Increase In Ambient Temperature Research Articles

Automated vs. Semi-Automated Hydroponics

The issue of hydroponic farming is the ongoing requirement to maintain and control the artificial growing environment to enable optimal plant growth. The quality of the plants growing on the farm can be significantly impacted by changes in the climate, natural light, and fertilizer solution at any time during the plant's growth cycle. According to studies, every 3°C increase in ambient temperature from the optimal range reduces crop productivity by 10 to 40%. Therefore, by automatically supplying ideal growth conditions throughout the growing cycle, IoT-based automation is crucial to achieving optimal plant growth. In this work, lettuce is grown simultaneously in two distinct hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) systems, one of which is fully automated and the other semi-automated. In terms of plant growth metrics, such as plant elevation, maximum plant length, maximum plant breadth, and weight of both fresh and dry-farmed lettuce, this paper compared a fully automated farm and a semi-automated NFT farm for growing lettuce. The outcomes demonstrate that the ariel weight of fresh and dry lettuce and root weight of fresh and dry lettuce had average improvements of 10.4 gm, 0.7 gm, 0.11 gm, 0.7 gm, and 3, respectively in the fully automated setup. Findings also demonstrated that IoT-based automation enhances the growth of lettuce plants on farms when comparing a completely automatic hydroponic farm to a semi-automatic hydroponic farm, in terms of plant height, width, and total leaf count.

PSII-14 Climate and conception: Investigating the resilience of equine embryo survival to ambient temperatures in southeast Texas

Abstract Amidst the unique challenges posed by the humid and hot climate of southeast Texas, this study aimed to assess the establishment of pregnancy from transferred equine embryos, hypothesizing that an increase in ambient temperature would lead to a decrease in pregnancy establishment. To achieve this, we utilized 17 embryo donors and 46 recipient mares (3 to 9 yr of age), all anatomically and clinically normal with no history of reproductive problems. Breeding records for 49 transferred d 8, grade-1 embryos from a single private horse farm in southeast Texas, along with the reported high and low ambient temperatures on the day of transfer, were analyzed using logistic regression via PROC GLIMMIX in SAS v9.4 with fixed effects for the reported high and low ambient temperatures on the day of transfer, with a random statement for donor and sire. The pregnancy rate for all embryo transfers was 79%. Surprisingly, our results revealed that neither the reported high ambient temperatures (P = 0.16) nor reported low ambient temperatures (P = 0.19) significantly influenced the likelihood of pregnancy establishment observed at d 14 post-ovulation of transferred equine embryos. Furthermore, no statistically significant influence (P > 0.05) on pregnancy establishment was observed when embryo transfers were conducted outside of the thermal neutral zone (5°C to 20°C). Within the context of our study, these results suggest that environmental temperatures in southeast Texas do not significantly impact equine pregnancy outcomes.

Thermal management of lithium-ion battery modules optimized based on the design of cold plate with convex pack structure

To address the issue of temperature increase in battery modules using liquid cooling plates, a convex pack structure within the flow channel is proposed to enhance flow efficiency. High temperatures can lead to battery performance deterioration, increased safety risks, and reduced service life. The optimal parameters for the convex structure (radius, transverse spacing, and longitudinal spacing) were determined through simulation analysis and orthogonal experiments. The effects of discharge rate, ambient temperature, coolant inlet temperature, and inlet speed on the heat dissipation of the battery module were also studied. The results show that the convex pack structure enhances heat transfer by increasing the contact area and fluid velocity while inducing eddy currents to achieve lateral mixing. The optimal parameters were found to be: radius (r) = 0.75 mm, horizontal spacing (x) = 3.50 mm, and vertical spacing (y) = 4.50 mm. At low discharge rates, the battery performs well, but high discharge rates negatively affect temperature uniformity. An increase in ambient temperature raises the temperature difference and maximum battery temperature. Lower coolant inlet temperatures reduce the maximum temperature but may result in uneven temperature distribution. Achieving a balanced coolant flow rate is essential to minimize temperature variations and control pressure buildup. This research introduces an innovative heat transfer structure, the convex pack, which significantly improves cooling efficiency. Further research on enhanced heat transfer structures is necessary to continue advancing cooling technologies for battery modules.

