Measurements Of Ultraviolet Radiation Research Articles

Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure Among Opencast Miners in Namibia with the Use of Electronic Dosimeters: A Feasibility Study.

Importance: The lack of information on exposure of opencast mineworkers to solar ultraviolet radiation, a group I carcinogen, was addressed. The feasibility of using electronic dosimeters in the determination of exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation was investigated. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the feasibility of measuring the occupational exposure of opencast mineworkers to solar ultraviolet radiation using electronic dosimeters. Design: The study followed a cross‑sectional design. Setting: Measurements were carried out at two opencast diamond mining operations hereafter referred to as site A and B, located in the Karas region of Namibia. Participants: Workers from all four outdoor occupations (bedrock, engineering, metallurgy and security) were recruited to participate in the study. Measurements: The study was conducted over four days at each site during winter (site A: 28 June to 4 July 2018 and site B: 6-11 July 2018) in the Karas region of Namibia with 28 consenting workers taking part. The AlGaN photodiode‑based electronic dosimeters were worn above clothing on the dorsal wrists (one) and two placed on the horizontal, unshaded area from 08:00 to 16:00 for the measurement of personal and ambient solar ultraviolet radiation, respectively. Historical meteorological data for the measurement period were obtained from Solcast and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) NASA. Results: Overall, clear skies and surface reflectivity of 0.19 were observed for both study sites. The mean ultraviolet indices were 2.43 (0.06-4.51) and 2.24 (0.09-4.88) for site A and B, respectively. Findings of valid measurements from nine participants showed the mean total daily personal solar ultraviolet radiation exposure of 1.9 ± 1.0 (1.01-1.57) standard erythemal dose (SED) for site A and 3.4 ± 2.6 (3.39-7.28) SED for site B. Conclusions and Relevance: Personal solar ultraviolet radiation exposure above the occupational exposure limit (OEL) demonstrated the need to include the winter season in planning for protective measures for skin and eyes, since workers are at risk of excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation.

A 10 km daily-level ultraviolet-radiation-predicting dataset based on machine learning models in China from 2005 to 2020

Abstract. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is closely related to health; however, limited measurements have hindered further investigation of its health effects in China. Machine learning algorithms have been widely used to predict environmental factors with high accuracy, but a limited number of studies have implemented it for UV radiation. The main aim of this study is to develop a UV radiation prediction model using the random forest approach and predict the UV radiation with a daily and 10 km resolution in mainland China from 2005 to 2020. The model was developed with multiple predictors, such as UV radiation data from satellites as independent variables and ground UV radiation measurements from monitoring stations as the dependent variable. Missing satellite-based UV radiation data were obtained using the 3 d moving average method. The model performance was evaluated using multiple cross-validation (CV) methods. The overall R2 and root mean square error between measured and predicted UV radiation from model development and model 10-fold CV were 0.97 and 15.64 W m−2 and 0.83 and 37.44 W m−2 at the daily level, respectively. The model that incorporated erythemal daily dose (EDD) retrieved from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) had a higher prediction accuracy than that without it. Based on predictions of UV radiation at the daily level, 10 km spatial resolution, and nearly 100 % spatiotemporal coverage, we found that UV radiation increased by 4.20 %, PM2.5 levels decreased by 48.51 %, and O3 levels increased by 22.70 % from 2013–2020, suggesting a potential correlation among these environmental factors. The uneven spatial distribution of UV radiation was associated with factors such as latitude, elevation, meteorological factors, and season. The eastern areas of China pose a higher risk due to both high population density and high UV radiation intensity. Using a machine learning algorithm, this study generated a gridded UV radiation dataset with extensive spatiotemporal coverage, which can be utilized for future health-related research. This dataset is freely available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10884591 (Jiang et al., 2024).

Ultraviolet radiation thin film dosimetry: A review of properties and applications.

