Summer Sunshine Research Articles

A steady heat transfer model of hollow double glazing under entire wave length heat radiation

This paper presents a mathematical model of heat transfer between inside room surfaces and the outside environmental surface through hollow double glazing. It includes convective heat transfer on the inside and outside surfaces of hollow double glazing, the conduction heat transfer between the two glass sheets, and the radiation heat transfer (solar and long-wave radiation) through the sheets. Based on the total heat transferred through hollow double glazing, effective transmittance is identified as an important parameter for indicating the effect of the transparence radiation of hollow double glazing. The model evaluated the effects of three different combinations of hollow double glazing on the overall heat flux, the effective transmittance and the solar heat gain coefficient. The heat flux increment due to the long-wave transparence radiation of glass cannot be ignored in the overall heat flux. When a single low-E film is positioned on the outer surface of the indoor-side sheet of glass, it contributes to efficient heat preservation in winter. When positioned on the inner surface of the sheet on the outdoor side, the low-E film is more effective for heat insulation and the shading of sunshine in summer.

A 520 year record of summer sunshine for the eastern European Alps based on stable carbon isotopes in larch tree rings

A 520-year stable carbon isotope chronology from tree ring cellulose in high altitude larch trees (Larix decidua Mill.), from the eastern European Alps, correlates more strongly with summer temperature than with summer sunshine hours. However, when instrumental records of temperature and sunshine diverge after AD1980, the tree ring time series does not follow warming summer temperatures but more closely tracks summer sunshine trends. When the tree ring stable carbon isotope record is used to reconstruct summer temperature the reconstruction is not robust. Reconstructed temperatures prior to the twentieth century are higher than regional instrumental records, and the evolution of temperature conflicts with other regional temperature reconstructions. It is concluded that sunshine is the dominant control on carbon isotope fractionation in these trees, via the influence of photosynthetic rate on the internal partial pressure of CO2, and that high summer (July–August) sunshine hours is a suitable target for climate reconstruction. We thus present the first reconstruction of summer sunshine for the eastern Alps and compare it with the regional temperature evolution.

Bunting and sunflowers

Summer sunshine and more time outdoors provides great opportunities for developing number, shape and measuring skills. Lynne Garner offers seasonal ideas that help make mathematics more interactive.

The likelihood of sunburn in sunscreen users is disproportionate to the SPF

Sunburn is a common feature in sunscreen users. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the expected frequency and magnitude of sunburn resulting from typical use of sunscreens labelled SPF15 and SPF30 by people spending long periods outdoors in strong summer sunshine. By combining the probability distribution of the measured sun protection factor (SPF) in vivo with those for the average application thickness and the uniformity of application over the skin surface, a simulation model was developed to estimate the variation in delivered protection over the exposed skin surface from consumer use of sunscreens. While either sunscreen, if delivering the nominal SPF over the entire exposed skin, would be sufficient to prevent any erythema, the simulation indicates that the combination of the average quantity applied with the variability in thickness over the skin surface will lead to erythema, especially in SPF15 sunscreen users. People who intend spending long periods outside in strong sunshine would be better advised to use SPF30 labelled sunscreens than SPF15 sunscreens, and to apply the product carefully over exposed skin if they wish to minimize their risk of sunburn and, by implication, skin cancer.

Long-term summer sunshine/moisture stress reconstruction from tree-ring widths from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract. We present the first summer sunshine reconstruction from tree-ring data for the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. Summer sunshine is tightly connected with moisture stress in trees, because the moisture stress and therefore the width of annual tree-rings is under the influence of the direct and interactive effects of sunshine duration (temperature, precipitation, cloud cover and evapotranspiration). The reconstruction is based on a calibrated z-scored mean chronology, calculated from tree-ring width measurements from 7 representative black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). A combined regression and scaling approach was used for the reconstruction of the summer sunshine. We found a significant negative correlation (r = −0.54, p < 0.0001) with mean June–July sunshine hours from Osijek meteorological station (Croatia). The developed model was used for reconstruction of summer sunshine for the time period 1660–2010. We identified extreme summer events and compared them to available documentary historical sources of drought, volcanic eruptions and other reconstructions from the broader region. All extreme summers with low sunshine hours (1712, 1810, 1815, 1843, 1899 and 1966) are connected with volcanic eruptions.

