Impact Of Low Temperatures Research Articles

Electric Vehicles Under Low Temperatures: A Review on Battery Performance, Charging Needs, and Power Grid Impacts

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining mainstream adoption as more countries introduce net-zero carbon targets for the near future. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, the most commonly used energy storage technology in EVs, are temperature sensitive, and their performance degradates at low operating temperatures due to increased internal resistance. The existing literature on EV-power grid studies assumes that EVs are used under “perfect temperatures" (e.g. 21 Celsius) and temperature-related issues are ignored. In addition, most of the countries/regions with high EV penetration (e.g. Norway, Canada, northern parts of the US and China, etc.) experience harsh cold months, making it extremely critical to understand EV performance and consequently their impacts on the electrical power networks. In this paper, we present a systematic review of the literature that considers the combined investigation of Li-ion battery technology and power networks, with a focus on their operation under suboptimal weather conditions. More specifically, we review: (i) the impact of low temperatures on the electrochemical performance of EV batteries in parking, charging and driving modes, (ii) the challenges experienced by EVs during charging and associated performance degradation, and (iii) the additional impacts of EV charging on the power networks. Our analysis shows that there are serious research gaps in literature and industry applications, which may hinder mass EV adoption and cause delays in charging station roll-out.

Prevention of occupational diseases of diving specialists while performing underwater works under low ambient temperatures: prospective study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of applying active thermal protection by diving specialists based on electric heating to ensure thermal comfort as a part of a series of measures to prevent occupational diseases while performing underwater works under low ambient temperature.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The test evaluated the time spent by divers in the water maintaining thermal comfort without active heating and using the system of electric heating. The diver’s thermal comfort was estimated according to subjective sensations. The test was held using the diving equipment SLVI-71, SSP-М, SN-21, GVS ХС1200, SVG-200, SVC «Amphora», SVU-5/1, SVU-3 with АВМ-12к, at depth from 2 m to120 m, at a water temperature from +1° С to +16° С.RESULTS: The test determined the compatibility of the electric heating developed system for divers with components of special diving equipment of the above types; showed the necessity of applying the elements of hands and feet’s warming as a part of the heating system; proved the positive impact of the heating system on divers in the period of maintaining thermal comfort while performing diving works, including different levels of heating power.DISCUSSION: Diver’s hypothermia predisposes to oxygen starvation, contributes to the emergence of decompression sickness, oxygen and carbon dioxide poisoning. The average time of providing divers thermal comfort by using FEC at a water temperature from +1° С to +4° С exceeds 3,5–4,6 times the period of the diver’s staying in the water without using active heating. Using elements of hands and feet’s warming in the electric heating suit provides decrease in appearance of primary hypothermia signs of the extremities, contributing to the maintenance of the diver’s optimum heat sensation for a long time. Applying electric heating system significantly reduces the risk of hypothermia while performing diving works under low ambient temperatures and helps to prevent occupational diseases, directly or indirectly related to the impact of low ambient temperatures on the body.CONCLUSION: The application of electric heating system for divers significantly reduces the risk of hypothermia while performing diving works under low ambient temperatures, enables to increase allowable time in water in the diving suit 3,5–4,6 times and helps to prevent occupational diseases, directly or indirectly related to the impact of low ambient temperatures on the body.

Will temperature affect the export quality of firms? Evidence from China

PurposeThis study aims to investigate whether temperature affects the product quality of exporters and whether the effect is non-linear. More specifically, whether the impact of high temperatures differs from the impact of low temperatures, and whether different types of companies or industries are affected differently.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses detailed data covering all Chinese exporters from 2000 to 2016 to estimate the effects of temperature on the product quality of export firms. To clarify the relationship between them, the authors use a semi-parametric regression method, trying to test whether there is a non-linear relationship between temperature and the export quality of firms.FindingsThe increase in the number of high temperature days significantly reduces the quality of exported products, and this negative effect increases as the temperature rises. High temperature has the most significant negative impact on export quality for firms with low technical complexity, private firms and firms with no intermediate imports and located in historical hot cities. Product quality of both labor-intensive and capital-intensive firms will be affected by heat. High temperatures have the greatest negative impact on the export quality of newly entering products, followed by exiting products, with the least negative impact on persisting product.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to examine the impact of temperature on the quality of economic development. The findings of this paper again show that the potential economic impacts of global warming are huge. In addition to some potentially devastating impacts in the future, global warming is already causing imperceptible impacts in the present. Public and economic agents need to fully understand the possible adverse impacts of climate change and take corresponding adaptation measures to cope with global warming.

