Effect Of Different Environmental Conditions Research Articles

Probabilistic model for cattail and canola fibers: effect of environmental conditions, structural parameters, fiber length, and estimators

Biomass fibers are being widely investigated for industrial applications as an alternative to synthetic fibers using a standard humidity condition. In this study, the mechanical properties of two waste biomass fibers – canola and cattail – have been investigated when subjected to different environmental conditions, fiber length, and type of estimators used during analysis. The effect of different environmental conditions and structural variations were investigated by measuring the tensile properties after exposing them to eight different relative humidity conditions using a fixed fiber length of 25 mm. Further investigation was conducted using fiber lengths of 25, 35 and 45 mm using the most conservative relative humidity condition. The data were analyzed by a Weibull distribution model using four different estimators. The results revealed that Weibull strength ( σavg) and modulus (Eavg) closely followed experimental values for cattail and canola fibers. The different relative humidity conditions and fiber lengths resulted in different Weibull parameters with 11% relative humidity and the mean rank estimator predicted the most conservative tensile strength for both waste biomass fibers. The experimental and characteristic Weibull strength decreased when fiber gauge length increased from 25 to 45 mm. The tensile strength and modulus of both waste biomass fibers at 50% reliability lie within the range of average experimental values. However, these values are reduced to 155 MPa (strength) and 20 GPa (modulus) for cattail fiber at 90% reliability. The survival probability of the tensile strength and modulus were found to be the highest at 75% and 100% relative humidity for cattail and canola fibers, respectively.

Antioxidant Contents in a Mediterranean Population of Plantago lanceolata L. Exploited for Quarry Reclamation Interventions.

Plantago lanceolata L. (plantain) is an interesting multipurpose perennial species whose aerial parts are used in herbal medicine due to its precious phytochemicals and are palatable to animals. Moreover, peculiar traits such as drought tolerance, an extended growth season and a deep root system, make plantain a promising pioneer plant for quarry reclamation based on the use of native species. This study evaluated the effects of different environmental conditions and seasons on the accumulation of the bioactive compounds of its aerial organs. An autochthonous plantain population was grown in three locations in Sardinia (Italy). Leaves, peduncles and inflorescences were collected between October 2020 and July 2021. Phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity were determined. The analysis of the individual phenolic compounds was performed using liquid chromatography. In leaves, the content of total phenolics, antioxidant capacity and total flavonoids were significantly influenced by location and season. Total phenolic content ranged from 65 to 240 g gallic acid equivalent kg−1, whereas total flavonoids were from 16 to about 89 g catechin equivalent kg−1. Neochlorogenic, chlorogenic, cryptochlorogenic acids, verbascoside, diosmin and luteolin were identified in the methanolic extracts of leaves, peduncles and inflorescences. Verbascoside was the main antioxidant isolated from plantain extracts. Results evidenced an increasing accumulation pattern of phenolics from vegetative stage to flowering, followed by a decrement towards the seed ripening as well as site-specific differences with amounts of phenolics even 25% higher for same plantain accession.

Growth and metabolism of basil grown in a new-concept microcosm under different lighting conditions

To simulate a typical market-oriented cultivation in laboratory, plants of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were grown from seedling to flowering stages in a new-concept microcosm device that enables roots and aerial parts to grow as under real crop conditions. To test the device efficacy, two microcosms were used with the same lighting architecture, temperature and photoperiodic conditions and with two different light spectra, white (W) or blue-red (BR), displaying a similar spectral power in the blue region. Plant growth, biomass yield, photosynthetic efficiency and nutrient uptake were determined. An innovative analytical approach for secondary metabolic profile was also developed to determine basil quality. The plants grew vigorous and healthy for the whole cultivation period and under both the lighting regimes, giving a biomass yield similar to those of basil grown under conventional greenhouse and field conditions. The two lighting regimes differently affected plant growth and yield, with the BR light, that was characterized by a higher photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), associated to higher plants, earlier flowering and greater yield. In the average, fresh and dry aerial biomasses per plant were about 250 g and 41 g under BR and about 114 g and 9 g under W light. Higher concentrations of major nutrients were detected in plants under W light, thus indicating that yield levels and major nutrient concentrations are not necessarily related to each other. Similar Fv/Fm (0.76–0.78) and ETR values were observed under the two light regimes, possibly indicating that plants under long lasting cultivation can adapt to different light regimes to reach similar photosynthetic efficiency levels. Different secondary metabolic profiles were detected in tissues sampled at the end of cultivation period and previously unreported profiles for basil were also recorded, possibly indicating that the extent of plant growth affects secondary metabolism in basil, in addition to light spectrum and PPFD level. This is the first report of basil grown under microcosm conditions from seedlings to adult plants. Our results indicate that the microcosm based-technology is effective in simulating a typical market-oriented cultivation and that long lasting cultivation emphasizes the effects of different environmental conditions on plant growth and metabolism.

