Over the last four decades, the Fontan operation has been the treatment of choice for children born with complex congenital heart diseases and a single-ventricle physiology. However, therapeutic options remain limited and despite ongoing improvements in initial surgical repair, patients still experience a multiplicity of cardiovascular complications. The causes for cardiovascular failure are multifactorial and include systemic ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary vascular resistance, atrioventricular valve regurgitation, arrhythmia, development of collaterals, protein-losing enteropathy, hepatic dysfunction, and plastic bronchitis, among others. The mechanisms leading to these late complications remain to be fully elucidated. Experimental animal models have been developed as preclinical steps that enable a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. They furthermore play a key role in the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of new medical devices prior to their use in human clinical studies. However, these experimental models have several limitations. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the evolution and progress of the various types of experimental animal models used in the Fontan procedure published to date in the literature. A special focus is placed on experimental studies performed on animal models of the Fontan procedure with or without mechanical circulatory support as well as a description of their impact in the evolution of the Fontan design. We also highlight the contribution of animal models to our understanding of the pathophysiology and assess forthcoming developments that may improve the contribution of animal models for the testing of new therapeutic solutions. Full article

Background: This study investigated the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) during the COVID-19 pandemic, assessing negative affect, depression, and anxiety levels as indicators of health. Methods: A total of 287 participants were recruited, including BPD patients at different stages of treatment and the general population without a diagnosis of BPD. Questionnaires were used to assess the fear of COVID-19 and the referenced health indicators. Results: No differences were observed between groups in levels of fear of COVID-19, but there were differences in the health indicators studied. BPD patients in long-term treatment showed levels of negative affect similar to those of the general population, while those in early treatment stages exhibited significantly higher levels. However, no significant improvements were observed in levels of depression and anxiety in the long-term treatment group compared to those who underwent the initial treatment phase. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of effectively intervening in BPD, especially in stress-inducing situations such as the pandemic, and suggest the need to explore complementary approaches to addressing depression and anxiety in this clinical context. Full article

Terraced historical landscapes have multiple functions in mountain land, limiting erosion, enabling agricultural production and constituting cultural heritage. Currently, they are largely abandoned in Mediterranean regions and facing the ongoing impacts of climate change. Our aim is to reconstruct the evolution of land use on the terraces in order to test the hypothesis of the resilience of these landscapes and their age in recent history (17th–21st century). To achieve this, we used various current and archive spatial datasets and GIS knowledge to detect and map terraces and the changes in land use. We tested this hypothesis in a territory impacted by a recent extreme event, facing the challenge of its reconstruction. Our main outcome showed that the optimal use of the terraces corresponded to the demographic optimum of the mid-19th century, and they were gradually abandoned after the Second World War, with significant differences between Mediterranean and mountain lands. Despite this evolution, the terraces persisted and withstood an extreme event, validating our resilience hypothesis and opening avenues for the revitalization of this territory based on this heritage. These findings are drawing perspectives for the future of terraced landscapes in Mediterranean mountains in the context of climate change. Full article

Food poisoning caused by Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) is prevalent globally, making efficient detection of these toxins very important. Traditionally, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry required immunosorbent enrichment by magnetic bead-coupled antibodies obtained by animal-specific immunization. However, this method is time-consuming and costly. In this study, two recombinant protein capture molecules were designed based on the principle of toxins binding to Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHCII) and T cell receptor (TCR) molecules. The two capture molecules are called MHCII and MHCII-D10. The design of the MHCII and TCR-D10 was achieved through searching for the binding site protein sequence of Staphylococcal enterotoxins in the relevant literature, and MHCII-D10 was to link MHCII sequence with TCR-D10 sequence using linker (G4S)3 linking peptide. These capture molecules were shown to effectively bind to seven types of toxins and to capture SEs in various matrices. The digestion time, ratio, and temperature were further optimized, reducing the overall digestion time to just 2 h. The specificity, linearity, sensitivity, precision (RSD%), and recovery of the two methods were verified by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. When the MHCII and MHCII-D10 captured the toxins, the limit of quantification (LOD) in the 1 × PBS, plasma, and milk matrices ranged from 1.5625 to 100 fmol/µL, with the recovery rate ranging from 18.4% to 96%. The design of these capture molecules eliminates the need for animal-specific immunization, simplifying the pre-detection process and avoiding ethical concerns. This development holds significant promise for clinical diagnosis and reference. Full article

