International Journal of Biometeorology最新文献

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major global health concern as it is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality and economic burden to the health care systems. In Germany, more than 15,000 people die every year from CAP. Climate change is altering weather patterns, and it may influence the probability and severity of CAP. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events necessitate the study of their impact on CAP hospitalizations. In this regard, we examine the influence of absolute values and changes in various meteorological and air quality conditions on the frequency of CAP hospitalizations. We matched weather data to the German CAPNETZ-Cohort of 10,660 CAP patients from 22 healthcare facilities between 2003 and 2017. Our findings show that daily fluctuations in meteorological conditions (maximum temperature, 99th percentile precipitation), apart from relative humidity, are likely to result in triggering CAP hospitalizations than absolute conditions. In contrast, the absolute values of air quality (CO, NO₂, O₃, PM_2.5, SO₂, and total aerosols) are found to exert a greater influence on CAP hospitalizations than changes in air quality. The study outcomes have implications for public health measures, early warning systems, and public awareness, with the aim of mitigating the risk of CAP.

For non-hibernating species within temperate climates, survival during severe winter weather often depends on individuals' behavioral response and available refugia. Identifying refugia habitat that sustains populations during adverse winter conditions can be difficult and complex. This study provides an example of how modeled, biologically relevant snow and weather information can help identify important relationships between habitat selection and dynamic winter landscapes using greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus, hereafter "sage-grouse") as a model species. We evaluated whether sage-grouse responded to weather conditions in two ways: through (1) positive selection for refugia habitat to minimize adverse weather exposure, or (2) lowered activity level to minimize thermoregulation and locomotion expense. Our results suggested that sage-grouse respond to winter weather conditions by seeking refugia rather than changing daily activity levels. During periods of lower wind chill temperatures and greater wind speeds, sage-grouse selected areas with sheltered aspects and greater sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) cover. Broadly, sage-grouse selected winter home ranges in sagebrush shrublands characterized by higher wind chill temperatures, greater wind speeds, and greater blizzarding conditions. However, within these home ranges, sage-grouse specifically selected habitats with greater above-snow sagebrush cover, lower wind speeds, and lower blizzarding conditions. Our study underscores the importance of examining habitat selection at narrower temporal scales than entire seasons and demonstrates the value of incorporating targeted weather variables that wholistically synthesize winter conditions. This research allows identification of refugia habitat that sustain populations during winter disproportionate to their spatial extent or frequency of use, facilitating more targeted management and conservation efforts.

The surface color and materials of sidewalk pavements exhibit different albedo characteristics, leading to varied surface urban heat island effects in subtropical regions. To quantify the effect of pavement surface color and material on SUHI, Prefabricated Concrete Structure brick (PCB), Granite brick (GB) and Dutch brick (DB) totaling 14 pavement samples in Hangzhou were placed under unshaded, cloud shaded and tree shaded conditions. CIELAB (International Commission on Illumination L*a*b*) color data, short-wave radiation (incoming and outgoing) and surface temperature were measured. Results showed that L*( lightness) value played a dominant role in the albedo of the pavement surface, and there was a positive correlation in summer and winter. The lower the L* value, the greater the cooling effect of the pavement under cloud and tree shaded conditions. Compared to unshaded condition, tree shade provided the highest cooling benefit of 32.2 °C in summer. Among the 3 types of pavement materials, DB had the lowest average surface temperature in summer and the highest in winter. Therefore, in cities with cold winter and hot summer, it is advised that DB with a high surface L* value be employed. The use of pavement with a low L* value should be accompanied by continuous shading measures to cool the surface temperature. These findings provide a basis for selecting low-energy embodied pavement materials for urban streets and offer important technical support for mitigating the urban heat island effect.

