Effects of biomass co-pyrolysis and herbaceous plant colonization on the transformation of tailings into soil like substrate.

Enhancing soil organic matter characteristics, ameliorating physical structure, mitigating heavy metal toxicity, and hastening mineral weathering processes are crucial approaches to accomplish the transition of tailings substrate to a soil-like substrate. The incorporation of biomass co-pyrolysis and plant colonization has been established to be a significant factor in soil substrate formation and soil pollutant remediation. Despite this, there is presently an absence of research efforts aimed at synergistically utilizing these two technologies to expedite the process of mining tailings soil substrate formation. The current study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of geochemical changes and rapid mineral weathering during the process of transforming tailings substrate into a soil-like substrate, under the combined effects of biomass co-smoldering pyrolysis and plant colonization. The findings of this study suggest that the incorporation of smoldering pyrolysis and plant colonization induces a high-temperature effect and biological effects, which enhance the physical and chemical properties of tailings, while simultaneously accelerating the rate of mineral weathering. Notable improvements include the amelioration of extreme pH levels, nutrient enrichment, the formation of aggregates, and an increase in enzyme activity, all of which collectively demonstrate the successful attainment of tailings substrate reconstruction. Evidence of the accelerated weathering was verified by phase and surface morphology analysis using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Discovered corrosion and fragmentation on the surface of minerals. The weathering resulted in corrosion and fragmentation of the surface of the treated mineral. This study confirms that co-smoldering pyrolysis of biomass, combined with plant colonization, can effectively promote the transformation of tailings into soil-like substrates. This method has can effectively address the key challenges that have previously hindered sustainable development of the mining industry and provides a novel approach for ecological restoration of tailings deposits.

Re-establishing historic ecosystem links through targeted species reintroduction: Beaver-mediated wetlands support increased bat activity.

Despite the global significance of wetlands, conservation strategies often fall short in preserving these ecosystems due to failures in incorporating processes that sustain the ecosystem functioning, hydrological dynamics, ecological processes, and biodiversity of wetlands. Nature-based solutions, such as the reintroduction of beavers, have emerged as effective tools for promoting wetland restoration. Whilst the impact of beavers on wetland restoration is well known, their broader influence on ecosystem health, particularly in modifying habitats for other species, remains inadequately understood. Here we assess the impact that habitat modification through the reintroduction of beavers has on bat populations. There were significantly greater activity levels within beaver-modified wetland habitats for multiple bat species, including higher activity levels of 393 % for Barbastella barbastellus and 313 % for Plecotus spp.. Additionally, we observed positive effects on bat populations in the woodland habitat surrounding beaver-modified wetland for certain taxa. In the face of escalating challenges posed by climate change and habitat loss, addressing biodiversity loss necessitates a shift toward ecosystem-centric mitigation measures. Our study demonstrates that the reintroduction of keystone species like beavers can re-establish historical facilitative links between aquatic and terrestrial food webs, highlighting the importance of such interventions in fostering the resilience and sustainability of entire ecosystems.

Three-dimensional ecological drought identification and evaluation method considering eco-physiological status of terrestrial ecosystems.

Ecological drought is a complex process in terrestrial ecosystems where vegetation's eco-physiological functions are impaired due to water stress. However, there is currently a lack of long-term assessment of ecological drought from an eco-physiological perspective. In this study, the standardized ecological drought index (SESNDI) was developed using actual evaporation, root soil moisture, and kernel normalized difference vegetation index via the Euclidean distance method, reflecting ecosystem physiology, water supply capacity, and vegetation status. Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence validated SESNDI by reflecting vegetation photosynthesis. Using China as an example, severely impacted by climate change and ecological restoration, ecological drought's spatio-temporal variation and propagation characteristics was evaluated using clustering algorithms. The results demonstrated that (1) SESNDI showed superior performance over several other drought indices. (2) During 1982-2020, ecological drought was prevalent from 1990 to 2010, especially in the central and northeastern regions. (3) Compared to 1982-2000, the median duration and affected area of ecological drought events during 2001-2020 reduced by four months and 1.51 × 105 km2, respectively, while the median intensity increased by 0.06. (4) Decreased precipitation and increased temperature were the primary factors contributing to the frequent occurrence of ecological drought in China from 1990 to 2010. This study offers a crucial methodology for evaluating ecological drought, serving as a reference for developing effective terrestrial restoration strategies.

