High Humidity Climate Research Articles

A multiphase flow model of water droplets dielectrophoretic-induced air dehumidification phenomena

Air humidity in indoor spaces plays a critical role in human comfort and health. Dehumidification systems are used for building humidity controls, but they can take significant energy consumption, especially in geographic locations with high outdoor humidity and warm climates. Consequently, there is a growing demand for innovative dehumidification processes that consume minimal energy. Dielectrophoretic air dehumidification represents one such promising approach. However, it has not garnered significant attention due to the absence of engineering models and simulation tools capable of evaluating its performance and limitations at large-scale airflows. A new numerical multiphase CFD model, which is also experimentally validated, is developed in a customized Reacting Foam solver based on OpenFOAM® version 9. The newly developed model seeks to decrease substantial energy consumption and lower costs by leveraging the dielectrophoretic phenomenon to regulate moisture levels in the air. The solver integrates a hybrid Eulerian-Lagrangian framework to track the droplet's trajectory and growth rate while solving the continuum equations for the moist air. An electrospray produces electrically charged droplets, which grow during their in-flight trajectories as water vapor condenses onto their surfaces. The role of electrostatic forces in promoting vapor condensation within a high-gradient electrical field is investigated, and the dielectrophoretic vapor nucleation process on charged water droplets is discussed. The CFD model was validated against results from the literature and from proof-of-concept experiments conducted by the authors, which showed a 2 % air dehumidification with a single electrospray and airflow rate of 5 cubic feet per minute. The simulation results indicated that augmenting the number of electrically charged spray droplets increased the dehumidification of the air to 25 %. The initial mean droplet diameter, the orientation of the injector and relative humidity significantly influence the assessment of dehumidification. Scaling up this approach to larger airflow volumes is identified as a potential future research direction.

Analysis of Main Components of Five Mulberry Varieties in Tropics.

Mulberries (Morus alba L.) contain rich and beneficial nutrients for human health. However, as a temperate adaptive species, high-temperature and high-humidity climate conditions may alter the main nutritional value of mulberries after their intended arrival in tropical regions, which has not yet been reported on. In this study, we analyzed the differences in morphology, sugars, organic acids, free amino acids, and aroma contents of five mulberry varieties in the tropics between two harvesting periods. The results show that the full-ripe fruits of M. laevigata W (TLM) have the longest fruit length (83.67 mm) and highest brix (25.90); meanwhile, full-ripe fruits of M. atropurpurea R (D10M) have the longest fruit transverse stem (20.00 ± 0.577 mm) and single-fruit weight (9.63 ± 0.033 g). Fructose, glucose, and sucrose were the main sugars, and oxalic acid, quinic acid, malic acid, and citric acid were the main organic acids in all varieties; in addition, the sucrose content in mature fruits of M. laevigata W. (BLM) and M. alba L. BZZ (BZM) was significantly higher than other sugars. Twenty free amino acids were detected in all five varieties and asparagine was the main free amino acid. A total of 100 volatile compounds were identified, including 31 esters, 20 aldehydes, 14 hydrocarbons, 11 alcohols, 10 acids, 6 ketones, and 8 others. Although the main components of five mulberry full-ripe fruits were significantly higher than the green-ripe fruits, gamma-amino butyric acid and a few other components were otherwise. The research results show that the tropical climate conditions could increase the main nutritional components of mulberries, but the specific molecular regulatory mechanisms need to be further analyzed.

Time of arrival during plant disease progression and humidity additively influence Salmonella enterica colonization of lettuce.

Bacterial leaf spot of lettuce caused by Xanthomonas hortorum pv. vitians is a common threat to leafy green production. The global impact caused by phytopathogens, including X. vitians, is likely to increase with climate change. We found that even under a scenario where increased humidity did not enhance plant disease, high humidity had a substantial effect on facilitating Salmonella enterica growth on Xanthomonas-infected plants. High humidity climates may directly contribute to the survival of human enteric pathogens in crop fields or indirectly affect bacterial survival via changes to the phyllosphere brought on by phytopathogen disease.

