Environment Park

In numerous dryland regions, the vegetation is not distributed uniformly in space. Rather, it is organized into patterns with varying degrees of regularity. These patterns may be explained as the result of a self-organization process driven by water scarcity. In this framework, the ability to form patterns represents an important resource for dryland resilience, as it allows the ecosystem to circumvent a “tipping point” transition from uniform vegetation to desert. Reaction-diffusion vegetation models are often employed to reproduce highly regular patterns. The factors determining the emergence of patterns with lower regularities remain unclear.Recent studies in the field of network theory have shown that similar reaction-diffusion mathematical models generate patterns on idealized networks. Taking inspiration from these theorethical works, we studied the formation of vegetation patterns in relation to the topologies of the networks through which water and biomass diffuse. To do so, we employed a physical reaction-diffusion vegetation model, and gradually modified the topology of the diffusion networks by adding random shortcuts over a 2-dimensional grid (representing either soil heterogeneities or seed dispersal mechanisms), thus interpolating between a regular lattice and a random network. We found that network topology strongly shapes both the resulting vegetation patterns and the precipitation range that supports them. Three behavioral regimes emerge. On a regular lattice, highly regular patterns develop reflecting local diffusion processes. On a random network, the system is dominated by global pressure towards homogenization yielding either a uniform state or a single patch. In the intermediate shortcut density range, as the network topology resembles a small world network, the interaction between the two scales of diffusion generates two kinds of disordered patterns: low-regularity patterns with a well-defined characteristic wavelength, and irregular patterns characterized by a broad patch size distribution. These disordered patterns resemble real-world observations and, in our model, they show different responses to changing precipitation. Although we focused on dryland vegetation, we suggest that network-mediated diffusion could lead to similar mechanisms in a wide variety of pattern-forming systems.

This contribution presents new data on the distribution of Annex I Habitats in Italy. A total of 10 records are reported, including 6 within Natura 2000 sites and the addition of 15 new cells to the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new records refer to the administrative regions of Apulia, Marche, Piedmont, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and Veneto.

Societal Impact Statement This study underscores the vital role of Alpine botanical gardens (ABGs) in safeguarding Europe's alpine biodiversity amid climate change and habitat loss. By acting as living laboratories and reservoirs of plant genetic resources, ABGs bridge ex situ and in situ conservation, supporting ecosystem resilience and informing restoration strategies. Our findings reveal significant opportunities for ABGs to collaborate with germplasm banks, enhance genetic diversity in collections, and refine propagation protocols. Strengthening these integrative networks not only preserves unique alpine flora but also provides adaptive tools for conservation policies and sustainable land management in mountain regions facing rapid environmental change. Summary The Alps are one of Europe's most diverse ecosystems, but their biodiversity is threatened by climate change, habitat loss, and land‐use changes. Alpine botanical gardens (ABGs) play a crucial role in preserving plant diversity in this region. This study evaluates 14 ABGs across the Alps to assess their effectiveness in preserving the region's flora, with a particular aim to investigate how ABGs can integrate with and strengthen the conservation mission of germplasm banks. We assess representation of alpine flora in the living collections of these 14 ABGs relative to the 5797 taxa of the flora of the Alps, noting cases cultivated at the infraspecific level and examining the overlap of these collections with global germplasm banks. Our findings show that 32% of the 5797 taxa of the flora of the Alps are represented in ABGs, with some species cultivated at the infraspecific level, reflecting both ecological specializations and the expertise of ABG curators. Notably, ABGs contribute significantly to ex situ conservation, although gaps exist in certain taxonomic families and species, especially endemic and policy taxa. Many species in the living collections of ABGs are still missing from global germplasm banks. These findings highlight an opportunity for these gardens to strengthen conservation by contributing seeds and helping to grow species that are difficult to propagate, including narrow endemics. Collaboration with germplasm banks could address existing gaps in genetic diversity, with ABGs acting as field‐based experimental stations to refine propagation techniques. Overall, the importance of ABGs in both ex situ and in situ conservation strategies is underscored, urging stronger collaborations with research facilities and improved propagation protocols to optimize the conservation of alpine plants.

