Restoration Strategies Research Articles

Controllable dual Cu–Cu2O sites derived from CuxAl-LDH for CO2 electroreduction to hydrocarbons

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 affords a potential way to mitigate the greenhouse effect and fuel crisis. In this work, we compared highly-dispersed CuO nanocomposites and Cu–Cu2O nanocomposites which all derived from CuxAl-LDH for CO2 electrochemical reduction. The Cu–Cu2O based nanocomposites obtained through the restoration strategies still retain its layered structure, simultaneously increasing dual Cu–Cu2O active sites, which exhibit excellent performance in selective reduction of CO2 to C2H4. The Cu5Al-ER obtained through in-situ electrochemical reduction is modified by bulk phase, which can regulate active species, increase surface active sites, enhance C–C coupling. Meanwhile, the electrochemical strategy offers numerous benefits, including gentle conditions, adjustable monitoring, exceptional efficiency and adaptability. We have confirmed that cost-effective Cu–Cu2O based nanocomposite derived from Cu5Al-LDH can effectively promote C–C coupling during electrochemical CO2 conversion and improve FEC2H4. The FEC2H4 of Cu5Al-ER reaches 36% at −1.2 V vs. RHE. And the current density reaches −172 mA·cm−2 at −1.6 V vs. RHE. The results showed that compared to Cu5Al-LDO, the FEC2H4 of Cu5Al-ER increased by 2.6 times. In addition, Cu5Al-ER exhibits excellent stability during the 12 hours CO2 catalytic reduction process.

The feedback of greening on local hydrothermal conditions in Northern China

Northern China has experienced a significant increase in vegetation cover over the past few decades. It lacks a comprehensive understanding of how greening impacts local hydrothermal conditions. To address this issue, in our study, the RegCM-CLM45 model was used to conduct a thorough assessment of the impacts of greening on temperature, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), precipitation, and soil moisture. The findings revealed that the local climatic effects of greening varied across different drought gradients based on the aridity index (AI). In drier regions with AI<0.3, the increased energy induced by greening tended to dissipate as sensible heat, exacerbating both warming and drought conditions. Conversely, in wetter regions with AI>0.3, a greater proportion of energy was lost through evapotranspiration, attenuating warming. Additionally, greening enhanced precipitation and soil moisture in drier regions and moderated their decline in wetter regions. Significantly, our research emphasized the effectiveness of grassland expansion and conservation as prime strategies for ecological restoration, particularly in drylands, where they could effectively alleviate soil drought. Given the diverse responses of different land cover transformations to local hydrothermal conditions in drylands, there is an urgent need to address potential adverse effects arising from inappropriate ecological restoration strategies and to develop an optimal restoration framework for the future.

Assessing the win-win situation of forage production and soil organic carbon through a short-term active restoration strategy in alpine grasslands.

Grassland degradation has seriously affected the ecological environment and human livelihood. To abate these, implementing effective management strategies to restore and improve the service functions and productivity of degraded grasslands is crucial. To evaluate the influences of restoration measures combined with different grazing intensities on short-term (1 year) grassland restoration, the changes in soil physicochemical properties, as well as plant traits under restoration measures of different grazing intensities, reseeding, and fertilization, were analyzed. Soil organic carbon (SOC) increased to varying degrees, whereas available nutrients decreased under all combined restoration measures. Reseeding, alone and in combination with fertilization, substantially increased SOC, improved grassland vegetation status, and enhanced grassland productivity. The aboveground biomass of Gramineae and the total aboveground biomass increased under the combined restoration measures of transferring livestock out of the pasture 45 days in advance, reseeding, and fertilization (T4). Redundancy analysis revealed a strong correlation between grassland vegetation characteristics, SOC, and available potassium. Considering soil and vegetation factors, the short-term results suggested that the combination measures in T4had the most marked positive impact on grassland restoration. These findings offer valuable theoretical insights for the ecological restoration of degraded grasslands in alpine regions.

