Search Results (230)

This article analyzes the information provided by the sedimentary sequences of 29 lakes in central Mexico, 10 of which are currently paleolakes. During the Late Quaternary, the lakes of central Mexico experienced environmental changes driven by global and local climatic and geological processes, showing regional trends of wet and dry periods. Paleoenvironmental reconstructions are based on the use of 20 indicators, including diatoms, pollen, geochemistry, mineralogy, granulometry, magnetic susceptibility, and isotopes. Seven major episodes are recognized in the historical evolution of the lakes of central Mexico: i. Late Miocene–Pliocene: A period that includes the formation of large lakes in central Mexico by volcano tectonic activity under a regime of continuous humidity. ii. Pleistocene–Drought and climatic variability of the interglacial period. iii. Drying and successive lacustrine transgression during the Last Glacial Maximum. iv. Spatial climate variability in the Heinrich 1 period. v. Lake regression and expansion of terrestrial vegetation in the Bølling–Allerød period. vi. Transgression of lakes of central Mexico during the Younger Dryas and mid-Holocene periods. vii. Late Holocene: A period that includes lake desiccation influenced by the impact of human activities. The analysis of the data allows us to propose six challenges for the scientific community in future research of central Mexico. Full article

Drying is a critical stage in the postharvest chain, shaping product stability, quality, and economic value. Freshly harvested beans contain high moisture, and inadequate drying can lead to microbial growth, physical deterioration, and loss of key sensory attributes. In recent decades, diverse technologies have been developed to enhance drying efficiency while preserving flavor, improving consistency, and reducing environmental impacts. This review adopts a systematic and comparative approach, synthesizing peer-reviewed literature on conventional practices, advanced solar dryers, mechanical systems, hybrid configurations, and emerging techniques such as microwave, infrared, and desiccant-assisted drying. Emphasis is placed on heat and mass transfer mechanisms, the influence of environmental and operational parameters, and the role of varietal and processing differences. Comparative analyses reveal trade-offs between energy consumption, drying kinetics, and impacts on physical and chemical quality. Sustainability aspects are also examined, including energy use, carbon footprint, water consumption, and scalability for smallholders. Finally, key research gaps are identified, particularly in multiscale modeling, real-time monitoring, and integration with renewable energy and smart control systems. The review highlights pathways for achieving greater consistency, lower environmental burdens, and stronger value chains in producing regions worldwide. Full article

Background/Objectives: The development of dry powder formulations for pulmonary delivery of therapeutic antibodies requires careful stabilization strategies to preserve protein integrity during spray-drying and long-term storage. This study investigates the impact of various sugar-derivatives, a polyol (D-mannitol), a disaccharide (D-sucrose) and a polysaccharide (dextran 10 kDa), used individually or in combination, on the physical stability of bovine polyclonal immunoglobulin G (pAb) in dry powders for inhalation (DPIs). Methods: A design of experiments (DoE) approach was employed to evaluate the effects of these excipients on residual moisture (RM), low-order aggregates (LOA) and high-order aggregates (HOA), immediately after spray-drying (T0) and after 10 months of storage at room temperature in a desiccator (T10). Results: All DPIs exhibited a high amorphous content and a favorable glass transition temperature, with RM decreasing over time. The combination of D-mannitol and dextran 10 kDA (DPI-MD) demonstrated the most effective stabilization, minimizing LOA and HOA formation at T0 and T10. Although the ternary mixture, including D-sucrose (DPI-MSD) exhibited higher process stability, it was less stable over time in comparison to the binary mixture. The aerodynamic performance of these carrier-free DPIs, assessed via laser diffraction (% ˂ 5 µm), were between 51 ± 3 (DPI-MD) and 67 ± 4 (DPI MSD) and a Next Generation Impactor, confirmed that formulation produced aerosol with suitable size distribution and fine particle fractions (FPFn upt to 71 ± 5% for DPI-MSD), for deep pulmonary deposition. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of combining excipients with complementary physical properties to achieve robust protein stabilization. The DPI-MD emerged as the most promising candidate for pAb lung delivery, balancing protein integrity, powder stability, and aerodynamic efficiency. Full article

