Restoration Process Research Articles

Management of the Territory Restoration Process Following a Disaster: The Case of the South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic

The article presents a methodology for the management of repairs to property damaged by a disaster. The article describes the procedure for the development of an organizational layout, along with planning and managing activities leading to the restoration of damaged property. Last but not least, the article deals with financial planning. The methodology presented was applied to a case study that was conducted in the village of Hrušky, South Moravian region, the Czech Republic, which was hit by a tornado in 2021. More than three years have passed since this tragedy, and repairs to the village’s property are still planned to continue until the middle of 2025. Qualitative approaches to data collection and evaluation were used for data collection, especially in-depth interviews related to the given issue. The mayor of the village, the village management, and representatives of construction companies were involved in the in-depth interviews. Another important source of data was the project documentation and the municipality’s accounting records. The main outputs include a list of construction works, which served as a basis for the financial damages; the municipality’s participation in state subsidy programs for the financing of the restoration; and, last but not least, a list of works that was used to create the project documentation for the reconstruction of individual buildings. Other outputs of the work include a structural plan, which has been developed for the purposes of planning and managing activities leading to the restoration of the damaged area, and a financial plan, which contains information on expenses and funding sources. The key contribution of the paper is a methodical procedure for the identification, the design, and the execution of crucial activities connected with the restoration of the territory after a disaster. The methodological procedure is designed considering the experience associated with a specific disaster, namely, a tornado in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic, which served as the basis for this case study.

Phosphorus pool distributions and adsorption-desorption characteristics of soil aggregates in cut slopes of a permafrost zone in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Soil phosphorus (P) has attracted considerable attention from researchers because of its role in the restoration and stabilization processes of cut slopes in permafrost regions. However, the soil P pool distributions and adsorption-desorption characteristics in alpine cut slopes remain unclear. In this context, we examined in this study the P pools in the aggregates of surface cut soil slopes (0‐10 cm) in areas with three permafrost types, including perennially frozen soil (PF), seasonally frozen ground (SFG), and non-frozen soil (NFS) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. In addition, we assessed the P adsorption-desorption characteristics and their correlations with the P pools. The results showed the significant effects of the permafrost types on the contents of total P (TP), available P (AP), labile P (LP), moderately labile P (MLP) and stable P (SP). The inorganic P (IP) contents were higher than those of organic P (OP) in the cut soil slopes of the three permafrost types. In addition, H2O-Pi and NaHCO3-Pi accounted for small proportions of IP, while NaHCO3-Po accounted for the smallest proportion of OP. On the other hand, the SP contents in the soil aggregates were generally higher than those of MLP and LP. In fact, the LP contents in the PF, SFG, and NFS were 72.55, 44.68, and 49.42 mg/kg, respectively. The AP contents in the cut soil slopes of the three permafrost types were significantly correlated with the MLP and LP contents. Moreover, the P adsorption-desorption characteristics of the SFG and NFS were closely related to AP and MLP. Compared with the PF and NFS, the SFG exhibited low and high P adsorption and desorption capacities, respectively. The findings of this study provided an important theoretical basis for the restoration of cut slopes in alpine permafrost regions.

ШЛИФОВАНИЕ ПОВЕРХНОСТИ ВОССТАНОВЛЕННЫХ ПОРОШКОВЫМИ ТРУДНООБРАБАТЫВАЕМЫМИ МАТЕРИАЛАМИ

The article discusses the use of impregnated abrasive wheels for grinding the surface of recovered hard-to-process powder materials. The paper investigates the formation of a rough surface during internal grinding of cylinders of marine engines after restoration to their original dimensions, with powder materials of grades PG-CP2, PG-10H-0.2 containing nickel, chromium, iron and other hard-to-work metals, which during the restoration process create a special protective metal layer on the surface of the cylinders, the processing of which is very difficult It's difficult. Therefore, the grinding of the internal surfaces of the restored cylinders of marine engines is a complex technological process that proceeds in strict compliance with all technological operations, in stages. According to the results of the study, the influence of the rotation speed of the workpiece on the roughness of the inner surface of the sleeve, accompanied by grinding with impregnated grinding wheels, was revealed. It has been experimentally confirmed that when treated with impregnated abrasive wheels, the roughness of the polished surface decreases by about 1.5-1.8 times.

