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The moisture with salt ions adsorbed on the mineral soil surface is crucial to the cohesion process when the media is exposed to marine or coastal environments. However, the impact of salinity on the cohesion of soils is not well studied at the nanoscale. In this study, the salinity effect was investigated by studying the wettability and capillary force of NaCl solutions on quartz substrates via a molecular dynamics-based approach. Besides, a new visualization method was proposed to measure the contact angle of liquid droplets from the aspect of nanoscale. The results indicated that salt ions can weaken the wettability of the liquid on the quartz surface and inhibit the capillary force. Compared with water, the liquid with a 10% NaCl solution can achieve a capillary force reduction of around 70%, resulting in a detrimental effect on the cohesion of soils. Overall, this study enhanced the understanding of the nanoscale salinity effect on the cohesion process and provided insights into the modification of the mechanical properties of soils from the aspect of nanoscale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) belongs to the Solanaceae family and is considered an important vegetable worldwide. Its production has been challenged due to soil salinization and water shortages. Local tomato cultivars could be better adapted to salt stress. Based on this hypothesis, the present study was carried out to determine the variation in fourteen different tomato cultivars for salt tolerance. Seed germination, mean germination time, shoot length, and root length were examined under salinity stress (1.5 g L-1 NaCl). Plant growth and seed germination were severely affected by saline conditions. The results of this in vitro experiment showed that the seed germination of Yellow Milk was significantly increased (73.33%) however, Pink Jade and Red Jade cultivars were significantly decreased under the NaCl treatment. Similarly, among the fourteen tomato cultivars, the mean germination time of only Yellow Pearl and Black Current significantly increased. Moreover, the shoot length of eight tomato cultivars decreased compared with the control, while the highest shoot length (12.5 cm) was recorded in the case of Saint cultivar. The root length of Taiwan Red Saint, Purple Beauty, Yellow Milk, Red Pearl, Yellow Pearl, Pink Cooperative 906, Qinzu Shanghai 903, and Scarlet cultivars significantly increased, while the other five cultivars significantly decreased under NaCl treatment compared to control. It is concluded that NaCl stress significantly affects the vegetative growth of tomato cultivars under in vitro culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cold and arid saline areas, the mechanical properties of soils are usually significantly affected by some complicated conditions, especially the coupled effects of the freeze–thaw–dry–wet (F–T–D–W) cycles and soil salinization. This study experimentally investigated the effect of F–T–D–W cycles on the shear performances and microstructures of silty clay that was salinized during wetting processes. Three types of soil samples with different dry densities were designed: (1) silty clay samples without salt (Category Ⅰ); (2) silty clay samples with salt (Category Ⅱ); and (3) silty clay samples that were salinized during wetting processes (Category Ⅲ). Direct shear and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were carried out, the variations in the shear strength, surface deterioration, and shear parameters (e.g., cohesion and internal friction angle) were analyzed, and the degradation mechanism was revealed. The results show that the F–T–D–W cycles and soil salinization significantly affect the shear strength of soils, especially for the samples with low dry densities. The shear strengths of soil samples with and without salt (Categories Ⅰ and Ⅱ) decrease as the F–T–D–W cycles increase. Besides, the cohesion of soil samples increases with dry density and declines with the F–T–D–W cycles due to the appearance of cracks and bond failure among soil particles. In addition, there is a threshold number of F–T–D–W cycles to significantly reduce the cohesion of soil samples, and the threshold numbers for soil samples Categories Ⅰ and Ⅱ are six and three, respectively. The repeated expansion and shrinking of soils accelerate the damage to the soil structure, which results in a decrease in cohesion and interparticle force. However, when the concentration of salt solution in soils exceeds the saturation concentration, a new denser soil skeleton is formed by the soil particles and surrounding salt crystals, which improves the shear strength of the soil samples. This study could provide deep insights into the shear performance and microstructures of silty clay exposed to F–T–D–W cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofluidic energy harvesting from salinity gradients is studied in 2D nanomaterials‐based membranes with promising performance as high ion selectivity and fast ion transport. In addition, moving forward to scalable, feasible systems requires environmentally friendly materials to make the application sustainable. Clay‐based membranes are attractive for being environmentally friendly, non‐hazardous, and easy to manipulate materials. However, achieving underwater stability for clay‐based membranes remains challenging. In this work, the synthetic clay Laponite is used to prepare clay‐based membranes with high stability and excellent performance for osmotic energy harvesting. The Laponite membranes (Lap‐membranes) are stabilized by low‐temperature annealing treatment to effectively reduce the interlayer space, achieving a continuous operation under salinity gradients. Furthermore, the Lap‐membranes conserve integrity while soaking in water for more than one month. The output power density improves from ≈4.97 W m−2 on the pristine membrane to ≈9.89 W m−2 in the membrane treated 12 h at 300 °C from a 30‐fold concentration gradient. Especially, It is found that the presence of interlayer water to be favorable for ion transport. Different mechanisms are proposed in the Lap‐membranes involved for efficient ion selectivity and the states found with varying annealing temperatures. This work demonstrates the potential application of Laponite based nanomaterials for nanofluidic energy harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocean has absorbed anthropogenic carbon dioxide (Canthro) from the atmosphere and played an important role in mitigating global warming. However, how much Canthro is accumulated in coastal oceans and where it comes from have rarely been addressed with observational data. Here, we use a high-quality carbonate dataset (1996-2018) in the U.S. East Coast to address these questions. Our work shows that the offshore slope waters have the highest Canthro accumulation changes (ΔCanthro) consistent with water mass age and properties. From offshore to nearshore, ΔCanthro decreases with salinity to near zero in the subsurface, indicating no net increase in the export of Canthro from estuaries and wetlands. Excesses over the conservative mixing baseline also reveal an uptake of Canthro from the atmosphere within the shelf. Our analysis suggests that the continental shelf exports most of its absorbed Canthro from the atmosphere to the open ocean and acts as an essential pathway for global ocean Canthro storage and acidification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion‐selective nanochannel membranes assembled from two‐dimensional (2D) nanosheets hold immense promise for power conversion using salinity gradient. However, they face challenges stemming from insufficient surface charge density, which impairs both permselectivity and durability. Herein, we present a novel vacancy‐engineered, oxygen‐deficient NiCo layered double hydroxide (NiCoLDH)/cellulose nanofibers‐wrapped carbon nanotubes (VOLDH/CNF‐CNT) composite membrane. This membrane, featuring abundant angstrom‐scale, cation‐selective nanochannels, is designed and fabricated through a synergistic combination of vacancy engineering and interfacial super‐assembly. The composite membrane shows interlayer free‐spacing of ~3.62 Å, which validates the membrane size exclusion selectivity. This strategy, validated by DFT calculations and experimental data, improves hydrophilicity and surface charge density, leading to the strong interaction with K+ ions to benefit the low ion transport resistance and exceptional charge selectivity. When employed in an artificial river water|seawater salinity gradient power generator, it delivers a high‐power density of 5.35 W/m2 with long‐term durability (20,000s), which is almost 400 % higher than that of the pristine NiCoLDH membrane. Furthermore, it displays both pH‐ and temperature‐sensitive ion transport behavior, offering additional opportunities for optimization. This work establishes a basis for high‐performance salinity gradient power conversion and underscores the potential of vacancy engineering and super‐assembly in customizing 2D nanomaterials for diverse advanced nanofluidic energy devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Properties of fluids under P–T conditions of the middle crust were studied with reference to the metasomatic alteration of metamorphic rocks (amphibolite facies) of the Bolshie Keivy nappe of the Keivy terrane of the Belomorian–Lapland collision orogen of the Fennoscandian shield. Properties of the fluids were studied in five selected types of rocks: metamorphic schists and gneisses with graphite, metasomatic quartz rocks with a high content of graphite, kyanite–quartz veins with wall-rock metasomatites, and metasomatic quartz-bearing kyanite rocks and anchimonomineral quartz veins. NaCl, CaCl2, CO2, N2, CH4, heavier hydrocarbons, and graphite were identified in the fluid inclusions using microthermometry and Raman spectroscopy. Using the method