Search

Urbanization has profoundly reshaped urban morphology and land cover while degrading the thermal environment. Despite numerous studies exploring correlations between two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) urban features and land surface temperatures (LSTs), understanding the impact of urban structural effects on LSTs remains unclear due to limited high-spatial-resolution satellite data. This study addresses this gap by integrating satellite images and volunteered geographical data, employing automated machine learning through Autokeras to downscale LSTs to a 10-m spatial resolution. Subsequently, a stepwise regression model quantified the relationships between various urban feature indicators and LSTs within urban blocks. Results indicated the Autokeras-trained LST-prediction model achieved high accuracy (RMSE : 0.528 K, MAE : 0.317 K, R 2 : 0.973), demonstrating its efficacy in generating accurate 10-m LSTs from SDGSAT-1 satellites. The stepwise regression model effectively characterized relationships between urban features and LSTs, yielding RMSE , MAE and R 2 of 1.142 K, 0.881 K and 0.646, respectively. LSTs exhibited heighted sensitivity to albedo, emissivity, normalized difference vegetation index, building height, and ratio resident-area index, with their combined weights exceeding 70 %. Comparisons with SDGSAT-1 raw data and Landsat 8, which operates at a lower spatial resolution (30 m), underscored the finer delineation capabilities of our high-resolution LSTs across heterogeneous land covers. Furthermore, 10-m LSTs showed 4.2 % greater sensitivity to building height than 30-m LSTs, highlighting their ability to better capture cooling effects from 3D structure shadows. This study thus underscores the utility of high-resolution LST data in urban planning and climate adaptation strategies. • A novel method to downscale urban LSTs to 10 m via automated machine learning. • LSTs with 10-m resolution precisely delineate edges of land covers via temperatures. • Lower-resolution data overestimate LSTs in dense building areas by about 1–4 K. • Higher-resolution LSTs increase building height's weight by 4.2 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the escalating urban heat island phenomenon and increasing frequency of heatwaves across the globe, many recent studies have focused on protecting human health from outdoor heat stress. Public commuting was the primary transportation way. However, there has been a significant oversight regarding the specific issue of heat stress encountered by commuters, particularly pedestrians on sidewalks lacking sufficient shade. This research gap leaves certain urban residents highly vulnerable to the negative effects of heatwaves. To address this issue, the thermal walking method was employed in this study to evaluate the physical thermal stress and thermal perceptions of Guangzhou residents during their commutes. Additionally, this study developed a regression model to evaluate the heat tolerance of street trees and their impact on pedestrians' experiences. The findings indicate that street trees substantially influence key thermal environment indicators, particularly solar radiation and surface temperature. These trees also play a pivotal role in shaping pedestrians' perceptions of thermal sensations by affecting the intensity, sequence, and duration of their exposure to heat. Significant variations were found in pedestrians' experiences under different street trees, mainly due to the trees' rebound effects. Pedestrians exhibit a higher heat tolerance when the ΔUTCI of this rebound effect surpasses 6 °C (TCV >1 and TAV ≥ −0.01), indicating a generally favourable response to the prevailing outdoor thermal conditions. This research offers valuable insights into the cooling effects of street trees, which may help city planners improve urban living standards through feasible, nature-oriented strategies. • The UTCI has limitations in predicting pedestrian thermal perception during heatwaves. • Street tree shadows' rebound effects modify pedestrians' thermal perceptions. • Pedestrians' sunlight exposure shouldn't exceed 10 min at a time during heatwaves. • Pedestrians' thermal tolerance requires a rebound effect greater than 6 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walking enhances health and supports urban sustainability. Outdoor thermal comfort significantly influences people's enthusiasm for walking and the quality of their outdoor activities. When walking in urban streets, pedestrians encounter a series of unstable microclimate environments. However, current models for assessing outdoor thermal comfort typically focus on specific locations and times, failing to fully account for the varied conditions along the entire path. To meet pedestrians' actual walking needs, this study investigates pedestrian thermal comfort through a whole-trip perspective, conducted within a controlled laboratory setting. A series of experiments were carried out in a climate chamber, creating varied dynamic thermal radiation exposure scenarios to analyze their effects on pedestrians' perceptions throughout the trip segments they have completed. Findings indicate that for pedestrians experiencing dynamic environmental changes, whole-trip thermal sensation is neither equivalent to instantaneous thermal sensation nor to the weighted average of past thermal sensations at different time periods. Current instantaneous thermal sensation, mean skin temperature, and the surplus Joules received by the human body compared to the neutral thermal state can better characterize the whole-trip thermal sensation of pedestrians. The results of this study will help to deepen the understanding of human thermal perception patterns in dynamic environments and provide a theoretical basis for outdoor microclimate design and pedestrian thermal comfort evaluation. [Display omitted] • Study explores pedestrian thermal comfort from a whole-trip perspective. • Experiments in a climate chamber simulate dynamic thermal radiation exposure on pedestrian perceptions. • The whole-trip thermal sensation differs from instantaneous or past thermal sensation averages. • Pedestrian memory thermal sensation can be characterized by skin temperature and surplus Joules. • Appropriate dynamic sunlight-shade experiences may better mitigate TSV w than the full-shade one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the nuanced impact of social welfare finance on institutional financial performance, focusing solely on its direct effects. Utilizing fixed effect, feasible generalized, and quantitative approaches alongside the dynamic generalized method of moments (GMM), we conduct a thorough analysis using data from 20 upper-middle-income economies spanning 2000–2023. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of social welfare finance, including its dynamic and lagged impacts, as a significant determinant of institutional financial performance. Quantile analysis reveals varying effects across different quantiles, enriching our understanding. The results emphasize the direct influence of social welfare finance and unveil its indirect impact through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a novel contribution to the literature. Moreover, we stress the critical importance of reasonable resource allocation, highlighting the indispensable role of social welfare finance resources. We advocate for prioritizing public-private partnerships to optimize financial targeting, offering a pragmatic strategy for fostering a resilient financial economy. [Display omitted] • This study investigates the role of social welfare finance for institutional financial performance and includes only the direct impacts of social welfare finance. • This research uses Fixed Effect, Feasible Generalized and Quantile approaches along with dynamic GMM for dynamic analysis on a dataset of 20 upper middle economies from 2000 to 2023. • The overall results indicate that social welfare finance along with its dynamic and lag impact is an important factor and significantly impacts institutional financial performance. • This study has unique aspect providing evidence of indirect performance of social welfare finance through CSR for better institutional financial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the nuanced impact of social welfare finance on institutional financial performance, focusing solely on its direct effects. Utilizing fixed effect, feasible generalized, and quantitative approaches alongside the dynamic generalized method of moments (GMM), we conduct a thorough analysis using data from 20 upper-middle-income economies spanning 2000–2023. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of social welfare finance, including its dynamic and lagged impacts, as a significant determinant of institutional financial performance. Quantile analysis reveals varying effects across different quantiles, enriching our understanding. The results emphasize the direct influence of social welfare finance and unveil its indirect impact through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a novel contribution to the literature. Moreover, we stress the critical importance of reasonable resource allocation, highlighting the indispensable role of social welfare finance resources. We advocate for prioritizing public-private partnerships to optimize financial targeting, offering a pragmatic strategy for fostering a resilient financial economy. [Display omitted] • This study investigates the role of social welfare finance for institutional financial performance and includes only the direct impacts of social welfare finance. • This research uses Fixed Effect, Feasible Generalized and Quantile approaches along with dynamic GMM for dynamic analysis on a dataset of 20 upper middle economies from 2000 to 2023. • The overall results indicate that social welfare finance along with its dynamic and lag impact is an important factor and significantly impacts institutional financial performance. • This study has unique aspect providing evidence of indirect performance of social welfare finance through CSR for better institutional financial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mean radiation temperatures (MRTs) have gained widespread attention due to its close relationship with human health. Notwithstanding the availability of existing methods for evaluating MRT (such as ground-based measurements and numerical simulations), it remains a challenge to rapidly and accurately acquire MRTs with a high spatial resolution. This study thus proposed an efficient methodology for evaluating spatial MRTs of urban spaces on the microscale through multimodal images derived from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Based on UAVs and near-ground measurements, point-cloud data characterizing long- and short-wave irradiance from three-dimensional (3D) surfaces were obtained via photogrammetry and retrieval models. Spatial MRTs were then sampled based on a mapped 3D radiation field and ray-tracing. Comparison of the sampled MRTs with measured MRTs (near the ground) through globe temperatures exhibited a high consistency (R 2 : 0.980, RMSE: 3.080 °C) and a small difference (almost less than 2.5 °C), demonstrating the applicability and accuracy of our proposed method. In conjunction with near-ground meteorological variables, outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) indicators with a high spatial resolution were derived; further comparisons suggested the SET* and UTCI as ideal indicators to evaluate microscale OTC of hot and humid areas through our method. From the perspective of application, this method can further refine the assessment of the urban thermal environment as well as the human thermal comfort of micro-scale spaces based on simulations or remote sensing observations with lower spatial resolution, which will provide specific suggestions for redesign or redevelopment of the micro-scale areas. Additionally, the thermal mapping with high spatial resolution obtained by this method can also be used as a reference to evaluate the accuracy of related numerical models. • A new method to rapidly map MRT distribution via UAV was proposed. • A novel way to establish the real and fine-grained radiation field based on 3D data. • The errors of sampled MRTs were less than 2.5 °C through 3D radiation field and ray-tracing. • SET* and UTCI better evaluate sophisticated OTC (grid size: 0.5 m 2) of hot and humid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walking promotes human health and well-being. However, increasing temperatures due to global climate change and urban heat islands challenge urban walkability. While people navigate urban settings, they encounter asymmetrical environmental conditions not captured by most thermal comfort models. Critically, these models predominantly factor in the Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) but tend to neglect the effects of non-uniform solar radiation on human comfort. This study delves into the thermal impacts of solar radiation on walking individuals, utilizing a controlled environment with solar simulators. 28 subjects walked on a treadmill, simulating the walking state of pedestrians, under asymmetrical radiation conditions with the source being overhead, in front, behind, and to the side. Participants responded to queries concerning their overall thermal comfort, thermal sensation, and thermal acceptability. In addition, they provided feedback on directional and segmental thermal sensations across various body parts. Our findings revealed that the thermal sensation varied depending on the direction of radiation, and their responses regarding their forearms were most closely related to their whole body. These results provide information that can be valuable in the design of outdoor environments that will be thermally comfortable and will encourage people to walk during hot weather. • Pedestrian thermal responses under simulated solar radiation studied. • Directional body areas exposed to solar radiation contribute differently to TSV o. • Predicting TSV o using T sk,m or T sk,seg, s requires considering the direction of solar radiation exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue infrastructure is considered a nature-based solution to address urban heat problems. However, the potential nocturnal urban heat island (UHI) effect of water bodies has not been investigated and elaborated thoroughly. Besides, existing studies have primarily focused on surface temperature and are limited to individual cities during summer daytime. In this study, screen-height air temperature/humidity measurements at lake, residential, and rural sites in two humid subtropical cities of China (Nanjing, Guangzhou) were conducted continuously for one year. The UHI intensity (UHII), urban moisture island intensity (UMII, evaluated by humidity ratio difference), and heat index (HI) were analyzed across different weather conditions and time scales. Results demonstrated that (1) compared to residential sites, urban lakes can help mitigate urban heat excess, while this capability at night is not