Early frost during the R6 and R7 maturity stages of soybean (Glycine max L.) usually causes immature (green or semi-green) crops to be harvested. These immature soybean seeds have a shrunken appearance, green tone, and high chlorophyll content in the oil, leading to heavy discounts for farmers at the elevator. Previous lab-scale storage studies have shown that seed color can change under light and warm temperatures; however, light cannot be added to a commercial storage bin. Therefore, this study examined the effect of field drying and storage conditions on immature soybean color and oil quality. Soybean planted in two plots were desiccated at the R6 and R7 maturity stages and then allowed to field dry. The field-dried desiccated soybeans were conditioned to moisture contents (MCs) of 12 and 17% and stored in airtight plastic bags at respective temperatures of 4 °C and 22.5 °C for 24 weeks. Seed color, mold, and oil quality were analyzed at intervals of 0, 4, 8, 16, and 24 weeks. The desiccated R6 seeds’ color “a” value significantly changed during field drying from (−9.75 to +0.19) and (−8.96 to +1.95) for Plot 1 and Plot 2, respectively. This means that the color changed from green to a golden yellow or light greenish-brown color after field drying. The chlorophyll content of the desiccated soybeans after field drying at the two maturity stages for both plots was less than 3 mg kg⁻¹ of oil and was relatively stable throughout storage. During storage, at 17% moisture content and 22.5 °C, mold counts increased significantly for R6, R7, and R8 (frozen) control soybeans between weeks 0 and 4 to 4.36 CFU g⁻¹, 5.93 CFU g⁻¹ and 6.22 CFU g⁻¹, respectively. Peroxide and free fatty acid values were within acceptable limits across all storage temperatures and moisture contents. This study suggests that favorable weather conditions for field drying after an early frost have the potential to improve the color of harvested and stored soybeans, similar to mature soybeans. Full article

Dry rooms used in battery and semiconductor research facilities require ultra-low dew-point environments, which demand significant thermal energy for desiccant rotor regeneration. In steam-regenerated systems, condensate discharged through steam traps partially evaporates due to pressure reduction, generating flash steam that is typically released into the atmosphere, resulting in substantial energy losses. This study investigates the generation and recovery potential of flash steam in dry room HVAC systems. Field measurements were conducted for 18 steam-regenerated desiccant air handling units installed in a medium-scale research facility (total floor area: 43,000 m²) in southern Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Boiler operation data—including feedwater flow rate, pressure, and operating time—were analyzed over a six-month period from March to August 2025. The results showed that the average flash steam generation rate was approximately 1.16 ton/h, corresponding to 8.56% of the average feedwater flow rate. Two recovery methods were evaluated: a steam jet thermocompressor (SJT) and an exhaust vapor condenser (EVC). The analysis revealed that the EVC system provides a more practical solution for medium-scale dry rooms because it does not require high-pressure primary steam. By recovering flash steam using three EVC units, an average heat recovery of 724 kW was achieved. The recovered heat can produce 86 °C hot water, which can be utilized as a driving heat source for an absorption chiller, generating approximately 507 kW of cooling capacity. This configuration partially offsets the cooling load of existing centrifugal chillers, thereby reducing electrical energy consumption. In addition, the proposed system eliminates atmospheric discharge of flash steam, mitigating the visible white plume phenomenon commonly observed in industrial facilities. The results demonstrate the technical feasibility of integrating flash steam recovery with absorption cooling to enhance energy efficiency in medium-scale dry room HVAC systems. Full article

The Aedes aegypti mosquito exhibits a critical behavioral adaptation through its oviposition strategy, laying eggs in dry and wet environments just above the water level, allowing eggs to resist desiccation and hatch only when submerged by rain. To investigate this mechanism, we developed a nonlinear dynamic model incorporating climate-driven parameters affecting egg hatching and adult emergence. Theoretical analysis revealed an imperfect pitchfork bifurcation giving rise to a phenomenon we term basin-mediated hysteresis. Unlike classical hysteresis, which relies on coexisting stable states, this mechanism results from the progressive collapse of the extinction basin boundary. As the control parameter approaches its critical value, the basin of attraction of the trivial equilibrium shrinks. Once the population establishes itself above the threshold, returning the parameter below unity does not restore extinction, leading to an irreversible transition governing population persistence. The model was validated using field data from mosquito traps in a Brazilian city, showing strong agreement with observed seasonal patterns of female captures. Parameters were optimized using the Differential Evolution algorithm, yielding high correlation between model and field data. The results demonstrate that the dual oviposition strategy underlies population persistence and seasonal peaks, providing information for planning interventions amid global arbovirus expansion. Full article

