Search

ObjectiveEstimate the association between environmental temperature (wet bulb globe temperature [WBGT]) and work rate over the course of a workday.MethodsRepeated-measures regression was used to identify characteristics impacting work rate in a cross-sectional study of Latino farmworkers. Minute-by-minute work rate (measured by accelerometer) and WBGT were averaged over 15-minute intervals.ResultsWork rate decreased by 4.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], -7.09 to -1.59) counts per minute per degree Celsius WBGT in the previous 15-minute interval. Cumulative quarter hours worked (2.13; 95% CI, 0.82 to 3.45), age (-3.64; 95% CI, -4.50 to -2.79), and dehydration at the end of workday (51.37; 95% CI, 19.24 to 83.50) were associated with counts per minute as were gender, pay type (piece rate vs hourly) and body mass index ≥25 kg/m 2 . The effects of pay type and body mass index were modified by gender.ConclusionIncreased temperature was associated with a decrease in work rate.

Air pollutants have a significant impact on public health. The aim of the study was to find out the relationship between ambulatory blood pressure measured by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and the atmospheric pollutants that are measured regularly (PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and SO2). An observational study of temporal and geographic measurements of individual patients (case-time series design) was carried out in Primary Care Centres and Hypertension Units in the Barcelona metropolitan area. We included 2888 hypertensive patients≥18 years old, untreated, with a first valid ABPM performed between 2005 and 2014 and with at least one air pollution station within a radius of <3km.

Ambient temperature experienced by an animal during development or subsequently as an adult can affect many aspects of its behaviour and life-history traits. In birds, egg incubation is a vital component of reproduction and parental care. Several studies have suggested that environmental factors (such as nest microclimate) can influence the ability of incubating parents to maintain suitable conditions for embryo development. Here, we manipulated the developmental conditions of embryos through a modification of nest box thermal microclimate to investigate female incubation behaviour and its impact on offspring fitness-related traits in a wild population of the Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). The temperature in experimental nests was increased using a heat-pack placed under the roof of a nest box, resulting in an average temperature increase of 2.5 degrees C, which corresponds to projected climate change scenarios. We demonstrated that females from nests with elevated temperature spent less time in the nest box during egg incubation and had more off-bouts than females from control nests. Moreover, we found that offspring from the experimentally heated nests had larger body mass at fledging in comparison to the control ones. Our study indicates that nest microclimate during the incubation period affects female incubation behaviour and offspring quality, indicating that environmental variation in nest temperature early in ontogeny can have important and long-lasting fitness consequences.

The mouse-deer or chevrotains are the smallest of the ungulates and ruminants. They are characterized by a number of traits which are considered plesiomorphic for the Artiodactyla order. The objective of this study was to examine sleep in the lesser mouse-deer (Tragulus kanchil), which is the smallest in this group (body mass < 2.2 kg). Electroencephalogram, nuchal electromyogram, electrooculogram, and body acceleration were recorded in four adult mouse-deer females using a telemetry system in Bu Gia Map National Park in Vietnam. The mouse-deer spent on average 49.7 ± 3.0% of 24 h in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. REM sleep occupied 1.7 ± 0.3% of 24 h or 3.2 ± 0.5% of total sleep time. The average duration of REM sleep episodes was 2.0 ± 0.2 min, the average maximum was 5.1 ± 1.1 min, and the longest episodes lasted 8 min. NREM sleep occurred in sternal recumbency with the head held above the ground while 64.7 ± 6.4% of REM sleep occurred with the head resting on the ground. The eyes were open throughout most of the NREM sleep period. The mouse-deer displayed polyphasic sleep and crepuscular peaks in activity (04:00-06:00 and 18:00-19:00). The largest amounts of NREM occurred in the morning (06:00-09:00) and the smallest before dusk (at 04:00-06:00). REM sleep occurred throughout most of the daylight hours (08:00-16:00) and in the first half of the night (19:00-02:00). We suggest that the pattern and timing of sleep in the lesser mouse-deer is adapted to the survival of a small herbivorous animal, subject to predation, living in high environmental temperatures in the tropical forest undergrowth.

Lower ambient temperature (Ta) requires greater energy expenditure to sustain body temperature. However, effects of Ta on human energetics may be buffered by environmental modification and behavioral compensation. We used the IAEA DLW database for adults in the USA (n = 3213) to determine the effect of Ta (−10 to +30°C) on TEE, basal (BEE) and activity energy expenditure (AEE) and physical activity level (PAL). There were no significant relationships (p > 0.05) between maximum, minimum and average Ta and TEE, BEE, AEE and PAL. After adjustment for fat-free mass, fat mass and age, statistically significant (p < 0.01) relationships between TEE, BEE and Ta emerged in females but the effect sizes were not biologically meaningful. Temperatures inside buildings are regulated at 18–25°C independent of latitude. Hence, adults in the US modify their environments to keep TEE constant across a wide range of external ambient temperatures.

Background: Metabolic activity and environmental energy are two of the most studied putative drivers of molecular evolutionary rates. Their extensive study, however, has resulted in mixed results and has rarely included the exploration of interactions among various factors impacting molecular evolutionary rates across large clades. Taking the diverse avian family Furnariidae as a case study, we examined the association between several estimates of molecular evolutionary rates with proxies of metabolic demands imposed by flight (wing loading and wing shape) and proxies of environmental energy across the geographic ranges of species (temperature and UV radiation). Results: We found weak evidence of a positive effect of environmental and morphological variables on mitochondrial substitution rates. Additionally, we found that temperature and UV radiation interact to explain molecular rates at nucleotide sites affected by selection and population size (non-synonymous substitutions), contrary to the expectation of their impact on sites associated with mutation rates (synonymous substitutions). We also found a negative interaction between wing shape (as described by the hand-wing index) and body mass explaining mitochondrial molecular rates, suggesting molecular signatures of positive selection or reduced population sizes in small-bodied species with greater flight activity. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the demands of flight and environmental energy pose multiple evolutionary pressures on the genome either by driving mutation rates or via their association with natural selection or population size. Data from whole genomes and detailed physiology across taxa will bring a more complete picture of the impact of metabolism, population size, and the environment on avian genome evolution.

