Temperature Variation Research Articles

Excellent mechanical properties and giant room-temperature elastocaloric effect in spark plasma sintered Ni-Co-Mn-Ti shape memory alloy

All-d-metal Heusler-type Ni-Mn-Ti alloys have emerged as a research focus in the field of elastocaloric refrigeration due to their remarkable elastocaloric effect. However, the mechanical properties of these materials present a challenge for their engineering applications. In this work, Ni37Co13Mn33.5Ti16.5 alloys with varying particle sizes were successfully prepared under different conditions using spark plasma sintering. The influence of particle size on the microstructure, mechanical properties and the elastocaloric effect were systematically explored. The results indicate that smaller particle sizes can significantly enhance mechanical properties during the SPS process, primarily due to grain refinement and the presence of Ti-rich second phases within the grains. Notably, compressive strength and fracture strain reached as high as 2225 MPa and 33 %, respectively, marking an increase of 145.9 % and 312.5 % over the as-cast alloy. Additionally, an unprecedently adiabatic temperature variation of 31.2 K was obtained upon loading in the sintered Ni-(Co)-Mn-Ti shape memory alloys.

Electro-Optic Kerr Response in Optically Isotropic Liquid Crystal Phases

The results of an experimental investigation of the temperature and wavelength dependence of the Kerr constant (K) of mixtures with an increasing amount of chiral dopant in an isotropic liquid crystal phase are reported. The material was composed of a nematic liquid crystal (5CB) and a chiral dopant (CE2), which formed non-polymer-stabilized liquid crystalline blue phases with an exceptionally large value of K∼2 × 10−9 mV−2. The measurements were performed on liquid and blue phases at several concentrations covering a range of temperatures and using three wavelengths: 532 nm, 589 nm and 633 nm. The work focused on changes caused by concentration and their impact on the increase in the value of K, and it was found that in the case of the 5CB/CE2 mixture these changes were significant and quite systematic with temperature and wavelength. It is shown that the dispersion relation based on the single-band birefringence model described K well in isotropic liquid crystal phases at all of the measured concentrations. In an isotropic fluid, both temperature-dependent parameters in the dispersion relation had a simple linear form and, therefore, the K-surface could be described by only four constants. In the blue phase, the expression reproducing the temperature variation of K depended on concentration, which could vary from being almost linear to quasi-linear and could be represented well by an inverse exponential analytic expression.

Rapid Screening of Methane-Reducing Compounds for Deployment in Livestock Drinking Water Using In Vitro and FTIR-ATR Analyses

Several additives have been shown to reduce enteric methane emissions from ruminants when supplied in feed. However, utilising this method to deliver such methane-reducing compounds (MRCs) in extensive grazing systems is challenging. Use of livestock drinking water presents a novel method to deliver MRCs to animals in those systems. This work evaluated 13 MRCs for suitability to be deployed in this manner. Compounds were analysed for solubility and stability in aqueous solution using Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, aqueous solutions of MRCs were subjected to variations in temperature and starting pH of water used to assess solubility and stability of the MRCs in simulated water trough conditions, also using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. In vitro batch culture fermentations were carried out using a medium-quality tropical grass feed substrate, to simulate pastures consumed by cattle in extensive grazing systems. Measurements were made of total gas and methane production, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. Of the MRCs tested, 12 were found to be soluble and stable in water using the FTIR method employed, whilst the other could not be measured. Of the 12 soluble and stable MRCs, one containing synthetic tribromomethane (Rumin8 Investigational Veterinary Product) reduced methane production by 99% (p = 0.001) when delivered aqueously in vitro, without a reduction in IVDMD (p = 0.751), with a shift towards decreased acetate and increased propionate production and decreased total VFA production (p < 0.001). Other compounds investigated also appeared suitable, and the methods developed in this study could be used to guide future research in the area.

