Local Cold Research Articles

Recent Increase in a Recurrent Pan-Atlantic Wave Pattern Driving Concurrent Wintertime Extremes

Abstract Wintertime extremes such as cold spells and heavy precipitation can have severe socioeconomic impacts, disrupting critical infrastructures and affecting human well-being. Here, we relate the occurrence of local and concurrent cold or wet wintertime extremes in North America and Europe to a recurrent, quasi-hemispheric wave-4 Rossby wave pattern. We identify this pattern as a fundamental mode of the Northern Hemisphere (NH) winter circulation, since wave 4 exhibits phase-locking behavior. Thus, the associated atmospheric circulation and surface anomalies reoccur over the same locations when the pattern’s wave amplitude is high. The wave pattern is most pronounced over the pan-Atlantic region, and increases the probability of extreme cold or wet events by up to 300% in certain areas of North America and Europe, as well as favoring their concurrence at different locations. High-amplitude wave-4 events have increased significantly in frequency over the past four decades (1979–2021), although no clear evidence is found relating this to modes or patterns of climate variability. The identified wave pattern may provide pathways for early prediction of local and concurrent cold or wet wintertime extremes in North America and Europe.

The Intensity of Degradation and Synthesis of Derma Intercellular Matrix in Rats after Local Cold Injury in the Presence of Metabolic Syndrome

Studies of tissue regeneration processes in the post-cold period are currently in demand in connection with the development of the Arctic, which is characterized by extremely low temperatures. Metabolic or hormonal abnormalities based on insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia, which can lead to the development of cardiovascular diseases, and, consequently, to microcirculation disorders, are aggravating factors that increase the consequences of cold injuries. In this work, we studied the processes of degradation and synthesis of the intercellular matrix of the dermis, as well as the concentration of sialic acids in the blood serum after a local cold injury of the third degree. It was revealed that the regenerative process after local cold damage began on day 3 and was characterized by an increase in the collagen content of the dermis and the thickness of collagen fibers. Regeneration in the case of metabolic syndrome was accompanied by a slowdown in tissue repair processes. The course of the recovery process was associated with a change in the content of sialic acids in the blood serum, while a distinctive feature of the dynamics of this indicator was an increase in the concentration of sialic acids in metabolic disorders on day 7 and a slow slight decrease throughout the experiment, reaching the control values by day 21.

TP53 and the Ultimate Biological Optimization Steps of Curative Radiation Oncology.

The new biological interaction cross-section-based repairable-homologically repairable (RHR) damage formulation for radiation-induced cellular inactivation, repair, misrepair, and apoptosis was applied to optimize radiation therapy. This new formulation implies renewed thinking about biologically optimized radiation therapy, suggesting that most TP53 intact normal tissues are low-dose hypersensitive (LDHS) and low-dose apoptotic (LDA). This generates a fractionation window in LDHS normal tissues, indicating that the maximum dose to organs at risk should be ≤2.3 Gy/Fr, preferably of low LET. This calls for biologically optimized treatments using a few high tumor dose-intensity-modulated light ion beams, thereby avoiding secondary cancer risks and generating a real tumor cure without a caspase-3-induced accelerated tumor cell repopulation. Light ions with the lowest possible LET in normal tissues and high LET only in the tumor imply the use of the lightest ions, from lithium to boron. The high microscopic heterogeneity in the tumor will cause local microscopic cold spots; thus, in the last week of curative ion therapy, when there are few remaining viable tumor clonogens randomly spread in the target volume, the patient should preferably receive the last 10 GyE via low LET, ensuring perfect tumor coverage, a high cure probability, and a reduced risk for adverse normal tissue reactions. Interestingly, such an approach would also ensure a steeper rise in tumor cure probability and a higher complication-free cure, as the few remaining clonogens are often fairly well oxygenated, eliminating a shallower tumor response due to inherent ion beam heterogeneity. With the improved fractionation proposal, these approaches may improve the complication-free cure probability by about 10-25% or even more.