Stratified Taylor–Couette flow (STCF) undergoes transient growth. Recent studies have shown that there exists transient amplification in the linear regime of counter-rotating STCF. The kinetic budget of the optimal transient perturbation is analysed numerically to simulate the interaction of the shear production (SP), buoyancy flux (BP), and other energy components that contributes to the total optimal transient kinetic energy. These contributions affect the total energy by influencing the perturbation to extract kinetic energy (KE) from the mean flow. The decay of the amplification factor resulted from the positive amplification of both BP and SP, while the growth is attributed to the negative and positive amplification of BP and SP, respectively. The optimal SP is positively amplified, implying that there is the possibility of constant linear growth. These findings agree with the linear growth rate for increasing values of Grashof number. Full article

Colored varieties of turkeys, such as the broad-breasted Bronze, not currently subject to intensive breeding work, are kept only in amateur breeding and treated rather as ornamental poultry. They are raised in extensive systems, which undoubtedly affects the quality of the meat obtained. Consumers are looking for meat with specific and unique sensory qualities; hence, the interest in meat from turkeys with a slower-than-typical growth rate, such as the broad-breasted Bronze, is justified. The object of this research was to analyze the physicochemical properties and nutritional value (amino acid, fatty acid, and antioxidant profile) of the breast and thigh muscles of broad-breasted Bronze turkeys with regard to gender. It was shown that gender had little effect on muscle chemical composition, amino acid, and fatty acid content (p > 0.05), as well as most oxido-reduction indices. However, significant differences were noted in muscle quality traits such as color brightness (L*; turkeys > indors; p = 0.023), proportion of red (a*; turkeys < indors; p = 0.048) and yellow (b*; turkeys > indors; p = 0.039), and water absorption (turkeys < indors; p = 0.009). The type of muscle also had a significant effect on quality characteristics. Higher a*, b*, C*, pH, water absorption, and thermal leakage were shown in the femoral muscle (p < 0.001), while L* and h were higher in the pectoral muscle (p < 0.001). Turkey meat was characterized by a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA + PUFA ~68%), favorable FA index values, and low lipid oxidation indices. Thigh muscles (especially turkey) were more caloric, and contained significantly (p < 0.001) more fat and all major FA groups. Breast muscles (especially of turkeys) were characterized by a high protein content (about 25%) and a high proportion of essential amino acids. The data obtained indicate that broad-breasted Bronze turkeys can provide high-quality meat, and are an excellent option for meeting modern consumer needs. Full article

The current investigations were aimed at the determination of the hydrolytic and oxidative stability of commercial pomegranate seed oils provided by four different producers, and to assess the oils’ primary quality parameters. During storage, many changes occur in oils that can significantly affect their quality. The oils were tested for acid and peroxide values, fatty acid profile, and their distribution between the sn-1,3 and sn-2 positions of triacylglycerols. The oxidative stability was also determined, and melting curves were plotted for the oils. The analyzed oils were stored for one month in a dark place at refrigerator temperature. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the acid values for most oils did not exceed the permissible level determined by the Codex Alimentarius. However, in all oils, the peroxide value exceeded the permissible level set by the standard EN ISO 3960:2017-03 and the Codex Alimentarius after the one-month storage period. The examined pomegranate seed oils were found to be valuable sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially punicic acid, which was the most abundant fatty acid present in these oils. In all analyzed oils, linoleic acid predominated in the sn-2 position of the triacylglycerols. Pomegranate seed oils did not exhibit good oxidative stability, as the oxidation induction times for all tested oils were very short. The storage period significantly affected the content of the primary oxidation products and oxidative stability of the oils. Full article

Structural health monitoring is an effective method to evaluate the safety status of dams. Measurement error is an important factor which affects the accuracy of monitoring data modeling. Processing the abnormal monitoring data before data analysis is a necessary step to ensure the reliability of the analysis. In this paper, we proposed a method to process the abnormal dam displacement monitoring data on the basis of matrix manipulation and Cuckoo Search algorithm. We first generate a scatter plot of the monitoring data and exported the matrix of the image. The scatter plot of monitoring data includes isolate outliers, clusters of outliers, and clusters of normal points. The gray scales of isolated outliers are reduced using Gaussian blur. Then, the isolated outliers are eliminated using Ostu binarization. We then use the Cuckoo Search algorithm to distinguish the clusters of outliers and clusters of normal points to identify the process line. To evaluate the performance of the proposed data processing method, we also fitted the data processed by the proposed method and by the commonly used 3-$\sigma$ method using a regression model, respectively. Results indicate that the proposed method has a better performance in abnormal detection compared with the 3-$\sigma$ method. Full article