Forest plantations, including those of Norway spruce, are increasingly threatened by drought in Central Europe. One of the measures understating this threat might be the use of drought-mitigative additives at planting. The effects of induced water limitation and the application of hydrogel Agrisorb and commercial ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) inoculum Ectovit on the development of 2 + 1 spruce seedlings were estimated in this study. The root systems of 2 + 0 seedlings were treated with the additives, along with their spring transplantation into peat-filled pots. The seedlings were then exposed throughout the entire growing season either to full watering (FW)—volumetric soil water content 70%, reduced watering (RW)—water content 40%, periodic watering (PW)—substrate rehydrated to 70% after drying to the wilting point (21%), or remained non-watered (NW). Survival, growth and chlorophyll fluorescence of the seedlings decreased proportionally to the increased drought intensity, while the highest root-to-shoot ratio and EMF colonization of roots occurred under PW and RW, respectively. NW seedlings died after 9 weeks of desiccation, whereas the EMF inoculum prolonged the survival time by one week. Ectomycorrhizas were formed predominantly with native EMF in all the treatments; nevertheless, compared with the uninoculated control, the formation of a treatment-specific EMF root morphotype and increased EMF colonization under PW and RW were observed on the inoculated seedlings. Both the EMF inoculum and the hydrogel increased survival under PW by approximately 15% but did not significantly affect growth, regardless of the watering regime. These results are limited to the experimental conditions and suggest a more dominant effects of the watering regimes compared with the additives tested. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a globally important legume crop valued as a major source of plant-based protein and edible oil. Understanding the transcriptional programs underlying tissue-specific development is essential for improving seed quality and agronomic performance. Here, we present an integrative transcriptomic analysis of soybean based on 12 samples representing key seed developmental stages—including globular, heart, cotyledon, embryo, dry seed, mid-mature, and late-mature—and vegetative and reproductive tissues, including leaf, root, stem, flower bud, and seedling at 6 days after imbibition (6 DAI). Following data preprocessing and filtering, 54,880 genes were retained for downstream analysis. Principal component analysis revealed clear separation between seed and non-seed tissues, indicating that tissue identity is the dominant driver of transcriptomic variation. Analysis of the top 100 most variable genes further highlighted distinct expression modules associated with seed maturation and vegetative growth. Differential expression analysis identified 9785 genes exhibiting significant expression differences between seed and non-seed tissues, including 1139 upregulated and 8646 downregulated genes under relaxed statistical thresholds. Functional characterization of seed-upregulated genes revealed enrichment of biological processes related to storage metabolism, embryo development, and stress protection mechanisms associated with desiccation tolerance. In addition, co-expression network and correlation analyses demonstrated strong transcriptional coherence among seed tissues and distinct clustering of vegetative organs. Together, these results provide a comprehensive systems-level overview of transcriptional organization across soybean tissues and identify candidate gene sets relevant to seed biology, functional genomics, and crop improvement. Full article

Mediterranean temporary streams are characterized by high hydrological variability that climate change is expected to intensify, increasing drought frequency and severity. These conditions represent a major threat to freshwater mussels, an imperiled group with limited mobility and strict habitat and host requirements. This study explored key factors shaping freshwater mussel community structure, including the spatial distribution, species composition and abundance of coexisting species, in two temporary streams of the Guadiana river basin (southwestern Iberian Peninsula). Pool systems in both streams were characterized and compared under average dry season and extreme drought conditions using aerial imagery, whereas mussel abundance patterns and host–mussel relationships were assessed in the larger and more hydrologically stable stream. Results showed that drought severity had different effects on pool refugia persistence, longitudinal distribution and host fish availability between streams. The smaller stream experienced extensive pool desiccation during extreme drought, causing widespread mussel mortality, whereas the larger stream retained numerous pools that allowed mussel persistence. Mussel abundance showed no relationship with pool size. However, Unio tumidiformis abundance was positively associated with native fish abundance, particularly in upstream reaches. These results highlight hydrological stability and host availability as key drivers of freshwater mussel persistence in Mediterranean temporary streams. Full article

