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Summary Contradictory evidence exists regarding the relevance of Péclet‐like gradients in leaf water isotopes, making it difficult to accurately predict variation in isotope composition. Here, we use H218O vapour labelling to directly test whether leaf water isotopes diffuse back into the xylem to be carried forward to more distal leaf portions. Backward diffusion has been assumed, due to observations of increasing enrichment towards the tip and outer edges of some leaves. Further complicating the selection of leaf water isotope models is the observation that some, but not all, leaves demonstrate a radial Péclet effect in bulk leaf water and that the hydraulic design of leaves may influence the development of isotope gradients in leaves. Carry‐forward of H218O vapour label was detected in the two monocot species assessed (oat and corn), but not in the two dicot species (foxglove and sunflower). Further, bulk leaf water measurements at differing transpiration rates indicated that a bulk leaf water Péclet effect was relevant for foxglove only. We conclude that both leaf hydraulic design and relative velocities of water within transport pathways influence leaf water isotope composition, reconciling seemingly contradictory previous results regarding the relevance of Péclet effects to leaf water isotopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen sulfide regulates essential plant processes, including adaptation responses to stress situations, and the best characterized mechanism of action of sulfide consists of the post-translational modification of persulfidation. In this study, we reveal the first persulfidation proteome described in rice including 3443 different persulfidated proteins that participate in a broad range of biological processes and metabolic pathways. In addition, comparative proteomics revealed specific proteins involved in sulfide signaling during drought responses. Several proteins are involved in the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and energy-related pathways, and ion transmembrane transport and cellular water homeostasis, with the aquaporin family showing the highest differential levels of persulfidation. We revealed that water transport activity is regulated by sulfide which correlates with an increasing level of persulfidation of aquaporins. Our findings emphasize the impact of persulfidation on total ATP levels, fatty acid composition, levels of reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzymatic activities, and relative water content. Interestingly, the role of persulfidation in aquaporin transport activity as an adaptation response in rice differs from current knowledge of Arabidopsis, which highlights the distinct role of sulfide in improving rice tolerance to drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising temperature is a major threat to the normal growth and development of maize, resulting in low yield production and quality. The mechanism of maize in response to heat stress remains uncertain. In this study, a maize mutant Zmhsl-1 (heat sensitive leaves) with wilting and curling leaves under high temperatures was identified from maize Zheng 58 (Z58) mutant lines generated by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis. The Zmhsl-1 plants were more sensitive to increased temperature than Z58 in the field during growth season. The Zmhsl-1 plants had lower plant height, lower yield, and lower content of photosynthetic pigments. A bulked segregant analysis coupled with whole-genome sequencing (BSA-seq) enabled the identification of the corresponding gene, named ZmHSL, which encodes an endo-β-1,4-xylanase from the GH10 family. The loss-of-function of ZmHSL resulted in reduced lignin content in Zmhsl-1 plants, leading to defects in water transport and more severe leaf wilting with the increase in temperature. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes identified between Z58 and Zmhsl-1 plants are mainly related to heat stress-responsive genes and unfolded protein response genes. All these data indicated that ZmHSL plays a key role in lignin synthesis, and its defective mutation causes changes in the cell wall structure and gene expression patterns, which impedes water transport and confers higher sensitivity to high-temperature stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane intrinsic proteins (MIPs), including aquaporins (AQPs) and aquaglyceroporins (GLPs), form an ancient family of transporters for water and small solutes across biological membranes. The evolutionary history and functions of MIPs have been extensively studied in vertebrates and land plants, but their widespread presence across the eukaryotic tree of life suggests both a more complex evolutionary history and a broader set of functions than previously thought. That said, the early evolution of MIPs remains obscure. The presence of one GLP and four AQP clades across both bacteria and archaea suggests that the first eukaryotes could have possessed up to five MIPs. Here, we report on a previously unknown richness in MIP diversity across all major eukaryotic lineages, including unicellular eukaryotes, which make up the bulk of eukaryotic diversity. Three MIP clades have likely deep evolutionary origins, dating back to the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA), and support the presence of a complex MIP repertoire in early eukaryotes. Overall, our findings highlight the growing complexity of the reconstructed LECA genome: the dynamic evolutionary history of MIPs was set in motion when eukaryotes were in their infancy followed by radiative bursts across all main eukaryotic lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the assessment of water resources in agricultural regions is a prominent area of study. These resources are vital for many arid and agricultural areas, including those in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This paper provides a comprehensive review of research trends, analysing scientific production and published articles on water resources in CIS countries from 2000 to 2023. We collected, reviewed, and analysed 163 publications from the Scopus database meeting our selection criteria. The bibliometric analysis revealed publications in English (149) and Russian (15), annual publication counts, document types, top papers, journals, funding sponsors, subject categories, and affiliations by country and institution. We also examined co-authors and keyword cooccurrence to identify knowledge clusters in the literature. The analysis highlighted the need for international research to enhance scientific exchange on this topic. Long-term, continuous research and sustainable development of water resource concepts are essential for future agricultural, water management integration supplemented with parts of water transport. This study may inspire new trends in agricultural development, focusing on irrigation efficiency, water distribution, and climate change within a sustainable circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the reasons for the high efficiency and selectivity of biological catalysts arise from their ability to control the pathways of substrates and products using protein channels, and by modulating the transport in the channels using the interaction with the protein residues and the water/hydrogen-bonding network. This process is clearly demonstrated in Photosystem II (PS II), where its light-driven water oxidation reaction catalyzed by the Mn4CaO5 cluster occurs deep inside the protein complex and thus requires the transport of two water molecules to and four protons from the metal center to the bulk water. Based on the recent advances in structural studies of PS II from X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, in this review we compare the channels that have been proposed to facilitate this mass transport in cyanobacteria, red and green algae, diatoms, and higher plants. The three major channels (O1, O4, and Cl1 channels) are present in all species investigated; however, some differences exist in the reported structures that arise from the different composition and arrangement of membrane extrinsic subunits between the species. Among the three channels, the Cl1 channel, including the proton gate, is the most conserved among all photosynthetic species. We also found at least one branch for the O1 channel in all organisms, extending all the way from Ca/O1 via the 'water wheel' to the lumen. However, the extending path after the water wheel varies between most species. The O4 channel is, like the Cl1 channel, highly conserved among all species while having different orientations at the end of the path near the bulk. The comparison suggests that the previously proposed functionality of the channels in T. vestitus (Ibrahim et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 117:12624-12635, 2020; Hussein et al., Nat Commun 12:6531, 2021) is conserved through the species, i.e. the O1-like channel is used for substrate water intake, and the tighter Cl1 and O4 channels for proton release. The comparison does not eliminate the potential role of O4 channel as a water intake channel. However, the highly ordered hydrogen-bonded water wire connected to the Mn4CaO5 cluster via the O4 may strongly suggest that it functions in proton release, especially during the S0 → S1 transition (Saito et al., Nat Commun 6:8488, 2015; Kern et al., Nature 563:421-425, 2018; Ibrahim et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 117:12624-12635, 2020; Sakashita et al., Phys Chem Chem Phys 22:15831-15841, 2020; Hussein et al., Nat Commun 12:6531, 2021).