of multiequilibrium thermobarometry for mineral associations and the density of CO2 inclusions, a retrograde P–T path was calculated, which reflects the P–T exhumation history of the rocks. An explanation was proposed for the presence of water inclusions with NaCl of low salinity among inclusions of high salinity with NaCl and CaCl2. Comparison of data on the H2O activity (inferred from mineral equilibria) and salt content (data on fluid inclusions) with those of a model fluid (thermodynamic model of the H2O–NaCl–CaCl2–CO2 system) showed a good agreement between natural and model data. Natural and model data were synthesized to analyze variations in the phase state and chemical composition, fluid properties, including H2O activity, density, and salinity along the retrograde P–T trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The groundwater salinization process complexity and the lack of data on its controlling factors are the main challenges for accurate predictions and mapping of aquifer salinity. For this purpose, effective machine learning (ML) methodologies are employed for effective modeling and mapping of groundwater salinity (GWS) in the Mio-Pliocene aquifer in the Sidi Okba region, Algeria, based on limited dataset of electrical conductivity (EC) measurements and readily available digital elevation model (DEM) derivatives. The dataset was randomly split into training (70%) and testing (30%) sets, and three wrapper selection methods, recursive feature elimination (RFE), forward feature selection (FFS), and backward feature selection (BFS) are applied to train the data. The resulting combinations are used as inputs for five ML models, namely random forest (RF), hybrid neuro-fuzzy inference system (HyFIS), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), cubist regression model (CRM), and support vector machine (SVM). The best-performing model is identified and applied to predict and map GWS across the entire study area. It is highlighted that the applied methods yield input variation combinations as critical factors that are often overlocked by many researchers, which substantially impacts the models' accuracy. Among different alternatives the RF model emerged as the most effective for predicting and mapping GWS in the study area, which led to the high performance in both the training (RMSE = 1.016, R = 0.854, and MAE = 0.759) and testing (RMSE = 1.069, R = 0.831, and MAE = 0.921) phases. The generated digital map highlighted the alarming situation regarding excessive GWS levels in the study area, particularly in zones of low elevations and far from the Foum Elgherza dam and Elbiraz wadi. Overall, this study represents a significant advancement over previous approaches, offering enhanced predictive performance for GWS with the minimum number of input variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although pervious reduces surface runoff and replenishes groundwater resources, industrial applications are hindered by uncertainty in properties during mass productions. Most experimental studies correlated design parameters to performance parameters predominantly analysing porosity measured from water replacement method. This explains only a fraction of porosity and leads to inappropriate correlations between the influencing parameters. This study quantified porosity using a novel image analysis. 480 samples of pervious concrete were cast varying aggregate to cement ratio and compaction levels and performance parameters such as, wet-density, compressive strength, apparent, actual and effective porosities were assessed. The developed novel image analysis method facilitates accurate computation of porosity and actual, apparent and effective porosities was analysed quantified and optimised. An optimum A/C ratio was observed as 4.0 corresponding to 30 blows of compaction and a resultant actual porosity of approximately 0.2. Further the study establishes relationships between different types of porosities and their performance implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

São Vicente Medical Spa is located in mainland Portugal (Southwest Europe) and has been using thermal waters for therapeutic purposes for a long time. The Romans were known to have used its sulphureous waters around 2000 years ago. The spa has a Roman bathhouse that is still visible today, and its ruins were discovered during recent excavations. In this work are presented some elements of the Roman baths, the current baths, as well as the main aspects of the thermal park, with the location of the sulphureous water abstractions, including the classic thermal spring, which discharges water at a temperature of 18.6 ºC. The geomorphological, geological, and hydrogeological aspects are outlined, giving particular attention to the water chemistry of the various abstractions to develop multiple applications of geothermometers to contribute to the knowledge of the geohydraulic model at depth and the geothermal potential of the aquifer system. The conclusions are drawn from a conceptual model, including the reservoir depth, which, according to various scenarios, will be between 3 km and 8 km, in a favorable situation, respectively, to reach groundwater with temperatures between 112 ºC and 118 ºC. Finally, some remarks are made about the location of the new groundwater abstraction and the depth to be reached to increase the exploitation flows and their temperature. Lastly, it outlined new studies to improve the current geohydraulic model and to investigate its relationship with the deep aquifer systems in its neighborhood, namely the Entre-os-Rios hydromineral system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to investigate the effects of seawater parameters like salinity, pH, and temperature on the external corrosion behaviour and microhardness of offshore oil and gas carbon steel pipes. The immersion tests were performed for 28 days following ASTM G-1 standards, simulating controlled artificial marine environments with varying pH levels, salinities, and temperatures. Besides, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis is performed to study the corrosion morphology. Additionally, a Vickers microhardness tester was used for microhardness analysis. The results revealed that an increase in salinity from 33.18 to 61.10 ppt can reduce the corrosion rate by 28%. In contrast, variations in seawater pH have a significant effect on corrosion rate, with a pH decrease from 8.50 to 7 causing a 42.54% increase in corrosion rate. However, the temperature of seawater was found to be the most prominent parameter, resulting in a 76.13% increase in corrosion rate and a 10.99% reduction in the microhardness of offshore pipelines. Moreover, the response surface methodology (RSM) modelling is used to determine the optimal seawater parameters for carbon steel pipes. Furthermore, the desirability factor for these parameters was 0.999, and the experimental validation displays a good agreement with predicted model values, with around 4.65% error for corrosion rate and 1.36% error for microhardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic carbon emissions have resulted in drastic oceanic changes, including increased acidity, increased temperature, and decreased salinity. Anthropogenic carbon emissions have resulted in drastic oceanic changes, including increased acidity, increased temperature, and decreased salinity. Few studies have directly assessed the compounded impact of alterations to oceanic conditions on oyster physiology and the relation to the presence of V. parahaemolyticus. This project investigated the relationship between projected climate scenarios and their influence on both eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, and the aquatic bacteria, Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Specifically, we examined whether an increase in water temperature and/or decrease in salinity would impair oyster resistance to V. parahaemolyticus, a human food and waterborne pathogen. Using a culture-dependent approach, our data revealed that the alterations in environmental conditions did not significantly impact the numbers of V. parahaemolyticus numbers within oyster hemolymph or tissues. However, we did observe a dramatic increase in the total amount of bacteria and pathogenic native Vibrio species, Vibrio aestuarianus and Vibrio harveyi. Despite detecting V. parahaemolyticus in most tissues at 7 days post-challenge, oysters were able to reduce bacterial levels below our limit of detection by 28 days of exposure. Furthermore, in our second experimental trial exploring single vs. multiple inoculation of bacteria, we observed that oysters were either able to reduce total bacterial levels to pre-treatment burdens (i.e., below our limit of detection) or die. This study demonstrates that the synergistic effects of elevated temperature and decreased salinity do not inhibit oysters from preventing the long-term colonization of exogenous V. parahaemolyticus. However, our data do show these environmental stressors impact oyster physiology and the native microbiota. This can lead to the proliferation of opportunistic pathogens, which could have impacts on oyster population numbers and ecosystem and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extremophilic microorganisms play a key role in understanding how life on Earth originated and evolved over centuries. Their ability to thrive in harsh environments relies on a plethora of mechanisms developed to survive at extreme temperatures, pressures, salinity, and pH values. From a biotechnological point of view, thermophiles are considered a robust tool for synthetic biology as well as a reliable starting material for the development of sustainable bioprocesses. This review discusses the current progress in the biomanufacturing of high-added bioproducts from thermophilic microorganisms and their industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the