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This study investigates how thermal conditions affect the nanomachining of FeCoNiCrAl high-entropy alloys, using molecular dynamics simulations at 100K, 150K and 200K. Key findings include a direct relationship between stress intensification and machining velocity at all temperatures, with stress concentrating at intergranular boundaries. At subsonic speeds ( <200m/s), stress inversely correlates with temperature, while at supersonic speeds ( >200m/s), stress increases with temperature. Incremental cutting depths affect chip morphology, with chips at 150K being 1.38 times thicker than at 200K. Minimum machining forces were 94.5Nn, 101.2Nn and 92.5Nn along [100], and 87.3Nn, 85.3Nn and 86.1Nn along [001]. Dislocation densities showed higher values at lower temperatures, with peak 1/2 〈110〉 densities at 100K being 1.43 and 1.45 times greater than at 150K and 200K, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the effects of ultimate strain rate and environmental temperature on the mechanical performance of the aramid fiber bundles were experimentally investigated. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to detect the tensile failure mechanism of the aramid fiber bundle. The results indicated that the tensile strength, failure strain, elastic modulus, and toughness of the aramid fiber bundle were sensitive to the strain rate, which was represented as the typical bilinear monotonic relationships. In contrast, the impact of environmental temperature on the four parameters of aramid fiber bundle was more complex. The ultimate strength, failure strain and toughness of aramid fiber bundle increased with the temperature changing from −60 to 30°C, but rapidly decreased from 30 to 90°C. Finally, the dispersion of the mechanical performance was quantitatively analyzed based on the scale and shape parameters obtained from Weibull model. Highlights: Tensile tests for aramid fiber bundle under different strain rates and temperatures were conducted.Strain rate and temperature effects on tensile properties of fiber bundle were quantified.Tensile failure mechanism of fiber bundle was analyzed.Dispersion of the mechanical performance was quantitatively analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We test the relationship between the voluntary thermal maximum (VTMax; the temperature at which an individual actively retreats to a colder site) and geographical/environmental features in the distribution of South American pitvipers. Additionally, we explore the evolution of environmental temperatures and VTMax in species' ranges. Location: South America. Taxon: South American pitvipers of the genera Bothrops and Bothrocophias. Methods: We experimentally measured the VTMax of 15 species of South American pitvipers. We explored the relationship between VTMax and geographical/environmental features (e.g., latitude, topographic complexity and temperature) with PGLS regressions. Additionally, we explored the evolution of maximum (TMax) and minimum (TMin) environmental temperatures, as well as the Thermal Niche Breadth (TNB) and VTMax, using ancestral state reconstruction and testing for phylogenetic signal. Results: Mean VTMax values for South American pitvipers clustered primarily within the 34°C–36°C range, exhibiting little variation among species or clades. No significant correlations were found between VTMax and climatic or geographic variables. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that these snakes are absent from regions where maximum temperatures surpass their preferred thermal tolerances. Ancestral state reconstruction indicated divergent evolutionary pathways for thermal limits among species, independent of phylogenetic relationships. Main Conclusions: South American pitvipers unexpectedly exhibit similar voluntary thermal maximum values across a wide range of habitats and despite distinct phylogenetic relationships. Our results indicate that there is no strong climatic niche conservatism for South American pitvipers, with a likely weak selective pressure of VTMax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Experimental evidence in tumor-bearing mouse models shows that exposure to cool, that is, sub-thermoneutral environmental temperature is associated with a higher tumor growth rate and an immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment than seen at thermoneutral temperatures. However, the translational significance of these findings in humans is unclear. We hypothesized that breast cancer patients living in warmer climates will have better survival outcomes than patients living in colder climates. Methods: A retrospective population-based analysis was conducted on 270,496 stage I-III breast cancer patients, who were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) over the period from 1996 to 2017. The average annual temperature (AAT) was calculated based on city level data from the National Centers for Environmental Information. Results: A total of 270, 496 patients were analyzed. Temperature as assessed in quartiles. After adjusting for potential confounders, patients who lived in the 3rd and 4th quartile temperature regions with AAT 56.7–62.5°F (3rd quartile) and > 62.5°F (4th quartile) had a 7% increase in the OS compared to patients living at AAT < 48.5°F (1st quartile) (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90–0.95 and HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.91–0.96, respectively). For DSS, When comparing AAT quartiles, patients living with AAT in the range of 56.7–62.5°F and > 62.5°F demonstrated a 7% increase each in DSS after adjustment (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90–0.96 and HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90–0.96). Conclusions: Higher environmental temperatures are associated with significantly better OS and DSS in breast cancer patients. Future research is warranted to confirm this observation using large datasets to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and investigate novel therapeutic strategies to minimize this geographic disparity in clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant height, spike, leaf, stem and grain morphologies are key components of plant architecture and related to wheat yield. A wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) mutant, wpa1, displaying temperature-dependent pleiotropic developmental anomalies, was isolated. The WPA1 gene, encoding a von Willebrand factor type A (vWA) domain protein, was located on chromosome arm 7DS and isolated by map-based cloning. The functionality of WPA1 was validated by multiple independent EMS-induced mutants and gene editing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that WPA1 is monocotyledon-specific in higher plants. The identification of WPA1 provides opportunity to study the temperature regulated wheat development and grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst rising global temperatures, chronic heat stress (CHS) is increasingly problematic for the poultry industry. While mammalian CHS responses are wellstudied, avian-specific research is lacking. This study uses in-depth transcriptome sequencing to evaluate the pulmonary response of Cherry Valley ducks to CHS at ambient temperatures of 20°C and a heat-stressed 29°C. We detailed the CHS-induced gene expression changes, encompassing mRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs. Through protein-protein interaction network analysis, we identified central genes involved in the heat stress response--TLR7, IGF1, MAP3K1, CIITA, LCP2, PRKCB, and PLCB2. Subsequent functional enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes and RNA targets revealed significant