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The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of impregnation of the paper core with acetylated starch on the mechanical properties and absorbed energy in the three-point bending test of wood-based honeycomb panels under varying temperatures and relative air humidity conditions. Nearly six hundred beams in various combinations, three types of facings, three core cells geometries, and two paper thicknesses were tested. The experiment results and their statistical analysis prove a significant relationship between the impregnation of paper with modified starch and mechanical properties. The most effective in absorbing energy, the honeycomb panels, consisted of a core with a wall thickness of 0.25 mm and a particleboard facing.

The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of impregnation of the paper core with acetylated starch on the mechanical properties and absorbed energy in the three-point bending test of wood-based honeycomb panels under varying temperatures and relative air humidity conditions. Nearly six hundred beams in various combinations, three types of facings, three core cells geometries, and two paper thicknesses were tested. The experiment results and their statistical analysis prove a significant relationship between the impregnation of paper with modified starch and mechanical properties. The most effective in absorbing energy, the honeycomb panels, consisted of a core with a wall thickness of 0.25 mm and a particleboard facing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil acidification is a global environmental problem with significant impacts on agricultural production, environmental protection, and ecosystem health. Soil acidification is widespread in China, affecting crop yields, agricultural product quality, and biodiversity. Since the 1980s, much work has been done on acidic soils in China, but it is controversial whether excessive nitrogen fertilizer application can lead to soil acidification mechanisms. To address the above issues, we conducted a meta-analysis of 115 published papers to integrate and analyze the effects of N fertilizer application on soil acidification and biological properties from 1980 to 2024. We also quantified the effect of nitrogen fertilization on soil acidification and biological changes under different climatic conditions. The results showed that under long-term application of nitrogen fertilizers in China from 1980 to 2024, soil pH decreased by an average of 15.27%, and the activities of soil urease, nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, catalase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and glutamate synthetase decreased by an average of 9.82–22.37%. The soil microbial community richness (Chao1 index) increased by 6.53%, but the community diversity (Shannon index) decreased by 15.42%. Among the dominant soil microorganisms, the relative abundance of bacteria decreased by an average of 9.67–29.38% and the abundance of gene expression of nifH, amoA-AOA, amoA-AOB, and qnorB decreased by 9.92–19.83%. In addition, we found that the mean annual temperature and rainfall impacted soil acidification via their effect on soil microbial diversity and community composition. This study provides a scientific basis for an in-depth understanding of the spatial and temporal variation of soil acidification and biological properties in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the effects of climate change are the increase in the average annual temperature, the increase in the frequency of extreme meteorological phenomena, the reduction of the amount or the uneven distribution of precipitation during the period of vegetation, periods of drought betwixt the climatic factors, the water regime associated with the ambient temperature are determining environmental factors that affect all aspects of plant growth and development and have the most significant impact on the quality and the quantity of the production obtained. The grapevine has developed response mechanisms to cope with water stress and high temperature. These mechanisms include adaptations of a morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical nature that allow the vine to overcome periods of environmental stress but affect the quantity and quality of production. This paper presents the results of the studies on the response of the vines to the variable climatic conditions in the wine-growing area for the production of D.O.C. wines Banu Mărăcine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Railway Standard Design is the property of Railway Standard Design Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper discusses the overlooked political marginalisation of Karamojong pastoralists in Uganda, contrary to a commonly held belief that ecological factors and pastoralism are the leading contributors to poverty and underdevelopment in Karamoja.1 Anchored within the theoretical strand of marginalisation, this article discusses how the actions of those operating at the centre of power perpetuate persistent poverty in Karamoja. A particular focus is placed on political representation, resource allocation and the engagement of local people in poverty eradication and development. The paper argues that the grants from central government are meagre and misguided, Karamoja is poorly and ineffectively represented at policy levels, and the local people have a limited voice in poverty alleviation and development programmes. The paper concludes that Karamoja's persistent poverty is to a great extent a product of political marginalisation. Finally, it recommends affirmative action, effective local leadership, sensitisation and involvement of local people in poverty alleviation initiatives and combating corruption in public offices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Latent Heat Flux (LE) is an important component of surface water heat transfer and hydrological cycle, and monitoring it is of great value for water resource management and crop water demand estimation. The Heihe River Basin has complex