Changes in isokinetic trunk muscle strength and endurance after two different restoration programs in people with chronic low back pain: A longitudinal retrospective study.

Background: Multidisciplinary functional restoration programs (FRPs) aim to improve pain and function in people with chronic low back pain (CLBP). The intensity and content of FRPs varies; the benefits of one program over another are unclear. Objective: To assess changes in trunk muscle strength and endurance after an intensive (IFRP) (for people on sick leave for >6 months with high levels of fear-avoidance beliefs about physical activity and work) or semi-intensive (SIFRP) (for people working) FRP in people with CLBP. Methods: Longitudinal retrospective study from March 2016 to December 2019. Setting: rehabilitation department of a tertiary care center. Trunk flexor and extensor muscle strength (60°.s-1) and endurance (120°.s-1) were measured with the Humac NORM isokinetic dynamometer at pre and post FRP. Change in isokinetic variables (peak torque, total work and flexor/extensor ratio) after each program was assessed with a paired t-test (p < 0.05). Pearson's rho and multiple linear regression assessed associations between changes in isokinetic and clinical variables and demographic characteristics. Results: 125 individuals, 63.2 % female, age 43.5 (10.3) years, were included. Mean low back pain intensity was 49.8 (24.9) and 37.2 (25.8)/100 and mean activity limitation (QBPDS) was 38.8 (16.4) and 32.0 (14.6)/100 in the IFRP and SFRP groups, respectively. Trunk extensor peak torque, flexor total work, extensor total work and flexor/extensor peak ratio improved significantly in both FRPs, p < 0.001. The flexor/extensor total work ratio improved in the IFRP group only, p = 0.003. Trunk extensor endurance increased more in the IFRP than the SIFRP group, the absolute pre-post differences for extensor total work [95%CI] N.m were 611.7 [495.2; 728.3] in the IFRP group and 380.0 [300.8; 459.3] in the SIFRP group. No variables were correlated and none predicted improvement in extensor total work in either group. Conclusion: This study highlights the short-term independence of clinical and trunk muscle strength and endurance changes.

Ecological phage therapy: Can bacteriophages help rapidly restore the soil microbiome?

Soil microbiota underpin ecosystem functionality yet are rarely targeted during ecosystem restoration. Soil microbiota recovery following native plant revegetation can take years to decades, while the effectiveness of soil inoculation treatments on microbiomes remains poorly explored. Therefore, innovative restoration treatments that target soil microbiota represent an opportunity to accelerate restoration outcomes. Here, we introduce the concept of ecological phage therapy-the application of phage for the targeted reduction of the most abundant and dominant bacterial taxa present in degraded ecosystems. We propose that naturally occurring bacteriophages-viruses that infect bacteria-could help rapidly shift soil microbiota towards target communities. Bacteriophages sculpt the microbiome by lysis of specific bacteria, and if followed by the addition of reference soil microbiota, such treatments could facilitate rapid reshaping of soil microbiota. Here, we experimentally tested this concept in a pilot study. We collected five replicate pre-treatment degraded soil samples, then three replicate soil samples 48 hours after phage, bacteria, and control treatments. Bacterial 16S rDNA sequencing showed that phage-treated soils had reduced bacterial diversity; however, when we combined ecological phage therapy with reference soil inoculation, we did not see a shift in soil bacterial community composition from degraded soil towards a reference-like community. Our pilot study provides early evidence that ecological phage therapy could help accelerate the reshaping of soil microbiota with the ultimate aim of reducing timeframes for ecosystem recovery. We recommend the next steps for ecological phage therapy be (a) developing appropriate risk assessment and management frameworks, and (b) focussing research effort on its practical application to maximise its accessibility to restoration practitioners.

Moderating effects of past wildfire on reburn severity depend on climate and initial severity in Western US forests.