Abstract [Objective] This study aims to identify and analyze the members of the tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP) subfamily in apple, and to investigate the expression patterns under drought stress. It provides information for further research on utilization of drought resistance gene resources in apple. [Methods] The MdTIPs in apple genome was identified by bioinformatics methods. The physicochemical properties, gene structures, conserved motifs, cis-regulatory elements, and phylogenetic trees, etc. of the subfamily members were analyzed. The expression patterns of MdTIPs in different organs under drought stress were analyzed by qRT-PCR. [Results] A total of 13 MdTIP genes were identified in the apple genome, and most members were localized at the plasma membrane. Chromosome localization analysis suggested that all members were distributed on 10 chromosomes, with 1-3 members on each chromosome. Besides, the promoter regions of the genes contained response elements for hormonal and adversity stresses. qRTPCR showed that MdTIP members were up-regulated in roots except MdTIP1;1, of which MdTIP1;3 and MdTIP1;4 were up-regulated 5.27 times and 5.69 times, respectively, compared with the control, suggesting that these two genes might be critical in response to drought stress. [Conclusion] Identification of MdTIP subfamily members is provided in this study. 10 MdTIP members are differentially expressed in roots, stems, and leaves, and 12 members are highly expressed in roots.

Exogenous gibberellic acid was applied to regulate fruit growth of grapes to acquire high quality seedless berries. The vascular bundles provide the pathway of water and nutrient transport into the fruit and play an important role in berry growth and sugar accumulation. Therefore, changes in berry size and quality are closely related to the structure and function of the vascular tissue. In this study, 10-year-old “Shine Muscat” grape vines were treated with GA3 in grapevine production. Based on previous research and experimental environmental conditions, four treatments were applied: elongating cluster（5 mg L−1 GA3 on Apr. 28）+ seedless（25 mg L−1 GA3 on May. 24）+ expanding（50 mg L−1 GA3 on Jun. 7） (T1), seedless（25 mg L−1 GA3 on May. 24）+ expanding（50 mg L−1 GA3 on Jun. 7） (T2), expanding（50 mg L−1 GA3 on Jun. 7） (T3) and water (CK). Compared to CK, all fruits treated with GA3 had greater berry size. In addition, GA3 treated grapes had greater vascular bundle areas, including the areas of both phloem and xylem, as well as a greater number of vessels compared to control fruit. During the first rapid growth stage, water transport into the grape was rapid and did not differ among treatments. During veraison, the water transport rate among the four treatments differed, and the rank of speed was T2>T3>CK>T1. Therefore, we found that GA3 treatment can significantly promote the differentiation of vascular tissues and improve water transport capacity and phloem sugar unloading; T2 promoted the development of vascular bundles, enhanced water transport speed and phloem sugar unloading of fruit after veraison, and increased berry size.