topography, which ensures better variable control in LE analysis. In this paper, the time series analysis and statistics of LE under different underlying surface conditions in summer were carried out by using the eddy correlation observation data in the Heihe River Basin, and the regression factors were analyzed. The results show that when the underlying surface types are greatly different, there are obvious differences in the daily distribution of LE, the daily variation trend of LE and the influencing factors. The range of diurnal distribution of LE in dune, Gobi and desert from −50 W/m2 to 100 W/m2. The diurnal LE distribution of vegetable fields, cornfields and wetlands were about 55% concentrated between −50 W/m2 and 100 W/m2. Temperature and carbon dioxide concentration (CO2) are the dominant factors affecting latent heat flux. Further analysis of temperature and CO2 is carried out by stepwise regression analysis, and multiple regression models are established. In terms of correlation and confidence, the results are better than the single factor fitting, which can better reflect the synergistic effect of temperature and CO2 on LE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate of the Republic of Moldova and its Central Region is temperate continental with a transitional character and is formed under the influence of three groups of climatogenesis factors: radiative, dynamic and physicogeographical. Also, the climate of our Republic is characterized by mild and short winters, with little snow, long, hot summers, but with an insufficient amount of atmospheric precipitation, which fall predominantly in the warm period of the year in the form of showers. In this paper will be examined the ecological status of Costuleni locality, Ungheni district. The evaluation and study were carried out according to the standards and normative acts in force for the Republic of Moldova. The research consists in identifying the ecological status of the locality, through observations, comparisons, as well as, data collection, organization and evaluation. Environmental impact assessment - represents the assessment (quantification) of the effects of human activities and negative natural processes on natural elements and factors, ecosystems, human health and safety, as well as on material goods. Various specialized publications, scientific papers, legislative and normative acts, plans and strategies for sustainable development, statistical and activity reports of the Ministry of Environment and State Ecological Inspectorate, as well as those of the Ungheni Ecological Inspection were studied. Ensuring the long-term survival of ecological systems, the main provider of resources on which development and human well-being depend, can only be achieved in the case of sustainable development. Equally important is the role of biodiversity in providing services provided by ecological systems, such as determining soil and climate conditions, water purification, mitigating the effects of natural disasters, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for clean energy and the global shift towards renewable sources necessitate reliable solar radiation forecasting for the effective integration of solar energy into the energy system. Reliable solar radiation forecasting has become crucial for the design, planning, and operational management of energy systems, especially in the context of ambitious greenhouse gas emission goals. This paper presents a study on the application of auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models for the seasonal forecasting of solar radiation in different climatic conditions. The performance and prediction capacity of ARIMA models are evaluated using data from Jordan and Poland. The essence of ARIMA modeling and analysis of the use of ARIMA models both as a reference model for evaluating other approaches and as a basic forecasting model for forecasting renewable energy generation are presented. The current state of renewable energy source utilization in selected countries and the adopted transition strategies to a more sustainable energy system are investigated. ARIMA models of two time series (for monthly and hourly data) are built for two locations and a forecast is developed. The research findings demonstrate that ARIMA models are suitable for solar radiation forecasting and can contribute to the stable long-term integration of solar energy into countries' systems. However, it is crucial to develop location-specific models due to the variability of solar radiation characteristics. This study provides insights into the use of ARIMA models for solar radiation forecasting and highlights their potential for supporting the planning and operation of energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of the autumn wheat crop requires the application of some general technologies, but improved with innovative and specific technological sequences, depending on the evolution of the vegetation cycle and the expected production components. The researches were performed during the 2020-2022, in the experimental field of NARDI Fundulea and aimed to study the influence of agrotechnical practices on the yields and quality of wheat. The paper presents the results obtained in experiences with sowing dates and plant density, under non-irrigation condition, in the south of the country. Recording a stable and high production of autumn wheat is possible if a good sowing quality is ensured and the optimal sowing interval and plant density per m2 are observed. The variability of individual productivity of wheat plants can increase with the delay of the sowing date by up to 10-20% for the number of grains/plant and between 10-25% for the weight of grains/plant, and these lead to a decrease for production per hectare with 1000-3000 kg/ha. The variation of climatic conditions influenced negatively wheat yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this paper is the evaluation of lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs) under variable climatic conditions to determine how the driving range of a vehicle