<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> The joint ESA and JAXA Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) satellite, launched on 28 May 2024, carries the first spaceborne 94 GHz Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) with Doppler velocity measurement capability. As a successor to the highly successful NASA CloudSat CPR, the EarthCARE CPR offers an additional 7 dB of sensitivity largely due to its larger antenna size (2.5 m vs. 1.8 m) and lower orbit (400 vs. 700 km), and a receiver point target response that significantly improves our ability to detect clouds in the lowest km of the atmosphere. The EarthCARE CPR measurements can also be indirectly used to estimate the Path-Integrated Attenuation (PIA, in dB), a measure of two-way attenuation caused by hydrometeors by quantifying the depression in the measured normalized radar cross section (NRCS) relative to a reference NRCS in the absence of hydrometeors. PIA is a key constraint for improving the accuracy of cloud and precipitation retrievals. This paper presents the PIA estimation methodology currently operationally implemented in the EarthCARE CPR L2A C-PRO data product. The retrieval approach follows a hybrid strategy, where the reference unattenuated NRCS is either estimated using calibration points surrounding the cloudy profile where PIA is estimated or a model-based estimation that uses a geophysical model that calculates NRCS as a function of wind speed and sea surface temperature (SST). The methodology provides a full characterization of the uncertainty in PIA estimates and is expected to lead to improved estimates of PIA compared to the methodology adopted for the CloudSat CPR. This method is particularly useful in PIA estimation in the commissioning phase of the mission, as it is robust for radar miscalibration and bias of gas attenuation or NRCS modeling.

Climate change is not only a technical and environmental challenge but also an emotional and psychological one that affects public engagement, policy acceptance, and long-term sustainability. This study presents a conceptual framework based on the Kübler-Ross model from psychotherapy to explore emotional responses to climate change: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Based on a thematic analysis of the interdisciplinary secondary literature and illustrative cases, we analyse how these emotional dynamics influence climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Each stage reveals specific psychological barriers and entry points for communication, resilience-building, and policy design. We argue that emotional readiness is a critical yet underacknowledged factor in sustainable development and societal transformation. Addressing emotional dimensions can support mental health, increase acceptance of climate measures, and improve the alignment between sustainability strategies and public responses. Our findings emphasise the importance of tailoring sustainability communication and policies to different emotional stages to foster inclusive, effective, and lasting climate action.

Reaching the back of the eye without invasive intraocular injections is still nowadays challenging. Luckily, the nanotechnology can help in improving the effectiveness and the patient compliance and, ultimately, the therapeutic success rate. The development and characterization of ophthalmic (nano)formulations benefit from the implementation of ex vivo models, that allow to disclose the formulation behaviour once in contact with biological tissues and consequently its optimization. Ex vivo ocular models help to minimize the number of promising formulations deserving to be investigated in in vivo animal models, in compliance with the 3Rs principle, and therefore their availability is of paramount importance. In this research work, we present a 3D-printed reusable device designed to be used in a whole porcine eye bulbs setup comparing it with the Franz-cell. The device, produced by a Masked Stereolithography Apparatus, consists of two components, the Ocudonor, acting as a donor chamber for the formulation, and the Ocutainer, which simultaneously contains up to three ocular bulbs. The porcine eye setup was validated using a dexamethasone-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for periocular administration and intended for the treatment of the posterior segment of the eye. The porcine whole eye model proved capable of preserving eye structure integrity for at least 18hours and, unlike the Franz-cell, enabled the evaluation of the drug's lateral diffusion along the eye bulb.

