Growth performance and physiological parameters of the second generation selected and control groups of Pinctada martensii

In May of 2007,the second generation selected （SS） and control （SC） groups of pearl oyster Pinctada martensii were established by selecting 10% breeders with the largest and mean shell length,respectively,from the first generation selected group.Growth performance of the SS and SC groups were compared on the basis of measurement data at Days 8,18,60,95,195 and 365.On Day 365,100 individuals （60.0–75.0 mm at shell length） were sampled from each group and then subjected to the experiment where physiological parameters such as filtrate rate,oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion were measured at 15,20,25 and 30°C.The results show that the SS group had significantly larger mean shell length and shell height than the SC group at Days 8,18,60,95,195 and 365 （P 0.05）.The genetic gains at different ages varied from 6.0% to 17.0% for shell length and 5.7% to 14.6% for shell height,respectively.At 15,20,25 and 30 ° C,the SS groups had significantly larger filtrate rate than the SC group （P 0.05）.At 15 and 25 °C,the differences in oxygen consumption rate between the SS and SC groups were not significant （P 0.05）.At 20 and 30 °C,however,the oxygen consumption rate of the SS group was significantly larger than the SC group （P 0.05）.At 15,20,25 and 30 °C,there were no significant differences in ammonia excretion rate between the SS and SC groups （P 0.05）.The present results indicate that there existed considerable genetic variability in the base population and a further selection could be likely fruitful.Mass selection for faster growth might produce animals that had higher intake of metabolizable energy by virtue of faster filtrating behavior.

Assessment of Effects of Concomitant Exposure to Sound, Heat, and Physical Workload Changes on Physiological Parameters in Five Different Combination Modes, a Controlled Laboratory Study

Exposure to sound,heat,and increased physical workload can change physiological parameters.This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of concomitant exposure to sound,heat,and physical workload changes on physiological parameters in controlled laboratory conditions.This experimental crosssectional study was conducted in 35 male university students with a mean age of 25.75 years and a mean BMI of 22.69 kg/m2.Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured after 15 min rest in the laboratory,5 and 10 min after starting the experiment,and then after 20 min in controlled laboratory conditions in five combination modes.The combination modes were(Sound:65 dB,WBGT:22°C,Speed:1.7,Slope:10%),(Sound:65 dB,WBGT:22°C,Speed:3.4,Slope:14%),(Sound:95 dB,WBGT:22°C,Speed:1.7,Slope:10%),(Sound:65 dB,WBGT:32°C,Speed:1.7,Slope:10%),and(Sound:95 dB,WBGT:32°C,Speed:3.4,Slope:14%).Mixed model analysis and paired t-test were applied for analysis.The results showed that the mean physiological parameters(Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate)increased when different combination modes worsened(Sound from 65 to 95 dB,WBGT from 22°C to 32°C,speed from 1.7 to 3.4,and slope from 10%to 14%,and when sound:95 dB,WBGT:32°C,Speed:3.4,and Slope:14%).Moreover,the mean changes of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significant in all conditions when compared with the reference condition(Sound:65 dB,WBGT:22°C,Speed:1.7,and Slope:10%).The mean heart rate changes were also significant except for exposure to the second condition(Sound:65 dB,WBGT:22°C,Speed:3.4,Slope:14%)and the third condition(Sound:95 dB,WBGT:22°C,Speed:1.7,Slope:10%).Exposure to hazardous levels of sound,heat,and workload has adverse effects on physiological parameters.Concomitant exposure to all three hazards has a synergistic effect and increases the adverse effect.

Determination on Blood Physiological Parameters of Apodemus agrarius

The study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of blood physiological parameters of Apodemus agrarius （A. agrarius）. Blood physiological pa- rammers of 10 A. agrarius （half male and half female） were determined by automated hematology analyzer. Results showed that difference of A. agrarius hematokrit （HCT） between male and female was significant （P 〈 0.05 ）, and differences of all the other blood physiological parameters between male and female were not sig- nificant （ P 〉 0.05 ）. In the study, blood physiological reference value of A. agrarius was set up, which provided a basis for the bio-research and prophylaxis and treatment of A. agrarius.

Effects of Phosphate Fertilizer on Cold Tolerance and Its Related Physiological Parameters in Rice Under Low Temperature Stress

The study was designated to explore the physiological mechanism of cold tolerance enhanced by phosphate in rice. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of phosphate fertilizer on cold tolerance and its related physiological parameters in rice seedings （chilling-sensitive cv. Changbai 9 and chilling-tolerant cv. Jijing 81） under low temperature stress. At the same time, the identification of cold tolerance was conducted. Compared with the normal temperature treatment, the relative chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rate, Fv/Fm and qP decreased and index of unsaturated fatty acid increased in rice under low temperature stress. The effect of chilling-sensitive cultivars was more than that of chilling-tolerant cultivars, more phosphorus fertilizer properly improved seedling quality of rice, slowed relative chlorophyll content dropping degree of rice seeding, increased photosynthesis rate, Fv/Fm, qP and index of unsaturated fatty acids, and enhanced the ability to chilling-tolerant cultivars under low temperature. The effect on chilling-tolerant cultivars was significantly higher than that on chilling sensitive cultivars by applying more phosphorus fertilizer. Phosphate regulated photosynthetic physiology and membrane fluidity to reduce injury by low temperature, and increasd the cold tolerance capacity of rice.

Effects of 1-Naphthol on Physiological Parameters of Chlorella vulgaris

[ Objective] This study aimed to investigate the effects of 1-naphthol on primary productivity in aquatic ecosystems. [ Method] The effects of 1-naphthol on biomass, chlorophyll a content, malondialdehyde （MDA） content and soluble protein content of Chlorella vulgaris were investigated. [ Result] 1-Naphthol could significantly inhibit the growth of Chlorella vulgaris. On the 7^th d, the biomass of Chlorella vulgaris exposed to 1.0, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0 and 18.0 mg/L 1-naphthol was 60.26%, 48.15%, 41.32%, 28.59% and 27.10% of that in control respectively, exhibiting a significant dose-response relationship. Chlorella vulgaris was exposed to different concentrations of 1-naphthol （0, 1,5 and 10 mg/L） for 7 d ; with the increase of 1-naphthol concentration, chlorophyll a content of Ch/orella vulgaris was reduced, MDA content increased gradually, soluble protein content increased first and then declined. [ Conclusion] According to the experimental results, 1-naphthol can significantly inhibit the growth of Chlorella vulgaris, thus reducing primary productivity in aquatic ecosystems.

Determination of Physiological Biochemical Parameters and Reproductive Performance in Transgenic sFat-1 Gene Pigs

[Objective] The aim was to evaluate the health of transgenic sFat-1 gene pigs in order to provide a reference for the breeding selection of pig excellent individuals. [Method] 15 physiological biochemical parameters and reproductive performances of 21 negative control pigs and 20 transgenic sFat-1 gene pigs were determined. [Result] The liver functions of some transgenic sFat-1 gene pigs were hurted lightly,and the reproductive performance also decreased lightly. [Conclusion] The determination of physiological biochemical parameters and reproductive performance in transgenic pigs could be taken as one of effective methods in environmental safety evaluation of transgenic pigs.

Bioremediation Potential of the Macroalga Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta) for Ammonium Removal in Elastomer Industry Wastewater

During the production of nitrile rubber, significant amounts of nitrogen in the form of ammonium are generated in the wastewater. The discharge of this high-nitrogen wastewater can lead to serious environmental issues, including eutrophication, disruption of aquatic ecosystems, and groundwater contamination. To mitigate these impacts, this research explored the bioremediation capabilities of the macroalgae Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta) for removing nitrogen from nitrile rubber production wastewater. The study employed single-phase and Michaelis-Menten decay models based on ammonium consumption, using various dilutions of wastewater to identify the optimal concentration for treatment. The physiological state of the macroalgae was monitored by measuring the photosynthetic capacity and specific growth rate during the experiments. In the presence of U. lactuca, ammonium concentrations decreased in all treatment groups, confirming that the ammonium kinetics conformed to both applied models. Our results show that U. lactuca effectively reduces ammonium concentrations, with an approximate removal rate of 0.020 µM·g−1·min−1 across different wastewater concentrations (70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%). Notably, the treatments with 70%, 80%, and 90% wastewater strength achieved about 67% reduction in ammonium, demonstrating the alga’s capacity to treat high-nitrogen wastewater. The photosynthetic performance of U. lactuca initially declined in control conditions but stabilized across all treatments, highlighting its adaptability. The kinetic analysis using the Michaelis-Menten model indicated a Vmax of 1342 μM·g−1·DMh−1, suggesting a robust capacity for ammonium uptake when fully saturated. Our study underscores the potential of Ulva lactuca as a cost-effective and efficient agent for wastewater bioremediation, particularly in settings with high nitrogen loads.

