Wet Conditions Research Articles

Effect of Progressive Wetting on Permanent Deformation of Fouled Ballast under Cyclic Loading

Climate change in recent decades has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events, causing varied moisture contents in the ballasted track, which greatly challenges railway operation and track maintenance. Currently, most research about permanent deformation of fouled ballast are under dry condition or with a moisture content in the individual tested sample, which could not fully represent varied moisture conditions in the field induced by varying rainfall intensities. In this paper, permanent deformation of field-sourced fouled ballast under progressive wetting condition was investigated using large-scale triaxial cyclic tests. The results indicate that, with progressively rising water contents (0% to 12%), the fouled ballast sample maintained their stability; however, the rate of permanent strain increases to a peak value before experiencing a slight decline, aligning with classified shakedown ranges. This observed phenomenon can be attributed to the interplay between wetting, densification, and interlocking under conditions of cyclic loading and progressive wetting, an aspect that existing research have not elaborated. To encapsulate the identified deformation characteristics, this study proposes and validates a new predictive model for the permanent deformation of fouled ballast, demonstrating high prediction accuracy for fouled ballast with varying water contents.

Performance of infiltration trenches in different soils in native vegetation and urban area of the Federal District of Brazil

The increase in flooding events in major cities has driven the search for new strategies that incorporate Low Impact Development (LID) units into urban drainage. This research analyzes the performance of infiltration trenches to determine flow and infiltration physical parameters in different soil types in the Federal District of Brazil (FDB), comparing urban area and preserved Cerrado biome. The results show that most soils in the Federal District of Brazil have good infiltration conditions, particularly the Red Latosol and Red-Yellow Latosol. Infiltration trenches were effective in storing significant volumes of water, especially during initial runoff events where favorable soil moisture conditions exist. The Regolithic Neosol exhibited low infiltrability, making its use for infiltration trenches not recommended. Keywords: cerrado, infiltration trench, red latosol.

Integrating multi-source remote sensing and machine learning for root-zone soil moisture and yield prediction of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.): A new perspective from the temperature-vegetation index feature space

Accurately assessing root-zone soil moisture is crucial for precision irrigation, as it directly influences crop yield. The Temperature-Vegetation Index (Ts-VI) Feature Space, which combines land surface temperature (Ts) and vegetation index (VI), is widely used to evaluate root-zone soil moisture in vegetated areas. However, its effectiveness in estimating crop yield remains unclear. Therefore, the objectives of this study are: (1) to collect multispectral and thermal infrared remote sensing data from a two-year (2021–2023) field experiment on winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), and to optimize and evaluate the fitting methods of the dry and wet edges of the Ts-VI feature space based on the selected vegetation indices; (2) to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of the Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) derived from the optimized Ts-VI feature space and estimate root-zone soil moisture (SM) and crop yield; and (3) to precisely invert the SM and yield of winter oilseed rape in the 0–60 cm root-zone using three machine learning algorithms—Support Vector Regression (SVR), Extreme Gradient Boosting Regression (XGBR), and Random Forest Regression (RFR)—based on the optimized TVDI. Results indicate that, among the various fitting methods, the polynomial fitting method shows the best performance. The performance of the root-zone soil moisture prediction models across different growth stages follows the order of budding stage > seedling stage > flowering stage, and with the increase of soil depth, the performance of the model gradually deteriorates.In the yield inversion of winter oilseed rape, TVDI effectively predicts yield, with the coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.430 to 0.480 and RMSE ranging from 213.399 to 267.212 kg ha−1 during the seedling stage, R2 ranging from 0.640 to 0.747 and RMSE ranging from 110.712 to 178.133 kg ha−1 during the budding stage, and R2 ranging from 0.680 to 0.773 and RMSE ranging from 83.815 to 147.301 kg ha−1 during the flowering stage. The flowering stage effectively reflects crop yield trends and allows for accurate yield prediction of winter oilseed rape up to two months in advance. A comparison of the modeling results from XGBR, SVR, and RFR shows that XGBR provides the best fit for both root-zone soil moisture and yield predictions. Compared to linear regression models, the three machine learning models significantly improve accuracy and fit, providing more precise evaluations of root-zone soil moisture and yield. In addition, through the comparison and verification of this method in other regions, it shows that the results also have certain reference value. The combination of the Ts-VI feature space and machine learning algorithms not only enables precise monitoring of root-zone soil moisture conditions but also predicts future crop yield trends, offering valuable insights for water resource management and irrigation decision-making in precision agriculture.

