Average Temperature Research Articles

Spatiotemporal evolution of landscape ecological risk and its driving factors of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei major mineral belt, 1985–2022

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei major mineral belt represents a significant economic development area in China. Effective monitoring and assessment of the regional landscape ecological risk can provide a scientific basis for an ecological protection strategy for the environmental protection of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei major mineral belt. In this study, a landscape ecological risk index was constructed based on land use/land cover, and the spatial and temporal variations of landscape ecological risk were subsequently analyzed. Furthermore, the contribution of the main driving factors of landscape ecological risk was quantified in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei major mineral belt. The results demonstrate that: (1) The land use types within the study area underwent significant changes from 1985 to 2022. The predominant type of transfer was cropland, which was primarily converted to construction land, grassland, and woodland. (2) The landscape ecological risk in central-northern and western parts of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei major mineral belt is higher, while the landscape ecological risk in the southwest parts is lower. Using 2015 as the time point, the landscape ecological risk in the study area was found to change, with the average value of landscape ecological risk for all classes of landscape ecological risk within 2015–2022 being lower than that of 1985–2015, with the exception of the high-risk area. The mean annual landscape ecological risk is obviously higher during the 1985–2015 period in comparison to the 2015–2022 period, with the exception of regions exhibiting high risk. (3) There is a significant positive spatial correlation between landscape ecological risks in different periods. The pattern of landscape ecological risk exhibits both ‘high-high’ aggregation and ‘low-low’ aggregation. The ‘high-high’ aggregations are primarily located in the northern, central and western parts of the study area, while the ‘low-low’ aggregation zones are mainly located in the southeastern study region. (4) The spatial distribution of landscape ecological risk is predominantly shaped by population density and slope. In the context of interactive factor detection, the positive interaction between slope and average annual temperature, night-time illumination and slope, population density and annual precipitation were identified as exerting a more significant influence on the observed spatial differentiation of landscape ecological risk. It was found that the interaction of multiple drivers had a more pronounced impact on landscape ecological risk than any single factor. The findings of the research project provide a scientific rationale and reference for future land use, resource optimization, landscape ecological risk differential management and ecological restoration. Furthermore, the findings are of considerable importance in terms of maintaining ecological security patterns.

Evaluation of the Contamination of Four Metal Trace Elements (ETM) of Tilapia Fish (Oreochromis niloticus) from Two Types of Fish Ponds in an Aquaculture Production Center in Côte d’Ivoire

Trace Metal Element (ETMs) pollution in fish farming is becoming a concern due to difficult production conditions. This study investigated the level of contamination by four trace metals: lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd). ETM research focused on Oreochromis niloticus from two types of fish ponds in the Haut-Sassandra region of Côte d'Ivoire. The health risk associated with tilapia consumption in this major production area was assessed. The concentration of Trace Metal Elements in fish was measured using a Perkin Elmer argon plasma emission spectrometer, Optima 3000 DV model. The physicochemical parameters of pond water were taken in situ with a multi-parameter. The physicochemical characteristics show that the Haut-Sassandra region is an area favorable to fish farming activity with a neutral pH, an average temperature of 30°C and a conductivity less than 300. As for ETMs, Low concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.040 mg/kg for tilapia, from 0 to 3.0147 mg/kg for sediments and from 0 to 0.3262 mg/kg for ponds water were observed in the matrices studied. Mercury and arsenic were found to be absent in Tilapia. The statistical analyzes carried out showed that the average concentrations of these ETMs are lower than the standards recommended by FAO and European Union. However, bioconcentration factors between 2 and 6 indicate that chemical pollutants in pond water and sediments have a negative impact on Oreochromis niloticus production, As for dam ponds / retentions basins, values less than 1 were obtained. This study reveals that the consumption of Tilapia from fish ponds in the Haut-Sassandra region could presents a low risk. The work has also shown that tilapia from bypass ponds / diversion basin are the most vulnerable to the ETMs studied.

