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Evaporation of small water droplets on solids is hindered because surface tension pulls the droplet into a spherical cap that has a small perimeter. Our solution is to coat a solid with a very thin, porous layer into which the droplet flows to create a large-area disk with concomitant high rate of evaporation. We investigate evaporation by varying factors that have not been previously considered: pore size and distribution, contact angle, temperature, and relative humidity (RH).A larger pore size resulted in faster evaporation, which we explain through faster transport within the coating. Even faster evaporation occurred for a bilayer structure with small particles on the air side and larger particles on the solid side. The water advancing contact angle had an insignificant effect in the range from < 10° through to 60°.Our results for different pore sizes, temperature, humidity, and contact angle all collapse onto a single curve when appropriately normalized. This validates an equation that can be used for the evaporation from a homogeneous coating that depends only one empirical factor and the droplet volume. Since the volume is often user-controlled, we envisage that this equation can be used to predict evaporation and guide design of fast-drying coatings.

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The residual air saturation plays a crucial role in modeling hydrological processes of groundwater and the migration and distribution of contaminants in subsurface environments. However, the influence of factors such as media properties, displacement history, and hydrodynamic conditions on the residual air saturation is not consistent across different displacement scenarios. We conducted consecutive drainage-imbibition cycles in sand-packed columns under hydraulic conditions resembling natural subsurface environments, to investigate the impact of wetting flow rate, initial fluid state, and number of imbibition rounds (NIR) on residual air saturation. The results indicate that residual air saturation changes throughout the imbibition process, with variations separated into three distinct stages, namely, unstable residual air saturation (Sgr-u), momentary residual air saturation (Sgr-m), and stable residual air saturation (Sgr). The results also suggest that the transition from Sgr-u to Sgr is driven by changes in hydraulic pressure and gradient; the calculated values followed the following trend: Sgr > Sgr-u > Sgr-m. An increase in capillary number, which ranged from 1.46 × 10-7 to 3.07 × 10-6, increased Sgr-u and Sgr-m in some columns. The increase in Sgr ranged from 0.034 to 0.117 across all the experimental columns; this consistent increase can be explained by water film expansion at the primary wetting front along with a strengthening of the hydraulic gradient during water injection. Both the pre-covered water film on the sand grain surface and a pore-to-throat aspect ratio of up to 4.42 were identified as important factors for the increased residual air saturation observed during the imbibition process. Initial air saturation (Sai) positively influenced all three types of residual air saturation, while initial capillary pressure (Pci) exhibited a more pronounced inhibitory effect on residual air saturation, as it can partly characterized the initial connectivity of the air phase generated under different drying flow rates. Under identical wetting flow rate conditions, Sgr was higher during the second imbibition than during the first imbibition due to variations in initial fluid state, involving both fluid distribution and the concentration of dissolved air in the pore water. In contrast, NIR did not have an obvious effect on the three types of residual air saturation. This work aims to provide empirical evidences and offer further insights into the capture of non-wetting phases in groundwater environments, as well as to put forward some potential suggestion for future investigations on the retention and migration of contaminants that involves multiphase interface interactions in subsurface environments.

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Discontinuous hydration and dehydration (HD) cycles refer to controlled imbibition followed by dehydration before seed germination. Here, we investigated whether the level of imbibition before HD cycles affects the physiology of Tabebuia heterophylla seeds and seedlings. Seeds were imbibed for 10 h (T1; phase I of imbibition) or 35 h (T2; phase II), dehydrated, and progressively rehydrated one to four times (HD cycles). Germination and biochemical parameters (membrane integrity; total soluble, reducing, and nonreducing (NRS) sugars; proteins, amino acids, proline, H2O2, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activity) were quantified at the last rehydration step of each cycle. Biometric and biochemical parameters (including pigments) were analysed in seedlings 60 days after germination. HD cycles at T1 led to reduced seed germination and greater plasma membrane damage, higher enzyme activity (catalase and glutathione reductase) and accumulation of NRS, total amino acids, and proline compared to the controls and T2 treatment. Cellular damage became more severe with more HD cycles. HD cycles at T2 synchronized germination regardless of the number of cycles and also had a priming effect. T2 seeds had less NRS, total amino acids, and proline content than T1. HD cycles at T1 produced seedlings with higher carotenoid and total chlorophyll content than controls and T2, while seedlings from HD cycles at T2 had higher amounts of osmoprotectants. HD cycles at T2 benefited seeds and seedlings more than at T1. This suggests that the physiological and biochemical effects of HD cycles in seeds modulate seedling plasticity, depending on water availability, potentially promoting increased tolerance to recurrent droughts that will be intensified with ongoing climate changes.

