This paper evaluates variations in solar activity and their impact on the human nervous system, including the manner in which human behavior and decision-making reflect such effects in the context of (symmetrical) social interactions. The relevant research showed that solar activity, manifesting itself through the exposure of the Earth to charged particles from the Sun, affects heart variability. The evaluation methods focused on examining the relationships between selected psychophysiological data and solar activity, which generally causes major alterations in the low-level electromagnetic field. The investigation within this paper revealed that low-level EMF changes are among the factors affecting heart rate variability and, thus, also variations at the spectral level of the rate, in the VLF, (f = 0.01-0.04 Hz), LF (f = 0.04-0.15 Hz), and HF (f = 0.15 až 0.40 Hz) bands. The results of the presented experiments can also be interpreted as an indirect explanation of sudden deaths and heart failures.

• MeSH
• elektrokardiografie * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• sluneční aktivita MeSH
• srdce MeSH
• srdeční frekvence MeSH
• srdeční selhání * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Monitoring of exposures of aircrew members of airline operators registered in the Czech Republic has been performed since 1998. The individual effective doses are calculated using the computer code CARI annually. The calculations are based on information about participation of aircrew members on the specific flights and on the parameters describing the typical flight profiles of the flights; the latter is regularly verified with control measurements performed onboard aircraft. The results show that (1) the average annual effective doses in the period from 1998 to 2017 range from 1.3 to 2.1 mSv, (2) the maximum effective dose of a crew member is 5.7 mSv and (3) the annual collective effective doses range from 1.3 to 4.1 manSv. Combined relative uncertainty of the results is ~25%.

• MeSH
• dávka záření MeSH
• kalibrace MeSH
• kosmické záření * MeSH
• letadla MeSH
• letecké a kosmické lékařství metody   MeSH
• letectví * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování radiace metody   normy   MeSH
• pracovní expozice analýza   MeSH
• radiační ochrana metody   MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• sluneční aktivita MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Long-term measurements using silicon radiation spectrometer Liulin on board commercial aircraft have been performed since 2001; results were put into a new database, which covers more than 4500 flights with more than 130 000 measurements. Methodology and tools were developed to normalize the data with respect to latitude and altitude and thus enable comparison with other radiation detectors and with model calculations. This capability is demonstrated using data from the neutron monitor at Lomnický štít. Instead of providing data files for individual measurement period, two software solutions are delivered. First is a web-based user interface for visualizing and downloading arbitrary time window of interest from the database hosted at http://cr10.odz.ujf.cas.cz. The second is a set of interactive Python notebooks available at GitHub. Those implement the calibration, normalization and visualization methods-so the outputs can be tailored to user needs. The software and data are provided under GNU/CC license.

• MeSH
• databáze faktografické MeSH
• dávka záření MeSH
• internet MeSH
• kalibrace MeSH
• kosmické záření * MeSH
• křemík chemie   MeSH
• letadla * MeSH
• letecké a kosmické lékařství MeSH
• letectví MeSH
• monitorování radiace statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• nadmořská výška * MeSH
• neutrony * MeSH
• radiační expozice MeSH
• sluneční aktivita MeSH
• software MeSH
• zeměpis MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

We investigate the impact of solar activity changes on mortality from cardiovascular causes of death in the period 1994-2011 in the Czech Republic. This period coincides with the time of solar cycle no. 23 and the surrounding minima when there was an unusually low level of solar activity. We use long-period daily time series of numbers of deaths by cause, solar activity indices (the relative sunspot number, and the intensity of solar radio flux), geomagnetic indices (Kp-the planetary index that indicates the fluctuation rate of horizontal components of the geomagnetic field, the Auroral Electrojet, and the disturbance storm time), and physical parameters describing the ionospheric effects (the critical frequency of the ionospheric F2 layer and the content of free electrons in the ionosphere). The results of the analysis confirm the hypothesis that there is no direct correlation between the geomagnetic solar index, Kp, and the number of deaths from acute myocardial infarction (code I21) or brain stroke (code I64) during the maxima of the solar cycle. On the other hand, the ionospheric parameters explain a greater part of the variability in the number of deaths for acute myocardial infarction or brain stroke than the model with solar parameters. The analysis shows that, because the values are geographically specific, the ionospheric parameters may describe the variability in the number of deaths from cardiovascular causes better than the solar indices. The cardiovascular diseases thus respond to the changes in the solar activity and to abnormal solar events indirectly through a concentration of electrical charges in the earth's environment.

• MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda diagnóza   mortalita   MeSH
• ekosystém * MeSH
• elektromagnetická pole MeSH
• infarkt myokardu diagnóza   mortalita   MeSH
• kardiovaskulární nemoci diagnóza   mortalita   MeSH
• kosmické záření MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lineární modely MeSH
• příčina smrti MeSH
• prognóza MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• shluková analýza MeSH
• sluneční aktivita * MeSH
• sluneční energie MeSH
• stochastické procesy MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH

Recently, many efforts have appeared to routinely measure radiation exposure (RE) of aircraft crew due to cosmic rays (CR). On the other hand real-time CR data measured with the ground based neutron monitors (NMs) are collected worldwide and available online. This is an opportunity for comparison of long-term observations of RE at altitudes of about 10km, where composition and energy spectra of secondary particles differ from those on the ground, with the data from NMs. Our contribution presents examples of such type of comparison. Analysis of the silicon spectrometer Liulin measurements aboard aircraft is presented over the period May-September 2005 and compared with data from a single NM at middle latitude. While extreme solar driven events observed by NMs have clearly shown an impact on dosimetric characteristics as measured on the airplanes, the transient short time effects in CR of smaller amplitude have been not studied extensively in relation to RE. For the period May-September 2005, when aircraft data become available and several Forbush decreases (FDs) are observed on the ground, a small improvement in the correlation between the dose measured and multiple linear regression fit based on two key parameters (altitude and geomagnetic cut-off rigidity), is obtained, if the CR intensity at a single NM is added into the scheme.

• MeSH
• dávka záření MeSH
• kosmické záření * MeSH
• letadla MeSH
• letectví * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování radiace * MeSH
• nadmořská výška MeSH
• neutrony * MeSH
• pracovní expozice * MeSH
• radiační expozice * MeSH
• sluneční aktivita MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

On the Earth, protection from cosmic radiation is provided by the magnetosphere and the atmosphere, but the radiation exposure increases with increasing altitude. Aircrew and especially space crew members are therefore exposed to an increased level of ionising radiation. Dosimetry onboard aircraft and spacecraft is however complicated by the presence of neutrons and high linear energy transfer particles. Film and thermoluminescent dosimeters, routinely used for ground-based personnel, do not reliably cover the range of particle types and energies found in cosmic radiation. Further, the radiation field onboard aircraft and spacecraft is not constant; its intensity and composition change mainly with altitude, geomagnetic position and solar activity (marginally also with the aircraft/spacecraft type, number of people aboard, amount of fuel etc.). The European Union Council directive 96/29/Euroatom of 1996 specifies that aircrews that could receive dose of >1 mSv y(-1) must be evaluated. The dose evaluation is routinely performed by computer programs, e.g. CARI-6, EPCARD, SIEVERT, PCAire, JISCARD and AVIDOS. Such calculations should however be carefully verified and validated. Measurements of the radiation field in aircraft are thus of a great importance. A promising option is the long-term deployment of active detectors, e.g. silicon spectrometer Liulin, TEPC Hawk and pixel detector Timepix. Outside the Earth's protective atmosphere and magnetosphere, the environment is much harsher than at aviation altitudes. In addition to the exposure to high energetic ionising cosmic radiation, there are microgravity, lack of atmosphere, psychological and psychosocial components etc. The milieu is therefore very unfriendly for any living organism. In case of solar flares, exposures of spacecraft crews may even be lethal. In this paper, long-term measurements of the radiation environment onboard Czech aircraft performed with the Liulin since 2001, as well as measurements and simulations of dose rates on and outside the International Space Station were presented. The measured and simulated results are discussed in the context of health impact.