Rising global fire activity is increasing the prevalence of repeated short-interval burning (reburning) in forests worldwide. In forests that historically experienced frequent-fire regimes, high-severity fire exacerbates the severity of subsequent fires by increasing prevalence of shrubs and/or by creating drier understory conditions. Low- to moderate-severity fire, in contrast, can moderate future fire behavior by reducing fuel loads. The extent to which previous fires moderate future fire severity will powerfully affect fire-prone forest ecosystem trajectories over the next century. Further, knowing where and when a wildfire may act as a landscape-scale fuel treatment can help direct pre- and post-fire management efforts. We leverage satellite imagery and fire progression mapping to model reburn dynamics within forests that initially burned at low/moderate severity in 726 unique fire pair events over a 36-year period across four large fire-prone Western US ecoregions. We ask (1) how strong are the moderating effects of low- to moderate-severity fire on future fire severity, (2) how long do moderating effects last, and (3) how does the time between fires (a proxy for fuel accumulation) interact with initial fire severity, day-of-burning weather conditions, and climate to influence reburn severity. Short-interval reburns primarily occurred in dry- and moist-mixed conifer forests with historically frequent-fire regimes. Previous fire moderated reburn severity in all ecoregions with the strongest effects occurring in the California Coast and Western Mountains and the average duration of moderating effects ranging from 13 years in the Western Mountains to >36 years in the California Coast. The strength and duration of moderating effects depended on climate and initial fire severity in some regions, reflecting differences in post-fire fuel accumulation. In the California Coast, moderating effects lasted longer in cooler and wetter forests. In the Western Mountains, moderating effects were stronger and longer lasting in forests that initially burned at higher severity. Moderating effects were largely robust to fire weather, suggesting that previous fire can mediate future fire severity even under extreme conditions. Our findings demonstrate that low- to moderate-severity fire buffers future fire severity in historically frequent-fire forests, underlining the importance of wildfire as a restoration tool for adapting to global change.

Ecological restoration and biodiversity-friendly management of urban grasslands - A global review on the current state of knowledge.

In the face of the global biodiversity decline, ecological restoration measures to actively enhance urban biodiversity and options for biodiversity-friendly greenspace management are high on the agenda of many governments and city administrations. This review aims to summarize and advance the current knowledge on urban grassland restoration by synthesizing research findings on restoration approaches and biodiversity-friendly management measures globally. Indeed, we found restoration approaches to be generally effective in increasing biodiversity; yet, there were variations in the outcomes due to the difference in soil disturbance methods, management regimes, the set of species introduced to a site, and the specific local setting. Based on the reviewed studies, we formulated recommendations for maximizing restoration success of urban grasslands through: i) creating a network of heterogeneous urban greenspaces and enhancing connectivity between them; ii) maintaining the spontaneous vegetation in vacant lots and wasteland sites that can provide habitats for various invertebrate species; iii) evaluating actual soil conditions, soil seed bank, and seed rain before restoration efforts take place since these seed sources could considerably affect the restoration outcomes, iv) preserving nutrient-poor conditions in urban greenspaces instead of introducing nutrient-rich topsoil; v) shifting to less intensive, biodiversity-friendly management in urban greenspaces by reducing mowing frequency and avoiding the use of chemicals; and vi) utilizing native dry grassland species for climate adaptation without irrigation. We further identified knowledge gaps regarding i) city-scale and regional-scale effects of restoration, ii) effects of interventions on multiple taxa and multiple ecosystem services, iii) restoration in small versus mega-cities, and iv) in the global south. These gaps should be addressed in future studies for making general guidelines for urban grassland restoration broadly applicable.

Grassland restoration on linear landscape elements - comparing the effects of topsoil removal and topsoil transfer.