The role of host plants, land cover and bioclimate in predicting the invasiveness of Aromia bungii on a global scale

Aromia bungii is an invasive Cerambycidae of major concern at the global scale because of the damage caused to Rosaceae. Given the major phytosanitary relevance of A. bungii, predicting its spread in invaded areas and identifying possible new suitable regions worldwide remains a key action to develop appropriate management practices and optimise monitoring and early detection campaigns. To improve the predictive power of the modelling framework, a habitat suitability model (HSM), which includes host plants, was combined with a bioclimatic suitability model (BSM), both of which were calibrated on native occurrences. The range of A. bungii was substantially limited by the bioclimate, while habitat conditions acted as limiting factors in the species’ distribution. Host plants were the most important variable that positively influenced habitat suitability. Bioclimatic suitability improved as rainfall in the warmest quarter and average temperatures in the wettest quarter increased and as isothermality decreased. According to the combination of HSM and BSM, Japan is the most suitable area outside the native range of the species. In Europe, despite its high habitat suitability, it is difficult to expect a species to expand its range except through a substantial change in its bioclimatic niche.

The Effect of Mulching on the Root Growth of Greenhouse Tomatoes Under Different Drip Irrigation Volumes and Its Distribution Model

Despite the continuous development of greenhouse cultivation technology, the influence mechanism of covering conditions on the root distribution of greenhouse crops remains unclear, which is emerging as a significant research topic at present. The interaction between mulching and irrigation plays a key role in the root growth of greenhouse tomatoes, but its specific impact awaits in-depth exploration. To explore the response patterns of greenhouse crop root distribution to the drip irrigation water amount under mulching conditions, the tomato was chosen as the research object. Three experimental treatments were set up: mulched high water (Y0.9), non-mulched high water (N0.9), and mulched low water (Y0.5) (where 0.9 and 0.5 represent the cumulative evaporation from a 20 cm standard evaporation pan). We analyzed the water and thermal zone of tomato roots as well as the root distribution. Based on this, a root distribution model was constructed by introducing a mulching factor (fm) and a water stress factor (Ks). After carrying out two years of experimental research, the following results were drawn: (1) The average soil water content in the 0–60 cm soil layer was Y0.9 > N0.9 > Y0.5, and the average soil temperature in the 0–30 cm soil layer was Y0.5 > Y0.9 > N0.9. (2) The interaction between mulching and irrigation had a significant impact on the distribution of tomato roots. In the absence of mulch, the root surface area, average root diameter, root volume, and root length density initially increased and then decreased with depth, with the maximum root distribution concentrated around the 20 cm soil layer. Under mulched conditions, roots were predominantly located in the top layer (0–20 cm). Under the film mulching condition, the distribution range of root length density of low water (Y0.5) was wider than that of high water (Y0.9). (3) Root length density exhibited a significant cubic polynomial relationship with both the soil water content and soil temperature. In the N0.9 treatment, root length density had a bivariate cubic polynomial relationship with soil water and temperature, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.97 and a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 20%. (4) When introducing the film mulching factor (fm) and water stress factor (Ks) into the root distribution model to simulate the root length density distribution of Y0.9 and Y0.5, it was found that the NRMSE was 22% and R2 was 0.90 under the Y0.9 treatment, and the NRMSE was 24% and R2 was 0.98 under the Y0.5 treatment. This study provides theoretical support for the formulation of scientifically sound irrigation and mulching management plans for greenhouse tomatoes.

A Study on the Impact of Temperature on the Anchoring Durability of Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Cables

To improve the application of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) in civil engineering, the long-term durability of CFRP anchorage systems has become a critical issue. Temperature fluctuations can significantly impact the bond performance between CFRPs and the load transfer medium (LTM), making it essential to understand the effects of temperature on the durability of CFRP anchorages. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of temperature on the durability of CFRP anchorages through aging tests on 30 epoxy-filled CFRP-bonded anchorage specimens, followed by pull-out tests. The long-term degradation of CFRP cable anchorage performances in representative regions of the globe was predicted using Arrhenius theory. The experimental results show that after long-term temperature exposure, the maximum bond strength of the CFRP-LTM interface in the anchoring zone degrades after 30 days but continues to increase after 150 days. In contrast, the residual bond strength of the CFRP-LTM interface in the anchorage zone continuously decreases over time, with the degradation rates gradually decreasing over time. Higher temperatures lead to more severe degradation of anchoring performance. Based on the experimental results, it is predicted that the anchoring performance of a CFRP cable anchorage system will reach degradation rates of 63.72%, 83.36%, and 94.73% after 50 years in regions with average annual temperatures of 0 °C, 10 °C, and 20 °C, respectively. Therefore, the temperature has a significant long-term impact on the anchoring performance of CFRP cable bonding systems, necessitating a more conservative design in higher-temperature areas.