Thermal and Humidity Performance Test of Rammed-Earth Dwellings in Northwest Sichuan during Summer and Winter.

Rammed-earth dwellings have a long history in the construction field. It is a natural material that is both green and environmentally friendly. In recent years, the advantages of rammed earth, such as environmental protection, low cost, and recyclability, have attracted considerable attention. In this study, the thermal and humidity physical properties of rammed-earth materials in the northwest Sichuan region, the variation laws of thermal physical parameters, such as the thermal conductivity of rammed-earth under different moisture content conditions, and isothermal moisture absorption and desorption curves were investigated. The results indicated that the thermal physical parameters of the rammed earth measured in the experiment increased with an increase in moisture content, and its moisture absorption performance was better than the moisture release performance in the range of 11.31-97.3% relative humidity. The experimental site, Mianyang City, Sichuan Province, is a subtropical monsoon humid climate zone characterized by warm winters and hot summers with four distinct seasons. In this study, we investigated the hygrothermal coupling transfer of walls, as well as the indoor temperature and humidity changes in new rammed-earth buildings during summer and winter climates. During the test period, the maximum indoor temperature in summer was 35.08 °C, the minimum temperature was 33.76 °C, and the average daily temperature fluctuation was 3.62 °C. In winter, the maximum indoor temperature was 8.59 °C, the minimum temperature was 6.18 °C, and the average daily temperature fluctuation was 1.21 °C. An analysis was performed on the thermal insulation performance of rammed-earth buildings in an extremely high-temperature climate during summer, thermal insulation performance, the thermal-buffering capacity of walls in a low-temperature and high-humidity climate during winter, and thermal and humidity regulation of indoor environments provided by walls during summer and winter. The results showed that the rammed-earth buildings exhibited warmth in winter, coolness in summer, and a more stable and comfortable indoor environment.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Lactation Traits in Chinese Holstein Cows in Southern China.

Lactation traits are economically important for dairy cows. Southern China has a high-temperature and high-humidity climate, and environmental and genetic interactions greatly impact dairy cattle performance. The aim of this study was to identify novel single-nucleotide polymorphism sites and novel candidate genes associated with lactation traits in Chinese Holstein cows under high-temperature and humidity conditions in southern China. A genome-wide association study was performed for the lactation traits of 392 Chinese Holstein cows, using GGP Bovine 100 K SNP gene chips. Some 23 single nucleotide polymorphic loci significantly associated with lactation traits were screened. Among them, 16 were associated with milk fat rate, 7 with milk protein rate, and 3 with heat stress. A quantitative trait locus that significantly affects milk fat percentage in Chinese Holstein cows was identified within a window of approximately 0.5 Mb in the region of 0.4-0.9 Mb on Bos taurus autosome 14. According to Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses, ten genes (DGAT1, IDH2, CYP11B1, GFUS, CYC1, GPT, PYCR3, OPLAH, ALDH1A3, and NAPRT) associated with lactation fat percentage, milk yield, antioxidant activity, stress resistance, and inflammation and immune response were identified as key candidates for lactation traits. The results of this study will help in the development of an effective selection and breeding program for Chinese Holstein cows in high-temperature and humidity regions.

Surface flaking mechanism of stone components of ancient building complex in Wudang Mountain, China