Spectroradiometry, radiometry, and dosimetry are employed for the measurement of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) irradiance and non-ionizing exposure. Different types of UVR dosimeter have been developed for measuring personal and environmental UVR exposures since film dosimetry was pioneered in the 1970s. An important type of dosimeter is the thin film variant, which contains materials that undergo changes in optical absorbance when exposed to UVR. These changes can be measured at a specific wavelength using a spectrophotometer. Thin film dosimeters allow UVR exposure measurements on humans at various body sites during daily activities, as well as on plants, animals, and any sites of interest when utilized in a field environment. This review examines the properties and applications of five types of thin film UVR dosimeter that have different dynamic exposure limits and spectral responses. Polysulphone, with a spectral response approximating the human erythema action spectrum, was one of the first materials employed in thin film form for the measurement of UVR exposures up to 1 day, and up to 6 days with an extended dynamic range filter. Polyphenylene oxide has been characterized and employed for personal UVR exposure measurements up to approximately four summer days and has also been used for long-term underwater UVR exposures. Phenothiazine and 8-methoxypsoralen have been reported as suitable for the measurement of longer wavelength UVA exposures. Finally, polyvinyl chloride with an extended dynamic exposure range of over 3 weeks has been shown to have predominantly a spectral response in the UVB and extending up to 340 nm.

Variability of solar UV radiation in the northern mountains of the Czech Republic, 2020–2021

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation has a crucial role in many atmospheric processes and a huge impact on living organisms. Its main positive effect is the synthesis of vitamin D, but it also causes problems such as sunburn, skin cancer or eye cataracts. In the mountains, high doses of UV frequently occur due to a specific combination of atmospheric and geographical factors such as a high ground reflection as a consequence of a large number of days with snow cover, or a lower concentration of atmospheric pollutants in comparison to lowland urban regions. This study used measurements of erythemal UV radiation from two high altitude areas: the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains (Vysoká hole meteorological station, 1 464 m a.s.l.) and the Giant Mountains (Luční bouda meteorological station, 1 413 m a.s.l.) in the Czech Republic, during 2020 and 2021. We evaluated the daily and monthly changes in erythemal dose and UV index. The maximum daily dose of 5.0 kJ.m-2 (8.9 of UV index) was measured on 28 June 2020 at Vysoká hole. The maximal UV index of 10.1 was observed at Luční bouda on 5 July 2020, while the maximum daily dose of 4.9 kJ.m-2 occurred on 14 June 2021. The main factors that caused changes in solar UV radiation were the amount of cloud cover as well as the total ozone column.

Ultraviolet radiation from solariums: the main problems of measurement and evaluation of results

Introduction. Artificial tanning is now considered a public health issue. There is strong evidence linking tanning bed use to the risk of skin cancer. One measure to reduce the health risks associated with artificial tanning is to control exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Assessing the compliance of UV solariums with hygienic standards requires solving two main problems – methodological and instrumental support for the measurements taken. The purpose of the study was to substantiate methodological approaches to measuring UVR irradiance in solariums. Material and methods. Regulatory and methodological documents, as well as literary sources devoted to the issues of conducting UVR measurements of solariums and the criteria for assessing their compliance, were analyzed. To justify the conditions and scope of research, measurements of the energy illumination of the UVR of a mini-solarium, and pilot studies in a vertical turbo solarium using a UV Radiometer were carried out. Results. According to the results of UVR measurements at the minimum possible distance from the radiating block of the mini-solarium, the highest values ​​of energy illumination in all ranges were obtained at the central point, which was also confirmed by the results of scanning the radiating surface. Analysis of the research results in a vertical turbo solarium at a distance of 0.3 m from the central vertical axis of the solarium showed that the highest values ​​of energy illumination for the two blocks were obtained at different heights (1.0 m and 0.5 m from the supporting surface), which confirms the need to carry out measurements at several points along the height of each radiating block. Limitations. The results of the study can only be used when measuring the irradiance of ultraviolet radiation in solariums using UV radiometers. Conclusion. The proposed methodological approaches make it possible to measure the energy illumination of ultraviolet radiation in places where solariums are used, process and format of the results obtained, and evaluate them for compliance with current hygienic standards. Issues arised when carrying out measurements and assessing energy illumination in the spectral region of 200–400 nm when examining solariums are identified.