Exploring the Robustness of Alternative Cluster Detection and the Threshold Distance Method for Crash Hot Spot Analysis: A Study on Vulnerable Road Users

Traditional hot spot and cluster analysis techniques based on the Euclidean distance may not be adequate for assessing high-risk locations related to crashes. This is because crashes occur on transportation networks where the spatial distance is network-based. Therefore, this research aims to conduct spatial analysis to identify clusters of high- and low-risk crash locations. Using vulnerable road users’ crash data of San Francisco, the first step in the workflow involves using Ripley’s K-and G-functions to detect the presence of clustering patterns and to identify their threshold distance. Next, the threshold distance is incorporated into the Getis-Ord Gi* method to identify local hot and cold spots. The analysis demonstrates that the network-constrained G-function can effectively define the appropriate threshold distances for spatial correlation analysis. This workflow can serve as an analytical template to aid planners in improving their threshold distance selection for hot spot analysis as it employs actual road-network distances to produce more accurate results, which is especially relevant when assessing discrete-data phenomena such as crashes.

Laser shock dynamic compaction of aluminum–copper (Al–Cu) composite metal powder

Laser impact dynamic compaction experiments and 2D multi-particle finite element method (MPFEM) simulations were carried out on aluminum–copper (Al–Cu) binary-based composite powders. Al–Cu compacts with densities of about 95% were successfully prepared at the maximum laser energy of 1.8 J. Research trends indicate that higher power lasers could nearly achieve the theoretical densities. Analysis of the influence laws of laser energy and copper powder mass fraction on the densities of Al–Cu compacts was carried out, and the effects of microstructure and microhardness of Al–Cu compacts on their mechanical properties were investigated, as well as the stresses and velocities in the dynamic compaction process of Al–Cu composite powders were analyzed. The results showed that the relative densities of composite powder compacts of Al-5 wt%Cu gradually exceeded those of Al-10 wt%Cu and Al-15 wt%Cu with the increase of laser energy. In laser impact dynamic compaction the mechanism of inter-particle joining was solid-state press-welding, and the increase in the hardness of the Al–Cu compacts could be attributed to the inherent hardness of the hard particles. The upper particles have a localized maximum velocity of more than 300 m/s, which met the explosion welding velocity, thus localized cold welding occurred and contributed to the inter-particle connection.

Preliminary study of finger temperature recovery in patients with diabetes mellitus following cold stimulation.

To explore the difference in temperature recovery following cold stimulation between participants with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). The participants without (control group; n=25) and with (DM group; n=26) DM were subjected to local cold stimulation (10º C for 90s). The thermal images of their hands were continuously captured using a thermal camera within 7min following cold stimulation, and the highest temperature of each fingertip was calculated. According to the temperature values at different timepoints, the temperature recovery curves were drawn, and the baseline temperature (T-base), initial temperature after cooling (T0), temperature decline amplitude (T-range), and area under the temperature recovery curve>T0 (S) were calculated. Finally, symmetry differences between the two groups were analysed. No statistical differences in the T-base, T0, and T-range were observed between the DM and control groups. After drawing the rewarming curve according to the temperature of the fingertips of the patients following cold stimulation, the S in the DM group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the asymmetry of the base temperature of the hand was observed in the DM group. Following cold stimulation, the patients with DM exhibited a different rewarming pattern than those without DM. Thus, cold stimulation tests under infrared thermography may contribute to the early screening of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in future.