Experimental investigation of bluff body geometry effects on nitrogen oxides emissions from Cambridge stratified burner

In this study, a series of experiments are done to analyze the effect of bluff body geometry on the NOx reduction of a natural gas-air stratified swirl burner. The stratified burner of Cambridge University is chosen to study the mentioned geometrical effect, and the geometry modification of bluff body is used as a simple method for NOx reduction, which can be easily applied to the systems using these burners, including gas turbines. The bluff body geometrical change to an annular bluff body is inspired by the fact that the areas in which the edge of the bluff body is in contact with the unburned flow have lower temperatures, which can drastically affect combustion parameters, especially emissions. This new geometry is called the Annular Bluff body Stratified Burner, ABSB. The comparison of the mentioned burners is made for three equivalence ratios, Ф, stratification cases: premixed, moderately stratified, and highly stratified with a global equivalence ratio of 0.75, in the conditions of atmospheric pressure and the temperature of the inlet mixture of 26 degrees of Celsius. Flame spectroscopy compares the chemiluminescence intensities of OH*, CH*, C2*, H2O*, and CO2*. Digital image processing, flame edge detection, and exhaust gas analysis are also utilized to measure flames’ general dimensions and emissions. According to experiments, for ABSB cases, a general decrease of about 14% in Nitrogen Oxides, especially NO and NO2, and an increase of about 17% in Carbon Monoxide are observed. Besides, the average bluff body temperature dropped by about 20% in ABSB for all three stratification cases.

Risk of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome associated with meteorological factors in diverse epidemic regions: a nationwide longitudinal study in China

BackgroundHemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a climate-sensitive zoonotic disease that poses a significant public health burden worldwide. While previous studies have established associations between meteorological factors and HFRS incidence, there remains a critical knowledge gap regarding the heterogeneity of these effects across diverse epidemic regions. Addressing this gap is essential for developing region-specific prevention and control strategies. This study conducted a national investigation to examine the associations between meteorological factors and HFRS in three distinct epidemic regions.MethodsWe collected daily meteorological data (temperature and relative humidity) and HFRS incidence cases of 285 cities in China from the Resource and Environment Science and Data Center and the Chinese National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting Information System from 2005–2022. Study locations were stratified into three distinct epidemic categories (Rattus-dominant, Apodemus-dominant, and mixed) based on the seasonality of peak incidence. The associations between meteorological variables and HFRS incidence were investigated using a time-stratified case-crossover design combined with distributed lag nonlinear modeling for each epidemic category.ResultsThe exposure-response relationships between meteorological factors and HFRS incidence revealed significant heterogeneity across epidemic regions, as evidenced by Cochran’s Q test for temperature (Q = 324.40, P < 0.01) and relative humidity (Q = 30.57, P < 0.01). The optimal daily average temperature for HFRS transmission in Rattus-dominant epidemic regions (− 6.6 °C), characterized by spring epidemics, was lower than that observed in Apodemus-dominant epidemic regions (13.7 °C), where primary cases occurred during autumn and winter months. Furthermore, the association between relative humidity and HFRS incidence exhibited as a monotonic negative correlation in Rattus-dominant regions, while Apodemus-dominant regions showed a nonlinear, inverted U-shaped association.ConclusionsThis study highlights the heterogeneous effects of meteorological factors on HFRS incidence across different epidemic regions. Targeted preventive measures should be taken during cold and dry spring days in Rattus-dominant regions, and during warm and moderately humid winter days in Apodemus-dominant regions. In mixed epidemic regions, both scenarios require attention. These findings provide novel scientific evidence for the formulation and implementation of region-specific HFRS prevention policies.Graphical

Novel Machine-Learning Modeling of Facial Trauma Volume With Regional Event and Weather Data.

