Temperature Shift Research Articles

Temperature and pressure prediction of offshore high CO2-content associated gas lift and analysis of influencing factors

With the continuous injection of CO2 into the reservoir, a portion of the sequestered CO2 is co-produced with crude oil, resulting in a significant concentration of CO2 in the associated gas. Utilizing high CO2-content associated gas for offshore gas lift operations improves the reutilization of such gas and reduces costs related to sourcing and transporting it. To ensure smooth activation of the gas lift valve, conducting a thorough study on temperature and pressure within the wellbore during the gas lift process is essential. This study developed a dynamic model for calculating the transient temperature and pressure within offshore gas lift wellbores and fitted equations to calculate the physical properties of high CO2-content associated gas for specific compositions. This refinement minimized computational discrepancies arising from fluctuations in physical property parameters. When applying this model to oilfield scenarios, the maximum error observed was 3.83%, which aligned well with the accuracy standards required for oilfield computations. By integrating oilfield production data, this research explored the influence of injection parameters on temperature and pressure dynamics within the gas lift wellbore. The results revealed that variations in injection temperature and pressure had minimal impact on the temperature at the gas lift valve. Yet, they induced significant changes in the pressure at that point. An increase in CO2 concentration within the gas source composition was associated with considerable shifts in temperature and pressure gradients throughout the wellbore. At high mass flow rates, the temperature gradient of the wellbore was notably reduced, while the pressure gradient was significantly enhanced. These research findings provided a theoretical basis for optimizing gas lift operations using high CO2-content associated gas in offshore settings.

Oleic acid-induced changes in the dynamic viscoelastic behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer film

This study investigates the impact of oleic acid on the dynamic viscoelastic behavior of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) polymer films. By incorporating oleic acid as a plasticizer, we aim to enhance the ductility and reduce the brittleness of PMMA. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was employed to assess changes in viscoelastic properties, revealing significant improvements in the flexibility and energy dissipation capacity of the PMMA films. The addition of oleic acid resulted in a noticeable shift in the glass transition temperature and a reduction in storage modulus, indicating enhanced polymer chain mobility. Raman and infrared spectroscopy confirmed the successful integration of oleic acid, highlighting its interaction with PMMA at the molecular level. Our findings demonstrate that oleic acid is an effective plasticizer for PMMA, providing valuable insights into the design of flexible and durable polymer-based materials for various applications.

Oxygen levels differentially attenuate the structure and diversity of microbial communities in the oceanic oxygen minimal zones

Global change mediated shifts in ocean temperature and circulation patterns, compounded by human activities, are leading to the expansion of marine oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) with concomitant alterations in nutrient and climate-active trace gas cycling. While many studies have reported distinct bacterial communities within OMZs, much of this research compares across depths rather with oxygen status and does not include eukayrotic microbes. Here, we investigated the Bay of Bengal (BoB) OMZ, where low oxygen conditions are persistent, but trace levels of oxygen remain (< 20 μM from 200 to 500 m). As other environmental variables are similar between OMZ and non-OMZ (NOZ) stations, we compared the abundance, diversity, and community composition of several microbial groups (bacterioplankton, Labyrinthulomycetes, and fungi) across oxygen levels. While prokaryote abundance decreased with depth, no significant differences existed across oxygen groups. In contrast, Labyrinthulomycetes abundance was significantly higher in non-OMZ stations but did not change significantly with depth, while fungal abundance was patchy without clear depth or oxygen-related trends. Bacterial and fungal diversity was lower in OMZ stations at 500 m, while Labyrinthulomycetes diversity only showed a depth-related profile, decreasing below the euphotic zone. Surprisingly, previously reported OMZ-associated bacterial taxa were not significantly more abundant at OMZ stations. Furthermore, compared to the bacterioplankton, fewer Labyrinthulomycetes and fungi taxa showed responses to oxygen status. Thus, this research identifies stronger oxygen-level linkages within the bacterioplankton than in the examined microeukaryotes.

