1
|
Zhang Y, Zhang X, Han J, Liu X. Study on the outdoor thermal comfort of college students under different activity intensities in a high-altitude climate zone. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1365470. [PMID: 38562254 PMCID: PMC10982489 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1365470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Research on the outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) of a university campus is beneficial to the physical and mental health of college students. Methods In this study, the OTC of students attending Tibet University in Lhasa, which experiences high-altitude cold climate conditions, under different activity intensities was studied using field measurements and a questionnaire survey. Results With the increase in activity intensity, the comfort physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) value gradually increased in summer, while the comfortable PET value gradually decreased in winter. The most comfortable PET value is 17.6°C in summer and 11.5°C in winter. The neutral PET of Tibetan college students during outdoor activities in summer was 16.3°C, and the neutral PET of outdoor activities in winter was 12.1°C. Gender and ethnicity had different effects on thermal sensation under different activity intensities. Under vigorous-intensity activities, PET in winter and summer had the greatest influence on thermal sensation. The situation was different under moderate-intensity activity. PET had the greatest influence on thermal sensation in summer, and Tmrt had the greatest influence on thermal sensation in winter. Discussion These findings provide a basis for an improved design of the outdoor environment under different outdoor activity intensities in high-altitude areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jiaqin Han
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hansen V, Sabo A, Korn J, MacLean D, Rigét FF, Clausen DS, Cubley J. Indoor radon survey in Whitehorse, Canada, and dose assessment. J Radiol Prot 2023; 43:011515. [PMID: 36731127 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/acb82a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Radon-222 (222Rn) and its decay products are the primary sources of a population's exposure to background ionizing radiation. Radon decay products are the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking for smokers. A community-driven long-term radon survey was completed in 232 residential homes in different subdivisions of Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon, during the heating season from November to April in 2016-2017 and in 2017-2018. Radon concentrations were measured in living rooms and bedrooms on ground floors. The arithmetic and geometric means of indoor radon activity concentrations in different subdivisions of Whitehorse ranged from 52 ± 0.6 Bq m-3and 37 ± 2.3 Bq m-3in the Downtown area of Whitehorse to 993.0 ± 55.0 Bq m-3and 726.2 ± 2.4 Bq m-3in Wolf Creek. Underlying geology and glacial surfaces may partly explain these variations of indoor radon concentrations in subdivisions of Whitehorse. A total of 78 homes (34.0%) had radon concentrations higher than 100 Bq m-3, 47 homes (20.5%) had concentrations higher than 200 Bq m-3and 33 homes (14.4%) had concentrations higher than 300 Bq m-3. The indoor radon contribution to the annual effective inhalation dose to residents ranged from 3.0 mSv in the Downtown area to 51.0 mSv in Wolf Creek. The estimated annual average dose to adults in Whitehorse, Yukon, is higher than the world's average annual effective dose of 1.3 mSv due to the inhalation of indoor radon. The annual radon inhalation effective dose was assessed using radon measurements taken during winter; hence the assessed dose may be overestimated. Cost-efficient mitigation methods are available to reduce radon in existing buildings and to prevent radon entry into new buildings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Hansen
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Angela Sabo
- Yukon Lung Association, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 5Y5, Canada
| | - Juergen Korn
- Yukon Housing Corporation, 410 Jarvis St, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6, Canada
| | | | - Frank Farsø Rigét
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde DK-4000, Denmark
- Greenland Institute for Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, Nuuk GL-3900, Greenland
| | - Daniel Spelling Clausen
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Joel Cubley
- School of Science, Yukon University, 500 University Drive, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 5K4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kienast C, Biere K, Coker RH, Genov NN, Jörres M, Maggioni MA, Mascarell-Maricic L, Schalt A, Genov M, Gunga HC, Steinach M. Adiponectin, leptin, cortisol, neuropeptide Y and profile of mood states in athletes participating in an ultramarathon during winter: An observational study. Front Physiol 2022; 13:970016. [PMID: 36579027 PMCID: PMC9791263 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.970016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The Montane® Yukon Arctic Ultra (YAU) is one of the longest (690 km) and coldest (+10.6°C-43.9°C) ultramarathons worldwide. Taking part in an ultramarathon is associated with great physiological and psychological stress, which can affect one's mood, level of hormones, and peptides. The current study aimed to identify relationships between peptides, hormones, and mood states in participants during this ultramarathon. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 36 participants (19 men, 17 women, 38.64 ± 9.12 years) split into a finisher (n = 10), non-finisher (n = 19), and control group (n = 7). Data were collected at four time points: baseline (PRE), during (D1 after 277 km, D2 after 383 km), and after the race (POST). Questionnaires were used to assess ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), total quality of recovery (TQR), and profile of mood states (POMS-SF). Serum NPY, leptin, adiponectin, and cortisol were measured. Results: Among non-finishers, scores for confusion, anger, depression, and tension-anxiety (PRE vs. D2, p < 0.05) increased, while vigor decreased (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). In contrast, finishers' tension-anxiety scores decreased (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). Fatigue increased in finishers (PRE vs. POST, p < 0.05) and non-finishers (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). In non-finishers, depressive mood correlated positively with leptin, anger, and confusion at several time points (p < 0.001). In finishers, NPY correlated with TQR at PRE (p < 0.05), while leptin correlated negatively with TQR at POST (p < 0.05). Tension-anxiety correlated highly with perceived exertion in non-finishers (p < 0.001) and with cortisol in finishers (p < 0.05) and non-finishers (p < 0.001). In finishers, confusion correlated negatively with NPY (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The study reveals an essential interplay between hormones and mood states affecting performance: Leptin was associated with anger and a depressive mood state in non-finishers and worse recovery in finishers. In contrast, NPY appeared linked to a lower confusion score and heightened recovery in finishers. A simultaneous increase in depressed mood, anger, tension-anxiety, and confusion might harm performance and lead to race failure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Kienast
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments Berlin, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Camilla Kienast,
| | - Katharina Biere
- Laboratory of Translational Research “Stress and Immunity”, Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Robert H. Coker
- Montana Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
| | | | - Marc Jörres
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martina Anna Maggioni
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lea Mascarell-Maricic
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Berlin, Germany
| | - Adriane Schalt
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Magdalena Genov
