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Trace Element Geochemistry and Sedimentary Environment Implications of the Lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation in Qujing, Yunnan Province
This study focuses on the black rock sequence of the Lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation in the Qujing area of Yunnan Province. Using elemental geochemical methods, we investigate the characteristics of water salinity, climate, and redox conditions during the deposition of the Qiongzhusi Formation to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental conditions of the Lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation in the Qujing area. The results indicate that Li concentrations ranged from 1.5 to 56.3 μg/g, and Sr/Ba ratios ranged from 0.09 to 0.56, indicating that the Qiongzhusi Formation in the study area was deposited in a predominantly freshwater environment; V/(V+Ni) values ranged from 0.66 to 0.91 (mean 0.79), U/Th values ranged from 0.75 to 15.45 (mean 4.33), and δU values ranged from 1.38 to 1.96 (mean 1.73), collectively indicating that the Qiongzhusi Formation deposition period was generally characterized by an anoxic-reducing environment; The paleoclimate index C ranges from 1.09 to 4.48, and the Sr/Cu ratio ranges from 1.16 to 9.30, indicating that the Qiongzhusi Formation was deposited under a warm and humid climate; the Babio value ranges from 200 to 1309.98, and the P/Ti ratio ranges from 1.59 to 62.5, indicating that the Qiongzhusi Formation deposits exhibited a high level of productivity overall; The concentrations of Ba, Ni, Co, and other elements, as well as the Mn/Fe ratio (average of 0.005) and Rb/Zr ratio (average of 2.27), indicate that the water depth during the Qiongzhusi Formation deposition period was generally shallow; the Sr concentration indicates that the average paleowater temperature of the Qiongzhusi Formation was 30.38°C, suggesting a relatively high water temperature in the depositional environment.
Copyright (c) 2026 Jing Jin, Enlin Yang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Operational Performance Analysis of Renewable Energy Integration in Nigeria’s Power Sector
Given the increasing demand for electricity and the underperformance of the Nigerian power sector, this study examines the apparent situation of renewable energy integration in Nigeria’s power sector by analyzing the renewable energy generated over time, and the operational performance of the generated energy within the power system. Using both longitudinal and ex post facto research designs, secondary data obtained from both the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the International Renewable Energy Agency database were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the data, while time-series forecasting based on an exponential smoothing method was applied to forecast future trends, and an independent sample t-test was applied to compare the performance metrics between renewable energy and gas generation in the power system. The findings indicate that Nigeria’s renewable energy, particularly hydro energy, remains dominant, but its electricity distribution is significantly below the installed capacity owing to infrastructure limitations and transmission constraints. In addition, off-grid solar photovoltaics are rapidly expanding. In general, the study indicates that the underperformance of renewable energy integrated into the power system is mainly operational and not resource-based and that there is a need for policy focus to shift from capacity expansion to system flexibility and grid reinforcement to achieve a reliable and sustainable electricity supply.