Cost of fall injuries in traffic are for pedestrians and bicyclists - municipal respons needed

Abstract Motivation Pedestrians and bicyclists have been posting in news and social media with reflections on municipal efforts to clean bicycle paths and sidewalks in icy and wet conditions. The municipality have lowered budgets for these cleaning efforts in recent years. Methods Analysis of A&E department registration data with the Nomesco core dataset allows for separation of location, age, sex, time of day and date of injury. Injury severity is classified according to diagnosis of treatment (minor/major). Cost calculations are based on national scales from the Ministry of Transport (ambulance/police/treatment/rehabilitation). Cold weather was defined as lowest day temperature < 5 degree C (Danish Metereological service DMI). Results During 2023 all pedestrians or bicyclists (n = 2516) treated at the A&E following an incident on sidewalks, streets or bicyclepaths (population 225.000) were included. Non-serious were (total/cold weather): sidewalks (699/266), bicyclepaths (414/117), streets (762/277). Serious: sidewalks (290/130), bicyclepaths (123/32), streets (228/100). Assessment of economical costs was DKK: Non-serious were (total/cold weather): sidewalks (20.8/7.9), bicyclepaths (12.4/3.5), streets (22.7/8.3). Serious: sidewalks (42.2/18.9), bicyclepaths (17.9/4.7), streets (33.2/14.6). Discussion and conclusions The economic burden for the population and municipality far exceeds the costs for cleaning the streets, bicyclepaths and sidewalks in icy and wet conditions. With appropriate injury surveillance and communication to municipal authorities revised cleaning principles was decided at the political level Key messages • Appropriate and focused injury registration is needed for targeted political level decision. • Standardized and targeted economic calculations are persuasive in the political arena at the local level.

Reinforcement Learning Algorithm for Optimising Durian Irrigation Systems: Maximising Growth and Water Efficiency

This study presents a Reinforcement Learning-based algorithm designed to optimise irrigation for Durio Zibethinus (i.e., durian) trees, aiming to maximise tree growth and reduce water usage. Traditional irrigation methods, as well as current machine learning models, often focus only on soil moisture and weather data, neglecting critical factors like actual tree growth. This study proposed a reinforcement learning irrigation (RL-Irr) algorithm incorporating tree growth stages, soil moisture, and weather conditions to determine precise irrigation needs. The algorithm was developed by calibrating the AQUACROP model using data from actual durian plantations where rain-fed irrigation (rain-fed) was practised. Daily irrigation volumes were calculated based on real-time soil moisture, weather forecasts, and weekly tree growth measurements. The reinforcement learning method was used to optimise irrigation schedules, with rewards based on soil moisture, tree growth, rainfall, and weather conditions. The algorithm was tested using AQUACROP simulations and compared against soil moisture balance irrigation (SMB-Irr) and rain-fed. The results showed that the RL-Irr reduced water use by up to 75 percent while maintaining tree growth. These findings suggest the algorithm could significantly improve water efficiency in durian farming, though real-world applications should consider potential model limitations.

