Infrared Heat Lamp Research Articles

Effects of Oxygen Concentration on Radiation-Aided and Self-sustained Smoldering Combustion of Radiata Pine

Smoldering combustion is an important form of combustion in wildfires and hazard reduction burning because it plays vital roles in pollutant emission, fire re-ignition, and ecological impact. Smoldering combustion can be classified as either radiation-aided or self-sustained, depending on the nature of the reactions. The latter is often considered a more hazardous type of smoldering combustion, because it can persist for a long period of time and can transition into flaming combustion. However, there is a lack of understanding of the differences between radiation-aided and self-sustained smoldering combustion processes, especially regarding characterization. The aim of this study is to investigate and quantify the differences between radiation-aided and self-sustained smoldering combustion in biomass. Experiments were conducted using an infrared heat lamp to heat pulverize fuel samples in a reactor. The external energy input and oxygen concentration were controlled in order to achieve radiation-aided and ...

Changes in dermatological characteristics of skin caused by electroluminescent infrared heating lamp in healthy Korean men

We examined the changes in skin conditions before and after the application of electroluminescent infrared heating lamp to the body regions of healthy Korean men. We assessed the differences in sebum, moisture, pores, wrinkles, pigmentation, and elasticity of the skin in the forearm, back, and shin regions. A total of 30 healthy men in their 20s were enrolled. We used a Skin Diagnosis Meter for skin state measurements. Statistical differences were found between the pre- and post-measurement values in the moisture, wrinkles, pigmentation, and elasticity of skin. In the correlation analysis results, moisture and wrinkle, moisture and elasticity, pore and pigmentation, and wrinkle and elasticity were positively correlated, respectively. However, moisture and pore, moisture and pigmentation, pore and wrinkle, pore and elasticity, wrinkle and pigmentation, and pigmentation and elasticity were negatively correlated, respectively. These results suggest that the change in skin condition is associated with external stimulants. The effect of infrared radiation on the various skin conditions may differ depending on the part of the body.

3D Printing of a Photo-thermal Self-folding Actuator

The demand for rapid and accurate fabrication of light-weight, biocompatible, and soft actuators in soft robotics has perused researchers to design and fabricate such products by rapid manufacturing techniques. The self-folding origami structure is a type of soft actuator that has applications in micro electro mechanical systems, soft electronics, and biomedical devices. 3-dimentional (3D) printing is a current manufacturing process that can be used for fabrication of involute soft self-folding products by means of shape memory polymer materials. This paper presents, for the first time, a method for developing a photo thermal self-folding soft actuator using a 3D bioplotter. Easily accessible and inexpensive pre-strained polystyrene is opted for the backbone of actuator. The polystyrene film (PS) is then structured in a hand shape gripper. Chitosan hydrogel and carbon black ink were combined for printing active hinges on the hand gripper. Various active hinges with different widths and thicknesses were printed on the hand gripper using the 3D bioplotter. An infra-red (IR) heating lamp was placed at a reasonable distance to emit IR light uniformly on the hand gripper. The temperature distribution on the hand gripper was observed using a thermographic camera and the bending angles of the samples were recorded by a video camera. It was observed that the bending angles of the hand fingers depend on factors such as the intensity of the heat flux generated by the IR light intensity, distance, onset temperature, geometry of the fingers such as width and thickness, and area of the hinges.

Optimum Wattage and Installation Height of Nano-Carbon Fiber Infrared Heating Lamp for Heating Energy Saving in Plug Seedling Production Greenhouse in Winter Season

Optimum Wattage and Installation Height of Nano-Carbon Fiber Infrared Heating Lamp for Heating Energy Saving in Plug Seedling Production Greenhouse in Winter Season

Leaf flushing and shedding, bud and flower production, and stem elongation in tall birch trees subjected to increases in aboveground temperature

Tall birch trees allocate extra resource due to aboveground temperature elevation to bud and male flower production rather than to plant growth. Saplings increased only plant growth under warming. Size-dependent response should be considered. We experimentally heated canopy organs of tall birch trees (Betula ermanii Cham.; 18–20 m high) growing at a high latitude to determine how leaf phenology, plant growth, and bud and male flower production might shift in response to increases in aboveground temperature during global climate change. We warmed the canopies with infrared heat lamps fixed to steel pipe scaffolds built around the trees. The temperature of the warmed canopies increased by approximately 1 °C. Warming extended the length of the growing season of canopy leaves (by accelerating leaf flush and delaying leaf fall), and significantly increased the numbers of buds and male flowers per shoot. Bud production and shoot length were positively correlated in both warmed and control branches. However, warming did not increase canopy shoot lengths. The intercept value of the positive regression slope between bud production and shoot length for warmed branches was higher than that for control branches. Thus, canopy warming had a direct positive effect on the bud production but had no indirect effect via increases in shoot length. Our experiment showed that tall birch trees allocated extra resources made available by increased aboveground temperature to bud and male flower production rather than to plant growth.