Reduced body size is an ecological response to climate change. Differential responses to heat stress in phenotypically diverse bovine lineages may imply a body size-dependent stress response. Heat-tolerant dwarf Vechur, Kasaragod (Bos taurus indicus), and heat-sensitive crossbred (CB, B. t. indicus x B. t. taurus) cattle were tested physiologically, biochemically, and in terms of cellular protein expression. Thirty adult lactating cows (ten Vechur, Kasaragod, and CBs each) were allowed to graze during the summer. The environmental parameters measured included Ta (ambient temperature), RH (humidity), WS (wind speed), and SR (solar radiation intensity). In addition, the temperature humidity index (THI), heat load index (HLI), and accumulated heat load (AHL) were computed. The panting score (PS) was determined using breath characteristics. Numerous physiological (rectal temperature-RT, respiratory rate-RR and pulse rate-PR), haematological, and biochemical (serum cortisol) heat stress markers were identified and validated. RT, RR and PR were evaluated to determine the linear correlation coefficients and predictors. The correlation coefficients in CB were significantly higher than in Vechur and Kasaragod (p < 0.01). Stepwise regressions showed that in CB, Ta alone was the environmental measure that best described the indicator variables PS, the difference between RT recorded at half-hour intervals (RT_diff, R² = 0.925), and white blood cell count (R² = 0.984). Differences in cellular protein expression were also evident. Under heat stress conditions, linear discriminants based on RT, RR, and PR separated dwarf (Vechur and Kasaragod) and crossbred cattle into various clusters, and significant breed-wise grouping was identified based on haematological parameters in pre-stress and heat stress. The study established the variable heat stress response of phenotypically divergent Bos lineages and relevant heat stress markers and thermal indices for measuring heat stress.

Thalassotherapy refers to the therapeutic use of controlled exposure to marine environments and their natural elements for health promotion. This review aims to summarize evidence-based clinical applications of thalassotherapy. A narrative review was conducted, with PubMed searched in September 2024 for clinical studies evaluating the efficacy of thalassotherapy. Relevant evidence was summarized and critically analyzed. A total of 566 articles were identified, of which 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. Thalassotherapy was primarily studied for its effects on skin disorders, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and vitiligo, as well as rheumatic conditions like fibromyalgia and ankylosing spondylitis. The intervention showed significant improvements in disease severity and patient quality of life, with the strongest evidence seen in psoriasis and fibromyalgia treatment. Thalassotherapy appears beneficial for symptom relief in several conditions, particularly skin and rheumatic disorders. However, further research is needed to quantify its effect size, evaluate long-term benefits, assess potential risks, and identify factors that may influence treatment outcomes.

The study analyzed the effectiveness of a two-week cycle of sulfurous water therapy at Frasassi Thermal Springs ("Terme di Frasassi - S. Vittore", located in the Province of Ancona, Italy) on 8 patients suffering from rhinogenic deafness caused by chronic rhinosinusitis associated with nasal polyps and respiratory allergies. Patients underwent 12 sessions of sulfurous aerosol therapy and 12 bilateral tubal insufflations (1 aerosol and 1 insufflation per day). Pre- and post-treatment assessments included tympanometric measurements and a subjective evaluation of symptomatic improvement on a scale from 1 to 10. The median reported improvement was 9.5 (min: 7; max: 10). By the end of the treatment, all patients achieved a bilateral type A/A tympanogram, indicating restored tubal function. The results suggest that sulfurous water thermal therapy can be a useful treatment for rhinogenic deafness associated with chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps, and respiratory allergies, with significant improvements in both auditory function and quality of life. Further studies are needed to compare this treatment with other therapies and to precisely evaluate the duration of the benefit over time.

Beekeeping is an exceptionally weather-sensitive agricultural field. Honey production and pollination services depend on the complex interaction of plants and bees, both of which are impacted by short-term weather changes. In this review, classical and recent research is collected to provide an overview on short-term atmospheric factors influencing honey production, and the optimal and critical weather conditions for bee activity. Bee flight can be directly obstructed by precipitation, wind, extreme temperatures and also air pollution. Bees generally fly within a temperature range of 10-40 °C, with optimal foraging efficiency occurring between 20 and 30 °C. Wind speeds exceeding 1.6-6.7 m/s can reduce foraging efficiency. Additionally, bee activity is significantly correlated with temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation, factors which influence nectar production. Optimal conditions for nectar collection typically occur in the morning and early afternoon hours with mild and moist weather. The diurnal nectar collection habit of bees adjusts to the nectar production of individual plant species. Extreme weather occurring in the sensitive hours is noticeable both in the nectar production of plants and in the activity of bees, thus in the honey yield. Understanding the impact of weather on honey bees is crucial in the management and planning of honey production. This review highlights the importance of studying these interactions to better adapt beekeeping practices to changing environmental conditions.

