Cold Ones Research Articles

Archeozoological materials of the settlement of the golden horde time Podymalovo–1

The article presents the results of an archaeozoological study of osteological materials collected during 2022 excavations at the Podymalovo-1 settlement. The settlement dates back to the Golden Horde period and lays in Ufimsky District, the Republic of Bashkortostan. The analysis of the animal species range, the anatomical spectrum of their bones, age and size of slaughtered animals, traces of pathological changes in their bones suggests a reconstruction of the main economic activities of the settlement's inhabitants. It is found that domestic ungulates at Podymalovo-1 were used by farms in multiple ways. The population kept cattle, small ruminants and horses. Cattle breeding was associated with dairy and meat production, while horses were mainly used for farm work. Livestock was kept until mature. It can be explained through their lifetime use to obtain milk, wool, or help. The monument shows traces of leather production and bone carving. Animal bones were used as raw materials for bone items and tools. Beef and horse meat dominated in the settlement residents' diet. Probably, as they consumed horse meat mostly, and never had pork as their meat, they acquired associ- ated ethnic and cultural traditions and religious prohibitions. Determining the season when domestic ungulates were slaughtered showed that people lived there all year round, while livestock was slaughtered more often in warm seasons than in cold ones. The settlement’s life was the most intense in summer and autumn presumably because Podymalovo-1 residents actively interacted with passing trade caravans.

Assessment of CMIP6 models performance in simulation precipitation and temperature over Iran and surrounding regions.

This study investigates the performance of CMIP6 models in reproducing historical temperature and precipitation data for Iran and neighboring countries (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Iraq) from 1980 to 2014. Reanalysis data from the ECMWF database (ERA5) for temperature and precipitation were utilized as a reference for the period 1980-2014. Additionally, ten Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models (AOGCMs) from CMIP6 were employed to simulate temperature and precipitation data for the study region based on the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report databases. The Kling-Gupta Efficiency (KGE) index was used to evaluate the accuracy of CMIP6 models in replicating daily temperature and precipitation. The results indicate that different CMIP6 models exhibit varying degrees of accuracy in simulating historical temperatures and precipitation, depending on the month and the country. For instance, the IPSL-CM6A-LR model demonstrated the best annual performance in estimating temperature in Azerbaijan (KGE = 0.5), while the HadGEM3-GC31-LL model showed the lowest annual performance in Pakistan (KGE = -1.4). Interestingly, the models were found to be more accurate in simulating temperatures during warm months compared to cold ones. Furthermore, the accuracy of different models in estimating annual precipitation varied significantly, ranging from -0.64 (MRI-EMS2-0 model in Afghanistan) to 0.05 (CMCC-ESM2 model in Armenia). Similar to temperature, the study found that models were generally more accurate in simulating precipitation during cold months compared to warm ones.

MORPHOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF ALVEOLAR WEATHERING CAVITIES ON SANDSTONE TORS OF THE UKRAINIAN BESKIDS