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For fractured gas reservoirs with strong water drive, gas phase trapping affects the gas recovery significantly. The recovery may be less than 50% for some reservoirs while it is only 12% for Beaver River gas field. The gas phase trapping mechanism has been revealed by the results of depletion experimental test. The residual pressure of the trapped gas is as high as 11.75 MPa with a 12.8 cm imbibition layer resulting in gas recovery deceased 49.5% compared with that without imbibition layer. A mathematical model is built to calculate the imbibition thickness based on capillary pressure and relative permeability of the matrix. The gas phase trapping are analyzed by two representative wells in Weiyuan gas field, the intermittent production reinforces the imbibition thickness and result in gas trapped in the matrix block with high residual pressure for the low performace gas wells, the extremely low gas recovery can be explained more rationally. That lays a foundation of improving the gas recovery for fractured reservoirs.

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Paeonia peregrina Mill. is a protected, herbaceous species native to Southeastern Europe and Turkey. Due to its vulnerability, it has to be protected both in its natural habitats and through cultivation. Peonies are known to have a low potential for natural regeneration due to their seed dormancy, low germination rate, and long germination period. In this study, treatments with gibberellic acid (GA3 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 mg L-1 GA3) and warm (at 20/16 °C day/night regime) and cold stratification (at 4 °C) were used to accelerate dormancy release and increase the germination rate. The seeds of P. peregrina from four natural habitats in Serbia and the Institute's collection were collected and analyzed. They showed an underdeveloped embryo that needs to grow inside the seed before it can germinate. The application of GA3 accelerated each stage of germination (seed coat rapturing, hypocotyl dormancy release, and epicotyl dormancy release) for approximately 10 days compared to the control. It was also found that two-day imbibition with 200 mg L-1 GA3 significantly accelerated and equalized germination. Higher GA3 concentrations had a more pronounced impact on each stage but also resulted in greater seed infection after the seed coat rupture, elongated and weak seedlings, while lower concentrations did not result in obtaining uniform seedlings. There were no significant differences observed between localities. Restoring P. peregrina through seeds and nursery-produced plants is crucial for conserving the genetic diversity of the tested species.

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The compendial USP〈701〉 disintegration test method offers a crucial pass/fail assessment for immediate release tablet disintegration. However, its single end-point approach provides limited insight into underlying mechanisms. This study introduces a novel calorimetric approach, aimed at providing comprehensive process profiles beyond binary outcomes. We developed a novel disintegration reaction calorimeter to monitor the heat release throughout the disintegration process and successfully obtained enthalpy change profiles of placebo tablets with various porosities. The formulation comprised microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), anhydrous lactose, croscarmellose sodium (CCS), and magnesium stearate (MgSt). An abrupt temperature rise was observed after introducing the disintegration medium to tablets, and the relationship between the heat rise time and the tablet's porosity was investigated. The calorimeter's sensitivity was sufficient to discern distinct heat changes among individual tablets, and the analysis revealed a direct correlation between the two. Higher porosity corresponded to shorter heat rise time, indicating faster disintegration rates. Additionally, the analysis identified a concurrent endothermic process alongside the anticipated exothermic phenomenon, potentially associated with the dissolution of anhydrous lactose. Since lactose is the only soluble excipient within the blend composition, the endothermic process can be attributed to the absorption of heat as lactose molecules dissolve in water. The findings from this study underscore the potential of utilising calorimetric methods to quantify the wettability of complex compounds and, ultimately, optimise tablet formulations.