Investigation of Effects of Different Environmental Conditions on Balance Time of Bleeding and Evaporation in Plastic Shrinkage of Concrete Pavements

One of the causes of early-age cracking in concrete pavements is plastic shrinkage. This shrinkage occurs after the balance of bleeding and evaporation and the formation of negative capillary pressures at the pavement surface. Different environmental conditions cause the rate of evaporation to change, resulting in a change in time of balance and subsequent cracking. This study, using the standard ASTM C 1579 method, examined the relationship between time of balance of bleeding and evaporation, and cracking area in concrete in 27 different environmental conditions, including a combination of three ambient temperatures, three wind speeds, and three relative humidities with using a continuous video recording system and digital image analysis. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between time of balance and severity of plastic shrinkage cracking. By reducing the time of balance from the maximum value to its minimum value, the cracking area increased by more than four times. It was seen that the combination of environmental conditions has a significant effect on increasing or decreasing the severity of cracking, and the fact that only one factor is critical cannot necessarily create critical conditions for plastic shrinkage cracking. Time of balance can be an essential factor in controlling and reducing plastic shrinkage cracking and assessing the effects of different environmental conditions on the severity of cracking in concrete pavements. It is necessary to control this factor during the construction of concrete pavements in different environmental conditions.

A review on heavy metal ions adsorption from water by layered double hydroxide and its composites

• We selected to review topics related to the specific application of LDH removal of heavy metals. • Classify and summarize its modification methods, absorption properties, composition, structure, and other aspects. • It is determined that future research needs to reduce environmental impact and economic costs to promote the synthesis and use of LDH. • This system summary will provide helpful guidance for preparing high-efficiency LDHs-based adsorbents and offer critical clues to elucidating the adsorption behavior of heavy metals on LDHs-based materials. Heavy metal pollution is highly toxic and persistent, posing a severe threat to human health, agriculture, and the safe environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for fast and efficient heavy metal removal technology to deal with emergency response to heavy metal leakage. In recent years, the development of a unique layered double hydroxide material has attracted widespread attention in sewage treatment. Due to these fundamental scientific issues, the general concern about environmental pollution management of LDH-based materials, and the recent significant developments in this field, it is necessary to conduct a thematic review. This article summarizes 474 related articles published since 2005 and outlines functionalized layered double hydroxide (LDH) research status as heavy metal adsorption materials. In addition, there is still a lack of reviews on the adsorption characteristics, interaction mechanism, and application of LDHs-based nanomaterials in heavy metal removal. Here, the primary purpose of this article is to systematically summarize LDHs-based materials and their applications in removing heavy metals from aqueous solutions ( Fig. 1 ). First, we will focus on its preparation and modification methods to understand LDH intuitively. Subsequently, the effects of different environmental conditions on factors such as pH, temperature, and contact time were summarized. Finally, the interaction mechanism between LDHs composites and heavy metals is briefly described, and a quick conclusion is given.

Impact of environmental stress on biochemical profile and fitness traits in Drosophila malerkotliana

In natural condition, climatic changes affect the internal state of an organism. Effect of different environmental conditions on energy metabolites level can reveal the survival and fitness of organisms. In ectothermic insects, temperature plays a crucial role in influencing a number of fitness traits like duration of life cycle, survival, longevity and reproductive efficiency. Changes in temperature may lead to alteration in the levels of different biochemical profiles like body lipid, protein and glucose, as a measure to cope up with the changed environmental conditions. In the present study, mass culture stock of fruit fly, Drosophila malerkotliana, collected from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh was examined for the effect of temperature on the body lipid (triglyceride), protein and reproductive ability, particularly, fertility and productivity in this species. The experimental results have indicated that transient thermal stress caused a significant effect on body triglyceride and protein content on age-dependent manner. Fitness traits, i.e., fertility and productivity were observed to be severely influenced by fluctuating temperature in the young as well as old age flies. Therefore, transient temperature stress leaves its distinct impact on the biochemical profile, fertility and productivity in D. malerkotliana.

Temperature, not precipitation, drives the morphological traits of Didymodon rigidulus in Tibet

Plant traits reflect the response and adaptation of plants to environmental changes and play important roles in the prediction of the effects of different environmental conditions on plants and plant-mediated processes. However, few studies have focused on the traits of nonvascular plants, such as bryophytes, although such plants are important participants in the primary productivity and biogeochemistry in harsh environments. In this study, the adaptive morphological traits and their interactions in the moss species that adapt to harsh and acute changeable environment were determined. Environmental factors that drive the changes in these traits were also evaluated. A total of 43 specimens of Didymodon rigidulus were collected from 38 sampling sites in arid and semi-arid regions in Tibet. Twelve morphological traits were investigated by microscope measurement, and then their interrelations and relations to environmental variables were quantified by employing Spearman’s correlation analysis, hierarchical partitioning analysis, and partial least squares path modeling. Results showed that along with the environmental gradient, the plant height, leaves, and cells of D. rigidulus had changed significantly, and these parameters were largely interpretable in functional and adaptive terms. The lower the mean annual temperature (MAT) was, the thicker was the surface cell wall and the wider was the cell cavity of D. rigidulus. The higher potential evapotranspiration (PET) was, the thicker was the surface cell wall but the smaller were the leaves. MAT and PET were the main driving forces for the development of such traits of D. rigidulus. These results provide important insight into the adaptive syndrome of nonvascular plants associated with stress tolerance in the varied and harsh environment in Tibet. This study indicated the importance of considering the effects of climate change, especially the warming temperature on species adaption and community assemblage.

Infrared thermography detection of delamination in bottom of concrete bridge decks

Infrared thermography (IRT) has been widely used in detecting the subsurface delamination of bridge deck. However, IRT inspection on delamination zones of the bridge deck which have limited exposure to direct solar radiation (e.g., the bottom surface of the bridge deck) is rather challenging due to the relatively low thermal contrast (∆T) development in these zones. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to conduct a series of experimental studies in conjunction with numerical modeling for investigating the effectiveness of IRT in delamination detection of bridge deck components which are normally not exposed to direct solar radiation. Specially, the effects of different environmental conditions, thickness of bridge deck, and defect characteristics on the absolute thermal contrast (∆T) development were systematically investigated. The results show that IRT can effectively detect the subsurface delamination of concrete bridge deck located in regions that are not exposed to the direct solar radiation. In addition, the development of detectable thermal contrast (>0.5°C) is much dependent on the rate of change in ambient temperature with a suitable detection period between 8 am and 4 pm. Furthermore, it shows that the value of ∆T increases with the increase of bridge deck thickness and delamination size.

Recovery of phosphorus from eutrophic water using nano zero-valent iron-modified biochar and its utilization

Effective removal and recovery of phosphorus (P) from the aquatic environment was of great significance for eutrophication control and P recovery. This study investigated the effects of different environmental conditions on P adsorption by biochar (BC) and the feasibility of applying the P-laden BC as a fertilizer for plant growth. The nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) modified reeds BC prepared at 700 °C (Fe-700-BC) had the maximum P adsorption capacity of 95.2 mg g−1, which was higher than those prepared at 300, 500, and 900 °C. The addition of Fe-700-BC reduced the concentration of total phosphorus (TP) in the overlying water, in which the soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) almost completely removed, as well as had a certain inhibitory effect on the growth of algae. Simultaneously, Fe-700-BC reduced the contents of different fractions of P (weakly adsorbed inorganic phosphorus (WA-Pi), potential active inorganic phosphorus (PA-Pi), and Fe/Al-bound inorganic phosphorus (Fe/Al-Pi)) by adsorbing the soluble P released from the sediments, especially in the case of disturbance. Fe-700-BC had no significant effect on the diversity and richness of the microbial community in the sediment. Moreover, P-laden BC was safe and environmentally friendly for application in the soil and tended to increase stem and root length, fresh and dry weight at low doses (0.5 wt%) in wheat planting experiments. The present work could provide a reference for solving the problems related to eutrophication and P deficiency.

Crack-enhanced weathering in inscribed marble: a possible application in epigraphy

Abstract. Raman spectroscopy has been applied to check if there are detectible material differences beneath the inscribed and non-inscribed areas of marble-based written artefacts, which could be further used to visualize lost or hardly readable text via suitable mapping. As a case study, marble segments with ∼ 2000-year-old inscribed letters from Asia Minor (western Turkey) and marble gravestones with 66 ± 14-year-old inscriptions from the cemetery of Ohlsdorf (Hamburg, Germany) have been subjected to Raman spectroscopy, as well as to complementary X-ray diffraction, wavelength-dispersive electron probe microanalysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, to thoroughly study the effect of different environmental conditions, grain size, and inscription age on the nature and penetration depth of marble alteration. The results demonstrate that environmental conditions rule over the type of dominant weathering changes, which are carotenoid molecular inclusions produced by lichen and amorphous carbon for marbles from Hamburg and Asia Minor, respectively. The alteration is much stronger in medium- and coarse-grained than in fine-grained marble, but it is suppressed by letter colouring. In the absence of letter colouring, the weathering-related products in both ancient and modern engraved marbles are more abundant beneath than away from the engraved areas, and the penetration depth is larger due to the enhancement of fissures and micro-cracks around the inscribed areas. We show that the Raman intensity ratio between the strongest peak of the weathering-related product (ν(C=C) ∼ 1520 cm−1 for carotenoids or the G peak ∼ 1595 cm−1 for soot-like carbon) and the strongest peak of marble (CO3 stretching near 1087 cm−1) can serve as a quantitative marker to indirectly map the lateral distribution of cracks induced during the inscribing process and hence can potentially be used to trace lost text on vanished marble inscriptions. This approach can be applied to other rock types, but further studies are required to identify the corresponding autochthonous weathering-related products.

The Effect of Environmental Conditions on the Quality of UAS Orthophoto-Maps in the Coastal Environment

Marine conservation and management require detailed and accurate habitat mapping, which is usually produced by collecting data using remote sensing methods. In recent years, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are used for marine data acquisition, as they provide detailed and reliable information through very high-resolution orthophoto-maps. However, as for all remotely sensed data, it is important to study and understand the accuracy and reliability of the produced maps. In this study, the effect of different environmental conditions on the quality of UAS orthophoto-maps was examined through a positional and thematic accuracy assessment. Selected objects on the orthophoto-maps were also assessed as to their position, shape, and extent. The accuracy assessment results showed significant errors in the different maps and objects. The accuracy of the classified images varied between 2.1% and 27%. Seagrasses were under-classified, while the mixed substrate class was overclassified when environmental conditions were not optimal. The highest misclassifications were caused due to sunglint presence in combination with a rough sea-surface. A change detection workflow resulted in detecting misclassifications of up to 45%, on orthophoto-maps that had been generated under non-optimal environmental conditions. The results confirmed the importance of optimal conditions for the acquisition of reliable marine information using UAS.

Finite Horizon Touchdown Analysis of Autolanded Aircraft under Crosswind

The paper presents a worst-case touchdown condition analysis of an autolanded aircraft under crosswind. Aircraft dynamics are generally considered altitude- and speed-dependent and, thus, well covered inside the linear parameter-varying framework. Following a specific parameter trajectory tracking the instrument landing system’s guidance signal, its dynamics amount to a finite horizon linear time-varying (LTV) system. This allows to explicitly respect the varying dynamics during the flare maneuver, changing control laws, and the finite horizon of the approach using a finite horizon LTV analysis. A time-varying trajectory uncertainty is proposed to respect the effects of different environmental conditions and aircraft parameters in the analysis. By representing the uncertainty as an integral quadratic constraint (IQC), recent advances in the worst-case gain analysis of finite horizon LTV systems can be utilized. The analysis condition is based on a parameterized Riccati differential equation, which leads to an efficiently solvable nonlinear optimization problem. Applying the robust LTV framework, worst-case touchdown conditions of an autolanded large airliner under crosswind wind are calculated. The obtained results are evaluated against Monte Carlo analyses of the nonlinear model.