Ballast water represents a significant vector for the transfer of aquatic organisms and chemical pollutants. Although various groups of transported microorganisms can have a negative impact on native species of aquatic fauna, the available literature usually focuses on larger organisms. This is important because microorganisms cause changes in the balanced aquatic environment, including a stable trophic pyramid. The objectives of this study were twofold: (i) to determine the seasonal changes in the microbiota of the ballast water of long- and short-range ships entering the southern Baltic port, with a focus on fish pathogenic microorganisms and (ii) to potentially assess the threat to the ichthyofauna caused by the introduction of these microorganisms into the aquatic environment. The analytical results demonstrated notable variability in microbial density across the samples, contingent on the distance traversed by the ships. The samples of ballast water collected in autumn exhibited the highest microbial density compared to those collected in spring and summer. The samples contained yeast (1.00–2.98 log cfu/mL), mold (1.30–3.26 log cfu/mL), and bacteria (2.18–4.61 log cfu/mL), including amylolytic bacteria (0.95–3.53 log cfu/mL), lipolytic bacteria (0.70–2.93 log cfu/mL), and proteolytic bacteria (0.70–2.39 log cfu/mL). The most prevalent were the Pseudomonas bacteria (0.48–4.40 log cfu/mL), including Pseudomonas fluorescens (0.20–2.60 log cfu/mL. The port waters in spring and summer were primarily characterized by the presence of bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus. Additionally, the samples exhibited the presence of Intestinimonas, Oceanobacillus, and Virgibacillus bacteria. The short-range vessel samples were populated primarily by bacteria belonging to the genus Bordetella, accompanied by Oligella, Brackiella, and Basilea oraz Derxia, while the ballast water of long-range ships contained mainly Acholeplasma and Clostridium, accompanied by Bacillus, Peptosteptococcus, Intestinibacter, Terrisporobacter, Anaerobacillis, Anaerofustis, Oxobacter, and Listeria. A phylogenetic analysis of the bacteria recorded in the ballast water revealed the presence of species, including Bordetella and Acholeplasma, which can facilitate the colonization of aquatic organisms by pathogenic entities. The results of this study showed that despite the use of water treatment systems on ships, ballast waters carry microorganisms that can negatively impact new environments, including local fish populations (e.g., P. fluorescens). These observations point to the need for further research on the effectiveness of ballast water management systems used to date to minimize the environmental impact of organisms carried in ships' ballast water to preserve natural resources and environmental sustainability in port waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood is the water conducting tissue of tree stems. Like most angiosperm trees, poplar wood contains water-conducting vessel elements whose functional properties affect water transport and growth rates, as well as susceptibility to embolism and hydraulic failure during water stress and drought. Here we used a unique hybrid poplar pedigree carrying genomically characterized chromosomal insertions and deletions to undertake a systems genomics analysis of vessel traits. We assayed gene expression in wood forming tissues from clonal replicates of genotypes covering dosage quantitative trait loci with insertions and deletions, genotypes with extreme vessel trait phenotypes, and control genotypes. A gene co-expression analysis was used to assign genes to modules, which were then used in integrative analyses to identify modules associated with traits, to identify putative molecular and cellular processes associatedwith eachmodule, and finally to identify candidate genes using multiple criteria including dosage responsiveness. These analyses identified known processes associated with vessel traits including stress response, abscisic acid and cell wall biosynthesis, and in addition identified previously unexplored processes including cell cycle and protein ubiquitination. We discuss our findings relative to component processes contributing to vessel trait variation including signaling, cell cycle, cell expansion, and cell differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf movement is a manifestation of plant response to the changing internal and external environment, aiming to optimize plant growth and development. Leaf movement is usually driven by a specialized motor organ, the pulvinus, and this movement is associated with different changes in volume and expansion on the two sides of the pulvinus. Blue light, auxin, GA, H+-ATPase, K+, Cl−, Ca2+, actin, and aquaporin collectively influence the changes in water flux in the tissue of the extensor and flexor of the pulvinus to establish a turgor pressure difference, thereby controlling leaf movement. However, how these factors regulate the multicellular motility of the pulvinus tissues in a species remains obscure. In addition, model plants such as Medicago truncatula, Mimosa pudica, and Samanea saman have been used to study pulvinus-driven leaf movement, showing a similarity in their pulvinus movement mechanisms. In this review, we summarize past research findings from the three model plants, and using Medicago truncatula as an example, suggest that genes regulating pulvinus movement are also involved in regulating plant growth and development. We also propose a model in which the variation of ion flux and water flux are critical steps to pulvinus movement and highlight questions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-driven seawater desalination has been one of the most promising approaches to alleviate energy pressure, freshwater resource shortage and environmental crisis. Solar interfacial evaporation can be confined the heat into the evaporation surface, in order to avoid the bulk water heating for the energy saving. In this study, the dopamine was used to modify the natural corncobs, in order to reduce the degradation of natural biomass for the high evaporation efficiency in seawater desalination. A solar interfacial evaporator was prepared to integrate the photothermal conversion, water transportation, and thermal insulation. The substrate was selected as the carbon black-cellulose film coating on the modified corncob. The light absorptance of natural corncobs with/without the carbon black-cellulose film were measured using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. The corncobs with carbon black-cellulose film was significantly improved the absorption performance, with an average absorption rate of 94% in the entire solar radiation band. The contact angle of water droplets on the modified corncobs was about 29.9°, which was reduced significantly. The hydrophilicity of the modified corncobs was enhanced for the transfer of water in the corncobs. The water transportation along the corncob was visually displayed using infrared images. Once the bottom of the corncob came into the contact with water, no water transport was observed within the unmodified corncob in 60 min. By contrast, the water was observed at a lower temperature along the dopamine modified corncob, indicating the better performance of water transport than before. The evaporation mass of modified and unmodified corncobs was measured under the same conditions. Both the corncobs were covered with the carbon black-cellulose film. The evaporation rates were 1.38 and 1.25 kg/(m²·h) in the modified and unmodified corncob evaporator respectively. There was the increase by about 10.4% in the modified corncob, compared with unmodified ones. Another indicator was the stability of evaporators in seawater environment under cyclic operation for a long time, in order to evaluate the performance of evaporators. There was no salt crystallization on the surface after continuous irradiation of the modified corncob evaporator with a light intensity of 1 kW/m² for 8 hours. 