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Biological signaling correlates with the interrelation between ion and nanofluidic transportation pathways. However, artificial embodies with reconfigurable ion-fluid transport interaction aspects remain largely elusive. Herein, we unveiled an intimate interplay between nanopore-driven advancing flow and ion carriage for the spontaneous imbibition of aqueous solutions at the nanoporous thin film level. Ionic factors dominate transport phenomena processing and integration (ions influence fluid motion, which in turn governs the self-regulated ion traveling). We show an ion-induced translation effect that finely converts a chemical input, the nature of ions, into a related fluidic output: modulation of the extent of imbibition. We further find complex imbibition dynamics induced by the ion type and population. We peculiarly pinpoint a stop-and-go effective transport process with a programmable delay time triggered by selective guest-host interactions. The ion-fluid transport interplay is captured by a simple model that considers the counterbalance between the capillary infiltration and solution concentration, owing to water loss at the nanoporous film-air interface. Our results demonstrate that nanopore networks present fresh scenarios for understanding and controlling autonomous macroscopic liquid locomotion and offer a distinctive working principle for smart ion operation.

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Water imbibition is an important process in reservoir rocks during hydraulic fracturing and water-based enhanced oil recovery operations. However, the water imbibition behavior in tight sandstones has not been fully understood due to their complex pore structure, including the presence of nano and micron-sized pores and throats, surface properties, and wide variation in mineralogy. The present study focuses on the effect of spontaneous water imbibition on the porosity evolution of a tight sandstone. Within this context, a core of Torrey Buff sandstone was characterized by using a combination of multiscale imaging methods (X-ray Computed Tomography, Scanning Electron Microscopy), laboratory experiments (porosity-permeability measurements), and analytical techniques (X-ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, and Thermogravimetry). The studied tight sandstone core has a porosity of 12.3 % and permeability of 2.05mD with minerals of quartz (58 %), clays (kaolinite and illite, 23 %), K-feldspar (7 %), dolomite (7 %) and calcite (5 %). Primary and secondary pores, ranging in size from 60 to 140 µm and 30-50 µm, respectively, are mostly filled with highly-soluble carbonate minerals and hydrophilic illite, which influence the spontaneous water imbibition capacity of the tight sandstone. The multiscale imaging technique indicates that after a 10-h long water imbibition experiment, the average pore size of the tight sandstone increased by 1.28 %, reaching 2.35 % at the rock-water contact and 0.13 % at the top of the core. In other words, throughout the core, the porosity changes upon water imbibition are not uniform but show an almost linear trend. This observation could be explained by the significant contribution of highly-soluble carbonates and hydrophilic illite on the microstructure of the tight sandstone. This study implies that multiscale imaging techniques, crucial in examining spontaneous water imbibition, hold promise for further research in enhanced oil recovery or hydraulic fracking in tight sandstones.

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The mechanism underlying the ability of rice to germinate underwater is a largely enigmatic but key research question highly relevant to rice cultivation. Moreover, although rice is known to accumulate salicylic acid (SA), SA biosynthesis is poorly defined, and its role in underwater germination is unknown. It is also unclear whether peroxisomes, organelles essential to oilseed germination and rice SA accumulation, play a role in rice germination. Here, we show that submerged imbibition of rice seeds induces SA accumulation to promote germination in submergence. Two submergence-induced peroxisomal Oryza sativa cinnamate:CoA ligases (OsCNLs) are required for this SA accumulation. SA exerts this germination-promoting function by inducing indole-acetic acid (IAA) catabolism through the IAA-amino acid conjugating enzyme GH3. The metabolic cascade we identified may potentially be adopted in agriculture to improve the underwater germination of submergence-intolerant rice varieties. SA pretreatment is also a promising strategy to improve submerged rice germination in the field.

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Many Astragalus species exhibit seeds with physical dormancy (PY), but little is known about the ecological context of this dormancy. We focused on A. maritimus and A. verrucosus, two threatened Sardinian endemic species inside the subgenus Trimeniaeus Bunge. Fresh seeds collected from the only two respective known populations were used to investigate the effect of mechanical scarification, heat shock, and water imbibition processes on PY release and germination. PY can be overcome through mechanical scarification of the water-impermeable seed coats, while no dormancy break was detected, nor a subsequent increase in seed germination due to fire-induced heat. This suggests that fire does not trigger dormancy release and seed germination in these species. The seeds tolerate relatively high heat shock temperatures (up to 120 and 100 °C for A. verrucosus and A. maritimus, respectively), but after 120 °C for 10 min, the number of dead seeds increases in both species. These facts suggest the capacity to develop a soil seed bank that can persist after fires and delay germination until the occurrence of optimal conditions. As regards water imbibition, both Astragalus species did not show the typical triphasic pattern, as germination started without further water uptake. This study emphasizes the significance of understanding germination processes and dormancy in threatened species. In fire-prone ecosystems, PY dormancy plays a crucial role in soil seed bank persistence, and it may be selectively influenced by post-fire conditions. Understanding such adaptations provides useful insights into conservation strategies.