Facial trauma volume is difficult to predict accurately. We aim to understand the capacity of climate and regional events to predict daily facial trauma volume. This can provide epidemiologic understanding and subsequently tailor workforce distribution and scheduling. Retrospective cohort study. Single Tertiary Academic Medical Center. Facial trauma consults between 2017 and 2023 were extracted from a single Level I Trauma Center. Publicly accessible data on local concerts, National Hockey League games, National Football League games, and weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data were merged with trauma data. Machine-learning random-forest (RF) plot feature identification was used to identify variables to model high-volume facial trauma days (greater than 75th percentile). For analysis, 2342 days were included. The median number of facial trauma consults was 3.0 (interquartile range: 2.0-5.0). The month of May exhibited the highest rate of high-volume trauma days (13% of days, P < .001). On RF feature identification, the strongest predictive factors included weekend day status, average temperature, precipitation, hail, high/damaging winds, and holidays. Regional events were not included in the final models. On stepwise logistic regression modeling with pertinent variables, weekend day (odds ratio [OR]: 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.80-2.69, P < .001), average temperature (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.02, P < .001), and wind speed (0.97, 0.93-1.00, P = .049) were the only statistically significant variables. Climate data were the primary factor that had predictive capacity for high-volume facial trauma days, more so than regional events. Testing models prospectively will help validate such models and help inform staffing for facial trauma coverage.

From Dry to Temperate: How Climate Change Alters Growing Seasons?

ABSTRACTThe thermal growing season, which represents a plant's theoretical growth season, is a key indicator of phenology's response to climate change. Using thermal growing season indices (start, end and length) and their sensitivity to air temperature, this study examines how climate change impacts them. For various climate types of Iran, Mann–Kendall and Sen's slope tests were applied to examine trends in thermal growing season indices at two temperature thresholds: 5°C (for cold‐season plants) and 10°C (for tropical plants) between 1995 and 2020. Using a novel heuristic algorithm, multiple linear regressions were used to determine the most influential seasonal air temperature indices including mean, range and extreme on thermal growth indices as well. Plants in cold and temperate climates experienced significant early onset and lengthening of their growing seasons, with tropical plants on northern coasts experiencing the earliest onset (14.7 days/decade) and the lengthening growing season (16 days/decade). For plants in cold climates, the end of the growing season was also delayed (5 days/decade). The onset growth season was most sensitive to spring minimum and average temperatures in cold and temperate climates, while it was most sensitive to winter average temperatures in dry climates. In cold climates, changing spring and winter temperature ranges also affected the onset of the growing season, while in dry climates, changing autumn temperature ranges affected the end of the growing season. However, extreme temperatures only affect the end of the growing season in temperate climates. Furthermore, the early onset of the growing season is the primary factor contributing to the lengthening of the growing season in all climates. The findings of this study can assist in developing and implementing agriculture and water resource management strategies that mitigate climate change's adverse effects.

Full-Scale Fire Testing to Assess the Risk of Battery Electric Vehicle Fires in Underground Car Parks

Abstract Battery-only electric vehicle (BEV) fires have recently emerged as a significant safety concern in modern society, particularly when they occur in car parking spaces, where the consequences can be severe. While relatively few fatalities and injuries are reported, the associated economic losses are substantial. Car park structures present several challenges from a fire safety perspective, including high energy content, confined geometry, and difficulties in detecting and accessing to the fire’s origin due to smoke accumulation in spaces with limited ventilation and exits. This study investigates this fire hazard by conducting a full-scale fire test on a modern BEV in an instrumented test rig that simulates a segment of an underground car park. The data obtained were compared with standard fire curves to assess the hazard’s characteristics and with the data from a companion study to identify differences between BEV fires in underground and surface car parks. The primary difference observed was deflagration venting, which occurred shortly after the initial ignition of combustible gases accumulated beneath the ceiling, lasting until 13 min and 5 s. This phenomenon led to a rapid initial growth of the BEV fire, which burned more intensely for a shorter duration in the semi-enclosed configuration comparted to the open configuration. The enclosed fire recorded an average ceiling-jet temperature of approximately 1100°C and a peak incident heat flux exceeding 225 kW/m2. Additionally, thermal runaway within the lithium-ion battery cells was analysed to understand the adverse effects of the enclosed environment on thermal runaway propagation. This fire testing provides critical insights for developing firefighting strategies including the proper preparation of equipment and the design of fire protection systems. The principal findings could inform tactics for mitigating unforeseen fire risks and contribute to revisions of fire safety regulations.

