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Earth's Future Nov 2022The climate science and applications communities need a broad and demand-driven concept to assess physical climate conditions that are relevant for impacts on human and...
The climate science and applications communities need a broad and demand-driven concept to assess physical climate conditions that are relevant for impacts on human and natural systems. Here, we augment the description of the "climatic impact-driver" (CID) approach adopted in the Working Group I (WGI) contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report. CIDs are broadly defined as "physical climate system conditions (e.g., means, events, and extremes) that affect an element of society or ecosystems. Depending on system tolerance, CIDs and their changes can be detrimental, beneficial, neutral, or a mixture of each across interacting system elements and regions." We give background information on the IPCC Report process that led to the development of the 7 CID types (heat and cold, wet and dry, wind, snow and ice, coastal, open ocean, and other) and 33 distinct CID categories, each of which may be evaluated using a variety of CID indices. This inventory of CIDs was co-developed with WGII to provide a useful collaboration point between physical climate scientists and impacts/risk experts to assess the specific climatic phenomena driving sectoral responses and identify relevant CID indices within each sector. The CID Framework ensures that a comprehensive set of climatic conditions informs adaptation planning and risk management and may also help prioritize improvements in modeling sectoral dynamics that depend on climatic conditions. CIDs contribute to climate services by increasing coherence and neutrality when identifying and communicating relevant findings from physical climate research to risk assessment and planning activities.
PubMed: 36582412
DOI: 10.1029/2022EF002803 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022The measurement of acceleration during vehicle motion can be used to assess the driving styles and behaviours of drivers, to control vehicle traffic, to detect...
The measurement of acceleration during vehicle motion can be used to assess the driving styles and behaviours of drivers, to control vehicle traffic, to detect uncontrolled vehicle behaviour, and to prevent accidents. The measurement of acceleration during vehicle motion on an icy road can be used to warn the driver about changing conditions and the related hazards. This paper presents the results of testing the motion parameters of a Ford Transit adapted for passenger transport in critical traffic conditions. It can contribute to the improvement of road safety. Critical traffic conditions are deemed in the paper as sudden braking, rapid acceleration, and circular vehicle motion at maximum speed maintainable in the given conditions. The vehicle's acceleration and speed were measured during the tests. The tests were carried out with a TAA linear acceleration sensor and a Correvit S-350 Aqua optoelectronic sensor. The same test runs were conducted on a dry surface, a wet (after rain) surface and a surface covered with a thin, invisible ice layer. The objective of the tests was to determine the impact of invisible road icing, the so-called black ice, on the tested vehicle's braking, acceleration, and circular motion. It was demonstrated that a virtually invisible ice layer covering the road surface has a substantial impact on the tested vehicle's motion parameters, thereby affecting traffic safety. It substantially extends the braking and acceleration distances and requires the driver to reduce the vehicle's speed when performing circular motions. A clear wet surface, representing motion after rain, did not substantially affect the analysed parameters. The obtained results can be used in traffic simulations and to analyse the causes of accidents.
PubMed: 36560093
DOI: 10.3390/s22249726 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Microwave deicing technology, as a new environmentally friendly deicing technology, can effectively solve the problem of the frequent icing of road surfaces in the...