Study on performance of a multi-heat source heat pump coupled energy storage system for plant factory heating system

CO2 air source heat pump (CASHP) faces challenges of performance degradation caused by the high return water temperature and the low ambient temperature for building heating. This study proposed a novel multi-heat source heat pump system (MHSHP) that combined with a CO2 air source heat pumps (CASHP) and ground source heat pumps (GSHP) with the implementation of a thermal storage tank. The performance and CO2 emissions of both CASHP and MHSHP systems were investigated by applying a plant factory located in Beijing, China. The effects of user-side parameters and ambient temperature were explored with the storage water temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 40 °C. The results demonstrated that the heating performance of the CASHP improved with an increase of user water flow rate and ambient temperatures, while it decreased as the storage water temperature increased. At the flow rate of 1.1 m3/h, the increase of the compressor frequency from 40 Hz to 60 Hz led to a significant improvement in heating capacity by 53.3 %, and a reduction in COP by 23.3 %. When the user-side water flow ratio decreased or the total flow rate increased, the COP of the MHSHP system showed improvement and outperformed that of the CASHP system, with an increase ranging from 46.9 % to 61.5 %. Additionally, it exhibits reduced sensitivity to ambient temperature fluctuations, resulting in a decrease in COP variability from 33.3 % to 20.6 %. Moreover, the CO2 emissions of the system decrease as the COP increases, with significant reduction of 69.2 %.

Sex differences in body temperature and thermal perception under stable and transient thermal environments: A comparative study

Sex difference stands as a crucial factor necessitating consideration in personalized thermal environment control, with the mechanisms of its emergence potentially differing across different thermal environments. However, a comparative analysis of sex differences regarding body temperature (skin and core body temperature) and thermal perception across different environments is lacking. A stable environmental experiment (comprising three conditions: 16 °C, 20 °C, and 24 °C) and a transient environmental experiment (involving a whole-body step-change from 19 °C to 35 °C and back to 19 °C) were conducted, with participation from 20 young males and 20 young females. Skin temperature and core body temperature were continuously recorded during the experiments, and three types of thermal perceptions were regularly collected. The results showed that: (1) The impact of thermal environment on females' skin temperature surpassed that on males, in stable environment, with every 1 °C rise in ambient temperature, the mean skin temperature increased by 0.28 °C for males and 0.35 °C for females respectively; in transient environment, females' mean skin temperature raise and fell at a faster rate. (2) Males exhibited stronger thermal regulation abilities than females, particularly evident during sudden increase in ambient temperature (from 19 °C to 35 °C), where the reduction magnitude of males' core body temperature was notably larger. (3) Whether in stable or transient environments, significant sex differences often occurred in skin temperature and thermal sensation at distal parts, particularly at the hand. (4) Males typically fed back higher levels of thermal comfort and thermal acceptability than females, suggesting that in addition to physiological sex differences, psychological sex distinctions also play a role. In summary, personalized design for stable thermal environment can focus on sex differences in skin temperature, while transient thermal environment requires consideration of both skin temperature and core body temperature. A comprehensive consideration of physiological and psychological sex differences aids in creating personalized thermal environments with greater precision.

Quality improvement of lime fruit (Citrus aurantifolia) between packaged and unpackaged conditions combined with different storage temperatures

Background: The use of limes is increasingly widespread worldwide, both as fresh fruit for consumption and for making juice or other drinks. Lime is also used in making jams and candies. The essential oil obtained from the skin is widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries for medicines, perfumes, soaps, body lotions, and detergents. However, during fruit storage, the respiration and metabolic activity in lime fruits is directly related to the increase in ambient temperature, which makes the fruit dry out. Improving the shelf life of lime against post-harvest stress while maintaining the sensory and nutritional qualities of fresh produce can be achieved through low-temperature storage and the use of packaging. This study aims to improve the quality of lime by knowing the difference between the provision of packaging and not-given packaging combined with different storage temperatures. Method: The experimental design used a single-factor completely randomized design with storage type treatment, which includes room temperature without packaging (control), room temperature with packaging, low temperature without packaging, and low temperature with packaging. Observations of non-destructive characteristics include weight loss, respiration rate, and fruit peel color. Observations of destructive characteristics include juice content, fruit peel softness, Soluble Solid Contents (SSC), Total Acidity (TA), SSC/TA ratio, and ascorbic acid content. Finding: Low temperature treatment without packaging provides the best results in delaying weight loss, respiration rate, and SSC/TA ratio. The control treatment provided the best results for peel softness, juice content, and ascorbic acid. Conclusion: Low temperature treatment without packaging is recommended for the storage of lime fruit to extend its shelf life. Novelty/Originality of this Study: This study examines the combined effects of low temperature and newspaper packaging on extending the shelf life of lime fruits, addressing a significant gap in postharvest storage research for non-climacteric fruits such as lime.

