OBJECTIVE: Baby skin differs significantly from adult skin and requires special care. The Cussons Baby Sensicare Range (Sensicare) of products has been specifically formulated for baby skin and a range of standard cos...OBJECTIVE: Baby skin differs significantly from adult skin and requires special care. The Cussons Baby Sensicare Range (Sensicare) of products has been specifically formulated for baby skin and a range of standard cosmetic clinical tests were conducted in adult females with dry skin to evaluate the effectiveness of the range on skin moisturization and barrier function. METHODS: The studies were within subject, controlled, single blind studies. For the Sensicare Body Wash skin moisturization (Corneometer) was measured before application and after 7 and 14 days of twice daily use. For the Sensicare Moisturizing Lotion and Sensicare Soothing Cream skin moisturization was measured before application and at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hours after a single application;skin elasticity (Cutometer) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL, Tewameter) were assessed before and after 14 days of twice daily use;and skin erythema (Mexameter) before induction with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), and at 30 mins, 24 and 48 hours after patch removal. Changes from baseline and changes versus control were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty to thirty-five subjects completed each study. Skin moisture content was significantly increased from baseline for all Cussons Baby Sensicare Products (p < 0.05 for Hair & Body Wash;and p < 0.001 for Cream & Lotion). Changes from baseline in skin elasticity were significantly superior to control (unperfumed liquid soap) after 14 days twice daily use of the Lotion, and Cream (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes from baseline or significant differences from control in TEWL for the Lotion, or Cream. The increases in the average skin erythema index were significantly smaller for the Lotion, and Cream 30 minutes following SLS patch removal (p < 0.05 v sterile water, p < 0.001 v no treatment for both products). All the Sensicare products were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: These studies support the use of the Cussons Baby Sensicare range of products for new born, sensitive and eczema prone skin.展开更多
[Objective]Vegetation restoration is an effective strategy for ecological improvement;however,inappropriate vegetation establishment can induce soil desiccation,thereby threatening ecosystem stability.Therefore,elucid...[Objective]Vegetation restoration is an effective strategy for ecological improvement;however,inappropriate vegetation establishment can induce soil desiccation,thereby threatening ecosystem stability.Therefore,elucidating the global response patterns of soil moisture to vegetation restoration and identifying research hotspots are critical for guiding ecological construction in arid regions.[Methods]We reviewed 6,152 articles concerning soil moisture and vegetation retrieved from the Web of Science platform.Using VOSviewer,we conducted analyses of keyword co-occurrence,publication trends,and research hotspots to systematically delineate the evolving trends in this field.[Results]The results indicate a significant increasing trend in the number of publications since 2000.Global research keywords are categorized into seven clusters,including vegetation,soil moisture,rainfall-erosion-infiltration,spatial heterogeneity,and climate change.In terms of highly cited papers in 2024,China and the United States maintain a significant lead.Global research demonstrates a strong dependency on typical regional geographical features(such as climate types and topography),exhibiting differentiated research focuses.Furthermore,studies extend beyond soil moisture itself to deeply couple with ecological processes such as vegetation restoration,soil respiration,carbon cycling,and hydrothermal conditions.[Conclusions]The long-term ecological effects of afforestation in arid regions remain unclear,and empirical data from key regions highlight the current urgency.Future research should integrate climate change dynamics,innovate monitoring methodologies,and deepen the understanding of regional differentiation to provide scientific support for the adaptive management of vegetation in arid regions.展开更多
Cyperus esculentus root oil(CEL)is a plant of significant economic value,rich in unsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid,linoleic acid,and linolenic acid.In this study,human dermal fibroblasts(HSF)were used to create ...Cyperus esculentus root oil(CEL)is a plant of significant economic value,rich in unsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid,linoleic acid,and linolenic acid.In this study,human dermal fibroblasts(HSF)were used to create an inflammatory model,and the impact of coldpressed oil from CEL on the secretion of inflammatory factors was assessed.The results showed that CEL significantly inhibited IL-6 and IL-1βthat were secreted by HSF cells induced by tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)(P<0.0001),with inhibition rates of 50.79%and 20.26%,respectively.Furthermore,CEL markedly enhanced the secretion of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10(P<0.01),with an improvement rate of 94.42%.The study further explored the impact of CEL on collagen type I(Col-I)and hyaluronic acid(HA)secretion in the cells.The results demonstrated that CEL effectively increased Col-I secretion by 26.15%(P<0.0001)and HA by 30.2%(P<0.0001)when it was administered at a maximum safe mass fraction of 6%,which consequently showed its potential anti-aging and moisturizing properties.Additionally,fluorescence real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)experiments confirmed that CEL significantly inhibited the TNF-α-induced expression of IL-6,IL-1β,and matrix metalloproteinases(MMP-1,3,9)in HSF cells,while promoted the mRNA expression levels of IL-10 and hyaluronic acid synthase.This modulation suggested that CEL exerted anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects.Finally,the oil’s anti-inflammatory,anti-senility,and moisturizing effects were validated through the clinical evaluations.In summary,CEL,as a natural raw material abundant in unsaturated fatty acids,shows promising potential for further development and usage in cosmetics due to its anti-inflammatory,anti-aging,and moisturizing properties in personal care.展开更多
A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)method was developed for the direct determination of docosahexaenoic acid(DHA)in sturgeon caviar extract.The assay employed n-hexane extraction combined wit...A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)method was developed for the direct determination of docosahexaenoic acid(DHA)in sturgeon caviar extract.The assay employed n-hexane extraction combined with gradient elution(ZORBAX SB-C18 column),with data collected using a diode array detector.The content was calculated by external standard method and validated against the national standard(GB 5009.168-2016).The study also measured DPPH free radical scavenging capacity and moisture retention rate across different DHA concentration groups.The results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits excellent linearity(r=0.9997),with recovery rates ranging from 92.1% to 101.1% and relative standard deviations(RSD)of 2.23% to 3.92%.Compared to the national standard method,the relative deviation was 0.67% to 1.68%.At specific test concentrations,the high-DHA group shows significantly higher moisture retention(100.48%),hygroscopicity(100.85%),and DPPH scavenging efficiency(57.46%)than the low-DHA group(10.33%,11.76%,and 3.71%).The RP-HPLC method developed in this study simplifies DHA detection procedures with simple reagents and reliable results,making it suitable for rapid qualitative identification and quantitative analysis of target components in caviar extract quality control.The DPPH experiment further reveals the correlation between DHA content and antioxidant efficacy in sturgeon caviar extracts,providing scientific evidence for developing functional cosmetics.展开更多
The irrigation districts of northern China face issues such as water scarcity,inability to effectively utilize flood resources,and groundwater overexploitation.In view of these challenges,this study proposes a new con...The irrigation districts of northern China face issues such as water scarcity,inability to effectively utilize flood resources,and groundwater overexploitation.In view of these challenges,this study proposes a new concept of deep storage irrigation through flood resources utilization.However,whether deep storage irrigation can recharge deep soil moisture and sustain crop production still requires further study.A two-year field experiment was conducted on summer maize in the Guanzhong Plain with five soil wetting layer depths(T1:60 cm;T2:90 cm;T3:120 cm;T4:150 cm;T5:180 cm)and soil saturation moisture content as the irrigation upper limit.The results presented that the ranges of deep soil moisture recharge in the100–200 cm soil profile(SMS_(100–200))was 73.34–267.42 and 0–150.03 mm in 2021(wet season)and 2022(normal season).When the effective precipitation and irrigation exceeded 390 mm,the SMS_(100–200)began to linearly increase.The highest grain yield(GY)were observed at T2 and T3 treatments in 2021(11.44 t ha^(-1))and 2022(11.25 t ha^(-1)),respectively.The maize GY of T4 in 2021 and T5 in 2022 were only 3.9 and 5.7%lower than the maximize GY,respectively.However,the SMS_(100–200)for T4 and T5 were 2.4 and 5.0 times that of T2 and T3 treatments in 2021 and 2022,respectively.Overall,the further increase in irrigation amounts induced only a slight decrease in grain yield,but it significantly increased deep soil moisture recharge.Therefore,the deep storage irrigation breaks through the traditional idea of water-saving irrigation with limited water resources,which can be utilized as an effective alternative to address the issues of water scarcity,low flood resources utilization,and groundwater level declines in the irrigation districts of northern China.展开更多
