Humid Subtropical Research Articles

Petrography and Geochemistry of Zubair Shale Formation in Rumaila Oilfield, Southern Iraq: Implications for Provenance and Tectonic Setting

A detailed sequential analysis which included thin section petrography, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray fluorescence was applied to investigate the mineral, chemical classifications, provenance, paleo-weathering, paleoclimate, and maturity features of such Zubair oil shale in the Rumaila oilfield in southern Iraq. In core samples and thin sections, the analyzed shales are primarily silty, flaky to subflaky, micaceous, calcareous, well-sorted, poorly cemented, and weakly to moderately compacted silt-grade sandy mudstone. According to XRD analysis, the main mineral is quartz, which is followed by kaolinite, while calcite and dolomite are less common and Illite, Illite/smectite, and pyrite are rarely abundant. Petrographic analysis of the Zubair shales revealed four lithofacies: silty clayey laminated mudstone lithofacies, mica-rich mudstone lithofacies, clay-rich siliceous mudstone lithofacies, and clay-bearing calcareous mudstone lithofacies. Major and trace element concentrations reveal that the oil shales have been formed from felsic rocks such as granodiorite, tonalite, and granite. A passive margin setting was revealed by the tectonic discrimination diagram. Weathering index values like the (CIA) chemical index of alteration, the (PIA) plagioclase index of alteration, and the (CIW) chemical index of weathering imply extensive chemical weathering in the source area. Zubair shales' K2O/Na2O ratio and (ICV) index of compositional variation are uniform with their high maturity. The compositions of mineral and trace elemental ratios, as well as the climatic index "C," indicate a warm to humid subtropical climate with deposition in a shallow oxic and dysoxic environment.

Long-term field evaluation of Pera sweet orange selections under the Brazilian humid subtropical climate

Currently, a low number of citrus varieties are commercially planted to supply the Brazilian citrus industry demand. The diversification of citrus scion and rootstock varieties is an important strategy to prevent disease outbreaks and to obtain higher off-season profits, as well as to extend fruit supply for the citrus processing industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate 16 Pera sweet orange selections (Citrus ×sinensis Osbeck) under a humid subtropical climate in the northwest region of the state of Paraná, Brazil regarding tree development, production, and disease incidence. The experimental orchard was planted in December 2012 in a randomized block design with three replications and five trees per plot. All scions were grafted on Rangpur lime rootstock (C. ×limonia Osbeck). The evaluations were performed from 2016 through 2022, and included vegetative growth, yield, fruit quality, estimated tree density and productivity for new plantings, and incidence of diseases as citrus canker, huanglongbing (HLB), and citrus tristeza virus (CTV). All data was submitted to ANOVA and means grouped by the Scott Knott’s test (p ≤ 0.05). Pera Perão was the most vigorous variety, with the heaviest and largest fruit, and was among the selections with the highest content of soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA) and juice. However, this variety showed a light-yellow juice color, and one of the lowest SS·TA−1 ratio. This selection had the lowest percentage of fruits with citrus canker but was among the selections with the highest HLB incidence. The selections Ovale, Clone 9, and Clone 42 also showed higher vegetative growth and fruit length, but lower SS content, juice yield and technological indices. All other Pera selections had lower tree height and canopy volume than Ovale, Clone 9, and Clone 42, and adequate overall fruit quality. Conversely, Pera Comprida, Dibbern, Morretes, and Seleç ão 12 scored lower cumulative fruit yield. Pera Pirangi and Comprida had the highest citrus canker incidence on fruits, while Morretes, Ovo, Pirangi, Seleç ão 12, and Seleç ão 27 had the highest HLB incidence alongside Perão. Low severity level of stem pitting was observed within the evaluated selections. The scores ranged from one (absence of stem pitting) to two (sparse surface stem pitting). IAC, Olímpia, Mel, Bianchi, and IPR 159 revealed to be the most suitable for new plantings under humid subtropical edaphoclimatic conditions, as trees had small vegetative growth, high yield performance and fruit quality, in addition to showing lower incidences of citrus canker, HLB and CTV.