integration of high-resolution hydrodynamic modeling and comprehensive field measurements, this study elucidates the intricate three-dimensional hydrographic characteristics of the eastern Gulf of Thailand (eGOT). In addition to the prevalent tidal currents dictating alternating flow along the northwestern and southeastern axes, our investigation reveals pronounced seasonal variations in mean currents, water temperature, and salinity within the eGOT, closely linked to the dynamics of the Asian–Australian monsoon system. During the southwest monsoon, mean currents exhibit a southeasterly trend, contrasting with a northwesterly pattern during the northeast monsoon. Lowest water temperatures occur during the latter, while the highest levels are observed during the 1st monsoon transition (April–March). Notably, salinity levels reach their lowest levels during the southwest monsoon and the 2nd monsoon transition (October), coinciding with the seasonal stratification of the water column and the emergence of a distinct stable along-the-shore northwesterly current with the average speed of 15 cm/s, defined here as the "Chanthaburi Coastal Current (CCC)". Model experiments attribute the formation of the CCC to decreased salinity induced by direct rainfall, highlighting the significance of rainfall as a key factor influencing coastal water dynamics in tropical regions or areas experiencing high precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moisture content of rock/coal can change its mechanical properties and absorption capacities, which can directly affect gas diffusivity, change the stress distribution and hence cause significant impacts on the overall gas or coal extraction process. Observation of the water penetration process and water distribution in the coal matrix will be beneficial for the understanding of the fluid-solid coupling mechanism in hydraulic fracturing, aquifer cracking and coal seam infusion. However, the observation of water penetration process and the determination of water distribution mode were hard to be non-destructively achieved as coal is a non-uniform, inhomogeneous and un-transparent material. µ-CT imaging, which is based on variation of X-ray attenuation related to the density and atomic composition of the scanned objects, enables a four-dimensional (spatial-temporal) visualise of the heterogeneous and anisotropic coal samples. The primary aim of this paper is extending the application of µ-CT imaging to explore the moisture penetration and distribution within coal samples during water infusion process, which has been reported by very little literature. The working principle and procedures of CT imaging was firstly introduced. Then, the determination equation of moisture distribution based on density profile was established. The CT determined moisture content has been compared with weighting method for verification. The paper has demonstrated that µ-CT can be used for non-destructively imaging the moisture distribution within coal samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the accumulation, distribution, and mobility of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in the sediments of a low‐lying coastal drainage network (Ravenna, Italy). The aim is to understand the geochemical processes occurring between drainage water and canal bed sediments and assess factors affecting and driving PTE distribution and enrichment in these environments. A geochemical database resulting from the analysis of 203 drainage sediment samples was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis and compared to undisturbed near‐surface sediment samples from the same depth and depositional environment. The results reveal PTEs exceeding national regulation limits. Distance from the sea, electrical conductivity of drainage water, and fertilizer use were identified as the main driving factors. The primary mechanisms for PTE precipitation (As, Co, Mo) and subsequent enrichment in the sediments is attributed to the absorption on Fe‐ and Mn‐oxyhydroxides (HFO and HMO), particularly in high salinity areas near the coast. While Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, and V also have affinity for HFO and HMO, their adsorption efficiency decreases due to the competition with salt‐derived cations during ongoing salinization processes. Anthropogenic sources, including agriculture, hunting activities, traffic dust, and railways, contribute to the local abundance of other elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Sn). This paper's significant progress lies in assessing the concurrent interactions of chemical and physical processes that drive PTE distribution and accumulation in reclaimed low‐lying coastal plains. The findings are significant for assessing PTE accumulation risks and sediment toxicity in coastal areas affected by water salinization, drainage, and subsidence, providing valuable information to water management institutions globally. Plain Language Summary: This study investigates the presence of harmful substances called Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in the sediment of the drainage canals in Ravenna's coastal area (Northern Italy). Researchers want to understand how these substances accumulate and spread in the sediment and what factors influence their distribution. They collected sediment samples from the bottom of the drainage canals and compared them to natural sediment samples. The results show that the PTE levels exceed the national and international limits. The distance from the sea, the water salinity, and the fertilizers are found to be the main factors affecting the distribution of PTEs. The researchers also discover that some PTEs (Arsenic, Cobalt, and Molybdenum) are absorbed by certain minerals in the sediment, especially in areas with high salinity close to the coast. However, other harmful elements, like copper, zinc, lead, chromium, and vanadium are not as strongly absorbed due to competition with salt‐related substances. The abundance of other elements like chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, lead, and tin come from human activities like agriculture, hunting, traffic, and railways. These findings are important for understanding the risks associated with these substances in the sediment, particularly in low‐lying coastal areas that have been reclaimed for human use. Key Points: First study on Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) enrichment in drainage canal sediments of reclaimed low‐lying coastal areaKey roles of (i) Fe‐ and Mn‐oxyhydroxides in PTE enrichments and (ii) salt‐derived cations in adsorption efficiencyDistance from the sea, salinity of drainage water, and use of fertilizers are the main factors affecting the distribution and enrichment of PTEs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the impact of soil salinity on the strength and bearing capacity of frozen walls in underground structures, specifically in potash mines. The presence of dissolved salt in frozen soils affects the transition of pore water into ice, leading to a decrease in strength and bearing capacity. The study focuses on two types of soils (chalk and clay) and three types of salts (NaCl, KCl, and CaCl2), conducting experiments to analyze the strength properties of frozen soils with different salt concentrations. The results indicate that the presence of dissolved salt reduces the maximum load-bearing capacity of the frozen wall, primarily due to a decrease in wall thickness and an increase in unfrozen water content. The findings suggest that when designing artificial ground freezing projects, the influence of dissolved salt should be considered in determining freezing points and assessing load-bearing capacity. [Extracted from the article]

Thermal performance modeling and performance prediction of a solar still which is single basin single slope (SBSS) for the typical climatic condition of India at Jalandhar (31.3260° N, 75.5762° E) is analyzed in the present work. A numerical investigation of an SBSS solar still is conducted during the month of June 2022 using the ANSYS Fluent 2021 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package and artificial neural network (ANN) prediction model. A user define function is written and used in fluent to formulate the problem with 9‐h solar radiation flux, on solar still glass surface. The simulation outcomes for surface temperature at three different water depths were compared with the existing experimental study. Water temperature and productivity of freshwater were well aligned with experimental results. Three‐dimensional domain is used with a two‐phase volume of fluid model for the condensation and evaporation processes in a solar still. The performance evaluation parameters, that is, coefficients of convective, evaporative, and radiative heat transfer, different temperature values, distillation output, and system efficiency were calculated numerically. The parametric analysis is expanded, and an ANN model in MATLAB R2020a is utilized to estimate yearly performance and reduce the high computational cost of numerical analysis. The data for solar radiation, design, and operational parameters are fed into the ANN model, and as a result, the water temperature at various depths is computed. The ANN model was trained using numerical results computed for the month of June and tested, showing 99.7% accuracy with CFD results. The annual performance of the solar still was evaluated using ANN models for 9 h of the day and with different boundary conditions. To decrease computational and experimental costs, the recommended technique of combined CFD and ANN models for computing the annual performance of (SBSS) solar still is the most effective option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Coal Science & Technology (0253-2336) is the property of Coal Science & Technology 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.)