• MeSH
• atmosféra MeSH
• dávka záření * MeSH
• fantomy radiodiagnostické MeSH
• kosmická loď MeSH
• kosmické záření * MeSH
• kosmický let * MeSH
• letadla MeSH
• letecké a kosmické lékařství * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lineární přenos energie MeSH
• neutrony MeSH
• pracovní expozice * MeSH
• radiační expozice * MeSH
• radiometrie přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• sluneční aktivita MeSH
• software MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Aircrew members and passengers are exposed to increased rates of cosmic radiation on-board commercial jet aircraft. The annual effective doses of crew members often exceed limits for public, thus it is recommended to monitor them. In general, the doses are estimated via various computer codes and in some countries also verified by measurements. This paper describes a comparison of three cosmic rays detectors, namely of the (a) HAWK Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter; (b) Liulin semiconductor energy deposit spectrometer and (c) TIMEPIX silicon semiconductor pixel detector, exposed to radiation fields on-board commercial Czech Airlines company jet aircraft. Measurements were performed during passenger flights from Prague to Madrid, Oslo, Tbilisi, Yekaterinburg and Almaty, and back in July and August 2011. For all flights, energy deposit spectra and absorbed doses are presented. Measured absorbed dose and dose equivalent are compared with the EPCARD code calculations. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of all detectors are discussed.

• MeSH
• absorpce radiace MeSH
• design vybavení MeSH
• kosmické záření * MeSH
• letadla přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování radiace přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• polovodiče MeSH
• pracovní expozice analýza   normy   MeSH
• radiační expozice MeSH
• sluneční aktivita MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH

The annual effective doses of aircrew members often exceed the limit of 1 mSv for the public due to the increased level of cosmic radiation at the flight altitudes, and thus, it is recommended to monitor them. Aircrew dosimetry is usually performed using special computer programs mostly based on results of Monte Carlo simulations. Contemporary, detectors are used mostly for validation of these computer codes, verification of effective dose calculations and for research purposes. One of such detectors is active silicon semiconductor deposited energy spectrometer Liulin. Output quantities of measurement with the Liulin detector are the absorbed dose in silicon D and the ambient dose equivalent H*(10); to determine it, two calibrations are necessary. The purpose of this work was to develop a calibration methodology that can be used to convert signal from the detector to D independently on calibration performed at Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator facility in Chiba, Japan.

• MeSH
• absorpce radiace MeSH
• design vybavení MeSH
• kalibrace MeSH
• kosmické záření * MeSH
• křemík MeSH
• letadla přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• metoda Monte Carlo MeSH
• monitorování radiace přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• nadmořská výška MeSH
• neutrony MeSH
• polovodiče MeSH
• pracovní expozice analýza   normy   MeSH
• radiační expozice MeSH
• radionuklidy MeSH
• sluneční aktivita MeSH
• těžké ionty MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Ionizing radiation is recognized to be one of the main health concerns for humans in the space radiation environment. Estimation of space radiation effects on health requires the accurate knowledge of the accumulated absorbed dose, which depends on the global space radiation distribution, solar cycle and local shielding generated by the 3D mass distribution of the space vehicle. This paper presents an overview of the spectrometer-dosimeters of the Liulin type, which were developed in the late 1980s and have been in use since then. Two major measurement systems have been developed by our team. The first one is based on one silicon detector and is known as a Liulin-type deposited energy spectrometer (DES) (Dachev et al., 2002, 2003), while the second one is a dosimetric telescope (DT) with two or three silicon detectors. The Liulin-type instruments were calibrated using a number of radioactive sources and particle accelerators. The main results of the calibrations are presented in the paper. In the last section of the paper some of the most significant scientific results obtained in space and on aircraft, balloon and rocket flights since 1989 are presented.

• MeSH
• dávka záření * MeSH
• ionizující záření MeSH
• kosmická loď MeSH
• kosmické záření * MeSH
• kosmický let MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mimozemské prostředí MeSH
• monitorování radiace přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• radiometrie přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• sluneční aktivita MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

To estimate the radiation risk of astronauts during space missions, it is necessary to measure dose characteristics in various compartments of the spacecraft; this knowledge can be further used for estimating the health hazard in planned missions. This contribution presents results obtained during several missions on board the International Space Station (ISS) during 2005-09. A combination of thermoluminescent and plastic nuclear track detectors was used to measure the absorbed dose and dose equivalent. These passive detectors have several advantages, especially small dimensions, which enabled their placement at various locations in different compartments inside the ISS or inside the phantom. Variation of dosimetric quantities with the phase of the solar cycle and the position inside the ISS is discussed.

• MeSH
• dávka záření MeSH
• fantomy radiodiagnostické MeSH
• kosmická loď MeSH
• kosmické záření MeSH
• kosmický let metody   MeSH
• kosmonauti MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování radiace přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• neutrony MeSH
• protony MeSH
• radiační ochrana metody   MeSH
• radiometrie metody   MeSH
• riziko MeSH
• sluneční aktivita MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH