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Abstract—According to modern concepts, biochemical cascades activated in response to stress also contribute to cognitive functions, such as learning and memory formation. Considering a conditioned reflex as an adaptation to the external environment, one can assume its occurrence as a reaction to external challenges, which, when reinforced, contribute to the formation of a conditioned connection, and in the absence, cause the development of a stress response. The metabolic activity of the body is inextricably linked with circadian rhythms, which determine the daily fluctuations in light, temperature, oxygen content, and magnetic field. The integration of these timers is carried out by a protein of the cryptochrome family (CRY), which functions as a blue light receptor and is known as a repressor of the main circadian transcription complex CLOCK/BMAL1. In order to develop methods for non-invasive correction of pathologies of the nervous system on a model object of genetics, mutant strains of Drosophila are used to study the relationship between adaptive mechanisms of the formation of a conditioned connection and the development of a stress response to a weakening of the magnetic field, hypoxia and temperature changes. The data are discussed in light of the role of the CRY/CLOCK/BMAL1 system as a link in magnetoreception, hypoxia, circadian rhythm regulation, cognitive functions, and DNA double-strand breaks in nerve ganglia (an indicator of the physiological activity of neurons) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental exposures during pregnancy have been associated with adverse obstetric outcomes. However, limited and inconsistent evidence exists regarding the association between air temperature exposure and the risk of preeclampsia (PE). This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between ambient temperature exposure during pregnancy and PE risk, as well as identify the specific time window of temperature exposure that increases PE risk. A population-based cohort study was conducted from January 2012 to April 2022 in Guangzhou, China. Pregnant women were recruited in early pregnancy and followed until delivery. A total of 3,314 PE patients and 114,201 normal pregnancies were included. Ambient temperature exposures at different gestational weeks were recorded for each participant. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the correlation between ambient temperature exposure and PE risk. Stratified analyses were conducted based on maternal age and pre-pregnancy BMI. Distributed lag models were employed to identify the time window of temperature exposure related to PE. Exposure to extreme high temperature (aOR = 1.24, 95 % CI 1.12–1.38) and moderate high temperature (aOR = 1.22, 95 % CI 1.10–1.35) during early pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of PE. Furthermore, women with higher pre-pregnancy BMI had a higher risk of developing PE when exposed to high temperature during early pregnancy compared to normal-weight women. The time window of temperature exposure related to PE was identified as pregnancy weeks 1 to 8. This study provides evidence for the association of high temperature exposure during early pregnancy with the risk of PE, as well as identifies the specific time window of temperature exposure related to PE. These findings have implications for developing potential strategies to protect pregnant women, particularly those with higher pre-pregnancy BMI, from the adverse effects of extreme temperatures during early pregnancy.

In this paper, the room-temperature performance of different optical coupling materials post temperature exposure was tested. The tested couplers included OC431A-LVP, OG0010 optical grease, BLUESIL V-788, and SAINT-GOBAIN BC-630. This was done by subjecting the whole detector with newly applied optical coupling materials to a 2-h temperature exposure-ranging from -20 to 50 °C and then by letting it return to room temperature before collecting a spectrum from a Cs-137 source. The energy resolution at 662 keV was computed as the metric for evaluating the performance. Three trials were run at each coupler-temperature combination. Our results reveal that the performance of all coupling agents do indeed change with temperature after the 2-h exposure. Over all the tested temperature trials, the energy resolution ranged from 11.4 to 14.3% for OC431A-LVP; 10.2 to 14.6% for OG0010; 10 to 13.4% for BLUESIL V-788; and 9.8 to 13.3% for SAINT-GOBAIN BC-630. OC431A-LVP had the lowest variance over the full range, while BC-630 was the most constant for temperatures above 20 °C. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectra experiments were also performed on isolated optical coupling materials to measure the light absorption coefficient. The results show that the temperature-induced variance in light absorption coefficient of each optical coupling materials is one of the reasons for the variance in energy resolution performance. Our findings suggest the need for further investigation into this effect and the recommendation that optical coupling materials need to be selected for the task at hand with greater scrutiny.

• Temperature exposure throughout the entire pregnancy exhibits a U-shaped relationship with the risk of preterm birth (PTB). • Different stages of pregnancy have varying temperature thresholds and exposure-response relationships. • Elevated PM 2.5 exposure increases PTB risk, while O 3 exposure exhibits a U-shaped relationship with preterm birth. • Compared to non-high-risk pregnancies, high-risk pregnancies exhibit a higher risk of preterm birth across all stages of pregnancy. Global warming and the risk of preterm birth are both major factors that impact population health. This study investigated the impact of environmental temperature during different stages of pregnancy on the probability of preterm birth (PTB) in Wuhan, China through 2014 to 2016. The results revealed that temperature exposure throughout the entire pregnancy exhibited a U-shaped relationship with the risk of PTB; when temperature exposure during the entire pregnancy was below 14 °C or above 20 °C, the risk of PTB increased. Early pregnancy exposure to temperatures below 7 °C or above 22 °C, and late pregnancy exposure to temperatures below 7 °C or above 26 °C, were associated with an increased risk of PTB. Additionally, elevated PM 2.5 exposure increased PTB risk, while O 3 exposure exhibited a U-shaped relationship with preterm birth. Compared to non-high-risk pregnancies, high-risk pregnancies exhibited a higher risk of preterm birth across all stages of pregnancy. Notably, when late pregnancy temperature exposure exceeded 28 °C, the risk of PTB rapidly increased for non-high-risk pregnancies. This research has significant implications for improving maternal and new-born health by future sustainable city planning and the optimization of temperature forecast warning systems, particularly under the dual pressures of rapid urbanization and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to heat has a range of potential negative impacts on human health; hot weather may exacerbate cardiovascular and respiratory illness or lead to heat stroke and death. Urban populations are at increased risk due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect (higher urban temperatures compared with rural ones). This has led to extensive investigation of the summertime UHI and its effects, whereas far less research focuses on the wintertime UHI. Exposure to low temperature also leads to a range of illnesses, and in fact, in the UK, annual cold-related mortality outweighs heat-related mortality. It is not clearly understood to what extent the wintertime UHI may protect against cold related mortality.In this study we quantify the UHI intensity in wintertime for a heavily urbanized UK region (West Midlands, including Birmingham) using a regional weather model, and for the first time, use a health impact assessment (HIA) to estimate the associated impact on cold-related mortality.We show that the population-weighted mean winter UHI intensity was +2.3 °C in Birmingham city center, and comparable with that of summer. Our results suggest a potential protective effect of the wintertime UHI, equivalent to 266 cold-related deaths avoided (~15% of total cold-related mortality over ~11 weeks). When including the impacts of climate change, our results suggest that the number of heat-related deaths associated with the summer UHI will increase from 96 (in 2006) to 221 in the 2080s, based on the RCP8.5 emissions pathway. The protective effect of the wintertime UHI is projected to increase only slightly from 266 cold-related deaths avoided in 2009 to 280 avoided in the 2080s. The different effects of the UHI in winter and summer should be considered when assessing interventions in the built environment for reducing summer urban heat, and our results suggest that the future burden of temperature-related mortality associated with the UHI is likely to increase in summer relative to winter.

Human health can be negatively impacted by hot or cold weather, which often exacerbates respiratory or cardiovascular conditions and increases the risk of mortality. Urban populations are at particular increased risk of effects from heat due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect (higher urban temperatures compared with rural ones). This has led to extensive investigation of the summertime UHI, its impacts on health, and also the consideration of interventions such as reflective ‘cool’ roofs to help reduce summertime overheating effects. However, interventions aimed at limiting summer heat are rarely evaluated for their effects in wintertime, and thus their overall annual net impact on temperature-related health effects are poorly understood.In this study we use a regional weather model to simulate the winter 2009/10 period for an urbanized region of the UK (Birmingham and the West Midlands), and use a health impact assessment to estimate the impact of reflective ‘cool’ roofs (an intervention usually aimed at reducing the UHI in summer) on cold-related mortality in winter. Cool roofs have been shown to be effective at reducing maximum temperatures during summertime. In contrast to the summer, we find that cool roofs have a minimal effect on ambient air temperatures in winter. Although the UHI in summertime can increase heat-related mortality, the wintertime UHI can have benefits to health, through avoided cold-related mortality. Our results highlight the potential annual net health benefits of implementing cool roofs to reduce temperature-related mortality in summer, without reducing the protective UHI effect in winter.Further, we suggest that benefits of cool roofs may increase in future, with a doubling of the number of heat-related deaths avoided by the 2080s (RCP8.5) compared to summer 2006, and with insignificant changes in the impact of cool-roofs on cold-related mortality. These results further support reflective ‘cool’ roof implementation strategies as effective interventions to protect health, both today and in future.