engagement in immune responses and regulatory processes. KEGG pathway analysis underscored crucial immune pathways, specifically those related to intestinal IgA production and Toll-like receptor signaling, as well as Salmonella infection and calcium signaling pathways. Importantly, we determined six miRNAs--miR-146, miR-217, miR-29a-3p, miR-10926, miR-146b-5p, and miR-17-1-3p--as potential key regulators within the ceRNA network. These findings enhance our comprehension of the physiological adaptation of ducks to CHS and may provide a foundation for developing strategies to improve duck production under thermal stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the influence of meteorological variables in milk yield from different levels of milk production by Holstein cows with high performance in Southern Brazil, in a region defined as Cfb classification zone. Data of meteorological variables and milk yield were collected from 1996-2010 and analyzed using multivariate techniques to evaluate relations between meteorological variables and milk production. Meteorological data included average, minimum and maximum temperature, relative humidity of air, wind speed, solar radiation, temperature and humidity index and temperature and humidity index. The study was divided in a global analysis, an analysis by five-year periods, as well as a study based on different seasons. Milk production were divided in low, medium and high levels. Minimum temperature showed a low negative correlation with medium and high milk production levels. Principal factor analysis did not present a strong relation between meteorological variables and levels of milk production, while discriminant analysis highlighted the influence of some production variables, such as cow's age and days in milk, in detriment to meteorological variables. Milk production variation compared between levels of production in the Cfb climatic classification zone at Southern Brazil had little or no influence of meteorological variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

The impact of UV radiation on the high-temperature behavior of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) fiber was investigated in this study. The ultimate strength, failure strain elasticity modulus and toughness were employed to evaluate the degradation caused by the coupling effects of UV radiation and high temperature. The degradation characteristics of PPS fiber were observed and evaluated based on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that both UV exposure and high temperature can effectively reduce the mechanical performance of PPS fiber. The ultimate strength, failure strain and toughness were reduced to the minimum value after UV exposure 150h at room temperature. Both the initial and second elastic modulus of PPS fiber exhibited obvious decreasing trends with the UV exposure time and temperature increasing. The micro defects and molecular structure changes were detected as the degradation characteristics of PPS fiber caused by the coupling effects of UV radiation and high temperature. The Weibull model was applied to quantitatively analyze the dispersion of strength of PPS fiber under extreme conditions.

In the solidification of plasters, promptly identifying layering defects is vital to reduce later inspection and maintenance expenses. Traditional tapping methods for defect detection, while widespread, are inefficient and can damage walls. This study proposes an innovative method utilizing Infrared Thermal Imaging (IRT) for semi real-time detection of layering defects during the solidification phase. The method was applied within the first 48 h following the application of two different plasters (Cement and Gypsum, mixed on-site as needed, not pre-dosed, and applied in a single layer), systematically examining the effects of plaster composition and environmental temperature conditions. The results showed that all preset defects were successfully identified. It was observed that larger defects are more readily detectable at a given thickness, and conversely, thicker defects are more discernible at a fixed size, with the dimension of the defect having a more pronounced impact on absolute contrast than its thickness. Notably, cement plaster exhibited two distinct temporal windows for defect detection, primarily influenced by environmental temperatures. In contrast, gypsum mortar presented two detection phases, with the initial phase being predominantly governed by the heat of hydration and the latter by ambient temperature conditions. The application of IRT technology in this research demonstrates its efficacy in accurately detecting layering defects during the solidification of plasters. This method offers valuable insights and guidance for the application of plaster layers in real-world engineering scenarios, potentially reducing maintenance costs and improving construction quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal tolerance of ectotherms is a critical factor that influences their distribution, physiology, behaviour, and, ultimately, survival. Understanding the factors that shape thermal tolerance in these organisms is, therefore, of great importance for predicting their responses to forecasted climate warming. Here, we investigated the voluntary thermal maximum (VTmax) of nine grassland viper taxa and explored the factors that influence this trait. The small size of these vipers and the open landscape they inhabit render them particularly vulnerable to overheating and dehydration. We found that the VTmax of grassland vipers is influenced by environmental temperature, precipitation, short-wave flux, and individual body size, rather than by phylogenetic relatedness. Vipers living in colder environments exhibited a higher VTmax, contradicting the hypothesis that environmental temperature is positively related to VTmax. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering local to regional adaptations and environmental conditions when studying thermal physiology and the evolution of thermal tolerance in ectotherms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of an evolving socio-economic landscape and rising living standards, the online market for fresh products, encompassing fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, and eggs, has seen substantial growth, necessitating sophisticated logistics for e-commerce home delivery. This study tackles the distinct challenges of fresh product delivery, which demand rigorous adherence to climate conditions and product mix during transport, significantly influencing the operational strategies and scheduling of delivery platforms. To address these challenges, a comprehensive mathematical model was developed to optimize fresh food home delivery scheduling, focusing on reducing spoilage rates and accommodating the dynamic impact of environmental temperature changes. The model posits assumptions of a consistent and ample supply of fresh goods, standard initial quality loss, and efficient porter assignment for multi-category order combinations. It introduces three objective functions, targeting the minimization of fresh food loss, maximization of customer satisfaction, and reduction of distributor costs. The efficacy of the model and its genetic-algorithm-based solution method was assessed through numerical analysis and case studies, illustrating that the model enhances delivery efficiency and service quality across varying temperature conditions. This substantiates the critical role of environmental temperature management in optimizing fresh food delivery, offering a robust framework for advancing logistical operations in the perishable goods sector and ensuring quality and efficiency in fresh food e-commerce delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface energy balance has always been a goal of those studying the Earth's climate system. However, many studies have demonstrated that turbulent heat fluxes are usually underestimated by eddy covariance (EC) measurements, such that the energy balance is not closed. This study proposes a new perspective on calculating sensible heat flux based on the environmental temperature using EC. Using this approach, additional sensible heat fluxes were detected as outcomes of the vertical transportation of thermal structures in the atmospheric surface layer (ASL). For data obtained over a 40-day period over a grassland in Southern China, additional sensible heat flux observations exceeding 50 W m-2 were measured for 8 of the 40 days; smaller but still significant contributions were captured for another 11 days. In the proposed model, the difference between the mean and environmental temperature (ΔΤ) and the local mean vertical velocity (w) serve as determinants for the additional flux, where the former can be deemed as the activity level of the thermal structures. A modeled underestimation of a[w] Ht of the total vertical sensible heat flux was revealed using our method, where α equals 3.55 for this study, Ht is the traditional EC results, and [w] is the non-dimensional w. Moreover, the additional flux usually showed large values in the daytime that were not detectable using the traditional EC method; this may help explain the energy imbalance problem in the ASL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in Saudi Arabia (SA) is devastating. SA is ranked the second highest country in DM prevalence in the Middle East region and the seventh worldwide. Several factors in SA are strongly correlated with increased blood glucose levels. These include the high ambient temperature, air pollution, decreased walk ability, increased urbanization, consumption of fast-food diet and low vegetables and fruit intake. In addition, the genetic factors, ethnic differences, metabolic risk factors such as obesity and hyperlipidemia have been evidenced to impact the blood glucose levels in Saudis. Consequently, Saudi population or Arabic societies in general might have different levels of Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) and HbA1C compared to other countries due to the clustering of genetics, ethnicity, hereditary diseases, comorbidities, environmental risk factors, and the changed lifestyle. Unfortunately, lack of large community-sized studies that determine the normal blood glucose levels in the Saudi population based on their genetic, social, and environmental background is noticed. This review aimed to highlight the factors affecting the blood glucose levels in the Saudi population to help the characterization of normal and abnormal levels of blood glucose in this society. The clear understanding of the impact of the different factors on the blood glucose level in Saudis will aid the clinicians toward the proper diagnosis of DM in Saudi patients. In conclusion: the normal and abnormal levels of blood glucose in the Saudi people need to be assessed according to their ethnic, genetic, social, and environmental background. Specific normative guidelines for FBG and HbA1c values in the Saudi population needs to be implemented and utilized in generating a national guideline for DM diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrothermal method for snow melting and deicing in road engineering provides efficient deicing. To improve the ice melting efficiency of carbon fiber heating cables, employing extruded polystyrene foam board (XPS)、polyethylene foam cotton (PEF) as insulation materials under the carbon fiber heating wire could reduce heat transfer to the lower layers of the road structure. Road model tests were conducted under various conditions to analyze how different heat insulation conditions、environmental temperatures affect road snow melting and ice melting. The results indicate that the placement of the heat insulation layer significantly affects the temperature fluctuation range between its upper and lower layers.The ice melting rate increases by 25∼50 % compared to pavement structures with no heat insulation layer. When heat insulation material is incorporated into the road structure layer, under preheated conditions, snow with a thickness of 0.2 cm on the surface of the plate heat insulation model can completely melt within 2.5 h, reducing the effective ice-melting time by 40∼51.7 %. A comparison of the thermal performance of the two insulation materials under various conditions reveals that the XPS plate is more suitable as an insulation layer compared to other materials.

ABSTRACT: Heat stress can greatly challenge growth and meat quality of broiler chickens where research is looking for sustainable ingredients, such as microalgae, that could also alleviate its negative impacts. Thus, in the present study, 576 1-D-old chicks (Ross 308) were housed until commercial slaughtering (42 D) in 36 pens in 2 rooms of a poultry house, according to a full factorial design encompassing 2 room temperatures (standard vs. high), 2 sexes (females vs. males), and 3 dietary treatments, that is, diet C0 (control diet), diet C3, and diet C6 containing 0, 3, and 6%, respectively, of C. vulgaris meal replacing the same quantities of soybean meal. The highest inclusion level of C. vulgaris decreased feed intake (P < 0.001) and body weight (P < 0.0001) compared to the control diet; it increased yellow and red indexes (P < 0.0001) of the breast muscle, besides the proportion of n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (P = 0.028). Heat stress decreased feed intake (P = 0.001), breast (P = 0.001) and p. major yields (P = 0.036), and increased meat pH (P= 0.008) and cooking losses (P < 0.001), umami (P = 0.021) and brothy flavor (P < 0.001), and the proportion of n3 PUFA rates (P = 0.027), while reducing the contents of several amino acids in the breast meat (P ≤ 0.05). Compared to females, males displayed higher feed intake and growth, and more favorable feed conversion (P < 0.001). Carcass and p. major yields were greater in females (P < 0.001) which also showed a higher occurrence of spaghetti meat compared to males (P < 0.001). In conclusion, C. vulgaris can be used to replace until 3% of soybean meal in diets for broiler chickens without negative implications, while positively affecting breast meat color according to consumers’ preferences. However, the microalgae inclusion did not mitigate the negative effects of a chronic heat stress on growth performance nor reduced the occurrence of any myopathies.

Gene expression is known as a phenomenon that shapes human life. This very complex phenomenon is formed from two stages: transcription and translation. In this study, we used the Nose-Hoover thermostat to model the effect of ambient temperature on gene expression since temperature regulates the biological clock of living systems. We have used the Lyapunov exponent approach to investigate the effect of control parameters on gene expression, including the degradation rates of messenger RNA and proteins, and to find critical points (phenomenon boundary limits), mRNA, and protein level boundary values. The rate of degradation in the process of protein synthesis has been investigated with the help of the Lyapunov exponent approach. According to this study, the optimal temperature for the production of mRNA molecules by Escherichia coli bacteria is 306 Kelvin. The study also used the chaos approach to show that the faster the mRNA molecules are degraded, the more they are transcribed, and the more chaotic the system becomes.

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.