Copyright (c) 2026 YongSheng Zhang, Possible Nkechinyere Okafor, Letícia Filomena Padi, Kenechi Progress Okafor, Gertrude Selase Gosu, Emefa Garnet Acorlor, Bonzo Kojo Joshua, Carlos Nehemias Maposse http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Research on Monitoring Plan for Xiaolangdi Reservoir Based on Nonlinear Programming
The water and sediment flux of the Yellow River fluctuates under the influence of various natural and human factors, significantly impacting ecological management and water resources in the Yellow River basin.This study investigates the patterns of sediment-water flux variation in the Yellow River and evaluates the practical effectiveness of the “water diversion and sediment regulation” project. Utilizing multiple linear regression models, seasonal ARIMA models, and grey prediction models, it comprehensively employs Excel, Matlab, and SPSS to analyze the relationship between sediment concentration and time, water level, and flow rate. The research summarizes the patterns of sediment-water flux variation and assesses the actual outcomes of the “water diversion and sediment regulation” initiative to enhance Yellow River basin management and address practical challenges. Addressing the first issue, Excel was first used to clean the water-sediment monitoring data from a specific hydrological station on the Yellow River between 2016 and 2021 (Appendix 1), removing invalid data lacking sediment concentration values. Subsequently, Matlab was employed to plot scatter diagrams of sediment concentration versus time, water level, and flow rate. These plots indicated a preliminary linear relationship between sediment concentration and water level/flow rate, suggesting the applicability of a multiple linear regression model.SPSS was employed to solve the multiple linear regression model, yielding regression coefficients of 0.568 for water level and 0.002 for flow rate, confirming the linear relationship between independent and dependent variables. A multiple linear regression model was then re-established to estimate sediment concentration in the Yellow River over the past six years. Excel was used to calculate annual total water flow and annual total sediment discharge. For Problem 2, the water-sediment flux research methodology was first defined, dividing water-sediment flux into water flux and sediment flux. Water flux was measured by flow rate indicators, while sediment flux was measured by sediment discharge indicators. Excel was used to filter and consolidate the required research data.Second, employing a “combination of numbers and shapes,” annual line charts for water and sediment fluxes were plotted, along with 72-month variation patterns (January to December) for each year from 2016 to 2021. This enabled visual analysis of the hydrological station’s water-sediment flux characteristics, including abrupt changes, seasonality, and periodicity. For Problem 3: First, aggregate the water and sediment flux data from 2016 to 2021 at this hydrological station. Construct a seasonal ARIMA model and solve it using SPSS to verify that the original sequence passes the stationarity test. Analyze the autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation plots to obtain the model results. Use Excel to plot line charts showing the future two-year trends in water and sediment flux at this hydrological station. Second, based on the patterns of water and sediment flux variation, a nonlinear programming model was constructed. Using Matlab to solve the nonlinear programming model, an optimal sampling and monitoring plan for the next two years was formulated. This approach aims to understand the dynamic changes in water and sediment flux while minimizing sampling and monitoring costs and resource utilization. For Question 4, first use Excel to plot a line chart based on the water and sediment data from May to October 2016–2021 in Appendix 1 and the riverbed elevation data in Appendix 3. This will enable a comparative analysis of the actual effectiveness of the “water and sediment regulation” measures at Xiaolangdi Reservoir.Second, exclude the June data from Appendix 2 to calculate the elevation changes (either rise or fall) of the riverbed over the two-year period. Construct a grey prediction model and solve it using SPSS to forecast the future changes in riverbed elevation over the next decade.
Copyright (c) 2026 Yinan Li http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Research Progress in Ecosystem Carbon Sequestration Function and Implications for Karst Desertification Governance
Carbon sequestration is a core ecosystem service for mitigating global warming, yet it is highly vulnerable to degradation in karst desertification areas due to geological and anthropogenic factors. By using bibliometric tools such as CiteSpace and VOSviewer, this study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 2247 relevant publications retrieved from the Web of Science database up to 2024, clarifying the global research pattern, research hotspots and three major developmental stages in this field. This study elaborated on the carbon sequestration mechanisms and influencing factors of forest, grassland and soil ecosystems, and meanwhile pointed out the existing research deficiencies such as insufficient exploration of vegetation carbon sequestration potential and inconsistent understanding of soil organic carbon stability. Aiming at the governance of karst desertification, targeted strategies were proposed, including revising remote sensing data combined with field investigations, constructing region-specific assessment systems, and exploring soil carbon fixation pathways at multiple scales, which provides scientific support for carbon sink enhancement, carbon sequestration and ecological restoration in ecologically fragile areas.
