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Climate and Thermal Comfort
Published in Chitrarekha Kabre, Synergistic Design of Sustainable Built Environments, 2020
The human thermoregulatory system attempts to maintain a constant deep-body temperature of 36.8°C. The hypothalamus, located in the brain, controls various physiological processes to regulate body temperature. Its control behavior is primarily proportional to deviations from deep-body temperatures with some integral and derivative response aspects. The most important and often-used physiological process is regulating blood flow to the skin: vasodilation (in extreme heat when internal temperatures rise above a set point) – more blood is directed to the skin to transport internal heat to elevate the skin temperature and increase heat dissipation to the environment; vasoconstriction (in extreme cold when body temperatures fall below the deep-body temperature) – skin blood flow is reduced to conserve heat. The effect of the maximum vasoconstriction is equivalent to the insulating effect of a heavy sweater. Vasodilation and vasoconstriction are known as vasomotor adjustments.
The psychological benifits of physical exercise for women: improving employee quality of life
Published in John Kerr, Amanda Griffiths, Tom Cox, Workplace Health, Employee Fitness and Exercise, 2020
Precilla Y.L. Choi, Nanette Mutrie
The climacteric may be denned as a natural developmental stage in women's lives during which there are hormonal changes associated with decreasing ovarian function along with personal and social changes associated with perceptions of women's roles in the family and society. This definition of the climacteric implies a biopsychosocial perspective (Greene, 1980). The climacteric varies in onset from 41 to 59 years, but most commonly occurs around 51 years of age (Golub, 1992). During these years, menopause occurs (i.e. the gradual cessation of menstruation). Further classification of this stage is offered by Hunter and Whitehead (1989) as follows: premenopausal: regular menstruation;perimenopausal: irregular menstruation during the previous months;postmenopausal: no menstruation during the previous 12 months. The psychosocial challenges of these transitional years include coming to terms with the end of reproductive years, changing roles in the family as children mature and leave home, potential increase in health problems of parents, self and partner, opportunities for dedicating more time to career and/or self-development. For working women there may be time available at this point of their life to change career, take on more responsibilities, or move from part-time to full-time work. Many women report that the climacteric is a positive time of change and an opportunity to experience more independence (Musgrave and Menell, 1980). However, some women may experience a certain amount of physical and psychological distress during the climacteric. Vasomotor symptoms such as nocturnal sweating and hot flushes are the most commonly reported physical symptoms and are related to the hormonal changes (Hunter et at., 1986). There is also evidence of non-clinical psychological symptoms with loss of self-confidence, depression and anxiety being the most frequently reported (Barlow et al., 1989; Hunter and Whitehead, 1989). There appear to be equivocal findings regarding sexual function. Greene (1988) has suggested that loss of self-esteem is the most general climacteric symptom and several factors combine to reduce a woman's sense of self-esteem during the climacteric; these factors are low socio-economic status, negative attitude towards the menopause and its consequences, limited social network and poor marital relationships, and stressful life events.
A mathematical model for thermoregulation in endotherms including heat transport by blood flow and thermal feedback control mechanisms: changes in coat, metabolic rate, blood fluxes, ventilation and sweating rates
Published in Letters in Biomathematics, 2018
José L. Boldrini, Matheus P. Viana, Sérgio F. dos Reis, Barbara Henning
We consider six thermal control mechanisms in animals: Changes in the metabolic rate.Changes in the thermal insulation due to changes in properties of the coat.Changes in the blood fluxes due to vasomotor adjustment in the tissues surrounding the body core.Changes in the blood fluxes due to vasomotor adjustment in the tissues near the surface.Changes in evaporation from the respiratory tract due to changes in ventilation rate.Changes in evaporation from the animal's surface due to changes in the sweating rate.