Seasonal Increase Research Articles

Variations of the zero degrees isotherm and environmental lapse rate recorded with ADSB and Mode S EHS messages

This study focuses on analyzing the altitude of the zero degrees isotherm and variations in the environmental lapse rate (ELR) using the publicly available data collected from Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) and Mode S Enhanced Surveillance (EHS) messages emitted by airplanes over a five-month period in 2021. The data was gathered using a professional receiver stationed in Bucharest (Romania). The aviation messages were decoded and the air temperature and pressure were determined, at the location of the airplane. The method has the advantage of the continuous messages that are emitted by the aircrafts during flight that allow instantaneous determination of the meteorological parameters at no additional costs. It can also be extended to permit almost real time maps of the ELR. When data was analyzed and a standard ELR value of 6.5 K/km is employed it was observed that the mean altitude of the 0 degrees isotherm exhibits a seasonal increase during the summer months, with an average altitude of 2874.2 m. The highest recorded altitude of the 0 degrees isotherm was found to be 5346.8 m, near Alexandria city (Romania), on 22.07.2021. Using a standard Least Mean Square algorithm alongside the International Standard Atmosphere pressure formula, the ELR values were calculated from pressure measurements data. The resulting mean ELR for the five-month period was determined to be 5.1331 K/km, slightly lower than the standard value.

Significant spatiotemporal changes in atmospheric particulate mercury pollution in China: Insights from meta-analysis and machine-learning

PM2.5 bound mercury (PBM2.5) in the atmosphere is a major component of total mercury, which is a pollutant of global concern and a potent neurotoxicant when converted to methylmercury. Despite its importance, comprehensive macroanalyses of PBM2.5 on large scales are still lacking. To explore the driving factors, spatiotemporal pollution distribution, and associated health risks, we compiled a comprehensive dataset consisting of PBM2.5 concentrations and spatiotemporal information across China from 2000 to 2023 that was collected from the published scientific literature with valid data. By incorporating corresponding multidimensional predicting variables, the best-fitted random forest model was applied to predict PBM2.5 concentrations with a high spatial resolution of 0.25° × 0.25°, and the health risk assessment model was used for subsequent health risk assessment. Our results indicated that population density and PM2.5 emissions from power generation were the main contributors to PBM2.5 concentrations. In 2020, the pollution was primarily concentrated in northern, central, and eastern China, with the highest annual average concentration of 815.91 pg/m3 in Shanghai. Beijing experienced the most significant seasonal increase, with PBM2.5 concentrations rising by 146.92 % from summer to winter. Nationally, the annual average PBM2.5 pollution decreased extensively and markedly from 2015 to 2020. The non-carcinogenic risk of PBM2.5 alone was negligible in 2020, with HQ values generally <0.02 in winter. This study may provide an important assessment of the effectiveness of China's measures against mercury pollution and offer valuable insights for future prevention and control of PBM2.5 pollution.

Intra-tooth isotopic analysis shows seasonal variability in the high-elevation context of Melka Kunture (Upper Awash Valley, Ethiopia) during the Early Pleistocene

In order to investigate seasonal changes in diet, environment and climate, we analyzed the stable carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of intra-tooth sequential profiles (14 teeth, 282 enamel samples) of Hippopotamidae, Equidae, Bovidae and Suidae from Melka Kunture, Upper Awash Valley, central Ethiopian Highlands (2000–2200 m a.s.l.).We found that during the Early Pleistocene, between 1.95 and 1 Ma, most of the analyzed hippos display a seasonally stable C4 diet, even if the δ13C values within hippos show a degree of variability that we interpret as the outcome of feeding on plants that use different C4 photosynthetic pathways. Several hippo specimens display a seasonal shift from C4 to mixed C3-C4 diets. The sampled equid, bovid and suid specimens recorded both stable C4 diets and mixed C3-C4 feeding with a seasonal progressive increase of δ13C values. When affected by seasonal changes, the serially analyzed taxa show different niche partitioning: hippos increase the consumption of C3 vegetation, whereas equids and suids include more C4 vegetation in their diets. The intra-individual δ18O variability in the analyzed taxa is interpreted as the outcome of different water sources, depending on animal habitat, behavior and mobility patterns.Our data are placed in controlled stratigraphic and chronological sequences and combined with the outcome of other proxies, allowing us to evaluate the site paleoecology comprehensively. We suggest that the central Ethiopian Highlands, where MK is located, possibly acted as a refugium-like area during the Early and Middle Pleistocene, characterized by a specific type of montane vegetation (DAF) and diverse faunal and hominin species that demonstrated their resilience and adaptability to changing environments and climates.