CRYOMOVE: Cold chain real-time management of vaccine delivery using PCM and deep learning

Vaccines are temperature-sensitive biological products that can become ineffective or even hazardous if exposed to temperatures outside the recommended range. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain the cold chain during the transportation and storage of vaccines in order to ensure that they arrive at their destination in optimal condition. Vaccines are typically transported and stored in containers lined with Phase Change Material (PCM) to maintain a specific temperature range (usually lower than the ambient temperature). Firstly, we have simulated the melting of PCM at three distinct external temperatures using ANSYS Fluent software in order to forecast the Melt Fraction (MF) vs. time curve for each of these temperatures. The external temperature consistently undergoes dynamic changes. Running a simulation each time the temperature shifts is impractical due to its time and data-intensive nature. Consequently, we adopted a more efficient approach by training a simple Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based on simulation data. This ANN is designed to learn and predict the MF versus time curve for any given external temperature. Real-time temperature data from the vaccine box is transmitted to the cloud. Subsequently, the machine learning model operates on the cloud to predict the remaining time for the PCM to melt. This predictive analysis is performed recursively every 10 min to account for dynamic fluctuations in external temperatures, providing continuous updates on the time remaining for PCM meltdown. This is then conveyed to the cold chain managers to take preventive measures if the external conditions are harsh and there is a chance for vaccines to get ruined because of the temperature. This same approach can be extended to other applications beyond vaccine delivery such as food storage and transportation, pharmaceuticals, and more.

Reviewing the impact of climate change on global food security: Challenges and solutions

This review examines the intricate relationship between climate change and global food security, elucidating the challenges posed by climate variability and exploring potential solutions to mitigate its adverse effects. Climate change presents formidable obstacles to food security worldwide, disrupting agricultural productivity, exacerbating food shortages, and deepening malnutrition. Shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns, coupled with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, threaten crop yields, livestock health, and food distribution networks, particularly in vulnerable regions. The review identifies key challenges confronting global food security in the context of climate change, including diminished agricultural productivity, heightened food price volatility, and heightened risks of food insecurity and malnutrition. It underscores the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities, smallholder farmers, and low-income populations, who bear the brunt of environmental degradation and lack the resources to adapt. In response to these challenges, the review explores a range of solutions and strategies aimed at enhancing food security resilience in a changing climate. It discusses the importance of climate-smart agricultural practices, such as agroforestry, crop diversification, and soil conservation, in bolstering the resilience of agricultural systems and improving resource efficiency. Additionally, the review highlights the significance of enhancing access to climate information, investing in sustainable infrastructure, and promoting gender equity in agriculture to foster inclusive and adaptive food systems. Furthermore, the review underscores the critical role of policy interventions, international collaboration, and community engagement in addressing climate-related food security challenges and advancing sustainable development goals. By integrating climate adaptation and mitigation measures into agricultural policies, promoting research and innovation, and fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships, it is possible to build more resilient and equitable food systems that can withstand the impacts of climate change and ensure food security for all. In conclusion, the review emphasizes the urgency of concerted action to address the complex interplay between climate change and global food security. Through collective efforts and targeted interventions, it is feasible to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on food systems and pave the way for a more sustainable and food-secure future. Keywords: Impact, Climate Change, Global, Food Security, Challenges.

Interactive effects of temperature, cadmium, and hypoxia on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Fish in their natural environments possess elaborate mechanisms that regulate physiological function to mitigate the adverse effects of multiple environmental stressors such as temperature, metals, and hypoxia. We investigated how warm acclimation affects mitochondrial responses to Cd, hypoxia, and acute temperature shifts (heat shock and cold snap) in rainbow trout. We observed that state 3 respiration driven by complex I (CI) was resistant to the stressors while warm acclimation and Cd reduced complex I +II (CI + II) driven state 3 respiration. In contrast, state 4 (leak) respirations for both CI and CI + II were consistently stimulated by warm acclimation resulting in reduced mitochondrial coupling efficiency (respiratory control ratio, RCR). Warm acclimation and Cd exacerbated their individual effect on leak respiration to further reduce the RCR. Moreover, the effect of warm acclimation on mitochondrial bioenergetics aligned with its inhibitory effect on activities of citrate synthase and both CI and CII. Unlike the Cd and warm acclimation combined exposure, hypoxia alone and in combination with warm acclimation and/or Cd abolished the stimulation of CI and CI + II powered leak respirations resulting in partial recovery of RCR. The response to acute temperature shifts indicated that while state 3 respiration returned to pre-acclimation level, the leak respiration did not. Overall, our findings suggest a complex in vivo interaction of multiple stressors on mitochondrial function that are not adequately predicted by their individual effects.