Green phosphorus and its monolayer variant, green phosphorene (GreenP), are the recent members of two-dimensional (2D) phosphorus polymorphs. The new polymorph possesses the high stability, tunable direct bandgap, exceptional electronic transport, and directionally anisotropic properties. All these unique features could reinforce it the new contender in a variety of electronic, optical, and sensing devices. Herein, we present gas-sensing characteristics of pristine and defected GreenP towards major environmental gases (i. e., NH3, NO, NO2, CO, CO2, and H2O) using combination of the density functional theory, statistical thermodynamic modeling, and the non-equilibrium Green's function approach (NEGF). The calculated adsorption energies, density of states (DOS), charge transfer, and Crystal Orbital Hamiltonian Population (COHP) reveal that NO, NO2, CO, CO2 are adsorbed on GreenP, stronger than both NH3 and H2O, which are weakly physisorbed via van der Waals interactions. Furthermore, substitutional doping by sulfur can selectively intensify the adsorption towards crucial NO2 gas because of the enhanced charge transfer between p orbitals of the dopant and the analyte. The statistical estimation of macroscopic measurable adsorption densities manifests that the significant amount of NO2 molecules can be practically adsorbed at ambient temperature even at the ultra-low concentration of part per billion (ppb). In addition, the current-voltage (I–V) characteristics of S-doped GreenP exhibit a variation upon NO2 exposure, indicating the superior sensitivity in sensing devices. Our work sheds light on the promising application of the novel GreenP as promising chemical gas sensors., QC 20240109

ObjectiveDetermine compliance with and effectiveness of California regulations in reducing farmworkers' heat-related illness (HRI) risk and identify main factors contributing to HRI.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study of Latino farmworkers, core body temperature (CBT), work rate, and environmental temperature (WBGT) were monitored over a work shift by individual ingestible thermistors, accelerometers, and weather stations, respectively. Multiple logistic modeling was used to identify risk factors for elevated CBT.ResultsAlthough farms complied with Cal/OSHA regulations, worker training of HRI prevention and hydration replacement rates were insufficient. In modeling (AOR [95% CI]) male sex (3.74 [1.22 - 11.54]), WBGT (1.22 [1.08 - 1.38]), work rate (1.004 [1.002 - 1.006]), and increased BMI (1.11 [1.10 - 1.29]) were all independently associated with elevated CBT.ConclusionRisk of HRI was exacerbated by work rate and environmental temperature despite farms following Cal/OSHA regulations.

Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on the planet killing about a million people a year. These insects are competent vectors of multiple pathogens (e.g., Plasmodium sp, filarial worms, and arboviruses). In most species, females are blood feeders, and must consume a blood meal to complete a gonotrophic cycle. Extensive research has been conducted on hematophagy and host-seeking behaviors, but relatively little is known about phytophagy. Sugar feeding is an essential aspect of mosquito biology. Both male and female mosquitoes must consume sugar as a primary fuel source. Mosquitoes use olfactory and visual cues among other cues to find suitable food sources. Abiotic factors, such as temperature and humidity, have been shown to impact mosquito behaviors, including sugar feeding. Recently, sugar feeding has been identified as a promising control target for multiple species of mosquitoes. Attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSBs) attract both male and females through the use of plant derived volatiles. In this work, we first examined the effects of temperature and humidity on the survival of sugar fed Aedes aegypti. We showed that sugar feeding greatly increases longevity in optimal conditions and that humidity impacted survival while temperature less so. Second, we aimed at developing an ATSB for controlling Aedes j. japonicus mosquitoes. Overall, this work sheds light on the importance of abiotic factors and sugar feeding on mosquito survival and lays the groundwork for controlling an invasive mosquito species.

Highly variable thermal environments, such as coral reef flats, are challenging for marine ectotherms and are thought to invoke the use of behavioural strategies to avoid extreme temperatures and seek out thermal environments close to their preferred temperatures. Common to coral reef flats, the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) possesses physiological adaptations to hypoxic and hypercapnic conditions, such as those experienced on reef flats, but little is known regarding the thermal strategies used by these sharks. We investigated whether H. ocellatum uses behavioural thermoregulation (i.e., movement to occupy thermally favourable microhabitats) or tolerates the broad range of temperatures experienced on the reef flat. Using an automated shuttlebox system, we determined the preferred temperature of H. ocellatum under controlled laboratory conditions and then compared this preferred temperature to 6 months of in situ environmental and body temperatures of individual H. ocellatum across the Heron Island reef flat. The preferred temperature of H. ocellatum under controlled conditions was 20.7 ± 1.5°C, but the body temperatures of individual H. ocellatum on the Heron Island reef flat mirrored environmental temperatures regardless of season or month. Despite substantial temporal variation in temperature on the Heron Island reef flat (15–34°C during 2017), there was a lack of spatial variation in temperature across the reef flat between sites or microhabitats. This limited spatial variation in temperature creates a low-quality thermal habitat limiting the ability of H. ocellatum to behaviourally thermoregulate. Behavioural thermoregulation is assumed in many shark species, but it appears that H. ocellatum may utilize other physiological strategies to cope with extreme temperature fluctuations on coral reef flats. While H. ocellatum appears to be able to tolerate acute exposure to temperatures well outside of their preferred temperature, it is unclear how this

Purpose In the present study, the effects of endurance exercise under different environmental temperatures on myokine responses were elucidated. Methods Seven healthy males (age: 22.7 ± 0.4 years, height: 173.7 ± 2.7 cm, body weight: 65.2 ± 2.8 kg) performed pedaling at 60% of their maximal oxygen consumption for 60 min under three different environmental temperature conditions, cold (without shivering; 15–19 °C), moderate (24 °C), and hot (34 °C), in a counterbalanced fashion. Exercise intensity (60% maximal oxygen consumption evaluated under each condition) was relatively matched among the conditions. Venous blood samples were collected before, during, immediately after, and at 1, 2, and 3 h after exercise. Results Exercise-induced changes in plasma irisin, interleukin-6, insulin or insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations did not differ significantly among the conditions (P > 0.05). In hot condition, exercise-induced elevation of plasma fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) concentration was significantly enhanced compared with the cold condition, and the myostatin concentration was lowered compared with the moderate condition (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the area under the curve for the myostatin concentration over an exercise session (including during and after exercise) was significantly lower in the hot than moderate condition (P < 0.05). Notably, a positive correlation between the peak plasma FGF21 and myostatin concentrations was observed at the moderate environment, but not at the cold or hot condition (P < 0.05). Conclusion Irisin and FGF21 concentrations induced by moderate-intensity endurance exercise were not enhanced under the cold environmental temperature without shivering. In contrast, exercise in the hot environmental temperature changed favorably FGF21 and myostatin concentrations compared with thermoneutral environment., Purpose: In the present study, the effects of endurance exercise under different environmental temperatures on myokine responses were elucidated. Methods: Seven healthy males (age: 22.7 ± 0.4 years, height: 173.7 ± 2.7 cm, body weight: 65.2 ± 2.8 kg) performed pedaling at 60% of their maximal oxygen consumption for 60 min under three different environmental temperature conditions, cold (without shivering; 15–19 °C), moderate (24 °C), and hot (34 °C), in a counterbalanced fashion. Exercise intensity (60% maximal oxygen consumption evaluated under each condition) was relatively matched among the conditions. Venous blood samples were collected before, during, immediately after, and at 1, 2, and 3 h after exercise. Results: Exercise-induced changes in plasma irisin, interleukin-6, insulin or insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations did not differ significantly among the conditions (P > 0.05). In hot condition, exercise-induced elevation of plasma fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) concentration was significantly enhanced compared with the cold condition, and the myostatin concentration was lowered compared with the moderate condition (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the area under the curve for the myostatin concentration over an exercise session (including during and after exercise) was significantly lower in the hot than moderate condition (P < 0.05). Notably, a positive correlation between the peak plasma FGF21 and myostatin concentrations was observed at the moderate environment, but not at the cold or hot condition (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Irisin and FGF21 concentrations induced by moderate-intensity endurance exercise were not enhanced under the cold environmental temperature without shivering. In contrast, exercise in the hot environmental temperature changed favorably FGF21 and myostatin concentrations compared with thermoneutral environment.