Simultaneous effects of temperature and backbone length on static and dynamic properties of high-density polyethylene-1-butene copolymer melt: Equilibrium molecular dynamics approach

Abstract Temperature and chain length play significant roles in determining the physical properties of polymer melts. In the current computational research, a molecular dynamics (MD) approach was implemented to describe the static and dynamic properties of (1) high-density polyethylene-1-butene with 120 beads in backbone (PE120) and (2) entangled high-density polyethylene-1-butene with 600 beads in the backbone (PE600). The transferable potentials for phase equilibria force fields were used for CH2 beads in a defined initial condition. First, the equilibrium phase of the designed systems was reported with total energy and density convergency at various initial temperatures (T 0 = 450, 470, and 490 K). Also, gyration radius (R g) and end-to-end distance (R) were calculated for the static behavior description of the two PEs. Zero-shear viscosity (η 0), mean square displacement, and diffusion coefficient (D) were estimated to define the dynamic behavior of PE120 and PE600 systems. MD outputs predicted that 10 ns is sufficient for equilibrium phase detection inside polymeric samples. After equilibrium phase detection, R g converged to 14.97 and 17.35 Å in PE120 and PE600, respectively (T 0 = 450 K). Furthermore, MD outputs show that temperature variation can considerably affect the time evolution of the system. Numerically, the η 0 of PE120 and PE600 converged to 49 and 168 cp at 450 K. These results of η 0 parameter as a function of temperature are an important output of MD simulations. The results predicted that η 0 decreases to 24 and 44 cp for PE120 and PE600 samples with an increase in temperature from 450 to 490 K. With the creation of the entanglements network, D reached the highest value of 2 × 10−9 m2·s−1 among the designed polymeric systems. The results are in good consistency with experimental reports. It is expected that the result of this study can be used in designing improved polymeric systems for real applications.

Two-decadal variation of satellite-derived chlorophyll-a concentration and sea surface temperature in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal

Two-decadal variation of satellite-derived chlorophyll-a concentration and sea surface temperature in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal

A Predictive Model for Sintering Ignition Temperature Based on a CNN-LSTM Neural Network with an Attention Mechanism

The sintering ignition process parameters fluctuate frequently and significantly, resulting in large variations in ignition temperature, which in severe cases can exceed 200 °C. This not only increases gas consumption but also affects the quality of the sinter. Because the intelligent control model based on feedback mechanisms struggles to deal with high-frequency fluctuation conditions over time, the prediction of sintering ignition temperature using feedforward regulation is attracting increasing attention. Given the multi-variable, time-sequential and strongly coupled characteristics of the sintering ignition process, a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a long short-term memory (LSTM) network are deeply integrated, with an attention mechanism incorporated to develop the sintering ignition temperature prediction model, enabling the accurate prediction of the ignition temperature. The research demonstrates that the combination of a CNN and the attention mechanism effectively addresses the challenges posed by the multi-variable and strongly coupled nature of sintering ignition data to predictive modeling. The LSTM network resolves the sequential data issues through its gating mechanism. As a result, the coefficient of determination (R2 ) of the CNN_LSTM-Attention model in predicting the sintering ignition temperature can reach 0.97, with a mean absolute error (MAE) as low as 10.23 °C. The predicted values closely match the actual values, achieving a hit rate of 93% within the acceptable error range. These performance metrics are significantly superior to those of the CNN-Attention and LSTM-Attention models, greatly enhancing the control accuracy of the ignition temperature.