Anthropogenic Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Elicit Neuropathic Pain in an Amputation Model.

Anecdotal and clinical reports have suggested that radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) may serve as a trigger for neuropathic pain. However, these reports have been widely disregarded, as the epidemiological effects of electromagnetic fields have not been systematically proven, and are highly controversial. Here, we demonstrate that anthropogenic RF EMFs elicit post-neurotomy pain in a tibial neuroma transposition model. Behavioral assays indicate a persistent and significant pain response to RF EMFs when compared to SHAM surgery groups. Laser thermometry revealed a transient skin temperature increase during stimulation. Furthermore, immunofluorescence revealed an increased expression of temperature sensitive cation channels (TRPV4) in the neuroma bulb, suggesting that RF EMF-induced pain may be due to cytokine-mediated channel dysregulation and hypersensitization, leading to thermal allodynia. Additional behavioral assays were performed using an infrared heating lamp in place of the RF stimulus. While thermally-induced pain responses were observed, the response frequency and progression did not recapitulate the RF EMF effects. In vitro calcium imaging experiments demonstrated that our RF EMF stimulus is sufficient to directly contribute to the depolarization of dissociated sensory neurons. Furthermore, the perfusion of inflammatory cytokine TNF-α resulted in a significantly higher percentage of active sensory neurons during RF EMF stimulation. These results substantiate patient reports of RF EMF-pain, in the case of peripheral nerve injury, while confirming the public and scientific consensus that anthropogenic RF EMFs engender no adverse sensory effects in the general population.

Does light attract piglets to the creep area?

Hypothermia, experienced by piglets, has been related to piglet deaths and high and early use of a heated creep area is considered important to prevent hypothermia. The aims of the present study were to investigate how a newly invented radiant heat source, eHeat, would affect piglets’ use of the creep area and whether light in the creep area works as an attractant on piglets. A total of 39 sows, divided between two batches, were randomly distributed to three heat source treatments: (1) standard infrared heat lamp (CONT, n=19), (2) eHeat with light (EL, n=10) and (3) eHeat without light (ENL, n=10). Recordings of piglets’ use of the creep area were made as scan sampling every 10 min for 3 h during two periods, one in daylight (0900 to 1200 h) and one in darkness (2100 to 2400 h), on day 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 and 21 postpartum. On the same days, piglets were weighted. Results showed an interaction between treatment and observation period (P<0.05) with a lower use of the creep area during darkness compared with daylight for CONT and EL litters, but not for ENL litters. Piglets average daily weight gain was not affected by treatment, but was positively correlated with piglets’ birth weight and was lower in batch 1 compared with batch 2. Seen from the present results, neither eHeat nor light worked as an attractant on piglets; in contrast, piglets preferred to sleep in the dark and it would therefore be recommended to turn off the light in the creep area during darkness. Heating up the creep area without light can be accomplished by using a radiant heat source such as eHeat in contrast to the normally used light-emitting infrared heat lamp.

Comparison between diffuse infrared and acoustic transmission over the human skull.

Skull-induced distortion and attenuation present a challenge to both transcranial imaging and therapy. Whereas therapeutic procedures have been successful in offsetting aberration using from prior CTs, this approach impractical for imaging. In effort to provide a simplified means for aberration correction, we have been investigating the use of diffuse infrared light as an indicator of acoustic properties. Infrared wavelengths were specifically selected for tissue penetration; however this preliminary study was performed through bone alone via a transmission mode to facilitate comparison with acoustic measurements. The inner surface of a half human skull, cut along the sagittal midline, was illuminated using an infrared heat lamp and images of the outer surface were acquired with an IR-sensitive camera. A range of source angles were acquired and averaged to eliminate source bias. Acoustic measurement were likewise obtained over the surface with a source (1MHz, 12.7mm-diam) oriented parallel to the skull surface and hydrophone receiver (1mm PVDF). Preliminary results reveal a positive correlation between sound speed and optical intensity, whereas poor correlation is observed between acoustic amplitude and optical intensity.

