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This study investigates the physical processes behind extreme precipitation events (EPEs) in the Himalayas, notorious for causing frequent floods and significant loss of life and property. Due to the presence of complex terrain, understanding the driving factors of these EPEs is challenging. Here, we decipher the precipitation characteristics and their driving factors responsible for the occurrence of EPEs in the Western Himalayas (WH) for the period 1979–2020. EPEs are defined as events exceeding the 99th percentile threshold. The extreme precipitation in the WH is contributed by both large‐scale precipitation (accounting for 61%) and convective precipitation (39%). Moreover, 25.49% of EPEs in this region are directly associated with monsoon depressions. The presence of distinct upper‐tropospheric gyres flanking the WH, along with a prominent zonal wave pattern, promotes a southward extension of the trough. This intensifies the low‐level convergence of moisture‐laden winds from the adjoining seas, resulting in substantial moisture availability for the EPEs. An omega‐type blocking pattern emerges 4 days before EPEs, facilitating the intrusion of an extratropical cyclonic circulation. This circulation, characterized by its slow eastward and equatorward movement, leads to low‐level moisture flux convergence and ascending motions, which in turn trigger the EPEs. This highlights the crucial role of extratropical signals in driving EPEs and implies that tropical‐extratropical interactions play an important role in these EPEs. Furthermore, the shifting of the Intertropical Convergence Zone is strongly linked to the enhancement of the intensity of EPEs. Moreover, moisture budget analysis shows that EPEs over the WH are primarily driven by vertical advection, with the dynamic (thermodynamic) terms explaining 92% (8%) contribution. The intensified diabatic heating structure further enhances the convection, facilitating the development of deep convection which controls the local thermodynamics of these EREs. Lastly, our study demonstrated that most intensified and persistent EPEs over the Himalayas are found to be linked with Quasi‐Resonance Amplification, which is driven by baroclinic waves with 5 and 8 zonal wave numbers that contribute to these EPEs. Plain Language Summary: The Himalayan region experiences heavy precipitation during the monsoon season, causing floods that impact downstream and Northwestern Indian regions. Our research focuses on understanding the causes behind these extreme precipitation events, particularly in the Western Himalayas. Given the region's complexity and meteorological diversity, understanding these events presents a significant challenge. We delve into the synoptic conditions and large‐scale factors associated with intense precipitation in the Western Himalayan region. As a result, we identified circulation patterns that bring moisture from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, leading to intense rainfall. Other factors like vertical moisture advection and atmospheric heating in the atmosphere also play a role in the formation of heavy rainfall. Our study also stresses how large‐scale factors like Quasi Resonance Amplification (QRA) and Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) movement lead to the formation of heavy rainfall. This research sheds light on the complex interactions between large‐scale weather patterns and local conditions, providing valuable insights for building resilience against extreme weather events. Key Points: Large‐scale circulation patterns drive extreme precipitation events (EPEs) in the Himalayas, exacerbated by complex terrainDistinct upper‐tropospheric gyres and zonal wave patterns intensify moisture convergence, fueling EPEs in the Western HimalayasVertical moisture advection and diabatic heating play pivotal roles in triggering and intensifying EPEs along with impacts of QRA [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study investigates the drying kinetics of maltodextrin droplets using experimental and numerical methods. Single droplet drying experiments, conducted under controlled conditions (air velocity 5 cm/s, air humidity 5 g/kg) using the filament method, aim to determine the critical moisture content for surface locking of droplets (initial diameter 1200 − 1600 µm). The experiments examine how this critical moisture content varies with initial solids content of the droplets (20–40% w/w) and air temperature (80–120 °C). A spatially resolved single droplet drying model (complex model) is adapted and validated, showing excellent agreement with experimental drying curves. This model is then employed to simulate conditions more representative of spray drying. A parametric study assesses the influence of air temperature (60–240 °C), initial droplet diameter (30 − 500 µm), and air velocity (0.01–5 m/s) on drying rates, highlighting the interplay among these variables. For these conditions, the complex model is finally reduced to a characteristic drying curve model whose computational simplicity makes it suitable for implementation in computational fluid dynamics simulations of spray drying. To further improve the model predictions and account for the influence of process conditions, an extension modulating the model parameter n (ranging from 0.88 to 1.62, with a median of 1.07) is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

H2S gas sensors with facile preparation, low detection limits, and high selectivity are crucial for environmental and human health monitoring. However, it is difficult to maintain a high response of H2S gas sensors under high humidity in practical applications. To face this dilemma, a layer‐by‐layer growth method is applied to in situ prepare a nanostructured Co(CO3)0.5(OH)·0.11H2O/WO3 coated by a hydrophobic hierarchical ZIF‐67 as the H2S sensor. This novel composite exhibits excellent humidity immunity without sacrificing the excellent sensitivity and selectivity of H2S. At a low operating temperature of 90 °C, a remarkable response value of 1052.3 to 100 ppm H2S has been achieved, which is 779 and 9.36 times higher than that of pure WO3 and Co(CO3)0.5(OH)·0.11H2O/WO3, respectively. More importantly, an 82.2% relative response value remains at a high humidity of 75%RH. The sensing mechanisms are investigated using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS), which revealed that the reaction products are H2O and SO2. The high humidity immunity and fast response of the Co(CO3)0.5(OH)·0.11H2O@ZIF‐67/WO3 demonstrate the layer‐by‐layer in situ synthesis method holds the potential application for the development of high‐performance WO3‐based H2S sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dewdrops, the droplets of water naturally occurring on leaves and carapaces of insects, are a fascinating phenomenon in nature. Here, a man‐made array of dewdrops with arbitrary shapes and arrangements, which can function as an electromagnetic metasurface, is demonstrated. The realization of the dewdrop array is enabled by a surface covered by a tailored pattern of hydrophilic and hydrophobic coatings, where tiny droplets of water can aggregate and form dewdrops on the former. Interestingly, this metasurface made of dewdrops can be modulated by the condensation and evaporation process. By increasing relative humidity and decreasing temperature, the dewdrop metasurface is gradually formed with increasing amounts of water. While the reverse operation can make it completely disappear. This idea is demonstrated through two examples with different functions of dynamically controllable microwave absorption and scattering. The work shows a principle to construct functional electromagnetic devices with dewdrops, as well as a mechanism of dynamic control based on condensation and evaporation, promising unprecedented applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-synthetic modification of proton-conducting metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) by loading small molecules capable of generating protons into pores is an efficient approach for developing a new type of material with improved ionic conductivity. Herein, the synthesis, characterization and proton conductivity of a novel electroneutral MOF based on palladium(II) meso-tetrakis(4-(phosphonatophenyl))porphyrinate, IPCE-1Pd, are reported. The exposure of the obtained framework to imidazole by the diffusion vapor method has surprisingly led to its complete crystal-to-crystal MOF-to-HOF transformation, resulting in the formation of a novel hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) IPCE-1Pd_Im, which is the first example of such kind of structural change among all known MOFs. This modification has led to an almost 25-fold increase in the proton conductivity in comparison with the pristine MOF, reaching up to 6.54 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 85 °C and 95% relative humidity, which is one of the highest values among all known porphyrin-based HOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a sulfonated covalent organic framework (COF) capable of atmospheric water harvesting in arid conditions. The isothermal water uptake profile of the framework was studied, and the network displayed steep water sorption at low relative humidity (RH) in temperatures of up to 45 °C, reaching a water uptake of 0.12 g g−1 at 10 % RH and even 0.08 g g−1 at just 5 % RH, representing some of the most extreme conditions on the planet. We found that the inclusion of sulfonate moieties shifted