is modified because of changes in battery performance caused by the variability of environmental conditions. The influence of sudden changes in ambient temperature on the performance of the battery that powers electric vehicles has been studied and analyzed. The study is focused on how trips across geographical zones with different climates affect the autonomy of an electric vehicle's battery, and thus the driving range of the electric vehicle (EV). A model has been developed to reproduce on a laboratory scale the real conditions to which EVs are subject when circulating under fluctuating temperatures, which force the battery to operate in a transient or non-steady state. A simulation has been run for different climatic conditions to evaluate the performance of the battery and the driving range of the electric vehicle under variable operating conditions. A laboratory prototype has been designed and built to validate the modeling and to adjust the theoretical approach to experimental values through the corresponding correction factor in case significant deviations occur. The model has been validated for a simulated route that reproduces a real driving trip for specific geographical areas. The model indicates that there is a shortening in the global driving range of 43.5 km over a trip distance of 538 km, which means there is a reduction of 8%. The simulation has been applied to a specific geographical area in the nearby of the city of Lyon (France), for a temperature gap of 39 °C, from −6 °C to 33 °C, but can also be used for almost any other zones, although the reduction in driving range may vary because of specific climate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has become the biggest global challenge, being a real danger especially for crops and an inevitable threat to food security. This paper presents the results of a study conducted in the Transylvanian Plain during 2012–2021, regarding the influence of climatic factors, such as temperature, rainfall, water reserve in the soil and hours of sunshine, on the development stages and yield of maize. During 2012–2021, the soil water reserve determined for maize cultivation was above the minimum requirements (1734.8 m3 ha−1) in the spring months, but fell below this limit in the months when the water consumption for maize was the highest, but without reaching the withering index (1202.8 m3 ha−1). The hours of sunshine in the maize vegetation period have been significantly reduced from 1655.5 h (2012) to values between 1174.6 and 1296.7 h, with a significant decrease in this parameter being observed. The coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.51) shows the importance of rainfall during the period of emergence of reproductive organs in maize production. During 2019–2021, there was a decreasing trend of temperatures in May compared to the multiannual average of this month, and therefore the processes of emergence and growth of plants in the early stages were affected. During the period of the study, all parameters analyzed (temperature, rainfall, water reserve in the soil, hours of sunshine) deviated from the multiannual average, with negative variations compared to the requirements of maize. Climatic conditions, especially during the growing season, have a significant influence on the yield of a crop, especially when the interaction between several parameters is manifested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative building materials are being used in building envelopes for reducing their heating and cooling needs. This paper aims to assess the thermal impact of using lightweight concrete in Lebanese building constructions by pouring an 8 cm thickness of lightweight concrete on the roof and the slab and replacing traditional hollow concrete block by lightweight concrete blocks. Thermal properties of two different samples were experimentally determined: the first one (558 kg/m3) used for the roof and the slab and the second one (1074 kg/m3) used for the walls. Then numerical simulations were carried out for a Lebanese traditional detached house using the characteristics of these two samples. The thermally improved Light Weight Concrete building (LWC) was compared to a traditional Lebanese house base case (BC) using a dynamic building energy simulation tool in the four different Lebanese climate zones: coastal, mid-mountain, mountain, and inland zones. The results highlight the effectiveness of integrating LWC to building envelopes by reducing energy consumption and improving thermal comfort in both winter and summer climate conditions and in the different Lebanese climatic zones. The paper demonstrates that the use of LWC in the vertical walls replacing the traditional hollow blocks can reduce the heating needs by up to 9% and by up to 13% for cooling needs. On the other hand, adding a LWC roof screed has a very high impact on cooling and heating energy consumption, which can reach up to 74% in cooling energy savings and up to 24% in heating energy savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles are environmentally friendly and more efficient than conventional combustion vehicles. However, from the point of view of energy vectors, they may use energy produced by less efficient and more polluting means. In this paper, an applicative methodology is used to develop a charging equalizer for an electric vehicle that makes it possible to efficiently use the energy produced by a 350 W photovoltaic panel to intelligently charge the five batteries of the vehicle. In addition, using a quantitative methodology, an analysis of the different physical and electrical parameters obtained by a series of sensors installed in the vehicle is presented, and the efficiency of the system is determined. Different routes were travelled within the city of Cuenca with and without the load equalization system, which made it possible to determine an increase in vehicle efficiency of up to 27.9%, equivalent to an additional travel distance of approximately 14.35 km. This is a promising result, since with small investments in solar panels and electronic