Average Ambient Temperature Research Articles

Investigation of photo-thermal performance of compound parabolic concentrator system for soil heating in facility agriculture

Aiming at the large carbon emissions of facility agricultural heating in severe cold regions in winter, a compound parabolic concentrator based soil heating system was presented. The system integrated with novel trough compound parabolic concentrator and was used for soil heating in facility agriculture. Following the structure of the compound parabolic concentrator, TracePro software was selected to trace the light in the compound parabolic concentrator. The variation trend of the light escape rate of the compound parabolic concentrator with the different incident angles was analyzed. Based on the calculation results, the performance of the solar collector system was investigated, and the impact of circulating air velocity on the photo-thermal performance of the solar collector system was explored. Research results indicate that when the circulating air velocity is 1.4 m/s and the average ambient temperature is about 28.9?, the temperature of the system outlet is up to 90.9?. The average instantaneous heat collection, maximum photo-thermal conversion efficiency, and unit area heat collection of the system are 740.6 W, 27.83%, and 0.8 MJ/m2, respectively. This research can effectively promote the efficient integration of the solar collector system in facility agriculture.

Phenotypic analysis of heat stress in Holsteins using test-day production records and NASA POWER meteorological data

Weather station data and test-day production records can be combined to quantify the effects of heat stress on production traits in dairy cattle. However, meteorological data sets that are retrieved from ground-based weather stations can be limited by spatial and temporal data gaps. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources (NASA POWER) database provides meteorological data over regions where surface measurements are sparse or nonexistent. The first aim of this study was to determine whether NASA POWER data are a viable alternative resource of weather data for studying heat stress in Canadian Holsteins. The results showed that average, minima, and maxima ambient temperature and dewpoint temperature as well as 4 different types of temperature-humidity index (THI) values from NASA POWER were highly correlated to the corresponding values from weather stations (regression R2 > 0.80). However, the NASA POWER values for the daily average, minima, and maxima wind speed and relative humidity were poorly correlated to the corresponding weather station values (regression R2 = 0.10 to 0.49). The second aim of this study was to quantify the influence of heat stress on Canadian dairy cattle. This was achieved by determining the THI values at which milk, protein, and fat yield started to decline due to heat stress as well as the rates of decline in these traits after the respective thresholds, using segmented polynomial regression models. This was completed for both primiparous and multiparous cows from 5 regions in Canada (Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, the Prairies, and the Atlantic Maritime). The results showed that all production traits were negatively affected by heat stress and that the patterns of responses for milk, fat, and protein yields to increasing THI differed from each other. We found 3 THI thresholds for milk yield, 1 for fat yield, and 2 for protein yield. All thresholds marked a change in rate of decrease in production yield per unit THI, except for the first milk yield threshold, which marked a greater rate of increase. The first thresholds for milk yield ranged between 47 and 50, the second thresholds ranged between 61 and 69, and the third thresholds ranged between 72 and 76 THI units. The single THI threshold for fat yield ranged between 48 and 55 THI units. Finally, the first and second thresholds ranged between 58 and 62 THI units and 72 and 73 THI units for protein yield, respectively.

Does suspended sediment affect the phytoplankton community composition and diversity in an Arctic fjord? A comparative study during summer.

The Arctic regions experience strong seasonality and are largely affected by increasing temperature. This is particularly evident in the Kongsfjorden, which is surrounded by glaciers and is affected by seasonal and annual changes in temperature. It is largely influenced by glacial meltwater bringing in fluvial inputs such as total suspended matter (TSM) and warm Atlantic waters, which could alter the phytoplankton community. Seven stations in the Kongsfjorden representing glacier-influenced head (KF7, KF6, KF5), mid (KF4, KF3), and open region of the fjord (KF2 and KF1) were considered to evaluate the effect of TSM on phytoplankton community structure, abundance, chlorophyll a (Chl a), diversity index, evenness, and richness during summer 2011 (June) and 2018 (August) and related with atmospheric and hydrological parameters. The annual average atmospheric temperature (AAAT) over Ny-Ålesund showed an increase in temperature by a degree from -3.52°C in 2011 to -2.44°C in 2018, while the summer average atmospheric temperature (SAAT) over the same period increased from 5.80 to 6.16°C. Increased freshening of the fjord led to an increase in TSM during 2018 which coincided with a decrease in Chl a by an order of magnitude. Although sea surface temperature (SST) was warmer in 2011, TSM was higher in 2018. The number of phytoplankton groups identified decreased from 11 in 2011 to 4 in 2018. A distinct alteration in phytoplankton community structure was observed from head fjord to open fjord with higher diversity observed during 2011 compared to 2018. This work highlights the effect of TSM on the phytoplankton community in the Kongsfjorden.

