Uppermost global tree elevations are primarily limited by low temperature or insufficient moisture.

The impact of anthropogenic global warming has induced significant upward dispersal of trees to higher elevations at alpine treelines. Assessing vertical deviation from current uppermost tree distributions to potential treeline positions is crucial for understanding ecosystem responses to evolving global climate. However, due to data resolution constraints and research scale limitation, comprehending the global pattern of alpine treeline elevations and driving factors remains challenging. This study constructed a comprehensive quasi-observational dataset of uppermost tree distribution across global mountains using Google Earth imagery. Validating the isotherm of mean growing-season air temperature at 6.6 ± 0.3°C as the global indicator of thermal treeline, we found that around two-thirds of uppermost tree distribution records significantly deviated from it. Drought conditions constitute the primary driver in 51% of cases, followed by mountain elevation effect which indicates surface heat (27%). Our analyses underscore the multifaceted determinants of global patterns of alpine treeline, explaining divergent treeline responses to climate warming. Moisture, along with temperature and disturbance, plays the most fundamental roles in understanding global variation of alpine treeline elevation and forecasting alpine treeline response to ongoing global warming.

Projection of Mortality Burden Attributable to Nonoptimum Temperature with High Spatial Resolution in China.

The updated climate models provide projections at a fine scale, allowing us to estimate health risks due to future warming after accounting for spatial heterogeneity. Here, we utilized an ensemble of high-resolution (25 km) climate simulations and nationwide mortality data from 306 Chinese cities to estimate death anomalies attributable to future warming. Historical estimation (1986-2014) reveals that about 15.5% [95% empirical confidence interval (eCI):13.1%, 17.6%] of deaths are attributable to nonoptimal temperature, of which heat and cold corresponded to attributable fractions of 4.1% (eCI:2.4%, 5.5%) and 11.4% (eCI:10.7%, 12.1%), respectively. Under three climate scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585), the national average temperature was projected to increase by 1.45, 2.57, and 4.98 °C by the 2090s, respectively. The corresponding mortality fractions attributable to heat would be 6.5% (eCI:5.2%, 7.7%), 7.9% (eCI:6.3%, 9.4%), and 11.4% (eCI:9.2%, 13.3%). More than half of the attributable deaths due to future warming would occur in north China and cardiovascular mortality would increase more drastically than respiratory mortality. Our study shows that the increased heat-attributable mortality burden would outweigh the decreased cold-attributable burden even under a moderate climate change scenario across China. The results are helpful for national or local policymakers to better address the challenges of future warming.

Effect of physicochemical and microbiological factors on the development of viable but non-culturable and resuscitation states of Vibrio cholerae.

BACKGROUND: Vibrio cholerae can endure harsh environmental conditions by transitioning into viable but non-culturable (VBNC) form and resuscitate upon return of appropriate conditions. METHOD: In this study, we assessed the impact of physicochemical and microbiological factors, on the development of low temperature-induced VBNC state and subsequent recovery by temperature upshift. RESULTS: In estuarine water, Vibrio cholerae exhibits a slower decline in culturability over a period of 77 days as compared to 10 days in fresh water. When variable cell numbers from different growth phases were used for VBNC induction, it was observed that the higher inoculum size (106-107 cfu ml-1) from the late log phase culture appears to be crucial for entering the VBNC state. Conversely, starved cells could enter the VBNC state with an initial inoculum of 104-105 cfu ml-1, followed by resuscitation as well. The addition of glucose, GlcNAc and mannitol differentially affects progression into VBNC, while the addition of tryptone, yeast extract and casamino acid facilitated early entry into the VBNC state and shortened the length of the recovery period. CONCLUSION: Altogether these findings demonstrated that the ionic strength of water, inoculum size and the availability of nutrients played distinct roles during VBNC induction and resuscitation.

Experimental study on the effect of Coumarone resin on the performance of SBS-modified asphalt.

