The aim of this study was to compare peloid therapy in addition to home exercise with home exercise alone in terms of pain, function, quality of life, and depression in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP). A total of 106 cLBP patients were divided into two equal groups as treatment and control. The peloid therapy group had peloid therapy (with a total of 15 sessions on 5 days per week for 3

Urban heat poses a public health risk to the residents of megacities in developing countries because the population spends a significant amount of time outdoors to work and socialize with limited cooling resources. Understanding the drivers of outdoor comfort and heat stress in informal work settings is important to design climate-sensitive outdoor spaces and reduce heat vulnerability. We present outdoor

The temperature in northwestern China has increased significantly since the 1990s. However, the responses of mountainous forests to warming have not been extensively examined. We collected tree rings of two dominant coniferous species of Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia) and Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) in the eastern part of the Qilian Mountains, and analyzed the differences in the response

In recent years, there have been considerable changes in the distribution of diseases that are potentially tied to ongoing climate variability. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and climatic factors in an Iranian city (Isfahan), which had the highest incidence of CL in the country. CL incidence and meteorological data were

Thermal comfort research has utilized various sensors and models to estimate the mean radiant temperature (MRT) experienced by a human, including the standard black globe thermometer (SGT), acrylic globe thermometers (AGT), and cylindrical radiation thermometers (CRT). Rather than directly measuring radiation, a temperature is measured in the center of these low-cost sensors that can be related to

The study of dust intrusions in Portugal is still a subject on which little investigation has been made, especially in terms of their effects. Thus, this work aims to achieve two goals: firstly, to characterize the dust intrusions in the study area; and secondly, to evaluate the possible statistical association between the dust intrusion days and hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases. Dust

This study analysed the temperature and humidity properties of urban soils in the territory of the Mikhailovskaya Embankment Park of Culture and Recreation in Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, in the cold period of the 2018–2019 hydrological year. Data on the temperature of the air and soil at various depths, winter and spring soil moisture and data on the dynamics of snow accumulation and snow distribution

The concept of yield gaps provides a basis for identifying the main sources of production losses, caused by water or management deficiencies, which may help foresters and forest companies to better plan and make decisions in their areas. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the magnitude and the major causes of yield gaps of eucalypts, being this the most planted forest genus in Brazil, in different

Personal protective clothing (PPC) is critical for worker safety and wellbeing from both protection and thermal management perspectives, particularly as PPC typically covers more than 90% of the body. Research of PPC in low-risk categories such as mining, oil, gas, and construction and their thermal management attributes is limited, although these industries represent a significant proportion of the

Dwelling intensity of horse-chestnut miner (Cameraria ohridella) larvae in various leaves insolation and temperature was measured to determine whether this pest’s development follows a predictable pattern or depends more on local microenvironment conditions. Mines growing on leaves of mature host plants (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) in their natural conditions were photographed for two consecutive generations

Climate and weather directly impact plant phenology, affecting airborne pollen. The objective of this systematic review is to examine the impacts of meteorological variables on airborne pollen concentrations and pollen season timing. Using PRISMA methodology, we reviewed literature that assessed whether there was a relationship between local temperature and precipitation and measured airborne pollen

The aim of this research was to summarize available scientific evidence on the efficacy of medical hydrology for the management of any health condition. The search was conducted on 26th March 2021, in the following databases: Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. All relevant literature reviews investigating the clinical efficacy of interventions characterized

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition that impacts many people worldwide and involves weight-bearing joints, resulting in chronic pain. In this study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of inpatient and outpatient physical therapy modalities and spa combination treatments on pain and functional status in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Seventy-four patients diagnosed with primary knee osteoarthritis

Rubber powdery mildew disease (Oidium heveae) is a serious threat to natural rubber production (Hevea brasiliensis) in some rubber developing regions of the world. Both phenological- and meteorological-related factors have been reported influencing the powdery mildew disease. However, few studies have investigated the effects of both phenological- and meteorological-related factors on the disease.

