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This article uses data from the second-generation Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC-2) satellites (wetPf2) to study the temperature and humidity properties of the air masses over Paracel and Spratly Islands in the Vietnam East Sea (South China Sea). The satellite observational data were validated with the radiosonde data from three stations in Vietnam: Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Subsequently, the wetPf2 data are used to analyze the characteristics of temperature and relative humidity variations of the air masses over the Paracel and Spratly regions. Results show that the mean error of the satellite observational data for temperature ranges from −0.06°C to −0.02°C, with standard deviations ranging from 0.73°C to 1.04°C. The mean error of relative humidity fluctuates between 11.6% and 12.5%, with standard deviations ranging from 15.1% to 19.1%. The values are reasonable and comparable to those in previous studies. Seasonal variations of temperature and humidity show that the air mass over the Paracel Islands exhibits a larger annual temperature with an annual variation of approximately 5.0°C, significantly higher than the value of 2.2°C in the air mass over the Spratly Islands. The difference may be due to the greater influence of continental and seasonal wind systems in the northern region. Within both air masses, the annual temperature variation in the boundary layer is much larger than that in the free atmosphere. Annual relative humidity variation is higher in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. The significant changes in the relative humidity with height during winter and no significant change of the relative humidity with height during summer may be related to the important role of strong convective activity carrying moist air upward to higher atmospheric levels during the summer time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drying up of Hamoun International Wetland (HIW) and the loss of vegetation in this area have led to an increase in ambient temperature. This research examines the changes in the surface of HIW and its role in air temperature (Tair) using data on land surface temperature (LST), vegetation, wind speed, and relative humidity. The Cubist regression model (CRM) is used to simulate the effects of land surface factors (LSFs) on Tair. Four microsites with different plant cover percentages were selected for this purpose. After data collection, 75% of the data were used for modeling and 25% of the data were used for model testing. The results showed that CRM has adequate performance for estimating Tair. The assessment of the relationship between land surface temperature (LST) and Tair at 2 meter height showed that there was a high correlation coefficient between 0.86 and 0.91 in the different microsites. The results of using CRM for estimating Tair showed that this model can estimate air temperature from independent parameters of LST, wind speed, vegetation percentage, and relative humidity with a correlation coefficient of 0.98. In this model, the LST, relative humidity, and vegetation percentage were entered with values of 100%, 93%, and 83% respectively. Wind speed was not included in the model because the measurements were constant and less than 4 m/s throughout the period (no changes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated radio refractivity impact on signal strength of mobile communication. The mobile communication signal strengths of two popular networks in Nigeria, 9Mobile and MTN, were considered. In the 2100 MHz-3 G band, 9Mobile transmits in the downlink spectrum of 2130.00–2140.00 MHz, while MTN transmits in the downlink spectrum of 2110.00–2120.00 MHz. Also, 9Mobile transmits in the downlink spectrum of 791–821 MHz in the 800 MHz band and 1805–1880 MHz in the 1800 MHz, while MTN transmits in the downlink spectrums of 2620–2690 MHz in the 2600 MHz band; all in the 4 G band. Using the instrument of a mobile station in each station (location) in some selected cities in southern Nigeria, the signal strengths were measured. A cell signal monitor (version 5.1.1) mobile application installed in an Android (transceiver) device (having two SIM slots) constituted the mobile station. To achieve high accuracy, there was a restriction in measuring transmission from specific cells. Hourly measurement of signal strengths was carried out and instantaneously corresponding weather parameters were recorded. Weather parameters for this investigation; atmospheric temperature and pressure; and relative humidity were excerpted online from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) hourly weather report for the various cities where the stations were situated. The hourly radio refractivity was computed using the 2015 International Telecommunication Union–Radio-communication sector (ITU-R) recommended model. Overall, the results indicate that there was no established linear relationship between signal strength and radio refractivity since the overall average R value is 0.0123691 and the overall average standard deviation of R values is 0.1112165. The inconsistencies in the linear relationships obtained from different locations and cells could be due to variations in topography, antenna properties, seasonal variations, wind and position, and distance of the receiver from the transmitter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing the thermal environment of a bedroom is desirable for good sleep. In moderate climatic conditions, natural ventilation is a viable method for enhancing the quality of sleep by improving indoor air conditions. This study examined the effects of air temperature and wind speed on sleep quality in naturally ventilated rooms with windows open and closed, during autumn. Thirteen young males in healthy conditions participated in this study. Two adjacent test rooms (for opened and closed conditions) were selected on a university campus, with standardized indoor conditions. Air temperature and wind speed were measured near the height of the participants' heads. Sleep efficiency and wake after sleep onset (WASO) were calculated using physiological wearable sensors based on heart rate and body movement. The participants completed questionnaires on thermal sensation and comfort before and after sleep. The results showed that the lowest percentage of WASO was observed when the nocturnal mean temperature was 23–24°C with a quadratic regression curve regardless of the window opening conditions. Conversely, subjective sleep satisfaction and WASO did not show any significant differences between the conditions. The results revealed no significant impact of varying thermal and airflow conditions during autumn on thermal/airflow comfort, although significant differences were observed in the thermal/airflow sensation before and after sleep. Thus, these results suggest that natural ventilation through the opening of windows might not affect thermal/airflow comfort, while a nocturnal indoor air temperature of 23–24°C is recommended for good sleep and thermal comfort, regardless of window opening conditions under moderate climate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southern Tibetan Plateau (TP) is snow covered during cold season but exhibits faster snow melting in early summer. Using in situ observations and improved satellite-derived data, the present study indicates that the snow depth (SD) over the southern TP exhibits distinction characteristics between late spring (i.e., P1: April 16th–May 15th) and early summer (i.e., P2: May 16th–June 14th). In terms of climate states, the snow melting rate over the southern TP in P2 is faster than that in P1. The acceleration of snow melting during P2 is mainly found over high elevation areas caused by the increase of local air temperature. Diagnoses of the thermodynamic equation further demonstrate that the warming over the southern TP during the two periods is mainly attributed to the meridional temperature advection and diabatic heating in situ. On the interannual time scale, the SD over the southern TP is closely related to diabatic heating over South Asia. During P1, the diabatic cooling from the southern Bay of Bengal eastward to the western South China Sea suppresses convection over the Bay of Bengal and southern TP and has resulted in an upper-level anomalous cyclone and cold temperature anomalies from the surface to 200 hPa over the southern TP, favoring the above-normal SD over the southern TP. On the other hand, SD over the southern TP in P2 is closely related to diabatic cooling over the northern Indochina Peninsula and diabatic heating over the southern China. But we could not prove that these diabatic heating anomalies can affect the SD over the southern TP by modulating local surface air temperature. This may be limited by the quality of the data and the simulation capability of the simple model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to determine the drying characteristics of Uzun variety pistachios in a convectional dryer with air velocity of 1 m/s at 50, 55, 60, and 65°C. Through the end of drying, moisture transfer from in‐hull, and in‐shell pistachio samples was defined by using the diffusion model of Fick. The Arrhenius‐type relationship was used to establish the temperature dependence of the effective moisture diffusivity. The activation energy of in‐hull and in‐shell pistachios was determined to be 56.04 and 34.18 kJ/mol, respectively. Five well‐known models, that is, the logarithmic, page, two‐term, Midilli et al., and approximation of diffusion models were fit to data of moisture ratio. The Midilli et al., and the two‐term models were chosen to accurately describe the hot‐air drying behavior of in‐hull and shell pistachio samples. As shelf‐life criteria, the water activity (aw) values of fresh and dried pistachios were determined at different ambient air temperatures. The enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) values of the pistachio samples decreased with increasing the air temperature, while Gibbs‐free energy (ΔG) increased as the air temperature increased. Novelty impact statement: Pistachio kernel has rich nutritional significance for the human diet due to its 50%–60% fat content and unsaturated fatty acid and, the drying is the most important post‐harvest process in the pistachio industry. Pistachio kernels must be dried below aw of 0.82 and 0.70 for short‐ and long‐term storage and to avoid fungal