Wet Conditions (wet + condition)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Gelatin-based biomimetic tissue adhesive.

JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006
Potential for retinal reattachment
Abstract An adhesive that cures under moist/wet conditions could facilitate surgical procedures for retinal reattachment. We are investigating an adhesive that mimics the factor XIIIa-mediated crosslinking of fibrin that occurs in the late stages of the blood coagulation cascade. Specifically, we use gelatin as the structural protein (in place of fibrin), and crosslink gelatin using a calcium-independent microbial transglutaminase (in place of the calcium-dependent transglutaminase factor XIIIa). Injection of gelatin and microbial transglutaminase (mTG) into the vitreous cavity of Sprague Dawley white rats did not elicit structural or cellular damage to the retina as evidenced from histological evaluation 2 weeks post-injection. Qualitative in vitro studies indicate that the gelatin,mTG adhesive binds to bovine retinal tissue under wet conditions. Quantitative lap-shear tests were performed with more robust bovine tissue from the choroid and sclera. The lap-shear strength of the biomimetic gelatin,mTG adhesive was independent of tissue-type and ranged from 15 to 45 kPa, which is comparable to the values reported for other soft-tissue adhesives. These studies suggest that the mTG-crosslinked gelatin may provide a simple, safe, and effective adhesive for ophthalmic applications. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2006 [source]


Influences of climate on fire regimes in montane forests of north-western Mexico

JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 8 2008
Carl N. Skinner
Abstract Aim, To identify the influence of interannual and interdecadal climate variation on the occurrence and extent of fires in montane conifer forests of north-western Mexico. Location, This study was conducted in Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.)-dominated mixed-conifer forests in the central and northern plateau of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir, Baja California, Mexico. Methods, Fire occurrence was reconstructed for 12 dispersed sites for a 290-year period (1700,1990) from cross-dated fire-scarred samples extracted from live trees, snags and logs. Superposed epoch analysis was used to examine the relationships of tree-ring reconstructions of drought, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) with fire occurrence and extent. Results, Years with no recorded fire scars were wetter than average. In contrast, years of widespread fires were dry and associated with phase changes of the PDO, usually from positive (warm) to negative (cold). The influence of the PDO was most evident during the La Niña phase of the ENSO. Widespread fires were also associated with warm/wet conditions 5 years before the fire. We hypothesize that the 5-year lag between warm/wet conditions and widespread fires may be associated with the time necessary to build up sufficient quantity and continuity of needle litter to support widespread fires. Two periods of unusually high fire activity (1770,1800 and 1920,1950) were each followed by several decades of unusually low fire activity. The switch in each case was associated with strong phase changes in both PDO and ENSO. Main conclusions, Climate strongly influences fire regimes in the mountains of north-western Mexico. Wet/warm years are associated with little fire activity. However, these years may contribute to subsequent fire years by encouraging the production of sufficient needle litter to support more widespread fires that occur in dry/cool years. [source]


The effects of curing cycles on properties of the epoxy system 3221/RH glass fabric composites

POLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 4 2008
Hong Xuhui
In this work, the epoxy system 3221 and its glass fabric laminates were thermally cured under different curing temperatures. The curing degree of the resin was increased with elevated reaction temperature. Dynamic mechanical analysis was performed on the laminate coupons and glass transition temperature (Tg) and relative stiffness (E,) of composites were measured before and after soaked in distilled water at 70°C. A shift in glass transition temperature to higher values and the splitting of the tan , curve were observed with extent of cure under dry conditions. Tg values shifted to lower temperatures after immersion. Under wet condition, the change in Tg1 was very small when the curing degree was up to 96%. The relative stiffness experienced a reduction both in initial modulus and the initial sharp drop temperature after immersion. It also suggested that the excessively high curing temperature (>130°C) had a negative effect on the retention of relative stiffness under wet condition. Both the interlaminar shear strength and dielectric properties of laminates were determined before and after immersion. The compared results demonstrated that the elevated curing temperature played a good influence on both of the properties before aged. However, for samples cured above 130°C, lower retention of interlaminar shear strength and poor dielectric properties were observed during immersion due to their higher moisture contents. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


The fundamental and realized niche of the Monterey Pine aphid, Essigella californica (Essig) (Hemiptera: Aphididae): implications for managing softwood plantations in Australia

DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 4 2004
Trudi N. Wharton
ABSTRACT Essigella californica is a pine aphid native to western North America. In Australia, E. californica is considered an invasive pest that has the potential to cause severe economic loss to the Australian forestry industry. Two CLIMEX models were developed to predict the Australian and global distribution of E. californica under current climate conditions based upon the aphid's known North American distribution. The first model (model I) was fitted using the reasonably contiguous set of location records in North America that constituted the known range of E. californica, and excluded consideration of a single (reliable) location record of the aphid in southern Florida. The second model (model II) was fitted using all known records in North America. Model I indicated that the aphid would be climatically restricted to the temperate, Mediterranean and subtropical climatic regions of Australia. In northern Australia it would be limited by hot, wet conditions, while in more central areas of Australia it is limited by hot, dry conditions. Model II is more consistent with the current Australian distribution of E. californica. The contrast in geographical range and climatic conditions encompassed between the two models appears to represent the difference between the realized niche (model I) and fundamental niche (model II) of E. californica. The difference may represent the strength of biotic factors such as host limitation, competition and parasitism in limiting geographical spread in the native range. This paper provides a risk map for E. californica colonization in Australia and globally. E. californica is likely to remain a feature of the Australian pine plantations, and any feasibility studies into establishing coniferous plantations in lower rainfall areas should consider the likely impact of E. californica. [source]


Physicochemical evaluation of silica-glass fiber reinforced polymers for prosthodontic applications

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 3 2005
Gökçe Meriç
This investigation was designed to formulate silica-glass fiber reinforced polymeric materials. Fused silica-glass fibers were chosen for the study. They were heat-treated at various temperatures (500°C, 800°C and 1100°C), silanized, sized and incorporated in two modified resin mixtures (A and B). The flexural properties in dry and wet conditions were tested and statistically analyzed, and the content of residual methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer, dimensional changes with temperature, water sorption and solubility were determined. Woven fibers [36.9% (wt/wt)], heat-treated at 500°C, gave the highest strength values for the polymeric composites (an ultimate transverse strength of 200 Mpa and a flexural modulus of 10 GPa) compared with the fibers heat-treated at other temperatures. There was no statistically significant difference in the measured flexural properties between resins A and B regarding fiber treatment and water storage time. These fiber composites had a small quantity of residual MMA content [0.37 ± 0.007% (wt/wt)] and very low water solubility, indicating good biocompatibility. It was suggested that silica-glass fibers could be used for reinforcement as a result of their anticipated good qualities in aqueous environments, such as the oral environment. [source]


Single- and dual-porosity modelling of multiple tracer transport through soil columns: effects of initial moisture and mode of application

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2001
T. Kätterer
Summary We investigated the effect of initial moisture contents and mode of application on the displacement of multiple conservative tracers through undisturbed columns of a Humic Gleysol. Bromide was applied at the soil surface and chloride was injected at 5 cm depth. The columns were irrigated with deuterium-enriched water. A dual-porosity model and two single-porosity models were calibrated separately to Br, and Cl, elution curves in the two columns. Elution curves were almost identical for Br, and Cl, under initially wet conditions, whereas the displacement of Br, was faster than that of Cl, in the initially dry column, indicating rapid transport with preferential flow. Only the dual-porosity model described the long-tailing breakthrough of Cl, in the initially dry column adequately. The parameter values giving acceptable fits for ,Br dry' were not compatible with the description of the three other elution curves, which could be adequately modelled with a single set of parameter values. The estimated set of common parameters was validated by comparing with the elution curves of deuterium water, nitrate and sulphate, as well as with resident tracer concentrations at four depths. The results showed that solutes can be displaced much faster when applied at the surface of initially dry soil than when applied to wet soil or when resident in the soil matrix. The simulation results suggest that solute transport under initially dry conditions was governed by preferential flow of infiltration water through macropores by-passing the matrix due to shrinkage cracks and water repellence of matrix surfaces. [source]


Carbon dioxide uptake, water relations and drought survival for Dudleya saxosa, the ,rock live-forever', growing in small soil volumes

FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2007
P. S. NOBEL
Summary 1Although many plants grow in rock crevices and other regions of small soil volume, including over 20 000 epiphytic and hemi-epiphytic species, analyses of the actual soil volume occupied, the water availability in that soil, the water-storage capacity in the shoots and underground organs, and the photosynthetic pathway utilized have rarely been combined. 2Dudleya saxosa (M.F. Jones) Britton and Rose (Crassulaceae), growing in the Sonoran Desert, has very shallow roots that occupied soil volumes averaging only 43 × 10,6 m3 per medium-sized plant. This volume of soil can hold about the same amount of water (10 g) as can be stored in the leaves, corm and roots combined (11 g), but at a sufficiently high water potential for transfer to the plant for less than 1 week after a substantial rainfall. 3About 80% of the net carbon dioxide uptake by D. saxosa over a 24-h period occurred during the daytime (C3) under wet conditions, the daily total decreasing by 34% and the pattern shifting to nocturnal net CO2 uptake (CAM) after 46 days' drought. Seventy-seven days' drought eliminated its daily net CO2 uptake. 4Stomatal frequency was only 67 mm,2 on the adaxial (upper) surface and twofold lower on the abaxial surface. The cuticle was thick, 34 µm for the adaxial surface. Leaves had 24 mesophyll cell layers, leading to a high mesophyll cell surface area per unit leaf area of 142. 5The three leaf anatomical features plus utilization of CAM increased net CO2 uptake per unit of water transpired, and helped D. saxosa thrive in a small soil volume, with the underground corm being a major supplier of water to the succulent leaves during 2.5 months of drought. The maximum water-holding capacity of the soil explored by the roots closely matched the maximum water-holding capacity of the plant, reflecting the conservative strategy used by D. saxosa in a stressful semi-arid environment. [source]