An inexpensive and high-performing solid Coumarone resin was added to Styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymer-modified asphalt to enhance its storage stability and road performance. To assess the effect of Coumarone resin dosage on the SBS-modified asphalt, a series of laboratory tests were conducted. The composite modified asphalt's segregation test was used to evaluate its storage stability, Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) tests were employed to investigate its high-temperature performance and permanent deformation resistance, and the Bending Beam Rheology (BBR) test was utilized to measure its low-temperature performance. Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the composite modified asphalt's microstructure, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was conducted to study the changes in chemical structure during the modification process. The results showed that Coumarone resin can improve the compatibility of SBS and asphalt, improve the high-temperature performance and deformation resistance of SBS-modified asphalt, and adding an appropriate amount of Coumarone resin can help enhance the low-temperature cracking resistance of modified asphalt. The optimal dosage of Coumarone resin recommended for SBS-modified asphalt performance enhancement is 2% under the test conditions, as determined by comparing the test results of samples with various dosages.

AnDREB5.1, a A5 group DREB gene from desert shrub Ammopiptanthus nanus, confers osmotic and cold stress tolerances in transgenic tobacco.

The Dehydration-Responsive Element Binding (DREB) subfamily of transcription factors plays crucial roles in plant abiotic stress response. Ammopiptanthus nanus (A. nanus) is an eremophyte exhibiting remarkable tolerance to environmental stress and DREB proteins may contribute to its tolerance to water deficit and low-temperature stress. In the present study, an A. nanus DREB A5 group transcription factor gene, AnDREB5.1, was isolated and characterized in terms of structure and function in abiotic stress tolerance. AnDREB5.1 protein is distributed in the nucleus, possesses transactivation capacity, and is capable of binding to DRE core cis-acting element. The transcription of AnDREB5.1 was induced under osmotic and cold stress. Tobacco seedlings overexpressing AnDREB5.1 displayed higher tolerance to cold stress, osmotic stress, and oxidative stress compared to wild-type tobacco (WT). Under osmotic and cold stress, overexpression of AnDREB5.1 increased antioxidant enzyme activity in tobacco leaves, inhibiting excessive elevation of ROS levels. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that overexpression of AnDREB5.1 raised the tolerance of transgenic tobacco seedlings to abiotic stress by regulating multiple genes, including antioxidant enzymes, transcription factors, and stress-tolerant related functional genes like NtCOR413 and NtLEA14. This study provides new evidence for understanding the potential roles of the DREB A5 subgroup members in plants.

Fungal diversity present in snow sampled in summer in the north-west Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, Maritime Antarctica, assessed using metabarcoding.

We assessed the fungal diversity present in snow sampled during summer in the north-west Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, maritime Antarctica using a metabarcoding approach. A total of 586,693 fungal DNA reads were obtained and assigned to 203 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). The dominant phylum was Ascomycota, followed by Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota and Mucoromycota. Penicillium sp., Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Coniochaeta sp., Aspergillus sp., Antarctomyces sp., Phenoliferia sp., Cryolevonia sp., Camptobasidiaceae sp., Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Bannozyma yamatoana were assessed as abundant taxa. The snow fungal diversity indices were high but varied across the different locations sampled. Of the fungal ASVs detected, only 28 were present all sampling locations. The 116 fungal genera detected in the snow were dominated by saprotrophic taxa, followed by symbiotrophic and pathotrophic. Our data indicate that, despite the low temperature and oligotrophic conditions, snow can host a richer mycobiome than previously reported through traditional culturing studies. The snow mycobiome includes a complex diversity dominated by cosmopolitan, cold-adapted, psychrophilic and endemic taxa. While saprophytes dominate this community, a range of other functional groups are present.

Swimming-Induced Pulmonary Edema: Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

ABSTRACT: Swimming-induced pulmonary edema (SIPE) is a rare but life-threatening acute illness that can occur in otherwise healthy athletes and individuals. Also known as immersion pulmonary edema, SIPE presents in swimmers, snorkelers, and SCUBA divers. It occurs in persons under heavy exertion in cold water temperatures, leading to coughing, shortness of breath, and sometimes blood-tinged sputum. Under these conditions, there is increased pulmonary vascular pressure, which may ultimately lead to pulmonary edema. This article synthesizes the latest data on the prevalence, pathophysiology, etiology, risks, short- and long-term complications, and the efficacy of supportive medical treatment interventions.

Visualizing a Cold Stress-Specific Pulse Wave in Traditional Pulse Diagnosis ('Tight Pulse') Correlated with Vascular Changes in the Radial Artery Induced by a Cold Pressor Trial.

