Cold Winter Days Research Articles

ACSA : An Adaptive Content System Architecture

Adapting content services to the needs of the users requires content adaptation for context and sensibility. Adapting to context may necessitate distinguishing between video delivery to a PC versus a smart phone, while adapting to sensibility may necessitate between video delivery outside, in a quiet environment, or at home, or offering different movie choices on a sunny summer day, a cold winter day or a holiday season. One key area to address in providing adaptive content services is the design of the delivery system architecture of the adaptive content server. This paper describes several alternatives for this architecture, and outlines some additional concerns that must be considered when the chosen architecture is implemented.

Monitoring particulate matter levels and climate conditions in a Greek sheep and goat livestock building

Atmospheric pollutants from livestock operations influence air quality inside livestock buildings and the air exhausted from them. The climate that prevails inside the building affects human and animal health and welfare, as well as productivity, while emissions from the building contribute to environmental pollution. The aim of this study was to examine the variation of two climatic parameters (namely temperature and relative humidity) and the levels of particulate matter of different sizes (PM10-PM2.5-PM1), as well as the relationships between them, inside a typical Greek naturally ventilated livestock building that hosts mainly sheep. The concentration of particles was recorded during a 45-day period (27/11-10/1), while temperature and relative humidity were observed during an almost 1-year period. The analysis revealed that the variation of outdoor weather conditions significantly influenced the indoor environment, as temperature and relative humidity inside the building varied in accordance to the outside climate conditions. Temperature remained higher indoors than outdoors during the winter and extremely low values were not recorded inside the building. However, the tolerable relative humidity levels recommended by the International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR) were fulfilled only in 47% of the hours during the almost 1-year period that was examined. This fact indicates that although temperature was satisfactorily controlled, the control of relative humidity was deficient. The concentration of particulate matter was increased during the cold winter days due to poor ventilation. The maximum daily average value of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 concentration equaled to 363, 61 and 30μg/m(3) respectively. The concentration of the coarse particles was strongly influenced by the farming activities that were daily taking place in the building, the dust resuspension being considered as the dominant source. A significant part of the fine particles were secondary, which the production of could be attributed to an increase in relative humidity levels. It is concluded that measures have to be adopted in order to achieve sufficient ventilation and to reduce particulate matter levels.

Factors affecting diurnal stem contraction in young Douglas-fir

Diurnal fluctuation in a tree's stem diameter is a function of daily growth and of the tree's water balance, as water is temporarily stored in the relatively elastic outer cambial and phloem tissues. On a very productive site in southwestern Washington, U.S.A., we used recording dendrometers to monitor stem diameter fluctuations of Douglas-fir at plantation ages 7 and 8 and related the fluctuations to environmental variables measured on-site. Growing-season diurnal stem contraction (DSC) averaged 0.21% of stem diameter, while dormant-season DSC averaged 0.03% of stem diameter. Maximum daily stem diameter generally occurred between 7:00 and 9:00 Pacific Standard Time (PST) and minimum stem diameter occurred between 17:00 and 20:00 PST. Diurnal stem contraction during the growing season was predicted by a model that included vapor pressure deficit and solar radiation (adjusted R 2 = 0.84). A similar model predicted DSC during the dormant season with an adjusted R 2 = 0.26. Soil water availability was high, and soil water content was not correlated with DSC. On four of the coldest winter days (mean daytime air temperature <0 °C), large decreases in stem diameter were observed. Recording dendrometers, used for continuous diameter measurements throughout the growing season, have the potential to provide important information not only on tree growth but also on a tree's water balance.

