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This paper explores the co-incineration of biomass pellets and sewage sludge, which is looking at the environmental effects, energy recovery, and pollution creation. The principal objectives are to clarify how to use the co-incineration energy and assess how released contaminants affect the environment. Five different blends are used in the co-incineration process, which takes place in a fluidized bed reactor with an average combustion temperature between 915 and 939 °C. The combustion process is defined by several monitoring methods, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Continuous Mercury Monitoring Systems, thermocouples, and sensors for pressure and flow. The results show that harmful substance concentrations include namely SO2 and NOX, which have reached 12.39-1730.33 mg√m–3N for SO2 and 93.30-1156 mg√m–3N for NOX. In the worst-case scenario, SO2 and NOX emission limitations exceed 40 times and eight times, respectively. Regarding heat recovery, 5.35-7.69 MJkg–1 of potential energy can be recovered from flue gas. Heat recovery decreases as the fuel’s sewage sludge content increases. Utilizing GaBi software for life cycle assessment, additional analysis of pollutant concentrations is possible. The results show that burning sewage sludge substantially affects climate change, land ecotoxicity, and human toxicity. The work offers a promising direction for additional research by suggesting that, under some circumstances, sewage sludge can be used as a supplementary fuel in massive combustion sources.

Previous studies have utilized regression models to investigate the impact of environmental factors on physical activity. However, such approaches are inadequate for data-driven analysis seeking to identify robust associations from the intricate and multi-variable interactions between physical activity and environmental factors. With the emergence of the concept of the exposome, which encompasses the totality of exposures, this paper explores machine learning models for predicting the percentage of physical inactivity in U.S. counties, while considering 28 social-, economic-, and physical-environmental factors. The aim of this study is to address the research gap and gain insight into the complex associations between environmental exposures and physical activity. Five machine learning models were tested, and the performances were compared to select the best classifier for further investigation. This study used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mean population of all counties was 102,841, and the mean percentage of population below 18 years was 22.3%. The partial dependence plot analysis indicated that only one feature – bachelor’s degree – exhibited a close-to-linear relationship with physical inactivity. Motor-vehicle crash death rate and mean temperature showed nonlinear and non-monotonic relationships with the predicted percentage of physical inactivity.

Excessive fertilizer input and inefficient utilization in agricultural production have caused significant negative environmental impacts. Based on provincial panel data in China from 2005 to 2021, this study adopts the full-cost insurance pilot launched in 2018 and uses the DID method to empirically analyze its impact on fertilizer application intensity and utilization efficiency. The study reveals the following findings: (1) Implementing full-cost insurance can reduce fertilizer application intensity by 21.761% and increase utilization efficiency by 1.915%. (2) Full-cost insurance reduces fertilizer application intensity and improves fertilizer utilization efficiency by expanding the land scale and reducing the agricultural labor force. (3) Full-cost insurance significantly improves fertilizer utilization efficiency in high-risk and low-risk areas. Nevertheless, while the policy significantly reduces fertilizer application intensity in high-risk areas, its effect on low-risk areas is not apparent. (4) Full-cost insurance has an environmental protection effect. It can significantly reduce 11.593% of nitrogen pollution emissions, 2.577% of phosphorus pollution emissions, and 35.400% of equivalent pollution emissions. The implementation of full-cost insurance plays an important role in reducing fertilizer use and improving utilization efficiency. So, we should continue to intensify the promotion of full-cost insurance policy to fully leverage the advantages of agricultural insurance and promote sustainable agricultural development.

To investigate the toxic and environmental effects of prometryn, a laboratory experiment was performed on coexistent fish and algae. The body weight and length of Carassius carassius, Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) densities and water quality were measured continuously for 92 days. It was observed that fish growth was significantly inhibited by prometryn. This can be partly attributed to the adverse effects of prometryn on the antioxidant system of fish; the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in crucian carp were significantly inhibited by prometryn. The growth of M. aeruginosa was greatly inhibited by prometryn (p < 0.05), and the adverse effects of prometryn on M. aeruginosa indirectly impacted water qualities. The body weight and length of Carassius carassius first increased and then tended to be stable with increasing electrical conductivity (EC) values; their quantified relationship was established based on the Gompertz and Logistic equations (R2 = 0.920–0.989). Based on the above results, we concluded that the toxic effects of prometryn can impact the antioxidant system of fish and algae which in turn affects their growth performance, and have an indirect impact on water quality. The application of equations made it realizable to obtain a more detailed interpretation of the processes involved in these biological–abiotic interactions.