Stable carbon isotopes from Torneträsk, northern Sweden provide a millennial length reconstruction of summer sunshine and its relationship to Arctic circulation

This paper presents results from the first 1100 years of a long stable carbon isotope chronology currently in development from Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees growing in the Torneträsk region of northern Sweden. The isotope record currently comprises a total of 74 trees with a mean annual replication of >12, thereby enabling it to be compared directly with other tree-ring based palæoclimate reconstructions from this region. In developing the reconstruction, several key topics in isotope dendroclimatology (chronology construction, replication, CO2 adjustment and age trends) were addressed.The resulting carbon isotope series is calibrated against instrumental data from the closest meteorological station at Abisko (AD1913–2008) to provide a record of June–August sunshine for northern Fennoscandia. This parameter is closely linked to the direct control of assimilation rate; Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) and the indirect measures; mean July–August temperature and percent cloud cover. The coupled response of summer sunshine and temperature in this region permits a multi-parameter comparison with a local reconstruction of past temperature variability based upon tree growth proxies to explore the stability of this coupling through time.Several periods are identified where the temperature (X-ray density) and sunshine (stable carbon isotope ratio) records diverge. The most significant and sustained of these occur between c AD1200–1380 and c AD1550–1780, providing evidence for a cool, sunny, two-phase “Little Ice Age”. Whilst summer sunshine reconstructed for the 20th century is significantly different from the mean of the last 1100 years (P < 0.01), conditions during the early mediæval period are similar to those experienced in northern Fennoscandia during the 20th century (P > 0.01), so it is the 17th–18th, and to a lesser extent, the 13th centuries rather than the early mediæval period that appear anomalous when viewed within the context of the last 1100 years. The observed departures between temperature and sunshine are interpreted as indicating a change in large-scale circulation associated with a southward migration of the Polar Front. Such a change, affecting the Northern Annular Mode (Arctic Oscillation) would result in more stable anticyclonic conditions (cool, bright, summers) over northern Fennoscandia, thus providing a testable mechanism for the development of a multi-phase, time-transgressive “Little Ice Age” across Europe.

Numerical Simulation of Heat Flow in a Vehicle Cabin

The heat flow distribution in a simplified 3-D vehicle cabin is predicted when parking in the summer sunshine by using the CFD analysis software. The nature convection and radiation heat transfer from environment to cabin are considered in this simulation. The distribution of transient temperature and velocity at the central and horizontal plane are analyzed respectively. It is shown that the temperature increases by time and there is little temperature difference in the cabin. The highest value is located at the front and both sides cabin after two minutes. The air is essentially stagnant with low velocity and the central compartment has much lower velocity than other regions.

The punch bag

![Figure][1] Dear Uncle Mole, I hope this finds you well and enjoying the summer sunshine out of the mole-hole or mouse-house or wherever your research is taking you these days! I myself have been virtually buried with in silico work recently, but that is the exciting part about having

Effect of Corm Size and Varieties on Corm/Cormels Production and Vase Life of Gladiolus

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of corm size and varieties on corm/cormels production and vase life of gladiolus ( Gladious grandiflorus L.) under Chitwan condition. A Field experiment was conducted in a farmer’s field at Gunjanagar VDC, Chanauli, Chitawan during November 2008 to April 2009. The experiment consisted of 12 treatment combinations laid out in two factorial Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Four sizes of corms viz. 2-3 cm, 3-4 cm, 4-5 cm and 5-6 cm and three varieties viz. American Beauty, Interpret and Yellow Summer Sunshine formed 12 treatment combinations. Laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the effect of corm size and varieties on the vase life of harvested cut spikes of gladiolus at ambient temperature at the central laboratory of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences (IAAS), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. Corm size and varieties significantly affected corm/cormels production and vase life of gladiolus. Large sized corms (5-6 cm) performed better with respect to number of daughter corms and cormels per plant. Similarly, large sized corms (5-6 cm) showed better performance with respect to postharvest behavior such as total number of florets opened/spike (11.40), days to first and 100% floret withering as compared to small sized (2-3 cm) corms. Significant variation among three varieties was observed in most of the characters. Numbers of daughter corms were found highest in Yellow Summer Sunshine while maximum numbers of cormels/plant were found in Interpret. Similarly, Interpret proved best having more number of florets opened per spike and more days needed to first and 100% floret withering.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v12i0.6477 Nepal Journal of Science and Technology 12 (2011) 35-40

When conflicted becomes corrupted

![Figure][1] Dear Uncle Mole, I hope this found you enjoying the summer sunshine instead of the vagaries of fog, hail, torrential downpours and the occasional tornado warning that seemed to blight spring in my corner of the world. It was so overcast with so much drizzling that I think I