Introduction. The germination of Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. is uneven due to the presence of latency, a process that affects its management and research. Objective. To evaluate three methods for breaking dormancy in I. rugosum Salisb. seeds that allow its uniform germination under controlled conditions. Materials and methods. Three experiments were carried out at the Laboratorio Oficial de Análisis de Calidad de Semillas del Centro para Investigaciones en Granos y Semillas of the Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; from May to June 2016. In the first experiment, potassium nitrate and distilled water, two imbibition times, and a control without imbibition were tested. In the second, the seeds were subjected for three weeks to four constant temperature regimes (15 °C, 30 °C, alternating temperatures 15 and 30 °C, and ambient temperature of 26 °C). In the third, seeds were placed in water for one hour at different degrees of heat (23, 30, 45, and 65 °C), a control without imbibition was used. Results. In the first experiment, the best treatments were 16 and 24 h of imbibition with potassium nitrate. In the second experiment temperature was a significant factor, germination was reached with three temperatures used, only with 15 °C there was no germination. In the third experiment the temperature in the water was a significant factor, the highest germination occurred in the treatment at 23 °C, while at 65 °C no germination occurred. Conclusion. The use of hot water as a way to break latency was ruled out. It is concluded that the best treatments were KNO3 at 0.25 % for 16 or 24 h, while the use of water was only effective in the time of 16 h, in all three cases alternating temperatures between 15 and 30 ° C., Introducción. La germinación de Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. es desuniforme debido a la presencia de latencia, proceso que afecta su manejo e investigación. Objetivo. Evaluar tres métodos para la ruptura de latencia en semillas de I. rugosum Salisb. que permitan su germinación uniforme en condiciones controladas. Materiales y métodos. Tres experimentos se ejecutaron en el Laboratorio Oficial de Análisis de Calidad de Semillas del Centro para Investigaciones en Granos y Semillas de la Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; de mayo a junio del 2016. En el primero se probaron nitrato de potasio y agua destilada, dos tiempos de imbibición, y un testigo sin imbibición. En el segundo se sometieron las semillas durante tres semanas a cuatro regímenes de temperatura constante (15 °C, 30 °C, temperaturas alternas 15 y 30 °C, y temperatura ambiental a 26 °C). En el tercero las semillas se colocaron en agua durante una hora a diferentes grados de calor (23, 30, 45 y 65 °C), se utilizó un testigo sin imbibición. Resultados. En el primer experimento los mejores tratamientos fueron 16 y 24 h de imbibición con nitrato de potasio. En el segundo experimento la temperatura fue un factor significativo, se alcanzó la germinación con tres temperaturas empleadas, solo con 15 °C no hubo germinación. En el tercer experimento la temperatura en el agua fue un factor significativo, la mayor germinación ocurrió en el tratamiento a 23 °C, mientras que a 65 °C no ocurrió germinación. Conclusión. Se descartó el uso de agua caliente como forma para romper latencia. Se concluye que los mejores tratamientos fueron KNO3 al 0,25 % por 16 o 24 h, mientras que el uso de agua solo fue efectiva en el tiempo de 16 h, en los tres casos alternando las temperaturas entre 15 y 30 °C.

Endurance athletes typically spend the large majority of training (> 70%) at low intensities (i.e. below lactate threshold) coupled with short and intermittent bouts of high-intensity exercise or interval training (HIIT). Despite HIIT being a relatively small part of training in terms of duration, it has a substantial effect on the adaptations to endurance training. While it is well-established endurance exercise performance is affected in both hot and cold environmental conditions, the effect ambient temperature (TA; frequently referred to as environmental temperature) has on HIIT as performed by an endurance athlete population is not well understood. Therefore, the overall purpose of this thesis was to investigate the effects TA has on HIIT in an endurance trained population. Specifically, this thesis aimed to increase the understanding of how TA acutely affects performance and physiological responses during high-intensity intervals (Study 1); how repeated exposure to TA manipulates physiological responses during high-intensity intervals (Study 2), and how TA affects performance outcomes of a HIIT intervention (Study 3). In Study 1, eleven well-trained cyclists completed 4 interval sessions at 5°C, 13°C, 22°C, and 35°C (55 ± 13% RH) in a randomised order. Each session involved 5 x 4-minute intervals interspersed with 5 minutes of recovery. During the intervals, power output, core temperature (TC), oxygen consumption (VO2), and heart rate (HR) were recorded. It was hypothesized that the 13°C condition would have the highest mean power output compared to the other TA conditions. However, mean session power output for 13°C (366 ± 32 W) was not significantly different than 5°C (363 ± 32 W), 22°C (364 ± 36 W), or 35°C (352 ± 31 W). Power output was lower in the 5th interval of the 35°C condition, compared with all other TA. TC was higher in 22°C compared with both 5°C and 13°C (P= .001). VO2 was not different across TA. HR was higher in the 4th and 5th intervals of 35°

BACKGROUND: The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) remains high worldwide. Current strategies will not eradicate TB by 2035; instead, by 2182 is more likely. Therefore, it is urgent that new risk factors be identified. METHODS: An ecological study was conducted in 340 prefectures in China from 2005 to 2015. The spatial distribution of TB incidence was shown by clustering and hotspot analysis. The relationship between the distribution patterns and six meteorological factors was evaluated by the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model. RESULTS: During the 11 years of the study period, TB incidence was persistently low in the east and high in the west. Local coefficients from the GWR model showed a positive correlation between TB incidence and yearly average rainfall (AR) but a negative correlation with other meteorological factors. Average relative humidity (ARH) was negatively correlated with the incidence of TB in all prefectures (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Meteorological factors may play an important role in the prevention and control of TB.

