-of-the-art use of the IoT and AI, explore the key parameters affecting growth, analyse the sensing and communication technologies employed, highlight the research gaps in this field, and suggest future research directions. Based on the reviewed research, energy efficiency and economic viability were found to be a major bottleneck of current systems. Moreover, inconsistencies in sensor selection, lack of publicly available data, and the reproducibility of existing work were common issues among the studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of vegetation phenology to urbanization has become a growing concern. As impervious surfaces change as urbanization advances, the variation in vegetation phenology at the dynamic urbanization level was analyzed to significantly quantify the impact of urbanization processes on vegetation phenology. Based on the MOD13Q1 vegetation index product from 2001 to 2020, vegetation phenology parameters, including the start of the growing season (SOS), the end of the growing season (EOS), and the length of the growing season (GSL), were extracted, and the spatial–temporal variation in vegetation phenology, as well as its response to urbanization, was comprehensively analyzed. The results reveal that (1) from 2001 to 2020, the average rates of change for the SOS, EOS, and GSL were 0.41, 0.16, and 0.57 days, respectively. (2) The vegetation phenology changes showed significant spatial–temporal differences at the urbanization level. With each 10% increase in the urbanization level, the SOS and EOS were advanced and delayed by 0.38 and 0.34 days, respectively. (3) The urban thermal environment was a major factor in the impact of urbanization on the SOS and EOS. Overall, this study elucidated the dynamic reflection of urbanization in phenology and revealed the complex effects of urbanization on vegetation phenology, thus helping policymakers to develop effective strategies to improve urban ecological management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation traditionally focuses on at-risk species and relatively intact ecosystems. As the human population and our global impact have risen, many more species and ecosystems are at risk and fewer intact ecosystems remain, with urbanization being a major contributing factor. Cities and their inhabitants are here to stay, and the prevalence of urbanization, often in the vicinity of areas of high conservation value, requires reconsideration of the conservation value of urban ecosystems and urban green spaces. Our aim is to explore the practical aspects of such actions. Urban ecosystem regeneration will require the incorporation of strategies for urban ecosystem regeneration into an overall conservation policy. The novel paradigm of urban ecosystem regeneration, advocated here, maximizes the capacity of urban spaces to support biodiversity while reducing undesirable outcomes and enhancing human wellbeing. The potential for cities to exacerbate biological invasion, climate change, and other ecosystem-degrading factors requires particular attention in devising a strategy for conservation in urban spaces, made essential by the predicted further spread of cities across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ludwig Edinger (1855–1918) is often perceived as a functional neuroanatomist who primarily followed traditional lines of microscopic research. That he was a rather fascinating innovator in the history of neurology at the turn from the nineteenth to the twentieth century has, however, gone quite unnoticed. Edinger's career and his pronounced hopes for future investigative progress in neurological work mark an important shift, one away from traditional research styles connected to department-based approaches towards a multi-perspective and quite advanced form of interdisciplinary scientific work. Being conceptually influenced by the Austrian neuroanatomist Heinrich Obersteiner (1847–1922) and his foundation of the Neurological Institute in Vienna in 1882, Edinger established a multi-faceted brain research program. It was linked to an institutional setting of laboratory analysis and clinical research that paved the way for a new type of interdisciplinarity. After completion of his medical training, which brought him in working relationships with illustrious clinicians such as Friedrich von Recklinghausen (1810–1879) and Adolf Kussmaul (1822–1902), Edinger settled in 1883 as one of the first clinically working neurologists in the German city of Frankfurt/Main. Here, he began to collaborate with the neuropathologist Carl Weigert (1845–1904), who worked at the independent research institute of the Senckenbergische Anatomie. Since 1902, Edinger came to organize the anatomical collections and equipment for a new brain research laboratory in the recently constructed Senckenbergische Pathologie. It was later renamed the "Neurological Institute", and became an early interdisciplinary working place for the study of the human nervous system in its comparative, morphological, experimental, and clinical dimensions. Even after Edinger's death and under the austere circumstances of the Weimar Period, altogether three serviceable divisions continued with fruitful research activities in close alignment: the unit of comparative neurology, the unit of neuropsychology and neuropathology (headed by holist neurologist Kurt Goldstein, 1865–1965), and an associated unit of paleoneurology (chaired by Ludwig Edinger's daughter Tilly, 1897–1967, who later became a pioneering neuropaleontologist at Harvard University). It was especially the close vicinity of the clinic that attracted Edinger's attention and led him to conceive a successful model of neurological research, joining together different scientific perspectives in a unique and visibly modern form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Urban parks are hot spots of bird diversity in cities. However, their role as urban filters for raptor species has not been assessed yet. This study aimed to compare the functional and phylogenetic traits of raptor assemblages in urban parks with the regional species pool of raptors in east–central Argentina. Diurnal raptors were surveyed in 51 urban parks in six cities during breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The regional species pool was assessed through raptor surveys and published maps surrounding the cities. The functional and phylogenetic relatedness of urban raptors was higher than expected by chance, suggesting filtering induced by urban parks. Urban raptors were, in general, generalist species with small body sizes. Moreover, species tended to be part of the Falconidae family. Based on the results obtained here and in other published work, a model of raptor assembling in urban parks is proposed. The design of urban parks needs to be more heterogeneous, promoting the occurrence of specialist raptors. Urban parks are hot spots of bird diversity in cities. However, their role as urban filters for raptor species has not been assessed yet. This study aimed to compare the functional and phylogenetic traits of raptor assemblages in urban parks with the regional species pool of raptors in east–central Argentina. Diurnal raptors were surveyed in 51 urban parks in six cities during breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The regional species pool was assessed through raptor surveys and published maps surrounding the cities. The observed functional and phylogenetic relatedness of urban raptors was compared with 999 simulated raptor assemblages from the regional species pool. A total of five species were recorded in urban parks. The Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango) was the numerically dominant species, comprising 95% of the 172 individuals recorded. The regional species pool was composed of 20 diurnal species. The functional and phylogenetic relatedness of urban raptors was higher than expected by chance, suggesting filtering induced by urban parks. Urban raptors were, in general, generalist species with small body sizes. Moreover, species tended to be part of the Falconidae family. Based on the results obtained here and in other published work, a model of raptor assembling in urban parks is proposed. The design of urban parks needs to be more heterogeneous, promoting the occurrence of specialist raptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is situated within the discussion of mega-urbanization, a particular urbanization process that entails a large-scale agglomeration. In this paper, our focus is on urbanization in Java, Indonesia's most dynamic region. We add to the literature by investigating the change and prediction of the land use/land cover (LULC) of mega-urbanization in Java. This research uses a vector machine approach to support the classification of land cover change dynamics, cellular automata-Markov (CA Markov), and the Klassen