Radial pulse diagnosis is the most common method to examine the human health state in Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM). A cold stress-related suboptimal health state (subhealth) is often undetectable during routine medical examinations, however, it can be detected through the palpation of specific pulse waves, particularly a 'tight pulse', in TEAM. Therefore, this study examined a correlation between 'tight pulse' and vascular changes in the radial artery (RA) induced by a cold pressor trial (CPT). Twenty healthy subjects underwent sequentially control trial and CPT with room-temperature and ice-cold water, respectively, on the right forearm. The radial pulse and vascular changes were then examined on the left arm. The radial pulse scores for frequencies of 'tight pulse' with strong arterial tension increased after the CPT compared with the control trial. The pulse scores were reversely correlated with the RA thickness and volumes in ultrasonography, but not with changes in the systolic/diastolic blood pressure. The RA thickness-based vascular surface and three-dimensional images visualized a 'tight pulse' showing the vasoconstriction and bumpy-/rope-shaped vascular changes in the radial pulse diagnostic region after the CPT. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential integration of clinical radial pulse diagnosis with ultrasonography for cold-related subhealth.

Approach to the "Missing" Diarylsilylene: Formation, Characterization, and Intramolecular C-H Bond Activation of Blue Diarylsilylenes with Bulky Rind Groups.

The treatment of the bulky Rind-based dibromosilanes, (Rind)2SiBr2 (2) [Rind = 1,1,7,7-tetra-R1-3,3,5,5-tetra-R2-s-hydrindacen-4-yl: EMind (a: R1 = Et, R2 = Me) and Eind (b: R1 = R2 = Et)], with two equivalents of tBuLi in Et2O at low temperatures resulted in the formation of blue solutions derived from the diarylsilylenes, (Rind)2Si: (3). Upon warming the solutions above -20 °C, the blue color gradually faded, accompanying the decomposition of 3 and yielding cyclic hydrosilanes (4) via intramolecular C-H bond insertion at the Si(II) center. The molecular structures of the bulky Eind-based 3b and 4b were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Thus, at -20 °C, blue crystals were formed (Crystal-A), which were identified as mixed crystals of 3b and 4b. Additionally, colorless crystals of 4b as a singular component were isolated (Crystal-B), whose structure was also determined by an X-ray diffraction analysis. Although the isolation of 3 was difficult due to their thermally labile nature, their structural characteristics and electronic properties were discussed based on the experimental findings complemented by computational results. We also examined the hydrolysis of 3b to afford the silanol, (Eind)2SiH(OH) (5b).

High-Resolution Frequency-Domain Spectroscopic and Modeling Studies of Photosystem I (PSI), PSI Mutants and PSI Supercomplexes.

Photosystem I (PSI) is one of the two main pigment-protein complexes where the primary steps of oxygenic photosynthesis take place. This review describes low-temperature frequency-domain experiments (absorption, emission, circular dichroism, resonant and non-resonant hole-burned spectra) and modeling efforts reported for PSI in recent years. In particular, we focus on the spectral hole-burning studies, which are not as common in photosynthesis research as the time-domain spectroscopies. Experimental and modeling data obtained for trimeric cyanobacterial Photosystem I (PSI3), PSI3 mutants, and PSI3-IsiA18 supercomplexes are analyzed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of their excitonic structure and excitation energy transfer (EET) processes. Detailed information on the excitonic structure of photosynthetic complexes is essential to determine the structure-function relationship. We will focus on the so-called "red antenna states" of cyanobacterial PSI, as these states play an important role in photochemical processes and EET pathways. The high-resolution data and modeling studies presented here provide additional information on the energetics of the lowest energy states and their chlorophyll (Chl) compositions, as well as the EET pathways and how they are altered by mutations. We present evidence that the low-energy traps observed in PSI are excitonically coupled states with significant charge-transfer (CT) character. The analysis presented for various optical spectra of PSI3 and PSI3-IsiA18 supercomplexes allowed us to make inferences about EET from the IsiA18 ring to the PSI3 core and demonstrate that the number of entry points varies between sample preparations studied by different groups. In our most recent samples, there most likely are three entry points for EET from the IsiA18 ring per the PSI core monomer, with two of these entry points likely being located next to each other. Therefore, there are nine entry points from the IsiA18 ring to the PSI3 trimer. We anticipate that the data discussed below will stimulate further research in this area, providing even more insight into the structure-based models of these important cyanobacterial photosystems.