Accurate and efficient forecasted wind energy using selected temporal metrological variables and wind direction

The aim of this work is to find the most efficient and suitable input features to be selected for forecasting monthly wind energy accurately. Machine learning is employed for a modular pipelined neural network, composed of time-delayed and feedforward networks with features of metrological variables such as atmospheric temperature, humidity, wind direction, and wind speed frequency distribution parameters. Logged data over a year’s period at a UAE site are analyzed on daily and monthly bases depending on their variation characteristics, in which standard Weibull probability distribution function is used for the feedforward neural network together with wind direction data, while daily average ambient temperature and humidity are attempted for the composite time delay networks. Different network abstractions of input features are compared, and it is found that wind direction data offer a better wind speed forecast. Wind energy is calculated based on monthly forecasting. A detailed adaptive probabilistic analysis is conducted to predict thresholds in variations of the forecast analysis. Error estimation tools are performed for adopting this method

Chronic ergot exposure in adult bulls suppresses prolactin but minimally impacts results of typical breeding soundness exams

Canadian standards allow ≤3000 μg ergot alkaloids/kg cattle feed. A concentration-response relationship was hypothesized between ergot in feed and reductions in plasma prolactin, sperm motility, sperm function, and increase in sperm abnormalities. The study consisted of pre-treatment (12 weeks), treatment (9 weeks), and post-treatment periods (10 weeks). Adult bulls were fed 1113 (n = 8; low ergot group) or 2227 (n = 6; high) μg/kg of dry matter intake. Endpoints were measured every two weeks. Ejaculates were analyzed for sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and sperm abnormalities. Data were analyzed by repeated measures MIXED PROC in SAS. Average outside ambient temperature during the pre-treatment, treatment, and post-treatment periods was −13 (−31 to 1), 0.5 (−18 to 19), and 21 (13–28) °C. Plasma prolactin decreased markedly during treatment (−52.4%; Experimental period p < 0.01). Rectal temperature increased during the treatment and post-treatment periods (EP p < 0.01) but was within the normal physiological range. Bull weight increased during the study (EP p < 0.01). Scrotal circumference in low ergot group increased during treatment (+0.8 cm; Tx∗EP p = 0.05). Progressive motility in high ergot group decreased during treatment (−7%; Tx∗EP p = 0.05), however, semen volume and sperm concentrations were unaffected (p ≥ 0.11). Live sperm with high and medium MMP decreased during treatment (−1.4 and −3.7%; EP p < 0.01). Results suggest that feeding ≤2227 μg ergot alkaloids/kg has only minor effects on adult bull semen quality.

Study on performance of Vuilleumier cycle heat pump for residential heating

Vuilleumier cycle heat pump (VHP) is a thermally driven heat pump and has huge potential for improving energy efficiency in residential heating. In this paper, performance of VHP is studied based on SAGE software. The errors between the experiment and simulation are in the range of −4.6 %∼4.5 % and −18.2 %∼7.4 % respectively for COPh and heating capacity. Based on developed model validated by experimental results, available energy losses (AEloss) are obtained and analyzed. Hot regenerator is the main component for AEloss and incomplete heat transfer is the main contribution for AEloss. Then, the effects of parameters on the performance are studied. And parameters are optimized. The results show that the improvement of COPh could be up to 3.6 %. Moreover, the performance and seasonal energy efficiency ratio of VHP in the cold region are carried out. The results show that seasonal COP could be up to 1.53 at −0.26 °C average ambient temperature.