Artificial linear landscape elements, including roads, pipelines, and drainage channels, are main sources of global habitat fragmentation. Restoration of natural habitats on unused linear landscape elements can increase habitat quality and connectivity without interfering with agricultural or industrial development. Despite that topsoil removal and transfer are widely applied methods in restoration projects, up to our knowledge these were previously not compared in the same study system. To address this knowledge gap, we compared spontaneous vegetation recovery after the elimination of positive (embankments) and negative landscape scars (drainage channels) in lowland alkaline landscapes in South Hungary. The novelty of our study is that we compared the fine-scale and landscape-scale results of both methods. At the fine scale, we monitored the spontaneous vegetation development on the created open surfaces in the first, second and fourth year after restoration in 160 permanent plots per year. For characterizing the habitat changes on the landscape scale, we prepared habitat maps and assigned naturalness scores to each patch before and after the restoration activities. Both restoration methods resulted in a rapid vegetation recovery at the fine scale, progressing toward the reference state. In the topsoil removal treatment, a large part of the soil seed bank was removed; therefore, the colonization of the bare surface was a slower process. Seeds of halophytes, including the endemic and protected Suaeda pannonica, were probably present in the deeper soil layers, and these species became established in the restored surfaces, despite being absent in the surrounding vegetation. For restoring vegetation cover, topsoil transfer was a more rapid option; however, vegetation closure and competition by generalist species and weeds hampered the establishment of target species. The removal of the landscape scars by both methods made the sites accessible for grazing. At the landscape scale, the two methods had different effects: there was a slight increase in the habitat naturalness in the topsoil removal site, and a slight decrease in the topsoil transfer site because of weed encroachment. Spreading an upper layer of nutrient-poor soil with low amounts of weed seeds, direct propagule transfer, and targeted grazing regimes could enhance restoration success.

[Experience in the management of pregnant patients with highly active multiple sclerosis in the Moscow region]. / Opyt vedeniya beremennykh patsientok s vysokoaktivnym rasseyannym sklerozom v Moskovskoi oblasti.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of discontinuation or prolongation of DMT on the activity of the disease during pregnancy and in the postpartum period in patients with aggressive MS from the Moscow region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included female patients with an aggressive course of MS receiving DMT at the time of pregnancy. The patients were followed-up for the period 2016 to February 2024. RESULTS: There were 17 cases of pregnancy during natalizumab (NZ) therapy; discontinuation of therapy in the first trimester of pregnancy provoked a resumption of disease activity in half of the patients. There were no exacerbations in patients whose therapy was prolonged until the 34th week of pregnancy. In 5 patients receiving fingolimod (FGL), therapy was discontinued upon the establishment of pregnancy, which caused the resumption of disease activity in three out of 5 cases. In 3 patients receiving anti-B-cell therapy, pregnancy occurred within a few months after the next infusion, there were no exacerbations during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The cancellation of NS therapy in the early stages of pregnancy in most cases leads to the resumption of disease activity during pregnancy. Exacerbations in the postpartum period also correlated with early discontinuation of therapy and with a long period before the restart of infusions. Prolongation of infusions to 30-34 weeks of pregnancy contributed to stabilization of the condition throughout the perinatal period. Discontinuation of FGL therapy at the onset of pregnancy increased the risk of repeated relapses of the disease, up to the development of inflammatory immune restoration syndrome during pregnancy and contributed to the increase in disability in the postpartum period.

Carbon dioxide removal through ecosystem restoration: Public perceptions and political participation.

We compare public perceptions of restoring different ecosystems to increase CO2 uptake in Germany, through focus groups and a general population survey. Among focus group participants forests were highly popular, peatlands evoked negative associations, and seagrass was largely unknown. Nevertheless, the restoration of all ecosystems was viewed positively. We contrast these reactions to those of survey respondents who had not received additional information on restoration. They voiced narrower, less diverse opinions centering around afforestation. Further, focus group participants preferred expert-led restoration decisions, citing low trust in politicians' technical competence. Contrary to common policy recommendations, also beyond the German context, participants did not emphasize the need of citizen participation and were not strongly concerned about land use conflicts or compensation of affected user groups. The results imply that the public underestimates the political complexity of negotiation processes in ecosystem governance, which are becoming increasingly relevant in the international policy landscape.

Mutations in nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial ribosome proteins restore pollen fertility in S male-sterile maize.