Broadband luminescence of Ni2+‐doped Zn(GaxAl1−x)2O4‐based glass–ceramics

AbstractNi2+‐doped glass–ceramics containing Zn(GaxAlx−1)2O4 crystals were successfully synthetized using both parent glass crystallization (Technique 1) and a direct doping method also called “frozen sorbet” (Technique 2) to get a ZnGa2O4 crystal/glass composite. The frozen sorbet technique allows the survival of ∼10 nm crystalline particles. Both materials are further crystallized near their respective temperature of crystallization to get glass–ceramics with the stabilization of Zn(GaxAlx−1)2O4 crystals. Although these two materials exhibit the same glass transition temperature, a shift in the crystallization temperature is observed. The glass–ceramics are transparent in the near infrared range, and the Ni2+ doping provides a broadband emission centered around 1300 nm with a full width at half‐maximum (FWHM) equal to 228 nm. The structure, microstructure, and thermal and optical properties of these materials are discussed in the present study.

Temperature-Responsive Formation Cycling Enabling LiF-Rich Cathode-Electrolyte Interphase.

Formation of LiF-rich cathode-electrolyte interphase is highly desirable for wide-temperature battery, but its application is hindered by the unwanted side reactions associated with conventional method of introducing fluorinated additives. Here, we developed an additive-free strategy to produce LiF-rich cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) by low-temperature formation cycling. Using LiNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2 as a model cathode, the atomic ratio of LiF in the CEI formed at -5 °C is about 17.7 %, enhanced by ~550 % compared to CEI formed at 25 °C (2.7 %). The underlying mechanism is uncovered by both experiments and theoretic simulation, indicating that the decomposition of LiPF6 to LiF is transformed into spontaneous and exothermic on positively charged cathode surface and lowering the temperature shift chemical equilibrium towards the formation of LiF-rich CEI. Superior to conventional fluorinated additives, this approach is free from unwanted side reactions, imparting batteries with both high-temperature (60 °C) cyclability and low-temperature rate performance (capacity enhanced by 100 % at 3 C at -20 °C). This low-temperature formation cycling to construct LiF-rich CEI is extended to various cathode systems, such as LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2, LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, demonstrating the versatility and potential impact of our strategy in advancing the performance and stability of wide-temperature batteries and beyond.

Impact of sea surface temperature in the Arabian Sea on the variability of Summer Monsoon Rainfall over Pakistan Region

The seas and oceans are essential in preserving energy in the Earth, Ocean, and atmosphere system. Assessing past trends and expected sea surface temperature (SST) shifts is critical for future climate scenarios within this framework. Previous studies have emphasized the importance of SST in the emergence and intensification of heavy rainfall events in the South Asian basin and the development of heat waves in the coastal regions of South Asia. This study has focused to investigate the relationship between SST of the Arabian Sea and mean rainfall in South Asia using Singular Value Decomposition Analysis (SVDA) for the July, August, and September (JAS) season, as most of the region's rainfall is in this season. The first mode accounts for 69 % of the covariance between Arabian Sea SST and regional JAS rainfall, with three dominant SVDA modes explaining 96 % of the total squared covariance. The degree to which the connected fields are correlated has been investigated using Root Mean Squared Covariance. By heterogeneous correlation maps, it is concluded how significant is the impact of one field (SST) on the other (rainfall), which validates our hypothesis that the SST of the Arabian Sea affects variation in precipitation. The empirical results from the SVDA are consistent with those of the composite diagrams. Dry and wet years have been defined and analyzed to examine the impact of SST on regional JAS rainfall further. Vertically integrated moisture transport reveals a significant difference in moisture transport over the Arabian Sea between wet and dry years during the JAS season. Water vapor transport is much stronger during wet years compared to dry years.

Diverse stimuli induce piloerection and yield varied autonomic responses in humans.

