Buffer Zone Research Articles

Adjuvant use for the management of pesticide drift, leaching and runoff.

Adjuvants are included in many pesticide spray mixtures to enhance the performance of the applied chemical. Many adjuvants which modify the emulsion or extensional viscosity of the tank-mixture have been found to offer benefits in drift management, primarily by eliminating or reducing the 'Fine' droplets included in the spray with diameters <100-200 μm that can move off-target in unfavorable conditions during ground, airblast and aerial pesticide applications. Among wind tunnel and field studies conducted around the world, there is consensus that while some adjuvants are effective for drift management, the performance varies on a case-by-case basis, requiring verification for each adjuvant which could be achieved through a programme such as certification based on showing a reduction in Fine droplets and/or a reduction in airborne drift. These can be measured in wind tunnel studies according to international standards. This article provides a review of the current science in this subject area, from the approaches to data collection to a review of existing data and regulatory application for encouraging and rewarding the use of appropriate adjuvants that have been demonstrated to reduce airborne spray drift potential and therefore the size of no-spray buffer zones appropriate to protect nontarget sensitive areas from drift exposure. Some adjuvants can offer the same reduction in drift as offered by hooded sprayer retrofits. A drift reduction programme based on adjuvant use could include testing candidate adjuvants for their effect on droplet size and reduction in Fine droplets when sprayed through reference nozzles and compared against sprays without the adjuvant. Testing could also be based alternatively on measurements of drift potential on collectors such as monofilament line in wind tunnel or field studies. Once shown to be effective in reducing 'Fines' or spray drift, adjuvants could be certified and then referenced on pesticide labels and/or regulatory or best management practice schemes to encourage their use and offer reductions in use restrictions or no-spray buffer zone sizes based on drift management. Studies have shown that some adjuvants can reduce pesticide leaching into soils and contamination of groundwater, as well as runoff of active ingredients from plants into the environment. Performance depends on the adjuvant type, the pesticide with which it is used, the soil or plant type, the timing and mass of water input from rainfall and climatic factors. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

A Normative View from the Periphery: Serbia and the EU Asylum Acquis

Abstract Since 2014, as part of the EU accession negotiations, Serbia is meticulously conducting legal, policy, and institutional reforms in order to align its asylum and migration law and policy with the EU acquis. At the same time, as a consequence of the European policies put in place since 2015 (fences, large-scale pushbacks), Serbia faces a high risk of becoming a buffer zone in between EU Member States Greece and Bulgaria (whence many refugees enter Serbia) and Croatia and Hungary (which many refugees seek to enter). While aiming to implement EU law as a candidate Member State, Serbia is simultaneously trying to avoid stronger migration pressure and becoming a hotspot which are the consequence of implementing the EU acquis. Caught between these two conflicting policy aims, Serbia is following the example of Greece in limiting migration pressure by keeping its asylum system dysfunctional, ignoring refugee needs and undermining refugee protection. The substandard character of the Serbian asylum system in practice (both when it comes to its slow and inefficient asylum procedure, limited access to legal aid and information, as well as when it comes to an unsustainable and dysfunctional reception and integration system) makes returns to Serbia a violation of European Human Rights law (i.a., ECtHR 21 November 2019, Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary, application no. 47287/15), while it also gives migrants and refugees a strong incentive to move on to the EU. This combination of formally adopting, but not implementing, the EU acquis will be analysed as a normative response to the perceived lack of legitimacy of the EU acquis, which uses the weak position of peripheral Member States like Greece and neighbouring countries like Serbia to impose a disproportionate burden on them.

