Field Area Research Articles

The Impact of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis on Intestinal Microbial Community Composition and Diversity in Small-Tail Han Sheep

Paratuberculosis (PTB), primarily caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic infection that affects ruminants and is difficult to prevent, diagnose, and treat. Investigating how MAP infections affect the gut microbiota in sheep can aid in the prevention and treatment of ovine PTB. This study examined fecal samples from eight small-tail Han sheep (STHS) at various stages of infection and from three different field areas. All samples underwent DNA extraction and 16S rRNA sequencing. Among all samples, the phyla p. Firmicutes and p. Bacteroidota exhibited the highest relative abundance. The dominant genera in groups M1–M6 were UCG-005, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Akkermansia, UCG-005, and Bacteroides, whereas those in groups A–C were Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Escherichia–Shigella, and Acinetobacter, respectively. The microbial community structure varied significantly among groups M1–M6. Specifically, 56 microbiota consortia with different taxonomic levels, including the order Clostridiales, were significantly enriched in groups M1–M6, whereas 96 microbiota consortia at different taxonomic levels, including the family Oscillospiraceae, were significantly enriched in groups A–C. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report that MAP infection alters the intestinal microbiota of STHS. Changes in p. Firmicutes abundance can serve as a potential biomarker to distinguish MAP infection and determine the infection stage for its early diagnosis. Our study provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of PTB by regulating the intestinal microbiota, including p. Firmicutes.

Modeling and Application of the Hydrus-2D Model for Simulating Preferential Flow in Loess Soil Under Various Scenarios

Soil hydraulic properties are mainly governed by the soil’s heterogeneity, anisotropy, and discontinuous structural characteristics, primarily when connected soil macropores characterize the structures. Therefore, researchers must document reliable hydrological models to elucidate how the soil medium affects the movement of soil water. This study, utilizing a field-scale staining tracer test, distinguishes between matrix flow and preferential flow areas in the seepage field of Xi’an loess. The Xi’an loess’s soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) was explored through field investigations and laboratory analyses. A dual-permeability model that couples matrix and macropore flow was developed using the Hydrus-2D model, enabling simulations of water migration under varying initial soil water content, rainfall intensity, and crack width. The results showed that (1) The SWCC of macropores in the preferential flow area exhibits a bimodal distribution, and the Fredlund & Xing model is applied for sectional fitting to obtain the corresponding soil water characteristic parameters. (2) Initial soil water content and rainfall intensity significantly influence water distribution, while crack width has a relatively minor effect. (3) The cumulative flux under the preferential flow is significantly higher than in the matrix area, and the wetting front depth increases with higher initial water content and rainfall intensity. This study reveals the key characteristics of preferential flow and moisture migration in the matrix zone and their influencing factors in loess. It constructs a two-domain infiltration model by integrating loess’s diverse structural characteristics and pore morphology. This model provides a theoretical basis and technical support for simulating preferential flow and studying the moisture dynamics of loess profiles.

Ecophysiology of extremophilic diatom alga <i>Nitzschia</i> cf. <i>thermaloides</i> from mud volcanoes of Crimea

The diatom alga Nitzschia cf. thermaloides can be found in large numbers in puddles and lakes in the places where mud volcanoes function in the area of the Bulganak mud volcano field (eastern Crimea). Environmental conditions in such reservoirs are extreme: salinity is from 18 to ≥70‰, insolation is extremely high, and ultraviolet radiation is very strong. The growth rate and the intensity of sexual reproduction of N. cf. thermaloides at different salinity and illumination levels have been studied in laboratory conditions. We have determined the limits of halotolerance and the optima of salinity and illumination for growth and sexual reproduction of the alga, capable of vegetative reproduction in an environment with salinity from 0 to 220‰. The range for sexual reproduction is narrower, from 6 to 54‰. The salinity of 22–25‰ and illumination of about 1.5 klx are optimal for both vegetative and sexual reproduction of N. cf. thermaloides.