Seasonality Structures Avian Functional Diversity and Niche Packing Across North America.

Assemblages in seasonal ecosystems undergo striking changes in species composition and diversity across the annual cycle. Despite a long-standing recognition that seasonality structures biogeographic gradients in taxonomic diversity (e.g., species richness), our understanding of how seasonality structures other aspects of biodiversity (e.g., functional diversity) has lagged. Integrating seasonal species distributions with comprehensive data on key morphological traits for bird assemblages across North America, we find that seasonal turnover in functional diversity increases with the magnitude and predictability of seasonality. Furthermore, seasonal increases in bird species richness led to a denser packing of functional trait space, but functional expansion was important, especially in regions with higher seasonality. Our results suggest that the magnitude and predictability of seasonality and total productivity can explain the geography of changes in functional diversity with broader implications for understanding species redistribution, community assembly and ecosystem functioning.

Evaluating water balance components in a tropical ecological zone under land use changes

Water availability for domestic, institutional, and agricultural production is threatened by the continuous change in land use land cover (LULC). These changes in LULC features affect the dynamics of the hydrological processes such as surface runoff, infiltration, and evapotranspiration, resulting in variations in water availability especially, for human consumption and crop yield. Therefore, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model was deployed to simulate the Pra River Basin (PRB)’s water balance response to changing LULC from 1986 to 2020. Open and closed forests reduced from an area of 11,071 km2 to 5902 km2 and 5125 km2 to 4990 km2 while settlement and cropland increased from 1100 km2 to 2392 km2 and 5303 km2 to 9320 km2 representing an average annual expansion rate of +24.7 km2/yr and +118 km2/yr respectively over the three decades. The growth in settlement and cropland resulted in an upsurge of more than 33 % and 20 % in surface runoff and water yield respectively, but decreases of over 4 % and 17 % in evapotranspiration and baseflow respectively. These changes have resulted in a seasonal increase in surface runoff, baseflow, and evapotranspiration (ET) during the wet season but a decrease during the dry season. The PRB has experienced a dramatic decline in forest areas, chiefly in areas where settlement and farmlands have been expanded. The areas where surface runoff and water yield showed significant upsurge and reduction in ET are the northwestern and southern enclaves of the basin. These findings can aid in effectively planning and managing land use to control the gradually depleting water resources in the basin.

Association Between Longitudinal Changes in Patellar Tendon Abnormality and Land-Jump Biomechanics in Male Collegiate Basketball Players.