typology technique. This paper indicates that major metropolitan areas are still expanding in terms of built-up areas, generating a larger urban agglomeration. However, attention should be also given to the urbanization process outside existing metropolis' boundaries given that more than half of the built-up land coverage in Java is located in non-metropolitan areas. In terms of future direction, the projection results for 2032 show that the Conservative scenario can reduce and slow down the increase in built-up land on the island of Java. On the other hand, the Spatial Plan (RTRW) scenario facilitates a rapid increase in the LULC of built-up land from 2019. The urban spatial dynamics in Java raises challenges for urban and regional planning as the process is taking place across multiple administrative authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving geo-information decision evaluation is an important part of geospatial decision support research, particularly when considering vulnerability, risk, resilience, and sustainability (V-R-R-S) of urban land–water systems (ULWSs). Previous research enumerated a collection of V-R-R-S conceptual component commonalties and differences resulting in a synthesis concept called VRRSability. As a single concept, VRRSability enhances our understanding of the relationships within and among V-R-R-S. This paper reports research that extends and deepens the VRRSability synthesis by elucidating relationships among the V-R-R-S concepts, and organizes them into a VRRSability conceptual framework meant to guide operationalization within decision support systems. The core relationship within the VRRSability framework is 'functional performance', which couples land and water concerns within complex ULWS. Using functional performance, we elucidate other significant conceptual relationships, e.g., scale, scenarios and social knowledge, among others. A narrative about the functional performance of green stormwater infrastructure as part of a ULWS offers a practical application of the conceptual framework. VRRSability decision evaluation trade-offs among land and water emerge through the narrative, particularly how land cover influences water flow, which in turn influences water quality. The discussion includes trade-offs along risk–resilience and vulnerability–sustainability dimensions as key aspects of functional performance. Conclusions include knowledge contributions about a VRRSability conceptual framework and the next steps for operationalization within decision support systems using artificial intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within peri-urban landscapes, this research investigated the complexity of the balance between urban development and green infrastructure preservation, with a specific focus on Harku municipality, Estonia. This study aimed to understand the interplay between cultural ecosystem services (CESs) and residents' well-being. Aligned with the EU Nature Restoration Law, this research explored long-term dynamics in peri-urban areas' CES conservation. The methodology included creating scenarios by combining new secondary data with the author's prior studies, which covered landscape belts, CES values, and residents' perceptions of satisfaction with the environment and recreation opportunities collected through a municipal survey. While residents expressed satisfaction in coastal and green spaces, a distinct decline was evident near villages with industrial and agricultural features, highlighting the landscape's impact on well-being. This study identified case-study-specific threats related to rapid urbanisation and put forward constructive policy recommendations. The goal was to develop effective and sustainable strategies for preserving nature through ecosystem service-based frameworks, enhance community well-being, and account for landscape dynamics through scenario planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of urbanization, water bodies bear considerable anthropogenic pressure, resulting in a reduction of their surface area in most instances. Nevertheless, in contrast to many other regions, the Lixiahe region in Jiangsu Province, located in China's eastern plain, has experienced a continuous expansion of water bodies over the past few decades amid rapid urbanization. Using Landsat images spanning from 1975 to 2023, this study analyzed changes in water resources and the growth of impervious surfaces during urbanization. The findings revealed that the area of impervious surfaces in the region increased from 227.1 km2 in 1975 to 1883.1 km2 in 2023. Natural wetland suffered significant losses, declining from 507.2 km2 in 1975 to near disappearance by the year 2000, with no significant recovery observed thereafter. Simultaneously, the water area expanded from 459.3 km2 in 1975 to 2373.1 km2 in 2023, primarily propelled by the significant contribution of aquaculture ponds, accounting for 2175.0 km2 or 91.7% of the total water area. Driver analysis revealed that these changes were found to be influenced by factors such as population, economy, demand, and policies. However, alongside the economic development brought by urbanization, negative impacts such as lake shrinkage, eutrophication, and increased flood risks have emerged. The Lixiahe region, as a relatively underdeveloped part of Jiangsu Province, faces the challenge of striking a balance between economic growth and environmental conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Urban green spaces provide multiple services and are important for biodiversity and human well-being. Nevertheless, studies analyzing the relationship between green spaces and forest birds in the Global South are still scarce. Using citizen science data, we evaluated the variation in the richness and specific composition of forest birds in two types of urban green spaces in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina: parks and reserves. Sampling effort was considered as the number of checklists for each site. Forest bird species richness was higher in reserves and was positively related to sampling effort. Forest bird species composition varied as a function of green space type and sampling effort. Moreover, the species present in sites with lower richness were a subset of the species present in richer sites. Reserves and sites with the highest sampling effort concentrated all species. The results obtained show the importance of urban reserves and citizen science platforms in the conservation of forest birds. Urbanization is among the main factors of ecosystem transformation and threats to global biodiversity. Urban green spaces provide multiple services, being important for biodiversity and human well-being. However, the relationship between green spaces and forest birds has been scarcely studied in the Global South. In this work, we used citizen science data (eBird) to assess the variation in the species richness and composition of forest birds in two types of public urban green spaces characterized by different vegetation composition and management: parks and reserves. In general, reserves had more native and unmanaged vegetation than parks. We selected parks and reserves located in the coastal area of the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sampling effort was considered as the number of checklists for each site. The database allowed information to be extracted from 12 sites and 33 species. The most common species were the Green-barred Woodpecker (Colaptes melanochloros), the Narrow-billed Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes angustirostris), and the White-crested Tyrannulet (Serpophaga subcristata). Bird species richness was higher in reserves than in parks and was positively related to sampling effort. The forest bird species composition varied according to the type of green area and sampling effort. Species composition showed a significant nestedness, with the least rich sites being a subset of species from the richest sites. Reserves and sites with the highest sampling effort concentrated all species. The results obtained show the importance of urban reserves in the conservation of forest birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has experienced significant urbanization during the past 40 years, which exerts impacts on regional climates through changing land surface properties. Previous studies mainly focused on the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei areas, while less attention has been paid to central China. In this paper, the regional climate effects of urbanization around the greater Wuhan area were investigated using the WRF model. High resolution, satellite-derived, impervious datasets were used to generate two realistic scenarios representing urban surface states of the years 1986 and 2018. By comparing the simulation results of two sensitivity experiments from 1 July 2015 to 12 July 2015, the spatial and diurnal changes in surface air temperature, surface skin temperature, and surface energy budget were analyzed. Our results reveal that urban expansion leads to 2 m air temperature and surface skin temperature increases by approximate 0.63 °C and 0.83 °C, respectively. Surface sensible heat flux increases, while latent heat flux decreases, with much greater effects in daytime than nighttime. The planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) increases with its maximum value over 100 m, and a 2 m water vapor mixing ratio decreases with a peak value around −2 g/kg. These findings provide knowledge to improve the understanding of land–atmospheric interactions and pave the way to studying urban expansion effects under future climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, rapid urban expansion and increasing ecological sensitivity in arid zones have led to extreme imbalances in ecosystem development. Therefore, there is an urgent need to balance the dual goals of synergistic development of ecosystem services (ESs) and increased urbanization. Previous studies have analyzed the impacts of urbanization on ESs but have selected a limited number of indicators and have not focused on the impacts of urbanization on ES pair interactions. In this study, six key ESs (water yield, habitat quality, soil conservation, carbon storage, carbon sequestration and oxygen production, and food production) and total ecosystem services (TESs) were selected, and trends in the temporal and spatial relationship between trade-offs and synergies were analyzed over 20 years. This study refined the living standards urbanization indicator and evaluated the impact of urbanization and multiple drivers on ESs and ES pair interrelationships based on geo-detectors and segmented linear regression. The results show that there is heterogeneity in the overall and regional ES trade-offs and synergistic relationships, and water yield (WY)-related ES pairs generally exhibit synergistic relationships at the overall level. Spatially, however, the trade-off ratio exceeds the synergy ratio. Segmented linear regression results show that the relationship between all the urbanization indicators and TESs demonstrates an upward trend followed by a downward trend. Measures such as the increase in man-made oases in the early stages of urbanization did have some positive effects on TESs. However, as urbanization increased, these positive effects were quickly offset by the negative effects of overdevelopment and environmental degradation, leading to an overall decline in TESs. Urbanization of construction land (CL) had the most direct impact on ecosystem services. In summary, due to special climatic constraints, arid zones are more sensitive than other ecosystems, and urban development is strictly limited by oasis capacity. As cities expand, attention needs to be focused on protecting ecological land and limiting the expansion of CL to promote the synergistic development of urbanization and ecosystem services in arid zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization exerts noteworthy impacts on the terrestrial ecosystem carbon budget, with pronounced effects in a metropolis such as Beijing, the capital city of China. These impacts include both Direct and Indirect Impacts. For instance, direct impacts influence regional Net Primary Productivity (NPP) by directly altering the vegetation coverage area. Concurrently, indirect impacts primarily affect regional NPP indirectly through climate change and urban vegetation management. How direct and indirect impacts contribute to the NPP is the core content of our research. Owing to that, we need to precisely assess the spatial and seasonal characteristics of the impact of urbanization in Beijing from 2000 to 2020. Firstly, a novel framework was proposed to analyze the impact of urbanization on NPP at the pixel level. Meanwhile, we employ the Proximity Expansion Index (PEI) to analyze urban expansion patterns. Results reveal that the direct impacts led to a cumulative NPP loss of 0.98 TgC, with the largest loss stemming from cropland conversion to construction land. During the last two decades, there has been a 56.87% increase in the area used for urban development in Beijing, a clear sign of swift urban expansion. Concurrently, this urban growth has had favorable indirect effects on NPP, with an average annual increase of 9.76 gC·m−2·year−1, mainly observed in urbanized regions. Moreover, the seasonal analysis underscored that indirect impacts were primarily temperature-related, exhibiting higher values during autumn and winter within urban areas, indicating enhanced vegetation growth suitability in urban areas during these seasons. Our findings quantitatively examine the numerical relationship between direct and indirect impacts at a magnitude level. The carbon gain brought about by indirect impacts surpassed the carbon loss induced by direct impacts, with indirect impacts offsetting 29.41% of the carbon loss due to direct impacts. Ultimately, we advocate for enhanced greening initiatives in areas of Beijing with higher indirect impacts to achieve optimal carbon gain. This strategy might effectively reduce the negative impact of rapid urbanization on the carbon budget of terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban agriculture refers to any type of activity located within or around a city designed to provide ecosystem services. Given the rapid population growth and urbanization, urban agriculture is seen as a potential alternative route to a more sustainable urban food system. This review answers the main question: What are the benefits of non-commercial of Urban Agriculture (NCUA) forms and its contribution towards food production? using a systematic literature review approach. The methodology involved capturing 1355 recent articles from qualified search engines, using key terms according to the defined question, then screened for relevance and the defined scope of this review, resulting in a final selection of 40 articles for analysis. The results show that implementing NCUA practices has multifaced social, economic, and environmental benefits, such as improving people's health, reducing expenditure on food and creating sustainable cities, highlighting the need to recognize the multifaceted role of NCUA in promoting a more sustainable lifestyle and strengthening local communities and engagement. Moreover, awareness of urban agriculture differs between developed and developing countries, as does the recognition and valorization of its benefits. Further research is needed to examine the enabling factors and barriers to NCUA adoption in different urban context, the resource implications, and the long-term sustainability of these practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the continental Mediterranean mountains of the Iberian Peninsula is located a landscape characterized by the presence of enclosed land parcels delimited by dry stone walls or vegetation, or by both these elements. This landscape has been included, since 2018, in UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under the name of Art of dry stone walling, knowledge and techniques. However, today's territorial dynamics jeopardize the maintenance of this landscape heritage. This work set out to understand their origins, dynamics, and evolution from the 11th century (Middle Ages) to the present using historical documentation from different sources and diachronic cartography from aerial photographs. The fieldwork was designed to identify natural, cultural features and recent dynamics, in particular those related to urbanization changes of the last 70 years. Finally, we delved into the new dynamics of exploitation that were based on extensification and a loss of productive diversity. The results obtained lead us to consider that the loss of this agro-landscape must be prevented, with a reasonable livestock grazing criteria and a rational management of its heritage features. This requires regional, national, and European policies that recognize the enclosed landscape as a heritage ecosystem in which biodiversity and agriculture are closely linked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use and land cover (LULC) change is one of the primary contributors to hydrological change in urban watersheds and can potentially influence stream flow and flood volume. Understanding the impacts of LULC change on urban hydrological processes is critical to effective urban water management and minimizing flood risks. In this context, this study aims to determine the impacts of LULC change on hydrological response in a fast transitioning watershed for the predicted years of 2050 and 2080. This research employs the hybrid land use classification technique, Cellular Automata–Markov (CA–Markov) model to predict land use changes, utilizing land use data from 2001, 2013, and 2021. Additionally, it incorporates a calibrated, event-specific hydrologic model known as the Personal Computer Storm Water Management Model (PCSWMM) to assess alterations in hydrological responses for storm events of various magnitudes. The findings indicate a transition of the watershed into an urbanized landscape, replacing the previous dominance of agriculture and forested areas. The initial urban area, constituting 11.6% of the total area in 2021, expands to cover 34.1% and 44.2% of the total area by 2050 and 2080, respectively. Due to the LULC changes, there are increases in peak discharge of 5% and 6.8% and in runoff volume of 8% and 13.3% for the years 2050 and 2080 for a 100-year return period storm event. Yet, the extent of these changes intensifies notably during storm events with lower return periods. This heightened impact is directly attributed to the swift urbanization of the watershed. These results underscore the pressing necessity to regulate LULC change to preserve the hydrological equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the rate of urbanization has increased enormously, precipitating an escalating demand for improved services and applications in urban areas to improve the quality of life. In the Internet of Things (IoT)era, cities are transforming into smart urban centers. These cities incorporate connected devices, such as intelligent public lighting systems, to enhance their urban infrastructure. Therefore, this work explores the transformative potential of an IoT-enabled smart lighting system in urban environments, emphasizing its essential role in enhancing safety, economy, and sustainability. In this sense, LoRaCELL (Long-Range Cell) is introduced. LoRaCELL is an innovative system that utilizes edge devices for data collection, such as light intensity, humidity, temperature, air quality, solar ultraviolet radiation, ammeter, and voltmeter. It stands as a pioneering solution for intelligent public lighting systems, contributing to advancing IoT-driven urban development. The outcomes showed that the proposed system could successfully synchronize the devices with each other and send IoT sensing data at a low cost compared to traditional technologies such as LoRaWAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of urbanization, frequent flood event have become the most common natural disasters, posing a significant challenge to human society. Considering the effects of urbanization on flood risk is critical for flood risk reduction and reasonable land planning strategies at the city scale. This study proposes an integrated approach based on remote sensing data using CA, Markov, and simplified hydrodynamic (FloodMap) models to accurately and effectively assess flood risk under urbanization. Taking Chongqing City as a case study, this paper analyzes the temporal and spatial variations in land use/land cover (LULC) in 2010, 2015, and 2018 and predicts the LULC for 2030, based on historic trends. Flood risk is assessed by combining the hazard, exposure, and modified vulnerability. The results suggest that the area of built-up land will increase significantly from 19.56% in 2018 to 25.21% in 2030. From 2010 to 2030, the area of medium and high inundation depths will increase by 10 and 16 times, respectively. Flood damage varies remarkably according to the LULC and return period. The expected annual damage (EAD) has been estimated to increase from USD 68 million in 2010 to USD 200 million in 2030. Flood risk is proportional to population and is significantly inversely proportional to socioeconomic level. The approach used here can provide a comprehensive understanding of flood risk and is significant for land-use policymaking and the management of flood control facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: To achieve sustainable cities that are sensitive to nature and environmentally just for urban dwellers is of global importance. For this, it is fundamental to understand the responses of native and nonnative species, identify the environmental variables that promote native species and limit nonnative species, and understand how they vary among socioeconomic groups. To help promote ecological justice and biodiversity conservation, we investigate the influence of socioeconomic level and woody cover on bird species richness and abundance in the Latin American city of Santiago de Chile. We also investigate whether bird response changes with bird origin (native vs. nonnative). We found that both socioeconomic level and woody vegetation cover influenced the bird community but had opposite effects on native and nonnative birds. Wealthier neighborhoods supported greater species richness and abundance of native birds. In contrast, poorer neighborhoods had greater bird abundance but were mainly composed of nonnative birds. Our study evidence showed that affluent neighborhoods provide more opportunities to encounter native birds and experience nature close to home than poorer neighborhoods. Given that woody cover positively influenced native birds and negatively influenced nonnative birds, increasing tree and shrub cover in neighborhoods where vulnerable people live will help support more native avifauna. Due to the massive increase of the urban population, a global target is to achieve sustainable cities that are sensitive to nature and environmentally just for urban dwellers. To accomplish this, it is important to understand the responses of native and nonnative birds, identify the environmental variables that promote native species and limit nonnative species, and understand how they vary among socioeconomic groups. Although many cities in the Global South exhibit strong social and environmental segregation, few studies have investigated the relationship between socioeconomics and biodiversity. Therefore, to help promote ecological justice and biodiversity conservation in the developing world, we investigated the influence of socioeconomic level and woody cover on bird species richness and abundance in the city of Santiago de Chile. We also investigated whether bird response changes with species provenance—it is important to understand the response of native birds separately from nonnative birds because they imply opposite management strategies (e.g., conservation vs. species control/eradication). Thus, we surveyed 120 sites located in residential areas of high, medium, and low socioeconomic levels across the city and fit generalized linear (mixed) models that described bird species richness and abundance for total, native, and nonnative birds according to socioeconomic level and woody vegetation cover. We found that both socioeconomic level and woody vegetation cover influenced the bird community, but their effects changed with bird species origin, having opposite effects on native and nonnative birds. Residential areas where wealthier people live supported greater species richness and abundance of native birds than residential areas where people of lower socioeconomic status live. In contrast, residential areas where vulnerable people live had greater bird abundance that was mainly composed of nonnative birds. Therefore, affluent neighborhoods provide more opportunities to encounter native birds and experience nature close to home than poorer neighborhoods. Due to woody cover having positive effects on native birds and a negative influence on nonnative birds, increasing tree and shrub cover will contribute to supporting more native birds in residential areas deprived of woody vegetation, which are commonly low socioeconomic areas. Additional variables that can explain bird response among residential areas of different socioeconomic levels need to be investigated to better understand the factors influencing the distribution of birds in cities and promote a more biodiverse and environmentally just city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we explored the territorial displays of Little Owls in urban and rural areas. Specifically, we compared the size of territories between urban and rural landscapes, investigating the main characteristics (e.g., land use composition, altitude) that characterize territories of the species in both types of landscapes. Overall, territories were smaller in urban than in rural areas, with a relatively different land use composition. Finally, even though the rate of territorial displays was similar between urban and rural territories, individuals used various types of structures differentially. Our findings provide new insight concerning the conservation of Little Owls in anthropized areas. Urbanization is a major land use change across the globe with vast effects on wildlife. In this paper, we studied (1) the territorial displays of Little Owls in urban and rural landscapes, analyzing also (2) the size and habitat composition of the territories, and (3) the factors affecting territory size in both landscapes. To do that, we used t-tests, Principal Components Analysis, and General Linear mixed model procedures. The territory size was smaller in urban than in rural landscapes. Urban territories of Little Owls are characterized by a lower cover of grassland, tall crops, short crops, gardens, and orchards, as well as a higher cover of built-up areas than territories in rural landscapes. Territory size in rural landscapes was negatively correlated with seasonal progress and positively correlated with altitude. The rate of territorial displays was similar between urban and rural territories; however, birds differentially utilized various structures. In urban territories, birds mostly used buildings, whereas in rural territories, birds used electric pylons and trees. The compositional differences between territories in the two landscapes may have important consequences for other behavior types and possibly reproductive output in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The H2-ICE project aims at developing, through numerical simulation, a new generation of hybrid powertrains featuring a hydrogen-fueled Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) suitable for 12 m urban buses in order to provide a reliable and cost-effective solution for the abatement of both CO2 and criteria pollutant emissions. The full exploitation of the potential of such a traction system requires a substantial enhancement of the state of the art since several issues have to be addressed. In particular, the choice of a more suitable fuel injection system and the control of the combustion process are extremely challenging. Firstly, a high-fidelity 3D-CFD model will be exploited to analyze the in-cylinder H2 fuel injection through supersonic flows. Then, after the optimization of the injection and combustion process, a 1D model of the whole engine system will be built and calibrated, allowing the identification of a "sweet spot" in the ultra-lean combustion region, characterized by extremely low NOx emissions and, at the same time, high combustion efficiencies. Moreover, to further enhance the engine efficiency well above 40%, different Waste Heat Recovery (WHR) systems will be carefully scrutinized, including both Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC)-based recovery units as well as electric turbo-compounding. A Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) aftertreatment system will be developed to further reduce NOx emissions to near-zero levels. Finally, a dedicated torque-based control strategy for the ICE coupled with the Energy Management Systems (EMSs) of the hybrid powertrain, both optimized by exploiting Vehicle-To-Everything (V2X) connection, allows targeting H2 consumption of 0.1 kg/km. Technologies developed in the H2-ICE project will enhance the know-how necessary to design and build engines and aftertreatment systems for the efficient exploitation of H2 as a fuel, as well as for their integration into hybrid powertrains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss of life and property in economically developed areas due to geological hazards caused by intense ground subsidence is incalculable. As one of the fastest growing areas in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the study of ground subsidence in Nansha will help to provide a scientific basis for urban planning and improve the capacity of monitoring and prevention of ground subsidence. The combination of coastal soft soil foundation and urbanization conditions creates a certain risk of land subsidence. We chose Nansha District, the geographical center of the Greater Bay Area, as the study area to analyze its surface subsidence characteristics in recent years. The 20-view Sentinel-1A data and SBAS-InSAR technique were used to monitor the ground subsidence in Nansha from 2017 to 2023. The main rate of ground subsidence in Nansha ranges from −19.4 to 7.7 mm/yr and is distributed in the urban area, along the rivers, in the construction area, and in the reclamation area. As of 4 May 2023, the average ground settlement in Nansha is 10.05 mm and the maximum settlement can be up to 142.45 mm. The 6-year total settlement at all four settlement intensities is greater than 60 mm, with the highest value exceeding 110 mm. The cumulative settlement increases with time, but inverse settlement and no settlement also occur at points where settlement is severe. For settlement caused by soft soil consolidation, it is recommended that drainage pipes be installed to accelerate drainage as a means of stabilizing settlement. For settlement caused by groundwater extraction and additional loads on the road surface, it is recommended to rationally extract groundwater and reinforce the foundation of the road surface with severe settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization induces rapid plant environmental modifications, leading to alterations in plant diversity distribution patterns and plant homogenization. However, how plant diversity is distributed along urbanization gradients in regional urban agglomerations and its relationship with environmental factors are not well defined. In three nearby Henan Province Chinese cities—Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, and Zhongmu—along an urbanization gradient, the distribution pattern of plant diversity was quantified. Both native and non-native plants found in urban green spaces were taken into consideration. A total of 176 plant quadrats were selected and separated into three urbanization gradient types using space-constrained hierarchical clustering: urban core, urban suburb, and urban outskirt. Polynomial fitting was used to characterize the spatial distribution patterns of plants along the urbanization gradient, and Pearson correlation and the Mantel test were employed to examine the effects of environmental factors, including longitude, latitude, altitude, distance from the urban center, temperature, and illumination, on plant diversity. A total of 313 vascular plant species, comprising 137 woody species and 176 herbaceous species, were examined. Along the three urbanization gradients, remarkable variations in plant diversity for woody and herbaceous species were observed. The spatial patterns of plant diversity were consistent across cities, whereas woody plants and herbaceous plants displayed the opposite behavior. Distance to the city center and temperature were the most substantial environmental effect factors for the diversity of woody plants, whereas light factors had a major impact on herbaceous plants. These findings show different life-type plants are affected differently by urbanization, and they offer managers and planners a recommendation for increasing urban plant diversity by executing various interventions throughout the urban gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although growing urbanization has direct negative consequences for local biodiversity, several native species have been observed maintaining populations in urban environments. Understanding which factors influence the ability of native species to persist in urban environments is crucial, both for the study of biological adaptation and of urban planning. The quantification of the proportion of juvenile individuals can be a good proxy for assessing the long-term persistence of urban populations. We present comparative data about spatial and temporal variations in the age-class structure in two suburban and two forest populations of the Cuban endemic lizard Anolis homolechis, obtained during a 20-month survey. We found a four-fold lower proportion of juveniles in the suburban habitat compared to the forest one. There was, however, no evidence for differential female fecundity between the two habitats, as assessed by the proportion of gravid females. Conversely, the rate of tail autotomy (an antipredator behavior) was significantly higher in the suburban juveniles compared to the forest ones, possibly reflecting a higher exposure to predators and, particularly, inter- and intraspecific cannibalism. However, tail loss at initial capture or habitat type had no effect on the probability of recapture of juveniles. We discuss the potential causes and consequences of a modified age-class structure in urbanized environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of global challenges related to climate change and sustainable development, comparing attitudes and infrastructure in the field of electromobility and renewable energy sources in different countries becomes crucial. The question of differences and similarities between Poland and Germany in these areas sheds light on the unique challenges and opportunities that the two countries present to each other. The aim of the study is to understand these dynamics, which can contribute to the shaping of more effective policies and strategies for green energy and sustainable mobility. This study was conducted through a review of Polish and foreign literature, the use of the method of tabular comparisons, and the analysis of a questionnaire that was used. These complex methods combined both quantitative and qualitative analysis, which allowed for an in-depth understanding and comparison of attitudes and infrastructure related to electromobility and renewable energy sources in Poland and Germany. The study revealed significant differences and similarities between Poland and Germany in terms of electromobility and renewable energy sources. Germany shows a higher level of urbanization, a higher share of electric car ownership, and better charging infrastructure, while in Poland there is a strong belief in the key role of renewable energy sources. These findings may have implications for future green energy initiatives and policies in both countries. The study presents a complex picture of electromobility and renewable energy sources in Poland and Germany, showing clear differences in awareness, infrastructure, and attitudes. Germany seems to be more advanced in these areas, while Poland shows a strong commitment to renewable energy sources. These conclusions do not exaggerate the differences, but underline the need for a case-by-case approach to green energy strategies in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to assess the influencing factors of the presence of mercury in a river within the Savanna biome (Cerrado), we surveyed total mercury (THg) in bottom sediment from 50 lakes along 750 km of the Middle Araguaia floodplain. The sampling sites included non-urban and urban surroundings over three distinct geomorphologies. We measured water physicochemical parameters at each site and tested statistically if land use nested within the geological formation influenced the THg concentration in bottom sediments and related water parameters. Multivariate results indicate that the interaction between geological groups and land use is statistically significant (p < 0.05). Nested ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests confirmed that the geological formation with its nested land use influences the THg, pH, DO, conductivity, and TDS (p < 0.05). THg was significantly lower in Quaternary terrains (p < 0.05) and differed significantly between non-urban and urban areas in Neoproterozoic terrains (p = 0.02). The spatial projections of the THg eigenvector on the main axes with the scoring factors of the Neoproterozoic/Paleoproterozoic terrains, and urban/non-urban, confirmed the spatial correlations. These results indicate that the association of land use and geology could be the main driver of THg in the bottom sediments of lakes from the Middle Araguaia floodplain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psittaciformes are one of the bird orders with the highest number of threatened species and the most marked declining population trends. At present, the lack of information on the population size, reproductive fraction, and productivity of most parrot populations makes it difficult to design effective conservation actions. In this study, we monitored a population of Burrowing Parrots (Cyanoliseus patagonus) breeding in urbanized habitats in the southwest of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Every December and February from 2018 to 2023, we counted the individuals arriving at a single communal roost, located in the main park of Bahía Blanca city, which gathers all the parrots breeding in 18–22 colonies within a radius of 20 km. Censuses were conducted before (December) and immediately after the incorporation of juveniles into the flocks (February). Breeding pairs were also counted annually in the colonies, and the average annual productivity and the proportion of juveniles were estimated from surveys in pre-roosting and feeding areas in February. The non-breeding fraction approached half of the population with no statistically significant differences among years (range: 37–53%), and the breeding population showed little annual variation, with a minimum of 1363 and a maximum of 1612 breeding pairs. The proportion of juveniles in the flocks and the estimated productivity showed larger variations among breeding seasons. Our results add insight to the scarce information available on the breeding-to-non-breeding-population ratios in parrots, and birds in general, and show key breeding parameters for a species that is thriving well in urban habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerating the construction of transportation networks has become an important bridge to promote the urbanization of heritage tourism destinations. Based on the development dilemma of tourism towns in northwestern China, this study collected the panel data of 10 cities in Shaanxi Province from 2006 to 2019 and used a panel error correction model to investigate the long-term and short-term relationships between heritage tourism and new urbanization. In addition, this paper establishes a regression model of the transportation network's regulatory effect, revealing the extent of the impact of the transportation network on heritage tourism and new urbanization. The results show that (1) in the short term, the influence of heritage tourism on new urbanization is not remarkable, but in the long term, heritage tourism plays a positive role in facilitating new urbanization; (2) the short-term contribution elasticity of new urbanization to heritage tourism is less than that in the long term; (3) the regulatory effect of the transportation network rectifies the deviation caused by overdeveloped urbanization to moderate development in heritage tourism destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of rainwater interception by tree organs is crucial in mitigating the impact of intense rainfall on urban drainage systems, particularly in the context of climate change. For this study, we selected ten commonly found tree species in Shanghai, and the main parts of trees, including their leaves, branches, and bark, were collected to analyze their ability to intercept rainwater. The optimized Artificial Rainfall Simulation System (ARSS) was applied to simulate rainfall. The time-changing process of rainwater interception in three organs was measured during a 180 min rainfall event under four different rainfall intensities (4, 8, 12, and 16 mm/h, respectively). Process models of rainwater interception in different organs were fitted with adsorption kinetic equations. The rainwater interception process of tree organs complied with the quasi second-order adsorption kinetic equation. The rainwater interception capacity values of the leaves, branches, and bark of the ten urban tree species ranged from 0.05 to 0.34 mm, 0.13 to 0.24 mm, and 0.29 to 1.22 mm, respectively. The rainwater interception capacity values of the three organs significantly differ (p < 0.05). The results of this study reveal that bark exhibits the greatest rainwater interception ability. Coniferous tree species have a greater ability to intercept rainwater than broad-leaved tree species. There are also differences in the rainwater interception ability of trees in urban and natural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative analysis of the spatiotemporal pattern of urban expansion and forecasting of the progress towards SDG11.3.1 are of great significance for the promotion of sustainable urban development. This study employed the spatiotemporal normalized threshold method to extract urban built-up areas in the Pearl River–Xijiang Economic Belt based on night-time light data and investigated the intricate patterns of urban expansion from 2000 to 2020. Then, the historical trends of the SDG11.3.1 indicators within the economic belt were evaluated, and future urban built-up areas were predicted based on the SSP1 scenario. The results indicate the following: (1) Built-up area extraction has an overall accuracy that exceeds 97% and G-mean values that all surpass 82%, indicating the high accuracy of the method. (2) The Pearl River–Xijiang Economic Belt demonstrates evident urban expansion trends, albeit with uneven development. The urban area of the economic belt has expanded from 1020.29 km2 to 3826.87 km2, the expansion direction of each city is different, and the center of gravity of the economic belt has moved to the southeast. (3) During the period from 2008 to 2020, the entire economic belt experienced a situation where the urban expansion rate was lower than the population growth rate, and there was an imbalance in urban development (LCRPGR = 0.33). However, looking ahead to the period from 2020 to 2030, the average LCRPGR for the entire economic belt shows a significant upward trend, approaching the ideal state of sustainable development (LCRPGR ≈ 1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study explored how urbanization (urban heat island effect and air pollution) affects urban tree growth. The radial growth and xylem anatomical characteristics of trees in urban and rural areas of Harbin were compared by means of tree-ring anatomy. Results showed that there were significant differences in the growth of both broadleaf trees and conifers between urban and rural areas. Urbanization may have the effect of slowing down tree growth, and conifers may be more sensitive to urbanization. Warming and drying climate in Harbin may be an important factor affecting tree growth. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for the future evaluation of the effect of urbanization on tree growth and ecological benefits, as well as the selection of tree species in urban forests. In the context of the intensification of global urbanization, how urbanization (urban heat island effect and air pollution) affects urban tree growth is not fully understood. In this paper, the radial growth and xylem anatomical characteristics of three different tree species (Quercus mongolica, Fraxinus mandshurica, and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) in urban and rural areas of Harbin were compared by means of tree-ring anatomy. The results showed that there were significant differences in the growth of both broadleaf trees and conifers between urban and rural areas. The vessel number, cumulative area of vessels, and theoretical hydraulic conductivity of all tree species in rural areas were higher than those in urban areas, indicating that urbanization may have the effect of slowing down growth. However, broadleaf trees in urban areas had higher vessel density and a greater percentage of a conductive area within xylem and theoretical xylem-specific hydraulic conductivity. The thickness of cell walls and cell wall reinforcement index of P. sylvestris var. mongolica were strongly reduced by air pollution, implying that it may be more sensitive to urbanization. Compared to Q. mongolica, F. mandshurica showed less sensitivity to urbanization. Warming and drying climate in Harbin may be an important factor affecting tree growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In the era of expanding and enhancing urbanization, the conservation of urban biodiversity has gradually become a research hotspot. As an excellent indicator species reflecting the quality of the ecological environment, butterflies can be used to monitor and improve the quality of habitats. We explored the effects of urbanization on the α-diversity, β-diversity, and functional diversity of butterflies and analyzed the indicative species of different ecological gradients. This examination was aimed at understanding the effects of urbanization on the taxonomic diversity and functional similarity of butterflies and proposing scientific suggestions and strategies to improve the ecological quality of urban environments. Urbanization has been shown to cause biodiversity loss. However, its effects on butterfly taxonomic and functional diversity still need to be studied, especially in urban waterfront green spaces where mechanisms of impact still need to be explored. We used butterflies as indicators to study how urbanization affects their taxonomic and functional diversity and identify indicator species in different urban ecological gradient areas. From July to September 2022, we surveyed 10 urban waterfront green spaces in Fuzhou City, China. We recorded 1163 butterflies of 28 species from 6 families. First, we explored the effects of urbanization on butterfly communities and made pairwise comparisons of different urban ecological gradients (α-diversity); secondly, we looked for differences between butterfly communities across urban ecological gradients (β-diversity); finally, we investigated differences in the response of butterfly functional groups to different urban ecological gradient areas and identified ecological indicative species. This study found the following: (1) Urbanization has led to the simplification of butterfly community structure, but there are also favorable factors that support the survival of individual butterflies; (2) Urbanization has led to significant differences in butterfly communities and plant-feeding polyphagous butterfly groups; (3) Urbanization has led to differences in the functional diversity of butterfly diet and activity space groups; (4) We identified five eco-indicator species in different urban ecological gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Parrots are among the most globally traded taxa and have successfully invaded urban areas. Studies analyzing alien parrot–habitat relationships are scarce in cities of the Southern Hemisphere. This study aims to determine the habitat characteristics influencing alien parrot species richness and occurrence during the annual cycle in parks in Buenos Aires City. We found that alien parrot species richness was positively associated with tree species richness and a shorter distance to the La Plata River throughout the year. Moreover, parrot richness increased in parks with tree genera like Eugenia, Podocarpus, Olea, and Washingtonia during the non-breeding season. During the breeding season, parrot species richness decreased with increasing environmental noise. The relationship between species occurrence and environmental variables changed between seasons. Our findings suggest that exotic parrot richness and presence may be influenced not only by tree diversity and park proximity to green corridors but also by specific exotic tree species providing resources for the parrots. Future urban green space designs should prioritize native tree planting to support local biodiversity. Biological invasions are often one of the main causes of global biodiversity loss. Parrots are among the most globally traded taxa and have successfully invaded urban areas. Studies analyzing alien parrot–habitat relationships are scarce in cities of the southern hemisphere. This study aims to determine habitat characteristics influencing exotic parrot species richness, presence, and composition in urban parks in Buenos Aires City and to analyze variations during breeding and non-breeding seasons. A total of 35 parks were sampled during the breeding season and the non-breeding season, and habitat variables at local and landscape scales were measured. Parrot species richness was positively associated with tree species richness and a shorter distance to the La Plata River throughout the year. During the non-breeding season, parrot species richness increased in parks with a higher abundance of tree genera such as Eugenia, Podocarpus, Olea, and Washingtonia. However, during the breeding season, parrot species richness decreased with increased environmental noise. Taxonomic richness was higher during the breeding season. The occurrence of different species and composition depended differentially on each variable, and it varied between seasons. Our findings suggest that exotic parrot richness and presence may be influenced not only by tree diversity and park proximity to green corridors but also by specific exotic tree species providing resources for the parrots. Future urban green space designs should prioritize native tree planting to support local biodiversity over exotic trees that benefit invasive bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A genomic study was conducted to identify the effects of urbanization and environmental contaminants with heavy metals on selection footprints in dairy cattle populations reared in the megacity of Bengaluru, South India. Dairy cattle reared along the rural–urban interface of Bengaluru with/without access to roughage from public lakeshores were selected. The genotyped animals were subjected to the cross-population–extended haplotype homozygosity (XP-EHH) methodology to infer selection sweeps caused by urbanization (rural, mixed, and urban) and environmental contamination with cadmium and lead. We postulated that social-ecological challenges contribute to mechanisms of natural selection. A number of selection sweeps were identified when comparing the genomes of cattle located in rural, mixed, or urban regions. The largest effects were identified on BTA21, displaying pronounced peaks for selection sweeps for all three urbanization levels (urban_vs_rural, urban_vs_mixed and rural_vs_mixed). Selection sweeps are located in chromosomal segments in close proximity to the genes lrand rab interactor 3 (RIN3), solute carrier family 24 member 4 (SLC24A4), tetraspanin 3 (TSPAN3), and proline-serine-threonine phosphatase interacting protein 1 (PSTPIP1). Functional enrichment analyses of the selection sweeps for all three comparisons revealed a number of gene ontology (GO) and KEGG terms, which were associated with reproduction, metabolism, and cell signaling-related functional mechanisms. Likewise, a number of the chromosomal segments under selection were