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To reduce the crushing rate and improve the yield of rice during the milling process, it is significant from a fundamental standpoint to understand the mechanical behaviors of rice under external loads. In this paper, the mechanical properties and fracture morphologies of rice with various moisture contents have been analyzed in detail by experiments and the finite‐element (FE) method. In FE simulations, two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) composite models have been established with the cohesive zone model characterizing the interface strength. The results show that the moisture content determines the endosperm cell wall interface strength, and a linear relationship between the interface strength and moisture content has been obtained. In particular, three fracture patterns of brown rice are observed by the competition between the interface strength of starch granule and endosperm cell wall interface strength. Good agreements between FE predictions and experimental results indicate that the combination of the 2D and 3D composite models with the cohesive zone model can provide accurate predictions of the fracture behaviors of brown rice. This investigation should be of great help for understanding the moisture content‐dependent compression and impact behaviors of rice. Practical applications: Brown rice can be obtained by removing the husk through a hulling machine. During these processes, external loads, such as compression and impact, will damage the microstructure of brown rice, which results in a loss rate as high as 25%. Understanding the mechanical properties of brown rice with different moisture contents will be of great help in designing the equipment used in rice processing operations and extending the yield of polished rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mushrooms are delicious foodstuffs that are rich in nutrients, but they have high moisture contents and are easily spoiled. While mushrooms are usually preserved by drying, the process tends to reduce quality, and it takes a long time and consumes a large amount of energy. To improve the mushroom drying efficiency and quality, pretreatment is often conducted. In this review, a comprehensive summary of commonly used pretreatments for mushroom drying is provided. Moreover, the effects of various pretreatments on the drying rate and quality characteristics of mushrooms are summarized, and their respective advantages and limitations are analyzed. Furthermore, the application and development prospects of various mushroom drying pretreatments are analyzed and discussed. Practical applications: The pretreatment before mushroom drying can shorten drying time, maintain the optimal color and taste of dried mushroom, and reduce nutrient loss. This review summarizes two types of pretreatment methods used in mushroom drying: thermal pretreatment and nonthermal pretreatment. It can provide reference for the application and research of pretreatment in mushroom drying, and also provide new ideas for the optimization of industrial mushroom drying processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vinyl esters are increasingly being used as the matrix polymer in fibre-reinforced composites for demanding large applications which experience long-term exposure to moist and wet conditions. This paper presents the results of a study of ageing due to moisture absorption in vinyl ester polymer and glass fibre–vinyl ester laminates. The moisture uptake kinetics of the two neat VE polymers, cured at different conditions, and their glass-reinforced composites has been characterised by gravimetric methods. These studies have been carried out using submersion in water at 23 °C and 50 °C and exposure to high relative humidity moisture conditions at room temperature. A dynamic mechanical analysis characterisation of the glass transition temperatures of both the aged matrix and the composite is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the liquid transport within cellulose-based materials is crucial for numerous applications, including printing, bio-assays, packaging, and cleaning. To control liquid transport and quality, post-processes such as calendering, a way of compressing and smoothen the paper using hard pressure rollers, and hydrophobisation, are commonly employed. To understand how these processes influence liquid uptake, this study uses an Ultra-Fast Imaging (UFI) NMR method to analyse moisture profiles during liquid uptake in various cellulose-based paper sheets with diverse levels of hydrophobisation and calendering. It is demonstrated that calendering decreases penetration speed and increases swelling. The reduction in penetration speed could be linked to a decrease in permeability upon calendering, as measured by the Gurley air permeance. Additionally, it is observed that hydrophobisation delayed and slowed down liquid uptake in the paper samples, and, in extreme cases, completely altered the liquid uptake phenomena. With substantial