Soil organic carbon stocks and fertility in smallholder indigenous agroforestry systems of the North-Eastern mountains, Tanzania

Soil organic carbon and soil fertility are critical components of soil health and play a significant role in sustaining agricultural productivity. Indigenous agroforestry practices have been identified as an interesting avenue to sequester carbon and enhance soil fertility in tropical smallholder farms. However, that potential remains poorly quantified. To better understand the dynamics of soil organic carbon stocks and fertility, this study evaluated and compared 4 different smallholder indigenous agroforestry systems (i.e., Kihamba, Ginger, Miraba, and Mixed spices) in the northeastern volcanic and block mountains of Tanzania. Specifically, we compared old and young agroforestry systems in terms of soil organic carbon stocks and soil fertility (proxied by effective cation exchange capacity (eCEC)). In each agroforestry system, a network of old and young tree farm plots were selected for soil sampling at different depths and physico-chemical parameters were analyzed (soil organic carbon, texture, bulk density, pH-H2O, and eCEC). Our findings showed that there was no significant difference between young and old agroforestry systems in terms of soil organic carbon stocks, except in the Kihamba system on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. The highest soil carbon sequestering potential was found in the old Kihamba (located on Nitisols) compared to other systems on Acrisols. Young agroforestry in Ginger and Miraba appeared to have a higher capacity to sequester soil carbon than Mixed spices. Regarding eCEC levels, there was a significant difference between old and young agroforestry systems in both the Kihamba and Miraba system. At the 0–10 cm depth, the highest eCEC levels were found in young agroforestry for Kihamba, Miraba, and Mixed spices. Our results implied that specific management and restoration strategies should focus on optimizing soil fertility and carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems in the South Pare and Usambara Mountains characterized by low-fertility Acrisols.

Peatmass Change and Water Level Influencing Regenerated Melaleuca Forest after a Fire in U Minh Thuong National Park, Vietnam

Following the largest forest fire in Vietnam in 2002, various activities were undertaken to sustain the mangrove forest on peat soil remnants in the Mekong Delta region. These activities included promoting natural regeneration, afforestation, and rapid forest restoration measures, in addition to other protective measures such as rainwater retention to maintain moisture levels for fire prevention. However, two critical challenges emerged: allowing the forest to naturally regenerate would lead to annual forest fires but maintaining a constant water level through year-round water retention would harm biodiversity. The study was conducted in U Minh Thuong National Park to address forest regeneration. After a major forest fire in Vietnam, various measures were taken to promote forest regeneration, including afforestation, silvicultural solutions, and hydrological techniques such as rainwater storage to maintain humidity and prevent future fires. A hand drill was used to collect samples, and a total of 15 plots were set up to survey the growth of the forest at three peat thickness levels. At each of the three collection sites, samples of one kg were collected and labeled according to the site as UTM1, UTM2, and UTM3. The samples were then sent to the laboratory of the Southern Institute of Forestry Science for analysis. There was a relationship between the chemical indicators of peat and the evolution of the Melaleuca forest. Peat thickness and flooding regime significantly influenced the growth of the Melaleuca forest, while another identified relationship was between peat chemical indicators and forest growth. The chemical composition of peat water changed significantly due to the rainy and dry seasons, with nutrient content and pH affecting forest growth. Peat thickness and flooding regime were essential in regulating forest growth. These studies highlight the importance of considering multiple factors, such as peat thickness and chemical properties, when developing effective forest restoration strategies. By understanding the relationship between peat thickness, chemical properties, and forest growth, forest managers can develop targeted strategies to promote regeneration while minimizing negative impacts on biodiversity.