materials, the performance of low-cost electric vehicles can be significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a novel controlled-temperature double-skin façade (DSF) building element. A three-dimensional time-dependent numerical model was developed for six different geometries for the investigation of thermal performance under different orientations (azimuth 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°). The boundary conditions of the numerical model were determined with the PVGIS tool and adjusted with the sol-air temperature equation. The results of the numerical simulation were validated with the use of measurements from an experimental test cell. The numerical results indicated an improved thermal performance when temperature-controlled air and flow were supplied through the building envelope with annual total energy savings in kWh/m2 of 1.99, 1.38, 2.13 and 2.06 for azimuth 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°, respectively. In regard to the total energy savings in %, the maximum benefit was considered to be in the winter season, with values of 65, 29, 80 and 28 for azimuth 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°, respectively. The experimental measurements revealed the test cell's ability to maintain a relatively constant internal surface temperature and to not be significantly affected by the orientation and diverse ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental zone of the Transylvanian Plain is characterized by some particular problems for the maize crop due to an oscillating thermal regime; relatively shorter frost-free interval; climatic diversity; mixed relief; and soils with different peculiarities, even from one plot to another. This paper presents the results of research conducted during 2016–2021 regarding the influence of four soil tillage system and two fertilizer doses on emergences and maize yield, in the pedoclimatic conditions of the hilly area of the Transylvanian Plain. In all experimental years, a faster maize emergence was observed in the conventional-plow and minimum tillage—chisel compared to minimum tillage-disk and no-tillage. In a conventional system (control), the yield achieved (7603 kg ha−1) was close to the minimum tillage—chisel system (7529 kg ha−1), and higher than the minimum tillage-disk (6391 kg ha−1) and no-tillage (5178 kg ha−1). The beneficial effect of additional fertilization with CAN 27 (granular nitrogen fertilizer containing magnesium and calcium from dolomite) is found in a better development of plants and on the increase of yield with 356 kg ha−1 compared to the variant with basic fertilization. The yield difference between the two hybrids included in the experiment is insignificant (under 100 kg ha−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is an important crop due to its multiple uses but also due to its agronomic advantages. Regardless of the agrotechnical system practiced, in the success of the crop, a very important role is represented by weed control. Soybeans are sensitive to infestation with weeds both at the early stages of growing season until the plants cover the soil, but also to maturity after the leaves fall. A soil tillage system applied, through its effect on the soil and on weed control, influences the soybean crop. This paper presents the evolution of soybean crop weeds and soybean yield under the influence of soil tillage systems (conventional, minimum tillage and no tillage) and climatic conditions from 2017 to 2021. The soil's mobilization by plowing significantly reduces the infestation with weeds, especially the perennial ones. Reducing the intensity of the soil tillage system and the depth of tillage causes an increase in the amount of weeding and, especially, perennial weeds. This determines a lower production of soybean crop by 23–243 kg ha−1 in the minimum tillage system and by 675 kg ha−1 in the no-tillage system, compared to the conventional system. Differentiation of the weed control strategy is required depending on the soil tillage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the oldest cultivated plants. The research carried out focused on the response of some varieties (varieties) of autumn barley, grown in Dobrogea, on the varieties, from the point of view of the quality standards applied to the breweries. The contribution of the variety (variety) to the formation of the harvest and the determination of its quality, as well as the climate and soil conditions, as well as the application of certain variants of cultivation technology, are taken into account. The quality of barley grains used in the brewing process is regulated by Norms issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health. The respective norms establish the maximum content of foreign bodies that the barley harvest intended for beer can have, the maximum content of inert, mineral or organic bodies, the maximum content of weed seeds or seeds of other crop species, defects, attacked seeds, sprouted, moldy or undeveloped. Also, the barley grains used in the brewing process must meet sanitary standards and be food safe. The qualitative indicators are established, as well as the microbiological conditions or the content of toxic substances, residues or contaminants that can affect the health of the consumer. The paper presents an analysis of six varieties of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), present in culture in the Dobrogea region, Romania, with reference to the standards necessary to establish the quality of the harvests for industrialized barley (standards applicable to breweries).), as well as identifying the manifestation of their genetic potential, in the current climate context. Also, the correlations between the obtained yield and each harvest quality index, separately, are presented. The research carried out aimed to determine the quality of autumn barley crops, grown in Dobrogea, established in the 2020-2021 agricultural year, by varieties, from the point of view of the quality standards applied to breweries. It is found that, in the climatic conditions of the