The paper systematizes morphological forms of alveolar weathering cavities and presents patterns of their evolution. We have studied the forms of tafoni (cavities 2–10 cm in size), which are found in the crags in the Ukrainian Beskydy. The factors that caused the formation of tafoni in our latitudes are humidity and the inherent specificity of selective weathering in sandstones due to structural and textural features formed during the formation of sediments. In winter periods, the role of frost weathering increases. The crags are composed of sandstones of the Yamna suite of the Palaeocene of the Lower Paleogene age. The lithological composition of the sandstones is represented by quartz and feldspar, which allows us to classify them as typical feldspar-quartz sandstones. The cement is clay-siliceous, sometimes with chlorite, of the basal or contact cementation type. In research region tafoni are distributed on rock surfaces in two ways: locally in small areas or covering large areas e.g. whole crag surface of particular aspect. In the first case, the forms are located in small groups of 10–30 pieces in separate parts of a tor wall. In the second case, they occupy the entire plane of the tor surface or half of the surface of particular exposure. Local groups of tafoni can be divided into three shape varieties: 1) vertical bands, 2) horizontal bands, and 3) lenticular bands. Tafoni concentrations that occupy the entire one plane of the tor can be located on it: a) chaotically, b) in a chain-like manner. The following shapes of particular cavities can be distinguished in the Ukrainian Beskydy: 1) rounded, 2) ellipsoid, 3) vertically elongated, and 4) subtriangular. In the Beskyds, the largest length of ellipsoidal cavities is 20–30 cm, the diameter of rounded cavities reaches 10 cm, and the greatest depth is 15 cm. Investigating the morphology of tafoni in the Beskydy, we distinguished the following stages of their evolution: emergence – deepening – expansion – merging – degradation – re-emergence. On the walls of the Beskydy tors, one can observe tafonic forms at various stages of evolution. We identified morpho-evolutionary varieties of tafoni: A) with all four clear edges, B) with three clear and one leveled wall, C) with all unclear walls. The confinement of cavities to slope exposures was also investigated. Cavities in the Carpathians develop more actively on walls of warm exposures than on cold ones. Tafoni forms on tors, their morphology, evolution and formation factors can be the subject of expert interpretations during geotourism excursions. Key words: cavities, tafoni; morphology, evolution, alveolar weathering; tors; Beskydy, Ukrainian Carpathians.

A Comprehensive Study on Natural Products and their Bioactive Constituents to Cure Respiratory Diseases

Background: In terms of death rates, occurrence, costs, and prevalence, respiratory tract diseases, which include minor issues like the common cold and life-threatening ones like bacterial pneumonia, lung cancers, and tuberculosis, are extremely significant. People have been worried about their health for a long time because of respiratory diseases. Old-style medication has tended to these diseases; however, the accumulation of information produced by elective methodologies, among which medication assumes a significant role, is insignificant. Phytotherapy has consistently given proficient solutions for constant and moderate wellbeing inconveniences and, occasionally, for intense and serious problems. Alleviating the aggravated nasal sections and aviation routes was a shared need in antiquated societies. In this study, we conducted a systematic literature review to gain evidence about herbal products and their phytoconstituents that play a role in respiratory illness. We also predicted the physicochemical properties of various phytoconstituents from therapeutic plants employed to cure respiratory ailments (such as asthma, COPD, cough, tuberculosis, etc.). Objectives: The main objective of this critical study is to explore phytotherapy-based molecules for respiratory illnesses. The physicochemical properties of already isolated compounds have been evaluated to screen for the drug-like behavior of phytoconstituents. Methodology: A wide variety of literature has been collected from PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, and other scientific databases. After an exhaustive review, the chemical structures of phytoconstituents responsible for curing respiratory illness were sketched in ChemDraw Ultra 8.0, and these structures have been taken for further analysis of the physicochemical properties of these phytoconstituents. The crucial parameters of phytoconstituents' physicochemical properties were analyzed using the pkCSM webserver. Result: The results suggest that a variety of phytoconstituents have the potential to treat respiratory illnesses, and the physicochemical parameters reveal that 65 compounds out of 130 screened compounds exhibit Lipinski's rule of five and Veber's rule, while others don't obey these rules. Compounds with optimal physicochemical properties could be promising candidates for emerging respiratory illness treatments. Conclusion: This critical review highlights the possible therapeutic potential of plant-based medicine to cure respiratory illnesses. The finding shows that a wide range of alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, and flavonoids isolated from different herbs may be able to treat respiratory problems. More research is needed to find out the IC50 and MIC values of these compounds against respiratory pathogens like S. pneumoniae and M. tuberculosis.

A Key Interaction Behind the Scenes: Dung Beetles in Livestock Production from Arid and Semi-Arid Rangelands.

