High Potential Research Articles

Quantifying the Acceptance and Adoption Dynamics of Biochar and Co-biochar as a Sustainable Soil Amendment

Biochar, a carbonized biomass, can be used as a soil amendment for improving soil fertility and productivity as well as ensuring agricultural sustainability. Biochar can be produced from different materials and at different conditions, so its quality varies greatly as a soil amendment. In this respect, the present study aimed to explore the effectiveness of 4 biochars as a soil ameliorator for securing soil health. The biochars were produced from 3 different biomasses viz., rice straw, sawdust and water hyacinth and their mixture (co-biochar at 1:1:1) at 400 ºC. The biomasses and the biochars were characterized and the results revealed that conversion of biomasses into biochars caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in almost all of the biochar properties. Among the 4 biochars, water hyacinth biochar showed higher ash content, water holding capacity, surface area and total P, K, S, Ca and Zn. So, water hyacinth biochar could be a better choice as a soil amendment than the other three biochars. However, rice straw biochar showed higher cation exchange capacity (CEC), total N and Na and conversion efficiency of C, N, P, K, Na and Zn. Whereas, the co-biochar illustrated higher yield and showed the second highest in fixed C, CEC, total S, Ca and Zn and also in conversion efficiency of C, P, S, Na, K and Ca. Finally, it can be assumed to produce a co-biochar using rice straw at a higher ratio which might have a high potential for C storage and for supplying all of the essential plant nutrients.

Automating the Analysis of Negative Test Verdicts: A Future-Forward Approach Supported by Augmented Intelligence Algorithms

In the epoch characterized by the anticipation of autonomous vehicles, the quality of the embedded system software, its reliability, safety, and security is significant. The testing of embedded software is an increasingly significant element of the development process. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in the process of testing embedded software in vehicles constitutes a significant area of both research and practical consideration, arising from the escalating complexity of these systems. This paper presents the preliminary development of the AVESYS framework which facilitates the application of open-source artificial intelligence algorithms in the embedded system testing process. The aim of this work is to evaluate its effectiveness in identifying anomalies in the test environment that could potentially affect testing results. The raw data from the test environment, mainly communication signals and readings from temperature, as well as current and voltage sensors are pre-processed and used to train machine learning models. A verification study is carried out, proving the high practical potential of the application of AI algorithms in embedded software testing.

Implications of COVID-19 in Parkinson's disease: the purinergic system in a therapeutic-target perspective to diminish neurodegeneration.

The pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is marked by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. With advent of COVID-19, which is closely associated with generalized inflammation and multiple organ dysfunctions, the PD patients may develop severe conditions of disease leading to exacerbated degeneration. This condition is caused by the excessive release of pro-inflammatory markers, called cytokine storm, that is capable of triggering neurodegenerative conditions by affecting the blood-brain barrier (BBB). A possible SARS-CoV-2 infection, in serious cases, may compromise the immune system by triggering a hyperstimulation of the neuroimmune response, similar to the pathological processes found in PD. From this perspective, the inflammatory scenario triggers oxidative stress and, consequently, cellular dysfunction in the nervous tissue. The P2X7R seems to be the key mediator of the neuroinflammatory process, as it acts by increasing the concentration of ATP, allowing the influx of Ca2+ and the occurrence of mutations in the α-synuclein protein, causing activation of this receptor. Thus, modulation of the purinergic system may have therapeutic potential on the effects of PD, as well as on the damage caused by inflammation of the BBB, which may be able to mitigate the neurodegeneration caused by diseases. Considering all the processes of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction that PD propose, we can conclude that the P2X7 antagonist acts in the prevention of viral diseases, and it also controls purinergic receptors formed by multi-target compounds directed to self-amplification circuits and, therefore, may be a viable strategy to obtain the desired disease-modifying effect. Thus, purinergic system receptor modulations have a high therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases such as PD.