Research on thermal runaway characteristics and mechanism of NCM811 Lithium-ion batteries under cross-seasonal and wide-temperature condition at −10 °C ∼ 33 °C: A case study in Qingdao, China

Multiple heat sources and extreme ambient temperatures pose more severe challenges to the safety performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and the kinetic characterization of thermal runaway (TR) of LIBs at extreme temperatures has yet to be improved. Through the establishment of a dual heat source coupled stimulation experimental platform, this study investigates the TR mechanism and flame jet dynamics of LIBs under broad temperature ranges corresponding to spring, summer, autumn, and winter (−10 °C ∼ 30 °C). The results indicate that the increase in ambient temperature leads to a gradual reduction in the TR onset time (tonset), in the order of Tonset-Winter>Tonset-Spring>Tonset-Autumn>Tonset-Summer; for example, with 100% SOC (State of Charge), Tonset-Winter = 2528 s, Tonset-Summer = 2211 s, which was accelerated by 14.3%. However, TR maximum temperature (Tmax) showed the opposite trend, Tmax-summer = 687.2 °C, Tmax-winter = 796.5 °C, which decreased by 15.9%. When SOC ≥ 75%, the average warning time for TR disaster of LIB (from venting to the beginning of TR) is 254 s less than that of winter in the summer with higher temperature, which makes the adoption of emergency measures and escape more urgent. When SOC ≥ 50%, the TR process was accompanied by flame generation, and the flame eruption process was the most intense at 100% SOC, with a maximum flame area of about 4400 cm2, and its flame temperature was likewise the highest at 986.4 °C. Carbon and metal oxides were detected in the TR ejecta, and the lower the ambient temperature, the finer the ejecta particles were. The results of the study provide an important scientific reference for improving the theory of TR of LIBs, guiding the investigation of TR and fire in new energy vehicles, and formulating relevant standards.

Behavioral strategy of adaptation of <i>Polypterus senegalus</i>(Polypteridae) with an increase in ambient temperature

This paper investigates the effect of temperature increase on the behaviour of Polypterus under laboratory experimental conditions. To investigate the effect of a change in temperature regime, analysis of video recordings of animal behaviour over eight hours under acclimation conditions and under a constant temperature increase is used. The temperature increase occurred at a rate of 1,125°C/hour. The movement trajectories of the animals under normal conditions and under a sudden increase in ambient temperature are described. The paper presents results on the speed and activity of the fish movements and the number of acts of air entrapment by polypterus from the water surface. The studies show that the increase in temperature leads to an increase in the variability of the animals’ movement trajectories. A steady increase in temperature leads to an increase in the speed and activity of the animals’ movements. As the temperature regime changes, there is an increase in the number of acts of air capture from the water surface. The largest jump in activity change is observed in the second and third hours of temperature increase. The obtained material can serve as a basis for the development of ideas about the behavioural adaptation of bony fishes to the increase in ambient temperature. The observed regularities in the responses to temperature changes will make it possible to improve the technology of polypterus cultivation.

Experimental investigation of a transcritical CO2 refrigeration system incorporating rotary gas pressure exchanger and low lift ejectors