This research provides an in-depth exploration into the triggers and corresponding autonomic responses of piloerection, a phenomenon prevalent across various species. In non-human species, piloerection occurs in reaction to a variety of environmental changes, including social interactions and temperature shifts. However, its understanding in humans has been confined to emotional contexts. This is problematic because it reflects solely upon subjective experience rather than an objective response to the environment. Further, given our shared evolutionary paths, piloerection should function similarly in humans and other animals. I observed 1198 piloerection episodes from eight participants while simultaneously recording multiple autonomic and body temperature indices, finding that piloerection in humans can be elicited by thermal, tactile, and audio-visual stimuli with equal effectiveness. The data also revealed variations in cardiac reactivity measures: audio-visual piloerection was associated with greater sympathetic arousal, while tactile piloerection was linked to greater parasympathetic arousal. Despite prevailing notions of piloerection as a vestigial response in humans, it does respond to decreases in skin temperature and is associated with a rise in skin temperature during episodes. This research underscores that piloerection in humans is not purely vestigial, nor is it solely an affective response to emotional stimuli. Rather, it is best understood as a reflexive response to environmental changes, suggesting a shared functional similarity with other species.

Booster heat pump with drop-in zeotropic mixtures applied in ultra-low temperature district heating system

The pursuit of sustainable district heating solutions has driven a growing interest in ultra-low temperature district heating (ULTDH) systems, where booster heat pumps (BHPs) play a pivotal role despite challenges posed by their efficiency limitations under large temperature glide conditions. This paper investigates the potential of drop-in R-1234yf/R-32 zeotropic mixtures in BHPs compared to a baseline R-134a system, within the context of a ULTDH framework. This study focused on the viability of the mixtures of R-1234yf/R-32 with the composition ratio of 80 %/20 % and 90 %/10 %. The investigation reveals disparities in compressor efficiency and heat exchanger pressure drop at the component level. Device-level analysis unveils increased COP for R-1234yf/R-32 mixtures, alongside with maximum second-law efficiencies reaching 0.32. A remarkable enhancement in heating capacity up to 58 % was found. System-level analysis demonstrated exergetic efficiencies and identified preferable district heating temperatures. Exergetic efficiencies of 0.47, 0.55, and 0.59 were achieved for domestic hot water preparation at district heating supply temperatures of 30 °C, 35 °C, and 40 °C, with a subsequent shift in optimal district heating temperatures as central heating station efficiency decreased. Temperature profile analysis underscored challenges stemming from excessive subcooling, highlighting the need for configuration refinements.

Novel Methodology for Identifying the Occurrence of Ovulation by Estimating Core Body Temperature During Sleeping: Validity and Effectiveness Study.

Body temperature is the most-used noninvasive biomarker to determine menstrual cycle and ovulation. However, issues related to its low accuracy are still under discussion. This study aimed to improve the accuracy of identifying the presence or absence of ovulation within a menstrual cycle. We investigated whether core body temperature (CBT) estimation can improve the accuracy of temperature biphasic shift discrimination in the menstrual cycle. The study consisted of 2 parts: experiment 1 assessed the validity of the CBT estimation method, while experiment 2 focused on the effectiveness of the method in discriminating biphasic temperature shifts. In experiment 1, healthy women aged between 18 and 40 years had their true CBT measured using an ingestible thermometer and their CBT estimated from skin temperature and ambient temperature measured during sleep in both the follicular and luteal phases of their menstrual cycles. This study analyzed the differences between these 2 measurements, the variations in temperature between the 2 phases, and the repeated measures correlation between the true and estimated CBT. Experiment 2 followed a similar methodology, but focused on evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of these 2 temperature measurement approaches (estimated CBT and traditional oral basal body temperature [BBT]) for identifying ovulatory cycles. This was performed using urine luteinizing hormone (LH) as the reference standard. Menstrual cycles were categorized based on the results of the LH tests, and a temperature shift was identified using a specific criterion called the "three-over-six rule." This rule and the nested design of the study facilitated the assessment of diagnostic measures, such as sensitivity and specificity. The main findings showed that CBT estimated from skin temperature and ambient temperature during sleep was consistently lower than directly measured CBT in both the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Despite this, the pattern of temperature variation between these phases was comparable for both the estimated and true CBT measurements, suggesting that the estimated CBT accurately reflected the cyclical variations in the true CBT. Significantly, the CBT estimation method showed higher sensitivity and specificity for detecting the occurrence of ovulation than traditional oral BBT measurements, highlighting its potential as an effective tool for reproductive health monitoring. The current method for estimating the CBT provides a practical and noninvasive method for monitoring CBT, which is essential for identifying biphasic shifts in the BBT throughout the menstrual cycle. This study demonstrated that the estimated CBT derived from skin temperature and ambient temperature during sleep accurately captures variations in true CBT and is more accurate in determining the presence or absence of ovulation than traditional oral BBT measurements. This method holds promise for improving reproductive health monitoring and understanding of menstrual cycle dynamics.