The climate variability hypothesis posits that an organism's exposure to temperature variability determines the breadth of its thermal tolerance and has become an important framework for understanding variation in species' susceptibilities to climate change. For example, ectotherms from more thermally stable environments tend to have narrower thermal tolerances and greater sensitivity to projected climate warming. Among endotherms, however, the relationship between climate variability and thermal physiology is less clear, particularly with regard to microclimate variation—small‐scale differences within or between habitats. To address this gap, we explored associations between two sources of temperature variation (habitat type and vertical forest stratum) and (1) thermal physiological traits and (2) temperature sensitivity metrics within a diverse assemblage of Neotropical birds (n = 89 species). We used long‐term temperature data to establish that daily temperature regimes in open habitats and forest canopy were both hotter and more variable than those in the forest interior and forest understory, respectively. Despite these differences in temperature regime, however, we found little evidence that species' thermal physiological traits or temperature sensitivity varied in association with either habitat type or vertical stratum. Our findings provide two novel and important insights. First, and in contrast to the supporting empirical evidence from ectotherms, the thermal physiology of birds at our study site appears to be largely decoupled from local temperature variation, providing equivocal support for the climate variability hypothesis in endotherms. Second, we found no evidence that the thermal physiology of understory forest birds differed from that of canopy or open‐habitat species—an oft‐invoked, yet previously untested, mechanism for why these species are so vulnerable to environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Simple Summary: Global temperatures are on the rise, and this poses a significant threat to animal farming. However, there are certain nutritional strategies that can help mitigate the harmful effects of heat stress, particularly for the growing heifer calves who play a crucial role in the future profitability and sustainability of a dairy farm. In this study, growing calves experiencing heat stress consumed more feed and digested nutrients more efficiently when offered diets with moderate content of dietary fiber and shorter alfalfa hay particle size. Feeding a diet with a moderate level of fiber resulted in better growth, lower rectal temperature, and longer lying behavior, an indication of better animal comfort. Our findings highlight the importance of dietary fiber level and forage particle size in shaping calf performance and behavior under challenging environmental conditions. This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of feeding diets with different fiber content and forage particle size on the performance, health, nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation, and behavioral and sorting activity of Holstein dairy calves kept under elevated environmental temperature. Sixty weaned Holstein female calves (age = 96.7 ± 7.62 days old; body weight = 82.4 ± 10.4 kg) were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments arranged in a 2-by-2 factorial design in a 70-day experiment. Dietary forage content (moderate, 22.5%; or high, 40.0% on DM basis) and alfalfa hay particle size (short, 4.39 mm; or long, 7.22 mm as geometric mean) were the experimental factors, resulting in the following combinations: (1) high-fiber (HF) diets with forage-to-concentrate ratio of 40:60 and long particle-sized alfalfa hay (LPS; HF-LPS); (2) HF diets with short particle-sized alfalfa hay (SPS; HF-SPS); (3) moderate-fiber (MF) diets with forage-to-concentrate ratio of 22.5:77.5 with LPS (MF-LPS); and (4) MF diets with SPS (MF-SPS). The temperature–humidity index averaged 73.0 ± 1.86, indicating that weaned calves experienced a moderate extent of heat stress. Fiber level and AH particle size interacted and affected dry matter intake, with the greatest intake (4.83 kg/d) observed in MF-SPS-fed calves. Final body weight was greater in calves receiving MF vs. HF diets (164 vs. 152 kg; p < 0.01). Respiration rate decreased when SPS vs. LPS AH was included in HF but not MF diet. Lower rectal temperature was recorded in calves fed MF vs. HF diet. Digestibility of dry matter and crude protein was greater in calves fed MF than HF diets, resulting in lower ruminal pH (6.12 vs. 6.30; p = 0.03). Fiber digestibility was greater in calves fed SPS compared with those fed LPS alfalfa hay. Feeding HF compared with MF diet increased acetate but lowered propionate molar proportions. The inclusion of SPS vs. LPS alfalfa hay decreased lying time in HF diet (920 vs. 861 min; p < 0.01). Calves fed MF vs. HF diets spent less time eating but more time lying, which is likely indicative of better animal comfort. Dietary fiber level and forage particle size interacted and affected sorting against 19 mm particles, the extent of which was greater in HF-SPS diet. Overall, dietary fiber level had a stronger effect than forage particle size on the performance of weaned calves exposed to a moderate degree of heat stress as feeding MF vs. HF diet resulted in greater feed intake, final body weight, structural growth measures, nutrient digestion, as well as longer lying behavior. The inclusion of SPS alfalfa hay in MF diets increased feed consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Simple Summary: Recent animal studies have shown a correlation between environmental temperature and tumor growth. Based on these studies, we hypothesized that esophageal cancer and gastric cancer patients living in warmer climates have improved survival as compared to patients living in colder climates. We conducted a study using the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database and analyzed the cancer outcomes with the county-level average annual temperature in which those patients resided. We analyzed 17,408 esophageal cancer and 20,533 gastric cancer patients. We noted for the first time that higher environmental temperatures were associated with significant improvements in survival in patients with esophageal and gastric cancers. Further confirmatory population-based studies as well as mechanistic-bench studies are needed to support our findings. Background: Cold stress suppresses antitumor response in animal models, leading to tumor growth. Recent studies have also shown a negative correlation between the average annual temperature (AAT) and cancer incidence. We hypothesized that esophageal cancer (EC) and gastric cancer (GC) patients living in warmer climates have improved survival outcomes than those living in colder climates. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 1996 to 2015. We retrieved the National Centers for Environmental Information data to calculate the county-level AAT. Cox multivariate regression models were performed to measure the association between temperature (measured continuously at diagnosis and in 5-degree increments) and OS/DSS, adjusting for variables. All associations were compared at a significance level of 0.05. The OS and DSS were summarized using Kaplan–Meier methods. All statistics were performed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Results: A total of 17,408 EC patients were analyzed. The average age of the cohort was 65 years, 79% of which were males and 21% were females. Of them, 61.6% had adenocarcinoma, and 37.6% were squamous. After adjusting for covariates, patients in regions with an AAT > 53.5 °F had an 11% improvement in OS [HR 0.89 (95% CI 0.86–0.92), p < 0.0001] and 13% in DSS [HR 0.87 (95% CI 0.84–0.90), p < 0.0001]. When the temperature was analyzed in 5 °F increments, with each increment, there was a 3% improvement in OS [HR 0.97 (95% CI 0.96–0.98), p < 0.0001] and 4% in DSS [HR 0.96 (95% CI 0.95–0.97), p < 0.0001]. Subgroup analysis of squamous and adenocarcinoma showed similar results. These findings were validated in 20,553 GC patients. After adjusting for covariates, patients in regions with an AAT > 53.5 had a 13% improvement in OS [HR 0.87 (95% CI 0.85–0.90), p < 0.0001] and 14% in DSS [HR 0.86 (95% CI 0.83–0.89), p < 0.0001]. When analyzed in 5 °F increments, with each increment, there was a 4% improvement in OS [HR 0.96 (95% CI 0.952–0.971), p < 0.0001] and 4% in DSS [HR 0.96 (95% CI 0.945–0.965), p < 0.0001]. Conclusion: We showed for the first time that higher environmental temperatures are associated with significant improvements in OS and DSS in patients with gastro-esophageal cancers, notwithstanding the limitations of a retrospective database analysis. Further confirmatory and mechanistic studies are required to implement specific interventional strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Two groups of ewes (10 lactating and 10 non-lactating) were used to evaluate the effect of heat stress during summer under tropical conditions. In this study, a temperature and humidity index (THI) was found that ranged between 65 and 79 (morning and afternoon). Likewise, a heat tolerance coefficient (HTC) of 6 units was observed. The highest breathing frequency (BF; 115.46 ± 35.25 breaths per minute (bpm)) and rectal temperature (RT; 38.95 ± 0.51 °C) were found during the afternoon in the group of lactating ewes. The means were compared by group, time of the day, and interaction, and only significant differences were found between groups for RT and udder temperature (p < 0.001). In the case of time of day, all parameters were higher during the afternoon, regardless of the group of ewes (p < 0.001). Likewise, an interaction was found in the parameters RT, right paralumbar fossa (RPF), rump, leg, and udder (p < 0.001). In conclusion, Blackbelly ewes lactating during the summer in the tropics have higher skin temperatures, and also raise BF and RT to tolerate HS in tropical climates.