In situ Mixing of Organic Matter Decreases Hydraulic Conductivity of Denitrification Walls in Sand Aquifers

GROUND WATER MONITORING & REMEDIATION, Issue 1 2008
Gregory F. Barkle
In a previous study, a denitrification wall was constructed in a sand aquifer using sawdust as the carbon substrate. Ground water bypassed around this sawdust wall due to reduced hydraulic conductivity. We investigated potential reasons for this by testing two new walls and conducting laboratory studies. The first wall was constructed by mixing aquifer material in situ without substrate addition to investigate the effects of the construction technique (mixed wall). A second, biochip wall, was constructed using coarse wood chips to determine the effect of size of the particles in the amendment on hydraulic conductivity. The aquifer hydraulic conductivity was 35.4 m/d, while in the mixed wall it was 2.8 m/d and in the biochip wall 3.4 m/d. This indicated that the mixing of the aquifer sands below the water table allowed the particles to re-sort themselves into a matrix with a significantly lower hydraulic conductivity than the process that originally formed the aquifer. The addition of a coarser substrate in the biochip wall significantly increased total porosity and decreased bulk density, but hydraulic conductivity remained low compared to the aquifer. Laboratory cores of aquifer sand mixed under dry and wet conditions mimicked the reduction in hydraulic conductivity observed in the field within the mixed wall. The addition of sawdust to the laboratory cores resulted in a significantly higher hydraulic conductivity when mixed dry compared to cores mixed wet. This reduction in the hydraulic conductivity of the sand/sawdust cores mixed under saturated conditions repeated what occurred in the field in the original sawdust wall. This indicated that laboratory investigations can be a useful tool to highlight potential reductions in field hydraulic conductivities that may occur when differing materials are mixed under field conditions. [source]


Hydrological behaviour and modelling of a volcanic tropical cultivated catchment

HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 22 2008
Jean-Baptiste Charlier
Abstract The hydrological behaviour of the cultivated Féfé catchment (17·8 ha) on the tropical volcanic island of Guadeloupe was studied to identify flow paths, to quantify water fluxes, and finally, to build a lumped model to simulate discharge and piezometer levels. The approach combined two steps, an experimental step and a modelling step, which covered two time scales, the annual and the storm event scale. The hydrological measurements were conducted over 2 years. The Féfé catchment is characterized by heavy rainfall (4229 mm year,1) on permeable Andosols; the results showed that underground flow paths involved two overlapping aquifers, and that the annual water balance in 2003 was shared among outflows of the deep aquifer (42%), evapotranspiration (31%), and streamflow (27%). On the event scale, the surface runoff coefficient ranges between 6·2% and 24·4% depending on antecedent dry or wet moisture conditions. Hortonian overland flow predominated over subsurface and saturation overland flow processes. Recharge of the shallow aquifer is mainly governed by a constant infiltration capacity of the Andosols with depth in the vadose zone. Outflows of this shallow aquifer were the baseflow of the main stream and the recharge of the deep aquifer. Volcanic deposits at Féfé promoted the underground flow path, and cultivated areas seemed to explain the high stormflow values relative to other tropical small catchments under rain forest. A conceptual lumped model integrating runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration, and fluctuations of the two overlapping aquifers was developed. The model has six parameters and was calibrated and validated on the hydrograph at the outlet and on the two piezometers of the shallow and the deep aquifers. The results show fair to good agreement between measured and simulated variables, and consequently, the model was consistent with the main hydrological processes observed from experimental results in wet conditions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Simulating daily soil water under foothills fescue grazing with the soil and water assessment tool model (Alberta, Canada)

HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 15 2004
Emmanuel Mapfumo
Abstract Grazing is common in the foothills fescue grasslands and may influence the seasonal soil-water patterns, which in turn determine range productivity. Hydrological modelling using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) is becoming widely adopted throughout North America especially for simulation of stream flow and runoff in small and large basins. Although applications of the SWAT model have been wide, little attention has been paid to the model's ability to simulate soil-water patterns in small watersheds. Thus a daily profile of soil water was simulated with SWAT using data collected from the Stavely Range Sub-station in the foothills of south-western Alberta, Canada. Three small watersheds were established using a combination of natural and artificial barriers in 1996,97. The watersheds were subjected to no grazing (control), heavy grazing (2·4 animal unit months (AUM) per hectare) or very heavy grazing (4·8 AUM ha,1). Soil-water measurements were conducted at four slope positions within each watershed (upper, middle, lower and 5 m close to the collector drain), every 2 weeks annually from 1998 to 2000 using a downhole CPN 503 neutron moisture meter. Calibration of the model was conducted using 1998 soil-water data and resulted in Nash,Sutcliffe coefficient (EF or R2) and regression coefficient of determination (r2) values of 0·77 and 0·85, respectively. Model graphical and statistical evaluation was conducted using the soil-water data collected in 1999 and 2000. During the evaluation period, soil water was simulated reasonably with an overall EF of 0·70, r2 of 0·72 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 18·01. The model had a general tendency to overpredict soil water under relatively dry soil conditions, but to underpredict soil water under wet conditions. Sensitivity analysis indicated that absolute relative sensitivity indices of input parameters in soil-water simulation were in the following order; available water capacity > bulk density > runoff curve number > fraction of field capacity (FFCB) > saturated hydraulic conductivity. Thus these data were critical inputs to ensure reasonable simulation of soil-water patterns. Overall, the model performed satisfactorily in simulating soil-water patterns in all three watersheds with a daily time-step and indicates a great potential for monitoring soil-water resources in small watersheds. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Hexagonal Surface Micropattern for Dry and Wet Friction

