Moisture Variations Research Articles

Enrichment and Quantitation of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitory Peptides in Quinoa upon Systematic Malting.

Food-derived peptides with an inhibitory effect on dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) can be used as an additive treatment for type 2 diabetes. The inhibitory potential of food depends on technological protein hydrolysis and gastrointestinal digestion, as the peptides only act after intestinal resorption. The effect of malting as a hydrolytic step on the availability of these peptides in grains has yet to be investigated. In this study, quinoa was malted under systematic temperature, moisture, and time variations. In the resulting malts, the DPP-IV inhibition reached a maximum of 45.02 (±10.28) %, whereas the highest overall concentration of literature-known inhibitory peptides was 4.07 μmol/L, depending on the malting parameters. After in vitro gastrointestinal digest, the inhibition of most malts, as well as the overall concentration of inhibitory peptides, could be increased significantly. Additionally, the digested malts showed higher values in both the inhibition and the peptide concentration than the unmalted quinoa. Concerning the malting parameters, germination time had the highest impact on the inhibition and the peptide concentration after digest. An analysis of the protein sizes before and after malting gave first hints toward the origin of these peptides, or their precursors, in quinoa.

Enhancing a machine learning model for predicting agricultural drought through feature selection techniques

This study aims to determine the crucial variables for predicting agricultural drought in various climates of Iran by employing feature selection methods. To achieve this, two databases were used, one consisting of ground-based measurements and the other containing six reanalysis products for temperature (T), root zone soil moisture (SM), potential evapotranspiration (PET), and precipitation (P) variables during the 1987–2019 period. The accuracy of the global database data was assessed using statistical criteria in both single- and multi-product approaches for the aforementioned four variables. In addition, five different feature selection methods were employed to select the best single condition indices (SCIs) as input for the support vector regression (SVR) model. The superior multi-products based on time series (SMT) showed increased accuracy for P, T, PET, and SM variables, with an average 47%, 41%, 42%, and 52% reduction in mean absolute error compared to SSP. In hyperarid climate regions, PET condition index was found to have high relative importance with 40% and 36% contributions to SPEI-3 and SPEI-6, respectively. This suggests that PET plays a key role in agricultural drought in hyperarid regions because of very low precipitation. Additionally, the accuracy results of different feature selection methods show that ReliefF outperformed other feature selection methods in agricultural drought modeling. The characteristics of agricultural drought indicate the occurrence of drought in 2017 and 2018 in various climates in Iran, particularly arid and semi-arid climates, with five instances and an average duration of 12 months of drought in humid climates.

Comparison of the Sample Preparation Strategies and Impacts on the Tensile Strength of Gas Shale with Variable Moisture Conditions

Moisture significantly affects the mechanical behavior of gas shale and further determines the hydraulic fracturing performance, as it is more attractive. Nevertheless, batch experiments have usually involved variable methodologies regarding the preparation of moisture-contained shale specimens in the sequence (and/or frequency) of drying and soaking treatments. Accordingly, this work investigates how the preparation methodology influences the test results of moisture-contained shale samples. This study compares three commonly used shale sample preparation strategies for acquiring different moisture contents, that is, “dry-wet”, “dry-wet-dry”, and “wet-dry-wet” strategies, followed by a Brazilian splitting test for the mechanical parameters. The results show that under the same saturation conditions, the longer the soaking time during sample preparation, the higher the degradation degree of shale tensile strength. Meanwhile, prolonged soaking can lead to a more discrete distribution of strength values, and the failure mode may deviate from the Brazilian splitting theory model. Under the combined influence of moisture content and soaking time, the tensile strength of shale decreases approximately linearly with increasing saturation, while the degradation degree increases nonlinearly with increasing saturation, and the degradation rate changes from slow to fast. According to the observation of the microstructure of hydrated shale, prolonged soaking can lead to an increase in the expansion of clay minerals in shale by hydration, resulting in looser and more fragmented internal structure, and further degradation in shale strength. In order to weaken the interference of hydration when studying the effect of moisture content on the tensile strength of shale, the soaking time should be minimized as much as possible during the preparation process.

