Prevent Water Evaporation Research Articles

Recurring Rolling/Crimping Effects on Termination Effectiveness of Iron Clay Pea and Pearl Millet Warm-Season Cover Crops

Summer cover crop utilization by no-till vegetable farms is essential for continuous soil protection, especially in the southern United States where intense storms are likely to occur in hot and humid summer months. A field experiment was conducted at the National Soil Dynamics Laboratory in Auburn, AL, USA, between the summers of 2015 and 2017 to determine the effectiveness of an experimental roller/crimper in mechanically terminating summer cover crops. Iron clay peas (Vigna unguiculata, L.) planted on a sandy loam and pearl millet (Penninsetum glaucum, L.) planted on clay soil were selected to determine termination rate effectiveness in single, double, and triple rolling/crimping over the same area. Overall, termination rates for both cover crops were higher for rolling three times (71%) compared to rolling once (55%) or twice (63%). However, cover crop termination was inhibited due to rainfalls on the experimental area during the three-week evaluation period. In 2016, drought conditions and high temperatures (32.6 °C) caused biomass reduction, especially for pearl millet, of over 31% to 39% compared to 2017 and 2015. Rolling provided higher soil-water conservation compared with the non-rolled control due the cover crop mulch layer blocking sunlight, keeping the soil surface cooler and preventing water evaporation. Recurrent rolling did not cause soil compaction above the 2.0 MPa level that inhibits root growth, but changes in soil strength were dependent on the soil moisture content.

Sodium silicate accelerates the deposition of lignin and silicon by activating the biosynthesis of lignin monolignols and increasing the relative silicon content in muskmelon wounds

Silicate is the main constituent of soil and is widely distributed throughout the Earth's. Sodium silicate (SS) is a common water-soluble silicate. Our previous research found that SS could prevent water evaporation and pathogen infection by promoting the deposition of suberin polyphenols on muskmelon fruit wounds, bur few reports are available on the effect of SS on the deposition of lignin and silicon on muskmelon wounds. In this study, SS treatment enhanced the activities of enzymes related to lignin synthesis, increased ρ-coumaryl, coniferyl, and sinapyl alcohols, and lignin levels, increased peroxidase activity and H2O2 content, and accelerated the deposition of lignin on wounds. In addition, SS treatment increased the relative silicon content to increase the rate of silicon deposition, which altered the morphological layer of cells compared to the control. These results suggest that SS accelerated lignin deposition on muskmelon wounds by activating lignin biosynthesis. SS also improved silicon deposition by increasing relative silicon content of the wounds. Since SS promotes lignin and silicon deposition at muskmelon wounds, the chemical can be used for wound healing of muskmelon fruit.

Experimental Investigation on the Heat Dissipation and Postfire Structural Performance of a Reinforced Concrete Column with Biomimicked Geometry

Cactus plants are prevalent in hot terrain locations. The spines in the cactus plants have an important function in preventing water evaporation. The strong pointed spines serve to distribute heat and prevent internal moisture loss owing to high heat. This paper addresses the biomimicking of a cactus plant to a reinforced concrete column. Columns are one of the most predominant elements in a structure and are responsible for maintaining the stability of the structure. Under the occurrences of fire, columns are the most affected, and the failure of the same could eventually steer to global collapse of the structure. In this study, various geometries were adopted based on the cactus plant, and the heat dissipation characteristics were studied. Finite element analysis was used to determine the optimal form based on the heat dissipation. The optimized shape was tested experimentally using a high-temperature localized heating element. Five column specimens were considered for experiments and named C (conventional nonheated column), C1 (conventional heated column), C2 (mimicked column), C3 (mimicked column with rebar in cone), and C4 (mimicked column with rebar in cone (quenching)). The heat-dissipating nature was observed, and the structural aspects were tested aftermath. The results reveal that the quenched specimen depicts better heat dissipation than the other specimens and eventually maintains the stability of the specimen throughout the height.