The combined impact of low temperatures and shifting phosphorus availability on the competitive ability of cyanobacteria

In freshwater systems, cyanobacteria are strong competitors under enhanced temperature and eutrophic conditions. Understanding their adaptive and evolutionary potential to multiple environmental states allows us to accurately predict their response to future conditions. To better understand if the combined impacts of temperature and nutrient limitation could suppress the cyanobacterial blooms, a single strain of Microcystis aeruginosa was inoculated into natural phytoplankton communities with different nutrient conditions: oligotrophic, eutrophic and eutrophic with the addition of bentophos. We found that the use of the bentophos treatment causes significant differences in prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities. This resulted in reduced biodiversity among the eukaryotes and a decline in cyanobacterial abundance suggesting phosphorus limitation had a strong impact on the community structure. The low temperature during the experiment lead to the disappearance of M. aeruginosa in all treatments and gave other phytoplankton groups a competitive advantage leading to the dominance of the eukaryotic families that have diverse morphologies and nutritional modes. These results show cyanobacteria have a reduced competitive advantage under certain temperature and nutrient limiting conditions and therefore, controlling phosphorus concentrations could be a possible mitigation strategy for managing harmful cyanobacterial blooms in a future warmer climate.

The Impact of Extreme Low Temperatures on Raman Spectra of Amino Acids Relevant for the Search for Life on Europa.

Raman spectroscopy, an emerging technology for in situ space exploration, has been suggested for life detection for the Europa Lander Mission. However, obtaining spectra of samples from the europan icy shell requires measurements at temperatures down to -233°C, which will affect the Raman spectra of any potential biosignatures. In this study, we obtained Raman spectra of amino acids using a 785 nm Raman system at temperatures ranging down to -196°C, analogous to Europa's surface and near subsurface. Significant Raman band width narrowing and decreasing variance were observed at lower temperatures leading to higher-precision Raman measurements, which required higher spectral resolution that could be as high as 2 cm-1 for full identification of amino acids. Such spectral resolution is much higher than the resolution of contemporary Raman instruments for planetary exploration and may be particularly problematic for miniaturized instruments. Shifting of Raman bands to both higher and lower frequencies by as much as ∼25 cm-1 together with changes in the Raman band intensity were recorded. The emergence of new bands and diminishing of the original bands also occurred for some amino acids. A significantly increased fluorescence background was observed in spectra of fluorescent molecules (i.e., tryptophan). A link between the type of vibrational modes associated with Raman bands and the change in their Raman shift at extreme low temperatures was identified and described. This link offers an exciting new method of molecule identification solely based on the comparison of spectra collected at two different temperatures and could greatly improve the identification capabilities in Raman spectroscopy for a wide array of applications.

Climatic and biotic influences on the distributions of Calliphora augur and Calliphora dubia (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

AbstractCalliphora augur (Fabricius) and Calliphora dubia (Macquart) are two widespread and endemic Australian blowflies of applied importance. In order to better understand the biology of these species, this study used historical, field and laboratory data to determine and interpret their distributions. Locality records from insect collections and the literature were used to determine the known distributions of each species. The resultant maps were partially verified with field trapping data for each species. Calliphora augur was found to dominate in the east of Australia, while C. dubia dominates in the west. Comparative laboratory and field experiments were also used to derive parameters defining the distributions of these two closely related species, particularly in relation to temperature and moisture. Calliphora dubia had a greater tolerance for dry stress and high temperatures than C. augur, although maggots of both species displayed similar developmental temperature preferences. No difference was seen between species in the impact of low temperatures on the development of maggots through to the pupal stage. The greater ability of C. dubia to tolerate adverse environmental conditions is most likely linked to the shared evolutionary history of both species, in which increased aridity in central Australia is proposed to have triggered speciation by separating ancestral populations: C. dubia evolved in the hot, dry conditions in the west of Australia, while C. augur evolved in the cooler, moist environment of the east. Improved understanding of the influences on the distributions of these common Australian blowflies will assist in the further study of their application to agriculture and forensic science.

