This study investigates the optimization of Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) integrated with Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) systems, with a focus on sustainable energy management. A nonlinear programming framework combined with scenario analysis was applied to a real hydropower system in Trentino, Italy. The optimization maximizes revenues through energy arbitrage while accounting for water resource and environmental objectives. Upgrading the traditional hydropower plant to PSH operation increases revenues by 4–8% over two hydrological years. Multi-objective optimization further reveals large gains in water availability, confirming PSH’s dual role as energy storage and water management infrastructure. Different FPV configurations analyzed show a 2–3% increase in photovoltaic energy yield due to the water-cooling effect, while the overall hybrid PSH–FPV integration mainly reduces grid dependency and pumping-related emissions, with near-complete decarbonization achievable under optimized scheduling. Overall, PSH provides the primary economic and operational advantage, while FPV strengthens sustainability, enabling resilient hydro–solar operation and contributing to renewable integration and decarbonization in future energy systems.

Kalanchoe species, originally introduced worldwide as ornamentals, are now reported to be globally spreading in many regions, including China. It is hypothesized that the morphological plasticity and asexual plantlet production of these species contribute to their rapid invasive spread. To address this hypothesis, an experiment was conducted using four Kalanchoe species: Kalanchoe delagoensis Eckl. & Zeyh., Kalanchoe × houghtonii D. B. Ward, Kalanchoe laetivirens Desc. and Kalanchoe daigremontiana Raym.-Hamet & H. Perrier. The reproductive and vegetative traits of these four species were evaluated under contrasting light and water conditions. The plants subjected to high light tended to prioritize plantlet production, accompanied by a reduction in vegetative growth. Two distinct reproductive strategies were observed. K. delagoensis and K. × houghtonii significantly increased plantlet production under high light conditions. In contrast, K. daigremontiana and K. laetivirens enhanced the fresh weight of individual plantlets without altering the total number produced. These results demonstrate the high plasticity of vegetative and reproductive growth in response to light and water availability. The increased production of plantlets may contribute to the invasive spread of Kalanchoe species in open fields.

Sustainable agriculture in semi-arid regions like the Awash Basin is critically dependent on water availability, which is increasingly threatened by rapid land use and land cover (LULC) change. This study assesses the impact of multi-decadal LULC changes on water resources essential for agriculture. Using satellite-derived LULC scenarios (2001, 2010, 2020) to drive the WRF-Hydro/Noah-MP modeling framework, we provide a holistic assessment of water dynamics in Ethiopia’s Awash Basin. The model was calibrated and validated with observed streamflow (R2 = 0.80–0.89). Markov analysis revealed rapid cropland expansion and urbanization (2001–2010), followed by notable woodland recovery (2010–2020) linked to national initiatives. Simulations show that early-period changes increased surface runoff, potentially enhancing reservoir storage for large-scale irrigation. In contrast, later changes promoted subsurface flow, indicating a shift towards enhanced groundwater recharge, which is critical for small-scale and well-based irrigation. Evapotranspiration (ET) trends, validated against GLEAM (monthly R2 = 0.88–0.96), reflected these shifts, with urbanization suppressing water fluxes and woodland recovery fostering their resurgence. This research demonstrates that land use trajectories directly alter the partitioning of agricultural water sources. The findings provide critical evidence for designing sustainable land and water management strategies that balance crop production with forest conservation to secure irrigation water and support initiatives like Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative.

Canopy height is an important aspect of forest structure and functioning. Although water availability is important for canopy height growth, the climatic niche for tall trees remains poorly understood. Here we use global spaceborne lidar-derived canopy height to study its dependence on climate variables. We find that vapour pressure deficit (VPD) strongly controls geographical patterns of canopy height, observing a negative association also in tropical regions where water limitations are modest. Taller trees are prevalent in humid tropical regions, but canopy height decreases sharply as mean annual VPD surpasses 0.68 kPa. By 2100, projected increases in VPD under a warming climate could enhance limitations to canopy height growth, resulting in height losses in 87% of the humid tropical regions. Conversely, we project a widespread increase in canopy height across drylands, linked primarily to changing precipitation regimes. These results suggest that limitations on height growth driven by shifts in atmospheric dryness could lead to reduced future forest carbon sequestration.