• Temperature exposure during pregnancy may increase risk of preeclampsia. • High pre-pregnancy BMI may increase sensitivity to temperature exposure. • Gestational weeks 1 – 8 of pregnancy are vulnerable to temperature exposure. Environmental exposures during pregnancy have been associated with adverse obstetric outcomes. However, limited and inconsistent evidence exists regarding the association between air temperature exposure and the risk of preeclampsia (PE). This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between ambient temperature exposure during pregnancy and PE risk, as well as identify the specific time window of temperature exposure that increases PE risk. A population-based cohort study was conducted from January 2012 to April 2022 in Guangzhou, China. Pregnant women were recruited in early pregnancy and followed until delivery. A total of 3,314 PE patients and 114,201 normal pregnancies were included. Ambient temperature exposures at different gestational weeks were recorded for each participant. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the correlation between ambient temperature exposure and PE risk. Stratified analyses were conducted based on maternal age and pre-pregnancy BMI. Distributed lag models were employed to identify the time window of temperature exposure related to PE. Exposure to extreme high temperature (aOR = 1.24, 95 % CI 1.12 – 1.38) and moderate high temperature (aOR = 1.22, 95 % CI 1.10 – 1.35) during early pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of PE. Furthermore, women with higher pre-pregnancy BMI had a higher risk of developing PE when exposed to high temperature during early pregnancy compared to normal-weight women. The time window of temperature exposure related to PE was identified as pregnancy weeks 1 to 8. This study provides evidence for the association of high temperature exposure during early pregnancy with the risk of PE, as well as identifies the specific time window of temperature exposure related to PE. These findings have implications for developing potential strategies to protect pregnant women, particularly those with higher pre-pregnancy BMI, from the adverse effects of extreme temperatures during early pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The designed composite armor could efficiently resist the impact of a 12.7 mm API projectile with an impact velocity of ∼500 m/s for long-range shooting. It is a near-optimal scheme compared with the existing configurations on the basis of similar or less areal density with a maximum 50 % reduction in the backplate deflection. • The formation mechanism and damage morphology of cracks are changed due to extreme temperature microscopically, thus resulting in the difference in the number of cracks and ballistic performance on a macroscopic scale. • High temperature decreases the stiffness of the matrix and the matrix's structural integrity, low temperature causes defects inside the matrix, while the accompanying hardening effect is considered as a benefit. Both extreme temperatures brought damage to the strength of the fiber-matrix interface. In the design of lightweight composite armor, it is crucial to consider the challenging conditions of extreme environments encountered during service. This study proposes to investigate the effect of temperature on the ballistic performance of a B 4 C/aramid III/UHMWPE composite armor system against 12.7 mm armor-piercing incendiary (API) projectiles with an impact velocity of ∼500 m/s. A series of ballistic experiments were conducted under low temperature (-40 ℃), high temperature (+70 ℃), and room temperature (+20 ℃) respectively considering two shooting distances of 100 m (long-range shooting) and 30 m (close-range shooting). The structural failure modes and associated mechanisms were identified and analyzed in detail from both macroscopic and microscopic scales. The experimental results indicate that the designed composite armor is believed to perform better than the existing design schemes in resisting the 12.7 mm half-speed API projectile on the basis of similar or less areal density. The ballistic performance of the composite armor system is significantly enhanced at low temperatures and weakened at high temperatures in terms of structural damage levels and backplate bulge deformation. The decrease in shooting distance transformed the panel failure mode essentially from non-penetration to penetration under room and high temperatures, whereas the specimens under low temperatures could prevent penetration. Both the ceramic and composite laminate materials are affected by temperature and show different microscopic damage modes, indicating the damage mechanism changes at the microscopic level. These findings provide valuable insight into the design of lightweight composite armor systems to adapt to extreme service environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Poor urban communities are likely to bear the brunt of climate change impacts on health and well-being. The City of Johannesburg, South Africa, is predicted to experience an average increase in ambient temperature of 4,C by 2100. Focusing on the urban environment, this study aimed to determine socio-economic, infrastructural and health-related risk factors for heat-related adverse health effects. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study. Data of interest were collected using a pretested and validated questionnaire administered to parents of children attending schools participating in a school heat study. Information related to demographic, socio-economic and household-level determinants of health, which has an impact on the individual prevalence of adverse heat-health effects associated with hot weather, was collected for 136 households and 580 individuals. RESULTS: sweating (n = 208 individuals; 35%), headache and nausea (n = 111; 19%) and weakness, fatigue and dizziness (n = 87; 15%) were the most common heat-health effects reportedly experienced by individuals (n = 580) during hot weather. Individuals who suffered from hypertension (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.34 - 4.05, p = 0.003) and individuals older than 60 years (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.27-1.99, p = 0.001) compared to other age groups were more likely to experience 'any heat-health effects'. Living in government-sponsored detached housing and in houses with asbestos roofs were associated with an increase in reported experience of 'any heat-health effects' compared to living in other housing types. CONCLUSION: heat-health awareness campaigns should target people suffering from pre-existing diseases and the elderly, as these groups are especially vulnerable to heat. Focus should also be given to appropriate roofing and insulation in government-sponsored housing since summertime temperatures are projected to increase.

Thermal treatments at 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60±1°C for a period of 1, 2 and 3 h were evaluated against Sitophilus oryzae adult along with germination test and vigour index of wheat seeds. No mortality of insect was observed at 35± 1°C after 1, 2 and 3 h of exposure while 63.33, 73.33 and 83.33% mortality of adult insect was recorded at 40±1°C after 1, 2 and 3 h of exposure respectively. However, 100% mortality of S. oryzae adult was observed at 45, 50, 55 and 60±1°C for all time periods. Almost 100% germination of wheat seed was observed under all the temperature treatments and durations as above. No significant difference in vigour index of wheat seed was recorded at different temperatures for all the three duration of exposure.

Introduction: poor urban communities are likely to bear the brunt of climate change impacts on health and well-being. The City of Johannesburg, South Africa, is predicted to experience an average increase in ambient temperature of 4°C by 2100. Focusing on the urban environment, this study aimed to determine socio-economic, infrastructural and health-related risk factors for heat-related adverse health effects. Methods: this was a crosssectional study. Data of interest were collected using a pretested and validated questionnaire administered to parents of children attending schools participating in a school heat study. Information related to demographic, socio-economic and household-level determinants of health, which has an impact on the individual prevalence of adverse heat-health effects associated with hot weather, was collected for 136 households and 580 individuals. Results: sweating (n = 208 individuals; 35%), headache and nausea (n = 111; 19%) and weakness, fatigue and dizziness (n = 87; 15%) were the most common heat-health effects reportedly experienced by individuals (n = 580) during hot weather. Individuals who suffered from hypertension (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.34 - 4.05, p = 0.003) and individuals older than 60 years (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.27-1.99, p < 0.001) compared to other age groups were more likely to experience 'any heat-health effects'. Living in government-sponsored detached housing and in houses with asbestos roofs were associated with an increase in reported experience of 'any heat-health effects' compared to living in other housing types. Conclusion: heathealth awareness campaigns should target people suffering from pre-existing diseases and the elderly, as these groups are especially vulnerable to heat. Focus should also be given to appropriate roofing and insulation in government-sponsored housing since summertime temperatures are projected to increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, terrestrial vegetation in the northern hemisphere (NH) has been exposed to warming and more extremely high temperatures. However, the consequences of these changes for terrestrial vegetation growth remain poorly quantified and understood. By examining a satellite-based vegetation index, tree-ring measurements and land-surface model simulations, we discovered a consistent convex pattern in the responses of vegetation growth to temperature exposure (TE) for forest, shrub and grass in both the temperate (30°−50° N) and boreal (50°−70° N) NH during the period of 1982−2012. The response of vegetation growth to TE for the three vegetation types in both the temperate and boreal NH increased convergently with increasing temperature, until vegetation type-dependent temperature thresholds were reached. A TE beyond these temperature thresholds resulted in disproportionately weak positive or even strong negative responses. Vegetation growth in the boreal NH was more vulnerable to extremely high-temperature events than vegetation growth in the temporal NH. The non-linear responses discovered here provide new insights into the dynamics of northern terrestrial ecosystems in a warmer world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A Pennisetum purpureum /glass-reinforced epoxy (PGRE) hybrid composites was comprehensively characterised to assess its impact response behaviour at room temperature (RT), under moisture exposure, and elevated temperatures. The untreated, 5 and 10% alkali-treated PGRE composites were fabricated using hybridised Pennisetum purpureum /woven E-glass fibres and epoxy resin. An instrumented IMATEK IM10 drop weight impact tester was utilised to characterise the impact responses of the prepared hybrid composites. The specimens were subjected to water exposure for 50, 100, 200, and 400 h and before arranged with a low-velocity impact test. In addition, the tests were repeated at 40, 60, and 80 °C to examine the effects of elevated temperatures. The results indicate that the untreated PGRE composite yielded the highest peak load impact response at all energy levels. The stiffness of the composites found to decrease substantially with increasing temperatures, which increases the absorbed energy and peak deflection causing extensive damage to the specimens. Highlights • The PGRE with untreated Pennisetum purpureum fibres yielded highest the peak load. • The peak load of the PGRE decreased with longer immersion times. • The reduced stiffness and strength of the moisturised PGRE caused cracking. • The stiffness of the PGRE reduced considerably as the temperature increased. • The damaged area and delamination increases with increasing test temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corals exhibit different responses to increasing temperature but it remains unclear whether this is determined exclusively by symbiont type or by intrinsic properties of the host. Here, we investigated the response to elevated temperature of symbionts of the same ITS2 type from three acroporid species from Bolinao, northwestern Philippines. Maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) of PSII was measured in symbionts subjected to 26°C (average winter temperature) and 31°C (average summer temperature) for up to 48 hrs. Greater reduction in Fv/Fm was observed for ex hospite than for in hospite symbionts. However, no significant differences in response could be discerned for symbionts associated with or originating from the different acroporids. Thus, while these findings confirm that the coral host can protect in hospite symbionts from temperature perturbations, for the acroporids in this study, there is still no evidence that host type confers differential thermal susceptibility to the symbionts or to the coral holobiont. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The longevity of Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, infected by an entomopathogenic fungus, Isaria fumosorosea, was studied by microcalorimetry. Experimental results of microcalorimetry suggest that in the process of metabolism of D. citri heat or heat flow declined exponentially. The metabolism of D. citri inhibited by increasing temperature, and the longevity of D. citri decreased gradually with respect to temperature. The longevity of D. citri almost reaches 500 h at 25 °C and D. citri died within 130 h at 41 °C under high-temperature exposure. The same phenomenon, decrease in longevity and metabolism inhibition, was observed under the low-temperature exposure. The supercooling point of insects can be derived from a cooling curve plotting the temperature versus time by using microcalorimetry. The heat released due to phase change can be determined by using microcalorimeter. Our results indicated that microcalorimetry can be used to measure the metabolism of herbivore insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of air shot blasting and temperature exposure without load on residual stresses and limit endurance of smooth specimens and specimens with semicircular notches of aluminum D16T and V95 alloys was investigated experimentally. This research was done for the symmetric loading cycle in terms of bending and tensioncompression tests and the base of 107 cycles. The check of the calculated mean integral residual criterion stress to estimate the increment of the endurance limit of hardened parts with stress concentrators was completed. It was established experimentally and theoretically, that there is increment of increase in endurance limit hardened parts with stress concentrators in comparison with non-reinforced specimens, and temperature exposure leads to residual stresses relaxation and reduce the increment of the endurance limit.

In many ectotherms, exposure to high temperatures can improve subsequent tolerance to higher temperatures. However, the differential effects of single, repeated or continuous exposure to high temperatures are less clear. We measured the effects of single heat shocks and of diurnally fluctuating or constant rearing temperatures on the critical thermal maximum (CTmax) for final instar larvae of Manduca sexta. Brief (2 h) heat shocks at temperatures of 35°C and above significantly increased CTmax relative to control temperatures (25°C). Increasing mean temperatures (from 25 to 30°C) or greater diurnal fluctuations (from constant to ±10°C) during larval development also significantly increased CTmax. Combining these data showed that repeated or continuous temperature exposure during development improved heat tolerance beyond the effects of a single exposure to the same maximum temperature. These results suggest that both acute and chronic temperature exposure can result in adaptive plasticity of upper thermal limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separate and combined exposure of roach Rutilus rutilus embryos during the first 38 h after fertilization to magnetic field (500 Hz, 1.4-1.6 μT) and elevated temperature (23°C) causes morphological responses: decrease in mean values of length and weight of the body, increase in the number of vertebrae, and increase in the number of vertebral anomalies and morphological diversity of vertebral phenotypes. Size-weight characteristics and the number of vertebrae in underyearlings are related to the development of anomalies in its backbone. A method for counting of vertebrae in fish with backbone malformations is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between temperatures and risk of cardiovascular mortality has been recognized but the association drawn from previous meta-analysis was weak due to the lack of sufficient studies. This paper presented a review with updated reports in the literature about the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization in relation to different temperature exposures and examined the dose–response relationship of temperature-cardiovascular hospitalization by change in units of temperature, latitudes, and lag days. The pooled effect sizes were calculated for cold, heat, heatwave, and diurnal variation using random-effects meta-analysis, and the dose–response relationship of temperature-cardiovascular admission was modelled using random-effect meta-regression. The Cochrane Q-test and index of heterogeneity ( I 2 ) were used to evaluate heterogeneity, and Egger's test was used to evaluate publication bias. Sixty-four studies were included in meta-analysis. The pooled results suggest that for a change in temperature condition, the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization increased 2.8% (RR, 1.028; 95% CI, 1.021–1.035) for cold exposure, 2.2% (RR, 1.022; 95% CI, 1.006–1.039) for heatwave exposure, and 0.7% (RR, 1.007; 95% CI, 1.002–1.012) for an increase in diurnal temperature. However no association was observed for heat exposure. The significant dose–response relationship of temperature — cardiovascular admission was found with cold exposure and diurnal temperature. Increase in one-day lag caused a marginal reduction in risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations for cold exposure and diurnal variation, and increase in latitude was associated with a decrease in risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations for diurnal temperature only. There is a significant short-term effect of cold exposure, heatwave and diurnal variation on cardiovascular hospitalizations. Further research is needed to understand the temperature-cardiovascular relationship for different climate areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperatures, an extremely polluted ambient environment, alongside disparities in housing quality and household energy