Water-stable isotopes provide a valuable tool for tracing plant-water interactions, particularly evapotranspiration (ET) partitioning and leaf water dynamics at the plant-atmosphere interface. However, process-based investigations of plant/leaf development and the associated isotopic dynamics of water fluxes involving isotope enrichment at plant-atmosphere interfaces at the ecosystem scale remain challenging

Chrysodeixis includens is a polyphagous pest restricted to the American continent. The occurrence of C. includens is allied, among other factors, by favorable conditions such as temperature, humidity, presence of hosts, and migratory behavior. In this work, we built spatiotemporal species distribution models at continental and global levels for the distribution of C. includens using CLIMEX to determine

Spermatogenesis is a temperature-dependent process, and high summer temperatures have been linked to lower sperm concentration and count. However, reports describing the association between other meteorological variables and semen quality are scarce. This study evaluated the association between semen quality and temperature, humidity, pressure, apparent temperature (AT), temperature-humidity index

The aim of this study was to estimate, using data mining, which microclimate and behavioral variables affect the behavior of animals to seek shaded or sunny areas. The experiment was carried out between January and May 2016 in an integrated crop-livestock-forest system. In this system, we defined two different areas: shaded and sunny. Microclimatic variables (At, BGt, RH, and WS) were measured in each

Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between particulate air pollution, increased temperatures, and morbidity related to pregnancy outcomes. However, the roles of desert dust storms and climatological factors have not been fully addressed. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the association between desert dust storms, particulate matter with a diameter ≤10 μm (PM10)

This paper describes a Cold Weather Ensemble Decision Aid (CoWEDA) that provides guidance for cold weather injury prevention, mission planning, and clothing selection. CoWEDA incorporates current science from the disciplines of physiology, meteorology, clothing, and computer modeling. The thermal performance of a cold weather ensemble is defined by endurance times, which are the time intervals from

This paper analyses how recent trends in heat waves impact heat warning systems. We performed a retrospective analysis of the challenges faced by the French heat prevention plan since 2004. We described trends based on the environmental and health data collected each summer by the French heat warning system and prevention plan. Major evolutions of the system were tracked based on the evaluations organized

Lying behavior is an important indicator of the cows’ welfare and health. In this study, we evaluate the effect of the physical environment on dairy cows’ behaviors raised on a silvopastoral system through a predictive model. There was a difference (p<0.01) in soil surface temperature (SST) and black globe-humidity index (BGHI) between the shaded and sunny areas of the silvopastoral system. The BGHI

The application of green infrastructure presents an opportunity to mitigate rising temperatures using a multi-faceted ecosystems-based approach. A controlled field study in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, evaluates the impact of nature-based solutions on near surface air temperature regulation focusing on different applications of green infrastructure. A field campaign was undertaken over the course of two

Understanding the interactive effects and relationships between biochemical elements of tea leaves and the related factors, particularly climatic, cultivar, and geographic, is key for high-quality Ceylon tea production. The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the effects of season × cultivar × agro-ecological regions (AERs) on the four tested biochemicals in fresh tea leaves, total polyphenol

Measured meteorological time series are frequently used to obtain information about climate dynamics. We use time series analysis and nonlinear system identification methods in order to assess outdoor-environment bioclimatic conditions starting from the analysis of long historical meteorological data records. We investigate and model the stochastic and deterministic properties of 117 years (1891–2007)

Urban air pollution can have negative short- and long-term impacts on health, including cardiovascular, neurological, immune system and developmental damage. The irritant qualities of pollutants such as ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM) can cause respiratory and cardiovascular distress, which can be heightened during physical activity and particularly so for those with

In this study, we use a statistical approach based on generalized additive models, linking atmospheric circulation and the number of influenza-related hospital admissions in the Spanish Iberian Peninsula during 2003–2013. The relative risks are estimated for administrative units in the Spanish territory, which is politically structured into 15 regions called autonomous communities. A catalog of atmospheric