Impact of Low Temperatures on the Lithiation and Delithiation Properties of Si-Based Electrodes in Ionic Liquid Electrolytes.

Lithium-ion batteries are used in various extreme environments, such as cold regions and outer space; thus, improvements in energy density, safety, and cycle life in these environments are urgently required. We investigated changes in the charge and discharge properties of Si-based electrodes in ionic liquid electrolytes with decreasing temperature and the cycle life at low temperature. The reversible capacity at low temperature was determined by the properties of the surface film on the electrodes and/or the ionic conductivity of the electrolytes. The electrode coated with a surface film formed at a low temperature exhibited insufficient capacity. In contrast, a Si-only electrode precoated with the surface film at room temperature exhibited a cycle life at low temperatures in ionic liquid electrolytes longer than that in conventional organic liquid electrolytes. Doping phosphorus into Si led to improved cycling performance, and its impact was more noticeable at lower temperatures.

Impact of high, low, and non-optimum temperatures on chronic kidney disease in a changing climate, 1990–2019: A global analysis

BackgroundAlthough a few studies have reported the relationship between high and low temperatures and chronic kidney disease (CKD), the global burden of CKD attributable to extreme heat and cold in recent decades remains unknown. MethodsBased on the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019, we obtained data on age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) and age-standardized rates of disability-adjusted life years (ASDR) per 100 000 population of the CKD attributable to non-optimum temperatures from 1990 to 2019. The annual mean temperature of each country was used to divide each country into five climate zones (tropical, subtropical, warm-temperate, cool-temperate, and boreal). The locally weighted regression model was used to estimate the burden for different climate zones and Socio-demographic index (SDI) regions. ResultsIn 1990, the ASMR and ASDR due to high temperature estimated −0.01 (95% UI, −0.74 to 0.44) and −0.32 (−21.66 to 12.66) per 100 000 population, respectively. In 2019, the ASMR and ASDR reached 0.10 (−0.28 to 0.38) and 2.71 (−8.07 to 10.46), respectively. The high-temperature burden increased most rapidly in tropical and low SDI regions. There were 0.99 (0.59 to 1.39) ASMR attributable to low-temperature in 1990, which increased to 1.05 (0.61–1.49) in 2019. While the ASDR due to low temperature declined from 22.03 (12.66 to 30.64) in 1990 to 20.43 (11.30 to 29.26) in 2019. Overall, the burden of CKD attributable to non-optimal temperatures has increased from 1990 to 2019. CKD due to hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the primary causes of CKD death attributable to non-optimum temperatures in 2019 with males and older adults being more susceptible to these temperatures. ConclusionsThe CKD burden due to high, low, and non-optimum temperatures varies considerably by regions and countries. The burden of CKD attributable to high temperature has been increasing since 1990.

МЕТОДИЧНІ ЗАСАДИ ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ ОПТИМАЛЬНОГО ЧАСУ РОБОТИ РЯТУВАЛЬНИКА ГІРСЬКОГО

Goal. Development of methods for studying the impact of dangerous and harmful factors on the mountain rescuer during search and rescue operations at low ambient temperatures. Method. The article presents the results of the study according to the methods of Euro standards, namely: experiments, theoretical analysis. Results. The article examines in detail the problem of protection of mountain rescue workers during search and rescue operations in mountainous areas, which is characterized by limited transport accessibility, and proposes methodological principles for studying the impact of low temperatures on the functional state of rescue workers. A certain algorithm for conducting a study of the level of protection of mountain rescuers is proposed and the need to standardize the time of search and rescue operations for effective work and minimal damage to the health of the mountain rescue service. Scientific novelty. The article for the first time uses the method of determining the degree of influence of low temperatures on the human body, in particular on the functional state of a mountain rescue worker, taking into account the level of his protection by electroencephalogram (EEG). Practical significance. The recommended method will ensure the formation of requirements for the regulations of all search and rescue operations by mountain rescue workers in areas with rugged terrain and relative elevations of 500 m and more within a radius of 25 km, and areas above 900 m and above sea level. Accordingly, the implementation of the proposed requirements of the regulation will ensure the rationing of the time of work of varying degrees of load at low temperatures that affect the human body.