ПОВЫШЕНИЕ ДОСТОВЕРНОСТИ МЕТОДА ПЛАВЛЕНИЯ ДНК ПУТЕМ ПРОВЕДЕНИЯ ПОВТОРНЫХ АНАЛИЗОВ

The article explores the possibility of using repeated analyses based on the DNA melting method to increase their validity, namely, to reduce the error in determining the DNA melting temperature Tm. A statistically significant difference in the Tm values of the analyzed samples in successive analyses was experimentally revealed, which prevents the validity from increasing. It is shown that an increase in the temperature Tm on average by 0.12 deg. in the series of experiments is due to the evaporation of 1.65% of water from the test tube. A change in mass by 0.8 ± 0.1% of the total mass of water in test tubes was experimentally revealed as a result of a thermal regime similar to the analysis by the melting method, which partially confirms the assumption. It is recommended to take this effect into account during re-analyses using the DNA melting method and to implement measures that prevent water evaporation. Analytical expressions are given for the relative assessment of the sodium ion concentration changes and the water volume in the sample.

Effects of Surface Mulching on the Growth and Water Consumption of Maize

This study provides understandings of the effect of mulching on the growth, development, and water consumption of dry maize. Parameters including soil temperature, soil water-filled pore space (WFPS), water storage capacity, water consumption, grain yield, water-use efficiency, and biomass yields were followed and analyzed by applying straw mulching (SM), gravel mulching (GM), and plastic film mulching (FM). The results show that the soil temperature (0–20 cm) throughout the whole observation period (2011–2013) was significantly increased by applying GM and FM, while SM reduced the soil temperature. SM increased the WFPS, while FM and GM showed no significant effect. SM and FM increased the soil water storage and water-use efficiency in the early stages of maize growth (from sowing to vegetative growth) compared with using GM. With the progress of time, fewer differences between all treatments were observed. Water consumption of the three treatments was in the order of SM < FM < GM, indicating that SM was the most effective in preventing water evaporation. The resulting yields of corn also varied. Compared with the control, FM significantly increased the yields by 1.7, 0.5, and 2.2 ton/ha in the tested three years, respectively. In contrast, GM showed no significant difference in the three years, and SM showed no significant difference in 2011 and 2012 but increased the yield by 2.2 ton/ha in 2013. FM is shown to be an effective method for increasing the yields of corn for the studied region, GM is not recommended, and SM is the most effective in improving the water availability in the soil, while its effect on corn yields needs to be further explored.

Superabsorbent Polymer with Excellent Water/Salt Absorbency and Water Retention, and Fast Swelling Properties for Preventing Soil Water Evaporation

In arid areas, the rapid evaporation of water leads to severe water shortage for plant growth. Superabsorbent polymers have the prospect of preventing water evaporation because of its excellent water absorbency. However, insufficient in salt resistance, water retention, and swelling rate limit its application. Herein, we fabricated Hydroxyethyl cellulose-g-(Acrylic acid-co-2-Acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid)/laterite (HEC-g-P (AA-co-AMPS)/laterite) with exceptional abovementioned performances by aqueous solution polymerization. Under optimal synthesis conditions, the water absorbency of the superabsorbent polymer were 1294 g/g, 177 g/g, and 119 g/g in distilled water, tap water, and 0.9 wt% NaCl solution, respectively. The water retention of the superabsorbent polymer was still as high as 97.7% after 16 h at 25 ℃, the water absorbency was up to 832 g/g after re-swelling for 5 times at 40 ℃, and the water absorption reached swelling equilibrium was only 5 min. We investigated the effect of the mount of swollen hydrogel on the water evaporation rate in soil, and the results showed that hydrogels were effective in inhibiting soil water evaporation. Our study provides a new horizon for the application of superabsorbent polymer.

Tailoring molecular interaction in heteronetwork polymer electrolytes for stretchable, high-voltage fiber supercapacitors