Analysis on the Change of Sunshine Duration in Kashgar, Xinjiang in Recent 39 Years

In this paper,the change of sunshine duration and its affecting factors are analyzed based on the data of sunshine duration and occurring days of blowing dust,floating dust and sandstorm in Kashgar,Xinjiang during the period 1970-2008. The results show that the sunshine duration was increased notably in recent 39 years. There were the significant seasonal and annual variations of sunshine duration. The sunshine duration was changed insignificantly in the 1970s,sharply decreased in the 1980s,slightly decreased in the 1990s,but sharply increased during the period of 2000-2008. There was a 28-year periodic change of sunshine duration in Kashgar,and also a 25-year one in recent 39 years. An abrupt change of sunshine duration occurred in 1997. The significant increase of annual,spring and summer sunshine durations was mainly caused by the obvious reduction of floating dust,however sandstorm and blowing dust were not the main factors affecting the sunshine duration in Kashgar.

UVR Emissions from Solaria in Australia and Implications for the Regulation Process

To assist in the development of the 2008 Australian/New Zealand standard on solaria and related regulations, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency scientists visited a number of tanning establishments during 2008 to measure the intensity and spectral distribution of the ultraviolet radiation (UVR) emissions from a range of solaria. The 2002 Australian/New Zealand Standard "Solaria for cosmetic purposes" (AS/NZS 2635) allowed a maximum UVR output from solaria of UV Index 60, a compromise between the solarium industry who wanted no upper limit and the health agencies who wanted to limit intensity. Of the 20 solaria examined in detail, only one had emissions of intensity less than UV Index 12, typical of mid-latitude summer sunlight, 15 units emitted more than UV Index 20, while three units emitted at intensities above UV Index 36, the maximum allowed by the new standard, AS/NZS 2635 (2008) and would thus not comply. UVA emissions ranged from 98W·m(-2) up to a maximum of 438W·m(-2) , more than six times the UVA content of mid-latitude summer sunshine. The results indicate that solaria users in Australia have access to solaria that are high intensity units with both significantly higher UVB and UVA emissions than sunlight, with implications for resultant adverse health effects.

Venice Film Festival 2009: Survival of the Fittest

It is obviously the case that watching films at a film festival is not the same experience as watching films in the normal context of a cinema trip or a home viewing. Festivals, although ostensibly a celebration of film, more often turn themselves into a test to destruction of the cinematic art, like cars in factories driven by machines over thousands of miles of simulated bad road surfaces or washing machines running cycle after cycle, not to see if they break but when they break. Ultimately, everything breaks. With the 66 th Mostra dell’Arte Cinematografica, to give the Venice film festival its official title, the festival goer does not only have to contend with the slab-like weariness of the sheer number of films to be viewed, but with the added distraction of a nearby beach and beautiful late summer sunshine. Films are applauded here, celebrated and lauded, but some are also booed unmercifully. Contributing to this reaction, I submit, is anger at the two hours of Italian sun stolen from the viewer. Films must earn their right to exist. The test to destruction, though, is a test of resilience. What survives when nothing else survives? What dies last? The cinematic equivalent of this question is resolutely explored in the resurgent apocalyptic genre. A latest addition to this thread was the first major film of the Festival, John Hillcoat’s The Road, an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s dark end-of-days novel. Eschewing the survivalist fantasies of the recent Will Smith vehicle I Am Legend (2007)(okay, his family is dead, but he gets to tool around New York in a yellow sports car and play golf off the deck of an air craft carrier), Hillcoat’s film is faithful to the novel’s bleak view of a post-something America. The exact nature of the

Genetic Variability in Gladiolus for Growth and Flowering Characters (Gladiolus hybridus Hort.)

Gladiolus Sylvia x Melody exhibited early corm-sprouting (6.82 days). The hybrid Melody x Summer Sunshine (84.63 cm), followed by American Beauty x Pricella (84.12 cm) were tall. Maximum stem girth was observed in American Beauty x Summer Sunshine (35.31 mm), followed by Vedanapoli x Magic (33.71mm) and American Beauty x Melody (33.47 mm). Number of leaves per plant was higher in Melody x Magic (9.62), followed by Salvia x Magic (9.49) and Melody x Vedanapoli (9.42). The length was maximum (67.32 cm) in Melody x Summer Sunshine followed by Summer Sunshine x Pricella (67.57 cm), American Beauty x Vedanapoli (67.00 cm) and Vedanapoli x Pricella (66.06 cm). The hybrid Salvia x Melody was earliest to initiate flower bud (60.58 days) and first floret opening (69.04 days). The total duration of flowering was maximum in Vedanapoli x Magic.