Susceptibility of strain-hardening cementitious composite to curing conditions as a retrofitting material for RC beams

Strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC) have recently been developed as repair materials for the improvement of crack control and strength of flexural members. This work focuses on strengthening and flexural enhancement using SHCC layer in tensile regions of flexural members under three different curing conditions. The curing conditions simulate the effect of different environmental conditions prevailing in the central and coastal regions of the Arabian Peninsula on the properties of SHCC as a retrofitting material. In this investigation, beams with SHCC layer were compared to control beams. The beams with SHCC layer of 50-mm thickness were cast. The results revealed that the flexural behavior and the load-carrying capacity of the normal concrete beam specimens under hot and dry environmental conditions were significantly reduced, lowering the ductility of the section. However, compressive strength is comparatively unaffected. Similarly, the hot curing conditions have also led to a notable reduction in the loading capacity of the beam with SHCC layer with a slight effect on its stiffness. On the other hand, steam-curing conditions have shown improvement in load-carrying capacity and a reduction in section ductility of the beam with SHCC layer. It was found that the structural unit retrofitted with SHCC layer was a curing-regime dependent as the tensile and strain-hardening properties of SHCC are highly sensitive to the alteration in the cement hydration process. A normal curing regime was found effective and satisfying the practical, cost, and performance requirements. Accordingly, a normal curing regime could be implemented to retrofit reinforced concrete (RC) beams with SHCC layers as recommended in the study.

Mechanisms influencing particle depletion in and around mussel farms in different environments

Through the mechanisms of particle immobilization and subsequent depletion of particles, mussel cultivation has a direct effect on chlorophyll-a concentrations and Secchi depth; both of which are primary indicators of marine ecological status and metrics for water quality management. As such, mussel cultivation has been proposed as a measure to mitigate the effects of coastal eutrophication. However, the extent to which this ecosystem service, and relatedly, biomass accumulation, are affected by ambient environmental conditions involves complex interactions. To explore the interacting mechanisms underpinning depletion dynamics under various biophysical conditions along the salinity gradient in the Baltic Sea, we used an updated Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) model with field data from the western Baltic Sea, accommodating osmotic stress. We use the DEB model to drive a 3D farm-scale model within a novel precompiled hydrodynamic framework (FlexSem) to evaluate the effects of different environmental conditions and farm configuration on the intensity and extent of the chlorophyll-a depletion signal. We also report on extensive in situ monitoring of chlorophyll-a and Secchi depth within and around mussel farms, from several cultivation areas from around the western Baltic Sea to evaluate site-specific characteristics of depletion. Monitoring reflected the high degree of spatio-temporal variability in the quantification of this ecosystem service; with relative differences in chlorophyll-a from −14 to 69% and Secchi depth from 0 to 75%. We find that the extensive in situ measurements in different environmental conditions can be represented by the integrated farm model in terms of mussel biomass accumulation and depletion, providing insight on the interactions of current velocity, farm orientation to predominant current direction, ambient chlorophyll-a concentrations, and total biomass loads on the intensity and spatial extent of the depletion signal. Furthermore, the model has been calibrated to cover a variety of environmental contexts and permits fine-resolution simulation of multiple environmental interactions on mussel energetics, which can be used to evaluate potentials for optimizing mussel mitigation culture and the associated ecosystem services of phytoplankton depletion under local conditions without extensive recalibration from field growth data. The general interactions exhibited here and model will be useful for evaluating depletion and planning the establishment of mitigation farms in regions where national environmental monitoring programs can provide basic data. This can also reduce the need for extensive and costly in situ monitoring programs.