hydrophobisation, liquid penetration no longer proceeded with a well-defined liquid front but exhibited huge levels of fingering. Furthermore, is was observed that within highly hydrophobised paper, fibres were first prewetted, initiating a first swelling, before the pores between fibres could be filled. Subsequently, water could enter the pores between, allowing fibre bonds to be broken, leading to a second swelling of the paper sheet. The improved understanding will contribute to better control of the flow within cellulose-based materials, benefiting applications such as printing, packaging and microfluidics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extrusion processing of food powder relies heavily on its moisture content to aid in flow and proper cooking, shaping, and/or puffing. This study focused on the impact of the moisture content on the dynamic flow and shear properties of coarse food powders (corn meal, wheat farina, and granulated sugar). The dynamic flow properties explored were the specific basic flowability energy (SBFE), specific energy, stability index, and flow rate index. The shear properties were the angle of internal friction, unconfined yield strength, major principal stress, wall friction angle, flow factor (FF), and compressibility. Corn meal exhibited an increase in SBFE as the moisture content increased (6.70 mJ/g at 13.13% to 9.14 mJ/g at 19.61%) but no change in FF (4.94 to 5.11); wheat farina also showed an increase in energy requirement as the moisture increased (5.81 mJ/g at 13.73% to 9.47 mJ/g 19.57%) but a marked decrease in FF ratings (18.47 to 6.1); granulated sugar showed a decrease in energy requirements as the moisture increased (51.73 mJ/g at 0.06% moisture content to 13.58 mJ/g at 0.78% moisture content) and a decrease in FF ratings (8.53 to 3.47). Overall, upon the addition of moisture, corn meal became cohesive yet free-flowing; wheat farina became less compressible and more cohesive; and granulated sugar became more cohesive and compressible and less free-flowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum is a plant with broad adaptability, is resistant to drought, and is very suitable in marginal areas. Sorghum plants contain 7% to 17% seed composition and 83% to 93% leaf stems. At harvest, the moisture content of seeds is 20% to 30%, and the stem is around 76% to 88%. Several stages are carried out after the sorghum harvesting process, and one of them is threshing the sorghum seeds. The threshing of sorghum seeds requires a hold-on threshing machine so seeds can be threshed immediately after harvest, and the stems from sorghum plants can be chopped directly for cattle feed. This study aims to design and test the performance of a hold-on type sorghum threshing machine that can be used to thresh sorghum seeds immediately after harvesting at a grain moisture content of around 20% to 30%. The methods used include problem considerations, the preparation of structural designs, functional designs, manufacturing drawing designs, and manufacturing functional and performance testing. The results of testing the performance of the threshing machine revealed that the working capacity of the machine was affected by rod clamp rotation, the threshing cylinder, and the moisture content of sorghum seeds. The cleanliness level of sorghum seeds is above 90%, while the level of seed damage ranges from 0% to 1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin contact with cold objects can induce the perception of wetness, known as the wetness illusion, even in the absence of actual moisture. However, the differences between wetness perceived from moisture and cooled-dry soft materials and how the material parameters affect the wetness illusion from cooled-dry soft materials remain unclear. This study recruited 12 women and 12 men to touch paired moisture and dry fabrics to compare the prescription and intensity of wetness, suggesting that the wetness illusion focused more on roughness and stickiness while the wetness of moisture fabrics sensed more on coldness. Another 12 women touched cooled-dry materials with different temperatures (10°C and 15°C), thicknesses (0.75/0.73 and 1.99/1.96 mm), and dynamic friction coefficients (mean coefficient of friction) (0.17 and 1.88), rating on wetness dissimilarity and intensity of wetness, coldness, softness, and roughness. Data were illustrated in a two-dimensional space by multidimensional scaling, in which dimension 1 represented the haptic perception in wetness, most related to the mean coefficient of friction, and dimension 2 represented the coldness perception in wetness, most related to temperature. Overall, the mean coefficient of friction and the temperature of the material had a strong influence on the wetness illusion, while the thickness had less impact. This study improves the understanding of wetness illusion and sheds light on the reproduction of wetness perception in multisensory augmented virtual reality, such as immersive gaming and virtual dress fitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] Change