Pastoralism is a dominant agricultural activity in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The interaction between coprophagous insects and livestock is a key but an undervalued topic in rangeland management decisions. The objective was to identify similarities and differences in the composition of coprophagous insects and nesting strategies, associated with different climatic conditions within these regions. We performed a literature review of research articles available in the Scopus database which resulted in 17 articles. We examined the taxonomic diversity of dung beetles and their nesting strategies in relation to temperature and precipitation at the study sites. Results revealed a rich and varied interaction between dung beetles and livestock in arid and semi-arid environments, with 364 species from the Scarabaeoidea superfamily documented worldwide. The greatest diversity of dung beetles was reported in hot arid and semi-arid conditions with dry winters and in cold semi-arid ones with no marked annual precipitation cycle. These insects displayed diverse nesting strategies, with endocoprid strategies predominating in colder and drier settings, and paracoprid and telecoprid strategies in warmer, more humid environments. Domestic animal species are currently key components in promoting this interaction, which indicates that the ecological processes involving coprophagous fauna are occurring in production systems, which are under the influence of human decisions. We discuss the design and planning of livestock and rangeland management in arid and semi-arid environments, emphasizing in a more formalized manner the inclusion of this kind of interaction.

Colour in the environment for older adults

Abstract Demographic changes, the growing number of people with disabilities, and the demands on architecture and design are posing new challenges for designers. The space in which older adults live should be safe, not only from a legal point of view but especially to facilitate their daily activities. Modern society prioritizes the integration of older adults into everyday life so that as people grow older, they are not forced to abandon their daily routines because of obstacles in the space. It is said that a person is not handicapped because of their illness, but because society fails to prepare conditions for them to be able to move and live without restrictions. Moving in space is a multisensory experience. People use most of their senses such as sight, hearing, smell, and touch in addition to moving their bodies. How we feel indoors depends on the indoor climate, lighting, surface colours, air quality, floor plan, and furniture layout. Studies show that the materials and colour of products have an impact on how we navigate a space, how we feel and, in some cases, they can even have healing effects. The aim of our study is to investigate the association between colours in the environment and the orientation of people, especially older adults, in the space they live in. Several studies, experiments, and observations of foreign researchers serve as the basis of the paper. The analysis of case studies proved that colours in the environment have a significant impact on orientation in space and can be an effective tool for spatial orientation and drawing attention to a particular place. In surveys that have been conducted with older adults, warm colour tones such as yellow, orange, and red are preferred over cold ones. Red tones are some of the most easily recognizable for older adults who suffer from loss of colour recognition. They have lower cognitive abilities as a result of aging. Therefore, the achromatic environment does not sufficiently stimulate their brain function, leading to longer reaction times. Colour and contrast indoors play a big role in the perception of space and can help in drawing attention to a particular place.

Plant Production Protocols from Seeds of Threatened Atropa baetica and Widespread A. belladonna, Both Rich in Alkaloids.

Members of the genus Atropa contain various tropane alkaloids, including atropine ((±)-hyoscyamine) and scopolamine, which possess medicinal properties. Preserving the diverse genetic background of wild populations via optimal plant production from seeds could be essential for avoiding the loss of potential uses. We analyzed the germination ecology of two Atropa species comprising the threatened A. baetica and widespread A. belladonna to determine the: (1) influence of temperature, light, and seed age on germination patterns; (2) effects of cold stratification and gibberellic acid (GA3); (3) phenology of seedling emergence in outdoor conditions; (4) phenology of dormancy break and loss of viability in buried seeds; and (5) ability to form persistent soil seed banks. Freshly matured seeds exhibited conditional physiological dormancy, with germination at high temperatures (32/18 °C) but not at low and cold ones (5, 15/4, 20/7 °C). The germination ability increased with time of dry storage and with GA3, thereby suggesting nondeep physiological dormancy. Under outdoor conditions, no seedlings emerged during the first post-sown autumn, but emergence peaks occurred in late winter-early spring. Both species could form small persistent soil seed banks with short durations (3-5 years). A plant production protocol from seeds was established for both taxa.