Обоснование метода нормирования уровня нефтяного загрязнения почв на территории объектов добычи и транспортировки нефти в Арктической зоне

The development prospects of the Arctic zone are associated with oil production and transportation. During operation of oil production and transportation facilities emergency oil spills are possible. The monitoring of the soil cover state requires established standards for permissible oil pollution of soils. The study is aimed at developing a method for local regulation of oil pollution of soils on the territory of oil production and transportation facilities located in the Arctic zone. Soil samples were studied in the local area of the Musyurshorskoye field, including oil production and transportation facilities,. The arbitration IR spectroscopic method was used to determine the concentrations of oil and oil products in the soil. The authors have justified the feasibility of using logistic regression for processing the experimental data array. A method has been developed and parameters for local regulation of oil and oil product content in soils on the territory of oil production and transportation facilities in the Arctic zone have been determined. The presented regulation system allows taking into account the background content of organic matter in soils in the studied area of the territory, classifing soils according to the degree of oil pollution, and identifing signs of an environmental emergency.

A Review on Nanocarrier-based Polyherbal Drug Delivery Systems for Wound Healing

Background: Nanotechnology-based polyherbal drug delivery systems are considered a new and rapidly emerging area in the pharmaceutical field. They improved the drug loading capacity or enhanced encapsulation efficiency of herbal drugs and thus improved permeation efficiency, accelerated wound healing, promoted tissue remodelling, and reduced scarring. Objective: A wound on the skin is an injury of the skin tissues that arises due to a cut or damage and also by an impact, blow, or other forces like a cut, surgery, chemical, heat, cold, friction, or illness like leg ulcers or carcinomas. These wounds result in the loss of skin's protective function by the removal of epithelium or connective tissues (i.e., muscle, bone, nerves). The four sequential but overlapping phases of the typical wound healing process are hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. By encouraging the growth and movement of fibroblasts and keratinocytes, as well as angiogenesis at the site of damage, it has been demonstrated that a polyherbal mixture composed of plant extraction accelerates the lesion recovery process. Polyherbal formulations contain phytoconstituents such as triterpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, quinones, and carotenoids etc. All these phytoconstituents are used for anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant, and lesion recovery. At the same time, nanotechnology-based polyherbal formulation has the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional polyherbal formulation in wound healing. Wounds are better managed by polyherbal combination rather than an individual plant due to its synergism and fewer side effects. To include these polyherbal components and deliver them to the wound site in a more focused and sustained way, novel drug delivery systems are also being developed. Conclusion: This review discussed many nanotechnology-based polyherbal topical formulations for efficient and faster wound healing and recovery. Nanotechnology-based polyherbal formulations prove their success in promoting wound healing which is a unique approach to improving wound care and development of healthy skin.

Comparing Pixel-based and Object-based Classification for Mapping Smallholders Rice Field Types Using Planetscope Imagery in Sekampung District, East Lampung, Indonesia

Abstract It is imperative to obtain precise and up-to-date information on the area of rice fields, as the yield of rice is a fundamental indicator of national food security. The mapping of rice fields based on water supply is still limited, particularly in Indonesia, which is characterised by ecological and management diversity. The launch of Planetscope imagery, which offers high temporal and spatial resolution, provides the opportunity to map the types of rice fields occupied by people. The objective of this study is to compare the accuracy of land use mapping using pixel-based (maximum likelihood) and object-based (SNIC segmentation) classification using random forest classification in order to generate a rice field map. The results of the object-based classification showed a total accuracy of 92.8% and a kappa coefficient of 0.82. In contrast, the pixel-based maximum likelihood classification showed an accuracy of 74.34% and a low kappa coefficient of 0.43. The mapping of rice field types relies on remote sensing data and field interview data, with an accuracy of 88.05% and 91.09% in planting season 1 and planting season 2, respectively.