Spaciotemporal distribution characteristics of glacial lakes and the factors influencing the Southeast Tibetan Plateau from 1993 to 2023

The southeastern region of Tibet, which serves as the primary concentration area for marine-type glaciers, has fostered a multitude of glacial lakes that are highly sensitive to global climate change. Glacial lakes play a crucial role in regulating the freshwater ecosystems of the region, but they also pose a significant threat to local infrastructure and populations due to flooding caused by glacial lake outbursts. Currently, a limited amount of research has focused on the monitoring and analysis of glacial lakes in southeastern Tibet. Using Google Earth Engine (GEE) data in conjunction with meteorological data, this study examined the variation characteristics of glacial lakes in southeastern Tibet from 1993 to 2023. The region is subjected to segmentation and extraction of glacial lake boundaries via the FCN model. According to research findings, by 2023, southeastern Tibet is projected to contain 3,877 glacial lakes, encompassing an area of approximately 395.74 ± 22.72 km2. The distribution of glacial lakes in this region follows a pattern characterized by a relatively high concentration in the southern region and a relatively low concentration in the northern region. The glacial lakes with areas less than 0.1 km2 accounted for 94.24%, whereas those exceeding 3.0 km2 experienced the least amount of change. The analysis of regional elevation using the natural segmentation method reveals that glacial lakes are predominantly distributed within the altitude range of 4442 ~ 4909 m. The fluctuations in the annual mean precipitation and average annual temperature in the study area have decreased since 2008, while the growth trajectories of both the area and number of glacial lakes have gradually stabilized. However, given the backdrop of a slight increase in precipitation and a gradual increase in temperature, the proliferation of glacial lakes is projected to accelerate predominantly in Nyingchi City’s eastern and western regions.

The impact of past and current district-level climatic shifts on maize production and the implications for South African farmers

South Africa’s climate studies generally focus on coarser provincial levels, which aid policy recommendations, but have limited application at the farm level. District level climate studies are essential for farmer participation in climate change mitigation strategies and management. Our study aimed to investigate historical climate data for trends and their influence on maize yields at the magisterial level. Six sites were selected from three major maize-producing provinces in South Africa: Mpumalanga, Northwest, and Free State. Magisterial districts in each province were selected from different Köppen-Geiger climate zones. The climate variables assessed by the Mann–Kendall trend test included maximum or minimum temperature, rainfall, number of extreme high-temperature days, rainfall onset and cessation from 1986 to 2016. The average maximum temperatures were observed to have significant upward trends in most locations, except for Schweizer-Reneke and Bethlehem. The fastest rate of change was observed at Klerksdorp (0.1 °C per 30 years of study), while the Schweizer-Reneke district was the slowest (0.05 °C per 30 years of study). No significant changes were observed in rainfall onset, cessation, or total rainfall in Schweizer-Reneke, Standerton, and Bethlehem, which are scattered across the different provinces. The other districts in each province showed significant changes in these parameters. Rainfall accounted for the significant variation in maize yields over the study period, explaining between 18 and 40% of the variation in the North West, and between 1 and 17% in the Free State. These findings highlight the importance of understanding location-specific changes at a finer scale, which can help farming communities adjust agronomic practices and adapt to local climate shifts.

Three-Dimensional Multi-Morphology TPMS-Based Microchannel Design Method for Conformal Cooling in Injection Molding

Abstract Triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) possesses diverse morphological characteristics, such as pore sizes, porosity, and structural types. Integrating TPMS-based microchannels into micro-cellular cooling structures is advantageous for designing and controlling fluid characteristics within mold cooling channels. However, it is still difficult to design multi-morphology TPMS-based cooling microchannels that conform to the external shapes of injection molds. This work proposes a 3D multi-morphology TPMS-based design method that transforms 3D constraints into a combination of 2D constraints. First, a beta growth algorithm based on closed-loop constraints is proposed to transition different morphologies smoothly on the plane. Subsequently, a transition optimization algorithm along the normal direction of the plane is introduced to smoothly transition multi-morphology TPMS-based microchannels in all directions. With this layered approach, multi-morphology microchannels can be obtained with first-order geometric continuity under complex shape constraints. Finally, several TPMS-based conformal cooling structures are designed for an automotive hood cover. The results of finite element simulations show that the cooling structures generated by the proposed method have a better cooling effect than the conformal channels. It can be concluded that multi-morphology TPMS-based structures perform better by contrast with conformal channels as the average temperature of the cooling surface decreases by 8.48 K, and the standard deviation of temperature distribution decreases by 24.65%.