development, respectively. This work evaluates the drying conditions and presents a mathematical model for hot‐air drying of pistachio nuts and, the results show that drying of pistachio can be carried out in industrial convective dryers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Prefabricated temporary houses (PTHs) are extensively used for temporarily accommodation disaster victims. However, the thermal environment inside PTHs can be intolerable in summer. Previous related studies showed the success of applying a movable phase change material (PCM) design to PTHs for improving indoor thermal environments in Chengdu, China; it only represented the "warm temperate‐fully humid‐hot summer" climate. Since various natural disasters may occur around the world, it became necessary to study the effectiveness of applying the movable PCM design to PTHs installed in other climate regions globally. Therefore, following the previous experimental and numerical studies where only one climate condition was considered, in the current article, a numerical study is reported on applying the movable PCM design to PTHs in 12 selected cities in different climate regions to improve their indoor thermal environments in July. The results from the numerical study showed that, in all the 12 selected cities in July, after introducing the movable PCM design to the PTHs, both the maximum indoor air temperature, the monthly averaged air temperature inside the PTHs, the daily peak and daily average indoor air temperature on the hottest day were lowered. It was further demonstrated that on the hottest day in July, the difference between the daily peak air temperature values inside the disaster‐relief PTH with and without incorporating the movable PCM design varied from 2.12°C to 5.34°C, and that between the daily air temperature values varied from 1.53°C to 3.56°C. In all the 12 selected cities, although applying the movable PCM design to disaster‐relief PTHs in July was functional, it was more effective for the following seven cities, that is, Singapore, Miami, Bangkok, Chengdu, Damascus, Hanoi, and Urumqi (with Δ values being not less than 300°C·h and Δ′ being not less than 46%), with six of the seven cities located in both tropical and temperate climate regions, based on the evaluating criteria proposed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational fluid dynamics models have been developed to predict airborne exposure to the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus from a coughing person in a mechanically ventilated room. The models were run with three typical indoor air temperatures and relative humidities (RH). Quantile regression was used to indicate whether these have a statistically significant effect on the airborne exposure. Results suggest that evaporation is an important effect. Evaporation leads to respiratory particles, particularly those with initial diameters between 20 and 100 μm, remaining airborne for longer, traveling extended distances and carrying more viruses than expected from their final diameter. In a mechanically ventilated room, with all of the associated complex air movement and turbulence, increasing the RH may result in reduced airborne exposure. However, this effect may be so small that other factors, such as a small change in proximity to the infected person, could rapidly counter the effect. The effect of temperature on the exposure was more complex, with both positive and negative correlations. Therefore, within the range of conditions studied here, there is no clear guidance on how the temperature should be controlled to reduce exposure. The results highlight the importance of ventilation, face coverings and maintaining social distancing for reducing exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of tests were conducted to investigate the performance of a solar tunnel dryer for drying ginger. To supply hot air to the dryer, two axial flow fans with a power rating of 28 W, a supply voltage of 220 V, and a 50 W photovoltaics (PV) module were employed. By dividing the 8.5-meter-long solar tunnel dryer into four equal portions every thirty minutes, solar radiation, dry air temperature, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity were measured at five solar tunnel dryer stations. The hot air temperature at the collector output grew from 34°C to 65.5°C for an 8-hour operation in the no-load condition when the solar radiation was changed between 540 and 820 W/m2. At 9:00 a.m., the average maximum temperature was 30°C. During the loading operation, the temperature was 77°C at 1:00 p.m. The moisture content of sliced ginger was reduced from 90.4 to 11.8% on a wet basis using the solar tunnel dryer. With a solar collector area of 6 m2, open sun drying takes 40 hours to achieve the same wet basis condition. A total of eight experiments were carried out, both with and without loads. The dry air temperature at the collector outlet ranged from 34.0 to 65.5 °C. As the drying efficiency, collector area, and time savings improve, the drying time decreases. The ginger is kept in a controlled area, resulting in high-quality dried ginger. The solar tunnel dryer showed a net saving in drying time of 40% over open sun drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest of this work is to evaluate the possibility of using safou seeds to develop a new low-cost adsorbent and study its application to remove bisphenol A from an aqueous solution for a sustainable and ecological use of this biomass. This was done by optimizing some parameters that influence the adsorption process. The central composite design with four centre points was used to optimize the process variables. The concentration of bisphenol A solution, adsorbent dosage, stirring time, and solution pH on the adsorption capacity were considered, while the response measured was the quantity adsorbed. The activated carbon obtained by treatment with H2SO4 was named NSST and that obtained by treatment with H3PO4 was named NSPT. XRD revealed an amorphous character for the ACs, and EDXS showed they are mainly carbonaceous. Under the optimal adsorption conditions, NSPT showed the best performance. Correlation coefficients R2 and R2adj were of 85.13 and 69.12% for NSPT and 83.71 and 66.17% for NSST. A pseudo-second-order nonlinear kinetic model best described the adsorption kinetic of BPA removal by the ACs. Langmuir's isotherm best described the adsorption of BPA onto both adsorbents. Thermodynamic studies suggested an exothermic and physisorption process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, energy and exergy analysis of a hybrid infrared‐convective (IR‐CV) dryer is presented for drying cantaloupe slices. The experiments were performed at three temperature levels (40, 55, and 70°C), one level of air velocity (0.5 m/s), and three IR powers (250, 500, and 750 W). The relationships between the input process parameters (IR power, input air temperature, and drying time) and the thermodynamic properties of the dried product (moisture ratio, drying rate, energy efficiency, exergy efficiency, and exergy loss) were modeled by implementing the artificial neural network (ANN) and ANFIS. Results indicated that high IR power and air temperature can shorten the drying time, meanwhile increasing the energy efficiency. Based on the obtained results, input air temperature and IR power highly affect the exergy efficiency. The highest exergy efficiency was obtained at the input air temperature of 70°C and IR power of 750 W. The exergy loss was increased by increasing both parameters of the air temperature and IR power. Models developed using ANN and ANFIS indicated that the ANFIS model predicted the moisture ratio, energy efficiency, and exergy loss better than the ANN model, as it estimated these thermodynamic parameters at a higher regression coefficient (>0.9889) than ANN (0.9850), while, the accuracy of ANN model for predicting drying rate and exergy efficiency was better than ANFIS. Novelty impact statement: In this study, the effects of both different infrared powers (250, 500, and 750 W) and air temperature (40, 55, and 70°C) on drying kinetics, energy, and exergy of cantaloupe slices during the drying process were investigated. The prediction model of cantaloupe slice moisture ratio, energy, and exergy in the infrared hot air drying process was established based on artificial neural network and adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system. Artificial neural network and adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system model predictions agreed well with testing data sets and they could be useful for understanding and controlling the factors affecting drying behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial skin temperature has been applied to evaluate thermal comfort in a few studies, but the related theoretical basis is not sufficient. We conducted a climate‐controlled experiment in winter. The air temperatures were 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24°C, and the relative humidity was set to 60%. During exposure (140 min), the subjects were in a sedentary state, and their thermal sensation, comfort, and acceptability of perceived thermal environments were documented many times. iButton instruments were used to continuously and automatically record skin temperatures on the forehead, nose, right ear, right cheek, left cheek, left ear, and chin. The measurement accuracy of the corrected skin temperature was within 0.1°C after calibrating each i‐Button. The experimental results showed that the skin temperatures at different measurement points varied significantly. The forehead skin temperature was the highest, whereas the nose, being the facial part, exhibited the lowest skin temperature (except 24°C). The uneven degree of the skin temperature distribution increased as air temperature decreased. Correlation analysis confirmed that the facial skin temperature can be used to evaluate thermal sensation. Nose skin temperature and the average skin temperature of the forehead, nose, and chin are the most suitable indicators of thermal sensation. The correlation between facial skin temperature and the thermal sensation was significantly higher after 15 min of exposure time than that during 0–15 min. This study provides a theoretical basis for using facial skin temperature to dynamically monitor thermal sensations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensor units are considered one of the significant technologies that use solar energy as an assistant power source to the batteries. Despite their advantages over the other forms of renewables, solar energy has an intermittent nature which negatively affects the operation of these units. Reaching an effective operation ensuring sustainable units requires a prior prediction of the harvested solar energy. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) appeared recently as a promising prediction approach with those units. This is attributed to the high accuracy compared to the conventional stochastic and statistical ones. Till now, the optimal neural network that fits with sensor units has not been precisely determined. This paper is aimed at finding the optimal neural network that would be applied with solar-supplied sensor units. This is performed by applying a cascaded input/structure direct optimization. The optimization process handles the aspects of accuracy, computational efforts, and complexity. It mainly identifies the type and number of parameters that would be utilized as inputs in the first stage. Then, it optimizes the structure by addressing the number of hidden layers and hidden neurons. The corresponding analysis has been implemented for premeasured real data over five-year time period. The results showed that the optimal neural network can be achieved by using three input parameters which are the air temperature (AT), the relative humidity (RH), and the zenith angle ( θ z ). For the structure, it has been concluded that the proposed optimal ANN should have two hidden layers with ten neurons in each of them. Lastly, the proposed optimal ANN was verified against the associated prediction error which is minimized to less than 2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air temperature (AT) prediction can play a significant role in studies related to climate change, radiation and heat flux estimation, and weather forecasting. This study applied and compared the outcomes of three advanced fuzzy inference models, i.e., dynamic evolving neural-fuzzy inference system (DENFIS), hybrid neural-fuzzy inference system (HyFIS), and adaptive neurofuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for AT prediction. Modelling was done for three stations in North Dakota (ND), USA, i.e., Robinson, Ada, and Hillsboro. The results reveal that FIS type models are well suited when handling highly variable data, such as AT, which shows a high positive correlation with average daily dew point (DP), total solar radiation (TSR), and negative correlation with average wind speed (WS). At the Robinson station, DENFIS performed the best with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.96 and a modified index of agreement (md) of 0.92, followed by ANFIS with R2 of 0.94 and md of 0.89, and HyFIS with R2 of 0.90 and md of 0.84. A similar result was observed for the other two stations, i.e., Ada and Hillsboro stations where DENFIS performed the best with R2: 0.953/0.960, md: 0.903/0.912, then ANFIS with R2: 0.943/0.942, md: 0.888/0.890, and HyFIS with R2: 0.908/0.905, md: 0.845/0.821, respectively. It can be concluded that all three models are capable of predicting AT with high efficiency by only using DP, TSR, and WS as input variables. This makes the application of these models more reliable for a meteorological variable with the need for the least number of input variables. The study can be valuable for the areas where the climatological and seasonal variations are studied and will allow providing excellent prediction results with the least error margin and without a huge expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the cracking phenomenon of an aeolian sand-modified soil roadbed in an actual project near Tongliao city in eastern Inner Mongolia, Northeast China, an in situ test was conducted. Temperature-compensated fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors and moisture sensors were embedded into the test roadbed to monitor and observe the relationships between the temperature, moisture, and deformation of the roadbed with respect to variations in climate conditions in such a cold region. For the core issues of roadbed soil deformation and impact on the project, two climate conditions, namely, temperature and rainfall, were taken as external factors, while the temperature and moisture of the roadbed soil were taken as internal factors controlling the deformation and failure of the roadbed soil. A correlation analysis of the test roadbed monitoring data showed that the roadbed soil moisture was weakly affected by environmental conditions. The roadbed soil temperature was independent of the rainfall but was significantly related to air temperature variation (the correlation coefficient ranged from 0.6301 to 0.8926). Limited by the boundary conditions of the roadbed, the response of the variation in the roadbed soil temperature to the air temperature variation gradually weakened from the shallow surface to the deeper parts and the lag in the roadbed soil temperature variation relative to the air temperature variation became more evident. A correlation analysis of the monitoring data of the roadbed soil deformation, soil temperature, and soil moisture showed that the roadbed soil moisture had a weak correlation with the roadbed soil temperature. The roadbed soil deformation was independent of the soil moisture but was strongly related to the roadbed soil temperature. Therefore, the strain of the test roadbed could reflect the roadbed deformation as temperature deformation. The temperature deformation of the roadbed superficial soil was significantly greater than that of the deep soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is confronted with several significant difficulties, such as rising air temperatures and population growth, causing the implementation of smart farming operations as an optimum solution. This research aims to contribute to the growing knowledge of the potential role of blockchain technology in promoting the concept of smart farming by enhancing the efficiency of farming operations by boosting agricultural production, lowering environmental impact, and automating the work of farmers. It proposes a secure blockchain-based framework to establish trust among smart farming users. The framework utilizes asymmetric key exchange mechanism using an ECC authentication algorithm and SHA-256 hash function cryptography to secure communication between sensors and drones in the farm field. The SHA-256 hashing function ensures data integrity as attempts to tamper with data result in a different hash value, breaking the chain of blocks. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed framework, a proof-of-concept implementation was developed on the Ethereum blockchain, in which smart contracts were used to model the framework operations. The proof of concept's performance was examined using Hyperledger Caliper for latency, throughput, and transaction success rate. The findings clearly indicate that blockchain technology can provide an efficient and scalable mechanism to advance smart farming and address some of the barriers that inhibit smart farming, particularly regarding to data integrity and availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatiotemporal characteristics of dry-wet trends were identified and assessed, and the dominant meteorological factors were identified for the climate of Jiangsu province in humid southeastern China for the period 1960–2019. We conducted the research using data for the entire Jiangsu province as well as three major regions in Jiangsu (Huaibei, Jianghuai, and Sunan) with different regional climates. The results showed that decreased precipitation and relative humidity in spring and autumn over the study period were mainly responsible for the dry trends of the climates of all three regions and the entire province. Precipitation had a greater influence in spring and relative humidity in autumn. Decreases in sunshine hours and wind speed were responsible for the summer wet trends of the climates of Huaibei and Jianghuai and the entire province. However, precipitation increased significantly in the summer and was responsible for the increasing wet trend in Sunan. Significantly increased precipitation in winter was primarily responsible for the increasing wetness in Jianghuai and Sunan and the entire province in that season. However, the wet trend in northern Huaibei in winter was mainly caused by the decrease in wind speed over the study period. For the growing season and annually, the positive effects of changes in wind speed, sunshine hours, and precipitation led to increased humidity index in Jianghuai, Sunan, and the entire province. Precipitation showed a decreasing trend that countered the positive effects of decreases in wind speed and sunshine hours, which resulted in a slight decrease in the humidity index in Huaibei for both the growing season and annually. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the humidity index was positively sensitive to precipitation and relative humidity and negatively sensitive to air temperature, wind speed, and sunshine hours in Jiangsu province during 1960–2019. Overall, the humidity index in this region of southeastern China was most sensitive to changes in precipitation followed, in order of sensitivity, by sunshine hours, air temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for adjusting irrigation programs and efficient utilization of water resources at the regional scale in humid southeastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is amongst the most serious issues nowadays. Climate change has become a concern for the scientific community as it could affect human health. Researchers have found that climate change potentially impacts human mental health, especially among depressive patients. However, the relationship is still unclear and needs further investigation. The purpose of this systematic review is to systematically evaluate the evidence of the association between climate change effects on depressive patients, investigate the effects of environmental exposure related to climate change on mental health outcomes for depressive patients, analyze the current technique used to determine the relationship, and provide the guidance for future research. Articles were identified by searching specified keywords in six electronic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Springer, ScienceDirect, and IEEE Digital Library) from 2012 until 2021. Initially, 1823 articles were assessed based on inclusion criteria. After