Mechanically and electrochemically stable all-solid-state supercapacitors are of great interest in the field of wearable and portable electronic devices. However, when conventional liquid or gel electrolytes are used in supercapacitors, their discontinuous functions appear in harsh external environments. Here, we prepare freeze-tolerant heteronetwork nanohybrid polymer electrolytes (NPEs), composed of hydrophilic poly(lithium acrylate) (PLiA) containing mobile lithium countercations and mechanically robust silica nanoparticles (SNs) serving as stress buffers, via sol–gel reaction and radical polymerization. The combination of PLiA and SN provides NPE (PLiA-SN) with high room temperature ionic conductivity (up to σDC ∼ 10-1 S/cm), which not only remains 100% even after 700% elongation, but also exhibits high ionic conductivity at low temperatures (σDC = 4×10-3 S/cm at 0 °C). This is because Li+ binds strongly to water, thereby preventing water evaporation and crystallization, as revealed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The cross-linking of SNs with PLiA chains also gives the resultant NPE superelasticity and self-healing property. The optimized NPE is assembled with metal–organic framework derived carbon (MDC)-coated carbon nanotube yarn (MDC@CNTY) hybrid electrodes, possessing both high charge storage capability and superior mechanical properties, to fabricate high-performance all-solid-state fiber supercapacitors (FSCs). The assembled FSC delivers a high specific capacitance of 51 F/g, high power (6 kW/kg, 27 mW/cm2, 1202 μW/cm) and energy (44 Wh/kg, 0.2 mWh/cm2, 9 μWh/cm) densities, as well as a wide operating voltage window as high as 2.5 V. Moreover, the electrochemical performance of the FSC is maintained under different stretching strains, various degrees of bending, and cutting/healing cycles, and still retains ∼ 92% capacity even at a low temperature (-10 °C), demonstrating excellent mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical stability. This work provides an effective strategy for designing energy storage devices that are sufficiently stretchable, bendable, and reliable for use in extreme environments.

Biocompatible Chemically Fueled Transient Polymer Nanoparticles for Temporally Programmable in Vivo Imaging

Biocompatible Chemically Fueled Transient Polymer Nanoparticles for Temporally Programmable in Vivo Imaging

Study of the plasma–liquid interaction for an argon nonthermal microwave plasma jet from the analysis of benzene degradation

AbstractThe interaction of an argon microwave plasma jet with a benzene layer on water has been analyzed under different conditions (power, gas flow, plasma‐sample distance, and treatment time) in this study. Main products formed upon treatment are phenol, catechol, and nitrobenzene, which shows that this jet is a source of radicals •OH and •NO2, inducing benzene oxidation and nitration. Excited argon species in the plasma have been proven to play an outstanding role in degradation processes, which mostly occur at the gas phase. Results are compared with those from the direct interaction of the plasma jet with water. For this purpose, aqueous solutions of 3‐coumarin carboxylic acid are treated and the hydroxylation of this compound is studied. The effect of the benzene layer preventing water evaporation is demonstrated.

Physically Cross-Linked Silk Fibroin-Based Tough Hydrogel Electrolyte with Exceptional Water Retention and Freezing Tolerance.

Flexible ionic conductive hydrogel is attracting significant interest as it could be one of the crucial components for multifunctional ionotronic devices. However, their features of inevitably drying out without package and freezing at subzero temperatures may greatly limit the applications of conventional hydrogels in specific situations. Here, we present an ionic conductive hydrogel with water retention and freezing tolerance that consists of silk fibroin, ionic liquid, water, and inorganic salt. It is discovered that the ionic liquid serves multiple purposes to prevent water evaporation, decrease the freezing point, provide the essential conductivity of the hydrogel, etc. As a binary mixed solvent, the ionic liquid/water mixture enhances both water retention and freezing tolerance of the hydrogel electrolyte. Based on the silk fibroin (SF)/1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMImAc)/H2O/KCl hydrogel electrolyte, the flexible fiberlike supercapacitor could still function well at a temperature as low as -50 °C and after being stored in the open air for a long time. It is anticipated that this hydrogel will prove useful in developing new applications operating under harsh environments.

Lipid polarity gradient formed by ω-hydroxy lipids in tear film prevents dry eye disease.