Microbial source tracking to address of bacterial contamination in recreational waters

Abstract Background Beach closures in the USA are determined by fecal indicator bacteria thresholds, which are insufficient to identify causes of contamination. We use microbial source tracking (MST) to identify the species source of bacteria entering chronically impaired waters. We find canine bacteria is the primary source of high E.coli levels and demonstrate the power of MST for direction of remediation efforts. Methods This environmental sampling study was performed in Short Beach, Branford, Connecticut, USA. Water samples were collected from outfalls under wet and dry precipitation conditions by 10 Citizen Scientist volunteers. The highest E.coli samples were analyzed for avian, human, and canine markers using MST. Results E.coli from 103 samples was tested from April-October 2023. Pearson’s r between average site E.coli and same day precipitation was 0.71 (p-value = 0.006). Among the high E.coli samples, 19 (76%) were low/non detectable, 5 (20%) were moderate, and 1 (4%) were high for human tracers; 10 (50%) were low/non detectable and 10 (50%) were moderate for avian tracers, and 3 (15%) were low/non detectable, 11 (55%) were moderate, and 6 (30%) were high for canine tracers. Conclusions Precipitation is a driver of elevated bacteria levels. Canine bacteria is likely the primary source of elevated bacterial levels in beach waters, while avian contributors are of moderate concern and human contributors are of low concern. As a result, an education campaign and watertight waste receptacles, rather than costly sewer line replacements, are being deployed to improve beach quality. Key messages • Use of microbial source tracking found canine bacteria is the likely driver of elevated E.coli levels in local beaches, initiating a community education campaign rather than costly sewer replacements. • Microbial source tracking technology offers a powerful public health tool for identifying causes of bacterial contamination in chronically impaired recreational waters.

Optimizing Irrigation Scheduling to Enhance Nutrient Uptake and Soil Microbial Activity in Linseed Cultivation (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Linseed crop cultivated under residual moisture and water scarcity conditions in rabi season. To improve the productivity of linseed irrigation water is applied at different stages of crop. So, to optimize the irrigation scheduling and enhance the nutrient uptake and soil microbial activity, this experiment was conducted at Main Agriculture Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur (which comes under North Eastern Dry zone of Karnataka) (India) during rabi 2023-24. The experiment was carried out with Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments and four replications. The results revealed that, pre sowing irrigation fb three irrigations at vegetative stage (30-35 DAS), flowering stage (40-45 DAS) and capsule development stage (60-65 DAS) (T4) recorded significantly higher nutrient uptake by linseed crop (46.07, 19.87 and 39.83 NPK kg ha-1). The rainfed condition treatment (T5) recorded significantly lower nutrient uptake by the crop (19.35, 8.15 and 18.40 NPK kg ha-1). Among the different treatments, pre sowing irrigation fb three irrigations at vegetative stage (30-35 DAS), flowering stage (40-45 DAS) and capsule development stage (60-65 DAS) recorded significantly higher soil microbial population of bacteria (16.1 X 106 cfu g-1 of soil), fungi (13.8 X 104 cfu g-1 of soil) and actinomycetes (6.8 X 103 cfu g-1 of soil) as compared to other treatments. The soil enzymatic activity was significantly influenced by scheduling of irrigation at different growth stages in linseed. At harvest among the different treatments, pre sowing irrigation fb three irrigations at vegetative stage (30-35 DAS), flowering stage (40-45 DAS) and capsule development stage (60-65 DAS) recorded significantly higher dehydrogenase, urease and alkaline phosphatase activity (18.63 μg TPF g-1 soil day-1, 22.5 μg NH4-N g-1 soil hr-1 and 14.4 µg PNP g-1 soil hr-1, respectively).