Effect of hydrolyzed red worm (Eisenia foétida) on production parameters in red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.)

Background Conventional fish feed based on fish meal, meat, and soy cake presents procurement difficulties and high costs, affecting the profitability and sustainability of the aquaculture industry. Objective To evaluate the effect of hydrolyzed red worm (HRW- Eisenia foétida) in red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) diet on production parameters. Methods The study was conducted at the aquaculture farm of the Politécnico Colombiano Jaime Isaza Cadavid (PCJIC) at 780 m.a.s.l.,with an average temperature of 28 °C. Ninety red tilapia fingerlings, averaging 7,5±0,5 g, were distributed in nine aquariums containing 75 liters of water. Fish underwentweight and size measurements at the beginning and end of the trial. They were fed experimental diets to apparent satiation three times daily. Water quality parameters and productive rates of growth and nutrient utilization were measured. The experimental design included three treatments with three replicates each: T1 (control diet, 0% hydrolysate inclusion), T2 (10% hydrolysate inclusion), and T3 (20% hydrolysate inclusion). ANOVA (p&lt;0,05) was applied to growth and nutrient utilization variables, with mean comparisons using α&lt;0,05 in SPSS version 25. Results Significant differences (p&lt;0,04) were found between the control diet T1 (0% inclusion) and T2 (10% inclusion) in favor of weight gain (31,87 g). There were no statistical differences in size increase (p&lt;0,217). As HRWinclusion increased, feed consumption decreased, likely due to higher hydrolyzed protein availability. Feed conversion rates showed significant differences (p&lt;0,001) between T2 and T3 compared to T1, indicating better assimilation of the hydrolyzed protein. T2 and T3 also showed better protein and energy efficiency (p&lt;0,001), demonstrating the hydrolyzed protein’s nutritional quality and assimilation. Diet cost decreased with higher hydrolyzed inclusion (p&lt;0,034). Conclusion Inclusion 10% and 20% hydrolyzed red worms significantly improved production parameters and reduced costs, making it a viable alternative for feeding red tilapia for small and medium-scale producers.

Retrieving the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane from the European Copernicus CO2M satellite mission using artificial neural networks

Abstract. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gases and the main drivers of climate change. Monitoring their concentrations from space helps detect and quantify anthropogenic emissions, supporting the mitigation efforts urgently needed to meet the primary objective of the Paris Agreement, adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015, to limit the global average temperature increase to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. In addition, satellite observations can be used to quantify natural sources and sinks, improving our understanding of the carbon cycle. Advancing these goals is one key motivation for the European Copernicus CO2 monitoring mission CO2M. The necessary accuracy and precision requirements for the measured quantities XCO2 and XCH4 (the column-averaged dry-air mole fractions of CO2 and CH4) are demanding. According to the CO2M mission requirements, the spatial and temporal variability of the systematic errors (or spatio-temporal systematic errors) of XCO2 and XCH4 must not exceed 0.5 ppm and 5 ppb, respectively. The stochastic errors due to instrument noise must not exceed 0.7 ppm for XCO2 and 10 ppb for XCH4. Conventional so-called full-physics algorithms for retrieving XCO2 and/or XCH4 from satellite-based measurements of reflected solar radiation are typically computationally intensive and still usually require empirical bias corrections based on supervised machine learning methods. Here we present the retrieval algorithm Neural networks for Remote sensing of Greenhouse gases from CO2M (NRG-CO2M), which derives XCO2 and XCH4 from CO2M radiance measurements with minimal computational effort using artificial neural networks (ANNs). In addition, NRG-CO2M also provides estimates of both the noise-driven uncertainties and the averaging kernels of XCO2 and XCH4 for each sounding. Since CO2M will not be launched until 2026, our study exploits simulated measurements over land surfaces from a comprehensive observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) that includes realistic meteorology, aerosols, surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF), solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), and CO2 and CH4 concentrations. We created a novel hybrid learning approach that combines advantages of simulation-based and measurement-based training data to ensure coverage of a wide range of XCO2 and XCH4 values, making the training data representative of future concentrations as well. The algorithm's postprocessing is designed to achieve a high data yield of about 80 % of all cloud-free soundings. The spatio-temporal systematic errors of XCO2 and XCH4 are 0.44 ppm and 2.45 ppb, respectively. The average single sounding precision is 0.41 ppm for XCO2 and 2.74 ppb for XCH4. Therefore, the presented retrieval method has the potential to meet the demanding CO2M mission requirements for XCO2 and XCH4. While the presented results are a solid proof of concept, the actual achievable quality can only be determined once NRG-CO2M is trained on real data, where it is confronted, e.g., with unknown instrument effects and systematic errors in the training truth.

