With the increasing of the environmental concerns, carbon dioxide (CO2) as an alternative refrigerant has been investigated intensively. In this study, the heating performance of a transcritical CO2 heat pump system with a twinrotary compressor was investigated. The transcritical CO2 heat pump with gas injection was tested by varying gas injection ratio and outdoor temperature at the optimum re...

Background Previous studies demonstrated that lower outdoor temperatures increase the levels of established cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as blood pressure and lipids. Whether or not low temperatures increase novel cardiovascular disease risk factors levels is not well studied. The aim was to investigate associations of outdoor temperature with a comprehensive range of established a...

Although Japan has been a signatory to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control since 2004, progress in translating the recommendations into national policy has been limited. Globally, outdoor smoking bans cover outdoor dining areas, beaches, public parks, schools, etc. In Japan, most of existing outdoor smoking bans allow designated smoking areas (DSAs) in the no-smoking zones, thus limitin...

BACKGROUND Outdoor secondhand smoke (SHS) concentrations are usually lower than indoor concentrations, yet some studies have shown that outdoor SHS levels could be comparable to indoor levels under specific conditions. The main objectives of this study were to assess levels of SHS exposure in terraces and other outdoor areas of hospitality venues and to evaluate their potential displacement to ...

An investigation was performed on the possibilities for an alteration of the total solidification temperature when preserving concentrated salt media (BME, MEM, 199, HAM), used for the maintenance of animal viruses and cell cultures. It had been established that by the use of dextran 40000, this temperature could be increased with about 20C. A protection in 3.6 % concentration was recommended a...

BACKGROUND Little attention has been paid to how heat-related health effects vary with the micro-urban variation of outdoor temperatures. This study explored whether people located in micro-urban heat islands are at higher risk of mortality during hot summer days. METHODS Data used included (1) daily mortality for Montreal (Canada) for June-August 1990-2003, (2) daily mean ambient outdoor tem...

a second virial coefficient correlation suitable for two different temperatures ranges, (t*)-2£180 and (t*)-2>180, where t* is rt/dhvap is presented. the equation of state can be calculated for different, complicated non-polar, and slightly polar liquid mixtures at any temperature over the range from ttp to tc and up to high pressures. the latent heat of vaporization and density at the triple p...

Inhaling secondhand cigarette smoke (SHS), also known as passive smoking, can cause cancer and respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Indoor smoking is banned at many public places and worksites; at others, smoking areas have been moved outdoors. But is keeping cigarette smoke outdoors enough to dissipate the health risks associated with SHS exposure? A review in this issue of EHP explores the...

Insecticides are the most common strategy used for the management of mosquitoes. Changes in ambient temperature can alter the toxicity of insecticides to ectothermic organisms. Studies show organophosphate insecticides exhibit a positive correlation between ambient temperature and mortality for many insect species, and carbamate insecticides exhibit a slightly negative correlation between ambie...

Dramatic declines and extinctions of amphibian populations throughout the world have been associated with chytridiomycosis, an infectious disease caused by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Previous studies indicated that Bd prevalence correlates with cooler temperatures in the field, and laboratory experiments have demonstrated that Bd ceases growth at temperat...