Study on the factors influencing ecological environment and zoning control: a study case of the Dongting Lake area

IntroductionProtecting the ecosystem of the Dongting Lake area is of utmost importance for maintaining ecological balance and achieving human well-being.MethodsThis study identifies the key factors influencing the remote sensing based ecological index (RESI) in the Dongting Lake area based on the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of the RESI and environmental changes and anthropogenic disturbance factors. The priority zoning for ecological restoration was delineated in combination with the anthropogenic composite index (ACI). By exploring the influence of anthropogenic disturbances on RESI, the zoning locations were determined using spatial statistics and linear regression methods.ResultsThe overall RESI of the Dongting Lake area showed a decline from 2001 to 2020, with the mean value decreasing from 0.52 to 0.48. High-quality zones were mainly located in mountainous and forested areas, while low-quality zones were mainly distributed in more developed cities in the east urban area. Anthropogenic factors were the main reasons for the decline in the ecological environment, while natural factors showed a positive correlation with RESI. Based on the RESI and ACI, four ecological control zones (H-H, H-L, L-H, and L-L) were delineated, which accounted for a total of 45.66% of the Dongting Lake area. Among them, 3.91% required immediate control and management, while 17.80% required artificial maintenance. This study explores the influencing factors and mechanisms of the ecological environment quality in the Dongting Lake area, and explores the effective spatial paths for the implementation of ecological restoration zoning control and differentiated restoration strategies in the Dongting Lake area.DiscussionThis study provides a scientific basis for mitigating ecological and environmental problems in the Dongting Lake area, and provides a reference for ecological restoration and regulation and the realization of sustainable development goals in China and global regions with complex environmental problems.

Uncovering the complex relationship between plant diversity, soil properties, and mycorrhizal inoculum potential in threatened Miombo woodlands

AbstractArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are key members of soil microbial communities and play a key role in regulating ecosystem processes. However, the mutual interdependence of plants and AMF in threatened Miombo woodlands has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the relationship between plant ecological indicators and soil mycorrhizal inoculum potential (MIP) in the Miombo forest fallow of Haut‐Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo, and identified plant species that positively influence soil MIP. We conducted a floristic inventory on 32 plots and collected soil cores for physicochemical and AMF characterization. Trap cultures using Crotalaria juncea seedlings were performed to determine the soil MIP. We also tested the AMF colonization status of randomly collected living roots of mature woody and dominant herbaceous species to identify explanatory variables for MIP. Our results showed that MIP was twice as high in silty clay soils (63.13%) than in clay soils (30%). Furthermore, MIP increased accordingly with the relative abundance of a group of woody and herbaceous species (e.g., Albizia adianthifolia, Baphia bequaertii, and Setaria pumila) and decreased with others (e.g., Combretum collinum, Harungana madagascariensis and Hyparrhenia diplandra). Linear regressions showed that MIP increased significantly with the specific richness of woody species identified as indicators and with the amount of annual herbs. Woody legumes with high root colonization by AMF appeared to be refuge plants, and primary AMF dispersal vectors, increasing soil MIP. This study provides baseline data that can be used to formulate ecological restoration strategies, including soil and vegetation protection.

Spatio-temporal Variation in Net Primary Productivity of Different Vegetation Types and Its Influencing Factors Exploration in Southwest China

