Sustainability Assessment of Alternatives for Heat Generation and Transfer in Saunas

In the search for renewable energy sources, solar energy appears, among others, as a powerful alternative;mainly for those countries located at Earth’s equatorial region. This is the case of a Fresnel device that uses solar radiation to warm-up the air;for instance, within saunas. Authors coined the term sustainable technological innovation to refer to a technological innovation in accordance to the principles of sustainability. The object of this research was comparing the sustainability of a Fresnel Lens Solar Concentration (FLSC) against the sustainability of other twelve alternatives to generate heat. This article assesses the sustainability of fourteen technological options for heat generation and transfer to saunas in the northwest region of Mexico where temperatures often reach above 45 C and where there is a greater potential for exploiting solar energy. Emergy accounting, economic analysis, and global warming potential are the three indicators considered in quantifying sustainability. Results show that infrared ceramic photovoltaic, infrared carbon photovoltaic and infrared metal photovoltaic are the most sustainable systems. The Fresnel device reached the fourth and tenth position, using electricity from photovoltaic and from grid respectively, among all fourteen assessed devices, respectively. Although Fresnel equipment does not release any global warming gases into the atmosphere, or even it demands low amount of non-renewable resources, 1.40 and 4.47 E17 seJF/yr. it requires high economic investment, 20,800 and 79,600 USD/yr, for the implementation and operation phases, which decrease its sustainability performance compared to twelve other evaluated devices.

Effects of dry and mist saunas on circulatory and thermoregulatory functions in humans

To test the hypothesis that mist sauna is a safer way of bathing than dry sauna, we compared changes in circulatory and thermoregulatory functions during 10 min sauna bathing in mist sauna at 40℃ with relative humidity of 100%, and in dry sauna by infrared ray at 70℃ with relative humidity of 15%. Subjects were seven healthy young men aged 29 ± 6 yrs (mean ± SD). We measured blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperatures at chest, forearm, thigh, and leg, tympanic temperature (Tty) by thermistors, skin blood flow at forearm by laser Doppler flowmetry, and sweat rate by ventilated capsule method at 1 min intervals throughout the experiment. Total sweating and change of hematocrit were also measured for dehydration analysis. Blood pressure was elevated more and changes in heart rate and total sweating were larger in dry sauna than mist. A significant hematocrit increase was observed in dry sauna bathing only. Mean skin temperature and Tty in dry sauna were elevated higher than those in mist. Heat stress of the dry sauna may be stronger than that of the mist, leading to dehydration and hypovolemia by sweating. Percent plasma volume loss was significantly larger in the dry than mist sauna. Changes in skin blood flow and sweat rate/Tty during mist sauna were significantly larger than those during dry sauna bathing despite heat stress of the mist sauna. The mist sauna bathing may thus be safer physiologically, and provide more effective vascular dilatation and sweating than the dry sauna bathing.

SAUNA系统惰性气体氙监测数据的统计规律研究

在对CTBT放射性核素台站SAUNA系统有效监测数据进行分析的基础上,利用统计学方法对分析结果进行了初步研究,结果表明:4种惰性气体氙同位素133Xe1、31mXe1、33mXe和135Xe的最小可探测浓度和活度浓度均呈高斯分布,且133Xe活度浓度的高斯分布存在不同程度的右拖尾并呈指数衰减。

Sauna Technique, Drying Kinetic Modeling and Effectiveness on Solar Drying Compared with Direct Drying in Drying Process of <i>Kappaphycus striatum</i>in Selakan Island Malaysia

A sauna drying technique—the solar drier was designed and imposed, constructed and tested for drying of seaweed. The seaweed moisture content was decreased around 50% in 2-day sauna. Kinetic curves of drying of seaweed were known to be used in this system. The non-linear regression procedure was used to fit three different drying models. The models were compared with experimental data of red seaweed being dried on the daily average of air temperature about 40℃. The fit quality of the models was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R2), Mean Bias Error (MBE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The highest values of R2 (0.99027), the lowest MBE (0.00044) and RMSE (0.03039) indicated that the Page model was the best mathematical model to describe the drying behavior of sauna dried seaweed. The percentage of the saved time using this technique was calculated at 57.9% on the average solar radiation of about 500 W/m2 and air flow rate of 0.056 kg/s.