Spatial-temporal changes of compound temperature-humidity extremes in humid subtropical high-density cities: An observational study in Hong Kong from 1961 to 2020

In the humid subtropics, rising temperatures can cause higher humidity via enhanced evaporation which exacerbates heat-related health problems. This study uses multi-station observational data to reveal the spatial-temporal changes of compound temperature-humidity extreme events in Hong Kong during 1961–2020. Based on the 90th and 10th percentiles of temperature and specific humidity, four types of compound events were identified, i.e., Compound Hot and Wet (CHW), Hot and Dry (CHD), Cold and Wet (CCW), and Cold and Dry (CCD) events. Over the past six decades, there has been a significant increase of CHW (+3.45 events/decade) and decrease of CCD (−3.00 events/decade). The greatest increase of CHW was observed during the warm period of the 2010s (+4 events/year/month). Meanwhile, the trends of CHD and CCW were less evident. Spatially, more frequent compound events (especially those with high humidity (CHW and CCW)) were observed in built-up areas compared to rural areas, while the intensity of these events remained similar. The results imply that both regional climate and urban factors contribute to the increase of extreme hot and humid weather. The study generalizes mechanisms for these spatial-temporal changes, and discussed implications for compound extremes management in Hong Kong and other similar cities.

No-tillage and rye cover crop systems improve soil water retention by increasing soil organic carbon in Andosols under humid subtropical climate

No-tillage (NT) combined with a cover crop is a climate-smart agricultural practice that eliminates nearly all physical disturbance of the soil surface and increases soil aggregation and soil organic carbon (SOC); however, the response of SOC and soil water retention (SWR) to long-term NT and cover crops systems in the volcanic ash Andosol soil of Japan has not been well addressed. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of NT and moldboard plow (MP) tillage systems combined with rye (RY) and fallow (FA) cover crop treatments on SOC, active carbon (AC), water-stable aggregates, aggregate stability index, mean weight diameter (MWD), bulk density, aggregate-associated carbon, and SWR. NT significantly increased the > 4 and 2 mm aggregates, aggregate-associated C at the 0–2.5 and 2.5–5 cm depths, field capacity, and SWR between 0 and 15 cm. RY cover crops significantly increased aggregate-associated carbon at the 2.5–5 and 5–10 cm depths in both NT and MP and SWR at the 10–15 cm depth. NT combined with RY significantly increased SOC and AC in the surface layer and volumetric water content at all soil depths. Path analysis revealed that SOC and MWD were correlated with easily plant-available water (EPAW) and field capacity under the NT system and is the primary reason for the observed increase in SWR. Thus, the NT system increased plant residue, reduced soil evaporation, increased SOC content and SWR, and bonded soil microaggregates into macroaggregates better than the MP system. The use of an RY-based NT system is an effective climate-smart agriculture practice that reduces the drought effects brought on by climate change.

Relationship between Self-Assessed Productivity, Gender and Age in Mixed-Mode and Fully Air-Conditioned Offices in Florianópolis, Brazil

The quality of the indoor environment and anthropometric parameters influence the users’ productivity in a building. This study aims to evaluate the influence of environmental and anthropometric characteristics on the self-assessed productivity of office building users in the humid subtropical climate of Florianópolis, Brazil. Three hybrid buildings equipped with air-conditioning and natural ventilation and one centrally air-conditioned building were considered. Indoor environmental data were obtained by means of measurements. Electronic questionnaires collected anthropometric characteristics and the perception of productivity by the users. The analysis of the users’ performance was performed using box diagrams. The results showed that women and occupants over 50 years old preferred high temperatures during the use of natural ventilation. When air-conditioning was on, the perception of productivity concerning the operative temperature did not show significant differences between anthropometric variables. It was concluded that the use of air-conditioning reduced the influence of anthropometric characteristics on self-assessed productivity and that people maintained their work performance despite the higher internal temperature variations during natural ventilation operation.