The interaction of plant mitochondrial and nuclear genetic systems is exemplified by mitochondria-encoded cytoplasmic male sterility under the control of nuclear restorer-of-fertility genes. The S type of cytoplasmic male sterility in maize is characterized by a pollen collapse phenotype and a unique paradigm for fertility restoration in which numerous nuclear restorer-of-fertility lethal mutations rescue pollen function but condition homozygous-lethal seed phenotypes. Two non-allelic restorer mutations recovered from Mutator transposon active lines were investigated to determine the mechanisms of pollen fertility restoration and seed lethality. Mu Illumina sequencing of transposon-flanking regions identified insertion alleles of nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial ribosomal proteins RPL6 and RPL14 as candidate restorer-of-fertility lethal mutations. Both candidates were associated with lowered abundance of mitochondria-encoded proteins in developing maize pollen, and the rpl14 mutant candidate was confirmed by independent insertion alleles. While the restored pollen functioned despite reduced accumulation of mitochondrial respiratory proteins, normal-cytoplasm plants heterozygous for the mutant alleles showed a significant pollen transmission bias in favor of the non-mutant Rpl6 and Rpl14 alleles. CMS-S fertility restoration affords a unique forward genetic approach to investigate the mitochondrial requirements for, and contributions to, pollen and seed development.

Riparian Landscape Change: A Spatial Approach for Quantifying Change and Development of a River Network Restoration Model.

Natural river landscapes can be biodiversity hotspots but are one of the most human altered ecosystems with habitats significantly damaged around the world, and a third of fish populations threatened with extinction. While riparian ecosystems have been negatively altered by anthropogenic activities, effective planning and restoration strategies can reverse negative impacts by improving habitat quality. However, restoring rivers requires appropriate data on current riparian health while also considering priorities for different stakeholders. To address this, a Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to create a new and transferable restoration priority model based on a section of the river Linth in Switzerland as a case study. The restoration priority model is founded on connectivity, river condition, national priority species and species hotspots. Landscape change of the riparian zone was analyzed using aerial imagery and landscape metrics. Almost a quarter of rivers within the study area were considered high or very high restoration priority, with many aquatic species set to benefit from restoration. From 1946 to 2019, the riparian landscape became highly fragmented due to significant growth in impervious surfaces and a concomitant loss of agricultural land. The GIS model provides a tool by which environmental agencies can manage natural features over large scales, while also planning priorities and targeting conservation strategies to the areas of greatest need.

Total hip arthroplasty for sequelae of childhood hip disorders: Current review of management to achieve hip centre restoration.

Adults requiring total hip arthroplasty (THA) for childhood disorder sequelae present with shortening, limp, pain, and altered gait. THA, which can be particularly challenging due to altered anatomy, requires careful planning, assessment, and computed tomography evaluation. Preoperative templating is essential to establish the appropriate acetabular and femoral size. Information regarding neck length and offset is needed to ensure the proper options are available at THA. Hip centre restoration must be planned preoperatively and achieved intraoperatively with appropriate exposure, identification, and stable fixation with optimum-size components. Identifying the actual acetabular floor is essential as changes include altered anatomy, distortion of the margins and version changes. Proximal femur changes include anatomical variation, decreased canal diameter, cortical thickness, changes in anteversion, and metaphyseal and diaphyseal mismatch. Preoperative assessment should consist of limb assessment for variations due to prior surgical procedures. Evaluation of the shortening pattern with the relationship of the lesser trochanter to the teardrop would help identify and plan for subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy, especially in high-riding hips. The surgical approach must ensure adequate exposure and soft tissue release to achieve restoration of the anatomical hip centre. The femoral components may require modularity to enable restoration of anteversion and optimum fixation.

Offset restoration in total hip arthroplasty: Important: A current review.

Normal vertical and horizontal offset is essential for hip biomechanics, muscle functioning and gait pattern. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) should aim to restore normal offset with implantation of femoral and acetabular components. This would be possible with proper preoperative planning, templating and ensuring implant options are available for offset restoration. Templating is essential for understanding the vertical and horizontal offset change, especially in hip arthritis presenting late with significant limb length discrepancy at THA. Planning should include appropriate soft tissue releases and the use of ideal implants to achieve restoration of horizontal and vertical offset. Under correction of horizontal offset at THA for fracture neck of femur could result in abductor fatigue, limp and increased wear. Restoration of horizontal offset is imperative at THA for a fractured neck of the femur to achieve optimal abductor function. Horizontal offset is necessary for optimal abductor muscle tension and function. Revision THA for acetabular bone loss would require hip center restoration with the acetabular and femoral offset correction to achieve limb length correction and abductor length. The inability to achieve vertical and horizontal offset correction could lead to dislocation or signs of abductor fatigue. Careful vertical and horizontal femur offset restoration is required for normal hip biomechanics, decreased wear and increased longevity.