Fluid–Structure Interactions between Oblique Shock Trains and Thin-Walled Structures in Isolators

Understanding aeroelastic issues related to isolators is pivotal for the structural design and flow control of scramjets. However, research on fluid–structure interactions (FSIs) between thin-walled structures and the isolator flow remains limited. This study delves into the FSIs between thin-walled panels and the isolator flow, as characterized by an oblique shock train, by quantitatively analyzing 11 flow parameters assessing the structural response, separation zones, shock structures, flow symmetry, and performance. The results reveal that an FSI triggers panel flutter under oblique shock train conditions, with the panel shapes exhibiting a combination of first- and second-mode responses, peaking at 0.75 of the panel length. Compared to rigid wall conditions, isolators with a flexible panel at the bottom wall experience downstream movement of the separation zones and shock structures, reduced flow symmetry, and minor changes in performance. Transient fluctuations occur due to the panel flutter. Two flexible panels at the top and bottom walls have a comparatively lesser influence on the averaged parameters but exhibit more violent transient fluctuations. Furthermore, the FSI effects under oblique shock train conditions are contrasted with those under normal shock train conditions. The flutter response under normal shock train conditions is more pronounced, with a larger amplitude and higher frequency, driven by the heightened participation of the first-mode response. The effects of FSIs under normal shock train conditions on the averaged parameters are the opposite (with a larger influence) to those under oblique shock train conditions, with significantly more drastic transient fluctuations. Overall, this study sheds light on the complex and substantial influence of FSIs on the isolator flow, emphasizing the necessity of considering FSIs in future isolator design and development endeavors.

Factors affecting crop damage by elephants in the buffer zone of Huai Kha Khaeng, a world heritage site

Context Human–elephant conflict is a growing global problem. To mitigate such conflict, understanding factors affecting elephant intrusions into human-dominated areas is crucial. These factors are, however, complex because they are site specific and context dependent. Aims This study aimed to identify factors associated with crop damage incidents from elephants in a buffer zone of a protected area in western Thailand. Methods Interviews were conducted with local people to quantify crop damage by elephants between November 2020 to April 2021. We used compositional analysis to determine whether different crop types received different damage from elephants, and logistic regression analysis to examine environmental factors associated with crop damage incidents. Key results Although it was previously thought that elephants focus on dominant palatable crops, we found that small patches of highly preferred crops can influence where elephants choose to feed. Distance from village was also a significant factor in crop foraging. Crop damage was not different between dry and wet seasons, probably because key crops were available year-round. Conclusions Crop damage occurred across multiple crop types but mainly those with higher sugar content. The damage mostly occurred in fields farther from villages, suggesting that presence of humans may alter elephant crop foraging. No specific seasonal period of crop damage was observed. Implications Changing crop types from species preferred by elephants to less preferred species and growing mixed species (multi-crop systems) instead of single species (mono-crops) may reduce elephant incursions. However, this needs field testing, including market-based assessments to evaluate the economic viability for farmers.

Economics of Peatland Ecosystem Services: A Study of Use and Non-Use Values and People Interplays in Sumatra, Indonesia

Peatlands play an important role in the global environment and the well-being of humans by providing valuable ecosystem services. Yet, anthropogenic activities pose significant hazards for peatland management, including low levels of community participation due to lack of awareness and financial incentives. Understanding the social–cultural and economic value of these ecosystems will raise awareness to protect these important ecosystems. Here, we estimated a total economic value (TEV) of peatland ecosystem services and examined relationships between the TEV and landscape characteristics in Riau province, Indonesia. A questionnaire was used to investigate household socioeconomics, perception of peatland importance, peatland product collection, and willingness to pay for habitat and biodiversity protection from May to June 2023. A total of 200 household individuals (92% confidence) in five villages across distinct landscapes in the Sungai Kiyap-Sungai Kampar Kiri Peatland Hydrological Unit participated in the survey. The respondents obtained numerous advantages from the peatlands with an estimated TEV of USD 3174 per household per year (about 1.3 times their annual income). Approximately 81% showed a use value, especially food provisioning from fish and soil fertility. To a lesser extent, non-use values included a habitat for endemic and endangered species, biodiversity conservation for future generations, and community bonds with sacred forests. The landscape characteristics, illustrating habitat types, biophysical conditions, and property rights regimes, interplay with the relative benefits derived from the peatlands. Proximity to secondary peat swamp forests and riparian zones, especially within protected areas, enhanced economic value. Protected area co-management is essential to balance peatland conservation with sustainable livelihoods. Primary forests need restrictive protection. Meanwhile, buffer zone designation and agroforestry practices, especially in the peatland–farm interface, reduce land use tensions and promote local stewardship. This study can be used as a reference by planners and policymakers to recognize factors that promote effective peatland management, especially those that balance ecosystem protection and livelihood maintenance.