Growth and grain yield of canola overseeded on soybean

The overseeding technique allows the establishment of a crop before the harvest of an overseeded crop at the end of the cycle. It aims at making a better use of more favorable seasonal climatic conditions and the intensification of cultivation systems, with the possibility of obtaining another harvest in less time. This work aimed to verify if it is possible to establish the Brassica napus crop in overseeding with the phenological stages at beginning of grain filing (R5) and beginning of soybean physiological maturation (R7) in the Central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The study was performed in a Humid Subtropical climate, in Santa Maria, RS. A randomized block design was used, in a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement with 4 replications, with four seed Brassica napus densities (3, 6, 12, and 18 kg ha-1) and two developmental stages of the soybean crop (R5 and R7), in addition to the control treatment sown in rows directly on the straw right after soybean harvest (3 kg ha-1- standard). The plant density, yield components, and grain yield were measured. The canola crop is not established when overseeded in the soybean stage R5. The seed density of 6 kg ha-1 achieved the recommended plant density for the canola overseeded in stage R7 of the soybean crop. The 6 kg ha-1 density stood out as the best treatment performed in the R7 stage of the soybean crop.

Characterization and return period analysis of meteorological drought under the humid subtropical climate of Manipur, northeast India

Monitoring drought characteristics is crucial for understanding drought behaviour and developing effective mitigation plans. In this study, we analyze the characteristics of meteorological droughts in the eastern Himalayan region by utilizing both the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Copula functions. In this study, we utilized monthly rainfall data spanning 35 years to estimate three critical characteristics of droughts: duration (D), severity (S), and Intensity (I). To determine the best fit marginal distribution of each univariate drought characteristic, we employed five commonly used probability distribution functions (PDFs). We conducted Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K–S) and Anderson-Darling (A-D) tests.The bivariate modelling for the joint D-S, S–I, and I-D datasets involves fitting Archimedean families such as Frank, Clayton, Gumbel, and Joe copulas. To perform the trivariate modelling, two meta elliptical copulas, including Normal and Frank, and two Archimedean families, namely Clayton and Gumbel, are fitted using the test statistics BIC (Bayesian Information Criterion) and AIC (Akaike Information Criterion). The cross-validation process using Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) is employed to identify the most appropriate Copula model based on its goodness of fit. This step is crucial for selecting the best model to accurately describe the joint behaviour of drought characteristics. Once the best-fit Copula model is determined, it is utilized to estimate the return period of various drought characteristics, thereby facilitating the investigation of their joint return period. Furthermore, the distribution of S, D, and I classes is categorized into different return periods (T) to facilitate drought management planning.The findings revealed moderate drought conditions were recorded for SPI 1 and SPI 3 with a 2–5 years return period. For SPI 1, this drought class remains seasonal even for higher return periods. Further, the drought class transitions from seasonal to quarter for SPI 3 and a return period of 10–50 years. Regarding SPI 6 and SPI 12, the drought class is seasonal for a return period of 2 years, but it later progresses into the quarter to long-term drought class.

Factors affecting development of disorders expressed after storage of ‘Gala’ apple fruit

This study investigated factors influencing susceptibility and development of physiological disorders and decay expressed after long-term storage in ‘Gala’ apple fruit (Malus domestica Borkh.). Five experiments were performed over ten production years with fruit from two environmentally different orchard locations in a humid subtropical climate at 990 m (warmer) and 1415 m above sea level. Fruit were harvested at two maturity stages (early and advanced), treated or not treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and stored at 0.5 °C or 2 °C in a controlled atmosphere (CA, 1.5 kPa O2 and 2.5 kPa CO2), for 240 d plus 7 d shelf life. In one experiment, fruit were stored in CA with CO2 concentrations of 1.5 or 3 kPa. The relationship between fruit mineral composition and physiological disorders was assessed in one production year. Flesh browning (FB) was the predominant disorder, followed by decay, cracking, and lenticel breakdown-wet (LB-wet). The average severity index of lenticel breakdown-dry (LB-dry), leather blotch and bitter pit were low and variable across production years. The FB index was lowest in fruit produced at the colder orchard location, early harvest, treatment with 1-MCP, and storage at 2 °C. These factors also influenced fruit softening after storage. The major source of variance of the FB index in order of decreasing contribution were harvest maturity, production year, orchard location, 1-MCP and storage temperature. Production year variability of FB index correlated positively with early summer rain and negatively with early spring temperature. A weak positive correlation was also found between FB index and fruit K+Mg/Ca ratio. Higher CA CO2 concentration increased FB in fruit stored at 0.5 °C but not at 2 °C. The same factors affected decay, cracking and LB-wet disorder similarly as for FB, except that decay and cracking were not consistently affected by storage temperature, and decay and LB-wet were not impacted by 1-MCP. Storage temperature had the most influence on the variance of LB-wet. LB-dry was highest in late harvest fruit and, in the production year with the highest index, in fruit stored at 0.5 °C. Leather blotch was highest in early harvest fruit and in fruit stored at 0.5 °C. 1-MCP treatment did not affect disorders other than FB and cracking. These results suggest that interactions among harvest and postharvest factors influence the development of ‘Gala’ FB and other disorders and indicate a possible relationship of chilling in FB development. The information may be useful for implementing practical strategies to reduce the development of these postharvest disorders in ‘Gala’ apple fruit.