Intensification of compound temperature extremes by rapid urbanization under static and dynamic Urban-rural division: A comparative case study in Hunan Province, Central-South China

Climate extremes, notably compound extremes, pose significant risks to human society and environmental systems. These extremes, heightened by urbanization—a hallmark of modern socioeconomic progression—inflict persistent, intense thermal conditions. The comprehension of urbanization's impact on compound temperature extremes, particularly in Central-South China, a region with rapid urbanization and a subtropical climate, remains limited. In addition, most existing studies relied on static urban-rural division, and few used dynamic division, with no research yet juxtaposing findings from both methods. Against this backdrop, this study provided an unprecedented assessment of urbanization's impact on both individual and compound temperature extremes in Central South China, focusing on Hunan Province during long-time period of 1960–2022 under both static and dynamic urban-rural divisions. In both urban and rural stations, a pronounced warming trend was evident across individual and compound temperature extremes. Besides, a tendency of independent day/night extremes shifting towards extremes spanning both was observed. Notably, the escalation of heat compound extreme temperature indices (ETIs) outpaces that of cold ones, with a larger urban-rural discrepancy under dynamic classifications. Urbanization intensifies temperature extremes, particularly affecting the reduction of independent cold days (30.97 %–33.94 %) and the increase in compound hot events (23.91 %–24.87 %). Interestingly, urbanization's impact is more substantial on independent daytime extremes than on independent nighttime ones. Urbanization's influence on ETIs was consistently observed under both static and dynamic classifications, with the latter revealing a more pronounced contribution (1 %–3 %), and the contribution to compound ETIs is 6 %–8 % higher than to individual ETIs. These findings emphasize the importance of considering urbanization's multifaceted impacts on climate strategies and underscore the need for adaptive infrastructure and sustainable practices to mitigate escalating climate risks.

Promoción de funciones ejecutivas en adolescentes con desarrollo típico: revisión sistemática

During adolescence, hot and cold executive functions are still developing, making it essential to assess and intervene if changes occur. The present study aims to identify, through a systematic review, which interventions in executive functions have been studied in typical adolescents, including hot and cold executive functions, seeking to determine the effects of these interventions in this segment. The search was conducted according to the PRISMA method in the PubMed database. Of the 315 articles initially located, five remained after applying exclusion criteria and analyzing by judges. The selected articles revealed a more significant effect of interventions on cold executive functions than hot ones, which may corroborate previous data suggesting that hot executive functions take longer to be stimulated than cold ones. Only one of the five articles jointly stimulated cold and hot executive functions, which reveals the need for more research in the area. The small number of articles selected, despite limiting the conclusions, reinforces the need to conduct more research on intervention in hot and cold executive functions in typically developing adolescents.

Stage or Sub-Stage: The Contribution of Small Mammals to the Characterization of Middle Pleistocene Local Climate Variation

In western Europe, the Middle Pleistocene is marked by Acheulean settlement and their diversification after the MIS 12. The Arago cave recovery of numerous human settlements correlate to MIS 14, 13 and MIS 12 making it an important site for the understanding of the Lower Palaeolithic in Southwestern Europe. It is also an important site for the understanding of palaeoenvironments and palaeobiodiversity as it has yielded rich faunal associations. The faunal associations allow us to observe three climatic stages within this study: two cold ones and a mild one. Small vertebrates, with their abundance and their diversity, are particularly useful for observing these periods, which historically have been correlated to glacial or interglacial stages. If the first cold phase, dated 438 ± 31 ka, is correlated to the Marine Isotopic Stage 12 (MIS 12), the correlation of the following phases to isotopic stages can be discussed. They may correspond to climatic variations of the MIS 12. Indeed, the latest studies about palaeoclimatic reconstitution which allow us to define the evolution of the palaeo-temperature show that these differences are relatively small. Therefore, instead of a correlation to MIS 12, 13 and 14, the medium complex of the Arago cave could belong solely to MIS 12. The correlation of these environmental changes to other global data, notably the isotopic curve, is challenging because there are various local factors influencing faunal association. We propose here both hypotheses and discuss the various factors which influence the distribution and the representation of the small vertebrate species present on the site.

