The penetration of low-speed projectiles into a water target has been studied in the last several years to understand the physics behind the formation and collapse of cavities. In such studies, the projectiles employed were solid bodies or liquid drops. Here we report similar impact experiments using granular projectiles, with the aim to investigate how the morphology of the cavities is determi...

The relationship between the mass uptake and the swelling of arachidic acid Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films exposed to water vapor was investigated. Combining sorption data from the quartz crystal microbalance with swelling data from the surface forces apparatus (SFA), it was found that films exposed to water vapor ( approximately 75% RH) absorb 0.22 moles water/mole LB film with an associated swe...

Some celestial bodies such as planets, moons and comets (here referred to as moons for simplicity) emit jets of material at speeds that in some instances are large enough to escape gravity. Previous investigations have shown this problem to be highly complex, e.g. involving multi-phase flows, phase changes, radiation and gas rarefaction effects. In order to learn from exploring a manageable par...

Currently, there is no convenient and safe experimental method in the literature to evaluate skin protectant formulations for barrier properties. A novel and simple experimental method, based on paper chromatography, was developed to screen a broad spectrum of skin protectants available for moisture penetration. The method involves the use of paper chromatography for determining the Moisture Pe...

Exposure to particulate matter (PM), a major form of air pollution, can induce oxidative stress and inflammation and may lead to many diseases in various organ systems including the skin. Eupafolin, a flavonoid compound derived from Phyla nodiflora, has been previously shown to exhibit various pharmacological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Unfortunately, eupafo...

Vibrational studies that selectively probe molecular structure at CCl4/H2O and hydrocarbon/H2O interfaces show that the hydrogen bonding between adjacent water molecules at these interfaces is weak, in contrast to generally accepted models of water next to fluid hydrophobic surfaces that suggest strong hydrogen bonding. However, interactions between these water molecules and the organic phase r...

Root elongation in drying soil is generally limited by a combination of mechanical impedance and water stress. Relationships between root elongation rate, water stress (matric potential), and mechanical impedance (penetration resistance) are reviewed, detailing the interactions between these closely related stresses. Root elongation is typically halved in repacked soils with penetrometer resist...

and underlayed viable epidermis and dermis. Because the SC is highly lipophilic, dry and a relatively effective percutaneous barrier, skin penetration is influenced by physicochemical properties of compounds. Hydrophobic compounds penetrate more easier than hydrophilics and lower than high molecular weight. Relationships between penetration flux and physicochemical properties include: lipophili...

The response of the water table of an intertidal salt marsh in NW England has been investigated. During neap tides, water seeps upward from the underlying sand-silt-clay interface. This effect continues as the marsh is overtopped during spring tides but is then dwarfed by penetration of water downward from the surface. Under “typical conditions” the delay between high water in the river and max...

Glycol ethers are solvents widely used alone and as mixtures in industrial and household products. Some glycol ethers have been shown to have a range of toxic effects in humans following absorption and metabolism to their aldehyde and acid metabolites. This study assessed the influence of water mixtures on the dermal absorption of butoxyethanol and ethoxyethanol in vitro through human skin. But...