Copyright (c) 2026 Shenhui Yu, Kangning Xiong http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Analysis of the Evolution of Landscape Pattern of Land Use：Taking Shibing Karst and Libo-Huanjiang Karst as an Example
This study takes the Shibing Karst and Libo-Huanjiang Karst as research objects, based on land use data from 2000 to 2020, combined with landscape pattern index, land use dynamic attitude, and transfer matrix method, to analyze the transformation characteristics and spatiotemporal evolution patterns of landscape patterns in these two karst regions. The results show that forest land and farmland are the dominant landscape types in the two study areas. Spatially, the high-value areas of aggregation and connectivity indices in the Shibing Karst are concentrated in the central region, while the high-value areas of diversity and shape complexity indices are located in the northern and southeastern regions. In the Libo-Huanjiang Karst, the high-value areas of aggregation and connectivity indices are distributed in the eastern region, and the low-value areas are located in the central region, which gradually shifted to the central region after 2010. The high-value areas of diversity indices are concentrated in the central, western, and northern regions. This study reveals the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of landscape patterns in typical karst World Heritage sites in southern China from 2000 to 2020, providing a scientific basis for optimizing the landscape patterns of karst World Heritage.
Copyright (c) 2026 Qian Zhai, Kangning Xiong, Jiacheng Lan, Yating Mu, Qingqing Xie http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Grassland Animal Husbandry Ecological Efficiency in Karst Rocky Desertification Areas: Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Differential Drivers
Maintaining and improving the health of grassland ecosystems is the key to promoting the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry. This study selected three representative karst regions exhibiting varying degrees of rock desertification. EE of grassland animal husbandry in these three areas was calculated using the Super-SBM model. The spatio-temporal variation characteristics were analyzed by kernel density estimation, and the influencing factors were explored by the geographical detector. We found that: (1) The spatial heterogeneity of EE in grassland livestock farming within rock desertification areas is pronounced, diminishing with increasing desertification severity: Areas with potential-light KDC show the highest average efficiency (1.01), while those with medium-severe KDC have the lowest (0.51). (2) Villages with relatively high or high EE are scattered across the three study areas. (3) In areas with potential-light and light-medium KDC, human factors have a clear impact on EE, while in medium-severe KDC affected areas, natural factors play a more significant role. The findings of this study serve as a reference for decision-making regarding the restoration and security of grassland ecosystems in ecologically vulnerable regions worldwide.
Copyright (c) 2026 Baoshan Zhang, Kangning Xiong, Shuai Xiang, Yongyao Li, Rong Li http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Refined Risk Assessment of Geological Hazards in World Natural Heritage Sites: An Empirical Analysis of the Libo-Huanjiang Karst World Natural Heritage Site
Refined risk assessment of geological hazards is vital for disaster prevention and loss reduction. World Natural Heritage Sites are Earth’s most precious natural assets, yet research on refined geological hazard risk assessment from the perspective of heritage conservation and management is scarce. Taking the Libo-Huanjiang Karst World Natural Heritage Site as the study area, this paper discusses an assessment method focusing on protecting its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and draws three conclusions: ① The risk pattern features local high concentration and overall low risk: extremely high-risk areas account for 2.32% (sporadic in the northwest), low-risk areas 68.29% (covering the core zone), and high/medium-risk areas concentrate in the west with developed faults and intense human activities. ② It clarifies the non-linear synergistic mechanism of susceptibility-hazard-vulnerability, with stratum lithology, distance to roads and water systems as core drivers, and low vulnerability acting as an ecological buffer. ③ It correlates risk patterns with heritage protection, verifying the overlap between high-risk areas and key karst landscapes, and defines key prevention zones. The results support risk management and heritage protection, providing a replicable reference for similar World Natural Heritage Sites globally.