Phenological and Spectral Unmixing-Based Identification of Corn Cultivars in Tuban Regency, Indonesia: An Analysis of Sentinel-2 and MODIS Data

Abstract In Indonesia, monitoring and mapping corn growth are crucial to promote the implementation of the Government Corn Reserve (CJP) as an alternative for improving national corn management. East Java is the highest corn producer in Indonesia, with Tuban Regency leading the production. According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in 2024, corn production reached 788,477 tons by 2023. The advancement of technology in the food sector has led to the production of various corn cultivars, such as NK-6172, NK-212, and NK-7328, each with different traits and yields. Therefore, information on corn cultivars is important for predicting the harvest area of corn. Until now, the monitoring of the area and growth of corn in Indonesia has been conventional, requiring considerable time and high costs. Remote sensing technology can be utilized to monitor corn growth and distribution. Linear Spectral Unmixing can identify the distribution of corn areas for each cultivar, where phenology data are used for the date selection of Sentinel-2 satellite images. The results obtained from this study include the corn field area, corn growth phenology, endmember fraction of corn cultivars, and the area of dominant corn cultivars in the research area. The percentages of the dominant cultivars obtained were as follows: NK-6172 at 80.97%, NK-7328 at 15.55%, and NK-212 at 3.48%.

Utilizing the Gravity Method to Detect the Potential Effect of the Salt Dome in the Nahr Omar Oilfield, Southern Iraq

Geophysics is one of the branches of Earth sciences and deals with studying the Earth's interior by studying the variation of physical properties within rock layers. Applied geophysics depends on procedures that involve the measurements of potential fields, such as the gravitational method. One of the significant oil fields in southern Iraq is represented by the Nahr Omar structure. A power spectrum analysis (SPA) technique was used to collect gravity data within the chosen oil field area in order to confirm the salt dome in the subsurface layers. The analysis of SPA resulted from six surfaces representing the gravity variation values of the depths (m)14300, 3780, 3290, 2170, 810, and 93.5. Gravity surfaces have been converted to density surfaces to determine density and velocity models from these six depth slices. The inverted data were consistent with the Nafe and Drake standard curves of converting densities to average velocities. The current study illustrated the benefit/assist of the inversion technique of gravity data to average velocity, to a large extent, in detecting the salt dome effects on the subsurface strata for the Nahr Omar oilfield. In comparison, the decrease in the average velocity of the salt dome area is related to this effect. The acquired inversion results were supported by available seismic data within the Nahr Omar area and utilized the seismic attributes processing technique.

Unveiling subsidence patterns: Time series analysis for land deformation investigation in the west-Qurna oil field, Iraq

Land subsidence is a worldwide geological and environmental risk caused by natural occurrences and human actions. Its effects include a range of socio-economic, environmental, and hydrogeological consequences, such as damage to infrastructure like buildings, roads, bridges, and pipelines, as well as increased flooding and reduced groundwater storage capacity. Due to these diverse impacts, it is crucial to monitor the spatial and temporal scope of land subsidence. This study presents an investigation into land subsidence within the West-Qurna oil field, a large oil reservoir situated in Iraq's Basrah governorate. The study employs Multi-Temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (MT-InSAR) analysis from the European Space Agency Sentinel 1A over six years, from June 2017 to May 2023. The Stanford Method for Persistent Scatterers (StaMPS) has been utilised to assess the scale and magnitude of land deformations in this region. Results revealed a notable subsidence within the central urban area of the oil field, forming an ellipsoidal subsidence bowl spanning 86 km2. The peak subsidence rate is identified at −13.2 ± 0.4 mm/yr within this bowl, with a cumulative vertical displacement of 75 mm throughout the six-year observation period. Furthermore, uplifting phenomena are also detected at the study area's peripheries, reaching a maximum rate of 12 ± 0.4 mm/yr and a cumulative shift of 54 mm. Temporal analysis showcases a significant alteration in subsidence rates, with rates of −18 mm/yr observed between 2017 and 2020, followed by −5 mm/yr post-2020. This change is attributed to COVID-19-related oil production reductions enacted by the government to boost prices. Our analysis points toward oil extraction as a probable primary driver of subsidence in the studied area, although a deeper probe into the impact of groundwater extraction for reservoir injection remains essential.