Meibum lipids form a lipid layer on the outermost side of the tear film and function to prevent water evaporation and reduce surface tension. (O-Acyl)-ω-hydroxy fatty acids (OAHFAs), a subclass of these lipids, are thought to be involved in connecting the lipid and aqueous layers in tears, although their actual function and synthesis pathway have to date remained unclear. Here, we reveal that the fatty acid ω-hydroxylase Cyp4f39 is involved in OAHFA production. Cyp4f39-deficient mice exhibited damaged corneal epithelium and shortening of tear film break-up time, both indicative of dry eye disease. In addition, tears accumulated on the lower eyelid side, indicating increased tear surface tension. In Cyp4f39-deficient mice, the production of wax diesters (type 1ω and 2ω) and cholesteryl OAHFAs was also impaired. These OAHFA derivatives show intermediate polarity among meibum lipids, suggesting that OAHFAs and their derivatives contribute to lipid polarity gradient formation for tear film stabilization.

Effect of dilution on particle size analysis of w/o emulsions by dynamic light scattering

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) is a well-known (sub)micron particle size analysis technique. As such, it should be a valuable technique for water droplet size determination in (sub)micron water-in-oil emulsions. In this study, the sample pretreatment conditions were optimized in order to enable accurate droplet size determination by DLS. Whereas DLS was indeed capable of detecting differences between differently produced (sub)micron sized w/o emulsions, it was observed that the estimated droplet size was highly influenced by the measurement conditions used. First of all, the experimentally determined diffusion coefficient decreased with increasing water droplet concentration, which is thought to be due to interaction effects between the water droplets. To minimize this effect, the used concentration should be as low as possible. However, in doing so, the water droplets were frequently observed to disappear during storage or even during analysis, due to their dissolution in the dilution medium. The latter disturbing effect could be avoided by (sufficient) water saturation of the dilution medium and preventing water evaporation by closing the diluted sample and by restricting the head space. Summarizing, (sub)micron water droplets can be characterized using DLS. However, careful selection of the sample preparation and measurement conditions is necessary to obtain reliable data.

A study on the effect of starch–polyvinyl alcohol blends by addition of citric acid and boric acid for enhancement in performance properties of polyvinyl acetate-based wood adhesive

Wood adhesives with enhanced properties were prepared by incorporating either citric or boric acid. The citric acid and boric acid were added in the presence of water being the polymers and acids readily soluble in water. The reaction was carried out at a relatively lower temperature in order to prevent water evaporation and damage to the starch structure. Two series of adhesives were prepared with varying starch and polyvinyl acetate content. The adhesives were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. The effects of citric and boric acid on performance properties like wet tack, tensile shear strength, rheology and viscosity stability were studied. The results showed that by addition of acids there is an increase in mechanical strength, viscosity and wet tack in the case of boric acid. Similarly, better viscosity stability was observed due to addition of citric acid. From the tests conducted, it can be concluded that the composition for optimum level performance and stability is at 0.3 wt% of citric acid and 0.1 wt% of boric acid of the total composition of adhesive.

Preparation of superabsorbent resin with fast water absorption rate based on hydroxymethyl cellulose sodium and its application

To study the application of superabsorbent resin (SAR) in preventing water evaporation in soil, hydroxymethyl cellulose sodium-g-poly (acrylic acid-co-2- acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid)/laterite (NaHMC-g-P (AA-co-AMPS)/ laterite) was prepared by radical polymerization. The structure and morphology of SAR were characterized by FTIR, SEM and TGA. The factors affecting the water absorbency of SAR were studied and the water absorption of the resin under the optimum synthetic conditions reached the equilibrium at 15 min in distilled water, and the optimum water absorption of SAR was 1329 g/g, 269 g/g and 140 g/g in distilled water, tap water and 0.9 wt% NaCl solution, respectively. The swelling kinetic mechanism of the SAR was explained by the pseudo-second-order swelling kinetics model and Ritger-Peppas model. The effects of soil type, particle size and content of SAR on water evaporation rate in soil were studied.