uptake in the water isotherm profiles to lower RH compared to non‐sulfonated equivalents, demonstrating well the benefits of including these hydrophilic sites for water uptake in hot, arid locations. Repeated uptake and desorption cycles were performed on the material without significant detriment to its adsorption performance, demonstrating the potential of the sulfonated COF for real‐world implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi‐transparent perovskite solar cells (ST‐PSCs) are promising for their application in building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs). For BIPVs, a light utilization efficiency (LUE) > 2.5 is required which is multiplication of average visible transmittance (AVT) and power conversion efficiency (PCE). Generally, semitransparency is achieved by reducing film thickness which increases AVT but decreases PCE resulting in lower LUE. Here, an interface engineering strategy is employed on a wide bandgap perovskite thin absorber layer to increase PCE and LUE. The study employs three different alkylamine hydrochlorides molecules with varied alkyl chain length, viz., 2‐chloroethylamine‐hydrochloride, 3‐chloropropylamine‐hydrochloride, and 4‐chlorobutyalamine‐hydrochloride at perovskite/electron transport layer (ETL) interface and investigates their effect on perovskite crystallization. Further, it is demonstrated that 4‐chlorobutyalamine‐hydrochloride can strongly interact with perovskite and suppress non‐radiative recombination facilitating charge transport at the perovskite/ETL interface. Devices post‐treated with 4‐chlorobutyalamine‐hydrochloride interfacial layer, demonstrate a higher LUE of 3.45% (PCE 14.11%) and AVT of ≈25% (400–800 nm), with Voc of 1.23 V. Moreover, the unencapsulated devices retain ≈89% of the initial efficiency after storage for 1500 h under a relative humidity of ≈35–40%. This study provides an efficient approach to improve LUE and stability of ST‐PSCs for the application in energy‐efficient smart windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, fluconazole (FLU) showed the highest solubility in clove oil and was selected as the oil phase for the FLU-loaded nanoemulsion (FLU-NE). Among the studied cosurfactants, Labrafac was better than ethanol at providing globules with acceptable sizes and a lower polydispersity index (PDI) when Tween 80 was the surfactant. This optimized FLU-NE was thermodynamically stable. Furthermore, FLU-NE stored at 40 ± 2 °C and 75 ± 5% relative humidity for 6 months demonstrated good stability. The FLU-NE was converted to a FLU-loaded nanoemulsion gel (FLU-NEG) using 2% w/v sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. The FLU-NEG was acceptable in terms of visual appearance and spreadability. Rheological studies revealed pseudoplastic behavior for FLU-NEG. The viscosity of FLU-NEG decreased when the applied rpm was increased. FLU-NEG showed greater drug release than that from a FLU-GEL formulation. Furthermore, the FLU release from FLU-NEG followed the Higuchi model. The results from the in vitro antifungal evaluation of FLU-NEG on Candida albicans ATCC 76615 strain confirmed the increase in the antifungal activity of FLU by clove oil. Significant differences were observed in the zones of inhibition produced by FLU-NEG compared to those produced by the blank nanoemulsion gel (B-NEG), fluconazole suspension (FLU-SUS), and nystatin samples. Thus, the increase in the antifungal activity of FLU using clove oil as the oil phase in its nanoemulsion formulation was quite evident from our results. Therefore, the developed FLU-NEG could be considered a potential candidate for further preclinical and clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core temperature (TC) changes, alongside exercise, affect hemodynamic responses across different conduit and microvascular beds. This study investigated impacts of ecologically valid environmental heat and exercise exposures on cerebral, skin and retinal vascular responses by combining physiological assessments alongside computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. Young, healthy participants (n = 12) were exposed to environmental passive heating (PH), and heated exercise (HE) (ergometer cycling), in climate-controlled conditions (50 mins, 40°C, 50% relative humidity) while maintaining upright posture. Blood flow responses in the common carotid (CCA), internal carotid (ICA) and central retinal (CRA) arteries were assessed using Duplex ultrasound, while forearm skin microvascular blood flow responses were measured using optical coherence tomography angiography. Three-dimensional retinal hemodynamics (flow and pressure) were calculated via CFD simulation, enabling assessment of wall shear stress (WSS). TC rose following PH (+0.2°C, p = 0.004) and HE (+1.4°C, p < 0.001). PH increased skin microvascular blood flow (p < 0.001), whereas microvascular CRA flow decreased (p = 0.038), despite unchanged ICA flow. HE exacerbated these differences, with increased CCA flow (p = 0.007), unchanging ICA flow and decreased CRA flow (p < 0.001), and interactions between vascular (CCA vs. ICA p = 0.018; CCA vs. CRA p = 0.004) and microvascular (skin vs. retinal arteriolar p < 0.001) territories. Simulations revealed patterns of WSS and lumen pressure that uniformly decreased following HE. Under ecologically valid thermal challenge, different responses occur in distinct conduit and microvascular territories, with blood flow distribution favoring systemic thermoregulation, while flow may redistribute within the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of book preservation, back volumes, and other publications within a library predominantly falls under the responsibility of library staff. The application of IoT technology in this context lacks a systematic approach to monitoring and controlling hygrothermal factors. Presently, IoT utilization is confined to a passive mode of monitoring, recording, and logging. This concise study aims to strategize and recommend the optimal utilization of IoT platforms, transitioning from a passive observational mode to a more proactive and autonomous operational mode. A qualitative methodology was employed to devise and execute the integration of IoT technology, focusing on communication through the LoRa platform and data sharing via the Wi-Fi network. Upon thorough examination of the integrated IoT platform, opportunities for implementation and enhancement become apparent. Through meticulous analysis and execution of the planned IoT platform with a scope of improvement by IIoT and battery-free sensors, a viable solution is identified, and a comprehensive evaluation of its attributes is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we tackle the complex and unresolved challenge of optimizing the performance of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) in varying relative humidity environments, which is crucial for practical fuel cell technologies. To address this challenge, we developed an innovative approach by fabricating an asymmetric membrane that integrates an ultrathin layer of hydrophilic carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) on the cathode side of the proton exchange membrane (PEM). The primary objective was to enhance the dimensional stability of the membrane by reducing water flooding-induced swelling on the cathode side. Additionally, the inclusion of the carbon nanotube layer improved the interfacial affinity with the cathode electrode. As a result, the MEA constructed using the asymmetric PEM coated with 0.065 mg cm−2 HCNTs demonstrated impressive current densities of 800 mA cm−2 and 1300 mA cm−2 at 0.7 V and 0.6 V, respectively, while achieving a maximum power density of 818 mW cm−2 under 100% relative humidity (RH). Remarkably, even when the RH was reduced to 0%, the MEA maintained a current density of 1100 mA cm−2 at 0.6 V and a maximum power density of 788 mW cm−2. Furthermore, the inclusion of the HCNTs layer significantly enhanced the stability of the MEA under low RH conditions, representing a crucial advancement in extending the lifespan of fuel cells in harsh environments. The novel structure of the MEA presented in this work offers a practical and effective strategy for enhancing the performance and stability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) insensitive to changing relative humidities. • A three-dimensional interface structure is achieved by coating HCNTs onto PEM for enhanced electrochemical performance. • The MEA performance improves in low or zero humidity with an HCNTs layer on the PEM's cathode side. • The HCNTs layer enhances water management by promoting water back diffusion from the cathode to the anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion wind propulsion systems have potential applications in the field of unmanned aerial vehicle due to their compactness, quiet operation, and simple design. Previous studies have focused on the influences of power source, electrode arrangement, size, and shape on the output thrust characteristics. However, few studies have been performed on the environmental conditions, which can be beneficial for the practical applications of ion wind aircraft in various climatic conditions. In this work, a measurement platform of the output characteristics of ion wind propulsion system under various environmental conditions has been established. The experimental pressure range was 1–0.7 atm, and the relative humidity (RH) range was 30%–92%. The effects of air pressure and humidity, and voltage level on the thrust, thrust-to-power