Assessing Facial Thermal Nociceptive Response in Female Dogs After Elective Ovariohysterectomy Anesthetized with Isoflurane and Treated with Cannabidiol and Meloxicam Analgesia

Pain management requires the identification of certain indicators to recognize pain. Various tools have been suggested to achieve an objective evaluation, including infrared thermography (IRT). The objective of this study was to assess the facial thermal nociceptive response produced by the use of cannabidiol (CBD) alone and in combination with meloxicam in female dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy anesthetized with isoflurane. Sixty-four female dogs of different breeds were randomly distributed into four study groups according to the treatment received. G1: Placebo group (n = 16); G2: Group receiving intravenous meloxicam as premedication (0.2 mg Kg−1) and every 24 h postoperatively 0.1 mg Kg−1 (n = 16); G3: Group treated with CBD (n = 16) at a dose of 2 mg kg−1 orally every 12 h; and G4: Group medicated with the combination of both treatments (n = 16). All treatments were administered for 48 h postoperatively. After the anesthetic surgical procedure, radiometric images were captured using IRT and physiological parameters during the events EBasal, E30min, E1h, E2h, E3h, E4h, E8h, E12h, E24h and E48h. Overall, it was found that the high, medium and low temperatures of the thermal windows of the eye, upper eyelid and lower eyelid, as well as the average temperature of the lacrimal gland in G1 between events, were significantly lower at E30min, E1h and E2h compared to EBasal (p = 0.01). Among treatments, a significantly higher temperature was observed in groups G2, G3 and G4 compared to G1 (p = 0.001) in the thermal windows of the upper eyelid, lower eyelid, lacrimal gland and ocular areas. Regarding physiological parameters, heart rate (HR) was higher in G1 compared to the animals in G2, G3 and G4 (p = 0.03). The respiratory rate (RR) was significantly lower in all four study groups during the postoperative events compared to their respective EBasal (p &lt; 0.05), while among treatments, G2, G3 and G4 had a lower RR compared to G1 (p = 0.03). Mild hypothermia was observed in all study groups at E30min and E1h compared to EBasal (p = 0.001). No significant correlation was found between the temperatures of the assessed thermal regions and the physiological traits. In conclusion, CBD, whether administered alone or in combination with meloxicam, demonstrated comparable analgesic efficacy, which could control nociceptive cardiorespiratory and hemodynamic autonomic responses, as there were no significant changes in the facial thermal response between treatments G2, G3 and G4.

Ensuring Africa’s Food Security by 2050: The Role of Population Growth, Climate-Resilient Strategies, and Putative Pathways to Resilience

Africa is grappling with severe food security challenges driven by population growth, climate change, land degradation, water scarcity, and socio-economic factors such as poverty and inequality. Climate variability and extreme weather events, including droughts, floods, and heatwaves, are intensifying food insecurity by reducing agricultural productivity, water availability, and livelihoods. This study examines the projected threats to food security in Africa, focusing on changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and the frequency of extreme weather events. Using an Exponential Growth Model, we estimated the population from 2020 to 2050 across Africa’s five sub-regions. The analysis assumes a 5% reduction in crop yields for every degree of warming above historical levels, with a minimum requirement of 225 kg of cereals per person per year. Climate change is a critical factor in Africa’s food systems, with an average temperature increase of approximately +0.3 °C per decade. By 2050, the total food required to meet the 2100-kilocalorie per adult equivalent per day will rise to 558.7 million tons annually, up from 438.3 million tons in 2020. We conclude that Africa’s current food systems are unsustainable, lacking resilience to climate shocks and relying heavily on rain-fed agriculture with inadequate infrastructure and technology. We call for a transformation in food systems through policy reform, technological and structural changes, solutions to land degradation, and proven methods of increasing crop yields that take the needs of communities into account.