Dynamics of air temperature changes in the atmospheric boundary layer during the solar eclipse of March 29, 2006

The data of measurements of air temperature profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) during the total solar eclipse on March 29, 2006 in Kislovodsk and at the Kislovodsk High-Mountain Scientific Station (KVNS) on the central shadow line are presented. The solar eclipse lasted from 14:08 to 16:27 local time, the total phase of the eclipse began at 15:15 and lasted 2:32. In development of the results obtained by us in our previous work, we compared the data on air temperature profiles at two points, Kislovodsk and KVNS. The influence of local conditions has been studied. It was shown that local conditions significantly affect both the amplitude of atmospheric pressure pulsations caused by a solar eclipse and their phase, as well as the nature of the change in the spectral density of air temperature with height in the range of periods corresponding to the duration of the solar eclipse. Based on the measurements of temperature profiles, the fluctuations of the atmospheric pressure difference at the level of the earth’s surface and at a certain height, up to which the temperature profiles were measured equal to 600 m, were reconstructed, caused by a solar eclipse, in coordinates: height – time has different trajectories in the case of Kislovodsk and KVNS. The difference in the trajectories of air temperature minima in Kislovodsk and at the KVNS determines both different delays in pressure minima relative to the beginning of the eclipse and time delays between surface pressure fluctuations at observation points as a whole. Also, a new method is proposed for determining the speed of ascending air currents using data on the altitude dependence of the time of reaching a minimum in temporal temperature variations caused by a solar eclipse. The changes in the spectral density of air are compared with height, the amplitude of the reconstructed atmospheric pressure pulsations in Kislovodsk and at the KVNS, and the speed of ascending air currents.

Microclimate monitoring in commercial tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) greenhouse production and its effect on plant growth, yield and fruit quality

IntroductionHigh annual tomato yields are achieved using high-tech greenhouse production systems. Large greenhouses typically rely only on one central weather station per compartment to steer their internal climate, ignoring possible microclimate conditions within the greenhouse itself.MethodsIn this study, we analysed spatial variation in temperature and vapour pressure deficit in a commercial tomato greenhouse setting for three consecutive years. Multiple sensors were placed within the crop canopy, which revealed microclimate gradients.Results and discussionDifferent microclimates were present throughout the year, with seasonal (spring – summer – autumn) and diurnal (day – night) variations in temperature (up to 3 °C, daily average) and vapour pressure deficit (up to 0.6 kPa, daily average). The microclimate effects influenced in part the variation in plant and fruit growth rate and fruit yield – maximum recorded difference between two locations with different microclimates was 0.4 cm d-1 for stem growth rate, 0.6 g d-1 for fruit growth rate, 80 g for truss mass at harvest. The local microclimate effect on plant growth was always larger than the bulk climate variation measured by a central sensor, as commonly done in commercial greenhouses. Quality attributes of harvested tomato fruit did not show a significant difference between different microclimate conditions. In conclusion, we showed that even small, naturally occurring, differences in local environment conditions within a greenhouse may influence the rate of plant and fruit growth. These findings could encourage the sector to deploy larger sensor networks for optimal greenhouse climate control. A sensor grid covering the whole area of the greenhouse is a necessity for climate control strategies to mitigate suboptimal conditions.

Thermo-Mechanical Coupling Load Transfer Method of Energy Pile Based on Hyperbolic Tangent Model

By employing the hyperbolic tangent model of load transfer (LT), this paper establishes the thermo-mechanical (TM) coupling load transfer analysis approach for an energy pile (EP). By incorporating the control condition of the unbalance force at the null point, the method for determining the null point considering the temperature effect is enhanced. The viability of the presented method is validated through the measured outcomes from model experiments of energy piles. A parametric investigation is conducted to explore the impact of the soil shear strength parameters, upper load, temperature variation, head stiffness, and radial expansion on the axial force, strain, and displacement of the energy pile under thermo-mechanical coupling. The results suggest that the locations of the null point and the maximum axial force are dependent on the constraint boundary conditions of the pile side and the two ends. When the stiffness of the pile top increases, axial stress and displacement increase, while strain decreases. An increase in the drained friction angle leads to an increase in axial stress under thermal-load coupling, but strain and displacement decline. The radial expansion has a negligible influence on the thermo-mechanical interaction between the pile and the soil.