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Wheat is a staple food crop that provides a significant portion of the world's daily caloric intake, serving as a vital source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber for billions of people. Seed shape studies of wheat typically involve the use of digital image analysis software to quantify various seed shape parameters such as length, width, area, aspect ratio, roundness, and symmetry. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the water-absorbing capacity of seeds from 120 distinct wheat lines, leveraging digital image analysis techniques facilitated by SmartGrain software. Water absorption is a pivotal process in the early stages of seed germination, directly influencing plant growth and crop yield. SmartGrain, a powerful image analysis tool, was employed to extract precise quantitative data from digital images of wheat seeds, enabling the assessment of various seed traits in relation to their water-absorbing capacity. The analysis revealed significant transformations in seed characteristics as they absorbed water, including changes in size, weight, shape, and more. Through statistical analysis and correlation assessments, we identified robust relationships between these seed traits, both before and after water treatment. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) were employed to categorize genotypes with similar trait patterns, providing insights valuable for crop breeding and genetic research. Multiple linear regression analysis further elucidated the influence of specific seed traits, such as weight, width, and distance, on water-absorbing capacity. Our study contributes to a deeper understanding of seed development, imbibition, and the crucial role of water absorption in wheat. These insights have practical implications in agriculture, offering opportunities to optimize breeding programs for improved water absorption in wheat genotypes. The integration of SmartGrain software with advanced statistical methods enhances the reliability and significance of our findings, paving the way for more efficient and resilient wheat crop production. Significant changes in wheat seed shape parameters were observed after imbibition, with notable increases in area, perimeter, length, width, and weight. The length-to-width ratio (LWR) and circularity displayed opposite trends, with higher values before imbibition and lower values after imbibition.

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Shut-in after fracturing is generally adopted for wells in shale oil reservoirs, and imbibition occurring in matrix nanopores has been proven as an effective way to improve recovery. In this research, a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to investigate the effects of wettability and pressure on nanopore imbibition during shut-in for a typical shale reservoir, Jimsar. The results indicate that the microscopic advancement mechanism of the imbibition front is the competitive adsorption between "interfacial water molecules" at the imbibition front and "adsorbed oil molecules" on the pore wall. The essence of spontaneous imbibition involves the adsorption and aggregation of water molecules onto the hydroxyl groups on the pore wall. The flow characteristics of shale oil suggest that the overall push of the injected water to the oil phase is the main reason for the displacement of adsorbed oil molecules. Thus, shale oil, especially the heavy hydrocarbon component in the adsorbed layer, tends to slip on the walls. However, the weak slip ability of heavy components on the wall surface is an important reason that restricts the displacement efficiency of shale oil during spontaneous imbibition. The effectiveness of spontaneous imbibition is strongly dependent on the hydrophilicity of the matrix pore's wall. The better hydrophilicity of the matrix pore wall facilitates higher levels of adsorption and accumulation of water molecules on the pore wall and requires less time for "interfacial water molecules" to compete with adsorbed oil molecules. During the forced imbibition process, the pressure difference acts on both the bulk oil and the boundary adsorption oil, but mainly on the bulk oil, which leads to the occurrence of wetting hysteresis. Meanwhile, shale oil still existing in the pore always maintains a good, stratified adsorption structure. Because of the wetting hysteresis phenomenon, as the pressure difference increases, the imbibition effect gradually increases, but the actual capillary pressure gradually decreases and there is a loss in the imbibition velocity relative to the theoretical value. Simultaneously, the decline in hydrophilicity further weakens the synergistic effect on the imbibition of the pressure difference because of the more pronounced wetting hysteresis. Thus, selecting an appropriate well pressure enables cost savings and maximizes the utilization of the formation's natural power for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