being analyzed, only 15 studies fit the eligibility criteria. The result from included studies showed that there appears to be strong evidence of the association of environmental exposure related to climate change in depressive patients. Temperature and air pollution are consistently associated with increased hospital admission of depressive patients; age and gender became the most frequently considered vulnerability factors. However, the current evidence is limited, and the output finding between each study is still varied and does not achieve a reasonable and mature conclusion regarding the relationship between the variables. Therefore, more evidence is needed in this domain study. Some variables might have complex patterns, and hard to identify the relationship. Thus, technique used to analyze the relationship should be strengthened to identify the relevant relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peach is a stone fruit with a very juicy flesh, smooth skin, and a taste that satisfies the most demanding palate. The quality of this fruit is usually determined by texture, appearance, scent, flavor, and nutritional value. Peaches are very sensitive fruits, which deteriorate and ripen very quickly at environment temperature. Cold conservation is the usual method for delaying the product deterioration, but this process may cause chilling injury (CI). This damage is a physiological low temperature‐driven disturbance, which affects the fruit quality, reducing its storage and shelf life and impairing its organoleptic characteristics. The characteristics of the main techniques and treatments to mitigate the CI such as: temperature‐dependent, controlled and/or modified atmosphere, intermittent warming (IW), ethylene inhibitors, Glycine Betaine (GB), Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA) treatments, exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) and genetic determination are reviewed. Its consequences are evaluated and the ideal conservation air temperature and humidity are set to enhance organoleptic characteristics. Practical applications: This paper provides a review of research studies assessing the CI in peaches. The consequences of this damage are evaluated and the ideal values of conservation air temperature and humidity to enhance the organoleptic characteristics are described. It aims to help producers and retailers to know in advance the quality of peaches stored in refrigeration chambers and decide the price based on this prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the importance of inhaled air temperature on thermal comfort, perceived air quality, acute non‐clinical health symptoms, and physiological responses. Sixteen subjects stayed in a stainless‐steel chamber for 90 min. They experienced four conditions with two inhaled air temperatures of 22 and 30°C and two ambient temperatures of 22 and 30°C in a 2 × 2 design. They wore breathing masks covering their mouth and nose to control the inhaled air temperature; the air was provided from an adjacent twin stainless‐steel chamber. The subjects evaluated thermal conditions and health symptoms on visual‐analogue scales. Skin temperature and electrocardiography were recorded. Whole‐body thermal sensation and skin temperature did not change when the temperature of inhaled air was changed. Perceived air quality was significantly improved when subjects sat in the chamber at 30°C and inhaled air with a temperature of 22°C; under these conditions lip and throat dryness were significantly reduced. The lower inhaled air temperature increased time‐domain heart rate variability indicators and decreased heart rate and the LF/HF ratio, suggesting that the parasympathetic nervous system was activated and the sympathetic nervous system was suppressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Global warming will threaten vineyard sustainability in warm and arid regions. Therefore, increasing water use efficiency (WUE) is essential for long‐term viticulture sustainability. Nevertheless, studies concerning the response of stomata and WUE to temperature are scarce. We evaluated the effect of sustained warming on WUE and its components in cultivars with contrasting stomatal behaviour. Methods and Results: We applied a 1.1°C increase in field‐grown, well‐watered plants, during the growing season and compared them to Control plants. We measured net assimilation (An), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), stomata density and length, intrinsic and yield WUE (WUEint and WUEyield). Gas exchange and WUEint in response to heating were cultivar‐dependent. Heated Grenache plants increased An, gs, E and stomatal length but decreased WUEint. In contrast, gas exchange and WUEint were similar between heated Syrah and Control plants. Both cultivars decreased WUEyield in response to heating. Conclusions: An increase in air temperature decreased WUEint in Grenache, whereas Syrah could tolerate heating without modifying leaf functioning. We proposed these strategies to cope with heating as 'avoiding' for Grenache and 'tolerant' for Syrah in well‐watered conditions. Significance of the Study: This research contributes to an understanding of the strategies to cope with high temperature of different cultivars, which should be considered to select better‐adapted genotypes for the expected warmer conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atenolol (ATN) is a β-blocker drug extensively used to treat arrhythmias and high blood pressure. Because the human body cannot metabolize it completely, this drug has been commonly found in many environmental matrices. In the present study, the response surface method (RSM) was used for adsorption prediction of ATN on modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (M-MWCNTs) by NaOCl and ultrasonic. The sensitivity analysis was done by the Monte Carlo method. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effective parameter by the Monte Carlo simulator. Statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed by using the nonlinear second-order model of RSM. The influential parameters including contact time (min), adsorbent dosage (g/L), pH, and the initial concentration (mg/L) of ATN were investigated, and optimal conditions were determined. Kinetic of ATN adsorption on M-MWCNTs was evaluated using pseudo-first, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion models. Equilibrium isotherms for this system were analyzed by the ISOFIT software. As per our result, optimum conditions in the adsorption experiments were pH 7, 60 min of contact time, 0.5 mg/L ATN initial concentration, and 150 mg/L adsorbent dose. In terms of ATN removal efficiency, coefficients of R2 and adjusted R2 were 0.999 and 0.998, respectively. Sensitivity analysis also showed that contact time has the greatest effect on increasing the removal of ATN. Pseudo-first-order (R2 value of 0.99) was the best kinetic model for the adsorption of ATN, and for isotherm, BET (AICC value of 3.27) was the best model that fit the experimental data. According to the obtained results from sensitive analysis, time was the most important parameter, and after that, the adsorbent dose and pH affect positively on ATN removal efficiency. It can be concluded that the modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes can be applied as one of the best adsorbents to remove ATN from the aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It can provide theoretical support for the optimal design of low-energy walls by measuring the actual thermal conditions inside the walls of passive low-energy buildings and studying the rationality of the wall structure design. Taking the teaching and laboratory building of Shandong Jianzhu University as an example, this paper explores the method of using temperature and humidity sensor to measure the air temperature and humidity inside the wall to represent the solid temperature and humidity of the wall. Based on the measured data and calculation results, the rationality of the structure of the test external wall is analyzed from four aspects: the performance of insulation, the moisture drain performance of wall, the ability of preventing the penetration of the hot and humid air of the inner wall, and the waterproof performance of the outer wall. Results show that the external wall structure of polystyrene board (200 mm thick) for external insulation and thin plastering has good practical operation effect in three aspects of thermal insulation, internal moisture discharge, and external wall waterproof, which basically meets the design requirements of external wall of passive house in Germany. In terms of moisture protection of the inner wall, the inner wall of cement mortar (15 mm thick) may not be able to effectively prevent the infiltration of indoor hot and humid air. Thus, the insulation layer should be added into the external wall. In addition, the moisture inside the wall is obviously affected by the season. The drain performance of moisture inside the wall mainly occurs in the sweltering heat, and the drain direction is from the indoor side to the outdoor side. In the external insulation structure, there are two layers of graphite polystyrene plate (100 mm thick), and the insulation effect of polystyrene plate near the outdoor side is better than that near the indoor side. The combination of anticrack mortar (5 mm thick) and paint cannot completely prevent the infiltration of rainwater, but the infiltration of rainwater in the wall will be quickly discharged in a short time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work deals with the study of the drying kinetics of Crocus sativus L. using convective solar drying. The main objective was to identify the influence of airflow drying temperatures for ambient air temperature ranged between 15.6 and 18.9°C, and a relative humidity between 24.4 and 46.5%. The equilibrium moisture content varies from 0.09 to 0.06 (% d.b), respectively, for drying air temperatures 35-50°C. The airflow velocity was about 0.2 m s-1, which implied establishing a phenomenological diffusion model of the water within the matrix. Empirical models were also determined as well as a polynomial equation (order 3) of the characteristic drying curve. The Midilli-Kucuk model was found to be the best to describe the experimental drying curves of Crocus sativus L. The effective moisture diffusivity ranged between 0.87 and 1.46 10-11 m2 s-1 for airflow temperature 35 and 50°C, while the average activation energy was