Impact of low temperatures on the immune system of honeybees.

Changes in temperature resulting from climate change can impact the distribution and survival of species, including bees, where temperature may also affect their immune system. Evaluation of immune system activity is often performed by the total count of circulating hemocytes in the hemolymph. However, there are few studies on bees examining the relationship between the amount of circulating hemocytes and temperature. This study evaluated changes of circulating hemocytes in Apis mellifera hemolymph at different temperatures and development stages. Total hemocytes of bees were determined at - 8, 16, 24, and 32°C - and at different development stages - in vivo larvae, in vitro larvae, newly emerged, and forager bees. A. mellifera larvae had a greater number of circulating hemocytes compared to the other development stages (newly emerged and foragers). Additionally, temperature was an important factor explaining variation of circulating hemocytes in the hemolymph, according to principal component analyses (PCA), as the number of circulating hemocytes was greater at higher temperatures. Therefore, extreme events arising from climate change, such as variation in temperature, can directly impact the immune system of bees, both individually and at the colony level, threatening the distribution and survival of several species.

Cryosurgery and physical medicine n treatment of cancer

Background. At the present stage of oncology development, cryosurgery is keeping up with other surgical options of treating malignant tumors. However, especially when using cryoapplication technique, radical low-temperature destruction of large tumors is challenged with uneven freezing of the tissue inside and on the periphery of the cryoablation zone resulting in insufficient complete destruction of all tumor cells. The long-term strategy of increasing the efficiency of cryogenic treatment, which will maximize the potential for exposure of biological tissues to low temperatures, is its combination with other physical methods. On the other hand, the preliminary cryotherapy of the tumor tissue can be used to increase the efficiency of antitumor therapy by other methods, in particular, physical ones. Purpose – to summarize and analyze the literature data on applying low temperatures in combination with other physical medicine techniques in order to assess the efficiency and the potential of those in uptodate oncology. Materials and Methods. The paper deals with analyzing the studies published within the period from 2000 to 2020 outlining the data on the impact of low temperatures on the biological tissues in combination with other physical medicine techniques. After keyword search against international and Ukrainian databases, the papers, focused on this subject area, were sorted out, analyzed and included in the references. Results. The review presents pros and cons of using cryosurgery in medical practice with due regard for pathogenetic mechanisms of low temperature impact on biological structures. Based on experimental and clinical studies data, a positive effect of cryosurgical approaches in combination with other physical medicine techniques when performing surgical interventions for ablation of malignant neoplasms has been shown. The paper included the contributions describing the findings on combining cryosurgery with: preliminary hemodilution; radiofrequency and microwave hyperthermic ablation; laser and photodynamic therapy; electroporation. Additionally, a contemporary view of cryo-ultrasound therapy, cryonanoablation, cryo- radiation treatment and cryoelectrolysis was presented. Conclusions. Cryosurgery is an effective minimally invasive surgical method keeping up with other methods of treating malignant tumors, despite the fact that these days the research on optimizing the method of exposure of biological tissues to low temperatures is still ongoing. Cryosurgery in combination with other physical medicine techniques in case of tumor ablation can enhance the effectiveness of treating cancer patients.