Context-dependent orientation discontinuity encoding by gamma rhythms in mouse primary visual cortex.

Through the modulation of its surround, an identical visual stimulus can be perceived as more or less salient, allowing it to either stand out or seamlessly integrate with the rest of the visual scene. Gamma rhythms are associated with processing stimulus features across extensive areas of the visual field. Consistent with this concept, the magnitude of visually induced gamma rhythm depends on how well stimulus features aligned both within and outside the classical receptive field (CRF) at the recording site. However, there still exists some uncertainty regarding the encoding of context-modulated orientation discontinuity by gamma rhythms. To address this concern, we conducted extracellular recordings in layers II/III and IV of area V1 using lightly anaesthetized mice to investigate the gamma tuning for stimuli with orientation discontinuity. Our study revealed that gamma rhythms exhibit a preference for stimuli with orientation discontinuity similar to the spiking responses observed in V1, which contradicts the findings of previous studies. Furthermore, the gamma tuning of discontinuous orientations exhibits a moderate correlation with spike tuning and a positive correlation with the strength of surround suppression. Therefore, our study suggests a close association between gamma tuning and nearby spiking tuning; additionally, it highlights the connection between the encoding of visual features by gamma rhythms and functional architecture, as well as neural signal integration. KEY POINTS: Visual context modulates the gamma rhythms in the primary visual cortex. Discontinuous orientation elicits significantly enhanced gamma rhythms compared to the iso-orientation stimulus. The gamma tuning of discontinuous orientations exhibits a moderate correlation with spike tuning. Gamma tuning of orientation discontinuity exhibits a positive correlation with the strength of surround suppression.

Business Suitability Analysis and Development Strategy Paddy Rice Fields in Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region Province

The limitations of agriculture and aquaculture areas impact the reduction of food availability and farmers' welfare. To fulfill rice and fish consumption demand can be approached through paddy rice field development. This research aims to analyze the financial suitability of both internal and external factors and arrange the strategy for developing paddy rice fields in Bantul Regency. The data collection method was from the interview and direct observation. The development strategy arrangement is based on the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis and QSPM (Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix). The paddy rice fields business's resulting net present value is IDR 362.694.656, R/C Ratio= 2.02, and payback period = 5,33 months, which shows the paddy rice fields are worthy and more prospective than a conventional system. The prior internal factors on the paddy rice fields are more profitable; most workers are sharecroppers and require higher capital than the traditional system. The external factors include the stability of the sales price and product market, incentive mentoring from the instructor, the infrastructure assistance policy of paddy rice fields, and the strategic location. The development strategy is strengthening the farmer's behavior from conventional planting rice to paddy rice fields system, increasing the farmer motivation, repairing fence design to minimize pest attack, utilizing mediator as a negotiate media from sharecropper to rice fields owner, developing the paddy rice fields area as ecotourism, and establishing cooperation both with region financial institution and Marine and Fisheries Business Capital Management Institute (LPMUKP) for extensive capital

Characterization of the agriculture-livestock-environment integration system (sia2e) in the Maradi region along the north-center-south gradient

In Niger in general and in the Maradi region in particular, the management of space and natural resources leads to problems for agricultural and livestock farms. This study was conducted in the Maradi region in order to characterize the agriculture-livestock-environment integration system at the farm level in the Maradi region along the gradient of North (Dakoro), Center (Guidan Roumdji), South (Madarounfa). The methodology used to achieve this objective consisted of surveys of 300 households in the Maradi region, which were then analysed using Hierarchical Ascending Classification (HAC) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results allowed us to distinguish three groups of farm sizes. Group 1 farms are characterized by large farms with an age greater than 41 years, a total cultivated area greater than 1 ha, and a large number of livestock greater than 3 UTF. These farmers are more represented in Dakoro (57%) and Guidan Roumdji (38%) and are more involved in Agriculture-Livestock-Environment than the other groups. As for group 2 farms, they are more numerous than group 1 farms in Guidan Roumdji (49%) and Madarounfa (49%). These farms have a cultivated area > 3 ha and a number of dependents between 5 and 14 peoples. The farms in group 3 are the least old and less numerous than those in groups 1 and 2, with very low values in Dakoro. This study categorized farmers in the Maradi region into three groups according to age, field area, household size and number of animals. It shows that agriculture-livestock-environment integration is practised by all the farms surveyed, but at different levels. Finally, particular attention was paid to the contribution of this agriculture-livestock-environment integration to improving soil fertility, household income and food and nutritional security.