30 cycle experiments were conducted on the modified corncob evaporator. The evaporation rate was 1.374 kg/(m²·h) in the first test, and the second after 30 cycles, the evaporation rate was 1.36 kg/(m²·h). The fluctuation of evaporation rate was with 1% over the 30 cycle experiments, indicating the stable evaporation rate. Moreover, the adhesion of dopamine was remained intact without salt deposition in the multiple cyclic experiments. There was no softening or material degradation in the modified corncob under seawater environments, indicating the long-term stability. Seawater distillation experiments was conducted in outdoor environments, in order to analyze the water production and ion removal of corncob evaporators. The daily water production reached 10.171 kg/m². The various ions in seawater and condensate were measured using the Varian 720-ES inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The concentrations of the main ions Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ in condensate significantly decreased by about four orders of magnitude, reaching the limits of the drinking standards released by the World Health Organization (WHO). The evaporating seawater through corncobs can obtain the fresh water to fully meet drinking standards. The modified corncob evaporator was simple preparation, cost-effective and stable evaporation performance. The finding can provide an effective way to expand the application of biomass materials in the field of seawater desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Metal–organic framework (MOF) membranes with rich functionality and a tunable pore system are promising for molecular separation. However, an inadequate pore microenvironment and low water stability may hamper the extension of their use in gas separation to liquid separation (e.g., organic solvent dehydration). In this study, we report a high‐valence Zr‐MOF membrane with high stability and tunable pore microenvironment, prepared using a mixed‐ligand strategy based on fumarate (fum) and 2‐methylfumarate (mes) ligands for the pervaporation dehydration of alcohols. The introduction of a methyl group in the ligand side chain narrowed the aperture size while balancing the hydrophilicity, thus facilitating the fast and selective permeation of water over alcohol molecules. The resulting mes/fum‐Zr‐MOF membrane with a mes content of 30% displayed excellent butanol/water separation performance with total flux of 5226 g−1·m−2·h−1, separation factor of 1281, and water content of 99.3% in the permeate, transcending the upper‐bound of state‐of‐the‐art MOF and polymer membranes, thereby exhibiting immense potential for alcohols dehydration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present studies shed light on the continuum breakdown of water confined in nanotubes of different materials and diameters. The structure and hydrodynamics of water confined in nanotubes of carbon (CNT), boron nitride (BNNT), silicon carbide (SiC), and silicon nitride (SiNT) of different chirality indices were analyzed to examine the potential nanomembrane material for water purification. According to our findings of the contact angle with water, BNNTs are more hydrophobic than CNTs, and silica nanotubes are hydrophilic. The higher permeability of water was observed through CNTs and BNNTs in comparison to silica nanotubes. Nearly flat velocity profiles indicated continuum breakdown at the nanoscale. Also, the trend for viscosity and diffusion coefficient did not follow the Stokes–Einstein relation, indicating continuum breakdown. The results demonstrated the connectivity of microscopic diffusion with the macroscopic permeation flux, which might be important information for the theoretical investigation of the suitable operational regime in reverse osmosis. Essentially, the continuum breakdown due to freezing of water was seen to be diminished with an increase in temperature. The results showed characteristic changes in the density profile, diffusion coefficient, velocity autocorrelation functions, density of state functions, and thermodynamic entropic components (evaluated using the two-phase thermodynamic method) of permeating water molecules. Importantly, our results reflect that the continuum breakdown observed for water confined in smaller nanotubes is true only at temperatures below 400 K due to the ice-like dense structure of water molecules. Once the entering water molecules can gain energy to compensate for the loss of H bonds, the conventional fluid dynamics relations can be well applied to estimate the hydrodynamics of confined water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trait-based approaches are increasingly used to understand crop yield improvement, although they have not been widely applied to anatomical traits. Little is known about the relationships between root and leaf anatomy and yield in wheat. We selected 20 genotypes that have been widely planted in Luoyang, in the major wheat-producing area of China, to explore these relationships. A field study was performed to measure the yields and yield components of the genotypes. Root and leaf samples were collected at anthesis to measure the anatomical traits relevant to carbon allocation and water transport. Yield was negatively correlated with cross-sectional root cortex area, indicating that reduced root cortical tissue and therefore reduced carbon investment have contributed to yield improvement in this region. Yield was positively correlated with root xylem area, suggesting that a higher water transport capacity has also contributed to increased yields in this study. The area of the leaf veins did not significantly correlate with yield, showing that the high-yield genotypes did not have larger veins, but they may have had a conservative water use strategy, with tight regulation of water loss from the leaves. This study demonstrates that breeding for higher yields in this region has changed wheat's anatomical traits, reducing the roots' cortical tissue and increasing the roots' xylem investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although cemented soil as a subgrade fill material can meet certain performance requirements, it is susceptible to capillary erosion caused by groundwater. In order to eliminate the hazards caused by capillary water rise and to summarize the relevant laws of water transport properties, graphene oxide (GO) was used to improve cemented soil. This paper conducted capillary water absorption tests, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests, softening coefficient tests, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests on cemented soil using various contents of GO. The results showed that the capillary water absorption capacity and capillary water absorption rate exhibited a decreasing and then increasing trend with increasing GO content, while the UCS demonstrated an increasing and then decreasing trend. The improvement effect is most obvious when the content is 0.09%. At this content, the capillary absorption and capillary water absorption rate were reduced by 25.8% and 33.9%, respectively, and the UCS at 7d, 14d, and 28d was increased by 70.32%, 57.94%, and 61.97%, respectively. SEM testing results demonstrated that GO reduces the apparent void ratio of cemented soil by stimulating cement hydration and promoting ion exchange, thereby optimizing the microstructure and improving water resistance and mechanical properties. This research serves as a foundation for further investigating water migration and the appropriate treatment of GO-modified cemented soil subgrade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape berries often crack near the proximal end, which may be related to water absorption and their cellular anatomical structure. To study the relationship between water absorption, cell anatomical structures, and berry cracking near the proximal end, 49 varieties were selected. Eighteen were prone to cracking near the proximal end, while 31 were resistant. An in vitro soaking experiment on ripe berries measured the difference in berry-cracking degrees among different varieties. In vitro staining was used to trace water absorption and paraffin sections were prepared to observe and analyze the structural parameters of different tissues. Results showed that the cracking rate and water uptake of the crack-prone berries were significantly higher than those of the crack-resistant berries. Fruit prone to cracking was characterized by a thinner cuticle, epidermis, and sub-epidermis. After staining, it was found that dye absorption was limited to the berry near the proximal end. Other cell size parameters may also lead to cracking near the proximal end. By tracing water transport and analyzing differences in cell structure characteristics among varieties, we speculated that the vascular bundle xylem water transport repression and differences in cell anatomical structures may have led to berry cracking near the proximal end. The reasons for berry cracking near the proximal end were preliminarily explained, providing theoretical support for further screening of crack-resistant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water processes secure plant survival and maintain their ecosystem function. Salinity affects water processes, but the mechanisms remain unclear and may depend on the degree of salinity stress. To improve the understanding of the cooperation of plant organs involved in water processes under salinity stress, we determined hydraulic, gas exchange, and physiological and biochemical parameters in Populus euphratica Oliv. under different salinity stresses. The results suggested that P. euphratica enhanced water transport efficiency in a salinity-stress environment, and the strengthening effect of roots in the water transfer process was greater than that of the aboveground parts. P. euphratica also increased water use efficiency and water transport efficiency in mild and moderate salinity stress (less than 200 mmol/L NaCl) but was adversely affected by heavy salinity stress (more than 300 mmol/L NaCl). Furthermore, P. euphratica increased its water storage by regulating antioxidant enzyme scavenging capacity and osmoregulation, which resulted in coordinated greater water utilization and enhanced water transport among plant organs and indicated that the adverse effects on water processes triggered by salinity stress depended on the extent of salt stress. P. euphratica lessened stress-induced damage and maintained plant productivity by coordination and cooperation of water processes under certain levels of salinity. Research on the coordination and cooperation involving water processes in riparian forests in saline areas provides the scientific basis for riparian plant protection and restoration.