Occurrence of Anisakis larvae in Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) sold in the city of Marrakesh, Morocco

Human anisakidosis is a parasitic infection caused by the ingestion of nematode larvae of the Anisakidae family contained in various organs of fish and cephalopods consumed raw or undercooked. The aim of this work was to detect and identify morphologically and genetically (PCR and sequencing) the nematode larvae present in both flesh and abdominal cavity of horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) which are widely consumed by the population of Marrakesh. For this purpose, 299 fish were purchased at the wholesale market in refrigerated conditions. They were originated from seven different landing ports along the Atlantic coast (Agadir, Dakhla, El Jadida, Essaouira, Mohammedia, Safi and Sidi Ifni). The fishes were analyzed from November 2017 to December 2019, and 4815 larvae were detected out of 294 positive horse mackerel. This resulted in a prevalence of 98.33% and a mean intensity of 16.38 larvae per fish. Horse mackerel from Mohammedia, El Jadida, Safi, Essaouira, Agadir and Sidi Ifni were more infested than those from Dakhla with a mean intensity of 25.29, 21.33, 18.88, 16.15, 15.90 and 13.86 larvae per fish, respectively, while that from Dakhla was the least infested with a mean intensity of 11.83. These results could be explained by the availability of primary intermediate hosts of Anisakis spp., such as crustaceans (shrimps), which are more abundant in the northern Moroccan Atlantic coast. Furthermore, we have recorded a higher infection in fish during warm seasons (spring and summer) than during cold ones. We also have noticed that as the distance from the fishing area increased, the larvae had more time to migrate from the abdominal cavity to the muscles. All detected larvae were identified morphologically as Anisakis type I and genetically as Anisakis simplex sensu stricto. Statistical analysis showed that the intensity of infection by Anisakis L3 larvae was positively correlated with the weight of horse mackerel and that origin had no impact on fish parasitism.

Sustainability of building-integrated bioclimatic design strategies depending on energy affordability

Bioclimatic design strategies have proven their efficiency in improving the sustainability of buildings. However, their economic benefits, regarded as the main incentive for building owners to incorporate such strategies into buildings, are still unclear since they depend on several factors including the countries' energy accessibility level. This study explores the role of energy affordability level and climatic conditions in incorporating bioclimatic design strategies. Therefore, the effectiveness of integrating seven bioclimatic approaches into a common residential building in six different locations worldwide with disparate climatic conditions, gross domestic products and electricity prices is assessed. The outcomes of each strategy are generated using EnergyPlus software and evaluated based on key energy, economic and environmental metrics. The findings reveal that, for most bioclimatic design strategies, the highest economic profits are achieved in regions where the electricity price to gross domestic product (EPGDP) ratio is high (i.e., where energy is unaffordable). Indeed, the shortest discounted payback period is obtained by using suitable glazing size in hot/moderate climates with higher EPGDP ratio (0.04/0.13 years) and thermal insulation in cold ones (1.17 years). Moreover, the greatest net present values are acquired by integrating thermal insulation in hot/cold zones with up to k$14.04/k$76.73, and window opening design in moderate climates (k$7.32). Additionally, the investigated strategies exhibit significant energy savings and carbon emissions mitigation. This study confirms the benefits of bioclimatic design; nevertheless, awareness campaigns and incentive programs are also essential in motivating households to integrate sustainable strategies into their buildings, especially in regions where energy is affordable.

Permafrost degradation along the Qinghai–Tibet Highway from 1995 to 2020

Permafrost degradation significantly affects engineering infrastructure, hydrologic processes, landscape and geomorphic processes, ecosystems and carbon cycling in cold regions. The permafrost degradation along the Qinghai–Tibet Highway (QTH) on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China, introduces an adverse effect on the deformation of the highway subgrade. At present, observation of a long series of ground temperatures is lacking. From 1995 to 2020, a monitoring system of ground temperature in 10 natural sites along QTH was built and maintained. Ground temperatures at different depths were continuously observed semi-monthly. In this study, permafrost changes along QTH were quantitatively investigated based on these records. The main results showed that both the permafrost table depth (PTD) and ground temperature at different depths exhibited an increasing trend from 1995 to 2020 with widespread spatiotemporal differences. The higher the annual mean and range of PTD were, the higher the increase rate in PTD. The increase rates in PTDs in the warm permafrost regions were 6.18 cm per year larger than those in the cold ones. Overall, the increase rates in ground temperature decreased with the increase in depth at each site. At different depths, the smaller the mean annual ground temperature (MAGT) was, the larger the increase rate in the permafrost temperatures. The larger the range of ground temperatures was, the bigger the increase rate in the permafrost temperatures. At a depth of 6.0 m, the increase rate in the ground temperature in cold permafrost regions was twice that in warm permafrost regions. Information on the magnitudes and differences in permafrost degradation along QTH is necessary for the design of effective adaption strategies for engineering construction and environment protection in permafrost regions under climatic warming.