Framework restoration on Tang Dynasty garden as a multiple-histories environment: Regions, ecology, architecture, and human behavior.

From a multiple-histories perspective, this paper attempts to restore the feature framework of Tang Dynasty gardens by describing the environment panorama of that era. Tang Dynasty gardens have their own unique and complex environment features, which is crucial for understanding Chinese classical gardens. This research developed a massive text mining method of historical-document to detect all garden-related elements in Tang poetry. By sorting out these elements, it has been restored the original appearance of Tang Dynasty gardens and summarized its feature framework. The resulting model included 199 factors, 173 of which are correlating with gardens. Among the 173 factors, 129 are risk factors and 44 are protective factors. This paper restores the feature framework of Tang Dynasty gardens from the following four points, namely regions, ecology, architecture and human behavior. Understanding the Tang Dynasty gardens would help understand the development context of Chinese classical gardens, and should provide new paths for contemporary environment creation.

A decision support tool to help identify blue carbon sites for restoration.

Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs), such as mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrasses, are important nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation but are threatened by degradation. Effective BCE restoration requires strategic planning and site selection to optimise outcomes. We developed a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based multi-criteria decision support tool to identify suitable areas for BCE restoration along the 2512 km-long coastline of Victoria, Australia. High-resolution spatial data on BCE distribution, coastal geomorphology, hydrodynamics, and land tenure were integrated into a flexible spatial model that distinguishes between passive and active restoration suitability. The tool was applied to identify high-priority locations for mangrove, saltmarsh, and seagrass restoration across different scenarios. Results indicate substantial potential for BCE restoration in Victoria, with 33,253 ha of suitable area identified, mostly (>97%) on public land, which aligned with the selection criteria used in the tool. Restoration opportunities are concentrated in bays and estuaries where historical losses have been significant. The mapped outputs provide a decision-support framework for regional restoration planning, while the tool itself can be adapted to other geographies. By integrating multiple spatial criteria and distinguishing between passive and active restoration, our approach offers a new method for targeting BCE restoration and informing resource allocation. The identified restoration potential will also require collaboration with coastal managers and communities, and consideration of socio-economic factors. With further refinements, such as incorporating multi-criteria decision analysis techniques, GIS-based tools can help catalyse strategic blue carbon investments and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation goals at different spatial scales. This study highlights the value of spatial identification for BCE restoration and provides a transferable framework for other regions.

The effect of land use and land cover on soil carbon storage in the Yellow River Delta, China: Implications for wetland restoration and adaptive management.

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the effect of land use/land cover (LULC) and soil depth on soil carbon storage, through the manipulation of external carbon input and turnover processes, is crucial for accurate predictions of regional soil carbon storage. Numerous research investigations have been conducted to examine the impact of LULC on the storage and cycling of carbon in the surface soils of coastal wetlands. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of understanding concerning the implications of this phenomenon on subterranean soils, a crucial factor in discerning the capacity for carbon sequestration in coastal wetlands and implementing measures for their preservation. The study focused on the Yellow River Delta (YRD) in China, which serves as a representative model system. It aimed to assess the impact of LULC as well as soil depth on carbon storage. This was achieved by a combination of remote sensing interpretation and field samplings. The findings of the study indicate that there was an increase in soil organic carbon storage with both the area covered and the depth of the soil across the four different land use types, namely forest, grass, tidal flat, and cultivated land. Cultivated land was identified as the predominant LULC type, encompassing 41.73% of the entire YRD. Furthermore, it accounted for a substantial carbon storage of 76.08%. In comparison to soil layers at depths of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm, 40-60 cm was discovered to have the maximum carbon storage, accounting for 42.29% of total carbon storage. Furthermore, one of the main factors influencing carbon storage is salinity, which shows a negative association with carbon storage. Moreover, the aforementioned findings underscore the significance of the conjoined physical and chemical properties induced by LULC in influencing the dynamics of soil carbon. This suggests that the inclusion of deep soil carbon in the estimation and restoration of soil carbon storage is necessary. This inclusion will support the realization of the United Nations' "Toward Zero Carbon" effort and facilitate the implementation of China's national carbon neutrality objectives.