Stream hyporheic zones represent a unique ecosystem at the interface of stream water and surrounding sediments, characterized by high heterogeneity and accelerated biogeochemical activity. These zones-represented by the top sediment layer in this study-are increasingly impacted by anthropogenic stressors and environmental changes at a global scale, directly altering their microbiomes. Despite their importance, the current body of literature lacks a systematic understanding of active nitrogen and sulfur cycling across stream sediment and surface water microbiomes, particularly across geographic locations and in response to environmental factors. Based on previously published and unpublished datasets, 363 stream metagenomes were combined to build a comprehensive MAG and gene database from stream sediments and surface water including a full-factorial mesocosm experiment which had been deployed to unravel microbial stress response. Metatranscriptomic data from 23 hyporheic sediment samples collected across North America revealed that microbial activity in sediments was distinct from the activity in surface water, contrasting similarly encoded metabolic potential across the two compartments. The expressed energy metabolism of the hyporheic zone was characterized by increased cycling of sulfur and nitrogen compounds, governed by Nitrospirota and Desulfobacterota lineages. While core metabolic functions like energy conservation were conserved across sediments, temperature and stream order change resulted in differential expression of stress response genes previously observed in mesocosm studies. The hyporheic zone is a microbial hotspot in stream ecosystems, surpassing the activity of overlaying riverine surface waters. Metabolic activity in the form of sulfur and nitrogen cycling in hyporheic sediments is governed by multiple taxa interacting through metabolic handoffs. Despite the spatial heterogeneity of streams, the hyporheic sediment microbiome encodes and expresses conserved stress responses to anthropogenic stressors, e.g., temperature, in streams of separate continents. The high number of uncharacterized differentially expressed genes as a response to tested stressors is a call-to-action to deepen the study of stream systems. Video Abstract.

SnRK2.5-mediated phosphorylation of PIN2 links osmotic stress signaling with auxin-dependent root adaptive growth in Arabidopsis.

Community-led water systems are an important strategy to provide water to rural and disperse communities. However, evaluating the effect of these systems on small communities is challenging. To complement the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) water service ladder, the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) Scale, an experiential measure of water availability, accessibility, use, acceptability, and reliability, may support an improved understanding of how improvements in water access affect communities. In 2023, Green Empowerment, an organization that supports the development of community-managed water systems in Ecuador, and local partner organizations, integrated the HWISE Scale into routine monitoring and evaluation surveys for communities where a new piped water system, or an upgrade to an existing piped water system, was planned. Baseline data were collected from 19 communities in three regions (coastal, highland, and Amazon) and in three languages (Spanish, Kichwa, and Cha’palaa). This included communities with no piped water and communities with water systems with varying levels of service quality. Endline (post-intervention) evaluations were completed in 4 communities. We also collected data from 1 Colombian community where a non-perceivable infrastructure modification in the water system was implemented. We used logistic regression to evaluate risk factors for reported water insecurity at baseline and unpaired two-sided t-tests to evaluate differences in reported water insecurity pre- versus post-intervention. We found that communities with unreliable piped water often reported considerable water insecurity variation between households, with mean HWISE scores similar to those of communities fully reliant on surface or rainwater. Reported water insecurity was reduced by 1.6-3.3 points on the HWISE-4 Scale post-intervention in 4 communities with a tangible system improvement, and by 0.8 points in the community with the non-perceivable intervention. The HWISE Scale enriched traditional water service/access indicators, and were sensitive to changes in households’ experiences of water or attitudes towards their water infrastructure. This manuscript is available in Spanish, in its entirety, in the Supplemental Materials. / Este manuscrito está disponible en español, en su totalidad, en los Materiales Suplementarios.

Development of an instantly reconstitutable powdered broth as a clear fluid to shorten preoperative fasting.

Hydro-power dam construction and water availability in the Bui Basin of Ghana

Abstract. The article is devoted to determining the quality of drinking groundwater and assessing the health risks of drinking low-quality water. Solving this problem is extremely important for preserving the health of the nation and improving the quality of life of the population. Current problems with access to quality drinking water are associated with growing pollution of surface water bodies and a decrease in water availability. The essence of the problem lies in the need for a comprehensive approach to assessing the quality of groundwater used for drinking water supply, as even minor exceedances of harmful substances lead to health problems. Risk assessment is an important step for further monitoring and correction of the water supply situation. Goal. The objective is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of risks and vulnerabilities to public health when using groundwater for drinking water consumption. Methodology. hydrochemical analysis of groundwater composition and risk-based modeling were used to determine groundwater quality and assess health risks. Results. The chemical composition of groundwater was determined. Among 10 chemical compounds, a tendency to exceed the content of chlorides in groundwater in the urbanized area of Kharkiv was found. The calculation of the hazard index for chlorides indicates an increased risk to health (for adults and children); for nitrates - an acceptable level of risk; for iron, zinc, copper, manganese, cadmium and chromium - minimal risks. Originality. Originality. The risks to public health associated with the long-term use of groundwater for drinking water supply were assessed. Practical value. It consists in the possibility of applying its results to improve the groundwater monitoring system, optimize water treatment and formulate regional strategies for the safe use of groundwater for drinking water consumption.

