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As the main expenditure item in water balance, evapotranspiration has an important impact on the surface ecosystem. Assessing the impact of changes in meteorological elements on evapotranspiration is essential to identify the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of hydrographic responses to climate changes. Based on the actual evapotranspiration (ETa) product (GPR-ET) generated by Gaussian process regression (GPR), as well as temperature and precipitation datasets, our study employed various statistical analysis methods, including geographic detector, the center of gravity migration model, spatial variation coefficients, and partial differential models, to investigate the spatiotemporal variation in ETa in China from 2000 to 2018. The analysis covered future trends in ETa changes and the contribution of meteorological factors. Our results showed that the ETa in northwest China had stronger spatial heterogeneity and the mean value was generally lower than that in the southeast. But the center of gravity of ETa was shifting towards the northwest. In most areas, the future trend was expected to be inconsistent with the current stage. ETa in the regions of north and west was mainly driven by precipitation, while its increase in southeast China was largely attributed to temperature. In addition to spatial variations, the joint enhancement effect of temperature and precipitation on ETa exists. According to the contribution analysis, precipitation contributed more to the change in ETa than temperature. These findings have enhanced our comprehension of the contribution of climate variability to ETa changes, providing scientific proof for the optimization apportion of future water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-irrigation pipe network systems are commonly utilized for water transmission and distribution in agricultural irrigation. They effectively transport and distribute water to crops, aiming to achieve water and energy conservation, increased yield, and improved quality. This paper presents a model for the scaled micro-irrigation pipeline network system and provides a comprehensive review of the fundamental concepts and practical applications of optimization techniques in the field of pipeline network design. This paper is divided into four main sections: Firstly, it covers the background and theoretical foundations of optimal design for scaled micro-irrigation pipeline network systems. Secondly, the paper presents an optimal design model specifically tailored for scaled micro-irrigation pipeline networks. And then, it discusses various optimization solution techniques employed for addressing the design challenges of scaled micro-irrigation pipeline networks, along with real-world case studies. Finally, this paper concludes with an outlook on the ongoing research and development efforts in the field of scaled micro-irrigation pipeline network systems. In addition, this paper establishes a fundamental model for optimizing pipeline networks, to achieve minimum safe operation and total cost reduction. It considers constraints such as pipeline pressure-bearing capacity, maximum flow rate, and diameter. The decision-making variables include pipeline diameter, length, internal roughness, node pressure, future demand, and valve placement. Additionally, this paper provides an extensive overview of deterministic methods and heuristic algorithms utilized in the optimal design of micro-irrigation pipeline networks. Finally, this paper presents future research directions for pipeline network optimization and explores the potential for algorithmic improvements, integration of machine learning techniques, and wider adoption of EPANET 2.0 software. These endeavors aim to lay a strong foundation for effectively solving complex and challenging optimization problems in micro-irrigation pipeline network systems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The weir-flume apparatus, consisting of a measuring flume and a measuring weir, is an innovative device for monitoring and controlling open channel flow. Installed across channels, it can measure water flow, elevates upstream water level, and enhances ecological connectivity in rivers in diverse geographical conditions. While measurement formulas and hydraulic characteristics have been experimentally investigated for small flow with shallow water depth, there is a lack of study for large flow. This paper aims to bridge this gap by studying the vertical and longitudinal velocity profiles as well as spatial distribution of flow field under high flow conditions. Method The analysis was based on numerical modelling. The FLOW-3D software was used to simulate hydraulic performance of a weir-flume device under 17 flow rates ranging from 10.13 to 200 L/s. From the simulated results we analyzed the impact of flow rate on water depth, Froude number (Fr), and velocities within both the in-groove flow and the weir flow. Result As the flow rate increased, the Fr and velocity in the central longitudinal section of the device initially increased and then tapered off. The flow in the upstream of the device remained stable, with Fr ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 and velocities varying between 0.08 and 0.5 m/s. Both Fr and velocity gradually increased with the increase in flow rate. After entering the device, Fr and flow velocity exhibited a significant surge. A wide range of thin water layers emerged in the downstream of the device, with the maximum Fr and velocities being 3 to 4.6 and 1.05 to 2.06 m/s, respectively. A subdued water jump was observed downstream of the in-groove flow, while the downstream of the weir showed a jet stream with Fr>1. Additionally, diffused water generated a rhomboid wave at the side bank. We derived a formula from the numerical simulations; its maximum relative error was 6.11% for flow rate below 100 L/s, beyond which the relative error gradually increased. Conclusion The numerical results obtained from FLOW-3D agreed well with the test data, validating the accuracy and consistency of the derived formula for analyzing measurement data from the weir-flume device. This work bridges a