Microwave deicing technology, as a new environmentally friendly deicing technology, can effectively solve the problem of the frequent icing of road surfaces in the winter, which affects the safety of traffic. To improve the efficiency of microwave deicing on cement concrete pavement, this study proposed the use of magnetite, iron sulfide slag, steel slag, lead-zinc slag, and graphite as microwave-absorbing materials, and conducted microwave deicing tests under the influence of five factors, namely the form of the pavement surface structure, the content of the microwave-absorbing material, microwave power, the shielding state, and dry and wet conditions. Layer by layer, we selected the combination of pavement surface structure, microwave-absorbing material content, microwave power, shielding state, and dry and wet conditions on the bottom surface of the concrete slab with the optimal deicing effect. The results showed that the 2 cm scattered microwave-absorbing surface concrete structure has the fastest heating rate; the higher the magnetite content and microwave power, the higher the deicing efficiency; the maximum heating rate can be increased by 17.6% when the shielding layer is set at the bottom of the cement concrete slab; and the heating rate of the microwave-absorbing concrete slab in the wet state is increased by 20.8% relative to the dry state. In summary, 7000 W of power, a magnetite content of 60 vol % in the scattered microwave-absorbing surface, a shielding layer set at the bottom surface, and wet conditions can greatly improve the efficiency of microwave deicing compared with the microwave ice melting effects of plain cement concrete and other microwave-absorbing materials mixed into the concrete. In addition, the temperature uniformity of the microwave-absorbing materials is essential to improve the deicing efficiency of microwave-absorbing concrete, so it is essential to explore it further.
PubMed: 36556729
DOI: 10.3390/ma15248923 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022Evidence from recent Mars landers identified the presence of perchlorates salts at 1 wt % in regolith and their widespread distribution on the Martian surface that has...
Evidence from recent Mars landers identified the presence of perchlorates salts at 1 wt % in regolith and their widespread distribution on the Martian surface that has been hypothesized as a critical chemical hazard for putative life forms. However, the hypersaline environment may also potentially preserve life and its biomolecules over geological timescales. The high concentration of natural perchlorates is scarcely reported on Earth. The presence of perchlorates in soil and ice has been recorded in some extreme environments including the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica, one of the best terrestrial analogues for Mars. In the frame of "Life in space" Italian astrobiology project, the polyextremophilic black fungus , a eukaryotic test organism isolated from the Antarctic cryptoendolithic communities, has been tested for its resistance, when grown on different hypersaline substrata. In addition, was grown on Martian relevant perchlorate medium (0.4 wt% of Mg(ClO) and 0.6 wt% of Ca(ClO)) to investigate the possibility for the fungus to survive in Martian environment. Here, the results indicate a good survivability and metabolic activity recovery of the black fungus when grown on four Martian relevant perchlorates. A low percentage of damaged cellular membranes have been found, confirming the ultrastructural investigation.
PubMed: 36523839
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.992077 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2022Cold damage has caused more economic losses to fruit crop growers in the U.S. than any other weather hazard, making it a perennial concern for producers. Cellulose...
Cold damage has caused more economic losses to fruit crop growers in the U.S. than any other weather hazard, making it a perennial concern for producers. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) represent a new generation of renewable bio-nanomaterials, with many unique physical and chemical properties, including their low thermal conductivity. Our team has developed a process for creating CNC dispersions that can be sprayed onto woody perennial crops, forming a thin insulating film around buds which has been shown to increase cold tolerance. Using digital scanning calorimetry (DSC) on dormant apple ( Borkh.) reproductive buds, we investigated the thermodynamic properties of plant materials treated with CNC dispersion at lower temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to evaluate the thickness of the CNC films and their deposition on the sweet cherry bud surface. Apple buds treated with 3% CNC exhibited lethal freezing at temperatures 3.2°C and 5.5°C lower than the untreated control when sampled 1 and 3 days after application, respectively. Additionally, the latent heat capacity (J/g) of the 3% CNC-treated buds was 46% higher compared with untreated buds 1 day after application, and this difference increased 3 days after application to 168% higher. The emissivity of cherry buds treated with 3% CNC was reduced by an average of 16% compared with the untreated buds. SEM was able to detect the dried films on the surface of the buds 3 days after application. Film thickness measured with SEM increased with material concentration. The emissivity, HTE, and LTE results show that CNC-treated reproductive buds released thermal energy at a slower rate than the untreated buds and, consequently, exhibited internal ice nucleation events at temperatures as much as 5.5°C lower. The increased enthalpy during the LTE in the CNC-treated apple buds shows more energy released at lethal internal freezing, indicating that CNC coatings are increasing the amount of supercooled water. The effects of CNC shown during the DSC tests were increased by CNC concentration and time post-application. These results suggest that CNC dispersions dry into nanofilms on the bud surface, which affects their thermodynamic processes at low temperatures.