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Introduction: The level of fatty acid unsaturation in seeds is one of the major determinants of cold germination ability, particularly in oilseeds. The presence of cis double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids creates bends that lowers their melting temperatures compared to saturated fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids with low melting points mobilize faster at low temperatures providing seeds with sufficient energy for germination. Methodology: To investigate the effects of fatty acid unsaturation on the ability of cotton seeds to germinate under cold conditions, four recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of cotton with unique fatty acid profiles were evaluated using a set of developmental and biochemical assays at 12°C (critically low temperature), 15°C (cardinal minimum temperature) and 30°C (optimum temperature). Furthermore, whole seed lipidome profiling using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry was done to compare the lipid compositional changes at 12°C and 30°C after imbibing cotton seeds of all the six genotypes for 0 hours, 3 hours and 6 hours. Results and discussion: The RILs with higher unsaturation/saturation ratios registered robust germination performance, lower solute leakage, and optimum water uptake rates under cold stress. Imbibition at 30°C for 8 hours before cold exposure significantly improved the germination of cold sensitive genotypes, indicating that the first few hours of water uptake are critical for cold stress. Whole seed lipidome profiling of all the genotypes specifically associated cold germination ability with higher unsaturation levels of phospholipids during early imbibition. The presence of cis double bonds in phospholipids creates kinks that maintain the fluidity of cell membranes under low temperature. Membrane flexibility under cold conditions is essential for facilitating key germination events including membrane organization and respiration. The current results highlight the importance of fatty acid composition in cold germination ability of upland cotton.

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The Lucas-Washburn equation is commonly used to predict the distance (L) that a liquid travels through paper. This equation establishes that L2 is linear with time and inversely proportional to the viscosity of the liquid. However, there is currently no theoretical equation connecting the viscosity of a solution to its concentration. In this study, the imbibition flow of a sucrose solution was measured along the length of a horizontal strip of filter paper, featuring a printed, thermometer-shaped hydrophobic boundary. A sample (38 µL) was dispensed onto the bulb area, and the solution's flow was visually tracked using a red dye added to the sample. The imbibition length (L) was measured by a vernier caliper at 10.0 min after the sample addition. An empirical equation, based on literature values of the viscosity (η) and concentration (C) of sucrose solutions, was proposed. By integrating this empirical equation with the Lucas-Washburn equation, the following equation was derived: L = a⋅exp{-(bC + cC2)}, where 'a', 'b' and 'c' are parameters. This equation was fitted to the dataset of L and C, covering C values from 0 to 60 % w/w standard sucrose solutions, resulting in a coefficient of determination of 0.9987. The plot of L against C was observed to closely follow a linear line, with a fitting providing a coefficient of determination of 0.9986. The sucrose contents in samples, such as soft drinks, syrups, and sugarcanes, determined using the imbibition length method and conventional refractometry, were in statistical agreement via the paired t-test at the 95 % confidence level. This method is simple, instrument-free, requiring only a small amount of safe red food dye, and can be conducted on-site.

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We present a comprehensive description of the aspect ratio impact on interfacial instability in porous media where a wetting liquid displaces a nonwetting fluid. Building on microfluidic experiments, we evidence imbibition scenarios yielding interfacial instabilities and macroscopic morphologies under different depth confinements, which were controlled by aspect ratio and capillary number. We report a phenomenon whereby a smaller aspect ratio of depth-variable microfluidic porous media and lower capillary number trigger interfacial instability during forced imbibition; otherwise, a larger aspect ratio of uniform-depth microfluidic porous media and higher capillary number will suppress the interfacial instability, which seemingly ignored or contradicts conventional expectations with compact and faceted growth during imbibition. Pore-scale theoretical analytical models, numerical simulations, as well as microfluidic experiments were combined for characteristics of microscopic interfacial dynamics and macroscopic displacement results as a function of aspect ratio, depth variation, and capillary number. Our results present a complete dynamic view of the imbibition process over a full range of regimes from interfacial stabilization to destabilization. We predict the mode of imbibition in porous media based on pore-scale interfacial behavior, which fits well with microfluidic experiments. The study provides insights into the role of aspect ratio in controlling interfacial instabilities in microfluidic porous media. The finding provides design or prediction principles for engineered porous media, such as microfluidic devices, membranes, fabric, exchange columns, and even soil and rocks concerning their desired immiscible imbibition behavior.