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 4 2009
Michael Varenberg
Hexagonal micropattern mimicking the attachment pads of bush crickets is reported to control dry and wet elastomer friction. This micropattern eliminates completely the stick,slip disturbances when in dry conditions, and prevents hydroplaning when in wet conditions, rendering the surface behavior stable and predictable. [source]


Performance of recalibration systems for GCM forecasts for southern Africa

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2006
Mxolisi E. Shongwe
Abstract Two regression-based methods that recalibrate the ECHAM4.5 general circulation model (GCM) output during austral summer have been developed for southern Africa, and their performance assessed over a 12-year retroactive period 1989/90,2000/01. A linear statistical model linking near-global sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) to regional rainfall has also been developed. The recalibration technique is model output statistics (MOS) using principal components regression (PCR) and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to statistically link archived records of the GCM to regional rainfall over much of Africa, south of the equator. The predictability of anomalously dry and wet conditions over each rainfall region during December,February (DJF) using the linear statistical model and MOS models has been quantitatively evaluated. The MOS technique outperforms the raw-GCM ensembles and the linear statistical model. Neither the PCR-MOS nor the CCA-MOS models show clear superiority over the other, probably because the two methods are closely related. The need to recalibrate GCM predictions at regional scales to improve their skill at smaller spatial scales is further demonstrated in this paper. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society. [source]


Evolution of tropical and extratropical precipitation anomalies during the 1997,1999 ENSO cycle

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 8 2001
Scott Curtis
Abstract The 1997,1999 El Niño,Southern Oscillation (ENSO) period was very powerful, but also well observed. Multiple satellite rainfall estimates combined with gauge observations allow for a quantitative analysis of precipitation anomalies in the tropics and elsewhere accompanying the 1997,1999 ENSO cycle. An examination of the evolution of the El Niño and accompanying precipitation anomalies revealed that a dry Maritime Continent (MC) preceded the formation of positive sea-surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Thirty- to sixty-day oscillations in the winter of 1996,1997 may have contributed to this lag relationship. Furthermore, westerly wind burst events may have maintained the drought over the MC. The warming of the equatorial Pacific was then followed by an increase in convection. A rapid transition from El Niño to La Niña occurred in May 1998, but as early as October,November 1997, precipitation indices captured substantial changes in Pacific rainfall anomalies. The global precipitation patterns for this event were in good agreement with the strong consistent ENSO-related precipitation signals identified in earlier studies. Differences included a shift in precipitation anomalies over Africa during the 1997,1998 El Niño and unusually wet conditions over northeast Australia during the later stages of the El Niño. Also, the typically wet region in the north tropical Pacific was mostly dry during the 1998,1999 La Niña. Reanalysis precipitation was compared with observations during this time period and substantial differences were noted. In particular, the model had a bias towards positive precipitation anomalies and the magnitudes of the anomalies in the equatorial Pacific were small compared with the observations. Also, the evolution of the precipitation field, including the drying of the MC and eastward progression of rainfall in the equatorial Pacific, was less pronounced for the model compared with the observations. Copyright © 2001 Royal Meteorological Society [source]


Effect of the structure of silane-coupling agent on dynamic mechanical properties of dental resin-nanocomposites

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008
Irini D. Sideridou
Abstract This work was aimed at the study by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of dental composites consisted of a Bis-GMA/TEGDMA (50/50 wt/wt) matrix and silica nanoparticles (Aerosil OX50) as filler, silanized with various silanes. The silanes used were 3-[(1,3(2)-dimethacryloyloxypropyl)-2 (3)-oxycarbonylamido] propyltriethoxy-silane (UDMS), 3-methacryloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (MPS), octyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS), blends of UDMS/OTMS (50/50 wt/wt), or MPS/OTMS (50/50 wt/wt). The total amount of silane was kept constant at 10% by weight fraction relative to the filler weight. The silanized nanoparticles were mixed with the dimethacrylate matrix (60% filler by weight fraction). The composites were light cured and tested by DMA for the determination of storage modulus (E,), loss modulus (E,), tangent delta (tan ,), and glass transition temperature (Tg). Measurements were performed in samples immediately after curing and samples stored in water at 37°C for 1, 7, 30, or 120 days. OTMS-composite in which OTMS does not form covalent bond with the dimethacrylate matrix showed lower elastic modulus both in dry and wet conditions. The ability of bifunctional UDMS for crosslinking was found not to increase the elastic behavior of the composite, as it was expected, compared with that of MPS-composite, because of the high amount of the silane used. After immersion in water the elastic modulus of OTMS-composite remained constant, while that of the other composites increased after 1 day and then remained constant up to 120 days. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source]