radio (TPR) corona current have been investigated. The results showed that the corona current and thrust of the wire-wing electrode array decreased with RH within the range of 30%– to 80%. Under higher humidity, the corona current and thrust tend to increase at most voltage levels. Moreover, the thrust and current both decreased with reduced pressure when keeping the voltage-to-pressure ratio (U/P) unchanged. It was also found that the thrust was roughly proportional to the square of the pressure. Finally, the possible explanations of the coupled influences on the output characteristics were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystals can be found in many shapes but do not usually grow as spirals. Here we show that applying a non-uniform layer of a polymer blend onto slender centimeter-size organic crystals prestrains the crystals into hybrid dynamic elements with spiral shapes that respond reversibly to environmental variations in temperature or humidity by curling. Exposure to humidity results in partial uncurling within several seconds, whereby a logarithmic-type spiral crystal is transformed into an Archimedean one. Conical helices obtained by lateral pulling of the spirals can wind around solid objects similar to plant tendrils or lift suspended objects with a positive correlation between the actuator's elongation and the cargo mass. The morphological, kinematic, and kinetic attributes turn these hybrid materials into an attractive platform for flexible sensors and soft robots, while they also provide an approach to morph crystalline fibers in non-natural spiral habits inaccessible with the common crystallization approaches. The growth of crystals as spirals is unusual and this morphology can be applied to the development of flexible sensors and soft robots when the crystals respond to external stimuli. Here, the authors report the incorporation of a non-uniform layer of a polymer blend onto slender centimeter-size organic crystals to produce crystals having spiral shapes that respond reversibly to environmental variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moisture-capturing materials can enable potentially game-changing energy-water technologies such as atmospheric water production, heat storage, and passive cooling. Hydrogel composites recently emerged as outstanding moisture-capturing materials due to their low cost, high affinity for humidity, and design versatility. Despite extensive efforts to experimentally explore the large design space of hydrogels for high-performance moisture capture, there is a critical knowledge gap on our understanding behind the moisture-capture properties of these materials. This missing understanding hinders the fast development of novel hydrogels, material performance enhancements, and device-level optimization. In this work, we combine synthesis and characterization of hydrogel-salt composites to develop and validate a theoretical description that bridges this knowledge gap. Starting from a thermodynamic description of hydrogel-salt composites, we develop models that accurately capture experimentally measured moisture uptakes and sorption enthalpies. We also develop mass transport models that precisely reproduce the dynamic absorption and desorption of moisture into hydrogel-salt composites. Altogether, these results demonstrate the main variables that dominate moisture-capturing properties, showing a negligible role of the polymer in the material performance under all considered cases. Our insights guide the synthesis of next-generation humidity-capturing hydrogels and enable their system-level optimization in ways previously unattainable for critical water-energy applications. The development of hydrogel composites with enhanced moisture-capturing properties is hindered by our limited understanding behind their moisture-capture properties. Here, the authors develop and validate a theoretical description that bridges this knowledge gap for a wide range of synthesized and characterized hydrogel-salt composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an innovative design for an "inorganic salt-expanded graphite" composite thermochemical system. The storage unit is made of a perforated, compressed, expanded graphite block impregnated with molten CaCl2∙6H2O; the humid air passes through the holes that allow the moisture to diffuse and react with the salt. The prepared block underwent 90 hydration-dehydration cycles. Although most of the performed cycles were carried out with salt overhydration and deliquescence, the treated samples have remained mechanically and thermally stable with no drop in energy density. The volumetric energy density of the composite ranged from 135.5 to 277.6 kWh/m3, depending on airflow rate and absolute humidity. To ensure composite material cycling stability, the energy density of the block was measured during hydration at similar conditions of absolute humidity, inlet temperature, and airflow rate (0.01 kgwater/kgair, 20 °C, 400 l/min). The average energy density at these conditions was sustained at 219 kWh/m3. The block integrity was monitored by visual inspection after removing it from the reactor chamber every few cycles. Both the composite material and its manufacturing process are simple and easy to scale up for future commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DC link capacitors (DCLCs) are key devices in converters. The relative humidity affects the performance of the elements of a DCLC. Currently, there are relatively few studies on the effect of relative humidity on the electrical characteristics of the elements of DCLCs during the production process. This study describes the effects and the control of the relative humidity in the production process. For this purpose, a DCLC component withstand voltage test platform and a DCLC component aging test platform were established. The voltage withstand tests were conducted during different processes and at different relative humidities, and life aging tests were conducted at different relative humidities and different storage times. The results show that after the winding and metal-spraying processes, the voltage withstand levels of the components stored at 30% RH, 60% RH, and 80% RH were very close to that of the components at 3000 VDC; after the heat-setting process, the voltage withstand levels of the components stored at 30% RH, 60% RH, and 80% RH showed a decreasing tendency compared with the level of the components at 3000 VDC. Regarding the samples, after the heat-setting process, stored at 30% RH and 60% RH for 24 h, 96 h, 168 h, 240 h, and 336 h and 2000 h of the aging tests, the capacitance decreases monotonically as the storage time is increased but never exceeds 3%, and the capacitance change decreases as the relative humidity increases. This study can provide important guidance for the humidity control of various processes in the production of DCLCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organosilicon materials have shown potential as dehydration agents for waterlogged wooden artifacts. These materials can polymerize under normal conditions to form polymers with favorable mechanical strength, antibacterial properties, and aging resistance. However, the insolubility of most organosilicon hindered their penetration into waterlogged wood, which may lead to an unwanted cracking. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-OH) with low viscosity and moderate reactivity for dehydrating waterlogged wooden artifacts from the Nanhai No.1 shipwreck. Four surfactants ((3–aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), alkyl polyoxyethylene ether (APEO), tri-methylstearylammonium chloride (STAC), and fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO)) and cosurfactant were employed to transform the two kinds of water-repellent silicone oils into eight groups of highly permeable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. Under the catalysis of a neutral catalyst, in situ polymerization occurred within the wood cells. Group P2-2 formulated with PDMS-OH and APEO showed the best efficiency in maintaining the dimensions of the wood during dehydration. The dehydrated wood exhibited a natural color and texture with a minimal volume shrinkage rate of 1.89%. The resulting polymer adhered uniformly to the cell walls, effectively reinforcing the wood cell structure. The weight percent gain of the wood was only 218%, and the pores of the cell lumen were well maintained for future retreatment. This method effectively controlled the sol–gel reaction process of the organosilicon and prevented damage to the wooden artifact during the dehydration process. Moreover, the dehydrated wood samples only experienced a low weight gain of 17% at 95% relative humidity (RH), indicating their great environmental stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exponential demand for real-time monitoring applications has altered the course of sensor development, from sensor electronics miniaturization, e.g., resorting to printing techniques, to low-cost, flexible and functional wearable materials. Humidity sensing has been used in the prevention and diagnosis of medical conditions, as well as in the assessment of physical comfort. This paper presents a resistive flexible humidity sensor composed of silver interdigitated electrodes (IDTs) screen printed onto polyimide film and an active layer of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) dispersed in a water-soluble polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Different MWCNT/PVA sensor sizes