ASPECTS OF FOOD SAFETY ISSUES IN MODERN AGRICULTURE

Foodborne illnesses remain a persistent public health threat, with thousands of outbreaks each year caused by contaminated produce, meat, and dairy. The study analyzed food safety risks associated with traditional industrial farming practices, including concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), large-scale produce production, and nationwide processing and distribution networks. Quantitative analysis of outbreak data reveals hot spots of contamination in commodities and the food system. Qualitative research and interviews contextualize the complex contamination pathways and challenges of preventing the spread of pathogens in modern agriculture. The main risks include inappropriate manure use, contaminated irrigation water, undersized buffer zones and inadequate sanitation at processing facilities. Policy improvements related to livestock density, water treatment, and implementation of protection plans may help reduce future threats. Ultimately, enhancing food safety in a way that does not compromise productivity and affordability requires a comprehensive, systems-level approach across the farm, processing facility, and regulatory agency. KEYWORDS: food safety, foodborne illness, industrial agriculture, commodities, contamination, pathogens, policy

Estimating thresholds of natural vegetation for the protection of water quality in South African catchments

Many of South Africa's current water quality problems have been attributed to diffuse pollution derived from poorly regulated land use/land cover (LULC) transformations. To mitigate these impacts, the preservation of an adequate amount of natural vegetation within catchment areas is an important management strategy. However, it is not clear how much natural vegetation cover is required to provide adequate levels of protection, nor at which scale(s) this strategy would be most effective. To investigate the possibility of estimating minimum thresholds of natural vegetation required to protect water resources, regression analysis was used to model relationships between water quality (measured using Nemerow's Pollution Index) and metrics of natural vegetation at multiple scales across a sample of sub-catchments located along the western, southern, and south-eastern coast of South Africa. With conspicuous outliers removed, the models were able to explain up to 82 % of the variability in the relationship between land use and water quality. Moreover, a statistically significant, nonlinear, and inverse relationship was found between proportions of natural vegetation cover and pollution levels. This relationship was strongest when measured (1) across the whole catchment and (2) within a 200 m riparian buffer zone. The models further indicated that approximately 80 to 90 % natural vegetation cover was necessary at these scales to maintain water quality at ecologically acceptable levels. Additional nonlinear thresholds estimated using breakpoint analysis suggested that if proportions of natural vegetation fall below 45 % (across the whole catchment) and 60 % (within a 200 m riparian buffer zone) a dramatic increase in pollution levels can be expected. The estimated thresholds are recommended as guidelines that can be used to inform integrated land and water resources management strategies aimed at protecting water quality in the study area. Likewise, the methods described are recommended for the estimation of similar thresholds in other regions.

Release of perfluoroalkyl acids from sediments under the effects of the discharge ratio and flow flux at a Y-shaped confluence

