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The emergence of two-dimensional (2D) materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offers the possibility of exploring new regimes of capillarity and wetting that remained inaccessible with traditional microfluidic and nanofluidic substrates. Here, we bring out the non-intuitive capillary filling regimes in closed-end CNTs using molecular-level investigations. Contrary to the existing understanding of the advancing liquid meniscus getting retarded by the viscous resistance offered by an entrapped vapor phase in a three-dimensional capillary, here the liquid meniscus is shown to accelerate toward the later stages of the dynamic wetting, which is attributed to the modified surface friction due to a 2D interface. This apparently counterintuitive observation is qualitatively linked to the local pressure fluctuations across the meniscus caused by the spontaneous bombardment of the entrapped vapor molecules, which may ramify into hitherto unexplored phenomena of a shape-reversed meniscus advancing in the 2-D pore. We further develop a simple analytical model to represent the essential physics of the resulting capillary filling dynamics, featuring significant deviations from the classical Lucas–Washburn paradigm. These results may turn out to be imperative in realizing new regimes of capillarity in 2D materials in multifarious applications, ranging from energy storage and water filtration to thin film flows in integrated electronics and photonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To measure zirconia-to-zirconia microtensile bond strength (µTBS) using composite cements with and without primer. Materials and Methods: Two Initial Zirconia UHT (GC) sticks (1.8x1.8x5.0 mm) were bonded using four cements with and without their respective manufacturer's primer/adhesive (G-CEM ONE [GOne] and G-Multi Primer, GC; Panavia V5 [Pv5]), and Panavia SA Cement Universal [PSAu], and Clearfil Ceramic Plus, Kuraray Noritake; RelyX Universal (RXu) and Scotchbond Universal Plus [SBUp], 3M Oral Care). Specimens were trimmed to an hour-glass shaped specimen whose isthmus is circular in cross-section. After 1-week water storage, the specimens were either tested immediately (1-week µTBS) or first subjected to 50,000 thermocycles (50kTC-aged µTBS). The fracture mode was categorized as either adhesive interfacial failure, cohesive failure in composite cement, or mixed failure, followed by SEM fracture analysis of selected specimens. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects statistics (α = 0.05; variables: composite cement, primer/adhesive application, aging). Results: The statistical analysis revealed no significant differences with aging (p = 0.3662). No significant difference in µTBS with/without primer and aging was recorded for GOne and PSAu. A significantly higher µTBS was recorded for Pv5 and RXu when applied with their respective primer/adhesive. Comparing the four composite cements when they were applied in the manner that resulted in their best performance, a significant difference in 50kTC-aged µTBS was found for PSAu compared to Pv5 and RXu. A significant decrease in µTBS upon 50kTC aging was only recorded for RXu in combination with SBUp. Conclusion: Adequate bonding to zirconia requires the functional monomer 10-MDP either contained in the composite cement, in which case a separate 10-MDP primer is no longer needed, or in the separately applied primer/adhesive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the antibacterial effects of Terminalia catappa Linn (TCL) leaf extracts at different concentrations and the effects of these extracts used as primers on the long-term adhesive properties of two universal adhesives. Materials and Methods: After extract preparation, the antimicrobial and antibacterial activities of TCL against Streptococcus mutans (UA 159) were assessed in microdilution assays to provide the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC). Additionally, to provide quantitative data on the ability of TCL extract to reduce cell viability, colony forming units (CFU) were counted. To examine adhesive properties, 288 human molars were randomly assigned to 32 experimental conditions (n = 9) according to the following variables: (1) treatment agent: negative control (untreated surface), and primers at concentrations of 1xMIC, 5xMIC, and 10xMIC; (2) adhesives: Scotchbond Universal (SBU) and Futurabond Universal (FBU); (3) adhesive strategy: etch-and-rinse (ER) or self-etch (SE); and (4) storage time: 24 h or after 2 years. Primers were applied for 60 s, upon which the teeth were incrementally restored and sectioned into adhesive-dentin bonded sticks. These were tested for microtensile bond strength (pTBS) and nanoleakage (NL) after 24-h and 2-year water storage, as well as in-situ degree of conversion (DC) at 24 h. The chemical profile of the hybrid layer was determined via micro-Raman spectroscopy. Biofilm assay data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test; the pH of culture media and the chemical profile were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The adhesive properties (pTBS, NL, DC) were evaluated using a four-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. Significance was set at 5%. Results: Similar values of MIC and MBC were observed (2 mg/ml), showing bactericidal potential. CFU analysis demonstrated that concentrations of 5xMIC and 10xMIC significantly inhibited biofilm formation (p < 0.001). The application of the TCL primer at all concentrations significantly increased the immediate pTBS and DC, and decreased the immediate NL values when compared to the control group (p < 0.05), regardless of the adhesive and adhesive strategies. Despite an increase in the NLvalues for all groups after2years (p > 0.05), in groups where the TCL primerwas applied, the pTBS remained constant after 2 years for both adhesives, while a decrease in the pTBS was observed in the control groups (p < 0.05). Usually, IOxMIC showed better results than 1xMIC and 5xMIC (p < 0.05). The application of TCL promoted cross-linking; cross-linking rates increased proportionally to the concentration of TCL (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Primers containing TCL promoted bactericidal and bacteriostatic action, as well as cross-linking with dentin, while maintaining the adhesive properties of the adhesive-dentin interface after 2 years of water storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the influence of contamination and different cleaning methods on resin bonding to cobalt-chromium (CoCr) alloy disks. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 CoCr disks were divided into 3 groups. The first group (N = 64) was air abraded with alumina particles; the second group (N=64) was air abraded and contaminated with silicone disclosing agent and saliva; the third group (N=32) was neither air abraded nor contaminated. The first two groups were divided into 4 subgroups (N = 16) according to the cleaning method: ultrasonic bath in 99% isopropanol, use of a cleaning suspension of zirconium oxide particles, use of a cleaning suspension based on 10-MDP salt, and treatment with atmospheric plasma. The third group was divided into 2 subgroups (N = 16): treatment with atmospheric plasma and no treatment. All CoCr specimens were bonded to plexiglas tubes filled with a bonding resin that contained phosphate monomer. Tensile bond strength (TBS) was examined by tensile testing after 3 and 150days of water storage plus 37,500 thermal cycles (N = 8). Results: After contamination, TBS was significantly reduced after 150days of water storage. Groups without air abrasion showed initially low TBS and debonded spontaneously after 150days of water storage. Conclusion: None of the cleaning methods was able to remove saliva and silicone disclosing agent on CoCr-alloy surfaces. Surface activation by plasma treatment has no long-term effect on the bond strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This investigation aimed to assess the impact of additive manufacturing-generated surface textures on zirconia bond strength. Materials and Methods: Zirconia samples (n = 144) fabricated using digital light-processing (DLP) technology were categorized into 6 groups according to the type of surface conditioning (group NN: no designs, no air abrasion; group NY: no designs, with air abrasion; group GN: groove designs, no air abrasion; group GY: groove designs with air abrasion; group HN: hexagon grid, no air abrasion; group HY: hexagon grid, with air abrasion). Composite resin cylinders were cemented to the treated zirconia surfaces with dual-curing, self-adhesive resin cement (Clearfil SA Luting). The shear bond strength (SBS) was tested after water storage for 3 days or 3 days with an additional 10,000 thermocycles. Results: The zirconia samples fabricated using DLP technology have high accuracy. The SBS of the NY, GY, and HY groups did not significantly differ after 3 days, and neither did the SBS of the NN, GN, and HN groups. The NN, NY, and HY groups exhibited reduced SBS compared to their initial values following artificial aging, while the SBS of the remaining three groups were not diminished. The GY group obtained the highest SBS value after aging. Conclusion: Printing grooves with air abrasion can improve the bond strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: As natural polymer materials, barley proteins have been utilized to fabricate nanocarriers to encapsulate and delivery hydrophobic bioactive ingredients. However, as a result of the high proportion of hydrophobic amino acids and structural rigidity, barley protein‐based nanocarriers tend to aggregate easily and have a low loading capacity, which greatly limits their application. In the present study, barley proteins were enzymolyzed to fabricate nanomicelles and then applied to encapsulate hydrophobic bioactive ingredient. RESULTS: Self‐assembled barley peptides could be obtained by controllable enzymolysis of barley proteins. The obtained barley peptides could self‐assemble into nanomicelles (BPNMs) with a diameter of approximately 90 nm when the concentration was > 2.1 μg mL−1. Hydrophobic interaction, disulfide bonds and hydrogen bonds were involved in maintaining the structure of BPNMs. Six self‐assembled peptides (QQPFPQ, QTPLPQ, QLPQIPE, QPFPQQPQLPH, QPFPQQPPFGL and QPFPQQPPFWQQQ) were identified and they were characterized by alternating arrangement of hydrophobic amino acids and hydrophilic amino acids. Moreover, BPNMs were utilized to encapsulate hydrophobic bioactive ingredient quercetin. When quercetin was encapsulated by BPNMs, its water solubility was significantly increased, being approximately 30‐fold higher than free quercetin. Meanwhile, encapsulation of BPNMs could greatly increase quercetin stability. The interaction between BPNMs and quercetin occurred spontaneously, mainly driven by van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds. CONCLUSION: In the present study, BPNMs were successfully developed and could be used as a promising delivery system to improve the water solubility and stability of hydrophobic bioactive ingredients. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaporative cooling, an eco-friendly and energy-efficient technique, mitigates the environmental damage caused by mechanically driven air-conditioners. Recent studies have shown that rotating humidifiers are useful for large space cooling applications due to their higher efficiency. Despite the benefits, it leads to an increase in the electrical energy consumption. Vermicompost, an excellent water storage medium, replaces the pad of conventional air coolers, thereby eliminating the pump used for water circulation and the motor used in centrifugal humidifiers. However, the amount of water storage depends on the mass of the vermicompost. The supplied water should produce continuous cooling if the vermicompost is completely soaked and operated. If all the water evaporates over a period, vermicompost may dry, necessitating additional water supply. Hence, the need arises to study the influence of the mass of vermicompost and the water supply method on the performance of vermicompost-based direct evaporative cooling systems. The present study proposes to experiment with three different masses and two modes of water supply: initial and continuous. Experimental results showed that the system produced an average effectiveness of 82 % using '500 g' and '1000 g' of vermicompost through the continuous water supply, while the effectiveness augments to 85 % using '1500 g' of vermicompost with only the initial water supply. The studies reveal that a lower mass of vermicompost with a continuous water supply is preferable for cooling in small spaces. A higher mass of vermicompost with an initial water supply is helpful for large spaces like greenhouses and livestock buildings. Hence, the present system is energy-efficient, showing an energy savings of 69.43% by neglecting the pump and motor, as in centrifugal humidifiers. Moreover, it is eco-friendly as it eliminates the pump and sump that lead to the transmission of diseases like dengue and malaria caused by insect breeding in the sump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most urban agglomerations in Algeria are facing persistent water shortages, mainly caused by climate change and rapid urbanization. To alleviate this problem, the government has introduced a system of intermittent water supply. This measure obliges households to store drinking water during cuts periods to ensure uninterrupted access to water in their homes. This study investigated the potential of rainwater harvesting to reduce the need for such storage. By analyzing five different simulation scenarios, the study focused on the application of rainwater harvesting in individual households in the Algerian municipality of Beni-Mered. The results showed that the effectiveness of rainwater harvesting varied significantly depending on the usage scenario. In fact, rainwater harvesting was able to reduce drinking water storage from 5% to 84%. These results underline the importance of the government adopting a comprehensive development strategy for rainwater harvesting, based on a participatory framework and supported by financial resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are regarded as attractive electrochemical energy conversion devices owing to their exceptional efficiencies and superb fuel flexibility. However, their widespread implementations are remarkably restricted by the inferior sulfur tolerance of state-of-the-art nickel-based cermet anodes under practical conditions. Herein, a layered NaLaTiO 4 (NLTO) perovskite oxide with Ruddlesden-Popper structure is designed as a new anode for SOFCs operating on sulfur-containing fuels. After impregnating NLTO into a samaria-doped ceria (SDC) scaffold, such impregnated nanocomposite anode exhibits high electrochemical activity, sulfur tolerance and stability in H 2 S-containing fuels due to the polar layered structure, abundant oxygen vacancies, superior surface basicity and water storage capability, leading to the efficient removal of the deposited/adsorbed sulfur on the surface of this nanocomposite anode. The electrochemical activity of the NLTO-based composite anode for fuel oxidation is further improved by adding nickel nanoparticles through impregnation, showing enhanced power outputs and considerable operational stability in H 2 S-containing fuels. This study provides a new, high-performing and sulfur-resistant anode for SOFCs, which may promote the commercialization of this technology. [Display omitted] • Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite anode (NaLaTiO 4 , NLTO) is designed for solid oxide fuel cells. • The NLTO-infiltrated anode shows high sulfur tolerance due to the polar layered structure. • The NLTO-infiltrated anode also displays high water storage capability and surface basicity. • The cell with NLTO-infiltrated anode exhibits enhanced power outputs in 500 ppm H 2 S-H 2. • The cell with NLTO-infiltrated anode delivers superb operational stability in 500 ppm H 2 S-H 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of great importance to evaluate and identify human water withdrawal and water use activities’ impact, which could help carry out better regional water resources management regulation. Human water withdrawal and water use data sets significantly improve the simulation performance of hydrological models by quantifying their effect on runoff. To demonstrate this, the point source data set is used to make grid data with a resolution of 1km and using the Wetspa-WR model (The Wetspa extension model including human water withdrawal module and reservoir storage module) with the expanded water extraction and use module and the water conservation project regulation and storage module. We applied the model in the upper reaches of the Yongding River in the Zhangjiakou area (ZJKYDR). The flexibility of the new model improves the characterization of uncertainty in simulated catchment streamflow and can be used for impact decomposition. The results showed the following: (1) The simulation efficiency of Wetspa-WR is higher, e.g., the relative error (RB) for the rating period decreased from 65.3% to −26.3% and the RB for the validation period decreased from 58.6% to −18.6%. (2) During 2017–2020, the effects of climate change, interval water extraction and use, reservoir regulation, and water storage on flow were −18.98%, −44.91%, and −8.67%, respectively. (3) When excluding the differences in water extraction and reservoir storage across the subwatershed, the watershed outlet flow increased by 8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water on land is essential for all societal, ecosystem, and planetary health aspects and conditions, and all life as we know it. Many disciplines consider and model similar terrestrial water phenomena and processes, but comparisons and consistent validations are lacking for the datasets used by various science communities for different world parts, scales, and applications. Here, we present a new global data synthesis that includes and harmonises four comparative datasets for main terrestrial water fluxes and storage changes, and the catchment-wise water balance closure they imply for the 30-year period 1980–2010 in 1561 non-overlapping hydrological catchments around the world. This can be used to identify essential agreements and disagreements of the comparative datasets for spatial variations and temporal changes of runoff, evapotranspiration, water storage, and associated water-balances around the global land area, e.g., for pattern recognition and hypothesis/model testing. The facilitated direct dataset comparison can advance a more coherent, realistic cross-disciplinary understanding of Earth's water states and changes across regions and scales, from local and up to continental and global. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water – Global Assessment and Prognosis (WaterGAP) is a modeling approach for quantifying water resources and water use for all land areas of the Earth that has served science and society since 1996. In this paper, the refinements, new algorithms, and new data of the most recent model version v2.2e are described, together with a thorough evaluation of the simulated water use, streamflow, and terrestrial water storage anomaly against observation data. WaterGAP v2.2e improves the handling of inland sinks and now excludes not only large but also small human-made reservoirs when simulating naturalized conditions. The reservoir and non-irrigation water use data were updated. In addition, the model was calibrated against an updated and extended data set of streamflow observations at 1509 gauging stations. The modifications resulted in a small decrease in the estimated global renewable water resources. The model can now be started using prescribed water storages and other conditions, facilitating data assimilation and near-real-time monitoring and forecast simulations. For specific applications, the model can consider the output of a glacier model, approximate the effect of rising CO2 concentrations on evapotranspiration, or calculate the water temperature in rivers. In the paper, the publicly available standard model output is described, and caveats of the model version are provided alongside the description of the model setup in the ISIMIP3 framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the impact of different discharge time, discharge power, and storage time on the pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), electrical conductivity (EC), H2O2, and the physicochemical properties and the stability at 4°C were evaluated. With the increase of plasma discharge time and discharge power, all the values increased except pH value. There were no significant changes in the values of pH, ORP, and EC for 30 days storage at 4°C (p > 0.05). The concentrations of NO3−, NO2−, and H2O2 exhibited significant changes (p < 0.05) after stored for 5 days. The plasma discharge time and discharge power showed significant effects on the physicochemical properties and activity of PAW. Moreover, the concentrations of NO3− and NO2− significantly affected the storage stability of PAW at 4°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this paper were to: (i) analyze field testing results to find the reason of current unreasonable operation strategy; (ii) propose operation strategy based on the above work and demonstrate its effectiveness. The results indicated that, unreasonable operation strategies were mainly due to the mismatching