Geochemical and H–O–Sr–B isotope signatures of Yangyi geothermal fields: implications for the evolution of thermal fluids in fracture-controlled type geothermal system, Tibet, China

High-temperature hydrothermal systems are mainly distributed in the north–south graben systems of southern Tibet as an important part of the Mediterranean–Tethys Himalayan geothermal belt in mainland China. As the largest unit capacity and second stable operating geothermal power station in China, Yangyi is the fracture-controlled type geothermal field in the center of Yadong–Gulu Graben. In this paper, hydrogeological and hydrochemical characteristics, isotope composition (δD and δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr and δ11B) of borehole water, hot springs, and surface river samples were analyzed. From the conservative elements (such as Cl− and Li+) and δD and δ18O values, the geothermal water of the Yangyi high-temperature geothermal field is estimated to be of meteoric origin with the contributions of chemical components of the magmatic fluid, which is provided by partially molten granite as a shallow magmatic heat source. According to logging data, the geothermal gradient and terrestrial heat flow value of the Yangyi high-temperature geothermal field are 6.48 ℃/100 m and 158.37 mW m−2, respectively. Combining the hydrothermal tracer experiment, 87Sr/86Sr and δ11B ratios obtained with gradually decreasing reservoir temperatures from the Bujiemu stream geothermal zone to Qialagai stream geothermal zone, we suggested the deep geothermal waters were mixed with local cold groundwater and then flow northeastward, forming the shallow reservoir within the crushed zone and intersect spot of faults in the Himalayan granitoid. Furthermore, in the process of ascent, the geothermal water is enriched in K+, Na+, and HCO3− during the interaction with underlying Himalayan granitoid and pyroclastic rocks that occur as wall rocks. The detailed description and extensive discussion are of great significance for the further exploitation and utilization of north–south trending geothermal belts in Tibet.

The isolated effects of local cold application on proteolytic and myogenic signaling

Post-exercise cooling studies reveal inhibitory effects on markers of skeletal muscle growth. However, the isolated effect of local cold application has not been adequately addressed. It is unclear if the local cold or the combination of local cold and exercise is driving negatively altered skeletal muscle gene expression. The purpose was to determine the effects of a 4 h local cold application to the vastus lateralis on the myogenic and proteolytic response. Participants (n = 12, 27 ± 6 years, 179 ± 9 cm, 82.8 ± 13.0 kg, 18.4 ± 7.1 %BF) rested with a thermal wrap placed on each leg with either circulating cold fluid (10 °C, COLD) or no fluid circulation (room temperature, RT). Muscle samples were collected to quantify mRNA (RT-qPCR) and proteins (Western Blot) associated with myogenesis and proteolysis. Temperatures in COLD were lower than RT at the skin (13.2 ± 1.0 °C vs. 34.8 ± 0.9 °C; p < 0.001) and intramuscularly (20.5 ± 1.3 °C vs. 35.6 ± 0.8 °C, p < 0.001). Myogenic-related mRNA, MYO-G and MYO-D1, were lower in COLD (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) whereas myogenic-mRNA, MYF6, was greater in COLD (p = 0.002). No other myogenic associated genes were different between COLD and RT (MSTN, p = 0.643; MEF2a, p = 0.424; MYF5, p = 0.523; RPS3, p = 0.589; RPL3-L, p = 0.688). Proteolytic-related mRNA was higher in COLD (FOXO3a, p < 0.001; Atrogin-1, p = 0.049; MURF-1, p < 0.001). The phosphorylation:total protein ratio for the translational repressor of muscle mass, 4E-BP1Thr37/46, was lower in COLD (p = 0.043), with no differences in mTORser2448 (p = 0.509) or p70S6K1Thr389 (p = 0.579). Isolated local cooling over 4 h exhibits inhibited myogenic and higher proteolytic skeletal muscle molecular response.

Effect of Local Heat and Cold Application for Pentavalent Vaccine Injection Pain in Infants

Effect of Local Heat and Cold Application for Pentavalent Vaccine Injection Pain in Infants

Plasma enhanced planar crystal growth of laser induced graphene

The effect of wettability of Polyimide (PI) surface on the crystallite size and electrical conductivity of Laser-Induced Graphene (LIG) was studied for the first time. The wettability of PI was increased by varying the scan speed of a localised Argon cold plasma pen. The surface energy of PI increases with wettability which reduces the activation energy of diffusion of graphene nuclei and improves the crystallinity of LIG. The effect of plasma exposure was studied by contact angle measurement using two liquid solvents such as water and Ethylene Glycol (EG). Raman spectra of LIG showed that the crystallite size increased by 21 % at lower CO2 laser power (0.77 W) on PI pre-treated at a lower plasma scan speed (200 mm/min) which improved the conductivity by 51.13%. This study demonstrated that increased wettability of PI surface assists in the planar growth of LIG crystallites.