Frequency Analysis of Asymmetric Circular Organic Solar Cells Embedded in an Elastic Medium under Hygrothermal Conditions

This research represents the first theoretical investigation about the vibration behavior of circular organic solar cells. Therefore, the vibration response of asymmetric circular organic solar cells that represent a perfect renewable energy source is demonstrated. For this purpose, the differential quadrature method (DQM) is employed. The organic solar cell is modeled as a laminated plate consisting of five layers of Al, P3HT:PCBM, PEDOT:PSS, ITO, and Glass. This cell is rested on a Winkler–Pasternak elastic foundation and assumed to be exposed to various types of hygrothermal loadings. There are three different kinds of temperature and moisture variations that are taken into account: uniform, linear, and nonlinear distribution throughout the cell’s thickness. The displacement field is presented based on a new inverse hyperbolic shear deformation theory considering only two unknowns. The motion equations including hygrothermal effect and plate–foundation interaction are established within the framework of Hamilton’s principle. The DQM is utilized to solve these equations. In order to ensure the accuracy of the proposed theory, the present results are compared with those reported by other higher-order theories. A comprehensive parametric illustration is conducted on the impacts of different parameters involving the geometrical configuration, elastic foundation parameters, temperature, and moisture concentration on the deduced eigenfrequency of the circular organic solar cells.

Investigating combined effects of saturation–desaturation cycles and cyclic stress resistance of reinforced biopolymer-treated soil

Throughout their service life, subgrades endure significant stress from cyclic traffic and seasonal moisture fluctuations. This study aims to evaluate the moisture variation and cyclic stress resistance of reinforced and biopolymer-treated soils, which were treated with varying percentages (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.0%) of xanthan gum (XG) and sisal fiber, to determine the level of tolerance a subgrade can sustain. Wetting–drying (W-D) cycle tests, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests, and dynamic resilient modulus (DRM) tests were conducted to assess the resistance of the treated soils to moisture variation and cyclic stress. The findings indicate that biopolymer-treated specimens retained over 95% of their original mass after 15 cycles, whereas fiber-reinforced soil exhibited a 9.1% loss in mass. Furthermore, the DRM of the reinforced soil improved, demonstrating greater resistance to cyclic stress compared to biopolymer-treated soils. Fiber-reinforced soils exhibited strain-hardening responses at low cyclic stress levels and maintained stress tolerance even at high cyclic stress levels without signs of strain deformation. Conversely, the UCS of the biopolymer-treated soil surpassed that of the fiber-reinforced soil due to the brittleness of the specimens.

In situ monitoring of the impacts of Melaleuca styphelioides transpiration on soil water dynamics in an urban environment

Expansive soils are susceptible to substantial cyclical moisture variations under the prevailing climate, experiencing considerable shrinkage during drought and swelling when water availability increases. These dynamic volumetric changes jeopardize the functionality of lightweight infrastructures with shallow foundations. The presence of trees may amplify seasonal soil movements, as extensive water uptake by root networks in the summer months can induce soil moisture depletion and the resulting desiccation-driven settlement around the trees. This study assessed the drying effect of mature Melaleuca styphelioides on soil movement and water dynamics at an urban experimental site in Melbourne, Australia, instrumented for in situ monitoring over 12 months. Sap flow instrumentation was used to quantify seasonal variations in tree transpiration. The monitoring results revealed that the drying influence of the tree has extended to a depth of 2.2 m. Tree root-induced soil desiccation occurred 4.0 m away from the tree, as evidenced by the seasonal soil movement profiles. Linear regression analysis showed that the soil water content explained 60% of the variability in tree transpiration. In contrast, the soil water content and suction exhibited a robust negative correlation (R2=0.96) within the active root zone.

Evaluation of long-term spatio-temporal soil moisture variation over the lower Mahanadi River Basin of Odisha, India: a case study

Evaluation of long-term spatio-temporal soil moisture variation over the lower Mahanadi River Basin of Odisha, India: a case study

The influence of moisture transport processes on the stable isotopic compositions in precipitation on the South slope of the Himalayas

Understanding spatiotemporal variations in stable isotopes in precipitation (ẟ18O and ẟD) on the south slope of the Himalayas is crucial for comprehending moisture variations reaching the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Here, we analyze these variations at seven stations in Nepal spanning altitudes from 102 m to 5050 m above sea level in 2017. Our findings show no significant temperature or precipitation amount effect on isotopes, with synoptic precipitation exerting a strong influence. Non-monsoon precipitation primarily originates from the vicinity of the Koshi River basin and the Ganges River, while during the monsoon, the Bay of Bengal, the Koshi River basin, and the Ganges River contribute, with minimal input from the Arabian Sea. Convective activities significantly regulate inner-seasonal precipitation δ18O, with strong convection associated with low isotopic values. Increasing altitude leads to substantial differences in δ18O values, indicating modulation by higher condensation levels and lower temperatures. These findings underscore the impact of regional moisture transport on precipitation isotopic variability and offer insights into interpreting paleo-isotope records in the Indian Summer Monsoon region.