The light-responsive adaptation of polymer materials typically requires different wavelengths or additional heat to induce reversible covalent bond formation and dissociation. Here, we bypass the use of invasive triggers by introducing light-stabilized dynamic materials that can undergo a repeatable change in topology from a covalently cross-linked material into a liquid polymer formulation by switching one visible light source on-and-off without the need for any additional triggers. Specifically, we exploit the photo-Diels-Alder reaction of triazolinediones with naphthalenes as a dynamic covalent cross-linking platform that enables green light-induced network formation, while the cross-linked material collapses through spontaneous cycloreversion upon standing in the dark at ambient temperature. Importantly, the covalent cross-links remain stabilized for as long as visible light is present, thereby retaining the material's structural integrity. This enables their potential use in an array of light-directed applications whereby network properties such as stiffness can be tuned by the mildest trigger of all: darkness.

Sexual signals serve as an honest indicator of individual quality, reflecting either developmental and/or maintenance costs. A possible underlying physiological mechanism is oxidative stress, which could mediate energy trade-offs between sexual signals and other quality traits. In ectotherms, thermal performance acts as a key indicator of individual quality and influence signal intensity. We investigated how oxidative state is reflected in visual signals of lizards from different thermal habitats. According to our hypothesis, efficient thermoregulation requires different strategies in different thermal environments. In a habitat with predictable temperature changes, animals are less exposed to suboptimal temperature ranges and selection will, therefore, be stronger on the maximum oxidative damage at optimal body temperature. Contrarily, in a habitat with rather stochastic thermal shifts, individuals are often constricted by suboptimal thermal conditions, and oxidative damage can be limiting on a wide temperature range. We used Iberolacerta cyreni and Psammodromus algirus inhabiting stochastic and predictable thermal environments respectively. We examined two aspects of oxidative stress: the level of reactive oxygen metabolites at the preferred temperature (maximal ROM) and the temperature range in which animals produce at least 80% of the maximum level of reactive oxygen metabolites (effective ROM range). In I. cyreni, we found that duller coloration was related to a wider effective ROM range, while expression of coloration in P. algirus was negatively correlated with the maximal ROM. Our results suggest that different thermal constraints affect different aspects of oxidative damage which can indicate individual quality and are, therefore, represented in sexual ornaments.

There exists a building energy performance gap between theoretical simulations and the actual energy usage as measured. One potential reason for this gap might be a mismatch between predicted and measured values of the heat flux q through the building envelope. There is therefore a need to develop accurate and more cost-efficient methods for measurement of q. The standard ISO 9869-1 states that, at the outdoor surface, q = ho(Ts − Tenv), where ho is the overall heat transfer coefficient, including both convective and radiative components, Tenv is the environmental temperature, and Ts is the temperature of the building surface. It has previously been shown that the sol-air thermometer (SAT) could be used for convenient measurement of Tenv under dark conditions. In the present work, two SAT units, one heated and the other unheated, were employed for accurate outdoor measurements of ho in cold winter climate. Validation was performed by comparison of results from the new method against measurements, where previously established methodology was used. With current operating conditions, the measurement uncertainty was estimated to be 3.0 and 4.4%, for ho equal to 13 and 29 Wm−2K−1, respectively. The new SAT steady-state method is more cost-effective compared to previous methodology, in that the former involves fewer input quantities (surface emissivity and infrared radiation temperature are unnecessary) to be measured, while giving the same ho results, without any sacrifice in accuracy. SAT methodology thus enables measurement of both Tenv and ho, which characterizes the building thermal environment, and supports estimation of q.

The integration of genomic and environmental influences into methylation patterns to bring about a phenotype is of central interest in developmental epigenetics, but many details are still unclear. The sex ratios of the species used here, the European sea bass, are determined by genetic and temperature influences. We created four families from parents known to produce offspring with different sex ratios, exposed larvae to masculinizing temperatures and examined, in juvenile gonads, the DNA methylation of seven genes related to sexual development by a targeted sequencing approach. The genes most affected by both genetics and environment were cyp19a1a and dmrt1, with contrasting sex-specific methylation and temperature responses. The relationship between cyp19a1a methylation and expression is relevant to the epigenetic regulation of vertebrate sex, and we report the evidence of such relationship only below a methylation threshold, similar to 80%, and that it was sex-specific: negatively correlated in females but positively correlated in males. From parents to offspring, the methylation in gonads was midway between oocytes and sperm, with bias towards oocytes for amh-r2, er-beta 2, fsh-r and cyp19a1a. In contrast, dmrt1 levels resembled those of sperm. The methylation of individual CpGs from foxl2, er-beta 2 and nr3c1 were conserved from parents to offspring, whereas those of cyp19a1a, dmrt1 and amh-r2 were affected by temperature. Utilizing a machine-learning procedure based on the methylation levels of a selected set of CpGs, we present the first, to our knowledge, system based on epigenetic marks capable of predicting sex in an animal with similar to 90% accuracy and discuss possible applications.

Background: In Australia, red blood cell (RBC) storage is strictly controlled and maintained to preserve product quality, integrity, and safety. Australian national standards (National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council) and guidelines (Australian & New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion) state that when removed from controlled storage, RBCs must not exceed 3!0 min at room temperature at each occasion. However, permissible number or limits of temperature excursions are not defined. Units that have been stored or transported outside of the temperature specifications must not be transfused except at the discretion of the laboratory director, and typically in exceptional circumstances; however no guidance exists to inform decision-making for individual cases. The 30-minute rule is based on historical concerns and a limited evidence base. A number of recent studies have demonstrated no significant difference in RBC quality and/or bacterial contamination rate when exposed to ambient temperatures for 30 or 60 min 5-6 times during storage (Grand-mont, Vox Sanguinis, 2014; Ramirez-Arcos, Transfus Med Hemother, 2016). Aim(s): Clinical audit of the number of RBCs discarded due to storage and transport outside the temperature-monitored environment for more than 30 but less than or equal to 60 min at the two main campuses (Centre A, 640 beds; Centre B, 573 beds) of Monash Health (MH), a large academic hospital in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Method(s): MH RBC wastage data were extracted from the National Blood Authority BloodNet system from January 2014 to December 2017. Paediatric RBCs, units that were discarded for reasons other than temperature control, or where information was missing, were excluded. The issue and return date and time of each unit were individually extracted from the MH hospital laboratory information system. Result(s): A total of 1,137 RBCs were discarded over four years, of which 285 units (Centre A = 204, Centre B = 81) were due to 30 min o