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of seasonal heat stress (HS) on productive performance, physiological responses, metabolism, and hematological profile of hair breed male lambs finished in feedlot. Twenty Dorper × Katahdin male lambs (body weight = 34.6 ± 1.4 kg and age = 4.5 months) were housed in individual pens and exposed to environmental conditions of summer HS (n = 10, temperature

Impacts of an additional cooling event during the night on physiological and productive parameters of two breeds (B) of dairy cows under severe heat stress conditions were determined. Fifteen Holstein (H) and 15 Jersey x Holstein (JxH) cows were assigned to one of the two cooling strategies (CS), where the difference was an added 1 h cooling event during the night (i.e., 3X and 4X cooling events) with

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease considered a leading cause of functional disability. Its treatment is based on a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, but the role of these latter is still debated. This overview of systematic reviews aimed at evaluating the short-term efficacy of different thermal modalities in patients with osteoarthritis. We searched PubMed

Efforts have been made to quantify the spatio-temporal malaria transmission intensity over India using the dynamical malaria model, namely, Vector-borne Disease Community Model of International Centre for Theoretical Physics Trieste (VECTRI). The likely effect of climate change in the variability of malaria transmission intensity over different parts of India is also investigated. The Historical data

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of acute and chronic heat load events on scrotal temperature (ST), body temperature (BT) and bull behaviour, and to examine the interrelationship between these parameters; the underlying hypothesis was that adverse heat treatments delivered in a temperature controlled environment will lead to thermoregulatory dysfunction of the bull scrotum

Climate change is a global public health challenge. The changes in climatic factors affect the pattern and burden of tuberculosis, which is a worldwide public health problem affecting low and middle-income countries. However, the evidence related to the impact of climate change on tuberculosis is few and far between. This study is a scoping review following a five-stage version of Arksey and O’Malley’s

This study aimed to investigate the effects of balneological outpatient treatment (hydrotherapy and peloidotherapy) on clinical status and serum cytokine levels in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Seventy-four patients with CLBP who accepted to participate to the study were randomly divided into two groups. The study group was given ten sessions (in 2 weeks) of hydrotherapy, peloidotherapy

Phenology serves as a major indicator of ongoing climate change. Long-term phenological observations are critically important for tracking and communicating these changes. The phenological observation network across Germany is operated by the National Meteorological Service with a major contribution from volunteering activities. However, the number of observers has strongly decreased for the last decades

Changes in ambient temperature have been reported as an important risk factor for respiratory diseases among pre-school children. However, there have been few studies so far on the effects of temperature on children respiratory health in developing countries including Vietnam. This study examined the impact of short-term changes in ambient temperature on hospital admissions for acute lower respiratory

The kinetic patterns of CpG methylation of the cis-regulatory region of heat stress–related genes on exposed to heat stress (at 42 °C) between the Sahiwal and Frieswal cattle was compared in the present study. Using an in vitro whole blood culture model, cells were continuously exposed to heat stress (at 42 °C) for 6 h. Methylation levels of five genes, viz., GPX1, HSP70, HSP90, c-FOS, and JUN were

Data on the efficacy of treatment modalities in De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (DQT) is limited. Paraffin therapy is routinely used in treating hand osteoarthritis and neuropathies. However, there are not enough studies investigating paraffin effectiveness. This study evaluates the effectiveness of paraffin bath therapy on pain, functional status, muscle strength, and quality of life in patients with

Occupational heat stress directly hampers physical work capacity (PWC), with large economic consequences for industries and regions vulnerable to global warming. Accurately quantifying PWC is essential for forecasting impacts of different climate change scenarios, but the current state of knowledge is limited, leading to potential underestimations in mild heat, and overestimations in extreme heat.