Building alliances and consensus around social-ecological rewilding in Chile

We provide a case study of how we position our rewilding project in central Chile in order to find scientific and social support and build alliances, collaborations, and consensus. Our core vision focuses on reintroducing guanacos (Lama guanicoe) to central Chile in order to provide natural restoration and ecosystem processes in espinal woodlands dominated by the native tree Vachellia [Acacia] caven. We envision a scenario of “social-ecological rewilding” with widespread guanaco browsing in woodlands and guanaco migration across the region, coexisting with multiple human uses of the landscape. Guanacos would ideally be managed by regional collectives who could benefit from guanaco tourism, sustainable harvest of their fiber (wool), and regulated hunting. Our wider vision for reintroductions and integrated conservation management extends to a set of other species that may have coexisted with guanacos and V. caven at various points in the past, but more research is necessary to establish and gain support for evidence-based baselines. Our strategy is to inspire actors with greater resources (land, money, influence) to share our vision and implement it, in collaboration with the NGO that we have formed to support our projects. Over ten years, circulating alternate interpretations and a novel imaginary of how central Chile was in the past and could be in the future, along with developing and testing scientific hypotheses, has moved our vision from an idea shared by two people to one that a wide variety of actors publicly embrace.

Image restoration strategies in pandemic crisis communication: a comparative analysis of Chinese and American COVID-19 political speeches

This study explores the effectiveness of image restoration strategies in pandemic crisis communication at the highest levels of administration. By integrating corpus-assisted discourse analysis with Image Repair Theory, it aims to uncover the prevailing strategies adopted by Chinese and American leaders to restore or enhance a positive national image in the post-COVID era. Lancsbox 6.0 was utilized to extract excerpts and analyze linguistic devices from a self-built corpus of 144 political speeches delivered by top leaders in China and the United States. The results reveal that Chinese leaders, through the use of shared image restoration strategies such as bolstering and transcendence, shape a positive national image of a responsible country. In contrast, American leaders construct a confident and ambitious national image, projecting a leading geopolitical role in the world. These strategies have distinct features that contribute to the image restoration process. Apart from contributing significantly to the comparative research on Chinese and American pandemic-related political speeches, the research findings carry implications for the practice and promotion of national ideologies. The study also highlights the diverse ways in which credible and accurate crisis messages are employed, providing valuable insights for handling pandemics or other crises in the foreseeable or distant future.

Alexander Maksimovich Kolchin as a Church Artist of the Classical Era

New Age church art is one of the most dynamically developing areas of contemporary Russian art history. The constant process of reconstruction and restoration of churches requires a scientific approach and documentary substantiation. The artistic merits of church art in the Classical era are highly appreciated by specialists, but biographies of masters of mural painting and iconography are rarely published and are little known. The study of biographies and works of painters who devoted themselves entirely to temple decoration is important for compiling an objective picture of Russian culture of the 19th century.Alexander Maximovich Kolchin (1812-1866) was born and grew up in Yaroslavl, was on the staff of the bishop’s house masters, received the title of a non-class artist at the Imperial Academy of Arts (Academy of Arts) in St. Petersburg, worked in six rural and several urban churches in Yaroslavl province, renewed murals in Vologda and painted a new church in Kashin, Tver province. In this article for the first time all available information about the painter, scattered in different editions, is brought together; new archival documents are published and the artist’s work is analyzed in the context of classicism stylistics. Documents from the personal file of A.M. Kolchin from the Russian State Historical Archive are introduced into the scientific turnover, which inform that the master painted portraits from life, the whereabouts of which are still unknown. Although there are few surviving works by A.M. Kolchin, they demonstrate the high skill of the painter, which was documented by the exacting council of the Academy of Arts in 1853. A.M. Kolchin was distinguished by his knowledge of Old Russian sources of church art and full awareness of its theological and liturgical meaning; his fluent mastery of the basics of academic drawing and masterly ability to combine mural painting with architectural forms; a wide range of subject compositions and depictions of individual figures.The article allows to expand the corpus of information about the artist and his works, and this publication will serve as a basis for further research.