Nanoindentation Test of Ion-Irradiated Materials: Issues, Modeling and Challenges.

Exposure of metals to neutron irradiation results in an increase in the yield strength and a significant loss of ductility. Irradiation hardening is also closely related to the fracture toughness temperature shift or the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) shift in alloys with a body-centered cubic (bcc) crystal structure. Ion irradiation is an indispensable tool in the study of the radiation effects of materials for nuclear energy systems. Due to the shallow damage depth in ion-irradiated materials, the nanoindentation test is the most commonly used method for characterizing the changes in mechanical properties after ion irradiation. Issues that affect the analysis of irradiation hardening may arise due to changes in the surface morphology and mechanical properties, as well as the inherent complexities in nanoscale indentation. These issues, including changes in surface roughness, carbon contamination, the pile-up effect, and the indentation size effect, with corresponding measures, were reviewed. Modeling using the crystal plasticity finite element method of the nanoindentation of ion-irradiated materials was also reviewed. The challenges in extending the nanoindentation test to high temperatures and to multiscale simulation were addressed.

Transcription factor roles in the local adaptation to temperature in the Andean Spiny Toad Rhinella spinulosa

Environmental temperature strongly influences the adaptation dynamics of amphibians, whose limited regulation capabilities render them susceptible to thermal oscillations. A central element of the adaptive strategies is the transcription factors (TFs), which act as master regulators that orchestrate stress responses, enabling species to navigate the fluctuations of their environment skillfully. Our study delves into the intricate relationship between TF expression and thermal adaptation mechanisms in the Rhinella spinulosa populations. We sought to elucidate the dynamic modulations of TF expression in prometamorphic and metamorphic tadpoles that inhabit two thermally contrasting environments (Catarpe and El Tatio Geyser, Chile) and which were exposed to two thermal treatments (25 °C vs. 20 °C). Our findings unravel an intriguing dichotomy in response strategies between these populations. First, results evidence the expression of 1374 transcription factors. Regarding the temperature shift, the Catarpe tadpoles show a multifaceted approach by up-regulating crucial TFs, including fosB, atf7, and the androgen receptor. These dynamic regulatory responses likely underpin the population’s ability to navigate thermal fluctuations effectively. In stark contrast, the El Tatio tadpoles exhibit a more targeted response, primarily up-regulating foxc1. This differential expression suggests a distinct focus on specific TFs to mitigate the effects of temperature variations. Our study contributes to understanding the molecular mechanisms governing thermal adaptation responses and highlights the resilience and adaptability of amphibians in the face of ever-changing environmental conditions.

Evaluation of a Covalent Library of Diverse Warheads (CovLib) Binding to JNK3, USP7, or p53.

Over the last few years, covalent fragment-based drug discovery has gained significant importance. Thus, striving for more warhead diversity, we conceived a library consisting of 20 covalently reacting compounds. Our covalent fragment library (CovLib) contains four different warhead classes, including five α-cyanoacacrylamides/acrylates (CA), three epoxides (EO), four vinyl sulfones (VS), and eight electron-deficient heteroarenes with a leaving group (SNAr/SN). After predicting the theoretical solubility of the fragments by LogP and LogS during the selection process, we determined their experimental solubility using a turbidimetric solubility assay. The reactivities of the different compounds were measured in a high-throughput 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) DTNB assay, followed by a (glutathione) GSH stability assay. We employed the CovLib in a (differential scanning fluorimetry) DSF-based screening against different targets: c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3), ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7), and the tumor suppressor p53. Finally, the covalent binding was confirmed by intact protein mass spectrometry (MS). In general, the purchased fragments turned out to be sufficiently soluble. Additionally, they covered a broad spectrum of reactivity. All investigated α-cyanoacrylamides/acrylates and all structurally confirmed epoxides turned out to be less reactive compounds, possibly due to steric hindrance and reversibility (for α-cyanoacrylamides/acrylates). The SNAr and vinyl sulfone fragments are either highly reactive or stable. DSF measurements with the different targets JNK3, USP7, and p53 identified reactive fragment hits causing a shift in the melting temperatures of the proteins. MS confirmed the covalent binding mode of all these fragments to USP7 and p53, while additionally identifying the SNAr-type electrophile SN002 as a mildly reactive covalent hit for p53. The screening and target evaluation of the CovLib revealed first interesting hits. The highly cysteine-reactive fragments VS004, SN001, SN006, and SN007 covalently modify several target proteins and showed distinct shifts in the melting temperatures up to +5.1°C and -9.1°C.