Copyright of Coal Science & Technology (0253-2336) is the property of Coal Science & Technology 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.)

A six-months study was undertaken from April, 2022 to September, 2022 to evaluate the impacts of cage aquaculture of Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer impacts on the surrounding water quality parameters in Kalnagini creek located at Kakdwip in West Bengal. Total 380 numbers of Asian Seabass were stocked (stocking density 25 nos./m² by area and 10 nos./m³ by volume) in circular cage (4 m diameter, 2.5 m depth, 15.2 m² area and 38 m³ volume) for culture on natural feed. The various physiochemical parameters of water such as water temperature (29.2 to 33.1°C), pH (7.35-8.53), dissolved oxygen (4.2 to 6.2 mg/L), salinity (8.67-29.82 ppt), total hardness (1067 to 1749.3 mg/L as CaCO3), total alkalinity (113.7 to 178.3 mg/L as CaCO3) and free CO2 (3.15 -8.02 mg/L) were assessed monthly at the cage site (S1), 50 m away (S2) and 100 m away from cages sites (S3) for a period of six months. Length, weight, length-weight relationship, condition factor (K), absolute growth rate (AGR), and percentage of specific growth rate (SGR%) were analysed for the cultured Asian seabass (L. calcarifer). Initial length-weight relationship followed a polynomial trend (y = 1.54x²-42.44x + 337.25, R²=0.9704), but after six months, it became linear (y = 38.55x-768.13, R² = 0.6939). The condition factor indicated negative allometric growth throughout the culture period. Water quality parameters remained within permissible limits for fish culture, except for hardness. Notably, small-scale cage aquaculture did not significantly impact on the water quality parameters. This study suggests that cage aquaculture of Asian seabass in Kalnagini Creek has minimal adverse effects on water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, electromagnetic induction (EMI) measurements have been increasingly used for investigating soil salinization caused by the use of brackish or saline water as an irrigation source. EMI measurements proved to be a powerful tool for providing spatial information on the investigated soil because of the correlation between the output geophysical parameter, i.e., the electrical conductivity, to soil moisture and salinity. In addition, their non-invasive nature and their capability to collect a high amount of data over broad areas and in a relatively short time makes these measurements attractive for monitoring flow and transport dynamics, which are otherwise undetectable with conventional measurements. In an experimental field, EMI measurements were collected during the growth season of tomatoes and irrigated with three different irrigation strategies. Time-lapse data were collected over three months in order to visualize changes in electrical conductivity associated with soil salinity. A rigorous time-lapse inversion procedure was set for modeling the soil salinization induced by brackish irrigation water. A clear soil response in terms of an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) in the upper soil layer confirmed the reliability of the geophysical tool to predict soil salinization trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfate corrosion is an important cause of accelerated structural failure in concrete structures in coastal and saline alkali areas. High ductility concrete has good tensile and durability properties, and is therefore widely used for the repair and reinforcement of damaged structures. To investigate the flexural performance of high ductility concrete on ordinary concrete structures in saline alkali environments, experimental methods were used to test it. The experimental data validated that the bearing capacity of the 10 mm specimen reinforced with high ductility concrete before and after corrosion is 125 kN and 117 k, respectively. After reinforcement and corrosion, the bearing capacities of the specimens were 115 kN, 129 kN, and 139 kN, respectively. In addition, sodium sulfate reduced the deformation capacity of the original specimen by 13.9 %, but after reinforcement, the deformation capacity of the specimen increased by at least 97.1 %. Compared to reinforced specimens in non saline alkali environments, the deformation capacity of reinforced specimens in saline alkali environments decreases by no more than 23 %. Compared to unreinforced specimens, the strain capacity of reinforced concrete and longitudinal bars in sulfate environments increased by at least 28.1 % and 34.5 %, respectively. However, compared to reinforced specimens in conventional environments, the strain capacity of reinforced specimens in sulfate environments decreased by no more than 19 %. The above results indicate that high ductility concrete can effectively improve the bending resistance of specimens, while also slowing down the corrosion of sulfates on specimens and effectively extending the service life of concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In last decade, Prosperity in contemporary Saudi Arabia and the consequent stresses on renewable freshwater resources resulted in the bottled drinking water market. Over the period, sustainable water resources planning (SWRP) has become an essential requirement for the development of places where these resources are highly constrained. To meet this market growth in Saudi Arabia is augmented by increasing demand for bottled water. This drastic increase, leads some countries to develop an alternative sources including desalinated water and treated wastewater for landscaping irrigation, industrial reuse, street cleaning, and aquifer recharge. There are claims on health concerns the possibility of chemicals migration from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into drinking water. In this paper, inductively coupled plasma -optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was utilized and applied to determine the antimony (Sb) release from PET bottles into mineral water of 8 local brands at different temperature degrees within 8 months storage time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using either brackish or saline water is one of the most critical and serious problem in cultivation of ornamental shrubs in Mediterranean areas. So, an investigation was performed during 2021 and 2022 seasons to reveal the tolerance of Brazilian cherry (Eugenia uniflora L.) transplants to salinity of irrigation water. The applied doses of natural Siwa halite for water salinization were 0.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0 g L-1 under the Egyptian climatic conditions. The results indicated that mean values of survival rate were gradually decreased by increasing the salinity level to be 58.33 and 70.0 % in the seasons, respectively after applying 10.0 g L-1. Similarly, were the mean values of vegetative and root growth parameters, which linearly decreased with increasing applied salinity dose up to 10.0 g L-1, with exception for 2.0 and 4.0 g L-1 ones which significantly improved values of most growth traits in most cases of both seasons. Also, salinized water at 6.0 g L-1 recorded better results compared to the control in some characters either in the first or in the second season. The same trend was observed for the results of leaf chemical composition, with the exception of K, Na, Cl and proline contents, which recorded a progressive increase with the gradual increase in applied salinity level ranged from 2 to 3 folds comparing with the control. The salt resistance index percentages were also improved by both 2.0 and 4.0 g L-1 saline water treatments, but significantly declined afterwards to reach 81.5 and 73.7 % by 10.0 g L-1, showing the high ability of such plant to cope with high salt stress. Accordingly, under conditions of fresh water rarity, it could be recommended irrigation of Brazilian cherry transplants using saline water up to 6.0 g L-1 dose to keep quality and decorative value of such plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Atmospheric water harvesting through reticular materials is an innovation that has the potential to change the world. Here, this study offers a technique for creating a solar-powered hygroscopic polymer material for atmospheric water harvesting with the reticular materials. The results show that the porous hygroscopic polymer materials can achieve high performance with high vapor capture (up to ac. 28.8–49.7 mg/g at 28–38 %RH and 25 ℃), rapid photothermal conversion efficiency (up to 32.2 ℃ within 15 min under 1000 W/m−2 light at 25 ℃), a low desorption temperature (lower than 40 ℃), and an effective water release rate. Besides, the material also has excellent water-retention properties, which can effectively store desorbed liquid water in polymer networks for use by vegetation during water demand periods. The strategy opens new avenues for atmospheric water-harvesting materials, which will hopefully solve the global crisis of freshwater shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on detecting and mitigating soil salinization in four coastal areas of the Mekong Delta (Vietnam). Salinity patterns in the soils of the Mekong River Delta are not random but linked to land use practices and distance to the sea. We examine two quick yet reliable remote sensing-based techniques to detect the coastal aquaculture area and separate it from the inland freshwater farmland. These