Spatio-temporal dynamics in soil water storage reveals effects of nitrogen inputs on soil water consumption at different growth stages of winter wheat

Water availability is a major constraint for wheat production in the southeast of the Loess Plateau, China. Plastic mulch exhibits greater potential in rainwater harvesting while nitrogen (N) fertilizer has a strong effect on soil water utilization. Most of annual precipitation in the Loess Plateau occurs in summer. Rainwater retention in summer fallow becomes very important for winter wheat production in the dryland of the Loess Plateau. Straw mulching in summer fallow are commonly used to prevent water evaporation from soil surface and retain rainwater. Recently plastic mulching has also been used. Nitrogen inputs have also a significant impact on soil water utilization and yield production. However, there is little information available for the effects of full coverage of plots with plastic mulch (PM) in summer fallow on soil water storage at sowing and N rates interact with the soil water utilization in winter wheat yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and grain protein concentration (GPC). Therefore, field experiments were conducted in three consecutive years with variable rainfall. The results showed that PM in summer fallow increased soil water storage at sowing by at least 50 mm, and water storage efficiency was the highest (56.5%) in the dry season. Spatio-temporal dynamics in the soil water storage of 0–300 cm depth exhibited a downward movement with crop development. Approximately half of soil water consumption from flowering to maturity was derived from the 200–300 cm soil layers. The optimal N rate with PM increased grain yield by 27% in the wet season, 36% in the normal season, and 41% in the dry season. PM in combination with optimized N could improve WUE only when annual rainfall is equal to or above the yearly average. Furthermore, evapotranspiration is negatively correlated with GPC although the soil water consumption from 200 to 300 cm depth is positively correlated with post-anthesis N uptake. This suggests that the additional N is needed to further increase GPC. In the season with soil water storage of 550–600 mm at sowing, the N rate of 225 kg ha−1 with PM could achieve the highest yield and 13.2% of GPC. In the season with soil water storage of 450–550 mm at sowing, the N rate of 150 kg ha−1with PM could achieve the highest yield, and 14.3% of GPC. When the season with soil water storage of approximately 400 mm, the N rate of 75 kg ha−1 with PM achieved the highest yield, and 15.0% of GPC. Our results indicate that adjusting N fertilizer inputs based on seasonal variation in summer rainfall could enhance wheat yield and GPC in the southeast region of the Loess Plateau.

Disparate dynamic viscoelastic responses of wheat flour doughs coated with different oils for preventing water evaporation during time sweeps and their mechanisms decoupled.

Various non-volatile oils are currently applied in order to prevent water evaporation from exposed surface of dough during oscillatory measurements. A systemic understanding of their effectiveness in controlling water loss and ensuring accuracy of rheological measurements is necessary. In this work, three kinds of coating oils (vaseline, dimethyl silicone oil and low viscosity silicone oil) were selected to minimize water evaporation from dough of 37%, 42% and 47% water content subjected to time sweep tests under oscillatory mode. Evolution patterns of the storage modulus, loss modulus and loss factor with time were followed, and the mechanisms responsible for the response patterns were decoupled. Disparate dynamic viscoelastic responses were found for the same dough coated with different oils. Spontaneous de-structuring of dough combined with thixotropic effect contributed to the decrease of dynamic modulus and increase of the loss factor with time. Dynamic vapor sorption tests showed that water evaporation did occur for the dough even coated with non-volatile oils including vaseline. Water evaporation led to an accelerated increase in dynamic modulus with time, while had a very limited impact on loss factor. Oil invasion only played a minor role in the decrease in dynamic modulus. The measured modulus was actually a sum of the positive and negative contributions. Vaseline was observed as an effective coating oil for rheological measurements of dough, especially with high water content.

A hot-pressing pretreatment of Cu substrate and dry transfer method of multilayer-stacked graphene for ionic electroactive polymers

We herein report the development of an ionic electroactive polymer (IEAP) actuator based on a high quality graphene electrode with minimized surface damage through the use of a hot-pressing (HP) pretreatment process for copper substrate in addition to the dry transfer method for a multilayer-stacked graphene electrode. This HP process for pretreatment of the Cu foil was developed to ensure high-quality graphene growth, and the production of larger grain sizes than those normally obtained following conventional pretreatment methods. We also demonstrate that compared to the conventional wet transfer process based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and the roll-to-roll direct dry transfer method minimizes surface damage of graphene. A 5-layer stacked graphene electrode was prepared and it exhibited a low sheet resistance and flexibility, in addition to the ability to prevent water evaporation during electrical stimulation, thereby improving both the electrode performance and the durability. This 5-layer stacked graphene-based IEAP actuator prepared using HP pretreatment and a dry transfer method exhibited enhanced actuation performances, including a larger bending curvature, a larger maximum bending deformation, and an improved durability.