Physiological and anatomical changes in two rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) genotypes under drought stress conditions

Understanding the mechanisms of drought resistance in crop species is crucial for the selection and breeding of tolerant rapeseed(Brassica napus L.)varieties.The present study aimed to assess the physiological and anatomical responses of two rapeseed genotypes,P287(drought-tolerant)and T88(drought-sensitive)under three intensities of drought stress.All physiological and anatomical parameters related to drought acclimation were significantly altered in both genotypes under stress conditions.At the fourth-leaf stage,the relative water content,chlorophyll content,protein content,malondialdehyde content,and the activities of peroxidase and catalase in P287 were significantly higher than those in T88,particularly under severe drought conditions.After rehydration,all physiological indexes recovered rapidly,especially in P287.In addition,under drought stress,compared with T88,P287 had thicker palisade tissue,thinner spongy tissue,higher ratio of chloroplast length to chloroplast width,higher stomatal density and stomatal closure rate.Overall,the interaction between physiological and anatomical features improved the drought tolerance of P287 under drought stress conditions.

Effect of Transport Time and Handling on Physiological Responses of Cattle

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of transport time （up to 11 hours） on animal welfare. 540 animals （cows, bulls and calves）, three transport times of 2, 4 to 6, and 10 to 11 hours, and two space allowances （2 m2 and 1.5 m2 per animal for cows and bulls; and 1.2 m2 and 0.8 m2 per animal for calves） were used for the experiment during transport from farms to the abattoir in Uppsala, Sweden. Measurements were made on five animals on each trip. Stress response parameters considered were cortisol, glucose, lactate, creatine kinase and heart rate. Blood samples were taken before and after transport. Heart rate sensors were mounted on the animals at least 30 minutes before loading and measurements were made continuously from farms to the abattoirs until stunning. The results of heart rate measurement indicated that loading, un-loading and forced movement in the stunning box were the most stressful events. However, the results of statistical analysis confirmed that transport time doesn＇t have significant effect （P 〈 0.05） on heart rate. Concentration level of cortisol increased by 10 folds during short transport. However, cortisol concentration decreased with an increase of transport times （P 〈 0.01）. Glucose concentrations increased with transport time in all animal categories （P ≤ 0.01）. Transport time has significant effect on concentration levels of glucose （P ≤ 0.01）, creatine kinase （P 〈 0.001） and lactate （P 〈 0.01） particularly after 6 hours journey time.

Effect of Lanthanum on Rice Growth and Phy siological Parameters with Split-Root Nutrient Solution Culture

Split-root solution culture was used to study the promoting effect of lanthanum on rice (Oryza sativa) growth and its physiological mechanisms. Results sho w that low concentration (0.05～1.5 mg·L -1) increases rice yield an d grain numbers. High concentration depresses grain formation (9～30 mg·L -1 ) and root elongation (1.5～30 mg·L -1). No significant influence on str aw dry weight was found over the whole concentration range except the 0.05 mg·L -1 treatment. With the increase of La concentration from 0.05 to 0.75 mg· L -1, catalase (CAT) activity in the first fully expandeing leaves and root s decreases. When La concentration is greater than 0.75 mg·L -1 or less than 9 mg·L -1, it significantly decreases superoxide dismutase activity ( SOD) in the leaves and roots. No significant effects were found on chlorophyll, protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Possible mechanisms of La′s promotin g effect on rice growth and reduction effect of ·O- 2 were discussed.

Effect of nitrogen levels on photosynthetic parameters,morphological and chemical characters of saplings and trees in a temperate forest

Exploring the response differences of leaf physiology parameters to enhanced nitrogen deposition between saplings and trees is vital for predicting the variations of terrestrial ecosystem structure and function under future global climate change. In this study, the ecophysiological parameters of saplings and trees of Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. were measured at different levels of nitrogen addition in a temperate forest. The results show that ecophysiological parameters maximum net photosynthetic rate(Pmax), apparent quantum efficiency(a), dark respiration(Rd), light saturation point(Lsp), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency(PNUE),specific leaf area(SLA)and stomatal conductance under saturated light intensity(Gsmax) were higher in saplings than in trees. These physiological parameters and not Nleaf(leaf nitrogen content)led to relatively lower Pmaxand Rdin trees. For both saplings and trees, low and median nitrogen addition(23 and 46 kg ha-1a-1) resulted in significant increases in Pmax, Rd, Lsp, Chl, PNUE, SLA and Gsmax. These parameters tended to decline under high additions of nitrogen(69 kg ha-1a-1),whereas Nleaf was always enhanced with increasing nitrogen. Variations in Pmax and Rd with increasing nitrogen were attributed to variations in the strongly related parameters of, Lsp, Chl, PNUE, SLA and Gsmax. Overall, the response sensitivity of physiological parameters to enhanced nitrogen levels was lower in trees compared with saplings.