Microbe-based biocontrol applications hold the potential to become an efficient way to control plant pathogen disease outbreaks in the future. However, their efficiency is still very variable, which could be due to their sensitivity to the abiotic environmental conditions. Here, we assessed how environmental temperature variation correlates with ability of Ralstonia pickettii, an endophytic bacterial biocontrol agent, to suppress the Ralstonia solanacearum pathogen during different tomato crop seasons in China. We found that suppression of the pathogen was highest when the seasonal mean temperatures were around 20 °C and rapidly decreased with increasing mean crop season temperatures. Interestingly, low levels of disease incidence did not correlate with low pathogen or high biocontrol agent absolute densities. Instead, the biocontrol to pathogen density ratio was a more important predictor of disease incidence levels between different crop seasons. To understand this mechanistically, we measured the growth and strength of competition between the biocontrol agent and the pathogen over a naturally occurring temperature gradient in vitro. We found that the biocontrol strain grew relatively faster at low temperature ranges, and the pathogen at high temperature ranges, and that similar to field experiments, pathogen suppression peaked at 20 °C. Together, our results suggest that temperature-mediated changes in the strength of bacterial competition could potentially explain the variable R. solanacearum biocontrol outcomes between different crop seasons in China. Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that abiotic environmental conditions, such as temperature, can affect the efficacy of biocontrol applications. Thus, in order to develop more consistent biocontrol applications in the future, we might need to find and isolate bacterial strains that can retain their functionality regardless of the changing environmental conditions.

Heat flow measurement with a heat flow meter is a standardized method (ISO 9869-1) to estimate thermal transmittance (U-value) of a building element. The heat flow meter is a thin plate mounted on top of the surface of the element, and measures the heat flux q through the plate. The measured q is the product of the difference in temperatures between exterior and interior environment, and the U-value. The heat transferred from the element is based on the radiant and the convective heat transfer. ISO 9869-1 specifies that the environment temperature Te “is a notional temperature" and it "cannot be measured directly” (section A.3.1). The air temperature Ta is proposed as a reasonable approximation for the indoor environment, while overcast conditions and absence of significant solar radiation are specified conditions for replacing Te with Ta for the exterior environment. The sol-air thermometer (SAT) measures the sol-air temperature Tsa, i.e. the equivalent temperature of the convective and the radiative environment. In the absence of solar radiation, Te = Tsa. SAT is a sensor consisting of a thin flat solid plate, of high thermal conductivity. The front side of the sensor is exposed to the environment, whose Tsa is to be measured, and the backside is thermally insulated. The temperature of the SAT-plate equals Tsa. In this work we propose introduction of the measured Te in the existing standard (ISO 9869-1). The method for measurement of Tsa, using the SAT, has been demonstrated experimentally for different periods, without solar radiation present and under stable climatic conditions., E2B2 project 39699-1

All economic activity requires some degree of cooperation, and the process of economic development involves many social dilemmas. It is therefore crucial to understand how the preferences which guide our behavior vis-à-vis these situations are shaped. The ability and willingness to work for the benefit of the group rather than just one's own has evolved over many generations, and is – to some extent – innate to any healthy human being. At the same time, individual prosocial preferences are – also to a certain extent – endogenous to the physical and social environment within which we operate. This thesis identifies several ways in which environmental changes affect intrinsic prosocial preferences, and outlines a possible direction for fixing any such negative effects. In Chapter 1, I introduce the topic of prosocial preferences. I briefly describe how prosociality has been viewed over the course of scientific history, and summarize the current state of knowledge about the formation of social preferences. I further outline how extrinsic incentives can influence prosocial behavior without affecting the preferences which underpin it. Finally, the chapter contains an overview of the methodologies used throughout this thesis. In Chapter 2, I focus on an early formative factor of prosocial preferences—their fetal origins. I study how temperature shocks faced by pregnant women affect their children's later-life prosocial preferences. I find that exposure to higher than usual ambient temperatures during gestation reduces a child's probability of contribution to the public good, with the negative effect lasting into adulthood. Chapter 3 continues in the same vein as Chapter 2, looking at the fetal origins of prosocial preferences. In this chapter, I investigate how prenatal stress induced by random violence affects the preferences for cooperation among children born during an armed conflict. To do so, I exploit variations in the ratio of the lengths of the index and ring fing

In greenhouse crop production, climatic parameters are often manipulated to optimize plant growth. Greenhouse climate has profound influences also on pests and their natural enemies used for biocontrol. The responses of arthropod pests, plant disease agents and natural enemies to constant temperatures and humidity are relatively well known, but many pertinent questions remain unsolved for pest and natural enemy biology and behaviour in conditions created by the newest greenhouse climate technologies and approaches. Greenhouse climate can be optimized also to benefit natural enemies and to work against pests and plant diseases, but we know less how to make this happen than we know how to manipulate plant growth through temperature, humidity, CO2 and light conditions.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of biostimulation (Male Effect) through kidding rate of artificially inseminated goats during rainy (March-April) and dry (August-September) seasons of 2012 at Ceara, Brazil. The male effect was effective regardless of season, resulting in 94.5% of goats in estrus. The pregnancy rate for the dry season (57.6%) was proportionally higher than the rainy season (44.4%). However, the kidding rate has tended (P = 0.074) to be higher in the dry season. In general, the second estrus was more conducive to pregnancy, either to rainy or dry season. Thus, the artificial insemination of goats with estrus induced and synchronized by the male effect can be a feasible management resulting in satisfactory productive and reproductive index.