Objective: Psychosis is one of the most vital disorders in children and youths. The definite pathophysiology of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders in the growth period has remained ambiguous. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to investigate the predictive value of parental psychiatric disorders and the mediator role of comorbid disorders of children and youths. Method: The sample, consisting of 29884 individuals aged between 6 to 18 years old from the Iranian population, were selected by multistage cluster sampling during September 22, 2016 to January 3, 2018. Parents were requested to complete a survey around their potential psychiatric disorders, based on their Millon's Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III). The Semi-Structured Interview (Kiddie-SADS-Present, Lifetime Form (K-SADS-PL)) was utilized to analyze psychiatric disorders concurring to the DSM. Results: The fit indices of the model show that the research model has a good fit and the psychiatric disorders of parents directly and indirectly through comorbid disorders are effective on the psychosis symptoms of children and adolescents (RMSEA=0.06, CFI=0.89, PGFI=0.75, PNFI=0.75).The incidence of Schizotypal Personality Disorder, Anxiety, Bipolar Spectrum Disorder, PTSD, Schizophrenia Spectrum and Delusional Disorder were statistically higher in parents of psychotic children and adolescents. However, Borderline Personality Disorder was more frequent among their mothers while Alcohol Dependency and Drug Dependency were significantly more prevalent among their fathers. Conclusion: The outcomes of our study showed that there were statistically significant differences between the mean scores of each scale assessed by Millon's inventory between parents of psychotic versus non-psychotic pediatric cases. In addition, psychiatric disorders were more common among children and youths with psychosis spectrum in comparison with the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to address the genetic and environmental features that affect the calf's sex in dairy farms, which favors female birth for extra milk production and efficient replacements. A total of 4913 calves' records from 1047 Friesian cows collected at Sakha dairy farm between 1975 and 2020 were analyzed to estimate genetic parameters and various environmental effects on calf gender, including year and season of mating, first calving year, gestation length, parity, service period, and number of services per conception. Variance components, heritabilities, and repeatability values were estimated using the THRGIBBS1F90 program based on Gibbs sampling. The results showed highly significant effects of the season (P < 0.001) and year of mating, gestation length (P < 0.01), and the others (P < 0.05) on calf gender. For female birth, direct (h2 a), sire (h2 s), and dam (h2 m) heritability and repeatability estimates are 0.13- 0.16, around 0.12, 0.09, and 0.15-0.18, respectively. Short gestational length, few services per conception, plus first and fifth parties were the main predictors of female births. Moderate estimates of female birth and sire heritability demonstrate that genetic manipulation can change additive genetic variability. With only 0.15-0.18% confidence, the moderate repeatability estimates of female birth indicated that previous calf sex can influence calf gender in subsequent pregnancies. By manipulating some management techniques in addition to genetic parameters in dairy cows before mating, it is possible to change the gender proportion of fresh births to a preferred value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Hydrobiology is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of Hydrobiology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With increasing ecological damage caused by regional development, many countries seek to promote sustainable development through spatial regulation. This study treated China's development of National Key Ecological Functional Zones (NKEFZ) as a quasi–natural experiment, applying a time–varying difference–in–differences model to data from 148 water quality monitoring cross–section points of major river systems in China from 2004 to 2018. The results revealed that NKEFZ improved the mean of comprehensive water quality (CWQ) and individual water quality indicators of dissolved oxygen and ammonia nitrogen content index by restricting urbanization and increasing government investment. The mean value of CWQ was improved by about 0.22 grades, and the optimization effect of spatial regulation on average water quality was more prominent in coastal cities, cities with high–pollution levels, and large–sized cities. Nevertheless, the impact of NKEFZ on water quality exhibited a "Matthew effect", in which NKEFZ were not effective in improving the bottom line standard of water quality in the pilot zones, as NKEFZ did not significantly improve the peak values of CWQ or individual pollutant indicator. In addition, an economic effect estimation indicated that NKEFZ significantly facilitated local economic growth and primary industry development and had a significantly negative impact on secondary industry growth and foreign investment. This study contributes new evidence for measuring the effect of the trans–regional spatial regulation, eliciting policy implications for improving ecological spatial regulation and incentive mechanisms, and promoting the sustainable development of the regional environment and economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tibetan Plateau (TP) is known as the