Copyright (c) 2026 Yuping Ding, Kangning Xiong, Ruonan Fang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Study on Ecosystem Regulating Services in Karst World Heritage Based on Partial Correlation Analysis
Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics and interactions of ecosystem regulating services (ERSs) is crucial for safeguarding ecological security in karst world heritage (KWH) sites. Each KWH comprises two functional zones: the heritage site and the buffer zone. This study quantified three key ERSs—water conservation (WC), soil retention (SR), and carbon sequestration (CS)—from 2000 to 2020 within China's Shibing and Libo-Huanjiang KWHs. Results showed increases in SR and CS but a decrease in WC; heritage sites exhibited higher WC and SR but lower CS compared to buffer zones, with WC-CS hotspots located in buffer zones and SR hotspots in heritage sites. Slope, DEM, and mean annual temperature drove ERSs in Shibing, while slope, soil bulk density, and annual precipitation dominated those in Libo-Huanjiang. Strong WC-SR synergies occurred in buffer zones, accompanied by weak SR-CS and WC-CS tradeoffs, with heritage sites showing more pronounced weak SR-CS tradeoffs but fewer WC-CS tradeoffs than buffer zones. This research clarifies the spatiotemporal drivers of ERSs and their interactions, proposes a “heritage site-buffer zone” framework for tradeoff management, and provides a scientific basis for enhanced conservation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Qingqing Xie, Kangning Xiong, Yating Mu, Qian Zhai http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Water Conservation Mechanism and the Function Improvement of the Ecosystem in Karst Desertification Control
Water source conservation (WSC), as one of the most important ecosystem services (ES), playsa critical role in promoting the restoration of ecosystem structure. Severe soil erosion in karst regions has led to the continuous degradation of soil conservation services. Understanding the current research status and evolutionary trends in this field is crucial for establishing a theoretical foundation for future rocky desertification control in karst areas. This study collected 175 articles on WSC based on the Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. Through systematic reviews and qualitative analyses, this paper summarizes research progress, achievements, and development trends from multiple dimensions, and employs spatial visualization and analytical tools (such as SATI and Gephi) to present the research findings visually. It addresses key scientific issues and future trends in existing water source conservation measures, aiming to enhance water source conservation capacity in rocky desertification areas. This study provides significant guidance for optimizing the layout of ecological engineering projects and rocky desertification control in karst regions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mao Chen, Kangning Xiong, Ziqi Liu, Lulu Cai, Shenhui Yu http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Driving Factors of Drought in the Pearl River Basin Based on Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index
Using the temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI), Sen’s slope estimation, and the Mann-Kendall test, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics and trends of drought in the Pearl River Basin from 2001 to 2023, and examined the influences of temperature and precipitation on TVDI. The results indicated that the average TVDI over the study period was 0.6607, with a standard deviation of 0.0186, reflecting a general state of moderate drought and a significant downward trend in drought severity. On average, the proportions of areas with no drought, light drought, moderate drought, severe drought, and extreme drought were 1.09%, 11.36%, 78.85%, 8.33%, and 0.37%, respectively. Over the past 23 years, drought severity has generally increased from north to south. Extreme drought was concentrated in the southern Leizhou Peninsula (Guangdong), while severe drought mainly occurred in the Leizhou Peninsula, the Pearl River Estuary, and parts of eastern Guangdong (Jieyang, Chaozhou, Huizhou), as well as Nanning, Baise, and Qinzhou in Guangxi province. Gejiu City in Yunnan also experienced frequently severe droughts. In contrast, lower TVDI values were primarily found in southeastern Guizhou, northeastern Guangxi, and northwestern Guangdong. Drought severity in the eastern Pearl River Basin exhibited a worsening trend, whereas conditions in the west tended to improve. Approximately 70% of the basin showed a gradual decline in drought intensity. At a 0.05 significance level, significant drying was noteworthy in the Pearl River Delta, eastern Leizhou Peninsula, northern Guangdong, Jieyang (Chaozhou), and eastern Yunnan. In contrast, significant drought alleviation occurred in Qinzhou, Fangchenggang, and Baise (Guangxi), the border region of Yunnan–Guangxi–Guizhou, as well as Yangjiang, Maoming, eastern Meizhou, Shanwei, and Huizhou in Guangdong province. Regionally, TVDI was significantly and negatively correlated with air temperature, suggesting that rising temperatures contributed to drought alleviation. Overall, both temperature and precipitation showed negative effects on drought severity. TVDI was negatively correlated with precipitation across all land use types, and the strongest correlation was identified in grasslands. Except for forest land, TVDI in other land use types exhibited weak correlations with air temperature.