Preserving the biodiversity of Iridaceae family representatives in the Subtropical Scientific Centre of RAS

This paper considers the issue of preserving biological diversity of Iridaceae family representatives in the FRC SSC of RAS. The research was carried out in the humid subtropical climate on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodar Territory. The objects of research were the following Iridaceae family representatives: Iris L., Crocus L., Gladiolus L., Freesia Eckl. ex Klatt, including cultivar samples from Russian and foreign breeding, as well as species of natural flora. Collectible samples are preserved and maintained in a living form, used both in scientific research, including introduction, breeding, technology, physiology and biochemistry, and for solving import substitution issues in such fields as floriculture and ornamental gardening. The paper presents data on grouping 358 Iris cultivar samples, including 35 cultivars bred by FRC SSC of RAS, as well as 139 promising hybrid forms, selected by the type of modified shoots (corms, bulbs, rhizomes). Iridaceae family representatives bloom from February to November in natural conditions and during the year when forced, they vary in plant height (from miniature to giant), can be used in landscaping (306 cultivar samples), as potted plants (74) and cut (259). In the course of the work carried out, it has been found that the climatic conditions of the research area are well suited for cultivation and scientific research on bulbotuberiferous, rhizomatous and bulbous plants from Iridaceae family, regardless of their origin and distribution area.

Long-term crop rotation affects crop yield and economic returns in humid subtropical climate

Long-term crop rotation affects crop yield and economic returns in humid subtropical climate

Lettuce Germplasm in Humid Subtropical Environments Tolerant to Postharvest Development of Pink Rib Disorder

Pink rib discoloration or pinking in the midribs of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) leaves is a stress-induced disorder that leads to crop loss worldwide. Maintaining recommended field and postharvest conditions reduces its incidence but does not eliminate the issue. During the past decade, research has identified the tolerance of this disorder among lettuce types and cultivars grown in cooler climates. However, tolerance to pink rib among lettuce types grown in humid subtropical climates is unknown; therefore, it is necessary to screen lettuce germplasm under these growing conditions. During this study, diverse lettuce accessions were planted for early-season, mid-season, and late-season harvests over two seasons in Belle Glade, FL, USA. Harvested midribs were wounded to induce pink rib, stored for 6 to 9 days at 5 °C and >95% relative humidity, and rated for severity using a 5-point subjective scale. Genotype × environment interactions were evaluated to understand the environmental factors that favor the development of pink rib during storage and between planting seasons. Pink rib severity increased during storage, with the highest increase observed after 3 to 4 days in both seasons. After 9 days of storage, lettuce accessions with the least pink rib for each leaf type were identified. The lowest pink rib ratings after 9 days of storage were “moderate” (rating of 3) for crisphead, Latin, and romaine, “slight” (rating of 2) for butterhead types, and “none” (rating of 1) for leaf types. Additionally, pink rib severity increased among accessions during the late spring season harvest when field temperatures were higher and daylight hours were extended. The lettuce germplasm with low susceptibility to pink rib is promising to breed lettuce lines for future research.