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RESUMEN El sotol (Dasylirion cedrosanum Trel.), especie endémica del noreste de México, presenta interés económico y social por su aprovechamiento comercial. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue caracterizar la germinación, crecimiento vegetativo y morfología floral de D. cedrosanum del matorral rosetófilo de Coahuila. Se sometieron 3 lotes de 100 semillas a un proceso de imbibición y se registró el porcentaje de germinación. La caracterización de la germinación se realizó a las plántulas cultivadas en laboratorio, mientras que la morfología vegetativa se determinó en plantas adultas tomadas de un jardín botánico, con fecha de siembra conocida y a las cuales no se les dio un manejo de cultivo. La descripción de la morfología floral se realizó en plantas silvestres del cañón de San Lorenzo, Saltillo, Coahuila, México. La primera fase de la imbibición duró 48 h e incrementó 52 % el peso; la segunda o de latencia duró 48 h alcanzando un 55 %; y la tercera concluyó a las 120 h con un incremento total del 60 % de peso. Las semillas emitieron el hipocótilo a partir del quinto día. En el décimo día se obtuvo 98 % de germinación. Entre las características morfológicas distintivas de la especie, las inflorescencias, conocidas como "escapos florales", registraron una altura promedio de 3.39 m. Las flores fueron actinomorfas y unisexuales. La flor estaminada presentó perianto sin diferenciación de tépalos y sépalos. Las flores pistiladas mostraron pedicelos y receptáculo corto. El polen fue elíptico, de abertura monosulcada, con dimensión de 15 μm x 30 μm. Los frutos fueron secos e indehiscentes, conocidos como samara. Las semillas fueron turbinadas de contorno trigonal. El análisis de las características de germinación y morfología vegetativa y floral del sotol permitieron comprender las adaptaciones que esta planta ha desarrollado para crecer en los ambientes semiáridos del país.

ABSTRACT Sotol (Dasylirion cedrosanum Trel.), endemic species of northeastern Mexico, has attracted economic and social interest due to its commercial potencial. The objective of this work was to characterize the germination, vegetative growth and floral morphology of D. cedrosanum from the rosetophyllous scrub of Coahuila. Three batches of 100 seeds were submitted to an imbibition process and the germination percentage was recorded. The characterization of the germination was carried out on the seedlings grown in the laboratory, while the vegetative morphology was determined in adult plants taken from a botanical garden, with a known planting date and which were not given a crop management. The description of the floral morphology was carried out on wild plants from the San Lorenzo canyon, near the municipality of Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. The imbibition showed the first phase of absorption within 48 h, with an increase of 52 % in weight. The third phase began at 96 h with an increase of 55 % in weight. The seeds emitted the hypocotyl from the fifth day. On the tenth day 98 % germination was obtained. Among the distinctive morphological characteristics of the species, the inflorescences, known as "floral scapes", recorded an average height of 3.39 m. The flowers were actinomorphic and unisexual. The staminate flower presented perianth without differentiation of tepals and sepals, while the pistillate flowers showed pedicels and a short receptacle. The pollen was elliptical, with a monosulcate opening, with a dimension of 15 μm x 30 μm. The fruits were dry and indehiscent, known as samara. The seeds were turbinated with a trigonal contour. The germination and characteristics of the sotol corresponded to adaptations that allow it to grow in the semi-arid environment of this region of the country.

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This work focuses on the development of a novel high-temperature microemulsion for enhanced oil recovery in tight oil reservoirs. Microemulsions are a type of mixture that has properties of both liquids and solids; they have shown significant potential for improving oil recovery through spontaneous imbibition. Herein, a high-temperature-tolerant lower-phase microemulsion using a microemulsion dilution method was developed. The properties and morphological characteristics of the microemulsion were evaluated and proposed a mechanism for enhanced spontaneous imbibition oil recovery using imbibition tests and CT scanning technology. The results of the study showed that the optimum concentration of the microemulsion was 0.2 wt% and that it had good thermal stability, small droplet size, lower interfacial tension, good wettability alteration ability, and minimum adsorption loss. The imbibition and CT experiments demonstrated that the reduction in oil/solid adhesion was due to the synergistic effect of IFT reduction and wettability alteration and the ability to increase the imbibition distance through a larger self-driving force. The study concludes that the solubilization coefficient and self-driving force were defined and calculated to quantitatively analyze the imbibition mechanisms and the results showed that the reduction in oil/solid adhesion was due to the synergistic effect of IFT reduction and wettability alteration and the ability to increase the imbibition distance through a larger self-driving force.