Surface flaking, a deterioration pattern widely existing in stone components of the ancient building complex in Wudang Mountain, has significantly compromised its historical value. However, a comprehensive investigation into the mechanisms underlying surface flaking of stone components in this region has not been conducted thus far. This study aims to address this gap by employing a range of techniques, such as X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, to explore the factors contributing to the observed surface flaking. Petrographic analysis revealed that chlorite schists is widely used in ancient buildings as a natural building material, containing clinochlore, actinolite, albite, muscovite, quartz, and various clay minerals. Comparative analyses of mineral composition and microstructure of the samples exhibiting varying degrees of deterioration suggested that the water–rock interaction played a crucial role in surface flaking. It is proposed that this interaction potentially altered the physicochemical and structural characteristics of the stones through the hydration swelling effect of clay minerals (illite, clinochlore, and vermiculite) and dissolution effect of soluble minerals (muscovite, albite, and zeolite). Consequently, an increase in secondary porosity and a weakening of cohesiveness occurred, leading to a reduction in the overall strength of the stone and eventual flaking along the schistosity plane. Furthermore, this deterioration mechanism was validated by comparing strength and deformation of samples under different dry and wet conditions. The findings of this study will not only guide the comprehensive conservation of the ancient building complex in Wudang Mountain but also provide theoretical and methodological support for the preservation of substantialstone cultural relics located in the high-humidity climate zone of southern China.

Experimental study on the application of air-source heat pump in a warm-temperate extreme-arid-desert climate zone

Clean and low-carbon heating methods are vigorously promoted in China under a carbon peak and carbon neutrality background. The application of air-source heat pump system (ASHP) technology has become a research hotspot as a clean and low-carbon heating method. This paper investigated the performance of an ASHP applied in Hotan, Xinjiang, China, categorized as a warm-temperate extreme-arid-desert climate (WT-EADC) zone. The actual performance of an air-source heat pump heating system with radiant floor heating (ASHP-RF) was tested experimentally using a WT-EADC zone. The system performance of the low-temperature and high-humidity climate (LTHHC), typical climate (TC), and high-temperature and low-humidity climate (HTLHC) was thoroughly examined. Results show that the system performances of the LTHHC, TC, and, HTLHC differ significantly. The average coefficient of performance (COP) values of the system under these conditions were 2.13, 2.24, and 2.46, respectively. The COP of the system increased initially with increasing ambient temperature and decreased with increasing ambient relative humidity. During the operation of the ASHP-RF, there was an ambient relative humidity corresponding to the optimal efficiency. The experimental results demonstrated that the ASHP-RF completely met the heating demand of buildings under a warm-temperate extreme-arid-desert climate, demonstrating the advantages of high efficiency and exhibiting broad-application prospects.

Morphological, palynological and transcriptomic-based SSR assessment of peony varieties adaptive in the Jiangnan region

The peony shrub belongs to the genus Paeonia in the family Paeoniaceae, is widely used in gardens and has great ornamental and medicinal value. Affected by the local high-temperature and high-humidity climate, there are few peony varieties adapted to growth in Jiangnan, China, and the genetic relationship between the varieties is unclear. In this study, simple repeat sequences (SSRs) were constructed based on transcriptomics, and 20 new SSR molecular markers suitable for peony varieties that adaptive growth in Jiangnan region were developed and characterized. A total of 144 alleles were detected in 38 peony germplasms, the average number of alleles per locus was 6.857, the effective number of alleles ranged from 2.000 to 6.191, and the average was 3.398. The observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.056 to 1.000 and 0.258 to 0.855, respectively. Polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.243 to 0.842 with an average of 0.581, and the Shannon information index (I) ranged from 0.478 to 2.217 and was 1.318 on average. The markers exhibited good polymorphism and generality. The outer wall decoration of pollen grains and the UPGMA clustering method based on the genetic similarity coefficient were used to evaluate the genetic relationship among the peony varieties adapted to the Jiangnan region. The results showed that the results of the cluster analysis using two methods were generally consistent. Most of the native species in Jiangnan were clustered together, and the imported species were clustered together, but some cultivars could not be well distinguished by the differentiation morphology of the pollen outer wall, and the UPGMA clustering tree based on SSR molecular markers complemented them. In addition, allele-based population structure analysis further explained the genetic relationship of these varieties. The results of the population structure map showed that extensive gene exchanges occurred among the peony varieties in Jiangnan and the genetic background was more complex; the closer the genetic relationship was, the more similar the genetic composition of the cultivar. The results of this study will provide important auxiliary breeding tools and theoretical guidance for evaluating the genetic diversity, breeding practices, and germplasm innovation of peony varieties in the Jiangnan region.