Temporal Associations Between Polarimetric Updraft Proxies and Signatures of Inflow and Hail in Supercells

Recurring polarimetric radar signatures in supercells include deep and persistent differential reflectivity (ZDR) columns, hail inferred in low-level scans, and the ZDR arc signature. Prior investigations of supercell polarimetric signatures reveal positive correlations between the ZDR column depth and cross-sectional area and quantitative characteristics of the radar reflectivity field. This study expands upon prior work by examining temporal associations between supercell polarimetric radar signatures, incorporating a dataset of relatively discrete, right-moving supercells from the continental United States observed by the Weather Surveillance Radar 1988-Doppler (WSR-88D) network. Cross-correlation coefficients were calculated between the ZDR column area and depth and the base-scan hail area, ZDR arc area, and mean ZDR arc value. These correlation values were computed with a positive and negative lag time of up to 45 min. Results of the lag correlation analysis are consistent with prior observations indicative of storm cycling, including temporal associations between ZDR columns and inferred hail signatures/ZDR arcs in both tornadic and nontornadic supercells, but were most pronounced in tornadic storms.

FRR: A Fast Routing Recovery mechanism minimizing network formation time in smart grids

In recent years, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have been applied to the most diverse types of applications, highlighting their use in Smart Grids (SGs), such as smart metering, demand response, fault detection and renewable energy integration, as well as in Smart Cities, such as smart lighting, smart parking and environmental monitoring. A technology that has been widely used in these contexts is the Wireless Smart Ubiquitous Networks Field Area Network (Wi-SUN FAN) standard, which defines the implementation and behavior of interoperable networks based on open standards such as IEEE 802.15.4 and the IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL). The adopted standards allow Wi-SUN FAN networks to take advantage of features such as security, frequency hopping, multi-hop packet routing, and IPv6 addressing, ensuring a wide coverage area and immunity against electromagnetic interference. Despite all the advantages, a shortcoming of Wi-SUN FAN networks is the long network formation time. In this article, we propose a mechanism called Fast Routing Recovery (FRR), which aims to accelerate the reconnection process in networks that use the RPL protocol by memorizing information about the nodes’ preferred parents. We evaluate the FRR mechanism by simulations and experiments. The results indicate that FRR can reduce the network formation time by up to 50% in certain network scenarios.

Limitations of using LCOE as economic indicator for solar power plants

With the increasing penetration of renewable energy, the importance of power plant dispatchability has become more relevant; an aspect that is not accounted in the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) parameter. This paper presents a mathematical model to optimize solar plant design based on optimized dispatching strategies considering real grid demand and prices. To demonstrate that the LCOE is not the correct optimization parameter of Photovoltaic and Concentrated Solar Power technologies, the application of the new approach is performed considering their installation in South Australia and Southern California. Sixteen different cases are proposed to assess the importance of the boundary conditions (location with corresponding electricity load curve, cost of the technology and possibility to purchase electricity from the grid) on the plant design.Results show that the optimal plant design significantly differs when considering the actual prices with respect to the common LCOE approach. The LCOE approach does not lead to any storage installation in PV plants and operates CSP plant around the clock. The optimized design based on the grid needs generates the electricity when the prices are high by introducing the storage in the PV and reducing the solar field area as well as the thermal storage size. Overall, the Net Present Value and the IRR can be increased by 10 times and 70 %, respectively, by adopting optimized design with respect to the one achieved with the typical LCOE approach.