The association between stratospheric weak polar vortex events and cold air outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere

Previous studies have identified an association between temperature anomalies in the Northern Hemisphere and the strength of stratospheric polar westerlies. Large regions in northern Asia, Europe and North America have been found to cool during the mature and late stages of weak vortex events in the stratosphere. A substantial part of the temperature changes are associated with changes in the Northern Annular Mode (NAM) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) pressure patterns in the troposphere. The apparent coupling between the stratosphere and the troposphere may be of relevance for weather forecasting, but only if the temporal and spatial nature of the coupling is known. Using 51 winters of re-analysis data, we show that the development of the lower-tropospheric temperature relative to stratospheric weak polar vortex events goes through a series of well-defined stages, including the formation of geographically distinct cold air outbreaks. At the inception of weak vortex events, a precursor signal in the form of a strong high-pressure anomaly over northwest Eurasia is associated with long-lived and robust cold anomalies over Asia and Europe. A few weeks later, near the mature stage of the weak vortex events, a shorter-lived cold anomaly emerges off the east coast of North America. The probability of cold air outbreaks increases by more than 50% in one or more of these regions during all phases of the weak vortex events. This shows that the stratospheric polar vortex contains information that can be used to enhance forecasts of cold air outbreaks. As large changes in the frequency of extremes are involved, this process is important for the medium-range and seasonal prediction of extreme cold winter days. Three-hundred-year pre-industrial control simulations by 13 coupled climate models corroborate our results. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society and Crown Copyright.

On a cold winter's day

Winter is here, it is cold outside. From my windows I can see that the Sound between Denmark and Sweden is covered with ice – like in the cold winter of 1658 when the Swedes used the frozen waterways to transport military troops. We were defeated and lost one third of Denmark to the Swedes. Like in those days, we did not expect a cold winter this year. Leading up to the Climate Summit in Copenhagen last December we had all expected a warm winter. Based on observational studies and extrapolations – admittedly poor evidence not higher than level 5 – we believed that the carbon dioxide we produced in recent years had changed the climate. And we thought that we would be able to control the weather by a slight change in behaviour. Did we insult the weather gods? Did we get too close to their jurisdiction? Was it Hybris to even suggest and discuss a plan for how to avoid climate changes? The answer is blowing in the cold wind. In times of uncertainty and even despair, it is nice to know that we have ACTA – the journal that publishes only scientific papers. Even if this issue of ACTA does not provide evidence that changes the World, it may give you some thoughts and ideas to come closer to an understanding of the nature of women, and the results of our care and interventions. In this issue of ACTA you will find an invitation to come to the European (EBCOG) and Nordic (NFOG) meetings this late spring. The chairman of EBCOG, Peter Hornnes, appraises the state of the current level of collaboration and harmonisation within Europe: It is too soon to have common European guidelines – they are simply unattainable. However, EBCOG wants to develop common standards – not to regulate the actual medical treatment – but to set up a framework to point out which issues we need to address and how. Examples of such standards are found in the guest comment. A European project on serious rare complications at delivery has been initiated by Marian Knight and Peter Brocklehurst from NPEU, Oxford. The project is based on reportings from delivery units in UK, who does not collect background data like the Nordic countries. In this issue of ACTA, colleagues from Italy (Stivanello et al.) report on peripartum hysterectomy and how far you can get with routine registration, without prospective collection of data in a specific project. The Nordic countries have started to collect case based data on peripartum hystertectomy, uterine rupture, placenta accreta and excessive postpartum bleeding using identical specific questionnaires – the NOSS project (www.noss.nu) – and will in this way update our knowledge on risk factors and current treatment modalities in these serious complications. We already have information on the background population and medical history and follow up in cases and controls in our medical birth registries and patient registers, which will enable us to get a more complete picture of the consequences of different attitudes towards cesarean delivery in obstetrics. In a commentary three UK researchers convey a dream that serum biomarkers may be used for a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies in the future. Admittedly, we will need a lot of research before we have a kit – and we still need to select the women to test. Bols et al. have written an outstanding and very detailed systematic review of longitudinal studies on fecal incontinence after delivery – one of the subjects raised when we discuss mode of delivery and when we repair sphincter ruptures. They found that a third or fourth degree tear was the only factor that was associated with subsequent fecal incontinence. Now we only need good studies on how to prevent the ruptures – it seems that good Norwegian studies are on their way. Tyldum et al. in a well-defined cohort could not find any protective effect of pre-pregnancy physical activity on preeclampsia risk. This is an important message to convey to the prepregnant women who are on endorphins. The study is a good example of