Effectiveness of Scalp Cooling to Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia could cause significant psychological changes, affecting patients' quality of life and their capacity to cope with the disease. The aims of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of scalp cooling (SC) to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with breast cancer and to compare the use of automated versus nonautomated therapy delivery devices. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE (through PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov from their inception to October 2022. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the effects of SC to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with breast cancer using fixed-effects models to calculate the pooled relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). The 8 included studies showed a 43% reduction in the risk of chemotherapy-induced alopecia (RR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.50-0.64) after the use of SC. Moreover, the use of automated SC devices showed a 47% reduction (RR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.45-0.60) in the risk of chemotherapy-induced alopecia versus a 43% reduction in the risk of chemotherapy-induced alopecia for nonautomated SC devices (RR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.44-0.70). Our results showed that SC significantly reduced the risk of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Local cold application is a nonpharmacologic therapy that may provide a useful intervention to reduce hair loss and contribute to the psychological well-being of women. Scalp cooling contributes directly to reducing concern about altered body image and to reducing anxiety related to self-concept.

Cold-induced vasodilation response in a Japanese cohort: insights from cold-water immersion and genome-wide association studies

BackgroundCold-induced vasodilation (CIVD) occurs after blood vessels in the skin are constricted due to local cold exposure. Although many CIVD studies have been conducted, the underlying molecular mechanisms are yet to be clarified. Therefore, we explored genetic variants associated with CIVD response using the largest-scale dataset reported to date in a CIVD study involving wavelet analysis; thus, the findings improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the CIVD response.MethodsWe performed wavelet analysis of three skin blood flow signals [endothelial nitric oxide (eNO)-independent, eNO-dependent, and neurogenic activities] during finger cold-water immersion at 5 °C in 94 Japanese young adults. Additionally, we conducted genome-wide association studies of CIVD using saliva samples collected from the participants.ResultsWe found that the mean wavelet amplitudes of eNO-independent and neurogenic activities significantly increased and decreased prior to CIVD, respectively. Our results also implied that as many as ~ 10% of the Japanese subjects did not show an apparent CIVD response. Our genome-wide association studies of CIVD using ~ 4,040,000 imputed data found no apparent CIVD-related genetic variants; however, we identified 10 genetic variants, including 2 functional genes (COL4A2 and PRLR) that are associated with notable blunted eNO-independent and neurogenic activity responses in individuals without CIVD response during local cold exposure.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that individuals without CIVD response differentiated by genotypes with COL4A2 and PRLR genetic variants exhibited notable blunted eNO-independent and neurogenic activity responses during local cold exposure.

Vaccine Breakthrough COVID-19 Outbreak in Section of a Hospital with 88% Attack Rate: Lessons to Be Learned

Vaccine breakthrough COVID-19 clusters with high attack rates are very rare. They paralyze affected section/s of the institution; thus, awareness of them is important. This is an analysis of a vaccine breakthrough COVID-19 cluster with an 88% attack rate involving 35 security guards (SGs) of the Teaching Hospital-Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. The identification of the particular combination of factors that resulted in this outbreak’s 88% attack rate was our main objective, because this knowledge is useful to prevent similar clusters of COVID-19 and other similar infections. We traced and documented contact details, risky behaviors, and medical history of all SGs. Contacts of all COVID-19 cases were tested for COVID-19. We created an epi-curve and identified the index case (IC). The epi-curve pattern indicates a propagated source outbreak. No SG was seriously immunocompromised. There was no breach in the local cold chain. The following combination of factors synergistically created this outbreak: communal meals at cramped spaces, unfamiliarity with vaccine breakthrough cases, disregard of the risk of infection from fully vaccinated coworkers, hesitancy to report COVID-19-like symptoms early on, symptomatic treatment of COVID-19-like patients without testing for COVID-19, permission to return home, and the Alpha variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Thermally activated motion of cold excitons in conjugated polymers