calculated as 28.76 kJ mol-1. The increase in temperature decreases the total energy consumption which varies, respectively, from 3.211 to 2.681 kWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air temperature (Ta) is an essential parameter for science research and engineering practice. While the traditional site-based approach is only able to obtain observations in limited and discrete locations, satellite remote sensing is promising to retrieve some environmental variables with spatially continuous coverage. Nowadays, land surface temperature (Ts) measurements can be obtained from some satellite sensors (e.g., MODIS), further enabling us to estimate Ta in view of the relationship between Ta and Ts. In this article, we proposed a two-phase integrated framework to estimate daily mean Ta nationwide. In the first phase, multivariate linear regression models were fitted between site-based observations of daily mean air temperature (Ta-mean) and MODIS land surface temperature products (including Terra day: TMOD-day, Terra night: TMOD-night, Aqua day: TMYD-day, and Aqua night: TMYD-night) conditional on some covariates of environmental factors. The fitted models were then used to predict Ta-mean from those covariates at unobserved locations. The predicted Ta-mean were looked on as stochastic variables, and their distributions were also obtained. In the second phase, Bayesian maximum entropy (BME) methods were used to produce spatially continuous maps of Ta-mean taking the meteorological station observations as hard data and the predicted Ta-mean in the first phase as soft data. It is shown that the proposed approach is promising to improve the interpolation accuracy significantly, comprehensively considering the prior knowledge and the context of space variability and correlation, which will enable it to compile spatially continuous air temperature products with higher accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal photovoltaic systems are used to harness solar energy to generate electricity and thermal at the same time. In this technology, electrical efficiency is very low compared to thermal efficiency; as the cell surface temperature rises, the electrical efficiency decreases, so one of the ways to achieve high efficiency is exergy analysis. Exergy analysis of a process or system shows how much of the ability to perform the work or input exergy has been consumed by that process or system. In this research, an ordinary thermal photovoltaic panel with air cooling has been examined for exergy. To do this, it has identified the effective performance variables from a mechanical point of view, which are inlet air temperature, inlet air flow, and length (number of modules that are connected in series). The effect of changing each of the variables based on Saveh weather conditions has been simulated using MATLAB software. The results show that the exergy efficiency of the panel decreases with the inlet air temperature increasing. It was also observed that the optimal airflow is 0012 (kg/s) and will have the highest efficiency per 8.8 m length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of convective heat transfer in buildings are found to be due to the movement of air with respect to the turbulence in air to the temperature. The heat transferred is observed in 3 levels - the roof exposed floor, the seventh floor and the lower floor of the 14 storey naturally ventilated tall building. This paper discusses the eulerian approach which is a macroscopic approach to understand the temperature in the building since the density stratification occurs in the indoor volume of the building. The volume averaged data is considered to be in eularian approach. The CFD analysis is used to artificially create the environment with the different temperatures and velocities. Heat transfer happens due to convection, hence the boundary conditions - initial outdoor temperature has been kept constant at 30°C and 23°C. The change in the outdoor temperature at the air velocities 10 m/sec at 12 noon were observed as 29.37°C, 29.49°C, 29.89°C at constant temperature 30 with respect to 1st floor, 7th floor and roof. Finally, it is noted that, as the air velocity increases, the outdoor temperature also increases. Conjugate heat transfer analysis is followed in CFD analysis to include the resistance of the exterior concrete wall to transfer the temperature to the control volume. K-omega model is used to resolve the turbulence and to analyse the interior domain with Boussinesq hypothesis in the momentum equation to include the effect of the density difference in heat transfer. It is observed the velocity helps to take the temperature from the exterior domain to the interior part of the building. Hence the results clearly indicate that when the outdoor temperature is higher and the outdoor velocity is also higher, the temperature which enters the indoor environment is also high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The temperature of the upper soil zone lags but strongly correlates with prevailing air temperature. The effect of root zone (RZ) temperature on shoot salt exclusion is poorly understood. The aim was to gain a better understanding of the effect of RZ temperature on the salt exclusion, growth and stomatal conductance of Shiraz grafted onto a range of rootstock genotypes. Methods and Results: Glasshouse grown Shiraz on 140 Ruggeri, K51‐40 and six K51‐40 × 140 Ruggeri hybrid rootstocks were assessed at a cool (mean 19.3°C) and hot (mean 30.8°C) RZ temperature, plus or minus salt treatment of 50 mmol/L chloride with mixed cations. After 28 days, plants were destructively harvested. Chloride concentration in laminae, petioles and roots and cation concentration in laminae and roots were measured. All rootstocks showed enhanced shoot sodium exclusion under salt treatment at the hot RZ temperature demonstrated by significantly lower sodium concentration in laminae and higher concentration in roots. Shoot chloride exclusion capacity of salt‐treated K51‐40 declined, while that of 140 Ruggeri and two hybrid rootstocks improved at the hot RZ temperature. Conclusions: Shoot chloride exclusion varied widely among rootstock genotypes subjected to salinity and hot RZ temperature, compared with shoot sodium exclusion, reflecting its control by multiple genes and apparent differential sensitivity to environmental cues. Significance of the Study: The genetic potential of 140 Ruggeri to enhance shoot sodium and chloride exclusion at elevated RZ temperature was demonstrated, highlighting its potential as a breeding parent for rootstock improvement, to meet anticipated future challenges of rising RZ temperature and salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The transient energy storage in a sensible energy storage system (SESS) depends on the rate of energy stored in the system. The rate of energy stored in a sensible energy system is a strong function of spatial temperature distribution that governs the energy distribution in the storage medium. The present study explores the energy and capacity factor characteristics of a wire coil fitted multi‐tubular SESS. A storage system is molded using M30 grade concrete of density (ρc= 2200 kg/m3) and specific heat capacity (Cps= 850 J/kg/K). The inlet temperature of the air, used as heat transfer fluid, is varied from 45°C to 75°C. The pitch to diameter (p/d) ratio of the wire coil insert is varied from 0.25 to 0.75 to examine its effect on energy storage/release and capacity factor. Using a (p/d) ratio of 0.5 for wire coil inserts, the maximum capacity factor of 0.98 is achieved during the charging phase of sensible energy storage at 55°C inlet air temperature and 0.029 kg/s mass flow rate of heat transfer fluid (HTF). With respect to the smooth SESS, the maximum improvement in capacity factor is found to be 29%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, a novel high‐performance engine cycle composed of 5 processes and including constant temperature process has been developed by using novel numerical methods and compared with the classical dual cycle. The results of the classical thermodynamic model demonstrated that the proposed cycle which has a constant temperature process is better in terms of thermal efficiency and dimensionless net work compared to the classical dual cycle. After the validation of superiority of the developed cycle over the classical dual cycle, performance investigations of the novel cycle engine have been carried out in terms of power, power density, destructed exergy, thermal efficiency, ecological coefficient of performance, effective ecological power density by developing a novel fuel‐air cycle model. The influences of design and operational parameters such as cut‐off ratio, compression ratio, cycle temperature ratio, equivalence ratio, engine speed, stroke length, cylinder bore, cylinder wall temperature, air intake temperature, pressure ratio, on the performance specifications have been numerically derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present investigation, the emulsion blends of chia seed oil (CSO, 50%) and fish oil (FO, 50%) were spray dried using operating conditions such as inlet air temperature (IAT 125, 140, 155, 170, 185°C), wall material (WM 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%), pump speed (PS 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ml/min), and needle speed (NS 3, 5, 7, 9, 11s), respectively. The highest EE was obtained 83.77% ± 0.96% at 140°C (IAT), 10% (WM), 4 ml/min (PS), and 5S (NS) conditions. While the minimum EE was noted 73.40% ± 0.35% at 170°C (IAT), 20% (WM), 6 ml/min (PS), and 9S (NS), the maximum model predicted value of EE was 81.85% ± 0.90%. IAT significantly affected the EE while oxidative quality of spray‐dried microcapsule (SDM) samples was improved. The sensorial scores of SDM samples were in the acceptable range. Therefore, SDM developed from CSO and FO blends can be recommended for supplementation in different food products. Practical applications: In the modern age, the consumer and researcher interest has increased for the development of functional food products with excellent nutritional and stable omega enriched oils. The developed microcapsules from chia and fish oil blends at optimized spray drying operating conditions will help to design a formulation for discerning consumers to obtain omega enriched oil microcapsules with high efficiency and more sensorial acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric disturbances