water tower of Asia, and glaciers are solid reservoirs that can regulate the amount of water. Black carbon (BC), as one of the important factors accelerating glacier melting, is causing evident environmental effects in snow and ice. However, a systematical summary of the potential sources, analytical methods, distributions, and environmental effects of BC in snow and ice on the TP's glaciers is scarce. Therefore, this study drew upon existing research on snow and ice BC on glaciers of the TP to describe the detection methods and uncertainties associated with them to clarify the concentrations of BC in snow and ice and their climatic effects. The primary detection methods are the optical method, the thermal–optical method, the thermochemical method, and the single-particle soot photometer method. However, few studies have systematically compared the results of BC and this study found that concentrations of BC in different types of snow and ice varied by 1–3 orders of magnitude, which drastically affected the regional hydrologic process by potentially accelerating the ablation of glaciers by approximately 15% and reducing the duration of snow accumulation by 3–4 days. In general, results obtained from the various testing methods differ drastically, which limited the systematical discussion. Accordingly, a universal standard for the sampling and measurement should be considered in the future work, which will be beneficial to facilitate the comparison of the spatiotemporal features and to provide scientific data for the model-simulated climatic effects of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria has struggled to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs) on environmental sustainability, transportation, and petroleum product distribution for decades, endangering human and ecological health. Petroleum product spills contaminate soil, water, and air, harming humans, aquatic life, and biodiversity. The oil and gas industry contributes to environmental sustainability and scientific and technological advancement through its supply chain activities in the transport and logistics sectors. This paper reviewed the effects of petroleum product transportation at three accident hotspots on Nigeria highway, where traffic and accident records are alarming due to the road axis connecting the southern and northern regions of the country. The preliminary data was statistically analysed to optimise the review process and reduce risk factors through ongoing data monitoring. Studies on Nigeria's petroleum product transportation spills and environmental impacts between the years 2013 and 2023 were critically analysed to generate updated information. The searches include Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Five hundred and forty peer-reviewed studies were analysed, and recommendations were established through the conclusions. The findings show that petroleum product transport causes heavy metal deposition in the environment as heavy metals damage aquatic life and build up in the food chain, posing a health risk to humans. The study revealed that petroleum product spills have far-reaching environmental repercussions and, therefore, recommended that petroleum product spills must be mitigated immediately. Furthermore, the study revealed that better spill response and stricter legislation are needed to reduce spills, while remediation is necessary to lessen the effects of spills on environmental and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics have been widely detected in the natural water environment, which brings inevitable risks to the water ecosystem and human health. However, the understanding of the potential impact of microplastics on aquatic animals, plants, and human health is still limited, and technical methods to control microplastic pollution in natural water are still rare. Hence, this paper summarizes the progress of research on microplastic pollution in water systems in terms of microplastic source, attributes, distribution characteristics, environmental effects, and prevention and control methods according to the relevant research reports on water microplastic pollution. It also expounds the basic ways for the prevention, control, and treatment of water microplastics, and looks forward to the research direction of water microplastic pollution in the future. The results show that the abundance of fresh water microplastics in China is higher than that in other regions, but the pollution level of marine microplastics is at the middle level. Compared with other countries, the pollution degree of microplastics in aquatic organisms in China is at the middle and lower level, but the spatial heterogeneity is more obvious. Through hydraulic control and the substitution of degradable plastic products, water microplastic pollution can be greatly reduced. This paper can provide a reference basis for the formulation of microplastic pollution prevention and control in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI, < 100 nm) has been used extensively in groundwater remediation over the past two decades. In this review, recent research (past 5–6 years) were discussed and evaluated. (1) nZVI could already be prepared by top-down and bottom-up methods. Liquid-phase reduction and carbothermal reduction still possessed a high proportion. Ball milling and green synthesis were more promising pathways. Carbothermal reduction was cost-effective compared to other paths. In-situ green synthesis was expected to in-situ synthesis nZVI, providing new ideas for groundwater remediation. (2) Composites