Spalling is a widespread dynamic disaster during blasting excavation in underground engineering. To clarify the coupled dynamic response and spalling behavior of an underground tunnel with a spray anchor, an investigation based on the rock–shotcrete combination was conducted using theoretical and numerical methods. The mathematical representation of stress wave propagation between rock and shotcrete was deduced based on the elastic stress wave theory. A novel method for predicting the location and time of initial spalling in a rock–shotcrete combination was proposed. A numerical simulation was conducted to verify the validity of the proposed theoretical method. In addition, the effect of the material’s tensile strength, the loading amplitude, and the thickness of shotcrete on the stress evolution and spalling characteristics was studied. The results demonstrate that the initial spalling locations are sensitive to the relationship between the normalized tensile strength of the rock, shotcrete, and interface. A high incident amplitude can cause the initial spalling in rock, and the shotcrete or rock–shotcrete interface can cause initial spalling due to a low incident amplitude. The stress evolution and spalling characteristics are sensitive to the thickness of shotcrete. The location of the initial spalling failure changes with the thickness of the shotcrete. An appropriate increment in thickness and normalized strength of the shotcrete is beneficial to the dynamic stability of underground engineering. Full article

With the increasing demand for decentralized systems and the widespread usage of blockchain, low throughput and high latency have become the biggest stumbling blocks in the development of blockchain systems. This problem seriously hinders the expansion of blockchain and its application in production. Most existing smart contract scheduling solutions use static feature analysis to prevent contract conflicts during parallel execution. However, the conflicts between transactions are complex; static feature analysis is not accurate enough. In this paper, we first build the dependency between smart contracts by analyzing the features. After numerous experiments, we propose a conflict model to adjust the relationship between threads and conflict to achieve high throughput and low latency. Based on these works, we propose adaptive parallel scheduling for smart contracts on the blockchain. Our adaptive parallel scheduling can distinguish conflicts between smart contracts and dynamically adjust the execution strategy of smart contracts based on the conflict factors we define. We implement our scheme on ChainMaker, one of the most popular open-source permissioned blockchains, and build experiments to verify our solution. Regarding latency, our solution demonstrates remarkable efficiency compared with the fully parallel scheme, particularly in high-conflict transaction scenarios, where our solution achieves latency levels just one-twentieth of the fully parallel scheme. Regarding throughput, our solution significantly outperforms the fully parallel scheme, achieving 30 times higher throughput in high-conflict transaction scenarios. These results highlight the superior performance and effectiveness of our solution in addressing latency and throughput challenges, particularly in environments with high transaction conflicts. Full article

Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, is a devastating disease impacting citrus trees worldwide, with severe effects particularly noted in Florida. Current strategies to combat HLB focus on aggressive replanting, despite the high susceptibility of young trees to infection. In this context, it is critical to explore agronomic practices that can enhance the health and resistance of young citrus trees to HLB. Here, we demonstrate that treatment with homobrassinolide (HBr), a type of brassinosteroid, in newly planted citrus (Citrus sinensis) trees can delay HLB infection and improve tree health amidst the high psyllid pressure conditions endemic to Florida. Our study reveals a significant reduction in HLB infection rates in HBr-treated trees compared to control trees, with only 25% of treated trees testing positive for HLB by six months, in contrast to 100% infection in untreated trees. This delay in infection may be attributed to HBr inducing an immune response and negatively impacting psyllid performance, as subsequently demonstrated in a greenhouse experiment. Our findings suggest that HBr applications could serve as a viable strategy to enhance the resilience of citrus production against HLB, underscoring the need for further investigation into their mechanisms of action and potential role in a comprehensive pest and disease management strategy. Full article