Design of Online Vitals Monitor by Integrating Big Data and IoT

In this work,we design a multisensory IoT-based online vitals monitor(hereinafter referred to as the VITALS)to sense four bedside physiological parameters including pulse(heart)rate,body temperature,blood pressure,and periph-eral oxygen saturation.Then,the proposed system constantly transfers these signals to the analytics system which aids in enhancing diagnostics at an earlier stage as well as monitoring after recovery.The core hardware of the VITALS includes commercial off-the-shelf sensing devices/medical equipment,a powerful microcontroller,a reliable wireless communication module,and a big data analytics system.It extracts human vital signs in a pre-programmed interval of 30 min and sends them to big data analytics system through the WiFi module for further analysis.We use Apache Kafka(to gather live data streams from connected sen-sors),Apache Spark(to categorize the patient vitals and notify the medical pro-fessionals while identifying abnormalities in physiological parameters),Hadoop Distributed File System(HDFS)(to archive data streams for further analysis and long-term storage),Spark SQL,Hive and Matplotlib(to support caregivers to access/visualize appropriate information from collected data streams and to explore/understand the health status of the individuals).In addition,we develop a mobile application to send statistical graphs to doctors and patients to enable them to monitor health conditions remotely.Our proposed system is implemented on three patients for 7 days to check the effectiveness of sensing,data processing,and data transmission mechanisms.To validate the system accuracy,we compare the data values collected from established sensors with the measured readouts using a commercial healthcare monitor,the Welch Allyn®Spot Check.Our pro-posed system provides improved care solutions,especially for those whose access to care services is limited.

STM32-based Health Monitoring System for Infants and Toddlers

In order to allow the guardians to monitor the physiological parameters of the infant more intuitively and to be able to respond to sudden irregularities in the pulse rate,abnormal blood oxygen,high or low body temperature and other conditions,and to facilitate communication with the medical staff or to request assistance in treatment,an STM32 microcontroller-based infant health monitoring system is designed.The digital signal acquisition module for pulse,blood oxygen and body temperature acquire the raw data,and the microcontroller performs algorithmic processing to display the physiological parameters such as pulse,blood oxygen and body temperature of the infant,and configures the threshold alarms for the physiological parameters by means of a keypad module.Finally,the test results are compared and tested against the standard physiological parameters of infants and children to verify that the system meets the requirements of medical precision and accuracy.

Assessment of organic compost and biochar in promoting phytoremediation of crude-oil contaminated soil using Calendula officinalis in the Loess Plateau, China

The Loess Plateau,located in Gansu Province,is an important energy base in China because most of the oil and gas resources are distributed in Gansu Province.In the last 40 a,ecological environment in this region has been extremely destroyed due to the over-exploitation of crude-oil resources.Remediation of crude-oil contaminated soil in this area remains to be a challenging task.In this study,in order to elucidate the effects of organic compost and biochar on phytoremediation of crude-oil contaminated soil(20 g/kg)by Calendula officinalis,we designed five treatments,i.e.,natural attenuation(CK),planted C.officinalis only(P),planted C.officinalis with biochar amendment(PB),planted C.officinalis with organic compost amendment(PC),and planted C.officinalis with co-amendment of biochar and organic compost(PBC).After 152 d of cultivation,total petroleum hydrocarbons(TPH)removal rates of CK,P,PB,PC and PBC were 6.36%,50.08%,39.58%,73.10%and 59.87%,respectively.Shoot and root dry weights of C.officinalis significantly increased by 172.31%and 80.96%under PC and 311.61%and 145.43%under PBC,respectively as compared with P(P<0.05).Total chlorophyll contents in leaves of C.officinalis under P,PC and PBC significantly increased by 77.36%,125.50%and 79.80%,respectively(P<0.05)as compared with PB.Physical-chemical characteristics and enzymatic activity of soil in different treatments were also assessed.The highest total N,total P,available N,available P and SOM(soil organic matter)occurred in PC,followed by PBC(P<0.05).C.officinalis rhizospheric soil dehydrogenase(DHA)and polyphenol oxidase(PPO)activities in PB were lower than those of other treatments(P<0.05).The values of ACE(abundance-based coverage estimators)and Chao 1 indices for rhizospheric bacteria were the highest under PC followed by PBC,P,PB and CK(P<0.05).However,the Shannon index for bacteria was the highest under PC and PBC,followed by P,PB and CK(P<0.05).In terms of soil microbial community composition,Proteiniphilum,Immundisolibacteraceae and Solimonadaceae were relatively more abundant under PC and PBC.Relative abundances of Pseudallescheria,Ochroconis,Fusarium,Sarocladium,Podospora,Apodus,Pyrenochaetopsis and Schizothecium under PC and PBC were higher,while relative abundances of Gliomastix,Aspergillus and Alternaria were lower under PC and PBC.As per the nonmetric multidimensional scaling(NMDS)analysis,application of organic compost significantly promoted soil N and P contents,shoot length,root vitality,chlorophyll ratio,total chlorophyll,abundance and diversity of rhizospheric soil microbial community in C.officinalis.A high p H value and lower soil N and P contents induced by biochar,altered C.officinalis rhizospheric soil microbial community composition,which might have restrained its phytoremediation efficiency.The results suggest that organic compost-assisted C.officinalis phytoremediation for crude-oil contaminated soil was highly effective in the Loess Plateau,China.