Circular economy strategies in sedimentary phosphate mine reclamation: Development of technosol from phosphate waste rock

Proper management of mine waste plays a crucial role in minimizing environmental impacts. One potential solution to tackle this problem involves transforming mine waste rock into soil to facilitate the process of mine restoration. The aim of this study was to assess the mineralogical, chemical, and physical characteristics of technosol derived from phosphate mine waste dumps. Following this evaluation, a novel rehabilitation strategy was proposed. For this purpose, a total of 32 samples were systematically collected across a 4 ha area of technosols, which had been established in accordance with the waste rock soil rehabilitation strategy involving geomorphic reshaping. According to the findings, phosphate mining left the soil with a sandy texture, resulting in a degraded soil structure with severely unfavorable crop growth conditions, notably poor stability, and low water retention. The chemistry of the studied soils was characterized by the dominance of CaO (29.02 wt%± 1.01) > SiO2 (27.61 wt% ± 0.61) > P2O5 (11.34 wt% ± 0.23) > MgO (5.97 wt%±0.16). Mineralogically, the samples were mainly formed by quartz, dolomite, calcite, apatite, and clay minerals. The prevalence of dolomite played a significant role in enhancing the accessibility of Mg as an essential nutrient and the occurrence of apatite in the soil resulted in the presence of P2O5. However, the abundance of Ca was linked to three major minerals: calcite, apatite, and dolomite. X-ray fluorescence analyses demonstrated that the concentrations of Fe2O3, K2O, and SO3 did not exceed 2 wt%.Organic matter, represented by SOC <0.2% and N < 0.02%, demonstrated an extraordinary deficiency in the study area. The analysis of element bioavailability confirmed that the soil was rich in Ca (10383,26 mg/kg), Mg (278,47 mg/kg), Zn (12,82 mg/kg), and Cu (3,7 mg/kg) but deficient in other essential nutrients such as P, K, S, Mn, and Fe. Our research results provide a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing existing mine rehabilitation practices applicable to both pre- and post-rehabilitation phases, leveraging automated mineralogy and circular economy principles. Notably, we propose a rehabilitation strategy to be implemented prior to the geomorphic reshaping phase, which is intended to reduce costs and efforts associated with soil reconstitution.

Monitoring of black oak (xánthiip) to center indigenous ecocultural revitalization

AbstractIndigenous Knowledge, Practice, and Belief Systems (IKPBS) are an ecological and cultural framework with which Indigenous communities have (and continue to) adaptively manage their land since time immemorial. In the current context of climate change and colonial forest and fire management in the western US, Indigenously‐led ecological research and cultural revitalization offers a path forward where tribal sovereignty of land stewardship is maintained and the resiliency of natural systems are reestablished. We describe our process of developing an Indigenous‐Directed Research (IDR) partnership to study xánthiip (Karuk for black oak, Quercus kelloggii), a Karuk cultural focal species, in the context of Karuk‐led forest restoration. We first outline our process of IDR by describing how this partnership was established, research questions and methodologies were co‐developed, IKPBS were centered, and utility to tribal forest restoration processes were prioritized. The primary product of this partnership was a culturally responsive black oak monitoring protocol to assess black oak tree quality over time. We describe how this protocol was developed including conducting semi‐structured qualitative interviews with Karuk cultural practitioners, translating qualitative interviews to field protocol metrics, consulting with research partners, testing for field feasibility, and sharing back to the local community through field training and youth curriculum development. Second, we analyzed plot data collected from the implementation of the black oak protocol using a two‐eyed seeing approach that ensured our ecological findings had cultural relevance for future Karuk‐led forest stewardship. Through this analysis we described the dominant black oak tree typologies based on their traits of importance as identified by Karuk cultural practitioners and research collaborators. All natural resources research takes place on Indigenous land. By outlining the steps of this transdisciplinary IDR partnership, we provide a framework for centering IKPBS, respecting Indigenous land sovereignty, and centering Indigenous leadership in ecological research and knowledge co‐development.

Studies to assess natural resource recovery and evaluate monitoring methods for restored bottomland hardwood forests.

The Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration process assesses natural resource injury due to oil or chemical spills and calculates the damages to compensate the public for those injuries. Ecological restoration provides a means for recovering resources injured or lost due to contamination from oil or chemical spills by restoring the injured site after remediation, or acquiring or reconstructing equivalent resources off site to replace those lost due to the spill. In the case of restored forests, once restoration is implemented, monitoring of forest ecology helps keep recovery on track, with the maturation of forest vegetation, recovered soil conditions, and development of microbial, fungal, and faunal communities, necessary for ecologically functioning forests. This series of papers focuses on applying methods for monitoring restoration progress in forest vegetation and soils, and amphibian, avian, and mammalian communities, assessing strengths and weaknesses of different methods, and evaluating levels of effort needed to obtain accurate indications of forest ecological condition. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-5. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

A method for assessing the resilience of urban interdependent systems integrating physical damage and social loss

As systems in urban areas become increasingly interdependent, the effects of disasters extend beyond facilities damage, precipitating casualties, and public service disruptions. Establishing a holistic resilience assessment method is crucial for urban sustainability planning. Existing resilience assessment methods often focus on the physical damage; however, few studies examine the social loss. This study proposes a resilience assessment method that integrates physical damage and social loss. A multilayer network model of physical-social systems is first developed based on their interdependency. Then, the evolution of disaster damage within and between systems process, and the multi-task parallel restoration process are quantified. Resilience is assessed by measuring dynamic changes in service supply and demand throughout these processes. The method considers social loss as a combination of population harm and service interruption caused by physical damage. The proposed method was applied to an urban area in Southern China. The results reveal the impact of seismic events on infrastructure, buildings, and populations. Furthermore, they demonstrate the coupling impacts of supply and transportation on emergency and healthcare systems’ resilience. This comprehensive method could facilitate the development of efficient strategies to improve urban resilience to disasters.

Morphological Characteristics of the Ulna Fracture Zone in Rats Undergoing Therapy With Modified Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Experimental Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a progressive systemic disease characterized by a decrease in bone density. This leads to increased bone fragility and a higher likelihood of fractures. New approaches to cellular therapy have been developed for the effective treatment of this pathology, based on the use of modified osteophilic polymers with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for local action on damaged bone areas. The aim of the study was to morphologically assess the effectiveness of modified osteophilic polymer MSCs on reparative osteogenesis processes during the post-traumatic period in animals with a fracture of the ulna and underlying osteoporosis. Material and methods. The experiment involved Wistar rats (females, n=40; 200–300 g, 3 months old). Osteoporosis was simulated by bilateral ovariectomy, and the fracture was simulated through diaphysis osteotomy of the ulna. All rats were randomly distributed into four groups: Group I (control, n=10; buffered solution); Group II (n=10; osteophilic polymer, 1 mg/ml); Group III (n=10; MSC suspension, 1×106); Group IV (n=10; modified osteophilic polymer MSCs, 1×106). The experiment results were evaluated in 1 and 6 months after the fracture. Results. MSCs were applied after exposure to the osteophilic polymer to restore the pool of osteoblast precursors in the fracture area of the ulna in experimental osteoporosis. In all animals, regeneration foci with varying degrees of structural and functional maturation of cellular and intercellular substrates were formed in the fracture area. The most pronounced processes of bone tissue restoration were observed with the use of modified osteophilic polymer MSCs. This is likely associated with the high concentration of modified osteophilic polymer MSCs and their retention in zones of damaged bone regeneration, subsequently stimulating osteogenesis. The paradigm of provisionality, as a universal model manifestating histogenesis and organogenesis, was utilized to gain a more comprehensive biological understanding and interpretation of the observed changes. Conclusion. MSCs applied after exposure to an osteophilic polymer significantly enhance the process of reparative osteogenesis in fractures of long bones in patients with estrogen-induced osteoporosis, thus making this technology promising for combined therapy.

From Traditional Perspectives to Design Innovation

This paper elaborates on the process of digital restoration and redesign of the konghou depicted in the murals of Mogao Grottoes' Cave 465 from a product design perspective. Through an in-depth analysis of the konghou's form, precise application of digital technology, and the clever integration of modern design concepts, this study not only achieves effective protection and inheritance of ancient cultural heritage but also explores innovative applications of traditional cultural elements in contemporary product design. This research is significant for promoting the digital preservation of cultural heritage and fostering the fusion of tradition and modernity.