critical knowledge gap, enabling more precise assessment and control of open channel flow under various conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both catalase and peroxiredoxin show high activities of H2O2 decomposition and coexist in the same organism; however, their division of labor in defense against H2O2 is unclear. We focused on the major peroxiredoxin (PrxA) and catalase (CatB) in Aspergillus nidulans at different growth stages to discriminate their antioxidant roles. The dormant conidia lacking PrxA showed sensitivity to high concentrations of H2O2 (>100 mM), revealing that PrxA is one of the important antioxidants in dormant conidia. Once the conidia began to swell and germinate, or further develop to young hyphae (9 h to old age), PrxA-deficient cells (ΔprxA) did not survive on plates containing H2O2 concentrations higher than 1 mM, indicating that PrxA is an indispensable antioxidant in the early growth stage. During these early growth stages, absence of CatB did not affect fungal resistance to either high (>1 mM) or low (<1 mM) concentrations of H2O2. In the mature hyphae stage (24 h to old age), however, CatB fulfills the major antioxidant function, especially against high doses of H2O2. PrxA is constitutively expressed throughout the lifespan, whereas CatB levels are low in the early growth stage of the cells developing from swelling conidia to early growth hyphae, providing a molecular basis for their different contributions to H2O2 resistance in different growth stages. Further enzyme activity and cellular localization analysis indicated that CatB needs to be secreted to be functionalized, and this process is confined to the growth stage of mature hyphae. Our results revealed differences in effectiveness and timelines of two primary anti-H2O2 enzymes in fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A micro-sprinkling hose is a new type of water-saving irrigation equipment, which can become clogged when using sand-laden surface water sources for irrigation. To test the clogging process and mechanism of the micro-sprinkling hose, as well as the influence of working pressure and hose structure, an intermittent micro-sprinkling irrigation experiment was performed using four different micro-sprinkling hoses with different folded diameters (45, 45, 48, and 60 mm). The number of orifices in the single-cycle orifice cluster was three, five, five, and five. The results showed that, when the working pressures were 30 and 40 kPa, the micro-sprinkling hose was prone to complete blockage. When the working pressures were 50 and 60 kPa, the micro-sprinkling hose was partially clogged. The structure of the micro-sprinkling hose affected the mass and gradation of the deposited sediment by mediating the flow rate inside the hose. The particle size range and content of sediment under irrigation using the N48-5 (folded diameter = 48 mm, with five orifices) and N60-5 (folded diameter = 60 mm, with five orifices) hoses were much larger than those of the original soil samples. Micro-sprinkling hose N60-5 had the best anticlogging performance in this study. The results of this study can provide technical support for the application of micro-sprinkler irrigation systems with sand-laden water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] Flow measurement through sluice gates in U-Shaped channels depends on a range of factors. We experimentally measured the characteristics of flow through the gates under different designs and working conditions, and then derived a formula using these data to estimate flow rates based on hydraulic characteristics of the gate and channel, as well as the working conditions. [Method] The experiments were conducted by controlling the flow rates from 10 to 50 L/s. The critical ratio of orifice flow to weir flow, as well as the flow capacity were analyzed utilizing hydraulic parameters, including water surface line, Froude number, and water head loss across the gate. These parameters were used in the orifice flow formula to calculate the flow rate. [Result] The critical ratio of orifice flow to weir flow was close to 1, the Froude number was uniformly distributed along the flow path, and the average relative head loss across the gate was 7%. Compared to the measured data, the error of the derived formula was less than 3.5%. [Conclusion] The sluice gate for the U-Shaped channel works well, and water head loss across it is minor. The derived formula for calculating flow rate is accurate. These results are helpful for designing U-shaped channels in irrigation areas and calculating flow rates through them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improper herbicide application without proper personnel protection (PPE) can be harmful. Herbicide application with microsprinkler irrigation reduces direct contact with herbicides with the benefits of being highly efficient, decreasing water and herbicide use, and using precise irrigation and concentration control during agricultural production. Therefore, to propose a reasonable strategy for applying microsprinkler irrigation, a laboratory test was conducted to study the water distribution characteristics, and different herbicide concentrations (1.5 g/L, 2.0 g/L, and 3.0 g/L) were used in a field irrigation experiment with polyethylene microsprinkler hoses. Wheat was selected as the test crop, and the effects of the different herbicide concentrations were compared and analyzed based on the weed control effect and weed control uniformity. The results showed that in comparison to other herbicide concentrations, a higher herbicide application concentration (3.0 g/L) did not have a better application effect. Application concentration and duration influenced each other and synergistically affected the application effect. The weed control effects of the herbicide concentrations at 1.5 g/L and 2.0 g/L were similar and had better application effects than those of the other concentrations. When using this approach, the specific herbicide concentration should be determined according to the crop and soil environmental conditions, and the application concentration and duration should be adjusted reasonably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]