Detecting hydrologic distinctions among Andean lakes using clumped and triple oxygen isotopes

Oxygen isotope distributions from lacustrine carbonates provide insights into climate and hydrological change, but it is difficult to isolate the influences of catchment precipitation δ18O, water temperature, and evaporation on lacustrine carbonate δ18O values. Recent work shows the potential for using a combination of clumped (Δ47) and triple oxygen isotope (Δ′17O) measurements to identify the roles of temperature and evaporation on carbonate δ18O values in lakes, allowing precipitation δ18O values to be inferred and facilitating paleoclimate reconstructions. However, modern calibration of this approach has been mostly limited to arid regions with a high ratio of evaporative losses over inputs (XE) and low relative humidity (h<0.7). Developing this tool for paleoclimate and paleoelevation reconstructions requires expanding the modern calibrations to a greater range of climatic and hydrologic conditions. We sampled four lakes in different hydrologic states under a single, high humidity climate regime (h=0.7–0.9) in the Lake Junín region of central Peru. Clumped isotope temperatures from lake carbonates reflect water temperatures during carbonate formation. Lake hydrology is the main control on the Δ′17O values of carbonates and waters: Δ′17O values are lowest in the larger lakes with higher XE when compared to smaller, headwater lakes where evaporation is minimal and Δ′17O is indistinguishable from that of precipitation. Reconstructed unevaporated catchment precipitation δ′18O (δ′18Orucp) values from lake waters rely on accurate characterization of λlake, the triple oxygen isotope evaporation slope. We explore the influence of humidity on λlake using both new observations and modeled data. Accounting for local humidity improves λlake estimates, which allows for more accurate reconstructions of δ′18Orucp. We generate a δ′18Orucp value of −15.2±2.1‰ from modern carbonates and waters (n=15) in the Lake Junín region, which is similar to amount weighted mean annual precipitation −14.1 (±2.2‰). This study illustrates that (1) Δ′17O can be used to differentiate between lakes with differing XE in humid climates, (2) lake carbonate Δ′17O and δ18O values can be used to evaluate the influence of evaporation on lake water δ18O values in a range of climates, and (3) modeling λlake under appropriate humidity conditions improves δ′18Orucp estimates from lake carbonate Δ′17O.

Automated water recycle (AWR) method for dust removal from rooftop photovoltaic (PV) at Johor, Malaysia

Wet dust on the Photovoltaic (PV) surface is a persistent problem that is merely considered for rooftop based PV cleaning under a high humid climate like Malaysia. This paper proposes an Automated Water Recycle (AWR) method encompassing a water recycling unit for rooftop PV cleaning with the aim to enhance the electrical performance. This study makes a major contribution by developing a new model to correlate output power (P_{out}) and dust-fall factor. For model validation, we conducted an experiment of taking one set of Monocrystalline PV (mono) on a 340frac{W}{m^{2}} of medium luminance day. One mono module was cleaned by AWR - pressurized water sprayed through 11 small holes over its front surface, while the other module was left with no-cleaning. The dust-contaminated water was filtered and collected back to the tank for recycling process. The water loss per cleaning cycle was achieved 0.32%, which was normalized to net loss of 28.8% at a frequency of 1 cycle/day for 90 days of operation. We observed that P_{out} of no-cleaning PV was decreased by 29.44% than that of AWR method. From this experimental data also, a unique and more accurate model is created for P_{out} prediction, which is much simpler compared to multivariables equation. Our investigation offers important insights into the accuracy of this regression model demonstrated by R^{2}=0.744 or a strong negative quadratic relationship between P_{out} and dust-fall. The cleaning of PV modules is expected to save significant energy to reduce the payback period.Article HighlightsAn automated water recycle method for cleaning dust-fall in rooftop photovoltaic module is proposed.Both simulation and experimental models are developed to predict output power of the photovoltaic module.Proposed method can produce 24.40% more output power than a no-cleaning system with a mere water loss of 0.32%/cycle.