Extracellular Vesicles: New Classification and Tumor Immunosuppression.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membrane-surrounded vesicles carrying various types of molecules. These EV cargoes are often used as pathophysiological biomarkers and delivered to recipient cells whose fates are often altered in local and distant tissues. Classical EVs are exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, while recent studies discovered autophagic EVs, stressed EVs, and matrix vesicles. Here, we classify classical and new EVs and non-EV nanoparticles. We also review EVs-mediated intercellular communication between cancer cells and various types of tumor-associated cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, adipocytes, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and immune cells. Of note, cancer EVs play crucial roles in immunosuppression, immune evasion, and immunotherapy resistance. Thus, cancer EVs change hot tumors into cold ones. Moreover, cancer EVs affect nonimmune cells to promote cellular transformation, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), chemoresistance, tumor matrix production, destruction of biological barriers, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and metastatic niche formation.

Transmission rate and control efficiency of COVID-19 was lower in warm and wet climate

ABSTRACT COVID-19 has caused huge damage to public health around the world, revealing the influencing factors are essential to take effective control. By using a global dataset covering 617 time series over the world, we estimated the transmission parameters and modeled human and climate effects on COVID-19 transmission. We found that the average transmission rate was lower in warm climate over the world and in wet climate (more precipitation) in Europe. The maximum transmission rate was lower in warm climate in the world, China and USA, and in wet climate in China. The control efficiency in the world, China, and USA was lower in warm and wet condition. In general, our results indicate that warm and wet climate do not favor transmission and human intervention of COVID-19, and COVID-19 transmission rate would be lower in warm and wet seasons or regions than in dry and cold ones.

Environmentally Friendly Building Materials with Beneficial Potential for Indoor Air Quality

Following the obvious increasingly interest for environmental protection and pollution reduction, worldwide, there is a strong orientation for identification and use in buildings some materials that require low power consumption and to determine a pollution low level in all stages of their production and exploitation. These energy and environmental protection criteria can be met successfully by a combination of unburned masonry bodies made of clay, mixed with various other natural materials, and sheep wool thermal insulation mattresses. These construction elements have a beneficial influence on the air quality of the interior space, ensuring, through the permeability to water vapor, the regulation of the relative humidity of the air and, through ability to store thermal energy in warm periods and release it in the cold ones, a uniform temperature distribution inside and avoiding high temperature fluctuations between seasons. Based on the experimental research results, we can identify solutions for achieving a vernacular housing (resistance walls, partition walls, floors, plasters, water protection, thermal insulation and finishing) in terms of safety, comfort and current aesthetic criteria. Keywords: adobe bricks, clay, hemp fibers, straw, sheep wool

Optimization Methods for Redundancy Allocation in Hybrid Structure Large Binary Systems

This paper addresses the issue of optimal redundancy allocation in hybrid structure large binary systems. Two aspects of optimization are considered: (1) maximizing the reliability of the system under the cost constraint, and (2) obtaining the necessary reliability at a minimum cost. The complex binary system considered in this work is composed of many subsystems with redundant structure. To cover most of the cases encountered in practice, the following kinds of redundancy are considered: active redundancy, passive redundancy, hybrid standby redundancy with a hot or warm reserve and possibly other cold ones, triple modular redundancy (TMR) structure with control facilities and cold spare components, static redundancy: triple modular redundancy or 5-modular redundancy (5MR), TMR/Simplex with cold standby redundancy, and TMR/Duplex with cold standby redundancy. A classic evolutionary algorithm highlights the complexity of this optimization problem. To master the complexity of this problem, two fundamentally different optimization methods are proposed: an improved evolutionary algorithm and a zero-one integer programming formulation. To speed up the search process, a lower bound is determined first. The paper highlights the difficulty of these optimization problems for large systems and, based on numerical results, shows the effectiveness of zero-one integer programming.