techniques can eventually be used to identify locations with an elevated risk of salinization in other coastal regions. Finally, we investigate a salinization mitigation solution based on creating a managed aquifer recharge system along the buffer zone that separates the coastal aquaculture area from the inland freshwater agriculture area. The implementation of an infiltration pond system is technically feasible in the Mekong Delta provided that hydrogeological characteristics, the fresh-saline interface position, and freshwater demands are considered. The transitional zone between freshwater agriculture and brackish water aquaculture in Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh and Ben Tre provinces is optimal for implementing an aquifer recharge/freshwater barrier scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water shortage and salinization are the main challenges confronted by irrigated agriculture in semiarid and arid regions. As one of the top-three largest irrigation districts in China, the Hetao Irrigation District faces pressing challenges to reduce irrigation water use and mitigate soil and groundwater salinization. Managing water and salinity requires understanding and analyzing not only the hydrologic and agronomic processes involved but the cropping and irrigation decision-making of farmers. With this aim, we build a hydroeconomic optimization model, which integrates the agrohydrological processes of water and salt balance in the crop root zone and underlying aquifer into economic optimization of water allocation and crop production. The positive mathematical programming method is used to calibrate the model such that it can replicate base-year observations. Model results highlight that a portfolio of interventions is necessary for alleviating soil and groundwater salinization and maintaining agricultural productivity and revenues; it is thus crucial to understand their long-term, cumulative effects for the sake of sustainable irrigated agricultural production. The model can assist decision-making for water and salinity management in the HID and offer useful insights for water and salinity management in irrigated agriculture of other arid regions in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) represents a technique for biocementation, altering the hydraulic and mechanical properties of porous materials using bacterial and cementation solutions. The efficacy of MICP depends on various biochemical and environmental elements, requiring careful consideration to achieve optimal designs for specific purposes. This study evaluates the efficiency of different MICP protocols under varying environmental conditions, employing two bacterial strains: S. pasteurii and S. aquimarina, to optimize soil strength enhancement. In addition, microscale properties of carbonate crystals were investigated and their effects on soil strength enhancement were analyzed. Results demonstrate that among the factors investigated, bacterial strain and concentration of cementation solution significantly influence the biochemical aspect, while temperature predominantly affects the environmental aspect. During the MICP treatment process, the efficiency of chemical conversion through S. pasteurii varied between approximately 80% and 40%, while for S. aquimarina, it was only around 20%. Consequently, the CaCO3 content resulting from MICP treatment using S. pasteurii was significantly higher, ranging between 5% and 7%, compared to that achieved with S. aquimarina, which was about 0.5% to 1.5%. The concentration of the cementation solution also plays a pivotal role, with an optimized value of 0.5 M being critical for achieving maximum efficiency and CaCO3 content. The ideal temperature span for MICP operation falls between 20°C and 35°C, with salinity and oxygen levels exerting minor impact. Furthermore, although salinity influences the characteristics of formed carbonate crystals, its effect on unconfined compressive strength (UCS) values of MICP-treated soil remains marginal. Samples subjected to a one-phase treatment, adjusted to pH values between 6.0 and 7.5, exhibit roughly half the UCS strength compared to the two-phase treatment. These findings hold promising potential for MICP applications in both terrestrial and marine environments for strength enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal aquifer of Ras Jebel is located in the northeastern governorate of Bizerte. It is formed by a Mio–Plio‐quaternary geological structure. The region of Ras Jebal is considered an important agricultural centre due to intensive groundwater exploitation. This overexploitation results in a decrease in piezometry and an increase in salinity. The groundwater piezometric study shows a decrease in the piezometric level of approximately −3.34 to −1.79 m in 2015. Our study based on vertical electrical sounding had the aim to monitor the salinity of the water table in 2017, which showed that refill transactions in the aquifer of Ras Jebel caused the improvement of the chemical quality of water. In fact, the salinity in the coastal zone is between 2.53 and 4.14 g/L. As for the resistivity, which reached 2 Ω m near the sea, the geophysical study based on the geoelectric method has provided an electrical image of the basement to clarify the basin structure. The use of an electrical prospection method to study the salinization of the water table of Ras Jebel has highlighted the contribution to the most origin of saltwater: natural origin (sea water intrusion) on the northeastern coast of Ras Jebel. This source is the main origin of the degradation of the quality of underground water resources in Ras Jebel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaporative hydrovoltaic generators hold significant potential for alleviating water‐energy crisis, but low output voltage configurations due to the slow phase transition rate of water molecules and the intricate nature of integration limit their applications. Herein, a lotus‐inspired interfacial evaporation‐driven hydrovoltaic generators (IEHVG) is developed for efficient generation of water vapor and electricity from seawater instead of freshwater and achieves an ultrahigh voltage output higher than 100‐volt level through forested IEHVG integration. The biomimetic hydrogel is developed with specific liquid transport channels, graphene quantum dots/MXene nanocomposites, and gradient hydrophobic interface for highly enhanced photothermal evaporation and electricity generation by mimicking the transpiration process of a "stems‐leaves of lotus". The synergistic thermodiffusion effect leads to the output power density of IEHVG reaches up to 45.6 µW cm−2 and can power electronic devices or charge commercial supercapacitors. The freshwater‐electricity cogeneration integrated system consisting of 192 IEHVG units can harvest a record‐breaking voltage reaching 105 V and a high freshwater harvesting rate up to 2.0 L m−2 h−1 from seawater in a well‐lit outdoor area. This work demonstrates that IEHVG offers a novel concept for modular freshwater and high‐voltage power sources access on offshore work platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of a single genotype to produce different phenotypes under different environmental conditions, plays a profound role in several areas of evolutionary biology. One important role is as an adaptation to a variable environment. While plasticity is extremely well documented in response to many environmental factors, there is controversy over how much of that plasticity is adaptive. Evidence is also mixed over how often conspecific populations display qualitative differences in the nature of plasticity. We present data on the reaction norms of growth and maturation to variation in temperature and salinity in male and female sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) from three locally adjacent populations from South Carolina (SC). We compare these reaction norms to those previously reported in locally adjacent populations from north Florida (NF). In general, patterns of plasticity in fish from SC were similar to those in fish from NF. The magnitude of plasticity differed; fish from SC displayed less plasticity than fish from NF. This was because SC fish grew faster and matured earlier at the lower temperatures and salinities compared to NF fish. This is a countergradient pattern of variation, in which SC fish grew faster and matured earlier in conditions that would otherwise slow growth and delay maturity. Among fish from both regions, males were much less plastic than females, especially for length at maturity. While there was no detectable heterogeneity among populations from NF, males from one of the SC populations, which is furthest from the other two, displayed a qualitatively different response in age at maturity to temperature variation than did males from the other two SC populations. The pattern of population variation in plasticity within and among regions suggests that gene flow, which diminishes with distance in sailfin mollies, plays a critical role in constraining divergence in norms of reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stream ecosystem functioning is often impaired by warming and salinization, but the joint effect of both environmental stressors on key processes such as leaf litter decomposition is virtually unknown, particularly in the tropics. We experimentally