A Multi-Model Approach for Disaster-Related Tweets

This research centers around utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques to analyze disaster-related tweets. The rising impact of global temperature shifts, leading to irregular weather patterns and increased water levels, has amplified the susceptibility to natural disasters. NLP offers a method for quickly identifying tweets about disasters, extracting crucial information, and identifying the types, locations, intensities, and effects of each type of disaster. This study uses a range of machine learning and neural network models and does a thorough comparison analysis to determine the best effective method for catastrophe recognition. Three well-known techniques, in-cluding the Multinomial Naive Bayes Classifier, the Passive Aggressive Classi-fier, and BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) were carefully examined with the ultimate goal of discovering the best strategy for correctly recognising disasters within the context of tweets. Among the three models, BERT achieved the highest performance in analyzing disaster-related tweets with an accuracy of 94.75%.

Influence of high fluence irradiation on reference temperature of VVER-440 RPV surveillance specimens

Master curve (MC) testing of VVER-440 RPV surveillance specimens treated for 27 years (∼200,000 h) in a surveillance channel of Metsamor-NPP was performed to investigate the influence of long term high fluence irradiation on RPV embrittlement. The surveillance chain consisted of both thermal aged specimens (above the core level) and irradiated specimens (inside the core). The reference temperature (To) values obtained from irradiated specimens are compared with the results from thermal aged specimens to characterize irradiation induced shifts in To values for both base and weld metal specimens. It was found that the high fluence irradiation up to a nominal fluence of 3.2 × 1025 n.m-2 at E > 0.5 MeV resulted large embrittlement with To shift values greater than 300 °C for both base and weld metal specimens. The obtained shifts in To values at these high fluence values were used to compare with the predictions from PNAE procedure in the Russian regulatory guide outside its validity range. It was found that the measured shift in reference temperature for the weld metal was well below the predicted value while, the shift in reference temperature for base metal was largely under-predicted at these high fluence values.

Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Global Crop Yields and Farming Practices

Climate change is recognized as one of the most pressing challenges of our time, with profound implications for global food security. This review article delves into the multifaceted impacts of climate change on crop yields and farming practices on a global scale. By synthesizing recent research findings, identifying key challenges and opportunities, and exploring adaptation strategies, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the complex interplay between climate change and agriculture. The effects of climate change on agriculture are diverse and far reaching. Alterations in weather patterns, including shifts in temperature, precipitation, and frequency of extreme events, pose significant challenges to agricultural productivity and food security. These changes disrupt traditional farming practices, exacerbate water stress, soil erosion, and crop loss, and threaten the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide. Additionally, changes in pest and disease dynamics have further compounded the challenges faced by agricultural systems under pressure from climate variability. These challenges, there are opportunities for innovation and adaptation in the agricultural systems. This review highlights the potential of climate-smart agricultural practices such as crop diversification, conservation agriculture, and precision farming to enhance resilience and mitigate the impacts of climate change on crop yields. investments in climate-resilient crop varieties, improved water management techniques, and sustainable land management practices offer pathways for building adaptive capacities and ensuring food security in a changing climate. addressing the complex challenges of climate change adaptation in agriculture requires concerted action at multiple levels. This review emphasizes the importance of coordinated efforts among policymakers, researchers, farmers, and other stakeholders in developing and implementing effective adaptation strategies. Such strategies should be context-specific, socially equitable, and environmentally sustainable, considering the diverse needs and priorities of different regions and communities. This review underscores the urgent need for coordinated action to build resilient and sustainable food systems in the face of a changing climate. By synthesizing the latest research findings, identifying key challenges and opportunities, and exploring adaptation strategies, this review aims to inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners about the imperative of addressing climate change’s impacts on agriculture. Only through collaborative and transformative action can we ensure food security for the present and future generations in a rapidly changing world.