agricultural year 2020-2021, malting barley had excellent qualities for breweries, with all varieties analyzed falling within the standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil and water are some of the prime components of nature. The development of life depends directly and indirectly on the health and quality of the land. Regardless of its composition, the soil contains substances that allow the growth and development of many plant species and microorganisms. The increase in temperatures, the decrease in rainfall, and the applied agricultural technologies have contributed over the years to ruining the structure and components of the soil, which negatively affected its humidity. The paper aims to identify the type of tillage in the dry-farming system and the agricultural species cultivated, which can achieve optimal harvests without leaving the soil devoid of moisture. The amount of water in the soil in the agricultural year 2019-2020, although it was deficient, exceeded the value of the withering coefficient, thus allowing crops to grow. However, this was not enough to obtain rich harvests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the distribution of Heracleum persicum, H. mantegazzianum, and H. sosnowskyi at the northern limit of their secondary ranges in Europe based on original and published data. The northernmost H. persicum occurrences are localized in coastal regions in the northern and central parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula (up to 71° N). In Fennoscandia, H. mantegazzianum and H. sosnowskyi were noted up to 69° N. The gradient of climatic resources in the subarctic and temperate zones made it possible to identify factors limiting further expansion of these species in northern Europe and determine their tolerance limits to these factors. The duration of the frostless season at the northern boundary of the secondary range of invasive Heracleum species is 80–150 days. The probability of cold damage to vegetating plants in areas located north of 66° N (i.e., in the northern part of Finland and in the continental northern part of European Russia) is high. The biological minimum for the sum of active air temperatures ≥5°C is 1150°C, while the minimum requirement of the studied plants for the sum of active temperatures ≥10°C is over 450°C. If available thermal resources exceed this level, then invasive Heracleum species can naturalize in climatic conditions of subarctic Europe. The presence of a sustainable snow cover more than 25 cm depth in areas where the minimum winter temperatures are less than –30°C prevents the freezing of renewal buds and seedlings, thus, preserving the viability of plants. It is proposed to use climatic indices computed as ratios between the air temperature and the snow cover depth (or the precipitation amount in winter) as climatic markers characterizing wintering conditions for plants. The main factors limiting the spread and naturalization of invasive Heracleum species in northern Europe are lack of heat, soil freezing to temperatures critical for hibernating plant organs, and early autumn frosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results obtained from the analysis of capture data using the TERASEYA FLY device for Lobesia botrana males (Denis and Schiffermüller). The research was carried out in the region of Moldova, within two plantations belonging to two representative wine basins in the country, being the Odobesti Vineyard and the Husi Vineyard. In the study areas, the vineyards (of Vitis vinifera L.) are cultivated mostly with quality wine varieties, predominantly in the Odobesti vineyard we meet the Muscat Ottonel variety, and in the Husi vineyard we meet the Fetească regala variety, which have also been the subject of research our. The main aim of the study was to investigate the dynamics and biology of L. botrana species inside vineyards and to assess the effect of new climate change on pest distribution. Pest prediction and warning models have been developed and tested to monitor the life cycle of L. botrana, integrating both biological and climatic information. The timing of the first appearance of adults and the hatching of the first eggs can be predicted by predictive models based on the temperature requirements of the stages. Unfortunately, the models of prediction based on the calculation of the sum of daily degrees of temperature are empirical and their robustness strongly depends on the environment in which they were validated. The alternative forecasting techniques are currently being developed, such as pest assessment in the study area using these modern digital farming techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Himachal Pradesh, a mountainous State of India is located in the Western Himalayas has the climatic conditions and topography that are conducive to the growth and production of a variety of fruits. Himachal Pradesh hosts a number of orchards that have grown overtime and have had a great impact upon the ecology, society and economy of the State in several ways. Fruit cultivation is probably the only cash cropping system in which concerns for the environment and the economic output go hand in hand to the extent that they are paramount in Himachal Pradesh's orchard belts today. While on the one hand greater adoption of fruit farming has brought in economic prosperity on the other it has improved the environment. It has brought larger profits to the growers which they have re-invested in improving their social conditions. A detailed discussion of these impacts becomes inescapable in any study into the fruit farming growth and expansion in the State. The present paper is an attempt to study the implications of the diffusion of orchards on the ecology, society and economy of Himachal Pradesh. The findings are based on both primary as well as secondary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the overlooked political marginalisation of Karamojong pastoralists in Uganda, contrary to a commonly held belief that ecological factors and pastoralism are the leading contributors to poverty and underdevelopment in Karamoja. Anchored within the theoretical strand of marginalisation, this article discusses how the actions of those operating at the centre of power perpetuate persistent poverty in Karamoja. A particular focus is placed on political representation, resource allocation and the engagement of local people in poverty eradication and development. The paper argues that the grants from central government are meagre and misguided, Karamoja is poorly and ineffectively represented at policy levels, and the local people have a limited voice in poverty alleviation and development programmes. The paper concludes that Karamoja’s persistent poverty is to a great extent a product of political marginalisation. Finally, it recommends affirmative action, effective local leadership, sensitisation and involvement of local people in poverty alleviation initiatives and combating corruption in public offices.