The Mitten (review)

Reviewed by: The Mitten Hope Morrison Aylesworth, Jim, ad. The Mitten; illus. by Barbara McClintock. Scholastic, 2009 32p. ISBN 978-0-439-92544-0 $16.99 R* 4-7 yrs A little boy loses a red woollen mitten one snowy day; while he is warming up by the fire with a mug of cocoa and the companionship of his beloved grandmother, a squirrel, a rabbit, a fox, a bear, and a mouse cumulatively squeeze in and find refuge from the cold in his cozy red mitten until "the mitten BURST apart and spilled them all out onto the snow!" This retelling of the familiar story is bursting (ahem) with humor and spirit; extensive repetition and rhythmic patterning offer heaps of readaloud appeal, while the gentle focus on the boy's relationship with his grandma steeps the tale in domestic warmth. Occasional verse interpolations add a melodic sensibility to the narrative, and the careful spacing of the text on the large pages contributes to the easy readability and pacing. McClintock's homey ink, gouache, and watercolor compositions, with their delicate precision evoking nineteenth-century illustration, capture the spirit of both the human and animal characters, with subtle shifts in facial expressions and body language contributing to characterization. The chaotic energy of the exploding mitten is riotously depicted with abundant shreds of red yarn filling a double-page spread amidst flying, wide-eyed animals; there's also contrast with the scene wherein the startled boy and grandmother discover the bits and pieces of yarn. This is a fresh and wonderful take on a familiar tale that deserves to be shared extensively, particularly on a cold winter day. [End Page 183] Copyright © 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Change in the distribution of a member of the strand line community: the seaweed fly (Diptera: Coelopidae)

Abstract 1. Coastal organisms are predicted to be particularly susceptible to the impact of global warming. In this study the distribution and relative abundance of two coastal invertebrates, Coelopa frigida (Fabricius) and C. pilipes are investigated.2. Coelopa pilipes has a more southerly distribution than C. frigida, and prefers a warmer climate. Coelopa pilipes is less resistant to sub‐zero temperatures than C. frigida and its northerly distribution is probably limited by cold winter days.3. The most recent distribution map of C. frigida and C. pilipes in northern Europe was published a decade ago and showed the northerly extent of the distribution of C. pilipes reaching the north coast of mainland Scotland but its complete absence from the Western and Northern Isles.4. C. pilipes has now spread throughout the Western Isles and the Orkney Islands but is still absent from Shetland. There has also been an increase in the relative frequency of C. pilipes at sites harbouring coelopids on the British mainland. A similar pattern of distribution change along the west coast of Sweden is reported.5. It is proposed that these changes have occurred primarily as a result of global warming and in particular due to the recent increase in winter temperatures. A number of other indirect effects may have also contributed to these changes, including a probable change in macroalgae distribution. The implications of these changes for the wrack bed ecosystem and at higher trophic levels are considered.

Temperature scenarios for Norway: from regional to local scale

Scenarios with daily time resolution are frequently used in research on the impacts of climate change. These are traditionally developed by regional climate models (RCMs). The spatial resolution, however, is usually too coarse for local climate change analysis, especially in regions with complex topography, such as Norway. The RCM used, HIRHAM, is run with lateral boundary forcing provided from two global medium resolution models; the ECHAM4/OPYC3 from MPI and the HadAM3H from the Hadley centre. The first is run with IPCC SRES emission scenario B2, the latter is run with IPCC SRES emission scenarios A2 and B2. All three scenarios represent the future time period 2071-2100. Both models have a control run, representing the present climate (1961-1990). Daily temperature scenarios are interpolated from HIRHAM to Norwegian temperature stations. The at-site HIRHAM-temperatures, both for the control and scenario runs, are adjusted to be locally representative. Mean monthly values and standard deviations based on daily values of the adjusted HIRHAM-temperatures, as well as the cumulative distribution curve of daily seasonal temperatures, are conclusive with observations for the control period. Residual kriging are used on the adjusted daily HIRHAM-temperatures to obtain high spatial temperature scenarios. Mean seasonal temperature grids are obtained. By adjusting the control runs and scenarios and improving the spatial resolution of the scenarios, the absolute temperature values are representative at a local scale. The scenarios indicate larger warming in winter than in summer in the Scandinavian regions. A marked west-east and south-north gradient is projected for Norway, where the largest increase is in eastern and northern regions. The temperature of the coldest winter days is projected to increase more than the warmer temperatures.