Optimal Sizing of a Centralized Hybrid Photovoltaic System for Efficient Operation of Street Lights

The photovoltaic energy generation system is one of the most promising technology to meet our future electricity demand as well as mitigate climate change. This study aims to design, simulate and evaluate the performance of hybrid photovoltaic (PV) system using PVsyst software to supply electricity for energy efficient streetlights in educational institute. Meteonorm database of daily and monthly irradiation, temperatures, precipitation and sunlight hours are utilized while performing the analysis. The photovoltaic system consists of 56 bifacial-polycrystalline 360-watt PV modules having 17.9% efficiency. The photovoltaic modules were installed at 0° azimuth angle and 15° tilt angle. Two hybrid inverters with rated capacity of 10 kW are used. The energy storage system consists of 16 batteries (2 in series x 8 in parallel) with a nominal capacity of 1600 ampere-hours and discharging minimum SOC is 20 %. A total of 100 streetlight poles with 8 working-hours/day are installed to cover both sides of the road, with monthly energy consumption of 672 kilowatt-hours. The average annual ambient temperature is 23.66℃, and the annual GH irradiation is 1693 kilowatt-hour/m2. The annual production of the hybrid PV system is 25.96 MWh/year, the specific energy production of the system is 1288 kWh/kWp/year with 70.38% performance ratio. By means of proposed photovoltaic system for energy efficient street lightning structure, 157.9t CO2 is reduced. The project can save 0.004737 million tonnes of CO2 emissions over its lifetime of 30 years. The proposed system is a viable solution for public lighting with the right selection of system components.

Association between antibiotic resistance and increasing ambient temperature in China: an ecological study with nationwide panel data

Antibiotic resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality. However, research into the relationship between climate change and antibiotic resistance remains inconclusive. This study aims to address the gap in the literature by exploring the association of antibiotic resistance with regional ambient temperature and its changes over time. Data were obtained from the China Antimicrobial Surveillance Network (CHINET), monitoring the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) in 28 provinces/regions over the period from 2005 to 2019. Log-linear regression models were established to determine the association between ambient temperature and antibiotic resistance after adjustment for variations in socioeconomic, health service, and environmental factors. A 1°C increase in average ambient temperature was associated with 1.14-fold increase (95%-CI [1.07-1.23]) in CRKP prevalence and 1.06-fold increase (95%-CI [1.03-1.08]) in CRPA prevalence. There was an accumulative effect of year-by-year changes in ambient temperature, with the four-year sum showing the greatest effect on antibiotic resistance. Higher prevalence of antibiotic resistance was also associated with higher antibiotic consumption, lower density of health facilities, higher density of hospital beds and higher level of corruption. Higher prevalence of antibiotic resistance is associated with increased regional ambient temperature. The development of antibiotic resistance under rising ambient temperature differs across various strains of bacteria. The National Key R&D Program of China (grant number: 2018YFA0606200), National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number: 72074234), Fundamental Scientific Research Funds for Central Universities, P.R. China (grant number: 22qntd4201), China Medical Board (grant number: CMB-OC-19-337).

Modelling and analysis of a renewable energy-driven climate-controlled sustainable greenhouse for hot and arid climates

Population growth and improved living standards led to increased demand for food and crops, of which cultivation is heavily affected by average ambient temperature increase resulting from global warming. Hot and arid climate regions with high average summer temperatures suffer further as agricultural greenhouse indoor temperature reaches levels much higher than the ambient, causing severe dehydration and eventual death of crops. This research proposes an innovative, resilient and sustainable integrated greenhouse system to control greenhouse indoor climate within the cultivation range. This system consists of concentrating photovoltaic thermal system utilizing nucleate boiling heat transfer, thermal energy storage based on phase change material, lithium bromide absorption cooling system and dehumidifier, borehole ground heat exchanger, and spectrum selective roof for a greenhouse. The system is driven by renewable energy sources: Solar irradiation, ambient air, and geothermal cooling to provide electricity, space cooling, air-conditioning, and irrigation water. A comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of the sustainable integrated greenhouse system was done to obtain the energy and exergy efficiencies of the subsystems and overall system. The analysis shows overall energy and exergy efficiencies of 43.36 % and 19.19 %, respectively. Compared to the conventional greenhouse roof, the spectrum selective roof efficiently reduced the maximum cooling load by 29.2 %. Under the investigated hot and arid climate conditions, the system produced 33.28 kW of cooling, 29.3 kW of electricity, 8.36 L/h of dehumidified irrigation water, and 250 m3/h of dry ventilation air. An economic analysis based on the life cycle cost was executed to determine the economic feasibility of the integrated system. The recorded levelized cost of cooling, electricity, and water are 0.021 USD/kWhc, 0.0366 USD/kWhele, and 8.8 USD/m3, respectively, presenting a cost-competitive standalone integrated system.