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In Canada, the length of the frost-free season necessitates planting crops as early as possible to ensure that the plants have enough time to reach full maturity before they are harvested. Early planting carries inherent risks of cold water imbibition (specifically less than 4°C) affecting seed germination. A marker dataset developed for a previously identified Canadian soybean GWAS panel was leveraged to investigate the effect of cold water imbibition on germination. Seed from a panel of 137 soybean elite cultivars, grown in the field at Ottawa, ON, over three years, were placed on filter paper in petri dishes and allowed to imbibe water for 16 hours at either 4°C or 20°C prior to being transferred to a constant 20°C. Observations on seed germination, defined as the presence of a 1 cm radicle, were done from day two to seven. A three-parameter exponential rise to a maximum equation (3PERM) was fitted to estimate germination, time to the one-half maximum germination, and germination uniformity for each cultivar. Genotype-by-sequencing was used to identify SNPs in 137 soybean lines, and using genome-wide association studies (GWAS - rMVP R package, with GLM, MLM, and FarmCPU as methods), haplotype block analysis, and assumed linkage blocks of ±100 kbp, a threshold for significance was established using the qvalue package in R, and five significant SNPs were identified on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 6, and 13 for maximum germination after cold water imbibition. Percent of phenotypic variance explained (PVE) and allele substitution effect (ASE) eliminated two of the five candidate SNPs, leaving three QTL regions on chromosomes 3, 6, and 13 (Chr3-3419152, Chr6-5098454, and Chr13-29649544). Based on the gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, 14 candidate genes whose function is predicted to include germination and cold tolerance related pathways were identified as candidate genes. The identified QTLs can be used to select future soybean cultivars tolerant to cold water imbibition and mitigate risks associated with early soybean planting.

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The present data profile a large scale transcriptome changes associated with variations in seed dormancy level induced by seed development temperature in hexaploid wheat. Seed dormancy is an important trait that inhibits seed germination under optimal conditions and therefore has important implication in preventing the incidence of preharvest sprouting, which refers to the germination of seeds on the mother plant prior to harvest, in wheat. Since preharvest sprouting, which causes a significant reduction in seed yield and quality in wheat, is closely associated with low level of seed dormancy manifested in modern wheat cultivars, it is important to develop wheat cultivars with optimal level of dormancy to enhance wheat yield and quality. Thus, elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that regulate seed dormancy is critical for the development of preharvest sprouting resistant wheat cultivars. The data we are presenting here were generated from total RNA samples extracted from imbibed seeds of a dormant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotype that were developed at different temperatures using the Affymetrix GeneChip Wheat Genome Array. The raw and normalized formats of these data are deposited in the NCBI's gene expression data repository, Gene Expression Ominbus (GEO) with accession number GSE153527.

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Electromagnetic heating is a promising soil remediation method especially in thin formations. The lack of a wide-spread adoption of this method stems from insufficient knowledge of how the complex dielectric properties, that govern propagation of the electromagnetic waves through porous media, change with changing frequency, water saturation, displacement types and flow regimes. To breach these gaps several sets of spontaneous deionized (DI) water imbibition experiments, followed by the primary drainage floods, that were followed by the secondary DI water imbibition floods in confined uniform sand packs were performed. The frequency domain relative dielectric constant and conductivities were extracted from the two-port complex S-parameter measurements taken with the vector network analyzer during these immiscible displacements at various water saturation levels at ambient conditions. A novel coaxial transmission line core holder was designed and commissioned, and a modified version of a plane-invariant dielectric extraction algorithm was developed for this purpose. Series, parallel and semi-disperse mixing models were applied to fit the water saturation dependent relative dielectric constant and conductivity values sampled at 500 MHz from the extracted frequency domain spectra. The Maxwell-Garnett parallel model was proved to be the most flexible because it could capture the sampled conductivity values in all secondary imbibition floods before and after the breakthroughs, where the inflection points were observed. These inflection points were attributed to silica production and a potential shear-stripping flow. This observation was further confirmed by conducting a single-phase Darcy's law analysis of two DI water imbibition floods.

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