Selective removal of phenolic contaminants for carbon recycling by activated persulfate based on oxidative polymerization mechanism

A novel approach for selective removal of phenolic contaminants and polyphenols recycling based on oxidative polymerization is explored, which is significantly different from conventional degradation processes. Plenty of bridging OH− and lattice oxygen are bound on CuO@CuCeyO1+2y+x/2-IE due to strong coordination between Ce and O, which induced formation of Cu(III) with high redox potential. Cu(III) could not only form outer-sphere complexation with peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for enhancement of O2•– production involving series of chain reactions, but also promote O2•– conversion to singlet oxygen (1O2). Owing to electrophilicity, 1O2 preferentially attacked the phenolic hydroxyl group with the production of phenoxeniums ions, and phenoxide ions could immediately couple with negatively charged hydroxyl groups of other bisphenol A (BPA) molecular so as to make polymer chains get a sustained growth over CuO@CuCeyO1+2y+x/2-IE. Thus, CuO@CuCeyO1+2y+x/2-IE can selectively remove phenolic contaminants from water with low oxidant consumption, and simultaneously recycle more than 80 % of polyphenols. In summary, the present work demonstrated the predominant role and mechanism of 1O2 in triggering the oxidative polymerization of BPA, which contributed to construction of cost-efficient catalytic system for phenolic contaminants conversion into polyphenols.

BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE GREATEST NUCLEAR DISASTERS: WHAT IS KNOWN SO FAR AND WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS?

Abstract. The high potential of nuclear power to combat climate change and support sustainable development plays a critical role in achieving the goal of the Paris Agreement. Moreover, with the ever-increasing demand for electricity, it is essential to consider nuclear power as a reliable source of energy. However, it should be noted that although the risk of a radiological accident is small, it always exists, and therefore it is crucial to have a complete understanding of the management of nuclear power. Herein, we present a statistical review of nuclear accident research at Chernobyl and Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants using bibliometric analysis to identify key patterns in scientific results and current issues in accident research. More than 10,000 articles have been collected from the SCOPUS database covering the periods 1986–2022 and 2011–2022 on Chernobyl and Fukushima, respectively. The results were obtained from two perspectives: first, we identified stages through which pre- and post-accident researches have evolved, and then we analysed the spatial correlation between energy-economic performance and scientific literature for the leading productive countries. From the analysis of research trends, it was found that the number of articles increased sharply immediately after the accident and slightly decreased over time. Among the most attractive subject categories in terms of the largest number of publications and received citations were environmental sciences, medicine and energy policy. The productive country ranking was mostly topped by the country in which the accident occurred. Spatial statistical analysis revealed a strong correlation between the scientific productivity and energy-economic performance of the leading countries.

An image processing mechanism for aerial inspection robots to detect submillimeter-width concrete cracks in social infrastructures

Inspection robots for early detection of potential risks in severe environments require a high accuracy like human experts. A fine mechanism is crucial for extracting target components from noisy signals. We have proposed a detection system for submillimeter-width cracks in concrete surfaces of social infrastructures, such as bridges, by using morphological component analysis (MCA), for aerial image-inspection robots. Traditional schemes like PCA have relied on linear decomposition for the separation of target signal and noise components. Recent advancement in signal decomposition focuses on the enhancement of linearity in the separation by introducing a set of nonlinear basis functions to represent the raw signal even when multiple factors are mixed in a nonlinear manner. In this sense, MCA is a core technique to be able to isolate target components to represent submillimeter-width cracks from others. We proposed a proper pre- and post-processing operations to attach MCA, which demonstrated a high accuracy yet coarse and fine image components have to be integrated redundantly. In the present study, we successfully found a simpler mechanism to set the single basis function to extract the target by introducing a new thresholding mechanism. It suggests a high potential of MCA for inspection robots for various purposes.

Effective activation of peroxymonosulfate by CoCr-LDH for removing organic contaminants in water: from lab-scale to practical applications.

In this study, CoCr layered double hydroxide material (CoCr-LDH) was prepared and used as an effective catalyst for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to degrade organics in water. The prepared CoCr-LDH material had a crystalline structure and relatively porous structure, as determined by various surface analyses. In Rhodamine B (RhB) removal, the most outstanding PMS activation ability belongs to the material with a Co:Cr molar ratio of 2:1. The removal of RhB follows pseudo-first-order kinetics (R2 > 0.99) with an activation energy of 38.23 kJ/mol and efficiency of 98% after 7 min of treatment, and the total organic carbon of the solution reduced 47.2% after 10 min. The activation and oxidation mechanisms were proposed and the RhB degradation pathways were suggested with the key contribution of O2•- and 1O2. Notably, CoCr-LDH can activate PMS over a wide pH range of 4 - 9, and apply to a wide range of organic pollutants and aqueous environments. The material has high stability and good recovery, which can be reused for 5 cycles with a stable efficiency of above 88%, suggesting a high potential for practical recalcitrant water treatment via PMS activation by heterogeneous catalysts.