Statistical Model for the Sizing of a Prototype Solar Still Applicable to Remote Islands

The topography and location of many remote islands limit the available freshwater resources present for use by the inhabitants. However, the abundance of solar and seawater resources and small population size makes them ideal candidates for solar still application. A prototype solar still was designed and fabricated for use on such applications; however, for its implementation, a statistical model was developed to assess its productive performance at a pilot location, Dongji Islet. Experiments were conducted to collect data and construct a multivariable regression model by means of the jack-knife procedure and best subsets technique. The model was then used to size the solar still for implementation by applying the TMY data of Dongji Islet. The daily total global solar radiation, average ambient temperature, and extent of cloud cover were found to be the most suitable predictor variables for the model based on their correlation to the productivity of the protype solar still and their p-value. The model predicted a maximum daily yield of 5.88 L/day in July and a minimum of 1.97 L/day in December. In relation to the annual predicted yield, the length of the solar still can be increased by 88.6% in order to satisfy the daily minimum requirement of 7.5 L per day per person.

Design a low-cost, medium-scale, flat plate solar air heater: An experimental and simulation study

The most efficient solar air heater is expensive, and attempts to reduce costs lead to reduced efficiency. The current study presents a low-cost, medium-scale, flat plate solar air heater's design, simulation, and experimental thermal analysis. Carbon steel, thermocol, window glass, and aerosol spray paint were utilized for fabrication to decrease manufacturing costs. Initially, a mathematical model was developed, and experimental tests on this system were carried out with different absorber plates and glass covers in various weather conditions. The air mass flow rate of the collector is set at 0.073 kg/s. According to the experimental results, the solar air collector with a finned steel absorption plate, black paint, and double-glazing exhibit optimal performance. Under average solar radiation and ambient temperature of 910 W/m2 and 29.44 °C, respectively, the maximum thermal efficiency is 60.81 %, the average thermal efficiency is 56.01 %, and the average air temperature difference between the inlet and outlet is 40 °C. Whereas, for the solar air collector with plain steel absorber plate and single glazing, the least desirable performance was observed with a maximum collector efficiency of 45.76 %, an average thermal efficiency of 39.22 %, and an average air temperature difference of 20.14 °C between inlet and outlet under average solar radiation and ambient temperature of 810 W/m2 and 29.98 °C, respectively. Compared to the results, the thermal performance of solar air collectors with a finned steel absorption plate, black paint, and double-glazing was improved by 14 % to 20 % under different conditions. In addition, the solar air heater was designed, and a simulation study was performed in COMSOL Multiphysics software to find the temperature distribution of the glass cover and absorber plate. The experimental findings demonstrated that this convenient and cost-effective solar air collector was designed successfully and can be utilized in heating applications.

Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Supplementation on Performance, Digestibility, and Blood Biochemistry of Californian Male Rabbits Under Hot Climatic Conditions.

This study aims to investigate the effects of nanoparticles of zinc oxide (Nano-ZnO) supplementation on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, mineral retention, and blood biochemistry of Californian male rabbits under hot climatic conditions. A total of 100 Californian male rabbits 90days of age (BW: 1790 ± 13g) were randomly assigned to one of five treatment diets: Nano-ZnO at 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100mg/kg, respectively, for 90days. The rabbits were raised in an open house system (average ambient temperature of 39°C, relative humidity of 30-35%, and temperature-humidity index of 33.6-34.0). Each treatment had 20 rabbits, and each rabbit was considered as a replicate. During the entire study period, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in BW, BW gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio between the treatment groups. Nano-ZnO supplementation at 25, 50, 75, and 100mg/kg enhanced the digestibility coefficient of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) considerably (quadratically, P < 0.05) when compared to the control group. In addition, when Nano-ZnO was supplemented at 25, 50, 75, and 100mg/kg, serum levels of creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were considerably lower than the non-supplemented control group. Furthermore, when comparing the control and Nano-ZnO-fed rabbits, serum testosterone concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the treated groups. In addition, compared to the other groups, the 50mg/kg Nano-ZnO group had the highest cecal Lactobacilli spp. count. These findings suggest that supplementing Californian male rabbits with 50mg/kg dietary Nano-ZnO enhanced CP and EE digestibility, cecal Lactobacilli spp., as well as serum testosterone levels, and decreased serum ALT and AST levels under hot climatic conditions.