Anatomy, histochemistry, and comparative analysis of hydroxycinnamic derivatives in healthy leaves and galls induced by Baccharopelma spp. (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in Baccharis spicata (Lam) Baill (Asteraceae)

Baccharis spicata is a plant native to the south of South America And is infected by psyllids of the Baccharopelma genus, which induce a fold gall in its leaves. This infection induces a series of anatomical and phytochemical variations compared to the healthy leaf: the content of total phenolic compounds and total hidroxycinnamic derivatives is lower, though the chlorogenic acid measured by HPLC remains the same and the 4,5 dichlorogenic acid content is near the half of the one observed in the one in the healthy leaf. Regarding to its anatomy, the gall has an homogeneous mesophyll and flavonoids in its outer epidermis compared to an isobilateral mesophyll and epidermal flavonoidic idioblasts observed in the leaf. The increase in the expression of waxes suggests it is a protective function against the desiccation by preventing water evaporation in the structure. The results here exposed suggest that the psyllid manipulates plant tissues, inducing hyperplasia and hypertrophy in the tissues, differentiating them from healthy structures and inducing changes in the biosynthesis of secondary polyphenolic metabolites that act like intermediary between the gall and the environment.

Very long-chain tear film lipids produced by fatty acid elongase ELOVL1 prevent dry eye disease in mice.

Lipids secreted from the meibomian gland (meibum) form the superficial layer of the tear film and prevent water evaporation from the ocular surface and infection. Here, we identified the fatty acid (FA) elongases responsible for the synthesis of very long-chain FAs (VLCFAs) that constitute the meibum lipids. Elongation of VLCFAs (ELOVL)1 is primarily responsible for the production of saturated VLCFAs, whereas ELOVL1, ELOVL3, and ELOVL4 redundantly participate in the synthesis of monounsaturated VLCFAs. Gene disruption of Elovl1 in mice shortened acyl moieties in the 2 major meibum lipids: cholesteryl esters and wax esters. These changes were associated with dry eye phenotypes, including increases in eye-blink frequency and water evaporation from the ocular surface at younger ages. Aged Elovl1 mutant mice developed corneal opacity with vascular invasion, accompanied by epidermalization of the cornea. Thus, in addition to the well-known VLC ceramides (acylceramides) in the epidermis, VLC meibum lipids are barrier-forming lipids.-Sassa, T., Tadaki, M., Kiyonari, H., Kihara, A. Very long-chain tear film lipids produced by fatty acid elongase ELOVL1 prevent dry eye disease in mice.

A Comprehensive Review of the Cosmeceutical Benefits ofVandaSpecies (Orchidaceae)

Orchidaceae is the largest family of flowering plants with over 35,000 species and 850 genera. About 3300 species of orchids are found in Malaysia and the diversity is highest in the Main, Keledang, Bintang and Tahan Ranges. Apart from being prized for their beauty, orchids have long been used by humans for medicinal purposes. Today the uses of orchids have been expanded to the food and cosmetics industries. Many cosmeceutical companies use orchid extracts as an active ingredient in their products. Previous studies provide riveting insights into the potential uses of orchid extracts as an active agent in cosmetics. This paper describes the cosmeceutical potential of orchids as an anti-aging, and skin moisturizing agent. Orchid extracts from Vanda coerulea and V. teres delay aging caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) following LV irradiation through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. These extracts also show anti-aging properties by stimulating cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV), which is part of the electron transport chain in mitochondria. Stimulation of cytochrome c oxidase improves the respiratory function of mitochondria in keratinocytes. The presence of mucilage in orchids enables them to maintain skin hydration. Mucilage functions as a moisturizer and emollient due to its high water binding capacity. Additionally, orchid extracts provide skin hydration by stimulating aquaporin 3 (AQP3) and LEKTI protein expression. The presence of AQP3 leads to a five-fold increase in water permeability, which subsequently increases stratum corneum hydration. Increased LEKTI protein expression mediated by orchid extracts reduces the degradation of desmoglein-1 and enhances the structural function of desmosomes, which play important roles in preventing water evaporation.