Research and development of intraoral scanning in edentulous soft tissue

During the complete denture restoration process, accurate impression making is a crucial step for achieving good denture retention. With the increasing popularity of intraoral scanning technology in fixed restoration, the use of intraoral scanning technology in complete denture restoration for edentulous Jaw has also been developed. This article systematically reviews the research progress and application of intraoral scanning of edentulous soft tissue, focusing on difficulties in intraoral scanning of edentulous jaws, scanning accuracy, clinical application effects, as well as precautions involved. The aim is to provide references for clinical application.

Dynamic control of ecological restoration in abandoned mines under the background of ecology-oriented development in China

PurposeThis study examines how local governments and enterprises can implement ecological restoration of abandoned mines based on ecology-oriented development (EOD), which will be more beneficial to local environmental protection and economic development under the central government’s policy of outcome incentives or process subsidies.Design/methodology/approachWe construct a dynamic differential game model to simulate the interactions between local governments and enterprises during the ecological restoration of abandoned mines from an EOD perspective.FindingsThe findings suggest that under the central government’s outcome incentive policy, cooperation between local governments and enterprises is an optimal strategy. Under the process subsidy policy, while neither cooperative nor non-cooperative models significantly affect the investment levels of local governments and enterprises, a cooperative approach ensures optimal investments from both without solely relying on the process subsidy. Additionally, incorporating altruistic preferences can lead to Pareto improvements in economic and environmental results under central government outcome incentives.Practical implicationsThis research offers a policy foundation for governments to encourage the EOD model in the ecological restoration of abandoned mines. It provides theoretical support for achieving environmental sustainability and high-quality economic development, and is particularly significant for resource-depleted cities seeking to transform their development strategies.Originality/valueThrough a dynamic differential game model involving government agencies and enterprises to simulate decision-making in the ecological restoration of abandoned mines, incorporating altruistic preferences into this restoration process, and identifying optimal strategies and policies for ecological restoration.

Ecological Restoration Increases the Diversity of Understory Vegetation in Secondary Forests: An Evidence from 90 Years of Forest Closures

Ecological restoration and biodiversity are currently hot issues of global environmental concern. However, knowledge about the specific impacts of restoration duration on understory vegetation diversity remains limited. Therefore, this study comprehensive employed a spatial approach to compare the differences in understory plant diversity and species composition among secondary forests with varying ecological restoration ages (0, 10, 30, 60, and 90-year-old stands) in Huangfu Mountain National Forest Park. This methodology allowed us to clarify the key factors affecting the composition of the understory plant community and investigate the regulatory mechanisms influencing changes in understory plant diversity. The results showed that shrub Shannon’s index value, shrub evenness, herb Shannon’s index value, herb richness, and herb evenness were significantly affected by the years of restoration, with 10 years and 90 years being the highest and 60 years being the lowest. Substrate diversity was the main factor influencing plant diversity in the shrub layer. Overstory richness, soil C/N, soil C, soil N, soil bacterial Observed OTUs, soil bacterial Chao1, soil bacterial Pielou_e, and substrate diversity were the drivers of plant diversity in the herb layer. Overstory evenness had a direct effect (0.256) and an indirect effect (0.284) on herb evenness through light availability and fungal Simpson’s index value. Light availability directly negatively affected herb evenness (−0.360). In addition, 52.6% of the factors affecting the herb evenness index were from the arboreal layer evenness, light availability, and fungal Simpson’s index value. To sum up, moderate disturbance of the understory environment of natural secondary forests can be carried out after 10 years of restoration, which is more conducive to the increase of understory plant diversity. This comprehensive study provides a theoretical basis for formulating ecological restoration measures for secondary forests, particularly in understanding the optimal timing and nature of disturbance in the restoration process, reassuring the audience about the validity and reliability of the findings.

Direct Composite Restorations on Permanent Teeth in the Anterior and Posterior Region - An Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline - Part 1: Indications for Composite Restorations.