The establishment of and the candidate systems for the following three case study subjects on the cryogenic refrigerating cycles using all purpose refrigerators are outlined: (1) cryogenic circulation loop and electric power plus 80 K heat radiation; (2) thermal compressor and 30 K heat absorption plus 80 K heat radiation; and (3) application of high compression ratio, 1,000 K heat absorption plus 300 K and 80 K heat radiation. The merits and demerits of the heat displacer type refrigerator and microturbo-systems for below 40 K and examples of the case two study results are also outlined. This presentation is represented by viewgraphs only., 次の図、表などを掲載する。(1)3つのケースの説明表。ケース1は80度Kの環境温度が与えられる(低温循環ループ;電力+80度K放熱)、ケース2は300度Kの環境温度で、〜80度Kの低熱源が与えられる(熱圧縮機;300度K吸熱+80度K放熱)、ケース3は〜300度Kの環境温度で、〜80度Kの低熱源と〜1000度Kの高熱源が与えられる(高圧縮比の応用;1000度K吸熱+300度K放熱+80度K放熱)。(2)ケース1の図。蓄熱式冷凍機とマイクロターボシステムの構成を示す。さらに、環境温度が300度Kから80度Kになることの利点は、小型、軽量化、信頼性の向上、システム効率の向上、ブレイトンサイクルによる超小型、などがある(3)ケース2と3の図。熱的圧縮機を用いた構成を示す。さらに、ケース2の具体例としてディスプレーサ方式、熱音響方式(30Hzと500Hzの2方式)を示す。

The health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians may be exacerbated by climate change if temperature extremes have disproportionate adverse effects on Indigenous people. To explore this issue, we analysed the effect of temperature extremes on hospital admissions for respiratory diseases, stratified by age, Indigenous status and sex, for people living in two different climates zones in the Northern Territory during the period 1993–2011. We examined admissions for both acute and chronic respiratory diagnoses, controlling for day of the week and seasonality variables. Our analysis showed that: (1) overall, Indigenous hospital admission rates far exceeded non-Indigenous admission rates for acute and chronic diagnoses, and Top End climate zone admission rates exceeded Central Australia climate zone admission rates; (2) extreme cold and hot temperatures were associated with inconsistent changes in admission rates for acute respiratory disease in Indigenous and non-Indigenous children and older adults; and (3) no response to cold or hot temperature extremes was found for chronic respiratory diagnoses. These findings support our two hypotheses, that extreme hot and cold temperatures have a different effect on hospitalisations for respiratory disease between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, and that these health risks vary between the different climate zones. We did not, however, find that there were differing responses to temperature extremes in the two populations, suggesting that any increased vulnerability to climate change in the Indigenous population of the Northern Territory arises from an increased underlying risk to respiratory disease and an already greater existing health burden.

We report the first photochemical protocol for the generation of sequence defined macromolecules employing two hetero bifunctional photoreactive synthons, exploiting the orthogonal nature of photochemical - via the use of caged dienes - and thermally driven ligation protocols. We demonstrate that the iterative alternating synthon addition to an initial bifunctional core under irradiation at ambient temperature enables the generation of a macromolecule with up to 10 units (M = 3231.58 g mol-1, Crossed D sign = 1.00). The resulting macromolecules are monodisperse and feature absolute chain end fidelity. The unit-by-unit construction of the macromolecule is evidenced by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Size Exclusion Chromatography. The fundamental principle demonstrated herein paves the way for employing photochemical strategies for the design of sequence defined polymers. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015.

The thermodynamic properties of reversible single chain polymer self-assembly are characterized by all-atom simulations. The ensemble of closed chains collapses from multiple conformations for long chains to nearly unique conformations for shorter chains, suggesting that the engineered polymers can fold into stable unique conformations at moderate temperatures. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015.

An efficient methodology for modular fullerene functionalization via the photo-induced nitrile imine-mediated tetrazole-ene cycloaddition (NITEC) is introduced. The versatility and platform character of the method is illustrated by the light-driven reaction of fullerenes with small molecule, polymeric and surface-immobilized tetrazoles. The efficient fullerene conjugation is evidenced via mass spectrometric techniques. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015.

In a thermally driven rotary motor made from double-walled carbon nanotubes, the rotor (inner tube) can be actuated to rotate within the stator (outer tube) when the environmental temperature is high enough. A sudden stoppage of the rotor can occur when the inner tube has been actuated to rotate at a stable high speed. To find the mechanisms of such sudden stoppages, eight motor models with the same rotor but different stators are built and simulated in the canonical NVT ensembles. Numerical results demonstrate that the sudden stoppage of the rotor occurs when the difference between radii is near 0.34 nm at a high environmental temperature. A smaller difference between radii does not imply easier activation of the sudden rotor stoppage. During rotation, the positions and electron density distribution of atoms at the ends of the motor show that a sp(1) bonded atom on the rotor is attracted by the sp(1) atom with the biggest deviation of radial position on the stator, after which they become two sp(2) atoms. The strong bond interaction between the two atoms leads to the loss of rotational speed of the rotor within 1 ps. Hence, the sudden stoppage is attributed to two factors: the deviation of radial position of atoms at the stator's ends and the drastic thermal vibration of atoms on the rotor in rotation. For a stable motor, sudden stoppage could be avoided by reducing deviation of the radial position of atoms at the stator's ends. A nanobrake can be, thus, achieved by adjusting a sp(1) atom at the ends of stator to stop the rotation of rotor quickly.

[GL] O estudo das influencias estacionais na Anorexia Nerviosa (AN) e en concreto a temperatura ambiental (AT) veñen producindo resultados inesperados en canto á influencia sobre a actividade física das pacientes e o peso no momento das admisións hospitalarias. O noso obxecetivo foi explorar as diferenzas estacionais no índice de masa corporal (IMC) entre os subtipos de Anorexia Nerviosa tipo Restrictivo (ANR) e o tipo con atacaduras e purgas (ANBP). Analizáronse de maneira retrospectiva as historias clínicas de 84 admisións consecutivas na Unidade de Desordes da Alimentación do Complexo Hospitalario de Santiago de Compostela durante o período 2003-2013. Os criterios de inclusión foron ingresar baixo o diagnóstico de AN según os criterios do DSM-IVe ser muller. Dividíronse os ingresos das pacientes en dous grupos, as que ingresaron durante o semestre frío e que ingresaron durante o semestre cálido. A análise do índice de masa corporal (IMC) no ingreso revelou que o subtipo ANBP presenta un IMC maior que o subtipo ANR ao longo dos dous semestre, sendo esta diferenza soamente significativa no semestre frío. O patrón de flutuación do peso en ambos grupos de pacientes indica un maior IMC no semestre frío en comparación co semestre cálido, mostrando o grupo ANR unha diferenza menor que o grupo ANBP. Os resultados revelaron que as diferenzas no IMC entre os subtipos ANR e ANBP a pesar das diferenzas atopadas, asemellan ser estables ao longo do semestre frío e o semestre cálido., [EN] The study of the seasonal influences in the Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and specifically the ambient temperature comes causing unexpected results as for the influence on the physical activity of the patients and the weight at the moment of hospital admissions. Our objective was to explore the seasonal differences in the body mass index (BMI) among the subtypes of Anorexia Nervosa restrictive type (ANR) and the type with bellyfuls and purges (ANBP). The clinical histories of 84 consecutive admissions to the Unit of Eating Disorders of the Santiago de Compostela Hospital Complex during the period 2003-2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The inclusions criteria were to admit under the diagnosis of AN according to the criteria of DSM-IV and to be a woman. The admissions of the patients were divided into two groups, the ones who were admitted in cold semesters and who were admitted in the warm semester. The BMI analysis at the moment of the admission revealed that the subtype ANBP shows a higher BMI than the subtype ARN throughout the two semesters, being this difference only significant in the cold semesters. The weight fluctuation pattern in both groups of patients indicates a higher BMI in the cold semesters compared with the warm semesters, showing in the ANR group a minor difference than the ANBP group. The results reveal that the differences in the BMI among the subtypes ANR and ANBP despite the differences found, appear to be stable throughout the cold semester and the warm semester.