Study the Performance of a Novel Desiccant Heat Exchanger

Conserving energy and reducing emissions has become a global consensus. However, most air conditioning systems are highly energy-consuming, affecting global warming and the ozone layer because they use chlorine and fluorine refrigerating fluids. Evaporative cooling systems are one of the most important environmentally friendly air conditioning systems with low energy consumption. However, their performance is negatively affected by the high humidity of the inlet air. One of the solutions to control the relative humidity of the inlet air is using desiccant material. In this paper, a silica gel-coated heat exchanger was designed and constructed as a dehumidifying unit. The effect of airflow rate, hot water flow rate, cold water flow rate, and regeneration temperature on the system's performance has been studied. It was found that increasing the hot water flow rate improves the removing moisture from the desiccant. However, increasing the hot water flow rate has a negative effect on the thermal performance of the heat exchanger. The effectiveness of the heat exchanger was 53% in the regeneration phase and 52% in the cooling phase for the outside air temperature of 40 ºC, W=20 g/kg, and an airflow rate of 0.48 m³/s. From the results shown above, it was noticed that the system could work efficiently in hot and high humidity climates and be used in Iraqi weather.

Virtual Reality Greenspaces: Does Level of Immersion Affect Directed Attention Restoration in VR Environments?

Research on attention restoration theory has provided consistent results over the years, and exposure to nature has been found to significantly improve and restore directed attention fatigue. However, rapid urbanisation has made it increasingly difficult for human beings to interact with unpolluted nature. Countries such as Singapore began to integrate nature into city planning and into the designs of buildings to help resident satisfaction and well-being. Local studies have had contradictory outcomes; residents report significantly higher restoration and affect towards vertical integrated greeneries, but many would still prefer traditional on-the-ground foliage. Interest in outdoor greenspaces is variable because Singapore’s high heat and humid climate make it uncomfortable to interact with outside nature for prolonged periods. The current study tested alternative modalities that can provide residents with on-the-ground foliage interactions, without the discomfort of being outdoors. Virtual exposures with different levels of immersion (high and low) and types of scenes (nature and urban) were tested for effects on perceived presence, perceived restoration and objective restoration. A total of 120 adult participants completed the study, which revealed that a virtual reality-nature condition provided significantly superior directed attention restoration and higher presence ratings. Immersive tendency did not affect perceived presence; neither did it moderate the relationship between perceived presence and its corresponding perceived restoration.

Canopy-cooling systems applied on avocado trees to mitigate heatwaves damages

With climate change, spring heatwaves have become frequent in the Mediterranean region. High temperatures combined with wind and low humidity are problematic for subtropical crops adapted to high humidity and mild climate. Avocado is a valuable crop—nutritionally and economically—and many new orchards are planted in Mediterranean areas. Spring heatwaves increase avocado fruitlets dropping, severely decreasing yields. Addressing and solving the problem are necessary to maintain the crop's profitability. This study presents a sprinkler-based canopy cooling method that uses the existing pressurized irrigation system. The study aimed to test the system's performance during spring heatwaves, after the flowering season, in avocado orchards cultivated in a semi-arid region. The experiments examined the effect of various sprinkler types with varying flow rates and installation methods: sprayers, sprinklers and pulsing sprinklers, on foliage temperature, stem water potential, salt accumulation in the leaf, fruitlet survival and yield. The system reduced leaf temperatures by approximately 10 °C, significantly decreasing the trees' drought stress and increasing yields by 8–12%. Using low-quality water is possible, but requires adjustments to avoid salt damage to the leaves. The system can mitigate heat stress, and provides a relatively simple solution for handling spring heatwaves. The evaporative cooling system is modeled for semi-desert and desert conditions; the dry, windy climate contributes to the method's effectiveness.