Predicting Soil Organic Matter, Available Nitrogen, Available Phosphorus and Available Potassium in a Black Soil Using a Nearby Hyperspectral Sensor System.

Black soils, which play an important role in agricultural production and food security, are well known for their relatively high content of soil organic matter (SOM). SOM has a significant impact on the sustainability of farmland and provides nutrients for plants. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in the visible and near-infrared region has shown the potential to detect soil nutrient levels in the laboratory. However, using portable spectrometers directly in the field remains challenging due to variations in soil moisture (SM). The current study used spectral data captured by a handheld spectrometer outdoors to predict SOM, available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP) and available potassium (AK) with different SM levels. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were established to compare the predictive performance of air-dried soil samples with SMs around 20%, 30% and 40%. The results showed that the model established using dry sample data had the best performance (RMSE = 4.47 g/kg) for the prediction of SOM, followed by AN (RMSE = 20.92 mg/kg) and AK (RMSE = 22.67 mg/kg). The AP was better predicted by the model based on 30% SM (RMSE = 8.04 mg/kg). In general, model performance deteriorated with an increase in SM, except for the case of AP. Feature wavelengths for predicting four kinds of soil properties were recommended based on variable importance in the projection (VIP), which offered useful guidance for the development of portable hyperspectral sensors based on discrete wavebands to reduce cost and save time for on-site data collection.

Comparative analysis of SAOCOM and Sentinel-1 data for surface soil moisture retrieval using a change detection method in a semiarid region (Douro River’s basin, Spain)

The growing interest in low-frequency SAR for soil parameter retrieval has led to the development of new active L-band satellites, that will provide novel surface soil moisture products and retrieval possibilities; however, due to data unavailability so far, limited applications have investigated the use of change detection models using L-band satellite SAR data. Since July 2020, high revisit time, high-resolution acquisitions by the Satélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas (SAOCOM) Argentinian-Italian constellation have become accessible over Europe. Therefore, this research presents an investigation of the potential of multi-temporal L-band SAOCOM-1 for monitoring soil moisture variations underneath low and sparse agricultural vegetation. Moreover, it proposes a procedure for the mitigation of roughness contribution, by exploiting the entropy parameter derived from the dual-polarimetric decomposition. L-band sensitivity to soil moisture has been jointly evaluated in respect of Sentinel-1 C-band data by (1) comparing the temporal profiles of the backscattering coefficient, γ0, at VV and VH polarization, with the support of decomposition parameters (entropy and ᾱ), NDVI and precipitation data; (2) regression analysis with in situ soil moisture measurements, obtained by the REMEDHUS network in the Douro River basin (Spain); 3) evaluating the soil moisture retrievals obtained at C- and L- band using a change detection method. Finally, the effectiveness of the roughness normalization procedure for SAOCOM data has been validated using in situ data. L-band co-polarized γ0 has proved to be the best configuration for soil moisture inversion, being relatively insensitive to vegetation, as demonstrated by decomposition results and trend interpretation. Overall, regressions detected an R2 22% higher at L-band than C-band, with values up to 0.74 for VV (R̄2=0.32) and up to 0.47 for the VH band (R̄2=0.14). Co-polarized data obtained R2 on average 62.1% and 74.7% higher for SAOCOM and Sentinel-1. The retrieval models show an ubRMSD of 7.1% for SAOCOM data and 8.3% for Sentinel-1. The application of the proposed roughness normalization procedure to SAOCOM led to an ubRMSD of 6.7% improving the retrieved soil moisture trend by 7.9%. This exploratory analysis demonstrated SAOCOM data potential for soil moisture mapping and would serve as a foundation for more advanced retrieval procedures.