Natural refrigerants like CO2 are playing a significant role in making refrigeration and heat pump systems climate-friendly by slowly phasing out the high global warming refrigerants like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). However, the efficiency of a transcritical CO2 refrigeration system declines significantly when the ambient temperature increases, primarily attributed to the high-pressure lift and the losses incurred during expansion. To remedy this issue, this paper presents a novel rotary gas pressure exchanger (PXG) device, which simultaneously achieves high differential pressure expansion work recovery and the “free compression” of the portion of the flash gas in a compact, rotary machine. For this, a PXG device is designed, fabricated, and tested to achieve free compression of CO2 over the entire differential pressure of approximately 70 bar between a receiver and a gas cooler. This is one of the highest free-pressure lift provided by any device to date in CO2 refrigeration. However, there is a small pressure loss of approximately 1–2 bar in the system due to viscous and inertia losses in the piping and in the PXG itself, which needs to be overcome by an external booster device. Results on a baseline PXG integrated system with two low lift booster compressors are presented, which show up to 60 bar free pressure lift and up to 18.2 % COP improvement provided by PXG. Additionally, key performance characteristics of the PXG, like the expansion work recovery, the mass boost ratio, direct fluid-to-fluid contact, and no pass-through operation are experimentally quantified. This work also presents a novel method to integrate two low lift ejectors with PXG to eliminate the need for separate low lift compressors. The low lift ejectors are designed, fabricated, and tested in-house, followed by their integration with the PXG device. A new type of transcritical CO2 refrigeration system is designed to integrate these low lift ejectors with PXG, and experiments are conducted at various evaporator thermal duties and gas cooler exit temperatures, simulating varying ambient temperature conditions. A novel control system to control the gas cooler pressure to optimal thermodynamic levels using PXG rotational speed is demonstrated experimentally. Further, automated control of high-pressure low lift ejector mass flow using an in-built needle design has been successfully demonstrated to optimise PXG mass boost performance. The LP low lift ejector achieved a successful pressure lift of 3.8 bar, and the HP low lift ejector showed a lift of 5.7 bar on the top of 42 bar free pressure lift provided by PXG for up to 5.8 kg/min mass flow delivered by free PXG compression. The results from this study demonstrate that the PXG device provides a significant energy efficiency improvement to the transcritical CO2 refrigeration system, and the novel low lift ejectors, when integrated with PXG, provide a successful method to maximise PXG’s thermodynamic potential.

Isentropic and exergy analyses of marine steam turbine segments at several loads

This research presents isentropic and exergy analyses of marine steam turbine segments at three loads. Turbine segment is a part of any cylinder which is placed between the steam entrance to the cylinder and first steam extraction, between steam extractions and finally between last steam extraction and steam exit from the cylinder. Division of each cylinder to the segments allows insight into the various cylinder parts operation and an observation is the cylinder properly balanced. The analyzed marine steam turbine is composed of two cylinders – High Pressure Cylinder (HPC) and Low Pressure Cylinder (LPC), while each cylinder has two segments. The dominant part of real mechanical power produced in HPC is actually produced in the first HPC part (segment 1), while in LPC, the dominant part of real mechanical power is produced in the last LPC part (segment 4). Segments 1 and 3 have the highest improvement potential (inlet segments of both HPC and LPC) due to the highest isentropic losses and exergy destructions. HPC is much better balanced cylinder because along with isentropic, also exergy efficiencies between its segments (segment 1 and segment 2) at all loads differ lower than 7%, while the same cannot be stated for the LPC which exergy efficiencies between segments (segment 3 and segment 4) at all loads differ more than 20%. Very low isentropic and exergy efficiencies of the segment 3, at all observed loads, indicate that this turbine segment is highly problematic and at least some of the turbine stages mounted in this segment have difficulties in operation or potential malfunction. In addition, segment 3 is also the highest influenced by the ambient temperature change in comparison to other segments. The ambient temperature increase from 5 °C up to 45 °C can decrease segment exergy efficiency between 1.31% and 3.17%, if all the segments and all loads of the analyzed marine steam turbine are observed.

Effect of non-optimal ambient temperature on preterm birth stratified by social positioning in Nepal: A space–time-stratified case-crossover study

BackgroundThe ongoing increase in the mean global temperature due to human induced climate change, indicates that women and infants will have higher exposure to heat events leading to adverse outcomes. The study investigates the effect of non-optimal ambient temperature on the risk of preterm birth stratified by social position in Nepal. MethodThis is a space–time-stratified case-crossover design, based on hospital-registered perinatal data between 2017 and 2021 (n = 47,807). A daily count of pregnant women residing in seven heat-prone districts was extracted together with their social status (ethnicity), obstetric complication and gestation of birth. The daily count of events was matched with the daily ambient temperature of their residence using the NOAA spatial temperature recording. Ambient temperature exposure was analysed using conditional Poisson regression and distributed lag non-linear models. FindingsIn the general population, with exposure to ambient temperature at the 75th centile (28 °C) the cumulative risk of preterm birth over 28 days was 1·29 times higher (RR, 1·29; 95% CI; 1·09, 1·54) than at median temperature (24.1 °C), and even higher among the socially disadvantaged population. Cumulative risk of preterm birth to cold ambient temperature at the 1st centile was high but not significant. Exposure to ambient temperature at the 90th centile (32·5 °C) had the highest cumulative risk of preterm birth for pregnant women from socially disadvantaged populations (RR 1·81; 95% CI; 1·28, 2·55). The delayed effect after exposure to temperatures above the 75th percentile was more prolonged in the disadvantaged than the advantaged social group. ConclusionAlthough exposure to cold with certain effect on preterm births, heat (increase in ambient temperature) carries a risk of preterm birth in Nepal, and is more profound among socially disadvantaged populations.

Diffusion characteristics of indoor pollutants from incense sticks combustion in Tibetan Plateau buildings: An experimental study

Incense burning, a common practice among ethnic Tibetans in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China, generates pollutants that can impact indoor air quality and, subsequently, human health. In this paper, we investigate the diffusion characteristics of four prevalent pollutants emitted during the burning of local Tibetan incense under low-pressure conditions specific to the plateau region. The diffusion behavior of these incense burning pollutants deviates from that observed under standard atmospheric pressure due to the unique conditions prevailing at high altitudes. The research results reveal that the primary pollutants released during Tibetan incense combustion are carbon dioxide, inhalable PM2.5, and PM10. Furthermore, ambient temperature exerts a substantial influence on the concentration of pollutants emitted during incense burning. A 6 °C increase in ambient temperature results in a 1.17-fold rise in the combustion rate. Consequently, higher temperatures correspond to larger diffusion coefficients, increased gas diffusion rates, and elevated pollutant concentrations at equivalent combustion times. Simultaneously, the low oxygen content characteristic of plateau regions has a notable impact on the diffusion rate of gaseous pollutants. This study of pollutant concentration and diffusion characteristics during incense burning offers valuable insights for determining the minimum ventilation rate in plateau areas.

Simulation Study of Thermal Performance on the Inner and Outer Surfaces of Semi-Transparent Photovoltaic (STPV) Glass with Different Transparency

This paper used the experimentally verified one-dimensional steady-state heat transfer numerical model of the semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) glass to simulate the influence of wind speed, ambient temperature and air gap thickness on the surface temperature of PV modules, and analyzed the thermal performance of the inner and outer surfaces of STPV glazing with different transparency. Results shows that for every 1m/s increase in wind speed, the outer surface temperatures of SL-STPV glass with transparency of 10%, DL-STPV glass with transparency of 20% and 40% decreased by 3 °C, 3.02 °C and 2.22 °C, respectively. For every 10 °C increase in ambient temperature, the outer surface temperatures of SL-STPV glass with transparency of 10%, DL-STPV glass with transparency of 20% and 40% increase by 8.45 °C, 7.6 °C, and 7.79 °C, respectively. For the DL-STPV glass with transparency of 20% and 40%, for every 2 mm increase in the thickness of the air gap, the outer surface temperature increases by 0.13 °C and 0.12 °C, respectively. The heat transfer between the inner surface of the glass and the indoor environment increases the heat gain through the glass into the room in summer, which will lead to an increase in refrigeration energy consumption. However, in winter, the heat exchange between the inner surface and the in-door air to heat the indoor air reduces the heating energy consumption to a certain extent, and achieves the effect of building energy conservation to a certain extent.