Background: Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder characterized by tear film instability and ocular surface inflammation. Murine models based on environmental stress are widely used to mimic evaporative DED, although many focus on limited disease features. This study aimed to provide an integrated characterization of ocular surface alterations induced by chronic desiccating stress. Methods: Adult mice were housed in a Controlled-Environmental Chamber (CEC) with low humidity and increased airflow for up to 21 days and sacrificed after 14 or 21 days. Corneal damage was assessed by fluorescein staining. Conjunctival histology was evaluated for epithelial morphology, goblet cell (GC) size, and mucin composition. Complement fractions C3 and C5a were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Expression of inflammatory markers (Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II, DR, HLA-DR; interleukin-1β, IL-1β; tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α) was quantified by Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR) in corneal and conjunctival epithelium. Results: Fluorescein staining revealed progressive corneal epithelial damage over time. Histological analysis demonstrated conjunctival epithelial alterations characterized by a significant reduction in GC size and in neutral mucin-positive GCs, consistent with mucin remodeling of the ocular surface epithelium. Increased epithelial deposition of complement fractions C3 and C5a was observed, while molecular analysis confirmed upregulation of inflammatory markers, including HLA-DR, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Collectively, these findings indicate that the model captures key pathophysiological components of DED. Conclusions: The CEC model reproduces major features of evaporative DED, including epithelial damage, GC remodeling, immune activation, and inflammation. As a non-invasive desiccating stress model, it represents a relevant experimental platform for studying ocular surface inflammation and for preclinical evaluation of therapeutic strategies. Full article

The study of microorganisms inhabiting extreme environments offers a valuable opportunity to explore their potential ecological roles. This study aimed to reveal and compare the microbial taxonomic diversity of largely unexplored permafrost regions located in different climatic zones (dry and wet) in the Chilean Andes, separated by thousands of kilometers. Permafrost active layer samples were collected from the Ojos del Salado (Atacama Desert) and the Torres del Paine (Patagonia) from different sampling depths. Illumina 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing revealed that the Andean permafrost active layer provides diverse habitats for distinct microbial communities, with higher taxonomic diversity of Bacteria than Archaea. The wet Patagonian Andes samples showed higher diversity, with a greater abundance of Chloroflexota and Bacteroidota, while the dry Ojos del Salado samples were dominated by Actinomycetota, indicating desiccation stress. Archaea were classified as ammonia-oxidizing members of the Thermoproteota phylum. Beta-diversity analyses suggested that differences in environmental conditions (mainly available moisture) contributed more to community structure differentiation than geographical distances. Nevertheless, the effect of sampling depth on microbial diversity was insignificant. Full article

In Brassicaceae cross-breeding, asynchronous flowering and geographic separation often cause pollen shortages that severely constrain hybridization. Although pollen cryopreservation offers an effective solution, Brassicaceae pollen is typically short-lived due to its tricellular structure, thin exine, and high desiccation sensitivity, necessitating optimized cryopreservation protocols. In this study, we optimized a pollen cryopreservation protocol for three representatives Brassicaceae species: Brassica rapa L. (Chinese cabbage), Brassica oleracea L. (cabbage), and Barbarea vulgaris R. Br. (European rockcress). An in vitro pollen germination system was optimized to reliably assess pollen viability before and after cryopreservation. Key parameters including pollen collection time, drying duration, freezing procedure, and thawing conditions were systematically evaluated. The optimal protocol comprised: pollen collection at 8:00–10:00, drying at 28 °C and 2% relative humidity for 1 h, precooling at −20 °C for 30 min, storage at −80 °C, and thawing under running tap water (ca. 25 °C). Following 30-day cryopreservation, pollen maintained high germination rates (75.19% for Brassica rapa L., 71.18% for Brassica oleracea L., 80.33% for Barbarea vulgaris) and produced comparable silique development, seed quality, and seed germination rates to those of fresh pollen following pollination. This study established a reliable and efficient cryopreservation system for Brassicaceae pollen that effectively overcomes asynchronous flowering and geographic barriers in hybridization, thereby improving breeding efficiency and facilitating germplasm innovation for Brassicaceae crops. Full article