Historical Soil Moisture Variability in High‐Latitude Humid Regions: Insights From a Paleoclimate Data‐Model Comparison

AbstractUnderstanding historical soil moisture (SM) variations and their relationship with temperature in high‐latitude humid regions is essential for predicting hot droughts under widespread warming. This paper presents the first‐ever annual‐resolution summer surface SM reconstruction (1736–2006 CE) in Sweden, located in northern Europe (NE). The reconstruction utilizes the paleoclimate proxy, tree‐ring δ18O, which exhibits a strong correlation with reanalysis SM data during 1948–2007 CE (r = −0.67, p < 0.001). In contrast to an unprecedented trend suggested by previous studies, our reconstruction exhibits a wetting trend in NE since the 1960s falling within the historical spectrum of trends. Both reanalysis SM data and our reconstruction show significant negative correlations with temperature at interannual timescales. However, Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 climate models failed to capture the significant SM‐temperature relationship during the historical (1850–1947 CE) and observation periods (1948–2006 CE). This proxy‐model comparison represents a critical step toward enhancing our understanding of SM dynamics and the reliability of SM projections in high‐latitude humid regions.

Within‐field soil moisture variability and time‐invariant spatial structures of agricultural fields in the US Midwest

AbstractUnderstanding soil moisture variability and estimating high‐resolution soil moisture at subfield to field scales is critical for agricultural research and applications. However, systematic investigation of subfield scale soil moisture variability over cropland is still lacking from both measurement and satellite remote sensing. In this study, we aim to investigate (1) the characteristics of within‐field soil moisture distribution over typical cropland in the US Midwest and (2) the capabilities of satellite remote sensing in capturing the spatiotemporal variabilities of soil moisture at subfield scale. Specifically, we conducted soil moisture field experiments in three typical commercial agricultural fields (∼85 acres per field) in central Illinois, representing typical commercial farmlands in the US Midwest, and compared the soil moisture measurements with satellite remote sensing data from optical and active microwave sensors. In each field, dense soil moisture samples (spaced at 50–60 m) were obtained for two dry down events in May and July 2021, and multiple long‐term soil moisture stations were installed. We found prominent time‐invariant spatial structures of soil moisture at within‐field scales both during the dry down period and over longer time scales, and the stability is minimally affected by plant water use during the growing season. Comparing the field campaign measurements with satellite remote sensing data, we found that surface reflectance of shortwave infrared bands, such as SWIR1 (1610 nm) from Sentinel‐2, can capture relative surface soil moisture patterns at within‐field scales, but their relationships with soil moisture are field specific. These findings and the improved understanding of within‐field soil moisture dynamics could potentially help future research on high‐resolution soil moisture estimation with multi‐source remote sensing data.

Long-term species-level observations indicate the critical role of soil moisture in regulating China's grassland productivity relative to phenological and climatic factors

As a sensitive indicator of climate change and a key variable in ecosystem surface-atmosphere interaction, vegetation phenology, and the growing season length, as well as climatic factors (i.e., temperature, precipitation, and sunshine duration) are widely recognized as key factors influencing vegetation productivity. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of soil moisture in regulating grassland productivity. However, the relative importance of phenology, climatic factors, and soil moisture to plant species-level productivity across China's grasslands remains poorly understood. Here, we use nearly four decades (1981 to 2018) of in situ species-level observations from 17 stations distributed across grasslands in China to examine the key mechanisms that control grassland productivity. The results reveal that soil moisture is the strongest determinant of the interannual variability in grassland productivity. In contrast, the spring/autumn phenology, the length of vegetation growing season, and climate factors have relatively minor impacts. Generally, annual aboveground biomass increases by 3.9 to 25.3 g∙m2 (dry weight) with a 1 % increase in growing season mean soil moisture across the stations. Specifically, the sensitivity of productivity to moisture in wetter and colder environments (e.g., alpine meadows) is significantly higher than that in drier and warmer environments (e.g., temperate desert steppes). In contrast, the sensitivity to the precipitation of the latter is greater than the former. The effect of soil moisture is the most pronounced during summer. Dominant herb productivity is more sensitive to soil moisture than the others. Moreover, multivariate regression analyses show that the primary climatic factors and their attributions to variations in soil moisture differ among the stations, indicating the interaction between climate and soil moisture is very complex. Our study highlights the interspecific difference in the soil moisture dependence of grassland productivity and provides guidance to climate change impact assessments in grassland ecosystems.