Studying the spatiotemporal variation in vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) and exploring its influencing factors are of considerable practical significance for understanding the spatiotemporal variation in vegetation and for guiding ecological restoration and management projects based on local conditions. Based on MODIS NPP data, combined with in situ meteorological data, land use data, and vegetation type data, this study explores the spatiotemporal variation in different types of vegetation NPP in southwest China via the Mann-Kendall significance test and Theil-Sen Median slope estimator. It reveals the influencing factors of spatial differentiation of different types of vegetation NPP and the interaction between influencing factors in combination with stability analysis and Geo Detectors. The results revealed that on the temporal scale, from 2000 to 2021, vegetation NPP, NPPPre (vegetation NPP exclusively under the influence of climate change), and NPPRes (vegetation NPP exclusively under the influence of human activities) in southwest China showed a fluctuating upward trend. Among different vegetation types, NPP, NPPPre, and NPPRes exhibited an upward trend, except for a minor decline in NPPRes of tree vegetation at a rate of -0.183 g·(m2·a)-1. Among them, NPP, NPPPre, and NPPRes of economic vegetation showed the most significant upward rates, 5.96, 3.09, and 2.94 g·(m2·a)-1, respectively. On the spatial scale, the tree vegetation NPP with the most significant downward trend was mainly distributed in Tibet and southern Yunnan, while the economic vegetation NPP with the highest upward trend was primarily distributed in eastern Sichuan Province. The stability of vegetation NPP in southwest China presented a spatial distribution pattern of "low in the south and high in the north," and the average value of the correlation coefficient increased in the ascending order of arbor vegetation (0.101), shrub vegetation (0.105), herb vegetation (0.110), and economic vegetation (0.114). The interaction between surface temperature and relative humidity was the main influencing factor for spatial differentiation of vegetation NPP, while the interaction between sunshine duration and warmth index had the most significant impact on vegetation in southwest China, with an increasing percentage of 30.91%. Different types of vegetation had different requirements for different climatic factors, but their requirements for surface temperature and warmth index were significantly consistent. When the surface temperature was 21.03-28.49℃, and the warmth index was 106.46-167.2, the NPP of different vegetation types peaked. Under natural succession, the impact of climate change on vegetation was inversely proportional to the stability of the vegetation community. The arbor vegetation community with high stability was less affected, while the herb vegetation community with low stability was highly affected by climate. In contrast, the stability of economic vegetation was directly proportional to the impact of climate due to the influence of human activities. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for evaluating the impact of regional climate on the growth of different vegetation types and can be crucial for formulating ecological restoration and management strategies in southwest China that are adapted to the local conditions.

Impacts of vegetation restoration strategies on soil nutrients and stoichiometry of the earthquake-induced landslides in Jiuzhaigou, eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Natural and artificial approaches are the mainly management strategy used in degraded lands restoration, while few studies examine the effect of the two strategies on soil nutrient properties in an earthquake-triggered degraded ecosystem. We compared soil chemical traits and major nutrient stoichiometry from areas following landslides that had undergone natural restoration (D. NR.) and artificial restoration (D. AR.), as well as neighboring undisturbed areas (Und.), following the 2017 magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Jiuzhaigou, eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results showed that soil organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), exchangeable calcium (eCa), exchangeable magnesium (eMg), C/P, C/K, N/P, N/K, P/K, cation exchange capacity, and vegetation cover in landslides of D. NR. and D. AR. were lower than those in Und. land, while their pH and total potassium (K) concentration were higher. Compared to D. NR., most of these traits were higher in D. AR., except for the C/N, which was reduced in D. AR. Soil C was positively related to AN, C/K, N/P, N/K, P/K in each land type, while in D. NR., it was not related to N, AP, AK, eCa, eMg, C/N, although it was negatively related to P and K concentration. The findings demonstrated that vegetation restoration strategies could affect not only soil nutrient content but also the macronutrient stoichiometry (N, P, K). Furthermore, artificial restoration projects can enhance soil nutrient concentration and facilitate vegetation recovery more quickly than natural restoration, which is primarily driven by soil N rather than P or K.

Soil Microorganisms Mediated the Responses of the Plant–Soil Systems of Neotrinia splendens to Nitrogen Addition and Warming in a Desert Ecosystem

