Search results for "Humidity"
showing 10 items of 291 documents
Contenimento naturale di Bactrocera oleae (Rossi): clima o parassitoidi? Confronto tra Western Cape (Sud Africa) e Sicilia
2017
Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), mosca delle olive, è presente anche in Sud Africa, ma finora non si sono avute notizie di infestazioni economicamente rilevanti negli oliveti. L’accertata presenza di un maggior numero di braconidi parassitoidi della mosca delle olive rispetto alle aree mediterranee è stata ed è considerata da molti autori la principale causa di queste minori infestazioni, senza che però siano stati eseguiti in Sud Africa adeguati studi sulle infestazioni da B. oleae e sui fattori cli- matici delle aree interessate. Analizzando recenti dati sui livelli d’infestazione di B. oleae registrati su olivo coltivato e selvatico nel Western Cape e in Sicilia, appaiono simili in una norm…
A thermal inertia model for soil water content retrieval using thermal and multispectral images
2010
Soil moisture is difficult to quantify because of its high spatial variability. Consequently, great efforts have been undertaken by the research community to develop practical remote sensing approaches to estimate the spatial distribution of surface soil moisture over large areas and with high spatial detail. Many methodologies have been developed using remote sensing data acquiring information in different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Conventional field measurement techniques (including gravimetric and time-domain reflectometry) are point-based, involve on-site operators, are time expensive and, in any case, do not provide exhaustive information on the spatial distribution of soi…
Reprocessing of polyethyleneterephthalate and characterisation of monopolymer blends of virgin and recycled polymers
1997
Recycling of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET from bottles is considered by changing both reprocessing machines and the effect of humidity. The rheological and mechanical properties of this recycled material remain very close to that of the virgin material provided that a careful drying is carried out before any melt operation. The reprocessing has been carried out mainly in view of the use of this secondary material in blends with virgin PET-monopolymer or homopolymer blends. Indeed, this use is a common industrial practice to reuse plastic scraps. Most monopolymer blends show properties between those of the two components but in some cases lower than those expected on the basis of an additi…
Adaptable data models for scalable Ambient Intelligence scenarios
2011
In most real-life scenarios for Ambient Intelligence, the need arises for scalable simulations that provide reliable sensory data to be used in the preliminary design and test phases. This works present an approach to modeling data generated by a hybrid simulator for wireless sensor networks, where virtual nodes coexist with real ones. We apply our method to real data available from a public repository and show that we can compute reliable models for the quantities measured at a given reference site, and that such models are portable to different environments, so as to obtain a complete, scalable and reliable testing environment.
Short-Term Sensory Data Prediction in Ambient Intelligence Scenarios
2014
Predicting data is a crucial ability for resource-constrained devices like the nodes of a Wireless Sensor Network. In the context of Ambient Intelligence scenarios, in particular, short-term sensory data prediction becomes a key enabler for more difficult tasks such as prolonging network lifetime, reducing the amount of communication required and improving user-environment interaction. In this chapter we propose a software module designed for clustered wireless sensor networks, able to predict various environmental quantities, namely temperature, humidity and light. The software module is supported by an ontology that describes the topology of the AmI scenario and the effects of the actuato…
Responses of methane oxidation to temperature and water content in cover soil of a boreal landfill
2007
Abstract Methane oxidation in a cover soil of a landfill located in a boreal climate was studied at temperatures ranging from 1–19 °C and with water content of 7–34% of dry weight (dw), corresponding to 17–81% of water-holding capacity (WHC) in order to better understand the factors regulating CH 4 oxidation at low temperatures. CH 4 consumption was detected at all the temperatures studied (1–19 °C) and an increase in CH 4 consumption rate in consecutive incubations was obtained even at 1 °C, indicating activation or increase in enzymes and/or microorganisms responsible for CH 4 oxidation. CH 4 consumption was reduced with low water content (17%WHC) at all temperatures. The response of CH 4…
Effects of temperature and desiccation on ex situ conservation of nongreen fern spores
2012
Premise of the study Fern spores are unicellular and haploid, making them a potential model system to study factors that regulate lifespan and mechanisms of aging. Aging rates of nongreen spores were measured to compare longevity characteristics among diverse fern species and test for orthodox response to storage temperature and moisture. Methods Aging of spores from 10 fern species was quantified by changes in germination and growth parameters. Storage temperature ranged from ambient room to -196°C (liquid nitrogen); spores were dried to ambient relative humidity (RH) or using silica gel. Key results Survival of spores varied under ambient storage conditions, with one species dying within …
Water properties in fern spores: sorption characteristics relating to water affinity, glassy states, and storage stability.
2007
Ex situ conservation of ferns may be accomplished by maintaining the viability of stored spores for many years. Storage conditions that maximize spore longevity can be inferred from an understanding of the behaviour of water within fern spores. Water sorption properties were measured in spores of five homosporeous species of ferns and compared with properties of pollen, seeds, and fern leaf tissue. Isotherms were constructed at 5, 25, and 45 degrees C and analysed using different physicochemical models in order to quantify chemical affinity and heat (enthalpy) of sorption of water in fern spores. Fern spores hydrate slowly but dry rapidly at ambient relative humidity. Low Brunauer-Emmet-Tel…
Dehydration and crystallization of trehalose and sucrose glasses containing carbonmonoxy-myoglobin
1999
We report a study wherein we contemporarily measured 1) the dehydration process of trehalose or sucrose glasses embedding carbonmonoxy-myoglobin (MbCO) and 2) the evolution of the A substates in saccharide-coated MbCO. Our results indicate that microcrystallization processes, sizeably different in the two saccharides, take place during dehydration; moreover, the microcrystalline structure is maintained unless the dry samples are equilibrated with a humidity >/=75% (>/=60%) at 25 degrees C for the trehalose (sucrose) sample. The evolution of the parameters that characterize the A substates of MbCO indicates that 1) the effects of water withdrawal are analogous in samples dried in the presenc…
A Comparative Study of Soil Suction Measurement Using Two Different High-Range Psychrometers
2007
An extensive experimental study was performed to compare the measurement capabilities within different ranges of two total suction measurement equipment: SMI transistor psychrometers and a chilled-mirror dew-point psychrometer (WP4 Dewpoint PotentiaMeter). The equipment were used in a systematic way to determine the relative humidity of the environment surrounding different compacted clayey soils along drying paths and covering a wide total suction range (0.1 to 70 MPa). The equipment description and the calibration protocols followed are presented, as well as suggestions regarding the improvement of their performance. The water retention curves of two different compacted clayey soils are p…