Slope failures,particularly in railway embankments during intense rainfall,are a major cause of economic damage and humanitarian loss.To forecast how shear cracks develop in slopes under heavy precipitation,we present...Slope failures,particularly in railway embankments during intense rainfall,are a major cause of economic damage and humanitarian loss.To forecast how shear cracks develop in slopes under heavy precipitation,we present a novel modeling framework:the Extended Cohesive Damage Element enhanced by soil moisture(SMECDE).The method first translates forecasted rainfall into soil moisture levels via an established correspondence.Then,recognizing that rainfall infiltration lowers soil cohesion—particularly at varying depths—we introduce a Soil Moisture Decoherence Model(SMDM)based on experimental data,which quantifies how cohesion degrades with moisture and how depth affects this process.By embedding SMDM within the ECDE technique,we investigate how shear fractures propagate under different moisture conditions throughout the slope profile.We apply SMECDE to a real railway embankment case to identify critical moisture thresholds and crack growth patterns.Validation is performed by comparing predictions against field measurements and weather station records,and further checked through simulations of large-scale plastic deformation in ABAQUS.展开更多
Mixed halide perovskites exhibit great potential as materials for the future generation of photovoltaic devices.Yet,their reaction to moisture remains uncertain,necessitating further exploration.While prolonged exposu...Mixed halide perovskites exhibit great potential as materials for the future generation of photovoltaic devices.Yet,their reaction to moisture remains uncertain,necessitating further exploration.While prolonged exposure to moisture can lead to degradation,it can also passivate traps at an optimal moisture level.Here,we use scanning probe microscopy to perform nanoscale moisture-dependent photovoltaic characterizations of open and compressed grain boundary(GB)structures of wide bandgap(FAPbI_(3))_(0.3)(FAPbBr_(3))_(0.7) perovskites.The investigation reveals a decrease in the potential barrier at compact GBs with increasing moisture levels,contrasting with the behavior observed in open GBs.Moreover,the photocurrent distribution over both samples proportionally increases when relative humidity(RH)is raised from 10%to 60%.Notably,following a 24-h exposure at RH 60%,the compact-GB sample demonstrates:i)a reduction in the density of charged trap states at GBs,ii)higher photocurrent,accompanied by a noticeable decrease in current hysteresis compared to the open GB sample,and iii)further enhancement in device efficiency and crystallinity compared to devices with open GBs.These findings suggest that optimizing humidity conditions in engineering the GB chemistry can enhance the optoelectrical properties of GBs,ultimately leading to improved device performance.展开更多
Rock brittleness is a critical property in geotechnical and energy engineering,as it directly influences the prediction of rock failure and stability assessment.Although numerous methods have been developed to evaluat...Rock brittleness is a critical property in geotechnical and energy engineering,as it directly influences the prediction of rock failure and stability assessment.Although numerous methods have been developed to evaluate brittleness,many fail to comprehensively account for the impacts of microstructural changes,mineralogical characteristics,and stress conditions on energy evolution during failure.This study proposes a novel approach for brittleness evaluation based on the energy evolution throughout the post-peak failure process,integrating two micromechanical mechanisms:crack propagation and frictional sliding.A new brittleness index is defined as the ratio of generated surface energy to released elastic energy,providing a unified framework for assessing both Class I and Class II mechanical behaviors.The brittleness of cyan,white,and gray sandstones was investigated under various confining pressures and moisture conditions using X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and conventional triaxial compression(CTC)tests.The results demonstrate that brittleness decreases with increasing confining pressure,due to suppressed crack propagation,and increases under saturated conditions,as moisture enhances crack propagation.By establishing connections between mineral composition,microstructural features,and stress-induced responses,the proposed method overcame limitations of previous approaches and offered a more precise tool for evaluating rock brittleness under diverse environmental scenarios.展开更多
Moisture electricity generation(MEG)has emerged as a sustainable and versatile energy-harvesting technology capable of converting ubiquitous environmental moisture into electrical energy,which holds great promise for ...Moisture electricity generation(MEG)has emerged as a sustainable and versatile energy-harvesting technology capable of converting ubiquitous environmental moisture into electrical energy,which holds great promise for renewable energy and constructing self-powered electronics.In this review,we begin by outlining the fundamental mechanisms—ion diffusion,electric double layer formation,and streaming potential—that govern charge transport for MEG in moist environments.A comprehensive survey of material innovations follows,highlighting breakthroughs in carbon-based materials,conductive polymers,hydrogels,and bio-inspired systems that enhance MEG performance,scalability,and biocompatibility.We then explore a range of device architectures,from planar and layered systems to flexible,miniaturized,and textile-integrated designs,engineered for both energy conversion and sensor integration.Key challenges are analyzed,along with strategies for overcoming them.We conclude with a forward-looking perspective on future directions,including hybrid energy systems,AI-assisted material design,and real-world deployment.This review presents a timely and comprehensive overview of MEG technologies and their trajectory toward practical and sustainable energy solutions.展开更多
The root-to-shoot(R/S)ratio is a critical indicator of the balance between root biomass and shoot biomass,representing the ecological strategies and adaptive responses of plants to environmental conditions.However,the...The root-to-shoot(R/S)ratio is a critical indicator of the balance between root biomass and shoot biomass,representing the ecological strategies and adaptive responses of plants to environmental conditions.However,the patterns of change in community R/S ratios during forest succession and their response to moisture levels across broad geographic gradients remains unclear.Based on forest biomass data from a national field inventory of 5,825 plots conducted across China between 2011 and 2015,this study looked into allocating biomass shoots and roots at the early,middle,and late stages of growth in plantations and succession in natural forests,and evaluated how moisture availability influences this allocation.The results revealed a significant decline in R/S ratios from early to late stages for both plantations and natural forests.Shoot and root biomass in plantations grew isometrically during the early and middle succession stages but shifted to allometric growth in the late stage,with the slope of the log-transformed shoot-root biomass relationship differing significantly across growth stages.Natural forests,in contrast,maintained isometric growth across successional stages,showing no significant variation in the slope of the log-transformed shoot-root biomass relationship.Environmental factors,particularly moisture levels,strongly influenced R/S ratios.Moisture levels significantly affected size-corrected R/S ratios,particularly in the middle stage of plantations and the early and middle stages of natural forests,supporting the hypothesis of optimal allocation.These findings suggest that in water-limited regions,forest management should prioritize drought-tolerant,deep-rooted native species,encourage mixed-species planting in the early stage,and reduce logging intensity in mature plantations.Conserving natural forests to maintain successional dynamics is essential for long-term ecological resilience.These findings emphasize the importance of balancing productivity with ecological sustainability by adapting practices to specific environments and forest types under climate change.展开更多
Sichuan sausages with moisture contents of 40%,45%,50%,and 60% were stored at-18℃for durations of 0,2,4,6,and 8 weeks to evaluate the effect of moisture content on the quality attributes of Sichuan sausages during fr...Sichuan sausages with moisture contents of 40%,45%,50%,and 60% were stored at-18℃for durations of 0,2,4,6,and 8 weeks to evaluate the effect of moisture content on the quality attributes of Sichuan sausages during frozen storage.Product indicators including pH,colour,thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS),total volatile basic nitrogen(TVB-N),texture,electronic nose(E-nose)response,and water-holding capacity(thawing and cooking losses)were determined.The results indicated that as storage time increased,water retention in Sichuan sausages with different moisture contents decreased,while the degree of protein and lipid oxidation increased.This led to an increase in pH value,a colour shift from red-bright to grey-brown,and a deterioration in palatability.Among the samples,sausages with 50% moisture content exhibited the lowest thawing and cooking losses,indicating superior water-holding capacity.After 8 weeks of storage,TBARS and TVB-N values for the 50% moisture group were 19.5%and 2.5%lower,respectively,than those of the 40%and 45%moisture groups,indicating a reduced degree of oxidation.Furthermore,Sichuan sausage with 50%moisture content demonstrated an appropriate pH and colour difference,along with excellent texture and flavour,as evidenced by its higher toughness and satisfactory hardness.In conclusion,Sichuan sausage with 50% moisture content demonstrated the highest overall quality under frozen storage conditions.展开更多