Surface energy balance has always been a goal of those studying the Earth’s climate system. However, many studies have demonstrated that turbulent heat fluxes are usually underestimated by eddy covariance (EC) measurements, such that the energy balance is not closed. This study proposes a new perspective on calculating sensible heat flux based on the environmental temperature using EC. Using this approach, additional sensible heat fluxes were detected as outcomes of the vertical transportation of thermal structures in the atmospheric surface layer (ASL). For data obtained over a 40-day period over a grassland in Southern China, additional sensible heat flux observations exceeding 50 W m−2 were measured for 8 of the 40 days; smaller but still significant contributions were captured for another 11 days. In the proposed model, the difference between the mean and environmental temperature (∆T) and the local mean vertical velocity (w¯) serve as determinants for the additional flux, where the former can be deemed as the activity level of the thermal structures. A modeled underestimation of α[w¯] Ht of the total vertical sensible heat flux was revealed using our method, where α equals 3.55 for this study, Ht is the traditional EC results, and [w¯] is the non-dimensional w¯. Moreover, the additional flux usually showed large values in the daytime that were not detectable using the traditional EC method; this may help explain the energy imbalance problem in the ASL.

The dynamic characteristics of bridge structures are influenced by various environmental factors, and exploring the impact of environmental temperature and humidity on structural modal parameters is of great significance for structural health assessment. This paper utilized the Covariance-Driven Stochastic Subspace Identification method (SSI-COV) and clustering algorithms to identify modal frequencies from four months of acceleration data collected from the health monitoring system of the Jintang Hantan Twin-Island Bridge. Furthermore, a correlation analysis is conducted to examine the relationship between higher-order frequency and environmental factors, including temperature and humidity. Subsequently, a Support Vector Machine Regression (SVR) model is employed to analyze the effects of environmental temperature on structural modal frequencies. This study has obtained the following conclusions: 1. Correlation analysis revealed that temperature is the primary influencing factor in frequency variations. Frequency exhibited a strong linear correlation with temperature and little correlation with humidity. 2. SVR regression analysis was performed on frequency and temperature, and an evaluation of the fitting residuals was conducted. The model effectively fit the sample data and provided reliable predictive results. 3. The original structural frequencies underwent smoothing, eliminating the influence of temperature-induced frequency data generated by the SVR model. After eliminating the temperature effects, the fluctuations in frequency within a 24 h period significantly decreased. The data presented in this paper can serve as a reference for further health assessments of similar bridge structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a novel soil-strengthening technique that involves a biogeochemical process. Temperature plays a crucial role in influencing the biological and chemical processes involved in the formation of carbonate precipitates, which in turn affect the mechanical properties of the treated soil. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of temperature on the cementing structure of MICP-treated soils and its subsequent effects on their strength parameters. The results revealed that temperature considerably affected the content, size, and distribution of CaCO3 crystals produced, resulting in variations in the friction angle, cohesion, stiffness, peak strength, residual strength, and dilation of the MICP-treated soil samples. Lower strength enhancement was observed when fewer and smaller carbonate crystals were produced at 4°C and 50°C. In contrast, higher numbers of larger crystal clusters were produced at 20°C and 35°C, which effectively bonded the soil particles. Increasing the number of bacterial injections at 50°C promoted the formation of larger crystals and enhanced strength effectively. This study highlights the temperature effects on calcium carbonate growth in biocemented soils, which is a critical step in determining the field-scale application of this innovative soil stabilization technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance of battery cells in an electric vehicle (EV) highly depends on environmental temperature. However, many studies do not consider its regional or seasonal characteristics. These characteristics can have a significant impact on the EV battery life in California, where there is a large variation of climate across the state. In some regions, the maximum ambient temperature can cause a rapid life degradation of the battery cells. In this study, we investigated the environmental temperature effects of six major cities in California on the capacity fade of the EV battery cells. A numerical model of an automotive battery pack and cycle-life model of a lithium-ion battery cell were implemented to predict the cell temperature and its corresponding capacity loss. The numerical results demonstrated the regional and seasonal effects of environmental temperature must be considered to prevent rapid life degradation in the automotive battery cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive plants are a threat to natural ecosystems worldwide, with urban wetlands being some of the most susceptible and highly modified environments of all. The tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) is a top predator that persists in urban wetlands of south-western Australia, many of which have been degraded by introduced kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus). To evaluate the potential impact of kikuyu grass on habitat quality for tiger snakes we quantified the structural features of habitats within wetlands degraded by kikuyu grass and compared them to wetlands with native vegetation. We also examined tiger snake prey availability, assessed predation risk for juvenile snakes using clay models, and measured the thermal quality of the vegetation. Proliferation of kikuyu grass has reduced habitat structural heterogeneity by reducing available bare ground and increasing vegetation density. This homogenisation of habitat structure had little effect on the predation risk for juveniles or the thermal properties of tiger snake shelter sites; however, one key prey species, the motorbike frog, had significantly lower abundance in the most impacted habitat. Habitat types with more structural complexity also offered tiger snakes more stable thermal regimes and lower predation risk. These findings indicate that the current extent of kikuyu grass invasion offers overall similar habitat quality for tiger snakes to native vegetation and may contribute to their persistence in urban wetlands; however, both tiger snakes and their anuran prey may benefit from increased habitat structural complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

