BACKGROUND The role of relative humidity in the aerosol transmission of influenza was examined in a simulated examination room containing coughing and breathing manikins. METHODS Nebulized influenza was coughed into the examination room and Bioaerosol samplers collected size-fractionated aerosols (<1 µM, 1-4 µM, and >4 µM aerodynamic diameters) adjacent to the breathing manikin's mouth and al...

Introduction Hodge and Mitchell (1998) demonstrated that atmospheric humidity and the water content of the resource could afect the interaction between D. melanogaster and D. hydei in single generation laboratory experients. Previously, Arur (1986) had shown that the interaction between these two species in continuous cultue could be affected by the amount of resource, the mechanism of this eff...

Bioaerosols are common biological factors in work environments, which require routine use of filtering respiratory protective devices (FRPDs). Currently, no studies link humidity changes in the filter materials of such devices, during use, with microorganism survivability. Our aim was to determine the microclimate inside FRPDs, by simulating breathing, and to evaluate microorganism survivabilit...

The aim of this work was to study the main effects of acerola powder on fluidized bed agglomeration. A 2 fractional factoring design was used to evaluate the main operating conditions (fluidizing air temperature, fluidizing air velocity, atomizing air flow and height of nozzle in the bed). The mechanical and physicochemical product changes were determined by analysis of particle diameter, moist...

Background: Temperature and ultraviolet radiation levels are known to have an impact on the skin’s health and function. Several studies have examined the role of another variable climatic factor humidity on healthy and diseased skin in human and mouse subjects, with varying results. Methods: An online literature search using key words was based around ambient relative humidity and its impact on...

To understand better the annual cycles of atmospheric humidity, radiosonde data were used to create climatologies of temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and precipitable water in the lower troposphere for 56 locations around the world for the period 1973-1990. On the basis of the annual ranges of relative humidity at the surface and at the 850, 700, and 500 mbar levels and the ratio of t...

Drying data for individual rice kernels and bulk samples selected from various tillers of a plant and from different maturity groups were experimentally obtained. The data showed that over 93% of the drying occurred within 24 h of exposure to air at 40° C and 60% relative humidity. Differences in the equilibrium moisture content and drying rate constant among kernels were observed. Equilibrium ...

The persistence of Salmonella typhimurium (V-31) on wool blanket, wool gabardine, cotton sheeting, cotton knit jersey, cotton terry cloth, and cotton wash-and-wear fabrics was studied. Three methods of exposure were employed to contaminate the fabrics: direct contact, aerosol, and a lyophilized mixture of bacteria and dust having a high content of textile fibers. After contamination, the fabric...