Arid and semi-arid ecosystems are prone to extensive fires due to specific climatic conditions,sparse vegetation cover,and high density of fine fuels.Understanding the flammability characteristics of land covers is es...Arid and semi-arid ecosystems are prone to extensive fires due to specific climatic conditions,sparse vegetation cover,and high density of fine fuels.Understanding the flammability characteristics of land covers is essential for fire management and designing land restoration programs in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.This study provided a new approach to evaluate the flammability of shrublands and woodlands using flammability indices(FIs)including time to ignition(TI),duration of combustion(DC),and flame height(FH)of plant species and their relative frequencies in the Dalfard Basin of southeastern Iran.The results showed that there was a significant difference in FIs between land covers.Shrublands had higher flammability potential compared with woodlands.Plant moisture content had a negative relationship with TI(P<0.010)and no significant relationship with DC and FH(P>0.050).Artemisia spp.,Astragalus gossypinus Fischer,Amygdalus scoparia Spach,and Cymbopogon jwarancusa(Jones)Schult.had the highest FI.Tree species such as Rhazya stricta Decne.,and Pistacia atlantica Desf.showed greater resistance to fire.Using principal component analysis,the relationship between species and FIs was examined,and TI of wet fuel was the most important FI in relation to species.Structural equation model showed that life form(P<0.001)was the most important flammability driver.Precipitation(P<0.010)and legume species(P<0.010)were significantly related to the flammability in arid land.This study emphasizes the importance of managing high-risk species and using resistant species in vegetation restoration and shows that combining species FIs with their abundance is an effective tool for assessing fire risk and fuel management at the plant community scale.展开更多
This study presents a multi-physical modeling approach to analyze the dynamics of moisture potential and stress-deformation features near deep desiccation cracks in clayey soils under three consecutive years’climate ...This study presents a multi-physical modeling approach to analyze the dynamics of moisture potential and stress-deformation features near deep desiccation cracks in clayey soils under three consecutive years’climate variability in an arid region.A triple research approach of statistical analysis,analytical framework,and numerical modeling was used to investigate the complex thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of desiccation-cracked soil,incorporating realistic climatic data of Qom,Iran.The results revealed the interplay between stress,strain,and pore water pressure over time,demonstrating that soil experiences significant swelling and shrinkage due to cyclic wetting and drying.The horizontal stress distribution shows compressive stress concentration at crack tips during wetting,transitioning to tensile stresses uniformly across the soil surface during drying paths.Similarly,vertical stress distributions exhibit localized compressive stresses along crack boundaries during wetting and tensile stresses during drying,highlighting the critical stress conditions at crack tips.The model differentiates between microstructural and macrostructural changes in porosity.Annual trends in micro-porosity revealed cyclic-dependent behavior,with significant volumetric changes occurring in the first year,stabilizing with successive cycles.The results also indicated that part of the volumetric changes are irreversible,with volumetric plastic strain increasing exponentially but at a decreasing rate over three years.Principal stress analysis indicates a shift from compressive to tensile stress states around cracks,driven by climate-induced wetting and drying cycles.These findings underscore the critical role of climate variability in shaping cracked soil behavior in arid regions,providing insights into the heterogeneous behavior of cracked soil surfFicial layers.展开更多
Recent studies have suggested that rapid warming over the Mongolian Plateau(MP)may intensify extreme heat events(EHEs).However,the characteristics and mechanisms driving summer EHEs over the MP(MP-EHEs)remain unclear....Recent studies have suggested that rapid warming over the Mongolian Plateau(MP)may intensify extreme heat events(EHEs).However,the characteristics and mechanisms driving summer EHEs over the MP(MP-EHEs)remain unclear.This study explores the interannual variations in summer MP-EHEs and their relationship with the summer soil moisture over the Inner Tibetan Plateau(TP-SM).The results reveal that changes in the MP-EHEs are linked to descending atmospheric motion induced by a local high-pressure system over the MP region.Descending motion further results in decreased mid-tolow-level cloud cover and increased shortwave radiation,thereby warming the surface and triggering summer MP-EHEs.Further analysis indicates that increased TP-SM results in a greater latent heat flux,triggering a local secondary circulation that reinforces the local high-pressure system over the MP region,thus serving to promote the occurrence of summer MPEHEs.Additionally,model results from the linear baroclinic model(LBM)and CMIP6 further confirm that variations in summer TP-SM contribute to the occurrence of the MP-EHEs.展开更多
The dual-probe heat pulse(DPHP)is a well-established method for estimating soil moisture(θ)using soil thermal conductivity(λ)and volumetric heat capacity(C_(v)).Recently,monitoringθhas been improved by integrating ...The dual-probe heat pulse(DPHP)is a well-established method for estimating soil moisture(θ)using soil thermal conductivity(λ)and volumetric heat capacity(C_(v)).Recently,monitoringθhas been improved by integrating the DPHP method with distributed temperature sensing(DTS)technology.In the DPHP-DTS approach,a single fiber optic(FO)cable with embedded metallic constituents functions as a heating element,while a parallel cable serves to monitor the temperature.Despite ongoing advancements,challenges such as the difficulty in positioning heating and sensing cables and high energy requirements hinder the widespread adoption of the DPHP-DTS method.As alternative heating materials are seldom used,this study evaluated the feasibility of employing a resistive metallic alloy as the heating element in a laboratory DPHP-DTS application.Overall,higher errors were observed when assessing C_(v)andλat higherθvalues(>0.2),but using C_(v)data produced more accurateθestimates(with the root mean square error(RMSE)≤0.06).Based on C_(v)values,a low-power,long-duration heat pulse(8.07 W/m for 300 s)yielded more consistentθestimates(RMSE=0.04)than a high-power,shortduration pulse(15.93 W/m for 180 s,with RMSE=0.06).The findings of this study also indicated that variations in heating uniformity and electrical power fluctuations potentially affected measurement accuracy.Nevertheless,the resistive alloy proved advantageous for DPHP-DTS due to its independent power connection,ability to maintain linear positioning within the soil,and potential for energy savings,all while providing reliableθestimates.展开更多
The growing demand for renewable energy has increased the use of wood pellets as a clean and efficient biomass fuel.This study aims to evaluate the physical properties of wood pellets produced from Acacia hybrid(AC)ve...The growing demand for renewable energy has increased the use of wood pellets as a clean and efficient biomass fuel.This study aims to evaluate the physical properties of wood pellets produced from Acacia hybrid(AC)veneer waste and Pine wood(PW)waste mixed with varying ratios.The objectives are to investigate the effect of different blend ratios ofAcacia hybrid veneer waste and pine wood waste on the physical properties,specificallymoisture content,density,and pellet durability index(PDI)of wood pellets,and to identify the optimal ratio that yields the most desirable pellet quality.The wood pellets were produced by blending Acacia hybrid veneer waste and Pine wood waste(AC:PW)in weight ratios of 100:0,75:25,50:50,25:75,and 0:100.The materials were dried to 10%–12%moisture before pelletizing using a pellet mill under consistent pressure and temperature.Moisture content(MC),density(ρ)and pellet durability index(PDI)were measured following the International Organization for Standardization(ISO).The study found that blending Acacia hybrid veneer waste with Pine wood waste significantly improved pellet density and durability compared to the control.The moisture was lowest in pellets with 50:50 and 25:75 blends,indicating better drying and stability.The blend 50:50 achieves the highest density,and for pellet durability index,the best blend is 25:75,suggesting improved resistance to breakage.Overall,the 50:50 and 25:75 ratios produced pellet with the most desirable combination of low moisture,high density,high durability and the blend meets key ISO 17225 and ENplus quality standards for industrial wood pellet.展开更多