Ecophysiology of Pilocarpus microphyllus in response to temperature, water availability and vapour pressure deficit

The jaborandi is a natural source of alkaloids used in the treatment of important diseases and, therefore, relevant for the pharmaceutical industry. However, the lack of information on the jaborandi ecophysiological responses under different climatic conditions is the major limitation for its expansion in Brazil. Thus, we investigated the effects of different environmental conditions on the ecophysiology of jaborandi seedlings, combining several ranges of mean air temperature (T), vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and water availability. For this, jaborandi seedlings were cultivated in four different environments: cold and humid (Temp: 21.1 °C, VPD: 0.31 kPa), hot and humid (Temp: 26.8 °C, VPD: 0.34 kPa), hot and dry (Temp: 26.3 °C, VPD: 1.09 kPa) and cold and dry (Temp: 20.8 °C, VPD: 0.84 kPa); all the environments had two water availability levels: well-watered (control: C) and water-stressed (45% of the maximum substrate water holding capacity). Growth and fluorescence parameters, crop water stress index and enzymatic antioxidant activity were evaluated. Our results revealed that the seedlings reduced their growth when subjected to water restriction in all treatments, resulting in a lower total dry mass production, mainly due to the reduction of the root system. In the well-watered treatments, jaborandi seedlings showed higher growth when cultivated in warmer environments, regardless of the VPD. Under low-temperature conditions, there was a reduction in maximum quantum yield efficiency of PSII, indicating damage to photosystem II; also, the minimum fluorescence and the enzymatic antioxidants activity increased. The highest dry mass accumulation was obtained when the seedlings were submitted to high temperatures, indicating that the regions that experience such conditions are the most suitable for jaborandi cultivation.

Fecal Microbiota Characterization of Seychelles Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) Living in Both Wild and Controlled Environments.

A microbiome is defined as a complex collection of microorganisms and their genetic material. Studies regarding gut microbiomes of different animals have provided ecological and evolutionary information showing a strong link between health and disease. Very few studies have compared the gut microbiota of animals housed under controlled conditions and those in wild habitats. Little research has been performed on the reptile gut microbiota, and what studies do exist are mainly focused on carnivorous reptiles. The aim of this study was first to describe the overall microbiota structure of Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) and, second, to compare the microbiota of tortoises living under natural conditions and tortoises living in controlled environments, such as zoological and botanical parks, in Italy and in the Seychelles. Seventeen fecal samples were collected from giant tortoises located on Curieuse Island (CI, n = 8), at the Botanical Garden (BG, n = 3) in Mahé (Seychelles Islands) and at Parco Natura Viva–Garda Zoological Park (PNV, n = 6) in Verona (Italy). The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified in order to characterize the gut microbiota profile. Overall, the major phyla identified were Bacteroidetes 42%, Firmicutes 32%, and Spirochaetes 9%. A higher microbial diversity (alpha indices) was observed for the BG samples as compared to the PNV samples (Shannon: 5.39 vs. 4.43; InvSimpson: 80.7 vs. 25; Chao1: 584 vs. 377 p < 0.05). The results in the present study showed a significant difference in beta diversity between the samples from CI, BG, and PNV (p = 0.001), suggesting a different bacterial fecal profile of giant tortoises at the different habitats. This study provided novel insights into the effects of different environmental conditions on the gut microbial communities of giant tortoises. In particular, differences were reported regarding the bacterial gut community structure between tortoises in natural and in controlled environments. These results could help to improve the management of giant tortoises under human care, thus enhancing ex-situ conservation efforts far from the species geographic range.

The north–south orientation of Australian termite mounds is due to the Sun and local wind: A heat transfer investigation

The Australian “magnetic” termite mounds are famously known for their systematic wedge-shape and north–south alignment. Although the longer axis of the mound wedge is mainly aligned north-to-south, depending on their locations, they might have slight deviations from true north, exhibiting consistent east or westward orientations. The structural characteristics of Australian mounds have been the subject of many in situ investigations in the past, suggesting that the orientation of these structures might be a response to termites’ need for having a sort of thermal regulation within their habitat. Using the foundations based by the observational studies, this study develops a thermo-physics based predictive model, founded on the principles of heat transfer and thermodynamics, to fundamentally investigate the reason behind the shape and orientation of magnetic mounds. Using the typical environmental conditions of the locations where these mounds are found, the shape and orientation of the thermally optimized structures were successfully predicted by the model, indicating that their structural characteristics arise as a response to the combined effects of the local solar irradiance received on the mound body and the local wind condition. These combined effects result in a thermally regulated medium within the mound (i.e., uniform temperatures throughout the structure with minimum fluctuations throughout the day) that provides a suitable microclimate for the residing termites. The effects of different environmental conditions on the mound structural characteristics are also investigated.