In this research paper, machine learning techniques were applied to a multivariate meteorological time series data for estimating the wheat yield of five districts of Punjab. Wheat yield data and weather parameters over 34 years were collected from the study area and the model was developed using stepwise multi-linear regression (SMLR), artificial neural network (ANN), support vector regression (SVR), random forest (RF) and deep neural network (DNN) techniques. Wheat yield estimation was done at the tillering, flowering, and grain-filling stage of the crop by considering weather variables from 46 to 4th, 46 to 8th, and 46 to 11th standard meteorological week. Weighted and unweighted Meteorological variables and yield data were used to train, test, and validate the models in R software. The evaluation results showed a consistent and promising performance of RF, SVR, and DNN models for all five districts with an overall MAPE and nRMSE value of less than 6% during validation at all three growth stages. These models exhibited outstanding performance during validation for the Faridkot, Ferozpur, and Gurdaspur districts. Based on accuracy parameters MAPE, RMSE, nRMSE, and percentage deviation, the RF model was found better followed by SVR and DNN models and, hence can be used for district-level wheat crop yield estimation at different crop growth stages.

Sapropelic muds have been used for centuries to treat various illnesses, but their effects and mechanisms are still under research. In this study the effects of Techirghiol sapropelic mud on tissue oxygenation in elderly patients diagnosed with neuromuscular disorders were investigated using spatial and spectral information provided by hyperspectral imaging technique. A group of 38 elderly patients with neuromuscular disorders for which they received mud therapy was studied. Sapropelic mud was applied to the lumbar region of each patient for 30 min, directly on the skin in a thick layer, while a symmetrical area of ​​15 × 10 cm in the same region was covered with a medical patch to serve as the control area. The mud is typically heated to a temperature of 40-45 °C before application. Hyperspectral images were taken before, after the first day of therapy, and at day seven. Oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin concentrations and oxygen saturation values were calculated from the hyperspectral images and compared to control areas. The results revealed that, in the treated area, the mean oxyhemoglobin concentration increased with + 0.2127 ± 0.1096 mol cm∕L, while deoxyhemoglobin concentration decreased by -0.0509 ± 0.0558 mol cm∕L. Local tissue oxygen saturation raised to over 98% in all patients. Lesser improvements were recorded for the control areas: oxyhemoglobin increased with + 0.1673 ± 0.1059 mol cm∕L, and deoxyhemoglobin decreased with - 0.0525 ± 0.0578 mol cm∕L. A good level of agreement was found between values of oxygen saturation measured with hyperspectral imaging method and the classical pulse oximetry method. Thus, improvement in local circulation was demonstrated after mud therapy. In conclusion, therapy with Techirghiol sapropelic mud improved local tissue oxygenation, hyperspectral imaging being a reliable and non-invasive tool for monitoring these changes.

Heatwave and cold spell have been linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. However, due to the varying definitions of heatwave and cold spell, their impacts on CVD mortality are inconsistent.

Methods: A time series study in Hunan province, central of China, from 2018 to 2022, was conducted to test the relationship between heatwave, cold spell and CVD mortality. According to different percentiles of daily mean temperatures and exposure duration, we built 9 kind of definitions for heatwave and cold spell. Distributed lag non-linear model was used to analyze the associations between heatwave, cold spell and CVD mortality, and the attributable fraction (AF) were estimated.

Results: The relative risks of CVD mortality associated with heatwave and cold spell varied depending on the definitions, ranging from 1.154 (95% CI: 1.148-1.160) to 1.229 (95% CI: 1.215-1.243) for heatwaves, and from 1.196 (95% CI: 1.192-1.201) to 1.290 (95% CI: 1.282-1.297) for cold spells. Under the definition of 95th percentile with ≥ 4-d duration (P95_4d), the total AF of CVD mortality attributable to heatwave was the largest at 8.43 (95% CI: 7.92-8.94). For the definition of 5th percentile with ≥ 3-d duration (P5_3d), the total AF attributable to cold spell was the largest at 12.96 (95% CI: 12.64-13.28). For heatwave and cold spell, higher CVD mortality risks were observed in females and the elderly over 75 years than males and young people.

Discussion: We found that both heatwave and cold spell could increase the mortality risk of CVD. The results highlight the importance of implementing warning systems for extreme temperature.