The relationship between self-reported symptoms and the severity of patellar tendon abnormality (PTA) as seen on magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound is unclear, but biomechanical testing may resolve this. To (1) compare land-jump limb biomechanics between pre- and postseason timepoints, (2) assess whether seasonal changes in biomechanics are associated with seasonal changes in PTA and symptom severity, and (3) explore models that identify seasonal changes in PTA and symptoms with seasonal changes in biomechanics in collegiate basketball players. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Scale - Patellar Tendon (VISA-P) scores and bilateral measurements from 18 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and II male basketball players (n = 36 limbs) at the preseason (visit 1) and postseason (visit 2) timepoints were collected. PTA was graded with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging morphology measurements proximally and distally, and 3-dimensional lower extremity sagittal kinematics and kinetics were measured during a land-jump test. Multivariate and chi-square analyses assessed timepoint differences. The association of seasonal (Δ = visit 2 - visit 1) biomechanics with seasonal morphology (ΔPTA: no change/worsened) and symptoms (ΔVISA-P: improved/no change/worsened) was tested with multivariate models. Logistic regressions modeled the accuracy of seasonal biomechanics to classify seasonal PTA and symptoms. Three athletes (6 limbs) at visit 1 and 2 athletes (4 limbs) at visit 2 were symptomatic. VISA-P scores were not significantly different between preseason and postseason. Regarding PTA, multivariate analyses found differences among grouped ground-reaction force variables (P < .05); univariate analyses found that worsened PTA was associated with seasonal decreases in peak vertical jumping force and with seasonal increases in knee flexion velocity at contact and maximum knee flexion velocity (P < .05 for all). Regarding VISA-P scores, multivariate analyses found differences among grouped hip (P < .01) and ankle (P < .05) kinematic variables; univariate analyses found that worsened VISA-P was associated with seasonal increases in hip (P < .01) and knee (P < .01) flexion velocity at contact and seasonal increases in ankle range of motion (P < .05). The findings demonstrated an association between seasonal changes in dynamic lower extremity biomechanics and seasonal changes in patellar tendon imaging signals as well as self-reported symptoms.

Potential drivers of differences in breeding phenology as a component of life history strategies among coexisting species

Abstract Breeding phenology can have strong demographic consequences. Yet, the reasons why coexisting animal species differ in breeding phenology have received little attention. We tested selection pressures that underlie life history variation, such as age‐specific mortality, diet, and body size to explain breeding phenology of 16 coexisting songbird species in arid shrubland in South Africa. The average start and end dates for the earliest and latest species differed by 1.5 months, with a gradient among remaining species. Nest predation risk generally increased through the season, although species differed in seasonal patterns. Species with lower annual adult mortality, greater seasonal increases in nest predation, and greater nest predation rates had earlier start and stop dates, thereby reducing demographic risks. Species with higher adult mortality had larger brood sizes that require more food and they bred later when food was more abundant. Evolved timing of breeding thereby reflected risk management and food availability related to longevity and brood size. These factors may place unrecognized constraints on within‐species responses to climate change. Given the importance of phenology for fitness, phenology should be integrated as a core life history trait in future theory, and evolutionary constraints need to be considered in responses to climate change. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter traces seasonally changing coastal processes in a river-influenced region of the western Bay of Bengal.

The optical characteristics of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) serve as a convenient tool for evaluating coastal processes, e.g., river runoff, anthropogenic inputs, primary production, and bacterial/photochemical processes. We conducted a study on the seasonal and spatial variability of absorbance and fluorescence characteristics of CDOM and nutrients in the coastal waters near the Gauthami estuary of River Godavari, the largest peninsular river of India, for a year. The surface aCDOM(350) showed a significant inverse relation with salinity in the coastal region, indicating a conservative mixing of marine and terrestrial end members. The aCDOM(350) was not conservative in the offshore (100m isobath) waters due to enrichment by secondary sources. Seasonal variability in optical properties indicated diverse sources for CDOM, as revealed by principal component analysis. The excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectra followed by parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) revealed four distinct fluorophores. The tyrosine (B) fluorophore showed a predominant increase in the post-monsoon season (October to January), while tryptophan (T) was relatively more enriched, coincident with nutrient enrichment and transparency increase during the early monsoon phase (July). The biological index (BIX), which reflects recent photosynthetic activity, also displayed relatively higher values during the early monsoon. The humic fluorophores A and M, and humification index (HIX) were relatively enriched during the later phase of monsoon (July-October). HIX was > 4 in a few samples of the offshore region (100-m isobath) and indicated a probable contamination from drill-mud (bentonite) used in hydrocarbon exploration. During the monsoon, the relationship between T and B with CDOM was not evident due to the masking of B fluorescence in intact protein. However, during the post-monsoon (POM) and pre-monsoon (PRM) periods, this masking effect was not observed, likely due to protein degradation via bacterial and photochemical processes, respectively. Temporal variability in nutrients indicated that high ammonium levels were produced during POM (OM bacterial degradation), and high nitrite levels were observed during PRM (due to primary production). This study provides foundational insights into the use of CDOM for understanding the impact of diverse environmental, river discharge, and anthropogenic factors on coastal ecosystems.