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hanns-Christian Gunga
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mathias Steinach
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lv J, Qi P, Bai LH, Yan XD, Zhang L. Review of the relationship and underlying mechanisms between the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and host intestinal flora. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1055632. [PMID: 36523840 PMCID: PMC9745141 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1055632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The intestinal microbial community is the largest ecosystem in the human body, in which the intestinal flora plays a dominant role and has a wide range of biological functions. However, it is vulnerable to a variety of factors, and exposure to extreme environments at high altitudes, as seen on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, may cause changes in the structure and function of the host intestinal flora. Conversely, the intestinal flora can help the host adapt to the plateau environment through a variety of ways. Herein, we review the relationship and underlying mechanism between the host intestinal flora and the plateau environment by discussing the characteristics of the plateau environment, its influence on the intestinal flora, and the important role of the intestinal flora in host adaptation to the plateau environment. This review aimed to provide a reference for maintaining the health of the plateau population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Lv
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ping Qi
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Liu-Hui Bai
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiang-Dong Yan
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Stjernbrandt A, Hoftun Farbu E. Occupational cold exposure is associated with neck pain, low back pain, and lumbar radiculopathy. Ergonomics 2022; 65:1276-1285. [PMID: 35023451 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2022.2027030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ambient cold exposure can pose health risks, and this study was aimed at investigating associations with musculoskeletal disorders. A postal survey was performed on 12,627 men and women, ages 18-70 years, living in northern Sweden. Statistical associations were determined using multiple logistic regression. The study sample consisted of 6,886 women (54.5%), and 5,741 men. Reporting high occupational ambient cold exposure was statistically significantly associated with neck pain (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.16-1.59), low back pain (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.17-1.63), and lumbar radiculopathy (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.07-1.73), after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, physical work load, daily smoking, and stress. We conclude that ambient cold exposure during work was an independent predictor of neck pain, low back pain, and lumbar radiculopathy. In occupational health care settings, cold exposure should be recognised as a possible risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders. Practitioner summary: This cross-sectional, survey-based study investigated associations between self-reported occupational ambient cold exposure and musculoskeletal disorders. It showed significant associations between high cold exposure and neck pain, low back pain and lumbar radiculopathy. In occupational health care settings, cold exposure should be recognised as a possible risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albin Stjernbrandt
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Schoeters F, Spit J, Azizah RN, Van Miert S. Pilot-Scale Cultivation of the Snow Alga Chloromonas typhlos in a Photobioreactor. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:896261. [PMID: 35757813 PMCID: PMC9218667 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.896261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The most studied and cultivated microalgae have a temperature optimum between 20 and 35°C. This temperature range hampers sustainable microalgae growth in countries with colder periods. To overcome this problem, psychrotolerant microalgae, such as the snow alga Chloromonas typhlos, can be cultivated during these colder periods. However, most of the research work has been carried out in the laboratory. The step between laboratory-scale and large-scale cultivation is difficult, making pilot-scale tests crucial to gather more information. Here, we presented a successful pilot-scale growth test of C. typhlos. Seven batch mode growth periods were compared during two longer growth tests in a photobioreactor of 350 L. We demonstrated the potential of this alga to be cultivated at colder ambient temperatures. The tests were performed during winter and springtime to compare ambient temperature and sunlight influences. The growth and CO2 usage were continuously monitored to calculate the productivity and CO2 fixation efficiency. A maximum dry weight of 1.082 g L-1 was achieved while a maximum growth rate and maximum daily volumetric and areal productivities of 0.105 d-1, 0.110 g L-1 d-1, and 2.746 g m-2 d-1, respectively, were measured. Future tests to optimize the cultivation of C. typhlos and production of astaxanthin, for example, will be crucial to explore the potential of biomass production of C. typhlos on a commercial scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Floris Schoeters
- Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Geel, Belgium
| | - Jornt Spit
- Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Geel, Belgium
| | - Rahmasari Nur Azizah
- Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Geel, Belgium.,I-BioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Sabine Van Miert
- Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Geel, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wine O, Osornio Vargas A, Campbell SM, Hosseini V, Koch CR, Shahbakhti M. Cold Climate Impact on Air-Pollution-Related Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:1473. [PMID: 35162495 PMCID: PMC8835073 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In cold temperatures, vehicles idle more, have high cold-start emissions including greenhouse gases, and have less effective exhaust filtration systems, which can cause up to ten-fold more harmful vehicular emissions. Only a few vehicle technologies have been tested for emissions below -7 °C (20 °F). Four-hundred-million people living in cities with sub-zero temperatures may be impacted. We conducted a scoping review to identify the existing knowledge about air-pollution-related health outcomes in a cold climate, and pinpoint any research gaps. Of 1019 papers identified, 76 were selected for review. The papers described short-term health impacts associated with air pollutants. However, most papers removed the possible direct effect of temperature on pollution and health by adjusting for temperature. Only eight papers formally explored the modifying effect of temperatures. Five studies identified how extreme cold and warm temperatures aggravated mortality/morbidity associated with ozone, particles, and carbon-monoxide. The other three found no health associations with tested pollutants and temperature. Additionally, in most papers, emissions could not be attributed solely to traffic. In conclusion, evidence on the relationship between cold temperatures, traffic-related pollution, and related health outcomes is lacking. Therefore, targeted research is required to guide vehicle regulations, assess extreme weather-related risks in the context of climate change, and inform public health interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Osnat Wine
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada; (O.W.); (C.R.K.)
| | - Alvaro Osornio Vargas
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada;
| | - Sandra M. Campbell
- Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada;
| | - Vahid Hosseini
- School of Sustainable Energy Engineering, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, BC V3T 0N1, Canada;
| | - Charles Robert Koch
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada; (O.W.); (C.R.K.)