Copyright (c) 2026 Yanqun Liu, Lifang Li, Shuxiao Peng, Min Wang, Guanrong Huang, Xiaoyuan Luo http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Environmental Pollution in Gulf Countries: Evidence from Panel Data (2004-2023)
This study examines the environmental impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Gulf countries using panel data from 2004 to 2023. Based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework and the Pollution Haven and Pollution Halo hypotheses, the analysis explores the scale, structural, and technological channels through which FDI influences environmental quality. A two-way fixed-effects model is employed, complemented by robustness and heterogeneity analyses. The results reveal a nonlinear relationship between economic growth and environmental quality, supporting the EKC hypothesis. While baseline estimates suggest that FDI is associated with improvements in environmental quality, extended results indicate that its overall effect is environmentally adverse, driven primarily by scale expansion and insufficient green technological spillovers. Significant cross-country heterogeneity is identified, with stronger institutional capacity mitigating negative environmental impacts. These findings highlight the importance of directing FDI toward environmentally sustainable sectors and strengthening regulatory frameworks to promote green economic transformation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammad Waleed Abdelraheem Atrash http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Impact of Microplastics on Sulfate Formation via Different Oxidation Pathways
In this paper, the effects of microplastics on sulfate formation under different oxidation paths in atmospheric media were studied. Based on two typical oxidation pathways of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ozone (O3), the regulation of microplastics on sulfate formation mechanism was investigated. The effects of pH value, microplastic dosage and the ratio of S (IV) to oxidant on the promotion of sulfate formation by microplastics were analyzed. The promotion mechanism was discussed by measuring the active species such as hydroxyl radical (•OH) and superoxide radical (•O2-), combined with material characterization methods. The results showed that both polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) could promote the formation of sulfate in different degrees under the oxidation conditions of H2O2 and O3, and showed different rules under the influence of the above factors. Both of them can promote the decomposition of H2O2 and O3 to generate free radicals, and the formation mechanism of sulfate is driven by adsorption and free radical reaction. In terms of adsorption characteristics, PVC is more likely to adsorb S (VI), while PS shows a stronger adsorption tendency for S (IV).
Copyright (c) 2026 Xuexue Bai http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Study on Efficiency and Mechanism of Advanced Fluoride Removal by Electrocoagulation Process
In this study, the effects of current density, electrolysis time, pH value, and sodium chloride (NaCl) electrolyte dosage on fluoride removal efficiency were systematically investigated. The results showed that the optimal operating parameters were determined as follows: current density of 10 mA/cm², electrolysis time of 30 min, pH value of 6, and NaCl dosage of 1 g/L. Under these optimal conditions, the fluoride removal efficiency could stably exceed 85%. Calcium, magnesium, and sulfate ions at an appropriate concentration of 50 mg/L significantly enhanced the fluoride removal efficiency, whereas nitrate ions exhibited a pronounced inhibitory effect. In the current density range of 5–15 mA/cm2, the advanced fluoride removal process via electrocoagulation was better fitted to the pseudo-first-order adsorption kinetics model, indicating that the adsorption process was dominated by physical adsorption. The Zeta potential showed a trend of initial increase followed by a gradual decrease. The generated flocs had an average particle size of 146.4 μm and underwent significant directional aggregation, forming a large number of irregular dendritic and star-shaped flocculent aggregates.