Biodeposition, respiration, and excretion rates of an introduced clam Mercenaria mercenaria in ponds with implications for potential competition with the native clam Meretrix meretrix in Shuangtaizi estuary, China

This study aimed to evaluate the potential impacts of an introduced clam Mercenaria mercenaria on estuarine ecosystem, and implications for the niche competition with a native clam Meretrix meretrix. The biodeposition, respiration, and excretion rates of 34. mercenaria were determined seasonally using a sediment trap and a closed respirator in field. The biodeposition rates ofM. mercenaria were 0.06-0.37 g/ （ind.·d）, and the respiration rates were 0.31-14.66 mg/（ind.·d）. The ammonia and phosphate excretion rates were 0.18-36.70 and 1.44-14.87 μg/（ind.·d）, respectively. The hard clam M. mercenaria may discharge dry deposits up to 2.1 × 10^5 t, contribute 18.3 t ammonia and 9.0 t phosphate to culture ponds, and consume 7.9×10^3 t O2 from ponds annually. It suggested that the hard clam M. mercenaria might play an important role in pelagic-benthic coupling in pond ecosystem through biodeposition and excretion. A comparison of the key physiological parameters of the introduced clam M. mercenaria and the native clam Meretrix meretrix suggested that M. mercenaria had a niche similar to that of Meretrix meretrix in Shuangtaizi estuary and might have a potential competition with Meretrix meretrix for habitat and food ifM. mercenaria species escaped from the culture pond or artificially released in estuarine ecosystem.

System supporting behavioral therapy for children with autism

In this paper,a system supporting behavioral therapy for autistic children is presented.The system consists of sensors network,base station and a brooch indicating person's ernotional states.The system can be used to measure values of physiological parameters that are associated with changes in the emotional state.In the future,it can be useful to inform the autistic child and the therapist about the emotional state of the interlocutor objectively,on the basis of performed measurements.The selected physiological parameters were chosen during the experiment which was designed and conducted by authors.In this experiment,a group of volunteers under con-trolld conditions was exposed to a stressful situation caused by the picture or sound.For each of the volunteers,a set of physiological parameters,was recorded,including:skin conductance,heart rate,peripheral temperature,respiration rate and electromyography.The bio statistical analysis allowved us to discern the proper plhysiological paraneters that are most associated to changes due to emotional state of a patient,such as:skin conductance,temperatures and res-piration rate.This allowed us to design electronic sensors network for supporting behavioral therapy for children with autism.

Effects of External Chemical Regulation on Bt Transgenic Cotton Plants under Combined Stress of High Temperature and Water Deficit

[Objective] The study aimed to find a possible way to combat or alleviate the negative effects caused by high temperature and water deficit at the growth stage of peak boll-setting.[Method] With Bt transgenic cotton GK22 as the test cultivar,a potted experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of the regulation of external substances(the water solutions of pix,urea and their mixture) on the physiological parameters,insecticidal protein content,yield and yield component of cotton plants in artificial climate chambers treated with high temperature and water deficit.[Result] The application of external pix,urea or their mixture was effective in stabilizing the physiological parameters of cotton plants,insecticidal protein content,yield and yield components.Compared with the exclusive application of pix and urea,the mixture of pix and urea played the most effective role in stabilizing the content of chlorophyll,soluble sugar and insecticidal protein,alleviating the increase of the content of free amino acids and proline,and increasing boll number per plant,boll weight and seed cotton yield.[Conclusion] The water solutions of pix,urea or their mixtures can be used to combat or alleviate the stress of high temperature and water deficit if they are sprayed onto cotton plants prior to stress occurrence.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophyte inoculation improve growth and tolerance of Pinus tabulaeformis under cadmium stress