of chilled water storage capacity and user side cooling demand. And heat pumps inefficiently operating under low part load ratio (PLR) condition from 11:00 to 19:00 in design day resulted in high operation cost, too. In this paper, proposed operation strategy considered operation objective, operation constraints, time of use electricity price and heat pumps efficient operation. Compared to current operation strategy, proposed operation strategy yielded 30.5% operation cost saving in design day and 15.1% seasonal operation cost saving in summer. Proposed operation strategy is effective to guide system actual operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soilless substrate stratification is increasing in popularity in the greenhouse and nursery industry globally. The concept of stratifying substrates entails stacking two substrates with different physiochemical properties to augment vertical moisture balances and redistribution for quicker establishment, greater root growth, and quicker time to market. Stratified substrate research to date has estimated or assumed that the static physical properties of a stratified system as the mean of the individual strata components. No research to date has verified or rejected this assumption using a stratified column. The research herein measured the static physical properties of 1) peatlite (85% peat: 15% perlite), 2) unprocessed <12.7 mm aged bark, 3) fine bark particles (#6.3 mm), and 4) coarse bark particles ($6.3 mm). Moreover, these physical properties were measured via 1) using the standard promoter analysis (7.6 cm core), 2) extending the core height by stacking two standard porometer cores (15.2 cm height) of the same strata component atop each other (to identify how water storage and air-filled porosity changes), and 3) stratifying either peatlite over unprocessed bark or fine bark over coarse bark. The results showed that extending the height of the porometer increased drainage and decreased water storage across conventional and stratified systems alike, illustrating the benefit of using cores equivalent to container height when making cultural decisions to manage water efficiently. When stratifying substrates, the system as a whole stores less water and has more airfilled porosity than nonstratified composite profiles (100% peatlite; 100% unprocessed bark) due to gravitational forces draining the higher portion of the container. Assumptions regarding the static physical properties of a stratified system can be made with the standard or extended porometer core for coarse-textured bark substrates used generally in the nursery industry with reasonable accuracy (<5% difference), meaning that nursery growers interested in stratifying their substrates can assess their stratified static physical properties using standard measurements. However, assumptions cannot accurately be assessed for finer peat-based stratified profiles used in greenhouse production and may require further refinement for estimations. The broader implications of this research highlight the storage capacities of a stratified substrate system, which may influence growers' decisions in application and irrigation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arizona has a long history of groundwater use, and there is concern about long term groundwater sustainability across the state. We explore groundwater trends across Arizona and how they vary with respect to: (1) whether groundwater pumping is regulated, and (2) relative access to local or imported surface water. Well observations from the Arizona Department of Water Resources are used to quantify water table depth trends and groundwater drilling patterns. There are more than 85,000 groundwater wells in Arizona, and new wells are routinely being drilled. The number of new shallow wells (<200 ft) has decreased over time in all parts of the state. But midrange (200–500 ft) to deep (>500 ft) wells have increased in the past 10 years in regulated and groundwater dominated areas. Most wells are small with low pumping capacities that fall below the regulatory limit; however, there are still large wells being drilled in unregulated areas. Results show statewide decreasing water storage and groundwater levels. Groundwater declines are less severe in the parts of the state that have groundwater regulation. However, looking closer at this trend, groundwater recovery is strongest in areas receiving imported Colorado River water which also implement managed groundwater recharge with the imported water. Our findings indicate that groundwater recovery is very localized and driven more by managed recharge from surface water as opposed to decreased groundwater pumping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The 2015–2017 drought of the Western Cape of South Africa negatively affected the biodiverse Knersvlakte region of the Succulent Karoo Biome. • Argyroderma delaetii , a leaf succulent endemic to this region, suffered high drought-induced mortality. • The smaller, younger succulents suffered higher mortality than the larger, reproductively mature individuals. The biodiversity of the Knersvlakte, located in the Succulent Karoo biodiversity hotspot of South Africa, is predicted to experience an increase in severe drought events during this century. This region harbours a high diversity of endemic leaf succulents and it is unclear whether these will be resistant or vulnerable to drought as experimental and observational studies for this are few and contradictory. This study quantifies the effect of a recent drought in the Knersvlakte on the survival of juvenile and reproductively mature individuals of a quartz plain-adapted leaf succulent, Argyroderma delaetii. The progression of the drought and an experimental watering treatment was quantified using a Standard Precipitation Index from May 2017 to May 2018. The effect of the drought and the watering treatment on the survival of A. delaetii was determined by monitoring individuals using repeat photography for one year. The mortality of individuals in each treatment and life stage was derived from the photographs and a comparative survival analysis was used to quantify the threat posed by the drought conditions. The results indicate that the Knersvlakte experienced severe drying during the 2017 drought in relation to historical records and a median rainfall year. This decreased A. delaetii survival probability three-fold when compared to mortality in a median rainfall year. Mortality was likely driven by an interplay between carbon starvation and hydraulic failure in the leaf succulent due to leaf water reserves not being replenished by the reliable winter rains of the Succulent Karoo, to which this species is adapted. The larger, reproductively mature individuals were more resistant to drought-induced mortality than the smaller juveniles, likely because the mature individuals are significantly larger than juveniles with higher water storage capacity and reduced risk of passing critical osmotic thresholds, allowing for maintained photosynthesis through the drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansive soils are widespread in the world and coincide with areas of high human activity. The main cause of deep instability of expansive soil slopes is due to their softening caused by excavation and seepage. By developing a comprehensive numerical model based on the theory of unsaturated soil, this study examines the characteristics of stress and displacement distribution of expansive soil slopes through hydraulic‐mechanical coupled numerical simulation. This study analyzes the evolution patterns of slopes with excavation unloading and seepage of water storage to reveal the mechanisms of deep‐seated instability of expansive soil slopes. The findings demonstrate that: The instability of expansive soil slopes begins at the foot of the slope and propagates along the interlayer, affecting the entire slope. Excavation leads to the softening of the expansive soil interlayer and the transfer of shear stress. During water storage, the weakening of the soil strength results in slope instability along the weak interlayer slip. Softening of the expansive soil interlayer facilitates the redistribution of shear forces in the slope and alters the distribution law of the plastic zone in the deep layer. Overly slowing down the slope leads to significant excavation unloading, which is detrimental to the slope's stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Co‐occurring plants show wide variation in their hydraulic and photosynthetic traits. Here, we extended 'least‐cost' optimality theory to derive predictions for how variation in key hydraulic traits potentially affects the cost of acquiring and using water in photosynthesis and how this, in turn, should drive variation in photosynthetic traits.We tested these ideas across 18 woody species at a temperate woodland in eastern Australia, focusing on hydraulic traits representing different aspects of plant water balance, that is storage (sapwood capacitance, CS), demand vs supply (branch leaf : sapwood area ratio, AL : AS and leaf : sapwood mass ratio and ML : MS), access to soil water (proxied by predawn leaf water potential, ΨPD) and physical strength (sapwood density, WD).Species with higher AL : AS had higher ratio of leaf‐internal to ambient CO2 concentration during photosynthesis (ci : ca), a trait central to the least‐cost theory framework. CS and the daily operating range of tissue water potential (∆Ψ) had an interactive effect on ci : ca. CS, WD and ΨPD were significantly correlated with each other. These results, along with those from multivariate analyses, underscored the pivotal role leaf : sapwood allocation (AL : AS), and water storage (CS) play in coordination between plant hydraulic and photosynthetic systems.This study uniquely explored the role of hydraulic traits in predicting species‐specific photosynthetic variation based on optimality theory and highlights important mechanistic links within the plant carbon–water balance. See also the Commentary on this article by Macinnis‐Ng, 244: 1681–1683. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research focuses on the long-term sustainable monitoring of Terrestrial Water Storage Anomalies (TWSA), which is crucial for understanding water cycle processes and efficient regional water resource management. To address data gaps during the operation of GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) and GRACE-FO (Follow-On) satellites, the research introduces a combined model of Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory neural network (Bi-LSTM) with X-11 for rolling prediction of TWSA through the inversion of GRACE spherical harmonic coefficients. To assess the applicability of the combined model in various basins, we use TWSA data from January 2003 to December 2014 as training set, with TWSA data from January 2015 to December 2016 as a reference, and the missing month data in GRACE observations are filled using cubic spline interpolation. We compare the performance of the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model, Long Short-Term Memory neural network (LSTM), Bi-LSTM, and the combined Bi-LSTM with X-11 model for model training and rolling prediction. Evaluation metrics include Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), standardized RMSE (R*), Pearson correlation coefficient (P), and Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency coefficient (NSE). Results indicate that all four methods perform well in regions with strong periodicity. Among them, the Bi-LSTM with X-11 combined model shows the highest prediction accuracy and good generalization. In the Amazon River basin, the combined model achieves an RMSE of 4.7 cm, R*, of 0.305, P of 97.6%, and NSE of 0.903. For grid-scale predictions in large regions, the research focuses on Greenland and the Yangtze River basin. The Bi-LSTM with X-11 combined model significantly improves spatial smoothness and accuracy compared to Bi-LSTM, LSTM, and ARIMA in both regions. The average RMSE values for the combined model in Greenland and the Yangtze River basin are 3.1 cm and 4.4 cm, respectively. The combined model's predicted TWSA demonstrates good correlation and NSE performance, outperforming the other three models in both regions, where their RMSE values exceed 4.1 cm and 6.3 cm. To sum up, the research suggests that the Bi-LSTM with X-11 combined model is effective for reconstructing TWSA during the data gaps in GRACE spherical harmonic coefficients. Additionally, this method can be used for effective recursive prediction of TWSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inland aquatic systems, such as reservoirs, contribute substantially to global methane (CH4) emissions; yet they are among the most uncertain contributors to the total global carbon budget. Reservoirs generate significant amounts of CH4 within their bottom sediment, where the gas is stored and can easily escape via ebullition. Due to the large spatial and temporal variability associated with ebullition, CH4 fluxes from these aquatic systems are challenging to quantify. To address these uncertainties, six different water storage reservoirs, with average flux rates ranging between 20 and 678 mg CH4 m−2 d−1, were hydro‐acoustically surveyed using a previously established technique to investigate the spatial variability of free gas stored at the sediment surface that could be released as bubbles. Sediment samples and vertical profiles of temperature and dissolved oxygen were also collected to understand their respective influences on sediment gas formation. We found that the established relation used to determine sediment gas storage via the sonar technique, which relied solely on acoustic backscatter (Svmax), tended to underestimate gas storage in shallower, siltier sediment zones and overestimate gas storage in coarser (>2 mm) sediment zones. In response, we introduce an improved model, incorporating gas and sediment type as correction factors for gas attenuation effects on Svmax values. The extended model is able to elucidate patterns within the gas volume data, revealing clearer trends across different sediment types. This research provides valuable data and methodological insights that can enhance the accuracy of greenhouse gas modeling and budget assessments for reservoirs. Plain Language Summary: Inland aquatic systems, like reservoirs, contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions, but these systems comprise the most uncertain components of the CH4 budget. Reservoirs can produce significant amounts of CH4 in submerged sediments, which escape slowly through diffusion and quickly through bubbling. However, accurately measuring CH4 emissions from reservoirs is difficult due to significant variability in bubbling patterns over space and time. To better understand these patterns, we surveyed six reservoirs using an established underwater sonar technique to explore the spatial variability of free gas stored in sediments, which could bubble up. We also collected sediment samples and measured dissolved oxygen and temperature at various water depths to study their influence on sediment gas formation. We found that the previously established sonar model used to obtain the amount of gas in the sediments tended to underestimate gas storage in shallower, siltier areas and overestimate it in larger‐grained sediment zones. In response, we introduced a refined model that incorporates gas fraction and sediment type to correct for gas attenuation effects on the sonar output. This extended model clarifies gas volume patterns across sediment types. Our study offers valuable data and methodological insights to refine greenhouse gas modeling and budget assessments for reservoirs. Key Points: Hydroacoustic models relying solely on backscatter underestimate gas in shallow, silty sediments and overestimate in larger (>2 mm) onesAn extension to the current model incorporates gas fraction and sediment type to improve gas predictionsBubble plume mapping reveals ebullition hotspots are tied to gas storage, bottom temperature, dissolved oxygen, and sediment type [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capillary pressure curve is essential for predicting multiphase flow processes in geological systems. At low saturations, wetting films form and become important, but how wetting films control this curve remains inadequately understood. In this study, we combine microfluidic experiments with pore‐network modeling to investigate the impact of corner‐bridge flow on the capillary pressure curve in porous media. Using a CMOS camera and a confocal laser scanning microscopy, we directly observe the corner‐bridge flow under quasi‐static drainage displacement, revealing that corner‐bridge flow serves as an additional flow path to drain trapped water. Consequently, the capillary pressure curve shifts toward lower saturations, resulting in a reduced water residual saturation. We establish a theoretical criterion for the occurrence of corner‐bridge flow and develop a pore‐network model to simulate quasi‐static drainage, taking into account this additional flow path. Pore‐network modeling results agree well with our experimental observation. On this basis, we employ our pore‐network model to systematically analyze the impact of corner‐bridge flow on capillary pressure curve across varying porosity, pore‐scale disorder, and system size. Results indicate that the impact of corner‐bridge flow becomes more pronounced as porosity decreases and shape factor increases. Our findings demonstrate that the maximum decrease of water residual saturation is 0.19 when porosity is at its minimum, and the shape factor is at its maximum. This work bridges the gap between the pore‐scale mechanism and capillary pressure behavior and has significant implications for estimating the amount of extractable water and the CO2 storage capacity. Key Points: We directly observe the corner‐bridge flow serving as an additional flow path to drain the trapped water during quasi‐static drainageThe corner‐bridge flow causes a shift of capillary pressure curve toward low saturation and reduces residual water saturation Sw,resThe impact of corner‐bridge flow intensifies as porosity decreases and shape factor increases, with a maximum decrease in Sw,res of 0.19 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hudson Bay Lowlands (HBL) of northern Ontario, a globally significant carbon store, are characterized by expansive peatland complexes of patterned bogs and fens, which play a vital role in regional water regulation. These peatlands are threatened by disturbance from large‐scale resource extraction and projected climate change, both of which have the potential to compromise their ecohydrological function. Field measurements and numerical modeling were used to investigate the hydrological responses of peatlands and downgradient streamflow as a consequence of disturbance from mining and shifts in climate, individually and in combination. Mine dewatering reduced groundwater storage by as much as 150 mm, equivalent to a water table lowering of 75 cm, thereby decreasing annual streamflow by 66% in impacted tributaries. Although the projected increases to precipitation and evapotranspiration due to climate change were approximately balanced, resulting in minor changes to storage, there were pronounced shifts in the temporal patterns of streamflow, with a diminished snowmelt and spring freshet occurring a month earlier. When considering the cumulative impacts of climate change coupled with mining, a potential shift in peatland ecohydrology toward new equilibria is plausible, implying altered water movement across the landscape and compromised ecosystem function. This study emphasizes the critical need for further monitoring and modeling efforts to characterize the thresholds and mechanisms driving these ecohydrological changes. This research will guide future investigations on the implications of disturbance on local and regional hydrologic connectivity and facilitate the protection of peatland ecosystems in the HBL and other northern peatland‐dominated landscapes. Plain Language Summary: Peatlands, which are crucial stores of carbon and freshwater, are increasingly threatened by climate change and mining. A model of water movement and storage was used to assess the impacts of these disturbances on peatlands and streamflow. Although climate change did not cause drought conditions, it did alter the timing and patterns of snowmelt and streamflow. In contrast, mining did cause pronounced drying and reduced streamflow. In combination, these disturbances could cause irreversible harm to current peatland function. Key Points: Mine dewatering can markedly reduce streamflow and internal peatland water storageClimate change will alter the temporal patterns of streamflow by diminishing the spring freshet and lengthening the growing seasonIn combination, these disturbances have the potential to alter peatland ecohydrological function [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the effects of adding tricalcium silicate nanoparticles (TCSNp) to the universal G2 bond adhesive (G2BU) in self‐etch (SE) mode on shear bond strength (SBS) to orthodontic brackets, cytotoxicity, and degree of conversion (DC). Material and Methods: A total of 176 human teeth were divided into four groups based on TCSNp concentration in G2BU adhesive: 0% (control), 1%, 3%, and 5%. The G2BU adhesive consists of a hydrophilic primer (P) and a hydrophobic bonding agent (2B). TCSNp were added to the 2B component by mixing 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 g of TCSNp with 9.9, 9.7, and 9.5 g of 2B, respectively. SBS was assessed after 24 h of water storage and 5000 thermocycles using a universal testing machine. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT assay on rat embryo fibroblast cells, and DC was measured using fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. Statistical analysis included one‐way ANOVA and Tukey's post‐hoc test, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: After 24 h, mean SBS values were 15.58 MPa (control), 13.66 MPa (1% TCSNp), 15.99 MPa (3% TCSNp), and 12.04 MPa (5% TCSNp). After 5000 thermocycles, SBS values decreased to 12.91 MPa (control), 12.42 MPa (1% TCSNp), 11.11 MPa (3% TCSNp), and 10.21 MPa (5% TCSNp). ANOVA showed significant differences between groups (p < 0.05), except between the control and 3% TCSNp groups. Cell viability increased with higher TCSNp concentrations, with significant differences at 72 h between control and 5% TCSNp groups (p = 0.014). Mean DC values were 51.66% (control), 49.33% (1% TCSNp), 49.66% (3% TCSNp), and 48% (5% TCSNp). ANOVA indicated no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: Adding TCSNp to G2BU in SE mode maintains clinically acceptable SBS levels and enhances cytocompatibility. Higher TCSNp concentrations may reduce SBS and DC slightly. Further studies are needed to evaluate long‐term effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the hardness of a composite resin used for root reinforcement, considering the light‐curing time, root canal region and ageing due to long‐term storage. Twenty incisor roots were reinforced using composite resin, varying the photopolymerisation time (40 or 120 s). Following fibre post cementation, the roots were transversely sectioned into coronal, middle and apical regions. Composite hardness was measured initially and after 18 months of water storage. Data underwent repeated measures analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc tests. The factors 'light‐curing time', 'root region' and 'ageing' affected the hardness. Significant interactions were observed between 'light‐curing time × root region' and 'ageing × light‐curing time'. Regardless of time, resin hardness in the apical region was lower. After ageing, hardness in the coronal and middle regions decreased when the light‐curing time was 40 s, while no significant effect on hardness was noted with a light‐curing time of 120 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil roughness, defined as the irregularities of the soil surface, yields significant information about soil water storage, infiltration and overland flow and, thus, is a key factor in characterizing the quality of the terrain; it is often used as input in many synthetic general agricultural models and in particular in soil moisture estimation models. In this paper, we propose a framework that combines a specific setup for data acquisition with deep convolutional networks for actual estimation. The former relies on projecting a line red laser beam on the analysed soil surface followed by digital color image acquisition. The later, involves two convolutional models that are trained in a supervised manner to predict the soil roughness. The data set was produced in the laboratory both on synthetic and real soil samples. The labels used in the training process are the soil roughness values measured by using a pinboard. The detailed evaluation showed that the error of the automatic precision lies in the range of ground truth deviation, thus validating the proposed procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil water repellency (SWR) is commonly defined as a physical property of soil to resist wetting. Fire can induce, enhance, or reduce SWR and, consequently, lead to considerable changes in soil water infiltration and storage and increase soil erosion by water. The application of mulches to cover burned areas has been found to be an efficient emergency stabilization treatment. However, little is known about possible side effects on SWR, especially long-term effects. Under forests, SWR is known to be very heterogeneous, particularly in proximity to trees and shrubs, litter type and thickness, stones, cracks and roots. This study targeted the effects of post-fire mulching on SWR in a eucalypt plantation five years after a wildfire. The application of forest residue mulch did not significantly change SWR in bare soil patches or under stones, comparing the mulched and untreated plots. By contrast, SWR in the mulched plots was, significantly stronger under mulch than in bare soil. The same was true for both soil organic matter content (SOM) and soil moisture content (SMC), suggesting that SOM played a more important role than SMC. In turn, SWR under mulch was not significantly different from SWR under stone, while both SMC and SOM were significantly higher under mulch than stone. This could be explained by the differences in SMC overriding the effects of the differences SOM, or, alternatively, by possible differences in SOM quality, in particular of the "fresh" input from the mulch. Overall, the present results indicated that different mechanisms may drive SWR dynamics beneath mulch fragments, stones and bare soil patches. A better understanding of these mechanisms is important to improve the knowledge of post-fire overland flow generation and, thereby, to improve its prediction using hydrological models, especially during the early phases of the window-of-disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In recent years, drought has become a global problem. Undoubtedly, drought monitoring is an important step for combating and reducing the resultant damage. Soil moisture, namely its spatial and temporal variability, is one of the most important environmental variables. Due to the difficulty cost, and timeliness of field measurements, this parameter has not been used widely in drought indexes. The recent development of global databases based on satellite imagery as well as rapid progress in hardware and software for modeling complex processes governing the water balance at the land surface employ these new tools to reduce the limitations in this field. The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive drought monitoring approach by integrating remote sensing data and the variable infiltration capacity (VIC) model with the Palmer Index (PDSI) in central Iran. In this study, the components of water and energy balance in the Central Iran region were simulated using the VIC land surface model. The output components of this model, especially soil moisture after evaluation, were used as inputs in the drought index based on Palmer's water balance. The integrated index of the VIC-PDSI in comparison with conventional Palmer indices and the SPI index at the 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48-month intervals was fitted with increments in moisture data and variations in the storage of water extracted from GRACE satellite data. Results showed that the combination of VIC-PDSI had the highest correlation coefficient of 0.87 with groundwater level change compared with other drought indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alterations in life forms could simultaneously influence the variability of fine root and leaf traits. However, our understanding of the organ-level coordination and patterns of variation in fine root and leaf traits among desert herbs and shrubs with distinct habits remains limited. Methods: Consequently, this study examined the leaf and fine root traits of 9 shrubs and 9 herbs across three desert habitats through Sperman's correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and standardized major axis (SMA) analysis as a means of identifying the hub traits and the resource trade-off strategies employed by desert plants to adapt to their environment. Results: The results showed that the extent of coordination between leaf and root traits, defined as similarity, was contingent upon the life form. While the traits in shrubs were completely decoupled, those in herbs exhibited a high degree of coordination. The traits related to water acquisition and storage are highly connected and do not depend on traits and life forms. Most leaves and fine roots were primarily loaded along the PC1 and PC2 axes of principal component analysis. Discussion: Suggesting that herbs and shrubs each adopt the most advantageous trait syndrome in accordance with their life form to acquire and conserve resources. The leaf economic spectrum and the root economic spectrum evolved independently, showing no dependence on the variations in life form. In conclusion, in desert plants, leaf and root variations occur independently along two axes, with traits associated with water acquisition playing a neutral role in their ecological strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packaged sachet water is a major drinking water source for most low and middle-income classes in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. It has successfully bridged the gap in the supply of safe drinking water to households, supplementing government efforts. However, storage duration and conditions can affect the water quality that reaches consumers. This study examines how storage time and conditions impact the quality of vended sachet water in Accra. Samples were stored using two methods: at room temperature (+ 20 °C) and exposed to sunlight outdoors (+ 33 °C). Water samples were analyzed over 3 months. The average pH of the samples was 7.43 ± 0.23, and all the physicochemical parameters were within World Health Organization guidelines. Some water samples showed bacterial growth after packaging. At 1 month, sachet water B (SWB_Exposed) had a Total Coliform (TC) count of 93 CFU/mL and a Heterotrophic Bacteria count of 416 CFU/mL. By 3 months, all samples contained TC. SWA_Unexposed had a TC of 884 CFU/mL, while SWA_Exposed had 468 CFU/mL. SWB_Unexposed had a TC of 25 CFU/mL, compared to 256 CFU/mL for SWB_Exposed. Currently, sachet water in Ghana has a 3-month expiry date. However, the results suggest that long-term indoor storage of sachet water can lead to bacterial regrowth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drylands are critical in regulating global carbon sequestration, but the resiliency of these semi‐arid shrub, grassland and forest systems is under threat from global warming and intensifying water stress. We used synergistic satellite optical‐Infrared (IR) and microwave remote sensing observations to quantify plant‐to‐stand level vegetation water potentials and seasonal changes in dryland water stress in the southwestern U.S. Machine‐learning was employed to re‐construct global satellite microwave vegetation optical depth (VOD) retrievals to 500‐m resolution. The re‐constructed results were able to delineate diverse vegetation