PubMed: 36483953
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.949537 -
Journal of Neuroscience Methods Feb 2023Thermal and tactile stimuli are transduced by different receptor classes. However, mechano- and thermo-sensitive afferents interact at spinal and supraspinal levels....
BACKGROUND
Thermal and tactile stimuli are transduced by different receptor classes. However, mechano- and thermo-sensitive afferents interact at spinal and supraspinal levels. Yet, most studies on responses to cooling stimuli are confounded by mechanical contact, making these interactions difficult to isolate. Methods for precise control of non-mechanical thermal stimulations remain challenging, particularly in the cold range.
NEW METHOD
We developed a non-tactile, focal, temperature-controlled, multi-purpose cooling stimulator. This method controls the exposure of a target skin region to a dry-ice source. Using a thermal camera to monitor skin temperature, and adjusting the source-skin distance accordingly, we could deliver non-tactile cooling stimuli with customisable profiles, for studying different aspects of cold sensation.
RESULTS
To validate our method, we measured absolute and relative thresholds for cold sensation without mechanical contact in 13 human volunteer participants, using the method of limits. We found that the absolute cold detection threshold was 32.71 C ± 0.88 C. This corresponded to a threshold relative to each participant's baseline skin temperature of - 1.08 C ± 0.37 C.
COMPARISONS WITH EXISTING METHOD
Our method allows cooling stimulation without the confound of mechanical contact, in a controllable and focal manner.
CONCLUSIONS
We report a non-contact cooling stimulator and accompanying control system. We used this to measure cold thresholds in the absence of confounding touch. Our method enables more targeted studies of both cold sensory pathways, and of cold-touch interactions.
Topics: Humans; Touch; Touch Perception; Skin; Skin Temperature; Temperature; Cold Temperature; Thermosensing
PubMed: 36476749
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109763 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2022This article presents the outcome of research on modelling the process of the extrusion of crystalline dry ice. The purpose of this process is to densify the material...
This article presents the outcome of research on modelling the process of the extrusion of crystalline dry ice. The purpose of this process is to densify the material and obtain pellets of several millimeters in diameter. This reduces the sublimation rate in ambient conditions of the material whose temperature in a solid state is 195 K. A lower sublimation rate means a reduction of the loss of product in its final applications, which include refrigeration and reduction of atmospheric emissions of gaseous CO. A ram-type extruder was considered in this analysis, in which dry ice was extruded through a single-hole die of varying geometry. The article presents the results of numerical analyses of the extrusion process, using a simulation method based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) approach. The results from simulations were verified by the experimental data in terms of the maximum force required to complete the process, in order to assess the applicability of the proposed method in further research on dry ice compression.
PubMed: 36431727
DOI: 10.3390/ma15228242 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2022How to reduce consumption of energy in manufacturing has become a topical issue nowadays. Certain manufacturing processes are known for being highly energy-intensive and...
How to reduce consumption of energy in manufacturing has become a topical issue nowadays. Certain manufacturing processes are known for being highly energy-intensive and compression of materials belongs to this group. This article presents the simulation of the process of compression of dry ice snow with the use of the Mohr-Coulomb model. Two simulation variants were considered in this research. In the first one, constant input parameters were used and in the second one, the input parameters were variable, depending on the changing density of the compressed material. The experimental data were compared with the predicted values to find that the model using constant input parameters was inferior as regards to the goodness of fit. On the other hand, the model with variable input parameters was less accurate in predicting the maximum compression force acting in the process. The last section of this article deals with simulations performed with the Drucker-Prager Cap and modified Cam-Clay models. Finally, it was concluded that the Mohr-Coulomb model yields a more accurate representation of the compression process while requiring less information on the variation of the material parameters.