Copyright of Lucrari Stiintifice, Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole Si Medicina Veterinara Ion Ionescu de la Brad Iasi, Seria Horticultura is the property of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (Editura Ion Ionescu de la Brad) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Eco-tourism is one of the fastest growing industries. Eco-tourism is often perceived as a tool for promoting sustainable development in developing countries. Arunachal Pradesh "the land of dawn-lit mountains" has unparalleled natural beauty with extensive geographical diversity and climatic conditions varying from the tropical to the temperate having a variety of wildlife, flora and fauna. The tourist destination of whole Arunachal Pradesh has been divided into twelve divisions of circuit. Objective: The paper aims to find out the potentiality of eco-tourism in Arunachal Pradesh. Methodology: This study is descriptive type in nature based basically on data of secondary sources collected especially from published books, journals, official reports, and websites. Conclusion: Tourism industry can play a vital role in the State. As this sector is a labor-intensive industry, it can open an employment opportunity. A large number of unemployed persons can be employed by this industry. The Government should take necessary steps for development of the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsaturated clay deposits swell and shrink as a result of seasonal variations in climatic conditions and affect the performance of underground infrastructure systems. This paper investigates the response of a 150-mm PVC pipe buried in a highly plastic clay deposit under field conditions. A numerical model was established to integrate the daily climatic conditions. To accurately model field performance, the developed numerical model incorporated the use of a bimodal soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) and the simulation of the hydraulic characteristics of a cracked soil structure. The model results showed that the response of both the soil and the pipe was influenced by soil properties (native and backfill), the depth below the ground surface, and most importantly, the surface boundary condition (sealed versus unsealed surface). Although the pipe trench was covered by a pavement structure, the backfill material consisting of granular materials (i.e., mixed concrete) showed a noticeable variation in volumetric water content (VWC) with time. It was also observed that the effects of the atmosphere extended below the pipe burial depth to a depth of 4 m in the clay soil surrounding the trench. While the pipe trench was backfilled with a non-expansive material, the pipe experienced fluctuating displacements throughout the year. Finally, the model was utilized to give insight into the actual flux transferred through the pavement structure to the backfill material surrounding the pipe. It was predicted that approximately 30% of the surface net flux permeated the pavement structure and interacted with the underlying backfill materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upper part of the subsurface component of the Earth's cryosphere—polygonal peatlands—are considered in this paper. The polygonal peatlands are widespread in the cryolithozone in northwestern Siberia. When the upper permafrost layer thaws under the influence of climatic fluctuations, the ice-bearing transition and intermediate layers in the polygonal peatlands serve as a buffer zone. Therefore, the identification of these layers is a crucial task. The specific features of the layers, their relationship with ice of various origins, and the properties of peat have been determined. The differences in the structure of the intermediate layer, associated with polygonal microrelief of the surface, have been revealed. Thawing of the transitional layer against the background of modern warming has been recorded on the basis of monitoring of a seasonally thawed layer. To identify the transitional and intermediate layers, the indicators—the cryogenic structure, degree of preservation, color, water content, and density of peat—have been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, solar photovoltaic energy is becoming very important in the generation of green electricity. Solar photovoltaic effect directly converts solar radiation into electricity. The output of the photovoltaic module MPV depends on several factors as solar irradiation and cell temperature. A curve tracer is a system used to acquire the PV current-voltage characteristics, in real time, in an efficient manner. The shape of the I-V curve gives useful information about the possible anomalies of a PV device. This paper describes an experimental system developed to measure the current–voltage curve of a MPV under real conditions. The measurement is performed in an automated way.This present paper presents the design, and the construction of I-V simple curve tracer for photovoltaic modules. This device is important for photovoltaic (PV) performance assessment for the measurement, extraction, elaboration and diagnose of entire current-voltage I-V curves for several photovoltaic modules. This