Covering about 30% of the global total land area, desert ecosystems have been influenced by warming and nitrogen deposition. However, it remains unclear how desert ecosystems respond to warming and nitrogen deposition. Therefore, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to examine the impacts of N addition and warming on the plant–soil system of Neotrinia splendens, the dominant plant in the desert ecosystem in Northern China. Our findings revealed that low-N dose (N1) and high-N dose additions (N2) increased the biomass by 22.83% and 54.23%, respectively; meanwhile, moderate warming (T2) and severe warming (T3) decreased the biomass by 39.07% and 45.47%, respectively. N addition did not significantly affect the C:N:P stoichiometry in the plant–soil system. T2 and T3 decreased the leaf N content by 17.50% and 16.20%, respectively, and decreased the leaf P content by 10.61% and 45.29%, respectively. This resulted in the plant C:N ratio, C:P ratio, and N:P ratio increasing with warming. Furthermore, warming or N addition not only decreased soil microbial diversity, but also inhibited microbial genera associated with nutrient cycling, such as that of Tumebacillus spp., Bacillus spp., and Mortierella spp.; it additionally influenced important bacterial functions, such as nitrate reduction and ureolysis. Moreover, warming and N addition induced P limitation in the plant–soil system by inhibiting soil microorganisms, such as Mortierella spp. and Bacillus spp., which are associated with P transformation; this was also brought about by increasing the effects of leaf P content on leaf N:P. In conclusion, our results showed that warming and N addition had significant effects on the C:N:P stoichiometry of the plant–soil system through microbial mediation and led to P limitation in the system, regardless of how they affected biomass. Soil microorganisms could mediate the impacts of environmental changes on the plant–soil system. Our findings may provide valuable insights for adjusting vegetation restoration strategies in desert ecosystems under environmental changes.

FLORISTIC-STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF DEGRADED FOREST IN THE ARC OF DEFORESTATION, BRAZILIAN AMAZON

Floristic-structural characterization of degraded forest in the arc of deforestation, Brazilian Amazon. The purpose of this study was to characterize the floristic-structural aspects and the distribution of aboveground biomass (AGB) of degraded forests located in the arc of deforestation, southern Brazilian Amazon. In addition to characterizing the forest as a whole, analyses at the level of sampling units were established. Forest inventory data provided support to biomass estimates, as well as floristic-structural analysis. A survey was carried out, collecting from plots of 2,500 m² (50 x 50m) diameter at breast height (DBH &gt;10cm) and total height (HT) of the trees. The forest showed a high concentration of species distributed in a few botanical families and a high number of locally rare species. The sampling units showed floristic similarity, identifiable by cluster analysis. On the other hand, they showed significant structural differences based on the DBH and HT variables. The AGB estimate for the area was 215.20 Mg ha-1 (± 83.73 Mg ha-1). Those results contribute to better understanding the changes in forest formations related to forest degradation in the southern Brazilian Amazon, as well as to the definition of conservation and restoration strategies for degraded forests.

CELL-DERIVED EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX TAILORING FOR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC REGENERATION

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is characterized by tissue loss of function and major structural changes, which can lead to Low Back Pain. Current treatments fail to tackle the disc's hindered function and degenerative alterations. Our goal is to promote IVD regeneration, through the recapitulation of a fetal-like microenvironment based on a tailored cell-derived matrix (CDM), rich in two fetal exclusive collagens – COLXII and COLXIV. We hypothesize that this engineered CDM will have a pro-regenerative potential and allow IVD functional restoration. Immortalized mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (iMSCs) were transduced with the CRISPR/dCas9-VP64 lentiviral system, targeting COL12A1 or COL14A1. Gene and protein expression were evaluated by qRT-PCR, Western Blot and immunofluorescence. Simultaneously, optimization of CDM decellularization protocol was performed. Process efficacy was validated by immunofluorescence. DNA content was quantified using the Quant-iT™ PicoGreen™ Kit. Successful iMSCs engineering was confirmed by an average increase of mRNA relative expression for both collagens (2.12-fold for COL12A1 and 11.7-fold for COL14A1). Protein level assessment by western blot and immunofluorescence confirmed increased COLXII and COLXIV. Decellularized CDM production was optimized. Cell removal was demonstrated by nuclear and actin staining reduction, when compared with the non-decellularized control. DNA content showed a marked decrease in both NH4OH- and SDS-based protocols. Matrix preservation after decellularization was confirmed by fibronectin staining only in the NH4OH-based decellularization. Preliminary proteomic characterization data of engineered iMSCs as shown some functional impact namely on Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway and repression of pain by DREAM (Downstream regulator element antagonist modulator). In conclusion, we were able to establish a CRISPR activating system for COL12A1 and COL14A1, allowing the use of iMSCs as biofactories for a IVD fetal-tailored CDM. The use of a customized ECM and fetal microenvironment recapitulations is an innovative strategy for IVD functional restoration, and its versatility opens new avenues in the tissue regeneration field.