First Report of Leaf Spot caused by Curvularia lunata on Wild Rice in China.

Wild rice (Oryza rufipogon), a species only recently cultivated in China, is an invaluable resource for rice breeding and basic research. In June 2019, a leaf spot disease on wild rice (O. rufipogon cv. 'Haihong-12') was observed in a 3.3 ha field in Zhanjiang (20.93 N, 109.79 E), China. The early symptoms were the presence of small, brown, and circular to oval spots that eventually turned reddish brown. The size of the spots varied from 1.0-5.0 mm × 1.0-3.0 mm. Disease incidence was higher than 20%. High temperature and high humidity climate were favorable for the disease occurrence. Twenty diseased leaves were collected from the field. The margin of the diseased tissues was cut into 2 mm × 2 mm pieces, surface-disinfected with 75% ethanol for 30 s and 2% sodium hypochlorite for 60 s, then rinsed three times with sterile water before isolation. The tissues were plated onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium and incubated at 28 °C in the dark for 4 days. Pure cultures were produced by transferring hyphal tips to new PDA plates. Three isolates, namely, Cls-1, Cls-2, and Cls-3, were subjected to further morphological and molecular studies. The colonies of the three isolates on PDA were initially light gray later becoming dark green. Conidiophores were erect, dark brown, geniculate, and unbranched. Conidia were fusiform, geniculate or hook-shaped, smooth-walled, dark-brown, 3-septate, with the second curved cell about 13.4-18.2 μm × 6.5-8.6 μm in size (n = 30). These morphological features agreed with previous descriptions of Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boed (Macri and Lenna 1974). The ITS region, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and translation elongation factor (EF-1α) were amplified using primers ITS1/ITS4, gpp1/gdp2 (Berbee et al. 1999), and EF-1/EF-2 (O'Donnell 1997), respectively. Amplicons of the three isolates were sequenced and submitted to GenBank (accession nos. MW042182, MW042183, and MW042184; MW091453, MW091454, and MW091455; MW090049, MW090050, and MW090051). The sequences of the two isolates were 100% identical to those of C. lunata (accession nos. MG971304, MG979801, MG979800) according to the results of BLAST analysis. A phylogenetic tree was built on the basis of concatenated data from the sequences of ITS, GAPDH, and EF-1α via the maximum likelihood method. The tree clustered Cls-1, Cls-2, and Cls-3 with C. lunata. The three isolates were determined as C. lunata by combining morphological and molecular characteristics. Pathogenicity tests were performed on Cls-1 in a greenhouse at 24 °C-30 °C with 80% relative humidity. Individual rice plants (cv. 'Haihong-12') with three leaves were grown in 10 pots, with approximately 50 plants per pot. Five pots were inoculated by spraying a spore suspension (105 spores/mL) onto leaves until runoff occurred, and another five pots were sprayed with sterile water and used as controls. The test was conducted three times. Disease symptoms were observed on the leaves after 10 days, but the controls remained healthy. C. lunata occurs on O. sativa (rice) (Liu et al. 2014; Majeed et al. 2016), but it has not been reported on O. rufipogon until now. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report that C. lunata causes leaf spots on O. rufipogon in China. Thus, vigilance is required for breeding O. rufipogon.