Strong coupling between the East Asian summer monsoon and regional hydrological conditions as evidenced by multiproxy stalagmite records for the last deglaciation

Millennial-to centennial-scale abrupt climate events during the last glacial‒interglacial transition have significant relevance to modern-day extreme climate changes, which are occurring more frequently in the context of global warming. However, the regional expression of humidity conditions during the last deglaciation and their possible forcing mechanism in northern China are controversial. Here, combined with published δ18O data, we report 35-year-resolved δ13C and 76-year-resolved Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca records from a stalagmite from 15.3 to 10.9 ka BP from Lianhua Cave, northern China. The LH4 stalagmite δ18O record clearly records a weak monsoon event during the Younger Dryas (YD) from 12.8 to 11.6 ka BP and a strong monsoon event during the Bølling-Allerød (BA) from 14.6 to 12.8 ka BP. In addition, the δ13C and trace element ratio records, which represent local hydroclimatic changes, indicate wetter conditions during the BA and drier conditions during the YD, which appear to match well with the δ18O variations on the millennial timescale. A comparison of 28 records from 17 sites along the modern margin of the China summer monsoon revealed that the BA was characterized by wet conditions; inversely, the YD was characterized by dry conditions throughout northern China, which is obviously different from the consensus of the wet YD and the dry BA in northern northeastern China. The covariance in northern China suggests that the hydrological variation may be modulated by the advance and retreat of the large-scale East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) circulation. Further comparison revealed an anticorrelated relationship between millennial-scale precipitation changes in northern China and the middle‒lower reaches of the Yangtze River Valley during the last deglaciation. This correlation is analogous to the dipole precipitation mode at present, which is likely associated with the strength and position of the westerly jet and/or the western Pacific subtropical high, both of which play important roles in the spatial distribution of precipitation over eastern China.

Understanding and mitigating settlement in gypseous soils: A comprehensive study on the role of saturation and soil stabilization techniques

This study examines the influence of saturation levels and soil additives on the load-settlement properties of gypseous soils, a significant geotechnical concern in regions like Iraq. The study analyzes the deficiencies of conventional oedometer testing, which often fail to adequately represent the true unsaturated conditions prevalent in these soils. The research investigates the impact of varying matric suction (Ψ) values on the compressibility of untreated, cement-treated, and CKD-treated gypseous soils. A modified oedometer apparatus, engineered to control and quantify matric suction, was used to replicate diverse moisture conditions. The experimental program investigated soils with varying gypsum contents (8.8%, 12.66%, and 30%), reflecting the diversity of gypseous soils seen in the field. The findings demonstrate that increased saturation levels significantly enhance settling in gypseous soils. As matric suction increases, settlement is markedly reduced due to elevated soil suction pressure and enhanced effective stress. The findings underscore the importance of unsaturated conditions in improving the load-bearing capacity of these soils. The study illustrates the advantageous impacts of cement and CKD treatments in reducing settling. The effectiveness of these methods is particularly apparent in partially saturated environments, emphasizing the need of including matric suction into design considerations. This research improves understanding of the complex behavior of unsaturated gypseous soils. The findings have practical importance for geotechnical engineering, including foundation design, ground improvement methods, and the development of effective solutions for settlement issues in areas with high gypsum concentrations.

Exposure to aflatoxins and ochratoxin A from the consumption of selected staples and fresh cow milk in the wet and dry seasons in Ghana

Across sub-Saharan Africa, the heavy reliance on mycotoxin-susceptible staple foods means that populations in the region are particularly vulnerable to chronic mycotoxin exposure. This study assessed the exposure risk to ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins (AFs) from 18 samples of selected staple foods (maize, millet, groundnut) and 56 fresh cow milk samples collected from across Ghana. The foods were sampled simultaneously to maximise comparability, and at two timepoints in March/April (during the dry season) and July/August (during the rainy season) to assess the effects of duration of storage and seasonal conditions on the mycotoxin levels as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The margin of exposure (MOE) approach was used to assess the exposure risk from consumption of the sampled foods. Each of the sampled staples was contaminated with OTA (0.19–3.11 ng/g) and at least one AF (0.75–13.05 ng/g B1, ND-12.12 ng/g B2, 0.1–9.95 ng/g G1, ND-16.78 ng/g G2). Up to 67% had contamination above European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) maximum limits, and 50% were above Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) limits. The fresh cow milk samples were contaminated with AFM1 in the range of 0.05–1.49 ng/g, with 95% above EFSA limits and 36% above GSA limits. Aflatoxin contamination in the staples was high, particularly in July/August when the wet conditions may have adversely impacted the handling and storage of farm produce. Variation in AFM1 between the two sampling periods mirrored total aflatoxin in the staples, suggesting that even if dairy cattle were grazing in open pasture and not being rationed on stored feed, then there was a high environmental presence of aflatoxigenic fungi. The MOE estimates were ≤533.09, far below the safe cut-off of 10,000 for suspected carcinogenic compounds. The high mycotoxin levels indicate a priority risk to child nutrition which relies heavily on cereal mixes based on one or all the three sampled staples. The data from this study underscore the urgent need for interventions to better appreciate and address mycotoxin exposure for enhanced food security and public health in Ghana and across sub-Saharan Africa.