Experimental investigation of heat transfer coefficient and frictional pressure drop in flow boiling of R513A: Comparative analysis of micro-fin and smooth tubes

The heat transfer coefficient (HTC) and frictional pressure drop (FPD) of R513A in flow boiling conditions experimentally investigated in the present article. The study employed micro-fin tubes (MFT1 and MFT2) and smooth tubes (ST1 and ST2) as testing tubes under various operational parameters. The test sections featured standardized tube lengths (1000 mm) and outer diameter (9.52 mm) across all tubes, with variations in mass flux (50–300 kg·m−2·s−1), vapor quality (0.02–0.96), saturation temperature (12°C, 17°C, and 22 °C) and heat flux (6, 18, and 30 kW·m−2). Research focused on evaluating influence of micro-fin enhancement on flow boiling characteristics, specifically comparing HTC and FPD between micro-fin and smooth tubes. Results indicate significant improvement on HTC within micro-fin tubes compared to smooth tubes, accompanied by reasonable increase in FPD. Additionally, the study validated experimental data against established correlations and conducted sensitivity analysis to understand influence of key parameters on HTC and FPD. Overall, findings contribute valuable insights for optimizing heat exchanger design and thermal system efficiency in flow boiling applications.

Impact of Brownian motion and thermophoresis in magnetohydrodynamic dissipative: Radiative flow of chemically reactive nanoliquid thin films on an unsteady expandable sheet in a composite media

AbstractThis study comprehensively examines magnetohydrodynamic heat transport characteristics within a thin nanofluid film on a stretchable sheet embedded in a composite medium. By considering factors such as the unsteady nature of sheet velocity, Brownian motion, thermophoresis, thermally radiative heat, irregular heat generation/sink, chemical reactions, and dissipation due to viscous fluid, the research provides valuable insights into the variations in fluid velocity, temperature, and nanoparticles concentration. The computational solution utilizes the efficient numerical method that enables accurate predictions of system behavior under varying conditions. Notable findings include the influence of Schmidt numbers on nanoparticle concentration distribution, the opposing impact of thermophoresis parameter values, and the influence of Brownian motion and heat source/sink on temperature profiles in thin nanofluid film. Also, nanoliquid film thickness is reduced by enhancing the porous parameter values and Hartmann number values. The nanoliquid film becomes thinner when the space‐dependent heat source/sink parameter is considered compared to the temperature‐dependent heat source/sink coefficient. In space‐dependent and temperature‐dependent cases, the increase in these parameters leads to a decrease in the temperature gradient. Furthermore, it is observed that higher thermophoresis values correspond to reduced nanoparticle concentration gradient profiles. Also, enhancement in the chemical reaction values leads to an expansion in the solutal boundary region surrounding nanoparticles, and as a consequence, the concentration gradient of nanoparticles is enhanced. This research has significant potential for optimizing heat performance and advancing innovation in industrial and engineering processes.

Piezoelectric Shunt Damping for a Planar Motor Application under Cryogenic Conditions

For several decades, Moore’s law has driven the semiconductor industry, with computational power and production costs as the main drivers. Such drivers have enabled several technological innovations in the mechatronics and dynamics architecture of photolithography machines, used for semiconductor circuits manufacturing. Among current investigations, the use of superconductive magnets would enable higher accelerating stages and, thus, higher throughput and lower manufacturing costs. However, this involves a complex magnet structure that needs to operate at cryogenic temperatures and mechanical resonances at relatively low frequencies as a result of the thermal architecture of the system. The damping options are also limited due to the very low temperature. This paper explores the use of shunted piezoelectric transducers for damping the internal modes of the magnet mass. A classical resistive and inductive RL shunt is considered. The study was conducted both numerically and experimentally on a demonstrator of a superconductive magnet plate concept, where piezoelectric transducers are incorporated to support the superconducting coils. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of piezoelectric shunts as a damping solution at very low temperatures, with limited impact of the temperature variation on the performance.