In environments with high humidity or water exposure, the performance of polyurethane materials could be adversely affected by water and its penetration, which could compromise their long-term utility. The influence of water on polyurethane materials is affected by water transport and various factors. This article summarizes the factors affecting the water absorption of polyurethane, introduces research methods for water transport in polyurethane, analyzes the pathways of water transport, and reviews the influence of water on the mechanical properties of polyurethane and its composite materials. The ultimate goal of this paper is to furnish a comprehensive theoretical foundation and a valuable reference for the research and practical application of polyurethane materials in water environments.

Objectives of the study. Digital transformation is a strategic imperative for economic entities in the Russian Federation seeking to succeed in a rapidly changing business landscape. The relevance of the presented study is due to its high significance “in order to solve the task of ensuring the accelerated implementation of digital technologies in the economy and social sphere”. The components of water transport of the Russian Federation in the shipping system of the country are considered. The structural and logical scheme of organizational, economic and managerial relations of economic entities of water transport in the shipping system of the Russian Federation is considered. The structure of the definition of economic entities as legal entity in accordance with the Civil Code of the Russian Federation is studied. The organizational and legal forms of economic entities in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (USRLE) in accordance with the Civil Code of the Russian Federation are considered. An assessment of water transport organizations is carried out. The use of artificial intelligence technologies by industry is considered. An algorithm for digitalization of economic entities of water transport is developed. A diagram of a basic set of technologies for the digital transformation of economic entity of water transport is constructed. An algorithm for mitigating the risks faced by economic entities of water transport when implementing innovative technologies is proposed. Materials and methods. The article uses methods of systematization, economic analysis and generalization. The assessment of water transport organizations is carried out on the basis of statistical data presented on the website of the Federal State Statistics Service, in the statistical collections “Transport in Russia” and “Russian Statistical Yearbook”. Results. The highest level of water transport activity was recorded in 2021. The economic condition of water transport organizations is the best during the analyzed period. At the same time, the indicators characterizing the functioning of water transport are among the worst. To improve the level of functioning of water transport, it is necessary to increase, first of all, sea passenger turnover. Conclusions. The scheme of the basic set of technologies for digital transformation of economic entity of water transport includes adaptive production technologies, multi-agent technologies and technologies of human-centricity. The algorithm for leveling the risks faced by economic entities of water transport sector when implementing innovative technologies includes: risk identification; risk analysis and assessment; risk management activities; control of results and continuous monitoring.

Preventing the accumulation of water in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) proves effective in enhancing the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). To understand the water transport phenomena in GDLs and channels of PEFCs, cell hardware for operando synchrotron X-ray radiography was developed with a 100 mm channel length, facilitating the separate quantification of liquid water in the cathode and anode GDLs. The presence of liquid water in the cathode and anode GDLs was confirmed during operation with a supply of dry gas in a counter-flow configuration. Furthermore, the amount of liquid water in the cathode and anode GDLs increased toward the cathode inlet, while the amount of water in the cathode and anode channel regions increased toward each outlet. The liquid water distribution in the GDLs along the channel direction can be attributed to water transport from cathode to anode (back-diffusion), decreasing toward the anode outlet. Therefore, conducting radiography experiments aligned parallel to the GDLs and perpendicular to the channel could provide valuable insights for a more comprehensive understanding of water transport in cells.

This document is an editorial published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science. It discusses the role of electrical signals in leaves and their connection to the health and physiological activities of plants. The editorial highlights the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant electrical activity, the effects of electrical signals on specific physiological processes, and the development of methods for analyzing electrical records. Several studies are mentioned that explore different aspects of electrical signaling in plants, including the participation of ion channels, the effects of stress signals, and the influence of electrical signals on photosynthesis and growth. The editorial emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of this research and its potential to deepen our understanding of plant physiology. [Extracted from the article]

The success of Arctic tourism development is associated with solving the problem of delivering tourists to the places of their interest. “The Concept for the Development of Cruise Tourism”, approved by the government of the Russian Federation in 2022, suggests that overcoming the transport problem in the Arctic is possible thanks to water transport. It can be used in the logistics of Arctic tourism as a way of transporting tourists on routes and for organizing sea and river cruises. We have examined the current use of water transport in the organization of tourist routes in the Russian sector of the Arctic based on information from river and sea cruise operators. In addition, we have identified regions where water transport is used to organise passenger transport. In the European part of the Russian Arctic, water transport is most actively used for river cruises. Arctic river cruises provide tourists with the opportunity to travel in areas where there is no special infrastructure. In this case, river routes usually start southwards in the most populated regions. In the Asian part of the Russian Arctic the number of cruises is smaller, they are carried out only on three rivers — the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena. But there are also regular passages that can be used by tourists travelling to the Arctic. Using content analysis of tourists’ reviews of Arctic river cruises we have identified the main drawbacks of their organization. SWOT analysis of the use of water transport in the logistics of Arctic tourism showed what hinders its development. The main problems of water transport use in the Arctic include the ageing of vessels, passenger safety, short navigation period and shallowing of waterways. The most promising ways for the use of water transport in Arctic tourism are inland waterways in the European part of the Russian Arctic, the White Sea and the Barents Sea.