in soil water content is not only an indicator of water stresses used for irrigation management but also controls biogeochemical processes in soil. In this paper, we study the feasibility of using thermal infrared imaging to estimate soil moisture dynamics. [Method] The experiment was conducted in July-August 2023 in a walnut orchard in Xinjiang. Thermal infrared images of the walnut canopy were measured continuously using a thermal infrared camera. Based on the HSV color space of the images, an improved K-means segmentation algorithm was proposed to analyze the change in canopy temperature. We also measured air temperature and humidity, illuminance, wind speed, atmospheric CO2, and soil water content in the 0-80 cm soil layer, from which we proposed an inversion model to estimate soil water dynamics. [Result] The improved K-means algorithm increased the accuracy from 82.34% to 94.55%, and the errors between the canopy temperature acquired from the images and the measured canopy temperature were in the range of 0 to 1.0. The infrared imaging method was most accurate between 14:00 pm to 16:00 pm. Our results showed that the walnut roots were most active in taking up water from the 40-60 cm soil layer 50-60 cm away horizons from the tree truck. Canopy temperature, air temperature and relative humidity, and atmospheric CO2 concentration were correlated with soil water content at significant levels; they can thus be used to estimate soil water dynamics, with a coefficient of determination of R2=0.86 and p<0.01. [Conclusion] The temperature acquired from the infrared images of the walnut canopy can be used with other metrological data and atmospheric CO2 concentration to estimate soil water dynamics in the root zone of the walnut. It provides a new method for improving soil water management in walnut orchards in Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the coolness of wool worsted fabrics during summer use and expand their applications in short sleeved shirts, summer shorts, and work-wear, wool blended fabrics with good cooling effect and excellent wearing comfort were designed and developed in this paper by screening dyestuff with infrared reflection ability, and combining cool-touch fibers and moisture wicking finishing. Compared to conventional fabrics of the same quality, this fabric can cool down by 2-4 °C under simulated sunlight irradiation conditions, and has excellent contact cooling sensation (Q-max value of 0.28 J/(cm² · s) and wicking effect (wicking height of over 12.5 cm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the correlation between the mesh structure design, fabric pore characteristics and the permeability and moisture permeability of the warp-knitted jacquard shoe upper materials, six shoe material samples with different structures were prepared according to the specific design diagram of the fabric. The pore characteristics of the fabric were described from the surface porosity, volume density and average pore diameter, and the influence on the permeability and moisture permeability of the shoe material was compared and analyzed. The results show that the increase of the proportion of thick tissue in the design will reduce the surface porosity of the fabric and increase the volume density, which will reduce the permeability and moisture permeability of the shoe material. The increase of the proportion of mesh structure will increase the surface porosity and decrease the bulk density of the fabric, thus enhancing its air permeability and moisture permeability. The permeability and moisture permeability of shoes with mesh structure design is significantly better than that without mesh structure design under the same fabric thickness, but the permeability and moisture permeability of shoes with larger average pore size under the same mesh proportion design is better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An average of eight snowfall events occur each year in the eastern Lesotho Highlands. These snowfall events are typically associated with cut-off low (CoLs) systems and mid-latitude cyclones. However, the moisture sources of the snowfall are unclassified and unclear. The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model, an air mass back trajectory model, has been used to evaluate moisture source waters locally in southern Africa and internationally in China and Europe. This study uses HYSPLIT to determine the source moisture of snow in Lesotho. A list of all 82 snowfall events in Lesotho spanning 2017 to 2022 was compiled using the Snow Report SA Instagram page, including the date and location of snowfall. A 72-hour back trajectory for each snowfall event was initiated for both Afriski and the whole of Lesotho. This amounts to models of moisture source trajectories for 28 and 82 snowfall days, respectively. These air mass pathways are classified according to their frequency per snowfall event, per month in the snow season, per year and for the full period. From this, associated moisture source regions and dominant