caused by seismic activity are a complex phenomenon. The Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) mechanism gives a detailed idea to understand these processes to study the possible impacts of a forthcoming earthquake. The atmospheric gravity wave (AGW) is one of the most accurate parameters for explaining such LAIC process, where seismogenic disturbances can be explained in terms of atmospheric waves caused by temperature changes. The key goal of this work is to study the perturbation in the potential energy associated with stratospheric AGW prior to many large earthquakes. We select seven large earthquakes having Richter scale magnitudes greater than seven (M > 7.0) in Japan (Tohoku and Kumamoto), Mexico (Chiapas), Nepal, and the Indian Ocean region, to study the intensification of AGW using the atmospheric temperature profile as recorded from the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) satellite. We observe a significant enhancement in the potential energy of the AGW ranging from 2 to 22 days prior to different earthquakes. We examine the conditions of geomagnetic disturbances, typhoons, and thunderstorms during our study and eliminate the possible contamination due to these events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an eco-friendlier way to manage mining waste, the use of solar energy to dry phosphate sludge in a rotary dryer is envisioned. As a first step toward this end, a design study for a bench-scale rotary dryer for phosphate sludge is detailed, using a one-dimensional mathematical model developed for this task. Using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software, a steady-state transport phenomena model was developed that enables an estimation of the moisture and temperature profiles for both gas and product in the dryer. A sensitivity analysis evaluated the effects and influence of different geometric parameters and operating conditions on the product moisture profile. Parameters involved include the diameter of the dryer, the residence time of the product to dry, inlet air temperature, and inlet product humidity. This allowed for the selection of suitable design parameters for the operation of a phosphate sludge dryer with a 1.5 m length and an internal diameter of 11.5 cm. The inlet air temperature of the rotary dryer was set at 200°C to achieve a reduction of moisture content in the product from 30% to 7%. The model was validated through literature and experimental datasets, with an error averaging 0.22% and 1.52%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their limited environment, farm animals are at greater risk of parasitic infection than free-living animals, which also have greater natural resistance to parasitic diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of season and meteorological conditions (temperature and humidity) on the species composition and dynamics of parasitic infections in farmed mouflons. The study was conducted in a herd of mouflon (n = 40) in an extensive system: the animals remained on pasture all year round. The herd was dewormed twice per year with albendazole. Fecal samples were collected at monthly intervals over three years and tested. The prevalence of infection was defined based on coproscopic methods. For most of the studied protozoans (except for E. parva), a greater prevalence was recorded in spring and summer (i.w. from May to September). Regarding nematodes, Capillaria spp., Nematodirus sp., and the Trichostrongylidae demonstrated a much greater prevalence in winter (i.e., in January and December). Temperature and precipitation were found to be positively correlated with intensity of infection by protozoans. However, maximum air temperature was negatively correlated with infection intensity by some nematodes. The deworming practice used in the herd (selection of substance, date, and method of dosing) did not effectively protect the mouflons against parasitoses. Changes in the microclimate resulted in high extent and intensity of mouflon infection with gastrointestinal parasites. Understanding the dynamics of parasitic infections in mouflons during the year allows the development of an appropriate preventive programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work demonstrates the adsorption of hydroquinone (HQ) and resorcinol (R) by activated carbon based on shea residue (Vitellaria paradoxa). The adsorbent was prepared chemically by impregnation with sulfuric acid and coded by the acronym CAK-S. The central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize the main factors that influence the adsorption of HQ or R by activated carbon such as the initial concentration, the pH of the solution, the contact time, and the mass of the carbon on the expected response, which is the adsorbed quantity of the target pollutants. The optimal conditions obtained from the statistical analysis are as follows: concentration of 158 mg/L, pH 3, time of 120 min, and mass of 50 mg for the adsorption of HQ and concentration of 180 mg/L, pH 3, time of 86 min, and mass of 118 mg for the adsorption of R. The maximum quantities of HQ and R adsorbed are 45.02 mg/g and 33.65 mg/g, respectively. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a good relationship between the variables involved with the coefficients of determination R2 = 98.69% for the adsorption of hydroquinone and R2 = 90.55% for that of resorcinol, which means that the model is more suitable to express the adsorbed amount according to the four optimized parameters. The experimental data obtained under these optimal conditions were simulated with two and three parameter nonlinear isotherm models as well as kinetic models. The results show that Elovich kinetic model better describes the adsorption of HQ and R, indicating chemisorption with heterogeneous active sites on the surface of CAK-S. Temkin's two-parameter model shows that adsorption occurs on heterogeneous surfaces with a nonuniform adsorption energy distribution at the surface and Sips's three-parameter model confirms the heterogeneity of the surface with a localized adsorption of HQ or R by CAK-S. The thermodynamics study has shown that the adsorption is endothermic (Δ H 0 > 0) and spontaneous (Δ G 0 < 0). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research focused on the study of the completely enclosed circulation cycle drying of garlic slices of 3 mm thickness. The relationship between temperature and air circulation cycle through heat pump (HP) drying was studied to maintain the food product quality and to optimize its processing cost. The Box‐Behnken design was used to investigate the effect of first‐ and second‐stage bypass air ratio (BAR) and temperature on HP‐specific moisture extraction rate (SMER), moisture evaporation rate (MER), and garlic slice quality. Maximum SMER (1.530 kg kW−1 h−1) was observed, when the temperature was 45°C and first‐ and second‐stage BARs were 0.40 and 0.60, respectively. The highest MER was observed when both BARs were set at 0.20. The ambient temperature and humidity conditions have a lesser effect on the closed HP drying system; however, it is mainly affected by BAR. The best performance of the system can be attained when the BAR is between 0.2 and 0.6. Our results show that quality score, MER, SMER, and comprehensive evaluation are the most suitable parameters for a closed HP drying system to dry the garlic slices. For single‐objective optimization, under the constraints of 0.2 ≤ X1 ≤ 0.6, 0.2 ≤ X2 ≤ 0.6, and 45°C ≤ X3 ≤ 55°C, the objective functions took the maximum value. As experimental indices gained the best hot air bypass rates and temperature which can guide the efficient HP drying production. Novelty impact statement: The quality of food products is one of the main parameters in the mechanical drying process. To maintain the quality, energy consumption must be least to make the product economical for end users. Therefore, different bypass air ratios and temperatures could be used in different drying stages to improve the drying effect and reduce energy consumption. Design expert was used to process data and develop models for quality score, MER, SMER, and comprehensive evaluation; these models were significant and could be used as a reference model in actual production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid bed drying with temperatures of 70–130°C, together with a coating system based on a zinc oxide nanoparticle (n‐ZnO) solution, was investigated for control of fungal growth in paddy before storage. A mathematical model to find suitable conditions for this process was developed. The installation of the coating system into the drying system was possible and the amount of n‐ZnO in paddy, as detected by an X‐ray diffractometer, related to the operating time. Total phenolic content decreased by 9.4% when a hot air temperature of 130°C was used. The percentage of fungal growth decreased with an increase in hot air temperature and operating time. This decrease could be expressed by a first‐order rate reaction. Specific energy consumption decreased to 72.5% as hot air temperature increased. The mathematical model could predict suitable process conditions to completely control fungal growth and aflatoxin content while maintaining total phenolic content. Novelty impact statement: Sangyod rice is a high‐value variety of rice cultivated in Thailand, which is abundant in total phenolic content, including anthocyanins. However, since this species can only be cultivated once a year, the rice is stored in storehouses for long durations of time, where there is the risk of fungal infection. This study reports a novel coating method adapted for the fluid bed drying technique, and its optimization using both experiments and mathematical modeling. The data obtained from this research will have applications for the rice industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a field study conducted in office settings in Sydney, Australia, background survey and right‐here‐right‐now thermal comfort questionnaires were collected from a sample of office workers. Indoor environmental observations, including air temperature, mean radiant temperature, air velocity, and relative humidity, were also recorded and matched with each questionnaire according to the time and location. During exploratory data analyses, we observed that female subjects aged over 40 and 50 or younger registered significantly warmer sensations than other subjects, male and female, from other age ranges. To further explore this