The sediments in riverine environments contain notably high concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), which may be released into the water body under different hydrodynamic forces, such as those occurring at Y-shaped confluences. The release of PFAAs may pose a significant risk to the surrounding aquatic ecosystems. However, our understanding of the release and transport of PFAAs from sediments at Y-shaped confluences remains unclear. Thus, in this study, we performed a series of flume experiments to explore the effects of discharge ratio and total flow flux on the release and redistribution of PFAAs. The results indicated that these two parameters significantly affected the hydrodynamic features of confluences and the water physicochemical parameters. PFAA concentrations in the dissolved phase and suspended particulate matter (SPM) rose significantly as the discharge ratio and total flow flux increased. The dissolved phase was the predominant loading form of PFAAs, with short-chain PFAAs being the main kind, while long-chain PFAAs were dominant in the SPM. The spatial distribution pattern of PFAAs in sediments at the confluence exhibited a high degree of correspondence with hydrodynamic zones. The separation zone and maximum velocity zone were consistent with sediment regions with low and high capacities to release PFAAs, respectively. The patterns of variation in PFAA distribution were comparable to those observed in hydrodynamic zones as the discharge ratio and total flow flux varied. Furthermore, these two parameters altered the partitioning behaviors of PFAAs; specifically, the PFAAs in sediments tended to be released into the pore-water, while the liberated PFAAs tended to attach to SPM. Linear regression and correlation analyses suggested that the stream-wise and vertical flow velocity components near the sediment-water interface were the primary contributors to sediment suspension and PFAA exchange between the water column and pore-water. These findings will help us to understand the patterns of PFAA release in sediments at Y-shaped confluences and assist in the management of PFAA-contaminated sediments at these locations.

ЭСТЕТИЧЕСКИЕ МОДЕЛИ ВХОЖДЕНИЯ ВОССТАНАВЛИВАЕМЫХ ПРОМЫШЛЕННЫХ ОБЪЕКТОВ В СТРУКТУРУ ОКРУЖАЮЩЕЙ ЗАСТРОЙКИ

The article presents models of aesthetic formation of reconstructed industrial objects of the Soviet period in the surrounding development in the context of sustainability at the level of the city structure, taking into account the growth of the urban fabric. The industrial enterprises in question, as a rule, initially located on the outskirts of the city. Due to the dynamics of urbanization processes, they have become tightly integrated into the urban fabric, and are currently so-called exclusion zones, since they are large-sized relative to the surrounding development objects, including residential buildings and elements of the infrastructure of its social and domestic services. It is also necessary to note the enterprises that are city-forming and located in the structure of the historical center of the urban settlement, where it is especially important to preserve the authenticity of the historical development: to introduce reconstructed industrial facilities as delicately as possible (to select the aesthetic model of the reconstructed enterprise) into the historically established visual and aesthetic code of the city. Thus, two models of aesthetic inclusion of existing industrial enterprises being restored into the city structure have been identified: mimicry, related to objects located in the historical part of the city, and accentual – forming a visual center of attraction outside the historical part of the city, on the periphery and outside the city. The article also examines options for aesthetic inclusion of industrial objects being reconstructed depending on their urban development features: the presence of buffer zones and sanitary protection zones, the presence of external railway routes adjacent to the objects

Bottom sediments as an indicator of the restoration potential of lakes—a case study of a small, shallow lake under significant tourism pressure

The study covered a small, shallow lake, intensively used for recreation (sailing, tourist services and port infrastructure). This study aimed to determine the spatial differentiation of bottom sediments and the potential for phosphorus release in five zones, differing mainly in the type of recreation, depth, direct catchment management, shoreline management and macrophyte presence. The results were used to propose protective and restoration measures to improve the water quality of the studied lake. The innovation in the study was the detailed analysis of bottom sediments, which can be a significant source of pollution besides the external load from the catchment and tourist pressure, in the planned management of this ecosystem. Examination of the physicochemical properties of the bottom sediments showed a clear variation in both composition and potential for internal phosphorus loading. The sediments from the profundal zone, where the most boating activity was observed, together with the sediments from the shallow zone where the boats dock (mooring zone), had the highest potential to supply phosphorus to the bottom waters. This fact was demonstrated by the highest total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in sediments (up to 1.32 mgPg−1 DW) and the content of the most mobile fractions (up to 33%). The other zones associated with the marina, fuel zone, tributary and canal were not significant sources of phosphorus to the ecosystem. Based on the above results, a restoration method involving the removal of bottom sediments from the bottom zone was proposed, supported, of course, by protective measures in the catchment (maintaining a buffer zone around the lake and limiting the inflow of pollutants with tributary waters). The proposed measures with sustainable tourist pressure should improve water quality and thus contribute to protecting this valuable natural landscape.