| | - Mahdi Shahbakhti
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada; (O.W.); (C.R.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Calugaru IL, Etteieb S, Magdouli S, Kaur Brar K. Efficiency of thermally activated eggshells for acid mine drainage treatment in cold climate. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 2022; 57:81-91. [PMID: 35049418 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2022.2027699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The selection process for a technology to treat the mine drainage is influenced by its performance, technical feasibility and cost. For the last decades, the mine industry has been searching for green methods to treat the acid mine drainage (AMD). This study evaluated thermally activated eggshells as a potential alternative for AMD treatment in cold climate. It was found that metal removal efficiency depended on the eggshells' calcination temperature and on the solid: liquid ratio. Eggshells calcined at 900 °C and employed in a solid: liquid ratio of 0.3% increased the pH of a mine effluent from 2.5 to 6.9 at 20 °C and to 9.2 at 4 °C, respectively. Heavy metal concentrations were reduced as follows: As <0.0005 mg/L, Cd 0.00022 and 0.00009 mg/L, Cu 0.0061 and 0.0091 mg/L, Co 0.0338 and 0.0016 mg/L, Cr 0.0015 and 0.0022 mg/L, Fe <0.01 mg/L, Ni 0.0291 and 0.0024 mg/L, Mo <0.0005 mg/L, Se 0.0033 and 0.0044 mg/L, and Zn 0.007 and 0.022 mg/L, at 20 °C and 4 °C, respectively. Consequently, the treated mine effluent satisfied both the Quebec and Canadian regulations. Based on these results, thermally activated eggshells could be efficiently employed for the active and passive treatment of AMD in a cold climate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Selma Etteieb
- Centre technologique des résidus industriels, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada
| | - Sara Magdouli
- Centre technologique des résidus industriels, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada
- Department of Civil Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kamalpreet Kaur Brar
- Centre technologique des résidus industriels, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada
- Department of Civil Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kychkin AK, Gavrilieva AA, Vasilieva AA, Kychkin AA, Lebedev MP, Sivtseva AV. Assessment of Extremely Cold Subarctic Climate Environment Destruction of the Basalt Fiber Reinforced Epoxy (BFRE) Rebar Using Its Moisture Uptake Kinetics. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:4325. [PMID: 34960879 DOI: 10.3390/polym13244325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A quite simple method is proposed for the assessment of extremely cold subarctic climate environment destruction of the basalt fiber reinforced epoxy (BFRE) rebar. The method involves the comparison of experimentally obtained long-term moisture uptake kinetic curves of unexposed and exposed BFRP rebars. A moisture uptake test was carried out at the temperature of 60 °C and relative humidity of 98 ± 2% for 306 days. The plasticization can be neglected because of low-level moisture saturation (<0.41% wt.); the swelling and structural relaxation of the polymer network can be neglected due to the high fiber content of BFRP rebar; moisture diffusion into the basalt fibers can be neglected since it is a much lesser amount than in the epoxy binder. These assumptions made it possible to build a three-stage diffusion model. It is observed that an increase in the density of defects with an increase in the diameter of the BFRP rebar is the result of the technology of manufacturing a periodic profile. The diffusion coefficient of the BFRP rebar with a 6, 10, or 18 mm diameter increased at an average of 82.7%, 56.7%, and 30%, respectively, after exposure to the climate of Yakutsk during 28 months, whereas it was known that the strength indicators had been increased.
Collapse
|
10
|
Li H, Ariya PA. Black Carbon Particles Physicochemical Real-Time Data Set in a Cold City: Trends of Fall-Winter BC Accumulation and COVID-19. J Geophys Res Atmos 2021; 126:e2021JD035265. [PMID: 34926105 PMCID: PMC8667652 DOI: 10.1029/2021jd035265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Black carbon (BC) plays an important role in climate and health sciences. Using the combination of a year real-time BC observation (photoacoustic extinctiometer) and data for PM2.5 and selected co-pollutants, we herein show that annual BC Mass concentration has a bi-modal distribution, in a cold-climate city of Montreal. In addition to the summer peak, a winter BC peak was observed (up to 0.433 μg/m3), lasting over 3 months. A comparative study between two air pollution hotspots, downtown and Montreal international airport indicated that airborne average BC Mass concentration in downtown was 0.344 μg/m3, whereas in the residential areas around Montreal airport BC Mass values were over 400% higher (1.487 μg/m3). During the numerous snowfall events, airborne BC Mass concentration decreased. High-resolution scanning/transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis of the snow samples provided evidence that airborne BC particles or carbon nanomaterials were indeed transferred from polluted air to snow. During the COVID-19 lockdown, the BC concentration and selected co-pollutants, decreased up to 72%, confirming the predominance of anthropogenic activities in BC emission. This first cold-climate BC data set can be essential for more accurate air quality and climate modeling. About one-third of the Earth's land surface receive snow annually, the impact of this study on air quality, health and climate change is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Houjie Li
- Department of ChemistryMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
| | - Parisa A. Ariya
- Department of ChemistryMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic SciencesMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kim J, Lee AH, Chang W. Manipulation of Unfrozen Water Retention for Enhancing Petroleum Hydrocarbon Biodegradation in Seasonally Freezing and Frozen Soil. Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:9172-9180. [PMID: 34156830 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Manipulating the retention of unfrozen water in freezing contaminated soil to achieve prolonged bioremediation in cold climates remains unformulated. This freezing-induced biodegradation experiment shows how nutrient and zeolite amendments affect unfrozen water retention and hydrocarbon biodegradation in field-aged, petroleum-contaminated soils undergoing seasonal freezing. During soil freezing at a site-specific rate (4 to -10 °C and -0.2 °C/d), the effect of nutrients was predominant during early freezing (4 to -5 °C), alleviating the abrupt soil-freezing stress near the freezing-point depressions, elevating alkB1 gene-harboring populations, and enhancing hydrocarbon biodegradation. Subsequently, the effect of increased unfrozen water retention associated with added zeolite surface areas was critical in extending hydrocarbon biodegradation to the frozen phase (-5 to -10 °C). A series of soil-freezing characteristic curves with empirical α-values (soil-freezing index) were constructed for the tested soils and shown alongside representative curves for clays to sands, indicating correlations between α-values and nutrient concentrations (soil electrical conductivity), zeolite addition (surface area), and hydrocarbon biodegradation. Heavier hydrocarbons (F3: C16-C34) notably biodegraded in all treated soils (22-37% removal), as confirmed by biomarker-based analyses (17α(H),21β(H)-hopane), whereas lighter hydrocarbons were not biodegraded. Below 0 °C, finer-grained soils (high α-values) can be biostimulated more readily than coarser-grained soils (low α-values).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jihun Kim