An overview of symbiotic and pathogenic interactions at the fungi-plant interface under environmental constraints.

The complex and dynamic interactions between fungi and plants constitute a critical arena in ecological science. In this comprehensive review paper, we explore the multifaceted relationships at the fungi-plant interface, encompassing both mutualistic and antagonistic interactions, and the environmental factors influencing these associations. Mutualistic associations, notably mycorrhizal relationships, play a pivotal role in enhancing plant health and ecological balance. On the contrary, fungal diseases pose a significant threat to plant health, agriculture, and natural ecosystems, such as rusts, smuts, powdery mildews, downy mildews, and wilts, which can cause extensive damage and lead to substantial economic losses. Environmental constraints encompassing abiotic and biotic factors are elucidated to understand their role in shaping the fungi-plant interface. Temperature, moisture, and soil conditions, along with the presence of other microbes, herbivores, and competing plants, significantly influence the outcome of these interactions. The interplay between mutualism and antagonism is emphasised as a key determinant of ecosystem health and stability. The implications of these interactions extend to overall ecosystem productivity, agriculture, and conservation efforts. The potential applications of this knowledge in bioremediation, biotechnology, and biocontrol strategies emphasise the importance of adapting to climate change. However, challenges and future directions in this field include the impacts of climate change, emerging fungal pathogens, genomic insights, and the role of the fungi-plant interface in restoration ecology. Hence, this review paper provides a comprehensive overview of fungi-plant interactions, their environmental influences, and their applications in agriculture, conservation, and ecological restoration.

Anomalous wet summers and rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations increase the CO2 sink in a poorly drained forest on permafrost

At the northern high latitudes, rapid warming, associated changes in the hydrological cycle, and rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations, [CO2], are observed at present. Under rapid environmental changes, it is important to understand the current and future trajectories of the CO2 budget in high-latitude ecosystems. In this study, we present the importance of anomalous wet conditions and rising [CO2] on the long-term CO2 budget based on two decades (2003-2022) of quasicontinuous measurements of CO2 flux at a poorly drained black spruce forest on permafrost peat in interior Alaska. The long-term CO2 budget for the black spruce forest was a small sink of -53 ± 63 g C m-2 y-1. The CO2 sink increased from 49 g C m-2 y-1 for the first decade to 58 g C m-2 y-1 for the second decade. The increased CO2 sink was attributed to an 11.3% increase in gross primary productivity (GPP) among which 9% increase in GPP was explained by a recent increase in precipitation. Furthermore, a 3% increase in GPP in response to a 37-ppm increase in [CO2] was estimated from the data-model fusion. Our study shows that understanding the coupling between hydrological and carbon cycles and the CO2 fertilization effect is important for understanding the current and future carbon budgets of high-latitude ecosystems in permafrost regions.