Copyright (c) 2026 Wei Xie, Hua Fang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effects of Combined Chlorine Dioxide and Chlorine Disinfection on the Formation of Disinfection Byproducts
To investigate the effects of combined chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) and chlorine disinfection on disinfection byproduct formation, this study controlled disinfection conditions (temperature, pH, dosing sequence) and organic matter types to analyze their influences on byproduct generation, and explored the practical application characteristics based on disinfection experiments of natural water samples. The results showed that combined disinfection could effectively reduce the formation of disinfection byproducts.The reaction rate of ClO₂ in the combined disinfectant was less affected by temperature than chlorine. The formation ratio of CHCl₃ increased with rising temperature, while that of ClO₂⁻ decreased. With increasing solution pH, the formation of ClO₂⁻ increased gradually, ClO₃⁻ first decreased and then increased, and CHCl₃ formation reached the maximum under neutral conditions and the minimum under acidic and alkaline conditions. Dosing ClO₂ first could effectively reduce the formation of the organic byproduct CHCl₃ and lower the compliance rate of generated byproducts. The reactivity order of combined disinfectants with organic matters was: TA > HA > BSA > SA. Fluorescence spectroscopy analysis before and after disinfection of natural water showed that the main precursors of combined disinfection were humic acid and fulvic acid-like substances.
Copyright (c) 2026 Qinglin Wang, Hua Fang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Research Progress and Trends in Morchella Studies
Morels are highly valued edible and medicinal fungi that have attracted growing attention owing to their nutritional value, bioactive properties, and economic significance. This review summarizes recent advances and future prospects in morel research, with a particular focus on four major areas: taxonomy, chemical constituents and bioactivities, artificial cultivation technologies, and strain breeding. Through a comprehensive analysis of relevant studies conducted both in China and abroad, this review highlights the transition of morel taxonomy from traditional morphology-based identification to more precise molecular phylogenetic classification. It also summarizes the major bioactive compounds identified in morels, including polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, sterols, and fatty acids, as well as their reported biological activities, such as immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and antitumor effects. In addition, the development of artificial cultivation techniques is reviewed, illustrating the progression from early exploratory efforts to facility-based, large-scale, and standardized production systems. The potential applications of modern biotechnological approaches, including molecular markers and genomics, in the selection of elite germplasm and the breeding of superior strains are also discussed. Overall, morel research has gradually established a relatively comprehensive framework encompassing fundamental biological studies, functional component development, and industrial applications, thereby providing an important reference for future research and the sustainable development of the morel industry.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sheng Qiang, Yu Liu, Qimeng Zhao, Xueqi Zhao, Zeyang Li, Zhenhui Song, Jianrui Wang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Implications of Protected Area Integrity Conservation and Buffer-Zone Agroforestry Development for the Protection of Karst World Heritage Sites
Karst World Heritage sites, as natural wonders of the Earth, possess Outstanding Universal Value, and the conservation of their integrity is of great significance for maintaining global biodiversity and geological and geomorphological features. However, while protecting heritage sites, how to promote economic development in buffer zones, especially the development of agroforestry, has become an urgent issue to be addressed. As a sustainable agricultural practice, agroforestry can promote economic development while simultaneously protecting the environment. The implementation of agroforestry has effectively contributed to World Heritage conservation. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the research trends, focal topics, and latest developments in the fields of integrity conservation of protected area and agroforestry development in buffer zones. Therefore, this study employs the CNKI and Web of Science databases, together with CiteSpace software, to conduct a bibliometric analysis, and uses literature visualization to explore the major research themes and frontier issues related to the integrity conservation of natural World Heritage sites and the development of buffer-zone agroforestry. Based on the preliminary results obtained, we discuss current publication trends and outputs, keyword and abstract word frequencies, national publication productivity, collaboration networks, and major contributing institutions. The results show that the development of agroforestry has contributed to biodiversity conservation in heritage sites. However, studies on the role of buffer-zone agroforestry development in supporting the integrity conservation of World Heritage sites remain limited. Accordingly, future research should place greater emphasis on the relationship between buffer-zone development and heritage integrity conservation, especially in ecologically fragile karst World Heritage sites, and should further strengthen the role of agroforestry development in buffer zones in promoting ecological balance and the sustainable development of heritage sites, so as to provide scientific references for the conservation and development of other geological heritage sites worldwide.