use, indicate overheating risk and poor indoor air quality in Delhi dwellings. In this study, we explore a range of interventions to reduce adverse temperature exposure and improve indoor air quality, focusing on PM2.5, for exemplar base case households developed to cover the range of settlements types found in Delhi. Interventions are modelled using dynamic thermal simulation, and include a range of modifications to dwelling operation and building fabric, as well as additional building components. A weighted multi-objective assessment considering annual energy use, intervention cost, and a health metric encompassing heat, cold and PM2.5 exposure, is employed to score the suitability of strategies for each settlement type. The most effective strategy is found to be a combination of changes in building fabric with evaporative cooling and cooking ventilation in all archetypes. The results demonstrate how a weighted multi-objective assessment is effective in selecting strategies for settlement types with differing priorities.Practical application: Current dwellings in Delhi risk significant energy consumption or provide inadequate indoor environmental quality. This work presents the performance of potential interventions, by considering multiple criteria, which could be deployed in Delhi households to provide low-energy healthy homes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

It is crucial for the quality and safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods to maintain the cold chain from production to consumption. The effect of temperature abuse related to daily meals and elevated refrigerator temperatures on the growth and toxin production of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus weihenstephanensis and Staphylococcus aureus and the growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica was studied. A case study with temperature loggings in the domestic environment during Easter and Christmas holidays was performed to select relevant time and temperature courses. A model for bacterial surface growth on food using nutrient agar plates exposed to variations in temperatures was used to simulate food stored at different temperatures and exposed to room temperature for short periods of time. The results were compared with predicted growth using the modeling tool ComBase Predictor. The consumers exposed their cold cuts to room temperatures as high as 26.5°C with an average duration of meals was 47min daily for breakfast/brunch during the vacations. Short (≤2h) daily intervals at 25°C nearly halved the time the different pathogens needed to reach levels corresponding to the levels associated with human infection or intoxication, compared with the controls continuously stored at refrigerator temperature. Although the temperature fluctuations affected growth of both B. weihenstephanensis and S. aureus, toxin production was only detected at much higher cell concentrations than what has been associated with human intoxications. Therefore, growth of L. monocytogenes and Y. enterocolitica was found to be the limiting factor for safety. In combination with data on temperature abuse in the domestic environment, modeling programs such as ComBase Predictor can be efficient tools to predict growth of some pathogens but will not predict toxin production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The longevity of Leptocybe invasa Fisher & LaSalle ( L. invasa) was studied by microcalorimetry and traditional methods, respectively. As regards the results from microcalorimetry, the heat flow in the process of metabolism of L. invasa declined exponentially. With the temperature increasing, the metabolism of L. invasa was inhibited, and the longevity of L. invasa decreased gradually. At 25 °C, the longevity of L. invasa almost reaches 360 h. At 41 °C, L. invasa will die within 18 h. The same phenomenon was observed under the low temperature. The supercooling point can be determined by microcalorimetry because the heat will be released due to the phase change. The survival aspects of L. invasa on high- and low-temperature exposures were also studied by traditional methods. Similar results were obtained in both methods, which indicated that microcalorimetry can be used to measure the metabolism of insect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Adhesive bonding technique is widely studied and adopted in automotive industry in recent years, which leads to satisfactory joint mechanical properties and lightweight effects. In this study, the static mechanical performance of adhesively bonded joints after different temperature exposures was investigated through joint quasi-static shear-strength test. A response surface method using MATLAB programming was utilised to analyse the influences of exposure temperature and adhesive mechanical attributes on joint static strength. Visual inspection and scanning electron microscopy were later performed on the fracture surfaces to explain the failure mechanisms. Test results showed that long-term temperature exposure caused degradation in joint strength and failure displacement. It was found through response surface curve that comparing to higher temperature exposure, lower temperature causes greater and faster environmental degradation. Different types of fracture surfaces in the overlap zone were also detected through comparing adhesive joints under different environmental treatments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effects of time-dependent temperature fluctuations on surface-tension driven fluid flow inside a capillary are modeled using classical hydrodynamics. To begin, Newton’s second law is evoked to derive a nondimensional equation of motion that describes the time-evolution of the fluid front position and velocity as a function of system geometry, fluid properties, and fluid temperature. This model is used to examine how temperature excursions affect the instantaneous and long-term position and velocity of the fluid front inside the capillary. Next, the effects of orientation on the movement of high viscosity fluids through a capillary are examined. From these findings, a procedure is developed for designing non-powered time–temperature