Impact of hurdle technologies and low temperatures during ripening on the production of nitrate-free pork salami: A microbiological and metabolomic comparison

In this work, cold-dry fermented nitrate-free sausages were produced by adopting hurdle technologies. The strategy consists of using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) growing at low temperatures, the addition of lactic and ascorbic acids, and low temperatures during the ripening-drying process (35 days at different RH values). Four experimental conditions (B and B1 with 0.2% ascorbic acid, R and R1 with 0.3% lactic acid – B1 and R1 with lower RH during ripening) were compared with a control (N; traditionally manufactured, 80 mg/kg of nitrates and nitrites). Overall, sample R underwent a pH change from 5.22 (t0) to 5.06 (t14). Besides, all samples displayed aw values ≤ 0.92 at t22, thus reaching values < 0.895 at t35. Interestingly, the lower RH values (65–80%) during ripening determined a case hardening, significantly affecting colour parameters. Metabolomics coupled with TBARS assay showed few differences when comparing B and R with the control, whereas lipid oxidation markers (18-hydroxyoleate, LogFC = 0.83–16-Hydroxy-hexadecanoic acid, LogFC = 0.77) and MDA increased in B1 and R1. Overall, RH values revealed to be critical parameters, to be accurately defined to avoid undesired phenomena when hurdle technologies are used. Nonetheless, our findings support the manufacturing of nitrate-free salami by unconventional technologies.

ВЛИЯЮТ ЛИ НИЗКИЕ ТЕМПЕРАТУРЫ НА РАСПРОСТРАНЕНИЕ НОВОЙ КОРОНАВИРУСНОЙ ИНФЕКЦИИ?

Significance. There are many studies on the influence of climate on the spread of coronavirus, however, the effect of low temperatures on the development of the COVID-19 epidemic is yet to be determined. Purpose: to evaluate impact of low temperatures on the spread of the new coronavirus infection. Material and methods. Dynamics in newly detected cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection for the period from November 1 to December 31 in 85 regions of the Russian Federation has been analyzed. Based on discrepancies in the projected course of the COVID-19 epidemic according to data for the periods from November 1 - December 7 and November 1 - December 20, groups of the regions have been formed. Mean values of risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 have been compared across these groups. The extrapolation method was used for forecasting with analytical alignment of the temporal series. The procedure has then been repeated for the periods from November 1 - December 20 and December 16-31. Results. In the second part of December, deterioration of the epidemic situation was projected in two groups, while improvement of the epidemic situation was projected in two groups, and an unchanged level of detection of new cases of infection was projected in one group. The average monthly temperatures in December in the groups with the projected rise in the number of infections were significantly higher than in other groups. The tendency towards improvements in the forecast of the epidemic situation as the risk factors change is disrupted by the group with stabilization in the number of cases after the increasing trend. In this group, the average monthly temperature (-6.4°C [-7.8 — -5.0]) is higher than in the group with the unchanged epidemic situation (-8.5°C [-9.4 — -7.5]), where the influence of low temperatures was likely to manifest by the beginning of December. In the group with the decreased number of cases, the average temperature was (-18.3°C [-20.8 — -15.9]. With changes in trends in the third part of December, significant differences between subgroups were registered only in terms of the mean monthly temperature with the rest of the risk factors being identified in some cases only. In general, no correlation between the COVID-19 infection and the average monthly temperature was identified in the country. There is a correlation between the prevalence and the number of doctors (r = 0.33) and population density (r = 0.37), but the trend towards better forecasts in the regions does not agree with the last risk factor. Conclusion. The study results support the hypothesis that low air temperatures reduce the SARS-COV-2 transmission. Their influence is manifested in the regions with a fairly high level of the infection prevalence.

Determining a change in the compressed air temperature during the operation of a rotary piston engine

Experimental studies of change in the air temperature in a power unit with a prototype RPD-4.4/1.75 rotary-piston pneumatic motor were carried out to solve the problem of the negative impact of low temperatures of exhaust air on the pneumatic motor performance.It has been established that an increase in rpm by 62 % leads to a drop of air temperature after reducer by 33 %. In this case, the maximum temperature drop during throttling is 21 K under conditions of maximum rpm and pressure of 0.8 MPa in the inlet receiver. It was found that under experimental conditions, the average differential Joule-Thomson effect is in the range of 0.8…3.9 K/MPa when throttling in the reducer for the pressure range of 0.4...0.8 MPa in the inlet receiver.It was found that the temperature drop caused by air expansion in the working cylinder of the pneumatic motor is about 22 K in absence of regulation of the filling degree. At the same time, temperature fluctuations do not exceed 4.5 % depending on the change in the motor rpm and pressure in the inlet receiver.A maximum temperature decrease in the power unit was obtained experimentally. Under the experimental conditions and depending on the study mode, the temperature drop from the initial storage value is from 35 to 43 K.It was found that the amount of energy required for heating air at the inlet to the inlet receiver with a pressure of 0.6 MPa in the air storage temperature range of –5...–20 °С is 0.14...1.99 kW. In this case, the ratio Qp/Ne can reach 0.1...0.58, that is, in some operating modes, more than half of the produced power will actually be spent on air heating. Accordingly, the results obtained are useful and necessary when choosing conditions and operating modes of the pneumatic motor