Liquid chromatographic fractionation of bio-oil from sugarcane bagasse: influence of heating rate on bio-oil yield and quality

Brazil stands out in the field of using biomass as a source of energy and biomaterials, due to its territorial extension, biodiversity and climatic conditions. In this sense, one can highlight the high potential of bio-products generated from biomass. This is the case of sugarcane bagasse, produced in large quantities allied to the sugar and alcohol industry. In Brazil, much research has been done to improve its amount of fiber, aiming at the production of alternative fuels and generating the so-called "energy cane". Thus, it was studied the use of sugarcane bagasse for the production of bio-oil through pyrolysis and the isolation of fractions for industrial application. A comparison was also made between two types of sugarcane, a commercial variety (Saccharum sp.) and a variety with some genetic improvement (Erianthus arundinaceus). The final pyrolysis temperature was set at 500 ° C by varying the heating rates (25, 45, and 65 ° C min-1). The bio-oils were fractionated using preparative liquid chromatography and their fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The fractionation of bio-oils increased the number of compounds identified by about 50%, besides allowing the isolation of apolar compounds. In addition, it was found that the genetic improved sugarcane presented higher bio-oil content, with higher hydrocarbon content, when compared to commercial sugarcane, demonstrating that the improvement process was efficient. Among the compounds identified were phenols, furfural derivatives and hydrocarbons, which indicates the potential use of bio-oil not only as bio-fuels, but also for industrial purposes.

Possibility of production high strength lightweight concrete containing organic waste aggregate and recycled steel fibers

Abstract This study combines two types of waste materials to achieve sustainable lightweight concrete (LWC) including agricultural and industrial wastes that hold high potential to reduce global environmental pollution. A novel application of 35% treated date seed (DS) wastes as partially replaced by volume to natural coarse aggregate in producing sustainable LWC was investigated. Calcium hydroxide solution was utilized as a treatment to extract cellulose from the achieved hemicelluloses of the DS. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was utilized to analyze the structural characteristics of the isolated cellulosic samples before and after treatment. Then different volume fractions of steel fibers (0.5, 0.75, and 1%) recycled from scrap tires were added to the LWC with 35% DS. Several experimental tests, including slump test, compressive strength, oven-dry density, split tensile strength, flexural strength, and water penetration depth, were carried out in this investigation. The results demonstrate that concrete containing 35% DS and reinforced with 1% recycled steel fibers show enhancement in the compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths by about 15.2, 32.6, and 58.2%, respectively, and reduces the permeability by 16.1% relative to the reference concrete mixture.

Antagonistic Activity of Macrolepiota sp. CS185 against Post-Harvest Fungi of Fig Fruits (Ficus carica L.)

Macrolepiota sp. CS185 is a basidiomycete with high potential as a biocontrol agent against various phytopathogenic fungi. Regardless of its pronounced potential as a post-harvest fungi biocontrol agent, its activity in tomato seedlings infected with Alternaria alternata has not been well studied. Thus, the present work aimed to evaluate the cultures and supernatants’ antagonistic activity against fig fruits’ post-harvest fungi and antifungal activity production kinetics. The culture antagonistic characteristics were assessed through multiple confrontations, the supernatant concentration effect, and the kinetics of antagonistic action. The multiple confrontations showed differences (p ≤ 0.05) among phytopathogens and over time, with Colletotrichum sp. 2 being the most susceptible. Based on the 9-day incubation profile, the treatment fractions supplemented with a 50% concentration of Macrolepiota sp. CS185 supernatants showed a higher inhibition percentage (%In). Except for Alternaria alternata 1 and 2, the rest of the isolates showed a similar decrease in antagonistic activity up to a certain extent over time. Among all tested strains, Colletotrichum sp. 2 was found with a higher susceptibility. Regarding the production kinetics of antagonistic activity, a triple interaction was observed between the phytopathogen, the age of the Macrolepiota sp. CS 185 culture, and incubation time. In addition, changes in the mycelium growth rate (p ≤ 0.05) along with the higher activity in the supernatants of 20 and 30 days were observed and suggested the production of multiple bioactive metabolites. These results indicate that Macrolepiota sp. CS185 produces antifungal metabolites at different times and could be a suitable candidate to control fig fruits’ post-harvest fungi issues.