integration devices for recording the cumulative temperature exposure history of an environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Concrete elements exposed to fire undergo temperature gradients and, as a result, undergo physical changes or spalling, thereby exposing the steel reinforcement. The structural property of concrete that has been most widely studied as a function of temperature exposure is compressive strength. This study was carried out to generate experimental data on residual strength of heated Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) columns. A total of 24 RCC columns were cast with similar cross-sectional details, length, grade of concrete, reinforcement and clear cover provided to reinforcement. Two columns were kept at each temperature for 3 h, starting from a lower temperature of 100 °C and ending at a high temperature of 1,000 °C with increments of 100 °C. Thereafter, these test specimens were tested for ultimate failure loads, thermal crack widths, Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) and rebound hammer values after cooling them to room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Urban heat interventions generally aim to reduce heat-related effects in summer. • Cool roofs have a larger impact on temperature in summer than in winter. • In winter cool roofs have negligible impacts on cold-related mortality. • Cool roofs have net benefits in reducing annual temperature related mortality. Human health can be negatively impacted by hot or cold weather, which often exacerbates respiratory or cardiovascular conditions and increases the risk of mortality. Urban populations are at particular increased risk of effects from heat due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect (higher urban temperatures compared with rural ones). This has led to extensive investigation of the summertime UHI, its impacts on health, and also the consideration of interventions such as reflective 'cool' roofs to help reduce summertime overheating effects. However, interventions aimed at limiting summer heat are rarely evaluated for their effects in wintertime, and thus their overall annual net impact on temperature-related health effects are poorly understood. In this study we use a regional weather model to simulate the winter 2009/10 period for an urbanized region of the UK (Birmingham and the West Midlands), and use a health impact assessment to estimate the impact of reflective 'cool' roofs (an intervention usually aimed at reducing the UHI in summer) on cold-related mortality in winter. Cool roofs have been shown to be effective at reducing maximum temperatures during summertime. In contrast to the summer, we find that cool roofs have a minimal effect on ambient air temperatures in winter. Although the UHI in summertime can increase heat-related mortality, the wintertime UHI can have benefits to health, through avoided cold-related mortality. Our results highlight the potential annual net health benefits of implementing cool roofs to reduce temperature-related mortality in summer, without reducing the protective UHI effect in winter. Further, we suggest that benefits of cool roofs may increase in future, with a doubling of the number of heat-related deaths avoided by the 2080s (RCP8.5) compared to summer 2006, and with insignificant changes in the impact of cool-roofs on cold-related mortality. These results further support reflective 'cool' roof implementation strategies as effective interventions to protect health, both today and in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mean city centre winter UHI intensity was +2.3 °C reaching maximum of +9.9 °C. • Winter UHI reduces cold-related mortality by 15% (266 deaths avoided). • This compares with increased mortality of 36% (96 deaths) in summer. • Winter UHI continues to have a protective effect in future climate. Exposure to heat has a range of potential negative impacts on human health; hot weather may exacerbate cardiovascular and respiratory illness or lead to heat stroke and death. Urban populations are at increased risk due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect (higher urban temperatures compared with rural ones). This has led to extensive investigation of the summertime UHI and its effects, whereas far less research focuses on the wintertime UHI. Exposure to low temperature also leads to a range of illnesses, and in fact, in the UK, annual cold-related mortality outweighs heat-related mortality. It is not clearly understood to what extent the wintertime UHI may protect against cold related mortality. In this study we quantify the UHI intensity in wintertime for a heavily urbanized UK region (West Midlands, including Birmingham) using a regional weather model, and for the first time, use a health impact assessment (HIA) to estimate the associated impact on cold-related mortality. We show that the population-weighted mean winter UHI intensity was +2.3 °C in Birmingham city center, and comparable with that of summer. Our results suggest a potential protective effect of the wintertime UHI, equivalent to 266 cold-related deaths avoided (~15% of total cold-related mortality over ~11 weeks). When including the impacts of climate change, our results suggest that the number of heat-related deaths associated with the summer UHI will increase from 96 (in 2006) to 221 in the 2080s, based on the RCP8.5 emissions pathway. The protective effect of the wintertime UHI is projected to increase only slightly from 266 cold-related deaths avoided in 2009 to 280 avoided in the 2080s. The different effects of the UHI in winter and summer should be considered when assessing interventions in the built environment for reducing summer urban heat, and our results suggest that the future burden of temperature-related mortality associated with the UHI is likely to increase in summer relative to winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niobium silicide coatings were processed on Nb metal using double pack cementation procedures at temperatures in the range 1000 °C–1200 °C for up to 6 h. Coating thickness and hardness were affected by processing parameters. Lower processing temperatures resulted in single-layer NbSi 2 