Er bestaat vermoedelijk een groot verschil tussen de temperatuur van kunstgras en die van natuurgras bij hitte. Als kunstgrasvelden hitte-eilandjes vormen, zou dit een groot effect hebben op het stadsklimaat. Natalie Theeuwes van de Wageningen Universiteit deed op verzoek van vakblad Fieldmanager wetenschappelijk onderzoek naar het urban heat effect door kunstgras en geeft de bezoekers van het Nationaal Sportvelden Congres de primeur van haar meetresultaten. Ook geeft zij advies over het minimaliseren van hittestress rónd de velden.

Er bestaat vermoedelijk een groot verschil tussen de temperatuur van kunstgras en die van natuurgras bij hitte. Als kunstgrasvelden hitte-eilandjes vormen, zou dit een groot effect hebben op het stadsklimaat. Natalie Theeuwes van de Wageningen Universiteit deed op verzoek van vakblad Fieldmanager wetenschappelijk onderzoek naar het urban heat effect door kunstgras en geeft de bezoekers van het Nationaal Sportvelden Congres de primeur van haar meetresultaten. Ook geeft zij advies over het minimaliseren van hittestress rónd de velden.

Background: During the past decades, neutral DNA markers have been extensively employed to study demography, population genetics and structure in livestock, but less interest has been devoted to the evaluation of livestock adaptive potential through the identification of genomic regions likely to be under natural selection. Methodology/Principal findings: Landscape genomics can greatly benefit the entire livestock system through the identification of genotypes better adapted to specific or extreme environmental conditions. Therefore we analyzed 101 AFLP markers in 43 European and Western Asian goat breeds both with MATSAM software, based on a correlative approach (SAM), and with MCHEZA and BAYESCAN, two FST based software able to detect markers carrying signatures of natural selection. MATSAM identified four loci possibly under natural selection - also confirmed by FST-outlier methods - and significantly associated with environmental variables such as diurnal temperature range, frequency of precipitation, relative humidity and solar radiation. Conclusions/Significance: These results show that landscape genomics can provide useful information on the environmental factors affecting the adaptive potential of livestock living in specific climatic conditions. Besides adding conservation value to livestock genetic resources, this knowledge may lead to the development of novel molecular tools useful to preserve the adaptive potential of local breeds during genetic improvement programs, and to increase the adaptability of industrial breeds to changing environments.

A mild, efficient and ambient temperature photochemical approach for the synthesis of silver nanoparticle core-shell structures employing a zwitterionic polymer as well as polyethylene glycol is presented. This journal is © the Partner Organisations 2014.

A facile, fast and ambient-temperature avenue towards highly fluorescent polymers is introduced via polymerizing non-fluorescent photoreactive monomers based on light-induced NITEC chemistry, providing a platform technology for fluorescent polymers. The resulting polypyrazolines were analyzed in depth and the photo-triggered step-growth process was monitored in a detailed kinetic study. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

The light induced, catalyst-free ambient temperature preparation of macrocyclic aliphatic polyesters is pioneered. Based on the photo-induced Diels-Alder reaction of orthoquinodimethane and acrylate moieties, cyclic polyesters of high purity are readily synthesized. Considering the high tolerance to functional groups and the orthogonality of the ligation, the reported protocol can be easily transferred to a large range of polymers, complex topologies (tadpole, sun-shaped, jellyfish, etc.) and applications. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Well-defined cellulose-graft-polyacrylamide copolymers were synthesized in a grafting-from approach by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT). A chlorine moiety (degree of substitution DS(Cl) ≈ 1.0) was introduced into the cellulose using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) as solvent before being substituted by a trithiocarbonate moiety resulting in cellulose macro-chain transfer agents (cellulose-CTA) with DS(RAFT) of 0.26 and 0.41. Poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) (PDEAAm) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) were subsequently grafted from these cellulose-CTAs and the polymerization kinetics, the molecular weight characteristics and the product composition were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and size exclusion chromatography of the polyacrylamides after cleavage from the cellulose chains. The number-average molecular weights, Mn, of the cleaved polymers ranged from 1100 to 1600 g mol-1 for PDEAAm (dispersity D = 1.4-1.8) and from 1200 to 2600 g mol -1 for PNIPAM (D = 1.7-2.1). The LCST behavior of the cellulose-graft-copolymers was studied via the determination of cloud point temperatures, evidencing that the thermoresponsive properties of the hybrid materials could be finely tuned between 18 and 26 °C for PDEAAm and between 22 and 26 °C for PNIPAM side chains. © 2014 American Chemical Society.

Hitte en wind kunnen aardig roet in het eten gooien in het microklimaat van een stad. Sanda Lenzholzer schreef een standaardwerk over het weer in de stad en welke rol het ontwerp daarbij speelt. Daarin neemt ze ook de psychologische aspecten van materialen en het aangeplante groen mee. De belevenis van mensen speelt namelijk een belangrijke rol bij het ervaren van hitte en windstromen in de stad. Een stadsklimaatkaart biedt objectief de mogelijkheid hiernaar te kijken. En dat is redelijk nieuw. Nijmegen is een van de weinige gemeenten die zo’n kaart ontwikkeld heeft en beweert er ook iets mee te doen.