In the northern Tarim River Basin,the Weigan River Basin is a critical endorheic system characterized by extreme aridity,where drought poses a major natural hazard to agricultural production and ecological stability.T...In the northern Tarim River Basin,the Weigan River Basin is a critical endorheic system characterized by extreme aridity,where drought poses a major natural hazard to agricultural production and ecological stability.This study assessed the future evolution of drought under climate change by employing the standardized moisture anomaly index(SZI)on the basis of multi-model the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6(CMIP6)simulations under historical conditions(1970–2014)and future scenarios(shared socioeconomic pathway(SSP)1-2.6,SSP2-4.5,SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5 for 2015–2100).The results show that precipitation–evapotranspiration anomalies are projected to first decline but then increase over time,with increased fluctuations and uncertainty under high-emission scenarios(SSP5-8.5).These trends indicate intensifying drought risks and reveal a strong influence of emission pathways on regional water cycling.Temporal analysis of SZI indicates a transition from wetting to drying under lowand medium-emission pathways(SSP1-2.6 and SSP2-4.5),whereas high-emission scenarios are characterized by persistent drying and increased variability.The significant lower-tail dependence(0.271)observed under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 suggests that extreme droughts may be subject to nonlinear co-amplification across scenarios.The frequency of moderate and more severe drought events is expected to increase substantially,especially under SSP5-8.5,where drought occurrence is predicted to extend into spring and autumn and become more evenly distributed throughout the year.Spatially,drought duration shows significant positive autocorrelation across all scenarios,with hot spots consistently concentrated in the southern and southeastern regions of the basin.Random forest analysis,interpreted as association-based pattern attribution,indicates that meteorological variables(precipitation and potential evapotranspiration(PET))make the greatest contributions to the hot spot pattern,followed by topography and soil moisture.Among land use categories,farmland generally shows higher drought sensitivity than other land use types,as reflected by its relative contribution patterns across scenarios.The spatial pattern of drought is statistically structured by climatic forcing,surface conditions,and soil moisture status,reflecting their coupled associations with hot spot occurrence.In addition,a drought spatial uncertainty index was constructed from multi-scenario hot spot maps,revealing spatially heterogeneous structural variability throughout the basin.Correlation analysis further highlights strong internal couplings among environmental variables(e.g.,elevation-linked hydroclimatic gradients and grassland–bare soil contrasts).These findings offer a scientific basis for developing region-specific drought monitoring and adaptation strategies under future climate change conditions.展开更多
Soil moisture(SM)is a critical variable in terrestrial ecosystems,especially in arid and semi-arid areas where water sources are limited.Despite its importance,understanding the spatiotemporal variations and influenci...Soil moisture(SM)is a critical variable in terrestrial ecosystems,especially in arid and semi-arid areas where water sources are limited.Despite its importance,understanding the spatiotemporal variations and influencing factors of SM in these areas remains insufficient.This study investigated the spatiotemporal variations and influencing factors of SM in arid and semi-arid areas of China by utilizing the extended triple collation(ETC),Mann-Kendall test,Theil-Sen estimator,ridge regression analysis,and other relevant methods.The following findings were obtained:(1)at the pixel scale,the long-term monthly SM data from the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative(ESA CCI)exhibited the highest correlation coefficient of 0.794 and the lowest root mean square error(RMSE)of 0.014 m^(3)/m^(3);(2)from 2000 to 2022,the study area experienced significant increase in annual average SM,with a rate of 0.408×10^(-3)m^(3)/(m^(3)•a).Moreover,higher altitudes showed a notable upward trend,with SM increasing rates at 0.210×10^(-3)m^(3)/(m^(3)•a)between 1000 and 2000 m,0.530×10^(-3)m^(3)/(m^(3)•a)between 2000 and 4000 m,and 0.760×10^(-3)m^(3)/(m^(3)•a)at altitudes above 4000 m;(3)land surface temperature(LST),root zone soil moisture(RSM)(10-40 cm depth),and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)were identified as the primary factors influencing annual average SM,which accounted for 34.37%,24.16%,and 22.64%relative contributions,respectively;and(4)absolute contribution of LST was more significant in subareas at higher altitudes,with average absolute contributions of 0.800×10^(-3)m^(3)/(m^(3)•a)between 2000 and 4000 m and 0.500×10^(-2) m^(3)/(m^(3)•a)above 4000 m.This study reveals the spatiotemporal variations and main influencing factors of SM in Chinese arid and semi-arid areas,highlighting the more pronounced absolute contribution of LST to SM in high-altitude areas,providing valuable insights for ecological research and water resource management in these areas.展开更多
Soil desiccation cracking is a common phenomenon on the earth surface.Numerical modeling is an effective approach to study the desiccation cracking mechanism of soil.This work develops a novel 3D moisture diffusion di...Soil desiccation cracking is a common phenomenon on the earth surface.Numerical modeling is an effective approach to study the desiccation cracking mechanism of soil.This work develops a novel 3D moisture diffusion discrete model that is capable of dynamically assessing the effect of cracking on moisture diffusion and allowing moisture to be discontinuous on both sides of the cracks.Then,the parametric analysis of the moisture exchange coefficient in the 3D moisture diffusion discrete model is carried out for moisture diffusion in continuous media,and the selection criterion of the moisture exchange coefficient for the unbroken cohesive element is given.Subsequently,an example of moisture migration in a medium with one crack is provided to illustrate the crack hindering effect on moisture migration.Finally,combining the 3D moisture diffusion discrete model with the finite-discrete element method(FDEM),the moisture diffusion-fracture coupling model is built to study the desiccation cracking in a strip soil and the crack pattern of a rectangular soil.The evolution of crack area and volume with moisture content is quantitatively analyzed.The modeling number and average width of cracks in the strip soil show a good consistency with the experimental results,and the crack pattern of the rectangular soil matches well with the existing numerical results,validating the coupled moisture diffusion-fracture model.Additionally,the parametric study of soil desiccation cracking is performed.The developed model offers a powerful tool for exploring soil desiccation cracking.展开更多
Tafoni are globally developed on cliffy slopes,and many of them are favorable places for the preservation of stone historical relics.However,the characteristics and formation processes of tafoni in the Loess Plateau a...Tafoni are globally developed on cliffy slopes,and many of them are favorable places for the preservation of stone historical relics.However,the characteristics and formation processes of tafoni in the Loess Plateau are yet to be understood.This paper studied the features of the tafoni on conglomerate slopes in Huoshizhai National Geopark of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and discussed its formation processes by field investigation and morphometry,insitu relative humidity(RH)measurement,salt chemistry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer(XRF)experiments of 24 samples.The bedrock of the tafoni is dominated by reddish fluvial conglomerates of the Lower Cretaceous Heshangpu Formation with abundant chemically unstable components including feldspars,lithic fragments,and calcite cements.The RH values vary from 5%to 100%,but the backwalls of the tafoni have higher RH values than outer surfaces.The more moisture on the backwalls is possibly generated by water influx from the rock interior,resulting in more salt precipitation on the backwalls.As a result,the backwalls have been subject to predominant salt weathering.The dominant salts involved in salt weathering are probably derived from the dissolution of the salt interbeds in the basin,although the chemical dissolution of the unstable components such as feldspars,lithic fragments,and calcite cements might have produced small amounts of salts.The salt types dominantly include nitrates,sulfates,and halite.In the progression of tafoni,the moisture maintenance on the backwalls gives rise to the accretion of salts,which in turn enhance the weathering rates of the backwalls.As a result,the volumes of the tafoni have become enlarged owing to inward growth and coalescence of adjacent smaller ones.展开更多
文摘OBJECTIVE: Baby skin differs significantly from adult skin and requires special care. The Cussons Baby Sensicare Range (Sensicare) of products has been specifically formulated for baby skin and a range of standard cosmetic clinical tests were conducted in adult females with dry skin to evaluate the effectiveness of the range on skin moisturization and barrier function. METHODS: The studies were within subject, controlled, single blind studies. For the Sensicare Body Wash skin moisturization (Corneometer) was measured before application and after 7 and 14 days of twice daily use. For the Sensicare Moisturizing Lotion and Sensicare Soothing Cream skin moisturization was measured before application and at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hours after a single application;skin elasticity (Cutometer) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL, Tewameter) were assessed before and after 14 days of twice daily use;and skin erythema (Mexameter) before induction with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), and at 30 mins, 24 and 48 hours after patch removal. Changes from baseline and changes versus control were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty to thirty-five subjects completed each study. Skin moisture content was significantly increased from baseline for all Cussons Baby Sensicare Products (p < 0.05 for Hair & Body Wash;and p < 0.001 for Cream & Lotion). Changes from baseline in skin elasticity were significantly superior to control (unperfumed liquid soap) after 14 days twice daily use of the Lotion, and Cream (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes from baseline or significant differences from control in TEWL for the Lotion, or Cream. The increases in the average skin erythema index were significantly smaller for the Lotion, and Cream 30 minutes following SLS patch removal (p < 0.05 v sterile water, p < 0.001 v no treatment for both products). All the Sensicare products were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: These studies support the use of the Cussons Baby Sensicare range of products for new born, sensitive and eczema prone skin.