The new adhesion prophylaxis membrane A-part®,From in vitro testing to first in vivo results

JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2009
Bernd Martin Jaenigen
Abstract Introduction: Formation of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions is a severe problem in surgery. Apart from standard surgical procedures, a variety of different substances is available to prevent adhesions, but no universal method has been developed so far. A membrane consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) has been demonstrated to be antiadhesive. Here, the in vitro testing and first in vivo results in a rabbit sidewall model are reported. Materials and Methods: A-part® membrane contains a PVA/CMC mixture in a thickness of 40 ,m. The composition, dissolution, tensile strength, and elasticity were examined to characterize the membrane in vitro. Experiments in vivo were carried out using a ,rabbit sidewall model' in which a standardized peritoneal trauma was covered with a 5 × 6 cm A-part® membrane. Adhesion formation in A-part®-treated animals was compared with that in Adept® (15 mL/kg body weight) and untreated controls. Results: An 80/20 PVA/CMC mixture forms a stable, elastic, transparent membrane, which can easily be placed intraoperatively. The dissolution shows a half-life of about 2 weeks [day 15: (45.1 ± 4.9)% SD], which affords good adhesion protection during the initial critical phase of adhesion formation. In wet conditions, the membrane follows abdominal movements without tearing (tensile strength 5.0 ± 4.2 N/cm SD; elasticity 29.5%). In a rabbit sidewall model, A-part® membrane significantly reduced adhesion development by (83.1 ± 31.5)% SD compared with the control and the Adept group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The properties of the A-part® membrane suggest that it may be useful as an antiadhesive in surgery. A-part® is effective in invivo testing as determined in a rabbit sidewall model. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009 [source]


Gelatin-based biomimetic tissue adhesive.

JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006
Potential for retinal reattachment
Abstract An adhesive that cures under moist/wet conditions could facilitate surgical procedures for retinal reattachment. We are investigating an adhesive that mimics the factor XIIIa-mediated crosslinking of fibrin that occurs in the late stages of the blood coagulation cascade. Specifically, we use gelatin as the structural protein (in place of fibrin), and crosslink gelatin using a calcium-independent microbial transglutaminase (in place of the calcium-dependent transglutaminase factor XIIIa). Injection of gelatin and microbial transglutaminase (mTG) into the vitreous cavity of Sprague Dawley white rats did not elicit structural or cellular damage to the retina as evidenced from histological evaluation 2 weeks post-injection. Qualitative in vitro studies indicate that the gelatin,mTG adhesive binds to bovine retinal tissue under wet conditions. Quantitative lap-shear tests were performed with more robust bovine tissue from the choroid and sclera. The lap-shear strength of the biomimetic gelatin,mTG adhesive was independent of tissue-type and ranged from 15 to 45 kPa, which is comparable to the values reported for other soft-tissue adhesives. These studies suggest that the mTG-crosslinked gelatin may provide a simple, safe, and effective adhesive for ophthalmic applications. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2006 [source]


Rescue robots for mudslides: A descriptive study of the 2005 La Conchita mudslide response

JOURNAL OF FIELD ROBOTICS (FORMERLY JOURNAL OF ROBOTIC SYSTEMS), Issue 1-2 2008
Robin R. Murphy
The Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue (CRASAR) assisted the Ventura County Fire Rescue Department with the January 2005 La Conchita, California, mudslide response. CRASAR provided commercially available urban search and rescue robots and expert operators which were deployed twice into damaged structures. The waterproof robots were able to tolerate wet conditions but proved unable to handle the densely packed rubble, vegetation, and soil and failed within two and four minutes, respectively on their two deployments. Informal interviews were conducted with responders as well. The experience forms a descriptive study of what mudslide responses are like, what tasks robots are needed for, how the rescue robots performed, and how responders viewed the robots. Our observations are captured in fourteen findings on robot performance (3), domain characteristics of mudslides (8), and general rescue robot design issues (3). These findings are expected to be of interest to robot designers, software developers, and the human-robot interaction communities. The experience at La Conchita illustrates that terrain understanding, critical for both robot design and for control, remains an important open research question for rescue robotics. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Experimental Investigation of Eclogite Rheology and Its Fabrics at High Temperature and Pressure

JOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
J. ZHANG
Abstract Eclogite plays an important role in mantle convection and geodynamics in subduction zones. An improved understanding of processes in the deeper levels of subduction zones and collision belts requires information on eclogite rheology. However, the deformation processes and associated fabrics in eclogite are not well understood. Incompatible views of deformation mechanism have been proposed for both garnet and omphacite. We present here deformation behaviour of eclogite at temperatures of 1027,1427 °C, confining pressures of 2.5,3.5 GPa, and strain rates of 1 × 10,5 s,1 to 5 × 10,4 s,1. We obtained a power-law creep for the high temperature and pressure deformation of a ,dry' eclogite (50 vol.% garnet, 40% omphacite and 10% quartz) with A = 103.3 ± 1.0, n = 3.5 ± 0.4, ,E =403 ± 30 KJ mol,1 and ,V = 27.2 cm3 mol,1. The two principal minerals of eclogite have greatly different strengths. Progressive increase of garnet results in a smooth increase in strength. Analysis by electron back-scattered diffraction shows that: (1) garnet displays pole figures with near random distributions of misorientation angle under both dry and wet conditions; (2) omphacite shows pronounced lattice preferred orientations (LPOs), suggesting a dominant dislocation creep mechanism. Further investigation into the water effects on eclogite show: (3) water content does not influence the style of omphacite fabric but increases slightly the fabric strength; (4) grain boundary processes dominate the deformation of garnet under high water fugacity or high shear-strain conditions, yielding a random LPO similar to that of non-deforming garnet, despite the strong shape preferred orientation (SPO) observed. {110} [001] slip may dominate the deformation of rutile. Quartz displays complicated and inconsistent LPOs in eclogite. These results are remarkably similar to observations from deformed eclogites in nature. [source]


Atomic force microscopy study of living diatoms in ambient conditions

JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, Issue 3 2003
I. C. Gebeshuber
Summary We present the first in vivo study of diatoms using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Three chain-forming, benthic freshwater species ,Eunotia sudetica, Navicula seminulum and a yet unidentified species , are directly imaged while growing on glass slides. Using the AFM, we imaged the topography of the diatom frustules at the nanometre range scale and we determined the thickness of the organic case enveloping the siliceous skeleton of the cell (10 nm). Imaging proved to be stable for several hours, thereby offering the possibility to study long-term dynamic changes, such as biomineralization or cell movement, as they occur. We also focused on the natural adhesives produced by these unicellular organisms to adhere to other cells or the substratum. Most man-made adhesives fail in wet conditions, owing to chemical modification of the adhesive or its substrate. Diatoms produce adhesives that are extremely strong and robust both in fresh- and in seawater environments. Our phase-imaging and force-pulling experiments reveal the characteristics of these natural adhesives that might be of use in designing man-made analogues that function in wet environments. Engineering stable underwater adhesives currently poses a major technical challenge. [source]


Infection of Blackcurrant Leaves by Drepanopeziza ribis in Relation to Weather Conditions and Leaf Position

JOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Xiang Ming Xu
Abstract Drepanopeziza ribis causes the leaf spot disease of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) and may lead to severe premature leaf-fall. Artificial inoculation studies were carried out to investigate infection of leaves by D. ribis conidia in relation to environmental conditions and leaf position (age) on cvs. Baldwin and Ben Hope in April and July 2007. All leaves on a number of selected extension shoots on potted three-year old plants were inoculated with conidia and then incubated under different conditions: 10, 17.5 and 25°C each with five wet periods (4, 8, 12, 24 and 30 h). Number of infected leaves was determined. The two cultivars differed significantly in their susceptibility to conidial infection: cv. Baldwin was much more susceptible than cv. Ben Hope. Older leaves on extension shoots were more susceptible to conidial infection than younger leaves. Increasing length of wetness duration led to increasing incidence of leaves infected, particularly when inoculated in July. However, the effects of temperature were inconclusive and generally very small in comparison with other factors. Field epidemics were monitored over three years (2005,07). Field data confirmed the main findings from controlled inoculation studies: severe disease was associated with very wet conditions and older leaves. Furthermore, they also suggested that significant disease increase only occurred from late July onwards. [source]


An efficient process for synthesizing and hydrolyzing a phosphonated methacrylate: Investigation of the adhesive and anticorrosive properties

JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 14 2008
Zhor El Asri
Abstract A new phosphonated methacrylate, namely dimethyl(methacryloyloxy)methyl phosphonate (MAPC1), has been synthesized using paraformaldehyde and potassium carbonate according to the Pudovik reaction. The quantitative synthesis of MAPC1 was followed by selective hydrolysis of the ester group with sodium bromide to replace NaI (imparting non-negligible ecological impact). Pure MAPC1(OH) was obtained in high yield and efficiently copolymerized with MMA. The r1 for MAPC1(OH)) and r2 (for MMA) values are 0.99 and 1.02, respectively, which indicates that the monophosphonic groups are statistically linked to the methacrylate backbone. When blended with PVDF, MMA/MAPC1(OH) copolymers show very good adhesion promoters in both dry and wet conditions and subsequently provide good anticorrosive properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4794,4803, 2008 [source]