Formation of the spatial structure of the bird population in High-mountainous Dagestan and the concept of preserving its avifauna

The presented work is the concluding part of a previously published article (Vilkov 2023) and based on a mathematical analysis of the empirical material collected during route bird surveys in 1998–2021 in the High­mountainous Province of Dagestan. Based on the long­term average population density data for 96 birds nesting and likely nesting, a cluster analysis was carried out, during which the identified avifaunal communities were grouped according to the similarity of their abundance. Using correlation analysis, environmental factors were identified that determine the territorial variability of bird population abundance. Based on the estimates of the strengths of connections determined from the Jaccard­Naumov coefficients similarity data matrix, a graph was constructed that reflects the spatial structure of the bird population at the level of selected key areas. When interpreting the spatial structure of the bird population using cluster and correlation analysis data, as well as faunal and ecological ranking data, similarities between the compared avifaunal communities were revealed, and 4 main trends in bird population changes in factor space were identified. Based on the results of assessing the strength and generality of the relationships between structure­forming factors and the territorial variability of the bird population (taking into account the areas of landscapes), the most significant was the impact of afforestation, the area of open spaces and the area of residential landscapes. When interpreting spatial differences taking into account natural and anthropogenic changes, it is possible to create a predictive model of the transformation of avifaunal communities within the study area. Analysis of existing threats that have a negative impact on the number and species diversity of birds allowed developing a population management concept based on 4 strategic directions. 1. Gasification of High­Mountain Dagestan to prevent deforestation and restore the species diversity of forest birds. 2. To preserve the species diversity of meadow birds, redirect cattle grazing to areas of meadows with increased overgrowth of grassy vegetation. 3. Increase the area of fields for sowing grain crops to preserve the species diversity of granivorous birds. 4. To preserve the species diversity of birds of prey, install perches in a mosaic pattern in the fields of grain crops.

Living in the vicinity of pesticide-treated crop fields: Exploring associated perceptions and psychological aspects in relation to self-reported and registry-based health symptoms

BackgroundExposure to pesticides in the living environment can be associated with the prevalence of health symptoms. This study investigates associations between health symptoms among residents in areas with fruit crop fields where pesticides are applied, and psychological perceptions and attitudes about environmental aspects and exposures.MethodsA cross-sectional survey combined with routine primary care electronic health records (EHR) data was conducted in 2017 in rural areas of the Netherlands with high concentration of fruit crops (n = 3,321, aged ≥ 16 years). Individual exposure to pesticides was estimated using geocoded data on fruit crops around the home. Validated instruments were used to assess symptom report and psychological perceptions and attitudes. Annual prevalence of various health symptoms was derived from EHRs. Multilevel regression models were used to analyze associations between health symptoms (outcome), fruit crops, and multiple psychological perceptions and attitudes (confounders).ResultsLiving in the vicinity of fruit crop fields was generally not associated with self-reported symptom duration and general practitioner (GP) registered symptoms. For self-reported symptoms, symptom prevalence decreased when crop density within 250 m and 500 m from the home increased. No associations were found at other distances. Furthermore, higher levels of environmental worries, perceived exposure, and perceived sensitivity to pesticides and attribution of symptoms to environmental exposures were generally associated with a higher number of self-reported symptoms, and longer symptom duration. Symptoms reported to GPs were not associated with psychological perceptions and attitudes, except for perceived sensitivity to pesticides.ConclusionPsychological perceptions and attitudes appear to be related to self-reported symptoms, but not to GP-registered symptoms, independent of the actual levels of exposure as measured by the size of the area of crop fields. Perceptions about environmental factors should be taken into account in environmental health risk assessment research when studying health symptoms.