Designing compact, connected and gap-free reserves with systematic reserve site selection models

Protected areas play a crucial role in current global policies to mitigate the erosion of biodiversity and systematic reserve site selection models are increasingly involved in their design. These models address the optimisation problem that seeks to cover spaces hosting biodiversity features with nature reserves at a minimum cost for human activities. To increase the likelihood of a successful implementation, reserves need to be spatially consistent. Widely used decision support tools such as Marxan and PrioritizR commonly enforce compactness indirectly by penalising the reserve perimeter in the objective function. Few other optimisation models explicitly consider spatial properties such as limited fragmentation, connectivity of selected sites, and buffer zones around them, etc. So far, no reserve site selection model can guarantee the production of a connected, compact, and gap-free reserve all at once. The impossibility of designing reserve solutions with desirable spatial properties using existing models makes it difficult to implement such solutions in the real world. Therefore, we propose a mixed-integer linear program to build a reserve that is connected, compact, and gap-free. To enforce these spatial attributes within a reserve site selection model, we used a multicommodity flow approach. We tested the computational feasibility of our model on generated instances and the real instance of Fernando de Noronha. The results indicate that a single model can be used to enforce compactness, connectivity, and the absence of gaps. Using this optimisation model, conservation practitioners can design reserve solutions with desirable spatial properties, thereby increasing the likelihood of a successful implementation.

Dehors and historical city centres. The proposal for a new regulation for the UNESCO site and buffer zone in Naples

Dehors are an integral part of the urban context and image especially in consolidated historical contexts; therefore, their size and functional-spatial design must be regulated, taking into account both technical compliance and the environmental and architectural quality of the interventions in a process that considers the standard as a guiding measure to increase the quality of the interventions protecting public, private and city needs. This paper is developed following a technical-scientific agreement aimed at supporting the City Administration in defining new Regulations for the discipline of public spaces in the UNESCO site and buffer zone of Naples.

Lighting up mountain coexistence: Understanding the effects of environment and livestock on habitat use by Andean bear in a conflict zone in Peruvian Andes

In Tropical Andes, livestock predation is the main cause of conflict between Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) and humans. In central Peru, the small village of San Pedro de Churco, located in buffer zone of Pampa Hermosa National Sanctuary, has experienced a conflict with Andean bears since 2013 due to the livestock depredation of cattle. To create a baseline for formulating mitigation measures, we seek to analyze which environmental and anthropogenic characteristics best explain the habitat use by the Andean bear in this conflict region. Using camera traps, transects, and occupancy modeling, we distributed 16 sampling units in the conflict area from May 2019 to November 2020. We collected seven variables: slope, forest cover, the occurrence of Puya bromeliads, livestock abundance, distance from S.P. Churco village, distance to trails, and rainfall. We expected that variables linked to food resources would have a large explanatory weight (w+) positively on habitat use by the Andean bear, while anthropogenic variables would have a negative impact on the species’ habitat use due to disturbances caused by human activity. Our results demonstrated the importance of maintaining the cloud forests (w+=0.61) and the high-Andean grasslands with Puya (w+=0.66) for the establishment of the Andean bear in conflict areas, in addition to the effect of seasonality (w+=0.63) on the use of different habitats and the resource availability for the species. However, the presence of abundant livestock (w+=-0.64) may be causing the displacement of bears, negatively impacting the availability of their habitats in conflict zones. The habitat use rate by bears across the study area was 0.69 with a detectability of 0.15, and we identified six individuals through the body marks. Based on the results and the conflict landscape, we mapped the focal areas sampling with the greatest potential for livestock depredation by Andean bears and the implications for management and coexistence. Measures that conserve cloud forests and the Puya grasslands, as well as more sustainable and profitable livestock management practices can be prioritized to reduce human-bear conflict in the region.