Salt precipitation on the surface of porous media significantly affects water transport processes. Most studies on salt precipitation mainly focused on single salts, but in nature, salt precipitation usually occurs as mixtures. Consequently, information on the crystallization of salt mixtures and its effect on water transport remains scarce. This study investigated the precipitation of mixtures (the mass ratios of NaCl:Na2SO4 were 3:7, 5:5, and 7:3, respectively) of NaCl (typical efflorescence) and Na2SO4 (typical subflorescence) in the initially saturated sandy soil columns and its effect on evaporation and compared it with the cases of the two salts individually. The results showed that salt mixtures exhibited a mixed pattern of crystals including both efflorescence and subflorescence, and the efflorescence showed granular aggregation, unlike the mono‐salts. The crystallization coverage of the salt mixtures was smaller than that of NaCl mono‐salt; high (7:3) and low (5:5 and 3:7) proportions of NaCl led to larger and smaller crystallization coverage than that of Na2SO4 mono‐salt, respectively. While the salt mixtures had less crystallization coverage than the mono‐salts, they showed lower evaporation because the salt mixtures formed a denser crystallization structure of efflorescence‐subflorescence‐soil layer, this crystallization structure exhibited greater inhibition of water vapour diffusion, thus reducing evaporation. In addition, the crystallization of the salt mixtures with higher NaCl proportion afforded greater resistance of evaporation. The mixed crystallization pattern formed by the salt mixtures significantly enhances the crystallization resistance to evaporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the internalization of negative externalities caused by ship operation in the actual iron ore shipping process, the negative externalities such as environmental impacts, port congestion and traffic accidents caused by ship transportation at sea were considered comprehensively and evaluated quantitatively. By analyzing the sea transportation activities of iron ore, combining the negative externality problem with ship routing, and aiming at minimizing the negative externality cost and maximizing the operating profit, a dual-objective optimization model of iron ore ship routing was established, which was solved and verified by the improved genetic algorithm. Taking the three iron ore routes from Brazil to China via the Cape of Good Hope as an example, the model was solved and verified, and the sensitivity analysis of ship type and fuel price was carried out. The results show that the negative externality cost is not negligible in the operating income of shipping enterprises, and the reasonable ship type capacity ratio will significantly reduce the negative externality cost in the transportation process. With the increase of fuel price, it will lead to a significant increase of negative externality cost. Optimization suggestions can be put forward for shipping-related enterprises, and provide reference for the government􀆳s macro-control of capacity and shipping enterprises to formulate transportation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe performance of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient and stable operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Microstructure of the GDL significantly influences its internal water transport capabilities. In this article, the lattice array method is employed to construct ordered microstructures within GDLs, followed by the utilization of phase field method to numerically simulate water transport among these structures. The effects of lattice edge length, lattice height, and lattice shape on water transport throughout the GDL are investigated. The results reveal that excessively large or small lattice edge lengths detrimentally affect effective water transport within the GDL. Additionally, a smaller lattice height can accelerate the breakthrough of liquid water through the GDL. Notably, when the lattice height is smaller than the lattice edge length, it enhances the mass transfer. Moreover, the triangular lattice impedes the water flow, while the rectangular structure diminishes the transmission efficiency of liquid water. In contrast, hexagonal and octagonal structures exhibit the ability to alleviate the transport resistance of liquid water, with the octagonal lattice demonstrating superior mass transfer effectiveness. These findings underscore the paramount importance of meticulous structural design in further augmenting the mass transfer performance of ordered GDLs. The research provides meaningful guidance for the design of GDL structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydromorph Biocomposites (HBCs) are self‐shaping materials whose motions are actuated by moisture‐induced swelling of natural fibers and designed through a multilayered bioinspired material architecture. Their reactivity, i.e., kinetic of actuation, is relatively slow and is currently limited by the moisture transport. Porosities are commonly assumed to be a defect in composite materials that results in reduced mechanical performance. However, in biological structures porosities within the tissue architecture provide essential functions (lightness, moisture transport, and actuation). Inspired by biological mesostructures, a 3D‐printing process is applied to precisely define the architecture of an HBC that incorporates functional porosities, i.e., channels. The purpose is to improve the moisture‐induced actuation reactivity without compromising any other functional performance. First, 3D‐printed wood fiber‐reinforced biocomposites are designed with various channel content (from 0% to 10%), size (from 0.5 to 3.0 mm), and distribution patterns across the samples. Immersed in water, these novel HBCs with tailored channel structures fasten the water transport by triggering capillary transport. The presented results demonstrate that implementing functional channels in the mesostructure of 4D‐printed HBC bilayers makes it possible to achieve an eight‐fold improvement in the speed of shape‐change transformation while enabling new capabilities to functionally tune the morphing performance of HBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study reviews the theoretical models, numerical implementation and practical applications of chloride reactive transport in concrete. Thermodynamic modeling is capable of accurately predicting chloride binding behaviors across the entire concentration range. It also considers the impact of the pH variation in the pore solution. Thus, the reactive transport model, integrating thermodynamic calculations into transport equations, can provide a more comprehensive representation of chloride ingress in concrete. Furthermore, we discuss the effects of water transport and external stresses on chloride reactive transport. In addition to the well-known advection phenomenon, water transport has the ability to alter the effective transport pathway and influence chloride binding reactions. These three influences exhibit typical temporal and spatial characteristics. Capturing the temporal and spatial characteristics in chloride reactive transport model can be achieved by continuously updating the saturation degree and chloride diffusion coefficient at each finite element mesh node. The effect of stress on chloride reactive transport can be categorized into two scenarios based on the response of transport pathway to external loads: (1) high stress levels, which result in the formation of cracks in concrete, and (2) low stress levels, where concrete remains crack-free. Quantitating the influence of stress levels on the transport pathway is crucial for simulating chloride reactive transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation on dunes regulates the water supply from the dunes to the inter-dune lowland, which is a crucial factor affecting lake water dynamics in the inter-dune lowland. Previous researchers have paid insufficient attention to the water regulation function of dunes on a landscape- and regional scale. To fill this gap, both remote sensing technology and field observations were used to analyze the variations in the lake area and their influence factors, such as vegetation coverage and precipitation in the lake watershed, on a multi-year scale (2000–2020) and one-year scale (2021), respectively. The results showed that precipitation is the main factor influencing the changes in lake water, and artificial sand vegetation can regulate the changes in lake water. On the multi-year scale, with the coverage of artificial sand-fixing vegetation increasing on sand dunes in the lake watershed, the areas of the lakes were gradually decreasing. On the one-year scale, with dune vegetation coverage increased, the water supply from dunes to lakes showed a decreasing trend. This model can provide a possibility for estimating and predicting the influence of water supply from dunes to lakes that is affected by sand-fixing vegetation. The findings have significant theoretical and practical utility for the rational utilization of water resources in sandy land, as well as for assisting in the selection of an optimized construction mode for desert control projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water management is a key factor in the operation of hydrogen fuel cells since its formation may lead to significant mass transport losses, oxygen diffusion limitation and membrane durability issues. In this work, the effect of different operating conditions on the liquid water distribution inside a 50 cm2 active area bio-inspired PEM fuel cell has been studied. Therefore, a set of experiments was designed varying cell pressure, the reactants relative humidity (anode and cathode), temperature, and cell current density. Liquid water distribution for each operating condition was determined using neutron imaging technique as it has been proved to be an excellent technique for this purpose, including quantitative analysis and water profiles in the different areas of the bio-inspired flow field. The results show that high relative humidity of the inlet gas flows, high pressure, low temperatures and low current density favor the accumulation of water in the flow field channels and GDL. Specifically, water accumulates preferentially in the anode side that make contact with the low part of the cathode foams inserted in the flow field, instead of blocking the closest area to the gases outlets points. This is due to permeation from the cathode foams to the anode side. • Neutron imaging study of the water distribution in a 50 cm2 bioinspired PEM cell. • Effect of operating temperature, pressure, current density, and humidity is discussed. • Water accumulates preferentially in the anode side as a consequence of permeation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of cracks in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) can have a significant impact on the flow of two phases within Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs). This study focuses on investigating the transport process of two-phases flow in a GDL sample using both experimental and numerical methods. The porous structure of a hydrophobic carbon paper, serving as the macro-porous substrate (MPS) of the GDL, is examined using synchrotron radiation X-ray phase contrast Computed Tomography (CT). A 3-D model with various crack geometries is then created, and a Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) simulation is employed to analyze the flow behavior within the GDL model. The findings reveal that the water intrusion mode in the MPS primarily depends on its hydrophobic nature, but the width and depth of the cracks also significantly influence both the rate and path of water intrusion. Increasing the crack width from 7 μm to 28 μm results in a 30% increment in water intrusion rate, while the intrusion path remains unchanged. However, when the crack width reaches 42 μm, the crack itself becomes the primary path for water intrusion, doubling the intrusion rate. Furthermore, an increase in crack depth leads to a higher invasion rate of the liquid phase, consequently increasing the liquid storage volume within the GDL. This research provides a novel approach for analyzing cracked GDLs and demonstrates the potential to optimize the water management process of PEMFCs through GDL microstructure design. • A 3D model of gas diffusion layer (GDL) in PEMFC is obtained via Synchrotron X-ray phase contrast CT. • Lattice Boltzmann Method is applied to investigate GDL cracking phenomenon. • The two-phase transport process in the cracked GDL is analyzed. • The effect of the crack geometric features on the GDL performance is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rain‐harvesting behaviour represents an adaptation for water collection that has evolved in some species of iguanian reptiles inhabiting arid environments. To date, such behaviour has been observed only in members of the families Agamidae and Phrynosomatidae. A common set of integumentary features characterizes these rain‐harvesting species, including scale surface microstructures (SSMs), capillary channels and hinge joints. The influence of variations in these features on rain‐harvesting has been a subject of discussion for many decades. Nevertheless, a comprehensive comparative study of similarities and differences between harvesting and non‐harvesting species on a broader scale remains lacking. In this study, we classify scale surface microstructures into three categories: large hexagons (SSM1), smaller nested hexagons (SSM2) and hinge pits (SSM2H). As the first two SSM types are widespread, they do not appear to be directly linked to the adaptation for rain‐harvesting. Conversely, the presence or absence of hinge pits distinguishes harvesters from non‐harvesters. Additionally, channel hierarchy, width and structure determine the effectiveness of the rain‐harvesting architecture. Only Moloch horridus exhibits distinct integumentary features in comparison to other agamids and rain‐harvesting species. Ancestral character state reconstruction suggests that rain‐harvesting behaviour was likely absent in the ancestor of Iguanians, even though overlapping scales and SSM1 were present. Our findings illustrate that rain‐harvesting species have independently converged upon similar structural solutions to address their water acquisition challenges, building upon shared pre‐existing features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Soil water uptake by roots is a key component of plant water homeostasis contributing to plant growth and survival under ever‐changing environmental conditions. The water transport capacity of roots (root hydraulic conductivity; Lpr) is mostly contributed by finely regulated Plasma membrane Intrinsic Protein (PIP) aquaporins. In this study, we used natural variation of Arabidopsis for the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) contributing to Lpr. Using recombinant lines from a biparental cross (Cvi‐0 x Col‐0), we show that the gene encoding class 2 Sucrose‐Non‐Fermenting Protein kinase 2.4 (SnRK2.4) in Col‐0 contributes to >30% of Lpr by enhancing aquaporin‐dependent water transport. At variance with the inactive and possibly unstable Cvi‐0 SnRK2.4 form, the Col‐0 form interacts with and phosphorylates the prototypal PIP2;1 aquaporin at Ser121 and stimulates its water transport activity upon coexpression in Xenopus oocytes and yeast cells. Activation of PIP2;1 by Col‐0 SnRK2.4 in yeast also requires its protein kinase activity and can be counteracted by clade A Protein Phosphatases 2C. SnRK2.4 shows all hallmarks to be part of core abscisic acid (ABA) signaling modules. Yet, long‐term (>3 h) inhibition of Lpr by ABA possibly involves a SnRK2.4‐independent inhibition of PIP2;1. SnRK2.4 also promotes stomatal aperture and ABA‐induced inhibition of primary root growth. The study identifies a key component of Lpr and sheds new light on the functional overlap and specificity of SnRK2.4 with respect to other ABA‐dependent or independent SnRK2s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This dataset gathers the initial formation and the evolution of water content and distribution, as well as water evacuation, within a lung-inspired PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell with a 50 cm2 active area for various operating conditions such as cell pressure, relative humidity of the reactant (anode and cathode), temperature, and cell current density. Neutron imaging was used since it has been shown to be an effective technique for quantitative analysis of water distribution, obtaining the thickness of the water with the Lambert-Beer law, thus obtaining the numerical data that composes the tables and graphs in this dataset. A series of videos compiling the individual images obtained through neutron imaging, showing the water distribution evolution are presented. Numerical and graphical compilation of the amount of water in a cell through time in different regions of the cell and for a total of 10 experiments are provided. This dataset provides a deeper knowledge on the complex phenomena that liquid water is subjected to in fuel cells along time, as well as a basis for an experimental validation for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations.