Comparative Study of Temperature and Pressure Variation Patterns in Hydrogen and Natural Gas Storage in Salt Cavern

Clarifying the distribution of temperature and pressure in the wellbore and cavern during hydrogen injection and extraction is crucial for quantitatively assessing cavern stability and wellbore integrity. This paper establishes an integrated flow and heat transfer model for the cavern and wellbore during hydrogen injection and withdrawal, analyzing the variations in temperature and pressure in both the wellbore and the cavern. The temperature and pressure parameters of hydrogen and natural gas within the chamber and wellbore were compared. The specific conclusions are as follows. (1) Under identical injection and withdrawal conditions, the temperature of hydrogen in the chamber was 10 °C higher than that of natural gas, and 16 °C higher in the wellbore. The pressure of hydrogen in the chamber was 2.9 MPa greater than that of natural gas, and 2.6 MPa higher in the wellbore. (2) A comparative analysis was conducted on the impact of surrounding rock’s horizontal and numerical distance on temperature during hydrogen and natural gas injection processes. As the distance from the cavity increases, from 5 to 15 m, the temperature fluctuation in the surrounding rock diminishes progressively, with the temperature effect in the hydrogen storage chamber extending to at least 10 m. (3) The influence of rock thermal conductivity parameters on temperature during the processes of hydrogen injection and natural gas extraction is also compared. The better the thermal conductivity, the deeper the thermal effects penetrate the rock layers, with the specific heat capacity having the most significant impact.

Study on dynamic and static magnetic properties of polycrystalline cobalt ferrite under bias magnetic field

Owing to their low resistivity, metal-based magnetostrictive materials are prone to eddy current loss under high-frequency magnetic field excitation, leading to a significant decline in output characteristics. Cobalt ferrite, a new non-metal-based magnetostrictive material, possesses both high magnetostriction strain and high resistivity, making it highly promising for high-frequency driving applications. However, reports on cobalt ferrite as the core driving material for ultrasonic transducers remain limited, and research on its high-frequency vibration characteristics is insufficient. In this study, magnetostrictive samples of cobalt ferrite were prepared using a solid-state reaction method, and their morphologies and magnetic properties were characterized. Under a bias magnetic field, the dynamic magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite and temperature variations with the driving magnetic field amplitude and prestress were analyzed. The results indicated that the density of the sample prepared by solid-state reaction can reach 88 % and the saturation magnetostriction coefficient λs can reach 186 × 10−6, with an optimal bias range of 400–600 Oe for the cobalt ferrite. When the driving magnetic field amplitude is 100 Oe in the optimal bias range, the output amplitude of the cobalt ferrite is 2160 nm, meeting the output requirement of high-frequency magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducers.

Generation of the Quasi‐Biweekly Oscillation in the Surface Potential Vorticity Over the Tibetan Plateau During Boreal Summer: A Case Study of 2014

AbstractThe atmospheric circulation around the Tibetan Plateau (TP) exhibits a substantial 10–20‐day quasi–biweekly oscillation (QBWO), profoundly impacting weather and climate locally and remotely. Understanding the factors influencing the generation of QBWO over the TP (QBWOTP) and its physical mechanism is crucial. This study has investigated the influence of multi–timescale and land–atmosphere interactions on the generation of the QBWOTP in surface potential vorticity (SPV), a valuable tool for characterizing the mechanical and thermal variabilities in mountain forcing, based on a 2014 case study. Results indicate that in the free atmosphere, the summer monsoon onset over the Bay of Bengal induces a northward shift in the westerly jet toward the TP, manifested as an increase in low‐frequency zonal winds. This shift facilitates the propagation of wave trains, leading to atmospheric quasi–biweekly potential temperature anomalies (θa) over the TP through a multi‐timescale interaction. Additionally, the TP's surface thermal forcing and arrival of wave trains trigger anomalous upward motion and increase cloud cover. The resultant decrease in net short‐wave radiations and increase in net long‐wave radiations contribute to variations in surface potential temperature (θs) over the TP. As θa and θs evolve, the difference between them enlarges, resulting in the generation of the SPV QBWOTP. Given the relationship between the QBWOTP and downstream rainfall, this study could provide novel insights into understanding and predicting downstream rainfall QBWO.