Wool Agro-Waste Biomass and Spruce Sawdust: Pellets as an Organic Soil Amendment

The production of wool is an economic burden and an issue for sheep breeders in many countries of the European Union because shorn greasy wool is defined as an animal byproduct (category 3) and must be sent to landfill as a special waste if not addressed in the textile supply chain. Nevertheless, wool is an important source of nitrogen, with high potential as agricultural renewable and sustainable organic fertilizer. To apply wool to soil, any contamination from harmful bacteria (e.g., Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp.) should be excluded. In this study, we developed sheep wool pellets to test their suitability for use as an organic fertilizer. Wool was rich in N (12% of dry material) and was mixed to spruce sawdust at sawdust: wool ratios of at 2:1; 1:1 (v/v) to increase soil organic carbon. Despite the different mix of wool and sawdust, pellets were similar in size (diameter and length), and the content of the elements suited the requirements of fertilizers and did not present harmful bacteria after pelletization. Therefore, wool pellets may represent a feasible solution to provide sheep wool with an added value, introducing it in a circular economy process. However, further study is needed to test the effects of the produced fertilizing pellets in real cropping systems.

Cation Effects on Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction on Pt Single-Crystal Electrodes in Alkaline Media.

The exact mechanism behind the cation-assisted hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) on platinum electrodes in alkaline media remains disputed. We show that the cation effects at platinum display a remarkable structure sensitivity: not only the H adsorption but also the HOR activity on (111) terrace sites are independent of the nature of cation and cation concentration. On (110) step sites, at low cation concentration and mildly alkaline media, cations promote the HOR, whereas at more alkaline pH and consequently higher near-surface cation concentrations, the HOR is inhibition by the cations. Moreover, the role of the cation on terrace-OHad is different from that on step-OHad, as can also be observed from the inhibition of the HOR current by terrace-OHad at higher potentials. These results suggest that near the onset potential, HOR mainly takes place on steps, but under diffusion-limited conditions at higher overpotential, HOR mainly takes place on terraces.

Photocatalyst-Free Activation of Sulfamoyl Chlorides for Regioselective Sulfamoyl-Oximation of Alkenes via Hydrogen Atom Transfer (HAT) and Halogen-Atom Transfer (XAT) Relay Strategy.

The use of readily available and diverse sulfamoyl chlorides for synthesizing sulfonamide compounds presents an intriguing, yet significantly underexplored strategy. Activating sulfamoyl chlorides via single-electron reduction poses challenges due to their high reduction potential. Alternatively, the SO2-Cl bond in sulfamoyl chlorides could be readily cleaved by XAT. However, the existing methodologies have been limited to either the use of photocatalyst or the monofunctionalization of activated alkenes. Here, we report a regioselective sulfamoyl-oximation of alkenes by involving the activation of sulfamoyl chlorides through a HAT and XAT relay strategy in a photocatalyst-free way. The key to this success lies in the dual roles of tert-butyl nitrite (TBN), which not only serves as the source of oximes but also acts as the HAT reagent to generate the crucial XAT reactive species. The exclusion of metal catalysts or photosensitizers for utilizing light energy renders this protocol versatile and universally applicable for synthesizing a broad range of structurally diverse oxime-containing alkyl sulfonamides.

Incidence of Skin Melanoma in the Precarpathian Region. Overview of Trends of the Last Decade and Demonstration of Clinical Cases

Introduction. Melanoma is a malignant tumour that develops from melanocytes and in most cases affects the skin. Although melanomas are usually highly pigmented, they can also be amelanotic. In the structure of mortality from skin cancers, melanoma takes the leading place with a rate of 90%.
 Even small tumours can metastasise. Under such conditions, early diagnosis is of paramount importance, as its main task is to detect and eliminate the primary lesion before it becomes deeply invasive.
 However, naked eye examination is limited to a sensitivity of about 75%, and is more effective when the tumour size is more than 5 mm. Among the additional examination methods, dermoscopy has become widespread. The technique has been introduced into the world dermatological practice for a long time and is actively used in Ukraine, demonstrating high efficiency at a relatively low cost of equipment.
 Materials and methods. Statistical data on 901 cases of newly diagnosed skin melanoma in the Ivano-Frankivsk region were obtained from the bulletins of the National Cancer Registry of Ukraine for the period 2012-2022.
 Results and discussion. There has been a gradual decline in the number of undetermined melanoma cases according to the TNM classification. The indicator has changed by more than 50 percentage points, with the lowest values at the turn of 2017-2018, and a subsequent increase of 10 percentage points until 2022.
 The number of reported cases of skin melanoma where the primary tumour distribution corresponds to the TI-TII category has increased, with a peak value of 92.7% as of 2017. However, in the period 2019-2022, the trend changed dramatically. Since 2019, cases of skin melanoma diagnosed in the state of spread, which corresponds to category TIII, have prevailed – 51.1%, while cases of TI-TII accounted for 32.2%
 The global COVID pandemic that began in 2019 led to negative trends, contributed to the isolation of patients, and complicated their access to specialists. russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 exacerbated this impact, which was reflected in the indicators of 2019-2022.
 The clinical cases from our practice in 2018 and 2021 were presented in the article.
 Conclusions. Melanoma is a malignant tumour with a high metastatic potential, with a better prognosis for recovery if diagnosed early. The increase in the number of registered cases of skin melanoma with primary tumour distribution in category TI-TII in 2013-2017 may indicate the effectiveness of measures aimed at promoting self-examination and timely treatment of patients for specialised care. The global COVID-19 pandemic and the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine led to an increase in the proportion of melanomas diagnosed at the stage when the prevalence of the primary tumour corresponds to category TIII. It is necessary to resume measures that have had a positive impact on the health of residents of the Precarpathian region.