Since malaria is still a major problem for human health, especially in developing countries, the association of the most effective antimalarial drugs with complementary adjuvants and their loading in suitable delivery nanosystems seems promising to improve therapy effectiveness and minimize side effects. In this study, nanovesicle-doped nanoemulsions were developed and tested for the oral co-delivery of artemisinin and quercetin, using an easy, low-cost, and reproducible method along with cheap and naturally occurring components. The same formulations loading artemisinin or quercetin alone were prepared and used as comparison. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of hybrid dispersions in which nanosized oil droplets coexisted with lamellar vesicles; both were sized ∼61 nm and had a negative zeta potential (∼-47 mV). Formulations were stable when diluted at gastrointestinal pHs and high ionic strength and had low in vitro cytotoxicity against Caco-2 and human umbilical vein endothelial cell lines (<15 %) when the lower concentrations were used (20, 10, 5, and 2.5 μg/mL). Nanovesicle-doped nanoemulsions co-loading artemisinin and quercetin effectively inhibited in vitro the growth of the 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 9 ng/mL. Following their oral administration in vivo to Plasmodium yoelii yoelii 17XL-infected mice, they improved the survival rate with respect to the animals treated with only the artemisinin solution. Results were promising since 33 % of mice treated with the nanovesicle-doped nanoemulsions co-loading artemisinin and quercetin completely recovered after clearing parasitaemia below detectable levels and developed immunity to malaria (no parasites were detected in blood upon reinfection without treatment). All in all, this study demonstrates the potential of nanovesicle-doped nanoemulsions as an effective oral delivery strategy for artemisinin-based combination therapies.

Abstract In our changing climate we expect an increase in the frequency of heatwaves, which are extreme events that can have severe consequences for human health, ecosystems, and economies. In this study, we examine how the weakening of the atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) may influence the occurrence of extreme warm events in Europe. Our analysis is based on a series of numerical experiments conducted using the EC-Earth3 climate model, which includes three ensembles of 20 Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project-like members. The large ensemble size makes these simulations well-suited to studying rare extreme events. Our findings reveal that during boreal summer, the Northern hemisphere (NH) experiences overall mean cooling, most pronounced in the North Atlantic region. Therefore, the extreme warm events in Europe identified by using a fixed threshold tend to be less frequent. However, the cooling pattern reduces the meridional gradient of near-surface air temperature at high latitudes of the NH. As a result, the speed of the summer jet stream decreases, while the frequency of Ural atmospheric blocking events increases. Atmospheric blocking in summer is closely linked to heatwaves, primarily through subsidence warming and enhanced downward shortwave radiation under clear sky conditions. Consequently, the weakening of the AMOC leads to an increased frequency of heatwaves in Eastern Europe, the only region that presents this opposite trend. This study highlights the significant role that three-dimensional ocean circulation plays in shaping weather patterns, including extreme events such as heatwaves in Europe. These findings have important implications for future climate projections, as the AMOC is expected to weaken by the end of this century. Thus, as the Earth continues to warm, we may face an increased risk of heatwaves due to the combined effects of global warming and a weakening AMOC.

The Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park (Parcopan) is one of two nature parks in Trentino (Italy) and hosts several sites of the Vanoi Ecomuseum, a non-bounded and participative form of museum that also includes unprotected areas. In this paper we explore the integration of ecomuseums into protected areas through the case of the Parcopan. We focus especially on the role of the Vanoi Ecomuseum in preserving and enhancing the natural and cultural heritage of this area, in par-ticular vertical land use and mobility within the historical landscape. We provide an overview of the Vanoi Ecomuseum’s activities, and highlight the use of ‘cylinders of mobility’ as an effective method to visualize and understand the vertical land use and seasonal movements of people that have historically characterized the Alpine economy. We argue that the integration of ecomuseums into nature parks represents a valuable approach to sustainable landscape management and tourism, especially when natural parks seek to draw on the endogenous potential of their cultural and natural heritage as well as on modern adaptations of traditional land use.