Powdery mildew (PM) caused by Erysiphe polygoni is an important foliar disease in mungbean (Vigna radiata). A previous study showed that QTL qPMRUM5-2 is a major locus for PM resistance in mungbean accession RUM5 (highly resistant). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that flanking markers of the qPMRUM5-2 covered a region of 1.93 Mb. In this study, we conducted fine mapping for the qPMRUM5-2 using the F₂ population of 1156 plants of the cross between Chai Nat 60 (CN60; highly susceptible) and RUM5. PM resistance evaluation was performed under field conditions using F_2:3 lines grown in three different environments. QTL analyses consistently located the qPMRUM5-2 to a 0.09 cm interval on linkage group 6 between InDel markers VrLG6-InDel05 and VrLG6-InDel10, which corresponded to a 135.0 kb region on chromosome 8 containing nine predicted genes of which five were NBS-LRR-type genes Recognition of Peronospora parasitica 13-like protein (RPP13L). Whole-genome re-sequencing of RUM5 and CN60 showed polymorphisms in four RPP13L genes predictively cause substantial amino acid changes, rendering them important candidate genes for PM resistance. The InDel markers VrLG6-InDel05 and VrLG6-InDel10 flanking to the qPMRUM5-2 would be useful for marker-assisted breeding of PM resistance in the mungbean. Full article

SCARECROW-LIKE6 (SCL6) plays a role in the formation and maintenance of the meristem. In Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr., an important afforestation tree species in China, SCL6 (LaSCL6) has two alternative splicing variants—LaSCL6-var1 and LaSCL6-var2—which are regulated by microRNA171. However, their roles are still unclear. In this study, LaSCL6-var1 and LaSCL6-var2 were transformed into the Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. genome, and the phenotypic characteristics of transgenic A. thaliana, including the germination percentage, root length, bolting time, flower and silique formation times, inflorescence axis length, and branch and silique numbers, were analyzed to reveal their functions. It was found that LaSCL6-var1 and LaSCL6-var2 overexpression shortened the root length by 41% and 31%, respectively, and increased the inflorescence axis length. Compared with the wild type, the bolting time in transgenic plants was delayed by approximately 2–3 days, the first flower and silique formation times were delayed by approximately 3–4 days, and the last flower and silique formation times were delayed by about 5 days. Overall, the life cycle in transgenic plants was prolonged by approximately 5 days. These results show that LaSCL6 overexpression inhibited the transitions from the vegetative meristem to inflorescence meristem and from the flower meristem to meristem arrest in A. thaliana, revealing the roles of LaSCL6-var1 and LaSCL6-var2 in the fate transition and maintenance of the meristem. Full article

This research reviews the phenomenon of extractive deforestation as a possible trigger for cascade reactions that could affect part of the forest ecosystem and its biodiversity (surface, aerial, and underground) in tropical, subtropical, and boreal forests. The controversy and disparities in criteria generated in the international scientific community around the hypothesis of a possible link between “mother trees” and mycorrhizal networks in coopetition for nutrients, nitrogen, and carbon are analyzed. The objective is to promote awareness to generate more scientific knowledge about the eventual impacts of forest extraction. Public policies are emphasized as crucial mediators for balanced sustainable development. Currently, the effects of extractive deforestation on forest ecosystems are poorly understood, which requires caution and forest protection. Continued research to increase our knowledge in molecular biology is advocated to understand the adaptation of biological organisms to the new conditions of the ecosystem both in the face of extractive deforestation and reforestation. The environmental impacts of extractive deforestation, such as the loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, altered water cycles, and the contribution of climate change, remain largely unknown. Long-term and high-quality research is essential to ensure forest sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity for future generations. Full article

The proliferation of shared electric scooters (E-scooters) has brought convenience to urban transportation but has also introduced challenges such as disorderly parking and an imbalance between supply and demand. Given the current inconsistent quantity and spatial distribution of shared E-scooters, coupled with inadequate research on deployment stations selection, we propose a novel maximal covering location problem (MCLP) based on distance tolerance. The model aims to maximize the coverage of user demand while minimizing the sum of distances from users to deployment stations. A deep reinforcement learning (DRL) was devised to address this optimization model. An experiment was conducted focusing on areas with high concentrations of shared E-scooter trips in Chicago. The solutions of location selection were obtained by DRL, the Gurobi solver, and the genetic algorithm (GA). The experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed model in optimizing the layout of shared E-scooter deployment stations. This study provides valuable insights into facility location selection for urban shared transportation tools, and showcases the efficiency of DRL in addressing facility location problems (FLPs). Full article