Physiological Behavior of Rubber Plants (<i>Hevea Brasilliensis</i>) to Different Soil Moisture Conditions

Drought conditions can severely impact rubber (<i>Hevea brasiliensis</i>) plantations, leading to economic loss in Malaysia. The study aimed to assess the impact of varying soil moisture levels on the physiological characteristics of five latex timber clones (LTCs) of rubber, with the goal of identifying the most suitable clone for specific soil moisture conditions. These conditions include (1) field capacity, (2) 75% available water (AW), (3) 50% AW, (4) 25% AW, and (5) wilting point, with the ultimate objective of optimizing cultivation methods and fostering sustainable rubber production in Malaysia. The five clones under investigation include RRIM3001, RRIM2025, RRIM2001, RRIM928, and PB350. Leaf chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, and net photosynthesis were measured 4 and 8 months after treatment (MAT). The findings indicated significant effects of moisture stress on various physiological attributes, including total chlorophyll content, relative chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, and net photosynthesis rate. At 4 and 8 MATs, the clones subjected to field capacity exhibited the highest values for these physiological characteristics, followed by those exposed to 75% available water, with the lowest values observed at the wilting point. RRIM3001 consistently exhibited the highest total chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, and net photosynthesis among the clones at both sampling dates. The highest net photosynthesis was observed in the RRIM3001 clone under field capacity conditions. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was identified between total chlorophyll and relative chlorophyll contents, as well as between net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. These findings carry practical implications for water management during the initial growth phase of rubber seedlings and for replanting initiatives in rubber plantations.

Risk assessment and seasonal variation of atmospheric ammonia in Ondo State, Nigeria

The environment is impacted by atmospheric ammonia (NH3) in a number of ways, including the global nitrogen cycle, ecology, and the production of secondary particles. Our findings present an unparalleled depiction of the temporal and geographical properties of atmospheric NH3 in and around this megacity, based on long-term, continuous measurements of NH3 at various locations in Ondo State. The increase in atmospheric ammonia during this anthropogenic era is believed to pose a significant threat to humanity, with scientists linking it to a rise in global warming and climate change. KP-826 multiple gas detector was used to investigate ammonia gas in five locations within Ondo state and its correlation with meteorological parameters was examined in this study. The selection of Dumpsite, Cattle rearing farm and Poultry farm was purposeful because of their involvement in the production of ammonia gas. The mean concentration of NH3 (ppm) during wet season was 3.87 ± 1.60 and for dry season was 5.87 ± 1.60. The mean temperature (°C) in wet conditions is 32.51 ± 1.27, which is a little lower than the mean (33.51 ± 1.25) in dry conditions. The mean wind speed (in m/s) during wet conditions is 1.21 ± 0.32, which is greater than the mean wind speed (in m/s) during dry conditions of 1.11 ± 0.32. The mean value of humidity for wet situations is 72.08 ± 2.31, which is a little lower than the mean value for dry conditions, which is 76.07 ± 2.31. This work evaluated the potential health risks associated with NH3. The total hazard quotient (THQ) for adult was 1.30 × 10–6 for children 1.50 × 10–6. The children's HQ ranged from 2.41 to 4.15. The adult's ranged from 8.70 to 15.13. However, it was discovered that the health risk posed by breathing in atmospheric NH3 was far higher than the USEPA limits, where HQ > 1.

Impact of Harvest Delay and Barley Variety on Grain Nutritional Composition and Mycotoxin Contamination

This study investigated the effects of delayed harvesting, varying meteorological conditions, and barley variety on Fusarium spp. infection rates, nutritional composition, and mycotoxin contamination in barley grains. Field experiments were conducted from 2020 to 2022 and involved two barley varieties: ‘Laureate’ for malting and ‘Luokė’ for feed. The results indicated that the dominant Fusarium species isolated were F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. poae, F. sporotrichioides, F. tricinctum, and F. equiseti. These tended to increase in number with delayed harvest times and were more prevalent during harvest periods of higher precipitation (p < 0.05). Malting barley had higher starch and lower protein content compared to feed barley (p < 0.05). Delayed harvesting generally increased dry matter, crude fat, and crude ash contents while decreasing crude protein, zinc, and iron contents (p < 0.05). Mycotoxin analysis revealed significant differences under specific weather conditions. HT-2 toxin levels were higher under slightly warmer and wetter conditions during flowering, with harvest conditions similar to the long-term average. Zearalenone levels increased with dry, warm growing seasons followed by rainy harvests. Nivalenol and enniatin levels increased with rainy growing seasons and dry, warm harvests. Deoxynivalenol concentrations did not reach the limit of quantification throughout the study. No consistent trend was observed for higher contamination in any specific barley variety (p > 0.05). The strongest correlations between mycotoxins and nutritional value indicators were observed with less-studied mycotoxins, such as nivalenol and enniatins, which exhibited negative correlations with crude protein (p < 0.01), crude fat (p < 0.05), and zinc (p < 0.01), and positive correlations with crude ash (p < 0.05) and phosphorus (p < 0.01).