Serum 25(OH)D3 vitamin status of elderly Finnish women is suboptimal even after summer sunshine but is not associated with bone density or turnover

Concentrations of 50 and 75 nmol/l are proposed as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) target for older people from the view of bone health. We evaluated vitamin D status of elderly Finnish women in light of these definitions, its relationship to bone mineral density (BMD) and turnover, and improvement by summer sunshine. Population-based study. A total of 1604 ambulatory women aged 62-79 years were studied; 66% used vitamin D supplements. Serum 25(OH)D(3) was measured with HPLC before and after summer, and heel BMD in spring. In subgroups, serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and type I procollagen aminoterminal propeptide (PINP) were analyzed. In spring, 60.3% of the women had 25(OH)D(3) <or=50 nmol/l, and the target of 75 nmol/l was reached by 9.1%. For supplement users, the respective numbers were 52.1 and 11.9%. Serum 25(OH)D(3) did not determine BMD or bone turnover measured by serum PINP. Summer sunshine increased serum 25(OH)D(3) by 17.4% (P<0.0001), but in autumn 84% of the subjects remained under the target of 75 nmol/l. In supplement users, PTH remained stable but decreased in others during summer (P=0.025). Vitamin D status of elderly Finnish women is suboptimal if 25(OH)D(3) levels of 50 or 75 nmol/l are used as a threshold. It is moderately increased by supplement intake and summer sunshine. However, 25(OH)D(3) concentrations did not influence bone density in terms of serum PINP and bone turnover rate.

Estimation of the dietary requirement for vitamin D in free-living adults ≥64 y of age

BackgroundOlder adults may be more prone to developing vitamin D deficiency than younger adults. Dietary requirements for vitamin D in older adults are based on limited evidence. Objective:The objective was to establish the dietary intake of vitamin D required to maintain serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations above various cutoffs between 25 and 80 nmol/L during wintertime, which accounted for the effect of summer sunshine exposure and diet. Design:A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 22-wk intervention was conducted in men and women aged ≥64 y (n = 225) at supplemental levels of 0, 5, 10, and 15 μg vitamin D3/d from October 2007 to March 2008. Results:Clear dose-related increments (P < 0.0001) in serum 25(OH)D were observed with increasing supplemental vitamin D3 intakes. The slope of the relation between total vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D was 1.97 nmol · L−1 · μg intake−1. The vitamin D intake that maintained serum 25(OH)D concentrations >25 nmol/L in 97.5% of the sample was 8.6 μg/d. Intakes were 7.9 and 11.4 μg/d in those who reported a minimum of 15 min daily summer sunshine exposure or less, respectively. The intakes required to maintain serum 25(OH)D concentrations of >37.5, >50, and >80 nmol/L in 97.5% of the sample were 17.2, 24.7, and 38.7 μg/d, respectively. Conclusion:To ensure that the vitamin D requirement is met by the vast majority (>97.5%) of adults aged ≥64 y during winter, between 7.9 and 42.8 μg vitamin D/d is required, depending on summer sun exposure and the threshold of adequacy of 25(OH)D. This trial was registered at http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN20236112 as ISRCTN registration no. ISRCTN20236112.

Estimation of the dietary requirement for vitamin D in healthy adults

Background:Knowledge gaps have contributed to considerable variation among international dietary recommendations for vitamin D. Objective:We aimed to establish the distribution of dietary vitamin D required to maintain serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations above several proposed cutoffs (ie, 25, 37.5, 50, and 80 nmol/L) during wintertime after adjustment for the effect of summer sunshine exposure and diet. Design:A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind 22-wk intervention study was conducted in men and women aged 20–40 y (n = 238) by using different supplemental doses (0, 5, 10, and 15 μg/d) of vitamin D3 throughout the winter. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured by using enzyme-linked immunoassay at baseline (October 2006) and endpoint (March 2007). Results:There were clear dose-related increments (P < 0.0001) in serum 25(OH)D with increasing supplemental vitamin D3. The slope of the relation between vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D was 1.96 nmol·L−1·μg−1 intake. The vitamin D intake that maintained serum 25(OH)D concentrations of >25 nmol/L in 97.5% of the sample was 8.7 μg/d. This intake ranged from 7.2 μg/d in those who enjoyed sunshine exposure, 8.8 μg/d in those who sometimes had sun exposure, and 12.3 μg/d in those who avoided sunshine. Vitamin D intakes required to maintain serum 25(OH)D concentrations of >37.5, >50, and >80 nmol/L in 97.5% of the sample were 19.9, 28.0, and 41.1 μg/d, respectively. Conclusion:The range of vitamin D intakes required to ensure maintenance of wintertime vitamin D status [as defined by incremental cutoffs of serum 25(OH)D] in the vast majority (>97.5%) of 20–40-y-old adults, considering a variety of sun exposure preferences, is between 7.2 and 41.1 μg/d.