explored how increased water temperature (26, 29 and 32°C) and salinity (no salt addition, 0.1, 1.0 and 10 g l−1 NaCl added) affected the rates of total, microbial and detritivore-mediated decomposition, in stream microcosms containing leaf litter of Ficus insipida and larvae of Chironomus sp. collected from tropical streams. Effects of temperature were strong and consistent with previous findings: it promoted microbial decomposition and reduced decomposition mediated by detritivores, which showed greater feeding activity at 26°C. Salinity was negatively correlated with microbial decomposition at 32°C; it also had a negative influence on detritivore-mediated decomposition, which was nevertheless non-significant due to the high detritivore mortality at higher salinities. Notably, total decomposition was reduced with the joint presence of both factors (32°C and salt addition treatments, compared to 26°C and no salt addition), indicating the existence of additive effects and highlighting the relevance of multiple-stressor contexts when assessing the consequences of global change on stream ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of pore network characteristics on fluid flow through complex and heterogeneous porous media, providing insights into the factors affecting fluid propagation in such systems. Specifically, high-resolution or micro X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging techniques were utilized to examine outcrop stromatolite samples of the Lagoa Salgada, considered flow analogous to the Brazilian Pre-salt carbonate reservoirs. The petrophysical results comprised two distinct stromatolite depositional facies, the columnar and the fine-grained facies. By generating pore network model (PNM), the study quantified the relationship between key features of the porous system, including pore and throat radius, throat length, coordination number, shape factor, and pore volume. The study found that the less dense pore network of the columnar sample is typically characterized by larger pores and wider and longer throats but with a weaker connection of throats to pores. Both facies exhibited less variability in the radius of the pores and throats in comparison to throat length. Additionally, a series of core flooding experiments coupled with medical CT scanning was designed and conducted in the plug samples to assess flow propagation and saturation fields. The study revealed that the heterogeneity and presence of disconnected or dead-end pores significantly impacted the flow patterns and saturation. Two-phase flow patterns and oil saturation distribution reveal a preferential and heterogeneous displacement that mainly swept displaced fluid in some regions of plugs and bypassed it in others. The relation between saturation profiles, porosity profiles, and the number of fluid flow patterns for the samples was evident. Only for the columnar plug sample was the enhancement in recovery factor after shifting to lower salinity water injection (SB) observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saline aquifers have been used for CO2 storage as a dedicated greenhouse gas mitigation strategy since 1996. Depleted gas fields are now being planned for large-scale CCS projects. Although basalt host reservoirs are also going to be used, saline aquifers and depleted gas fields will make up most of the global geological repositories for CO2. At present, depleted gas fields and saline aquifers seem to be treated as if they are a single entity, but they have distinct differences that are examined here. Depleted gas fields have far more pre-existing information about the reservoir, top-seal caprock, internal architecture of the site, and about fluid flow properties than saline aquifers due to the long history of hydrocarbon project development and fluid production. The fluid pressure evolution paths for saline aquifers and depleted gas fields are distinctly different because, unlike saline aquifers, depleted gas fields are likely to be below hydrostatic pressure before CO2 injection commences. Depressurised depleted gas fields may require an initial injection of gas-phase CO2 instead of dense-phase CO2 typical of saline aquifers, but the greater pressure difference may allow higher initial injection rates in depleted gas fields than saline aquifers. Depressurised depleted gas fields may lead to CO2-injection-related stress paths that are distinct from saline aquifers depending on the geomechanical properties of the reservoir. CO2 trapping in saline aquifers will be dominated by buoyancy processes with residual CO2 and dissolved CO2 developing over time whereas depleted gas fields will be dominated by a sinking body of CO2 that forms a cushion below the remaining methane. Saline aquifers tend to have a relatively limited ability to fill pores with CO2 (i.e., low storage efficiency factors between 2 and 20%) as the injected CO2 is controlled by buoyancy and viscosity differences with the saline brine. In contrast, depleted gas fields may have storage efficiency factors up to 80% as the reservoir will contain sub-hydrostatic pressure methane that is easy to displace. Saline aquifers have a greater risk of halite-scale and minor dissolution of reservoir minerals than depleted gas fields as the former contain vastly more of the aqueous medium needed for such processes compared to the latter. Depleted gas fields have some different leakage risks than saline aquifers mostly related to the different fluid pressure histories, depressurisation-related alteration of geomechanical properties, and the greater number of wells typical of depleted gas fields than saline aquifers. Depleted gas fields and saline aquifers also have some different monitoring opportunities. The high-density, electrically conductive brine replaced by CO2 in saline aquifers permits seismic and resistivity imaging, but these forms of imaging are less feasible in depleted gas fields. Monitoring boreholes are less likely to be used in saline aquifers than depleted gas fields as the latter typically have numerous pre-existing exploration and production well penetrations. The significance of this analysis is that saline aquifers and depleted gas fields must be treated differently although the ultimate objective is the same: to permanently store CO2 to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and minimise global heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) is ubiquitous in aquatic environments and is an essential component in the carbon cycle in karst areas. To improve understanding of the carbon cycle in karst caves with heterogeneous hydrological processes, we examined the spatiotemporal variability of DOM composition and further uncovered its source and fate. Results may also provide insights into the feedbacks of organic carbon to carbon sinks in karst regions. In this study, concentrations and compositions of DOM, partial pressure of aqueous carbon dioxide (pCO2), dissolved inorganic carbon, and other physicochemical parameters were investigated in a karst cave at Mahuang, Southwest China. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy was coupled with multiple statistical analyses to identify the compositional variations and potential fates of DOM in cave waters. The results showed that DOM dynamics were regulated by both terrigenous and biogenic drivers under the control of meteorological conditions. With higher air temperature, precipitation, and microbial activity, fulvic fractions were consumed to generate CO2, leading to the accumulation of refractory DOM in cave waters and changing the hydrochemical features. When temperature and precipitation decreased, DOM was dominated by lignin fractions, which served as an indicator of terrestrial inputs and vascular plants, suggesting variation in the preferential fraction of biological consumption. In addition, different hydrological path patterns influenced DOM properties in cave waters due to differences in recharging, the leaching process, and subsurface reworking. Thus, hydrology could serve as an important constraint on the coupling between dissolved organic and inorganic carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The daily maximum temperature and seawater level continuously increase as global warming continues. We examined the adaptability and production performance of heat-stressed goats with a supply of low-saline drinking water. Methods: Twelve Kacang and Kacang Etawah cross goats were exposed to two climatic conditions (control, 25°C to 33°C, 83% relative humidity [RH], temperature humidity index [THI]: 76 to 86; and hot environment, 26°C to 39°C, 81% RH, THI: 77 to 94) and two salt levels in drinking water (0% and 0.4% NaCl). The experimental design was a Latin Square (4×4) with four treatments and four periods (28 days each). Results: Temperature of the rectal, skin, and udder, and respiration rate rose, reached a maximum level on the first day of heat exposures, and then recovered. Plasma sodium rose at 0.4% NaCl level, while the hot environment and salinity treatments increased the drinking water to dry matter (DM) intake ratio. Water excretion was elevated in the hot environment but lowered by the increase in salinity. Total lying time increased, whereas change position frequency decreased in the hot condition. Lying and ruminating and total ruminating time increased and explained the enhanced DM digestibility in the