BACKGROUND This study investigated whether pedometer-determined activity varies between summer and winter in normal-weight and overweight adults. METHODS Forty-five normal-weight (58% female, age = 39.1 ± 12.4 years, BMI = 22.2 ± 2.1 kg/m²) and 51 overweight (49% female, age = 42.1 ± 12.5 years, BMI = 29.3 ± 4.5 kg/m²) participants completed a within-subject biseasonal pedometer study. All pa...

We examined the effects of vertebrate granivores and folivores on winter and summer plant communities in the Chihuahuan Desert by selectively excluding different vertebrate combinations of birds, rodents, and large folivorous mammals from small experimental plots continuously since 1982. Few differences were observed across treatments during the first two yr of the experiment. The influence of ...

The research and application of new wall materials have been attracting increasing attention owing to the continuous promotion sustainable development in building industry. An alkali-activated slag ceramsite compound insulation block (AASCCIB) is used as object. Based on finite element method, effects different numbers hole rows ratios thermal mechanical performances AASCCIBs are analyzed using...

The present study was conducted to assess the degree of genetic determination of the variability in the mean nocturnal plasma concentration of melatonin in sheep. Three hundred twelve ewes born from 18 males and with known genealogy were sampled at the summer and the winter solstices. The nocturnal plasma melatonin concentration was defined as the mean of four plasma samples taken at hourly int...

We investigated the patterns of hibernation and arousals in seven free-ranging echidnas Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus (two male, five female) in Tasmania using implanted temperature data loggers. All echidnas showed a 'classical' pattern of mammalian hibernation, with bouts of deep torpor interrupted by periodic arousals to euthermia (mean duration 1.04+/-0.05 (n=146). Torpor bout length incre...

The strength of the Brewer–Dobson circulation (BDC) in a changing climate is studied using multidecadal simulations covering the 1960–2100 period with a coupled chemistry–climate model, to examine the seasonality of the change of the BDC. The model simulates an intensification of the BDC in both the past (1960–2004) and future (2005–2100) climate, but the seasonal cycle is different. In the pas...

Content of mercury in hepatopancreas, muscle and exoskeleton of blue crab T. prymna from Musa estuary and their relationship with size of the organism and season were determined. Mean concentration of mercury in hepatopancreas, muscle and exoskeleton were 1.23, 0.61 and 0.41 µg/g dw, respectively. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in mercury levels depending on the sex with greater ...

The environmental modification of an organism's physiology in the field is often hypothesized to be responsible for allowing an organism to adjust to changing biotic and abiotic environmental conditions through increases in biological performance. Here, we examine the phenotypic flexibility of water flux rate, urine osmolality and the expression of kidney aquaporins (AQP; or water channels) in ...

the aim of this study was to consider reproductive performance parameters and blood progesterone concentration changes in high-producing dairy cows (39±2 kg per day) after artificial insemination, in summer and winter. 270 heads of holstein dairy cattle were choose in three big dairy farms, and blood samples were collected at days seven, ten and fourteen after artificial insemination. temperatu...

Upper lethal temperatures (ULTs) of cold-adapted insect species in winter have not been previously examined. We anticipated that as the lower lethal temperatures (LLTs) decreased (by 20-30°C) with the onset of winter, the ULTs would also decrease accordingly. Consequently, given the recent increases in winter freeze-thaw cycles and warmer winters due to climate change, it became of interest to ...