and modification could improve the applicability and lower storage requirements of nZVI to a certain extent. Recyclability was effectively enhanced and costs indirectly reduced (5 cycles test). The suitability of habitats should be considered. Natural minerals and/or its component carriers finally acted as mineral cover layer. Carbon materials and biopolymer coatings eventually served as microbial nutrients. They were all potential directions. (3) In-situ groundwater remediation could maximize the value of nZVI. Mobility and stability of nZVI should be further optimized. So as to completely purified argillaceous soil and aquifer matrix. Geological properties, biological population, and hydrochemical aging all influenced groundwater remediation. Batch injection could avert rebound issue (usually two injections, spaced several months apart). DC electric field–assisted obviously reduced the cost (5 times). (4) nZVI removed pollutants in aqueous matrix (purified water, surface water, groundwater) through various ways and mechanisms. Hydrodynamic and hydrochemical conditions could not change the mainstream process. Long-term fixation of heavy metals, reasonable removal of inorganic salt ions, and effective mineralization of organic substances were the most expected results. The macro-to-micro study of mechanisms was more in-need. This review will offer fresh perspectives on the use of nZVI in groundwater remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mexico, municipalities deposit their urban solid waste (USW) in uncontrolled sites or sanitary landfills (SL); therefore, there is a need to improve their conditions and know the existing impact on air, water and soil. The elemental characterization of the leachate, soil and water was carried out, a sample of well water near the SL (1.5 km) and leachate was characterized physicochemically and microbiologically. Air quality and weather conditions were analyzed. The leachate has a high organic load, nitrogenous matter and chlorides, and a low BOD5/COD biodegradability index of 0. The concentration of air pollutants is within the permissible limits because it is an open area and the wind speed favors their dispersion. In the soil there are concentrations of retained metals that prevent their migration to groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of URVIO - Revista Latinoamericana de Seguridad Ciudadana is the property of FLACSO - Ecuador (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work focused on the measurement and modeling of vehicular emissions (CO, NO2, SO2 and PM10) in some selected towns of Nasarawa State, Nigeria using appropriate standard method for six months and the data modeled by Standard Research Institute model. The measured and modeled results of the pollutants concentrations in all the selected towns ranged as follows; CO, 6.52-17.93 µg/m³ and 1.63-2.70 µg/m³, NO2, 0.14-0.23 µg/m³ and 0.04-0.18 µg/m³, SO2, 0.18-0.28 µg/m³ and 0.09-0.20 µg/m³ and PM10 9.92-33.37 µg/m³ and 4.53-17.23 µg/m³ respectively. Comparison of these results with the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) set limits for these pollutants in the ambient air showed that CO concentration exceeded the limit of 11.40 µg/m³ in all the selected towns except for Akwanga town, while the concentration levels of NO2, SO2, and PM10 in the ambient air of the selected towns were within the permissible limit and pose no threats. Vehicular density was also determined by counting for the same period. The mean vehicular density decreases across the selected towns, with Karu having 3982, Lafia 2768, Keffi 2171 and Akwanga 1719. The mean concentration of each pollutant also showed the same trend with a significant correlation of about 99% between vehicular density and pollutant concentration for all the pollutants except NO2. From these results, it is worth recommending that government should enforce the control of vehicles that emit much fumes and sponsor the fabrication of electric or fuelless vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the environmental and economic effects of the development of mini-bubbler pressurized irrigation projects as a modern irrigation system in Birjand County, South Khorasan Province, from the perspective of farmers and users, so the quantitative and qualitative processes of these irrigation projects can be evaluated. Data collection was conducted with a survey technique and the results showed that most of the farmers had a favorable assessment of the environmental and economic effects of the plan. The economic factor was found to be the most important factor during the evaluations, which included the variables of reducing the time required for irrigation, increasing the amount of production per hectare, increasing the cultivated area, reducing labor costs, reducing water and irrigation costs, improving the quality of products, and increasing the income from agriculture, which explained ca. 26.2 percent of the total variance. The second factor was the environmental factor, which includes the variables of the more appropriate use of fertilizers and pesticides, reduction of plant diseases, reduction of weeds, and prevention of soil salinization, which explains 21.6 percent of the total variance. Also, the effects of mini-bubbler irrigation on agricultural inputs were also evaluated, which included the variables of less water consumption, less seed consumption per hectare, compliance with the cultivation pattern, and increasing the mechanization factor, and explained 17.8 percent of the total variance. The social factor also includes