Enhanced seasonality of the East Asian monsoon indicated by prevailing hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite formation since 1.8 Ma

The seasonality of the East Asian monsoon is characterized by the coexistence of warm and humid summers and cold and dry winters. However, the current understanding of when and why the seasonality of the East Asian monsoon occurs is poor. Hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite (HIV), which is formed under conditions of low soil organic matter content, pH values between 4.6 and 5.8, and oxidizing states with frequent wetting‒drying cycles, may serve as a potential indicator of monsoon seasonality variation. In this study, we present detailed mineralogical and micromorphological investigations of HIV collected from an eolian sequence on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) to explore the evolution of East Asian monsoon seasonality. The mineralogical results deduced from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy show that a transition from chlorite to HIV occurred at ∼1.8 Ma. Moreover, the authigenic origin of HIV, as indicated by the presence of many neatly arranged flakes in the SEM images and the presence of irregularly interstratified chlorite-HIV observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), collectively imply that HIV is the weathering product of chlorite. This transition from chlorite to HIV generally reflects an increase in monsoon seasonality on the CLP since ∼1.8 Ma, which may be caused by the contemporaneous uplift of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, or global cooling in combination with La Niña-like sea-air interactions. Our study suggests that the HIV serves as an effective index for monsoon seasonality reconstruction, thus providing a new insight into Asian monsoon dynamics.

Seasonal increase in syphilis screening reactivity rates in whole blood donors, United States, 2011-2023.

In December 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a letter to clinical laboratory staff and healthcare providers detailing a risk of false Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) when using the Bio-Rad Laboratories BioPlex 2200 Syphilis Total & RPR kit in people who had received COVID-19 vaccination; Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assays did not appear to be impacted by this issue. We evaluated reactivity rates of syphilis screening with negative confirmatory testing at our institution by year and seasonality. We performed a retrospective study of routine syphilis testing of whole blood (WB) collections at an academic hospital-based donor center in the eastern United States. All WB donations from 2011 to 2023 which demonstrated reactive syphilis screening (Beckman Coulter PK TP Microhemagglutination) with negative confirmatory testing (CAPTIA Syphilis (T. pallidum)-G) were evaluated. Reactivity rates by year and season of donation were compared using unpaired t-tests. A total of 109 WB donations from 86 unique donors who donated from 2011 to 2023 screened reactive for syphilis with negative confirmatory testing. The unconfirmed syphilis reactivity rate increased from 2018 to 2023 (mean: 0.360%) compared to 2011-2017 (mean: 0.071%, p < .05). An autumnal peak in unconfirmed reactives was observed. The unconfirmed syphilis reactivity rate among WB donors at our institution increased markedly since 2017 compared to the 7 years prior and doubled from 2020 to 2021. No testing assay changes explain these results. The autumnal peak in unconfirmed reactives suggests a possible environmental trigger such as viral infection or vaccination.

Epidemiology of Q fever in humans in four selected regions, Spain, 2016 to 2022.