Ambient air temperature exposure and foetal size and growth in three European birth cohorts.

INTRODUCTION: Ambient air temperature may affect birth outcomes adversely, but little is known about their impact on foetal growth throughout pregnancy. We evaluated the association between temperature exposure during pregnancy and foetal size and growth in three European birth cohorts. METHODS: We studied 23,408 pregnant women from the English Born in Bradford cohort, Dutch Generation R Study, and Spanish INMA Project. Using the UrbClimTM model, weekly ambient air temperature exposure at 100x100m resolution at the mothers' residences during pregnancy was calculated. Estimated foetal weight, head circumference, and femur length at mid and late pregnancy and weight, head circumference, and length at birth were converted into standard deviation scores (SDS). Foetal growth from mid to late pregnancy was calculated (grams or centimetres/week). Cohort/region-specific distributed lag non-linear models were combined using a random-effects meta-analysis and results presented in reference to the median percentile of temperature (14 °C). RESULTS: Weekly temperatures ranged from -5.6 (Bradford) to 30.3 °C (INMA-Sabadell). Cold and heat exposure during weeks 1-28 were associated with a smaller and larger head circumference in late pregnancy, respectively (e.g., for 9.5 °C: -1.6 SDS [95 %CI -2.0; -0.4] and for 20.0 °C: 1.8 SDS [0.7; 2.9]). A susceptibility period from weeks 1-7 was identified for cold exposure and a smaller head circumference at late pregnancy. Cold exposure was associated with a slower head circumference growth from mid to late pregnancy (for 5.5 °C: -0.1 cm/week [-0.2; -0.04]), with a susceptibility period from weeks 4-12. No associations that survived multiple testing correction were found for other foetal or any birth outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Cumulative exposure to cold and heat during pregnancy was associated with changes in foetal head circumference throughout gestation, with susceptibility periods for cold during the first pregnancy trimester. No associations were found at birth, suggesting potential recovery. Future research should replicate this study across different climatic regions including varying temperature profiles.

Potential application of bioelectrochemical systems in cold environments.

Globally, more than half of the world's regions and populations inhabit psychrophilic and seasonally cold environments. Lower temperatures can inhibit the metabolic activity of microorganisms, thereby restricting the application of traditional biological treatment technologies. Bioelectrochemical systems (BES), which combine electrochemistry and biocatalysis, can enhance the resistance of microorganisms to unfavorable environments through electrical stimulation, thus showing promising applications in low-temperature environments. In this review, we focus on the potential application of BES in such environments, given the relatively limited research in this area due to temperature limitations. We select microbial fuel cells (MFC), microbial electrolytic cells (MEC), and microbial electrosynthesis cells (MES) as the objects of analysis and compare their operational mechanisms and application fields. MFC mainly utilizes the redox potential of microorganisms during substance metabolism to generate electricity, while MEC and MES promote the degradation of refractory substances by augmenting the electrode potential with an applied voltage. Subsequently, we summarize and discuss the application of these three types of BES in low-temperature environments. MFC can be employed for environmental remediation as well as for biosensors to monitor environmental quality, while MEC and MES are primarily intended for hydrogen and methane production. Additionally, we explore the influencing factors for the application of BES in low-temperature environments, including operational parameters, electrodes and membranes, external voltage, oxygen intervention, and reaction devices. Finally, the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility analyses reveal that the application of BES in low-temperature environments has great potential for development.

Decoding the influence of low temperature on biofilm development: The hidden roles of c-di-GMP.

Biofilms are widely used and play important roles in biological processes. Low temperature of wastewater inhibits the development of biofilms derived from wastewater activated sludge. However, the specific mechanism of temperature on biofilm development is still unclear. This study explored the mechanism of temperature on biofilm development and found a feasible method to enhance biofilm development at low temperature. The amount of biofilm development decreased by approximately 66 % and 55 % at 4 °C and 15 °C, respectively, as compared to 28 °C. The cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) concentration also decreased at low temperature and was positively correlated with extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) content, formation, and adhesion strength. Microbial community results showed that low temperature inhibited the normal survival of most microorganisms, but promoted the growth of some psychrophile bacteria like Sporosarcina, Caldilineaceae, Gemmataceae, Anaerolineaceae and Acidobacteriota. Further analysis of functional genes demonstrated that the abundance of functional genes related to the synthesis of c-di-GMP (K18968, K18967 and K13590) decreased at low temperature. Subsequently, the addition of exogenous spermidine increased the level of intracellular c-di-GMP and alleviated the inhibition effect of low temperature on biofilm development. Therefore, the possible mechanism of low temperature on biofilm development could be the inhibition of the microorganism activity and reduction of the communication level between cells, which is the closely related to the EPS content, formation, and adhesion strength. The enhancement of c-di-GMP level through the exogenous addition of spermidine provides an alternative strategy to enhance biofilm development at low temperatures. The results of this study enhance the understanding of the influence of temperature on biofilm development and provide possible strategies for enhancing biofilm development at low temperatures.