Aim: Emerging aquatic insects link aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems across the Earth. Their diversity, abundance and functional importance means their emergence is an important phenological event. Nevertheless, aquatic insect emergence is understudied at a global scale compared to other phenological events, despite changing phenology being one of the most significant ecological responses to climate change. Here, we quantitatively describe the global patterns, and key proposed drivers, of seasonal aquatic insect emergence, to further understand how these patterns might change in the future. Location: Global. Time Period: 1950–2018. Major Taxa Studied: Emerging aquatic insects. Methods: We extracted monthly emergence data from 86 studies across 163 sites to construct 1053 annual emergence curves. We parameterized the curves using two complementary metrics of seasonality, which were modelled against geographical and climatic variables to determine the direct and indirect relationships between them. Results: We found clear global trends in aquatic insect emergence patterns across latitude and underlying climates. Between‐month variation and temporal restriction of emergence increased from the equator to the poles, going from small, aseasonal fluctuations in the warm, thermally stable tropics to large, seasonal peaks at cooler, thermally unstable higher latitudes. While emergence trends were associated with gradients of precipitation, temperature was the dominant climatic driver of the latitudinal trend. Main Conclusions: These findings suggest that with climate warming, aquatic insects will emerge over longer periods, diluted in abundances and displaying less seasonal emergence patterns with smaller between‐month fluctuations. This may result in disruption of ecosystem functions seasonally dependent on aquatic insects, such as riparian predation, pollination and disease transmission. The cross‐ecosystem life cycle of aquatic insects means changes to their seasonal patterns of emergence will have impacts in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present research, the energy flow of electric vehicle batteries under different environmental temperatures was experimentally examined in a climate chamber. The energy flow characteristics, energy loss conditions, and the critical components' operating conditions and working efficiency under different environmental temperatures were comparatively analyzed. The test results show that the environmental temperature has a profound impact on an electric vehicle's performance and the critical components' working conditions. The driving mileage of the tested vehicle at −7 °C, 23 °C, and 35 °C was found to be 162.89 km, 256.09 km, and 198.69 km, respectively. The environmental temperature does not have much effect on the loss of the motor and motor control unit under driving conditions, and the proportion of those at different temperatures is in all cases about 18%. The battery-recycled energy at 23 °C under braking conditions is much higher than that at −7 °C and 35 °C, leading to a longer driving range. The power battery pack thermal transfer loss at −7 °C is much greater than that at 23 °C and 35 °C due to the low charging and discharging efficiency and the high energy consumption required to warm up the battery at a low environmental temperature. The compressor energy consumption accounts for a large proportion in both braking and driving conditions at 35 °C, and the proportions are 15.25% and 12.41%, respectively. The battery state-of-charge drops the fastest at −7 °C, followed by 35 °C, due to the differences in the power demands of air conditioning, warm air positive temperature coefficient (PTC), and battery PTC in high- and low-temperature environments. The working condition of the front motor under driving conditions at 35 °C is the most severe and leads to the lowest working efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of environmental temperature on the growth and body condition of common toad (Bufo bufo) toadlets was studied during their first terrestrial growth season, following metamorphosis, at a pond in south Dorset, UK, between 2010 and 2021. Toadlet samples were collected annually on the first day of emergence and then approximately once a week until late September/early October. In total, 15-19 samples were collected annually depending on the duration of the toadlet activity season. Toadlet snout-vent length (mm) and body mass (mg) of each captured toadlet was measured and their body condition (Scaled Mass Index: SMI) estimated both annually and for each annual quarter season. Toadlet growth rate and SMI varied between years and were significantly correlated with the duration of their first growth season and its lowest recorded temperature. Growth rate declined as the duration of the growth season increased whilst the reverse was true for SMI. Growth rates also increased as temperatures increased and vice versa for SMI. SMI was inversely correlated to growth rate and suggest that toadlets may enter their first hibernation larger, but in poorer condition, following warm summers than cool summers, and that this may have the potential to reduce their survivorship during a following mild winter. Assuming that similar relationships, between growth rates, body condition and environmental temperatures are not restricted to toadlets during their first terrestrial growth season, then this scenario may also be applicable to subsequent juvenile stages, further increasing the potential consequences for individual survival and fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Overlaying a reinforced concrete beam (RCB) with polymer cement mortar (PCM) is a strengthening method that improves flexural stiffness by the increasing sectional force. However, the reduction between bond strength and the reinforcement in PCM overlay at high temperatures results in an increase in flexural crack spacing. Therefore, the pullout force must be taken into account when estimating the flexural capacity of PCM-overlay RCBs. The experimental study aims to assess the flexural performance of PCM-overlay RCBs under three different environmental temperature conditions: 20, 40, and 60°C. Seventeen beams with varying reinforcement ratios in PCM are tested at the mentioned temperature levels. Experimental results indicate a decrease of approximately 6 to 13% in strength at elevated temperatures, which can be attributed to the reduction in bond strength of the reinforcement caused by the degradation of the PCM. Analytically, the strength reduction is calculated by determining the average crack spacing in the flexural zone. Therefore, the proposed average crack spacing method (CSM) predicts that the flexural strength is within ±10% limits of experimental observations. This method is more conservative than the conventional sectional analysis method (SAM). The average CSM can contribute to a safer design of PCM-overlay RCBs by preventing overestimated prediction of the ultimate strength at high environmental temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high environmental temperature can increase the apparent viscosity of high-performance concrete mixtures, causing difficulties in mixing, transporting, pumping, and molding the mixtures. Although polycarboxylate ether–based superplasticizers (PCEs) have been proven effective in reducing the apparent viscosity of cement pastes, little work has focused on how PCEs with various molecular structures affect the apparent viscosity of high-performance concrete mixtures when environmental temperature increases. In this study, a PCE (T54C3.5), which was synthesized by reacting acrylic acid (AA) and isoprenyloxypoly (ethylene glycol) ether macromonomer (TPEG) (mw=2,400 g/mol) with a ratio equal to 3.5∶1 , was used as the control group. Variations on the molecular structure of T54C3.5, including different carboxylate-to-macromonomer ratios, backbone lengths, backbone compositions, side-chain lengths, and side-chain compositions, were made to investigate the effectiveness of the various PCEs in changing the apparent viscosity of an ordinary portland cement paste with the water-to-cement ratio of 0.23 at different environmental temperatures. A rotational viscometer was used to measure the apparent viscosity of cement pastes containing different PCEs, and the working mechanisms for the effective PCEs were discussed. Results showed that reducing the backbone length was more effective than the other variations in improving the viscosity-reducing ability of PCEs at all tested temperatures. The PCEs