Spectral and Spatial UV Sky Radiance Measurements at a Seaside Resort Under Clear Sky and Slightly Overcast Conditions.

Spatial measurements of the diffusely scattered sky radiance at a seaside resort under clear sky and slightly overcast conditions have been used to calculate the sky radiance distribution across the upper hemisphere. The measurements were done in the summer season when solar UV radiation is highest. The selected wavelengths were 307, 350 and 550 nm representing the UVB, UVA and VIS band.

Thermoreception and nociception of the skin: a classic paper of Bessou and Perl and analyses of thermal sensitivity during a student laboratory exercise.

About four decades ago, Perl and collaborators were the first ones who unambiguously identified specifically nociceptive neurons in the periphery. In their classic work, they recorded action potentials from single C-fibers of a cutaneous nerve in cats while applying carefully graded stimuli to the skin (Bessou P, Perl ER. Response of cutaneous sensory units with unmyelinated fibers to noxious stimuli.

[Solar time--the importance of standard time for the UV-exposure of the skin].

Dermatologists recommend that people avoid exposure to the blazing sun around noontime. In most places in Europe there are considerable deviations between true solar time and standard time: Firstly, during summer the standard time in the European countries is set one hour ahead according to the summer time or daylight saving time. Secondly, in all countries of Western and Central Europe, except Great Britain, Ireland and Portugal, standard time uniformly is Central European Summer Time (CEST).

Monitoring of environmental UV radiation by biological dosimeters.

As a consequence of the stratospheric ozone layer depletion biological systems can be damaged due to increased UV-B radiation. The aim of biological dosimetry is to establish a quantitative basis for the risk assessment of the biosphere. DNA is the most important target molecule of biological systems having special sensitivity against short wavelength components of the environmental radiation.

Venous pressure in the saphenous vein near the ankle during changes in posture and exercise at different ambient temperatures.

The venous pressure in the saphenous vein at the ankle was measured in ten healthy subjects (5 men, 5 women) aged 19-33 years during supine posture, orthostasis and cycle ergometer exercise (50 W, 50 rpm). Measurements were made at 20, 28 and 36 degrees C at 50% relative humidity. A custom-built setup consisting of two pressure transducers and a differential amplifier was used to compensate for the hydrostatic effects, temperature influences and movement artefacts that disturbed the pressure measurements.