conditions undetectable from the original 25‐km VOD record, and showed overall favorable correspondence with in situ plant water potential measurements (R from 0.60 to 0.78). The VOD water potential estimates effectively tracked plant water storage changes from hydro‐climate variability over diverse sub‐regions. The re‐constructed VOD record improves satellite capabilities for monitoring the storage and movement of water across the soil‐vegetation‐atmosphere continuum in heterogeneous drylands. Plain Language Summary: Drylands provide ecosystem services to more than two billion people but are under threat from global warming and intensifying water stress. We used a machine‐learning method to combine multi‐satellite observations for estimating vegetation water status and seasonal changes over drylands. Our enhanced‐resolution satellite vegetation retrievals (known as vegetation optical depth) were able to delineate diverse vegetation water conditions undetectable from the original 25‐km data record, and showed strong correspondence with in situ plant water measurements. Our approach improves satellite capabilities for monitoring the storage and movement of water across the soil, vegetation, and atmosphere layers in heterogeneous drylands. Key Points: Daily and 500‐m resolution vegetation optical depth (VOD) was derived through multi‐sensor data fusionOptical‐infrared and microwave synergy resolves heterogeneous vegetation water conditions within 25‐km grid cellsRe‐constructed VOD can improve understanding and monitoring of vegetation water potential at plant‐to‐stand scales [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a numerical analysis of two hot water storage tank configurations—one equipped with an external heat exchanger (Tank-1) and the other with an internal heat exchanger (Tank-2). The objective is to evaluate and compare their thermal performance during charging and discharging processes. The numerical model is developed by solving a system of ordinary differential equations using the 4th-order Runge–Kutta method, implemented in the Python programming language. The results indicate that Tank-1 demonstrated a higher charging efficiency of 94.6%, achieving full charge in approximately 2 h and 20 min. In comparison, Tank-2 required 3 h and 47 min to reach full charge, with a charging efficiency of 85.9%. During discharge, both configurations exhibited similar behavior, with an efficiency of 13.63% over approximately 33 min. The analysis showed that the external heat exchanger configuration led to more effective thermal stratification, supported by the Richardson number analysis, which indicated a significant effect of buoyancy during charging. This design advantage makes Tank-1 particularly suitable for applications requiring rapid heating and minimal heat loss, such as in cold climates or intermittent demand systems. The numerical model demonstrated reliable predictive accuracy, achieving an RMSE of 6.1% for the charging process and 6.8% for the discharging process, thereby validating the model's reliability. These findings highlight the superior performance of the external heat exchanger configuration for fast and efficient energy storage, particularly for applications in cold climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to shed light on the importance of agriculture in the Holy Quran and its merits, study the purposes of mentioning plants and animals in the Holy Quran, clarify the synonyms of the word agriculture and its terms used in the Quranic text, explore the agricultural and animal models mentioned in the Holy Quran, and analyze the main agricultural pillars referred to in the Holy Quran. The research followed the descriptive analytical approach, and theoretical induction of the texts and legal evidence related to the status of the agricultural and animal sector in the Holy Quran . The research reached a number of results, the most important of which are: Agriculture is one of the communal duties that Muslims must perform, and it is one of the most honorable works and best gains; as it achieves a great reward for the farmer, and contributes to achieving self-sufficiency for the Islamic nation, and that the Holy Quran uses crops and plants as a multidimensional means; to confirm the greatness and power of God, through the diversity of fruits and agricultural materials. And that the mention of animals in the Holy Quran carries main purposes that reflect the greatness of the Creator; Animals are used as signs to reflect on God's power, and are harnessed to provide meat, fat, skin, hair, and milk, and contribute to providing warmth and various benefits, and add beauty to human life. The synonyms of the word agriculture in the Holy Quran are diverse, such as: plowing, plants, harvest, adornment of the earth, blessings of the earth, revival of the earth, green land, gardens, and trees, which reflects the importance of agriculture as a fundamental subject for humans and living organisms in general, and that these plants not only provide basic food for humans and animals, but also contribute to improving air quality, purifying the environment, and regulating the climate, which reflects the perfection of God's power and greatness. The Holy Quran has highlighted the importance of marine animals, especially fish, as food and medicine for humans, and demonstrated their high health benefits and nutritional value that exceeds other meats. The research also shows the importance of self-sufficiency in the agricultural and livestock sectors, stressing the need for Muslims to rely on what their hands produce to ensure their strength and independence in the face of contemporary challenges. The importance of the Earth and the Sun is also evident in the Holy Quran as two essential elements that support life on Earth. The Earth is a vital source for food production and supports biodiversity, as it contributes to water storage and plant growth, which is essential for the survival of living organisms. In return, the Sun plays a vital role in providing the energy needed for photosynthesis processes, allowing plants to grow and produce food. The Sun also affects the behavior and vital processes of animals, highlighting the complex interaction between the Earth and the Sun as vital factors that support life and its continuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Caatinga, a Brazilian dry forest, low water availability is a limiting factor that affects the growth and survival of herbaceous plants. Thus, we hypothesize that simulated extreme changes in precipitation modify aboveground and belowground vegetative responses differently between annual and perennial herbaceous species. Seedlings of the species were obtained through seed germination. During 1 year, they were submitted to three rainfall simulation (RS) treatments, defined from a 60‐year sequence: Twet‐RS of rainy years; Tcontrol‐RS of years close to the historical average; Tdry‐RS of dry years; and with 30 repetitions per treatment. The daily water administration corresponded to the daily average of rainfall in the past. In the simulation of dry years, the annual species reduced the growth drastically, while the perennials showed a moderate reduction. All species reduced biomass and production and expansion of their leaves in dry years but invested in water storage and leaf longevity. Below ground, annuals explored surface water resources and perennials invested in root growth, accessing underground layers. If reductions in rainfall are confirmed, the allocation of herbaceous biomass may follow an “optimal partitioning” strategy, along with maintaining higher water content in the organs, which is an efficient survival strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global climate crisis, exacerbated by intensifying natural disasters such as floods, droughts, rising sea levels, and forest fires, is rapidly depleting our water resources. To mitigate this, sustainable management of arid regions is crucial, requiring the implementation of effective water storage techniques, enhancement of soil water resources, and optimization of water utilization. Drought stress poses a significant challenge to agriculture, but the colonization of plants by mycorrhizal fungi offers a promising solution, enhancing drought tolerance and potentially alleviating plant water stress. Complementing this, organic materials like biochar, renowned for their extensive surface area and soil-stabilizing properties, can significantly improve soil water retention capacity, providing a synergistic approach when combined with mycorrhizal fungi. Although mycorrhiza positively impacts plant resistance to water stress, the exact mechanisms by which it facilitates water uptake and transport to plant tissues are still under investigation. Additionally, the implementation of water-conserving irrigation methods, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, can further enhance water efficiency. The use of cover crops in agricultural production also reduces water losses by maintaining soil surface coverage and enhancing carbon and water storage in the soil. Moreover, understanding the mechanisms underlying water retention in biochar-amended soils is a crucial area of ongoing research. Finally, adopting and scaling up Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) techniques, a relatively innovative approach, is vital for addressing water resource challenges in dryland regions and holds great promise for promoting resilient and sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inland saline lakes play a key role in the global carbon cycle, acting as dynamic zones for atmospheric carbon exchange and storage. Given the global decline of saline lakes and the expected increase of periods of drought in a climate change scenario, changes in their potential capacity to uptake or emit atmospheric carbon are expected. Here, we conducted continuous measurements of CO2 and CH4 fluxes at the ecosystem scale in an endorheic saline lake of the Mediterranean region over nearly 2 years. Our focus was on determining net CO2 and CH4 exchanges with the atmosphere under both dry and flooded conditions, using the eddy covariance (EC) method. We coupled greenhouse gas flux measurements with water storage and analysed meteorological variables like air temperature and radiation, known to influence carbon fluxes in lakes. This extensive data integration enabled the projection of the net carbon flux over time, accounting for both dry and wet conditions on an interannual scale. We found that the system acts as a substantial carbon sink by absorbing atmospheric CO2 under wet conditions. In years with prolonged water storage, it is predicted that the lake's CO2 assimilation capacity can surpass 0.7 kg C m2 annually. Conversely, during extended drought years, a reduction