Biopurification of dairy farm wastewater through hybrid constructed wetland system: Groundwater quality and health implications

Groundwater is under heavily threat owing to enormous infilteration of dairy farm originated wastewater into it. The anoxic environment in the groundwater due to mixing of organic rich wastewater can produce significant alterations in the groundwater quality. It is therefore necessary to treat such wastewaters before discharging to surrounding areas. Therefore, in this study we evaluated a hybrid constructed wetland (CW) system(40 m2 area) consisting of three beds, i.e. Vertical (16 m2) – Horizontal (18 m2) – Vertical (6 m2) connected in series for the treatment of dairy farm wastewater under typical high humid climate in northern India. Tropical perennial plant such as Arundo donax L. was grown on both vertical beds, whereas Hibiscus esculentus L. and Solanum melongena L. were grown on the horizontal bed of the system.The average purification of TSS, BOD3, total N, and P was significant (p < 0.05) in HF bed and recorded as 92.2 ± 6.1, 95 ± 3.8, 83.6 ± 9.0 and 86.1 ± 10.0% respectively.The average load of BOD3, total N, and P in the influent and effluent was recorded (with no significant differences, p > 0.05) as 7.0 ± 7.17, 1.9 ± 0.7, 0.72 ± 0.5 g m−2 day−1and 0.3 ± 0.2, 0.3 ± 0.2 and 0.04 ± 0.01 g m−2 day−1 respectively.The average values of total biomass content of Arundo donax L. were differed significantly and recorded as 0.31 ± 0.06, 0.43 ± 0.17, and 0.43 ± 0.16 g g−1 fresh wt. in control, VF-1, and VF-2 respectively. Therefore, the hybrid CW system can be efficiently used for the treatment of dairy farm wastewater with implications on groundwater and health. Future research may focus on performance analysis of upgraded combined anaerobic reactor and hybrid CW system planted with series of macrophytes for on-site treatment of high strength dairy farm wastewater in tropical regions.

일본의 학교보건교육 교과과정 고찰

Objectives: In Japan, there are many disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, and because of the high temperature and humid climate, health education for food poisoning may be particularly important. In addition, sexual problems caused by precociousness of adolescents, smoking and drinking are already serious socially important problems, and addiction problems are also emerging. Methods: Various publications from Japanese governments, interest groups such as government officers, health center workers, and people from health educators. For the information of Korean health education conditions, a current health educator and people from middle and high schools. Results: In 2012, based on the “Investigation Report on the Mind Care of Children in Emergency Disasters” from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) situation of children in East Japan affected areas was discovered, and health education became important. In 2014, the “School Health and Safety Act Enforcement Rule” was amended, and health checkups are emphasized as part of school health. Conclusions: School health education in Japan differs from other health care systems in many ways with the system of Korea in the context of non-existence of official health education curriculum. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develope how the curriculum of school health education in Korea.

Low Temperature Illitization through Illite-Dioctahedral Vermiculite Mixed Layers in a Tropical Saline Lake Rich in Hydrothermal Fluids (Sochagota Lake, Colombia)

In this investigation, we showed that high salinity promoted by hydrothermal inputs, reducing conditions of sediments with high content in organic matter, and the occurrence of an appropriate clay mineral precursor provide a suitable framework for low-temperature illitization processes. We studied the sedimentary illitization process that occurs in carbonaceous sediments from a lake with saline waters (Sochagota Lake, Colombia) located at a tropical latitude. Water isotopic composition suggests that high salinity was produced by hydrothermal contribution. Materials accumulated in the Sochagota Lake’s southern entrance are organic matter-poor sediments that contain detrital kaolinite and quartz. On the other hand, materials formed at the central segment and near the lake exit (north portion) are enriched in organic matter and characterized by the crystallization of Fe-sulfides. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) data allowed for the identification of illite and illite-dioctahedral vermiculite mixed layers (I-DV), which are absent in the southern sediments. High humidity and temperate climate caused the formation of small-sized metastable intermediates of I-DV particles by the weathering of the source rocks in the Sochagota Lake Basin. These particles were deposited in the low-energy lake environments (middle and north part). The interaction of these sediments enriched in organic matter with the saline waters of the lake enriched in hydrothermal K caused a reducing environment that favored Fe mobilization processes and its incorporation to I-DV mixed layers that acted as mineral precursor for fast low temperature illitization, revealing that in geothermal areas clays in lakes favor a hydrothermal K uptake.