hot conditions. Conclusion: The goats exhibited a high level of plasma sodium as salinity increased, and they demonstrated physiological and behavioral alterations while maintaining their production performances under increasing daily maximum temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study deals with water quality (WQ) assessment season-wise ionic concentration in the Mewat district of Haryana, India. A total of 36 groundwater samples were collected, 12 each for the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons of 2016, to know the status of WQ for drinking and irrigation purposes. Piper, Durov, and Gibbs plots were used to find out the water type and the factors controlling the chemistry of groundwater, respectively. Piper diagram reveals that Ca-Cl and mixed Ca–Mg-C1 typed water during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post monsoon season's where- Na-Cl water type indicates salinity problem. Gibb's plot depicted that the weathering of rocks is the major reason behind the ionic chemistry of the groundwater. Water Quality Index (WQI) has been calculated to know the overall WQ based on physico-chemical parameters estimated for this study. It was found that Na+ concentration was dominant among cations and Cl- among anions. Moreover, irrigation indices (KR, RSC, P.I, Cl–/HCO3–,SAR, and Na%) represent that majority of the groundwater samples during pre-monsoon (PRM) season were suitable for agricultural purposes but in monsoon (MON) and post monsoon (POM) season majority of samples lie in an unsuitable zone. The groundwater in the study region presents a high risk of salinization. Using the baseline data generated through this work, there is an immediate need for carrying out a detailed study to address the groundwater issues, understand salinity mechanisms, expansion of salinization in the fresh water aquifers and to suggest suitable management and remedial measures. Extension of this work is being carried out in the form of a purpose driven study under the National Hydrology Project aided by the World Bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regular hydrochemical monitoring of groundwater in the Mila basin over an extended period has provided valuable insights into the origin of dissolved salts and the hydrogeochemical processes controlling water salinization. The data reveals that the shallow Karst aquifer shows an increase in TDS of 162 mg L−1 while the thermal carbonate aquifer that is also used for drinking water supply exhibits an increase of 178 mg L−1. Additionally, significant temperature variations are recorded at the surface in the shallow aquifers and the waters are carbogaseous. Analysis of dissolved major and minor elements has identified several processes influencing the chemical composition namely: dissolution of evaporitic minerals, reduction of sulphates, congruent and incongruent carbonates' dissolution, dedolomitization and silicates' weathering. The hydrogeochemical and geothermometric results show a mixing of saline thermal water with recharge water of meteoric origin. Two main geothermal fields have been identified, a partially evolved water reservoir and a water reservoir whose fluid interacts with sulphuric acid (H2S) of magmatic origin. These hot waters that are characterized by a strong hydrothermal alteration do ascend through faults and fractures and contribute to the contamination of shallower aquifers. Understanding the geothermometry and the hydrogeochemistry of waters is crucial for managing and protecting the quality of groundwater resources in the Mila basin, in order to ensure sustainable water supply for the region. A conceptual model for groundwater circulation and mineralization acquisition has been established to further enhance understanding in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relic Lake Mogilnoe, separated from the Barents Sea by a sand and pebble dam, is located in the high Arctic on the Kildin island (Murmansk region). This lake is a classic example of a meromictic basin of marine origin. The data obtained during the 2018 expedition showed changes in the hydrochemical regime of the lake that have occurred over the past 20 years. Sulfide concentration in the monimolimnion of the lake was as high as 140 mg/L. A tendency for salinization of the surface waters to 7 g/L has been noted. The Lake Mogilnoe is characterized by a discrepancy between the halocline and thermocline levels. The chemocline zone in the lake is below the halocline level. In a narrow oxygen-containing layer between 3 and 7.5 m, aerobic microflora of the marine type and marine fauna were present. The bacterial plate was formed at the boundary of the sulfide layer at ~8 m and mainly consisted of green sulfur bacteria (GSB). Brown-colored GSB species containing bacteriochlorophyll e were predominant. The previously formed concept of anaerobic phototrophic bacteria (APB) biodiversity based on morphological characteristics was modified using metagenomic data obtained by analyzing DNA from two samples of lake water in the chemocline zone, and was also supplemented by identifying new GSB species. Molecular diagnostic data confirmed the absolute dominance of the brackish species of GSB Chlorobium phaeovibrioides. This is the first isolation and identification of brown- and green-colored Prosthecochloris aestuarii morphotypes from Lake Mogilnoe, as well as of bacteriochlorophyll c-containing Prosthecochloris sp. The taxonomic position of Pelodyction phaem, which was constantly present in the Lake Mogilnoe, is discussed in detail. Despite the partial isolation of the ecosystem of Lake Mogilnoe from the Barents Sea, the main properties of the dominant GSB species and Prosthecochlori aestuarii turned out to be similar to those of the phylotypes living in lakes on the White Sea coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores nanomaterials' potential in CO2 capture and storage, emphasizing their role in CO2 diffusion and interfacial tension. We aimed to develop eco-friendly nanomaterials and evaluate their impact on CO2 sequestration, considering factors like pressure, temperature, salinity, and nanoparticle concentration. The research involved experimental measurements of CO2 diffusion in brine solutions and brine-based nanofluids containing green silica NPs and SiO2/Xanthan nanocomposites. CO2 diffusion coefficients were determined through practical pressure decay measurements using the Sheikha method. These measurements were conducted within a Fluid EVAL (PVT) cell, allowing CO2 interaction with each solution. The results of the study revealed significant improvements in the carbon dioxide (CO2) diffusion coefficients and reductions in interfacial tension when utilizing water/silica nanofluids containing 0.5 wt.% and 0.1 wt.% concentrations, in comparison with a brine solution without nanoparticles (NPs) and with a high salt concentration (20 wt.% NaCl). The CO2 diffusion coefficient increased from 2.15E-09 to 4.01E-09 m2/s. An even more significant enhancement was observed with 0.1 wt.% SiO2 NPs, where the CO2 diffusion coefficient reached 4.87E-09 m2/s. In addition, CO2 interfacial tension reduced from 44.3517 to 1.0388 mN/m and 0.9098 mN/m, respectively. The general trend of the measured carbon dioxide diffusion coefficient aligned with increased pressure and temperature. Additionally, when considering the transition to a supercritical state, the findings highlighted consistent behavior, independent of variations in pressure and temperature. Conversely, the interfacial tension between CO2 and nanofluids decreased in response to heightened pressure and temperature. Moreover, an increase in salinity led to a rise in interfacial tension. In conclusion, heightened CO2 diffusion and reduced interfacial tension improve CO2 sequestration, enhancing CO2 transport, absorption, and storage efficiency for successful long-term CO2 storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backward erosion piping constitutes a major threat for dikes on sandy or silty foundations during high water and floods. This erosion mechanism results in the formation and development of shallow hollow spaces (pipes) at the interface between the impermeable top layer and the aquifer. Erosion at the tip of the pipe determines the progression of the pipe towards the upstream side. A valid criterion should be developed to predict the critical local gradient at which erosion at the pipe tip occurs. Based on the failure mode of the tip of the pipe that the erosion near the toe of the scarp of the pipe tip causes the collapse of the scarp, in combination with the seepage field near the pipe tip, analyses are conducted regarding the equilibrium of forces on single particles at the toe of the scarp and a group of particles of the scarp. The conditions for incipient motion for particles at the pipe tip are determined. And a novel criterion for predicting the critical local gradient at the pipe tip is developed, which is essential for assessing the risk of pipe progression in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Dom Feliciano Belt, Brazil, the Pinheiro Machado Complex (PMC) includes diorites, tonalites, granodiorites, syenogranites and granites, whose evolution is related to several magmatic pulses and complex petrogenetic processes. Two magmatic stages were identified (early and late), resulting in different rock subgroups. The geochemical