air mass trajectories were identified. This study reports that the air mass trajectories associated with Afriski and Lesotho as a whole are very similar. The most common pathway of air mass trajectories transporting snow-bearing moisture to Lesotho was an inland trajectory from the northern regions of southern Africa. This pathway makes up 16.6% of all trajectories reported and is associated with the Angola Low, the Congo Air Boundary and the St. Helena High Pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia, wheat variety development has traditionally prioritized yield and disease resistance over bread‐making quality. To address this gap, our study evaluated 22 Ethiopian bread wheat varieties across six locations during the 2015/2016 season, utilizing a randomized complete block design with three replications. Various quality traits, including 1000‐kernel weight (TKW), hectoliter weight (HLW), Perten hardness index (HI), single kernel weight (SKW), single kernel diameter (SKD), grain protein content (PC), wet gluten (WG), Zeleny value (ZV), and starch content (SC), were analyzed. Significant effects of varieties, locations, and their interactions on these traits were observed (p < 0.01). Madawalabu, Danda'a, and Mekelle‐4 displayed superior TKW (>40 g), while Menze and Bolo exhibited higher HLW. HI values ranged from 82.8% in Sofumar to 35.5% in Mekelle‐3, indicating diverse grain hardness. Favorable milling traits were observed with SKW values exceeding 30 mg and SKD surpassing 2.5 mm. Genotype and location influenced PC (9.5%–11.0%) and WG content (21.6%–25.2%), meeting bread‐making requirements. ZV ranged from 21.9% to 31%, and SC varied from 64% to 68%, reflecting changes in starch concentration between varieties. Varietal performance varied, with Madawalabu, Menze, and Bolo showing promise. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations among HLW, SKD, SKW, TKW, PC, WG, and ZV, and a negative correlation with SC. These insights provide a foundation for targeted breeding strategies to enhance specific attributes crucial for optimal bread quality, contributing valuable information to wheat breeding programs. Core Ideas: Bread wheat varieties such as Madawalabu, Danda'a, and Mekelle‐4 show diverse quality traits.Genotype and environment interactions significantly impact bread wheat quality traits.Correlations guide strategies for enhanced bread wheat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The moisture content of litter and woody debris is a key determinant of fire potential and fire behaviour. Obtaining reliable estimates of the moisture content of dead fine fuels (i.e. 1-h and 10-h fuels) is therefore a critical requirement for effective fire management. Aims: We evaluated and compared the performance of five simple models for fuel moisture content. The models belong to two separate classes: (1) exponential functions of the vapour pressure deficit; and (2) affine functions of the (weighted) difference between air temperature and relative humidity. Methods: Model performance is assessed using error and correlation statistics, calculated using cross validation, over four empirical datasets. Key results: Overall, the best performing models were the relaxed and generalised models based on the weighted difference between temperature and relative humidity. Conclusions: Simple functions of the difference between air temperature and relative humidity can perform as well as, if not better than exponential functions of vapour pressure deficit. However, it is important to note the limitations of all these models when applied to fuels with moisture contents <10%. Implications: The moisture content of fine dead fuels and woody debris can be reliably estimated using simple models that are amenable to easy application. Five models for the moisture content of fine dead fuels were evaluated using empirical datasets. Simple functions of the difference between air temperature and relative humidity were shown to perform as well as, if not better than exponential models based on vapour pressure deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the corn acreage in New York state is harvested as corn silage and moisture assessment in the field is necessary for predicting harvest timing, but moisture estimation visually is very problematic, particularly for brown‐midrib (BMR) hybrids. Our goal was to assess plant moisture relationships between BMR and conventional (CONV) corn hybrids, and to identify metadata that may assist in the prediction of whole plant moisture based on ear moisture estimations. In 2023, 202 corn fields were sampled in central New York from August 18 to September 27. A total of 41 different corn hybrids were sampled, with relative maturity (RM) ranging from 84 to 112 days, and 29% of the fields sampled were planted to BMR hybrids. Five representative plants per field were evaluated for plant height, ear length and width, and ear, stover, and whole plant moisture. Estimation of dry ear:stover ratio would be helpful in estimating whole plant moisture