system permits to sweep the entire I-V curve, in short time, with different climatic and loads conditions. An experimental test bench is described. This tracer is simple and the experimental results present good performance. Simulation and experimental tests have been carried out. Experimental results presented good performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the most important results of investigations conducted to determine the causes of the degradation of underground prestressed concrete cylinder pipes (PCCPs) used for the drinking water supply in the Tafilalet region of Morocco. Diagnostic, laboratory, and in situ studies were conducted to locate and visually inspect the damaged areas as well as characterize the damaged PCCP, soil, and groundwater. The results obtained show that chloride-induced corrosion of the prestressing wires is the main cause of the deterioration of the PCCP pipes. The high concentration of chloride ions in the mortar coatings' capillary system is found to originate from the soil and groundwater surrounding the damaged pipes. This is because the soil and groundwater in the damaged areas were found to be highly corrosive. The presence of high amounts of sulfate ions in the mortar coatings, soil, and groundwater further accelerated the corrosion process. The rapid corrosion attack on the PCCPs is also partly attributed to the cyclical wetting and drying exposure conditions in the region, which tends to increase the chloride and sulfate concentrations in the capillary system of the PCCP mortar coating and thus initiate corrosion on the prestressing wires. Improper design and manufacturing defects (such as irregular mortar coating thickness, inconsistent prestressed wire spacing, and low quality of mortar coating) also significantly affected the durability of the PCCPs. Operational factors, however, had a minimal impact on the performance of the PCCP pipes. Based on the results obtained, the durability exposure class for the Tafilalet region was identified as XA3 (i.e., highly aggressive chemical environment) according to international standards. In such circumstances, it is essential to use sulfate-resisting cement. However, the mortar coatings evaluated were neither sulfate resistant nor chloride resistant; therefore, the study concludes that the PCCPs installed were not adequately designed for the exposure conditions in the Tafilalet region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the impact of the environmental conditions in the three regions of the high-mountain Western Pamirs (Vanj, Khorugh and Ishkashim) located at different altitudes above sea level (2300, 2320 and 2600 meters) on the meiotic replicating and transforming functions in the interspecies of F1 tomato hybrids, as well as on the Mendelian segregation displacement and the variability of recombination parameters for linked and unlinked maker genes. Generally, a direct coherence between the frequency of interstitial chiasm, the variability of meiotic recombination parameters and the combined conditions within the specified ecological niche have been determined, in particular: the increased radiation on the experimental site at the soil level and the reproductive organs of F1 hybrid plants, high intensity of solar radiation in the UV, PHAR, IR spectral bands and increased temperature fluctuations during a month and a day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castor bean is an important oil plant cultivated mainly for its oil which is a versatile product with a wide range of uses. In Romania, castor bean is cultivated on small areas for scientific, ornamental, industrial and medicinal purposes, but it has a real potential to develop in the future. In the context of actual climatic conditions which are changing, researches concerning the sowing time are important in view to correlate the plant development and phenology with the evolution of the climatic condition, this being essential for the yield formation in term of quantity and quality. Starting from this necessity, the objective of this paper is to present the results of the researches performed in South Romania in view to establish the temperature threshold for sowing castor bean as the plants to grow and develop well and the first raceme to reach maturity in good conditions. Researches were performed in field conditions at the Agricultural and Development Research Station Teleorman located in South Romania, in the years 2019 and 2020 and on cambic chernozem soil conditions. Four local castor bean varieties (Teleorman, Dragon, Cristian and Rivlas) were sowed at three moments, respectively: sowing time I – temperature of 7°C at 7 o'clock and at 10 cm in the soil; sowing time II – temperature of 10°C at 7 o'clock and at 10 cm in the soil; sowing time III – temperature of 13°C at 7 o'clock and at 10 cm in the soil. The highest yields were obtained at the sowing time I, and the highest yields were obtained at Rivlas variety, which is the latest (mid-late) among the studied varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research presented in this paper was focused on a numerical model predicting moisture content fluctuation in expansive subgrades. The model leads to a mechanism-based calculation of the vertical movement of a pavement sitting on expansive soils due to climate changes. The model was created using VADOSE/W in analysing changes in moisture content over a certain period of time, with climate and environmental effects take as imposed boundary and initial conditions. Moisture content fluctuations from the numerical analyses were validated by the long-term moisture content measurements below the pavement of country road FM-2 on the expansive Frelsburg clay near the city of College Station in Texas, U.S.A. VADSOSE/W was then applied to analyse the pavement of I-220 at Bossier Parish, Louisiana, U.S.A., which sits on subgrades of highly expansive Moreland clay in northern Louisiana. The numerical modelling was completed for a one-year period with input climatic and environmental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling and heating energy accounts for a significant portion of the total energy consumption in residential sector. Building envelope is exposed to sunlight and outside air and therefore have a significant role in determining the thermal loads of buildings. Meanwhile, roofs which are exposed to sunlight all the day long are important envelope components and have a significant share of buildings energy consumption. Therefore, applying appropriate roof solutions can significantly reduce building energy consumption for air-conditioning and improve indoor comfort conditions. This paper aims to investigate the effect of different roofing techniques on thermal performance of a single-storey residential building with two types of uninsulated and insulated configurations under different climatic conditions of Iran. For this purpose, different cool roof albedos 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 and two types of green roofs, GR with actual local rainfall and wet GR, are considered. The thermal loads of the buildings are calculated using the DesignBuilder software and compared with a conventional cast concrete roof. The results show that by choosing an appropriate type of roof technique, the total air-conditioning energy requirement of the building can be reduced between 7-31%, depending on the building configuration and climatic condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The so-called global change refers to changes on a planetary scale. The term encompasses various issues like resource use, energy development, population growth, land use and land cover, carbon and nitrogen cycle, pollution and health, and climate change. The paper deals with challenges for dairy cattle production systems in Europe arising from climate change as one part of global changes. Global warming is increasing, and therefore ecosystems, plant and animal biodiversity, and food security and safety are at risk. It is already accepted knowledge that the direct and indirect effects of global warming in combination with an increasing frequency of weather extremes are a serious issue for livestock production, even in moderate climate zones like Central Europe. The potential and already-measurable effects of climate change (including increase in temperature, frequency of hot days and heat waves), in particular the challenges on grassland production, fodder quality, nutrition in general, cow welfare, health as well as performance of dairy production, will be reviewed. Indirect and direct effects on animals are correlated with their performance. There are clear indications that with selection for high-yielding animals the sensitivity to climate changes increases. Cumulative effects (e.g. higher temperature plus increased pathogen and their vectors loads) do strengthen these impacts. To cope with the consequences several possible adaptation and mitigation strategies must be established on different levels. This includes changes in the production systems (e.g. management, barn, feeding), breeding strategies and health management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model of the influence of the climatic conditions of Slovakia on the consumption of firewood and the production of emissions in creating thermal comfort in a heated building is presented in the paper. The temperature of atmospheric air ranges from -11°C to -18°C in winter and the number of days of the heating period in the range between 202-253 in individual localities of Slovakia is reflected in the size of heat losses of the heated building, fuel consumption, and emissions production. The presented model allows for balancing the consumption of firewood and emission production for individual localities in Slovakia, following the locality's climatic conditions, the heated object's size, the boiler's thermal efficiency, and the type of firewood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the agricultural years 2020-2022 at SCDA Braila, experiments with maize hybrids have been placed in which the growth and development processes as well as the productivity of Felix, Iezer and F423 maize hybrids have been followed. In the climatic context of 2020, the growing cycle was staggered over a period of 159 days (10.04.2020-16.09.2020), during which time precipitation totalled 162.4 mm, accumulating a useful temperature of 3254°C. In 2021, the growing cycle was staggered over a period of 147 days (05.05.2021-29.09. 2021), during which period rainfall totalled 335.5 mm, accumulating a useful temperature of 3038.6°C, and under the conditions of this year, 2022, maize sown on 28.04.2022, covered 151 days to reach harvest maturity on 26.09.2022 under the conditions of accumulating a useful temperature required to cover the growth and development phenotypes of 3270°C. Yields recorded in the three crop years for the three hybrids ranged from 7.24 t/ha to 11.66 t/ha for hybrid Felix, from 7.48 t/ha to 9.95 t/ha for hybrid Iezer and from 8.96 t/ha to 11.80 t/ha for hybrid F423. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The year 2022 was marked by a significant increase in electricity prices in Germany, with prices reaching extreme levels due to various geopolitical and climatic factors. This research analyzes the evolution of electricity prices in Germany from 2015 to 2024 and applies Benford's Law to examine the distribution of the first digits of these prices. Historical electricity price data from Germany, obtained from publicly available sources, were used for the analysis. We applied Benford's Law to determine the frequency of occurrence of the first digits of electricity prices and compared the results with the expected distribution according to Benford's Law. We also considered the impact of negative electricity prices. The results suggest that external factors, such as geopolitical events and climatic conditions, have a significant impact on the volatility of electricity prices. Benford's Law can be a useful tool for analyzing electricity prices, although its application to this market shows certain deviations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]