Flexible and Ecological Cotton-Based Dosimeter for 2D UV Surface Dose Distribution Measurements.

This work presents a 2D radiochromic dosimeter for ultraviolet (UV) radiation measurements, based on cotton fabric volume-modified with nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) as a radiation-sensitive compound. The developed dosimeter is flexible, which allows it to adapt to various shapes and show a color change from yellowish to purple-brown during irradiation. The intensity of the color change depends on the type of UV radiation and is the highest for UVC (253.7 nm). It has been shown that the developed dosimeters (i) can be used for UVC radiation dose measurements in the range of up to 10 J/cm2; (ii) can be measured in 2D using a flatbed scanner; and (iii) can have the obtained images after scanning be filtered with a medium filter to improve their quality by reducing noise from the fabric structure. The developed cotton-NBT dosimeters can measure UVC-absorbed radiation doses on objects of various shapes, and when combined with a dedicated computer software package and a data processing method, they form a comprehensive system for measuring dose distributions for objects with complex shapes. The developed system can also serve as a comprehensive method for assessing the quality and control of UV radiation sources used in various industrial processes.

A composite photoluminescent probe based on Er/Yb co-doped tellurite glass powder for dual-parameter measurement of temperature and UV radiation

To cope with the cross-sensitivity of simultaneous measurement of ultraviolet (UV) irradiance and temperature, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a miniature composite photoluminescent probe that is formed by thoroughly mixing Er/Yb co-doped tellurite glass powder into a resin adhesive substrate. Utilizing tellurite glass in form of powder not only guarantees its thorough mixing into the liquid resin base, but also retains its amorphous glass phase for hosting Er/Yb ions, thus breaking the limitations of studying tellurite glass only in bulk or fibrous form. Co-excited by UV radiation and NIR pumping, the composite probe produces a superimposed fluorescence emission spectrum, where the intensity change rate of the 488 nm dip can be used for UV irradiance measurement, and the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) of the 524 nm and 545 nm peaks for temperature measurement. Based on the sensitive specificity of the resin substrate and the Er/Yb co-doped tellurite glass, we have realized the simultaneous measurement of UV and temperature without cross-sensitivity.

Measurements of biologically effective solar radiation using erythemal weighted broadband meters.

In this paper, we describe conversion factors (CF) for the calculation of biologically effective irradiances (BEI) from erythemal irradiance for three effects: photosynthesis of previtamin D3, psoriasis healing, and inactivation of the SARS-Cov-2 virions. CFs were empirically derived from measurements of spectral solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation during all sky conditions at four mid-latitude sites in the Northern Hemisphere, namely Aosta, Belsk, Reading, and San Diego. These CFs were found to depend on solar zenith angle (SZA) and total column ozone, but are largely independent (within ± 5% for SZA < 60°) of local conditions such as surface albedo, visibility and other local atmospheric patterns. The values of these empirical CFs are consistent with analytical CFs derived with radiative transfer calculations (model FastRT) for clear-sky and overcast conditions. To validate these analytical CFs, one-hour radiant exposures for the three biological effects were calculated from erythemal measurements at Reading between 2012 and 2021 and compared with similar exposures calculated directly from the spectral UV measurements. The two datasets agreed within 10% for SZA < 65°, demonstrating the utility of the conversion method. These results suggest that the proposed analytical CFs can be used with confidence to estimate radiant exposures for the three biological effects from measurements of the UV Index at any northern mid-latitude site.