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dongnan Wang, Kangning Xiong, Xiaoxi Lyu http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Evolution of the Characteristic Ecological Industry for Karst Desertification Control: Insights from the Huajiang Zanthoxylum Industry
Global land degradation poses a serious threat to ecosystem security and the sustainable development of human society, and the proposal of the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) target marks a new stage in collaborative governance. In the karst regions of southern China, rocky desertification control is shifting from a singular focus on ecological restoration toward a coordinated transformation integrating “ecological restoration and industrial revitalization,” yet the consolidation of governance achievements and regional sustainable development still face severe challenges. Taking the Zanthoxylum industry in the Huajiang research area of Guanling–Zhenfeng, Guizhou Province, as a representative case, this study applies Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and its core concept of the obligatory passage point (OPP). Through in-depth interviews, field investigation, and related methods, it traces the interactive network of human and non-human actors throughout the evolution of the Zanthoxylum industry from 1991 to the present, thereby revealing its dynamic evolutionary mechanisms. The results show that: (1) the rise and decline of the Huajiang Zanthoxylum industry are essentially processes in which a heterogeneous actor network is constructed, stabilized, shifted, and deconstructed around the OPP, and industrial success depends on the effective translation of diverse demands into a shared objective; (2) in the first stage (1991-2009), “large-scale cultivation” served as the OPP, with local governments acting as the core translators to effectively integrate the dual goals of ecological governance and livelihood improvement; in the second stage (2010-present), extreme climatic shocks and the alienation of cultivation techniques among internal actors led to the breakdown of network consensus, causing the OPP to shift toward “rebuilding quality-based trust and market order”; and (3) the long-term resilience of ecological industries depends on the dynamic maintenance of OPP adaptability and network governance capacity. This requires moving beyond a singular focus on technical restoration and constructing a collaborative governance framework for a “social–ecological network” that emphasizes the agency of non-human actors, cultivates a multi-actor co-governance industrial ecology, and incorporates brand credibility and ecological value into the core elements of translation. This study provides theoretical support for advancing the sustainability of rocky desertification control.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zhifu Luo, Kangning Xiong, Jiawang Yan http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Environmental Characteristics and Mixed Exposure Risks in Small-Scale Beauty Facilities in Vietnam
Small-scale beauty facilities constitute a distinctive occupational setting characterized by simultaneous exposure to multiple volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from hairdressing, nail services, and solvent-based cleaning. This study aims to characterize workplace environmental conditions, quantify concentrations of priority VOCs, and assess non-carcinogenic health risks under different exposure scenarios in small-scale beauty facilities in Vietnam. A field-based design was applied across four facilities, integrating structured site surveys, air monitoring, and scenario-based risk assessment under baseline, task-based, and adverse conditions. Toluene and formaldehyde were measured in two sampling campaigns, while acetone was included as an indicator of mixed exposure. Real-time measurements of formaldehyde (HCHO) and total VOCs (TVOC) were conducted to capture short-term variability. Results show that all facilities were micro-scale (15–40 m²) with prolonged exposure duration and widespread open chemical handling practices. Toluene concentrations ranged from 0.014 to 0.024 mg/m³, formaldehyde from 0.005 to 0.027 mg/m³, and acetone up to 0.066 mg/m³. End-of-shift HCHO and TVOC reached 0.45 ppm and 0.47 ppm, respectively. Formaldehyde exhibited greater variability and dominated cumulative risk. One facility recorded a hazard index (HI) exceeding 1, increasing to 1.2872 under adverse conditions. The findings highlight that mixed VOC exposure is strongly influenced by ventilation, service intensity, exposure duration, and chemical handling practices.