based on ear moisture. Ear length was not related to ear:stover ratio, while plant height and ear width were weakly but significantly correlated with ear:stover ratio. Ear moisture was highly correlated with ear:stover ratio (BMR, r = −0.95; CONV, r = −0.90), and highly correlated with whole plant moisture (BMR, r = 0.97; CONV, r = 0.98). Ear moisture averaged 1 to 2% units lower throughout the sampling season for BMR compared to CONV hybrids, while stover moisture averaged 1 to 2% units higher for BMR compared to CONV hybrids prior to optimum harvest moisture. Whole plant moisture declined about 0.6%units/day and was relatively similar across RM groups. Plain Language Summary: The primary key to making good corn silage is harvesting at the proper moisture content. It is extremely difficult to visually evaluate standing corn for moisture content. In particular, brown‐midrib hybrids often are diseased and lose their green color but maintain much of their moisture content. It is possible to scan corn ears with a handheld near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectrometer and predict ear moisture, as well as whole plant moisture, from only an ear scan. Although ear moisture is well related to ear:stover ratio and to whole plant moisture, it would be helpful if other data could be used to provide more information on the ear:stover ratio. We collected five corn plants per field from 202 fields in central New York in 2023, and we measured plant height, ear length, ear width, as well as ear, stover and whole plant moisture. Twenty‐nine percent of the plants collected were brown‐midrib hybrids. Ear width and plant height were weakly but significantly correlated with ear:stover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a global perspective, the stable isotope altitude effect is crucial for understanding climate information. However, the intensity of this effect can be influenced by the source of moisture, particularly in inland mountainous regions where the moisture sources are complex. Different combinations of moisture sources might affect the altitude effect. Focusing on the upper Shiyang River in the northern part of the Qilian Mountains in China, this study calculated the proportion of recycled moisture in precipitation and utilized the HYSPLIT model to determine the source of advective moisture. It explored the characteristics and mechanisms by which moisture sources affect the spatiotemporal variations in precipitation isotope effects within the study area. The findings indicated that: (a) The altitude effect follows a seasonal pattern: winter < autumn < spring < summer, with a reverse effect in winter. (b) As the contribution of recycled moisture to precipitation increases, the altitude effect of stable isotopes weakens, primarily due to the disruptive influence of recycled moisture on this effect. (c) The altitude effect of stable isotopes in precipitation is determined by the direction of the moisture source and its attributes. When the primary source of advective moisture runs perpendicular to the mountain range and the moisture migration speed is slow, the altitude effect is pronounced. Thus, although temperature directly causes the altitude effect, water vapor sources significantly influence it in inland mountainous regions. Key Points: The altitude effect has significant seasonal variation, being strong in summer and weakest in winterThe contribution of recirculating water vapor to precipitation is large, weakening the altitude effectThe source of water vapor and the nature of the air masses contribute to the differences in elevation effects [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the hydraulic properties of London Clay when compacted at a range of initial conditions (density and water content) was investigated. The soil–water retention curve (SWRC) is observed to change as the soil is subjected to cycles of wetting and drying. A new method is presented for predicting these changes in the soil–water retention curves (SWRCs) based on the starting conditions for each cycle. The method is based on relationships between the degree of saturation before drying (Sr,i), which includes the effect of void ratio and soil fabric, and key parameters that characterize the shape of SWRCs (air-entry value and slope of the transition zone). The relationship between the Sr,i and the air-entry value (or yield point, YP), and the relationship between the YP and the slope of the transition zone of the SWRC were established for the large experimental data set of two types of London clay of high and very high plasticity. The fitting parameters of a bi-linear SWRC model were estimated and used to constrain the fitting parameters of the van Genuchten model. As the SWRC of compacted clay continuously changes with progressive moisture cycles, this model allows the prediction of this evolution for the modelling of earthworks over the years, when subject to changing climatic conditions, without the need for an extensive experimental program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stacking