A cool case: hypothermia and adrenal failure

On a cold winter's day in June, 2004, a 68-year-old woman was found on the floor of her unheated house by a relative who last had contact with her 28 h previously, when she complained of cough and diarrhoea. There was no significant medical history and she did not take any regular medications. At presentation to our emergency department, her core temperature was 24·9°C, blood pressure was 80 mm Hg systolic, pulse rate 40, and Glasgow coma scale 11. Physical examination showed signs consistent with right basal pneumonia.

Analysis of satellite derived beam and global solar radiation data

Images from the GOES 8 satellite were used along with auxiliary information such as snow cover to produce an hourly solar radiation database on a 0.1° grid for the Pacific Northwest from 1998 through 2002 [Perez, R., Ineichen, P., Moore, K., Kmiecik, M., Chain, C., George, R., Vignola, F. 2002. A new operational satellite-to-irradiance model. Solar Energy 73(5), 307–317]. Both global and beam irradiance values were derived from the satellite images and diffuse values were calculated from the beam and global values. Data from the University of Oregon Solar Radiation Monitoring Network were used to help refine and validate the model used to produce the database from the satellite images. This article presents new and independent tests of this satellite database from one year with high quality data from Kimberly, Idaho that was not used in the original development and testing of the satellite model. The mean bias error of the satellite-derived global and beam irradiance values were 5% and 2% respectively. The standard deviation ranged from 22% for global values to 41% for beam values. The largest discrepancies occur on clear winter days when it is difficult to distinguish between frost or snow on the ground and low lying fog or clouds. It is suggested that ground-based solar or visibility measurements or auxiliary satellite data are needed to augment the satellite cloud cover and snow cover data to reduce errors that can occur during cold winter days.

Encoding New Episodes and Making Them Stick

How do we encode, store, and retrieve new episodic memories, and what are the computations performed by the hippocampus during this process? One system that has been used to model the brain basis of episodic memory in humans is the study of spatial navigation by path integration in rodents. Here I discuss three exciting new findings focused on encoding or replay of spatial sequences in the rat hippocampus. These findings not only provide important new insight into the computations associated with encoding and consolidation of spatial trajectories, but may also have implications for understanding key aspects of human episodic memory.

Design and Implemention of a Device, which Remotely Starts-Up and Checks the Gasoline Engines

In this study, a remote cotrol device has been designed and manufacturing for starting and preheating the engine before movement in cold winter days. This is also a security device against the bomb, which Works by vibration or heat. From security point of view, it has been controlled that hand brake is fully applied and the transmission is in neutral. On the vehiches with burglar, alarm, the system automatically turns off the burglar alarm during the starting-up the engine. The starting the engine is sensed by the engine speed and the starter is stooped to keep it in safe.

Outdoor activities for winter

Do you dread cold winter days and the thought of being cooped up inside with a group of noisy toddlers? Children love being outside, so don’t feel you have to stay in. There is always something to do and fun to be had, whatever the weather. Here are some ideas to get you started

Comparison of clear-sky surface radiative fluxes simulated with radiative transfer models