Leveraging Ecological Momentary Assessment Data to Characterize Individual Mobility: Exploratory Pilot Study in Rural Uganda.

The geographical environments within which individuals conduct their daily activities may influence health behaviors, yet little is known about individual-level geographic mobility and specific, linked behaviors in rural low- and middle-income settings. Nested in a 3-month ecological momentary assessment intervention pilot trial, this study aims to leverage mobile health app user GPS data to examine activity space through individual spatial mobility and locations of reported health behaviors in relation to their homes. Pilot trial participants were recruited from the Rakai Community Cohort Study-an ongoing population-based cohort study in rural south-central Uganda. Participants used a smartphone app that logged their GPS coordinates every 1-2 hours for approximately 90 days. They also reported specific health behaviors (alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and having condomless sex with a non-long-term partner) via the app that were both location and time stamped. In this substudy, we characterized participant mobility using 3 measures: average distance (kilometers) traveled per week, number of unique locations visited (deduplicated points within 25 m of one another), and the percentage of GPS points recorded away from home. The latter measure was calculated using home buffer regions of 100 m, 400 m, and 800 m. We also evaluated the number of unique locations visited for each specific health behavior, and whether those locations were within or outside the home buffer regions. Sociodemographic information, mobility measures, and locations of health behaviors were summarized across the sample using descriptive statistics. Of the 46 participants with complete GPS data, 24 (52%) participants were men, 30 (65%) participants were younger than 35 years, and 33 (72%) participants were in the top 2 socioeconomic status quartiles. On median, participants traveled 303 (IQR 152-585) km per week. Over the study period, participants on median recorded 1292 (IQR 963-2137) GPS points-76% (IQR 58%-86%) of which were outside their 400-m home buffer regions. Of the participants reporting drinking alcohol, cigarette smoking, and engaging in condomless sex, respectively, 19 (83%), 8 (89%), and 12 (86%) reported that behavior at least once outside their 400-m home neighborhood and across a median of 3.0 (IQR 1.5-5.5), 3.0 (IQR 1.0-3.0), and 3.5 (IQR 1.0-7.0) unique locations, respectively. Among residents in rural Uganda, an ecological momentary assessment app successfully captured high mobility and health-related behaviors across multiple locations. Our findings suggest that future mobile health interventions in similar settings can benefit from integrating spatial data collection using the GPS technology in mobile phones. Leveraging such individual-level GPS data can inform place-based strategies within these interventions for promoting healthy behavior change.

Imposing Dirichlet boundary conditions directly for FFT-based computational micromechanics

We discuss how Dirichlet boundary conditions can be directly imposed for the Moulinec–Suquet discretization on the boundary of rectangular domains in iterative schemes based on the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and computational homogenization problems in mechanics. Classically, computational homogenization methods based on the fast Fourier transform work with periodic boundary conditions. There are applications, however, when Dirichlet (or Neumann) boundary conditions are required. For thermal homogenization problems, it is straightforward to impose such boundary conditions by using discrete sine (and cosine) transforms instead of the FFT. This approach, however, is not readily extended to mechanical problems due to the appearance of mixed derivatives in the Lamé operator of elasticity. Thus, Dirichlet boundary conditions are typically imposed either by using Lagrange multipliers or a “buffer zone” with a high stiffness. Both strategies lead to formulations which do not share the computational advantages of the original FFT-based schemes. The work at hand introduces a technique for imposing Dirichlet boundary conditions directly without the need for indefinite systems. We use a formulation on the deformation gradient—also at small strains—and employ the Green’s operator associated to the vector Laplacian. Then, we develop the Moulinec–Suquet discretization for Dirichlet boundary conditions—requiring carefully selected weights at boundary points—and discuss the seamless integration into existing FFT-based computational homogenization codes based on dedicated discrete sine/cosine transforms. The article culminates with a series of well-chosen numerical examples demonstrating the capabilities of the introduced technology.