and MWCNT percentages are tested to study their effect on the initial electrical resistance (Ri) values and sensor response at different humidity percentages. The results show that the Ri values decrease with the increase in % MWCNT. The sensor size did not influence the sensor response, while the % MWCNT affected the sensor behavior upon relative humidity (RH) increments. The 1% MWCNT/PVA sensor showed the best response, reaching a relative electrical resistance, ΔR/R0, of 509% at 99% RH. Comparable with other reported sensors, the produced MWCNT/PVA flexible sensor is simpler, greener and shows a good sensitivity to humidity, being easily incorporated in wearable monitoring applications, from sports to medical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is appreciated for its suitability for cultivation and obtaining good yields in relatively extreme farming conditions. It is resistant to high temperatures and drought. Moreover, food products prepared from Vigna are rich in many nutrients such as proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals, fiber, vitamins, and other bioactive compounds. However, in East and Southeast Asia, where the products of this crop are in demand, the climate is characterized by excessive humidity. Under these conditions, the vast majority of cowpea varieties tend to have indeterminate growth (elongated shoot length) and are unsuitable for mechanized harvesting. The molecular mechanisms for tolerance to high relative humidity remain the least studied in comparison with those for other abiotic stress factors (drought, heat, cold, flooding, etc.). The purpose of the work was to reveal and investigate differentially expressed genes in cowpea accessions having contrasting growth habits (determinate and indeterminate) under humid and drought conditions. We performed RNA-seq analysis using selected cowpea accessions from the VIR collection. Among the genotypes used, some have significant changes in their plant architecture in response to high relative humidity, while others were tolerant to these conditions. In total, we detected 1697 upregulated and 1933 downregulated genes. The results showed that phytohormone-related genes are involved in cowpea response to high relative humidity. DEGs associated with jasmonic acid signaling are proposed to be key contributors in the maintenance of compact architecture under humid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the physical properties and mechanical strength development of PCBAs with water, sealed, standard, and open ambient air curing over 28 days to find a suitable curing method for the production of phosphogypsum-based cold-bonded aggregates. The types and relative amounts of hydration products, microstructural morphology and pore structure parameters were characterized utilizing XRD, TGA, FTIR, SEM and nitrogen adsorption methods. According to the results, water curing leads to rapid increases in single aggregate strength, reaching 5.26 MPa at 7 d. The standard curing condition improved the 28 d mechanical strength of the aggregates by 19.3% over others by promoting the generation of hydration products and the transformation of the C-S-H gel to a higher degree of polymerization and by optimizing the pore structure. Further, PCBAs achieved an excellent solidification of phosphorus impurities under all four curing conditions. This work provides significant guidance for selecting an optimized PCBA curing method for industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial–temporal sampling errors arising from the differences in geographical locations and measurement times between co-located Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) and radiosonde (RS) data represent systematic errors in the three-cornered hat (3CH) method. In this study, we propose a novel spatial–temporal sampling correction method to mitigate the sampling errors associated with both RO–RS and RS–model pairs. We analyze the 3CH processing chain with this new correction method in comparison to traditional approaches, utilizing Fengyun-3E (FY-3E) GNSS Occultation Sounder II (GNOS II) RO data, atmospheric models, and RS datasets from the Hailar and Xisha stations. Overall, the results demonstrate that the improved 3CH method performs better in terms of spatial–temporal sampling errors and the variances of atmospheric parameters, including refractivity, temperature, and specific humidity. Subsequently, we assess the error variances of the FY-3E GNOS II RO, RS and model atmospheric parameters in China, in particular the northern China and southern China regions, based on large ensemble datasets using the improved 3CH data processing chain. The results indicate that the FY-3E GNOS II BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS) RO and Global Positioning System (GPS) RO show good consistency, with the average error variances of refractivity, temperature, and specific humidity being less than 1.12%2, 0.13%2, and 700%2, respectively. A comparison of the datasets from northern and southern China reveals that the error variances for refractivity are smaller in northern China, while temperature and specific humidity exhibit smaller error variances in southern China, which is attributable to the differing climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve low cost and high stability metal oxide-based inverted planar perovskite solar cells (IPSCs), we designed Al-doped NiOx (ANO) films as the hole transport layer (HTL) to prepare a solar cell with ITO/ANO/CsPbBr3/ZnO/carbon structure. The results showed that compared to the pristine NiOx film, ANO-8 (8% Al doping) film could not only provide higher conductivity and carrier mobility, but also form a good interfacial band alignment with the CsPbBr3 perovskite layer. Additionally, a better crystallization quality and larger grain size of CsPbBr3 films could be obtained on the ANO-8 HTL. Therefore, the champion efficiency based on this optimization strategy reached 6.72%, where the open circuit voltage (Voc) was 1.33 V and the short circuit current (Jsc) was 8.11 mA/cm2. After 28 days, the photoelectric conversion efficiency still retained 96.73% of the original efficiency in an air environment with 80% relative humidity and temperature of 25 °C, demonstrating considerable stability. These results provide a promising approach for achieving stable and reliable IPSCs with low-cost inorganic HTLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion of spontaneous and persistent energy generation from omnipresent atmospheric moisture presents an alluring prospect in the realm of next‐generation energy sources. Here, an ultra‐durable and all‐weather energy generator (UAEG) predicated on interface‐induced proton migration derived from enhanced proton dissociation by charge transfer and ion occupation is reported, which reduces the diffusion barrier of protons in chromatogram‐like mass transfer by avoiding the rebinding of dissociated protons with charged polyelectrolyte chains, thus leading to efficient and continuous proton migration through heterogeneously hygroscopic interface and delivering ultra‐durable direct‐current output. Deep insight into underlying mechanisms is demonstrated by theoretical calculations and in situ investigations toward molecular interactions and charge distribution. A UAEG unit with 4 cm2 in size can generate an impressive electric output (0.88 V and 37.58 µA) across extensive relative humidity (10–90%) and ambient temperature (−30–50 ˚C), capable of generating energy in all‐weather conditions (e.g., sunny, cloudy, overcast, and rainy) regardless of day and night. Importantly, it is the first time that a commercial electronic is continuously driven for over 200 days in all‐weather conditions just depending on ambient moisture. This work provides a novel perspective for the development of ultra‐durable and all‐weather moisture‐enabled energy generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematically orchestrating fundamental building blocks into intricate high‐dimensional molecular assemblies at molecular level is imperative for multifunctionality integration. However, this remains a formidable task in crystal engineering due to the dynamic nature of inorganic building blocks. Herein, we develop a multi‐template‐guided strategy to control building blocks. The coordination modes of ligands and the spatial hindrance of anionic templates are pivotal in dictating the overall structures. Flexible multi‐dentate linkers selectively promote the formation of oligomeric assembly ([TeO3(Mo2O2S2)3O2(OH)(C5O2H7)3]4− {TeMo6}) into tetrahedral cages ([(TeO3)4(Mo2O2S2)12(OH)12(C9H9O4P)6]8− {Te4Mo24} and [(AsO4)4(Mo2O2S2)12(OH)12(C9H9O6)4]12− {As4Mo24}), while steric hindrance from anionic templates further assists in assembling cages into an open quadruply twisted Möbius nanobelt ([(C6H5O3P)8(Mo2O2S2)24(OH)24(C8H10O4)12]16− {P8Mo48}). Among these structures, the hydrophilic‐hydrophobic hybrid cage {Te4Mo24} emerges as an exemplary molecular model for proton conduction and serves as a prototype for humidity gradient‐based power generators (HGPGs). The Te4Mo24‐PVDF‐based HGPG (PVDF=Poly(vinylidene fluoride)) exhibits notable stability and power generation, yielding an open‐circuit voltage of 0.51 V and a current density of 77.8 nA cm−2 at room temperature and 90 % relative humidity (RH). Further insights into the interactions between water molecules and microscale molecules within the generator are achieved through molecular dynamics simulations. This endeavor unveils a universal strategy for