BackgroundQ fever is a bacterial zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. Spain has the highest number of notified human cases in Europe. Small ruminants are a key reservoir for the pathogen, transmission from animals to humans is usually airborne.AimWe aimed at exploring temporal and spatial epidemiological patterns of sporadic and outbreak cases of Q fever in four Spanish regions with the highest number of notified cases.MethodsWe extracted data on Q fever cases in the Canary Islands, Basque Country, La Rioja and Navarre between 2016 and 2022 from the Spanish National Epidemiological Surveillance Network. We calculated standardised incidence ratios (SIR), spatial relative risks (sRR) and posterior probabilities (PP) utilising Besag-York-Mollié models.ResultsThere were 1,059 notifications, with a predominance of males aged 30-60 years. In Basque Country, La Rioja and Navarre area, 11 outbreaks were reported, while no in the Canary Islands. A seasonal increase in incidence rates was observed between March and June. In the Canary Islands, elevated sRR was seen in La Palma, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. In Basque Country, La Rioja and Navarre area, the highest sRR was identified in the south of Biscay province.ConclusionGoats were the main source for humans in outbreaks reported in the literature. Seasonal increase may be related to the parturition season of small ruminants and specific environmental conditions. Local variations in sRR within these regions likely result from diverse environmental factors. Future One Health-oriented studies are essential to deepen our understanding of Q fever epidemiology.

Ziphius cavirostris presence relative to the vertical and temporal variability of oceanographic conditions in the Southern California Bight.

The oceanographic conditions of the Southern California Bight (SCB) dictate the distribution and abundance of prey resources and therefore the presence of mobile predators, such as goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris). Goose-beaked whales are deep-diving odontocetes that spend a majority of their time foraging at depth. Due to their cryptic behavior, little is known about how they respond to seasonal and interannual changes in their environment. This study utilizes passive acoustic data recorded from two sites within the SCB to explore the oceanographic conditions that goose-beaked whales appear to favor. Utilizing optimum multiparameter analysis, modeled temperature and salinity data are used to identify and quantify these source waters: Pacific Subarctic Upper Water (PSUW), Pacific Equatorial Water (PEW), and Eastern North Pacific Central Water (ENPCW). The interannual and seasonal variability in goose-beaked whale presence was related to the variability in El Niño Southern Oscillation events and the fraction and vertical distribution of the three source waters. Goose-beaked whale acoustic presence was highest during the winter and spring and decreased during the late summer and early fall. These seasonal increases occurred at times of increased fractions of PEW in the California Undercurrent and decreased fractions of ENPCW in surface waters. Interannual increases in goose-beaked whale presence occurred during El Niño events. These results establish a baseline understanding of the oceanographic characteristics that correlate with goose-beaked whale presence in the SCB. Furthering our knowledge of this elusive species is key to understanding how anthropogenic activities impact goose-beaked whales.

Clinical and epidemiological features of enteroviral meningitis in children during the seasonal increase in incidence in 2023

Objective: to identify the clinical and epidemiological features of enteroviral meningitis (EVM) in children during the seasonal rise in incidence in 2023.Materials and methods: a retrospective analysis of 171 medical histories of children aged 1 month to 17 years, hospitalized in the infectious diseases hospital of the RSBHI «KICCH № 1» from June to October 2023, is presented.Results. The bulk of patients, 77.9 ± 3.2% (133/171), were hospitalized between August and October, which indicates the persistence of the summer-autumn seasonality of incidence. The clinical picture of EVM is characterized by acute development, persistent fever, intoxication, against which headache and repeated vomiting appear, indicating the development of hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome. Dissociation of meningeal signs requires liquorological studies to confirm the diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis. Clinical recovery at the time of discharge occurred only in 64.3 ± 3.7% of convalescents; in the remaining children, 35.7 ± ± 3.7% (61/171) residual effects persisted, which required continued observation.

Seasonal dynamics of global marine heatwaves over the last four decades

Marine heatwaves (MHWs), prolonged periods of abnormally high sea temperature, have greater devastating impacts on marine ecosystem services and socioeconomic systems than gradual long-term ocean warming. Despite growing evidence of increases in MHW frequency, duration, and intensity, their interseasonal variations remain unclear. Using satellite-derived daily sea surface temperature (SST) data from 1982 to 2022, this work reveals a strong seasonality in MHWs. Typically, the highest cumulative intensity, characterizing total impacts on ecosystems, occurs during the local warm seasons in most oceans, leading to a significant interseasonal difference between warm and cold seasons. The interseasonal difference is predominantly driven by air-sea heat flux, rather than oceanic horizontal advection and vertical process. An increase in these interseasonal differences is observed in mid and high latitudes, with a significant increase in the warm season and a weaker trend in the cold season. In the Equatorial Pacific and Western Equatorial Indian Ocean, intense MHWs are primarily exacerbated by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which also determines interseasonal variations in MHWs. Understanding the seasonality of MHWs can help better formulate corresponding policies to reduce economic and ecological losses caused by these events and can improve the accuracy of future predictions.