coatings while the highest processing temperature (1200 °C) produced coatings with two layers, NbSi 2 and Nb 5 Si 3 , the latter at the NbSi 2 /Nb interface. Analysis of the results shows that Nb 5 Si 3 forms by decomposition of NbSi 2 and interdiffusion of Si and Nb. The influence of processing parameters on vacancy density and of vacancy density on the coating formation mechanisms and properties is discussed. Silicide-coated Nb had superior oxidation resistance to pure Nb. However, under the conditions tested a two-layer scale of Nb 2 O 5 and SiO 2 was formed. Analysis of the data indicates that Nb 2 O 5 forms rapidly on the surface of the coatings at lower temperatures whereas SiO 2 forms at the top of the oxide scale. It is concluded that pre-oxidation treatment is essential to ensure formation of an SiO 2 scale, which is associated with enhanced oxidation performance. • Double pack-cementation allowed to process silicide diffusion coatings on Nb • Processing and post-processing above 1100 °C favoured the synthesis of Nb 5 Si 3. • Si vacancy concentration and interdiffusion of Si/Nb occurred near the substrate. • Parabolic oxidation kinetics is associated with synthesis of a protective SiO 2 scale. • Oxidation above 1200 °C forms a protective continuous scale of SiO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A geopolymer has been reckoned as a rising technology with huge potential for application across the globe. Dolomite refers to a material that can be used raw in producing geopolymers. Nevertheless, dolomite has slow strength development due to its low reactivity as a geopolymer. In this study, dolomite/fly ash (DFA) geopolymer composites were produced with dolomite, fly ash, sodium hydroxide, and liquid sodium silicate. A compression test was carried out on DFA geopolymers to determine the strength of the composite, while a synchrotron Micro-Xray Fluorescence (Micro-XRF) test was performed to assess the elemental distribution in the geopolymer composite. The temperature applied in this study generated promising properties of DFA geopolymers, especially in strength, which displayed increments up to 74.48 MPa as the optimum value. Heat seemed to enhance the strength development of DFA geopolymer composites. The elemental distribution analysis revealed exceptional outcomes for the composites, particularly exposure up to 400 °C, which signified the homogeneity of the DFA composites. Temperatures exceeding 400 °C accelerated the strength development, thus increasing the strength of the DFA composites. This appears to be unique because the strength of ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and other geopolymers composed of other raw materials is typically either maintained or decreases due to increased heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was a comparative morphological assessment of changes in the mucous membrane of the lip in the field of radio wave and cold plasma exposure in the experiment., Material and Methods: Experimental animals removed a portion of the mucous membrane of the inner surface of the lip with a Surgitron radio knife (group 1) and an electrode of the Coblator II cold plasma apparatus (observation group 2). Tissue was taken from the edge of the surgical wound as a trapezoidal flap containing mucous and submucous membranes immediately after the incision and 3 weeks after the surgery. Histological sections were prepared, which were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, as well as according to van Gieson., Results: It was found that, both in cases of using a radio knife and a coblator along the edges and in the depth of the wound, coagulation tissue necrosis was observed, which was more evident in group 1 of observations. In addition, after the radio wave exposure, in the areas close to the defect, the epithelial lining was disrupted to one degree or another, which was not observed when using the coblator. After 3 weeks of the experiment, the stratified squamous non-keratinizing epithelium in both groups had a normal histological structure. At the same time, when using the coblator, the lamina propria of the mucous membrane was completely restored, and in cases with the use of a radio knife, sclerotic processes with the formation of scar tissue took place in the lamina propria of the mucous membrane in some areas., Conclusions: The use of a coblator should be recognized as a more gentle method, since a comparative analysis of histological changes immediately after the incision showed a more intense damaging effect of the radio knife on the surrounding tissues, which in later stages was accompanied by incomplete regeneration (substitution) of the lip mucosa.

• Bond performance between corroded steel bars and concrete after high temperature exposure were investigated. • Slight reinforcement corrosion could delay the bond behavior degradation caused by the elevated temperatures. • The corrosion-induced cracks reduced the confinement of concrete cover and accelerated the deterioration of bond behavior. • A bond-slip constitutive equation between corroded rebar and concrete after high temperature was proposed. Pull-out tests were performed to study the deterioration of bond performance between concrete and corroded steel bars with designed corrosion levels of 0%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 4.0%, and 6.0% after the specimens were exposed to 20, 200, 400, 600, and 800 °C. The experimental results indicated that the deterioration of bond performance, including the bond strength, bond stiffness, bond energy dissipation, and residual bond stress, were influenced by the reinforcement corrosion and temperature exposure. The rate and severity of bond degradation after temperature exposure for corroded specimens, especially those specimens with corrosion-induced cracks, were more pronounced than those of the uncorroded specimens. An empirical model of bond strength and a simplified bond-slip constitutive equation that considers the influence of reinforcement corrosion and temperature exposure were proposed, and the practicability of the suggested model was verified by experimental data from other researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]