MOFs and MOF-Based Composites as Next-Generation Materials for Wound Healing and Dressings.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in developing innovative materials and therapeutic strategies to enhance wound healing outcomes, especially for chronic wounds and antimicrobial resistance. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent a promising class of materials for next-generation wound healing and dressings. Their high surface area, pore structures, stimuli-responsiveness, antibacterial properties, biocompatibility, and potential for combination therapies make them suitable for complex wound care challenges. MOF-based composites promote cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and matrix synthesis, acting as carriers for bioactive molecules and promoting tissue regeneration. They also have stimuli-responsivity, enabling photothermal therapies for skin cancer and infections. Herein, a critical analysis of the current state of research on MOFs and MOF-based composites for wound healing and dressings is provided, offering valuable insights into the potential applications, challenges, and future directions in this field. This literature review has targeted the multifunctionality nature of MOFs in wound-disease therapy and healing from different aspects and discussed the most recent advancements made in the field. In this context, the potential reader will find how the MOFs contributed to this field to yield more effective, functional, and innovative dressings and how they lead to the next generation of biomaterials for skin therapy and regeneration.

Bringing a scalable adaptive hybrid modeling framework closer to industrial use: Application on a multiscale fungal fermentation.

Digitalization has paved the way for new paradigms such as digital shadows and digital twins for fermentation processes, opening the door for real-time process monitoring, control, and optimization. With a digital shadow, real-time model adaptation to accommodate complex metabolic phenomena such as metabolic shifts of a process can be monitored. Despite the many benefits of digitalization, the potential has not been fully reached in the industry. This study investigates the development of a digital shadow for a very complex fungal fermentation process in terms of microbial physiology and fermentation operation on pilot-scale at Novonesis and the challenges thereof. The process has historically been difficult to optimize and control due to a lack of offline measurements and an absence of biomass measurements. Pilot-scale and lab-scale fermentations were conducted for model development and validation. With all available pilot-scale data, a data-driven soft sensor was developed to estimate the main substrate concentration (glucose) with anormalized root mean squared error(N-RMSE)of 2%. This robust data-driven soft sensor was able to estimate accurately in lab-scale (volume < 20× pilot) with a N-RMSE of 7.8%. A hybrid soft sensor was developed by combining the data-driven soft sensor with a mass balance to estimate the glycerol and biomass concentrations on pilot-scale data with N-RMSEs of 11% and 21%, respectively. A digital shadow modeling framework was developed by coupling a mechanistic model (MM) with the hybrid soft sensor. The digital shadow modeling framework significantly improved the predictability compared with the MM. The contribution of this study brings the application of digital shadows closer to industrial implementation. It demonstrates the high potential of using this type of modeling framework for scale-up and leads the way to a new generation of in silico-based process development.