Relationships between dissolved organic carbon concentrations, weather, and acidification in small Boreal Shield lakes

We used multiple linear regression analyses to explore empirical relationships between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, weather, and acidification in long-term data sets from 12 small Boreal Shield lakes in Ontario, Canada. In two lakes in which pH changes have been very large (4.5 to ~6.0), pH explained most of the temporal variation in DOC concentrations. In the remaining lakes, long-term average previous temperature (on the scale of a decade or more) was usually the best explanatory variable for DOC concentrations. Lake-specific multiple regression models constructed from long-term and short-term attributes of weather (long-term average previous temperature and precipitation, winter–spring precipitation, summer precipitation, summer sunshine) and pH explained between 41% and 96% of the temporal variation in DOC concentrations during the entire monitoring period for these lakes (n = 16–26 years). Multiple regression models considering only the period common to all lakes, 1987 to 2003 (n = 16–17 years), explained 35%–96% of the variation in DOC concentrations. The importance of long-term and short-term attributes of weather in explaining temporal variations in DOC concentrations suggests that changes in climate will have large effects on lake clarity; however, the interactions between weather-related effects may be very complex.

Symposium on ‘Nutrition and health in children and adolescents’ Session 1: Nutrition in growth and development Nutrition and bone growth and development

The growth and development of the human skeleton requires an adequate supply of many different nutritional factors. Classical nutrient deficiencies are associated with stunting (e.g. energy, protein, Zn), rickets (e.g. vitamin D) and other bone abnormalities (e.g. Cu, Zn, vitamin C). In recent years there has been interest in the role nutrition may play in bone growth at intakes above those required to prevent classical deficiencies, particularly in relation to optimising peak bone mass and minimising osteoporosis risk. There is evidence to suggest that peak bone mass and later fracture risk are influenced by the pattern of growth in childhood and by nutritional exposures in utero, in infancy and during childhood and adolescence. Of the individual nutrients, particular attention has been paid to Ca, vitamin D, protein and P. There has also been interest in several food groups, particularly dairy products, fruit and vegetables and foods contributing to acid–base balance. However, it is not possible at the present time to define dietary reference values using bone health as a criterion, and the question of what type of diet constitutes the best support for optimal bone growth and development remains open. Prudent recommendations (Department of Health, 1998; World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization, 2003) are the same as those for adults, i.e. to consume a Ca intake close to the reference nutrient intake, optimise vitamin D status through adequate summer sunshine exposure (and diet supplementation where appropriate), be physically active, have a body weight in the healthy range, restrict salt intake and consume plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Nutrition and bone growth and development.

The growth and development of the human skeleton requires an adequate supply of many different nutritional factors. Classical nutrient deficiencies are associated with stunting (e.g. energy, protein, Zn), rickets (e.g. vitamin D) and other bone abnormalities (e.g. Cu, Zn, vitamin C). In recent years there has been interest in the role nutrition may play in bone growth at intakes above those required to prevent classical deficiencies, particularly in relation to optimising peak bone mass and minimising osteoporosis risk. There is evidence to suggest that peak bone mass and later fracture risk are influenced by the pattern of growth in childhood and by nutritional exposures in utero, in infancy and during childhood and adolescence. Of the individual nutrients, particular attention has been paid to Ca, vitamin D, protein and P. There has also been interest in several food groups, particularly dairy products, fruit and vegetables and foods contributing to acid-base balance. However, it is not possible at the present time to define dietary reference values using bone health as a criterion, and the question of what type of diet constitutes the best support for optimal bone growth and development remains open. Prudent recommendations (Department of Health, 1998; World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization, 2003) are the same as those for adults, i.e. to consume a Ca intake close to the reference nutrient intake, optimise vitamin D status through adequate summer sunshine exposure (and diet supplementation where appropriate), be physically active, have a body weight in the healthy range, restrict salt intake and consume plenty of fruit and vegetables.