Effects of appropriate low-temperature treatment on the yield and quality of pigmented potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers.

Temperature is one of the important environmental factors affecting plant growth, yield and quality. Moreover, appropriately low temperature is also beneficial for tuber coloration. The red potato variety Jianchuanhong, whose tuber color is susceptible to temperature, and the purple potato variety Huaxinyangyu, whose tuber color is stable, were used as experimental materials and subjected to 20 °C (control check), 15 °C and 10 °C treatments during the whole growth period. The effects of temperature treatment on the phenotype, the expression levels of structural genes related to anthocyanins and the correlations of each indicator were analyzed. The results showed that treatment at 10 °C significantly inhibited the potato plant height, and the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic parameters in the leaves were reduced, and the enzyme activities of SOD and POD were significantly increased, all indicating that the leaves were damaged. Treatment at 10 °C also affected the tuberization of Huaxinyangyu and reduced the tuberization and coloring of Jianchuanhong, while treatment at 15 °C significantly increased the stem diameter, root-to-shoot ratio, yield and content of secondary metabolites, especially anthocyanins. Similarly, the expression of structural genes were enhanced in two pigmented potatoes under low-temperature treatment conditions. In short, proper low temperature can not only increase yield but also enhance secondary metabolites production. Previous studies have not focused on the effects of appropriate low-temperature treatment during the whole growth period of potato on the changes in metabolites during tuber growth and development, these results can provide a theoretical basis and technical guidance for the selection of pigmented potatoes with better nutritional quality planting environment and the formulation of cultivation measures.

Investigation on a mobile fire extinguishing approach using liquid carbon dioxide as inert medium for underground mine.

Injecting carbon dioxide is the most effective means of preventing and extinguishing fires in sealing hazardous areas, but the traditional method slowly and remotely injects carbon dioxide gas into the well after gasification on the ground, which is dependent on the complete mine pipe network without cooling effect. To inject liquid directly from the tank with vacuum interlayer and heat insulating powder for rapid inerting and cooling, a new approach using track mobile platform to go deep into the underground mine disaster area is proposed, so the liquid can be delivered to the nozzle at the end of DN40 large diameter pipe, and the continuous gasification jet can be realized. The experimental results show that: (1) The liquid volume in a tank of vacuum degree within 2.0 Pa and 200 mm interlayer reduced no more than 15.5% after 48 days; (2) Taking the pressure in the tank as the power source, because of environmental differences inside and outside the pipe after 100 m pressure holding delivery, the physical form of liquid and gas could be converted instantly; (3) The continuous discharge time without ice blocking for a tank full of 2 m3 liquid was about 10.5 min under 25 L dual mode nitrogen pressurization, which is 1/12 of injection time after ground gasification; (4) Based on the temperature decrease trend measured at different positions, the cooling characteristics on liquid gasification jet path are quantified, and the calculation formula of temperature changing with time on the center line of liquid gasification jet is obtained. Through this new approach, the integration of vacuum insulated storage, safe mobile transportation, and continuous and rapid release with large flow can be achieved for the liquid carbon dioxide.

Incorporation of hydrogen-producing magnesium into minced beef meat protects the quality attributes and safety of the product during cold storage.

The impact of hydrogen (H2) producing magnesium (Mg) incorporation into minced beef meat (MBM) on the quality and safety of the product was investigated. The H2-producing Mg (H2-P-Mg)-incorporated MBMs were vacuumed (VP) and stored at 4 °C for 12 days. Other MBMs were vacuumed and gassed with H2 or N2. At the end of storage, the lowest browning index values were for H2 and H2-P-Mg samples. H2- PMg and VP methods generally decreased the counts of mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria and yeast molds and restricted the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and biogenic amines. Heat mapping, PCA, and multivariate analysis methods confirmed chemical analysis results. The volatile compounds were at their highest levels in the control samples at the end of storage, followed by H2, N2, H2-P-Mg, and VP samples. Using the H2-P-Mg method in MBM preparation could protect the quality characteristics and safety of the product during cold storage.