Climate-driven extremes in temperature and precipitation are increasingly threatening the stability and serviceability of slopes, embankments, levees, transportation corridors, and other earthen infrastructures founded on expansive and problematic soils. Conventional stabilization strategies, which often treat reinforcement and drainage as separate design elements, struggle to cope with cyclic wetting-drying, freeze-thaw, and prolonged rainfall events that drive desiccation cracking, loss of matric suction, elevated pore-water pressures, and progressive strength degradation. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of geosynthetic-reinforced slopes with particular emphasis on geogrid geotextile composite systems and their performance under high-temperature, high-rainfall, and low-temperature environments. We first summarize the fundamentals of geosynthetic types, functions, and material properties, then examine how thermal and hydrological processes such as creep, oxidation, frost heave, infiltration, suction loss, and pore-pressure build-up govern the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) systems. Next, we synthesize recent advances in composite geosynthetics that integrate reinforcement, filtration, separation, and drainage, highlighting laboratory studies, centrifuge modeling, numerical analyses, and field case histories for mechanically stabilized earth walls, pavements, railway embankments, levee systems, and rainfall-induced and expansive soil slopes. Across these applications, geogrid geotextile composites consistently improve hydraulic control, maintain effective stress, and enhance factors of safety under extreme climatic loading. The review concludes by identifying critical research gaps, including coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical characterization, performance-based design approaches, and climate-resilient guidelines for geosynthetic selection and detailing. These findings underscore the potential of composite geosynthetics to enable more sustainable and resilient slope and earthwork infrastructure in a changing climate. Full article

Lightning-induced forest fires represent a dominant natural ignition source in boreal and temperate ecosystems, yet their climatic and biophysical controls remain poorly understood. This study investigates the spatiotemporal patterns and environmental drivers of 646 lightning-induced forest fires across the Da Hinggan Ling region, Northeast China, during 2001–2024. Multi-source datasets from ERA5-Land, MODIS, and ETCCDI were integrated to quantify short-term meteorological variability, vegetation water status, and long-term climatic extremes. Using Random Forest and XGBoost models combined with SHAP interpretability analysis, we identified key predictors and nonlinear responses of burned area to environmental forcing. Results reveal pronounced interannual fluctuations in fire activity, with 2010, 2016, and 2022 emerging as compound extreme years characterized by co-occurring drought and heatwaves. Vegetation moisture index (NDMI), diurnal temperature range (DTR), and heatwave duration (HWDI) were the most influential variables controlling burned area variability. The total burned area and fire duration showed significant declining trends, while high burned-area fires exhibited spatial clustering in dry, low-LAI regions. These findings demonstrate that compound dry–hot conditions coupled with vegetation desiccation are the primary drivers of large lightning fires. The study provides a process-based understanding of climate–fuel–fire linkages and supports improved fire risk forecasting under a warming climate. Full article

Monitoring small water body coverage spatiotemporal evolution in karst areas of complex hydrogeology is pivotal for water resource management and disaster assessment. With recent infrastructure expansion, intensive tunnel excavation has occurred in Chongqing’s Geleshan, a typical karst region with fragile aquifers. It has disrupted hydrogeological systems, triggering ground subsidence, groundwater leakage, and subsequent reservoir desiccation, as well as threatening regional water security and ecology. Thus, monitoring reservoir coverage evolution is critical to clarify dynamics and driving mechanisms. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is ideal for water body mapping, enabling data acquisition independent of illumination and weather. However, traditional SAR-based water extraction methods are hampered by low-scatter noise and poor adaptability to hydrological fluctuations. To address this, a two-stage dual-polarization SAR clustering algorithm (TSDPS-Clus) was developed using 452 time-series Sentinel-1 images (7 February 2017–24 August 2025). Specifically, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test via pixel-wise time-series statistics screened core water areas, built candidate regions, and mitigated noise. Subsequently, dual-polarization and positional features were fused via singular value decomposition (SVD) to generate a high-discrimination low-dimensional feature set, followed by the Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Techniques Algorithm (ISODATA) clustering for high-precision extraction. Results demonstrate that the algorithm suits reservoir storage-desiccation dynamics; dual-polarization complementarity boosts accuracy and clarifies six reservoirs’ spatiotemporal evolution. Notably, post-2023, tunnel excavation-induced land subsidence increased drying frequency and duration, with a 24-month maximum cumulative desiccation period. Full article