Reservoir effects on the variations of the water temperature in the upper Yellow River, China, using principal component analysis

Water temperature is an important factor that affects the number and variety of river species. After a reservoir is built, a river's thermal regime changes significantly. Analyzing and evaluating river water temperature variation trends caused by damming can provide scientific support for developing effective water management strategies for reservoirs. This paper aimed to construct an index system of water temperatures in high and cold areas of the Upper Yellow River, and a method was proposed for identifying river water temperature variation based on principal component analysis (PCA). The variation degree in the river water temperature caused by large reservoirs was analyzed quantitatively. A three-dimensional water temperature model was developed to simulate the effect of a stratified intake on the alleviation of low-temperature water. The results indicated that (1) the water temperature decreased in summer and increased in winter, seasonal temperature changes decreased, there was a time delay in water temperature processes and a time fluctuation in the temperature threshold. (2) Certain indices were obtained that considered fish spawning and breeding, thermal condition changes and interactions between the organisms influenced by the reservoirs. (3) A stratified intake has a good effect on mitigating the impact of low water temperatures on fish spawning to some extent. The index system of the water temperature and its gradient changes effectively analyzed the influence of the reservoirs on river water temperature variations.

Impact of extreme temperatures on primary care requirement in France: the CHAUFOS Study (2010-2018).

The health impact of cold and hot waves is major. Nevertheless, the respective impact of extreme high and low temperatures remains controversial. The daily number of (1)&#160;patients managed by SAMU&#160;93 dispatching centre &#8211; primary care requirement indicator, (2)&#160;Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) interventions &#8211; patient severity indicator and (3)&#160;number of deaths have been recorded. Daily minimum and maximum temperatures were recorded from 2010 to 2018. The analysis covered the 10&#160;warmest and coldest days of each year (2&#160;&#215;&#160;70&#160;days), and the 30&#160;warmest and coldest days of the total period (2&#160;&#215;&#160;30 days). Over 2,702&#160;days, 1,513,070&#160;patients, 89,478&#160;MICU interventions and 7,350&#160;deaths were analysed. Median temperature: 16.0[10.4-21.6]&#176;C.The coldest days were associated with a significant increase in patients managed (665[609-764] vs 538[474-619]; P&#160;&lt;&#160;0.001), MICU interventions (35[32-39] vs 33 [28-38]; P&#160;=&#160;0.006) and deaths (3[2-5] vs 2[1-4]; P&#160;=&#160;0.0008) considering the 10&#160;days of extreme temperatures in each year and a significant increase in patients managed 615[580-698] vs 542[475-627]; P&#160;&lt;&#160;0.001) considering the 30-day extreme of the period.The hottest days were associated with a significant decrease in patients managed (484[443-549] vs 538[474-619]; P &lt;&#160;0.001), MICU interventions (31[25-37] vs 33[28-38]; P&#160;=&#160;0.006) and deaths (2[1-3] vs 2[1-4]; P&#160;=&#160;0.0008) considering the 10 extreme days of each year and a significant decrease in patients managed (536[479-576] vs 542[475-627]; P &lt;&#160;0.001) considering the 30 extreme days of the period. Primary care requirement, number of severe patients and mortality increased significantly with extreme low of temperature.