the variables of gaining social credit, the cooperation of users in maintaining the system, and observing the irrigation schedule, and it explains 11.2 percent of the total variance. Finally, based on the obtained results, suggestions have been made for the success of implementing and using such projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Graduate School of Natural & Applied Sciences of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University / Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi is the property of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Engineering & Architectural Faculty of Eskisehir Osmangazi University / Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Mühendislik ve Mimarlık Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Eskisehir Osmangazi University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As a common geo-engineering method to control internal load of nutrients and pollutants, sediment dredging has been used in many freshwater basins and has achieved certain effects. However, dredging can disturb water bodies and substrates and cause secondary pollution. It negatively affects the water environment system mainly from the following aspects. Dredging suddenly changes the hydrological conditions and many physical indicators of the water body, which will cause variations in water physicochemical properties. For example, changes in pH, dissolved oxygen, redox potential, transparency, and temperature can lead to a series of aquatic biological responses. On the other hand, sediment resuspension and deep-layer sediment exposure can affect the cycling of nutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus), the release and valence conversion of heavy metals, and the desorption and degradation of organic pollutants in the overlying water. This can further affect the community structure of aquatic organisms. The aim of this paper is to analyze the relevant literature on freshwater sediment dredging, and to summarize the current knowledge of the potential environmental risks caused by the dredging and utilization of freshwater sediments. Based on this, the paper attempts to propose suggestions to mitigate these adverse environmental impacts. These are significant contributions to the development of environmentally friendly freshwater sediment dredging technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In social species, group members commonly show substantial similarity in gut microbiome composition. Such similarities have been hypothesized to arise either by shared environmental effects or by host relatedness. However, disentangling these factors is difficult, because group members are often related, and social groups typically share similar environmental conditions. In this study, we conducted a cross‐foster experiment under controlled laboratory conditions in group‐living Damaraland mole‐rats (Fukomys damarensis) and used 16S amplicon sequencing to disentangle the effects of the environment and relatedness on gut microbiome similarity and diversity. Our results show that a shared environment is the main factor explaining gut microbiome similarity, overshadowing any effect of host relatedness. Together with studies in wild animal populations, our results suggest that among conspecifics environmental factors are more powerful drivers of gut microbiome composition similarity than host genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pesticide’s broad-spectrum nature raises concerns about its impact on biodiversity, potentially disrupting delicate ecological balances and endangering various species across different trophic levels. Deltamethrin, a widely used synthetic pyrethroid, poses significant risks to both the environment and animals. Its persistence in soil and water can lead to the contamination of ecosystems, affecting non-target insects, aquatic life, and birds. Methods: This study aims to detect the impact of deltamethrin on the testicular tissues of white rabbits treated by 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Thirty rabbits were divided into three groups equally. The first group was the control group and was administered distilled water, while the second group experimental groups 1 and 2 received deltamethrin at a concentration of 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg/day respectively. Tissue sections were prepared, stained and tested via a light microscope equipped with a camera. Result: The results obtained revealed that all groups of animals treated with deltamethrin experienced disintegration in the germinal cell layer, detachment of the germinal epithelium from the basal membrane, and slight distortion in spermatozoa. The damage was more severe with increasing the concentration, Moreover, there was an increase in the contraction of some seminiferous tubules, resulting in their irregular and wavy appearance, and many cellular changes were observed, in addition to absence of spermatozoa in some seminiferous tubule lumina and Leydig cell hyperplasia. Conclusion: The treatment with deltamethrin at different doses for one month caused severe pathological tissue damage in the testes, characterized by congestion, hemorrhage, vacuolation, and detachment of a portion of the germinal epithelium from the basement membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Psychosis is one of the most vital disorders in children and youths. The definite pathophysiology of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders in the growth period has remained ambiguous. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to investigate the predictive value of parental psychiatric disorders and the mediator role of comorbid disorders of children and youths. Method: The sample, consisting of 29884 individuals aged between 6 to 18 years old from the Iranian population, were selected by multistage cluster sampling during September 22, 2016 to January 3, 2018. Parents were requested to complete a survey around their potential psychiatric disorders, based on their Millon’s Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III). The Semi-Structured Interview (Kiddie-SADS-Present, Lifetime Form (K-SADS-PL)) was utilized to analyze psychiatric disorders concurring to the DSM. Results: The fit indices of the model show that the research model has a good fit and the psychiatric disorders of parents directly and indirectly through comorbid disorders are effective on the psychosis symptoms of children and adolescents (RMSEA=0.06, CFI=0.89, PGFI=0.75, PNFI=0.75).The incidence of Schizotypal Personality Disorder, Anxiety, Bipolar Spectrum Disorder, PTSD, Schizophrenia Spectrum and Delusional Disorder were statistically higher in parents of psychotic children and adolescents. However, Borderline Personality Disorder was more frequent among their mothers while Alcohol Dependency and Drug Dependency were significantly more prevalent among their fathers. Conclusion: The outcomes of our study showed that there were statistically significant differences between the mean scores of each scale assessed by Millon’s inventory between parents of psychotic versus non-psychotic pediatric cases. In addition, psychiatric disorders were more common among children and youths with psychosis spectrum in comparison with the general population.

Our general purpose is to support the use of known-biomass production models (KBPMs), illustrating their usefulness by addressing the evolution of surplus production (SP) over time and the factors affecting it (e.g. environment). We also demonstrate the utility of KBPMs for multispecies management objectives or for estimating maximum sustainable yield reference points without a stock recruitment function, among other worthwhile applications. To do so, we present different uses of KBPMs, illustrating their application on demersal species in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) area, specifically for megrim, white anglerfish and European hake stocks. The proposed analytical approach involved fitting single-species and multispecies KBPMs, conducting retrospective analyses and assessing the effects of environmental variability on SP. The findings show that, in general, stock SP increased after a decline in biomass and SP, except for white anglerfish in the southern area. Megrim stocks are the least productive, while hake and northern anglerfish are the most productive. Retrospective analysis revealed SP shifts in northern hake stock for reasons other than biomass variability. Hence, the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), two key climate variability modes in the North Atlantic, were tested for their links to SP, revealing a positive connection between SP and AMO, although further research is necessary. Beyond the specific results of our particular KBPM application, our main conclusion is that KBPMs can serve as a tool complementary to more complex assessment models for resolving unaddressed issues and crosschecking available assessment results.

Abstract Background Estimating arbovirus transmission potential requires a mechanistic understanding of how environmental factors influence the expression of adult mosquito traits. While preimaginal exposure to environmental factors can have profound effects on adult traits, tracking and predicting these effects remains challenging. Methods Using Aedes albopictus and a structural equation modeling approach, we explored how larval nutrition and temperature jointly affect development rate and success, female body size, and whether these metrics capture carry-over effects on adult female longevity. Additionally, we investigated how larval diet and temperature affect the baseline expression of 10 immune genes. Results We found that larval development success was primarily determined by diet, while temperature and diet both affected development rate and female body size. Under a low larval diet, pupal wet weight and wing length both declined with increasing temperature. In contrast, responses of the two morphometric measures to rearing temperature diverged when females were provided higher larval nutrition, with pupal wet weight increasing and wing length decreasing at higher temperatures. Our analyses also revealed opposing relationships between adult female lifespan and the two morphometric measures, with wing length having a positive association with longevity and pupal weight a negative association. Larval diet indirectly affected adult longevity, and the time to pupation was negatively correlated with longevity. The expression of eight immune genes from the toll, JAK-STAT and Imd pathways was enhanced in mosquitoes with higher nutrition. Conclusions Our results highlight deficiencies from using a single body size measure to capture carry-over effects on adult traits. Further studies of larval development rate under varying environmental conditions and its potential for tracking carry-over effects on vectorial capacity are warranted. Graphical Abstract