synthesizing multifunctional integration molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the performance of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in the forecast of a very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) Vardah that developed over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) and make landfall over the Tamil Nadu coast on 12 December 2016. The study examined the impact of microwave humidity sounder (MHS) satellite radiance data assimilation to forecast of structure, intensity and rainfall of Vardah cyclone near to the coast using two different land surface model (LSM; Noah and Noah-MP). The mean track error is about 33 and 38 km with data assimilation using Noah and Noah-MP LSM respectively and this error is about 41 km in without data assimilation using Noah and Noah-MP LSM. The predicted intensity of the storm in terms of the maximum surface wind is also slightly better predicted in data assimilation experiment with Noah LSM, this is due to the improved initial condition. Accumulated rainfall and the maximum reflectivity in terms of spatial distribution and magnitude of the VSCS Vardah is well simulated in all the experiments but slightly better in data assimilation experiments. Hovmoller diagram is also presented to see the shifting pattern of accumulated rainfall across the region during simulation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain boundaries (GBs) and surface defects within perovskite films are inherent challenges that affect the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells  (PSCs. In this work, Nylon 11 (N11) is utilized, a long‐chain polymer, for post‐treating the GBs and surface defects within FAPbI3 films. The multifunctional groups of N11 exhibit unique passivation abilities, enabling self‐regulation and selective correction of reverse‐charged defects. Post‐treating with N11 results in high‐quality FAPbI3 films characterized by tight GBs and low surface defect density. Despite fabrication under full open‐air conditions, the N11 post‐treatment significantly enhances the power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of FAPbI3 PSCs, increasing it from the reference value of 21.89% to 23.54%. Importantly, the long alkyl chain present in N11 significantly enhances the humidity stability of the PSCs. Unencapsulated PSCs treated with N11 maintain 89% of their initial PCE after exposure to air with 30% relative humidity (RH) for 1000 h, demonstrating resilience to elevated humidity levels. This work highlights the substantial improvement in the photovoltaic performance of PSCs achieved through the post‐treatment with N11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud properties are strongly influenced by ice formation; hence, we need to understand the sources of ice-nucleating particles (INPs) around the globe. Boreal forests are known as sources of bioaerosol, and recent work indicates that these dominate the INP spectra above - 24 °C. To quantify the INP population at temperatures below - 24 °C , we deployed a portable cloud expansion chamber (PINE) in a Finnish boreal forest from 13 March 2018 to 11 May 2018. Using the 6 min time resolution PINE data, we present several lines of evidence that INPs below - 24 °C in this location are also from biological sources: (i) an INP parameterization developed for a pine forest site in Colorado, where many INPs were shown to be biological, produced a good fit to our measurements; a moderate correlation of INPs with aerosol concentration larger than 0.5 µm and the fluorescent bioaerosol concentration; (ii) a negative correlation with relative humidity that may relate to enhanced release of bioaerosol at low humidity from local sources such as the prolific lichen population in boreal forests; and (iii) the absence of correlation with ultra-fine particles (3.5 to 50 nm), indicating that new particle formation events are not sources of INPs. This study should motivate further work to establish whether the commonality in bioaerosol ice-nucleating properties between spring in Finland and summer in Colorado is more generally applicable to different coniferous forest locations and times and also to determine to what extent these bioaerosols are transported to locations where they may affect clouds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humidity sensing has become an essential part of the process industry and the likewise essential device for domestic appliances. Humidity sensors are classified into capacitive and resistive based on their operating principles, capacitance-based humidity sensors dominate the market for their ease of use, simplicity of working, and reduced cost. In this investigation, a series of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites has been developed for use as a dielectric material in capacitance-based humidity sensors due to their low-cost, ease of fabrication coupled with excellent mechanical and electrical properties. The major limitation of carbon fiber-reinforced composites is their susceptibility to delamination, loss of stiffness, and overall failure of the fiber structures. To overcome these limitations, cross-linking and structural modification of the laminates was accomplished by gamma (γ) radiation exposure at dose levels of 1000 and 3000 kGy. γ-radiation exposure increases the volume resistivity and decreases the AC conductivity at higher frequencies due to reduction in free volume and hindered charge carrier transport. Radiation exposure increases the capacitance at 1000 kGy of γ-radiation by 6–32 times, and up to 5 times at 3000 kGy over the values non-irradiated laminate in the frequency range of 100–1000 Hz. The increase in capacitance due to radiation exposure is attributed to increase in dipoles resulting from orientation polarization, and chain scission. Higher sensitivity of 500 pF/%RH in achieved in laminate exposed to 1000 kGy, and 380 pF/%RH in laminate exposed to 3000 kGy over 200 pF/%RH of the base laminate. γ-radiation exposure does not alter the response time and it ranges from 60 to 65 s and the hysteresis is not affected by γ-radiation. Long term drift in capacitance is minimal and is unaffected by γ-radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellowing is the key processing technology of yellow tea, and environmental conditions have a significant impact on the yellowing process. In this study, volatile compounds of the yellowing process under different environmental conditions were analyzed by GC–MS. Results showed that a total of 75 volatile compounds were identified. A partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) determined that 42 of them were differential compounds, including 12 hydrocarbons, 8 ketones, 8 aldehydes, 6 alcohols, and 8 other compounds, and compared the contents of differential compounds under the conditions of 40 °C with 90% humidity, 50 °C with 50% humidity, and 30 °C with 70% humidity, then analyzed the variation patterns of hydrocarbons under different yellowing environmental conditions. A 40 °C with 90% humidity treatment reduced the content of more hydrocarbons and increased the aldehydes. The content of 3-hexen-1-ol was higher when treated at 50 °C with 50% humidity and was consistent with the results of sensory evaluation. This study could provide a theoretical basis for future research on the aroma of yellow tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The faster warming for Arctic Ocean surface air temperature (SAT) relative to that at lower latitude is connected with various processes, including local radiation feedback, poleward oceanic and atmospheric heat transport. It is unclear how combinations of different low‐frequency internal climate modes influence Arctic amplification on the decadal timescale. Here, the decadal Arctic SAT variation, its connection with the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and possible underlying mechanisms, are investigated based on several independent observational proxies, pre‐industrial experiments, and historical large ensembles of two CMIP6 models. Our study suggests that AMOC and Arctic SAT vary in phase on the decadal timescale, whereas this relationship is insignificant at the interannual timescale. Further analysis shows that the AMOC accompanied with cross‐basin oceanic water/heat transport between Atlantic and Arctic would alter air–sea interface exchange over the melting ice regions, and then amplified poleward atmospheric heat and moisture transports. The resulting enhanced downward longwave radiation ultimately warms the Arctic SAT. Additionally, the decadal‐scale North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) can modulate the relationship between AMOC and Arctic SAT by influencing poleward moisture transport and cross‐basin circulation. Specifically, the phase shift of combined NPO and AMOC can contribute 14%–41% covariance relationship between AMOC and Arctic SAT. Our study provides potential sources for predicting the Arctic climate and constraining its uncertainty in future projections. Plain Language Summary: The Arctic has warmed faster than lower latitudes and is capable of influencing weather and climate. Previous studies suggest that Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) can induce warming over the Arctic region, however, the underlying mechanism for AMOC influencing Arctic SAT and whether their relationship is stable are still unclear. In this study, we have identified the relationship between the AMOC and Arctic SAT during 1950–2014 on the decadal scale. Our results demonstrate that