Analyzing the combustion characteristics of Thar coal block XI: A comprehensive study

Coal is a key energy resource in the world that is available at low cost and the high energy content in coal makes it a fuel of choice in many developed and developing countries. Regardless of massive reserves, Thar coal of Pakistan is low-rank lignite coal with high moisture contents and has very limited use. The proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and X-ray diffractometry analysis were performed to investigate the combustion characteristics, morphological and mineral characteristics of Thar coal block XI. Thar coal samples in this study are characterized as low-rank lignite coal. The proximate analysis showed a significant difference in moisture content, volatile content, fixed carbon content and ash residue. The ultimate analysis provided the details of elemental contents (Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Sulfer) in coal. The combustion characteristics such as combustion performance of lignite at high temperatures (950 °C) was investigated in thermogravimeter and the results showed the variations in the ignition temperature, burnout tempearature, combustion index and burnout index. The marphological characteristic were determined by X-ray diffraction. The mineral congregations, ash yields, major and minor elements (SiO2, Al2O3, CaO,MgO, Fe2O3) varied significantly in the coal. These analyses integrate various results for assessing major monitoring parameters of coal reactivity, its temperature ranges and combustion products.

7397 Characterization of Sperm-Carried IGF2 Transcript Variants

Abstract Disclosure: R. Cannarella: None. M. Suryavanshi: None. A. Miller: None. S.D. Lundy: None. A.E. Calogero: None. Background: We have previously identified the expression of the highly-conserved paternally-imprinted insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene in human spermatozoa and suggested its role in early embryo development. Although there are 5 different variants of the IGF2, there is no evidence of the variants expressed in human spermatozoa. Objective: The present basic research study was undertaken to characterize the IGF2 transcript variant(s) expressed in human spermatozoa and to develop a sensitive method that can distinguish variants based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Methods: Two post-gradient sperm samples from healthy, fertile men with proven paternity were used. Granulosa cells (GCs) obtained after the oocyte retrieval procedure and subsequently isolated and purified from follicular fluid were used as controls. Each sample underwent RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and PCR. The PCR product was ligated with the pCR4-TOPO vector and used to transform TOPO10 one-shot electro-competent cells of E. coli DH-10α. For each sample, 32 white colonies (true positive clones selected by blue-white screening method) were grown per sample (total in 96). All 96 clones were fully characterized by Sanger sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) were detected. Variations in products from single IGF2 gene primers pair were recorded on Sybr green-based qPCR, such as variations in melting temperatures (Tm), product size, and number of copies. Results: We successfully isolated and identified 96 true positive colonies, which were confirmed as IGF2 cDNA clones. This comprehensive analysis revealed 11 distinct genetic variants within the cDNA clones. Specifically, these variants comprised 6 SNPs and 5 deletions, highlighting the diversity in the sequences. These findings were particularly significant in relation to the IGF2 primer employed in the study, as they indicated the presence of 11 different sequence variants. By Sybr green qPCR, clones derived from GCs and sperm samples predominantly showed an IGF2 transcript variant with Tms of 89.01°C, 88.86°C, and 88.71°C. In a surprising observation, the sperm samples exhibited three sperm-specific variants with a range of a Tm ranging from 89.01°C to 88.26°C. Furthermore, the deletions were characterized by a significantly lower Tm, ranging between 78.86°C and 71.11°C. Conclusion: The IGF2 transcript is intrinsically present in sperm samples, albeit with notable variations. The detected variants likely arise from SNPs within the transcripts and the deletions could be attributed to splicing activity during maturation or post-transcriptional modifications. To our knowledge, this is the first study targeting the IGF2 transcript variants in spermatozoa from fertile men. Basic research is needed to understand the implications of different sperm-specific IGF2 transcript variants on early embryo development. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Numerical Modeling of the Ignition Characteristics of a Cylindrical Heat-Generating Sample in a Medium with Stochastic Temperature Variations

Numerical Modeling of the Ignition Characteristics of a Cylindrical Heat-Generating Sample in a Medium with Stochastic Temperature Variations

Seasonal Impact on Wound Healing and Surgical Site Infections after Reduction Mammoplasty.