containing ester bonds were able to retain or slightly decrease the viscosity of their cement pastes when the environment temperature increased from 20°C to 40°C. Reducing the backbone length and introducing ester groups are two effective ways of improving the viscosity-reducing ability of PCEs at a high environmental temperature. Using PCEs with these structures can significantly simplify the manufacturing processes of the cement mixtures with a low water-to-cement ratio when the environmental temperature increases from 20°C to 40°C, without any special mixing or casting method. PCEs are the most popular concrete admixtures due to their excellent performance and devisable molecular structures. Using a suitable PCE is beneficial to the quality of concrete structures, especially for high-performance concrete (HPC) structures. During the manufacture of concrete, excess water is used to increase workability but can cause strength loss. The use of PCEs can significantly decrease the water demand of concrete, thus promoting the development of HPC, which has to have low water content. A high environmental temperature greater than 28°C can accelerate cement hydration, thus increasing the viscosity and adding more difficulties to mixing, transporting, pumping, and molding processes. Because the molecular structure of PCEs can be designed to meet different needs, it is of great significance to explore which type of the molecular structure is more suitable for cement mixtures with a low water-to-cement ratio at a high environmental temperature. To achieve this objective, the molecular structure of PCEs was varied to determine the PCEs' effects on the apparent viscosity of the cement paste having a low water content at different temperatures. The PCEs with short backbones or a high content of ester bonds were found to satisfy the objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assesses the effects of climate change on poultry production in Marathawada region. Two hundred (200) poultry birds were interviewed to elicit relevant information. Global climate change poses a great threat to poultry production. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as are released through both natural & anthropogenic sources into the atmosphere. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tools were used for data analysis. Findings revealed that majority (93.3%) of the respondents are aware of climate change, 78%, 98.8% and 86.7% of the respondents agreed that temperature fluctuation increased in sunshine intensity and global warming has a negative effects on poultry production. 72.4% of the respondents agreed that prices of feed grains are usually high in hot and dry seasons. The findings further revealed that majority (90.4%) of the students reported that climate change has effect on distribution of poultry diseases, close to three quarter (78.3%) of the students claimed that there are more poultry diseases than in the past as result of effect of climate change. This study further revealed that majority (95.2%) of the respondents agreed that moist climatic conditions encouraged the distribution and development of diseases and 68.7% of the respondents also confirmed that climate change has led to the development of new poultry diseases in the study area. the findings also shows that there is a significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics of respondents and their level of awareness of climate change since the p > 0.05 (r = 0.652, p = 0.001). it is recommended extension agents and other development agencies need to educate the poultry farmers more about the effects posed by climate change on poultry production and intensify awareness campaign to poultry farmers on how to reduce the effects of climate change on poultry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) plays a central role in thermogenic tissues by uncoupling cellular respiration to dissipate energy. Beige adipocytes, an inducible form of thermogenic cells in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), have become a major focus in obesity research. We have previously shown that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ameliorated high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity by activating brown fat in C57BL/6J (B6) mice at thermoneutrality (30 °C), independently of UCP1. Here, we investigated whether ambient temperature (22 °C) impacts EPA effects on SAT browning in wild-type (WT) and UCP1 knockout (KO) male mice and dissected underlying mechanisms using a cell model. We observed resistance to diet-induced obesity in UCP1 KO mice fed HFD at ambient temperature, with significantly higher expression of UCP1-independent thermogenic markers, compared to WT mice. These markers included the fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2b (SERCA2b), suggesting the indispensable role of temperature in beige fat reprogramming. Surprisingly, although EPA induced thermogenic effects in SAT-derived adipocytes harvested from both KO and WT mice, EPA only increased thermogenic gene and protein expression in the SAT of UCP1 KO mice housed at ambient temperature. Collectively, our findings indicate that the thermogenic effects of EPA, which are independent of UCP1, occur in a temperature-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of feeding diets with different fiber content and forage particle size on the performance, health, nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation, and behavioral and sorting activity of Holstein dairy calves kept under elevated environmental temperature. Sixty weaned Holstein female calves (age = 96.7 ± 7.62 days old; body weight = 82.4 ± 10.4 kg) were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments arranged in a 2-by-2 factorial design in a 70-day experiment. Dietary forage content (moderate, 22.5%; or high, 40.0% on DM basis) and alfalfa hay particle size (short, 4.39 mm; or long, 7.22 mm as geometric mean) were the experimental factors, resulting in the following combinations: (1) high-fiber (HF) diets with forage-to-concentrate ratio of 40:60 and long particle-sized alfalfa hay (LPS; HF-LPS); (2) HF diets with short particle-sized alfalfa hay (SPS; HF-SPS); (3) moderate-fiber (MF) diets with forage-to-concentrate ratio of 22.5:77.5 with LPS (MF-LPS); and (4) MF diets with SPS (MF-SPS). The temperature–humidity index averaged 73.0 ± 1.86, indicating that weaned calves experienced a moderate extent of heat stress. Fiber level and AH particle size interacted and affected dry matter intake, with the greatest intake (4.83 kg/d) observed in MF-SPS-fed calves. Final body weight was greater in calves receiving MF vs. HF diets (164 vs. 152 kg; p < 0.01). Respiration rate decreased when SPS vs. LPS AH was included in HF but not MF diet. Lower rectal temperature was recorded in calves fed MF vs. HF diet. Digestibility of dry matter and crude protein was greater in calves fed MF than HF diets, resulting in lower ruminal pH (6.12 vs. 6.30; p = 0.03). Fiber digestibility was greater in calves fed SPS compared with those fed LPS alfalfa hay. Feeding HF compared with MF diet increased acetate but lowered propionate molar proportions. The inclusion of SPS vs. LPS alfalfa hay decreased lying time in HF diet (920 vs. 861 min; p < 0.01). Calves fed MF vs. HF diets spent less time eating but more time lying, which is likely indicative of better animal comfort. Dietary fiber level and forage particle size interacted and affected sorting against 19 mm particles, the extent of which was greater in HF-SPS diet. Overall, dietary fiber level had a stronger effect than forage particle size on the performance of weaned calves exposed to a moderate degree of heat stress as feeding MF vs. HF diet resulted in greater feed intake, final body weight, structural growth measures, nutrient digestion, as well as longer lying behavior. The inclusion of SPS alfalfa hay in MF diets increased feed consumption.