Spatial characterisation and drivers of catch and effort in highly specialised recreational pelagic fisheries

Large pelagic finfish are highly mobile, distributed across broad geographical scales, and often targeted by both commercial and recreational sectors. Fishing effort in these fisheries is variable due to seasonal patterns in fish behaviour and accessibility of fishing locations. Similarly, fisher behaviour and access are likely to differ within the recreational sector, between private boat-based fishing and charter (or for hire) fishing. Here, we compare spatio-temporal patterns in catch per unit effort (CPUE), effort (boat days) and catch (total catch per fishing party) for private boat-based and charter fishing, and identify environmental variables that may influence those patterns, for two pelagic species (the tropical narrow-barred Spanish mackerel and temperate Samson fish) in Western Australia. Spatial and temporal patterns of CPUE were investigated using geostatistical indices, such as the global and local index of collocation which compares the spatial distribution of CPUE locations across years and CPUE values at common locations respectively, and the centre of gravity which calculates the mean fishing location weighted by CPUE, along with the influence of environmental variables (including rainfall and sea surface temperature) on catch using generalised additive models (GAMs). The global index of collocation showed consistency in spatial distribution of CPUE and effort between private boat-based and charter fishing for both species. In contrast, the local index of collocation showed differences in the ranges of CPUE and effort within common locations. Private boat-based fishing often occurred close to the coast and adjacent to population centres, while charter fishing occurred further offshore. Spatial shifts over time were more prominent for Spanish mackerel with an overall northerly shift. For private boat-based fishing, higher catches of Spanish mackerel were associated with higher rainfall, along with an increase in ambient air temperature. For charter fishing, higher catches of Spanish mackerel occurred with ambient air temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius and a decrease in rainfall, where high catches of Samson fish were associated with a decrease in sea surface temperatures and austral winter months. This study highlights changes in the distributions of pelagic species over time and the potential to incorporate spatio-temporal monitoring of recreational harvest into fisheries management.

Influence of ambient temperature on multidimensional signal dynamics and safety performance in lithium-ion batteries during overcharging process

Ambient temperature significantly influences the safety performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), particularly their thermal runaway (TR) behaviors. Yet, the complexities of multidimensional signal dynamics in overcharged LIBs under different ambient temperatures are not well understood. In this study, we performed comprehensive overcharging abuse tests under cold (-10 °C and 0 °C), normal (20 °C), and high ambient temperatures (60 °C), to investigate the evolution of multidimensional signals of expansion force, gas concentration, surface temperature, and voltage. Results show that TR events are not triggered at ambient temperatures of −10 °C and 0 °C, with the maximum temperatures and corresponding rise rate reaching only 125 °C and 0.5 °C/s, respectively. In contrast, for batteries undergoing TR, the maximum temperatures and rates of temperature increase peaked at 410.3 °C and 20.6 °C/s, respectively. The ambient temperature has a minimal impact on the venting force of the battery, which varies from approximately 9500 N to 10000 N, primarily driven by an increase in internal gas pressure during overcharging—a factor relatively unaffected by temperature changes. After safety valve activation during overcharging, Hydrogen (H2) is consistently the first gas detected immediately across all ambient temperature scenarios. Additionally, an increase in ambient temperature results in earlier detection of abnormal expansion and venting behaviors, characterized by lower venting voltages and higher venting temperatures. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of battery failure mechanisms under various ambient temperatures and informs the development of early safety warning strategies for LIBs during the charging process.

Comparing Influence of Thermal Effects in Experimental Models - Thermotherapy in Medical Rehabilitation