Comparison between diffuse infrared and acoustic transmission over the human skull

Skull-induced distortion and attenuation present a challenge to both transcranial imaging and therapy. Whereas therapeutic procedures have been successful in offsetting aberration using from prior CTs, this approach impractical for imaging. In effort to provide a simplified means for aberration correction, we have been investigating the use of diffuse infrared light as an indicator of acoustic properties. Infrared wavelengths were specifically selected for tissue penetration; however this preliminary study was performed through bone alone via a transmission mode to facilitate comparison with acoustic measurements. The inner surface of a half human skull, cut along the sagittal midline, was illuminated using an infrared heat lamp and images of the outer surface were acquired with an IR-sensitive camera. A range of source angles were acquired and averaged to eliminate source bias. Acoustic measurement were likewise obtained over the surface with a source (1 MHz, 12.7 mm-diam) oriented parallel to the skull surface and hydrophone receiver (1 mm PVDF). Preliminary results reveal a positive correlation between sound speed and optical intensity, whereas poor correlation is observed between acoustic amplitude and optical intensity. [Work funded under NIH R01EB014296.]

Persistent effect of broody hens on behaviour of chickens.

We reported previously that behavioral development of chicks was promoted remarkably by the presence of a broody hen. Here we report that these effects at an early age persist after maturity. A total of 60 female chicks were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: six pens with five chicks (brooded group) each were reared by a broody hen and six pens with five chicks (non-brooded group) each were provided with an infrared heating lamp. We evaluated the persistent effects of broody hens by measures of behavior, physical condition and production at 9, 16, 35 and 55 weeks of age. The numbers of threatening, aggressive pecking, fighting and severe feather pecking behaviors were higher in non-brooded than in brooded chickens (all P < 0.05). Egg production was lower in brooded than in non-brooded chickens (P < 0.05), while the number of brooding chickens was higher in the brooded than in the non-brooded group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the presence of broody hens at an early stage of chicks' lives has a persistent effect on behavior. Although brooded chickens showed more brooding and lower egg production than non-brooded chickens, feather pecking and aggressive interaction were decreased in brooded hens.

Effect of Heating by Infrared Heating Lamps on Growth of Strawberry and Heating Cost

Effect of Heating by Infrared Heating Lamps on Growth of Strawberry and Heating Cost

Acclimation and soil moisture constrain sugar maple root respiration in experimentally warmed soil

The response of root respiration to warmer soil can affect ecosystem carbon (C) allocation and the strength of positive feedbacks between climatic warming and soil CO2 efflux. This study sought to determine whether fine-root (<1 mm) respiration in a sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.)-dominated northern hardwood forest would adjust to experimentally warmed soil, reducing C return to the atmosphere at the ecosystem scale to levels lower than that would be expected using an exponential temperature response function. Infrared heating lamps were used to warm the soil (+4 to +5 °C) in a mature sugar maple forest in a fully factorial design, including water additions used to offset the effects of warming-induced dry soil. Fine-root-specific respiration rates, root biomass, root nitrogen (N) concentration, soil temperature and soil moisture were measured from 2009 to 2011, with experimental treatments conducted from late 2010 to 2011. Partial acclimation of fine-root respiration to soil warming occurred, with soil moisture deficit further constraining specific respiration rates in heated plots. Fine-root biomass and N concentration remained unchanged. Over the 2011 growing season, ecosystem root respiration was not significantly greater in warmed soil. This result would not be predicted by models that allow respiration to increase exponentially with temperature and do not directly reduce root respiration in drier soil.

Evaluation of Window-Tinting Films for Sunlight Phototherapy

We evaluated nine semi-transparent plastic window-tinting films for their ability to block ultraviolet A (UVA) and infrared (IR) radiation and transmit therapeutic blue light (400-520 nm) for treating jaundiced newborns. For indoor testing, three light sources (TL/52 special blue fluorescent, Black Light UVA and IR heat lamps) were positioned above each film and measured successively using a thermocouple thermometer, UVA radiometer and blue light irradiance meter, placed below each film. For outdoor testing, the same setup was used with the sun at zenith and a cloudless sky. Compared with unfiltered radiation, blue light transmission through films ranged from 24 to 83%, UVA transmission was 0.1-7.1% and reductions in IR heat were 6-12°C and 5-10°C for heat lamp and sun, respectively. The data suggest that most of the relatively low-cost window-tinting films tested can effectively reduce sunlight UV and IR and offer a range of significant attenuations of therapeutic blue light.

