Received: 13 Mar. 2012; Revised 25 Jul. 2012; Accepted 04 Aug. 2012 Received: April 8, 2012; Revised May 4, 2012; Accepted June 6, 2012 Abstract: Aiming at the problem of atmospheric humidity measurement, this paper proposes a method to measure dew point based on sensitive circuit for the first time. We use the quartz crystal in the Colpitts circuit as the humidity sensitive element. Since the ...

In this paper, the influence of temperature on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor response during dew point calibration is investigated. The aim is to present a compensation method to eliminate temperature impact on frequency acquisition. A new sensitive structure is proposed with double QCMs. One is kept in contact with the environment, whereas the other is not exposed to the atmosphere....

The fungus Myrothecium verrucaria (MV) has previously been shown to have potential as a bioherbicide for kudzu (Pueraria lobata) control. It has also been shown that MV wild-type (MV-wt) often forms sectors, when grown on various nutrient media. Experiments compared MV-wt and MV sector efficacy when grown on agar or on rice grains. In greenhouse evaluations of sectors, applied as foliar sprays ...

Some tenebrionind beetles inhabiting the Namib desert are known for using their body to collect water droplets from wind-blown fogs. We aim to determine whether dew water collection is also possible for desert insects. For this purpose, we investigated the infra-red emissivity, and the wetting and structural properties, of the surface of the elytra of a preserved specimen of Physasterna cribrip...

Several lizard species that live in arid areas have developed special abilities to collect water with their bodies' surfaces and to ingest the so collected moisture. This is called rain- or moisture-harvesting. The water can originate from air humidity, fog, dew, rain or even from humid soil. The integument (i.e., the skin plus skin derivatives such as scales) has developed features so that the...

Retting of fibrous plants such as flax is an essential step in the extraction fibre bundles and their transformation into textiles reinforcement fabrics for use garments composites. Dew-retting traditionally performed from Northwest France to Netherlands, climate highly favourable this process. Hemp a plant that can be grown almost all over Europe with low environmental impact. A retting also r...

We developed a novel dew-point control system [advanced (ADCS)] in primary standard humidity generator based on the two-pressure technique. In ADCS, actual vapor–liquid equilibrium temperature of water was estimated for control, and pressure inside main saturator controlled by adjusting variable opening an expansion valve. Using periodic variation (oscillation) dew point observed low range grea...

Dew formation was investigated in three developmental stages of biological soil crusts (BSC), which were collected along a catena of an inland dune and in the initial substrate. The Penman equation, which was developed for saturated surfaces, was modified for unsaturated surfaces and used for prediction of dewfall rates. The levels of surface saturation required for this approach were predicted...