compacted filtered tailings has become an option to cope with the new Brazilian regulations while providing a safe disposal method for the tailings. It has become feasible due to recent developments in dewatering technologies. Still, the dewatering processes may need to be improved to attain acceptable moisture contents considering the on-field compactable range. Also, the filtered material's moisture content is highly influenced by the weather conditions, especially during the rainy season in the southeast of Brazil. Additives are a possible solution to accelerate moisture reduction. However, scientific studies in the technical literature still need to attest to the effectiveness of these methods to tailings, mainly on a full scale. Accordingly, the present research evaluates the performance of two additives to hasten filtered iron ore tailings drying for dry stacking purposes: commercially available quicklime and superabsorbent polymer. Also, undrained triaxial tests were conducted on specimens retrieved from on-field compacted layers to investigate the additive's influence on the tailings' mechanical behaviour. Initial confining pressures ranging from 100 to 600 kPa were used. The results have shown the inefficacy of the superabsorbent additives in boosting the drying process for on-field conditions and the efficiency of the quicklime in doing so. Furthermore, no substantial changes in the mechanical response were observed due to the insertion of quicklime. This highlights the novelty of the present study in the context of iron ore tailings management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The road construction industry aims to contribute to the protection of already compromised environment. Cold mix asphalt (CMA) is a measure initiated by the road industry to protect the environment and preserve energy. Despite having additional benefits, CMA has attracted little attention due to its inferior performance. CMA's performance is enhanced using a sustainable binder bio-modifier, natural cup lump rubber (CLR) is one of them. This study evaluated the tensile properties, rutting, moisture susceptibility, and adhesion properties of CLR-modified CMA (CMA-CR). The tensile property was enhanced by 26% due to CLR modification. CMA-CR had excellent rutting resistance of less than 2 mm rut depth at 10,000 load cycles, showing 70% improvement compared with conventional CMA. Moisture susceptibility evaluation indicated that CMA-CR had tensile strength ratio (TSR) value of 104%, satisfying the minimum 80% requirement of AASHTO T283. It also retained more than 96% bitumen coating. The moisture damage resistance was improved by 12% and 10% in terms of TSR and stripping, respectively. The durability results revealed that the CMA-CR mixture prevented higher mass loss, representing 14% improvement compared with conventional CMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In order to solve the problem of the high damage rate of corn with a high moisture content in the Huanghuaihai region, according to the mechanical characteristics of corn in the Huanghuaihai region, we designed a flexible threshing device with a threshing rasp bar and variable stiffness spring as the buffer carrier, and the elements of the device were nail teeth and a flexible threshing rasp bar, which could be replaced freely. The experiment was based on the threshing rotor speed, threshing gap, and spring stiffness as the influencing factors, with the grain breakage rate and the unthreshed rate as an indicator of three-factor three-level experiments, and in October in Zibo through bench experiments, to determine the best parameter combinations. When the spring compression stiffness was 20.83 N/mm, the rotor speed was 375 r/min, and the gap of the concave plate was 45 mm, the grain breakage rate of the corn ear was 4.7%, and the unthreshed rate was 0.48%, which is in line with the relevant national standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increased number of forest fires, a detailed examination and knowledge of the effects of the microclimatic conditions of forests is currently significant. The study carried out in Arboretum Borova hora (Slovak Republik), investigates the influence of meteorological factors (air temperature, relative humidity), the value of the Angström index, and the danger class of the Angström index on the moisture content of fine fuel at the edge of a beech forest stand, but also in its interior. We tested three working hypotheses: a) meteorological conditions differ significantly between the edge and the interior of the beech forest, b) the moisture content of fine fuel is higher in the beech forest interior than at the forest edge, c) the Angström index fire danger class is higher at the edge of the beech forest than in its interior. We created a calibration curve that was also used to measure the humidity of beech leaves with the help of the ME 2000 hygrometer. Our results show that edge beech stands are significantly more susceptible to fires, lower