Mechanical, Electrical and Thermal Behavior of Liquid Silicone Rubber Based Composites

Manufacturers' primary emphasis in diversifying sectors is on environmentally friendly materials. It aims to produce electrical and electronic appliances. These material solutions are necessary to improve insulator performance and functioning as they get smaller, lighter, and more dependable. High-voltage devices, transformers, and other electrical components are well-insulated by silicone rubber. Silicone rubber not only retains its electrical qualities when exposed to external conditions such as moisture and temperature variations, but it is also safer and cleaner than its competitors. This paper primarily focuses on comparative analysis of the mechanical, electrical, and thermal characteristics of adding several ceramic nano-fillers, such Al2O3, Mullite, and Cordierite, to a liquid silicone rubber (LSR) matrix for suggested electrical insulation applications.

Strong coupling between soil moisture and temperature intensifies warming and humidification on the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from 200-year tree ring records

In recent times, the warming and humidification of the Tibetan Plateau have become more pronounced. However, research on soil moisture on the Tibetan Plateau has been limited by the late initiation of data acquisition, thereby constraining the study of its driving mechanisms. Hence, there is an urgent need for historical time series to fill this research gap. To address this issue, we analyzed four spruce (Picea likiangensis) chronologies collected in high-altitude regions of the Tibetan Plateau, and we found that soil moisture during the dry season was a critical limiting factor for tree growth. The first principal component of a principal component analysis, accounting for 56.21% of the variance in all chronologies, was then used to reconstruct soil moisture variations from October of the previous year to May of the current year in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau from 1778 to 2020. We found significant relationships between soil moisture changes and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV). We also found a strong linkage between dry season soil moisture and summer temperature, suggesting that this relationship contributes to the intensification of warming and humidification on the Tibetan Plateau.

Wood properties influencing surface cracking and moisture dynamics of untreated Norway spruce exposed outdoors

Untreated wood has excellent environmental benefits due to the lack of treatments; however, its durability needs to be great enough to provide a sufficient service life to not override the environmental benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate some wood properties of untreated, unfinished Norway spruce and their influence on moisture dynamics and crack development under natural exposure. Three field-trials were carried out, all under natural exposure during various exposure times. The specimens differed in their exposure direction (north/south), composition (heartwood/ sapwood), density, and thickness. Moisture measurements were carried out either by use of sensors or weighing the specimens, while the crack formation was measured using digital calipers. Generally, high-density spruce exhibited more rapid moisture fluctuations than low-density; this agreed well with the increased crack development observed in the field-trials. More cracks were observed for specimens containing sapwood rather than heartwood. This was likely caused by an increase in moisture uptake, generating greater moisture gradients. The results also showed that the crack tendency was greater in specimens within the high-density group placed facing south, which is likely due to an increase in moisture variation, and perhaps also faster UV-deterioration. No clear correlation between crack tendency and thickness was found.

Combined 2D- and 3D ERT monitoring as a geophysical tool for investigating spatial and temporal soil moisture fluctuations in a pine-beech forest

As climate change continues, forests are increasingly suffering from drought stress, which is leading to widespread forest dieback, but also to increased mortality of individual trees. In this regard, the impact of small-scale differences in water availability on individual trees has not yet been sufficiently studied to determine possible responses of different tree species to future droughts. Since conventional soil moisture monitoring and sampling methods only consider single points or small volumes, Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) is becoming increasingly important to cover a larger survey area and to detect small-scale heterogeneities with regard to soil properties and soil moisture.The current study describes the application of a combined two- and three-dimensional geoelectrical monitoring approach with daily measurements over two years (May 2021 – April 2023) in a forest ecosystem in Lower Franconia (northwestern Bavaria, Germany), which is strongly affected by climate change. Soil water content, soil matric potential, throughfall, and stem flow are also measured at the forest site as well as precipitation at an adjacent forest clearing.The seasonally (long-term) and precipitation-driven (short-term) temporal change of soil resistivity is correlated strongly with the measured soil water content and matric potential. The applied 3D-ERT approach also allowed a first three-dimensional monitoring of the subsurface below a European beech located in the middle of the measuring grid with a daily resolution. The corresponding results also provide first indications that besides soil moisture changes also chemical processes in the subsurface may influence temporal resistivity changes in the soil of forest sites.The results of this study show that daily 3D-ERT is very suitable for investigating small-scale as well as short- and long-term variations in soil moisture, which is becoming increasingly important for understanding the causal relationships considering tree mortality and the subsurface.