Deciphering the impact of cold-adapted bioinoculants on rhizosphere dynamics, biofortification, and yield of kidney bean across varied altitudinal zones.

Agriculture stands as a thriving enterprise in India, serving as both the bedrock of economy and vital source of nutrition. In response to the escalating demands for high-quality food for swiftly expanding population, agricultural endeavors are extending their reach into the elevated terrains of the Himalayas, tapping into abundant resources for bolstering food production. Nonetheless, these Himalayan agro-ecosystems encounter persistent challenges, leading to crop losses. These challenges stem from a combination of factors including prevailing frigid temperatures, suboptimal farming practices, unpredictable climatic shifts, subdivided land ownership, and limited resources. While the utilization of chemical fertilizers has been embraced to enhance the quality of food output, genuine concerns have arisen due to the potential hazards they pose. Consequently, the present investigation was initiated with the objective of formulating environmentally friendly and cold-tolerant broad ranged bioinoculants tailored to enhance the production of Kidney bean while concurrently enriching its nutrient content across entire hilly regions. The outcomes of this study unveiled noteworthy advancements in kidney bean yield, registering a substantial increase ranging from 12.51 ± 2.39 % to 14.15 ± 0.83 % in regions of lower elevation (Jeolikote) and an even more remarkable surge ranging from 20.60 ± 3.03 % to 29.97 ± 5.02 % in higher elevated areas (Chakrata) compared to the control group. Furthermore, these cold-tolerant bioinoculants exhibited a dual advantage by fostering the enhancement of essential nutrients within the grains and fostering a positive influence on the diversity and abundance of microbial life in the rhizosphere. As a result, to effectively tackle the issues associated with chemical fertilizers and to achieve sustainable improvements in both the yield and nutrient composition of kidney bean across varying elevations, the adoption of cold-tolerant Enterobacter hormaechei CHM16, and Pantoea agglomerans HRM 23, including the consortium, presents a promising avenue. Additionally, this study has contributed significant insights-into the role of organic acids like oxalic acid in the solubilization of nutrients, thereby expanding the existing knowledge in this specialized field.

Spatial and temporal indoor temperature differences at home and perceived coldness in winter: A cross-sectional analysis of the nationwide Smart Wellness Housing survey in Japan.

Residents themselves are responsible for controlling their living environment, and their perception of coldness is important to protect their health. Although previous studies examined the association between perceived coldness and indoor temperature, they did not consider the spatial-temporal differences in indoor temperatures. This study, conducted in Japan, measured indoor temperatures in 1,553 houses across several rooms (living room, changing room, and bedroom) and heights (at 1 m above the floor and near the floor) over two weeks and obtained the perceived coldness from 2,793 participants during winter. Results showed substantial temperature differences between rooms (horizontal differences): 3.8 °C between living and changing rooms, and 4.1 °C between living rooms and bedrooms. The average vertical and diel (evening-morning) temperature differences in the living room were 3.1 °C and 3.0 °C, respectively. Regional analysis revealed that the Tohoku region experienced larger horizontal and diel indoor temperature differences, primarily due to its practice of intermittent and partial heating in living rooms only, in contrast to Hokkaido's approach of heating the entire house continuously. Despite Hokkaido's comprehensive heating system, it exhibited the largest vertical temperature difference of 5.1 °C in living rooms, highlighting the insufficiency of heating alone and the necessity for enhanced thermal insulation. The multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that average temperatures and vertical temperature differences were associated with perceived coldness, while horizontal and diel differences did not show a significant association, further emphasizing the importance of improved thermal insulation. Moreover, factors like individual attributes (age and gender), and lifestyle choices (meal quantity, exercise habits, alcohol consumption, and clothing amount) were significantly associated with coldness perception. Notably, older adults were less likely to perceive coldness but more vulnerable to the health impacts of low temperatures, underscoring the necessity of not solely relying on human perception for indoor temperature management to protect cold-related health problems.