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The assessment of urban ecological quality through remote sensing has gained prominence in recent years, due to the need for effective urban monitoring and improved territorial planning. This study presents a comprehensive review of the evolution of urban ecological-quality research from 1997 to 2023, focusing on trends, influential publications, and methodologies. From 1997 to 2023, research on urban ecological quality grew significantly, with annual publications increasing from 0.3 in the 1990s to six in the 2020s, driven by technological advancements, global collaboration, and alignment with policy goals like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Co-occurrence network analysis revealed six key research clusters, highlighting advancements in methodologies, spatial data integration, remote sensing, green sustainability, and multi-criteria frameworks, showcasing the field's interdisciplinary evolution. China leads contributions, with 33.3% of research, followed by the United States and other countries, emphasizing robust international collaborations. Journals like Remote Sensing and Sustainability dominate, with highly cited publications from the 2010s and 2020s shaping the field's direction. Prominent authors such as Xu H. and Zhang X. have played critical roles, though engagement in the field has surged more recently. Remote-sensing technologies, particularly in China, have been pivotal, with indices like the Remote-Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) and its derivatives broadening analytical frameworks. These tools integrate ecological, socio-economic, and policy dimensions, aligning with global sustainability objectives and enhancing the field's capacity to address urban ecological challenges and promote sustainable urban development. Urban ecological-quality research has evolved significantly, driven by advancements in remote sensing, interdisciplinary methods, and global collaboration. Future efforts should focus on expanding cross-regional studies, integrating comprehensive socio-economic and environmental indicators, and utilizing emerging technologies like machine learning, deep learning, and AI to address urbanization challenges and support sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of quaternary TiFe-based alloys, Ti1.05Fe0.85Cr0.1−xMox (x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.1), were designed to investigate the activation and hydrogen ab-/desorption properties of TiFe hydrogen storage alloys through the substitution of Fe with Cr and Mo. The incorporation of Cr and Mo significantly enhanced the activation performance of TiFe hydrogen storage alloys, enabling activation at room temperature. This improvement in activation was accompanied by the maintenance of a high maximum hydrogen storage capacity and an elevated effective hydrogen storage capacity. As the Mo content increased, the lattice parameters increased slightly, further boosting the activation performance and reducing the optimal operating temperature from 90 to 75 °C, which can be readily matched using the waste heat from fuel cells. The addition of Mo also resulted in a flatter hydrogen absorption plateau, making the hydrogen storage and release process more stable. Among the alloys, Ti1.05Fe0.85Cr0.05Mo0.05 exhibited the best performance, with a maximum hydrogen storage capacity of 2.00 wt.%, an effective hydrogen storage capacity of 1.81 wt.%, and a relatively flat hydrogen ab-/desorption plateau. After 200 cycles, the hydrogen storage capacity decreased by only 0.50%, indicating promising application prospects in related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use change from wildlands to urban and productive environments can dramatically transform ecosystem structure and processes. Despite their structural and functional differences from wildlands, human-modified environments offer unique habitat elements for wildlife. In this study, we examined how migratory birds use urban, productive, and wildland environments of a highly anthropized region of Western Mexico known as "El Bajío". We used Generalized Linear Models to compare species richness, abundance, and the functional traits of migratory bird assemblages among these three environments. Results revealed differences in species richness, composition, and the functional traits of migratory birds among environments. Regardless of wildlands showing medium to high levels of human disturbance, they presented the highest species richness and abundance of migratory birds, with urban environments presenting the lowest values. Insectivorous and granivorous birds were dominant in the migratory bird assemblages of the three environments. The migratory bird assemblages of productive environments had more grassland granivorous birds. In contrast, insectivorous birds with dense habitat preferences and short culmen lengths dominated the urban bird assemblage. Migratory bird assemblages in productive and urban environments showed similar species richness and abundance of insectivorous birds, but they differ in their composition. Our results reveal that urban trees allowed cities to function as simplified forests, showing that the urban environment has the untapped potential to support complex assemblages of migratory birds. To promote migratory birds in human-modified landscapes, we must maintain complex vegetation areas that allow birds with diverse functional traits to overwinter in urban and productive environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the habitat quality of pollinators in La Cantera Park, a recently renovated urban area in Mexico City. First, we analyzed the presence and preferences of three main pollinators (bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds) with respect to the vegetation composition of the park. Secondly, we assessed the theoretical habitat quality for the pollinators across the zones of the park. Through systematic sampling, we recorded the following species: four hummingbirds, 20 butterflies, and 21 bees, among which we observed a strong preference for native plants such as Lantana camara and Salvia leucantha. While some exotic plants also attracted pollinators, native plants played a central role in supporting diverse pollinator populations. Areas with greater floral diversity and a higher proportion of native species consistently exhibited better habitat quality