- Department of Civil, Geological, and Environmental Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Engineering Building, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Aslan Hwanhwi Lee
- Department of Civil, Geological, and Environmental Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Engineering Building, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Wonjae Chang
- Department of Civil, Geological, and Environmental Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Engineering Building, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ibargüengoytía NR, Medina M, Laspiur A, Qu YF, Peralta CAR, Sinervo B, Miles DB. Looking at the past to infer into the future: Thermal traits track environmental change in Liolaemidae. Evolution 2021; 75:2348-2370. [PMID: 33939188 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The diversity of habitats generated by the Andes uplift resulted a mosaic of heterogeneous environments in South America for species to evolve a variety of ecological and physiological specializations. Species in the lizard family Liolaemidae occupy a myriad of habitats in the Andes. Here, we analyze the tempo and mode of evolution in the thermal biology of liolaemids. We assessed whether there is evidence of local adaptation (lability) or conservatism (stasis) in thermal traits. We tested the hypothesis that abiotic factors (e.g., geography, climate) rather than intrinsic factors (egg-laying [oviparous] or live-bearing [viviparous], substrate affinity) explain variation in field active body temperature (Tb ), preferred temperature (Tp ), hours of restriction of activity, and potential hours of activity. Although most traits exhibited high phylogenetic signal, we found variation in thermal biology was shaped by geography, climate, and ecological diversity. Ancestral character reconstruction showed shifts in Tb tracked environmental change in the past ∼20,000 years. Thermal preference is 3°C higher than Tb , yet exhibited a lower rate of evolution than Tb and air temperature. Viviparous Liolaemus have lower Tb s than oviparous species, whereas Tp is high for both modes of reproduction, a key difference that results in a thermal buffer for viviparous species to cope with global warming. The rapid increase in environmental temperatures expected in the next 50-80 years in combination with anthropogenic loss of habitats are projected to cause extirpations and extinctions in oviparous species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nora Ruth Ibargüengoytía
- Ecophysiology and Life History of Reptiles: Research Laboratory. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue), San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - Marlin Medina
- CIEMEP, CONICET. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco sede Esquel, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Laspiur
- Ecophysiology and Life History of Reptiles: Research Laboratory. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue), San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - Yan-Fu Qu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | | | - Barry Sinervo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Coastal Sciences Building, 130, McAllister Way, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95065, USA.,Deceased
| | - Donald B Miles
- Department of Biological Sciences, 131 Life Sciences Building, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Nikanorova AA, Barashkov NA, Pshennikova VG, Nakhodkin SS, Gotovtsev NN, Romanov GP, Solovyev AV, Kuzmina SS, Sazonov NN, Fedorova SA. The Role of Nonshivering Thermogenesis Genes on Leptin Levels Regulation in Residents of the Coldest Region of Siberia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094657. [PMID: 33925025 PMCID: PMC8124869 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptin plays an important role in thermoregulation and is possibly associated with the microevolutionary processes of human adaptation to a cold climate. In this study, based on the Yakut population (n = 281 individuals) living in the coldest region of Siberia (t°minimum -71.2 °C), we analyze the serum leptin levels and data of 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 10 genes (UCP1, UCP2, UCP3, FNDC5, PPARGC1A, CIDEA, PTGS2, TRPV1, LEPR, BDNF) that are possibly involved in nonshivering thermogenesis processes. Our results demonstrate that from 14 studied SNPs of 10 genes, 2 SNPs (the TT rs3811787 genotype of the UCP1 gene and the GG rs6265 genotype of the BDNF gene) were associated with the elevated leptin levels in Yakut females (p < 0.05). Furthermore, of these two SNPs, the rs3811787 of the UCP1 gene demonstrated more indications of natural selection for cold climate adaptation. The prevalence gradient of the T-allele (rs3811787) of UCP1 increased from the south to the north across Eurasia, along the shore of the Arctic Ocean. Thereby, our study suggests the potential involvement of the UCP1 gene in the leptin-mediated thermoregulation mechanism, while the distribution of its allelic variants is probably related to human adaptation to a cold climate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alena A. Nikanorova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Yakut Science Centre of Complex Medical Problems, 677010 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (A.A.N.); (V.G.P.); (N.N.G.); (G.P.R.); (A.V.S.)
| | - Nikolay A. Barashkov
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Yakut Science Centre of Complex Medical Problems, 677010 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (A.A.N.); (V.G.P.); (N.N.G.); (G.P.R.); (A.V.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Vera G. Pshennikova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Yakut Science Centre of Complex Medical Problems, 677010 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (A.A.N.); (V.G.P.); (N.N.G.); (G.P.R.); (A.V.S.)
| | - Sergey S. Nakhodkin
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, 677000 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (S.S.N.); (S.S.K.); (N.N.S.); (S.A.F.)
| | - Nyurgun N. Gotovtsev
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Yakut Science Centre of Complex Medical Problems, 677010 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (A.A.N.); (V.G.P.); (N.N.G.); (G.P.R.); (A.V.S.)
| | - Georgii P. Romanov
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Yakut Science Centre of Complex Medical Problems, 677010 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (A.A.N.); (V.G.P.); (N.N.G.); (G.P.R.); (A.V.S.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, 677000 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (S.S.N.); (S.S.K.); (N.N.S.); (S.A.F.)
| | - Aisen V. Solovyev
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Yakut Science Centre of Complex Medical Problems, 677010 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (A.A.N.); (V.G.P.); (N.N.G.); (G.P.R.); (A.V.S.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, 677000 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (S.S.N.); (S.S.K.); (N.N.S.); (S.A.F.)
| | - Sargylana S. Kuzmina
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, 677000 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (S.S.N.); (S.S.K.); (N.N.S.); (S.A.F.)
| | - Nikolay N. Sazonov
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, 677000 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (S.S.N.); (S.S.K.); (N.N.S.); (S.A.F.)