Photoperiodic responses of Kalanchoe and chrysanthemum to radiation by an infrared lamp

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of a low intensity infrared radiation on the growth and photoperiodic responses of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Kaluna’ and ‘Taos’, and Dendranthema grandiflorum ‘Lemon Eye’ grown in growth chambers. In the first experiment, uniformly-rooted cuttings of ‘Kaluna’ and ‘Lemon Eye’ were selected and transplanted to 10 cm pots. After a week, pots were transferred from greenhouse to three environment-controlled growth chambers. All chambers were maintained at 25 ± 1 and 70% RH with an 8 hours photoperiod (760 μmol·m−2·s−1), provided by high pressure sodium and white fluorescent lamps. During the night period one chamber was left unlit (darkness), while the second and third ones were lit with an incandescent lamp (10 μmol·m−2·s−1) or an infrared lamp (15 μmol·m−2·s−1), respectively. Shoot length, root length, stem diameter, number of flowers, number of branches, fresh weight, and dry weight were measured after eight weeks. Flowering occurred on plants maintained in the unlit darkness and under an incandescent lamp during the night period, while only vegetative growth was observed under an infrared lamp. In the second experiment, cuttings of uniformly-rooted ‘Taos’ and ‘Lemon Eye’ were selected and transferred from the greenhouse to three environment-controlled growth chambers with the same environment setting as in the first experiment at a week after potting. During the night period one chamber was left unlit (darkness), the second and third ones were lit with an incandescent or an infrared heating lamp, both at a 0.3 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD level. After nine weeks, flowering in all treatments was observed, but was slightly delayed under an incandescent and an infrared heating lamp. Because both the incandescent lamp and the infrared lamp slightly delayed flowering in these two species, a more detailed experiment is necessary to find out at which intensity and light quality inhibits the flowering of these species.

Temperature-Dependent Electrical Properties of Graphene Inkjet-Printed on Flexible Materials

Graphene electrode was fabricated by inkjet printing, as a new means of directly writing and micropatterning the electrode onto flexible polymeric materials. Graphene oxide sheets were dispersed in water and subsequently reduced using an infrared heat lamp at a temperature of ~200 °C in 10 min. Spacing between adjacent ink droplets and the number of printing layers were used to tailor the electrode's electrical sheet resistance as low as 0.3 MΩ/□ and optical transparency as high as 86%. The graphene electrode was found to be stable under mechanical flexing and behave as a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) material, exhibiting rapid electrical resistance decrease with temperature increase. Temperature sensitivity of the graphene electrode was similar to that of conventional NTC materials, but with faster response time by an order of magnitude. This finding suggests the potential use of the inkjet-printed graphene electrode as a writable, very thin, mechanically flexible, and transparent temperature sensor.

Development and characterization of polymer–ceramic continuous fiber reinforced functionally graded composites for aerospace application

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) have continuous change in the composition across the thickness which results in gradual change of the properties. The ability of the FGMs to perform more than one contrasting functions as an integral structure makes them an attractive material for aerospace applications. So far the research focus has been on the functionally graded coatings and particulate reinforced functionally graded composites. In this study, continuous fiber reinforced functionally graded composites (FGCs) have been prepared using quartz fabric reinforcement for thermo-structural aerospace application. Silicone resin and fused silica powder have been used to obtain graded matrix. The FGC laminates have been characterized for mechanical and thermal properties. The laminates were also evaluated for thermal shock resistance and thermal insulation properties by exposing to infra-red heating lamps under high heating rate of about 800°C/s and high heat flux of 0.6 Wmm−2 for 70 s. FGC laminates did not de-laminate or charred. Temperature drop across the laminate of 8 mm thickness was found to be 600°C. The concept of FGC fabrication process is demonstrated to fabricate scaled down typical airframe sections also.

Extreme winter warming events more negatively impact small rather than large soil fauna: shift in community composition explained by traits not taxa