The Adaptive Value of Chromosomal Inversions and Climatic Change-Studies on the Natural Populations of Drosophila subobscura from the Balkans.

The adaptive value of the Drosophila subobscura chromosomal inversion polymorphism with regard to environmental effects is well-known. However, the specific details of the inversion adaptations to the global warming scenario deserve to be analyzed. Toward this aim, polymorphism and karyotypes were studied in 574 individuals from Petnica (Serbia) in annual samples taken in June for the period 2019-2022. Comparing the results of Petnica (Cfa: humid subtropical climate) with those from Avala (Serbia: Cfb, temperate oceanic climate) and Font Groga (Barcelona, Spain; Csa: hot-summer Mediterranean climate), significant differences were observed for their chromosomal polymorphism. In Petnica, inversions from U and E chromosomes mainly reacted significantly with regard to temperature, humidity, and rainfall. Moreover, the inversion polymorphism from Petnica (2019-2022) was compared with that from 1995. In this period, a significant increase in mean and maximum temperature was observed. However, to properly explain the observed variations of inversions over time, it was necessary to carefully analyze annual seasonal changes and particular heat wave episodes. Interestingly, yearly fluctuations of U chromosome 'warm'-adapted inversions corresponded with opposite changes in 'non-thermal' inversions. Perhaps these types of inversions were not correctly defined with regard to thermal adaptation, or these fluctuations were also due to adaptations to other physical and/or biological variables. Finally, a joint study of chromosomal inversion polymorphism from many Balkan populations of D. subobscura indicated that different climatic regions presented distinct composition, including thermal-adapted inversions.

Effect of water depth on growth and survival of the stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794) in pond rearing system of a humid subtropical agroclimatic region

The growth, survival and proximate composition of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794) were studied under different water depths (30, 60, 90 and 120 cm) for a period of 10 months, with a temperature range of 31.5 to 7.8°C [(May-June; 26.5-31.5°C; Stage 1); (July-September; 28.8-32.6°C; Stage 2); (October-November; 15.5-28.4°C; Stage 3); (December-February; 7.8-15.7°C; Stage 4)] under earthen pond conditions in the humid subtropical climate of Tripura State, India. All the ponds were of equal size (168 m2; 14 m x 12 m) but with different water depths. The fishes were fed with a mixture of rice bran and mustard oil cake (1:1) @ 0.5-3% of their biomass. The growth, survival and proximate composition of fish were recorded in each stage. The average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, survival and proximate composition were found to be better in water depths of 60 cm and 90 cm during May to September when water temperature was ≥26.5°C. However, when water temperature was ≤21.4°C (October-February), growth and other attributes significantly reduced. Two-way ANOVA revealed that water depth and temperature, individually and interactively, affected the growth of H. fossilis. From this trial, it can be concluded that H. fossilis performs better when water depth is 60-90 cm and the ideal water temperature for the culture is 28.3-30.4°C. The study confirms the depth preference of H. fossilis under the humid subtropical condition and the information generatedwill help in the sustainable farming of this species. Keywords:Asian stingingcatfish, Water depth,Temperature, Growth, Survival, Proximate composition

Haematological values in cattle reared in humid and subhumid tropics of Mexico.

The objective of this study was to determine some factors that influence the haematological values of cattle reared in the humid and subhumid tropics of Mexico. Whole blood samples were taken from 1355 crossbred cattle in the years 2017 to 2019. Haematocrit (HTC, %), total plasma protein (TPP, g/dL) and peripheral eosinophils count (PEOS, × 103/µL) were determined manually, and the main haematological variables were recorded with an automatic analyser. The statistical analysis considered as classification variables age, sex, season (cold, dry and rainy), year (2017, 2018 and 2019) and origin of the cattle. The mean of the haematological parameters was determined along with the confidence limits (CL) of the different categories of animals according to age. Calves younger than 1-year-old presented higher levels of HTC, red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), platelet number (PLT), white blood cell count (WBC) and lymphocyte count (LYMF) than animals older than 2years of age. However, they showed the lowest mean cell volume (MCV) and TPP values. In cows, the highest levels of PEOS, granulocytes (GRAN), MCV and medium cells (MID) were observed and the lowest HTC, RBC, RDW and WBC levels. Intervals were determined with the 1st quartile (Q1) or lower confidence interval (90% CI) as the minimum values and the 3rd quartile (Q3) or upper confidence interval (90% CI) as the maximum values. The haematological parameters of cattle reared in the Southeast of Mexico are significantly affected by age, sex and environmental conditions.