The surface fluxes of several important radiatively active gases, including H2O, CO2, CH4, N2O, O3, and the chlorofluorocarbons CFC11 and CFC12, were simulated with the radiation band models from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) community climate model 3 (CCM3), the single-column community atmospheric model (SCAM), and the Canadian global climate model 3 (GCM3). These results were compared with the measured fluxes for a very cold winter day and with the simulated results for other standard atmospheres using the line-by-line radiative transfer model (LBLRTM). The comparison shows that the total surface radiative flux contributed by all the greenhouse gases combined is well simulated by the SCAM and GCM3 radiation band models. The two models generally agree within about 1% of the line-by-line result for all the atmospheric conditions studied. The error in the total flux simulated by the older CCM3 code, however, can be as large as 7% depending on the atmospheric conditions. The SCAM code consistently models H2O better than the CCM3 and GCM3 codes, typically displaying errors of less than 1 W/m2 for all atmospheric conditions. All of the models have difficulty in modelling accurately the radiative flux of CH4 and N2O. In general, the inaccuracy increases, by as much as 200% in some cases, as the amount of H2O in the atmosphere increases. The source of the problem appears to be related to the overlapping bands of other gases. The error in the ozone flux varies from 5% to 15% for the CCM3 and SCAM models, and it can be as large as 30% for the GCM3 code. The CCM3 and SCAM models simulated the chlorofluorocarbon fluxes to within 0.06 W/m2, but this leads to relative errors of 20%–40% for the various atmospheric scenarios. The errors for the CFCs are even larger in the case of the GCM3 model.

Effect of seasonal variations on the emergence of deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremity

Objective: We aimed to determine the role of seasonal and meteorological variations in the incidence of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Methods: A total of 296 patients with DVT for the first time were admitted to the Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic of the Alsancak State Hospital during the four-year period between January 1999 and December 2002. Of these cases, 151 were women (51%) and the average age was 58.8 years. We investigated the effect of each month and season on the onset of acute symptoms of DVT. Meteorological data were also compared during the onset of disease. Results: We found that DVT frequency significantly increased during the six-month period between October and March, particularly on the coldest winter days and when atmospheric pressure was low. Conclusions: Lower extremity DVT significantly correlates with meteorological variables such as cold temperatures and low atmospheric pressure. Further multicentric prospective studies are necessary to determine the extent of these effects.

Suitable roof constructions for warm climates—Gazimağusa case

This research aims to find the suitable roof constructions for warm climates. The research has been carried out at Gazimağusa, North Cyprus. With the limited research budget 14 different roof constructions were selected and tested on a test house. These constructions included the types which are widely used in Cyprus and also the new ones. The roof constructions were tested under continuously air-conditioned and non-acclimatised regimes. They were also tested for the risk of condensation. Most of the research on similar aspects were done in terms of energy loss and gain. This research has been designed to study the roof constructions in terms of thermal comfort of the users. Naturally, the roof constructions which have the highest thermal resistance will result in lowest heat gain and loose. In this study instead of finding the roof constructions which gain the least amount of heat during the hottest days of summer or the ones which loose the least amount of heat during the coldest days of winter, it was aimed to find how much they provide thermal comfort throughout the year. In this respect, the roofs with thermal insulation showed the best performance. The location of the thermal insulation materials towards the inner surface of the section increased the performance. Inclined timber roof constructions on reinforced concrete ceiling save the buildings from solar bombarding in summer. However, to prevent the humidity accumulated, the attic space should be very well ventilated. On flat roofs, not only the thermal resistance of the roof section, but also the light reflectance of outside surface materials effected the thermal performance. Outside surface materials with very high light reflectance reduced heat gain in summer considerably. In buildings which are air conditioned in summer, there is condensation risk. The defects due to this condensation can be avoided by the use of thermal insulation materials which are not effected from water. There is also condensation risk for winter. However, it was found that this condensation can dry if the building is ventilated.