AbstractExtreme weather events can have negative impacts on species survival and community structure when surpassing lethal thresholds. Extreme winter warming events in the Arctic rapidly melt snow and expose ecosystems to unseasonably warm air (2–10 °C for 2–14 days), but returning to cold winter climate exposes the ecosystem to lower temperatures by the loss of insulating snow. Soil animals, which play an integral part in soil processes, may be very susceptible to such events depending on the intensity of soil warming and low temperatures following these events. We simulated week‐long extreme winter warming events – using infrared heating lamps, alone or with soil warming cables – for two consecutive years in a sub‐Arctic dwarf shrub heathland. Minimum temperatures were lower and freeze‐thaw cycles were 2–11 times more frequent in treatment plots compared with control plots. Following the second event, Acari populations decreased by 39%; primarily driven by declines of Prostigmata (69%) and the Mesostigmatic nymphs (74%). A community‐weighted vertical stratification shift occurred from smaller soil dwelling (eu‐edaphic) Collembola species dominance to larger litter dwelling (hemi‐edaphic) species dominance in the canopy‐with‐soil warming plots compared with controls. The most susceptible groups to these winter warming events were the smallest individuals (Prostigmata and eu‐edaphic Collembola). This was not apparent from abundance data at the Collembola taxon level, indicating that life forms and species traits play a major role in community assembly following extreme events. The observed shift in soil community can cascade down to the micro‐flora affecting plant productivity and mineralization rates. Short‐term extreme weather events have the potential to shift community composition through trait composition with potentially large consequences for ecosystem development.

Controlled Warming Effects on Wheat Growth and Yield: Field Measurements and Modeling

Climate warming may raise wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields in cooler climates and lower them in warmer climates. To understand these contrasting effects, infrared heating lamps were used to warm irrigated spring wheat by 1.5°C (day) and 3.0°C (night) above unheated controls during different times of the year at Maricopa, AZ. Changes in wheat growth with warming were used to test hypotheses for temperature effects on crop growth in the process model ecosys. Infrared heating substantially raised phytomass growth and grain yield under lower air temperature (Ta) following plantings from September through December. The same heating, however, lowered growth and yield under higher Ta following plantings from January through March. Gains in wheat yield of as much as 200 g C m−2 with heating under lower Ta were attributed in the model to more rapid CO2 fixation and to reduced chilling effects on seed set. These gains were only partially offset by losses from shortened wheat growth periods. Losses in wheat yield of as much as 100 g C m−2 with heating under higher Ta were attributed in the model to adverse effects of heating on crop water status and on CO2 fixation vs. respiration, to greater heat stress effects on seed set, and to shortened crop growth periods. Model hypotheses thus explained contrasting effects of heating on wheat yields under different Ta found in the field experiment as well as in many earlier studies. Well‐constrained tests of these hypotheses are vital for models used to project climate change impacts on agricultural ecosystems.

A soil temperature control system for sapling study in alpine region

A soil temperature control system was designed for sapling study in alpine region and tested in summer, 2009. The system consisted of a power switch, voltage regulator, microcomputer timer, safety relays, temperature control device, temperature sensors, heating cables, fireproofing plastic pipes (PVC), 108 heavy-duty plastic containers and seedlings. The heating cables were held in six 2-layer PVC frames with 25 cm wide, 320 cm long and 25 cm high and three 1-layer frames with 25 cm wide and 320 cm long for 15A degrees C soil temperature treatment, half of the 2-layer frames were used for 20A degrees C and 25A degrees C soil temperature treatments, respectively. Each of the frames was installed at each of ditches with 30 cm wide, 330 cm long and 30 cm deep in size. 12 seedling containers with 20 cm top diameter, 18cm bottom diameter and 25 cm high were homogenously placed at each of the ditches, and spaces between the containers were filled with natural soil. The system was economic, and could increase soil temperatures obviously and uniformly, the maximal and minimal standard errors of soil temperatures were +/- 0.28 and +/- 0.05A degrees C at 10cm depth in the containers within each of all the ditches. In the system, aboveground environment was natural, diurnal and monthly soil temperatures varied with changing air temperature, the research results may be better to know the ecophysiological and growth responses of alpine saplings/seedlings to soil warming than that in greenhouse, laboratory, infrared heat lamp and open top chamber.

Fabrication of Modified SWNTs/Glassy Carbon Electrode for the Determination of Dopamine

The SWNTs film was grown on the GC electrode by dropping a suspension of SWNTs in DMF on the GC electrode surface and then evaporating the solvent under an infrared heat lamp for 1 h, giving a modified SWNTs/GC electrode. Finally, the SWNTs/GC was rinsed thoroughly with absolute ethanol and deionized water just before use. The optimum working electrode, pH, and buffer solution were glassy carbon electrode (GC), 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 7.5 respectively. The SWNTs/DMF film on the GC surface increased linearly with the amounts of SWNTs suspension over the range from 1 to 10 µL, and then increased slightly from 10 to 20 µL. SWNTs suspension of 10 µL was used for making the modified glassy carbon electrode. DPV technique was employed for the determination of dopamine. The drug samples containing dopamine obtained from Radvitee Hospital, Bangkok Thailand were tested as in the mentioned procedure.