Влияние аллелопатии на начальных стадиях развития каштана посевного в условиях антропогенной нагрузки

The magnitude of the influence of allelopathy at the initial stages of development of the sowing chestnut in the zone of humid subtropics is closely related to the level of the allelopathic background in the biocenosis, which is dependent on the negative anthropogenic impact on the natural environment. In undisturbed or slightly disturbed chestnut habitats, in the undercrown zone of the mother tree, under the influence of a complex of active intravital secretions from leaves and other aboveground organs that enter the upper soil horizons with precipitation, chestnut seeds at the germination stage experience an inhibitory effect (19.3‐21.3 %), at the stage of seedlings – stimulating (11.7‐30.4 %). The total effect of the action of colins with the participation of saprolines and miasmins of the rhizosphere and forest litter leads, respectively, to inhibition of germination by 71.0‐72.6 % and stimulation of seedling root growth by 32.0‐40.1 %. With an increase in the field tolerance index in the forest biocenosis in the range of 1.88‐4.70, from “very clean” to “clean” and “relatively clean” environment, the intensity of the allelopathic background in the community consistently decreases as progressive recreational soil compaction accumulates, depressing on the germination of chestnut. The growth of seedling roots, stimulated in a “very clean” and “clean” environment in the range of soil volumetric mass of 0.70‐1.24 g/cm3, is replaced by their inhibition in a “relatively clean” environment of chestnut biocenosis.

Performance, robustness, and portability of imitation-assisted reinforcement learning policies for shading and natural ventilation control

Space heating and cooling account for approximately half of all building-related energy consumption, emitting 3Gt of CO2 annually, or nearly 10% of the global total. Operable shading, natural ventilation, and solar heating are promising strategies for reducing these emissions, leveraging minimal mechanical energy to condition space with cool night air, cold night skies, and solar radiation. However, these strategies are under-utilized because their performance depends on rigorous coordination among their operable elements. Additionally, the individuality of such systems, and the lack of physics-based models suitable for control design, have thwarted the development of widely-applicable control strategies. To address this problem, here we develop a new data-driven strategy for the design of shading and natural ventilation controls in residential buildings using policy-based reinforcement learning (RL). To limit undesirable actions and reduce training time, we first used imitation learning to initialize RL training with expert knowledge, yielding an initial policy that reduced simulated late-spring space conditioning loads by ≥40% in 24 climatically diverse cities. This policy was then trained with RL in four cities representing Mediterranean, semi-arid, humid subtropical, and continental climates. When deployed in cities with unfamiliar yet related climates, these new policies reduced space conditioning loads by ≥50% in the humid subtropics and by ≥90% in the other three climates, showing exceptional portability. Further, their performance was unexpectedly robust to variations in dwelling orientation, glazing, internal heat gain, and air leakage. These results show the extraordinary potential of imitation-assisted RL in developing high-performance policies for dynamic passive heating and cooling control that remain effective in unfamiliar situations, removing a substantial barrier to passive systems advancement in carbon-free building operation.