Experimental Study of a Tubular Solar Distillation System with Heat Exchanger Using a Parabolic Trough Collector

One way to overcome the scarcity of clean water through sustainable approach is by utilizing a solar distillation system. This easy-to-use technology is adopting tubular solar distillation. The three main components, which are the most essential for producing the amount of permeate, are the solar collector, tubular and heat exchanger (HE). This study aims to determine the performance of a tubular solar distillation device equipped with HE using a parabolic trough collector (PTC). The PTC has an area of 5.1 m2 covered with a solar reflective chrome film. Aluminum tubular acts as the feedwater heater. The HE is placed inside the tubular, which acts as a coolant to convert the steam phase into freshwater/permeate and as a feedwater heater to flow into the tubular. In the present study, several parameters were tested: comprise temperature, solar radiation, pressure, humidity, mass flow rate, permeate productivity and efficiency. This study demonstrated the production of a sufficient amount of permeate, which was 5.32 L for 6 h. The efficiency of this device yielded a peak of 48.2% during solar radiation of 813 W/m2 in an average ambient temperature of 32 °C, with an overall average of 44.59%.

Design and Employing of a Non-Linear Response Surface Model to Predict the Microbial Loads in Anaerobic Digestion of Cow Manure: Batch Balloon Digester

Biogas is among the sources of renewable energy with a great potential to mitigate global energy challenges by virtue of the ease of implementation of the technology. The study focused on monitoring the total viable bacteria counts with the number of days, daily average ambient temperature and pH from a balloon type biodigester fed with 2500 L of cow manure (500 L of slurry each day for five successive days) with six months retention time using data acquisition system, standard methods and mathematical model. A non-linear response surface model was developed to predict the total viable bacteria counts with the predictors. The predictors were ranked by weights of importance to the desired targets by reliefF test. At the end of the anaerobic digestion cycle the cumulative volume of biogas was 6.75 m3 with 65.8% methane and 31.2% carbon dioxide. The ranking by weights of the predictors revealed that all the input parameters were primary factors and number of days contributed the most. Based on the testing data set, the response surface model was capable of predicting the total viable bacteria counts with high accuracy as the determination coefficient, root mean square error and p-value were 0.959, 0.197 and 0.602.

Yearly weather variation and surface temperature drives the spatiotemporal dynamics of a threatened butterfly and its host plant

It remains unclear to what extent yearly weather variation and spatial variation in microclimate influences the outcome of interacting plant-animal species and whether responses differ between life stages. We collected data over several years on 46 ha on File Hajdar, Gotland, Sweden, and executed a complete mapping of larva nests (n= 776) and imago (n= 5,952) of the marsh fritillary butterflyEuphydryas auriniaand its host plantSuccisa pratensis. The phenology of the butterflies and the major nectar plants visited varied among years. The duration of the adult flight period decreased with increasing ambient air temperatures. The density of butterflies, host plants, and host plant leaf size increased between years with increasing precipitation in the preceding year, and decreased with increasing average ambient air temperature in the preceding year. In 2021–2022 we deployed a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a high-resolution thermal sensor to measure spatial variation in surface temperatures in the study area. We found that survival from the egg to the larva stage increased with increasing surface temperature and host plant density. Host plants and larva nests generally occupied warmer microhabitats compared to imago butterflies. The results further suggested that the relationships linking surface temperature to the densities of imago, larva, host plants, and leaf size differed qualitatively between years. In 2017, larva nests and host plant density increased with increasing surface temperatures, and butterflies showed a non-linear response with a density peak at intermediate temperatures. As a result of the extreme drought in 2018 there was a reduction in maximum leaf size, and in the densities of plants, larvae, and butterflies. Moreover, the slopes of the relationships linking the density of larvae, butterflies, and plants to temperature shifted from linear positive to negative or curvilinear. Our findings demonstrate how yearly weather variation and heterogeneous surface temperatures can drive the spatiotemporal distribution and dynamics of butterflies and their host plants. The context specificity of the responses indicated by our results makes it challenging to project how climate change will affect the dynamics of ecological communities.