AMOC changes in phase with the Arctic SAT, which is dominated by surface downward longwave radiation resulting from poleward moisture and heat transport, and air‐ice‐sea interaction associated with AMOC. Additionally, the North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) can modulate the correlation between AMOC and Arctic SAT by influencing the meridional eddy advection of water vapor and cross‐basin processes. Specifically, the phase shift of combined NPO and AMOC can contribute 14%–41% covariance relationship between AMOC and Arctic SAT. Key Points: The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) change in phase with the Arctic surface air temperature (SAT) during 1950–2014 on a decadal timescale in multiple observationsDecadal Arctic SAT change associated with AMOC is dominated by surface downward longwave radiation, evaporation and poleward moisture transportThe North Pacific Oscillation accompanied with the cross‐basin processes modulates the relationship between AMOC and Arctic SAT [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) as an engineering control against pathogenic microbes necessitates a clear understanding of operational parameters and environmental effects on inactivation rates. Here, we investigated the variation laws of ultraviolet‐C (UV‐C) irradiance under the influence of distance, ambient conditions of temperature, and relative humidity (RH) in a dark chamber using 30‐W low‐pressure mercury lamps, and all data were analyzed with curve fitting methods. UV‐C irradiances in each plane were measured as the distance adjusting between 0.5 and 1.2 m, and a threshold of 70 μW/cm2 was utilized to calculate the effective irradiation area. For the temperature and RH, UV‐C irradiances were measured at 1 m perpendicular from the lamp axis at the lamp midpoint, with the ambient temperature increasing from 15.5°C to 40°C and RH adjusting from 10% to 97%. Results showed that the UV‐C irradiance and effective irradiation area exhibited a notable decrease as the distance increased, both corresponded to polynomial 2nd order fits. The UV‐C lamps operate at maximum efficiency at 20°C. Temperature above or below the optimum value will decrease UV output, especially when the ambient temperature exceeds 38°C and the irradiance decreases by 16% compared to the observed maximum. However, the impact of RH on radiant power is negligible with the UV‐C irradiance maintaining an overall steady state (84–91 μW/cm2) in the 10%–97% RH range. The use of the measurement and modeling techniques demonstrated in this study may help understand various ambient conditions that influence the irradiance of UV‐C and improve reliability and working performance of UVGI systems through better design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal‐organic frameworks of the CPO‐27 (MOF‐74) series are known for their high adsorption capacities for nitrogen oxides. On the other hand, significantly varying and partly contradictory results were reported regarding their stability to moisture. This aspect has hampered the use of these MOFs in air filtration applications. Here, we show that the stability of CPO‐27 materials towards moisture and CO2 crucially depends on the synthesis parameters. By precisely adjusting the synthetic parameter‐property relationship, it is possible to prepare a highly stable CPO‐27(Ni) MOF by a simple precipitation in water. To demonstrate the capacity for NO2, breakthrough experiments were performed under dry and wet conditions (55% relative humidity). Extremely high values of nearly 0.74 g/g in dry conditions and 1.23 g/g under wet conditions were achieved. These results pave the way for the toxicologically safe and cost‐effective preparation of a moisture‐stable CPO‐27(Ni), bridging the gap to a potential industrial application of the material for the selective adsorption of toxic gases, such as NO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period from 2019 to 2021, a series of experiments were carried out to study the uptake of tritium by crops in an area heavily contaminated with atmospheric tritium oxide (HTO), at the former Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan. A quantitative assessment is given of the tritium uptake by typical crops (lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and beans) cultivated all over Kazakhstan in the case of a short-term tritium oxide vapor exposure. The plant samples were collected during and after exposure and analyzed for the tritium concentration in two chemical forms: tissue-free water tritium (TFWT) and organically bound tritium (OBT). During the entire series of experiments, the tritium concentration in free water from leaves and ambient air was of the same order of magnitude. The tissue water tritium concentrations of stems and edible parts was 1 to 2 orders of magnitude lower than in the surrounding air. The average value of the TFWT/HTOatm ratio in the leaves and the edible part was (0.73±0.2) and (0.04±0.002), respectively. The organically-bound tritium concentration is 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than the tissue water tritium and ambient air concentrations. Under aerial tritium oxide uptake, the distribution of tritium in non-leafy crops was as follows: leaf–stem–fruit (in decreasing order). After exposure, a non-significant amount of tritium is firmly retained in plants for a long time. The tissue water tritium concentrations correlate closely with atmospheric tritium oxid (r = 0.76), correlate weakly with temperature (r = 0.43) and relative humidity (r = -0.43), and correlate moderately with solar radiation intensity (r = 0.56). There was no reliable correlation between the concentration of tritium in organic matter and in ambient air. The concentration of tritium in the free water of leaves is closely correlated with the concentration in the free water of the stems (r = 0.95) and fruits (r = 0.78). The organically-bound tritium concentration in leaves is closely correlated with the organically-bound tritium concentration in stems (r = 0.99) and fruits (r = 98). The results of the study should be considered when evaluating the impact of tritium oxide emissions on the population living near nuclear power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to determine when ticks last fed and assign them to a specific feeding cohort is important in attempts to explain their population dynamics; the biochemical measurement of stored lipid, has been widely used for this purpose. However, when relating feeding history to behaviour or infection status, a non‐destructive approach to its assessment would be of value and, to this end, previous studies have attempted to use morphometric indices. Within any instar, the sclerotised scutal components of the body will not vary with increasing starvation while the alloscutal components will, and the resulting ratio should provide a measure of time since feeding. Here, the aim was to determine whether such a morphological ratio (described here as the hunger index) changed predictably with starvation in Ixodes ricinus L. (Ixodida: Ixodidae). For this a cohort of 300 I. ricinus nymphs was collected from the field in February 2021 and starved in a humidified incubator at 15°C and 80% relative humidity (RH). Every 2 weeks, 50 nymphs selected at random were removed and killed by freezing; morphometric measurement was followed by the measurement of lipid using a standard spectrophotometric approach. Both hunger index and stored lipid changed significantly with increasing starvation and were positively correlated with each other. However, the change in morphometric ratio was relatively slight (11%) over 9 weeks and the variation was high. The data suggest therefore that morphological measurements could be used to provide, at best, only broad categorisation of the hunger status of individual I. ricinus ticks in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As pivotal component of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs), proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) play a crucial role in determining performance and energy efficiency of HFCVs. In this study, comprehensive bench tests of fuel cell stack and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests of single cells were conducted, and influence mechanisms of air intake methods and humidity levels on performance of stack and single cells at different locations were analyzed in depth. The results indicate that counter-flow inlet method exhibits superior voltage output performance and stability across various relative humidity (RH) and current densities (CDs). A moderate increase in RH can mitigate performance degradation, but excessive humidity can lead to flooding. When RH is increased to 60%, the voltage difference between co-flow and counter-flow of fuel cell stack does not exceed 0.05 V at 1.6 A/cm2. Meanwhile, the performance of cells near inlet end plate is consistently worse than those farther away under different inlet conditions. In addition, the performance trend of single cells in serpentine channels aligns with that of fuel cell stack, underscoring strong adaptability of mechanisms influencing performance under different conditions. These findings provide theoretical guidance and data support for optimizing performance and preventing failures in PEMFCs. [Display omitted] • Comprehensive bench tests and EIS impedance tests for fuel cells were conducted. • Mechanism underlying effects of air intake method and humidity on stack were analyzed. • Single cell of fuel cell stack obtained