LED ДЖЕРЕЛА УЛЬТРАФІОЛЕТОВОГО ВИПРОМІНЮВАННЯ: МЕТОДИЧНЕ ТА ПРИЛАДОВЕ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ З УРАХУВАННЯМ ГАРМОНІЗАЦІЇ ЗАКОНОДАВСТВА ЄС ТА УКРАЇНИ

One of the effective means of disinfecting premises is its irradiation with ultraviolet bactericidal radiation (UVBV), which is in the UV-C region (200 nm - 280 nm) and for mercury lamps has a radiation peak at a wavelength of 254 nm. However, UVBV should be used competently and with appropriate caution in terms of its intensity and safety, avoiding risks of damage to human skin and eyes. Therefore, UVBV is used indoors, mainly in the absence of a person. But when using sources of this type of optical radiation in the presence of a person, proper attention should be paid to controlling the intensity of UVBV and the time of its exposure. At the same time, it should be noted that the active processes of harmonization of the legislation of the EU and Ukraine require the modernization of the regulatory and methodological base for the measurement and hygienic assessment of ultraviolet radiation in the production environment and in the environment, significantly expanding the possibilities of using UVB sources, including in the presence of humans. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to create the basis for appropriate methodological recommendations for the use of bactericidal ultraviolet monochrome LED sources for disinfection of air and surfaces in rooms, as well as the formulation of appropriate requirements for UV radiometers, which should ensure control of the technical parameters of the mentioned ultraviolet monochrome LED sources. As a result of the research, scientific principles were proposed for the instrumental and methodical control of the safe use of bactericidal ultraviolet monochrome LED sources for the improvement of air and surfaces in premises of various purposes, taking into account the requirements of the legislation of Ukraine and the EU. The technical characteristics of the available UVBV LED sources were analyzed, based on which the medical and technical requirements for UV radiometers were formulated, which should ensure control of the intensity and actinic dose of UV radiation in accordance with the requirements of DSTU EN 62471:2017 "Safety of photobiological lamps and lamp systems (EN 62471:2008 , IDT; IES 62471:2006, MOD)". Design approaches to the formation of the spectral range of RG sensitivity by using appropriate light filters, including for the blue light range (380-480 nm), have been determined. A technique for correcting the spectral characteristic of the RG sensitivity is proposed, which contributes to the reduction of the intensity measurement error created by different LED sources.

Smart City and the digital measurement of solar ultraviolet radiation in Outdoor workers in the City of Lisbon

Abstract The growing incidence of skin cancer over the years has made it a significant public health problem. However, technology can be used to tackle the skin cancer which is highly preventable, mainly through reduced exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Digital services can be used to promote individual and collective protective measures and interventions. Specifically, there is an opportunity when the exposure is intermittent or continuous, and occurs in an occupational or leisure setting. We are using a digital platform to contribute to raising public and policy awareness on solar UVR-inflicted occupational skin cancers in the municipality of Lisbon. The digital platform is performing direct measurements of the solar UVR dose received by outdoor workers. Results will likely contribute to further understanding the risk estimates for keratinocyte cancer estimations in this population. The digital platform integrates a personal electronic dosimeter (GENESIS-UV system) to assess occupational solar UVR doses of gardeners, masons, and gravediggers of the municipality of Lisbon. Two hundred and ten outdoor workers were selected to wear the dosimeter for 1 month each, between April and October during their daily working hours. The digital platform that offers private access to information through dashboard visualization provided information for the outdoor workers and facilitate communication with the participants. Study data provides the outdoor workers with information on their personal solar UVR exposure during their working hours and an estimate of their risk of developing skin cancer. The results prospectively should flow into the design of adequate prevention campaigns for skin cancer in outdoor workers.

Capsule Dosimeters for Ultraviolet Radiation Measurements on Coral Reefs and in Seawater.