A multicentury perspective on the summer North Atlantic Oscillation (SNAO) and drought in the eastern Atlantic Region,

JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, Issue 5 2009
Hans W. Linderholm
Abstract The summer North Atlantic Oscillation (SNAO) is strongly associated with July,August climate variability over Europe, especially in northern regions. This association includes drought, where a positive SNAO corresponds to dry conditions over much of northern Europe and wet conditions in southern Europe, but the SNAO/climate association is weaker and less homogeneous in the south. Here we use a dendroclimatological reconstruction of the SNAO for the last 550 a to investigate the SNAO/drought relationship in the past. An association between the SNAO and a regional summer drought index from Sweden suggests that the northern European drought relationship holds back to 1700. In the last 550 a, the relationship between SNAO and drought in the Mediterranean region as a whole is weak, but over the Eastern Mediterranean the relationship is clearer and statistically significant (P,<,0.05 level). The Mediterranean relationship is clearest at century scales. An association between the SNAO and Sahel rainfall can clearly be seen on interannual as well as longer timescales in the 20th century. Past droughts in the Sahel, as inferred from historical data, correspond quite well with positive phases of the SNAO on multidecadal timescales back to 1500, the phase expected from instrumental data. The physical reasons for the relationship between Sahel rainfall and the SNAO are, however, not yet understood. This research is a first step towards understanding how the atmospheric circulation over the North Atlantic region affects drought, necessary for forecast future droughts. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and © Crown Copyright 2009. [source]


Evidence for regionally wet conditions before the LGM in southeast Australia: OSL ages from a large palaeochannel in the Lachlan Valley,

JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007
Justine Kemp
Abstract Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques have been used to obtain the first ages on Late Pleistocene channels in the Lachlan Valley, southeastern Australia. Two OSL ages from channel sand and overlying source-bordering dune sand indicate that large sinuous channels, with bankfull discharges six to eight times greater than the present river, were fully established by 34,ka BP. This conclusion is consistent with regional lake level and geomorphic evidence of cool, pluvial conditions that preceded the last glacial maximum (LGM), providing new information on a long-standing palaeohydrological problem caused by the apparent synchroneity of large river systems and regional aridity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Chronology of latest Pleistocene lake-level fluctuations in the pluvial Lake Chewaucan basin, Oregon, USA

JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, Issue 6 2001
Joseph M. Licciardi
Abstract New accelerator mass spectrometer radiocarbon ages from gastropods in shore deposits within the pluvial Lake Chewaucan basin, combined with stratigraphical and geomorphological evidence, identify an abrupt rise and fall of lake level at ca. 12 14C ka. The lake-level high is coeval with lake-level lows in the well-dated records of palaeolakes Bonneville and Lahontan, and with a period of relatively wet conditions in the more southerly Owens Lake basin. This spatial pattern of pluvial lake levels in the western USA at 12 14C ka indicates a variable synoptic response to climate forcing at this time. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Development of Electrospun Three-arm Star Poly(, -caprolactone) Meshes for Tissue Engineering Applications

MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE, Issue 8 2010
Dario Puppi
Abstract We have developed three-dimensional electrospun microfibrous meshes of a novel star branched three-arm poly(, -caprolactone) (*PCL) as potential scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. The processing conditions required to obtain uniform fibers were optimized by studying their influence on fiber morphology and size. Polymer molecular weight and solution feed rate influenced both the mesh microstructure and the tensile properties of the developed mats. Electrospun samples were also tested for their mechanical properties in wet conditions, showing higher yield strength and strain in comparison to that observed in dry conditions. Cell culture experiments employing MC3T3-E1 osteoblast like cells showed good cell viability adhesion and collagen production on the *PCL scaffolds. [source]


Ice-wedge pseudomorphs and frost-cracking structures in Weichselian sediments, central-west Poland

PERMAFROST AND PERIGLACIAL PROCESSES, Issue 4 2009
Marek Ewertowski
Abstract Wedge-shaped structures are described from three sites in the central Wielkopolska region (central-west Poland) in two main positions: (1) within fluvioglacial deposits below the Weichselian subglacial till and (2) within recessional deposits above this subglacial till. The wedges are interpreted as ice-wedge pseudomorphs (Rensko site), relict frost cracks (Tomice site) and thermokarst-affected ice-wedge pseudomorphs (Annowo-Kiszkowo area). The pseudomorphs suggest that thermal-contraction cracking occurred in the region in front of the advancing Weichselian ice sheet, as well as following its recession. Frost structures, which are interpreted as having degraded slowly, were much more affected by thermokarst processes (Annowo-Kiszkowo area) than those in the Rensko and Tomice sites which probably thawed rapidly, due to an insulating and warming effect of the overlying ice masses. The development of ice wedges was influenced by wet conditions in former depressions between ice-cored ridges or by large amounts of meltwater in the proglacial environment. These periglacial features support previous hypotheses that climatic conditions in the Wielkopolska region after the last ice-sheet recession changed gradually from glacial to periglacial. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Interclonal differences, plasticity and trade-offs of life history traits of Cyperus esculentus in relation to water availability