Streamflow seasonality in a snow-dwindling world.

Climate warming induces shifts from snow to rain in cold regions1, altering snowpack dynamics with consequent impacts on streamflow that raise challenges to many aspects of ecosystem services2-4. A straightforward conceptual model states that as the fraction of precipitation falling as snow (snowfall fraction) declines, less solid water is stored over the winter and both snowmelt and streamflow shift earlier in season. Yet the responses of streamflow patterns to shifts in snowfall fraction remain uncertain5-9. Here we show that as snowfall fraction declines, the timing of the centre of streamflow mass may be advanced or delayed. Our results, based on analysis of 1950-2020 streamflow measurements across 3,049 snow-affected catchments over the Northern Hemisphere, show that mean snowfall fraction modulates the seasonal response to reductions in snowfall fraction. Specifically, temporal changes in streamflow timing with declining snowfall fraction reveal a gradient from earlier streamflow in snow-rich catchments to delayed streamflow in less snowy catchments. Furthermore, interannual variability of streamflow timing and seasonal variation increase as snowfall fraction decreases across both space and time. Our findings revise the 'less snow equals earlier streamflow' heuristic and instead point towards a complex evolution of seasonal streamflow regimes in a snow-dwindling world.

New insights into the reproduction and migration of the porbeagle shark Lamna nasus (Bonnaterre 1788) in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean.

The objective of this study was to estimate the reproductive parameters of porbeagle shark in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean and thus characterize the adult fraction of this population. Therefore, 1012 specimens were measured by scientific observers on board the commercial trawl fleet operating south of 50° S. The size range of the specimens was from 77 to 292 cm fork length (LF). The mean size at maturity was estimated to be 153 cm LF for males and 172 cm LF for females. Porbeagle shark catches were recorded throughout the year, with the highest frequency occurring between November and June. The presence of pregnant females was observed from December to July, along with an increase in the average size of embryos in each litter. The information presented in this study improves the knowledge of the reproductive biology and allows to propose a migratory pattern of adult porbeagle females in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. The likely seasonal increase in vulnerability of this shark to austral trawl fishery, despite all conservation management measures established in Argentina, underscores the importance of promoting its proper management and conservation given the need to improve understanding of porbeagle population dynamics in the Southern Hemisphere.

Seasonal Variation of Groundwater Quality in Bonny Island, Rivers State Nigeria

This study investigated the seasonal variations in physicochemical parameters, heavy metals, and petroleum hydrocarbons in groundwater samples collected in nine locations in Bonny Island, Rivers State Nigeria. The water samples for the dry season were collected in December and January while for the wet season, water samples were collected in July and October. A quantitative approach was employed, involving the collection of quantitative data through field sampling and laboratory analysis. Physicochemical parameters, including pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient levels, were measured using standard analytical techniques. Heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Cd, etc.) were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while petroleum hydrocarbons (total hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) were analyzed through solvent extraction and gas chromatography techniques. The study revealed significant seasonal variations in several parameters, with notable significant decreases in phosphate during the wet season and significant increases in chromium and cadmium levels during the dry season (p-value &lt; 0.05). Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations also exhibited seasonal fluctuations, potentially influenced by precipitation patterns, oil and gas activities, and accidental spills or leaks which were observed during the dry season.