as significant as during daytime; compared to rural sites, urban lakes exhibit diurnal thermal behavior of daytime cooling and nighttime warming, with a weak urban cool island intensity (UCII) of 0.1–0.6 °C during the day but a significant UHII of 1.2–1.3 °C at night during warm months (May–September), which is comparable to residential sites with UHII of 1.1–1.3 °C; (2) urban moisture excess tends to occur during nighttime and cold seasons; (3) compared to rural sites, lakes contribute to a good relief on heat stress during daytime, but a significant negative effect at night due to the intensified warming and humidifying. Findings of this study can provide empirical evidence to help better understand the effectiveness of water bodies for urban heat mitigation. • Year-round air temperature/humidity were measured in two humid subtropical cities. • Urban lakes can help mitigate daytime urban heat, but not for nighttime UHI. • Urban moisture excess tends to occur during nighttime and cold seasons. • Increased humidity may offset heat stress relief achieved from evaporative cooling. • Weather conditions affect urban heat and moisture islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban heat island (UHI) effect has significant implications on urban development, human health, and climate change. Local climate zones (LCZs) provide an objective and systematic classification of field sites for studying the UHI effect. Accurately characterizing the UHI features in each LCZ is fundamental to mitigating the UHI effect. This study aimed to analyze the UHI effect in six LCZs in Guangzhou. Temperature data were collected simultaneously using fixed-point measurements over 405 days from October 1, 2019 to March 31, 2022. The UHI characteristics of the LCZs under various weather conditions were analyzed by examining the hourly, daily, and seasonal UHI intensities (UHIIs). Consistent diurnal variation patterns were observed in the daily average UHII under different weather conditions but with varying peak values. Ideal days with weak winds and clear skies significantly contribute to the development of maximum UHII, occurring most frequently between 18:00 and 23:00 with a frequency of 45%. In comparison, UHI events on precipitation days have a lower frequency. Furthermore, UHI effects varied significantly among different LCZs, with higher UHII observed in high-density built-up LCZs compared to open low-rise LCZs. Variations were particularly pronounced during the night in autumn and winter with a maximum UHII mean of 5.30 °C. UHI event frequencies and hourly warming/cooling rates were also examined to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the UHI effects on LCZs. This study is of great significance for understanding the UHI characteristics within Guangzhou, and for guiding urban planning and management to mitigate UHI in LCZs. • Air temperature data from 6 LCZs were collected across two years in Guangzhou. • Clear and distinct patterns of UHI in LCZs were revealed on multiple time scales. • The development of UHI intensity under various weather conditions was revealed. • Chinese metropolis empirical data validate LCZ concept and scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface temperatures (LSTs) critically govern urban thermal environments. While algorithms have been proposed to retrieve LSTs from high-spatial-resolution images derived from unmanned aerial vehicles, efforts to explore urban geometry and adjacency effects on such retrieved LSTs are faced with challenges. In this study, a new urban radiative transfer model was proposed, which incorporated the emitted radiance from a target pixel and the atmosphere, the scattered radiance of the target pixel itself and its neighboring pixels, and the reflected atmospheric downwelling radiance. Based on the model and UAV-derived orthophotos, urban LSTs that considered the contributions of the surroundings were accurately retrieved. Depending on the emissivity and the surroundings of the target pixel, the magnitude of the adjacency effect on retrieved LSTs almost varied from 0.0 K to 3.0 K. Validation based on in-situ LSTs demonstrated that the absolute biases between the retrieved and measured temperatures were below 1.0 K. These findings have collectively underlined the necessity to consider the adjacency effect for the retrieval of urban LSTs from high-spatial-resolution images. • A method to obtain urban LSTs considering adjacency effect is proposed. • Lower pixel emissivity and higher surrounding temperatures, a stronger adjacency effect. • Retrieved LSTs are sensitive to at-sensor radiance, emissivity and SVF. • The retrieved errors are <1.0 K considering adjacency effect. • The adjacency effect on retrieved LSTs almost varies from 0.0 K to 3.0 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Data on the impact of four trees’ species on the UHI are obtained. • Three physiological and seven microclimatic parameters are studied. • Differences in cooling performance among the four trees’ species are assessed. • Ficus microcarpa has the best cooling performance (reduced PET by 32.4 °C). • Tree planting implications are discussed from a microclimatic perspective. Abstract Tree morphology and characteristics are quite different among different tree species, leading to large differences in cooling performance across tree species, particularly across different climatic regions. To obtain microclimatic characteristics and data on the influence of common subtropical tree species on the outdoor thermal environment, this study investigates, with field measurements, three physiological indices (leaf transpiration rate, leaf surface temperature, and leaf reflectance) and seven microclimatic parameters (solar radiation, long wave radiation, mean radiant temperature (Tmrt), ground surface temperature, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) characterizing four common tree species in Guangzhou: Ficus microcarpa , Mangifera indica , Michelia alba, and Bauhinia blakeana. The Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) is calculated with the Rayman 12 tool to assess human thermal comfort. Special focus is set on the differences between these parameters in the presence and absence of tree cover. The results are as follows: Ficus microcarpa has the best cooling performance (reduced solar radiation by 1050 W/m2, reduced Tmrt by 14.8 °C, reduced PET by 32.4 °C). These trees have also some negative effects: reducing wind speed (2.83 m/s) and increasing long wave radiation (55 W/m2). It is expected that these data and results will shed some light on tree planting implications in subtropical areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building simulation tools play an important role in the field of building physics. The performance of these tools relies on the understanding of related physic phenomenon and needs to be ensured by the validation. Nowadays, numbers of building simulation tools have been developed. However, most of these tools lack internationally accepted experimental data for validation. As for the investigation of combined heat, air and moisture (HAM) transfer process, it is limited by the fact that it is difficult to measure air and moisture fluxes and moisture transport potentials, even under laboratory conditions. In this paper, the author established a numerical laboratory to overcome the difficulty of measuring air and mass flux within enclosed cavity. The performance of new developed simulation approach in predicting convective flow characteristics of dry air has been validated. Then