Bridging beauty and biodiversity: Coupling diversity and aesthetics through optimized plant communities in urban riverfront landscapes.

Urban waterfront areas are dynamic interfaces where human and natural systems converge, forming complex ecosystems that encompass social, economic, and environmental elements. These areas offer ecological benefits and aesthetic experiences. However, a disparity between social aesthetic preferences and vegetation diversity along riverbanks impedes the integration of ecological and aesthetic values. To address this, a plant community optimization strategy based on a coupling coordination degree model (CCDM) is proposed. Using the Xietang River in Suzhou, China as a case study, surveys were conducted on 33 woody plant plots and 60 herbaceous plant plots, assessing plant diversity with Shannon-Wiener, richness, and Pielou indices. Landscape beauty was evaluated by 87 respondents using the Scenic Beauty Estimation method. Using six representative plant communities as mediators, CCDM was applied to quantitatively analyze the coordination between plant diversity and aesthetics. Based on this analysis and considering factors influencing plant diversity and scenic beauty, plant community optimization strategies were devised to enhance the coordinated development of ecological diversity and aesthetics, fostering a synergistic improvement in ecological and aesthetic quality. Results revealed a range of coupling coordination across plant communities (0.203 to 0.947), encompassing various types. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a non-linear relationship between plant diversity and landscape beauty, influenced by independent yet partially overlapping factors. Hence, both aspects should be simultaneously considered in the planning and enhancement of riverbank areas. The coupling coordination degree offers a comprehensive understanding of harmonizing plant diversity and aesthetic value, providing a quantitative and objective approach to integrated research. This perspective extends beyond urban waterfront landscapes, holding significance for achieving dual goals of ecology and social services in urban design and landscape management.

Nondisassembly Repair of Degraded LiFePO4 Cells via Lithium Restoration from the Solid Electrolyte Interphase.

The disposal of degraded batteries will be a severe challenge with the expanding market demand for lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) batteries. However, due to a lack of economic and technical viability, conventional metal extraction and material regeneration are hindered from practical application. Herein, we propose a nondisassembly repair strategy for degraded cells through a lithium restoration method based on deep discharge, which can elevate the anodic potential to result in the selective oxidative decomposition and thinning of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the graphite anode. The decomposed SEI acts as a lithium source to compensate for the Li loss and eliminate Li-Fe antisite defects for degraded LFP. Through this design, the repaired pouch cells show improved kinetic characteristics, significant capacity restoration, and an extended lifespan. This proposed repair scheme relying on SEI rejuvenation is of great significance for extending the service life and promoting the secondary use of degraded cells.

Expanding European protected areas through rewilding.

Rewilding seeks to address biodiversity loss by restoring trophic interactions and fostering self-regulating ecosystems. Although gaining traction in Europe and North America, the extent to which rewilding can meet post-2020 protected-area targets remains uncertain. We formulated criteria to map suitable areas for rewilding by identifying large tracts of land with minimal human disturbances and the presence of key mammal species. We find that one-quarter of Europe, approximately 117 million hectares (ha), is compatible with our rewilding criteria. Of these, 70% are in cooler climates. Passive rewilding opportunities, focused on managing existing wilderness, are predominant in Scandinavia, Scotland, the Iberian Peninsula, and notably in the Baltic states, Ireland, and southeastern Europe. Active rewilding opportunities, marked by reintroduction of absent trophic guilds, are identified in Corsica, Sardinia, southern France, and parts of the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Our mapping supports European nations in leveraging land abandonment to expand areas for nature conservation, aligning with the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Nevertheless, countries with limited potential for rewilding should consider alternative conservation strategies.