Set-back modification represents a dependable method to reducing the wind effects on high-rise buildings, but the flow mechanism and aerodynamic responses of set-back tall buildings have not been explored systematically. Using the square building as the benchmark model, six set-back building models with varying steps and sizes were chosen for numerical simulation in this study. The results of mean wind pressure and local wind force distribution, power spectral densities of base moment, flow field, and structural response of the proposed building models are compared and analysed using the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) technique. The results demonstrate that the aerodynamic performance of set-back tall buildings dramatically improved, with the actual optimization in the cross-wind direction being more significant. Generally, a single set-back measure can enhance the aerodynamic performance of high-rise buildings more effectively than a double set-back measure. The outcome of this study provides an aerodynamic design guide for set-back tall buildings. Full article

Introduction: Since verbal memory and visual processing transpire within analogous cerebral regions, this study assessed (i) if a visual function can predict verbal memory performance. It also hypothesized whether neurocognitive (e.g., ImPACT) tests focusing on the Visual Memory and Cognitive Efficacy Index will predict Verbal Memory scores and (ii) if vision metrics and age can identify individuals with a history of concussion. Finally, it also hypothesized that King–Devick and near point of convergence scores alongside age considerations will identify candidates with a prior reported history of concussion. Materials and methods: This observational cohort assessed 25 collegiate ice hockey players prior to the competitive season considering age (19.76 ± 1.42 years) and BMI (25.9 ± 3.0 kg/cm²). Hypothesis 1 was assessed using a hierarchical (sequential) multiple regression analysis, assessing the predictive capacity of Visual Memory and Cognitive Efficacy Index scores in relation to Verbal Memory scores. Hypothesis 2 utilized a binomial logistic regression to determine if King–Devick and near point of convergence scores predict those with a prior history of concussion. Results: Hypothesis 1 developed two models, where Model 1 included Visual Memory as the predictor, while Model 2 added the Cognitive Efficacy Index as a predictor for verbal memory scores. Model 1 significantly explained 41% of the variance. Results from Model 2 suggest that the Cognitive Efficacy Index explained an additional 24.4%. Thus, Model 2 was interpreted where only the Cognitive Efficacy Index was a significant predictor (p = 0.001). For every 1 unit increase in the Cognitive Efficacy Index, Verbal Memory increased by 41.16. Hypothesis 2’s model was significant, accounting for 37.9% of the variance in those with a history of concussion. However, there were no significant unique predictors within the model as age (Wald = 1.26, p = 0.261), King–Devick (Wald = 2.31, p = 0.128), and near point of convergence (Wald = 2.43, p = 0.119) were not significant predictors individually. Conclusions: The conflicting findings of this study indicate that baseline data for those with a history of concussion greater than one year may not be comparable to the same metrics during acute concussion episodes. Young athletes who sustain a concussion may be able to overcompensate via the visual system. Future prospective studies with larger sample sizes are required using the proposed model’s objective metrics. Full article

Sports performance tracking has gained a lot of interest and widespread use in recent years, especially in elite and sub-elite sports. This makes it possible to improve the effectiveness of training, to calibrate and balance workloads according to real energy expenditure, and to reduce the likelihood of injuries due to excessive physical stress. In this context, the aim of this review was to map the scientific literature on wearable devices used in field hockey, evaluating their characteristics and the available evidence on their validity in measuring physiological and movement parameters. A systematic investigation was carried out by employing five electronic databases and search terms that incorporated field hockey, wearables, and performance analysis. Two independent reviewers conducted assessments of the 3401 titles and abstracts for inclusion, and at the end of the screening process, 102 full texts were analyzed. Lastly, a total of 23 research articles that specifically concentrated on field hockey were incorporated. The selected papers dealt with performance monitoring (6 papers), technical analysis and strategy game (6), injury prevention (1), and physiological measurements (10). To appraise the quality of the evaluations, the Oxford quality scoring system scale was employed. The extraction of information was carried out through the utilization of the participants, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICOS) format. The analysis encompassed research studies that implemented wearable devices during training and competitive events. Among elite field hockey competitions, GPS units were identified as the predominant wearable, followed by heart rate monitors. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) related to wearable devices showed reasonably high between-trial ICCs ranging from 0.77 to 0.99. The utilization of wearable devices in field hockey primarily centers around the measurement of player activity profiles and physiological demands. The presence of discrepancies in sampling rates and performance bands makes it arduous to draw comparisons between studies. Nevertheless, this analysis attested to the fact that wearable devices are being employed for diverse applications in the realm of field hockey. Full article