convective flow characteristics of moist air within enclosed cavity have been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of rain water which impinged on the building envelope has a significant effect on the building envelope’s thermal performance, the indoor air humidity and the users’ health and comfort. As an important exterior boundary condition, wind-driven rain (WDR) loads estimation methodology could also be used in building energy simulation (BES) and heat and moisture transport (HAM) tools. As available WDR calculation models either ignore or simplify the influence of the complicate urban environment, their results have great discrepancy with the test results on a residential building facade which is even only moderate sheltered. In this paper, systematically models are built to study the shelter effect by surrounding buildings on WDR,. The building density of the street canyon and the buildings’ arrangement style of the street canyon are two parameters that had been taken into consideration. Simulation cases with three packing densities and two typical buildings’ arrangements are displayed. Predominant influencing factors are pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban heat island (UHI) effects and heat waves (HWs) increase, posing a threat to human health and urban ecological systems. However, the synergistic mechanisms of UHI and HWs are yet to be fully elucidated. This study aims to assess the characteristics of UHI under HWs in different Local Climate Zones (LCZs) using temperature observations from Guangzhou, China. Fixed-point measurements were employed to simultaneously collect air temperature from nine LCZs in 2021. The results showed a localised interplay between HWs and UHI. During HWs, the UHI effect was significantly amplified in built-type LCZ, where the UHI intensity (UHII) was amplified by 0.1–0.5 °C throughout the day, 0.4–1 °C at night, but slightly reduced by 0–0.4 °C during daytime. The UHII was significantly reduced in land-cover type LCZ, and the urban cold effect was amplified during HWs. Furthermore, with strong solar radiation and low wind speed in HWs, the daily maximum UHII of LCZs increased 0.4–1.1 °C. Finally, correlations between UHII and morphological characteristics of LCZs are examined in HWs and non-heat waves (NHWs). During HWs, the increase in impervious surface fraction (ISF) and building surface fraction (BSF) and the decrease in sky view factor (SVF) exacerbate UHII, particularly at night. The augment in surface vegetation fraction (F v e g ), does not significantly contribute to reducing the UHI and is less effective than NHWs at night. Therefore, different measures should be taken in different LCZs to mitigate UHII amplification during HWs. This study can serve as a reference for preventing responses to climate extremes. • A localised interplay between heat waves and urban heat islands is observed. • A year of UHI observations in different Local Climate Zones (LCZs) were used. • The interactions between UHI and HW varies across different LCZs. • The daily maximum UHI intensity of LCZs increased 0.40–1.13 °C during HWs. • Correlations between UHII and morphological characteristics of LCZs are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-arginine serves as a substrate for the production of nitric oxide (NO) in animals, and it can also impact muscle fiber characteristics and meat quality in these animals. The present study was designed to explore the effects of adding 1% L-arginine to a basal diet regimen on the muscle fiber characteristics and meat quality of Mongolian sheep. Dietary L-arginine supplementation reduced shear force in the longissimus thoracis (LT) and increased a* in biceps femoris (BF) muscles (p < 0.05). L-arginine supplementation also increased the proportion of type IIA muscle fiber in the LT (p < 0.05) and type I muscle fiber in the BF (p < 0.05) while reducing both the diameter and CSA of type IIB muscle fiber in both the LT and BF (CSA in LT, p < 0.01; all others, p < 0.05). L-arginine treatment was also associated with the upregulation of MyHC IIa (LT), MyHC I (BF), nNOS (LT & BF), AMPKα1 (BF), PGC-1α (LT & BF) (PGC-1α in BF, p < 0.01; all others, p < 0.05), together with an increase in nNOS content (LT, p < 0.01; BF, p < 0.05). Dietary L-arginine supplementation was associated with a significant increase in the post-slaughter tenderness of lamb meat, which is related to transitions in muscle fiber types. The gene expression and nNOS analysis results generated herein further indicate that this effect is mediated by the NO/AMPK/PGC-1α pathway. Further studies are thus warranted to provide further insight into the role that NO signaling plays in controlling the associations between L-arginine, muscle fiber characteristics, and meat quality. • Dietary L-arginine supplementation promoted muscle fiber type transition of lamb. • L-arginine decreased the shear force and increased a * of meat. • nNOS and PGC-1α relative mRNA expressions were up-regulated. • The potential pathway was NO/AMPK/PGC-1α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Diurnal thermal behavior of an urban pond was observed in a subtropical city. • Water bodies may induce an adverse warming effect at night. • Heat capacity and evaporation are fundamental drivers for daytime cooling. • Longwave radiation and evaporation are important to nighttime heat release. • Time of day and reference site are critical for thermal assessment of urban water bodies. Water bodies are often considered an effective solution to cool their surroundings in hot summers. However, their potential adverse nocturnal warming effect has not yet been investigated thoroughly or considered in current urban planning strategies. This study evaluates the diurnal thermal effects of an urban pond in Nanjing, China, and explores the underlying mechanisms through energy-balance analysis using the Bowen ratio method. In-situ air temperature/humidity, water temperature profile, and upward and downward short- and long-wave radiation on hot summer days were measured. Results demonstrate that compared with a reference soil-site, the pond exerted a moderate daytime cooling effect (0.6 °C) but a pronounced nocturnal warming effect (1.8 °C). During the day, the energy input R net (net radiation flux) comprised 77% Q S (heat storage) and 23% Q E (latent heat flux), while Q H (sensible heat flux) was negligible. At night, a negative Q S acted as a heat source from the pond, which was released through Q H (5%), Q E (51%), and R net (44%). Results of this study improve our understanding of the thermal effects of urban water bodies, and can be used to inform urban planners and landscape designers regarding implementation of water bodies in the urban context for creating sustainable cool cities and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) is a widely studied phenomenon, characterized by unique spatiotemporal variations depending on urban structure. Seeking a simple and rapid method to monitor the Urban Heat Island Intensity (U H I I) for local urban area with multiple inner morphology is essential for energy saving, citizen health, and urban planning. Hence, this study proposed a diagnostic equation for daily maximum urban heat island intensity ( U H I I max) based on routine meteorological data and basic urban properties. The applicability of equation, previously proposed by European scholars, was evaluated based on Local Climate Zone (LCZ) scheme by a long-term temperature observation experiment conducted in Guangzhou. Overall, the underestimation of