Introduction: The subject of thermometry and impact of thermal effect on the human body is still a topic known and discussed in medical care. One of the basic methods in clinical diagnosis is the measurement of body temperature. In biological tissues, there are two main types of reactions caused by optical radiation: photochemical and thermal. The effects of radiation exposure depend on its properties and physical parameters, including the amount of absorbed dose and the duration of exposure. In the case of thermotherapy as a therapeutic method, the appropriate choice of radiation type and the selection of physical parameters is a necessary condition for obtaining desired, beneficial therapeutic effects. The aim of the study is to investigate the thermal effect of non-ionizing radiation: infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV) and electromagnetic field (EMF) induced in short-wave diathermy (MD), measured with classical thermometers and a thermal imaging camera. The thermal effect, as a result of overheating with three different factors: IR, UV, MD; and under the same conditions, is studied. The variation in temperature distribution in different phantoms is evaluated in order to delve into the subject of thermal effect regarding each radiation separately and to consider its suitability for medical diagnosis and therapy.Material and methods: The thermal effect study was carried out on two phantoms. The first phantom F1 - a wooden cuboid (27.0 x 7.0 x 7.5cm) with five holes drilled at 5-cm intervals, into which thermometers were inserted (depth 5 cm). The second phantom - F2 was a biological tissue, the lower part of pork ham cut off along with the bone with fat covering and skin. Phantoms F1 and F2 were treated with an infrared heater (P1), a lamp emitting ultraviolet radiation (P2) and short-wave diathermy (P3); C and irradiation - 20 minutes, temperature measurements at intervals of 5 minutes, i.e. 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes for the examined factors. During the experiment, temperature measurements were periodically made with the IR Thermal Radiometric Camera MobIR M3. For obtaining reliability of the measurements, the whole trial was repeated 10 times. Before the thermograms were made, two-hour intervals were applied between successive measurements, maintaining a constant ambient temperature of 23C.Results: With regard to UV radiation, there was an increase in the average temperature among the thermometers. This was particularly noticeable in the first thermometer with a 1.9% increase (up to 25.110.29C) above the ambient temperature (24.650.34C) after 15 minutes of measurements. After 20 minutes, the average temperature increase in thermometer 1 was 2.2% (up to 25.180.23C). A temperature increase in subsequent thermometers may be related to thermal conductivity and an increase of ambient temperature. In turn, for IR, an average 1.7% (to 25.160.87C) temperature increase of all thermometers was observed at 15 minutes and at 20 minutes, by 2.9% (to 25.481.35C) compared to baseline temperature (24.750.47\C). Comparing the average temperature of thermometer 1 with the ambient temperature (24.750.49C), the highest increase of 12.8% (to 27.930.69C) was noted after 20 minutes of measurements. In diathermy, after 10 minutes, an increase in the average temperature in thermometer 1 was observed by 2.8% (to 25.690.46C) above the ambient temperature. The highest increase in average temperature was recorded in thermometers 1 and 5 in the 20thminute of measurements.Conclusions: All of the applied methods caused temperature increases in the used phantoms. The temperature distribution in the wooden phantom corresponds to that in the biological tissue for the interaction of infrared radiation (IR) and short-wave diathermy (MD), which was confirmed by thermovision. The increase in the internal temperature of the superheated biological structure corresponds to the increase in the distribution of the phantom’s internal temperature.

Association of Psychiatric Emergency Visits and Warm Ambient Temperature during Pregnancy: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Study.

Acute exposure to high ambient temperature and heat waves during the warm season has been linked with psychiatric disorders. Emerging research has shown that pregnant people, due to physiological and psychological changes, may be more sensitive to extreme heat, and acute exposure has been linked to increased risk of pregnancy complications; however, few studies have examined psychiatric complications. Our objective was to examine the association between acute exposure to warm ambient temperatures and emergency department (ED) visits for mental disorders during pregnancy. A time-stratified case-crossover design with conditional logistic regression was performed on psychiatric ED visits for pregnant patients in North Carolina, from May to September 2016 to 2019. Daily average ambient temperature was the main exposure and was linked to daily visits by maternal zip code of residence for prenatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), severe mental illness (SMI), mental disorder of pregnancy (MDP), suicidal thoughts (SUIC), and any psychiatric disorder (Any). Effect modification by trimester, residential segregation, economic segregation, urbanicity, and availability of greenspace was also investigated. Each increase in same-day exposure to warm ambient temperature on case days was associated with an increase in incidence rate ratio (IRR) for any psychiatric disorder [IRR = 1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.14] including anxiety (IRR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.30), bipolar disorder (IRR = 1.28; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.67), and suicidal thoughts (IRR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.65) compared to control days. In general, the associations were strongest for warm season temperatures on the same day of exposure or for temperatures averaged over the 3 or 6 d preceding the ED visit. The greatest risk of an incident ED admission for PMAD (RR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.39), particularly for anxiety (RR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.59), and any psychiatric disorder (RR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.28) occurred following cumulative exposure to hot temperatures the week before admission. Higher psychiatric burden from temperature was observed in urban areas and on extreme heat days. For this pregnant population in the southeastern United States, short-term exposure to high ambient temperatures during the warm season was associated with a greater risk of ED visits for an array of psychiatric disorders. Findings show that climate-related increases in ambient temperature may contribute to psychiatric morbidity in pregnant people. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13293.