Analysis of different urban spaces on thermal comfort in cold regions: a case from Erzurum

With the rapid rise in population density in urban areas, there has also been an increase in research on quality of life and the effects of green space on health and comfort in densely populated cities. A critical part of improving the quality of life in urban areas is the reduction of urban heat island effect, especially in hot climate cities, and the reduction of adverse effects of winter in cold climates. Urban planning and landscape design strategies can have a great impact on urban microclimates, thereby providing relief from the harsh effects of climate change. Studies reveal that the cultivation of wetlands and open green spaces can have a direct impact on microclimate and comfort in densely populated areas. Erzurum is under the cold stress of the decreasing temperature in winter and continues to experience extreme temperatures in summer. This study is focused on the effects of urban design and landscape architectural interventions in the city of Erzurum. For this purpose, meteorological stations were placed in intensive construction areas of the urban city center, in wetland areas, and in the forested area of Ata Botanical Park in the city center. Three stations, dense green areas (1), temporary wetlands (2), and urban city center areas (3), were selected as urban area use types. Meteorological data were collected during March–April when the wetlands were full due to heavier periods of rain, and during July–August, the hottest months in the city. Thermal comfort values have been analyzed for different areas using RayMan soft model. The average value of Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) recorded in March–April was 3.5 °C in the city center, 2.8 °C in the dense green area, and − 0.3 °C around the temporary wetland area. In July and August, the average value of PET in the city center was 24.9 °C, 23.0 °C in dense green areas, and 21.2 °C around the wetland area. In cold cities, it was found that the water surfaces, which positively contribute to thermal comfort in summer, increased the cold stress in winter. It was determined that dense green areas function as balancing factors for thermal comfort of the city both for summer and winter seasons and they contributed positively in all conditions. As a result of this study, more accurate decisions can be made for future urban planning efforts by considering the effects of different environmental conditions on microclimates in the city, especially where this consideration can be applied to urban design and development, urban revitalization efforts, or when designing new settlements.

Experimental Investigation on Chloride Diffusion Coefficient of Self-compacting Concrete in the Oman Sea

Chloride ion penetration is an important parameter influencing the service life of a concrete structure, especially in aggressive environments. Severe chloride-induced corrosion of reinforced concretes has been reported in the southern part of Iran in the region of Oman Sea. In this paper, the effect of different environmental conditions of the Oman Sea on chloride penetration and mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) and normal concrete (NC) is investigated. For this purpose, a number of prismatic specimens were exposed to various environmental conditions such as tide, submersion and atmospheric conditions. Surface chloride concentration and diffusion coefficient of SCC in these zones were calculated based on Fick’s second law, at 28, 90 and 150 days and compared with NC. Based on the values obtained in this study, relationships are proposed for concrete permeability and surface chloride of self-compacting concrete (SCC) at different ages in different aggressive environments. By determining the corrosion time based on these relations, it is observed that for a given water-to-cement ratio, the self-compacting concrete (SCC) has higher durability compared to normal concrete (NC).

Incubation environment and parental identity affect sea turtle development and hatchling phenotype.

For reptiles, the incubation environment experienced by embryos during development plays a major role in many biological processes. The unprecedented rate of climate change makes it critical to understand the effects that the incubation environment has on developing embryos, particularly in imperiled species such as chelonians. Consequently, a number of studies have focused on the effects of different environmental conditions on several developmental processes and hatchling phenotypic traits. In addition to the incubation environment, it is also essential to understand how parental contributions can influence hatchling quality. This is the first study that investigates the effects of parental origin and incubation conditions on sea turtle embryonic development and hatchling phenotype in nests incubating in the field (rather than under controlled laboratory conditions). Here, we used the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) to investigate the effects of parental origin (clutch), incubation temperature, and the nest hydric environment on embryonic growth, incubation durations, hatching success, and hatchling phenotype. Our results show that nest moisture and temperature affect embryo mass towards the last third of development, with hatchling size positively correlated with nest moisture content, and maternal origin had a strong impact on hatching success and hatchling size regardless of the incubation conditions. The results from this experiment identify multiple factors that affect turtle embryonic development under field incubation conditions, a fundamental consideration when interpreting the potential impacts of climate change on reptilian development.