scores, underscoring the critical link between native flora and pollinator activity. These findings highlight the importance of landscape management practices that strategically combine native and exotic plants to maximize resource availability, improving urban parks' capacity to sustain pollinator biodiversity. The study suggests that urban green space design strategies should incorporate both ecological infrastructure elements, such as water sources, and a careful selection of plant species to create suitable habitats for pollinators. This approach can contribute to the conservation of pollinators in densely populated urban environments, providing valuable ecosystem services and supporting urban resilience by promoting biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Landscape changes resulting from urbanization have profound impacts on biodiversity, threatening the habitat of resident species. Birds are valuable research subjects because of their diversity, wide distribution, and particular sensitivity to environmental changes. Therefore, exploring the relationships between winter birds and environmental variables is essential for designing and managing green spaces during winter. However, the responses of the winter bird communities to environmental variables in cold regions remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we investigated the winter bird community in the riparian zone of the Hun River in Shenyang. We selected 11 environmental variables of the riparian zone and conducted a principal component analysis to extract seven new components that represent environmental changes. Subsequently, we performed correlation and redundancy analyses on bird diversity indicators and environmental variables. Results: The results revealed that bird richness, Simpson's diversity index and Shannon diversity index, was greater in the urban expansion area than in the urban core area. However, abundance was lower in the urban expansion area. Disturbance and built-up components were significantly associated with overall bird diversity, while disturbance, riparian, open vegetation, and suburban vegetation components were significantly linked to the diversity of resident and migratory birds. Birds in the urban expansion area exhibited greater sensitivity to environmental variables compared to those in the urban core area. Discussion: This study recommend focusing on seasonal influence on birds' resource use and urbanization level and bird species composition in riparian zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sentence comprehension involves the decoding of both semantic and grammatical information, a process fundamental to communication. As with other complex cognitive processes, language comprehension relies, in part, on long-term memory. However, the electrophysiological mechanisms underpinning the encoding and generalization of higher-order linguistic knowledge remain elusive, particularly froma sleep-based consolidation perspective. One candidatemechanismthat may support the consolidation of higher-order language is the coordination of slow oscillations (SO) and sleep spindles during nonrapid eye movement sleep (NREM). To examine this hypothesis, we analyzed electroencephalographic (EEG) data recorded from35 participants (Mage = 25.4; SD = 7.10; 16 males) during an artificial language learning task, contrasting performance between individuals who were given an 8 h nocturnal sleep period or an equivalent period of wake. We found that sleep relative to wake was associated with superior performance for sequence-based word order rules. Postsleep sequence-based word order processing was further associated with less task-related theta desynchronization, an electrophysiological signature of successful memory consolidation, as well as cognitive control and working memory. Frontal NREM SO- spindle coupling was also positively associated with behavioral sensitivity to sequence-based word order rules, as well as with taskrelated theta power. As such, theta activity during retrieval of previously learned information correlates with SO-spindle coupling, thus linking neural activity in the sleeping and waking brain. Taken together, this study presents converging behavioral and neurophysiological evidence for a role of NREM SO-spindle coupling and task-related theta activity as signatures of memory consolidation and retrieval in the context of higher-order language learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban forests, as vital components of green infrastructure, provide essential ecosystem services (ESs) that support urban sustainability. However, rapid urban expansion and increased density threaten these forests, creating significant imbalances between the supply and demand for these services. Understanding the characteristics of ecosystem services and reasonably dividing ecological management zones are crucial for promoting sustainable urban development. This study introduces an innovative ecological management zoning framework based on the matching degree and synergies relationships of ESs. Focusing on Fuzhou's fourth ring road area in China, data from 1038 urban forest sample plots were collected using mobile LIDAR. By integrating the i-Tree Eco model and Kriging interpolation, we assessed the spatial distribution of four key ESs—carbon sequestration, avoided runoff, air purification, and heat mitigation—and analyzed their supply–demand relationships and synergies. Based on these ecological characteristics, we employed unsupervised machine learning classification to identify eight distinct ecological management zones, each accompanied by targeted recommendations. Key findings include the following: (1) ecosystem services of urban forests in Fuzhou exhibit pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with clearly identifiable high-value and low-value areas of significant statistical relevance; (2) heat mitigation, avoided runoff, and air purification services all exhibit synergistic effects, while carbon sequestration shows trade-offs with the other three services in high-value areas, necessitating targeted optimization; (3) eight ecological management zones were identified, each with unique ecological characteristics. This study offers precise spatial insights into Fuzhou's urban forests, providing a foundation for sustainable ecological management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Vegetation remnants enveloped by