Assessment of ecosystem health and driving forces in response to landscape pattern dynamics: the Shibing Karst world natural heritage site case study

The Shibing Karst constitutes a pivotal component of the "South China Karst," and its ecosystem health integrity crucially influences the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the corresponding Natural World Heritage (NWH). Consequently, robust ecosystem health assessment (EHA) is imperative for the judicious conservation and management of this heritage, as well as for the sustainable progression of the region. This research assessed the health of the Shibing Karst ecosystem from 2004 to 2020 by employing changes in landscape patterns through the Vigor-Organization-Resilience-Ecosystem Services (VORS) model. Spatial autocorrelation was employed to discern the spatial coherence and evolutionary patterns of ecosystem health, whereas a geo-detector ascertained the pivotal determinants impacting regional ecosystem vitality. The findings revealed that: (1) The landscape patterns distribution in the study area exhibited considerable constancy, primarily comprising forest land, with a rising trajectory in construction land and water, juxtaposed with a recession in shrubland, grassland, paddy land, and dryland expanses. (2) From 2004 to 2020, the ecosystem of the study area maintained its health and remained stable, with mean values of 0.8303, 0.7689, 0.6976, and 0.7824, respectively, showing an evolutionary trend of an initial downtrend trend followed by an upswing, with 2016 marking a pivotal juncture. (3) Spatial clustering analysis highlighted significant clustering characteristics of ecosystem health, with a nominal decrease in the Global Moran's I index from 0.666 to 0.665, which is indicative of a subtle decrease in clustering over time. High-high clustering areas were predominantly located within the World Heritage Site (WHS), while low-low clustering areas were mainly distributed in the southeastern part of buffer zone. (4) Land use and cover change (LUCC) and Ecosystem Services (ESs) were identified as the primary indexes of EHA, with Ecosystem Resilience (ER), Ecosystem Vigor (EV), and Ecosystem Organization (EO) exerting relatively mild influences. This study provides a scientific framework for policymakers in local governance to devise strategies for ecosystem conservation and management, enhances the analytical perspective on the integrity and conservation of Karst Natural World Heritage (KNWH).

Impact of urban space on PM2.5 distribution: A multiscale and seasonal study in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration

Despite concerted efforts in emission control, air pollution control remains challenging. Urban planning has emerged as a crucial strategy for mitigating PM2.5 pollution. What remains unclear is the impact of urban form and their interactions with seasonal changes. In this study, base on the air quality monitoring stations in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, the relationship between urban spatial indicators (building morphology and land use) and PM2.5 concentrations was investigated using full subset regression and variance partitioning analysis, and seasonal differences were further analysed. Our findings reveal that PM2.5 pollution exhibits different sensitivities to spatial scales, with higher sensitivity to the local microclimate formed by the three-dimensional structure of buildings at the local scale, while land use exerts greater influence at larger scales. Specifically, land use indicators contributed sustantially more to the PM2.5 prediction model as buffer zone expand (from an average of 2.41% at 100 m range to 47.30% at 5000 m range), whereas building morphology indicators display an inverse trend (from an average of 13.84% at 100 m range to 1.88% at 5000 m range). These results enderscore the importance of considering building morphology in local-scale urban planning, where the increasing building height can significantly enhance the disperion of PM2.5 pollution. Conversely, large-scale urban planning should prioritize the mixed use of green spaces and construction lands to mitigate PM2.5 pollution. Moreover, the significant seasonal differences in the ralationship between urban spatical indicatiors and PM2.5 pollution were observed. Particularly moteworthy is the heightened association between forest, water indicators and PM2.5 concentrations in summer, indicating the urban forests may facilitate the formation of volatile compunds, exacerbating the PM2.5 pollution. Our study provides a theoretical basis for addressing scale-related challenges in urban spatial planning, thereby forstering the sustainable development of cities.