Copyright (c) 2026 Do Thi Lan Chi, Vu Van Thu, Hoang Tung, Dam Khac Khoa, Le Huy Nhat Anh, Nguyen Thi Anh Ngoc, Dao Manh Hung, Nguyen Tien Dung http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Research on LED Light Sources Capable of Regulating Circadian Rhythms
The model was implemented using the CIE 1931 color matching function, the CIECAM02 color appearance model, and the ANSI/IES TM-30 method. The calculation results indicate that the light source has a CCT of 3903.7 K, Duv=−0.001045, Rf=96.96, Rg=106.40, and mel-DER=0.0880, exhibiting characteristics of medium-low color temperature, extremely high color rendering fidelity, slightly expanded color gamut, and minimal impact on circadian rhythms. For the daytime lighting scenario, with the objective of maximizing Rf, high-fidelity lighting with an Rf as high as 97.91 was achieved under the constraints of CCT = 6000 ± 500 K and Rg = 95–105. For the nighttime sleep-promoting scenario, with the objective of minimizing mel-DER, we successfully reduced mel-DER to an extremely low level of 0.0043 under the constraints of CCT=3000500 K and Rf≥80, effectively reducing interference with circadian rhythms. An optimization model was constructed with dual objectives: spectral shape fitting accuracy and consistency of circadian rhythm effect parameters (mel-DER). Experimental results indicate that this method achieved low spectral similarity error (average DTW distance of 0.2270) and circadian effect deviation (average mel-DER error of 0.0126) at most time points, validating that the proposed model can effectively simulate dynamic spectra and reproduce the circadian effects of natural light. To comprehensively evaluate the impact of different lighting conditions on sleep quality, a multi-criteria evaluation model based on the Entropy-Weighted TOPSIS method was constructed. This model assessed sleep quality across six dimensions—total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), sleep latency (SOL), deep sleep percentage (N3%), rapid eye movement (REM) percentage (REM3%), and number of nighttime awakenings. The evaluation scores indicate that Environment C (dim light)>Environment A (sleep-promoting light) > Environment B (standard LED), suggesting that optimized lighting can improve sleep quality to a certain extent.
Copyright (c) 2026 Jiali Du http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Research Progress and Outlook on Soil Erosion and Leakage in Karst Regions of Southwest China
As the world's largest and most fully developed karst distribution zone, the karst regions of Southwest China possess an extremely fragile ecological environment. Their unique surface-subsurface dual three-dimensional hydrogeological structure results in a distinctive feature of concurrent surface runoff and subsurface seepage, posing a major constraint to regional ecological governance and sustainable socioeconomic development. This paper systematically reviews research progress on soil erosion/leakage in the Southwest Karst region, focusing on the core characteristics of the regional natural environment (poor soil, karst development, concentrated rainfall) and human activities (overcultivation, vegetation destruction, engineering disturbances). It summarizes the primary pathways of soil erosion (surface slope runoff migration, subsurface fissure/pipeline transport) , research methodologies (traditional runoff plot observation, erosion line method, ground-penetrating radar, and application of new techniques like radionuclide tracers), and fundamental findings (contribution quantification, driving factors, relationships with rock desertification and nutrient loss). It also categorizes control technologies including engineering, agricultural, biological measures, and agroforestry models. Building on this foundation, it delves into critical challenges in current research: Controversy persists over primary pathways for subsurface leakage - Multiscale coupling mechanisms of driving factors remain unclear - Proportions of surface-subsurface loss lack consensus - Mechanisms linking soil erosion/leakage to nutrient cycling are understudied Finally, future research directions are proposed, including clarifying leakage pathways, quantifying coupling relationships between drivers, standardizing proportion estimation criteria, and deepening understanding of nutrient impact mechanisms. These findings provide scientific references for precise soil erosion control, karst desertification management, and ecosystem restoration in the karst regions of Southwest China.
Copyright (c) 2026 Xianwen Zhang, Ya Zhang, Ruitao Mao, Jiacheng Lan http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0