This German S3 clinical practice guideline offers evidence-based recommendations for the use of composite materials in direct restorations of permanent teeth. Outcomes considered were the survival rates and restoration quality and process quality of the manufacturing process. Part 1 of this two-part presentation deals with the indication classes. A systematic literature search was conducted by two methodologists using MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library via the OVID platform, including studies up to December 2021. Six PICO questions were developed to guide the search. Recommendations were formulated by a panel of dental professionals from 20 national societies and organizations based on the collected evidence. Composite materials are a viable option for the direct restoration of cavity Classes I-V and may also be used for restorations with cusp replacement, and tooth shape corrections. In the posterior region, direct composite restorations should be preferred over indirect composite inlays. For Class V restorations, composite materials can be used if adequate contamination control and adhesive technique are ensured. The guideline is the first to provide comprehensive evidence on the use of direct composite materials. However, further long-term clinical studies with comparators such as (modified) glass-ionomer cements are necessary. Regular updates will detail the future scope and limitations of direct composite restorations.

Vegetation restoration enhancing soil carbon sequestration in karst rocky desertification ecosystems: A meta-analysis

Vegetation restoration measures have been increasingly employed to alleviate rocky desertification in karst ecosystems. However, the comprehensive effects of these interventions on soil properties and soil organic carbon (SOC) remain poorly understood. Herein, we gathered 644 paired observations from 68 studies and conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the performance of different vegetation restoration measures including moss (MS), grassland (GL), cash crop (CP), shrub (SH), and secondary forest (SF) through soil properties and SOC. Our results demonstrated significant effects of MS, GL, CP, SH, and SF on soil biotic and abiotic factors, each with distinct response characteristics. Particularly, MS significantly enhanced all soil properties (excluding a slight decrease in soil pH by 10.8%). Moreover, MS, GL, CP, SH, and SF could elevate SOC by 32.1%, 17.6%, 24.9%, 59.2%, and 48.7% respectively. Utilizing random forest and linear regression models, we identified primary drivers for SOC in MS, GL, CP, SH, and SF as soil moisture content, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, soil microbial phosphorus, total nitrogen, and β-1,4-glucosidase, respectively. This meta-analysis underlined the varied effects of vegetation restoration measures on soil properties and advocates for restoration measures that prioritize plant productivity and reduce soil temperature during the karst rocky desertification restoration process. Additionally, this study underscores the pivotal role of vegetation rehabilitation in environmental conservation and carbon sequestration of ecologically vulnerable regions.

Beneath the apple trees - Exploring soil microbial properties under Malus domestica concerning various land management practices