This work reports on the new chemical dosimeters for UV radiation dose measurements on coral reefs and in seawater. The proposed dosimeters can measure the actual dose of UV radiation, which consists of 95% UVA and 5% UVB radiation, unlike the currently-used radiometers in marine and ocean waters that measure the dose of UVA and UVB radiation separately. The dosimeters are composed of water, poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronic F-127) as a gel matrix, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) as a UV radiation-sensitive compound. In the work, the dosimeters were characterised in terms of their response to the dose of UV radiation depending on the TTC concentration and the irradiation and storage conditions of the dosimeters. The stability of the dosimeters over time was also examined. The obtained results indicate that the TTC-Pluronic F-127 dosimeters can be used to measure absorbed doses of UV radiation in the saltwater environment. The developed dosimeters with a concentration of 0.1% TTC can be used up to 5 J/cm2, which predisposes them to UV radiation measurements at a depth of more than 10 m in sea and ocean waters in 10-min intervals during all months throughout the year.

Multi-Color Printed Textiles for Ultraviolet Radiation Measurements, Creative Designing, and Stimuli-Sensitive Garments.

This work concerns the new idea of textile printing with a multi-color system using pastes containing compounds sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. A screen printing method based on a modified CMYK color system was applied to a cotton woven fabric. Aqueous printing pastes were prepared from thickening and crosslinking agents and UV-sensitive compounds: leuco crystal violet (LCV), leuco malachite green (LMG), and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) instead of the system's standard process colors: cyan, magenta, and yellow. Depending on the number of printed layers and the type of UV radiation (UVA, UVB, and UVC), the modified textile samples change color after irradiation from white to a wide range of colors (from blue, red, and green to purple, brown, and gray). Based on reflectance measurements, the characteristic parameters of the one-, two-, and three-color-printed samples in relation to absorbed dose were determined, e.g., dose sensitivity, linear and dynamic dose response, and threshold dose. This printing method is a new proposal for UV dosimeters and an alternative standard for textile printing. Furthermore, the developed method can be used for the securing, marking, and creative design of textiles and opens up new possibilities for such stimulus-sensitive reactive printing.

Development of a Radiometer for Ground-based Ultra Violet (UV)/ Cosmic Particle Characterization

Abstract: The need for high-precision radiometers for the measurement of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation triggered this research interest. This is due to the quest for the determination of the trends of terrestrial UV trends associated with the depletion of the ozone layer. This work features the development of a radiometer for the characterization of UV and ionizing radiations from the sun reaching the earth surface at a specific location. The radiations were quantified with the aid of a UV radiation sensor, Geiger tubes, a microcontroller and associated devices. Time series and location coordinates were stamped on the data records with the aid of NEO6M Global Positioning System (GPS) modules. The ionizing radiations were characterized in counts per minute (cpm), while the UV index indications were realized from the voltage output (mV) of the UV sensor using a model based on the UV index chart. The results obtained indicate that the UV index ranges from a minimum value of 0 to a maximum value of 3, while the radiation count ranges from a minimum value of 0 to a maximum value of 48 cpm for 3 days. Hence, the status of the ozone layer can be ascertained from a review of a much longer period of data gathering. Keywords: CPM, CSV, FFF, Geiger, GPS, Ionizing, UV.

UV Radiation Exposure of Outdoor Workers in Antarctica.

The Antarctic region is a place of increasing interest. A growing number of personnel are working outdoors in extreme environmental conditions. They receive significant exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and are thereby at increased risk of adverse consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the UVR dose received by the outdoor workers at the Bulgarian Antarctic Base. Ten Caucasian healthy subjects, 8 males and 2 females with a mean age of 38 years (29-51) were enrolled. Of them, 5 were scientists and 5 were logistic workers. We measured the accumulated daily dose of UVR assessed by standard erythemal dose (SED) in the two groups. All subjects wore personal dosimeters located near the face-he only noncovered skin area. The dosimeters were factory calibrated for use in the Antarctic region. No statistical difference (P = 0.441) could be revealed between the SEDs in the two groups. The maximum UVR dose detected in a single day was 67.9 SEDs, and the highest cumulative dose was 548.03 SEDs. Study results are showing extreme measurements of UVR received by the members of the expeditions. We suggest meticulous UV protection for outdoor workers.

Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Temporal Variability Analysis from 2-Year of Continuous Observation in an Amazonian City of Brazil

Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a highly energetic component of the solar spectrum that needs to be monitored because of the effects on human health and on the ecosystems. In Brazil, few cities monitor UVR, especially in the Amazon region which is particularly poor in observation. This work is the first to address the short-term (2-year) time variability of UVR in Santarém (2°25′ S, 54°44′ W, 51 m) using ground-based measurements. The irradiance in the wavelength range of 250–400 nm was investigated on different time scales. Furthermore, to understand how the UVR varies without the influence of clouds, the hours corresponding to the clear sky condition were analyzed as well as the hours in all sky conditions. Regarding the averages, there is a slight variation over the year. In all sky and clear sky conditions, the dry season had a higher average than the rainy season, despite the slight difference. Also, both in all-sky and clear-sky conditions the maximums occurred around local solar noon, and reached a maximum of 87 W/m2 in the dry season under the clear sky condition. Further understanding of the radiative effects of the clouds in UVR time variability is considered essential for future research. This study can serve as a reference for UVR levels in this region where no other ground-based UVR measurements are made.

Progress in health effects and measurement standards of ultraviolet radiation in the workplace

Ultraviolet radiation affects human health. On the one hand, moderate amounts of UV radiation can promote human health and have the effect of promoting vitamin D production; but on the other hand, excessive UV radiation can also cause adverse effects on human skin and eyes, such as causing skin photoaging, skin cancer, electrophthalmia and cataracts to occur. Therefore, the measurement of ultraviolet radiation is extremely important. This paper mainly reviews the health effects of ultraviolet radiation and the progress of measurement standards in the workplace, and puts forward suggestions on the revision of the existing standards from five aspects including use new measuring instruments and methods, improve the existing measuring instruments, specify the number of measurements, expand the scope of application of the standards and consider the influence of the sun on the measurement of artificial ultraviolet radiation, so as to provide reference for the revision of new standards.

Development of a Low-Cost Device for Measuring Ultraviolet Solar Radiation

Accurate measurements of solar ultraviolet radiation are needed for air quality monitoring, especially to understand the formation and photolysis of tropospheric ozone near the ground. It is interesting to investigate whether this demand could be met using recently developed low-cost UV sensors and new communication technologies. Despite the promising possibilities, their use is still scarce and their potential applications have not yet been thoroughly explored. This study aims to use low-cost sensors to develop devices that accurately measure solar ultraviolet radiation. The de vices should be low-cost, small, portable, and have low power consumption and IoT connectivity. For this purpose, three popular low-cost commercial sensors ML8511, UVM30A and VEML6075 are selected and implemented in several prototypes. The sensors are analyzed in terms of their spectral response, leveling, angular response and comparison with reference data. For that aim, experimental measurements are performed at the radiometric station of the Physics Department of the University of Extremadura in Badajoz, Spain. Results indicate that sensors of the same model might have different calibrations. The leveling and the angular response measurements indicate a strong azimuth dependence for the ML8511 and, especially, VEML6075 sensors, while the UVM30A sensor shows a much weaker dependence, probably due to the use of a circular diffuser. The angular response is identified as the main issue of the sensors, notably limiting their accuracy and preventing a widespread use. With the knowledge gained, a final version with LoRa communication and optimized power consumption is developed. The strength of the LoRa connection is measured at different locations on the University Campus using Receiver Signal Strength Indication. It ranges from -27 dB near the gateway to -122 dB at the farthest location on the Campus. The optimization of the power consumption allows 14 days of autonomy if operating only during daylight hours. The study illustrates the suitability of low-cost sensors for UV applications, provided that a good angular response of the sensors is ensured. It contributes to a wider use of these sensors for the measurement of air quality variables by identifying those characteristics that need to be improved by manufacturers to meet the standards.