We ascertained villagers’ perceptions about the importance of forests for their livelihoods and health through 1,837 reliably answered interviews of mostly male respondents from 185 villages in Indonesian and Malaysian Borneo. Variation in these perceptions related to several environmental and social variables, as shown in classification and regression analyses. Overall patterns indicated that forest use and cultural values are highest among people on Borneo who live close to remaining forest, and especially among older Christian residents. Support for forest clearing depended strongly on the scale at which deforestation occurs. Deforestation for small-scale agriculture was generally considered to be positive because it directly benefits people’s welfare. Large-scale deforestation (e.g., for industrial oil palm or acacia plantations), on the other hand, appeared to be more context-dependent, with most respondents considering it to have overall negative impacts on them, but with people in some areas considering the benefits to outweigh the costs. The interviews indicated high awareness of negative environmental impacts of deforestation, with high levels of concern over higher temperatures, air pollution and loss of clean water sources. Our study is unique in its geographic and trans-national scale. Our findings enable the development of maps of forest use and perceptions that could inform land use planning at a range of scales. Incorporating perspectives such as these could significantly reduce conflict over forest resources and ultimately result in more equitable development processes.

Background While morbidity outcomes for major disease categories during extreme heat have received increasing research attention, there has been very limited investigation at the level of specific disease subcategories. Methodology/Principal Findings We analyzed daily hospital admissions for cardiovascular (CVD), respiratory (RD), genitourinary (GU) and mental diseases (MD), diabetes (DIA), dehydration (DEH) and ‘the effects of heat and light’ (HEAT) in Sydney between 1991 and 2009. We further investigated the sensitivity to heat of subcategories within the major disease groups. We defined hot days as those with temperatures in the 95th and 99th percentiles within the study period. We applied time-stratified case-crossover analysis to compare the hospital admissions on hot days with those on non-hot days matched by day of the week. We calculated the odds ratios (OR) of admissions between the two types of days, accounting for other environmental variables (relative humidity, ozone and particulate matter) and non-environmental trends (public and school holidays). On hot days, hospital admissions increased for all major categories except GU. This increase was not shared homogeneously across all diseases within a major category: within RD, only ‘other diseases of the respiratory system’ (includes pleurisy or empyema) increased significantly, while admissions for asthma decreased. Within MD, hospital admissions increased only for psychoses. Admissions due to some major categories increased one to three days after a hot day (e.g., DIA, RD and CVD) and on two and three consecutive days (e.g., HEAT and RD). Conclusions/Significance High ambient temperatures were associated with increased hospital admissions for several disease categories, with some within-category variation. Future analyses should focus on subgroups within broad disease categories to pinpoint medical conditions most affected by ambient heat.

DNA was modified with a photo-reactive caged diene allowing for the modification of dienophile containing proteins under mild irradiation conditions to afford fully functional DNA-protein conjugates. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

This thesis provides insights into the interconnectedness of crab reproductive biology, the selective forces leading to their development, the possible links to invasiveness and the influences of environmental factors thereon. The empirical data collected and presented in this thesis can be used to compare different crab species and make predictions about the effect of climate change on their population dynamics and invasiveness. Two crab species in particular are examined in this thesis, Halicarcinus cookii and Hemigrapsus takanoi , which share similar size and habitat preferences, but have different reproductive strategies and statuses as endemic and invasive. The potential effects of increased water temperature due to climate change on the reproduction and eventual population changes in the species are investigated as well as the possible links reproduction and temperature have with the invasiveness of a species. Halicarcinus cookii is an endemic crab to the coasts of New Zealand and is not known anywhere else. The species shows determinate growth, hard shell mating, continuous brood production and ventral seminal receptacles. After the final moult the female produces numerous offspring limited only by sperm availability. With a hard shell the female also avoids mortality resulting from the regular vulnerable soft shell stage. Individuals mature over a range of sizes but do not continue growing after their pubertal moult. With such a terminal moult, brood size is limited by female size. Hemigrapsus takanoi is native to the north west Pacific, but has been introduced and is very successful in Europe. The species shows indeterminate growth, hard-shell mating, a defined breeding season and ventral seminal receptacles. With indeterminate growth they continue moulting and growing throughout their adult life. After their pubertal moult, these species can mate throughout the year and produce 2-3 broods between each moult. They are not limited in growth or regeneration o

Rugspuiten en handspuiten worden frequent gebruikt door zowel professionelen als particulieren. Bij gebruik wordt vaak weinig of geen aandacht besteed aan de afstelling, reiniging, spuitmethode of het onderhoud. Dikwijls wordt ook de gebruikte dosis gewasbeschermingsmiddel verhoogd om de onzekerheid van een onregelmatig spuitbeeld te compenseren. Nochtans kan ook met deze toestellen mits een goeie afstelling en spuittechniek een uniform spuitbeeld worden bekomen.

De gemiddelde omgevingstemperatuur en de initiële betontemperatuur zijn het meest bepalend voor het optreden van scheuren in een verhardend betonnen element.

Tailor-made water-soluble macromolecules, including a glycopolymer, obtained by living/controlled RAFT-mediated polymerization are demonstrated to react in water with diene-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)s without pre- or post-functionalization steps or the need for a catalyst at ambient temperature. As previously observed in organic solvents, hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) conjugations reached quantitative conversion within minutes when cyclopentadienyl moieties were involved. However, while catalysts and elevated temperatures were previously necessary for open-chain diene conjugation, additive-free HDA cycloadditions occur in water within a few hours at ambient temperature. Experimental evidence for efficient conjugations is provided via unambiguous ESI-MS, UV/vis, NMR, and SEC data.

Platanus is a major cause of pollen allergy in many Spanish cities. The present paper reports an analysis of Platanus pollen season throughout the Andalusia region (southern Spain), which has among the highest pollen counts and the highest incidence of Platanus-related allergies in Europe. The main aim was to analyze pollen season trends from 1992 to 2010 in Andalusia; models were also constructed to forecast the start of the season. Daily pollen counts were recorded using Hirst-type volumetric spore- traps. Pollen season start-dates were very similar at all sites, usually occurring in March. The pollen season was delayed over the study period. The Pollen-season duration and Pollen index generally increased throughout the study period. The starting date for temperature accumulation was around the 10th February, although the threshold temperatures varied by site. The regional model for Andalusia failed to provide sufficiently accurate results compared with sub-regional or local models. For modeling purposes, three sub-regions are recommended: Inland, East Coast and West Coast.

An efficient method for the preparation of cyclopentadienyl endcapped poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx-Cp) via cationic ring-opening polymerization utilizing sodium cyclopentadienide as a termination agent is presented. Subsequent Diels-Alder reactions with N-substituted maleimides proceed quantitatively at ambient temperature. A block copolymer (PEtOx-b-PEG) is prepared employing maleimide terminated poly(ethylene glycol). © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Lily bulbs is an extremely temperature sensitive and precious commodity. Every now and then it happens that upon delivery the condition of the bulbs is disappointing. Several measures can be taken to reduce the quality loss during transport, both in terms of reefer unit settings and in terms of stowage in the container. It is unclear what exactly is the consequence of which measure.