Effect of Evaporator Position on Heat Pump Assisted Solid Desiccant Cooling Systems

The packaged terminal air conditioning with reheat (PTACR) system, as a commonly used dehumidification system, faces the problem of extra energy consumption in the deep-cooling and reheating processes. Therefore, different heat pump assisted hybrid solid desiccant cooling (HPDC) systems were proposed and their characteristics were investigated via EnergyPlus simulations. The system energy efficiency presents an upward trend with the increase in outdoor temperature and humidity. A high-humidity climate leads to the improvement of system performance. The dehumidification performance of the desiccant wheel in the HPDC system declines when outdoor humidity increases. Compared with the PTACR system, the energy consumption of the HPDC system in which the evaporator was placed upstream of the desiccant wheel is reduced by 36%, 66%, and 64%, respectively, under different high-humidity climates. The system maintained the indoor environment within the comfort zone, and eliminated the need for a heat source for desiccant regeneration. In conclusion, the HPDC system is an available alternative that considers both energy consumption and system performance. Placing the evaporator upstream of the desiccant wheel is more advantageous in high-temperature and high-humidity climates.

Comparative Assessment of Reference Evapotranspiration Estimation Using Conventional Method and Machine Learning Algorithms in Four Climatic Regions

Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is considered as an essential component in hydrological and agro meteorological processes. Its accurate estimation becomes an imperative in the planning and management of irrigation practices. ETo estimation also plays a vital role in improving the irrigation efficiency, water reuse and irrigation scheduling. The conventional physical model of Penmen Montieth (PM56) developed by Food and agriculture organization (FAO) has been recommended worldwide for ETo estimation. This model was firstly used in this study to determine ETo by using required meteorological data and obtained results used as referenced values. Afterward, five data machine learning algorithms/data driven models, support vector machine (SVM), multilayer perceptron (MLP), group method of data handling (GMDH), general regression neural network (GRNN) and cascade correlation neural network (CCNN), were applied to estimate ETo values. The climatic data of maximum and minimum temperatures, wind speed, average relative humidity and sunshine hours of six stations from Pakistan was used to train and test data driven model. Data driven models were also applied on other climatic stations without training data which lie in China, New Zealand and USA to further validate and investigate their performance. Comparison results indicated that model efficiency (ME) and correlation coefficient (r) of SVM were obtained (ranges: ME = 95–99%; r = 0.96–1) maximum for all the selected stations. Alternatively, model errors (RMSE = 0.016, MSE = 0.0001 & MAE = 0.08) for SVM were found minimum in comparison to GMDH, MLP, CCNN and GRNN. In addition, all data driven models show enough divergence from hyper arid to high humid climate except SVM which shows almost identical results for all the climatic zones in comparison to standard FAO-PM56 method. Finally, it can be concluded that SVM could be considered as a reliable alternative method for ETo estimation among data driven models.

Clinical study of cutaneous infections in children

Background: Dermatological ailments contribute to one third of outpatient visits in paediatric clinics. Among these, cutaneous infections are found to be the commonest as per various studies. This study was conducted to find out the commonest cutaneous infections in children. Aim was to find out the prevalence of various cutaneous infections in children.Methods: In this study 200 children aged between 1- and 12-years attending outpatient clinic with signs and symptoms suggestive of cutaneous infection were included in the study. History, physical examination and appropriate tests were done to arrive at the diagnosis.Results: Here, 133 children were male and 67 were female. Viral infections were found to be the commonest cutaneous infections and were found in 85 children followed by bacterial infections in 52, fungal infections in 42 and infestations in 21. The presence of high humidity and hot climate in our coastal city along with the prevalent clothing pattern, overcrowding and socio economic factors play a significant role in the type of cutaneous paediatric infection found in that geographical area.Conclusions: Proper hygiene, education and clothing along with avoidance of overcrowding and early medical attention will help to prevent peadiatric cutaneous infections.