Microplastic pollution is a research hotspot around the world. This study investigated the characteristics of microplastic pollution in the freshwater environments of 21 major cities across China. Through indoor and outdoor experimental analysis, we have identified the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of microplastic pollution in China’s freshwater environments. Our findings indicate that the average concentration of microplastics in China’s freshwater environments is 3502.6 n/m³. The majority of these microplastics are fibrous (42.5%), predominantly smaller than 3 mm (28.1%), and mostly colored (64.7%). The primary chemical components of these microplastics are polyethylene (PE, 33.6%), polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 21.5%), polypropylene (PP, 16.8%), and polystyrene (PS, 15.6%). The abundance of microplastics in China’s freshwater environments generally tends to increase from west to east and from south to north, with the lowest concentration found in Xining, Qinghai (1737.5 n/m³), and the highest in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang (5650.0 n/m³). The distribution characteristics of microplastics are directly related to land use types, primarily concentrated in areas of intense human activity, including agricultural, transport, and urban land. Seasonal changes affect the abundance of microplastics, peaking in summer, followed by spring and autumn, mainly due to variations in rainfall, showing a positive correlation. Full article

Due to the dual influence of climate change and human activities, the water cycle patterns in the lakesheds of the Yunnan karst plateau are undergoing significant changes, leading to increasingly prominent ecological issues. In the history of Lake Yangzong, an artificial water-diversion channel was excavated, altering the lake basin structure. Human activities have intensified, posing severe challenges to water resource supply and water security in recent decades. To investigate the significant increase in human activities, the temporal and phase changes, and the resulting transformation of the water and carbon cycles in the Lake Yangzong basin, we applied X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) to scan elements continuously in a 10.2 m sediment core from this lake. By combining correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), core chronology, and total organic carbon (TOC) content, we reconstructed the historical sequence of geochemical element contents in the Lake Yangzong catchment over the past 13,000 years. The results show that PC1 and PC2 contribute 78.4% and 10.3%, respectively, suggesting that erosion intensity is the main factor influencing the lake sedimentation process. From 13,400 to 680 cal a BP (calibrated years before the present), the sedimentation process in Lake Yangzong was mainly controlled by climatic conditions, with vegetation degradation during cold periods and relatively high erosion intensity in the watershed. During the Yuan dynasty, a province was established by the central government in Yunnan, promoting settlement and attracting a large number of immigrants from other provinces to Yunnan. Human activities in the Lake Yangzong basin began to intensify, surpassing natural changes and becoming the dominant force influencing the sedimentation process. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the population and cultivated land area in Yunnan further increased, resulting in the significant exacerbation of erosion and soil loss in the watershed due to vegetation destruction. In the year 1388, the Tangchi Canal was excavated, transforming Lake Yangzong to an outflow lake, causing Ca²⁺ to be lost through the Tangchi Canal and preventing the formation of precipitation due to oversaturation. The research results indicate that human activities in the Lake Yangzong area have intensified since the Yuan dynasty, leading to increased erosion intensity. The excavation of the outflow canal transformed Lake Yangzong from an inland lake basin into an outflow state, simultaneously generating a significant transformation in the water and carbon cycling patterns in the watershed. Full article

Climate change and human activities exert significant impact on the mechanism of runoff generation and confluence. Comprehending the reasons of runoff change is crucial for the sustainable development of water resources. Taking the Upper Shule River as the research area, the M-K test and the moving t test were used to diagnose the runoff mutation time. Furthermore, the slope changing ratio of cumulative quantity method (SCRCQ), climate elasticity method, and Budyko equation were utilized to quantitatively evaluate the impacts and contribution rates of climate change and human activities. The following results were obtained: (1) The Upper Shule River experienced a significant increase in runoff from 1972 to 2021, with 1998 marking the year of abrupt change. (2) The runoff sensitivity showed a downward trend from 1972 to 2021. The main factor affecting the decrease in runoff sensitivity was the characteristic parameters of underlying surface (n), followed by precipitation (P), while the influence of potential evapotranspiration (ET₀) was the weakest. (3) The response of runoff changes to runoff sensitivity and influencing factors were 90.32% and 9.68%, respectively. (4) The results of three attribution methods indicated that climate change was the primary factor causing the alteration of runoff in the Upper Shule River. The research results supplement the hydrological change mechanisms of the Upper Shule River and provide a scientific basis for future water resources management and flood control measures. Full article