phenomenon, the sample of building occupants was classified into two groups—women of perimenopausal age (over 40 and 50 or younger) while the remaining respondents served as a reference group for comparison. Women in the perimenopausal age range demonstrated an increased perception of warmth (p < 0.01) and expressed thermal dissatisfaction more frequently (p < 0.01) than the reference group respondents who were exposed to the same indoor environmental conditions. Furthermore, women of perimenopausal age also expressed preference for cooler thermal environments, that is, lower air temperature (p < 0.01) and greater air movement (p<0.01) than the reference group, and their thermal neutrality (ie, the room temperature corresponding to a neutral thermal sensation) was approximately 2°C cooler than that of the reference group (20.7°C vs 22.4°C). A potential physiological explanation for the distinct thermal perception of women aged over 40 and 50 or younger observed in this study could stem from menopausal symptoms—the presence of hot flushes and dysregulation of the thermoregulatory system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study managed to create thermal comfort conditions at three temperatures (24°C‐T24, 26°C‐T26, and 28°C‐T28) by adjusting clothing and air velocity. Thirty‐six subjects (18 males and 18 females) were exposed to each of the three conditions for 4.5 h in a design balanced for order of presentation of conditions. During each exposure, they rated the physical environment, their comfort, the intensity of acute subclinical health symptoms, and their mental load, and they performed a number of cognitive tasks. Their physiological reactions were monitored. The subjects rated T24 to be comfortably cool, T26 to be comfortably neutral, and T28 to be comfortably warm. Their self‐estimated performance did not differ between conditions but 12 of 14 objective metrics of cognitive performance decreased significantly at the elevated temperatures: compared with T24, their average cognitive performance decreased by 10% at T26 and by 6% at T28. At the elevated temperatures, their parasympathetic nervous system activity (as indicated by PNN50) and their arterial blood oxygen saturation level (SpO2) were both lower, which would be expected to result in reduced cognitive performance. The subjects also rated their acute subclinical health symptoms as more intense and their workload as higher at the elevated temperatures. These results suggest that where cognitive performance is the priority, it is wise to ensure a comfortably cool environment. The present study also supports the use of fans or natural ventilation to reduce the need for mechanical cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termitomyces albuminosus (termite mushroom) is an edible fungus growing from termitaries in certain parts of China. Recently, the mushroom has gained in popularity, but due to rapid post‐harvest quality decay, novel processing techniques including drying are required. This study aimed to optimize the conditions of combined microwave and hot air drying for T. albuminosus. Factors including microwave density, air temperature, and moisture content at conversion point were investigated and optimized using the drying rate, protein content, color L*, DPPH scavenging ability, rehydration ratio (RR), texture, sensory, and overall score as responses. The results showed that the overall score dried at 1.83 W/g microwave density, 60°C hot air, and 50% moisture content at conversion point were 0.675, 0.575, 0.530, respectively. The optimum conditions of combined microwave and hot air drying were microwave density 2.0 W/g, moisture content 52% at conversion point, and hot air temperature 57 respectively. The optimum conditions of combined microwave and hot air drying L* was 54.16, DPPH clearance was 91.87%, RR was 2.41, pileus chewiness was 1,587.19 g, stipe chewiness was 4,457.28 g, sensory score was 7.3, and overall score was 0.793, while the sensory quality was very high. Therefore, microwave drying followed by hot air drying is an effective, suitable method to obtain dried T. albuminosus. Practical applications: Termitomyces albuminosus is also known as Termitomyces and has a similar internal fiber structure, color, and flavor as chicken. Drying is one of the most important methods for edible fungi processing and the major aim is to decrease water activity, which in turn minimizes the chemical and physical modifications during storage. The conditions of combined microwave and hot air drying for T. albuminosus were investigated and optimized using the drying rate, protein content, color L*, DPPH scavenging ability, rehydration ratio, texture, sensory, and overall score as responses. The obtained process parameters were helpful, effective, and suitable for the application of combined microwave and hot air drying technology to preserve good quality, especially for T. albuminosus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meeting hygrothermal and air quality requirements in livestock dwellings is crucial for upholding production quality standards. However, ventilation and air-conditioning in such enclosures is very energy-intensive, especially amidst climate change and intensifying summer conditions. This is due to large surface areas, livestock densities, and contaminants' generation rates. Hence, striving for more efficient passive cooling techniques is always a desired goal to reduce the anthropogenic emissions of the agricultural sector without compromising production quality. In this study, the energy savings' potential of two passive systems in a poultry house located in the semiarid climate of Beqaa Valley, Lebanon, was compared. The first system is the conventional stand-alone direct evaporative cooler (DEC), which evaporatively cools the outdoor clean air to temperatures close to its wet bulb. The second system combines with the DEC, an earth-to-air heat exchanger (EAHE) that sensibly precools the ambient air and reduces its wet-bulb temperature. This can increase the cooling capacity of the DEC, which can save substantial amounts of energy while achieving similar, if not better, indoor conditions. To conduct this study, simplified mathematical models were developed for the DEC, EAHE, and the poultry house space, assuming a well-mixed air volume. After sizing the systems, simulation results showed that the stand-alone DEC system was not able to meet relative humidity requirements at all times unlike the proposed hybrid EAHE/DEC system. Moreover, the hybrid EAHE/DEC system resulted in 40% reduction in air and water consumption rates compared with the DEC system during the summer season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of an effective drying method to extend the shelf life of raw Chinese hickory (Carya cathayensis) is a major postharvest processing in the nut industry. In this paper, the effect of seed size and drying temperature on hot air drying kinetics and quality of Chinese hickory were detected. Our results reveal that the seed size greatly affects the final equilibrium moisture content of Chinese hickory. So, we predict that a larger Chinese hickory must be dried at a higher temperature. An Arrhenius‐type relationship is found between effective diffusivity (Deff) of Chinese hickory and drying temperature where the activation energy is 40.85 kJ/mol. Accelerated storage results show that Chinese hickory drying at 35 and 45°C have lower acid values, peroxide values, higher content of unsaturated fatty acids than those of 55 and 65°C. We suggested that 45°C is a suitable temperature for the industrial‐scale drying of Chinese hickory. Practical applications: In China, the annual output of Chinese hickory is about 21,500 metric tons. After harvest, fresh Chinese hickory is susceptible to decay and germinate during storage. Recently, the proportion of cracked Chinese hickory and kernel products is constantly rose in the market. So the requirements for the quality of raw materials are increased. Drying is the most critical step after harvest. Traditionally, the drying of Chinese hickory is performed in the presence of the natural sun. In rainy days, Chinese hickory often cannot be dried in time. Hot air drying is a common drying method in industry. However, limited reports are available on hot air drying and its effect on the product quality of Chinese hickory seeds. The results of this paper will help to establish an effective industrial‐scale drying method of Chinese hickory. In addition, the effect of seed size on hot air drying kinetics was also first investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper deals with an experimental and numerical study of the effect of PCM incorporation into a building's wall on indoor air temperature. The macro‐encapsulated PCM was integrated into the vertical wall of a laboratory test cell. Another test cell that lacks the PCM was considered the reference. Measurement of the air temperature inside the test cells shows the PCM role to delay heat transfer through the wall as well as to decrease the indoor air temperature peak. Furthermore, a numerical model was built and experimentally calibrated and validated. Numerical simulation results show that many factors should be studied before the incorporation of the PCM, mainly its position, type and layer thickness. Compared to insulation materials used in building, PCM can be used as smart insulation material due to its low thermal conductivity and as a phase shifter leading to a passive temperature control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have developed plenty of mathematical models for assessing indoor environment quality. Literature reviews that most of them presented a mean value of perception of a population and ignored the interaction effects of multiple environmental factors on occupants' perceptions. In this regard, the aim of our paper is to develop a comprehensive indoor physical environment quality (IPEQ) index which could present a whole picture of perception of a population by taking the combined effects (i.e., main, crossed and interaction effects) into consideration. The hypothesis and methodology of quantitation were firstly proposed according to Probability Theory. Our quantitation was performed based on the subjective perception votes that collected from 216 experimental conditions in a controlled laboratory. Three 3‐input 7‐output Artificial Neural Network models were subsequently developed for predicting probability mass functions (PMFs) of 