Characterization of the optical properties of atmospheric aerosols in Amazonia from long-term AERONET monitoring (1993-1995 and 1999-2006)

We present a new climatology of atmospheric aerosols (primarily pyrogenic and biogenic) for the Brazilian tropics on the basis of a high-quality data set of spectral aerosol optical depth and directional sky radiance measurements from Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) Cimel Sun-sky radiometers at more than 15 sites distributed across the Amazon basin and adjacent Cerrado region. This network is the only long-term project (with a record including observations from more than 11 years at some locations) ever to have provided ground-based remotely-sensed column aerosol properties for this critical region. Distinctive features of the Amazonian area aerosol are presented by partitioning the region into three aerosol regimes: southern Amazonian forest, Cerrado, and northern Amazonian forest. The monitoring sites generally include measurements from the interval 1999-2006, but some sites have measurement records that date back to the initial days of the AERONET program in 1993. Seasonal time series of aerosol optical depth (AOD), angstrom ngstrom exponent, and columnar-averaged microphysical properties of the aerosol derived from sky radiance inversion techniques (single-scattering albedo, volume size distribution, fine mode fraction of AOD, etc.) are described and contrasted for the defined regions. During the wet season, occurrences of mineral dust penetrating deep into the interior were observed.

Ramprogram solfångarutveckling och systematik. FoU 1997-1999. Slutrapport BFR projekt 19960605

Man kan förbättra energibesparingen på årsbasis för ett traditionellt svenskt kombisolvärmesystem från knappt 20 % för ett referenssystem till över 25 %. Alla de studerade systemen har 10 m2 solfångare, lika stor tank, och samma värme- och tappvarmvattenlast. Skillnaderna består endast i systemutformning. Arbetet har utförts genom mätningar i värmelaboratorium och simuleringsberäkningar. Inom området optisk design av solenergisystem har metoder utvecklats för: - analys av solinstråningens himmelsfordelning och asymmetriska årsfordelning - optimering av sollangare med reflektorer - optimering av solceller med tillsatsreflektorer Programmet PRESIM, grafisk indatabehandlare till simuleringsprogrammet TRNSYS, har vidareutvecklats i linje med användarnas önskemål, men förutsättningarna för fortsatt utveckling har försämrats. En förbättrad version, delvis finansierad av Statens energimyndighet och anpassad till TRNSYS 15.0, kommer att släppas under år 2000, men därefter kommer aktiviteten att ligga på en lägre nivå.

The panorama and outcomes of reported pregnancies within a well defined population in rural Vietnam 1999-2004

Background Pregnancy outcomes in the general population are important public health indicators. Purpose The overall aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of reported pregnancies within a well-defined population, to identify risk groups for adverse pregnancy outcomes, and to suggest preventive measures. Method A prospective population-based cohort study of pregnant women in Bavi district, Vietnam between 1 January 1999 and 30 June 2004. Results Pregnancy outcome was reported for 5,259 cases; 4,152 (79%) resulted in a live birth, 67 (1.3%) in a stillbirth, 733 (14%) in an induced abortion, and 282 (5.4%) in a spontaneous abortion. There was an increased risk of home delivery for women from ethnic minorities (OR?=?1.85; 95%CI?=?1.06–3.24) or with less than 6 years of schooling (OR?=?7.36; 95%CI?=?3.54–15.30). The risk of stillbirth was increased for ethnic minorities (OR?=?6.34; 95%CI?=?1.33–30.29) and women delivering at home (OR?=?6.81; 95%CI?=?2.40–19.30). The risk of induced abortion increased with maternal age. Conclusion Our findings emphasize the public health significance of access to adequate family planning, counselling, and maternal health care for all women. Policies should specifically target women from high-risk groups.

Changing Property Values in Maine 1999-2008

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LaGuardia Insider Newsletter, Spring 1999

- Spring 1999: LaGuardia Community College/CUNY - Editor-in-Chief, Randy Fader-Smith: Institutional Advancement, Designer, Dale Cohen, Institutional Advancement. Editorial Advisory Board: Susan Blandi: Adult and Continuing Education, Bill Kelly: Student A

December 1999: Public Services; Library Facelift; Book Sale

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October 1999: "Smoked Herring, Shotten Herring;" Technical Services

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