data showed that the early magmatism was chemically affected by partial melting. Geochemical modelling results suggest that fractional crystallization processes with assimilation of around 40% from the crustal basement and the decoupling of assimilated magma are crucial for the PMC rocks' genesis. Geochemical data also show that during the early magmatism, the subsequent process of early diorite anatexis developed by heating and continuous activity of the underlying magma chamber possibly occurred at a melting rate of 5%–10%. The hybrid rocks have contributions from the mixing process related to early terms, showing geochemical correlations in the major element curves, for the early diorite and syenogranitic melt members, at 60%–50% and 50%–40%, respectively. Slab failure tectonic context is related to the multi‐intrusive events dynamics recorded in the studied rocks. Recharge and melting events of the recently formed crust due to the constant heating of new pulses of deep slab melting would explain the magmatic interactions observed in the Complex. The results demonstrate that the studied rocks crystallized in an open system, including mixing processes to form hybrid rocks, physical disaggregation and assimilation of early intrusions, truncation, dragging and erosion of early mushes by younger pulses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saline aquifers are the most popular waste and CO2 injection and storage reservoirs worldwide. This project proposes that several optimal injection positions should be investigated as hydraulic pressure‐focused positions, in order to relieve the high demands of pump performance. The comprehensive indices (Fi) representing the injectivity of different burial depths were obtained by using information entropy, based on the mercury injection experimental data of 13 rock samples. The results demonstrated that the burial depths of No. 4, No. 1 and No. 2 in the Liujiagou Formation were the most suitable positions for hydraulic focused injection, which means the upper 30 m thickness could be regarded as the hydraulic focused range in the saline aquifer with an average thickness of 400 m. In addition, some laboratory experiments and in situ tests were carried out for the purpose of certifying and analyzing results, including SEM, XRD, brittleness index and logging. The results suggested that the rock samples at the No. 4, No. 1 and No. 2 burial depth ranges have loose microstructure, weak cementation, as well as dual pores and fractures. The lithology is mainly quartz and feldspar, but the clay mineral content is high (10%–25%), which is positive for dissolution. The lithology is suitable for hydraulic fracturing to form extended cracks and micro‐fissures during high‐TDS (total dissolved solids) mine water injection, because of the high brittleness index. Finally, a theoretical and technical framework for high‐TDS mine water injection was established, based on operating pilot engineering. Some theoretical defects and drawbacks learned from the field practices were summarized and solutions proposed. The research in this study could provide guidance and a paradigm for the inexpensive treatment of high‐TDS mine water by injection and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) systems are garnering attention as high-efficiency air conditioning technologies that contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society. This study focuses on an ATES system constructed in Japan, characterized by its complex geological conditions and thin aquifer layers. Detailed actual performance data measured over four years are presented, and performance analysis results show that a COP of 5 was achieved for the overall building cooling and heating system. In addition, the study provides a detailed analysis of the imbalance in heat quantity, remaining heat storage, and other factors based on actual data, identifying operational issues and summarizing specific improvement measures. Finally, as a proposal for a sustainable operational method to balance the cumulative heat storage and pumping volume of cold and hot water, specific operational procedures are summarized, including setting the return water temperature for the next season based on the dimensionless average pumping temperature of the previous season, and a flowchart is presented. There is no prior research that shows such specific operational procedures, and this can be considered an important achievement of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal areas of the lower reaches of Oujiang River Basin are rich in groundwater resources. However, the unsustainable exploitation and utilization of groundwater have led to significant changes in the groundwater environment. Understanding the characteristics and genesis of groundwater salinization is crucial for preventing its deterioration and ensuring sustainable utilization. In this study, a comprehensive approach combining the ion ratio method, mineral saturation index method and multivariate statistical analysis was employed to investigate the hydrochemical characteristics and main controlling factors in the study area. The findings reveal that: (1) Groundwater samples in study area exhibit a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. The predominant chemical types of unconfined water are HCO3-Ca·Na, HCO3·Cl-Na·Ca and HCO3·SO4-Ca·Na, while confined water mainly exhibits Cl·HCO3-Na and Cl-Na types. (2) Salinity coefficients indicate an increase in salinity from unconfined to confined water. TDS, Na+ and Cl- concentrations show an increasing trend from mountainous to coastal areas in unconfined water, while confined water displays variability in TDS, Na+ and Cl- concentrations. (3) Groundwater salinity is mainly influenced by water-rock interactions, including the dissolution of halite and gypsum, cation exchange, and seawater intrusion etc. Additionally, human activities and carbonate dissolution contribute to salinity in unconfined water. Seawater intrusion is identified as the primary factor leading to higher salinity in confined water compared to unconfined water, with increasing cation exchange and seawater interaction observed from unconfined to confined water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing non- or under-utilized crops to cultivation generates benefits such as biodiversity enrichment, supporting mitigation actions towards climate change-induced effects. The salinization of soil and water supplies is progressively disrupting natural habitats and food production, especially in regions such as the Mediterranean. Sonchus oleraceus L. is a Mediterranean wild leafy green with nutritional and medicinal properties. This study's purpose was to determine whether salinity affects the growth, quality, and nutrient composition of Sonchus oleraceus L. In an unheated plastic greenhouse, seedlings were transplanted in pots filled with perlite and irrigated with a nutrient solution with no NaCl added (the control, C) or with the addition of 40, 60, 80, and 100 mM of NaCl (treatments S4, S6, S8, and S10, respectively). The leaf and root growth, leaf quality, and the nutrient composition of leaves and roots were determined. Regarding the results, growth was mainly affected at high salinity levels (S8 and S10), with no observed effects of salinity on the determined quality parameters. The nutrient composition was variably affected by salinity in leaves but not in roots (except in the case of Na and the K/Na ratio). Sonchus oleraceus L. showed a general relative tolerance in moderate salinity levels (40 and 60 mM of NaCl), suggesting potential commercial exploitation of the species in areas where the quality of irrigation water is low. However, the health effects of consuming this species grown under salinity stress need to be studied in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth and survival of marine organisms are influenced by environmental factors such as water temperature, salinity, and pH. Unsuitable environmental conditions may negatively impact marine organisms. The white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), a euryhaline organism highly adapted to salinity, is a valuable species for aquaculture. This study examined the effects of water temperature, salinity, and pH on the health of postlarvae L. vannamei. Stress levels within the organisms were analyzed through the expression of a biomarker gene. Ferritin was selected as the biomarker gene for analysis. The experimental animal samples used were the hepatopancreas of L. vannamei postlarvae. The analysis was performed by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the adaptation of L. vannamei postlarvae to temperature was dependent on salinity. Under low-salinity conditions (5 psu), ferritin expression increased at 25 °C and 30 °C after 48 h of exposure; however, it decreased after 72 h of exposure. Under normal salinity conditions (27 psu), ferritin expression increased from 24 h to 72 h at water temperatures of 25 °C and 30 °C. These results indicate that low-salinity conditions may enable L. vannamei postlarvae to rapidly adapt to high temperatures. In conclusion, L. vannamei postlarvae adapt more efficiently to high temperatures under low-salinity conditions than that under high-salinity conditions. The results of this study could beneficially impact L. vannamei farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]