Low Resource Competition, Availability of Nutrients and Water Level Fluctuations Facilitate Invasions of Australian Swamp Stonecrop (Crassula helmsii)

Australian swamp stonecrop (Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne) is invasive in Western Europe. Its small size and high potential for regeneration make it difficult to eliminate. Short-term experiments have demonstrated that the growth of C. helmsii depends on nutrient availability and resource competition. In order to confirm those mechanisms in the field, we studied the abundance of C. helmsii in Northern Europe over a longer period of time in relation to nutrient availability and co-occurring plant communities and plant species. C. helmsii impacted native species mainly by limiting their abundance. The native plant species present indicated that previous or periodic elevated nutrient availability were likely responsible for the proliferation of C. helmsii. When growing in submerged conditions, the dominance of C. helmsii depended on a high availability of CO2. A series of exceptionally dry summers allowed C. helmsii to increase in cover due to weakened biotic resistance and a loss of carbon limitation. Only Littorella uniflora (L.) Asch. and Juncus effusus L. were able to remain dominant and continue to provide biotic resistance. Based on our findings, minimizing nutrient (C and N) availability and optimizing hydrology provides native species with stable growth conditions. This optimizes resource competition and may prevent the proliferation of C. helmsii.

PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF GELLAN GUM/GLYCOL CHITOSAN BASED BAICALEIN HYDROGEL FOR WOUND HEALING

Objective: The present work was emphasized on preparation, characterization and evaluation of baicalein loaded hydrogel to promote healing of wounds. Methods: Baicalein loaded hydrogel was developed using Gellan gum and Glycol chitosan polymers. Prepared hydrogels were characterized for various parameters like Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), swelling property, entrapment efficiency, rheology and drug release. Wound healing study was investigated by using incision dead space wound models. Healing effect was assessed by measurement of tensile strength, collagen content, hydroxyproline content, protein content and antioxidant status. Results: The percent entrapment efficiency of optimized hydrogel found to be 89.78±2.07 which resulted in controlled release of drug 85.03% in 12 h. The significant increased level of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was noticed in dead space wound model. The tensile strength study shows increase in collagen synthesis due to treatment with Baicalein loaded hydrogel. The higher collagen content, better granulation, increase in tensile strength was noticed. Histopathological examination also confirmed higher degree of re-epithelialization and enhanced cutaneous wound repair. Conclusion: In conclusion, biodegradable Baicalein loaded hydrogel might have high potential for wound healing with improved oxidative status and extended release of Baicalein.

Rangeland afforestation is not a natural climate solution

Large‐scale tree planting on global rangelands is promoted as a natural climate solution (NCS), but there is little scientific evidence to support this narrative. The presumed benefits of rangeland afforestation originate from five major misconceptions: (1) conflation between reforestation and afforestation, (2) overestimation of carbon (C) sequestration potential, (3) insufficient recognition of rangeland ecosystem services, (4) potential for adverse ecological outcomes, and (5) neocolonial tendencies of afforestation programs. Rangeland afforestation possesses minimal potential for additional C storage, but it has high potential to reduce vital rangeland ecosystem services that benefit rangeland residents and non‐residents alike. Conservation of existing C—most of which is stored belowground, where it is less vulnerable to loss—may prove to be the most appropriate NCS for extensively managed rangelands. Stewardship strategies promoting rangeland multifunctionality will not only contribute to climate‐change mitigation but also support biodiversity conservation and sustainable production of high‐protein foods for marginalized populations.

Stress disturbance around Xianshuihe fault zone in the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and implication for fault stability

The Xianshuihe fault zone in the eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau is an important active tectonic boundary. Understanding its stress state is important for characterizing the dynamic evolution of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the mechanism of the frequent occurrence of large earthquakes. Using 30 years of in-situ stress data from the Xianshuihe active fault zone, we statistically analyzed the spatial distribution characteristics of the stress in the region. The study area is generally characterized by a strike-slip stress field. Nevertheless, the stress state is vulnerable to topography and shows high spatial variation near the Earth’s surface at a depth of 0–400 m. The local stress near the fault zone varies from the far-field stress. The orientations of the maximum horizontal principal stress possess an elliptical shape around the fault zone, while its magnitudes become hump-like as the distance increases from the fault. The large difference in properties between the fault zone and its adjacent rocks contributes to the differentiation of the direction of the local stress field near the fault. The results allow us to formulate a preliminary hypothesis that a rigid lateral extrusion model may control the nonuniformity of the local stress field in the Xianshuihe fault zone and preferentially interpret the tectonic uplift of the southeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Further, the stress accumulation in the shallow crustal regions of the Xianshuihe fault zone is relatively high, indicating that some segments of the fault zone are critically unstable. Kangding area (the Zheduotang segment and the Yalahe segment) and Luhuo segment hold relatively high potential for large earthquakes. The results of this study are of great significance for revealing the mechanism of fault–stress field interactions and for understanding the dynamic evolution mechanism of the uplift of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.