Microbial transformation mechanisms of particulate organic carbon to mineral-associated organic carbon at the chemical molecular level: Highlighting the effects of ambient temperature and soil moisture

Soil dissolved organic matter (DOM), an important component of active soil organic carbon (C), plays a crucial role in controlling C transformation. However, the role of DOM in mediating the conversion of particulate organic C (POC) into mineral-associated organic C (MAOC) at the molecular level remains unclear. In this study, the microbial conversion of POC to MAOC at the molecular level was investigated at different ambient temperatures and soil moisture levels. An increase in ambient temperature led to the conversion of POC to labile C, whereas MAOC increased with soil moisture. CHO, CHNO, and CHOS increased with soil moisture and temperature. The highest temperature (35 °C) promoted conversion of lignin/cram (carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules)-like molecules into aromatic components with the highest intragroup transformation of DOM (74%). The highest soil moisture (60%) favoured the conversion of refractory substances into aliphatic/peptide and lipid components with the highest intergroup transformation (28%). Compared to fungi, bacteria were the main driving force for DOM transformation. Therefore, changes in ambient temperature and soil moisture control the microbial formation and transformation of different C fractions (i.e. POC and MAOC) via DOM differently at the molecular level.

Study on performance of direct-expansion heat pump water heater integrated uninsulated micro-channel PV/T solar collector

In this paper, a direct-expansion heat pump water heater system integrated uninsulated micro-channel PV/T solar collector (UMC-PVT-SC) is proposed. This system can realize storage for both thermal energy and electricity, ensuring the supply of domestic hot water. The theoretical models of micro-channel PV/T solar collector, hot water storage tank, compressor and electronic expansion valve are established to investigate the performance of the micro-channel PV/T heat pump water heater system. R134a is used as refrigerant. The system performance is numerically simulated using MATLAB for different solar radiation intensity, ambient temperature and wind speed. The results show that solar radiation intensity has the largest influence on the system performance, followed by ambient temperature and wind speed. The coefficient of performance of the heat pump (COPHP) and the overall coefficient of performance (COPpvt) of the integrated system increase while the required operating time reduces, as solar radiation intensity and ambient temperature increase. The uninsulated micro-channel PV/T solar collector (evaporator) can absorb thermal energy from both ambient air and solar radiation and therefore achieve high COPHP, electric efficiency and COPpvt. Even under cold weather conditions, the proposed solar collector and heat pump heater demonstrate high efficiencies, heating and power generation capacities. When ambient temperature is −18.6 °C and solar irradiance is 322 W/m2, the collector efficiency and electric efficiency of UMC-PVT-SC are still at 0.718 and 0.244, respectively, and the COPHP and COPpvt of the heat pump heater are 3.5, 5.63, respectively. The present work is of potential value for delivering net zero.

Effect of increasing ambient temperature on physiological changes, oxidative stress, nitric oxide, total antioxidant power, and mitochondrial activity of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linn.)

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of high ambient temperature on physiological changes of live Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linn.) and biochemical parameters in Nile tilapia blood cells. Live Nile tilapia and Nile tilapia blood cells were maintained at temperature ranges from 24 to 34 °C and 24–38 °C, respectively. Then, physiological parameters (body temperature, body color score, pulse rate, ventilation rate, oxygen saturation) of the live Nile tilapia and biochemical parameters (total antioxidant power, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and mitochondrial activity) of the Nile tilapia blood cells were measured for every 2 °C increase. It was found that when the ambient temperature increases, body temperature of live Nile tilapia continually increased. Total antioxidant power and hydrogen peroxide, pulse rate, body color score, malondialdehyde, ventilation rate and mitochondrial activity commenced to increase at 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 °C (P < 0.05), respectively. Blood oxygen saturation decreased at 32 °C (P < 0.05). The response of nitric oxide of Nile tilapia blood cells responded to increased temperature in two phases. In the first phase, nitric oxide decreased at 28–32 °C (P < 0.05), then increased and decreased again at a temperature of 38 °C (P < 0.05). These phenomena indicated that when the live Nile tilapias and the Nile tilapia blood cells were exposed to high ambient temperature, they were under heat stress and oxidative stress. In addition, physiological responses in the live Nile tilapia and biochemical changes in their blood cells when exposed to high ambient temperature occurred in a consistent manner when the temperature continually increased.