Particulate matter may have a limited influence on maternal vitamin D levels

Evidence for an association between the amount of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere and vitamin D status of pregnant women is limited. We aimed to examine the independent association between PM and maternal levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) during the second trimester and to explore possible modifications to the association by meteorological factors. 27,768 pregnant women presenting for prenatal examination who were tested for serum 25OHD concentration during the second trimester between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020, were included in this retrospective analysis. Exposure to PM was evaluated based on daily average PM with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and PM with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤ 10 μm (PM10). Corresponding meteorological data for daily average atmospheric temperature, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, sunshine duration, and wind speed were collected. The maximum cumulative effects of PM2.5 occurred at lag 45 days, and the maximum cumulative effects of PM10 occurred at lag 60 days. In crude models, 45-day moving daily average PM2.5 concentrations were negatively associated with 25OHD levels (β, − 0.20; 95% CI − 0.21 to − 0.19), as were 60-day moving daily average PM10 concentrations (β, − 0.14; 95% CI − 0.15 to − 0.14). After adjusting for temporal and meteorological factors, the effect values were drastically reduced (adjusted β of PM2.5, − 0.032; 95% CI − 0.046 to − 0.018; adjusted β of PM10, − 0.039; 95% CI − 0.049 to − 0.028). Our study showed there was a small, independent, negative association between PM in the atmosphere and maternal serum 25OHD levels during the second trimester of pregnancy after adjusting for temporal and/or meteorological factors, which indicates that PM may have a limited influence on maternal serum 25OHD levels. Besides taking vitamin D supplements, pregnant women should keep participating in outdoor activities while taking PM protection measures to improve their vitamin D levels when PM levels are high in winter and spring.

Antidiabetic Activity of Hot Tea Infusion of Leaves of Moringa stenopetala in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

BackgroundMoringa stenopetala is a traditionally used medicinal plant that has been used for the management of different disorders including diabetes in Ethiopia. This study was aimed to assess the antidiabetic activity of hot tea infusion of leaves of Moringa stenopetala in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.MethodsExperimental animals were Wistar male rats aged 4–6 weeks weighing 200–250 gram. The animals were maintained in equal light/dark series of laboratory conditions, and the average ambient temperature was 23±2 °C. The hot tea infusion of Moringa stenopetala leaves of different concentrations (as fine and coarse powder decoction), distilled water (10 mL/kg), and 150 mg/kg body weight of metformin were administered to diabetic rats as test, negative control, and positive standard drugs, respectively. Sucrose oral challenge test was also carried out to assess the effect of Moringa stenopetala hot tea infusion on postprandial glucose level. Blood glucose level was measured at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 180 minutes. Statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS package version 23, and the p-value less than 0.05 was declared as level of statistical significance.ResultsThe phytoconstituents that tested positive in hot tea infusion of Moringa stenopetala leaves were alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, and terpenoids. Different experimental groups treated with the hot tea infusion of Moringa stenopetala leaves showed significant reduction of blood glucose level after 30 minutes of hot tea infusion administration. In addition, the hot tea infusion at a different concentration for both fine and coarse powders reduced significantly raised blood glucose level. The present findings revealed that the hot tea infusion has blood glucose-lowering and antioxidant effects with wide safety margin.ConclusionThe findings indicated that the hot tea infusion of the leaves of Moringa stenopetala shows a credible reduction in blood glucose level in rats.