AbstractThermally activated migration of localized cold excitons were investigated in archetypal conjugated polymers; trans‐polyacetylene, polythiophene, and poly(p‐phenylene vinylene). Room temperature thermal energy has been found to provide sufficient energy to avail substantial mobility for excitons. A simple undistorted but displaced harmonic oscillator model has been assumed to predict the activation energy for exciton hopping between identical sites in perfectly planar conjugated chains, promoted by vibrational modes with Bu symmetry. The activation energies of exciton hopping has been found to increase in the order of trans‐polyacetylene (6.4 meV), polythiophene (29.5 meV), and poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (147.4 meV). A rough Monte‐Carlo simulation based on incoherent hopping mechanism reveals excitons can displace in an average of 2.17 nm in polythiophene whereas those distances are much smaller in poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (0.24 nm) and trans‐polyacetylene (0.37 nm). The simulation results partially explain why polythiophene based polymers are better suited for organic photovoltaic applications whereas poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) are more appropriate for organic light emitting diode applications.

Genome-wide search reveals the uniqueness of DNA regions associated with coat color and innate immunity in Hokkaido Native Horse.

Hokkaido Native Horse (HKD) is a horse breed native to Hokkaido in Japan known for the traits such as coat color with no white spots and adaptability to the local cold climate. To examine whether those traits of HKD are conferred at the DNA level, we attempted to identify fixed DNA regions in HKD individuals, that is, the selection signatures of HKD. A comparison of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes in 58 HKD individuals by principal component analysis, and cluster analysis between breeds, including HKD, and within the HKD individuals indicated the genetic independence of HKD as a breed. Tajima's D analysis and runs of homozygosity analysis identified 23 selection signatures unique to HKD (P < 0.05), and following database search found 20 traits that were associated with those selection signatures; among these traits, coat color traits, face and body markings, showed the highest important value (0.50 and 0.46). Enrichment analysis of genes in the selection signatures identified six gene ontology terms (P < 0.05), and a term related to innate immunity (regulation of defense response; GO:0031347) showed the highest positive fold enrichment value (7.13). These results provide the first scientific evidence of a genetic basis for the traits of HKD.

Distinctive Rainfall Evolutions in East Asia between Super and Regular El Niño Events during Their Decaying Summers

Abstract While enhanced rainbands progressed northward in East Asia from June to August during the regular El Niño decaying summer, strengthened rainbands were only observed in the earlier summer and disappeared in August in the super El Niño composite. The cause of this distinctive feature is investigated through a combined observational and modeling study. The relative roles of the mean state and anomalous heating in causing the northward progression in the regular El Niño group are assessed through idealized numerical experiments. The result shows that the monthly evolving mean state is more important, while the anomalous forcing also plays a role. The distinctive rainfall feature in the super El Niño composite was primarily contributed by the 1982/83 and 2015/16 events, whereas the rainband evolution in 1998 resembled the regular El Niño composite. The cause of the different rainfall pattern in August among the super El Niño events is further investigated. A marked difference exists in the tropical sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) and associated anomalous precipitation patterns. A low-level cyclonic (anticyclonic) anomaly appeared south of Japan in August 1983 and 2016 (1998), inducing northerly (southerly) anomalies and thus suppressed (enhanced) rainfall in eastern China. Whereas an anomalous anticyclone in the western North Pacific (WNP) is a typical response to an El Niño during its mature and decaying phases, the formation of a cyclonic anomaly in the WNP resulted from anomalous enthalpy advection associated with the eastward retreat of an anomalous anticyclone triggered by a local cold SSTA belt in August 1983 and from a Pacific meridional mode (PMM)-like positive SSTA pattern in August 2016.