Outdoor Thermal Environment Regulation of Urban Green and Blue Infrastructure on Various Types of Pedestrian Walkways

Urban green and blue infrastructure (GBI) is effective in urban heat mitigation. However, the diurnal variations in the thermal regulation of GBI on different types of urban pedestrian walkways in the subtropical humid climate zone are unclear. Based on traverse measurements in January 2022, this study investigates how outdoor air temperature (Ta) and wet-bulb temperature (Tw) at the pedestrian level are affected by various urban morphology and GBI characteristics in the central urbanized area of Guangzhou (China). Six building-related, three vegetation-related, and three water-related parameters were applied in the analyses. Results show that green infrastructure (GI) has the strongest cooling effect (Pearson’s coefficient r = −0.33~−0.54) on Ta on cloudy evenings and the weakest cooling effect (r = −0.22~−0.32) on clear evenings. Blue infrastructure (BI) exhibits the highest correlations with the cooling effect for Ta on clear afternoons (r = −0.35~−0.51) and weaker, but more consistent, correlations throughout cloudy days (r = −0.23~−0.43). Strong correlations between GI and Tw cooling are observed in the morning and evening on clear days (r = −0.13~−0.48), while BI exhibits the strongest correlation with Tw cooling on clear afternoons (r = −0.13~−0.37). In addition, both GI and BI show a greater cooling effect on both Ta and Tw in low-rise areas compared to high-rise areas. Compared to the individual GI or BI, the integrated GBI has a higher cooling intensity for both Ta and Tw in high-rise areas. However, the cooling potential of integrated GBI is slightly lower for both Ta and Tw during noon and afternoon in low-rise areas. The findings of this study give insights into urban GBI planning and design of specific urban microclimate regulation strategies.

Performance of the WRF model in simulating convective rainfall events in the humid subtropical monsoon climate region—Poyang Lake basin

Performance of the WRF model in simulating convective rainfall events in the humid subtropical monsoon climate region—Poyang Lake basin

Thermal heat transfer and energy modeling through incorporation of phase change materials (PCMs) into polyurethane foam

Decreasing HVAC energy consumption through insulation effectiveness enables low energy use, low carbon emissions, and high thermal comfort in sustainable buildings. PCMs for energy storage are an innovative option, but in buildings, their high thermal conductivity is a concern.The PCM latent heat of fusion and thereby it’s transition temperature has been a key parameter in PCM selection but little is known of the effect of PCM on building energy contributions arising from increasing thermal conductivity (k), density (ρ), and specific heat capacity (Cp). To resolve this, in this paper, two PCMs with transition temperature above and below the outdoor temperature incorporated in highly porous flexible polyurethane foam were evaluated using a one-dimensional (1D) foam core panel built in COMSOL Multiphysics®. The simulations were run using the summer season in a humid subtropical climate zone with an outdoor temperature of 35 °C. It was found that apart from the latent heat of fusion, the combined effects of high ρ and Cp could mitigate the increased k of PU-PCM composites to improve the insulation performance. Building energy modeling using EnergyPlus with the foam core incorporated into a structural insulated panel (SIP), revealed that the use of PCMs regardless of the transition temperature could reduce annual electricity consumption by 15–20%, with a significant amount of energy savings arising from the cooling load in summer.

Distribution of Toxocara vitulorum in Cattle of Ağrı Region

Parasitizing in the small intestines of cattle, buffalo and bison, Toxocara vitulorum is seen in countries with humid tropical and subtropical climates, including Türkiye. Adult parasites can cause digestive disorders such as loss of appetite, weakness, diarrhea or constipation, and sometimes death, especially in calves. This study was planned to investigate the distribution of T. vitulorum in cattle of the Ağrı region. In this study, stool samples of the size of a walnut were taken from the rectum of 200 calves 0-6 months old and 200 cattle older than 1 year in the province of Ağrı and its districts, and the preparations were prepared using the saturated zinc sulfate flotation method and the preparations were examined under a light microscope. T. vitulorum eggs were detected in 70 (35%) of 200 calves aged 0-6 months and 21 (10.5%) of 200 cattle over one year old. The difference in positivity between cattle over one year old and calves was statistically significant (p=0.001). With fecal examination ın 22 of the calves (11%), Trichostrongylidae spp. eggs were detected. It was determined that the prevalence of T. vitulorum in calves was high in Diyadin, Eleşkirt, Doğubayazıt, Hamur, Taşlıçay, Tutak and Patnos districts of Ağrı province. We believe that larger-scale studies should be conducted on the spread of this parasite, which causes significant low yields in cattle breeding.