Structure and slow dynamics of protein hydration water with cryopreserving DMSO and trehalose upon cooling.

We study, through molecular dynamics simulations, three aqueous solutions with one lysozyme protein and three different concentrations of trehalose and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). We analyze the structural and dynamical properties of the protein hydration water upon cooling. We find that trehalose plays a major role in modifying the structure of the network of HBs between water molecules in the hydration layer of the protein. The dynamics of hydration water presents, in addition to the α-relaxation, typical of glass formers, a slower long-time relaxation process, which greatly slows down the dynamics of water, particularly in the systems with trehalose, where it becomes dominant at low temperatures. In all the solutions, we observe, from the behavior of the α-relaxation times, a shift of the Mode Coupling Theory crossover temperature and the fragile-to-strong crossover temperature toward higher values with respect to bulk water. We also observe a strong-to-strong crossover from the temperature behavior of the long-relaxation times. In the aqueous solution with only DMSO, the transition shifts to a lower temperature than in the case with only lysozyme reported in the literature. We observe that the addition of trehalose to the mixture has the opposite effect of restoring the original location of the strong-to-strong crossover. In all the solutions analyzed in this work, the observed temperature of the protein dynamical transition is slightly shifted at lower temperatures than that of the strong-to-strong crossover, but their relative order is the same, showing a correlation between the motion of the protein and that of the hydration water.

Gene expression dynamics during temperature-dependent sex determination in a sea turtle

Fifty years ago, researchers discovered a link between ambient temperature and the sex of turtle embryos. More recently, significant progress has been made in understanding the influence of temperature on freshwater turtles. However, our understanding of the key genetic factors in other turtle groups, such as sea turtles, remains limited. To address this gap, we conducted RNA-seq analyses on embryonic tissues from the sea olive ridley turtle during the thermosensitive period (stages 21–26) at temperatures known to produce males (26 °C) and females (33 °C). Our findings revealed that incubation temperatures primarily influence genes with broad expression across tissues due to differential cell division rates and later have an effect regulating gonad-specific transcripts. This effect is mostly related to gene activation rather than transcription repression. We performed transcriptome analyses following shifts in incubation temperatures of bi-potential gonads. This approach allowed us to identify genes that respond rapidly and may be closer to the beginning of the temperature-sensing pathway. Notably, we observed swift adaptations in the expression levels of chromatin modifiers JARID2 and KDM6B, as well as the splicing factor SRSF5, and transcription regulators THOC2, DDX3X and CBX3, but little impact in the overall gonad-specific pathways, indicating that temperature-sensing genes may change rapidly but the rewiring of the gonad's developmental fate is complex and resilient. Author summarySea turtles, one of the most iconic creatures of our oceans, confront a troubling reality of endangerment, a peril magnified by the looming specter of climate change. This climatic shift is gradually increasing the temperature of the nesting beaches thus causing dramatic male/female population biases. Conservation efforts will need genetic and molecular information to reverse the negative effects of climate change on the populations. In this study, we conducted the first transcriptomic analysis of embryonic tissues, including gonads, brain, liver, and mesonephros, in the olive ridley sea turtle during the critical thermosensitive period spanning stages 21–26. We examined both male-producing (26 °C) and female-producing (33 °C) temperatures and found that incubation temperatures influence temperature-sensitive genes that are either expressed globally or specifically associated with the gonads. These findings indicate that incubation temperatures predominantly sway genes with broad expression patterns due to differential cell division rates. This natural process was opted in the gonads to drive sex determination. We also identified genes that are rapidly capable of sensing temperature changes and that could play a role in the activation of the sex determination pathway. Overall, our study sheds light on the intricate interplay between temperature and gene expression during sea turtle development, revealing dynamic changes in the transcriptome and highlighting the involvement of key genetic players in sex determination.