Forest trees can establish symbiotic associations with dark septate endophytes(DSEs)and ectomycorrhizal fungi(ECMF)simultaneously.However,the combined effects of these two fungi on the growth and cadmium(Cd)tolerance of host plants remain largely unexplored.To address this knowledge gap,a pot experiment was conducted to examine the effects of the interaction between an ECMF strain(Suillus granulatus)and a DSE strain(Pseudopyrenochaeta sp.)on Pinus tabulaeformis under Cd stress,by assessing plant growth and physiological parameters,nutrient uptake,and soil properties.Notably,the colonization rates of both fungal strains were found to increase in response to Cd stress,with the extent of this increase being influenced by the specific fungal species and the Cd level in the soil.Compared to the non-inoculation treatment,single inoculation with fungal strain resulted in enhanced biomass,root development,and nutrient contents in P.tabulaeformis seedlings under Cd stress.Furthermore,a synergistic effect was observed when these seedlings were co-inoculated with S.granulatus and Pseudopyrenochaeta sp.,as indicated by significantly greater measurements in various indicators compared to both the single and non-inoculation treatments.Fungal inoculation effectively regulated the antioxidant defense responses and photosynthesis of P.tabulaeformis seedlings subjected to Cd stress,particularly in the co-inoculation treatment.In addition,fungal inoculation facilitated the Cd accumulation in P.tabulaeformis,suggesting a promising potential for the implementation of bioremediation strategies in the areas contaminated with heavy metals.The findings from this study indicate that the utilization of root symbiotic fungi obtained from stress environments could potentially enhance the growth performance and tolerance of P.tabulaeformis towards heavy metals,and co-inoculation of both fungal groups may result in even more pronounced synergistic effects on the overall fitness of the plant.

Study on the challenge and influence of the built thermal environment on elderly health in rural areas:Evidence from Shandong,China

Elderly health is increasingly recognized as a worldwide challenge with the continuous social aging trend.This study aimed to investigate the thermal conditions of the elderly in rural areas of Shandong,China.The thermal sensation and physiological response performances of elderly participants were examined in their own houses.Results show a clear seasonal pattern in cardiovascular disease mortality,cold stress increases the cardiovascular disease risk.The coal-based stoves serve as the main source of home heating and their limited coverage of the room area gave rise to poor quality of thermal comfort.The analysis of skin temperature for those under 65 and above did not reveal any significant difference in response to different indoor temperatures.The regression results confirm that a colder home leads to a rising value of the elderly’s systolic blood pressure,rising by more than 1 mmHg for every 1℃decrease in indoor temperature and thus posing a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases.The systolic blood pressure value of older subjects rise more when they are exposed to decreasing indoor temperatures,possibly due to an age-related decline in their ability to maintain stability of blood pressure.It is noteworthy that the average blood velocity of older subjects reduces less in response to decreasing indoor temperatures,indicating a weakened capacity to resist cold stress and its associated high risk of hypertension.This investigation provides evidence in favor of improving the thermal environment of the elderly and reducing their risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Sensors for measuring plant phenotyping:A review

Food crisis is a matter of prime importance because it becomes more severe as the global population grows.Among the solutions to this crisis,breeding is deemed one of the most effective ways.However,traditional phenotyping in breeding is time consuming and laborious,and the database is insufficient to meet the requirements of plant breeders,which hinders the development of breeding.Accordingly,innovations in phenotyping are urgent to solve this bottleneck.The morphometric and physiological parameters of plant are particularly interested to breeders.Numerous sensors have been employed and novel algorithms have been proposed to collect data on such parameters.This paper presents a brief review on the parameter measurement for phenotyping to describe its development in recent years.Some parameters that have been measured in phenotyping are introduced and discussed,including plant height,leaf parameters,in-plant space,chlorophyll,water stress,and biomass.And the measurement methods of each parameter with different sensors were classified and compared.Some comprehensive measurement platforms were also summarized,which are able to measure several parameters simultaneously.Besides,some deficiencies of phenotyping should be addressed,and novel methods should be proposed to reduce cost,improve efficiency,and promote phenotyping in the future.