PLANT SPECIES BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2001
BO LI
Abstract Cyperus esculentus is an exotic clonal (or pseudoannual) weed in Japan, and its range is steadily increasing. To investigate its interclonal variation and phenotypic plasticity in response to water availability, five clones of C. esculentus, collected from different sites in Japan, were grown singly in pots placed outdoors under dry and wet conditions. All the traits examined showed considerable variation among the five clones. However, two clones from Tochigi were similar to each other; thus, they might have originated from the same founder population. The clone from Ibaraki was quite different from the others. Therefore, it is suggested that the Japanese populations of C. esculentus might have resulted from multiple introductions of genotypes from geographically separated and, hence, genetically differentiated, source populations. All the clones also showed considerable plasticity in response to water availability. Clones with a larger ramet number had a greater plasticity, whereas tuber size was invariant across water treatments. Highly plastic traits had generally low interclonal variation in plasticity. All the clones had high productivity and produced more ramets and tubers under wet conditions than under dry conditions. Moreover, water availability could partially regulate the mode of its reproduction; wet conditions favored tuber production (vegetative propagation) while dry conditions favored sexual reproduction. A number of trade-offs occurred between the traits of clonal growth, storage and sexual reproduction, indicating that allocation among the competing functions/organs is mutually exclusive in plants. The results obtained here suggest that C. esculentus is more likely to invade wet habitats than dry habitats. [source]


Tribological properties of hydrophilic polymer brushes under wet conditions

THE CHEMICAL RECORD, Issue 4 2010
Motoyasu Kobayashi
Abstract This article demonstrates a water-lubrication system using high-density hydrophilic polymer brushes consisting of 2,3-dehydroxypropyl methacrylate (DHMA), vinyl alcohol, oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate, 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium chloride (MTAC), 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt (SPMK), and 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) prepared by surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization. Macroscopic frictional properties of brush surfaces were characterized by sliding a glass ball probe in water using a ball-on-plate type tribotester under the load of 0.1,0.49,N at the sliding velocity of 10,5,10,1,m,s,1 at 298,K. A poly(DHMA) brush showed a relatively larger friction coefficient in water, whereas the polyelectrolyte brushes, such as poly(SPMK) and poly(MPC), revealed significantly low friction coefficients below 0.02 in water and in humid air conditions. A drastic reduction in the friction coefficient of polyelectrolyte brushes in aqueous solution was observed at around 10,3,10,2,m,s,1 owing to the hydrodynamic lubrication effect, however, an increase in salt concentration in the aqueous solution led to the increase in the friction coefficients of poly(MTAC) and poly(SPMK) brushes. The poly(SPMK) brush showed a stable and low friction coefficient in water even after sliding over 450 friction cycles, indicating a good wear resistance of the brush film. © 2010 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 10: 208,216; 2010: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.201000001 [source]


Effect of spatial architecture on cellular colonization

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 1 2006
Yan Huang
Abstract The spatial cell-material interaction remains vital issue in forming biodegradable scaffolds in Tissue Engineering. In this study, to understand the influence of spatial architecture on cellular behavior, 2D and 3D chitosan scaffolds of 50,190 kD and >310 kD MW were synthesized through air drying and controlled rate freezing/lypohilization technique, respectively. In addition, chitosan was emulsified with 19, 76, and 160 kD 50:50 poly lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) using 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (DMPC) as stabilizer. 2D and 3D scaffolds were formed by air drying and lyophilization as before. Tensile and compressive properties of films and scaffolds were analyzed in wet conditions at 37°C. Alterations in the cell spreading, proliferation, and cytoskeletal organization of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were studied. These results showed that the formed 3D chitosan scaffolds had interconnected open pore architecture (50,200 µm size). HUVECs and MEFs had reduced spreading areas and circular morphology on 2D chitosan membranes compared with 3D chitosan scaffolds. The fluorescence photomicrographs for actin (using Alexa Fluor 488 phalloidin) and cytoplasm staining (using carboxyfluorescein diacetate-succinimidyl ester) demonstrated that the cells spread within 3D chitosan matrix. 2D and 3D emulsified chitosan and chitosan/PLGA scaffolds reduced the spreading of HUVECs and MEFs even further. Proliferation results, analyzed via MTT-Formazan assay and BrdU uptake assay, correlated with the spreading characteristics. The reductions in cell spreading area on emulsified surfaces were not detrimental to the viability and endocytic activity but to proliferation. The observed alterations in cellular colonization are in part due to the substrate stiffness and surface topography. In summary, these results suggest a significant influence of spatial architecture on cellular colonization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]