Microplastic contamination in terrestrial environments has risen significantly, far exceeding levels in marine environments. This shift underscores the concerning prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in sewage sludge and soil, raising environmental apprehensions. Microplastics from various sources accumulate in sewage systems, consequently, sewage sludge and soil have transformed into primary reservoirs of microplastic pollutants, capable of infiltrating aquatic ecosystems. While using sludge to enrich soil provides nutrients, it simultaneously introduces substantial microplastic content, posing environmental hazards. These microplastics can accumulate in the soil, altering its properties and potentially polluting deeper soil layers and groundwater, compounding environmental risks. This review scrutinizes the abundance, types, and shapes of microplastics in sewage sludge and soil, evaluating their impacts and suggesting future research directions. Statistical analysis reveals higher microplastic concentrations in sludge (271 Particles/kg dry weight) than in soil (34.6 Particles/kg). Strong correlations between microplastic concentrations in soil and sludge (R2 = 0.95) underscore the significant influence of sludge application on soil ecosystems. The p-value of 0.0001 indicates a significant correlation between MP amounts in soil and sludge, while the p-value of 0.47 suggests no significant association between MP concentrations in wastewater and sludge. Research confirms that microplastics influence sludge properties, microbial communities, and soil characteristics, contingent on microplastic attributes and soil conditions. Predominantly, microplastic shapes found in sludge and soil are fibers and fragments, often linked to agricultural fertilizer use. Microplastics detrimentally affect soil bulk density and aggregate stability, impairing soil structure and surface. Furthermore, their presence alters pollutant transport behavior in soil, emphasizing the imperative to investigate microplastics’ effects and transport mechanisms for mitigating environmental and health risks.

The incorporation of environmental variables into policies, programs, plans and projects has been achieved through the use of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). However, the recognition by scholars of several limitations of the EIA has prompted the consideration of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as the appropriate instrument for achieving this objective. Studies on SEA have concentrated in phases prior to the decision-making, despite the fact that, after the strategic decision has been made, it is also necessary to follow up on the environmental impacts or effects produced by the plan, as well as the possibility of adopting measures to correct them when they cause adverse or unforeseen effects. The way in which this following-up takes place will vary from country to country, based on the respective legal system. Therefore, this study aims to understand these forms of follow-up in urban land planning instruments, at the local level which are legally binding, comparing regulations in France, Portugal and Chile, through three research questions focused on determining whether this phase exists, whether it is possible to modify the local planning instrument in the event of adverse effects and whether there are offset measures for those effects. This study employs a mixed methodology based on the law and content analysis, enabling the identification of pertinent aspects for investigation, the compilation of material for this study, and the answering of research questions through the comparative analysis of the laws of the selected countries. Results show differences and similarities between the regulations of the countries analyzed, regarding the ability to reverse undesired, negative or different effects from those originally considered in urban plans. It will shed light on the possibility for other countries to take follow-up action in the face of undesirable scenarios in the application of planning instruments. The gaps found in our research may also exist in the legislation of other countries.

Hog insurance and rural environmental protection are complementary to each other. Studying the environmental effects of hog insurance is imperative for safeguarding food safety and promoting the long-term development of the agricultural insurance industry. Informed by the risk management theory and sustainable development theory, this paper constructs a theoretical framework for the impact of policy-supported hog insurance on the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of hog farming. Utilizing panel data from China’s hog-dominant production areas spanning from 2005 to 2021, the slacks-based measures of directional distance functions (SBM-DDF) model and multiple-time-point difference-in-differences (DID) approach were used to measure GTFP and explore the effects of hog insurance on GTFP and the underlying mechanisms. The findings indicate a substantial enhancement in GTFP due to hog insurance. The conclusion drawn was robust to various tests. The mechanism is that hog insurance fosters GTFP by expanding the breeding scale, adjusting the planting–breeding structure, and promoting technological progress. Furthermore, the environmental effects of hog insurance policy are more pronounced in economically developed regions, with significant effects observed on the GTFP of free-range, small-scale, and medium-scale hog-farming households. This study contributes new evidence to the field of assessing the environmental impact of agricultural insurance policies and provides valuable insights for furthering green transformation and development in the hog insurance-supported breeding industry.

Pesticides affect biota inside and outside agricultural fields due to their intrinsic mode of action. This study investigated whether pesticide active substances (AS) approved for conventional agriculture in Europe differ in their ecotoxicity from AS approved for organic agriculture. The evaluation was based on official ecotoxicological data for surrogate honeybee, bird, and earthworm species, which also serve as a reference for official environmental risk assessments in the pesticide authorization process. In October 2022, 268 chemical-synthetic AS approved for conventional and 179 nature-based AS approved for organic agriculture were listed in the EU Pesticide Database. Ecotoxicological data were only available for 254 AS approved for use in conventional agriculture and 110 AS approved for use in organic agriculture. The results showed a higher ecotoxicity of conventional AS: 79% (201 AS), 64% (163 AS) and 91% (230 AS) were moderately to acutely toxic to honeybees, birds, and earthworms, respectively, compared to 44% (48 AS), 14% (15 AS) and 36% (39 AS) of AS approved for organic agriculture. We have only considered the potential ecotoxicities of individual substances in this assessment; actual exposure in the field, where multiple AS formulations with other chemicals (including impurities) are applied, will be different. Nevertheless, these results emphasize that an increase in organic agriculture in Europe would reduce the ecotoxicological burden on biodiversity and associated ecosystem services.

Glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites are widely used due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. However, their properties can degrade under different environmental conditions, affecting long-term reliability. This study examines the effects of temperature and chemical environments on GFRP pipes. Specimens were exposed to salt water and alkaline solutions at 20 °C and 50 °C. Diffusion coefficients and tensile and flexural properties were measured. Advanced techniques (TGA, FT-IR, and XRD) showed a 54.73% crystallinity difference between samples at 20 °C/air and 50 °C/salt water. Elevated temperatures and alkaline conditions accelerated degradation, with diffusion coefficients 68.38% higher at 50 °C/salt water compared to at 20 °C/salt water. Flexural strength decreased by 47.65% and tensile strength by 13.89%, at 50 °C/alkaline compared to 20 °C/air. Temperature was identified as the primary factor affecting mechanical performance, while alkaline environments significantly influenced tensile and flexural modulus. These results underscore the importance of considering environmental factors for the durability of GFRP composites.

Organic horticulture is a holistic management system that follows good production practices and should be considered the cornerstone of mitigating climate change and producing healthier fruits and vegetables. This agroecosystem practice not only benefits the green economy but promotes and enhances soil biological activity, biodiversity, and other biological cycles in the sphere. The last decade has observed a rise in the production and consumption of organically certified agricultural products, and the biggest growth was registered in France (18%) due to its higher nutritional value of vitamin C (27%) and polyphenol content (72%), with a lowered risk of exposure to harmful chemicals of up to 70% and improved organoleptic properties. Between 2012 and 2020, the European Union’s organic sector experienced significant growth, with a 56% expansion in organic land area, a 40% increase in organic producers, and a 114% increase in retail sales. The aim of this review was to evaluate the significant impact of organic horticulture on mitigating climate change and meeting consumer needs by examining key research areas, including Soil Health and Management, Pest and Disease Management, Climate Resilience and Adaptation, Carbon Sequestration and Climate Mitigation, Market and Consumer Preferences, and Policy and Institutional Support. The outcome of this review demonstrates that there are still numerous research studies required to evaluate how different farming systems and pedoclimatic conditions can contribute to more efficient horticultural practices.

Various approaches have been proposed for bridge structural health monitoring. One of the earliest approaches proposed was tracking a bridge’s natural frequency over time to look for abnormal shifts in frequency that might indicate a change in stiffness. However, bridge frequencies change naturally as the structure’s temperature changes. Data models can be used to overcome this problem by predicting normal changes to a structure’s natural frequency and comparing it to the historical normal behaviour of the bridge and, therefore, identifying abnormal behaviour. Most of the proposed data modelling work has been from long-span bridges where you generally have large datasets to work with. A more limited body of research has been conducted where there is a sparse amount of data, but even this has only been demonstrated on single bridges. Therefore, the novelty of this work is that it expands on previous work using sparse instrumentation across a network of bridges. The data collected from four in-operation bridges were used to validate data models and test the capabilities of the data models across a range of bridge types/sizes. The MID approach was found to be able to detect an average frequency shift of 0.021 Hz across all of the data models. The significance of this demonstration across different bridge types is the practical utility of these data models to be used across entire bridge networks, enabling accurate and informed decision making in bridge maintenance and management.