Background: The incidence of reduction mammoplasty has been steadily increasing over recent decades. Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a common yet preventable complication across surgical disciplines. Studies across various surgical specialties have indicated a seasonal influence on SSIs, primarily correlated with higher temperatures and humidity. However, there remains a scarcity of clear data regarding the seasonal effects on complications specifically in breast surgery. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review encompassing all patients who underwent primary bilateral reduction mammoplasties at our institution between 1 June 2016, and 1 September 2019. The data collected included patient demographics, surgical details, and postoperative complications. The rates of SSIs and wound healing disturbances (WHDs) were correlated with local meteorological data at the time of surgery. Results: A total of 808 patients (1616 breasts) met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 41 ± 14.8 years, with a mean BMI of 28.9 ± 5.2 kg/m2 and a mean follow-up duration of 8.9 ± 9.8 months. Nineteen cases (2.35%) of surgical site infections and 77 cases (9.52%) of wound healing disturbances were reported. No statistically significant increase in the risk of SSIs (p = 0.928) or WHDs (p = 0.078) was observed during the warmer months of the year. Although no specific risk factors were identified for surgical site infections, both resection weight (p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (p = 0.001) demonstrated increased risks for wound healing disturbances. Conclusions: While seasonal temperature variations have been shown to impact SSIs and WHDs in body contouring procedures, our findings suggest that breast reduction surgery may not be similarly affected.

Improving yield and irrigation water productivity of green beans under water stress with agricultural solid waste-based material of compacted rice straw as a sustainable organic soil mulch

AbstractThis research aimed at water saving in irrigation by applying deficit irrigation using two strategies, standard drip and partial root drying (PRD), while applying organic and plastic mulch over two growing seasons of green beans. A field experiment was conducted in 2022 and 2023, using four irrigation treatments supplying 100% of the irrigation requirement (IRg), 75% IRg, 50% IRg, and 50% IRg—PRD, and four soil mulching treatments: uncovered soil (UC), plastic mulch (PM), rice straw mulch (RSM), and compacted rice straw mulch (CRSM). The combined effect of deficit irrigation strategies and soil mulching showed that the maximum irrigation water productivity (IWP) of 5.56 kg m−3 was achieved under 50% IRg—PRD &amp; CRSM for both growing seasons, followed by 50% IRg—PRD &amp; RSM and 50% IRg—PRD &amp; PM, with 5.19 and 4.96 kg m−3, respectively. The highest yield of 8936 kg ha−1 was achieved with 50% IRg—PRD &amp; CRSM, followed by 8914 kg ha−1 and 8898 kg ha−1 with 100% IRg &amp; CRSM and 75% IRg &amp; CRSM, respectively. The lowest yield of 6009 kg ha−1 was obtained with 50% IRg &amp; UC. The highest soil moisture content was observed under 100% IRg &amp; CRSM. The application of organic mulches was found to be particularly effective in conserving soil moisture due to enhanced infiltration, improved retention capacity, and suppression of weed growth, ultimately fostering optimal crop development and higher yield. The results of soil temperature variations beneath soil mulches showed that CRSM is effective in alleviating plant water stress, lowering the temperature below the cover and reducing water loss through evaporation from the soil surface. The combination of 50% IRg—PRD &amp; CRSM produced plants with enhanced plant height, fresh and dry weight, leaf area, pod length, and green bean weight, as well as the highest vegetative growth indices. Generally, the organic mulching increased soil temperature, soil moisture, IWP, and green bean production.