Embedded UV Sensors in CMOS SOI Technology.

We report on ultraviolet (UV) sensors employing high voltage PIN lateral photodiode strings integrated into the production RF SOI (silicon on isolator) CMOS platform. The sensors were optimized for applications that require measurements of short wavelength ultraviolet (UVC) radiation under strong visible and near-infrared lights, such as UV used for sterilization purposes, e.g., COVID-19 disinfection. Responsivity above 0.1 A/W in the UVC range was achieved, and improved blindness to visible and infrared (IR) light demonstrated by implementing back-end dielectric layers transparent to the UV, in combination with differential sensing circuits with polysilicon UV filters. Degradation of the developed sensors under short wavelength UV was investigated and design and operation regimes allowing decreased degradation were discussed. Compared with other embedded solutions, the current design is implemented in a mass-production CMOS SOI technology, without additional masks, and has high sensitivity in UVC.

UV-Induced Skin Cancer Knowledge, Sun Exposure, and Tanning Behavior among University Students: Investigation of an Opportunity Sample of German University Students.

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the most important risk factor for developing skin cancer. University students can be considered as a particularly high-risk group for long- and short-term adverse effects of UVR due to intensive solar UVR exposure and high rates of sunburn. While validated questionnaires for assessing solar UVR exposure and sun protection behavior are available in German, a questionnaire for assessing the level of knowledge about this topic is still missing. We conducted a literature search for cross-sectional studies assessing skin cancer and sun protection knowledge among university students in Medline (via PubMed) and analyzed existing questionnaires and topics contained therein. We chose to translate the “Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge Scale” referring to the TRAPD method into the German language and pilot-tested the translation with an opportunity sample of German students. The literature search revealed 36 eligible studies. Four major topics were identified within the studies: knowledge on skin cancer, risk factors, UVR, and sun protection measures. One hundred and seven German university students (86.0% female) with a mean age of 26.25 years (SD ± 4.58; range: 19–46) participated in our pilot study. The internal reliability of the scale was KR-20 = 0.624. We discovered an improvable level of knowledge in terms of skin cancer among the study population. Statistical analyses revealed no significant associations between the level of knowledge and UVR exposure or tanning behavior, respectively. The skin cancer and sun protection knowledge of German university students should be examined thoroughly. While the psychometric properties of the SCSK require further thorough investigation, first empirical experiences indicate the suitability of the tool to assess the level of knowledge regarding skin cancer and sun protection.

Initial characterization of electron temperature and density profiles in PEGASUS spherical tokamak discharges driven solely by local helicity injection

Local helicity injection (LHI) is a non-solenoidal startup technique that utilizes electron current injectors at the plasma edge to initiate tokamak discharges. Viable non-solenoidal startup techniques require high central Te to combat resistive losses and enhance coupling to auxiliary methods of current drive/heating. Thomson scattering measurements of LHI discharges in Pegasus showed peaked Te profiles at Ip∼0.15 MA and Bt∼0.15 T with Te,0∼100– 150 eV. These results are similar to Te profiles observed with Ohmic induction. At lower levels of Bt, LHI Te profiles were hollow with Te,0∼40 eV and Te,max≤120 eV depending upon the helicity input. Regardless of the Bt level and helicity input, the electron pressure profiles were flat/peaked with hollow JR profiles. Equilibrium reconstructions and measurements of core absolute extreme ultraviolet radiation suggest the hollow Te profiles are a result of very low resistive heating power in the core due to the edge-localized nature of LHI and low-Z line radiation losses. Estimates of Zeff from the plasma conductivity indicate averaged values of ∼1 or ∼3 assuming neoclassical or Spitzer conductivity, respectively. When auxiliary heating power from magnetic reconnection is considered, this observed LHI performance is comparable to expectations from a linear Ohmic confinement scaling estimate and a collisional stochastic confinement scaling estimate of the core plasma region.