The presented study evaluated the impact of six land management practices on soil bacterial and fungal communities under apple trees: green field belts, forests, gardens with trees and ornamental plants, gardens with farm animals, and uncultivated and cultivated orchards. The study explored soil microbial properties including the enzymatic activity of dehydrogenases (tested by colorimetric reaction with 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride), metabolic profile (using Biolog™ ECO Plates), metataxonomy structure (Next Generation Sequencing using Illumina®), followed by physicochemical properties (pH, N, P, K, microelements concentrations, organic matter, and Corg content). The hypothesis was that different land management practices would influence soil microbial properties, with cultivated orchards expected to show significantly lower dehydrogenases activity, and higher substrate-based respiratory than biomass response, within substrate stress occurrence, when testing metabolic profiles, but also different composition and lower relative abundances of specific microbial taxa and different biomarker genera, compared to other treatments. We aimed to identify practices promoting diverse microbial substrate-based metabolic and taxa diversity responses, with a focus on Bacillus and Trichoderma abundances, which are potential biological agents against fungal pathogens. As expected the presented research revealed significant statistical variations in microbial communities among different land management practices in soil beneath apple trees. It was accordingly noted that cultivated orchards, but also green belts, clearly exhibited reduced microbial activity (3.59 and 4.76 TPF kg−1 d−1, respectively) compared to gardens and uncultivated orchards (12.08 and 9.89 TPF kg−1 d−1). Cultivated orchards notably showed higher respiration levels and substrate stress compared, especially to forests and other land management practices represented by a clear separation of observed according to Sneath's criteria in cluster analysis. Different land management practices induce unique stress responses in microbial communities: forests struggled with B-Methyl-d-Glucoside, gardens with Serine and Putrescine, cultivated orchards with d-Glucosaminic Acid and Cyclodextrin, and bounds with 2-Hydroxy-Benzoic Acid. Substantial differences were also observed in the relative abundance of the top ten bacterial and fungal orders, and biomarker genera representatives. In cultivated orchards, there was a significant decrease in the relative abundance of many bacterial taxa such as e.g. Rhizobiales, Burkholderiales, Vivinamibacterales, and fungal taxa including Eurotiales, and Saccharomycetales. Notably, no significant differences were noted for Bacillus abundance among tested management practices. Forests favored Trichoderma abundance the most among tested practices (relative abundance 0.05 %). In turn, Trichoderma representatives were revealed as biomarker genera in gardens with animals. Williamsia representatives, as found in uncultivated orchards were suggested to be a biomarker of less disturbance, resulting from area restoration. Overall, the study discussed how different land management practices influence soil microbial communities and their functional roles, emphasizing the potential impacts of use on soil health and biodiversity within its implications. The most important recommendation bullet points:•using Williamsia representatives as a soil biomarker microorganism to indicate successful area restoration processes in apple orchards,•using d-Glucosaminic Acid metabolic stress test to reveal early difficulties in controlling fungal pathogens in soil microbial communities,•promoting diverse plant covers and reasonably reduced agrochemical inputs in apple orchards for enhancing soil microbial resilience,•preserving habitats of wild apple trees in forests or green belts, as these environments exhibit reduced metabolic stress and support the occurrence of fungi like Trichoderma, in the context of locations from which such isolates should be sought for further biocontrol use.

Neural Degradation Representation Learning for All-In-One Image Restoration.

Existing methods have demonstrated effective performance on a single degradation type. In practical applications, however, the degradation is often unknown, and the mismatch between the model and the degradation will result in a severe performance drop. In this paper, we propose an all-in-one image restoration network that tackles multiple degradations. Due to the heterogeneous nature of different types of degradations, it is difficult to process multiple degradations in a single network. To this end, we propose to learn a neural degradation representation (NDR) that captures the underlying characteristics of various degradations. The learned NDR adaptively decomposes different types of degradations, similar to a neural dictionary that represents basic degradation components. Subsequently, we develop a degradation query module and a degradation injection module to effectively approximate and utilize the specific degradation based on NDR, enabling the all-in-one restoration ability for multiple degradations. Moreover, we propose a bidirectional optimization strategy to effectively drive NDR to learn the degradation representation by optimizing the degradation and restoration processes alternately. Comprehensive experiments on representative types of degradations (including noise, haze, rain, and downsampling) demonstrate the effectiveness and generalizability of our method. Code is available at https://github.com/mdyao/NDR-Restore.

Amino Group-Aided Efficient Regeneration Targeting Structural Defects and Inactive FePO4 Phase for Degraded LiFePO4 Cathodes.

It is urgent to develop efficient recycling methods for spent LiFePO4 cathodes to cope with the upcoming peak of power battery retirement. Compared with the traditional metallurgical recovery methods that lack satisfactory economic and environmental benefits, the direct regeneration seems to be a promising option at present. However, a simple direct lithium replenishment cannot effectively repair and regenerate the cathodes due to the serious structural damage of the spent LiFePO4. Herein, the spent LiFePO4 cathodes are directly regenerated by a thiourea-assisted solid-phase sintering process. The density functional theory calculation indicates that thiourea has a targeted repair effect on the antisite defects and inactive FePO4 phase in the spent cathode due to the associative priority of amino group (─NH2) in thiourea with Fe ions: Fe3+─N > Fe2+─N. Meanwhile, the pyrolysis products of thiourea can also create an optimal reducing atmosphere and inhibit the agglomeration of particles in the high temperature restoration process. The regenerated LiFePO4 exhibits an excellent electrochemical performance, which is comparable to that of commercial LiFePO4. This targeted restoration has improved the efficiency of direct regeneration, which is expected to achieve large-scale recycling of spent LiFePO4.