The aim of this paper is to evaluate the feasibility of obtaining alumina from boehmite using a free, clean, and unlimited power source as the solar energy. Boehmite was obtained by hydrothermal treatment of a hazardous waste coming from aluminum slag milling. The waste is considered as a hazardous substance because of it releasing toxic gases (hydrogen, ammonia, methane, and hydrogen sulfide) ...

Mounting experimental and epidemiologic evidence supports the hypothesis that vitamin D reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Some evidence suggests that prostate cancer risk may be influenced by sun exposure early in life. We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study to examine associations of prostate cancer risk with early-life and...

growing tendency for urbanization and rapid development of the cities has resulted in urban neighborhoods obstructing the access of each other to the natural sources e.g. solar energy, natural ventilation. sunlight as the main part of input energy in urban energy balance equation and natural lighting is of vital importance. this paper attempts to achieve an optimum morphology for residential bl...

We report the first empirical data describing the interactive effects of simultaneous changes in irradiance and convection on energy expenditure by live mammals. Whole-animal rates of solar heat gain and convective heat loss were measured for representatives of two ground squirrel species, Spermophilus lateralis and Spermophilus saturatus, that contrast in coloration. Radiative heat gain was qu...

Background: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is divided into three regions: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Both the quality and quantity of solar UV radiation vary with various factors including the elevation of the sun above the horizon, as well as absorption and scattering of UV photons by molecules in the atmosphere, notably ozone and clouds. It is clear that whereas a moderate amount of UV exposure ...

A total of 90 bacterial strains were isolated from the sea surface microlayer (i.e., bacterioneuston) and underlying waters (i.e., bacterioplankton) from two sites of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. The strains were identified by sequence analysis, and growth recovery was investigated after exposure to simulated solar radiation. Bacterioneuston and bacterioplankton isolates were subjected t...

Exposure of the retina of the rhesus monkey to visible and infrared radiation from CW optical sources like the Sun, xenon lamps, etc. produces small lesions or scotomata which may be classified as thermal or photochemical, depending on the wavelength and duration of exposure. The action spectrum for the production of retinal lesions has been determined for eight monochromatic laser wavelengths ...

Over the past century more than 100 indices have been developed and used to assess bioclimatic conditions for human beings. The majority of these indices are used sporadically or for specific purposes. Some are based on generalized results of measurements (wind chill, cooling power, wet bulb temperature) and some on the empirically observed reactions of the human body to thermal stress (physiol...

Exposure to solar UVA (320-400 nm) radiation can damage DNA and lead to skin disorders. Conventional dosimetry using a single piece of polysulfone or diglycol carbonate (CR-39) cannot provide accurate measurement of the biologically effective irradiance for erythema for the UVA waveband. A package employing four dosimeters (polysulfone, nalidixic acid, 8-methoxypsoralen and phenothiazine) has b...

[1] We present direct radiometric observations of aerosol radiative forcing during the ACE-Asia experiment (March and April of 2001). The observational analysis is based on radiometer data obtained from the NOAA ship Ronald H. Brown, and shipboard measurements of the aerosol chemical and scattering properties are used to construct a model of the aerosol optical properties for use in radiative t...