7‐point sensation votes under the combined effects of temperature, illuminance, and sound level. Thereafter, the PMFs of 3‐point satisfaction votes were expressed and calculated by using Law of Total Probability. Finally, a comprehensive IPEQ index‐Predicted Probability Overall Dissatisfied (PPOD) index, which provides an estimate of how many occupants in a space would feel dissatisfied with the overall physical environment, was developed. The predicted expected value of overall satisfaction distribution (average overall satisfaction) was validated to be roughly in accordance with previous studies and more reasonable when at least one kind of environmental factor was far away from expectation. The new quantitative measure also indicated that the minimum PPOD is 17.55% (air temperature = 24.3°C, illuminance = 910Lx, sound level = 35 dB) within common ranges of environmental parameters. It was also discussed that our new quantitative measure could provide quick and direct suggestions for controlling or designing the indoor environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An uneven-span modified greenhouse dryer was constructed and tested in no-load conditions under natural convection mode under the weather conditions of Marrakech, Morocco, for two distinct days. Moreover, a CFD evaluation of the uneven-span greenhouse dryer was performed as tool to visualize the air temperature distribution inside the dryer. For validating the CFD model, the temperature variations along the hours of the day were compared to the experimental results. A good agreement is obtained between the computed and measured inside air temperature with a difference not exceeding 8.46°C, with a correlation coefficient (r) and root mean square percentage deviations (e) 0.94 and 8.17, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum inside air temperature was measured to be 56°C and 52°C while the minimum inside relative humidity was measured to be 17% and 12%, for day-1 and day-2, respectively. The benefice of using asphalt as a floor covering material was revealed as an efficient way to heat the inside air at low solar radiations. The performances of the dryer were evaluated by the percentage of net heat gain variation as a way to validate the effectiveness of the dryer. This latter is found to be equal to 46% and 48% for the two days, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the changing climatic condition, temperature is the most vulnerable parameter and is projecting a trend of increase in the future. Crop growth and development process depend largely on air temperature. This study aims to determine the role of increasing air temperature in yield, crop water requirement (CWR), and other agronomic parameters of irrigated rice. Ceres-rice model associated in the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) was used in 15 different locations of Bangladesh. Grain yield, growth duration, and crop water requirement of widely cultivated irrigated rice (Boro rice) variety BRRI dhan28 were analysed in normal temperature and elevated air temperature by 1°C, 2°C, 3°C, and 4°C. The result revealed detrimental effect of elevated temperature on growth duration and grain yield. The estimated highest growth duration reduction of 30 days was found in Moulvibazar for 4°C temperature rise. The grain yield reduction was projected by 0–17%, 16–35%, 31–49%, and 39–61% from the normal condition if the seasonal mean temperature increased by 1°C, 2°C, 3°C, and 4°C, respectively. The country average crop water requirement was found to be 405 mm of which the highest 445 mm and the lowest 358 mm were recorded in Moulvibazar and Chandpur, respectively. The study revealed that the country average rice CWR reduced by 5%, 8%, 12%, and 17% over the normal condition for 1°C, 2°C, 3°C, and 4°C rising temperature, respectively. For 1°C temperature rise, BRRI dhan28 life span shortened by 6.4 days, grain yield reduced by 695 kg, and estimated CWR decreased by 14 mm. The projected declining CWR indicated that irrigated rice will require less irrigation water, but it will cause considerable yield loss under elevated temperature. Though elevated temperature will save huge irrigation water used in country-wide Boro rice cultivation, the crop developers need to introduce new heat-tolerant cultivar to minimize yield loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In seasonally frozen ground, there are many frost problems in highway road tunnel after its excavation due to the heat exchange between the cold air and lining structure inside the tunnel. To mitigate these frost-related damages, thermal insulation layer is widely used at entrance and exit sections of the tunnel. In this study, a coupled mathematical model of heat, moisture, and stress was built for tunnels in seasonally permafrost regions. Then, based on the field-observed air temperature inside a roadway tunnel at Altun Mountain on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), seasonal freeze-thaw process of the surrounding rocks (SR) and lining structures were numerically investigated with the consideration of insulation methods: without insulation (WTIL) and laying the insulation layer on the inner surface of the second lining structure (STIL). Combined with the principle of Miner damage accumulation, the stress regimes of the lining structures of tunnel were investigated in WTIL and STIL. The results show that there was a significantly thermal disturbance of the SR after the tunnel excavation. In the 5th year of the operation period, the maximum seasonal freeze depth (MSFD) of the SR can reach 1.6 m at the vault of the arch and that at the inverted arch was only 1.0 m due to the pavement inside the tunnel. Then, both the absolute maximum value of the maximum principal stress (MAPS) and minimum principal stress (MIPS) in cold season were bigger than those in warm season comparing the value of the stress filed of the lining structure. In the same way, both the MAPS and MIPS of the lining structure in WTIL are bigger than those in STIL in numerical simulation. The positions of the maximum tensile stress of the primary lining structure in STIL and WTIL were inverted arch. For the lining structures, the greater tensile stress was generally harmful. Thus, the inverted arch of the tunnel should be laid on the insulation layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The interactive effects of simulated 2100 environmental conditions (air temperature and CO2 level) and water deficit (WD) on four clones of Vitis vinifera cv. Tempranillo were investigated. Methods and Results: Fruit‐bearing cuttings were subjected to: (i) two temperature/CO2/relative humidity (RH) regimes: climate change (28°C/18°C, 700 μmol/mol CO2 and 33%/53% RH, day/night) versus current climatic conditions (24°C/14°C, 400 μmol/mol CO2 and 45%/65% RH), combined with (ii) two water availabilities: well‐watered (WW) versus WD. Climate change increased net photosynthesis (An), transiently ameliorating the low carbon fixation rates under drought, but not the reduction in vegetative and reproductive growth. Climate change increased intrinsic water use efficiency (An/gs), especially when combined with WD, but not the instantaneous water use efficiency (An/T). The clones exhibited differences in the ripening time, plant vigour and reproductive growth. Variability in the response of An, phenology and growth to the simulated conditions was observed among clones. Conclusions: Differences in the length of the reproductive cycle conditioned, in part, the physiological response of the clones to the environmental factors. Significance of the Study: The study improves our understanding of the interactive effects of climate change factors and provides insights into the response of different clones, as the basis for the adaptation of cultivars in their traditional growing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indoor environment influences occupants' health. From March 1, 2018, to February 28, 2019, we continuously monitored indoor temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), and CO2 concentration in bedrooms via an online system in 165 residences that covered all five climate zones of China. Meanwhile, we asked one specific occupant in each home to complete questionnaires about perceived air quality and sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms at the end of each month. Higher CO2 concentration was significantly associated with a higher percentage of perceived stuffy odor and skin SBS symptoms. Higher relative humidity was associated with higher percentage of perceived moldy odor and humid air, while lower RH was associated with a higher percentage of perceived dry air. Occupants who lived in residences with high RH were less likely to have mucosal and skin SBS symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.73–0.78). However, the benefit of high humidity for perceived dry air and skin dryness symptoms is weaker if there is a high CO2 concentration level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This field study aimed to investigate naturally ventilated bedroom environment and its effects on subjective perception and sleep quality. Totally, 104 healthy subjects living in urban areas of Beijing participated in the study for one night during transition seasons. Bedroom environment parameters, including temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 concentration, were recorded before and during sleep. Objective sleep quality was measured by Fitbit Alta 2, a wrist‐type actigraphy sensor. Subjective assessments were collected by paper‐based questionnaires on sleep quality and environmental perceptions. The results showed that neutral temperature for waking state (before sleep) was estimated to be 23.8°C while for sleep state it was 26.5°C. Furthermore, pre‐sleep thermal sensation vote was found to be positively correlated with deep sleep percentage. Indoor air quality was correlated with sleep quality as indicated by statistically significant correlations between odor intensity assessment, air quality acceptability, average nightly CO2 concentration, and measures of sleep quality. For naturally ventilated bedrooms during transition seasons with a mild outdoor climate, present findings suggest that a bedroom with slightly warm pre‐sleep environment than neutral, and with high ventilation as indicated by low indoor CO2 concentration, could be beneficial for sleep quality of residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]