Wood is the water conducting tissue of tree stems. Like most angiosperm trees, poplar wood contains water-conducting vessel elements whose functional properties affect water transport and growth rates, as well as susceptibility to embolism and hydraulic failure during water stress and drought. Here we used a unique hybrid poplar pedigree carrying genomically characterized chromosomal insertions and deletions to undertake a systems genomics analysis of vessel traits. We assayed gene expression in wood forming tissues from clonal replicates of genotypes covering dosage quantitative trait loci with insertions and deletions, genotypes with extreme vessel trait phenotypes, and control genotypes. A gene co-expression analysis was used to assign genes to modules, which were then used in integrative analyses to identify modules associated with traits, to identify putative molecular and cellular processes associated with each module, and finally to identify candidate genes using multiple criteria including dosage responsiveness. These analyses identified known processes associated with vessel traits including stress response, abscisic acid and cell wall biosynthesis, and in addition identified previously unexplored processes including cell cycle and protein ubiquitination. We discuss our findings relative to component processes contributing to vessel trait variation including signaling, cell cycle, cell expansion, and cell differentiation.

Public transportation plays a critical role in meeting transportation demands, particularly in densely populated areas. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of public health measures, including the need to prevent the spread of the virus through public transport. The spreading of the virus on a passenger ship is studied using the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model and Monte Carlo simulation. A particular focus was the context of Bangladesh, a populous maritime nation in South Asia, where a significant proportion of the population utilizes passenger ships to meet transportation demands. In this regard, a turbulence model is used, which simulates the airflow pattern and determines the contamination zone. Parameters under investigation are voyage duration, number of passengers on board, social distance, the effect of surgical masks, and others. This study shows that the transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection on public transport, such as passenger ships, is not necessarily directly proportional to voyage duration or the number of passengers onboard. This model has the potential to be applied in various other modes of transportation, including public buses and airplanes. Implementing this model may help to monitor and address potential health risks effectively in the public transport networks.