Staffan Hildebrand: film maker who charts the spread of AIDS

One cold winter day in 1987 Staffan Hildebrand was summoned to the office of Hans Wigzell President of the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Hildebrand already a cult figure in Sweden for his controversial youth documentaries had made a film about AIDS in 1986. But Wigzell had in mind a far vaster and more challenging project: he wanted to document the spread of the epidemic around the world for the next 30 years. Since that meeting Hildebrand and his teams of film makers have followed HIV/AIDS to Uganda Thailand Brazil France then Russia the Philippines South Africa and Nigeria—to 40 countries in total shooting over 500 hours of film for the “Face of AIDS” project. Like a modern-day Cassandra endowed with the power of prophecy but unable to prevent the course of fate Hildebrand has watched the disease repeat its pattern of destruction in country after country. His films are intended as slices of frozen time allowing future researchers to look back and see not just statistics but how those affected thought and looked and felt at the time. The Face of AIDS team has interviewed scientists prostitutes community activists and teenagers like Sergei a former junkie who helps other adolescents in Kiev to get off drugs. So far the team has produced 23 documentaries. One of them Global Youth Fighting HIV and AIDS opened the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok in July 2004. (excerpt)

Dairy cooperative societies-Perceptions of milk producer members

Data collected from milk producing members of 20 dairy cooperative societies in eastern Rajasthan reveal various bottlenecks in the functioning of these societies. Timings of supply of milk by the producers mainly affected women cooperative members, who ranked this as their main infrastructural concern; it meant they had to get up early in the morning on cold winter days to milk cows. The male members interviewed cited irregular and inadequate supply of cattle feed, non-availabiiity of emergency veterinary services, and infrequent visits of veterinary staff-tasks for which males took responsibility-as the prime infrastructural problems. Delay in payments and irregular bonus disbursement were the economic constraints ranked high by both male and female members, as was the poor conception rate in buffalo, which was cited as the top ranking technical constraint by both male and female respondents. On socio-psychological constraints, the prominent issues were perceived to be infrequent meetings of the society, and the perception that the cooperative was meant for influential people. Manipulation of testing of the fat content of milk and malpractices from the society to the chilling centre were the top ranking marketing constraints as encountered by male and female milk producer members.

Determination of the dynamics of the odour release from a pig house, using an electronic odour sensor

The widely fluctuating operating conditions in pig husbandry, due to climatic and biological changes (changes in temperature and air flowrate between day and night, as well as between summer and winter, increasing animal mass during the fattening process, etc.) exert a significant influence on the amount of actual odour emission. The project presented here comprised the measurement of seasonal (fattening course), daytime-related, and short-term (feeding) dynamic effects of odour release, as well as the identification of potential factors which influence the amount of odour emitted. In parallel with "classic" olfactometry, an electronic odour sensor with a chemosensor array of ten metal oxide sensors was employed. The highest odour emissions are measured on hot summer days, while the lowest emissions were determined on cold winter days. On the one hand, the sensor signals of the electronic odour sensor exhibited considerable differences on days with large volume flow alterations. On the other hand, continuous measurement with the electronic odour sensor allowed changes in the gas- and odorant composition of the exhaust air during feeding times to be shown. From the measurement results, recommendations for odour sampling, the consideration of seasonal odour emission fluctuations, and the use of electronic odour sensors for the evaluation of odour emissions have been derived.

Birds in the cold: The effects of plumage structure and environment on operative temperature, shown by spherical models

question I photographed free-living birds in such a way that the total volume of the bird could be estimated. It was then assumed that the bird could be represented by a sphere of the measured volume with a core (kept at 40 °C) of which the volume in cm3 was equal to the bird’s mass in g. The overall thermal conductance of the spherical model was calculated and compared with what could be expected for real birds based on metabolic data from the literature. The conductance calculated for the models was consistently lower than predictions from the literature. The discrepancy was as could be expected, and became smaller with decreasing size. For small birds the fit was quite good and the relative plumage thickness approached the value where further increase would have a relatively small effect. The model suggests that the operative temperature of a small bird perching in the sun on a cold winter day can exceed the air temperature by more than 20 °C on thermally favoured sites. Alternatively expressed, the energy saved can exceed the basal metabolic rate. For a plumage penetrable for solar radiation the excess may be still higher, even when the reflectivity is rather high. It is estimated that the operative temperature may exceed the preferred range already with an air temperature of 10 °C.