Weather conditions as a factor affecting the performance of modern powerful mining excavators

The article discusses various factors that have a significant impact on the performance of EKG-32R type powerful mining excavators. It was revealed that the most adverse effects are weather conditions that are different from the nominal ones for which mining machines are designed. The climatic factor includes the impact of solar radiation, low and high air temperatures, wind speed, humidity, fog, snowstorms, snow storms etc on mining equipment. The transformation of the properties of structural materials is also determined by the intensity and duration of exposure to these factors and their combination. A methodology is proposed for assessing the influence of weather conditions on the operation of mining equipment, which allows one to analyze the influence of each climatic parameter separately and evaluate the complex effect. It is proposed to take into account the influence of the climatic factor on the performance of mining excavators through a complex indicator - the weather stiffness index, which takes into account the parameters of any type of climate for the entire calendar period of the excavator exploitation.

Will there be cold-related mortality in Spain over the 2021–2050 and 2051–2100 time horizons despite the increase in temperatures as a consequence of climate change?

IntroductionGlobal warming is resulting in an increase in temperatures which is set to become more marked by the end of the century and depends on the accelerating pace of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Yet even in this scenario, so-called “cold waves” will continue to be generated and have an impact on health. ObjectivesThis study sought to analyse the impact of cold waves on daily mortality at a provincial level in Spain over the 2021–2050 and 2051–2100 time horizons under RCP4.5 and RCP 8.5 emission scenarios, on the basis of two hypotheses: (1) that the cold-wave definition temperature (T threshold) would not vary over time; and, (2) that there would be a variation in T threshold. Material and methodsThe results of a retrospective study undertaken for Spain as a whole across the period 2000–2009 enabled us to ascertain the cold-wave definition temperature at a provincial level and its impact on health, measured by reference to population attributable risk (PAR). The minimum daily temperatures projected for each provincial capital considering the above time horizons and emission scenarios were provided by the State Meteorological Agency. On the basis of the T threshold definition values and minimum daily temperatures projected for each province, we calculated the expected impact of low temperatures on mortality under the above two hypotheses. Keeping the PAR values constant, it was assumed that the mortality rate would vary in accordance with the available data. ResultsIf T threshold remained constant over the above time horizons under both emission scenarios, there would be no cold-related mortality. If T threshold were assumed to vary over time, however, then cold-related mortality would not disappear: it would instead remain practically constant over time and give rise to an estimated overall figure of around 250 deaths per year, equivalent to close on a quarter of Spain's current annual cold-related mortality and entailing a cost of approximately €1000 million per year. ConclusionGiven that cold waves are not going to disappear and that their impact on mortality is far from negligible and is likely to remain so, public health prevention measures must be implemented to minimise these effects as far as possible.

Evaluation of different genotypes of oilseed flax to the impact of low temperatures

Evaluation of different genotypes of oilseed flax to the impact of low temperatures

СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЕ МЕТОДОВ ТЕПЛОВОЙ ПОДГОТОВКИ СУДОВЫХ ЭНЕРГЕТИЧЕСКИХ УСТАНОВОК

Low ambient temperatures negatively impact the performance criteria of the ship power plants: increasing load onto the moving parts due to the growing irregularity of the shaft rotation speed in the power plants . Heating of a power plant in cold seasons is especially important for the modes of hot idle time, which are typical for all kinds of transport. Negative impact of low ambient temperatures most notably becomes apparent at starting the internal combustion engines. Normative documents do not determine the size of harmful substance discharge during the engine operation in the reset mode. To maintain the optimum thermal condition of the ship power plants for the purpose of ensuring their profitability, non-failure operation and resource indicators it is necessary to develop and widely use the thermal preparation methods. As the main criteria of such improvement it is possible to use the following indicators: efficiency of thermal preparation, amount of power inputs, labor intensiveness during installation, mobility, environment protection and fire safety. Pre-start heating units on the base of catalytic heating elements meet the required quality criteria of thermal preparation of power plants, especially regarding the environmental friendliness of the process. The problem of preliminary evaporation of liquid fuel has been solved. Pilot studies of the catalytic heating elements operating on gas or diesel fuel with preliminary evaporation have defined the potential of catalytic oxidation technologies. The results obtained allow further development of ecologically safe and effective pre-starting preheaters that use diesel fuel as a source of thermal energy and the most widespread type of fuel for ship power plants.