U H I I max was caused by LCZ 1,2,3,4 , in which the morphological parameters were outside the application range of the original equation. Then, a revised equation was proposed by adding the impervious surface fraction (ISF) in morphological parameters based on the spatiotemporal variance of U H I I for different LCZ. The revised equation was evaluated against a year dataset and revealed a higher accuracy than the original one with a decrease of RMSE and MEAE at 0.4K, 0.15K, an increase of d r at 0.1. Moreover, the efficiency of the equations for all the seasons and LCZs were elucidated. In summary, the results can be used as a tool for monitoring the development of UHI in outdoor temperature studies. [Display omitted] • Diagnostic equation for maximum urban heat island intensity (UHII) is proposed. • Morphological characteristics of different Local Climate Zone (LCZ) were used. • Efficiency of equation for all the seasons and LCZs was elucidated. • Significant variance for UHII in spatiotemporal dimension is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical green facades (VGFs) are considered promising design strategies for reducing building energy consumption. The leaf area index (LAI v) has been considered a critical parameter in evaluating the thermal behaviour of VGFs. The LAI v is not static for a plant and changes over seasons. However, research on the seasonal variation of the LAI v and its impact on the shading effects of VGFs is limited. The present study addresses this research gap. First, a shading coefficient (SC) model was developed to describe the capability of VGFs to intercept solar radiation. Then, the SC and one-year LAI v variations of two deciduous plants and one evergreen plant were observed to verify the accuracy of the SC model and develop the seasonal LAI v prediction (SLP) model. Finally, the SLP model combined with local climate parameters was employed to analyse the solar heat gain on the east, south, west, and north walls with and without VGFs. The results indicated that the VGFs composed of deciduous plants could be considered a self-adjusting shading system, intercepting over 90% of incident solar radiation in summer and transmitting approximately 75% of incident solar radiation in winter. • Proposed and verified a shading coefficient model of vertical green facades (VGFs). • Recorded one-year leaf area index (LAI v) variations of VGFs. • Developed a seasonal LAI v prediction model. • VGFs of deciduous plants can be considered a self-adjusting shading system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational layout of vegetation can significantly alleviate the urban heat-island effect and improve outdoor thermal environment. However, quantitative researches about the impact of different vegetation species on the outdoor thermal environment are still scarce and the actual engineering problem that what’s the best choice, grass, shrub or trees cannot be responded. Meanwhile, a three-dimensional model which can accurately predict the effect of green on thermal environment and guide the green design is urgently needed. Thus, a finite volume method with unstructured mesh is used to simulate the impact of vegetation on the outdoor thermal environment for three common vegetation species, namely: trees, shrub and lawn. Special attention is paid on the variation of air temperature at 1.5 m, surface temperature, PET, WBGT, wind speed and pressure with these species. The study could be described as follows: A simulation method including the model of three-dimensional vegetation is developed for predicting and evaluating the outdoor thermal environment and its accuracy is confirmed by comparing simulation results and field measured data; For different evaluation standards and areas, the sequence of the improvement of different species on outdoor thermal environment is quite different: For air temperature at 1.5 m and thermal comfort and safety (PET and WBGT), the sequence is trees > lawn > shrubs, but for surface temperature, the sequence is lawn > shrubs > trees; For these areas located in the downstream of planting area, trees and shrub can reduce the wind speed and decrease the pressure of the building. But for these areas located in the downstream of without planting area, they can increase the wind speed and the pressure; Suggestions are provided to guide the arrangement of these species in planning stage to achieve the purpose of optimizing outdoor thermal environment in summer and outdoor wind environment in winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fitness centers are energy-intensive in warm climates, cooling the interior to low temperatures that are comfortable for exercise. There is little existing guidance on how to do this efficiently. However it is well-known that significant energy can be saved by cooling sedentary occupants with air movement at elevated setpoint temperatures. This experiment investigated thermal comfort and air movement at elevated activity levels. Comfort votes were obtained from 20 subjects pedaling a bicycle ergometer at 2, 4, and 6 MET exercise intensities in four temperatures (20, 22, 24, 26 °C, RH 50%) under personal controlled ceiling fan airflow, as well as in a 20 °C still-air reference condition. An additional test of frontal airflow was conducted at 26 °C. The hypothesis, that air movement together with higher temperatures would produce equal or better comfort and perceived air quality below the reference condition, was confirmed for every temperature up to 26 °C. Subjects preferred air speeds up to 2.3 m/s to maintain acceptable thermal environment at 6 MET. The small frontal fan affecting the facial area was effective but the ceiling fan affecting the whole body provided greater comfort. Fitness centers should operate with elevated air movement to improve both comfort and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying vertical green facades (VGFs) on building envelopes is an effective design strategy to reduce building energy consumption and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Although many studies have investigated the cooling and energy-saving effects of VGFs, research on the long-wave infrared radiation properties of VGFs remains scarce, limiting the understanding and application of heat-transfer models of VGFs. Therefore, in this study, theoretical analyses and field measurements were performed in the subtropical city of Guangzhou, China, to examine the long-wave infrared radiation properties of VGFs. First, an observation platform was established using six plants commonly used for VGFs in subtropical regions. The long-wave infrared radiation and leaf temperature of these plants with different coverage rates were measured to investigate the effect of coverage rate on the radiation transfer of the vegetation canopy. A Fourier spectrometer was used to analyse the spectral features of the leaves in the long-wave infrared radiation band. Based on the observation data and radiation balance of the vegetation canopy, an empirical equation for transmitting long-wave infrared radiation was established. Moreover, the monthly variations in the leaf area index and coverage rate of the VGFs were recorded throughout 2021, and an exponential function was used to determine the relationship between them. A quantitative method was used to assess the accuracy of the long-wave infrared radiation model, and the results indicated that the calculated values were in good agreement with the measured values. • Long-wave infrared radiation properties of VGFs were investigated. • Experimental