Impact of Paddy Field Expansion on Ecosystem Services and Associated Trade-Offs and Synergies in Sanjiang Plain

In recent decades, the integrity and security of the ecosystem in the Sanjiang Plain have faced severe challenges due to land reclamation. Understanding the impact of paddy field expansion on regional ecosystem services (ESs), as well as revealing the trade-offs and synergies (TOS) between these services to achieve optimal resource allocation, has become an urgent issue to address. This study employs the InVEST model to map the spatial and temporal dynamics of five key ESs, while the Optimal Parameter Geodetector (OPGD) identifies primary drivers of these changes. Correlation analysis and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) reveal intricate TOS among ESs at multiple scales. Additionally, the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) elucidates the direct impacts of paddy field expansion on ESs. The main findings include the following: (1) The paddy field area in the Sanjiang Plain increased from 5775 km2 to 18,773.41 km2 from 1990 to 2020, an increase of 12,998.41 km2 in 40 years. And the area of other land use types has generally decreased. (2) Overall, ESs showed a recovery trend, with carbon storage (CS) and habitat quality (HQ) initially decreasing but later improving, and consistent increases were observed in soil conservation, water yield (WY), and food production (FP). Paddy fields, drylands, forests, and wetlands were the main ES providers, with soil type, topography, and NDVI emerging as the main influencing factors. (3) Distinct correlations among ESs, where CS shows synergies with HQ and SC, while trade-offs are noted between CS and both WY and FP. These TOS demonstrate significant spatial heterogeneity and scale effects across subregions. (4) Paddy field expansion enhances regional SC, WY, and FP, but negatively affects CS and HQ. These insights offer a scientific basis for harmonizing agricultural development with ecological conservation, enriching our understanding of ES interrelationships, and guiding sustainable ecosystem management and policymaking.

Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Analysis of the Si(111)–AlN–GaN Nanowire Interface Grown by Polarity‐ and Site‐Controlled Growth Method

In GaN‐on‐Si nanowire integration schemes, where the nanowires are contacted through the substrate, the interfaces between silicon substrate, AlN buffer layer, and GaN nanowire are of high interest. Herein, analysis by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) of GaN nanowires grown on Si(111) by metal–organic vapor phase epitaxy using a polarity‐ and site‐controlled growth method is presented. This method is based on prestructuring the substrate, ex situ oxidation of the surface, and in situ oxide layer desorption. First, an AlN layer is grown to prevent melt‐back etching. Samples are prepared for STEM by focused ion beam cutting. STEM measurements in three different regions reveal that the AlN buffer material is polycrystalline. The degree of polycrystallinity is found to depend on the observed region: the highest degree exists at the field area between nanowires and the lowest at the sidewall of the Si‐pillars. On the sidewall, the ‐direction of the AlN grain is tilted by 30.1° with regard to the Si{111} sidewall plane, leading to reduced lattice mismatch at this location. The growth of GaN is competing with diffusion of Ga atoms through grain boundaries. The dominant mechanism is dependent on the region, leading to site‐controlled growth of nanowires.

Molecular and morphological characterisation of Ditylenchoides anyae sp. n. (Nematoda: Anguinoidea) from Iran

Summary A new species, Ditylenchoides anyae sp. n., recovered from soil in the headland areas of non-cultivated fields in Alborz Province, Iran, is described and illustrated based on its morphological, morphometric, and molecular characters. The new species was characterised by a slender body and length of 784 (663-925) μm (females) and 667-712 μm (males), lip region continuous, stylet length 6.4 (6.0-7.0) μm, lateral fields with four incisures, and excretory pore situated 110 (82-137) μm from the anterior end, median bulb of pharynx fusiform, non-muscular, and non-valvate, isthmus elongate, slender ending at a pyriform basal pharyngeal bulb not overlapping intestine, vulva with distinct and relatively large lateral flaps, a well-developed post-vulval uterine sac, 31.3 (27-35) μm long, a female tail elongate-conoid with pointed terminus; and male with adanal bursa and spicules 21-22 μm long. The new species was characterised using the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA, and partial 18S rRNA gene sequences. Phylogenetic analyses of the genus Ditylenchoides are given based on the analysis of these genes.