in CO2 uptake capacity of more than 80 % is expected. Regarding CH4, we measured uptake rates that exceeded those of well-aerated soils such as forest soils or grasslands, reaching values of 0.2 µ mol m−2 s−1. Additionally, we observed that CH4 uptake during dry conditions was nearly double that of wet conditions. However, the absence of continuous data prevented us from correlating CH4 uptake processes with potential environmental predictors. Our study challenges the widespread notion that wetlands are universally greenhouse gas emitters, highlighting the significant role that endorheic saline lakes can play as a natural sink of atmospheric carbon. However, our work also underscores the vulnerability of these ecosystem services in the current climate change scenario, where drought episodes are expected to become more frequent and intense in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the risk levels of collapse associated with different Low-Impact Development (LID) measures employed in constructing stormwater systems within collapsible loess areas, the study utilized the High-Efficiency and High-Precision Urban Stormwater Model (GAST) to analyze the risk of waterlogging. The aim was to propose a method that integrates the analysis of waterlogging accumulation time with considerations of the correlation between the collapsibility coefficient and soil parameters, thereby assessing the collapse risk level of various LID measures. This method was applied to examine the changing patterns of settlement risk levels in grassed swales and rain gardens under different rainfall return periods (P1 = 20 years, P2 = 50 years, P3 = 100 years) and water accumulation durations (T1 = 0.5 days, T2 = 5 days). Findings reveal a direct correlation between rainfall return periods and collapse risk levels. Specifically, at P3 = 100 years, 50% of the collapse risk level in the study region reaches level III. However, when the water accumulation duration is extended to 5 days, the percentage of locations classified as category III increases to 75%. Despite rain gardens' superior water storage capacity compared to grass swales, they also elevate the risk of collapse. Therefore, diligent monitoring of rain garden durability during prolonged periods of frequent rainfall is essential. The evaluation approach proposed in this research demonstrates a 75% accuracy rate, affirming its initial reliability for evaluating the risk associated with constructing LID stormwater systems in collapsible loess areas. Furthermore, it can be utilized for further investigations into the collapsibility impacts of LID measures in regions characterized by collapsible loess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human need for health and well-being implemented globally by the United Nations under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. Storing drinking water is common in rural areas of Ethiopia due to off-premises water sources and intermittent piped water supply. However, this practice can lead to further contamination during collection, transport, and storage, posing a risk to public health. The objective of this study was to identify the determinant factors of drinking water quality at the point of use in the rural setting of northwestern Ethiopia, South Gondar zone. A questionnaire survey was conducted, and water samples from 720 households were collected during the wet and dry seasons. The determinant factors were identified using the multivariable logistic regression model. About 39.2% of the surveyed households had basic water supply services, 41.9% were using unimproved sources, and 8.3% were using surface water. Only 9.4% were using basic sanitation services, and 57.2% were practicing open defecation. Safe water storage was practiced by 84.3% of households, while only 2% engaged in household water treatment. About 14% of dry and 8% of wet season samples from the storage were free from fecal coliform bacteria. Furthermore, 52.9% of dry and 62.2% of wet season samples fell under the high microbial health risk category. The season of the year, the water source type, storage washing methods, and the socioeconomic status of the household were identified as key predictors of household drinking water fecal contamination using the multivariable logistic regression model. It was observed that the drinking water in households had a high load of fecal contamination, posing health risks to consumers. To tackle these problems, our study recommends that stakeholders should enhance access to improved water sources, implement source-level water treatment, increase access to improved sanitation facilities, advocate for safe household water management practices, and endorse household water treatment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder farmers in South Africa face issues related to water shortages and poor irrigation water management. This study investigated barriers to improving water-use efficiency (WUE) in smallholder production practices in Numbi, South Africa. The objectives were to identify barriers in redesigning production practices for higher agricultural productivity and analyze the relationship between irrigation water supply and the adoption of WUE methods. From a population of 7696 people, 141 smallholder farmers were sampled using a simple random sampling technique through Taro Yamane's sample size formula. The data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and descriptive statistics. Unreliable water supply (M = 3.78, SD = 0.85), poor soil water retention (M = 3.78, SD = 0.85), lack of water-efficient irrigation systems (M = 3.91, SD = 0.71), lack of water storage facilities (M = 3.85, SD = 0.93), limited access to credit (M = 4.09, SD = 0.85), income instability due to market fluctuations (M = 3.96, SD = 0.91), inadequate knowledge of irrigation management (M = 4.00, SD = 0.84), and harsh climatic factors were identified. A positive correlation (r = 0.339, n = 141, p < 0.001) between irrigation water source and WUE techniques was evident, indicating that irrigation water source had an insignificant impact on WUE methods. Resolving these barriers requires a holistic approach focusing on investments in irrigation infrastructure and targeted education initiatives by extension agents and other stakeholders, as this can enhance agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate leaf water potential (Ψw) determination is crucial in studying plant responses to water deficit. After excision, water potential decreases, even under low evaporative demand conditions, which has been recently attributed to the equilibration of pre-excision Ψw gradients across the leaf. We assessed the influence of potential re-equilibration on water potential determination by monitoring leaf Ψw and relative water content decline after excision using different storage methods. Results: Even though leaf Ψw declined during storage under low evaporative demand conditions, this was strongly reduced when covering the leaf with a hydrophobic layer (vaseline) and explained by changes in relative water content. However, residual water loss was variable between species, possibly related to morpho-physiological leaf traits. Provided water loss was minimized during storage, pre-excision leaf transpiration rate did not affect to the magnitude of leaf Ψw decline after excision, confirming that transpiration-driven Ψw gradients have no effect on leaf Ψw determination. Conclusions: Disequilibrium in water potentials across a transpiring leaf upon excision is dissipated very quickly, well within the elapsed time between excision and pressurization, therefore, not resulting in overestimation of leaf Ψw measured immediately after excision. When leaf storage is required, the effectiveness of a storage under low evaporative demand varied among species. Covering with a hydrophobic layer is an acceptable alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the model setup and results from the first calibrated, physically-based, spatially-distributed hydrological modelling of combined land cover and climate change impacts on a large sample of UK river catchments. The SHETRAN hydrological model was automatically calibrated for 698 UK catchments then driven by the 12 regional climate model projections from UKCP18, combined with urban development and natural flood management scenarios. The automatic calibration of SHETRAN produces a median Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency value of 0.82 with 581 catchments having a value greater than 0.7. 24 summary metrics were calculated to capture changes to important aspects of the flow regime. The UKCP18 realisations in SHETRAN indicate that a warming climate will cause river flows, on average, to decrease. These decreases are simulated to be greatest in the south and east of the UK, with droughts becoming longer and more severe. While high flows also decrease on average, an increased number of extremes are exhibited, implying a greater number of extreme flood events in the future, particularly in the north and west of the UK. In the urban development scenarios, for flood events there is an increase in flow with the increased urbanization, with the 1 in 3-year peak flow event showing the greatest increase. The natural flood management scenarios consider the effect of increasing woodland and adding surface water storage ponds. The inclusion of these features produces a complex response but overall, the modelling shows a reduction in low, median, and high flows, although the more extreme the flow event the smaller the percentage change in flow. Simulated timeseries and summary metric datasets are freely available on the CEDA archive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and human activities alter the global freshwater cycle, causing nonstationary processes as its distribution shifting over time, yet a comprehensive understanding of these changes remains elusive. Here, we develop a remote sensing-informed terrestrial reanalysis and assess the nonstationarity of and interconnections among global water cycle components from 2003 to 2020. We highlight 20 hotspot regions where terrestrial water storage exhibits strong nonstationarity, impacting 35% of the global population and 45% of the area covered by irrigated agriculture. Emerging long-term trends dominate the most often (48.2%), followed by seasonal shifts (32.8%) and changes in extremes (19%). Notably, in mid-latitudes, this encompasses 34% of Asia and 27% of North America. The patterns of nonstationarity and their dominant types differ across other water cycle components, including precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, and gross primary production. These differences also manifest uniquely across hotspot regions, illustrating the intricate ways in which each component responds to climate change and human water management. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering nonstationarity when assessing water cycle information toward the development of strategies for sustainable water resource usage, enhancing resilience to extreme events, and effectively addressing other challenges associated with climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Succulence is a trait that describes water storage in plant organs and tissues regardless of life form. Plants use the stored water to maintain physiological function and delay desiccation. However, it is unclear whether succulence in leaves, stems and roots of woody plants delays desiccation, whether it provides 'utilizable water' to maintain physiological function, or buffers changes in water status in drying soils through capacitance. We conducted a pot dry‐down experiment with nine shrub species to determine whether woody plants with greater leaf, stem, or root succulence have greater shoot utilizable water or capacitance. We also investigated whether greater succulence delays desiccation, represented by cumulative VPD, until evapotranspiration ceased or until utilizable water was exhausted. Greater leaf and stem succulence were strongly related to greater shoot utilizable water and capacitance. However, desiccation time was not delayed in plants with greater total shoot succulence, utilizable water, or capacitance. Instead, woody plants with greater root succulence had longer desiccation times. This suggests that woody plants use aboveground succulence to maintain physiological function and water status during drought, whereas root succulence extends desiccation time. Our study improves the mechanistic understanding of how woody plants use stored water to survive in dryland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Water potential' is the biophysically relevant measure of water status in vegetation relating to stomatal, canopy and hydraulic conductance, as well as mortality thresholds; yet, this cannot be directly related to measured and modelled fluxes of water at plot‐ to landscape‐scale without understanding its relationship with 'water content'. The capacity for detecting vegetation water content via microwave remote sensing further increases the need to understand the link between water content and ecosystem function. In this review, we explore how the fundamental measures of water status, water potential and water content are linked at ecosystem‐scale drawing on the existing theory of pressure‐volume (PV) relationships. We define and evaluate the concept and limitations of applying PV relationships to ecosystems where the quantity of water can vary on short timescales with respect to plant water status, and over longer timescales and over larger areas due to structural changes in vegetation. As a proof of concept, plot‐scale aboveground vegetation PV curves were generated from equilibrium (e.g., predawn) water potentials and water content of the above ground biomass of nine plots, including tropical rainforest, savanna, temperate forest, and a long‐term Amazonian rainforest drought experiment. Initial findings suggest that the stored water and ecosystem capacitance scale linearly with biomass across diverse systems, while the relative values of ecosystem hydraulic capacitance and physiologically accessible water storage do not vary systematically with biomass. The bottom‐up scaling approach to ecosystem water relations identified the need to characterise the distribution of water potentials within a community and also revealed the relevance of community‐level plant tissue fractions to ecosystem water relations. We believe that this theory will be instrumental in linking our detailed understanding of biophysical processes at tissue‐scale to the scale at which land surface models operate and at which tower‐based, airborne and satellite remote sensing can provide information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are effective soil amendments that can control soil erosion by improving soil quality. However, many commercial SAPs face challenges including limited biodegradability, high costs, and adverse effects on soil hydrological properties, which can lead to increased water and soil loss. This study examined the potential of lower dosages of biodegradable SAPs to improve the hydrological properties of "Shimajiri-maji" (clay) soil. Three concentrations of biodegradable Fasal Amrit polymer (EFP) (P1: 0, P2: 3 g m−2, and P3: 6 g m−2) were evaluated under three simulated rainfall intensities (I1: 35; I2: 70 and I3: 110 mm h−1) and two gradients (7.5%, and 15%) during consecutive storms. The time to generate runoff, infiltration, runoff, soil loss, and water storage (WS) were quantified over one hour. The results show that runoff generation was delayed in EFP-treated soils compared to the control. Both polymer treatments enhanced infiltration (P2 > P3 > P1) and reduced runoff and soil loss (P2 < P3 < P1). Higher EFP rates improved water storage at surface depths (P3 > P2 > P1). EFP-treated soils exhibited lower interrill erodibility, suggesting greater resistance to soil erosion compared to the control. EFP treatments also significantly improved the soil's physical properties (bulk density, porosity, organic matter, aggregate stability). EFPs can diminish runoff and soil loss as the EFP-treated plots exhibited greater aggregate stability than the control. It was concluded that low EFP concentrations can improve soil hydrological properties and mitigate soil erosion. Further investigations are needed to optimize the EFP concentrations for different soil types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of CO2 geological storage in the salt water layer, CO2 leakage along the wellbore will seriously affect the effective storage of CO2 in the target geological area. To solve this problem, based on the investigation of a large number of failure cases of CO2 storage along the wellbore and failure cases of gas storage wells in the injection stage of the wellbore, the influencing factors of CO2 leakage risk along the wellbore were investigated in detail. Based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and extension theory, 17 basic evaluation indexes were selected from 6 perspectives to establish the evaluation index system of CO2 leakage risk along the wellbore. The established evaluation system was used to evaluate the leakage risk of a CO2 storage well in the X gas field of BZ Block. The results showed that the influencing factors of tubing had the smallest weight, followed by cement sheath, and the influencing factors of casing–cement sheath interface and cement sheath–formation interface had the largest weight, accounting for 23.73% and 34.32%, respectively. The CO2 storage well leakage risk evaluation grade was Ι, with minimal leakage risk. The CO2 storage effect was excellent. The evaluation system comprehensively considers the tubing string, cement sheath, and micro-annulus interface, which can provide a scientific basis for the risk assessment of CO2 leakage along the wellbore under the CO2 geological storage of the salt water layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores hydrological and meteorological drought in the Coastal Constantine basin, the Cheffia and Mexa dams in northeast Algeria in particular, using a time series of monthly rainfall and dam inflow data over 54 years (1965–2018). Recently, these dams have experienced recurring droughts, significantly reducing water storage and severely impacting the population's drinking water supply. To better assess the severity and trends of these droughts, we applied a range of methods (Mann-Kendall test, Sen's slope estimator, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI), and Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) method). SPI and SSI were chosen because they can be applied across various timescales, easy to calculate, and have demonstrated accuracy. Additionally, the trend analysis techniques were preferred because they have few assumptions, are resistant to incomplete data, offer the advantage of visual interpretation, and have the ability to capture changes within data subgroups. The findings analysis shows an autumn rainfall increase (1.18 mm/year) and a significant spring decrease (-2.23 mm/year). In addition, an annual rainfall trend magnitude ranging from − 5.26 mm/year to 1.71 mm/year. The Cheffia Dam experiences a summer inflow decrease (-0.05 hm³/year) and an overall annual decline (-0.35 hm³/year), while the Mexa Dam shows a significant spring inflow decrease (-0.17 hm³/year) with a slight annual decline (-0.07 hm³/year). The ITA method revealed severe and prolonged droughts with increasing severity over time, as shown by the SPI and SSI drought trend analysis. These trends affirm the growing impact of reduced precipitation on water resources and emphasize the urgent need for proactive water management strategies in the region. The results highlight the extremely difficult conditions and the severe drought, particularly in central parts of the basin, over the past 54 years, and underscore ongoing challenges in managing water resources amid changing climatic conditions. This situation negatively impacts the Boulatane dam project and the under-construction Boukhroufa dam. Thus, it is necessary to implement necessary measures to mitigate the effects of prolonged droughts on water availability and infrastructure development. The study's findings provide a foundation for spatial and temporal analysis and management of droughts in water-stressed regions globally, in the context of climate change with innovative techniques. The results emphasize the need for policymakers to prepare for droughts and adopt early warning systems. It is recommended that water conservation efforts be strengthened, new water structures be built, and climate change policies be adapted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the influence of oscillating magnetic fields on the deep supercooling of water and the supercooling storage of fruits. The results showed that by utilizing a 6 mT/50 Hz oscillating magnetic field, water (1 ml) was able to be maintained at -18 °C for 24 h, achieving deep supercooling. Combining magnetic field with oil-sealed water enhanced supercooling compared to oil sealing alone. By adding an oscillating magnetic field, fruits were maintained at a temperature of -5 °C for 12 h. The supercooled samples exhibited a texture and color that were close to those of fresh samples and also experienced a reduction in water loss of up to 30.25% in comparison to frozen samples that were not treated by magnetic field treatment. The proposed method achieved significant supercooling and improved food quality using an easily obtainable type of magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]