The association between ambient temperature exposure during infancy and overweight at age two years

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Childhood overweight and obesity is increasing in prevalence globally and is a risk factor for metabolic disease in adulthood. We have previously described an association between exposure to higher ambient temperatures during infancy and rapid infant weight gain. We aimed to examine the association between ambient temperature exposure during the first year of life and overweight at age two years. METHODS: A population-based cohort study using data from the Israeli network of public maternal and child health clinics from 2011 to 2018. The study population was restricted to children born with birthweight &amp;#x2265;2500g (N=579,404). We assessed exposure to ambient temperature using a high-resolution spatio-temporal model and calculated the average annual exposure during the first year of life for each infant based on daily temperature at their address. Overweight at two years was defined as &amp;#x3e;85th percentile in World Health Organization age and sex-adjusted body mass index. We calculated relative risks using log-linear models and fitted general additive models with thin plate regression splines while adjusting for sub-district, neighbourhood socio-economic index, ethnicity, month and year of birth and average ambient temperature during pregnancy. RESULTS: We found a positive association between ambient temperature exposure and risk of overweight at age two years. Children exposed to the highest temperature quintile (&amp;#x2265;22.0&amp;#xb0;C) had an adjusted relative risk of 1.16 (95% CI 1.12, 1.19) compared to those exposed to the lowest quintile (&amp;#x3c;19.6&amp;#xb0;C). Modelling temperature as a continuous variable using general additive models showed an increase in risk with higher temperature exposure up to approximately 23&amp;#xb0;C when the risk levelled out. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to higher ambient temperatures during infancy is associated with increased risk of overweight at age two years in Israel. Future studies should explore this association in other populations and examine possible biological mechanisms. KEYWORDS: temperature, child health, climate

Ambient temperature and term birthweight in Latin American cities.

BackgroundExtreme temperatures may lead to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, including low birthweight. Studies on the impact of temperature on birthweight have been inconclusive due to methodological challenges related to operationalizing temperature exposure, the definitions of exposure windows, accounting for gestational age, and a limited geographic scope.MethodsWe combined data on individual-level term live births (N≈15 million births) from urban areas in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico from 2010 to 2015 from the SALURBAL study (Urban Health in Latin America) with high-resolution daily air temperature data and computed average ambient temperature for every month of gestation for each newborn. Associations between full-term birthweight and average temperature during gestation were analyzed using multi-level distributed lag non-linear models that adjusted for newborn’s sex, season of conception, and calendar year of child’s birth; controlled for maternal age, education, partnership status, presence of previous births, and climate zone; and included a random term for the sub-city of mother’s residence.FindingsHigher temperatures during the entire gestation are associated with lower birthweight, particularly in Mexico and Brazil. The cumulative effect of temperature on birthweight is mostly driven by exposure to higher temperatures during months 7–9 of gestation. Higher maternal education can attenuate the temperature-birthweight associations.InterpretationOur work shows that climate-health impacts are likely to be context- and place-specific and warrants research on temperature and birthweight in diverse climates to adequately anticipate global climate change. Given the high societal cost of suboptimal birthweight, public health efforts should be aimed at diminishing the detrimental effect of higher temperatures on birthweight.FundingThe Wellcome Trust.

Evaluating the Energy Consumption of an Electric Vehicle Under Real-World Driving Conditions

&lt;div class="section abstract"&gt;&lt;div class="htmlview paragraph"&gt;This investigation evaluates the energy consumption of an electric vehicle (EV) and identifies key factors that affect its energy efficiency, based on real-world operation for a range of driving characteristics and climate conditions over nearly four years in the streets of the second-largest UK city. The driving modes investigated were acceleration, deceleration, idling and cruise, determined by dividing each individual trip into kinematic segments based on vehicle speed and acceleration calculated second by second. From the results obtained, the EV energy consumption is directly influenced by changes in ambient temperature outside, largely due to the corresponding loads required from the use of auxiliary systems, mainly heating and air conditioning. An increase in trip idling events directly translates to a rise in EV energy consumption, while opposite outcomes were produced during cruising state with decreasing energy consumption. During the periods of high traffic on weekdays, the energy consumption is increased by nearly 15% as a direct impact of the increase in the number of stops, as the auxiliaries still require energy while the vehicle is at idle. The difference in energy consumption between weekday and weekend driving occurs mainly during heavy traffic periods, increasing by 20% on weekdays, primarily due to the rise in the number of stops for weekday driving. The results also show that the EV specific energy consumption varies each month, reaching a 55% increase from summer of least energy consumption to winter with the most requires energy, mainly due to large average ambient temperature changes.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;