Shifting groundwater fluxes in bedrock fractures: Evidence from stream water radon and water isotopes

Geologic features (e.g., fractures and alluvial fans) can play an important role in the locations and volumes of groundwater discharge and degree of groundwater-surface water (GW-SW) interactions. However, the role of these features in controlling GW-SW dynamics and streamflow generation processes are not well constrained. GW-SW interactions and streamflow generation processes are further complicated by variability in precipitation inputs from summer and fall monsoon rains, as well as declines in snowpack and changing melt dynamics driven by warming temperatures. Using high spatial and temporal resolution radon and water stable isotope sampling and a 1D groundwater flux model, we evaluated how groundwater contributions and GW-SW interactions varied along a stream reach impacted by fractures (fractured-zone) and downstream of the fractured hillslope (non-fractured zone) in Coal Creek, a Colorado River headwater stream affected by summer monsoons. During early summer, groundwater contributions from the fractured zone were high, but declined throughout the summer. Groundwater contributions from the non-fractured zone were constant throughout the summer and became proportionally more important later in the summer. We hypothesize that groundwater in the non-fractured zone is dominantly sourced from a high-storage alluvial fan at the base of a tributary that is connected to Coal Creek throughout the summer and provides consistent groundwater influx. Water isotope data revealed that Coal Creek responds quickly to incoming precipitation early in the summer, and summer precipitation becomes more important for streamflow generation later in the summer. We quantified the change in catchment dynamic storage and found it negatively related to stream water isotope values, and positively related to modeled groundwater discharge and the ratio of fractured zone to non-fractured zone groundwater. We interpret these relationships as declining hydrologic connectivity throughout the summer leading to late summer streamflow supported predominantly by shallow flow paths, with variable response to drying from geologic features based on their storage. As groundwater becomes more important for sustaining summer flows, quantifying local geologic controls on groundwater inputs and their response to variable moisture conditions may become critical for accurate predictions of streamflow.

The hydrologic nature of swales uncovers remarkable influence of non-topographic factors on catchment-scale soil moisture variation

Concave hillslopes, also known as swales, play a pivotal role in facilitating the transfer of water and nutrients from hillslopes to riparian zones in headwater catchments by serving as pathways for surface and subsurface flow. Swales have long been recognized as hydrologic wet spots that contribute significantly to catchment runoff. However, long-term in situ observations have rarely confirmed this conventional understanding. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of three years of daily soil moisture measurements taken at multiple depths across 33 sites within a forested catchment to delineate key determinants of soil moisture variation at the catchment scale. Contrary to conventional understanding, our findings indicate that swales may represent areas of lower soil moisture, with those located on sunny hillslopes experiencing a higher frequency of dry conditions, amounting to 13.31% of the time during the study period, when compared to other topographical features such as slopes, valleys, and ridges. Topography alone accounted for less than half of the variation of soil moisture across the catchment. Whereas non-topographic factors (such as vegetation, soil porosity, soil temperature, and soil depth) strongly influenced soil moisture distribution in time and space. To better capture the nuances of soil moisture dynamics, we propose an enhancement to the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) through the incorporation of non-topographic variables, which improves the model's representation of soil moisture variations. Our findings elucidate the complex interactions between topographic and non-topographic factors in shaping soil moisture dynamics at the catchment scale, offering valuable insights for refining process-based hydrological models and contributing to a deeper understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of soil moisture in headwater catchments.

The effects of gastrointestinal diet therapy for chronic pathologies of the digestive system in cats

Gastroeintestinal diseases are one of the most common groups of diseases among small domestic animals. The gastro-intestinal tract includes the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, small intestine and large intestine. General signs of digestive system disorders in cats with diseases of the digestive tract are vomiting, regurgitation, capricious appetite, as well as various defecation disorders: diarrhea, coprostasis, various inclusions in feces (blood, mucus). Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of a chronic nature often involve the manifestation of symptoms on an ongoing basis or are recur-rent in nature. Chronic gastritis, enteropathy, pancreatitis require specialized diets that normalize the functioning of the digestive tract and help improve digestive function. These therapeutic complete diets are presented in ready-made feeds in dry (pellets) and wet (pates, pouches) variations from many manufacturers of industrial feeds. Dietary therapy is required long-term or lifelong; during remission it is the basis in the treatment of chronic patients. The compositions of these diets take into account the physiological and specific needs of the animal, and are also developed on the basis of easily digestible ingredients and a reduced amount of fat, but completely replenishing the required amount of calories.