better performance away from the inlet end. • Voltage difference across intake methods was <0.05 V at 1.6 A/cm2 CD and 60% RH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehending the loss mechanisms in each process (i.e., activation, oxygen and vapor diffusion, and proton and electron conduction) in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells is necessary to enhance their power density. However, a numerical analysis of overvoltage and resistance for each process considering heterogeneous-structure effects has not been conducted. This study extends a pre-validated heterogeneous catalyst-layer model to evaluate the overvoltage and resistance by process. During a single-cell test, impedance is measured under various operating conditions, followed by distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis. In the simulations, the overvoltage and resistance are separated by process to identify dominant factors. Activation and proton-conduction resistances have similar dependencies on cell voltage and relative humidity, while oxygen-diffusion resistance exhibits different dependencies. Most of the parameter dependencies are corroborated by the experimental results of the DRT analysis, thereby confirming the model's validity. This versatile model can adapt to different electrode structures and operating conditions. • A heterogeneous catalyst-layer model is extended to analyze loss mechanisms. • Dominant overvoltages are identified by separation for physicochemical processes. • Dependencies of resistances on cell voltage and relative humidity are examined. • Parameter dependencies are corroborated by experimental impedance analyses. • Local distributions reveal transition of rate-controlling processes by parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal‐organic frameworks of the CPO‐27 (MOF‐74) series are known for their high adsorption capacities for nitrogen oxides. On the other hand, significantly varying and partly contradictory results were reported regarding their stability to moisture. This aspect has hampered the use of these MOFs in air filtration applications. Here, we show that the stability of CPO‐27 materials towards moisture and CO2 crucially depends on the synthesis parameters. By precisely adjusting the synthetic parameter‐property relationship, it is possible to prepare a highly stable CPO‐27(Ni) MOF by a simple precipitation in water. To demonstrate the capacity for NO2, breakthrough experiments were performed under dry and wet conditions (55% relative humidity). Extremely high values of nearly 0.74 g/g in dry conditions and 1.23 g/g under wet conditions were achieved. These results pave the way for the toxicologically safe and cost‐effective preparation of a moisture‐stable CPO‐27(Ni), bridging the gap to a potential industrial application of the material for the selective adsorption of toxic gases, such as NO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing hourly observational data from automatic weather stations across Fujian Province from 2008 to 2020, this study defined and classified concepts and thresholds for convective precipitation, short-duration convective precipitation, long-duration convective precipitation, localized heavy precipitation, and widespread heavy precipitation. We explored the fundamental diurnal climatic characteristics of convective precipitation during the flood season in Fujian Provinces complex terrain. The results indicate the following. 1) Convective precipitation during the flood season exhibits distinct diurnal variation, with a significant spatial distribution along mountainous and coastal terrains. 2) The frequency of precipitation during the pre-flood season is higher and its intensity is lower than in the post-flood season. Due to differing primary weather systems influencing each period, resulting in substantial differences in the spatial distribution of precipitation frequency and intensity. 3) Both shortduration and localized precipitation show pronounced afternoon peaks in their diurnal patterns, predominantly occurring on windward slopes, highlighting mechanisms of afternoon moist convection and orographic lifting, whereas long-duration and widespread precipitation lack diurnal variation, reflecting the influence of large-scale circulation. These results will help forecasters better understand the unique precipitation characteristics of Fujian Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This study is to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of other infectious diarrhea diseases (OIDDs) reported in Guangzhou in the past 15 years and the meteorological data of the city in the same period, to explore the correlation between meteorological factors and the incidence. Methodology. This study starts with using quartiles to test the normal distribution of case data. This study has selected five meteorological factors with the highest correlation coefficients and case data from 2006 to 2018 were used to establish a multiple linear regression equation, and the regression equation was tested with case data from 2019 to 2020. Results. Regression modeling based on the statistics for OIDDs during 2006 to 2018 obtained a correlation coefficient R (multiple R) value of about 0.50. The R square value, also known as the coefficient of determination or goodness of fit, was about 0.25. The adjusted R square value was about 0.25. The overall significance test value (significance F) in the regression equation was much lower than the F statistic, thereby indicating that the dependent variable and independent variable were significant. Conclusion. The results indicated that factors other than meteorological or social factors should be considered to understand the outbreak of OIDDs in Guangzhou. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue is a vector-borne disease that has increased over the past two decades, becoming a global public health emergency. The transmission of dengue is contingent upon various factors, among which climate variability plays a significant role. However, there remains substantial uncertainty regarding the underlying mechanisms. This study aims to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns of dengue risk and to quantify the associated risk factors in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, from 2001 to 2019. To achieve this, a spatio-temporal Bayesian hierarchical model was developed, integrating delayed and non-linear effects of climate variables, socio-economic factors, along with spatio-temporal random effects to account for unexplained variability. The results indicate that average temperature is positively associated with dengue risk 0-2 months later, showing a 35% increase in the risk. Similarly, high precipitation levels lead to increased risk approximately 2-3 months later, while relative humidity showed a constant risk within a 6 months-lag. These findings could be valuable for local health authorities interested in developing early warning systems to predict future risks in advance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium peroxide (CP) offers promising applications in the food industry due to its oxygen‐donating properties. However, the rapid release of oxygen by CP needs to be addressed for fruit preservation applications. In this paper, a starch‐based foam is prepared to embed CP to alleviate this problem. Results show that the starch foam extruded at 150 °C and 150 rpm shows a high foaming ratio of 19.28 and displays a high moisture adsorption capacity of 0.21 g water/g solids when stored at 97% relative humidity (RH), which effectively regulates the water accessibility to CP. The initial oxygen release rate of the embedded CP is reduced from 0.19 to 0.07 mmol L−1 h−1, and the release time is prolonged. The wet‐stored foam shows excellent cushioning ability, with a recovery ratio higher than 72%. The starch‐based active foam with a tunable release of oxygen and cushioning properties can be used as active packaging for fresh fruit transportation and preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional (1D) Y3Ga5O12:Pr3+ nanotubes (YGG:Pr3+ NTs) were prepared via single-nozzle electrospinning at 30% ambient humidity. The outer diameters of the YGG:Pr3+ NTs are between 190 and 210 nm, and the wall thickness is 35–45 nm. The nanotube consists of single-crystal YGG:Pr3+ nanoparticles. The optical properties of YGG:Pr3+ NTs with different Pr3+ concentrations, particularly their temperature-sensitive properties, were investigated. The YGG: 0.5% Pr3+ NTs exhibit the highest sensitivity of approximately 7.90 × 10−3 K−1 within the temperature range of 303–453 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of water and the type of interlayer anions present affect the arrangement and interlayer spacing of layered double hydroxide (LDH). A systematic study of the effect of relative humidity (RH) on the basal spacing of phosphate intercalated, magnesium aluminum LDHs (MgAl–PO4 LDH) was conducted, confirming that MgAl‐PO4 LDH exhibit distinct interlayer spacing corresponding to separate low‐ and high‐hydration states produced when exposed to low and high humidity conditions. The transition from the low‐ to high‐hydration form begins when RH exceeds 33% and is accompanied by the transition from one to two interlayers of water. An improved understanding of the effect of RH on MgAl–PO4 LDHs will enable more accurate atomistic modeling and experimental characterization of MgAl–PO4 LDHs and may lead to improvements in the tunability of MgAl‐PO4 LDHs for commercial applications such