文摘[Objective]Vegetation restoration is an effective strategy for ecological improvement;however,inappropriate vegetation establishment can induce soil desiccation,thereby threatening ecosystem stability.Therefore,elucidating the global response patterns of soil moisture to vegetation restoration and identifying research hotspots are critical for guiding ecological construction in arid regions.[Methods]We reviewed 6,152 articles concerning soil moisture and vegetation retrieved from the Web of Science platform.Using VOSviewer,we conducted analyses of keyword co-occurrence,publication trends,and research hotspots to systematically delineate the evolving trends in this field.[Results]The results indicate a significant increasing trend in the number of publications since 2000.Global research keywords are categorized into seven clusters,including vegetation,soil moisture,rainfall-erosion-infiltration,spatial heterogeneity,and climate change.In terms of highly cited papers in 2024,China and the United States maintain a significant lead.Global research demonstrates a strong dependency on typical regional geographical features(such as climate types and topography),exhibiting differentiated research focuses.Furthermore,studies extend beyond soil moisture itself to deeply couple with ecological processes such as vegetation restoration,soil respiration,carbon cycling,and hydrothermal conditions.[Conclusions]The long-term ecological effects of afforestation in arid regions remain unclear,and empirical data from key regions highlight the current urgency.Future research should integrate climate change dynamics,innovate monitoring methodologies,and deepen the understanding of regional differentiation to provide scientific support for the adaptive management of vegetation in arid regions.
文摘Cyperus esculentus root oil(CEL)is a plant of significant economic value,rich in unsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid,linoleic acid,and linolenic acid.In this study,human dermal fibroblasts(HSF)were used to create an inflammatory model,and the impact of coldpressed oil from CEL on the secretion of inflammatory factors was assessed.The results showed that CEL significantly inhibited IL-6 and IL-1βthat were secreted by HSF cells induced by tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)(P<0.0001),with inhibition rates of 50.79%and 20.26%,respectively.Furthermore,CEL markedly enhanced the secretion of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10(P<0.01),with an improvement rate of 94.42%.The study further explored the impact of CEL on collagen type I(Col-I)and hyaluronic acid(HA)secretion in the cells.The results demonstrated that CEL effectively increased Col-I secretion by 26.15%(P<0.0001)and HA by 30.2%(P<0.0001)when it was administered at a maximum safe mass fraction of 6%,which consequently showed its potential anti-aging and moisturizing properties.Additionally,fluorescence real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)experiments confirmed that CEL significantly inhibited the TNF-α-induced expression of IL-6,IL-1β,and matrix metalloproteinases(MMP-1,3,9)in HSF cells,while promoted the mRNA expression levels of IL-10 and hyaluronic acid synthase.This modulation suggested that CEL exerted anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects.Finally,the oil’s anti-inflammatory,anti-senility,and moisturizing effects were validated through the clinical evaluations.In summary,CEL,as a natural raw material abundant in unsaturated fatty acids,shows promising potential for further development and usage in cosmetics due to its anti-inflammatory,anti-aging,and moisturizing properties in personal care.
文摘A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)method was developed for the direct determination of docosahexaenoic acid(DHA)in sturgeon caviar extract.The assay employed n-hexane extraction combined with gradient elution(ZORBAX SB-C18 column),with data collected using a diode array detector.The content was calculated by external standard method and validated against the national standard(GB 5009.168-2016).The study also measured DPPH free radical scavenging capacity and moisture retention rate across different DHA concentration groups.The results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits excellent linearity(r=0.9997),with recovery rates ranging from 92.1% to 101.1% and relative standard deviations(RSD)of 2.23% to 3.92%.Compared to the national standard method,the relative deviation was 0.67% to 1.68%.At specific test concentrations,the high-DHA group shows significantly higher moisture retention(100.48%),hygroscopicity(100.85%),and DPPH scavenging efficiency(57.46%)than the low-DHA group(10.33%,11.76%,and 3.71%).The RP-HPLC method developed in this study simplifies DHA detection procedures with simple reagents and reliable results,making it suitable for rapid qualitative identification and quantitative analysis of target components in caviar extract quality control.The DPPH experiment further reveals the correlation between DHA content and antioxidant efficacy in sturgeon caviar extracts,providing scientific evidence for developing functional cosmetics.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2243235)the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Water Resources,China(2022slkj-6)。
文摘The irrigation districts of northern China face issues such as water scarcity,inability to effectively utilize flood resources,and groundwater overexploitation.In view of these challenges,this study proposes a new concept of deep storage irrigation through flood resources utilization.However,whether deep storage irrigation can recharge deep soil moisture and sustain crop production still requires further study.A two-year field experiment was conducted on summer maize in the Guanzhong Plain with five soil wetting layer depths(T1:60 cm;T2:90 cm;T3:120 cm;T4:150 cm;T5:180 cm)and soil saturation moisture content as the irrigation upper limit.The results presented that the ranges of deep soil moisture recharge in the100–200 cm soil profile(SMS_(100–200))was 73.34–267.42 and 0–150.03 mm in 2021(wet season)and 2022(normal season).When the effective precipitation and irrigation exceeded 390 mm,the SMS_(100–200)began to linearly increase.The highest grain yield(GY)were observed at T2 and T3 treatments in 2021(11.44 t ha^(-1))and 2022(11.25 t ha^(-1)),respectively.The maize GY of T4 in 2021 and T5 in 2022 were only 3.9 and 5.7%lower than the maximize GY,respectively.However,the SMS_(100–200)for T4 and T5 were 2.4 and 5.0 times that of T2 and T3 treatments in 2021 and 2022,respectively.Overall,the further increase in irrigation amounts induced only a slight decrease in grain yield,but it significantly increased deep soil moisture recharge.Therefore,the deep storage irrigation breaks through the traditional idea of water-saving irrigation with limited water resources,which can be utilized as an effective alternative to address the issues of water scarcity,low flood resources utilization,and groundwater level declines in the irrigation districts of northern China.
