Search results for "oils"
showing 10 items of 631 documents
Simple soil water balance model (R function)
2022
This R function models the soil water balance (SWB) for two soil layers based on relatively simple assumptions. It is a simple method to calculate actual evapotranspiration, downward water flux (leaching), and upward water flux (or capillary rise) from two soil layers and the net flux between the two soil layers. The necessary input data comprises the change in soil water storage between two time steps per soil layer (e.g. from repeated volumetric soil water content measurements), potential evapotranspiration, precipitation, and the percentage of roots in the top soil layer. The soil water balance model is described in detail in Leimer et al. (2014). It is based on a soil water balance mode…
Characterization of gas flow through low-permeability claystone: laboratory experiments and two-phase flow analyses
2014
For the characterization of gas migration through a low-permeability clay host rock for deep underground repositories, a comprehensive understanding of the relevant phenomena of gas and fluid flow through low-permeability clay is required. The National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra) in Switzerland has developed a comprehensive programme to characterize gas flow in low-permeability Opalinus Clay through laboratory tests and detailed numerical analyses for developing appropriate constitutive models. Laboratory tests were performed on cores by two different laboratories, the Laboratory for Soil Mechanics at EPFL and the Department of Geotechnical Engineering and Geos…
Domain formation in monolayers
1995
For phospholipids at the air/water interface we demonstrate that molecular chirality in some, but not in all, cases influences the domain shapes. In other cases chirality in the head group region can cause a chiral structure considering the tail arrangement. This indicates head group ordering. Minute changes of the molecular structure may change domain morphology from circular to dendritic. This can be related to slight changes of the lattice structure. In case of a dendritic domain the chains are more tilted, the deviation from hexagonal symmetry is more pronounced, and hence the lattice anisotropy is larger. This can be understood also in view of recent simulations considering diffusion-l…
The CdCl2 effects on synthetic DNAs encaged in the nanodomains of a cationic water-in-oil microemulsion
2011
The present work is dedicated to the study of the interactions of CdCl(2) with the synthetic polynucleotides polyAT and polyGC confined in the nanoscopic aqueous compartment of the water-in-oil microemulsion CTAB/pentanol/hexane/water, with the goal to mimic in vitro the situation met by the nucleic acids in vivo. In biological structures, in fact, very long strings of nucleic acids are segregated into very small compartments having a radius exceedingly smaller than the length of the encapsulated macromolecule. For comparison, the behaviour of polyGC was also studied in aqueous solutions of matched composition. The conformational and thermal stabilities of both polynucleotides enclosed in t…
La resistenza di interfaccia calcestruzzo poroso-terreni a grana fina per il consolidamento di pendii mediante trincee drenanti profonde
2022
Le trincee drenanti profonde rappresentano uno dei metodi più efficaci per la mitigazione del rischio da frana, in pendii con falda idrica. Esse sono realizzate mediante pannelli o pali secanti. Il riempimento è costituito di calcestruzzo poroso o materiale granulare. Se le trincee sono adeguatamente “innestate” nel terreno stabile e il materiale di riempimento ha sufficiente resistenza e rigidezza come il calcestruzzo poroso, si ha ulteriore in-cremento di resistenza a taglio per effetto shear keys, oltre a quello derivante dalla riduzione delle pressioni in-terstiziali. L’incremento di resistenza è dovuto sia alla resistenza all’interfaccia calcestruzzo–terreni sia a quella intrinseca del…
Modelling landslides in unsaturated slopes subjected to rainfall infiltration using material point method
2016
This paper presents a dynamic fully coupled formulation for saturated and unsaturated soils that undergo large deformations based on material point method. Governing equations are applied to porous material while considering it as a continuum in which the pores of the solid skeleton are filled with water and air. The accuracy of the developed method is tested with available experimental and numerical results. The developed method has been applied to investigate the failure and post-failure behaviour of rapid landslides in unsaturated slopes subjected to rainfall infiltration using two different bedrock geometries that lie below the top soil. The models show different failure and post-failur…
Morpho-physiologic traits in two sage taxa grown under different irrigation regime
2017
Sage is an important aromatic crop, extensively cultivated worldwide. Drought stress affects yield and composition of secondary metabolites such as fatty acids, essential oils, antioxidants, changing the essential oil composition profile with respect to the ISO 9909 standard. Drought tolerance may differ among genotypes, so we compared the response of Salvia officinalis L. and S. officinalis cv. ‘Maxima’ grown under two different irrigation regimes to highlight differences in leaf growth, water potential, gas exchange and essential oil composition. Potted plants were grown in the greenhouse at 100% or 50% of field water capacity for three months. Monthly measurements of 3rd node leaf length…
A physical model for the interaction between unsaturated soils and retaining structures
2020
Temporary and permanent retaining structures interact with soils that are usually in unsaturated conditions. In this work, a 1g-scale physical model is presented to investigate the interactions between retaining walls and unsaturated soils. The physical model is equipped with a water-filled hydraulic cylinder connected to a pressure-volume controller to measure the horizontal component of the later earth thrust and high capacity tensiometers to measure soil matric suction. A system of low-friction linear guideways has been installed at the base of the wall-model. The failure surface is observed through a 3 cm thick glass wall on one side of the container. A series of images are acquired dur…
Magnetic Susceptibility in the Soils Along Communication Routes in the Town of Opole
2019
Magnetic susceptibility measurements were taken in eight selected streets of Opole, with diversified vehicle traffic intensity. The experiment surfaces were marked on every street, with two separate zones: A – a strip directly adjacent to the road and B – a strip 1 m away from the road edge. The carried out research indicated considerable influence of communication-generated pollution, with simultaneous influence of other local emission sources. The relation of magnetic anomalies was indicated, which may be the result of ferromagnetic materials aggregation, originating mainly from combustion processes. The road structure, including the surface condition, the main construction material and s…
The Influence of Chemical Composition of Commercial Lemon Essential Oils on the Growth of Candida Strains
2013
Candida yeasts are saprophytes naturally present in the environment and forming colonies on human mucous membranes and skin. They are opportunistic fungi that cause severe and even fatal infections in immunocompromised individuals. Several essential oils, including eucalyptus, pine, cinnamon and lemon, have been shown to be effective against Candida strains. This study addresses the chemical composition of some commercial lemon essential oils and their antifungal potential against selected Candida yeast strains. Antifungal potential and minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined for six commercial lemon essential oils against five Candida yeast strains (Candida albicans 31, Candida t…