as slow‐release fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the behavior of smart bilayer films under various temperature and relative humidity (RH). Smart bilayer films were fabricated using sodium alginate with incorporated butterfly pea anthocyanin and agar containing catechin–lysozyme. Cellulose nanospheres were added at concentrations of 0% and 10% w/w of the film and subjected to test at 4 °C and 25 °C, considering different RHs (0%, 50%, and 80%). The results showed that RH had a greater impact on the mechanical properties than temperature, leading to a decrease in tensile strength and an increase in elongation at break with higher RH. The films displayed increased strength but reduced flexibility at low temperatures. Oxygen permeability was negatively affected by increasing RH, while water vapor barrier properties were better at 25 °C than at 4 °C. In terms of color stability, the temperature played a more important role, with both types of smart bilayer films retaining their color stability throughout 14-day storage at 4 °C, even maintaining their ability to change color with pH. However, the films stored at 25 °C exhibited lower color stability and showed potential for color change with varying pH levels, but with lower intensity. The findings of this study demonstrate the significant impact of temperature and RH on the functional properties of smart bilayer films, with and without the addition of cellulose nanospheres. Such smart bilayer films have great potential for various applications, particularly in food packaging, where maintaining color, mechanical, and barrier properties under varying environmental conditions is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reanalysis and satellite data indicate a decreasing precipitation area in recent decades, affecting local water resources and precipitation intensities. We have used CMIP6 simulations to test the hypothesis of a shrinking precipitation area in a warming climate. Our analyses reveal that SSP5-8.5 projections show a robust decrease in the precipitation area between 50 °S and 50 °N, and globally in 75% of the simulations. The new findings support the observed relationship, although to a lesser extent than earlier found in reanalysis and satellite data. We find a poleward shift of precipitation, increasing the daily precipitation area in the Arctic from 18% to 28%. At lower latitudes the precipitation area is reduced due to a decreasing occurrence of precipitation. These changes are related to the expansion of low relative humidity zones in the lower-to-mid troposphere, specifically at the poleward edges of the subtropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound events have become more frequent and diverse under global warming. This study specifically focuses on a type of compound events termed spatially compounding flood-nocturnal heat events over adjacent regions. Five flood hotspots are identified to compound with adjacent nocturnal heat. The flood and nocturnal heat are linked via a water vapor transport belt, with flood over the region of prominent water vapor convergence and ascending anomalies and nocturnal heat over the extension region with moderately increased humidity and weak vertical motion anomaly. The compound events for all the hotspots occur more frequently recently, with commonly positive contribution from the increasing trends of nocturnal temperature (TN) but various contribution from the trends of precipitation (Pr) and Pr-TN correlation. The positive contribution of enhanced Pr-TN correlation results from the enhanced variability of the circulation accompanied with water vapor transport. This study highlights the influence of atmospheric circulation variability on compound events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weather conditions and agronomical factors are known to affect Fusarium spp. growth and ultimately deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in oat. This study aimed to develop predictive models for the contamination of spring oat at harvest with DON on a regional basis in Sweden using machine-learning algorithms. Three models were developed as regional risk-assessment tools for farmers, crop collectors, and food safety inspectors, respectively. Data included: weather data from different oat growing periods, agronomical data, site-specific data, and DON contamination data from the previous year. Results showed that: (1) RF models were able to predict DON contamination at harvest with a total classification accuracy of minimal 0.72; (2) good predictions could already be made in June; (3) rainfall, relative humidity, and wind speed in different oat growing stages, followed by crop variety and elevation were the most important features for predicting DON contamination in spring oats at harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the hygroscopicity of heated tobacco's core materials, rolled tobacco sheet was taken as the research object, the effects of external environmental relative humidity, glycerol mass fraction and particle size of tobacco powder on its hygroscopicity were investigated through the single factor experiment. The differences in hygroscopicity of tobacco sheets prepared by rolling method, thick pulp method and paper making method were compared. The first-order and second-order adsorption kinetic models were used to fit and analyze the moisture absorption kinetic characteristics of rolled tobacco sheet. Further investigation was conducted on the hygroscopic thermodynamic properties of rolled tobacco sheet using six common adsorption models. The results showed that environmental relative humidity and mass fraction had the greatest impact on hygroscopicity, the higher the environmental relative humidity and the glycerol mass fraction, the stronger the hygroscopicity. The effect of particle size of tobacco powder on hygroscopicity was insignificant. The hygroscopicity of rolled tobacco sheet was comparable to that of tobacco slices produced by thick pulp method, and both were stronger than that of tobacco slices produced by paper making method. The moisture absorption time curve of rolled tobacco sheet was more in line with the second-order adsorption kinetics model, and its moisture absorption isotherm curve was more in line with the Peleg model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Understanding the developmental conditions of Cephalopina titillator larvae and their effect on the success of pupation and adult emergence can help prevent and control this disease in camels. Incubating C. titillator larvae in vitro requires optimized conditions that have not been adequately reported in the literature. This study aimed to optimize conditions for harvesting adult flies from third-stage larvae (L3). Materials and Methods: L3 collected from naturally infested camels was washed in sterile saline, weighed, and placed in vials containing local sand. The vials were covered with gauze and incubated at 30°C-36°C with 60%-62% relative humidity in an environmental chamber. Results: A minimum critical weight of 754 mg per larva was found to be essential for the successful eclosion of the adults, regardless of the sex of the emerged flies. The pupariation period lasted 1-8 days (d) and took 5-13 days. Most incubated L3 formed puparia, but most failed to emerge as adults. The success rate of eclosion was 37.1%. The hatched adults survived for up to 18 days, and the females survived longer (12 d; 6-18) than the males (8.1 d; 3-16). Conclusions: The higher eclosion success tendency of certain sand types might be influenced by the sand's physical and/or chemical characteristics. The current in vitro conditions resemble those during the hot seasons and are suitable for harvesting viable adults of C. titillator from L3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and Objectives: The present work aimed to prepare a FDBF with a fixed dose of Doxylamine succinate. This film provides fast relief from sudden allergic reactions. Materials and Methods: FDBF were produced employing a technique known as solvent casting. Eight different formulations were tested in an experiment where we varied three factors: X1-PVA concentration, X2-PVP concentration and X3-PG concentration. The two responses were: Y1-disintegration time (sec) and Y2-cumulative drug release (%). Each formulation was subjected to a range of evaluations, including weight variation, folding endurance, thickness, drug content and in vitro studies. Statistical analysis of the responses was performed using Design Expert software version 13.0 trial edition. Results: All the formulations of the films were transparent, non-sticky and could be easily peeled off. They satisfactory exhibited all the evaluation parameters. The concentration of the PVA, PVP and PG was observed to significantly influence on both the disintegration time and drug release. The optimized formulation OF1, dissolved in 68 sec and drug released at 71.5%. Ex vivo testing on goat buccal mucosa showed a drug release rate of 73.3%. The results of the short-term stability test of optimized formulation OF1 according to the International Council for Harmonization guidelines confirmed that the product stays stable for one month at temperature of 30°C±2°C and relative humidity of 65%±5%. Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be concluded that FDBF present a promising drug delivery approach for DOXS bypassing first-pass metabolism. This facilitates rapid drug permeation, improving absorption and bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]