built up areas tend to drift away in their character from vegetation on similar sites in more extensive patches of native vegetation, but may stabilise in synthetic (novel) form with time in harmony with disturbance regimes and environmental change. Managers may be able to induce a synthetic state that maintains the nature conservation values of such remnants. Aims: We examine the degree to which the nature conservation values of the the vegetation of a 19th century urban reserve in nipaluna (Hobart), lutruwita (Tasmania) changed between 1974 and 2022/23 in a period of climate change and changes in vegetation management, with the aim of discerning appropriate conservation management regimes. Methods: Sixty-nine 1 × 15 m quadrats were randomly located in the non-cultivated part of the Domain in 1974 and roughly relocated for sampling in 1984, 1994, 2001 and 2022. Tree diameters were recorded using the point-centred quarter method in 1974, 1984, 1994, 2001 and 2023. The responses of native and exotic species richness, and the frequency of the more common species, to time and other predictor variables related to time since last fire, evidence of mowing at the time of the survey, and topography were determined using linear modelling, correlation, analysis of variance and chi-squared. Key results: The native tree Allocasuarina verticillata was the only significantly varying consistent increaser of 67 taxa. The native perennial herbs Acaena echinata and Leptorhynchos squamatus and the non-native shrubby weed Chrysanthemoides monilifera were the only significantly varying consistent decreasers. However, several rare and threatened species too infrequent for statistical analysis also declined between 2022/23 and 2000. Twenty-four of the 67 taxa with sufficient data for analysis did not significantly vary among years. The percentage of native species in quadrats did not change through time. It was negatively related to mowing and the time since fire. Native tree stems 10–30 cm in diameter and those over 30 cm increased through time, whereas those less than 10 cm in diameter increased dramatically until 2000, then strongly decreased by 2023. Total stem density increased through time. Conclusions: Mowing and fire regimes strongly influenced the distributions of a large proportion of native taxa independent of time and underlying environment, largely by controlling the density of the small tree layer, which can potentially form closed-forest without eucalypts. Implications: It is possible to use fire, mowing and slashing to maintain nature conservation values in synthetic urban grassy woodland, although the maintenance of the rarest native species requires more specific and varied interventions. Does native vegetation in urban parks change over time? Yes and no is the answer we found after analysing data collected over a 50-year period. Whereas some sites are stable, management interventions such as weeding, burning, mowing and mechanical removal are useful tools to maintain healthy patches of native vegetation in urban areas. Map created by Ian Jenkinson. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates zinc (Zn) bioaccumulation in house sparrows (Passer domesticus) across urban and rural areas of Meknes, Morocco, to evaluate their effectiveness as bioindicators of environmental pollution. Fifty sparrows were sampled from five locations: an industrial zone, town center, bus station, main road, and a rural reference site. Zinc concentrations, measured on a dry weight basis using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), revealed significant differences between sites for the liver (111.43 ± 4.25 µg/g), kidneys (56.68 ± 3.50 µg/g), blood (1.638 ± 0.652 µg/g), bones (21.36 ± 6.10 µg/g), and heart (16.87 ± 5.15 µg/g) at the most polluted site, Sidi Bouzekri industrial zone, according to ANOVA results (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found for feathers (9.85 ± 4.65 µg/g), lungs (12.02 ± 4.58 µg/g), and brain (9.49 ± 6.23 µg/g) across the study locations. The rural site, despite its distance from industrial sources, exhibited elevated zinc levels, likely due to agricultural activities. These findings highlight the effectiveness of house sparrows as bioindicators for monitoring zinc contamination, capturing pollution impacts from both urban and rural sources. Ongoing monitoring of zinc pollution in diverse environments remains essential for managing heavy metal exposure risks., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: This study was conducted in full compliance with ethical standards for the humane treatment of animals. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Sciences. All procedures adhered to international guidelines for animal research, ensuring the welfare and humane handling of all animals involved. Measures were taken to minimize stress and discomfort during the study. Authors’ ethical responsibilities: All authors have read, understood, and complied with, where applicable, the statement on “Ethical Responsibilities of Authors” as included in the instructions for authors. Competing interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Urbanization and biodiversity loss disconnect humans from nature and may limit pro-environmental actions. Although, a growing body of knowledge exists on people's attitudes towards nature, the majority focuses on the influence of socio-environmental factors. Significant variations in socioeconomic and educational levels in urban areas affect access to biodiversity. In this study, we aim to identify the socio-environmental variables that are associated with people's attitudes towards nature (student's knowledge about urban birds and their participation in conservation actions). We collected data on local biodiversity, socioeconomical status, and high school students' attitudes towards nature (15 schools, n = 175 students) in a large Latin American capital city. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to identify relationships among all variables. Socioeconomic characterization was assessed using levels of socio-materiality and school performance scores. Definitions of ecological complexity were based on bird species richness and vegetation density. Knowledge of urban birds was evaluated using two indicators: urban bird identification (recognition of names) and identification of the biogeographic origin of urban birds (native or exotic). Participation in conservation actions by students was assessed based on implementation scale and implementation frequency. According to our results, respondents' knowledge of birds was poor: 42% of students identified only two species (the domestic pigeon and the monk parakeet, both exotic). Only 26% of total students participated in conservation actions. SEM analysis revealed that socioeconomic status was positively associated with the ecological complexity of surrounding areas. In turn, ecological complexity showed a positive relationship with students' knowledge on urban birds. Finally, students' knowledge of urban birds showed a positive influence on conservation actions. Our findings suggest that, the improvement of students' knowledge about local biodiversity and ensuring equitable access to biodiversity could be an effective way to foster students' involvement in conservation actions, especially in neighborhoods of lower socioeconomic levels., Competing Interests: Compliance with Ethical Standards. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Aim: To explore the effect of violence exposure on altruistic behavior and grit among emergency nurses in 103-bed emergency departments in rural hospitals in Egypt., Background: Workplace violence is a pervasive issue in emergency departments. Nurses in rural hospitals, facing limited resources and isolation, may be even more vulnerable to the adverse effects of workplace violence. Altruism, characterized by a selfless concern for the well-being of others, and grit, known as persistence and dedication toward long-term aspirations, are fundamental attributes that significantly influence the quality of care nurses provide. In high-stress environments like emergency departments, these qualities are essential for maintaining patient safety and well-being; the presence of workplace violence can compromise these vital attributes., Method: A descriptive correlational design was undertaken in the intensive care units of rural hospitals. The research utilized three measurements: the workplace place violence questionnaire, the Short Grit Scale, and the altruistic behaviors scale., Findings: Reporting of incidence, mitigation strategies, and the impact of violence are inversely related to altruism and grit. Altruism and grit were positively correlated. The regression indicates that while altruism is high, factors like mitigation strategies, years of experience, and perceived risk contribute negatively to altruistic behaviors., Implications for Nursing Practice, Nursing, and Health Policy: This research underscores the significance of assessing personal assets and their relation to violence exposure. It highlights a critical need for resilience-building initiatives that empower nurses to build both altruism and grit among nurses while addressing the impact of workplace violence. In addition, nursing policies should include specific provisions for their protection, such as adjusting shift patterns to reduce their exposure to high-risk periods, ensuring adequate staffing levels, and implementing buddy systems., (© 2025 International Council of Nurses.)

Previous work showed that animals have demonstrated remarkable adaptability by actively integrating into urban environments. However, there is no essential difference between urban and rural areas but food availability. The behavioral mechanisms and processes by which animals adapt to cities still require further experimental validation. In this study, field surveys of the flight initiation distance (FID) of black-headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) were performed at three scenic sites in Kunming City, Yunnan, southwest China. Our results showed that, within the same area, the FID of black-headed gulls was significantly shorter in areas with increased human activity. Moreover, in areas with earlier human contact, black-headed gulls showed shorter FID. The FID data were further analyzed by a multilayer perceptron regression model with a neural network (ANN-MLP) approach to delineate FID thresholds for black-headed gulls in different human disturbance spots. The analysis revealed that black-headed gulls exhibit a high degree of behavioral flexibility in cities, with food availability playing a key role in increasing the birds' tolerance to humans. These findings highlight the significant impact of human behaviors, such as feeding, on wildlife behavior patterns. Understanding this mechanism is essential for understanding the coexistence of humans and wildlife. The establishment of FID models for black-headed gulls will provide new possibilities and tools for animal behavior research., Competing Interests: Compliance with ethical standards. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics and permits: The experiments comply with the current laws of China. No special permit was required for this study as it was not involved in animal or plant collection., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

This study investigates the concentration of heavy metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) in the blood of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) across various urban habitats in Meknes, Morocco. Fifty adult sparrows were captured from five distinct sites, including industrial, high-traffic, and rural areas. Blood samples were specifically analyzed for Pb, Cd, and Zn using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Significant variations in metal concentrations were observed across the different sites, with the highest levels found in the industrial zone: lead (Pb) at 336.02 µg/L, cadmium (Cd) at 12.28 µg/L, and zinc (Zn) at 1736.09 µg/L. Principal component analysis (PCA) and K-means clustering identified three distinct pollution clusters: Cluster 0 (high Zn, low Pb and Cd), Cluster 1 (moderate levels of all metals), and Cluster 2 (high levels of all metals). These findings emphasize the ecological and health risks posed by urban pollution, and demonstrate the value of house sparrows as effective bioindicators., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: All ethical standards and guidelines for the humane treatment of animals were strictly adhered to throughout the course of this study, with approval from the High Commission for Water and Forests. Consent to participate: Non applicable. Consent for publication: All authors consent to the publication of this manuscript. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)