Wirkmechanismus der Blaulicht-Stimulation des blinden Flecks bei progredienter Myopie

Purpose: The beneficial effects of time spent outdoors and the seasonal increase of progression in winter emphasize the major role of daylight in myopia. Based upon the patho­physiology of myopia and the physiological effects of daylight, the mechanism of action of a targeted stimulation of melanopsin by blue light at the blind spot for the treatment of progressive myopia is investigated. Material and Methods: The manuscript is a subjective review of the mechanism of action of blue light stimulation at the blind spot for the treatment of progressive myopia. The literature search in PubMed covered a period from 1980 through 2023. Results: Blue light stimulation at the blind spot bases upon the clinical experience that daylight protects from the development of progressive myopia. Parameters and site of light stimulation are mainly defined by the photopigment melanopsin, that is sensitive to blue light and localized on intrinsically photosensitive, retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC) whose axons converge to the blind spot. The blind spot as stimulation site provides on the one hand the opportunity to activate the vast majority of ipRGC and hence dopaminergic amacrine cells, and on the other hand avoids additional involvement of rods and cones which may exert inhibitory effects on dopamine release. Furthermore, the proposed dopaminergic and potentially antimyopic effect can be applied invisibly to the patient. Conclusion: Preclinical and human experimental studies indicate that after a short-term blue light stimulation the choroidal thickness transiently increases and the axial length of the eye decreases. These temporal changes of clinically relevant biomarkers after short-term blue light stimulation suggest potential antimyopic effects which are investigated in current clinical trials in children.

Impact of groundwater seepage on thermal performance of capillary heat exchangers in subway tunnel lining

The metro tunnels are currently facing challenges associated with thermal pollution, which significantly affects their operational safety and energy consumption. The subway source heat pump system (SSHPS) with front-end tunnel lining capillary heat exchangers (CHEs) is an effective technology to address this problem. The heat transfer characteristics of SSHPS have been previously investigated; however, there is a lack of research on the thermal performance of tunnel lining CHEs under groundwater seepage. This study established a numerical simulation model of tunnel lining CHEs based on a demonstration project of SSHPS. Subsequently, the influence of groundwater seepage on the heat transfer characteristics of tunnel lining CHEs was comprehensively analyzed. The findings suggest that an increase in groundwater seepage velocity leads to the initial expansion and subsequent contraction of the thermal influence range caused by CHEs. Simultaneously, the performance of CHEs is enhanced with increasing flow velocity. When the seepage velocity increases from 0 to 1 × 10−4 m/s, the heat exchange capacity per meter and efficiency of the CHEs during the cooling season increase by 450 % and 446 %, respectively. During the heating season, they experience a growth of 320 % and 310 %, respectively. In addition, the heat exchange performance of CHEs is also influenced by the relative flow direction between the fluid within CHEs and the groundwater. The counter flow arrangement exhibits a 7.7 % higher efficiency of heat exchange during the cooling season compared to the parallel flow arrangement, and a 3.9 % higher efficiency of heat exchange during the heating season. Therefore, it is highly recommended to evaluate groundwater seepage conditions during the design phase of SSHPS in order to enhance the performance of tunnel lining CHEs. This study serves as a valuable theoretical reference for the design of tunnel lining CHEs.

Was the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar a bad omen for the future of football?

Over time, football (soccer) has surpassed its core functions to become a pivotal element within the entertainment industry: billions tune in to watch mega-events such as the Champions League, European Championship, or the World Cup, and even individuals who aren’t avid fans experience certain facets of this phenomenon. As games are strongly commercialized today, organizations persistently strive to innovate the sport (e.g., introducing VAR or 10-15 minutes extra time), the number of games per season increases, and mega-events venture into unfamiliar territories, exemplified by the recent winter World Cup in Qatar. This study compares data from the last two World Cup seasons to address a fundamental question: How did the unconventional Qatar tournament affect the 2022/23 football season? Analysis revealed that while the 2022 World Cup produced impressive statistics, the club season witnessed a decrease in goals and assists (GA) compared to 2018, indicating potential challenges with the transition to the Qatari conditions. Factors such as playing position, national team federation, club league tier, and league position were identified as significant contributors to these transitional challenges. These findings gain added importance with Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup, underscoring the need for more research to grasp the challenges ahead.