Features of strangeness production in pp and heavy-ion collisions

Based on existing experimental data for A−A collisions starting from the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron energies to those of the CERN Large Hadron Collider, various systematics related to strange hadrons and antihadrons are presented. As in the case of pions, kaons, and protons, the ratio between the average transverse momentum and the square root of the total particle multiplicity per unit rapidity and unit transverse overlap area (〈pT〉/〈dN/dy〉/S⊥) decreases with collision energy and centrality supporting the predictions of the color glass condensate and percolation approaches. The dependencies on 〈dN/dy〉/S⊥ of the slope and offset extracted from the 〈pT〉-particle mass correlation and of the average transverse expansion velocity and kinetic freeze-out temperature, parameters obtained from Boltzmann-Gibbs Blast-Wave fits of pT spectra for strange hadrons, are compared with those for pions, kaons, and protons. The detailed study of the entropy density (〈dN/dy〉/S⊥) dependence of the ratio of strange hadron yields per unit rapidity to the total particle multiplicity per unit rapidity (YS/〈dN/dy〉) at different collision energies and centralities reveals the necessity to study strange hadrons and antihadrons separately. The correlations YS/〈dN/dy〉−〈dN/dy〉/S⊥ for single- and multistrange antihadron yields, as a function of the fireball size, are discussed. The YS/〈dN/dy〉−〈dN/dy〉/S⊥ correlations for combined and separated strange hadron species, at different centralities, clearly show a maximum in the region where a transition from baryon-dominated matter to meson-dominated matter occurs. Comparison with pp experimental data reveals another similarity between pp and Pb-Pb collisions at CERN Large Hadron Collider energies. To facilitate a possible comparison with theoretical approaches, the different correlations are either fitted with suitable functions or the corresponding experimental data are provided. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

The Impact of Courtyard Spatial Characteristics Across Historical Periods on Summer Microclimates: A Case Study from China

This study investigates the impact of spatial changes over a 400-year period on the summer microclimate of a residential courtyard in China. Using ENVI-met simulations, we analyze how factors such as courtyard orientation, building height, and opening positions affect the thermal environment. The results show that east–west-oriented courtyards experienced 0.2–0.4 °C lower daytime temperatures compared to north–south ones. Additionally, taller surrounding buildings increased the courtyard’s average daytime temperature by approximately 0.3–0.5 °C, while courtyards with a single opening facing the prevailing wind maintained the lowest temperatures. These findings underscore the importance of historical spatial characteristics in shaping microclimates and offer key insights for contemporary urban planning. By incorporating design strategies based on these historical spatial features, such as optimizing courtyard orientation, enhancing building height variability, and creating appropriate openings for natural ventilation, urban planners can improve microclimate conditions, reduce reliance on mechanical cooling, and enhance energy efficiency. This approach not only contributes to lowering carbon emissions but also boosts resilience to extreme heat events in urban areas, especially in regions facing rapid urbanization and climate change challenges.

Southern Ocean control on atmospheric CO2 changes across late Pliocene Marine Isotope Stage M2

Abstract. During the Pliocene, atmospheric CO2 concentrations (pCO2) were probably sometimes similar to today's, and global average temperature was ∼3 °C higher than preindustrial. However, the relationships and phasing between variability in climate and pCO2 on orbital timescales are not well understood. Specifically, questions remain about the nature of a lag of pCO2 relative to benthic foraminiferal δ18O in late Pliocene Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) M2 (3300 ka), which was longer than during the Pleistocene. Here, we present a multiproxy paleoceanographic reconstruction of the late Pliocene subtropical–subantarctic zone. New dinoflagellate cyst assemblage data are combined with previously published sea surface temperature reconstructions to reveal past surface conditions, including latitudinal migrations of the subtropical front (STF) over the late Pliocene at Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1168, offshore of western Tasmania. We observe strong oceanographic variability at the STF over glacial–interglacial timescales, especially the interval (3320–3260 ka) across MIS M2. By providing tight and independent age constraints from benthic foraminiferal δ18O, we find that, much more than benthic δ18O or local SST, latitudinal migrations of the STF are tightly coupled to global pCO2 variations across the M2. Specifically, a northerly position of the STF during the MIS M2 deglaciation coincides with generally low pCO2. We postulate that the Southern Ocean CO2 outgassing varied strongly with migrations of the STF and that this in part accounted for the variability in pCO2 across MIS M2.