Solidification of water in a thermal storage unit equipped with nanoparticle

As a viable approach for accelerating the freezing process, inclined fins were attached to cold surfaces in this study. The enclosure has two adiabatic surface and two cold ones. The domain was filled with liquid water and due to cold surfaces; it starts to change to solid. In such situation where conduction plays the key role, convection is of secondary importance and can be ignored in mathematical model. With this proposition, two equations remain including unsteady terms and finite element method was applied to attain the solution with involvement of adaptive mesh. Moreover, validation respected to earlier numerical work indicated the reasonable accommodation. By altering the shape parameter to greater value the period of freezing declines around 5.4 %. Also, adding greater volume of platelet nanoparticles makes time to decrease a bit higher than 11 %.

Heat and cold waves in mainland Spain: Origins, characteristics, and trends

Heat and cold waves are extreme temperature events with a high potential of causing negative impacts on human health, and natural and socioeconomic systems, depending on their duration and intensity. There is, however, no consensual approach to address their definition, which is critical to set priority action areas to prevent such risks. Mainland Spain experiences heat and cold waves every year with important impacts especially in the most populated areas with mild or transition climates. Here we used a high-resolution (5 × 5 km) gridded daily temperature dataset and employed a combination of threshold exceedances of maximum and minimum temperature in the same day to identify heat and cold wave events over 75 years (1940–2014). We further examined the duration and the seasonal/annual intensities to detect potential spatial and temporal patterns. Additionally, we used the days within the most widespread events to perform a synoptic classification to categorise the atmospheric conditions leading to high-risk situations. Our results show a similar historical duration of heat and cold waves (4–5 days) and a much higher seasonal intensity of cold ones (double than heat waves). We find a tipping point in the early 1980s from which heat waves became more frequent, longer, and more intense than cold waves. Finally, we discern between 9 historical weather types with a dominance of southern advections driving heat waves and cold continental north-northeast air masses causing cold waves. Understanding the patterns and trends of heat and cold waves, as well as the mechanisms of their genesis is key to assist in risk management in mainland Spain, especially in the context of a warming climate scenario.

Community assembly along climatic gradient: Contrasting pattern between- and within- species

Grime’s CSR classification of functional strategies in terms of competitors, stress-tolerators and ruderals provides a helpful framework for understanding and predicting vegetation responses to environmental changes. To evaluate the importance of alternative processes that structure plant communities, it is useful to disentangle the community functional variation into interspecific and intraspecific components and assess their degree of co-variation. Few efforts have been made to investigate the habitat filtering theory in all the interspecific and intraspecific components of a plant community. We hypothesized that under intense climatic conditions, such as drought and cold, functional diversity would decrease towards the dominance of stress tolerant strategies, and that such trends would be reinforced by similar variation at the intraspecific level. We investigated the effect of climatic variation on functional diversity and on community-weighted mean along an elevation gradient in central Italy that ranges from dry and warm climatic conditions at lower elevation to cold and moist ones at higher elevation. We ran regression models to disentangle the total community components for both functional diversity and community-weighted mean into interspecific effect, intraspecific effect and their covariation along the climatic gradient. Our observations were in line with the theory of habitat filtering: we found lower diversity of the Grime strategy for species at both warmer and colder climatic conditions, with dominance of the stress-tolerant strategy. Similarly, the intraspecific effect was lower in cold conditions but higher under drier conditions, which seems to indicate that different processes act at the level of individuals. Given the important intraspecific variability observed in this study, it can be proposed that investigations of vegetation communities should take the role of intraspecific variability into greater consideration.