The association between floods and the risk of dysentery remain controversial. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify this relationship. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of science, and Embase for relevant articles published up to November 2019. Random-effects model was used to pool relative risks with 95% confidence intervals. The sensitivity analysis was carried out to

Brazil is the country with the highest social inequality in South America. This socioeconomic disparity reflects not only on the families’ income but also on their spatial localization in the city, as well as on the urban design. These urban environments can alter the urban microclimate, and consequently, interfere in dwellers’ thermal comfort. This research investigated the relationship between socio-spatial

In this study, CO2 exchange over sugarcane and wheat growing season was quantified by continuous measurement of CO2 fluxes using eddy covariance (EC) system from January 2014 to June 2015. We also elaborated on the response of CO2 fluxes to environmental variables. The results show that the ecosystem has seasonal and diurnal dynamics of CO2 with a distinctive U-shaped curve in both growing seasons

Multimodal therapies comprising spa applications are widely used as non-pharmaceutical treatment options for musculoskeletal diseases. The purpose of this randomized, controlled, open pilot study was to elucidate the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in a multimodal therapy approach. Twenty-five elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) received a 2-week spa therapy with or without combination

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-021-02103-2

The study aimed at comparing variations in body temperature values recorded using rectal digital, infrared, and mercury-in-glass thermometers in donkeys during the hot-dry season, prevailing under tropical savannah conditions. Thirty donkeys that served as subjects were divided into three groups of adults, yearlings, and foals. Values of the body temperature of each donkey were recorded bihourly, starting

Many studies to date on the response of cherry flower buds to frost have focused on visual evaluations by observing tissue browning after frost event in the orchard and laboratory conditions but only little knowledge is available on the consequences of intracellular ice formation on cellular ultrastructure that underlies exothermic reactions during bud burst stages. In this study, the differential

Increased climatic variability can impact tree physiological processes beyond what is predicted from changes in mean conditions. We assessed the sensitivity of conifer saplings to spatial and temporal variability in meteorological conditions, taking advantage of the end of California’s historic drought and the exceedingly wet winter of 2017. We sought to understand how very dry and very wet conditions

There is an increasing demand for cooling cities because of its importance on human health and the quality of life in outdoor urban spaces. However, the development of methods in improving outdoor thermal comfort and zoning cities based on outdoor thermal comfort is still challenging. In this work, we propose a new approach to cities zoning from the lens of outdoor thermal comfort in the arid climate

Dengue transmission is climate-sensitive and permissive conditions regularly cause large outbreaks in Asia-Pacific area. As climate change progresses, extreme weather events such as heatwaves and unusually high rainfall are predicted more intense and frequent, but their impacts on dengue outbreaks remain unclear so far. This paper aimed to investigate the relationship between extreme weather events

The relationship between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and respiratory disease outcomes among children aged 0 to 14 years in Lanzhou, China, was evaluated. We utilized a generalized additive model linked by a quasi-Poisson distribution to examine the associations between PM2.5 and paediatric respiratory outpatient visits for time lags of 0 up to 7 days, and stratified by gender, age, and season.

The present work analyses the main weather patterns over the period 1981–2010 in the Central Apennines (Italy), drawing upon data from 23 monitoring stations spanning a wide elevation range (260–1750 m asl). Cluster analysis was used to identify homogeneous units and to verify the effectiveness of the bioclimatic classification by crossing the results derived from the application of hierarchical and

Various biological processes show seasonal variations in humans, including important metabolic pathways. Seasonal changes in gene expression may affect annual differences in human immunity. We hypothesized that seasonal changes occur in clock gene expression levels that are associated with body mass index. Six non-obese men and five obese men participated in summer and winter. Two milliliters of saliva

The field of precision agriculture has brought the concept for “big data” to farming by bringing sensor technology into the field allowing growers to make more efficient management decisions. However much of the research and practice of precision agriculture has focused on soil-related issues while sub-field microclimates have been mostly unstudied despite their known importance to crop production