air humidity and fine fuel moisture content, and higher air temperatures than forest interiors. From our point of view, the microclimate is considered the main factor that explains the difference between the vegetation structure of the forest edge and the forest interior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A number of recent studies have highlighted how radiative feedback from clouds accelerates tropical cyclone (TC) development by amplifying spatial gradients in radiative heating. This study extends this work by examining how spatial gradients in free tropospheric moisture influence TC development through their impact on environmental radiative heating. We conduct a series of idealized model experiments in which only the longwave radiative heating due to water vapor is modified in the environmental region outside of the TC area. These experiments demonstrate that a vortex in a drier environmental free troposphere experiences faster development. Moreover, weaker vortices actually require a dry environmental free troposphere to develop. The accelerated genesis mainly results from a stronger spatial gradient in moisture‐induced radiative heating, which enhances energy convergence through a stronger transverse circulation. These results highlight a potentially important and overlooked role of dry air in facilitating TC genesis.

The article "September 6, 2024 Intense and Persistent Precipitation in the Central Pyrenees" describes an anomalous meteorological episode in the central Pyrenees that caused heavy rainfall and sudden rises in rivers and ravines. A cyclonic circulation is observed in the NOAA-20 satellite image from NASA, with an isolated cold storm that generated cloudiness and rain in the Iberian Peninsula. The presence of moisture and shear favored intense convective movements, with precipitation records between 100-200 mm and multiple impacts on the road network. [Extracted from the article]

Cellulose insulating paper is widely used in the power industry for its good electrical insulating properties. Moisture sharply increases its conductivity, which directly leads to the weakening of insulation performance and greatly increases the risk of subsequent electric field distortion and insulation breakdown. This paper focuses on the microscopic mechanism of moisture changing the characteristics of charge transport in cellulose insulation and attempts to reveal the related conductivity mechanism. To achieve this purpose, microscopic and macroscopic perspectives are integrated and several simulation and experimental methods are utilized comprehensively. The molecular dynamics simulation results showed that most water molecules in damped cellulose were individually and uniformly adsorbed on the hydroxyl groups by hydrogen bond, and the quantum chemistry computation results showed that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital more appeared on the water molecule and the corresponding density of state increased. Then, experimentally, it was confirmed that the trap energy level decreased by the thermally stimulated current method. On this basis, the promotion effect of moisture on charge transport is predicted and verified by polarization and depolarization current methods. As the moisture content increased, more charge carriers escaped from the trap by hopping and participated in long-range continuous charge motion. Therefore, after dampness, the current of cellulose insulating paper increased exponentially with the increase in electric field strength, which was consistent with the hopping conductivity mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods of watering plants based on timers have been shown to be wasteful when compared to sensor based watering. While sensor based irrigation systems do exist, current implementations are both costly and needlessly complex. Our goal was to design an irrigation sensor system is cheap, easy to implement, and saves more water than traditional watering systems. Our approach was to create a sensor node network that is both reliable and cost effective when installing it. With this approach we were able to create a dependable tree like sensor network that could read moisture data from soil and have it visualized in an Android application. In regards to our Android application, we were able to implement features such as sensor calibration in order to obtain accurate readings. Our tree like network was also able to be consistent in being able to send data packets back and forth with each sensor having a reach of up to 100 meters and being able to have a total of 3125 radio modules in use. In conclusion we were able to create a reliable and cost effective irrigation system that could be used for both farms and home gardens. We were able to meet our initial goals which were to create an user friendly application that could be used to read and visualize data as well creating a sensor network that is low-power and is low cost.  Advisor: Professor Sitao Huang, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science