data were collected to fit the ambient equivalent temperature. • The long-wave infrared radiation transfer in an uneven canopy was modelled. • The correspondence between the coverage rate and the LAI was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turbulent airflow around urban vegetation significantly affects transpiration cooling, pollutant dispersion, insect habitat, outdoor thermal environment, and building energy consumption. A major challenge is investigating the effect of different vegetation canopies on turbulent transfer and improving the calculation of the canopy convective heat transfer coefficients (h c) using canopy structural parameters. To address this challenge, we conducted 744 experiments using an adjustable artificial vegetation canopy and assessed different canopy structures and wind speeds and the presence/absence of obstacles. The results showed that the h c was not significantly affected by the relative angle between the leaves at a constant leaf windward angle. The largest h c occurred at a leaf windward angle (θ) of 24° and a windward leaf area index ( L A I w) of 1.1. The proposed semi-mechanical and empirical models showed good prediction accuracy (R a d 2 = 0.93). Moreover, the predictability of canopy turbulent transfer, vegetation energy budgets, and thermal comfort was enhanced by incorporating the h c model into urban microclimatic models (UMMs). Future applications and development of this model will facilitate wind-sensitive urban planning and help provide guidelines for landscape management to mitigate insect problems and improve building ventilation. • The h c was not significantly affected by the relative angle between leaves. • The maximum h c at a leaf windward angle of 24° and an LAI of 1.1. • A wind tunnel experiment method for the h c is proposed. • Plant selection and pruning strategies are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Individual models between spectral indices and emissivity of urban surfaces are proposed. • The best wavelengths of low-altitude hyperspectral data for calculating spectral indices are determined. • DVI is the best for higher-emissivity surfaces, and OSAVI is the fittest for lower-emissivity surfaces. • The largest temperature error caused by the emissivity deviation reaches up to 3.7 K. The estimation of land surface energy budgets and land surface temperature (LST) require accurate information on land surface emissivity (LSE). Despite the use of remote sensing or low-altitude sensing data in numerous models for the computation of LSE, it is still highly challenging to precisely predict the LSE of high-heterogeneous surfaces on a micro-scale. This paper thus proposes several individual models to retrieve each surface's emissivity on the pixel level. Various emissivity and reflectance values were obtained upon spectral resampling to found individual models between emissivity and spectral indices (NDVI, DVI, MSAVI, OSAVI, RRI) for classified surfaces. Based on the smallest root mean square error (RMSE), DVI models accurately indicated the emissivity of concrete floors (0.0012), asphalt roads (0.0012), grasses (0.0062), parking lots (0.0035), pavements (0.0057), and red manhole covers (0.0089). RRI models better predicted the emissivity of tiles (0.0039), grey manhole covers (0.0092), and shrubs (0.0005). OSAVI was also the ideal index for retrieving the emissivity of rooftops (0.0009). Validation results showed their effectiveness, with accuracy within 0.001. Finally, temperature errors caused by the deviation between traditional or default emissivity and measured emissivity fluctuated from 0.0 K to 2.9 K or 0.2 K to 3.7 K, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-scale thermal interactions between underlying surfaces and their surrounding air in urban spaces critically influence urban residents' thermal comfort. On the micro-scale, heat can induce substantial changes in the air temperature (Ta) at the pedestrian height. To characterize the spatiotemporal distribution of the Ta for spaces adjacent to the underlying surfaces, an accurate measurement method is essential. This study explored the proper spatial interpolation methods (SIMs) through strategically-arranged measurement points and then assessed the spatiotemporal distribution of Ta in a tiny experimental area. Results showed that the selection of SIMs and interpolation points significantly affected the results for the micro-scale spatial interpolation. The Ta might fluctuate precipitously within extremely short distances between adjacent underlying surfaces, depending on their thermal properties or on the locations of shadows. At the pedestrian height, the Ta readings registered a maximum difference of 1.31 °C for the same areas with and without arbor shading. However, the arbors' cooling extent and location depended on their shading's position, which constantly changed during the day. The shrubs and the lawn under direct sunlight hardly regulated the microclimate, even in the periphery. Additionally, solar radiation and wind speeds influenced the Ta spatial distribution on the micro-scale. Therefore, future micro-scale urban designs should take into consideration the dynamic positioning of arbor shading, given its significant cooling effect. • Proper spatial interpolation method is determined on micro-scale. • Key measurement positions for spatial interpolation on Ta are discussed. • The Ta variation around arbors and ponds within an extremely short distance is obvious. • Cooling effects of arbors depend mainly on their shading positions. • Factors affecting the spatiotemporal distribution of Ta are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The microclimate model ENVI-met Version 4 was evaluated with field data in terms of the thermal behavior of different types of ground surface. A field experiment was conducted in a real construction project in Guangzhou, South China, from 29 August to 2 September in 2010. The surface types of concrete, tile, asphalt and grass were investigated. The comparison between observation and prediction was performed for both sub- and above-surface variables, including soil temperature at different depths, soil heat flux at the surface, surface temperature, and air temperature and humidity at different heights. The results show that the ENVI-met model is capable of reasonably modelling the diurnal thermal behavior of different ground surfaces and their effects on local air temperature and humidity. The comparison of spatial distributions of air temperature and humidity shows that the hotter/drier and cooler/wetter spots predicted by ENVI-met were generally consistent with the observations. The quantitative evaluation shows that the ENVI-met model is capable of predicting the microclimate in terms of different variables with good accuracy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Compared with actual situation of the current thermal power plant, this paper studies operation process of coal handling system in thermal power plant. Analyze technical characteristics of coal handling system and operating characteristics of the relevant machinery and equipment. Then, the safe operation of coal handling system and the proper method of the equipment maintenance are summed up. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper analyzes two typical failure forms of roller and conveyor at the belt conveyor, and describes the maintenance methods of prevention and elimination failures to ensure the normal operation of belt conveyor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper Proposed an extension of general linear model tracking system design,in general nonlinear systems model, proposed a new design method of model tracking control system, proved the system is internal bounded, validate this design method is effective. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study used the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method to evaluate the indoor thermal environment of an air-conditioned train station building under three types of air-conditioning design schemes. The impacts of air-conditioning design parameters such as supply air temperature, velocity, altitude and angle of incidence were also investigated. The numerical results showed that if the waiting hall and entrance hall of the train station building were connected to each other and served with the cooling air respectively, when the cooling loads in the two halls were fixed and air-conditioning systems were designed properly, altering largely the cooling air supply scheme in the waiting hall while keeping the cooling air supply scheme in the entrance hall unchanged would have significant effects on the air distribution and thermal comfort in the occupied region of the waiting hall but may have some minor effects on those in the occupied region of the entrance hall. The uniformities of velocity and temperature distributions in the occupied region of waiting hall were satisfactory when side supply scheme was applied. Changing supply air temperature, velocity, altitude and angle of incidence would yield great effects on the thermal environment in the train station building. For the stratified air-conditioning design in the train station building, in order to obtain the satisfactory thermal comfort in the occupied region, the mid-height of the building was found to be a good position for the cooling air supply and the supply angle of 0° from the horizontal could be recommendable. The results also indicated that analyzing the effects of air-conditioning design parameters on the building environment with CFD was an effective method to find the way to optimize the air-conditioning design scheme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Solar penetration through the transparent envelope can severely deteriorate indoor thermal environment inside an atrium building particularly in tropical climates. This paper reports the application of two low-cost measures, namely high level internal solar blinds and water spray, to minimise overheating problems on the three levels inside the atrium of a guesthouse in Southern China, where summer is hot and humid. The blinds reduce direct solar penetration at the top of the atrium whilst the evaporative spray system cools down the glazed surfaces of the atrium envelope. A site test was undertaken over 10 consecutive days covering both overcast days and clear days in July 2004. Measurement of indoor thermal environmental parameters was conducted on three levels in the atrium and the recorded data represent the internal conditions: with and without internal blinds protection from solar, and with and without water spray. This study has shown that on hot and clear summer days, with water spray and without blinds the average air temperature difference from 1200 to 1800h between both first floor and second floor, and second floor and external were 5.7 and 1.7K, respectively; whilst with blinds and without water spray the average air temperature differences were 8.7 and 4.8K, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In uncomfortably warm areas and seasons of the year, passive cooling effects resulting from natural rainfall evaporation can greatly cut down on building energy consumption. To simulate the passive evaporation cooling effect and evaluate the relevant energy-saving potentials, hourly rainfall data are needed. However, in currently used building energy simulation software, such as DOE, EnergyPlus and DeST, no rainfall information is provided in the climatic database. This paper uses a limited set of monthly and daily rainfall distribution data in Guangzhou area to identify and model monthly, daily and hourly rainfall patterns. For a current weather database used by building energy simulation software, rainy days and rainy hours are distinguished using distance discriminant analysis, which uses measured data samples for rain identification. According to an autocorrelation analysis of rain sequences, a one-order AR model is suitable for monthly rainfall estimation by AIC criterion judgment. Distribution of daily rainfall month-by-month shows a Gamma distribution model agrees well with daily rainfall distribution. Using a Gamma distribution model and monthly total rainfall, daily rainfall is assigned stochastically. Analysis shows distribution patterns of hourly rainfall percentage, both in the rainy season and non-rainy season, coincide well with the Beta distribution. Using a Beta distribution model and daily total rainfall, hourly rainfall is assigned stochastically. A comparison of statistics features of simulated data to that of measured data validates the method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To measure the percent of free prostate specific antigen (fPSA) among men without prostate diseases in Xi'' an area, and to study the relationship of percent fPSA with age and pathological grade, clinical stage of prostate cancer (PCa) with percent fPSA, and to analyze the difference between the data in China and the overseas data to determine appropriate reference range for Chinese male. Methods: A total of 713 participants were enrolled into the study, with PSA, fPSA in serum measured and the percent fPSA calculated. Out of 713 cases, 679 without prostate diseases were divided into 5 groups by age, and then the relationships of PSA, fPSA and percent fPSA with age were studied, respectively. The relationship of pathological grade and clinical stage with percent fPSA of the 34 participants with PCa was also studied. With the help of the related data of men without prostate disease, the appropriate reference range for Chinese male was established. Results: The increases in PSA or fPSA were correlated with age, while there was no significant correlation between age and percent fPSA. The percent fPSA was also correlated with pathological grade and clinical stage of PCa. The percent fPSA of men without prostate disease in Xi''an area was significantly lower than that in the related overseas data. The reference range of percent fPSA for Chinese male was ≥ 15%. Conclusion: Percent fPSA might be more useful than PSA in the detection of prostate cancer. As the percent fPSA is decreased, the pathological grade is decreased, and the clinical stage is increased, the malignant degree is increased. The reference range of ≥ 15% is more appropriate for Chinese male. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thermal emissivity is a prerequisite for retrieving the land surface temperature (LST) and estimating the land surface budget based on data from remote sensing. Despite the availability of empirical models on emissivity retrieval on the meso-scales, their incompatibility for complex surfaces of the micro-scale leads to errors in emissivity retrieval, thus compromising thermal assessments of urban environments. To minimize such errors, this paper proposed a method to retrieve pixel-scale emissivity on the micro-scale. To measure reflectance spectra and emissivity spectra in the field, a PSR+3500 handheld spectrometer and a 102F portable Fourier transform infrared spectrometer were respectively used. Upon resampling these spectra to spectral response functions (SRF) of drone-derived and satellite-derived sensors, diverse reflectance and emissivity values were obtained to establish empirical models characterizing correlations between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and emissivity. Then, these models were applied to the low-altitude hyperspectral image from the Nano-Hyperspec imager on a drone. The results show that the model established by the SRF of a thermal camera achieved a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.0129, and the accuracy of emissivity retrieval was within 0.010. For satellite applications, the model founded by the SRF of Aster was the most accurate for retrieving the emissivity of urban surfaces, with a RMSE of 0.0082 and an average accuracy of 0.003. The model based on SRFs of Landsat 8 registered a RMSE of 0.0155 alongside an average accuracy of 0.012, while that based on Modis registered a RMSE of 0.1210, alongside an average accuracy of 0.007. • A new method of retrieving emissivity on the micro-scale of urban environment.. • Empirical models between NDVI and emissivity based on spectral response functions. • The model established by Aster is the most suitable for retrieving emissivity on urban surfaces. • This method lays a foundation for precisely assessing the local heat environment by UAV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Drag coefficient (Cd) of four trees were obtained by wind tunnel and real trees. • Relationship between Cd and wind speed (U) can be expressed Cd = a*U−b. • 3-D model of wind modification by trees is proposed, and its accuracy is verified. • Predictability of influence of trees on wind is improved (R2 from 0.79 to 0.94). • The four trees have a significant blocking effect on wind speed (53 % reduction). Better prediction of turbulent airflow around urban trees is necessary because it impacts urban pollutant dispersion, outdoor thermal comfort, energy efficiency, pedestrian-level comfort and urban heat island mitigation. A major challenge is how to obtain an accurate numerical model of the turbulent flow field around trees and an improved parameterization of the turbulent momentum deficit using the drag coefficient (Cd). To address this challenge, we use wind tunnel tests and real trees to measure Cd for four common subtropical tree species: Ficus microcarpa , Mangifera indica , Michelia alba and Bauhinia blakeana. The results show that the Cd of the four trees ranges from 0.523 to 0.932, and that the negative relationship between Cd and wind speed (U) can be expressed by the exponential formula Cd = a * U−b. A three-dimensional model of wind modification by trees is proposed, and its accuracy is verified with wind tunnel measurements. With precise Cd and model, the predictability of the influence of trees on urban wind in subtropical areas is enhanced (root mean square error RMSE ranging from 2.89 m/s to 0.45 m/s). Future development and applications of the numerical model will help provide useful guidelines for urban landscape management and sustainable urban planning in terms of urban ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In-depth analysis of thermal effect of trees for design-decision making. • Trees mainly affect energy budget by radiation flux, especially by solar radiation. • Even-distribution is the most effective, reducing the most absorbed solar radiation. • Taller trees with low branching height and dense crowns is the preferable tree species. • The shadow analysis of urban environments should be before tree planting design. Urban residents are suffer from increased heat stress because of urban heat island intensification in combination with global climate change. Trees have been widely used for improving human thermal comfort. However, when it comes to practical design, it is not always clear what characteristics of trees are most important or how trees should be arranged to optimize thermal conditions. This study undertook an in-depth analysis of several tree species in various configurations. Fifty scenarios were evaluated in terms of how each tree and each configuration affected the energy fluxes of a person on hot sunny days. Results showed that the largest effect in all scenarios was on radiation flux, with a much smaller effect on the convective and evaporative fluxes. An even-distribution of trees was found to be overall most effective as it maximized the shaded area by avoiding unnecessary overlap. While the solar radiation reduction was the largest effect, a detailed analysis provided additional insight into the sometimes-large effect of terrestrial radiation. Taller trees with low branching height and dense crowns had the largest effect on solar radiation reduction. Terrestrial radiation was most affected by leaf albedo and sky view factor. Buildings surrounding a treed area increased both solar radiation (through reflection) and terrestrial radiation (through emission from hot surfaces). The results are universally applicable as the tree characteristics are not species-specific, and the energy fluxes are based on first principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Study of two physiological and three microclimatic parameters of four tree species • A three-dimensional simulation mode has been developed • Model accuracy has been validated with field measurements • Model accuracy is related to light spots phenomenon and leaf area density • Differences between simulated and measured values are less than 20 W/m2 (R2 = 0.85) Shade creation and radiation modification by trees is an important way of alleviating the urban heat island and improving the outdoor thermal environment. However, a major challenge is still present in numerical models: How can shade creation and radiation modification by trees be realistically represented? To address this challenge, this paper proposes a new three-dimensional model of radiation modification by shade trees for four common tree species in Guangzhou, China: Ficus microcarpa , Mangifera indica , Michelia alba and Bauhinia blakeana. Its accuracy is verified with field measurements. The results show that the proposed model can accurately simulate the canopy attenuation of incoming solar radiation (SR) (d = 0.76∼0.93) and long-wave radiation (LWR) (RMSE = 2.7 W/m2∼12 W/m2) in the case of Ficus microcarpa , Mangifera indica , and Bauhinia blakeana. But for Michelia alba , the difference between measured and simulated values can be large (>60 W/m2), leading to a high RMSE (25 W/m2 ∼194 W/m2). The predictability of surface energy budget and thermal comfort in urban environments is enhanced by incorporating the proposed model into a heat balance model to obtain the mean radiant temperature (MRT). Future development and application of this numerical model will provide useful guidelines for urban landscape management and sustainable urban planning in terms of heat island mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Foveolar cell hyperplasia (FCH) in the pylorus is rare in children. Between January 1993 and December 2008, 3 children with pyloric canal FCH presented with gastric outlet obstruction and/or anemia and underwent operation because a clear diagnosis could not be established with conservative management. The median age of the children was 18 months. The onset of FCH at the pyloric canal is problematic, and its diagnosis is difficult to make in pediatric patients. Exploratory laparotomy is a reasonable method of establishing the diagnosis and managing the condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]