In the context of russia’s full-scale invasion, the agricultural sector remains one of the main sources of budget financing in Ukraine, and therefore requires a more detailed study in this context in the context of war. Thus, the purpose of the study was to assess the current possibilities of financing the Ukrainian budget, with a focus on the role of the agricultural sector in its revenue and expenditure parts. The main research methods used were analysis, forecasting, abstraction, historical, statistical and graphical methods. The study analysed the dynamics of the Ukrainian budget and described the general negative trend observed over time. The study analysed possible areas of raising funds for financing, in particular through bonds, both domestic and foreign, and concluded that such methods are undesirable. The paper also shows that the agricultural sector in Ukraine has become a significant source of replenishment of the country’s budget during the war. The information being in the available sources indicates that the share of revenues received from the agricultural sector in the budget of Ukraine is quite high, and the sector itself is in surplus (revenues exceed expenditures). Given the benefits for the budget from the development of the agricultural sector, it is important to support it with both financial and non-financial methods. The results of the work can be used by government officials in their management activities within the country or regions, as well as by business leaders in building long-term development strategies

The outbreak of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has caused significant human, economic, and political damage, as well as destruction to infrastructure. However, in the future, all losses incurred should be recovered. Therefore, creating models to manage infrastructure projects is still important, especially in the post-war environment of Ukraine. The purpose of this study was to build a model that would allow for the highest management efficiency in the implementation of infrastructure projects in the post-war period and to describe the possibilities of its practical application. The main methods used in the study were analysis, modelling, and abstraction. Thus, the study built a conceptual model of management of infrastructure projects and programmes in the post-war period. The study also analysed the current theoretical framework for infrastructure project management and highlighted the issue of substantiating the parameters of infrastructure programme and project products. Network models, their features and possibilities of use were described to provide a clearer picture of the project’s work and more efficient resource management. The paper emphasised that infrastructure projects are often divided into two phases: construction and operation. The study also described the importance of infrastructure projects for the efficient transport of goods and passengers and their impact on the competitiveness of the transport system. This study offers a more profound insight into the specific features of managing the implementation phases of infrastructure projects, especially in the post-war period, and brings new knowledge for management in the context of building large-scale investment programmes

Abstract Background Blood nerve barrier (BNB) participates in the development of neuropathic pain. AQP1 is involved in peripheral pain perception and is negatively correlated with HIF-1α phenotype, which regulates endothelial permeability. However, the role of HIF-1α-AQP1-mediated BNB dysfunction in Chronic Postsurgical Pain (CPSP) has not been reported. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 5 groups: (i) Naive group; (ii) Sham group; (iii) SMIR group: skin/muscle incision and retraction for one hour. Behavioral tests were performed for the three groups, BNB vascular permeability and western blotting were conducted to determine HIF-1α and AQP1 protein expression. (iv) The SMIR + HIF-1α inhibitor group; (v) SMIR + DMSO group. Rats in the two groups were administered with HIF-1α inhibitor (2ME2) or DMSO intraperitoneally on the third day post-SMIR surgery followed by performance of behavioral tests, BNB permeability assessment, and determination of HIF-1α, AQP1 and NF200 protein levels. Results The permeability of BNB was significantly increased and the expression of AQP1 was downregulated on the 3rd and 7th days post-operation. AQP1 is mainly located in neurons and NF200, CGRP-positive nerve fibers. HIF-1α was highly expressed on the third day post-operation. HIF-1α inhibitor reversed the decrease in AQP1 expression and increase in NF200 expression, barrier permeability and hyperalgesia induced by SMIR on the 3rd day post-surgery. Conclusions Early dysfunction of BNB mediated by HIF-1α/AQP1 activated by SMIR may be an important mechanism to promote acute postoperative painful transformation of CPSP. Preadaptive protection of endothelial cells around nerve substructures may be an important countermeasure to inhibit CPSP transformation. Early impairment of BNB function mediated by HIF-1α/AQP1 activated by SMIR may be an important mechanism for promoting acute postoperative pain transformation of CPSP.

Water transport through water channels, aquaporins (AQPs), is vital for many physiological processes including epithelial fluid secretion, cell migration and adipocyte metabolism. Water flux through AQPs is driven by the osmotic gradient that results from concentration differences of solutes including ions. Here, we developed a novel optogenetic toolkit that combines the light-gated anion channel GtACR1 either with the light-gated K+ channel HcKCR1 or the new Na+ channelrhodopsin HcNCR1 with high Na+ permeability, to manipulate water transport in Xenopus oocytes non-invasively. Water efflux through AQP was achieved by light-activating K+ and Cl- efflux through HcKCR1 and GtACR1. Contrarily, when GtACR1 was co-expressed with HcNCR1, inward movement of Na+ and Cl- was light-triggered, and the resulting osmotic gradient led to water influx through AQP1. In sum, we demonstrate a novel optogenetic strategy to manipulate water movement into or out of Xenopus oocytes non-invasively. This approach provides a new avenue to interfere with water homeostasis as a means to study related biological phenomena across cell types and organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Intervessel pits are considered to function as valves that avoid embolism spreading and optimize efficient transport of xylem sap across neighbouring vessels. Hydraulic transport between vessels would therefore follow a safety‐efficiency trade‐off, which is directly related to the total intervessel pit area (Ap), inversely related to the pit membrane thickness (TPM) and driven by a pressure difference.To test this hypothesis, we modelled the relative transport rate of gas (ka) and water (Q) at the intervessel pit level for 23 angiosperm species and correlated these parameters with the water potential at which 50% of embolism occurs (Ψ50). We also measured ka for 10 species using pneumatic measurements.The pressure difference across adjacent vessels and estimated values of ka and Q were related to Ψ50, following a convex safety‐efficiency trade‐off based on modelled and experimental data. Minor changes in TPM and Ap exponentially affected the pressure difference and flow, respectively.Our results provide clear evidence that a xylem safety‐efficiency trade‐off is not linear, but convex due to flow across intervessel pit membranes, which represent mesoporous media within microporous conduits. Moreover, the convex nature of long‐distance xylem transport may contribute to an adjustable fluid balance of plants, depending on environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]