International Journal of Biometeorology最新文献

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of liquid (Fructose-added lactic acid bacteria, F-LAB) and commercial (Commercial LAB, C-LAB) probiotics sourced from Rye-Grass Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) on broiler chickens experiencing heat stress (HS). The research involved 240 broiler chicks, divided into six groups: control, F-LAB, C-LAB (raised at 24 °C), HS, F-LAB/HS, and C-LAB/HS (exposed to 5–7 h of 34–36 °C daily). The study followed a randomized complete block design, with each group consisting of 40 chicks. F-LAB and HS/F-LAB groups received a natural probiotic added to their drinking water at a rate of 0.5 ml/L, while C-LAB and HS/C-LAB groups were supplemented with a commercial probiotic at the same dosage. Control and HS groups received no probiotic supplementation. The duration of the study was 42 days, with data collected on growth performance, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and health parameters. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA, and significant differences between groups were determined using post hoc tests. The results revealed that without probiotic supplementation, heat stress led to a decrease in body weight gain, T3 levels, citrulline, and growth hormone levels, along with an increase in the feed conversion ratio, serum corticosterone, HSP70, ALT, AST, and leptin levels (p < 0.05 for all). Heat stress also adversely affected cecal microbiota, reducing lactic acid bacteria count (LABC) while increasing Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria (CBC) counts. However, in the groups receiving probiotic supplementation under heat stress (F-LAB/HS and C-LAB/HS), these effects were alleviated (p < 0.05 for all). Particularly noteworthy was the observation that broiler chickens supplemented with natural lactic acid bacteria (F-LAB) exhibited greater resilience to heat stress compared to those receiving the commercial probiotic, as evidenced by improvements in growth, liver function, hormonal balance, intestinal health, and cecal microbiome ecology (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the supplementation of naturally sourced probiotics (F-LAB) may positively impact the intestinal health of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress, potentially supporting growth and health parameters.

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This study investigates the effect of dietary Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, nutrient apparent digestibility, and cecum flora of broilers under heat stress (HS) and provides a theoretical basis for the application of probiotic additives to alleviate the stress of poultry under HS. A total of 200 Cobb broilers were randomly assigned to four replicates of 10 broilers in each of the five groups. The growth performance, serum biochemistry, nutrient apparent digestibility, and cecum flora of broilers were detected on the 28th, 35th, and 42nd days, respectively. Results revealed that HS can affect the growth performance and serum biochemical indexes of broilers, lowered the number of intestinal bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus, and increase the number of Escherichia coli in comparsion to the CON group. Compared with the HS group, the ADFI of HS broilers in the BS group and the combined group significantly increased (P < 0.05) at 22–28 days of age, and the serum calcium and phosphorus increased (P < 0.05) significantly at 42 days of age. Meanwhile, the number of Lactobacillus in the BS group and LAB group increased significantly at 42 days of age (P < 0.05). The number of Escherichia coli in the LAB group and combination group decreased significantly at 35 days of age (P < 0.01). The present study revealed that the addition of Bacillus subtilis or Lactobacillus to diets increased ADFI, increased probiotic counts, and lowered Escherichia coli counts in HS broilers, while probiotics alone work well.

Exposure time to heat is increasing with climate change. Heat exposure thresholds are important to inform heat early warning systems, and legislation and guidance for safety in the workplace. It has already been stated that thresholds can be lower for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those with pre-existing medical conditions due to their reduced ability to thermoregulate their temperature or apply cooling strategies. However, the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) proposed by the international standard organisation (ISO 7243:2017), only takes into account thresholds based on acclimatization status. Therefore in this study we carried out a PRISMA systematic keyword search of “Wet Bulb Globe Temperature” of the Scopus abstract and citation database in August 2023 and a meta-analysis of text extracted from the identified 913 international studies published between December 1957 and July 2023, to investigate heat stress thresholds for different population groups. We find that different thresholds are considered as an indication of heat stress for different population groups. However, critical gaps were identified for the most vulnerable populations, and there are lower numbers of studies on women. Most studies researched adult populations between the ages of 18 and 55 (n = 491), failing to include the youngest and oldest members of society. Based on these findings, we call for targeted investigations to inform effective heat action policies and set early warning thresholds to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the entire population.

The SAFER (Simple Algorithm for Evapotranspiration Retrieving) algorithm was applied with MODIS images and gridded weather data from 2007 to 2021, to monitor the energy balance components and their anomalies, in the Atlantic Forest (AF) and Caatinga (CT) biomes inside the coastal agricultural growing zone, Northeast Brazil. Considering the long-term data, the R_n values between the biomes are not significantly different, however presenting distinct R_n partitions into latent (λE), sensible (H), and ground (G) heat fluxes between biomes. The R_n values annual averages are 9.40 ± 0.21 and 9.50 ± 0.23 MJ m⁻² d⁻¹, for AF and CT, respectively. However, for respectively AF and CT, they are respectively 5.10 ± 1.14 MJ m⁻² d⁻¹ and 4.00 ± 0.99 MJ m⁻² d⁻¹ for λE; 3.80 ± 1.12 MJ m⁻² d⁻¹ and 5.00 ± 1.00 MJ m⁻² d⁻¹ for H; 0.50 ± 0.12 MJ m⁻² d⁻¹ and 0.40 ± 0.10 MJ m⁻² d⁻¹ for G, yielding respective mean evaporative fraction (Ef = λE/(R_n – G) values of 0.60 ± 0.12 and 0.50 ± 0.15. Anomalies on λE, H, and Ef were detected through standardized index for these energy balance components by comparing the results for the years 2018 to 2021 with the long-term values from 2007 to each of these years, showing that the energy fluxes between surfaces and the lower atmosphere, and then the root-zone moisture conditions for both biomes, may strongly vary along seasons and years, with alternate positive and negative anomalies. These assessments are important for water policies as they can picture suitable periods and places for rainfed agriculture as well as the irrigation needs in irrigated agriculture, allowing rational agricultural environmental management while minimizing water competitions among other water users, under climate and land-use changes conditions.