Soil loss, also known as erosion, is an irreversible natural phenomenon that affects the topsoil of the Earth’s surface. It reduces soil fertility and water availability, and initiates geohazards, leading to negative environmental consequences. A research study was conducted in part of the Musi River sub-basin, a tributary of the Krishna River basin in India, which is undergoing a lot of changes due to anthropogenic factors. The novelty of this study lies in the integration of the RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) model with advanced Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques to evaluate soil erosion and sediment yield in the basin. Leveraging the capabilities of the Google Earth Engine platform, the study employs the CART (Classification and Regression Trees) machine learning algorithm to generate the LULC (Land Use Land Cover) map, crucial for accurate C factor estimation. This innovative approach improves the precision of erosion modeling by seamlessly integrating GIS, machine learning, and remote sensing technologies. The analysis reveals that the LULC map has a total accuracy of 89.6% and a kappa coefficient of 0.86. The analysis also shows that the agriculture class dominates the research area with 51.4%. The results reveal that 95.6% of the research area has very low soil erosion of 0-1 ton/ha/ year, and 60.8% of the area has low sediment yield of 0-1 ton.ha-1.y-1. As the study area consists of major towns and cities, and the agricultural area is being converted to open plots (barren lands for developmental activities), erosion may increase in the future. The findings of this study may be used by managers and legislators to suggest soil conservation laws to expedite development projects.

Contrasting sensitivity and resilience to soil moisture and vapor pressure deficit between natural and planted forests under afforestation projects.

Two decades of vegetation productivity change shaped by water availability and human activity in northern China’s arid–semi-arid transition

Abstract Edible crystal is a traditional Japanese confectionery product with an unique texture. However, the high sucrose content in edible crystal can cause excessive sweet taste and adverse health effect. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the optimum formulation of IMO–erythritol sweetener combination and to evaluate its impact on the physicochemical and sensory properties of edible crystal. This research observed six formulations, namely P1 (100% sucrose), P2 (40% erythritol + 60% IMO), P3 (50% erythritol + 50% IMO), P4 (60% erythritol + 40% IMO), P5 (70% erythritol + 30% IMO), and P6 (80% erythritol + 20% IMO). The results showed that an increase in erythritol concentration led to an increase in water activity (a w ) from 0.74 to 0.84, hardness from 14 to 35 N, and L* values from 61 to 68. However, there was a decrease in density value, as well as a* and b* values. The hedonic test results of edible crystal with erythritol and IMO had higher liking levels for aroma, taste, and overall liking compared to the control. JAR test results showed that P3 was the formulation with the most optimal sensory attribute intensity. Thus, the combination of erythritol and IMO in equal proportions represents the most promising formulation for developing low-calorie and diabetes-friendly edible crystals.

Comparing thermal resistance of Salmonella in chili (Capsicum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), and black pepper (Piper nigrum) powders.

Carbonized polymer dots with intelligent recognition and dynamic protection for highly stable Zn-ion batteries.

Synergistic effects of microplastics and bioaerosols: emerging trends in urban air pollution complexification and public health implications.

Enhancing production efficiency of tomatoes through soil moisture-dependent multifaceted responses in three-layered soil.

Abstract The water and carbon exchange between the land surface and the atmosphere is regulated by meteorological conditions and plant physiological processes. Traditional mechanistic modeling approaches, for example, the Earth system model ICON‐ESM with the land component JSBACH4 , are hampered by relatively rigid parameterizations for stomatal conductance to model land‐atmosphere coupling. We develop a hybrid modeling approach integrating data‐driven flexible parameterizations based on eddy‐covariance flux measurements (FLUXNET) with mechanistic modeling. We replace specific empirical parametrizations of the coupled photosynthesis (gross primary production [GPP]) and transpiration () modules with feed‐forward neural network models pre‐trained on observations. In a proof‐of‐concept, we demonstrate that our approach reconstructs original JSBACH4 parameterizations for stomatal conductance (), maximum carboxylation rates () and the maximum electron transport rates (), that decisively control GPP and . We then replace JSBACH4 's original parametrizations by calling the emulator parameterizations trained on original JSBACH4 output using a Python‐Fortran bridge. Adapting the approach to observational data, Hybrid‐JSBACH4 infers these parametrizations from eddy‐covariance measurements to construct observation‐informed modeling of water and carbon fluxes in JSBACH4 . The mean hourly residuals of in Hybrid‐JSBACH4 with respect to FLUXNET observations vary between −0.1 and 0.15 kg m −2 hr −1 while the JSBACH4 residuals vary between −0.3 and 0.2 kg m −2 hr −1 for forest and grassland sites. The mean hourly residuals for GPP of Hybrid‐JSBACH4 with respect to observations vary between −0.5 and 0.5 gC m −2 hr −1 , compared to the original JSBACH4 with residuals ranging between −1.0 and 0.5 gC m −2 hr −1 , for forest and grassland sites. Our Hybrid‐JSBACH4 model improves the representation of plant physiological responses, and reduces biases in transpiration and GPP simulations under varying atmospheric dryness and water availability conditions.

Machine learning insights into groundwater demand under changing surface water availability: Murray-Darling Basin, Australia