observed when creating cattle groups according to cadmium and lead contaminations. Stronger and more intense positive selection sweeps were observed for the cadmium contaminated group, i.e., signals of selection on BTA 16 and BTA19 in close proximity to genes regulating the somatotropic axis (growth factor receptor bound protein 2 (GRB2) and cell ion exchange (chloride voltage-gated channel 6 (CLCN6)). A few novel, so far uncharacterized genes, mostly with effects on immune physiology, were identified. The lead contaminated group revealed sweeps which were annotated with genes involved in carcass traits (TNNC2, SLC12A5, and GABRA4), milk yield (HTR1D, SLCO3A1, TEK, and OPCML), reproduction (GABRA4), hypoxia/stress response (OPRD1 and KDR), cell adhesion (PCDHGC3), inflammatory response (ADORA2A), and immune defense mechanism (ALCAM). Thus, the findings from this study provide a deeper insight into the genomic regions under selection under the effects of urbanization and environmental contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been an insurgence of allergic respiratory diseases such as asthma and rhinitis in industrialized countries in the last few decades as a result of the interaction between air pollutants and pollen, which has become a global and dramatic health problem. Air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon dioxide affect the physical, chemical and biological properties of pollen such as the pollen content, production, and allergenicity, exacerbating symptoms in vulnerable subjects. When investigating these interactions and their effects, the environmental impact of climate change, weather variables and urbanization should be taken into account as well as the pollen species, type of pollutant, conditions of exposure, and individual susceptibility. Up to 25% of asthma adult cases are work-related, because several categories of workers in different sectors are exposed to aeroallergens and outdoor air pollutants. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the significant impacts of occupational allergies on worker's health and quality of life. In summary, to assess the effect of interactions between air pollutants and pollen on public and occupational health, all the factors that play a role in this context will be investigated, including environmental factors, individual susceptibility in relation to pollen species, type of pollutants, and conditions of exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the complexity of the pile foundation underpinning structure system and the stringent requirements of the construction process, this paper briefly describes the necessity of introducing epoxy resin reinforcing adhesive of planting rebar in the design of pile foundation underpinning beam structure to improve the mechanical properties of the reinforced beam new and old concrete joint surfaces and proposes a new type of pile foundation replacement beam system construction method by "chiseling + prestressed reinforcement + epoxy resin reinforcing adhesive". This paper uses an actual pile foundation underpinning project of an urban overpass as a prototype, designs and creates a model structure with a similarity ratio of 1/6, and performs repeated progressive static loading tests to study the load carrying capacity, displacement change, and other properties of the strengthened replacement structure, as well as analyses and distorts the overall working performance and failure mode of them. On this basis, the prototype structure's finite element analysis model was built, and the finite element analysis results were compared with the test results to obtain the mechanical properties and deformation characters of the actual pile foundation underpinning structure system corresponding to the actual underpinning beam load. This paper's study can lay the theoretical and experimental foundation for the smooth development of similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urbanization process can alter the structure of urban land use and result in variations in urban ecosystem services (ESs). Researching the driving mechanism of multi-level indicators of urbanization on the supply and demand of ESs can enhance our understanding of the ecological and environmental impacts of urbanization. This study investigates the driving mechanisms underlying the relationship between urbanization and the supply–demand dynamics of ecosystem services (ESs) in the Yangtze River Middle Reaches Urban Agglomeration (YRMRUA). First, we assessed the variation in the key ESs (food production, carbon storage, and culture service) from 2000 to 2019 at both city and provincial levels. Second, ES demand and the supply–demand index (SDI) were calculated utilizing socioeconomic indicators. The Geographical Detector model was applied to analyze the individual and combined effects of urbanization on the supply and SDI of ESs. The results showed that an increase in areas of supply and demand was unbalanced in the YRMRUA from 2000 to 2019, with a predominant concentration observed in the provincial capital cities. Scale urbanization exhibits the most substantial influence on the SDI, with a q-value of 0.6, while land urbanization exerts the most pronounced effect on ES supply, with a q-value of 0.7. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the combined effect of urbanization on ESs surpasses the individual effect, with q-values exceeding 0.5. The interaction between scale urbanization and other indicators has the greatest impact on the SDI of carbon storage. Population and economic urbanization exhibit a more substantial impact on food production and cultural service compared to other primary indicators. Simultaneously, the joint effects of secondary indicators between per capita living area and per capita road area have a greater impact on ES supply than other secondary indicators. These findings illustrate that urbanization indicators are not independent of each other, but have a combined effect. Furthermore, the urbanization process in the YRMRUA has exhibited a gradual deceleration, leading to a diminishing influence on ESs. This study can contribute to the comprehension of urbanization and ESs when dealing with the conflict between urban development and ecological sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major driver of the declining biodiversity is landcover change leading to loss of habitat. Many studies have estimated large-scale declines in biodiversity, but loss of biodiversity at a local scale due to the immediate effects of development has been poorly studied. California, in particular, is a biodiversity hotspot and has rapidly developed; thus, it is important to understand the effects of development on wildlife in the State. Here, we conducted reconnaissance surveys—a type of survey often used by consulting biologists in support of environmental review of proposed projects—to measure changes in the relative abundance and richness of vertebrate species in response to urban development. We completed 2 reconnaissance surveys at each of 52 control sites that remained undeveloped at the times of both surveys, and at each of 26 impact sites that had been developed by the time of the second survey. We completed the surveys as part of a before–after, control–impact (BACI) experimental design. Our main interest was the interaction effect between the before–after phases and the control–impact treatment levels, or the impact of development. After controlling for survey duration, we also tested for the effects of the number of years intervening the surveys in the before and after phases, project area size, latitude, degree of connectedness to adjacent open space, and whether the site was a redevelopment site, infill, or not infill. After development, the average number of vertebrate wildlife species we detected declined by 48% within the project area, and by 66% within the bounds of the project sites. Further, the average number of vertebrate animals we counted declined by 90% within the project area, and 89% within the bounds of the project sites. Development impacts measured by the mean number of species detected per survey were greatest for amphibians (−100%), followed by mammals (−86%), grassland birds (−75%), raptors (−53%), special-status species (−49%), all birds as a group (−48%), non-native birds (−44%), and synanthropic birds (−28%). Our results indicated that urban development substantially reduced vertebrate species richness and numerical abundance, even after richness and abundance had likely already been depleted by the cumulative effects of loss, fragmentation, and degradation of habitat in the urbanizing environment. Monitoring is needed in and around urbanizing areas to measure the cumulative effects of urbanization, and so are conservation measures to mitigate the effects of urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]