This study introduces an improved Ski Climate Index (SCI) designed to assess skiing suitability in China by applying fuzzy logic. Using daily meteorological data from 733 weather stations for the periods 1961–1990 and 1991–2020, the study identifies significant changes in SCI distribution over time. Additionally, a coupled analysis is performed, integrating the SCI results with the distribution and spatial vitality of 389 ski resorts in China. This analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between actual ski resources and the ongoing evolution of the skiing industry in China and three significant results:1) The snow module has a major impact on SCI distribution, while other non-snow natural elements, such as sunshine duration, wind speed, and thermal comfort, influence the overall SCI assessment less; 2) High SCI values are concentrated in Northwestern and Northeastern China, with increased ski climate resources being observed in Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia, Southwest Tibet, and Sichuan due to climate change and noticeable declines in the Southern regions of Northeast China.; 3) In terms of the distribution and vitality of ski resorts, the SCI also partially reflects the development of ski resorts. This skiing suitability model uses climate resources to offer valuable insights for key decision-making in resort development and operation, thereby supporting advancement of the ice-snow economy.

Increasing temperature will impact future outdoor worker safety but quantifying this impact to develop local adaptations is challenging. Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is the preferred thermal index for regulating outdoor activities in occupational health, athletic, and military settings, but global circulation models (GCMs) have coarse spatiotemporal resolution and do not always provide outputs required to project the full diurnal range of WBGT. This article presents a novel method to project WBGT at local spatial and hourly temporal resolutions without many assumptions inherent in previous research. We calculate sub-daily future WBGT from GCM output and then estimate hourly WBGT based on a site-specific, historical diurnal cycles. We test this method against observations at U.S. Army installations and find results match closely. We then project hourly WBGT at these locations from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2100, to quantify trends and estimate future periods exceeding outdoor activity modification thresholds. We find regional patterns affecting WBGT, suggesting accurately projecting WBGT demands a localized approach. Results show increased frequency of hours at high WBGT and, using U.S. military heat thresholds, we estimate impacts to future outdoor labor. By mid-century, some locations are projected to average 20 or more days each summer when outdoor labor will be significantly impacted. The method’s fine spatiotemporal resolution enables detailed analysis of WBGT projections, making it useful applied at specific locations of interest.

To evaluate the impact of acute meteorological changes (i.e., maximum temperature, humidity, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, cloud coverage, visibility, precipitation) as situational risk factors proximal (i.e., present in the hours directly preceding) to suicide attempts. Participants were 578 adult patients who were hospitalized within 24 h of a suicide attempt at the only Level 1 trauma hospital in the state of Mississippi. Participants completed a semi-structured interview to determine home address and exact timing of their suicide attempt. A within-person, case-crossover design was used with each patient serving as their own control. Meteorological variables were generated for the 6-hours preceding each patient’s suicide attempt (case period) and corresponding hours the day prior (control period). Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to examine predictors of suicide attempts, and biological sex and season were evaluated as potential moderators. The presence of precipitation was associated with reduced odds of suicide attempts. Wind speed was marginally positively associated with suicide attempts among males, and visibility was positively associated with suicide attempts among females. Maximum temperature was positively associated with suicide attempts in the spring. Wind speed, visibility, maximum temperature, and precipitation (absence of) may represent situational risk factors for suicide attempts. Future studies should evaluate additional near-term situational risk factors and determine how to leverage this information to improve suicide risk management efforts to ultimately ameliorate the burden of suicide.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC predicts that hot seasons will get even hotter due to global climate change. There exists a critical dependence of human metabolic processes on temperature. Changes in thermal balance therefore, have an adverse effect on health because they raise body temperature, cause excessive sweating, and accelerate the rate of dehydration. Different nations and professional groups use different techniques to measure heat strain. This paper aims to review previous research conducted in the area of heat strain due to heat exposure among workers in Southeast Asia and also to profile mitigation strategies in North East India. Studies conducted between the years 2011 to 2023 in the evaluation of the health impacts of occupational heat stress were searched systematically using several sources of databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, etc. It was noted that a greater proportion of previous research on evaluating physiological effects was carried out in controlled environments as opposed to real-world field settings. While such studies give us valuable insights into the relationship, applying the same methodology in the workplace may not be feasible. In India, very few research has been carried out on workplace heat stress, and even fewer have been done in North East India using physiological indicators. North East India is also affected by global climate change leading top more hotter days than before. The region of Northeast India, particularly Guwahati (Assam), has recently seen extreme heat waves during the sweltering summer months. With less literature available in this geographical location, studies with actual field-based settings are much needed to understand the occupational health impacts in this region. This review can formulate a suitable methodology for assessing the health impacts in working environment. This can also help the local health professionals to recognize the heat strain parameters that are acceptable worldwide, and use as pertinent indicators to scrutinize worker’s health and develop preventive agendas as climate change advances.