Pollarding May Relieve Drought Stress in Black Poplars

Pollarding has historically been used in broadleaf tree species across European woodlands. However, despite pollarding enhances vigor growth in the short term, it is still unclear how long this effect lasts and whether it can alleviate drought stress in seasonally dry regions. We compared the radial growth and wood δ13C (13C/12C), a proxy of intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE), of trees pollarded 10 and 20 years ago in two black poplar (Populus nigra L.) riparian stands located in North Eastern Spain and subjected to different ecohydrological conditions. We also assessed if pollarded trees showed different leaf phenology as compared with uncut trees of coexisting white poplar (Populus alba L.) trees. The relationships between growth, climate variables, drought severity and river flow were quantified. Pollarded and uncut trees showed a similar leaf phenology with a trend towards earlier leaf unfolding as springs become warmer. Pollarding increased growth rates by 54% (ratio between trees pollarded 10 and 20 years ago, respectively), but this enhancement was transitory and lasted ca. 10 years, whereas wood δ13C decreased −5%. The growth of black poplar increased in response to high precipitation in the previous winter, cool wet conditions, and a higher river flow in summer. Pollarding improves growth and relieves drought stress.

Dynamic Adsorption and Oil Recovery of Nanosilica on Carbonate Rock.

Numerous studies have investigated the use of nanosilica particles for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Many of these studies focused on experiments involving LHP (lipophobic and hydrophilic polysilicones) and HLP (hydrophobic and lipophilic polysilicones) in water-wet sandstones and oil-wet carbonate rocks. This paper's gap investigates comparing LHP and HLP nanosilica particles in enhancing oil recovery in water-wet and neutral-wet carbonate rocks. Additionally, the effects of LHP and HLP adsorption during injection and their influence on oil recovery have not yet been extensively investigated. This study used Sumatran crude oil from Indonesia, and to support the objectives of this study, several analyses were conducted, including measurements of rock wettability, interfacial tension, fluid stability, zeta potential, UV-vis spectrophotometric adsorption, and coreflood injection as the main experiment under different scenarios. The findings demonstrate that the oil recovery enhancement is influenced by the type of nanosilica used. Specifically, LHP nanosilica exhibited higher oil recovery in neutral-wet carbonate rocks, about 9.78-44.44%, while HLP nanosilica showed better performance in water-wet carbonate rocks in the range of 4.11-41.01% in different injection scenarios. Moreover, a directly proportional relationship was observed between the adsorption of LHP and HLP nanosilica on the rock and fluid and oil recovery, where increased adsorption corresponded to higher oil recovery for each injection scenario with the respective type of nanosilica about 0.06-0.15 mg/g. These results provide valuable insights into selecting the appropriate nanosilica and initial wettability conditions in EOR applications.

Investigation of the Impact of Moisture in Various States on the Adsorption of CH4, N2, and CO2 by Coal.