Abstract 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.

Abstract Background African swine fever (ASF) is a lethal contagious disease affecting both domestic pigs and wild boars. Even though it is a non-zoonotic disease, ASF causes economic loss in swine industries across continents. ASF control and eradication are almost impossible since effective vaccines and direct antiviral treatment are not available. The persistence of ASFV on fomites plays an important role in the indirect transmission of ASFV to pigs encountering ASFV-contaminated fomites. ASFV persistence on porous and non-porous fomites (glass, metal, rubber, and cellulose paper) at different environmental temperatures was determined. The persistence of ASFV of fomites was determined by the rate of ASFV inactivation in terms of D T, or the time required to reduce ASFV per 1 log at each selected environmental temperature (T). D T is used to compare the persistence of ASFV on the fomites. Results The mean D 25, D 33, and D 42, of dried infectious ASFV on glass, metal, rubber, and paper were in the ranges 1.42–2.42, 0.72–1.94, and 0.07–0.23 days, respectively. The multiple D T were used to develop a D T model to predict the D T for some other environmental temperatures. The D T models to predict the persistence of dried infectious ASFV on glass, metal, rubber, and paper are log D T = (− T/21.51) + 1.34, log D T = (− T/20.42) + 1.47, log D T = (− T/14.91) + 2.03, and log D T = (− T/10.91) + 2.84, respectively. A spreadsheet as a quick and handy tool predicting the persistence time of dried infectious ASFV on fomites at various environmental temperatures based on these D T models is available for public to download. Conclusion Persistence of dried infectious ASFV on paper are significantly the longest at lower environmental temperatures whereas that of dried infectious ASFV on paper is significantly the shortest at higher environmental temperature.

Torpor, the temporary reduction of metabolic rate and body temperature, is a common energy-saving strategy in endotherms. Because of their small body size and energetically demanding life histories, hummingbirds have proven useful for understanding when and why endotherms use torpor. Previous studies of torpor in hummingbirds have been largely limited to tropical montane species or long-distance migrants that regularly experience challenging thermal conditions. Comparatively little is known, however, about the use of torpor in hummingbirds of the lowland tropics, where relatively high and stable year-round temperatures may at least partially negate the need for torpor. To fill this knowledge gap, we tested for the occurrence of torpor in tropical lowland hummingbirds (n = 37 individuals of six species) from central Panama. In controlled experimental conditions simulating the local temperature regime, all six species used torpor to varying degrees and entered torpor at high ambient temperatures (i.e., ≥28°C), indicating that hummingbirds from the thermally stable lowland tropics regularly use torpor. Torpor reduced overnight mass loss, with individuals that spent more time in torpor losing less body mass during temperature experiments. Body mass was the best predictor of torpor depth and duration among and within species—smaller species and individuals tended to use torpor more frequently and enter deeper torpor. Average mass loss in our experiments (∼8%–10%) was greater than that reported in studies of hummingbirds from higher elevation sites (∼4%). We therefore posit that the energetic benefits accrued from torpor may be limited by relatively high nighttime temperatures in the lowland tropics, although further studies are needed to test this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Woody and herbaceous habits represent one of the most distinct contrasts among angiosperms, and the proportion of woody species in floras (i.e., "woodiness" hereafter) represents a fundamental structural element of plant diversity. Despite its core influence on ecosystem processes, spatio‐temporal patterns in woodiness remain poorly understood. Here, we aim to demonstrate the global spatio‐temporal patterns in angiosperm woodiness and their relationship with environmental factors. Location: Global. Time period: Cenozoic, 66 Ma to present. Major taxa studied: Angiosperms. Methods: Using newly compiled data on the growth forms and distributions of c. 300,000 angiosperm species and an angiosperm phylogeny, we mapped the current global geographical patterns in angiosperm woodiness, reconstructed ancestral states of growth forms through the angiosperm phylogeny and demonstrated the Cenozoic evolutionary dynamics of woodiness. We evaluated the relationships between woodiness and current climate and palaeoclimate. Results: We found that c. 42.7% of angiosperms are woody. Woodiness decreased spatially from the equator towards high latitudes, temporally since the early Cenozoic. Temperature was the best predictor of the spatio‐temporal decline in woodiness and was positively correlated with woodiness. Despite the temporal decline in woodiness, macroevolutionary herbaceous‐to‐woody transitions increased through time and contributed to the evolution of woody floras in temperate drylands, whereas the opposite transitions decreased through time and contributed to herbaceous floras in tropical and subtropical drylands. Main conclusions: Our study improves understanding of the spatio‐temporal dynamics of angiosperm woodiness. Our findings suggest that temperature is likely to be a determinant of spatio‐temporal variations in woodiness, highlighting the role of temperature in maintaining the growth form composition of ecosystems. Our study also calls for attention to growth form transitions (e.g., secondary woodiness) in temperate drylands that have been neglected before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the diversity and abundance of bark beetles and ambrosial beetles and their relationship with temperature and relative humidity. Design/methodology/approach: The study was carried out in a pine-oak forest of the northeastern Sierra of the state of Puebla, where a monitoring system was established using Lindgren traps baited with frontalin, brevicomine, alpha-pinene and beta-pinene. Results: The presence of 23 species of bark beetles and ambrosial beetles was recorded. Gnathotrichus sulcatus (LeConte) and Pseudips mexicanus (Hopkins) were the most abundant species and their presence was significantly associated with places having high relative humidity. Limitations on study/implications: The results obtained are limited to the studied ecosystem. Findings/conclusions: It was concluded that the abundance of the species observed was closely related with climatic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]