文摘Slope failures,particularly in railway embankments during intense rainfall,are a major cause of economic damage and humanitarian loss.To forecast how shear cracks develop in slopes under heavy precipitation,we present a novel modeling framework:the Extended Cohesive Damage Element enhanced by soil moisture(SMECDE).The method first translates forecasted rainfall into soil moisture levels via an established correspondence.Then,recognizing that rainfall infiltration lowers soil cohesion—particularly at varying depths—we introduce a Soil Moisture Decoherence Model(SMDM)based on experimental data,which quantifies how cohesion degrades with moisture and how depth affects this process.By embedding SMDM within the ECDE technique,we investigate how shear fractures propagate under different moisture conditions throughout the slope profile.We apply SMECDE to a real railway embankment case to identify critical moisture thresholds and crack growth patterns.Validation is performed by comparing predictions against field measurements and weather station records,and further checked through simulations of large-scale plastic deformation in ABAQUS.
基金support from the Australian Research Council through Discovery Grants and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies(FLEET)supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT(NRF-2021K1A4A7A03093851)+1 种基金J.S.Y.acknowledges the Royal Society research grant(RGS/R1/221369)the support by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by the Korean government(MEST)(RS-2023-00257494 and 2022H1D3A2A01082324).
文摘Mixed halide perovskites exhibit great potential as materials for the future generation of photovoltaic devices.Yet,their reaction to moisture remains uncertain,necessitating further exploration.While prolonged exposure to moisture can lead to degradation,it can also passivate traps at an optimal moisture level.Here,we use scanning probe microscopy to perform nanoscale moisture-dependent photovoltaic characterizations of open and compressed grain boundary(GB)structures of wide bandgap(FAPbI_(3))_(0.3)(FAPbBr_(3))_(0.7) perovskites.The investigation reveals a decrease in the potential barrier at compact GBs with increasing moisture levels,contrasting with the behavior observed in open GBs.Moreover,the photocurrent distribution over both samples proportionally increases when relative humidity(RH)is raised from 10%to 60%.Notably,following a 24-h exposure at RH 60%,the compact-GB sample demonstrates:i)a reduction in the density of charged trap states at GBs,ii)higher photocurrent,accompanied by a noticeable decrease in current hysteresis compared to the open GB sample,and iii)further enhancement in device efficiency and crystallinity compared to devices with open GBs.These findings suggest that optimizing humidity conditions in engineering the GB chemistry can enhance the optoelectrical properties of GBs,ultimately leading to improved device performance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42277147)Ningbo Public Welfare Research Program(Grant No.2024S081)Ningbo Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.2024J186).
文摘Rock brittleness is a critical property in geotechnical and energy engineering,as it directly influences the prediction of rock failure and stability assessment.Although numerous methods have been developed to evaluate brittleness,many fail to comprehensively account for the impacts of microstructural changes,mineralogical characteristics,and stress conditions on energy evolution during failure.This study proposes a novel approach for brittleness evaluation based on the energy evolution throughout the post-peak failure process,integrating two micromechanical mechanisms:crack propagation and frictional sliding.A new brittleness index is defined as the ratio of generated surface energy to released elastic energy,providing a unified framework for assessing both Class I and Class II mechanical behaviors.The brittleness of cyan,white,and gray sandstones was investigated under various confining pressures and moisture conditions using X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and conventional triaxial compression(CTC)tests.The results demonstrate that brittleness decreases with increasing confining pressure,due to suppressed crack propagation,and increases under saturated conditions,as moisture enhances crack propagation.By establishing connections between mineral composition,microstructural features,and stress-induced responses,the proposed method overcame limitations of previous approaches and offered a more precise tool for evaluating rock brittleness under diverse environmental scenarios.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52305388,BE0200030)Shanghai Pujiang Program(22PJ1407600)+1 种基金SJTU Explore X programShanghai Jiao Tong University Initiative Scientific Research Program(WH220402021)。
文摘Moisture electricity generation(MEG)has emerged as a sustainable and versatile energy-harvesting technology capable of converting ubiquitous environmental moisture into electrical energy,which holds great promise for renewable energy and constructing self-powered electronics.In this review,we begin by outlining the fundamental mechanisms—ion diffusion,electric double layer formation,and streaming potential—that govern charge transport for MEG in moist environments.A comprehensive survey of material innovations follows,highlighting breakthroughs in carbon-based materials,conductive polymers,hydrogels,and bio-inspired systems that enhance MEG performance,scalability,and biocompatibility.We then explore a range of device architectures,from planar and layered systems to flexible,miniaturized,and textile-integrated designs,engineered for both energy conversion and sensor integration.Key challenges are analyzed,along with strategies for overcoming them.We conclude with a forward-looking perspective on future directions,including hybrid energy systems,AI-assisted material design,and real-world deployment.This review presents a timely and comprehensive overview of MEG technologies and their trajectory toward practical and sustainable energy solutions.
基金supported by the China National Science Foundation(No.42130506,42071031)the Special Technology Innovation Fund of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality in Jiangsu Province(BK20231515)+1 种基金the Spanish Government grant PID2022-140808NB-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033the Catalan Government grants SGR 2021-1333 and AGAUR2023 CLIMA 00118.
文摘The root-to-shoot(R/S)ratio is a critical indicator of the balance between root biomass and shoot biomass,representing the ecological strategies and adaptive responses of plants to environmental conditions.However,the patterns of change in community R/S ratios during forest succession and their response to moisture levels across broad geographic gradients remains unclear.Based on forest biomass data from a national field inventory of 5,825 plots conducted across China between 2011 and 2015,this study looked into allocating biomass shoots and roots at the early,middle,and late stages of growth in plantations and succession in natural forests,and evaluated how moisture availability influences this allocation.The results revealed a significant decline in R/S ratios from early to late stages for both plantations and natural forests.Shoot and root biomass in plantations grew isometrically during the early and middle succession stages but shifted to allometric growth in the late stage,with the slope of the log-transformed shoot-root biomass relationship differing significantly across growth stages.Natural forests,in contrast,maintained isometric growth across successional stages,showing no significant variation in the slope of the log-transformed shoot-root biomass relationship.Environmental factors,particularly moisture levels,strongly influenced R/S ratios.Moisture levels significantly affected size-corrected R/S ratios,particularly in the middle stage of plantations and the early and middle stages of natural forests,supporting the hypothesis of optimal allocation.These findings suggest that in water-limited regions,forest management should prioritize drought-tolerant,deep-rooted native species,encourage mixed-species planting in the early stage,and reduce logging intensity in mature plantations.Conserving natural forests to maintain successional dynamics is essential for long-term ecological resilience.These findings emphasize the importance of balancing productivity with ecological sustainability by adapting practices to specific environments and forest types under climate change.
基金Supported by National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Sichuan Pig Innovation Team(SCCXTD-2026-8)Sichuan Science and Technology Program(2025ZYD0049)"Challenge and Leadership"Project for Key Core Technologies of Sui Ning in Sichuan(2025SNKBZ19).
文摘Sichuan sausages with moisture contents of 40%,45%,50%,and 60% were stored at-18℃for durations of 0,2,4,6,and 8 weeks to evaluate the effect of moisture content on the quality attributes of Sichuan sausages during frozen storage.Product indicators including pH,colour,thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS),total volatile basic nitrogen(TVB-N),texture,electronic nose(E-nose)response,and water-holding capacity(thawing and cooking losses)were determined.The results indicated that as storage time increased,water retention in Sichuan sausages with different moisture contents decreased,while the degree of protein and lipid oxidation increased.This led to an increase in pH value,a colour shift from red-bright to grey-brown,and a deterioration in palatability.Among the samples,sausages with 50% moisture content exhibited the lowest thawing and cooking losses,indicating superior water-holding capacity.After 8 weeks of storage,TBARS and TVB-N values for the 50% moisture group were 19.5%and 2.5%lower,respectively,than those of the 40%and 45%moisture groups,indicating a reduced degree of oxidation.Furthermore,Sichuan sausage with 50%moisture content demonstrated an appropriate pH and colour difference,along with excellent texture and flavour,as evidenced by its higher toughness and satisfactory hardness.In conclusion,Sichuan sausage with 50% moisture content demonstrated the highest overall quality under frozen storage conditions.
文摘Arid and semi-arid ecosystems are prone to extensive fires due to specific climatic conditions,sparse vegetation cover,and high density of fine fuels.Understanding the flammability characteristics of land covers is essential for fire management and designing land restoration programs in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.This study provided a new approach to evaluate the flammability of shrublands and woodlands using flammability indices(FIs)including time to ignition(TI),duration of combustion(DC),and flame height(FH)of plant species and their relative frequencies in the Dalfard Basin of southeastern Iran.The results showed that there was a significant difference in FIs between land covers.Shrublands had higher flammability potential compared with woodlands.Plant moisture content had a negative relationship with TI(P<0.010)and no significant relationship with DC and FH(P>0.050).Artemisia spp.,Astragalus gossypinus Fischer,Amygdalus scoparia Spach,and Cymbopogon jwarancusa(Jones)Schult.had the highest FI.Tree species such as Rhazya stricta Decne.,and Pistacia atlantica Desf.showed greater resistance to fire.Using principal component analysis,the relationship between species and FIs was examined,and TI of wet fuel was the most important FI in relation to species.Structural equation model showed that life form(P<0.001)was the most important flammability driver.Precipitation(P<0.010)and legume species(P<0.010)were significantly related to the flammability in arid land.This study emphasizes the importance of managing high-risk species and using resistant species in vegetation restoration and shows that combining species FIs with their abundance is an effective tool for assessing fire risk and fuel management at the plant community scale.
基金support provided by the Research Grant Office at Sharif University Technology by way of grants G4010902 and QB020105 is gratefully acknowledged.
文摘This study presents a multi-physical modeling approach to analyze the dynamics of moisture potential and stress-deformation features near deep desiccation cracks in clayey soils under three consecutive years’climate variability in an arid region.A triple research approach of statistical analysis,analytical framework,and numerical modeling was used to investigate the complex thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of desiccation-cracked soil,incorporating realistic climatic data of Qom,Iran.The results revealed the interplay between stress,strain,and pore water pressure over time,demonstrating that soil experiences significant swelling and shrinkage due to cyclic wetting and drying.The horizontal stress distribution shows compressive stress concentration at crack tips during wetting,transitioning to tensile stresses uniformly across the soil surface during drying paths.Similarly,vertical stress distributions exhibit localized compressive stresses along crack boundaries during wetting and tensile stresses during drying,highlighting the critical stress conditions at crack tips.The model differentiates between microstructural and macrostructural changes in porosity.Annual trends in micro-porosity revealed cyclic-dependent behavior,with significant volumetric changes occurring in the first year,stabilizing with successive cycles.The results also indicated that part of the volumetric changes are irreversible,with volumetric plastic strain increasing exponentially but at a decreasing rate over three years.Principal stress analysis indicates a shift from compressive to tensile stress states around cracks,driven by climate-induced wetting and drying cycles.These findings underscore the critical role of climate variability in shaping cracked soil behavior in arid regions,providing insights into the heterogeneous behavior of cracked soil surfFicial layers.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42288101)the Young Scientists Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grand No.42505018)the Shanghai“Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan”Venus Project(Grant No.23YF1437300)。
文摘Recent studies have suggested that rapid warming over the Mongolian Plateau(MP)may intensify extreme heat events(EHEs).However,the characteristics and mechanisms driving summer EHEs over the MP(MP-EHEs)remain unclear.This study explores the interannual variations in summer MP-EHEs and their relationship with the summer soil moisture over the Inner Tibetan Plateau(TP-SM).The results reveal that changes in the MP-EHEs are linked to descending atmospheric motion induced by a local high-pressure system over the MP region.Descending motion further results in decreased mid-tolow-level cloud cover and increased shortwave radiation,thereby warming the surface and triggering summer MP-EHEs.Further analysis indicates that increased TP-SM results in a greater latent heat flux,triggering a local secondary circulation that reinforces the local high-pressure system over the MP region,thus serving to promote the occurrence of summer MPEHEs.Additionally,model results from the linear baroclinic model(LBM)and CMIP6 further confirm that variations in summer TP-SM contribute to the occurrence of the MP-EHEs.
基金funded in part by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel(CAPES,Finance Code 001)in part by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development(CNPq,Grant No.131511/2020-3)/Ministry of Science,Technology and Innovation(MCTI)in part by the State of São Paulo Research Foundation(FAPESP)(Grant Nos.2015/03806-1 and 2023/08756-9).
文摘The dual-probe heat pulse(DPHP)is a well-established method for estimating soil moisture(θ)using soil thermal conductivity(λ)and volumetric heat capacity(C_(v)).Recently,monitoringθhas been improved by integrating the DPHP method with distributed temperature sensing(DTS)technology.In the DPHP-DTS approach,a single fiber optic(FO)cable with embedded metallic constituents functions as a heating element,while a parallel cable serves to monitor the temperature.Despite ongoing advancements,challenges such as the difficulty in positioning heating and sensing cables and high energy requirements hinder the widespread adoption of the DPHP-DTS method.As alternative heating materials are seldom used,this study evaluated the feasibility of employing a resistive metallic alloy as the heating element in a laboratory DPHP-DTS application.Overall,higher errors were observed when assessing C_(v)andλat higherθvalues(>0.2),but using C_(v)data produced more accurateθestimates(with the root mean square error(RMSE)≤0.06).Based on C_(v)values,a low-power,long-duration heat pulse(8.07 W/m for 300 s)yielded more consistentθestimates(RMSE=0.04)than a high-power,shortduration pulse(15.93 W/m for 180 s,with RMSE=0.06).The findings of this study also indicated that variations in heating uniformity and electrical power fluctuations potentially affected measurement accuracy.Nevertheless,the resistive alloy proved advantageous for DPHP-DTS due to its independent power connection,ability to maintain linear positioning within the soil,and potential for energy savings,all while providing reliableθestimates.
基金the financial support provided by UMS Great(GUG0670-1/2024),which played a crucial role in the completion of this studyAdditionally,we would like to express our sincere appreciation for the financial assistance and scholarships generously offered by the University of Malaysia Sabah(UMS)throughout the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia(KPT)throughout the research period.These contributions were invaluable in facilitating our research endeavors.
文摘The growing demand for renewable energy has increased the use of wood pellets as a clean and efficient biomass fuel.This study aims to evaluate the physical properties of wood pellets produced from Acacia hybrid(AC)veneer waste and Pine wood(PW)waste mixed with varying ratios.The objectives are to investigate the effect of different blend ratios ofAcacia hybrid veneer waste and pine wood waste on the physical properties,specificallymoisture content,density,and pellet durability index(PDI)of wood pellets,and to identify the optimal ratio that yields the most desirable pellet quality.The wood pellets were produced by blending Acacia hybrid veneer waste and Pine wood waste(AC:PW)in weight ratios of 100:0,75:25,50:50,25:75,and 0:100.The materials were dried to 10%–12%moisture before pelletizing using a pellet mill under consistent pressure and temperature.Moisture content(MC),density(ρ)and pellet durability index(PDI)were measured following the International Organization for Standardization(ISO).The study found that blending Acacia hybrid veneer waste with Pine wood waste significantly improved pellet density and durability compared to the control.The moisture was lowest in pellets with 50:50 and 25:75 blends,indicating better drying and stability.The blend 50:50 achieves the highest density,and for pellet durability index,the best blend is 25:75,suggesting improved resistance to breakage.Overall,the 50:50 and 25:75 ratios produced pellet with the most desirable combination of low moisture,high density,high durability and the blend meets key ISO 17225 and ENplus quality standards for industrial wood pellet.
基金supported by the Key Research and Development Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China(2022B02049)the Major Science and Technology Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China(2024A03007-5).
文摘In the northern Tarim River Basin,the Weigan River Basin is a critical endorheic system characterized by extreme aridity,where drought poses a major natural hazard to agricultural production and ecological stability.This study assessed the future evolution of drought under climate change by employing the standardized moisture anomaly index(SZI)on the basis of multi-model the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6(CMIP6)simulations under historical conditions(1970–2014)and future scenarios(shared socioeconomic pathway(SSP)1-2.6,SSP2-4.5,SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5 for 2015–2100).The results show that precipitation–evapotranspiration anomalies are projected to first decline but then increase over time,with increased fluctuations and uncertainty under high-emission scenarios(SSP5-8.5).These trends indicate intensifying drought risks and reveal a strong influence of emission pathways on regional water cycling.Temporal analysis of SZI indicates a transition from wetting to drying under lowand medium-emission pathways(SSP1-2.6 and SSP2-4.5),whereas high-emission scenarios are characterized by persistent drying and increased variability.The significant lower-tail dependence(0.271)observed under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 suggests that extreme droughts may be subject to nonlinear co-amplification across scenarios.The frequency of moderate and more severe drought events is expected to increase substantially,especially under SSP5-8.5,where drought occurrence is predicted to extend into spring and autumn and become more evenly distributed throughout the year.Spatially,drought duration shows significant positive autocorrelation across all scenarios,with hot spots consistently concentrated in the southern and southeastern regions of the basin.Random forest analysis,interpreted as association-based pattern attribution,indicates that meteorological variables(precipitation and potential evapotranspiration(PET))make the greatest contributions to the hot spot pattern,followed by topography and soil moisture.Among land use categories,farmland generally shows higher drought sensitivity than other land use types,as reflected by its relative contribution patterns across scenarios.The spatial pattern of drought is statistically structured by climatic forcing,surface conditions,and soil moisture status,reflecting their coupled associations with hot spot occurrence.In addition,a drought spatial uncertainty index was constructed from multi-scenario hot spot maps,revealing spatially heterogeneous structural variability throughout the basin.Correlation analysis further highlights strong internal couplings among environmental variables(e.g.,elevation-linked hydroclimatic gradients and grassland–bare soil contrasts).These findings offer a scientific basis for developing region-specific drought monitoring and adaptation strategies under future climate change conditions.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province(252300421290)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41771438)+1 种基金the Program for Innovative Research Team(in Science and Technology)of Henan University(22IRTSTHN010)the Postgraduate Education Reform and Quality Improvement Project of Henan Province(HNYJS2020JD14).
文摘Soil moisture(SM)is a critical variable in terrestrial ecosystems,especially in arid and semi-arid areas where water sources are limited.Despite its importance,understanding the spatiotemporal variations and influencing factors of SM in these areas remains insufficient.This study investigated the spatiotemporal variations and influencing factors of SM in arid and semi-arid areas of China by utilizing the extended triple collation(ETC),Mann-Kendall test,Theil-Sen estimator,ridge regression analysis,and other relevant methods.The following findings were obtained:(1)at the pixel scale,the long-term monthly SM data from the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative(ESA CCI)exhibited the highest correlation coefficient of 0.794 and the lowest root mean square error(RMSE)of 0.014 m^(3)/m^(3);(2)from 2000 to 2022,the study area experienced significant increase in annual average SM,with a rate of 0.408×10^(-3)m^(3)/(m^(3)•a).Moreover,higher altitudes showed a notable upward trend,with SM increasing rates at 0.210×10^(-3)m^(3)/(m^(3)•a)between 1000 and 2000 m,0.530×10^(-3)m^(3)/(m^(3)•a)between 2000 and 4000 m,and 0.760×10^(-3)m^(3)/(m^(3)•a)at altitudes above 4000 m;(3)land surface temperature(LST),root zone soil moisture(RSM)(10-40 cm depth),and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)were identified as the primary factors influencing annual average SM,which accounted for 34.37%,24.16%,and 22.64%relative contributions,respectively;and(4)absolute contribution of LST was more significant in subareas at higher altitudes,with average absolute contributions of 0.800×10^(-3)m^(3)/(m^(3)•a)between 2000 and 4000 m and 0.500×10^(-2) m^(3)/(m^(3)•a)above 4000 m.This study reveals the spatiotemporal variations and main influencing factors of SM in Chinese arid and semi-arid areas,highlighting the more pronounced absolute contribution of LST to SM in high-altitude areas,providing valuable insights for ecological research and water resource management in these areas.
基金supported by the State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering(Grant No.SKLGDUEK2206)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11872340).
文摘Soil desiccation cracking is a common phenomenon on the earth surface.Numerical modeling is an effective approach to study the desiccation cracking mechanism of soil.This work develops a novel 3D moisture diffusion discrete model that is capable of dynamically assessing the effect of cracking on moisture diffusion and allowing moisture to be discontinuous on both sides of the cracks.Then,the parametric analysis of the moisture exchange coefficient in the 3D moisture diffusion discrete model is carried out for moisture diffusion in continuous media,and the selection criterion of the moisture exchange coefficient for the unbroken cohesive element is given.Subsequently,an example of moisture migration in a medium with one crack is provided to illustrate the crack hindering effect on moisture migration.Finally,combining the 3D moisture diffusion discrete model with the finite-discrete element method(FDEM),the moisture diffusion-fracture coupling model is built to study the desiccation cracking in a strip soil and the crack pattern of a rectangular soil.The evolution of crack area and volume with moisture content is quantitatively analyzed.The modeling number and average width of cracks in the strip soil show a good consistency with the experimental results,and the crack pattern of the rectangular soil matches well with the existing numerical results,validating the coupled moisture diffusion-fracture model.Additionally,the parametric study of soil desiccation cracking is performed.The developed model offers a powerful tool for exploring soil desiccation cracking.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42361002)the Fund of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region(Grant No.2022AAC03665).
文摘Tafoni are globally developed on cliffy slopes,and many of them are favorable places for the preservation of stone historical relics.However,the characteristics and formation processes of tafoni in the Loess Plateau are yet to be understood.This paper studied the features of the tafoni on conglomerate slopes in Huoshizhai National Geopark of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and discussed its formation processes by field investigation and morphometry,insitu relative humidity(RH)measurement,salt chemistry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer(XRF)experiments of 24 samples.The bedrock of the tafoni is dominated by reddish fluvial conglomerates of the Lower Cretaceous Heshangpu Formation with abundant chemically unstable components including feldspars,lithic fragments,and calcite cements.The RH values vary from 5%to 100%,but the backwalls of the tafoni have higher RH values than outer surfaces.The more moisture on the backwalls is possibly generated by water influx from the rock interior,resulting in more salt precipitation on the backwalls.As a result,the backwalls have been subject to predominant salt weathering.The dominant salts involved in salt weathering are probably derived from the dissolution of the salt interbeds in the basin,although the chemical dissolution of the unstable components such as feldspars,lithic fragments,and calcite cements might have produced small amounts of salts.The salt types dominantly include nitrates,sulfates,and halite.In the progression of tafoni,the moisture maintenance on the backwalls gives rise to the accretion of salts,which in turn enhance the weathering rates of the backwalls.As a result,the volumes of the tafoni have become enlarged owing to inward growth and coalescence of adjacent smaller ones.