To investigate the impact of moisture in various states on the adsorption of CH4, N2, and CO2 by coal, this study conducted isothermal adsorption experiments on dry coal for moisture and on coal with varying moisture content for CH4, N2, and CO2. The results revealed that coal moisture adsorption progresses through four stages: monolayer adsorption, multilayer adsorption, cluster formation, and condensation into free moisture filling pores. The presence of moisture in coal varies across these stages, with its impact on CH4, N2, and CO2 adsorption decreasing as moisture content increases. As the moisture content rises, the adsorption constants (a and b values) progressively decline and eventually level off. Based on differences in coal moisture states, delineated by a relative humidity of 0.50 (corresponding to a moisture content of 2.39% in experimental samples), adsorption potential theory identified low moisture content stages where the monolayer and multilayer adsorption potentials for moisture (E1 = 4.99 kJ/mol, E2 = 39.71 kJ/mol) exceeded those for CH4, N2, and CO2, suggesting competitive adsorption effects. In the high-water content stage, the mesoporous structural fractal dimension D2 of the coal samples was found to be 2.77, nearly reaching 3, as determined through liquid nitrogen adsorption experiments and fractal dimension theory. This suggests that the intricate pore structure leads to water condensation, free water formation, and pore blockage, making it the primary factor influencing the adsorption of CH4, N2, and CO2 in coals, which is inherently linked to the characteristics of coal.

Fungal Skin Infections in Beach Volleyball Athletes in Greece

Background/Objectives: Fungal infections, commonly referred to as mycoses, are widespread and affect various parts of the body. Common types of fungal skin infections include tinea pedis, tinea unguim, tinea cruris, tinea versicolor, and tinea manuum. Athletes, in particular, are at a higher risk of contracting these infections due to several factors inherent to their training and competitive environments. Methods: This research examined the incidence, anatomical distribution, and seasonal occurrence of fungal skin infections among beach volleyball athletes in Greece. The study cohort consisted of 785 participants, with an average age of 28.4 years. Variables recorded included gender, the seasonal periods during which athletes might be more prone to injuries, and the specific body areas affected by fungal infections. In addition, training-related data such as weekly training frequency, and daily training duration were collected. Results: Incidence rates correlated in relation to gender: male, tinea pedis (p < 0.000), tinea manuum (p < 0.010); number of weekly trainings: tinea pedis (p < 0.000), tinea unguium (p < 0.043), tinea cruris (p < 0.008), tinea versicolor (p < 0.038), tinea manuum (p < 0.043); average hours of daily training: tinea unguium (p < 0.039), tinea manuum (p < 0.039). Conclusions: Athletic activities often involve exposure to warm, moist conditions that promote fungal growth. Locker rooms, showers, and equipment can harbor fungi, spreading infections among athletes. Understanding these infections is essential for effective prevention and management, as they can impact performance and health if untreated. Proper hygiene, antifungal treatments, and public health measures are crucial to reducing the risk in athletic settings.

Prolonged dry seasons lengthen coccidioidomycosis transmission seasons: implications for a changing California.

Coccidioidomycosis, a fungal disease caused by soil-borne Coccidioides spp., exhibits pronounced seasonal transmission, with incidence in California typically peaking in the fall. However, the influence of climate on the timing and duration of transmission seasons remains poorly understood. Using weekly data on reported coccidioidomycosis cases in California from 2000-2023, we developed a distributed-lag Markov state-transition model to estimate the effects of temperature and precipitation on the timing of transmission season onset and end. We found that transitions from cooler, wetter conditions to hotter, drier conditions accelerate season onset. Dry conditions (10 th percentile of precipitation) in the spring shifted season onset an average of 2.8 weeks (95% CI: 0.43-3.58) earlier compared to wet conditions (90 th percentile of precipitation). Conversely, transitions back to cooler, wetter conditions hastened season end, with dry fall conditions extending the season by an average of 0.69 weeks (95% CI: 0.37-1.41) compared to wet conditions. When dry conditions occurred in the spring and fall, the transmission season extended by 3.70 weeks (95% CI: 1.23-4.22). As California is expected to experience prolonged dry seasons with climate change, our findings suggest this shift may lengthen the time at which populations are at elevated coccidioidomycosis risk.