| | - Sardana A. Fedorova
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, 677000 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia; (S.S.N.); (S.S.K.); (N.N.S.); (S.A.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Heibati B, Wang W, Ryti NRI, Dominici F, Ducatman A, Zhang Z, Jaakkola JJK. Weather Conditions and COVID-19 Incidence in a Cold Climate: A Time-Series Study in Finland. Front Public Health 2021; 8:605128. [PMID: 33718314 PMCID: PMC7946816 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.605128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading globally at an accelerated rate. There is some previous evidence that weather may influence the incidence of COVID-19 infection. We assessed the role of meteorological factors including temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) considering the concentrations of two air pollutants, inhalable coarse particles (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the incidence of COVID-19 infections in Finland, located in arctic-subarctic climatic zone. Methods: We retrieved daily counts of COVID-19 in Finland from Jan 1 to May 31, 2020, nationwide and separately for all 21 hospital districts across the country. The meteorological and air quality data were from the monitoring stations nearest to the central district hospital. A quasi-Poisson generalized additional model (GAM) was fitted to estimate the associations between district-specific meteorological factors and the daily counts of COVID-19 during the study period. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the results. Results: The incidence rate of COVID-19 gradually increased until a peak around April 6 and then decreased. There were no associations between daily temperature and incidence rate of COVID-19. Daily average RH was negatively associated with daily incidence rate of COVID-19 in two hospital districts located inland. No such association was found nationwide. Conclusions: Weather conditions, such as air temperature and relative humidity, were not related to the COVID-19 incidence during the first wave in the arctic and subarctic winter and spring. The inference is based on a relatively small number of cases and a restricted time period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Behzad Heibati
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Wenge Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Niilo R I Ryti
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Francesca Dominici
- Department of Biostatistics, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alan Ducatman
- West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Zhijie Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jouni J K Jaakkola
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Saguez J, Neau M, Rieux C, Vallières-Murray M, Petrauskas P, Mathieu S, Duval B, Auger Y, Fréchette I. First Evidence of Western Bean Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Overwintering in the Province of Québec (Canada). J Econ Entomol 2021; 114:174-179. [PMID: 33210713 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toaa262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta (Smith), is considered a major corn pest in North America. In 2009, it started invading the province of Québec (northeastern Canada). To our knowledge, there has been no evidence that this pest could overwinter in this province. In the falls of 2017 and 2018, storage totes containing mature western bean cutworm larvae were placed in the soil in three agricultural regions, in Québec, where western bean cutworm invasions are frequent and crop damage is often significant. The goal was to evaluate if western bean cutworm could resist the province's winter conditions. The storage totes were removed from the soil at different dates to estimate winter survival. Emergence cages were installed over the totes in the spring of the following year to determine whether western bean cutworm could complete its life cycle. In the spring of 2019, car shelters were also installed at two different sites to evaluate natural moth emergences in fields in which numerous mature western bean cutworm larvae and damage were reported in 2018. Western bean cutworm moth emergences occurred in both cases. These experiments constitute the first documented evidence that western bean cutworm can overwinter and complete its life cycle in Québec's cold climate. It also represents the northernmost overwintering survival for this species ever documented in North America. The western bean cutworm's ability to overwinter in Québec will have important implications for corn producers. Pest monitoring and management programs in the province of Québec will need to be adapted accordingly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Saguez
- CÉROM - Centre de Recherche sur les grains, Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Québec, Canada
| | - Mathieu Neau
- CÉROM - Centre de Recherche sur les grains, Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Québec, Canada
| | - Christine Rieux
- MAPAQ, Centre de services agricoles de Shawville, Shawville, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | - Stéphanie Mathieu
- MAPAQ, Centre de services agricoles de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada
| | - Brigitte Duval
- MAPAQ, Centre de services agricoles de Nicolet, Nicolet, Québec, Canada
| | - Yves Auger
- MAPAQ, Centre de services agricoles de Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Fréchette
- CÉROM - Centre de Recherche sur les grains, Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Piirsalu P, Kaart T, Nutt I, Marcone G, Arney D. The Effect of Climate Parameters on Sheep Preferences for Outdoors or Indoors at Low Ambient Temperatures. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1029. [PMID: 32545740 DOI: 10.3390/ani10061029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Sheep may be kept indoors over the winter period, especially in cool climates. There is currently a drive to keep sheep outside, especially on organic sheep farms. This paper examines the preferences that sheep have in cool conditions for outdoor or indoor housing to inform management practices. We found no evidence that mature sheep should be kept confined indoors throughout the winter period, even in normal winter weather conditions in northern Europe, with temperatures as low as −20 °C and where precipitation and relative humidity may be high. In all conditions, during this trial, the majority of ewes preferred to be outside. Access to the outdoor area should be managed to restrict outdoor access for lambs, ewes with unweaned lambs and recently shorn sheep. Conditions in which sheep did choose to move indoors were: low wind chill values (≤10 °C) and/or high air humidity (>90%). In such cases, sheep should have the opportunity to shelter indoors. Abstract Threshold temperatures for cold stress in sheep are not well understood, the available literature is somewhat dated and reports relate to winter temperatures that are relatively benign. Sheep’s preferences for outdoor versus indoor environments, when given free access to both, were investigated in the winter period at temperatures as low as −23 °C. Two sheep farms, one with access to a permanent uninsulated barn and one with a polytunnel shelter, both with free access to an outdoor area, were used. Observations were made with a camera positioned to register numbers of sheep outdoors and indoors, with one image taken hourly over twenty-four hours. The sheep clearly preferred to be outdoors; on all occasions the majority of the sheep were outdoors. There was, however, a significant decrease, albeit small, in the numbers of sheep choosing to be outdoors at lower temperatures (p < 0.001), higher relative humidity (p < 0.001) and greater wind chill (p < 0.001). Therefore, even at cooler temperatures than reported previously, sheep are motivated to be outdoors rather than indoors. It is not implicitly good for their welfare, and may not be true for lambs and shorn sheep, but accessing an outdoor area appears to be what they choose to do when given the choice.