Impacts of wildfire on soil characteristics in subtropical Chir Pine forests of Murree, Pakistan

Wildfires are a natural component of forest ecosystem. These fires are a major cause of significant perturbations in the forest habitat due to temperature extremes and drought conditions particularly in summer. Wildfires occur frequently during summer in the subtropical Chir pine forests of Murree, Pakistan. These fires influence soil characteristics as well as tree-species growth and survival. The present study was thus conducted to investigate soil characteristics of wildfire-affected and non-affected areas. Four sites were selected based on wildfire incidents in the study area. Soil samples were collected from the fire-affected and adjacent non-affected areas. The collected soil samples were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics using appropriate methods. The study showed that bulk density, moisture content, electrical conductivity, and soil nitrogen and soil carbon content declined in the burnt soil. However, soil pH, and phosphorus and potassium contents were higher in the burnt soils than those in the non-burnt soils. Generally, low intensity forest fire (surface fire) is an important component of forest ecosystem and it enhances natural regeneration as well as soil fertility. It is suggested that government forest departments should take into account burn severity while developing hazard reduction and restoration strategies of wildfire affected areas.

Distributed Adaptive Robust Restoration Scheme of Cyber-Physical Active Distribution System With Voltage Control

The increasing penetration of distributed generators (DGs) and the advancement of information and communication technologies (ICTs) will facilitate the transformation of the traditional passive distribution network towards a cyber-physical active distribution system (CPADS). With the increasing risks of extreme events, such as natural disasters (e.g., flooding) and cyber-physical attacks, it is critical for CPADS to formulate a restoration scheme to improve its resilience. Therefore, in this paper, a distributed adaptive robust restoration scheme with voltage/var control is presented to cope with the high-impact but low-frequency events. First, a detailed cyber-physical system model is established, including the dynamic routing and the quality-of-services (QoS) in both optical fiber networks and 5G wireless networks. Then, the interactions between the cyber system and the physical system are analyzed. Based on the cyber-physical system model, a two-stage restoration scheme with voltage/var control is proposed by coordinately scheduling different network assets in day-ahead and in real-time. The formulated problem is solved by adaptive robust optimization (ARO). To further enhance the resilience of the CPADS, a distributed restoration framework is proposed. The distributed problem is solved by the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm, and the convergence of the discrete problem is ensured by introducing the alternating optimization procedure (AOP). Considering the cyber faults, a boundary variable compensation and residual relaxation mechanism is proposed in ADMM. The proposed framework and methodology are verified in the case study. The convergence and the efficiency of the proposed algorithm are verified. Compared with the state-of-art works, the advantages in load restoration capability of the proposed method are shown.

Carbon Storage Assessment under Mangrove Restoration of Dongzhai Harbor in Hainan Island, China

Mangrove restoration is recognized as an effective strategy for enhancing the carbon storage capacity of natural ecosystems, advancing toward the “carbon neutrality” goal. The carbon storage effects of ecological restoration efforts remain insufficiently understood as previous studies have focused on carbon storage dynamics in ecosystems, yet the specific impacts of targeted mangrove restoration are less explored. This study utilizes multi-temporal remote sensing data and actual restoration data from Dongzhai Harbor Hainan Island to identify the mangrove wetland coverage and quantify the spatiotemporal evolution of carbon storage under various restoration efforts using the InVEST model. Additionally, we employed the PLUS model to simulate and compare carbon storage potential under multiple development goals. The findings reveal the following: (a) Mangrove restoration significantly increased the area of land with high carbon sink capability, resulting in a regional carbon storage increase of 210,001.68 tons from 2015 to 2021, with 97% of this increase attributable to ecological restoration. (b) Mangrove coverage is crucial for regional carbon storage, with an average of 443 tons of carbon stored per hectare. Decreases in carbon storage occurred mainly during the conversion of mangroves to aquaculture, and forests/agriculture to residential areas. Increases in carbon storage were seen in the reverse transitions. (c) Comparing the scenarios focused solely on mangrove protection with cultivated land protection, the carbon storage in Dongzhai Harbor is projected to reach its maximum by 2045 under the carbon storage priority scenario. Our findings build a scientific foundation for formulating effective mangrove conservation and restoration strategies.

Zoning of infiltration areas using Schosinsky’s Soil Water Balance in La Balsa River Basin, Costa Rica

In Central America there is little information of water infiltration at the basin level, despite its importance for the design of appropriate conservation and restoration strategies. Thus, the aim of this study is to develop an example for how to use Schosinsky?s Soil Water Balance (SSWB) model-along with other variables-as a more viable way to determine water infiltration zones at the basin level. Zones, in La Balsa River Basin (LBRB), were determined by overlaying information of basin slopes, existing land use, land cover and spatial distributed rainfall. Hydrophysical soil properties in each zone were obtained through field tests measurements and laboratory analyses of soil samples. Once the values of each zone were determined, SSWB model was applied to obtain a map of infiltration zones. Results indicate that rainfall is the most influential component in calculating SSWB, and its distribution and deposition on the ground as effective rainfall is related to soil exposure and land use characteristics. Soil properties control the behavior of water that enters the soil and replenishes groundwater. Infiltration values, obtained using the model are highly correlated to rainfall dynamics. It is concluded that SSWB model is an important tool for obtaining water infiltration estimates at the basin level, useful in those basins for which little information is available.

Increasing the fracture strength of MOD restorations with Ribbond fibers.

The aim of this study was to compare the fracture strength of two different Ribbond Fiber (Ribbond, Ribbond Inc., Seattle, WA, USA) restoration strategies in 5 mm deep standardized MOD cavities without interaxial dentin. 34 extracted human molars were randomly divided into two groups and restored as follows: Group 1 restoration with Ribbond Fiber placed at the cavity floor incorporated in Estelite Bulk-Fill Flow Universal composite (Tokuyama Dental Corporation Inc., Tokyo, Japan); Group 2 restoration with RF placed at 3 mm from the occlusal plane over a 2mm layer of Estelite Bulk-Fill Flow. The occlusal plane in both groups was restored with Ceram.x Spectra ST (Dentsply Sirona, Ballantyne Corporate Pl, Charlotte, NC, USA). The restored teeth were subjected to thermal cycling by immersing them for 30 seconds in hot water (55±2°C) followed by 30 seconds in cold water (5±2°C), for 2000 cycles.Their fracture strength was then evaluated using an Instron device. Data were analyzed with Two-sample T Test statistical test to compare fracture strength among groups. Finally, a descriptive analysis of the failure location was performed. A statistically significant difference was found between groups 1 and 2 (P<0.001) in terms of fracture strength. Group 2 exhibited a higher percentage of recoverable fractures compared to group 1. Group 1 had a mean fracture load of 833N and a SD of 248 while group 2 had a mean fracture load of 1286N and SD of 447. RF placed at 3 mm depth from the occlusal plane, on a 2 mm layer Estelite Bulk-Fill Flow Universal composite (Tokuyama Dental Corporation Inc., Tokyo, Japan) contributes to improve fracture resistance in vital teeth without interaxial dentin and reduces the risk of non-recoverable fractures compared to when it is placed at a 5 mm depth. Key words:Ribbond fiber, composite restoration, fracture resistance, Instron machine.

Do restoration strategies in mangroves recover microbial diversity? A case study in the Yucatan peninsula.

Mangrove forests are fundamental coastal ecosystems for the variety of services they provide, including green-house gas regulation, coastal protection and home to a great biodiversity. Mexico is the fourth country with the largest extension of mangroves of which 60% occurs in the Yucatan Peninsula. Understanding the microbial component of mangrove forests is necessary for their critical roles in biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem health, function and restoration initiatives. Here we study the relation between the microbial community from sediments and the restoration process of mangrove forests, comparing conserved, degraded and restored mangroves along the northern coast of the Yucatan peninsula. Results showed that although each sampling site had a differentiated microbial composition, the taxa belonged predominantly to Proteobacteria (13.2-23.6%), Desulfobacterota (7.6-8.3%) and Chloroflexi (9-15.7%) phyla, and these were similar between rainy and dry seasons. Conserved mangroves showed significantly higher diversity than degraded ones, and restored mangroves recovered their microbial diversity from the degraded state (Dunn test p-value Benjamini-Hochberg adjusted = 0.0034 and 0.0071 respectively). The structure of sediment microbial β-diversity responded significantly to the mangrove conservation status and physicochemical parameters (organic carbon content, redox potential, and salinity). Taxa within Chloroflexota, Desulfobacterota and Thermoplasmatota showed significantly higher abundance in degraded mangrove samples compared to conserved ones. This study can help set a baseline that includes the microbial component in health assessment and restoration strategies of mangrove forests.

Addressing data gaps in environmental sensors: a case study on temporal patterns and restoration strategies in East Kazakhstan region

Nowadays, the monitoring systems embedded with diverse sensors within the Internet of Things play an important role in how we collect data and provide in-depth insights into human behavior, environmental trends, and different industrial processes. These sensors can gather data in real-time and due to their ability to connect through various communication interfaces, it is possible to integrate such devices into existing networks ensuring that data can be transmitted in real-time to central systems or mobile devices. However, many factors such as connectivity issues, severe weather, and sensor faults, might cause missing data, thus leading to poor decision-making. In this study, an in-depth analysis was performed on environmental meteorological data collected from May 2022 to March 2023 in the East Kazakhstan region using Vaisala WXT536 multi-parameter weather sensor. The data restoration strategy that is based on the duration of data gaps is evaluated. For short-term gaps under 30 minutes in duration, the mean and median imputation achieved higher results with a root mean squared error of 0.25 for temperature than training Random Forest algorithm which achieved 3.59, while for the extended periods of missing values, the Long Short-Term Memory model was utilized with 2.47 for the temperature. The main goal of the research is to analyze the temporal patterns of missing data and potential reasons for these failures as well as to evaluate the data restoration strategies.

Quantifying the relative impacts of climate and human activities on vegetation change in Hunan Province between 2000 and 2015

Since1999, Hunan Province has embarked on a series of ecological projects to return farmland to forests across the province to explore the impacts of anthropogenic policies and actions on changes in vegetation cover between 2000 and 2015.It is important to understand the impacts of anthropogenic and climatic changes on regional vegetation cover change is an important guide for formulating reasonable environmental protection and restoration strategies in the region .this paper analysed the influence of climate and anthropogenic activities on the change of vegetation cover of Hunan Province during 2000-2015, which combined with an improved vegetation-climate residual regression model at the meta-scale. During 2000-2015, the contribution of anthropogenic activities to the increase of vegetation cover was 49%, 53%, 62% and 66% for unconverted forest land, grassland, unused land and water area respectively, while the contribution of climatic factors was 51%, 47%, 38% and 44% respectively. At the same time, all the land use types of contributions to vegetation cover change in Hunan Province is positive, and the land type without forest land change has the largest contribution to vegetation cover change in Hunan Province at 66.28%, while the land type where other land is converted to unused land has a lower contribution to vegetation cover change.