Occurrence of common frog (Rana temporaria) and common toad (Bufo bufo) adults and metamorphs in agricultural fields in Germany: Potential for exposure to plant protection products.

To characterize the potential for exposure of amphibian terrestrial life stages to plant protection products (PPP), we studied the occurrence and habitat use of adult and metamorph common frogs (Rana temporaria) and common toads (Bufo bufo) in an agricultural landscape in Germany. The four selected study sites were breeding ponds with approximately 80% agricultural land within a 1-km radius. Adults were monitored by radio tracking for two years, and metamorph numbers were assessed for one summer using pitfall traps alongside drift fences. The results demonstrate that adults were rarely present in arable fields at any of the sites (overall 0.5% and 4% of total observations for frogs and toads, respectively). Metamorph captures in arable fields were more variable, ranging from 1.2% to 38.8% (frogs) and from 0.0% to 26.1% (toads) across study sites. Unsurprisingly, most captures in arable fields for both toad and frog metamorphs occurred at the site where the pond was completely surrounded by arable fields. Overall, the presence of adult amphibians in arable fields was limited and, for the metamorphs, occurred primarily when crops were denser and PPP spray interception higher. Diurnal hiding behavior was observed with the highest activity recorded at night, further reducing the risk of dermal exposure from direct PPP overspraying. In addition, it appeared that alternative habitats, such as woody structures or water bodies in the broader surrounding area, were preferred by the animals over the arable areas. The use of buffer zones around water bodies in agricultural areas would be an effective risk mitigation measure to protect terrestrial adults and metamorphs residing there and would reduce spray drift entry into water bodies during PPP application. It is hoped that these results will contribute to the discussion of risk assessment and mitigation options for amphibians. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:2218-2230. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Method for Delineating the Formula Limit of the Continental Shelf under the Maximum Area Principle Constraint

In current practices of determining continental shelf area, the measured sediment thickness data do not effectively reflect the distribution of sediments across the area due to its dispersed nature. This issue raises potential limitations in unknown optimal survey line layout strategies for maximizing the posterior determination area. This paper adopts the binary search algorithm, relies on existing sediment thickness grid data, and uses geodetic formulas to build an ellipsoidal surface grid distance calculation model. This model quickly screens potential areas for the 1% sediment thickness line candidate points set. By constraining the azimuth parameter values during the construction process of the ellipsoidal point feature buffer zones, efficiently select the candidate points set for the 1% sediment thickness line. Furthermore, by elucidating the essential meanings of points on the formula limit and combining the candidate points set of the foot of the continental slope (FOS)+60 n mile line, the polygon minimal convex hull construction technique and a baseline points optimization algorithm with a length threshold are used to efficiently select points on formula limit. Experimental results demonstrate that this method can effectively assist coastal states in optimizing the determination of continental shelf area to the fullest extent under the length threshold requirements of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Experiments have proven that compared to the traditional intersection method, the method presented in this paper can help coastal countries delineate a larger continental shelf area. In typical application scenarios, the gain in area can reach 77,278,427 m2 accounting for 0.51% of the total area.

48‐2: Research on Mechanical Simulation of Flexible AMOLED Module Bottom Frame

With the development of science and technology and consumers' pursuit of high screen ratio, the frame of terminal flagship products has become an important research direction. However, the thinner the bottom frame is, the higher probability of metal wire breakage in bending area. In this paper, we use finite element analysis to simulate the whole bending process of bottom frame, study the influence of bending path, indenter displacement, bending radius and buffer zone on metal wire, summarize the failure mechanism, which provides theoretical basis for fault analysis, stacking structure design and smaller radius design.