Collapse
|
17
|
Vidal-Moreso A, Gómez-Serrano M, Sulleiro E, Zarzuela F, Soriano-Arandes A, Espiau M. The parasite that came in from the cold. J Travel Med 2020; 27:5554872. [PMID: 31504704 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taz065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 08/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
We describe the case of a Russian child with persistent mild eosinophilia in whom intestinal parasitism by Dibothriocephalus latus is finally diagnosed. This cestode is prevalent in circumpolar regions and, therefore, an uncommon finding in International Health units, where care for patients from tropical and subtropical areas is usually provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Vidal-Moreso
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Programa de salut internacional de l'Institut Català de la Salut (PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Gómez-Serrano
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Programa de salut internacional de l'Institut Català de la Salut (PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Sulleiro
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Zarzuela
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Soriano-Arandes
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Programa de salut internacional de l'Institut Català de la Salut (PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Espiau
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Programa de salut internacional de l'Institut Català de la Salut (PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Alsova OK, Loktev VB, Naumova EN. Rotavirus Seasonality: An Application of Singular Spectrum Analysis and Polyharmonic Modeling. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:E4309. [PMID: 31698706 PMCID: PMC6888479 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16224309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The dynamics of many viral infections, including rotaviral infections (RIs), are known to have a complex non-linear, non-stationary structure with strong seasonality indicative of virus and host sensitivity to environmental conditions. However, analytical tools suitable for the identification of seasonal peaks are limited. We introduced a two-step procedure to determine seasonal patterns in RI and examined the relationship between daily rates of rotaviral infection and ambient temperature in cold climates in three Russian cities: Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg, and Barnaul from 2005 to 2011. We described the structure of temporal variations using a new class of singular spectral analysis (SSA) models based on the "Caterpillar" algorithm. We then fitted Poisson polyharmonic regression (PPHR) models and examined the relationship between daily RI rates and ambient temperature. In SSA models, RI rates reached their seasonal peaks around 24 February, 5 March, and 12 March (i.e., the 55.17 ± 3.21, 64.17 ± 5.12, and 71.11 ± 7.48 day of the year) in Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg, and Barnaul, respectively. Yet, in all three cities, the minimum temperature was observed, on average, to be on 15 January, which translates to a lag between the peak in disease incidence and time of temperature minimum of 38-40 days for Chelyabinsk, 45-49 days in Yekaterinburg, and 56-59 days in Barnaul. The proposed approach takes advantage of an accurate description of the time series data offered by the SSA-model coupled with a straightforward interpretation of the PPHR model. By better tailoring analytical methodology to estimate seasonal features and understand the relationships between infection and environmental conditions, regional and global disease forecasting can be further improved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga K. Alsova
- Novosibirsk State Technical University, Novosibirsk 630073, Russia;
| | - Valery B. Loktev
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia;
- State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia
| | - Elena N. Naumova
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Rasi H, Kuivila H, Pölkki T, Bloigu R, Rintamäki H, Tourula M. A descriptive quantitative study of 7- and 8-year-old children's outdoor recreation, cold exposure and symptoms in winter in Northern Finland. Int J Circumpolar Health 2018; 76:1298883. [PMID: 28346080 PMCID: PMC5405444 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2017.1298883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In Finland, children spend a lot of time outdoors in winter. Outdoor recreation in winter has a wide variety of effects on children’s well-being. Although children are a subgroup that is vulnerable to cold exposure, remarkably little research has been done on the subject. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe children’s outdoor recreation, cold exposure and symptoms in winter in Northern Finland. Design: This was a descriptive quantitative study. The participants consisted of 30 children aged 7–8 years who were living in the provinces of Lapland and Northern Ostrobothnia in Finland. Data were collected by using electronic data-logging thermometers fixed on children’s outerwear for a month. The thermometers recorded the environmental temperature every five minutes and from that temperature data, we were able to discern the exact amount and duration of children’s outdoor recreation. In addition, information on the children’s cold symptoms was collected with structured daily entries. Results: Cold weather was not an obstacle to children’s outdoor activities in Finland. However, the duration of outdoor recreation shortened when the outdoor air temperature decreased. There were no significant differences between boys and girls in terms of time spent outdoors. Remarkably, every child reported symptoms associated with cold. Almost half of the children reported experiencing respiratory symptoms and some children also experienced cold pain and numbness. Conclusions: The results of this study illustrate the many and varied effects that cold exposure can have on children’s health and well-being. In order to prevent negative health effects of cold exposure on children, structured prevention strategies are needed: therefore, children’s exposure to cold should be studied more. Future research should also bring out more the positive health effects of outdoor recreation on children’s growth and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Rasi
- a Nursing and Health Administration Science Research Unit , Oulu University , Oulu , Finland
| | - Heli Kuivila
- b Nursing and Health Administration Science Research Unit , University of Oulu , Oulu , Finland
| | - Tarja Pölkki
- c Clinical Nursing Science , Oulu University Hospital, Children and Women , Oulu , Finland
| | - Risto Bloigu
- d Medical Informatics and Statistics Research Group , University of Oulu , Aapistie , Oulu , Finland
| | - Hannu Rintamäki
- e Finnish Institute of Occupational Health , Aapistie , Oulu , Finland.,f Research Unit of Biomedicine, University of Oulu , Oulu , Finland
| | - Marjo Tourula
- g Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine and Thule Institute, University of Oulu , Aapistie , Oulu , Finland
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kennedy MD, Faulhaber M. Respiratory Function and Symptoms Post Cold Air Exercise in Female High and Low Ventilation Sport Athletes. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res 2018; 10:43-51. [PMID: 29178677 PMCID: PMC5705483 DOI: 10.4168/aair.2018.10.1.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Cold weather exercise is common in many regions of the world; however, it is unclear whether respiratory function and symptom worsen progressively with colder air temperatures. Furthermore, it is unclear whether high-ventilation sport background exacerbates dysfunction and symptoms. Methods Seventeen active females (measure of the maximum volume of oxygen [VO2max]: 49.6±6.6 mL·kg-1·min-1) completed on different days in random order 5 blinded running trials at 0℃, -5℃, -10℃, -15℃, and -20℃ (humidity 40%) in an environmental chamber. Distance, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured within each trial; forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow at 25%-75% (FEF25-75), and forced expiratory flow at 50% (FEF50) were measured pre- and post-test (3, 6, 10, 15, and 20 minutes). Respiratory symptoms and global effort were measured post-test spirometry. Results Mean decreases were found in FEV1 (4%-5% at 0℃, -5℃, -10℃, and -15℃; 7% at -20℃). FEF25-75 and FEF50 decreased 7% and 11% at -15℃ and -20℃, respectively. Post-exertion spirometry results were decreased most at 3 to 6 minutes, recovering back to baseline at 20 minutes. Respiratory symptoms and global effort significantly increased at -15℃ and -20℃ with decreased heart rate. High-ventilation sports decreased function more than low-ventilation participants but had fewer symptoms. Conclusions These results indicate that intense exercise at cold air temperatures up to -20℃ is achievable; however, greater effort along with transient acute bronchoconstriction and symptoms of cough after exercising in temperatures colder than -15℃ are likely. It is recommended that individuals cover their mouth and reduce exercise intensity to ameliorate the effects of cold weather exercise.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Kennedy
- Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
| | - Martin Faulhaber
- Department of Sport Science, Medical Section, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Ilyas A, Muthanna TM. Metal removal efficiency, operational life and secondary environmental impacts of a stormwater filter developed from iron-oxide-amended bottom ash. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 2017; 52:1330-1340. [PMID: 28961058 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2017.1362291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to conduct pilot-scale column tests on an alternative treatment filter designed for the treatment of highway stormwater in cold climates. The study evaluated adsorption performance of the filter with regard to the four most commonly found metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in highway stormwater. An alternative method was used to estimate the operational life of the filter from the adsorption test data without a breakthrough under high hydraulic loads. The potential environmental impact of the filter was assessed by comparing desorption test data with four different environmental quality standards. The proposed filter achieved high adsorption (over 90%) of the target metals. The comparisons of desorption and leaching data with the environmental standards indicated that iron-oxide/bottom ash was non-hazardous, reusable and without serious environmental risks. The operational life and filter dimensions were highly dependent on rainfall depth, which indicated that the filter design would have to be adapted to suit the climate. To fully appreciate the performance and environmental aspects, the filter unit should be tested in the field and the testing should explicitly include ecotoxicological and life cycle impacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aamir Ilyas
- a Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway
| | - Tone M Muthanna
- a Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Ilyas A, Muthanna TM. Assessment of upscaling potential of alternative adsorbent materials for highway stormwater treatment in cold climates. Environ Technol 2017; 38:705-717. [PMID: 27377150 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2016.1209567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Generally, studies on alternative adsorbents focus on adsorbent removal capacity, as a function of pollutant concentration, and other practical aspects, such as costs, environmental impact and end of life costs, that can affect the upscaling of adsorbents for real-life applications, are not explicitly considered. Therefore, this study combines multi-criteria modeling with experimental evaluation to integrate both technical and non-technical factors in assessing the upscaling potential of alternative adsorbents. The experimental step was used to verify the reported pollutant removal as well as testing environmental stability, of the alternative adsorbents, in cold climates. Important factors/criteria for the upscaling process were identified with the help of principal component analysis. The results indicated that adsorbents such as pine bark, olivine and charcoal were the best available options for upscaling. The statistical analysis revealed that factors such as initial costs, hydraulic loads and end-of-life costs were important for the upscaling process and, therefore, should be explicitly included in any future evaluation of the alternative adsorbents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aamir Ilyas
- a Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering , NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway
| | - Tone M Muthanna
- a Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering , NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Gomes DDO, Vidal RR, Foeppel BF, Faria DF, Saito M. Cold weather is a predisposing factor for testicular torsion in a tropical country. A retrospective study. SAO PAULO MED J 2015; 133:187-90. [PMID: 25271876 PMCID: PMC10876364 DOI: 10.1590/1516-3180.2013.7600007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Revised: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Testicular torsion is a medical and urological emergency because it can lead to loss of the organ. The theory of seasonal testicular torsion occurrence is based on studies from institutions located in cold and temperate regions. The objective here was to determine whether cold weather is associated with higher incidence of testicular torsion in a tropical country, such as Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective study, conducted in a tertiary and teaching hospital. METHODS Patients with acute testicular torsion confirmed by surgery between April 2006 and March 2011 were studied. Information on weather conditions at the time of symptom onset was collected. RESULTS A total of 64 testicular torsion cases were identified. The months with the highest incidences of testicular torsion were June (16%), July (19%) and August (11%), which had the lowest mean temperatures, of 17.6 °C, 16.4 °C and 18.2 °C, respectively. Eleven percent of cases occurred during spring (October to December), 16% occurred in summer (January to March), 34% occurred in fall (April to June) and 39% occurred in winter (July to September). There was a significant association between the incidence of testicular torsion and the season (fall and winter), P < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS Testicular torsion follows a seasonal association even in a tropical country, and is more frequent in the colder months of the year, namely fall and winter, when almost three-quarters of the cases occurred. These observations add further evidence that cold weather has an etiologic role in testicular torsion occurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael Rocha Vidal
- Department of Urology, Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Danilo Fiorindo Faria
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Minori Saito
- Department of Urology, Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Schenker G, Lenz A, Körner C, Hoch G. Physiological minimum temperatures for root growth in seven common European broad-leaved tree species. Tree Physiol 2014; 34:302-313. [PMID: 24584221 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpu003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Temperature is the most important factor driving the cold edge distribution limit of temperate trees. Here, we identified the minimum temperatures for root growth in seven broad-leaved tree species, compared them with the species' natural elevational limits and identified morphological changes in roots produced near their physiological cold limit. Seedlings were exposed to a vertical soil-temperature gradient from 20 to 2 °C along the rooting zone for 18 weeks. In all species, the bulk of roots was produced at temperatures above 5 °C. However, the absolute minimum temperatures for root growth differed among species between 2.3 and 4.2 °C, with those species that reach their natural distribution limits at higher elevations also tending to have lower thermal limits for root tissue formation. In all investigated species, the roots produced at temperatures close to the thermal limit were pale, thick, unbranched and of reduced mechanical strength. Across species, the specific root length (m g(-1) root) was reduced by, on average, 60% at temperatures below 7 °C. A significant correlation of minimum temperatures for root growth with the natural high elevation limits of the investigated species indicates species-specific thermal requirements for basic physiological processes. Although these limits are not necessarily directly causative for the upper distribution limit of a species, they seem to belong to a syndrome of adaptive processes for life at low temperatures. The anatomical changes at the cold limit likely hint at the mechanisms impeding meristematic activity at low temperatures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Schenker
- Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chilblains are rather common in winter months in our country. OBJECTIVES Determination of demographical and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with chilblains in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Evaluation of body mass index (BMI) as risk factor for development of chilblains. METHODS Sixty-nine patients who were diagnosed as chilblains at our outpatient clinics were included in this study. No exclusion criteria were sought. Demographical data including height and weight and answers to questions related to personal history were recorded. A control group consisting of 108 controls were chosen from among patients presenting with complaints of hair loss. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 17.0. RESULTS Of the 69 patients with chilblains, 45 (65.2%) were females and 24 (34.8%) were males. Mean age (± SD) of the patients was 21 ± 9. 71.2% of the patients complained of itching, 51.6% of pain, 31.3% of burning in the lesions. 61.3% of the patients reported recurrence of the lesions every winter season. Mean BMI of the patients was 20.5 ± 2.9. Mean BMI of the controls was 22.4 ± 3.7 and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS Low BMI may be a risk factor contributing to development of chilblains in persons exposed to cold weather conditions. Apart from external factors, there seems to be a personal tendency to develop lesions, as many patients report recurrences every year. Diagnosis of chilblains requires wariness, as history of cold exposure may not be evident.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Z Meltem Akkurt
- Assist. Prof. Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Department of
Dermatology - Diyarbakir, Turkey
| | - Derya Ucmak
- Assist. Prof. Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Department of
Dermatology - Diyarbakir, Turkey
| | - Kenan Yildiz
- MD - Specialist in Dermatology - Diyarbakir Training and Research
Hospital - Diyarbakir, Turkey
| | - Safiye Kutlu Yürüker
- MD - Specialist in Dermatology - Diyarbakir Training and Research
Hospital - Diyarbakir, Turkey
| | - Heybet Özkaya Celik
- MD - Specialist in Dermatology - Diyarbakir Training and Research
Hospital - Diyarbakir, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Rossi S, Bousquet J. The bud break process and its variation among local populations of boreal black spruce. Front Plant Sci 2014; 5:574. [PMID: 25389430 PMCID: PMC4211384 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Phenology of local populations can exhibit adaptations to the current environmental conditions resulting from a close interaction between climate and genotype. The bud break process and its variations among populations were analyzed in greenhouse by monitoring the growth resumption in black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP] seedlings originating from seeds of five stands across the closed boreal forest in Quebec, Canada. Bud break lasted 15 days and occurred earlier and quicker in northern provenances. Provenance explained between 10.2 and 32.3% of the variance in bud break, while the families accounted for a smaller but still significant part of the variance. The late occurrence of one phenological phase corresponded to a delayed occurrence of the others according to linear relationships. A causal model was proposed in the form of a chain of events with each phase of bud break being related to the previous and successive one, while no link was observed between non-adjacent phases. The adaptation of black spruce populations along the latitudinal gradient points toward a strategy based on rapid physiological processes triggered by temperature increase inducing high metabolic activity. The variation observed in bud break reflects an evolutionary trade-off between maximization of security and taking advantage of the short growing season. This work provides evidence of the phenological adaptations of black spruce to its local environmental conditions while retaining sizeable genetic diversity within populations. Because of the multigenic nature of phenology, this diversity should provide some raw material for adaptation to changing local environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Rossi
- Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Université du Québec à ChicoutimiChicoutimi, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Sergio Rossi, Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l'Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H2B1, Canada e-mail:
| | - Jean Bousquet
- Chaire de Recherche du Canada en Génomique Forestière et Environnementale, Centre D'étude de la Forêt et Institut de Recherche en Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université LavalQuébec, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Aschenbach K, Conrad R, Reháková K, Doležal J, Janatková K, Angel R. Methanogens at the top of the world: occurrence and potential activity of methanogens in newly deglaciated soils in high-altitude cold deserts in the Western Himalayas. Front Microbiol 2013; 4:359. [PMID: 24348469 PMCID: PMC3847552 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanogens typically occur in reduced anoxic environments. However, in recent studies it has been shown that many aerated upland soils, including desert soils also host active methanogens. Here we show that soil samples from high-altitude cold deserts in the western Himalayas (Ladakh, India) produce CH4 after incubation as slurry under anoxic conditions at rates comparable to those of hot desert soils. Samples of matured soil from three different vegetation belts (arid, steppe, and subnival) were compared with younger soils originating from frontal and lateral moraines of receding glaciers. While methanogenic rates were higher in the samples from matured soils, CH4 was also produced in the samples from the recently deglaciated moraines. In both young and matured soils, those covered by a biological soil crust (biocrust) were more active than their bare counterparts. Isotopic analysis showed that in both cases CH4 was initially produced from H2/CO2 but later mostly from acetate. Analysis of the archaeal community in the in situ soil samples revealed a clear dominance of sequences related to Thaumarchaeota, while the methanogenic community comprised only a minor fraction of the archaeal community. Similar to other aerated soils, the methanogenic community was comprised almost solely of the genera Methanosarcina and Methanocella, and possibly also Methanobacterium in some cases. Nevertheless, ~10(3) gdw(-1) soil methanogens were already present in the young moraine soil together with cyanobacteria. Our results demonstrate that Methanosarcina and Methanocella not only tolerate atmospheric oxygen but are also able to survive in these harsh cold environments. Their occurrence in newly deglaciated soils shows that they are early colonizers of desert soils, similar to cyanobacteria, and may play a role in the development of desert biocrusts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ralf Conrad
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology Marburg, Germany
| | - Klára Reháková
- Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Doležal
- Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Janatková
- Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Třeboň, Czech Republic ; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Roey Angel
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Abstract
This article presents a study on the effect of different protective gloves (which are commercially available and commonly used in the cold) on manual dexterity in cold environments. The experiments compared statistically four different types of gloves and two different types of gloving (outer or double) at +19 °C and -10 °C. Performance was determined both objectively and subjectively using two manual dexterity tasks: bolt-nut and pick-up tasks. The response measured was the time of performing each task. Statistical analysis showed that all independent factors such as glove type, participant, object size, and temperature had significant effects on the hand cooling reaction. A significant difference in the performance between the gloves was found in the bolt-nut task. It was also found that outer-inner combination gloving may be an approach to use for precision tasks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fang Chen
- b National Institute for Working Life , Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|