Effects of Mild Hyperthermia Treatment Using Nano-Mist Sauna on Blood Gas Parameters and Skin Appearance

Physicians often observe patients’ complexion (their natural skin color) as an indicator of health. The complexion may depend on the internal environment, however, very few researchers studied its evidence. We previously reported various benefits of a mild hyperthermia treatment on human health using the nano-mist sauna (NMS), including acceleration of gas exchange (O2 and CO2) in the venous blood, enhancement of immunity, and the modulation of autonomic nervous system. However, the effects of NMS on skin appearance are unknown. There is a historical and widespread belief that mild hyperthermic treatments such as hot springs are good for improving skin appearance. However, the effect of NMS on the skin appearance has not been examined. In the present study, we examined the color of venous blood using the CIELAB (a color space specified by the French Commission internationale de l’éclairage) method, and then compared the color changes before and after NMS stimulation. Next, we examined correlations of blood gas parameters with color elements of the venous blood, which are highly dependent on oxygen. Our results suggest that the colors and appearance of the face depend on the internal environment, because there are numerous vessels under the skin. Thus, the color of the venous blood may provide medical evidence of changes in complexion. This new method may be useful for assessment of medical complexion by physicians, for use in determining internal health based on skin color information.

Spatial-temporal Differentiation of Sauna Days with Different Intensities in China from 1961 to 2017

Sauna weather with high temperature, high humidity and long standby time has become one of the main meteorological hazards faced by urban residents. Based on the daily maximum temperature and relative humidity datasets of 545 meteorological observation stations in China from 1961 to 2017, the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of sauna days with different intensities in China were studied from three aspects: climatic state, trend and fluctuation characteristics, using the standard of sauna days defined by the Central Meteorological Observatory of China Meteorological Administration. The results showed that: firstly, the spatial pattern of sauna days with different intensities in China was high in southeast China and low in northwest China from 1961 to 2017, and the spatial pattern of sauna days with the same intensity in different research periods had little difference, which was in good agreement with the spatial pattern of sauna days with corresponding intensities in the whole research period. With the increase of intensity, the sauna days in China decreases gradually. Secondly, the trend of sauna days with different intensities in China was bounded by Hu Huanyong Line from 1961 to 2017, showing a pattern of increasing or decreasing mosaic in the southeast China and mainly decreasing trend, while the spatial differentiation pattern in the northwest China changed little. The trend of sauna days with different intensities in China increased significantly in 1991-2017 compared with 1961-1990. Thirdly, the fluctuation of sauna days with different intensities in China was bounded by Hu Huanyong Line, showing a spatial pattern of large fluctuations in the southeast China and small fluctuations in the northwest China. And the fluctuation of sauna days and heavy sauna days showed obvious threeblock distribution characteristics. The fluctuation characteristics of sauna days with different intensities in China from 1961 to 1990 and 1991 to 2017 were in good agreement with the whole research period. The fluctuation difference before and after 1990 mainly concentrated in the vicinity of Hu Huanyong Line and its southeast area, and the fluctuation differences increased mainly, indicating that the variation of sauna days with different intensities in the southeast China increased from 1991 to 2017.

Sauna Physiotherapeutic Cosmetological Apparatus

The Shibao Brand Sauna Physiotherapeutic Cosmetological Apparatus is designed and produced with a high magnetic material on the basis of the sauna theory. It uses the vapour produced by the strong magnetic field which is immediately transformed into a magnetized vapour. Through this steam bath, the trichopore of the body is

Physiological benefits of ambient far infrared energy within the 4-24 micron range

Far infrared(FIR)radiation(3-100µm)is an electromagnetic spectrum commonly studied for biological effects.This article aims to discuss using Far infrared radiation with sub-division(4-24µm)of this waveband to stimulate tissues and cells and is considered an effective therapeutic modality for specific medical disorders.The IR application as a medical therapy has advanced rapidly in recent years.For example,IR therapy like IR-emitting apparel and materials that can be run solely by body heat(does not need an external power supply)have been developed.New methods for providing FIR radiation to the human body have emerged due to technological advancements.Specialty saunas and lamps that emit pure FIR radiation have become effective,safe,and widely used therapeutic sources.Fibers infused with thermide,FIR emitting ceramic nanomaterials and knitted into fabrics are used as clothes and apparel to produce FIR radiation and benefit from its effects.A deeper understanding of FIR's significant innovations and biological implications could aid in improving therapeutic efficacy or developing new methods that use FIR wavelengths.

Cut Down on the Sauna Habit

选注者言:桑拿浴(即蒸汽浴),其英语表达sauna的音译。国人现在对此已经不陌生了。今年冬季欧洲遇到了罕见的寒流袭击,气温骤降,喜欢桑拿浴的芬兰人因电价飞涨,而遇上了麻烦。本文写得文采斐然,3个仅注“本义”的单词,就足以玩味一番。