Dynamic synergistic effects of large-scale three-dimensional circulation anomalies on the record-breaking cold wave in February 2021 in North America

In contrast to previous studies that mainly focused on the influence of the polar vortex in the horizontal circulation on the local cold air, this study uses the three-pattern decomposition of global atmospheric circulation (3P-DGAC) to reveal the dynamic synergistic effects of horizontal circulation, local meridional circulation, and local zonal circulation on cold waves, by examining the record-breaking extreme cold wave (ECW) in February 2021 across North America. In terms of horizontal circulation, this ECW is preceded by the strengthening of blocking highs over the North Pacific and North Atlantic that force the tropospheric polar vortex edge toward North America, resulting in the development of the North American trough. The strongly northwesterly wind caused by the North American trough strengthens the local meridional circulation over North America, transporting cold Arctic air to the mid-low latitudes. Meanwhile, the local meridional circulation over North America strengthens the ascending motion and subsequently promotes the development of local zonal circulation over the North Atlantic. In turn, the developed local zonal circulation reinforces the blocking highs over the two oceans, slowing the movement of the trough and ridge systems eastward and leading to a long duration for this ECW. The composite analysis further conforms that the vertical sinking motion corresponding to blocking highs over the two oceans is mainly contributed by the local zonal circulation, and the strong local zonal circulation over the North Atlantic could lengthen the duration of the cold wave by strengthening the blocking highs. This study suggests that 3P-DGAC is an effective tool for investigating the three-dimensional structural characteristics of anomalous circulations in ECWs.

Trench foot and other non-freezing cold injuries (literature review)

Non-freezing cold injury is a general term that includes trench foot and immersion foot and is characterized by damage to the soft tissues, nerves, and vessels of the distal extremities as a result of long stay (usually two to three days or longer) in wet, cold (but not freezing: typically 0 to 15 °C) conditions. Trench foot syndrome primarily affects military personnel, fishermen, agricultural workers, travelers, and other segments of the population. In wartime, the number of such local cold injuries increases several times. Unfortunately, in domestic medical developments, this problem is practically not given due attention. Based on data from foreign literary sources and their own clinical experience, the authors were able to highlight the main patterns of pathogenesis and clinical picture of this pathological condition with justification of treatment tactic and preventive measures.

Pernio — the least severe local cold injury (scientific literature review)

Local cold injury is a certain problem of peacetime and all-out military invasion. In modern guidelines, almost no attention is paid to the least severe local cold lesion of perniosis. However, such a variant of local cold injury should not be underestimated, although it can be a safe transient condition, since we cannot exclude its rather serious consequences and complications, which are sometimes accompanied by chronicity of the process and even disability.

A prospective study on local cold injuries in northern Sweden

ABSTRACT The study aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence proportion of local cold injuries in northern Sweden, and identify associated factors. It was based on prospective data from surveys in 2015 and 2021 sent to a population-based sample in northern Sweden. Multiple binary logistic regression was performed. The study included 5,017 subjects (response rate 44.4%). The prevalence of cold injuries in the hands was 11.4%, feet 12.6%, and face 19.9%, while the incidence proportion was 1.0%, 1.0%, and 0.9%, respectively. Male gender was associated with incident cold injuries in the hands (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.31–1.28), feet (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.04–1.73), and face (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.15–2.03); mental stress with cold injuries in the hands (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.16–2.05) and feet (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.04–1.88); previous stroke with cold injuries in the hands (OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.09–6.40) and face (OR 3.09; 95% CI 1.26–7.56); and Raynaud’s phenomenon with cold injuries in the hands (OR 2.48; 95% CI 1.80–3.41) and feet (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.50–2.87). We conclude that male gender, mental stress, previous stroke, and Raynaud’s phenomenon increased the probability of contracting local cold injuries.