PubMed: 36431420
DOI: 10.3390/ma15227932 -
Journal of Dairy Science Jan 2023High protein levels in yogurt, as well as the presence of denatured whey proteins in the milk, lead to the development of firm gels that can make it difficult to...
High protein levels in yogurt, as well as the presence of denatured whey proteins in the milk, lead to the development of firm gels that can make it difficult to formulate a fluid beverage. We wanted to prepare high-protein yogurts and explore the effects of using micellar casein isolate (MCI), which was significantly depleted in whey protein by microfiltration. Little is known about the use of whey protein-depleted milk protein powders for high-protein yogurt products. Microfiltration also depletes soluble ions, in addition to whey proteins, and so alterations to the ionic strength of rehydrated MCI dispersions were also explored, to understand their effects on a high-protein yogurt gel system. Yogurts were prepared at 8% protein (wt/wt) from MCI or nonfat dry milk (NDM). The NDM was dispersed in water, and MCI powders were dispersed in water (with either low levels of added lactose to allow fermentation to achieve the target pH, or a high level to match the lactose content of the NDM sample) or in ultrafiltered (UF) milk permeate to align its ionic strength with that of the NDM dispersion. Dispersions were then heated at 85°C for 30 min while stirring, cooled to 40°C in an ice bath, and fermented with yogurt cultures to a final pH of 4.3. The stiffness of set-style yogurt gels, as determined by the storage modulus, was lowest in whey protein-depleted milk (i.e., MCI) prepared with a high ionic strength (UF permeate). Confocal laser scanning microscopy and permeability measurements revealed no large differences in the gel microstructure of MCI samples prepared in various dispersants. Stirred yogurt made from MCI that was prepared with low ionic strength showed slow rates of elastic bond reformation after stirring, as well as slower increases in cluster particle size throughout the ambient storage period. Both the presence of denatured whey proteins and the ionic strength of milk dispersions significantly affected the properties of set and stirred-style yogurt gels. Results from this study showed that the ionic strength of the heated milk dispersion before fermentation had a large influence on the gelation pH and strength of acid milk gels, but only when prepared at high (8%) protein levels. Results also showed that depleting milk of whey proteins before fermentation led to the development of weak yogurt gels, which were slow to rebody and may be better suited for preparing cultured milk beverages where low viscosities are desirable.
Topics: Animals; Caseins; Whey Proteins; Micelles; Lactose; Milk Proteins; Yogurt; Gels; Powders; Water; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Rheology
PubMed: 36357211
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22400 -
Journal of Athletic Training Aug 2022For this case series, 4 student-athletes (age range = 20-22 years) participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey served as cases. They...
CONTEXT
For this case series, 4 student-athletes (age range = 20-22 years) participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey served as cases. They were free of injury and participated in all team activities without restrictions.
TREATMENT
A dry needling (DN) lower extremity recovery protocol was completed for all athletes during a single session. To administer the DN recovery treatment, we placed static needles in specific bilateral locations that consisted of 5 points on both the anterior and posterior aspects of the lower extremity and lumbopelvic complex. The Acute Recovery Stress Scale was used to evaluate the effect of the DN recovery treatment on each athlete's perception of recovery at 24 and 48 hours post-DN treatment.
RESULTS
Overall, total and average scores of Acute Recovery Stress Scale for all cases were closer to baseline at 48 hours post-DN than at the other time points.
CONCLUSIONS
Recovery techniques historically have been used postactivity because even normal training loads, which are considered positive, produce stress and fatigue in athletes and can lead to injury. Results from this case series suggest that ice hockey athletes who are experiencing postexercise stress, such as soreness and fatigue, may benefit from a lower extremity DN recovery treatment protocol.
Topics: Humans; Young Adult; Athletes; Athletic Injuries; Dry Needling; Fatigue; Hockey; Universities
PubMed: 36356615
DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0096.21